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[The Regal Rper]

Dall​

Bayleef Harbor: Located at Cape Muzon​

 

[The Regal Rper]

• Stage 1
• Stage 2

• 
  
  

  
  

  July 09, 2064
  ~ 5: 35 <> 7:15a.m. ~​

  
  

  
  

  
  You awoke to find a letter. Although, "find", would be an incorrect term. It was more precise to say that you were drawn towards it rather than found it. Like a magnet you came near to the rolled up parchment and as you neared, images of a greenish little monster wearing a suit accompanied by some strange looking creature that may or may not have once been some sort aquatic bird, flashed into your mind and it was obvious who the sender was. The letter had been simple really. It gave you orders. Clear cut and specific. Your early summer break was over, and now It was time to get back into work.
  
  The instructions read as followed: on July 9th of this same year you were to be at the docks of your nearest location written on the letter by 5 a.m. EST and not a minute later. At exactly 5:30 a.m. a white float plane with red and blue stripes will appear to take you to your destination. Your instructions demand you enter at 5 minutes and 7 seconds after the plane's arrival, exactly. If the pilot waves you in to enter earlier than this, you were to ignore it.
  
  If you didn't and you boarded, instantly you failed and that same pilot would personally tell you so before asking you to exit the plane.
  
  If the pilot arrived before you, you failed.
  
  If you were even a second, or nanosecond late, you would be denied entry on board the two to three passenger aircraft and would therefore be dropped out of the Elite rank effective immediately; forced to repeat a whole two years of Epsilon all over, or depending on your demerits- dropped out of EAT / the Caster's mission branch shortly within the same day for the entirety of a year, until next year.
  
  Time, was of great importance. And if you delayed even a second, you would be out. No exceptions. No second chances.
  
  So at exactly that day, on exactly that time, you did the smart thing and followed the instructions to a t. Seamlessly obeying what was told of you, you were allowed entry. Once on board, the pilot smiled at you silently and then passed you a new letter.
  
  Upon opening it, you found it was blank. Nothing there but just the paper itself-- but then the voice of Arty, that demon who flashed into your mind the first time you saw the first letter, began to speak:
  
  Hello dear guest,
  
  It seems you have been allowed access to this flight, which means you listened to instructions and seem capable of following orders. Good. Very good.
  
  There is hope for you yet.
  
  This flight will be sending you to a southeastern island among the Alexander Archipelago. Once there, the pilot will give you the second piece of this letter. For now, enjoy the ride.
  
  
  

  ✣✣✣​

  
  The plane descended towards its destination. For miles you had seen nothing but ocean till only but a couple minutes ago now seeing isles. It nose pointed at an angle as the pilot aimed for the ocean for one specific island that came into view the closer your plane went.
  
  Down the plane descended, losing altitude gradually till at last all you had were skips as it skittered over the sea surface like a pebble skipping on the surface of a pond. Jostling its occupants with each hop till finally it took a smooth, accelerated ride that slowed with the loud roar of the engine as the plane came to a stop to a wooden harbor.
  
  "Here you are." The pilot turned to look at you, his serrated teeth flashing as he rose and let down the latch that descended to the ground with the descending stairs. Only after the stairs had landed did he head down ahead of you, carrying something in his hands. Once you followed him down to the harbor, he passed you the letter in his digits, but motioned for you to wait as he waved for you to open it.
  
  Hello again, dear guest.
  
  Welcome to Dall Island! You are the first of many in this program to have reached the island, and as the first, your clock begins now.
  
  Assuming you haven't just walked away from our kind pilot, he has something for you to help you out on your journey, Arty's voice told.
  
  And it was true. The nameless, terse pilot did. He beamed, once again flashing those serrated shark like teeth that caught the rising sunlight off his teeth and bounced off his glasses, then with a scaled hand- he opened his jacket and dipped a hand inside. Pulling out a circular package, then in his other hand the nameless pilot pulled out a third letter from his other pocket- and then breathing in deeply, the somewhat fishy looking human breathed warm, green air on to a corner of the scroll. It ignited instantly in seafoam green light. Wordless, the pilot tossed the parchment on the ground a distance in front of you- and then stood aside to watch.
  
  The second the scroll had been completely consumed, smoke began to billow out of the fires. The fires, magical in nature did not spread or even shift much in the wind. The more smoke that poured out actually, the less the fire was. Till ultimately, there stood a short, smoke double of a tiny demon who almost touched the knee.
  
  "Hello!" Chirped the double in Arty's voice. "I am a automated recording here to help you with the basics of what is about to happen, and what will determine your potential to stay in this program. Failure to follow instructions, will be your own problem. Listen closely if you would, I have no repeat commands on me and my time is limited! Ranguul, if you please!"
  
  The pilot approached, took the package and then with one nail, sliced it open. A few shakes and out fell a circular device, one with a camera, and a flat touch screen.
  
  "That device is called a Blip. It will come in handy and give you basic details on some of the various creatures that exist on this island. It will also beeeeeee," the smokey gremlin sang as he walked right up, jumped and touched the screen, "a map and a compass to be your guide."
  
  The Blip vibrated, it's screen switching from black to white, then after a single second, it projected light upwards; blue light that shifted, twisted, then shaped holograms into a map that projected your location on the docks and a surrounding holographic imagery of your area over a radius of 1000ft ahead in a wide sphere. One dot began moving away from the orange, while a purple dot stood in front of the orange.
  
  "The orange dot, is you, the green dots represents our pilot, and the purple dot is me. Use the Blip to get to this location." The smokey snapped and a yellow trail formed along the holographic map's path across the sandy terrain, through the tall forest a distance ahead, pointing towards a glade that gained a circle of red at the end of the trail.
  
  "Once you reach there," the hum of the plane kicked in, "your test with any other guests that have appeared will begin. A staff member will be waiting for you in that location."
  
  The pilot now in his plane, began pulling away from the docks. Doing one donut, then another that he used to wave goodbye as he adjusted himself and began heading out from the beach towards the open ocean ahead.
  
  With the pilot fading, the smoke figure turned back to addressing you now that the noise was but a distant echo.
  
  "You have exactly 35 minutes to get to Gaea's Glade. The average distance between here and there would roughly be an hour and a half on foot, 48 minutes minutes by flight-- things like teleportation are not possible in this vicinity; although I doubt you can do Spatial magic at your level without dismembering yourself in the process, if you are a Caster" the smoke gremlin replied as he followed along side your gait. "With that said, be sure to keep the Blip with you at all times and stay on path. Failure to have it on hand when you meet the staff member waiting for you will result in disqualification and a trip return home--" the smoke figure said just before collapsing, disappearing into the wind.
  
  In that same instant light flashed on the Blip's screen. The face of the famous Excalibur popped on the map's holographic projection and pointing his cane at something, it got your attention.
  
  The counter's 35 minutes was now 31. And it was dropping rapidly.
  

  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  

  Gaea Glade​

  
  

  
  

  
  The Blip had come with a belt strap that you could loop around your waist, or had a smaller strap that turned into an armband or wristband that was adjustable for your size. Every now and then Excalibur would flash into existence in front of you from the Blip' s screen and point with his cane to the time after every 8 minutes as a reminder. By the time you had hit 13 minutes, dropping- he had started showing up every 5 minutes.
  
  Time, whatever it was for you- was declining at an exceedingly fast rate and Excalibur knew it from how his eye would narrowed at you from under his foolishly long top hat every time he appeared on a even number. The coded animation a warning and a promise of what was to come should you deviate from the path or fail.
  
  In fact any attempts at deviating from the original path to shorten your trip no matter how simple the map made it seem was immediately met with Excalibur appearing and insulting you rather bitterly for your rather rude behavior. Even responding to your replies if you dared to reply back in a sarcastic remark or acted in ignorance of his scathing remarks. And if you continued on the path of deviation for more than a minute, then the voice of one Patty Thompson would appear, introduce herself briefly yet politely, and begin chiding you with words like: "go back to the correct trail or you will be removed from the program and sent back home ya dingus." Warnings, saying you would be marked as a failure for failing to follow the simplest of basic instructions. Followed by Excalibur calling you a "fool!"
  
  Capital 'F'.
  
  But it hardly mattered, now did it? There was no one around, no one you could sense, and the forest was not an idle place to have a camera system set up. You were in the clear. And after more than 9 minutes of repeated warnings, the Blip stopped nagging you.
  
  Upon reaching the halfway point of your destination, the tone of things shifted to something more favorable- that is if you followed the path correctly. An older man who looked somewhere in his 40s, clean shaven, sharp jaw, saw like teeth and platinum blonde hair slicked away from his red eyes, grinned at you with a thumbs up. A signature grin only the 'Soul Eater' could pull.
  
  For incorrect following of instructions, the famous deceased utility Meister, Kilik Rung appeared; a young Afro-American in his early 30s sporting the beginnings of stubble at his chin and upper lip. Kilik shook his head, the shoulder length hair swaying as he looked at you once, then gave a small smirk before vanishing into the wind. His thumb up the only sign of his approval before it vanished also.
  
  Sand had long since traded for dirt, dirt became grass, and occasionally you would find marshes in the distance and stone footing. At a quarter of the way to the goal, you would come across a Archway. One with symbols and ancient carvings. Chipped, covered in moss, the skull of a human sitting atop the peak of the arch. Said skull looking grimmer with moss along its cranium and sockets, with two vague shapes appearing as though they were bowing to the human skull in some form of reverence. Worst of all, the four eyed bird that sat atop it- watching you in silence.
  
  Crossing this short distance, entering a a now stone path, walking for two minutes more or less, at the center of a eight way crossroad there stood a man. A man who stood in silence, eyes closed, as still as a statue. Only to open when the Blip silently notified you a good distance away:
  
  

  you have reached your destination.​

  
  

  

  
  "Welcome, welcome meus estudantes!" The man with flowing long hair carolled, his bronze brown eyes shifting to look in the direction of each and every one of you no matter the distance or location. "I am so glad to see you were able to have made it, yes, yes! It is a plaszure to meet all of you. Now, come come!" The man called out in his fruity cheer, hands gesturing widely from either side for you to approach. "To me quickly!" His accent unnoticeable compared to the grin of his infectious joy.
  
  Once you had all appeared on the paths the man beamed.
  
  "Three Star Rank, Caetano Dantas. Plaszure too meet all of you" the man grinned with his hands at his hips. A name that if you knew your names and had paid attention to your Communications Studies, you might have an idea of who he was. A prodigy of something or other.
  
  "Now if anyone took a shortcut to get here, raise your hand!" Dantas said cheerfully, raising his own hand as soon as he said it, laughing all the while.
  
  Of course, no one really did. And his inane chuckling eventually faded, but the cheerful adult was ever so patient. He gave it a literal minute, eyes glancing between faces and if anyone did raise a hand he chuckled lightly before his waving down. "Well," he said scratching the forehead. "I'm afraid for those of you that did you are out on good luck, because there was never a punishment to begin with for deviating!" He clapped, smiled, and then moved on. "Now then, listen closely. Your objective is going quite simple." Dantas began.
  
  "Today is test day; your first day is actually going to be a elimination round. We want to see which of you has..." He paused, looking thoughtful, searching for the word as he snapped his fingers together- thinking. "Moxy. Yes, Moxy! Haha, to see your skills and how you utilize them. Like the ones who got here early-- like that one!" Dantas remarked brightly, pointing briefly at the young Caucasian male in sweat gear, wearing the headband that almost covered his aqua blue eyes.
  
  "We want to see what you can do before we decide who gets to stay. After all just because you were allowed access to the Elite Status, does not mean you are truly qualified- yes? Especially not if you" he pointed to them vaguely, "are here," he finished; scornful yet upbeat in how he said it. "Real Elites" Dantas continued, ignoring a faint whistling noise that passed the glade by, "would not have need to join here, yes?" He asked them, still smiling and keeping eye contact as best he could with all of them. Even the girl with hair longer than his, whom was slightly taller than him. The ones who kept their eye contact, he merely beamed at, while the ones that looked away- he spent a second longer staring at them.
  
  "So we test and eliminate to see who is sharpened nicely, and who needs a better edge and nicer polish to be sent back. Each of you will be scrutinized. So, começamos." He straightened. "This test will last two days and your objective is to survive and avoid being captured by the creatures coming here, to hunt you. Details: they have a poisonous gland in their mouths that is paralytic. If it touches your skin, it will take minutes for you to be stunned and movement for you will be extremely difficult." Then with his smile becoming icy as his tone: "You are not allowed to kill these creatures. If you kill one, instantly I will come for you and remove you from this test. Defend, run, fight, hide but do not kill. Incapacitate, knock out, subdue- and avoid being captured- last two days and you will have proven to all of us what you are capable of. Get captured and dragged to their base, and we will send your families the notification of your loss. If you think that is cruel I advise you leave now. Elites and the ranks above can and do die out on the field, as I'm sure one of you here knows and there's no one there to help you if it's just you on your own. If you can avoid being captured for two days and survive out in these woods with nothing by yourself, then you as a individual will pass. Teamwork is unnecessary, this is a test of you as individuals, so with this--" Dantas pointed up with index and middle- drew a circle in the air- and then watched it rise, with his hand pointed up.
  
  "We begin now." A flash of gold light touched every person's ears and before they knew it the energy circle had swollen to the size of a basketball and exploded in the same second as Dantas snapped.
  
  Wind came rushing and fiddled with everyone's clothes at the sound of the muffled explosion. Any harmful effects cancelled out by whatever the mage had done to their hearing.
  
  In that same instant, Dantas had already vanished, everyone's sound returned to normal. But the surrounding area suddenly felt...different. As if there were more colors in the glade before than there had been.
  
  Before they knew it, they had already been surrounded. Whistles of a high pitch, like a cry or wail, came from the necks of reptilian creatures who had not been there before. They had no presence to sense, no signature to lock on to- as if they had just teleported from a long distance into the same area.
  
  Making the hunt all the more easier.
  
  The reptiles were as large as tree trunks, as big as horses, and the moment they saw the people standing in the center of the glade- out in the open- well away from trees or branches, shrubs or slopes that could provide them a territorial advantage or cover- they rushed forward. At incredible speed for their size The six legged reptiles slithered off the various trunks and rushed straight at the rookie Elites. The walis dying as quickly as they started and the chase now on as the beasts closed in on their prey in a tight circle formation.
  
  "Remember," Dantas voice echoed calmly as the monsters bolted forwards, "you kill one. You fail.Your duty is to run, survive- now go."
  
  And that's when one sucked in wind and hacked out a beach ball sized liquid like an arrow sent by an archer.
  

  
  
  
  

Interactions: Arcanist BriiAngelic Mook-LandStrider Elenion Aura Phayne Sir Les Paul Faded_Neon Diphylleia grayi Asagi Sybil Xcelgamer

 

[The Regal Rper]

Gav | Gaea Glade​

• Start
• Test

• 
  
  
  "3: 48 a.m." Gavril checked the clock on the wall of the far side of his training room.
  
  The letter had said 5 to get to the docks but he had slept early- a full eight hours planned out from 6pm last night to 1:59 in the morning. A full hour and then some, enough time to do stretches and prepare breakfast. Ease off excess energy but not actually exercise because the last thing he wanted was to expend unnecessary energy he might need. All done by 3:36 a.m. and the remainder of his time spent in the training room that had been designed for him in the family house. The thought crossed his mind to do some runs. A few up and down warm ups to really get the blood flowing when he had no idea what he was getting into, but he dismissed it. By the time he was done he'd have little time to shower and he wanted to not have to be in a rush just to get to where he needed to be. Especially when he had no clue what was ahead. Just ideas based on the little information he understood. After all they weren't being told to take any of their clothes, no luggage meant this wasn't a trip where they'd be staying long or it was a trip where bringing luggage would slow them down so the least he could assume was that there was bound to be an exercise, and if there was an exercise then it was better he take clothes he didn't mind getting dirty for whatever it was the program had planned.
  
  Grabbing his fork he jabbed it into the remaining strawberry, the survivor of the fruit salad he had devoured minutes earlier. Popping it into his mouth he chewed, and in a few seconds it was gone. Once he finished his glass of orange juice he rose; gathering the plate of his omelette, the few shells of peanuts, the bowl from his salad and then made his way to the door- only to be interrupted by glowing red eyes looking up at him when he opened it.
  
  Gav stared up at the creature looking down at him, then ducked underneath the beast hanging upside down. Ignoring the feeling of sharp talons gentling poking his back as he passed.
  
  "What?" He asked, never once looking at it. "You need something?
  
  Bonelessly, the tiny creature turned its head 180, the neck extending, feathers ruffling to watch Gav as he went up the stairs. Claws clicked and it followed him along the walls.
  
  Water rushed as the pipe was opened. Dishes clanged on metal, the scrubber was raised and the washing began. Gav ever silent and distant focused on his task as the tiny avian like creature went to the ceiling and then extended its neck all the way down to watch him from the living room. The head dropped like string from a yoyo.
  
  In a few minutes his dishes were done. Gav moved away from the sink, but he paused. Seeing a bowl. One or two dishes left behind. A memory flashed and he knew whose they belonged to. A glance at the clock read 3: 55 a.m.
  
  He moved, and the remaining dishes were done.
  
  "Aren't you going to leave a note." A new voice prodded.
  
  "For what?" The sound of plates clinging, almost masking the annoyance hidden in his reply.
  
  Talons clicked and the clicks of nails sounded as the tiny avian like entity towered over the human. "You are leaving. Don't you have any decency? Letting your betters know when you're about to run off?" The feminine voice said in a tone of amusement.
  
  "Mmm," was the hum. No real response. "There, done." He shut the dishwasher and was off towards the stairs. By the time he'd passed the avian like entity it was tiny again. Flapping its wings and following after him.
  
  "No comeback? Surprising. You usually have something to say when I try to show you basic concern. Is the little worm feeling nerv-- ack- hahahahaHAAAA!" The creature tittered with the dodge. Bones popping as her head span in circles at the failed half-hearted swat in her direction.
  
  "That's what you're here for."
  
  The laughter died slowly. "Oh?" She said in almost owl like fashion. "Do tell."
  
  "I don't have to. Either she's watching or she isn't and either way you'll tell her if she asks or you'll tell them if they ask. It doesn't matter anyway, they already know I'm leaving. Everyone in this house knows." He said calmly as he opened the door to the connected bathroom and stripped.
  
  "Yes, well," the harpy paused. Her neck extending to watch as Gav tossed garments, "I didn't."
  
  "Sucks for you then doesn't it?"
  
  The creature frowned. "How cold of you." She feigned the hurt in her voice, "After all we've been through?" If nothing else the theatrics got a bit of a chuckle.
  
  "Are all harpies this annoying?" Gav asked with amused disinterest. Cocking his head in a mocking fashion of the bird. "Because I'm pretty sure parrots aren't this annoying."
  
  Feathers ruffling, with a scowl she shot back, "Are all males so small?"
  
  The response was the shower turning on and one foot entering. Blue eyes narrowed and one brow rose. "You would stare, wouldn't you?" Came the dry reply.
  
  Snarling, the now tiny harpy flapped her wings, and vanished with a roll.
  
  Shortly after Gav whistled a merry tune. Focused on simply getting done.
  
  

  ​

  
  Magic didn't do much for him. It was not a lack of interest, rather an adaptation to what had loomed in his life. When you have relatives who you live with that do magic, that use it daily, that used it on you, nothing really surprises you that much- the things he saw here with this whole briefing method however- that he had to admit was slightly cool. Got the brows to raise just a little, but after that it was pretty much all business- just the way he expected it to be.
  
  Being the first of many meant that he was essentially in the lead- but he had no reason to believe this as fact. For now, as the smoke apparition talked, Gav listened testing the map' s basic mechanics to get a feel for it. The hologram responding to his touches, zooming out to give him a better view of the radius it allowed him to see, zooming in to focus on the goal that had been marked for him. Taking note of these details and the implications only to tune fully back into what his supervisor was saying so he didn't miss a word.
  
  "You said I can take pictures with this and it will give me information?"
  
  "Correct!" The apparition stated. "Just--"
  
  He aimed the camera and click. Immediately the map vanished and exactly after, Gav watched the apparition appear in the way he had taken him.
  
  "A magical construct." He read. "Infused with memories. A golem?" he guessed.
  
  "Correct! Anymore interruptions?"
  
  The meister shook his head, prompting smoke to continue as he began walking down the trail. When he heard of the time limit however and the fact this whole explanation had eaten into his time, Gav was off. He wished he hadn't brought the weights but if he had to, he could ditch them if they really were slowing him down. Not that he had to worry about them gaining weight anymore. Really should have just continued the usual without them, he grimaced at himself.
  
  "Whatever. What's now is now." He grumbled, breaking into a sprint and flaring the energy within him at brief bursts of added speed and strength. "I should be able to finish this easy."
  
  

  ​

  
  17 minutes and he had hit some meager distance beyond the halfway point. Out of 31, it had taken him 14 to get here. Had he used full speed maybe it would have taken less. Had he dropped the weights, maybe more. Not that he could bother to do such a thing. Draining himself of everything for a race was a monumentally stupid idea and the weights, while no longer weighing him down as they had been originally, were a boon in combat.
  
  Based off what the construct said it was no doubt more was ahead.
  
  For the third time, Gav considered taking shortcuts. This island wasn't one he knew, or studied and checking the map again as he ran told him it wasn't going to expand and show him more no matter how much he wanted it to.
  
  "Damn!" Smart move but an annoying one that was starting to get frustrating. He could stick to the path and get there on time, albeit more drained- but if he detoured.
  
  The timer hit 15 minutes remaining. Gav made his decision.
  
  The Blip however, quickly notified him for the second time that what he was doing was wrong. And if that truly was the case, then Gav intended on not being right. If he really was kicked out for this-- then he'd be fine training on his own. He hadn't stopped his training through the summer break and he didn't intend on stopping even if they came here to sit on their asses and do nothing in the end. Because fuck listening to the instructions when it was just going to do him more harm than good.
  
  Leaping into the trees up ahead with a bit of wavelength to cover him, Gav launched into the air, grabbing a branch as he went up and swinging himself up onto it. Now came the next part.
  
  Finding his target, he leapt. Jumping from tree to tree, lightly strengthening his soles and palms. Moving like a monkey or ape as he swung himself and used the carrying momentum to launch himself from place to place.
  
  At 7 minutes remaining Gav heard what he had been waiting for in midair. A notification, and he knew he had made it.
  
  Bleeding off momentum by swinging on a branch like a gymnast, Gav launched himself into a triple roll and then landed on a patch of grass that he rolled backwards into before coming to a stop with a stand.
  
  "Phew." He rolled a shoulder. "Not even sweating that much. Still, good workout." He muttered silently to himself. Looking ahead into the clearing and seeing no one else immediately, Gav stopped looking when he saw a man just standing there. Waiting.
  
  "Ah." He caught on. Wordless, he followed suit. Climbing one tree without any amplification he hopped onto a branch and sat there. Waiting.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  One of the first to be there but the last to show up. Gav approached only after he heard the others moving. From his vantage point, he could see enough of the clearing to see overheads.
  
  Most of the people here, he didn't immediately recognize. There was about two he knew. Both of those two actually surprised. One being the Appliance Class Weapon, that knight guy blonde or whatever he clearly recalled losing to once and then coming back and kicking their ass later-- and Midori.
  
  Midori Hoshi, here. If Ciel had surprised him, Midori being here had threw him off completely. But, Gav recovered quickly. Less than a second after the initial surprise he erased it. Removing it completely from his face. Whatever their reasons for being here was none of his business, how Midori specifically was even here was none of his business. He had respected the guy like hell, had been confused and disturbed to find he had been a spy later- and then surprised to here the guy was back in DWMA from his Mentor two years back--
  
  --but, that wasn't important right now. What was, was that vaguely familiar man's call. So he moved with anyone that showed, coming from the west- and approached but kept his distance from the others. If only to get a better look at them.
  
  Dantas introduction made Gav ponder. While his own personal expressions didn't shift outside of mild amusement at the hand raising bit, the name rang a bell to something- but at the moment it escaped him. What really caught his attention was the tension in his muscles relaxing just a bit at the statement they were not being removed if they did shortcut their way in.
  
  Before he knew it, they had their instructions. He knew the goal, and the next thing was--
  
  

  B A N G​

  
  The wind told him how strong that spell had been. The muffling made him aware that Dantas had just protected them.
  
  The moment Gav heard wailing, he wheeled on his heels and turned to the sound-- sounds, multiple- all around them.
  
  "Well fuck you too," he muttered at the realization that perhaps they had been duped.
  
  Taking that warning to heart, Gav took the moment to remove his Blip, aimed- and immediately moved to dodge the projectile spittle with a roll. Following that role, he took off southwest- leaving the others behind as he moved for a gap the creatures were trying to close in on.
  
  With a jump, a spin, and a kick off the face of one, Gav narrowly avoided the swipe of a tail-- landed, then with a brief flicker of light coming from his palm, he slammed a closed fist into the jaw of one other monster in a uppercut move. Grabbing the creature's mouth shut as it fell backwards, and jumping off it to avoid the tail jab of another reptile.
  
  Coincidentally, his actions were providing an opening as it broke formation and left a narrow hole in the circle. But in truth, he just wanted to disorient the ones in the back, so at the very least when be took off- they couldn't immediately turn and spit at him.
  
  
  

Mentions: Arcanist BriiAngelic Mook-LandStrider Elenion Aura Phayne Sir Les Paul Faded_Neon Diphylleia grayi Asagi Sybil Xcelgamer

Interactions: N/A

 

[Mook-LandStrider]

Lillith 'Lilly' Pantera
Caster: Wicked
Mentions: Arcanist BriiAngelic The Regal Rper Elenion Aura Phayne Sir Les Paul Faded_Neon Diphylleia grayi Asagi Sybil Xcelgamer

Sitting in the back of the plane Lilly had pretty much fallen asleep five minutes after take off. Having slept the majority of the time the girl was suddenly woken by the scaly man fish in the front jabbing her with its hand. Immediately one of her eyes opened as if signalling that she wasn’t ready to get up yet. Her eye closed again after a moment before feeling another jab. Letting out an audible hiss Lilly stared daggers at the pilot before the realization of where she was finally set it. Almost immediately Lilly’s demeanor shifted as the creature handed her a letter. Opening it up she turned it over before gazing up at the pilot, her mouth open as if she was about to speak. However, within a second a voice began to play out in her head.

Staring blankly Lilly looked back up at the creature, another letter in its hands. Taking the second one she once again opened it to hear the voice playing in her mind. Taking a deep breath she steeled herself as well as she could, yet she knew herself well enough to know that this was going to be a difficult task. Not because of the distance, but because she knew she was going to find something cool on the way and she wasn't entirely sure if she could break herself away from whatever it was. In the time remaining in their descent Lilly spent a majority of it staring out of the plane and down to the ocean and island below.

Upon landing Lilly quickly made an enormous effort to get out of the plane as fast as possible. Finally out and on solid ground again she began to stretch, limbering herself up after having been cooped up and passed out for several hours. “It's not as terrrible as I expected it to be but I definitely do not like planes.” Lilly commented out loud before realizing the only thing that could actually hear her was the scaly man fish. Almost immediately Lilly’s ears began to twitch as they moved like Doppler radar dishes on top of her head. Standing silently for a moment she listened in, hearing the noises of what she could only guess was fauna moving around. Pivoting on the spot she pointed at the fish “SO! vvhat now.” She asked as it took out another letter. Stepping forward to take it Lilly stopped in her place as the creature nonchalantly lit on fire.

Staring blankly at the now burning letter she cleared her throat before looking up once more at the damnable creature. “You really a-” Lilly quipped but stopped mid sentence as once more there was more to the letter than meets the eye. “Hey... what is zis? Is zis some kinda James bond brrriefing.” Lilly grumbled as the smoke formed the creature that had been speaking to her. Crossing her arms Lilly stood silently and listened, every now and then gazing around as if slightly bored with the instructional part of her ordeal. Taking the Blip she quickly began to set off towards her objective.

Shifting into her creature form Lilly stretched for a few moments before bounding forward, a paw print forming on the ground below her. After a split second of touching it Lilly found herself being propelled forwards and upwards. With each bound another paw print would form under her, pushing her ever faster. Yet, despite the speed at which she was moving she figured that the most efficient path was on that wasn't exactly… ‘legal’. The fight between wrong and right lasted only a moment as the wrong part of her executed the good part in favor of being lazy and shaving off effort. Yet, this seemed to be a boon for her as she began to make excellent time. As she passed off the path for several minutes the constant complaining from her Blip finally ceased and she was able to mentally relax her mind. Coming up to the final stretch of the path she stopped for a moment to study the raven watching her. Staring up at it she felt a weird twinge in the back of her mind yet managed to pull her curious nature back into line. Coming up to the path she was stopped as a voice called out to her. Finally coming into view of the man she recognized him merely from his image being in a book she had been forced to read in communications. “Ahhh Hallo!” Lilly shouted and waved before the man continued to speak.

Lilly listened up to the point when he asked about people cheating. Raising her hand Lilly knew that it was likely already known, after all she didn’t exactly take the quiet path to getting here and she always owned up to the things she either broke, destroyed or did. Seeing him wave them down Lilly felt a slight tinge of relief knowing that she wasn’t going to get hauled away for the fact that she skirted the rules. Letting Dantas finish Lilly took a step back before the sudden rush of wind came in causing her senses to scramble.

When she finally managed to come back a second later she realized with horror that she was surrounded, as were the rest of the people she happened to be with. Immediately her ears began to move as they took in the noises around her. Snapping her head towards a whizzing ball of split Lilly went down into a split, causing the ball to sail over her and splash behind her. Rolling onto her stomach she surveyed the chaos from her low position before bouncing up and onto her feet. Quickly turning she leapt over a swinging tail before having to quickly duck under an incoming ball of spit.

Reading the situation Lilly noticed a gap one of the others were making their way towards, somewhere the creatures hadn’t entirely blocked yet. Taking the opportunity she turned towards the creatures and saw an opening created by the guy. Forming under her a paw print sent her barreling forward at a breakneck speed. Orienting herself in the moments before impact she managed to grab a hold of the rough exterior on one of the creatures and used it as a hinge to swing herself around to deliver a kick to the back of the head of the reptile that had broken formation, hoping to knock it out and make the gap last a few moments longer.​

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice
“Whiplash”
Location: Dall Island
Interactions: Open​

• Before Arrival to Destination
• After Arrival

• From receiving the initial message to getting to the island, the threats of decommissioning her status was enough to keep Adrasteia in line despite what others might have thought. With how anal the upper echelons of DWMA, she believed entirely they would discard her amazing self for small bullshit so early. A loss for them if she had failed of course, her mind spinning a web of assumptions and reasons the organization might have it out for her and how true it was... but then again it was likely her loose grip on sanity that provided her with delusions of persecution in random bouts.
  
  Regardless the bell-equipped girl had made it to the island with little incidence besides mental comments, but it was fair to say her patience for the rigid structure was beginning to wear down on her. Surely after the airplane they wouldn’t be so strict? At least that was her mentality as she completely ignored the idea of an intended path.
  
  Keep the Blip, don’t break it.... get to here. Don’t walk away if I find something more interesting.... Ugh I come to an exotic island and I’m told NOT to do anything fun. Fuck this program is sucking already.
  
  With being released as some instructions glided in one ear and out the other, was it any surprise the demon weapon took her path as direct as possible? Certainly not as the girl would ignore the warning, groaning before exclaiming aloud the absolute uselessness of following the path as if the Blip would respond in conversation.
  
  “I am just say—HEY I did not FINISH SPEAKING! Fool?? How fucking dare!”
• Thankfully their quirks did not cause them to stray from their destination, and arriving relatively on time to their destination with faculty awaiting along with a myriad of... colorful individuals. These people were ‘problems’ like her yet all seemed so different it felt less like a test of the failures and more a convention of the odd.
  
  As lecture started the question was raided about pathing, the question muddled in their attention so they raised their hand. Incidentally she was not punished and honest about her off-the-path route, but the accidental honesty was unique. She lowered her hand, going back to her Blip to mess with it, curious if she could access something else while the lecture commenced.
  
  Of course this would be to her detriment as the speech abruptly ended, making aloud bang which snapped her attention away from the device to now witness the multitude of large lizard beasts, her eyes blinking at the surprising change in events. It only took the monsters bolting forth for Whiplash to realize it was real, her grin appearing across her face as she let her arm begin to transform.... only to get a buzzkill of a echo from the lecturer she already forgot the name of.
  
  “Wha?? No killing.... fuuuuuuuuu.... fine! Fine I can work with this!” With her right arm transformed into a chain with the 3 blades at the end, the weapon taking it up and slowly beginning to swing it to spin before launching at the beast with a sudden snap back then forth with a yellowish-green glow to it. As the blades whipped back, the blades tips seemingly break the sound barrier for a split second like a leather whip and it’s tip, the crack thrashing at the beast’s hide. Once penetrating the hide she pulled back hard, allowing the chain to scrape be the face of the creature to leave a good start of her magic neurotoxin, allowing numbing to start and how she was closer to paralyzing the beast. Sure it needed likely more than just 50 strikes, but she also framed it as she needed less than 100! Easy to convince oneself of solutions when nothing seems difficult...
  
  Regardless she would bring her chain back to avoid it getting bit, whipping the creature across the face with the chain and blades, injecting more doses into this beast before running at it with her full speed, diving underneath while sliding and running under the beast as best as she could all while she slashed with her blades between her knuckles and left marks on the underbelly while being held in her other hand. This wasn’t free of course, as her neurotoxin numbed her human hand she used to grab the chains... but possibly worth the risk!
  
  30+ more strikes to go! It’s non-lethal, their choice not mine. She will stand ready to guard and dodge to the turn around and strike ass she fought the one she has running ather, simply deciding it would be ludicrous to think another students would keep the other monsters at bay... or it was her reckless behavior...

 

[Phayne]

~Mentions~
Gav The Regal Rper // Lilly Mook-LandStrider // Adrasteia Sybil ​

Ciel found himself closer to the front of the plane, taking one of the remaining few seats left as he had found himself towards the back of the queue as other ‘misfits’ got on board. Sitting by the window on the right hand side, Ciel had been rather chuffed that he had managed to get this spot, the boy finding it rather easy to distract himself with the sights of the endless blue sky. A joy he knew was going to be short lived once the plan finally landed. To say that he wasn’t looking forward to this trip was a complete understatement. He was livid if anything, the boy’s face going a ghostly pale white when he first realised just how troublesome this was going to be.

Ciel was not pleased when he first found the letter, the tight-assed instructions that it had come with being a complete eyesore to read, let alone memorise. His initial intentions had been to tear it to shreds, burn the torn pieces in fire and then deny its existence to whomever came along to ask him about it. Of course, he could only dream about doing so as he knew the repercussions would have been even more annoying to deal with. Simply following the over-precise instructions had been the lesser of two evils and despite the amount of complaints he had, he unwillingly followed it to the tee, arriving at the docks at exactly the right time.

Sighing as he recalled the trouble he had sleeping that night, Ciel still glancing out the window had noticed several isles coming into view below them, the lush green islands a stark contrast to the sparkling blue ocean. For most people this would have been a rather beautiful sight to see, a picturesque moment often captured on camera yet for the unsuspecting Ciel it was soon to become the embodiment of his worst nightmares.

Touching down with a hop skip and a jump upon the ocean’s surface, a loud sigh had escaped Ciel’s mouth as their ride came to a stop; the sharp toothed pilot appearing from the cockpit a few seconds later and beginning to direct them out of the plane; though not before jabbing the silent snorer who had passed out within the first few minutes of the plane taking flight. Once everyone had made their way out, Ciel was handed another letter; a faint flashback to the shock from the first causing him to be quite hesitant when it came to opening it.

Alas, he doubted that like with the first letter he had little choice but to play along with this torturous routine and decided to follow the others as he opened the letter, a sigh again escaping his mouth; only this time it was due to him being more worried then he needed to be. As he read the note for a second time ensuring there was no funny business, the shark toothed pilot had pulled out a box and a scroll, the latter in the process of being consumed by fire as it came into effect; the appearance of a small demon completing the ritual. Arty as it was called had wasted no time in beginning to explain the situation; a device called a Blip being handed to Ciel during his explanation of both the piece of hardware as well as what was currently expected of them now that they had come to the island.

Ciel for the most part had retained a deadpan expression throughout this familiar’s explanation, a brief glance at the ‘blip’ and its functions and several yawns and sighs were his only contributions throughout this introduction as Arty continued to talk; answering a few questions from those that had dared ask them. Ciel of course remained quiet, merely taking in what was important for the day.

It was only after the pilot had left that Arty had finally gotten to the serious part; the familiar wasting no time in telling them that they had no time to waste. The clock had been ticking from the moment that they had landed on the island, a dirty trick meant to discourage them, yet falling upon deaf ears as Ciel had already come to the island discouraged in the first place. No amount of dirty tricks could make him feel less enthusiastic than he already did.

One by one the others had begun to take off towards their destination, Ciel glancing at the Blip once more as he waited behind the others; the boy already knowing exactly how he would get to their destination. As had become a well known fact about him, Ciel was not the type to go through more effort than was needed in order to accomplish a task and his philosophy was to always take the shortest path possible. This was no different.

Without needing to think about it, Ciel exhaled deeply knowing the route he was to take in order to reach Gaea Glade. Two large obsidian colored wings, just transparent enough to see through had appeared behind him, their forms stretching outwards as Ciel cracked his neck and rotated each shoulder, his muscles aching in response to the sudden need to ‘work;. “What a fucking hassle. Seriously, what is with this spartan routine first thing upon arriving” he lamented before his wings flapped, thrusting him skyward in a billow of sand and smoke; the Blip held in one hand as he began to fly towards Gaea Glade, uncaring for the path that others had taken and instead taking the shortest route possible to get there.

It didn’t take long for the Blip to find itself shoved into Ciel’s jacket; the annoying voice of Excalibur chastising him for failing to follow the path as well as Patty Thompsons voice calling him a Dingus were annoyances that he didn’t much need right now and it was only due to the rules regarding the safe keeping of the Blip that Ciel had not discarded the annoyance deep into the jungle below.

It was a good while before Ciel finally arrived at Gaea Glade, the boy landing upon a large rock a few meters away from the other arrivals. Despite Ciel taking the option of flight, he had not been the first to arrive here; the boy of course not pushing himself to get here as fast as he really could, that was simply too much effort. He didn’t need to be first, he just needed to be on time and even that was demanding too much from him.

Once settled down and the final person had arrived; the man standing in the middle had begun to speak up, the 3 star Caetano Dantas questioning who had cheated and who hadn’t as he tried to be gregarious. Ciel merely found him to be irritating and lacking in humor as he attempted to be funny by raising a hand to his own question, Ciel half assing it as he raised his right hand. It was obvious that Ciel had ‘cheated’ the direction at which he had arrived from being quite different to the majority that had already gotten here.

Ciel had inwardly hoped that Caetano would lead them towards some kind of residence, a place for the students to rest up on day one before the real training and torture occured, though of course he wasn’t that lucky. Nope he wasn’t lucky at all. Instead of a nice ‘Welcome, this is where you will be staying’, Caetano had instead taken this chance to start explaining the next set of rules’ a three day elimination round though it wasn’t between the students but instead against a group of creatures. Creatures that after the long explanation were revealed to be reptilian in nature. The golden flash and resulting sound of an explosion had caused Ciel to stagger slightly as his vision and sense of balance was rattled, though that hadn’t stopped him from taking to the skies, a quick leap skyward and the spread of his grigorian wings helping to keep him afloat for now as his senses readjusted themselves to the shocks.

“Well.. it sure does suck to be them right about now” lauded Ciel from his vantage point, his wings flapping away as they kept him airborne

Below him the others had begun to react as well, a few taking up offensive measures to fight off the oncoming creatures whilst others were more defensive in nature; several taking the chance to break free from the commotion amidst all the confusion; especially after Gav had managed to force an opening himself. Ciel took the flight option and soon found himself evading several globules of spittle being shot at him; the boy able to move freely as he briefly watched the scene below him unfold. Several students had stood out to him now that he had a better vantage point, Gav being the first as he quickly took to offense against the beasts; the Caster known as ‘Puma’ also fighting her way through with a flurry of athletic maneuvers while behind her the Demon Weapon that Kasper had heard rumors about began to lash at them with her now transformed arm. It was a sad time for those not cursed with the Grigori soul and Ciel soon found himself saying a silent prayer for the unfortunate forced to go through some hard work.

“Hey!, I’ll be taking my leave if you don't mind" shouted Ciel from above, his tone sounding almost disinterested as his words were directed more towards the Caetano rather then the other students presently fighting below him. Seeing more globules heading his way, Ciel quickly turned and fled the scene. His priority being to first secure a location with a clear view of fresh water and hopefully an area that looked relatively safe to stay in.

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"The Shade"​

Species Death Golem
Partner None (Autonomous)
Rank One-Star Elite

Location Dall Island to Gaea Glade
Mission Survive
Status Confident

​

Mentions: Gav ( The Regal Rper ), Ciel ( Phayne ), Lilly ( Mook-LandStrider ), Serafim ( Elenion Aura )

Punctuality - nothing less than a facet of timing. What appeared to be rigid guidelines to test their timeliness was more a test of their ability to follow a strict set of a orders. It was a farce if Midori had ever seen one. His Clan, the Old Ways; they emphasized timing. The absolute correct moment, the seizure of success found in being in the perfect place at the perfect time. Repeating the very same act a thousand times because it would have been a modicum better than just a moment earlier, or perhaps even better of an opening if a fraction later. Then, repeating that same action a thousand times more once the timing was perfect so it become second nature.

This was not about their timing. This was a glorified game of Simon Says.

Alas, it was a game they all had to play, for one reason or another.

Midori made no fault in following the instructions given to him. He made no fuss about Blip. He did test its functionality while listening intently to the apparition. It read back to him as it would anyone else: "A magical construct. Infused with memories." The use of the concept being made in an almost technological advancement was nothing less than disgusting to the actual Golem. To himself, for the moment, he thought, "Why, yes, just magical constructs, a few memories thrown in, and voila, a whole new being brought to life." Of course, it was hardly that simple. Calling the things in front of him Golems was little different than comparing the first cellular phones to the holographic constructs of today. They performed the same basic function: communicate among radio waves. But, the refinement and complexity were worlds apart.

These, however, were not thoughts for now.

Their next objectives was made clear to them: reach a destination in a set period of time without deviating from a path. This only further confirmed his belief that the tests set out in front of them were not of any real benchmark, but to see if they could simply follow directions. Everything else the little abominations said was pure bluster. The time he was given was more than sufficient, with or without shortcuts. While he was more than confident in his speed, Midori did at the very least check the distance he made in his first minute of dashing forward along the path to make sure he would arrive in time. It was no surprise Midori would easily be able to make the trip in well under half the time. What he cared more about, however, was expending as little of his energy as possible.

No deviations. No shortcuts. No bursts of Empowerment. Just his speed and endurance in a straight stretch. Ironically, this type of point A to point B dash along a curving path with little-to-no other obstacles was... not at all how the Hoshi trained. Often, in fact, their training was about the opposite: adhering to the shadows, keeping to the unbeaten path, finding new ways to reach a destination, and overcoming the obstacles of getting there. This was, in a word, dull. Despite that, Midori was able to reach Gaea Glade in just under twelve minutes. It didn't matter to him if he was first, second, or last; it didn't matter to him if he was the only one to adhere to the path, either.

Those that didn't beat him (if any) soon arrived, one by one. He made no comment on those that surrounded them, although he knew a few. It was the ways of an assassin to know their targets, but also their teammates. Gav was no one new to him, although he hadn't interacted with him personally. Chances are, however, if he had been at the DWMA longer, they would have crossed paths, if only due to Solaria and her remaining grudge over their duel. Ceil, a rare Grigori. Not much else, aside from him also being a weapon. Serafim, a Meister specializing in long range fighting; administration had attempted to coerce a partnership. Attempted being the key word. The others were unknown variables, mostly women, and would require further assessment.

The feline girl was cute, though. A Witch, more than likely. Again, not thoughts for now.

Time passed until none remained. Dantas explained that taking shortcuts had no effect on the outcome, but Midori was not convinced. Not yet. It could easily be a mind game: lull them into a false sense of security regarding the rules for now. Which made even more sense given the next rule he introduced after the long-winded bluster he made explaining their purpose. They could not kill the creatures that inhabited the island. This was a problem for Midori to such the degree he felt targeted. Nonetheless, their goal was to survive, not slaughter, so it made sense. It was not as if his skill set was entirely neutered, either.

And, of course, their introduction to the island was a direct confrontation with the creatures they were instructed not to kill. The magical nature of it was flashy, felt unneeded, and probably was meant to frustrate the weaker willed, much like the notifications on the devices or the waste of a few minutes. Things that in the grand scheme of events would prove arbitrary. Thus far, their mission of redemption seemed more annoying than anything. Admittedly, however, they were finally reaching a point where skill was relevant.

Midori made two quick decisions in that moment. The first was not for him, but for others. The first was one that likely only he, with actual experience as a previous Two-Star Meister and Monster Hunter, would make. If the situation arose, he decided, that he would kill one of these monsters and subsequently be removed from the program; if, and only if, it was to save one the life of one of the others. No hesitation. No split second judgement call. No time wasted in the heat of the moment. A whole life was more valuable than a single year in his ageless body. The second decision was far more simple: killing and harming were not the same thing.

The Old Ways were not just about assassination, although most had such a misconception. There were many techniques within the style meant for non-lethal use, especially given that kidnapping, theft, and torture were literally part of his training. His mentality shifted. He wouldn't kill a single one; but, he would leave these creatures wishing he did. His presence in the group faded. His soul and signature vanished. Gav created the first opening, Midori intended to widen it. His left arm transmuted into a blade and in a flash had caught up with Gav and stood parallel to him. In his deft movement, he had slashed through the entire right set of appendages on one creature from the joint down. In the same motion, his right hand transmuted to his bow. As he passed the creature, he launched flaming bolts at each stump he left, cauterizing the massive wounds he left. The creature wouldn't die or bleed out, but it also wouldn't be moving.

The end result of this motion was also important. Gav positioned himself to try and cover his flank in the circle of reptilian creatures. Now, he had Midori at one side of him, halving the area needed to cover, and leaving one creature to fall straight to the ground unable to even turn to spit.

"Would be nice," Midori said aloud, "If they were cannibals."

 

[Elenion Aura]

Serafim — The Sniper​

Gaea Glade

Serafim sat cross-legged in the clearing, the Blip device wrapped around his wrist. He was meditating. His eyes were closed, his lips muttering the words - the prayers he'd memorized as a child - but he was not at peace. Images of that day haunted his waking mind, even now. When the man in the clearing began to speak, Sera was glad of the distraction. Everyone had arrived. Sera wondered if their trip had been as harrowing as his? He'd spent the plane ride in fervent prayer, and tried his best not to look out the window. He did not trust this technology, even after all this time. And then there was this. Serafim registered the weight of the Blip which had attached itself to his forearm. He wanted to take it off and chuck it into the forest. It had been nagging him nonstop since he'd put it on. Things could have been worse... Couldn't they? If they could, Sera didn't know how... His thoughts drifted. He thought of Ismene. He wondered if she would wake soon. If she was awake now, while he toiled half a world away. While he atoned for his sins.

Serafim look out at the group that had gathered for the first time. Some of them were familiar to him, in the way that strangers are familiar once one has passed them by for years. He saw no reason to pay them any more mind now than he had when they were in school, and so he promptly forgot they existed once more. Their proctor - he had the bearing of an eccentric proctor, at least - drew a magic circle in the air. The winds of magic rose up around them, and Sera braced himself for what may come. Perhaps this was not training, or rehabilitation at all. Perhaps they meant to do away with them all here and now. If that was the case, Serafim thought, then he would not go down without a fight. Instinctively he reached out for Ismene, with his soul and his hands. But she was not there. With the realization came a fresh well of rage, which he fought with all his willpower to stifle. Not again. Not here. Not so soon!

When at last the dust settled, Sera found that he was still alive. Small comfort, for he also found that he was surrounded by vicious, reptillian horrors which he was not allowed to kill. The others around him were quicker to act. Perhaps they were not as burdened by the reality of their situation. The Regal Rper Sir Les Paul on the offensive, punching a hole through the creatures' ranks, some demonstrated their Mook-LandStrider for Sybil , with varying effect. One chose to flee, borne away by the wings of a Phayne . Now it was Serafim's turn to choose. Did he stay and fight, throwing his lot in with these delinquents? Or did he take his chances alone?

Serafim spoke.

"Grapnel." He uttered the word like a prayer, reverent. His Soul's wavelength answered. He ran toward the treeline, in the direction of the weaker side of reptiles. His arm shot forth. His soul shot farther, found purchase high in the canopy of a tall, old oak. Serafim soared upward, dragged behind the tether of his soul, into the tree. He gave one look back at the fighters below, his expression impassive. Then he took off into the forest, leaping from treetop to treetop. He only had to survive. Survive, and see her again. He would survive. He would.

 

[Arcanist]

Agnes Fairhair
Mentions: Gav ( The Regal Rper ), Ciel ( Phayne ), Adrasteia ( Sybil ), Serafim ( Elenion Aura ), Lilly ( Mook-LandStrider ) | Interactions: -
​

Stick to the path. Don’t stray, don’t wander, as tempting as it was to bypass the system and to make this easier. She couldn’t do it. She could, but that was why she shouldn’t. Knowing she could landed her in enough of a messy heap, whether it was because of her misguided judgement or otherwise. She couldn’t afford to do it here. Not when everything was dangling from the thin, fraying string she was trying so desperately to hang onto.

That, and she couldn’t handle the mocking ‘Fool!’ that succeeded in rattling her.

Fool! Fool! Fool!

It was as if this immortalised Excalibur knew that these words would stab at her with the precision of a sharpened icicle. Cold and hard, each time that word was uttered, it became a constant reminder to her, of why she was even here in the first place. Fool, indeed, was the right word for her. And yet, all at the same time, she wanted to rebel and run from it, but the implications and the aftermath that would arise from it scared her more.

A wall of code shouldn’t have phased her. After all, it was carrying out what it was told to do; to guide her, to constantly alert her to the time and raise her blood pressure, to snide her for losing what little semblance of self-control she already had. But was Agnes any different, following the orders of a code that was following the instructions of another?

About over halfway, despite having contained herself up until this point, Agnes found she had no choice but to deviate from this path. The clock was ticking ever closer to its inevitable end, and Agnes was stuck between two ends; not reaching her destination at all, therefore, failing to follow simple instructions and failing the task miserably as a whole, or else, being chastised for not sticking an agreed path. She decided the latter was the lesser evil and grunted, “Shut up, shut up, shut up…” at each protest to her bending of the rules. That she would be booted from the program, marking her as a failure.

Yet another word she couldn’t tolerate being thrown towards her. The thought of it made goosebumps blossom on her arms. Failure, with a capital ‘F’, could not be tolerated. She burst into a sprint, her feet coming down hard on grass, flattened by the sudden assault, her breathing quickening as she rushed through the archway, minutes away from letting this opportunity to repent slip completely through her fingers.

She would not fail. She could not fail.

Agnes was one of the few that had arrived last at their destination. She knew this, for when she checked her Blip, one Excalibur’s cane was pointing and pointing to the two minute mark. She had to hold back a sigh of relief. Good enough, for now. Not her best, but it would do, since all that mattered was making it here in the first instance, right?

Her attention shifted to those who had already reached their destination before her. Several characters, some of which she recognised, others she wasn’t so sure, but all of whom must have had differing experiences from one another to be plonked here together on this very island. Agnes couldn’t call herself any different since she occupied said landscape with each of them. But she reverted from further speculation or wonder about each of her companions here with her, and instead focused on Plaszure, a figure whose name she had heard of. A prodigy of…something. His Three Star Rank was a shining achievement of his, Agnes was sure, or at least, she remembered thinking that once in her Communications Studies class. To think she was in the presence of one…and in the worst possible circumstances. Nonetheless, she kept her concentration affixed on him the entire time.

Each explanation he made only had Agnes stiffen. The words ‘test day’ did fill her with any tremendous glee, but again, she reckoned why they were all here. She couldn’t help but feel a familiar feeling rise up from the pit of her stomach, a sudden urge and itch to get this ‘test’ started, no doubt at the mention of Dantas’s praise at Gav’s ‘utilisation’. But that didn’t take away from further statements of his; how not all of them are truly qualified, despite their ascension to Elite Status, and even at that, people managed to slip by. Agnes couldn’t help but note how surreal this was, that beam of his latching onto his lips, whilst making such statements. She had expected another lecture, yet, this one felt different. Something about it felt more…harrowing. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Then came that icy toned word; survive. Of course, she should have expected it. Her days at the DWMA got tougher and tougher as time went on, and no mercy was shown for the strong, never mind those who weren’t cut out for the work. She had signed on knowing that was the case, even in the case her father was involved in. He at least found himself another position in the DWMA, garnered enough respect from the organisation he devoted his life to and the Fairhairs he was beholden to in name. Agnes felt her teeth clench, almost too focused on that that she almost missed the rest of Dantas’s instructions.

And then came the sudden torrent of wind, making Agnes squeak and grip onto her skirt from blowing up, and a momentary deafness to the explosion around her. When the wind subsided, and the explosion had faded, Agnes already felt a deep dread settle in her chest. Colour popped much more vibrantly in the environment that surrounded them, and before any of them could adjust to the sudden change, all were suddenly accosted by reptilians. Dantas and his shield’s absence was well noted.

No Weapon. No equipment. Not even so much of a warning, Agnes thought to herself. She barely avoided the spittle that came hurtling at them from one of the creatures; not enough time for her to do a roll, and so throwing herself out of harm’s way only made for a lousy landing on the ground. She made a quick recovery though, assessing the situation around her.

Gav already made one creature break the formation the reptiles had formed around them, and Lilly, managed to widen the gap. One, with a Gregori soul, Agnes was surprised to find, had shot up into the air, wings expanded, abandoning the group completely. Another had made off too, no longer staying to fight, not that she could blame either of them. A Weapon was already slicing into another reptile, and then there was her.

Only, now it was her, facing up against a reptile of her own, barrelling right towards her. Agnes took in a deep breath, and immediately went on the offence. She started sprinting towards it, but never taking her eyes off the goal. Claws raised to land down upon her, she swerved to the left, barely missing the claw as was. And that was when she lunged towards the body, hand poised in a chopping motion, feeling a sudden surge of trembling energy build up into her arm and hand. She struck the side of the reptile in a swift motion, sending a wave of vibrations through its body, each wave causing it to jut, interrupting its motions. It would only last for a few moments. It would only buy her so much time to run.

And yet for a split second, she looked back to the others, who still fought, who still struggled to survive. Did she stay and fight with them? Survival in a pack? Dantas’s words rung through her head in an instant.

This is a test of you as individuals…

Agnes gritted her teeth. There was one objective here; survive. If she didn’t, she died. Worse yet, she failed. Whilst that reptile was still recovering, she took a risk and ran off past it. With any luck, she could try to find higher ground, shake them off, hide if she could. She wasn’t so sure what her game plan was.

Only that she knew she couldn’t fail.

 

[The Regal Rper]

• Group 1
• Gav
• Adrasteia
• Group 2

• 
  
  Lempo, Hiisi, Paha
  ⬇
  Glade​
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  Struck, topped, fall. With agility that bellied size, the sleek tail was raised and struck in a sweeping arc to knock aside- Gav however leapt away from his early position on the lizard's chest, dodging the beast's tail with a jump and flip and doing backflips once landing on the ground. On his second back flip, he moved to the side, no wavelength- pure strength, and cleared the impact zone where he had just been two seconds ago to avoid the bullet of purplish goop spat in his direction. Leading with a cartwheel that had him back on his feet.
  
  Hiisi rolled swiftly off its back and onto its 8 talon clawed legs. The four toed streamline monster that was as athletic in build as a Appaloosa horse, recovered swiftly, body moving like a serpent and bending to regain footing quickly the second its goop missed. The creature moved to pursue Gav--
  
  --meanwhile Paha took a kick to the back of its head. Like a hammer striking nail, the kick sent him off balance with the force applied on his cranium. It made him dip and lose footing, but in that same instant- it swung its tail and the weight attached to it like a child swinging clothing. Round once then down, straight into the ground as it stumbled. Forcing Lily to pick between getting crushed at the force of impact or let go and dodge what would either be a harmful or minor injury- at the exchange of possible capture.
  
  Just as both Viperigiths were about to return facing their prey- they froze. All the Viperigiths did but most paused for only a few milliseconds before twitching back into combat.
  
  A cry. A cry of anger at a frequency human ears could never pick up. Not a human's nor werewolf, or Vampire. Not even with Empowerment unless one really had the training honed particularly on senses and even then, the sound would be overwhelming. To the Elites there was no noise but to the internal drums of the Hiljainen, it was as clear as any regular person shouting in a room.
  
  From the tiny, small holes on the sides of his neck, there was a scream of pain mixed with anger; a whistle that could hardly be heard. Lempo's mouth opened revealing toothless maw- save for tiny pincers, 2 of its right forelegs severed. The limbs twitching as it lost balance and hopped to the side, actually avoiding Midori (or perhaps trying to clumsily regain footing) as it fell over. The legs that were severed twitched and clenched their claws before shrivelling up like raisins and then it was the beast who writhed on the ground, tail slashing at Midori as it came down and crashed into the ground- struggling to get back up.
  
  Slowing its charge towards Gav, Hiisi' changed tactics. Bones snapped, muscles broke down and reformed-- all happening in just one second, right before the meister's eyes-- and suddenly the creature was attacking with its forelimbs. Four armed fists that moved at blinding speed. Putting Gav on the defensive as he relied solely on reflex and speed to slip or shave off striking momentum as he was backpedalled away from the others.
  
  Then in a sudden move, Paha swept around and fired a shot at Lily from his 11 o'clock. In that same instant, Gav launched himself backwards, bringing himself out of striking range by the arms, but not by the turning tail that he had to leap over.
  
  While Gav dodged the tail, Hiisi followed with a shot of goop in Midori's direction, back now to Gav, tail still swinging and keeping him occupied.
  
  With the ball of purple goop zooming in Midori's direction, the size of a tennis ball- Lempo took that moment to do something that may or may not have been seen.
  
  All legs sucked into its torso, and immediately it became a serpent, slithering cautiously forwards, but moving quickly in Midori's direction.
  
  

  
  

  
  
  Mentions: N/A
  
  Interactions: Sir Les Paul Mook-LandStrider
  
• 
  
  
  Glade​
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  Reflexes.
  
  The second the beast went bipedal his only thought was staying on the defense and avoiding that tail. Before that first arm came flying, Gav had already flexed a ounce of his spiritual energy. Like a jolt of electricity, the residual energy that remained in him from that flicker became his focus. Stretching it out: using it to enhance his muscles, increase durability, and strengthen bones just a bit more. Movement however, Gav focused solely on his own natural skill. Only using his wavelength to jolt another meager bit of his spiritual energy through his body.
  
  The first punch landed the instant he had finished, at the exact moment he had lifted his left arm.
  
  Grunting, Gav took that hit- felt immediate soreness- and immediately he upped the jolt just a bit more to further enhance skin and muscles. Focusing on his upper body and letting his agility and reflex training with Blair do the work for him. He slipped the second, moved back completely to dodge the third arm-- but was quickly followed after by Hiisi who chased him relentlessly. Each impact that landed on his arms sent Gav skidding a few inches backwards; each skid forcing him to adjust, maintaining his balance, using his gauntlets to his advantage to absorb the hooks, slipping the jabs, watching for the open claw strikes so he could back away completely- but the beast closed in on him like a true viper, always keeping him within reach.
  
  It's not going to let me go easily
  
  Not that he expected any of this to be easy. He couldn't afford that kind of rookie mentality and the longer he entertained this close combat now that he was roped in, the more he saw how bad it might be getting into a fight of endurance with these things. These creatures were supposed to be hunting all of them, which meant they could handle themselves against people trained in the Assassin Arts. They had speed. Endurance. And could alter their bodies. Midori striking one down seemed to have been effective but Gav couldn't help it was a fleeting moment. He had to keep his mind open, fall into the line of paranoid but just barely and make himself keep thinking of possibilities they might be capable of. All while still moving. Let reflexes do the work, muscle memory--
  
  Here it comes!
  
  First Left, fourth right, second down, third claws, two arm right hook, upwards swipe-- the closer he was the less chance it would use the poison. Gav jolted his energy up once after every series of hits and the moment he got enough distance. Most hits landed with less than 40% the force thanks to the gauntlets acting as shock absorbers; main moves the Meister focused on dodging were the claws, while the rest of the blows he focused on using his gauntlets to help absorb damage or in other cases just upped the jolt long enough to shake off whatever did slip through and hit him. Turning energy to those exact points of contact.
  
  When the tail came at last and its attention shifted to Midori with it, Gav jumped over the prehensile limb, twisted over it when it came back, and using break dancing moves as he landed with a hand spin, he kicked the tail away as it lashed at him- moving all the spiritual energy he had focused in his upper torso and shoulders to his legs, lower back and hip muscles.
  
  With Hiisi aiming for Midori, Gav got back to his feet and with physical reliance on speed, flexed his wavelength into his palm and struck.
  
  Hitting the creature's flanks, sending his wavelength through the monster's body and into three of the legs, Gav aimed to hit again with his right, but the beast bucked with two legs, sending him backwards towards, Adrasteia as he rolled with the blow, intermittently protecting himself with each impact before he came to a stop directly behind (and under) the Demon Weapon.
  
  "Nice legs," was all he said as he kick flipped up, seeing Hiisi down on the ground and unable to get up immediately- Gav turned to rush the monster Adrasteia was fighting. "Cover me bell," was the only thing he said to the girl with bells.
  
  Then he was off.
  

  
  

  
  
  Mentions: Lily, Adra, Midori.
  
  Interactions: n/a
  
• 
  
  Achlys
  ⬇
  Glade​
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  The whips and jabs did nothing to the creature. In fact when the whip slapped its face with the bladed edges, Achlys head snapped back with the strike. Lashing out at the withdrawn whip only to miss.
  
  The following slide and the sensation of poking under the belly made the creature bonelessly maneuver around, facing Adrasteia who continued to lash out and dodge. Interestingly enough the magical toxins she was using, did nothing. The creature did not slow down, it was not halting in movement- in fact it was moving just as quickly as it had before.
  
  In fact, Achlys decided to share. It hacked, aimed, spat, and like a bullet the tennis ball sized purple goop went flying. As Adrasteia anticipates it, the beast closed in once she dodged. It lashed out with a leading foreleg, aiming to claw, and if it missed it followed up with another leg. Every strike gradually increasing in speed till it was becoming difficult to even keep up.
  
  Every time she tried to make distance it would move quickly to close the gap, taking the lashing from her whip but dodging whenever it came to the face. It moved swiftly, struck, and if distance was made it would fire off a blast of goop and close back in.
  
  When Gav was kicked into the fray (literally), he launched to attack and instantly as he approached, the creature shifted forms. Becoming bipedal. It struck out at him, then when he dodged it shot its tail at Adrasteia. Moving to encircle them and keep them pressured into a close range fight.
  
  It wasn't until Gav pushed back with a wavelength strike to the stomach of the beast that it reeled backwards in surprise and slight stun, quickly recovering and moving back to attack.
  
  While Gav dodging attacks, Achlys focused on keeping them trapped. Four arms and amazing co-ordination, any chance Adrasteia tried to flee, it would ignore Gav, and shoot at her. Using its tail as a whip of its own to lash and strike at them both. It was one particular strike used that forced Gav to pull back completely, creating a minor distance as he landed near but not close to the Demon Weapon with bells. In the same instant he landed he pulled out his Blip and took a picture.
  
  Viperigiths. A voice from the device stated. Gav keeping his eyes on the creature while it spoke. Known as Hiljainen or 'Silent Stalkers', the Viperigiths are carnivores. Predators with great muscle control and minor shapeshifting capabilities. They are exceptionally adaptive hunters and are capable of hunting in groups, pairs or alone. Extremely fast reflexes, immune to poison, ice and fire elemental magic, and with powerful regenerative capabilities.
  
  They are capable of camouflage unless exposed to sunlight--
  
  --Achlys attacked, launching itself towards them. All while the voice continued explaining details aloud.
  
  --and are incapable of being tracked by Soul Perception. Emitting a field that scrambles noise and erases their signatures entirely.
  
  Dodging a left swipe from its claw and a tail under, Gav struck at the chest and the beast immediately moved back. Giving them momentary breathing space. Achlys however still lingered closely. Shifting and moving like a cobra on its feet with its forelimbs propped and ready, tail raised high and shifting behind it to strike at different positions.
  
  "Work with me to immobilize it, and I'll help you get out of this trap" the Meister said to Adrasteia, strapping the device back around his waist while glancing behind himself to see that Hiisi, his opponent, was slowly rising from his influenced paralysis.
  
  "Hurry," he ordered. "If two of them get here I won't be able to help you anymore. Make an opening and we can break through." Glancing back to see what had happened with Midori and Lily, more interested in seeing if their monsters were coming their way or not.
  

  
  
  
  Mentions: N/A
  
  Interactions: Sybil
  
• 
  
  Septus, Morta, Babi
  ⬇
  Glade​
  
  
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  With Agnes attack, Septus was physically pushed back. The vibration not only halted movement but sent it sliding forwards. It skidded along the ground, knees bent, claws digging in and then came to a halt.
  
  With Agnes retreating into the woods, Septus split from the circle and followed. The second it stepped into the shadows colors shifted and the black scales of its body changed color, blending in with the environment. Invisible not only to just soul perception now but sight, it moved in. Nostrils flaring as it climbed the trees, following the Fairhair's scent.
  
  

  ​

  
  Morta and Babi entered the forest and then promptly divided for their prey. Morta going for the lone wolf Meister, Babi hunting the one that thought flight would escape.
  
  Babi went invisible. Blending with its environment. Tracking the scent of Ciel. Its heightened sense of smell giving it all it required to track the flyer.
  
  Like a bullet Babi was off. Feet barely making ant sound as it tore through the forest ground, closing in on its target at blinding speed till eventually it detected that her prey was above her.
  
  Aiming, and firing, Babi shot a bullet of goop through the cover of foilage and then repositioned herself elsewhere, aiming and launching herself straight with one leap in the direction Ciel was going to get ahead of him, all still under cover and invisible with her camouflage, then entering the a particular spot- she launched herself upwards, intercepting Ciel and breaking her camouflage as she shot out of the cover of branches and trees and became exposed to the light. Towering over him, the creature moved with its talons to grab him, pull him in, and let gravity plummet them both back down. If she missed, at the distance they were in- she would merely shoot him down and then collect the rewards.
  
  Meanwhile, Sera was approached carefully by Morta, followed and located. Her movements cautious. Every footsteps careful. Shifting into camouflage as she neared. Getting close enough, till she could Pounce.
  

  
  
  
  Mentions: N/A
  
  Interactions: Arcanist Elenion Aura Phayne
  

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice
“Whiplash”

This is why Adrasteia wore shorts under her skirt, this and the fact is she was too dexterous in fighting and acrobatic during a normal day to risk just flashing people indecently by not wearing shorts. It suffices to say there was more than one reason, but Gav likely became a reinforcing factor at that moment. The demon weapon would have tried to stomp them, but he was quick so the encouragement to leave her underside quickly dissipated and she could focus on the very real threat.

What was worrying however, more than the awkward introductions, was the lack of any muscle slack on the monster despite her repeated insertions. That was bad in her book and only confirmed by the talking tablet as she backflipped to avoid a strike from the now bipedal lizard. “Immobilize? The fuck do you think we are going to do to it, make it feint?? I have a better idea, jam my blade so far in its skull I keep the brain from doin stuff but the regen keeps it alive! That sounds better than tryin to outrun it... but I guess I got no fucking choice... UGGGHHHHHHHHH FUCK.“

The girl scratched her head furiously out of frustration at the situation as her other hand that was transformed into the 3 knives now let the whole arm transform once again into a length of chain with the three blades at the end, the opposite arm grabbing it once done. “It doesn’t like being hit in the face, I just need to gouge its eyes for a real opening to start this adventure off!”

With that the weapon would flip it’s chain, snapping it back to crack the blades beyond the speed of sound once they are near the face, repeating this attack while dodging like a gymnast’s routine as they try to strike at the face which has been dodging them, now trying to blind the creature.

Location: Dall Island


Interactions: The Regal Rper

code by RI.a

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Alekto "Tau" Flores || Psyos Caster of Storms

• 
  
  
  Casting Families: Elemental, Familiar, Enchantment
  Tristan: Healthy, Active
  Tsukino: Healthy, Inactive
  
  
  Tags:
  The Regal Rper
  

  ~ ??? ~
  Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - FYI || Tau's CS File
  
  The trip was annoying and so were these instructions. Arrive on time, no later than x seconds. Proceed when we write not earlier. Make sure you are polite. Yada yada. This was a fool's errand. An unjust one as well. She’d only been trying to stop Lily from turning students into animals. It’s the school’s fault for letting that hussy go wild and ruining the Guild’s name. She had Tsukino at her side though shifted down to look like the average house cat instead of her usual giant mutant bunny form. Still she didn’t want her out long especially if they were being so precise. Before boarding, she sent Tsukino back.
  
  She nearly tore up the insult of a blank paper. Luckily a familiar demon started talking. No unluckily? Didn’t matter, she was still stuck following its whims with no more protest than a raised eyebrow. Ridiculous really she could fly herself there. Probably faster too. As they landed down to the harbor she got another rude awakening with the silly second note.
  
  Blip. What a silly name. But no worse than anything else they’d thrown at her. She hooked it up to her wrist tapping the screen. She scoffed at the idea that she’d need spacial magic to get where she needed to be. There was water. She was a Psyos. She ignored the beaten path entirely and dived down deep into the water propelling herself forwards with her wings.
  
  Excaliber was being rather rude complaining about her taking the natural best route for her. It's insulting that he thought she cared. Even its misery threat of being removed meant nothing in the face of failing and not being able to be an elite at all. She could only take so much stupid consequences of trying to save students.
  
  It wasn’t long before she reached her goal. The waters were not going any closer to the location she needed to be. She shot out of the river soaking as she began to fly up in the air. She shaved tons of time off. She’d already broken so much of the path that it didn’t make sense to hide it now. She flew directly to the dot ignoring the path still.
  
  Letting her wings stop their fluttering she dropped down the way landing directly in front of the man that seemed to be the dotted person. She waited as she listened to him ramble. She didn’t bother to own up to cheating after all her entrance itself proved it. His being irritated her. Of course, real elites wouldn’t need to be here. A real elite wouldn’t have made the dumb mistake of getting caught. If she had her way she’d shoot twelve more lighting bolts at Lilly.
  
  The explosion rocked her. What, did they decide they deserved to be blown up for the stupidity they got into? She knew they had creatures to deal with but explosions just seemed overkill. She wasn’t running. At least not without getting a sense of what she was running from.
  
  “Tristan. You’re up”
  
  She summoned forth her dragon as she took to the air. They were approaching fast and that was an issue. She took left as Tristan went right. Meisters barrelled in to fight as she hung back checking to see what they would do. Someone passed her by in her fleeing.
  
  The communicator would give them info? She raised it up and followed Smokey’s instructions. Rather than get involved with the mess the others were creating she dealt with the ones coming for her. With a shout, she brought forth a swirling storm.
  
  Lightning came down on the creatures. She figured that if she got around the instructions last time there was another gimmick to this one. If she guessed right these things wouldn’t go down easily. She focused on Dodging the hoard as she maintained the fakes and strikes. Tristian threw fire from his side of the hoard doing far less agile dodging.
  
  
  

 

[Arcanist]

Agnes Fairhair
Mentions: Septus ( The Regal Rper ) | Interactions: -
​

Agnes's legs were going full throttle, fuelled by the sudden adrenaline pumping through her body. She took one glance over her shoulder to confirm Septus's position. Of course, he had recovered as she was reaching the woods and was now following her, the girl regretting even looking around to find that thing coming after her. She kept running, and running, convinced she could hear Septus lurking behind her, and getting closer and closer...

Only, when she finally halted near a tree, and looked around, she could find no trace of the reptile. Vanished, completely. Even trying to detect where it could be with her soul perception, she couldn't pinpoint where it was in the area. Logically, there was no way this thing could have just disappeared off the island or the general area they were in. It was somewhere, hidden, searching for her, waiting for her...

Damnit, why didn't she just fight that thing when she had the chance?! Maybe it wouldn't be such an intense game of cat and mouse, or rather, sharp toothed reptile and a very squishy Meister. She surveyed the area around her, on the off-chance she might have seen the creature coming, but to no avail. She needed to get moving. But with that thing tracing her every step, no doubt by her scent, it was inevitable she would have to face off against it. She had to stall for as long as she could until she figured out her next step.

Agnes glanced down to the ground, a carpet of dirt and soil and God knew what else lurking amongst the foilage. She grimaced, before her hands dug down into the ground, soil embedding in her fingernails as she lifted a clump of the ground's natural bedding...and started smearing it across her clothes. Down the arms of her once pale jacket, her tights, across her skirt, and worst of all, the cleanest, whitest shirt she owned. She opted to keep moving as she did this, all the while gritting her teeth as she took to painting her face too. Agnes tried thinking of it as war paint. Some very dirty, weird smelling, war paint.

Eventually, on her short expedition, she came across a burrow, barely big enough to house a crouching human, but with some shrubbery for cover. Agnes knew inevitably she would be discovered at some point, though, the burrow at least provided a bit of cover for now, perhaps to use to her advantage if Septus came sniffing around. So, she found herself becoming even more one with nature by trying to get as close to the burrow as she could without getting stuck.

 

[The Regal Rper]

• Glade Effect
• Gav & Adra
• Agnes

• 
  
  
  

  
  Almost instantly, a fraction of the sky was filled with grey cumulonimbus clouds. Water dispersed, air collecting it, heat a minor factor that sped up the whole process. The clouds formed quickly and floated high up, high enough to strike 4 moving targets closing the gap between not just her but Vivi, Kyogokuin, and Remi. These clouds the size of a entire building crackled with a spark of light. A brief flash of lightning that did nothing to deter the beasts at all. That first crack of thunder that echoed was what got Gav's attention first. Almost instantly, it clicked just who that was creating a storm with reckless abandon, the other person he had seen among the group's numbers.
  
  Shit his eyes narrowed. A response both to that situation and bell girl over here's sense of reckless abandon. Watching her cast that chain and basically ignoring what he was saying as it went flying, Gav kept his ears open as the second crack of thunder went out--
  
  Times like these I'm almost glad Aizen used to zap me for all those warm ups.
  
  --a bright flash covered the glade and the first bolt of lightning struck, completely missing its target and scorching the ground. But Tau's spell clearly wasn't done yet- and that was what Gav was more concerned about than anything.
  
  He blinked, and in that same instant- Achlys already poised, snapped his head forwards and snagged the chain of Adrasteia's whip, moving in a wave like fashion that barely slipped past the blades that had been going for its eyes, and snapping the chain taut as she pulled back-- only to find resistance.
  
  The instant this happened, Gav meant to move, but he froze in that same moment as the full effect of Tau's spell kicked in.
  
  The storm clouds had now expanded to that of a football field, and while the Glade was huge and it was clear she was correcting the path of the clouds away from others, Gav couldn't help but get the feeling that--
  
  

  BOOM!​

  
  The lightning went wild.
  
  Like arrows of light sent by archers from above, the lightning did not just strike at the beasts approaching Tau, they struck at the whole Glade. Most bolts missed their targets completely, painting the ground black. Some bolts came dangerously close to striking allies by twenty or less feet. The five creatures that had been moving in Tau's direction were luckily struck but it was easier to say they ran in to those bolts than any true marksmanship or aim.
  
  But that wasn't all, Tristan's flames washed over them. Bathing them in fire.
  
  All while the storm, continued. Trumpeting thunder after thunder for every few strikes of lightning.
  
  Gav scowled, keeping absolutely still. Movement was key here. He crouched low, kept himself still- but Achlys, chose not to. In fact, despite the lightning storm striking all around- the Viperigith didn't seem to care. It actually rose its head upwards, pointing the blades of Adrasteia's whip upwards towards the sky with reckless abandon and that's when Gav knew--
  
  "Oh shit," he said aghast, "they have a resistance to lightning."
  
  One rumble of thunder struck close after a flash struck seventeen feet behind Achlys. And Gav did the only thing he could think of to help Adrasteia from being completely captured by transforming fully or being vaporized by doing tug of war with the beast.
  
  He flared his wavelength beyond full capacity to make up for the slowing his weights would add, like an engine coming alive- and with a low, quiet whisper, with authority in his voice that betrayed the calmness, Gav said gently: "Bells. Change into your weapon form. NOW."
  
  Then he was gone. Dust left behind.
  
  Meanwhile a light show went off around the whole Glade, striking at random points, missing those that wisely didn't shift forms or move too much.
  
  Tau's targets however. They got hit. And when the smoke cleared from the Tristan's fires--
  
  They weren't laying on the ground or burnt to a crisp. They stood there with static and heat rising off all around them, but there was no burns, no falling. The just shook themselves off.
  
  Then the leading one let out a wail that was drowned out by thunder- and shifting forms, became just a bit bigger. Almost as large as Tristan. And now, twice as fast as it came barreling towards her and her familiar.
  
  

  
  Affects: Faded_Neon Diphylleia grayi Asagi Sybil Xcelgamer BriiAngelic Mook-LandStrider
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  As Gav ran towards Achlys at breakneck speeds, his third step breaking the sound barrier around him and causing a shockwave-- a part of him asked:
  
  

  Why am I waisting energy to help her?​

  
  It was obvious to him that Bells, wasn't paying attention to the details. Blinding these creatures? When they could regenerate? Had she not been listening to the device when it was spouting what he had to guess was only some information.
  
  It clearly hadn't liked being smacked in the face before, and if these things knew how to adapt, then they knew how to shift tactics when dealing with opponents. What he was doing right now was a disadvantage to him and right now, himself was all he had. If she wanted to act rash- then fine.
  
  But leaving her to get taken- it didn't sit right in him. Even if the dumbass deserved it for being a dumb ass. Her fine ass excluded.
  
  The sound barrier shattered, Gav's third step cracked the ground itself, while his fourth shattered it like glass as he moved forward. Blink, and he was already there.
  
  Thunder struck, Gav focused. Listened.
  
  A whistle. Sharp, strong. A note he could hear even though he was moving as fast, if not faster than sound itself. A sharp, long drawn note that was closing in. The lightning would be striking nearby, he could hear it from that pitch. Tell the trajectory from it was coming from based on the angle-- move quickly, strike hard, and brace myself for whatever happens next.
  
  In less than a second, he was already in front of Achlys. Right arm pulled back, a quick, sharp jab in the neck, hitting hard and fast where the scales were toughest but focusing less on the entirety of his force and more on--
  
  Achlys maw snapped open, instantly releasing Adrasteia but at the same time the cloud Tau had flashed and an arc of lightning came careening towards the Demon Weapon's chains and blade.
  
  Gav scowled, and in that same instant- flash stepped forward and shifting his focus from speed, empowered his body at 79% the capacity he knew from experience he could handle.
  
  The lightning hit. Striking him, who took most of the volts and then with static coursing through him, he focused, turned that energy to boost what he was about to do next and aimed his hand at the beast- a electrical bolt of spiritual energy went soaring in Achlys direction.
  
  The remaining voltage, if Adrasteia had heeded the meister's warning- would do her little to no harm. Save for ruined hair.
  

  
  Interactions: Sybil
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  Septus​

  
  Tongue flicking outwards Septus prowled the path Agnes she had walked. The scent was off now. Fainter than it had been. Faint but not invisible.
  
  Hiding. That was the logical reasoning to go by. The female was hiding. Septus shifted: its size shrinking, it's form becoming slightly smaller. Now roughly the size of a young grizzly bear, Septus grabbed one branch with his claws and scaled the trees. Deciding now to scan from above. If the female's scent had become difficult, then all he had to do was use another method of hunting.
  
  Blinking, eyes shifted and the infrared became visible. Body signatures, temperatures of different kinds and the sense of different creatures with different forms became clearer.
  
  Flicking its serpent tongue outwards, Septus moved among the branches like a rather large squirrel. Climbing from place to place. Eyes honing in on nooks and crannies. Till finally after more than a few minutes of what had been a straightforward search, it detected that scent. Faint but close.
  
  A little searching, and it found her.
  
  Shadow casting over the bushes of the burrows cover, Septus made a show of sniffing loudly. Large deep inhales, and flicks of the tongue from above. It's head poking outward, the neck extending long. Performing this for a few seconds, Septus jumped and landed on the ground in front of the bushes of Agnes cover. It sniffed deeply, inhaling- knowing.
  
  Then went a completely different direction. Disappearing into the path of shrubs, and bushes. It's steps fading as seconds became a minute, then longer...
  

  
  Interactions: Arcanist
  
  
  

 

[Phayne]

~Mentions~
Babi The Regal Rper ​

The cackling of lightning coupled with the sound of explosions could be heard from far behind Ciel, the appearance of a storm encompassing the skies immediately above the battlefield did little to dissuade the belief that some major shit was going down back there. Ciel counted himself lucky that he managed to fly off before the storm, the thought of trying to evade lightning bolts was enough to cause him to shudder. He could only imagine what it must currently be like over there. The poor souls still trapped fighting down there must have been experiencing hell on earth right about now, the reptilian like creatures on the ground, the storm above them and by the looks of it a dragon. Whether that was friend or foe, Ciel didn't much care since presently he found himself flying far away from that fiasco. It wasn't a problem that he had to deal with right now.

Saying a prayer for the unlucky still stuck back there, Ciel made a silent promise to at the very least, think about going to their funerals. It wasn't like he had any deep connections to them, so missing one of two funerals wouldn't have been much of an issue. Hell, he'd prefer not to go to any funerals if he could.

Turning back to face forward and return to his search, Ciel had yet to notice the silent predator lurking behind him from down in the forest below; a predator well adapted to the jungle as it silently stalked its next meal, eyes fixed upon the flying blue delicacy in the skies above it. A meal that if it managed to devour, would give it severe indigestion as well as a monthly long run of the runs.

Glancing left to right as he searched for an ideal spot to 'survive', Ciel from the corner of his eyes had seen the incoming bullet of gloop fast approaching him from down below, the Demon weapon evading it with relative ease as he twirled around in the sky, coming to a stop as he searched the tree's below, looking for the source of the attack. Instinctively Ciel began to rise higher, an attempt to get out of range of whatever it was that had shot their gunk at him, alas it wasn't high enough.

"What the fuck?!" shouted Ciel as the inevitable occurred.

Back turned to where Babi had positioned herself, Ciel could not evade the reptile as it towered above him, the leg strength it must have possessed to get this high was surprising, yet Ciel could not dawdle on that thought. Feeling cornered and unable to dodge, Ciel wrapped his wings around himself as cover to protect himself from the talons clawing away at him, the pair now entwined beginning to plummet towards the earth. A cold aura beginning to emanate from Ciel, the cold touch the beginning of the end for Babi, should she be a true reptile.

As they fell to the earth, Ciel jumping on a spike from his own soul had used the boost to force his wings open and break free from Babi's grasp, the boy coming to a stop a few meters away from the reptile as they both rolled away from the impact. Ciel momentarily taking the opportunity to dust himself off.

Standing firm with his back against a tree, Ciels right hand had already shifted into a broom, the straws begining to snake between themselves as they began to take the shape of a trident head. All the while, coldness began to seep into the area; an icy cold touch of death itself lingering around Ciel. "Listen you oversized gecko, I'd rather not fight. So lets be civil, you run away. I run away. Nobody has to know about us running from the fight. Nobody has to get hurt. Do we have a deal?"

If this was a true reptile like everything so far had pointed it out to be, then the cold was not something it would want to mess with, ectothermic creatures were simply not meant for the cold.
He'd make that iguana kneel.​

 

[Elenion Aura]

Serafim — The Sniper​

Gaea Glade

Gods, ancestors. Be with me.

Serafim bounded across the tree-tops, apace with the flying blue-haired Phayne who appeared like a bird overhead. He was being hunted. Reaching out with his Soul, he could not feel the presence of the predator lurking behind him, but he knew that it was there all the same. He had to keep moving. The skies darkened overhead. What now? He thought. What new devilry was at work in this land, with which I must contend? Clouds reeled above him, as the heavens split with the crack of thunder. The air was tinged with the scent of magic. A witch? Or perhaps not. Perhaps some BriiAngelic had clawed its way here, to the realm of men. No matter. For now, Serafim's concern could only be his own survival.

Suddenly, the hairs along the nape of his neck pricked up. Sera froze, as the air crackled before him. The tree which would've been his next destination burst, split down the center by lightning. Splinters flew out as the great oak groaned, cracking itself in two. As the two halves fell to the earth, Sera, either possessing the wherewithal to double check his surroundings or possessing a lion's share of sheer dumb luck, turned to look back at the clearing he'd left behind - where the others still fought. As he did, Sera caught a glimpse of the The Regal Rper as it lunged for him. It was all fury and flashing teeth, and it took all of Serafim's might to dodge what would've certainly been a devastating blow.

He took a rushed step back, arching his body as far away from the scrabbling claws as possible, as his feet slipped off the ledge of the treebranch which had been his perch. For a split second he was in freefall, guided only by the weight of gravity dragging him toward the underbrush. Then Sera's Soul ignited, shooting forth and snatching greedily for a purchase at a new vantage several trees away. Sera's body soon followed, its trajectory redirected when his grapnel latched itself to the trunk of a nearby tree. The lizard abomination followed, presumably, until the pair of them wound up crossing paths with the Weapon, apparently knocked from the air by his bestial rival. Sera had lead his beast right to them, quite unintentionally.

However, Sera had no intentions of slowing down.

As he ran by, Sera shot the Weapon a sidelong glance, his face devoid of any sympathy, before extending his Soul and shooting off into the treeline once more. He prayed to the gods that the beast that was pursuing him would stop and focus its attention on the Weapon instead.

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Alekto "Tau" Flores || Psyos Caster of Storms

• 
  
  
  Casting Families: Elemental, Familiar, Enchantment
  Tristan: Healthy, Active
  Tsukino: Healthy, Inactive
  Gargoles: 7, Healthy, Active
  
  
  Tags:
  The Regal Rper
  

  ~ Glave ~
  Tension Rising || Tau's CS File
  
  The storms were doing nothing. This was unprecedented. She wasn’t used to monsters that neither she nor Tristan could overpower. Still that didn’t mean that she was going to give up. Elemental magic might be her go to but it was far from her only firepower in her arsenal. She let the storm continue, stopping her constant feeding power into it. It would dissipate on its own in a short while. Instead she focused her energy into her rings drawing in power. She needed to fight this with raw power and distractions. Lighting wasn’t the only way she knew how to do crowd control.
  
  Before long she gathered enough energy to start some shit. A crowd of seven puppet gargoyles flew beside her. Unlike Tristan, these had no autonomy so she had to be quick if she was going to get all of the workings well as a unit. With a quick dive closer to the creatures they all flew down. She pulled up while gesturing down with her fingers making sure that the gargoyles continued.
  
  With herself swerving just outside of the creature's range. She noticed the Blip going off. Right she had info on them. A voice called out a message. Shapeshifters were they? How interesting. If she didn’t have Tristan on distracting patrol clawing at them from behind she’d look into bringing Tsukino out as she was a much smaller target. For now though splitting her attention between dodging, staying in range to use the puppets, and watching for Tristan was already becoming tiresome.
  
  She needed either more distractions or a heavy hitter. She didn’t like relying on others but it seemed her initial assumption was correct. If things kept on she’d need to let Tristan go fetch others. If her assumption was correct they weren’t really going to appreciate it but all's fair in war and war. Ah! She dived with a furious beating of her wings narrowly avoiding getting too close to the creatures.
  

 

[Sybil]

Adrasteia Chandrice
“Whiplash”

Lightning was... new. New to this battle, and the moment she got grabbed she knew this was going to be an issue. She kept her feet steady, preparing for taking this hit as best she could, not being the first time she has taken lightning directly to her weapon form or even half transformed. Hell, it reminds her of the time she and Samsen fought a killer who would tie their victims to lightning rods to kill them, their sinful form like a twisted lightning rod with transformers off a telephone pole for fists. Now THAT caused her to go to the hospital, and back then she would have taken it with a quiet smile and forced humility. Regardless, she is a chain mostly after all, and enemies with electrical attacks tend to deliver their load through her like a lightning rod. It might be said she started to like the shocks, but that definitely would not help her when her worst enemy was being slow.

And this boy helping her? He seemed fast, even before witnessing his speed to make the jaws release the chain... She could use that. She chuckled as the storm gathered with thunder, knowing clearly what this beast was doing. Her body readied itself, and when the static in the atmosphere hit its climax as she felt it through her body and chain? She whipped herself at the lizard, transforming into her whole whip chain form and flinging herself right at the monster reptile. As Gav struck the creature and the jaws opened, lightning coursing through him and then Achlys, the chain transformed back to her humanoid form and stuck one foot between the monster's teeth and one arm around the head to stop herself abruptly. Her timing was precise, as one needed to be ever working with a whip in a real combat situation, and she had a mere precious few seconds before this would possibly kill her.

All I can think of is how this is like an inexperienced dom with a bunch of anal beads. Hahahahaha~, god I need to stop watching bad male gay porn for comedy.

She had a simple plan. She let go of the head as soon as she had stopped her movement on the head, grinning wide as she threw that arm back and twisted her body. The thrown arm would arch back and transform into her handle part of the chain, whipping past Gav and wrapping around his torso one solid loop. The other arm used what little strength she had and punched into the eye of the beast. Through the other eye, the socket would burst with her now transformed other arm, the blades and chain bloodily bursting and hanging outside the other socket a good foot or so. All this in practically one or two seconds of clearly no hesitation making her efficient, her body now falling in that moment and she turns to the meister with her probably bloody clothing.

"Run~!"
If he did? Then the chain and her would be pulled, the chain ripping its way through the sockets and pulling eyes and raking the small sensors nearby in the skull, her plan was simple after all. Temporarily blind and ruin the smell, making their escape easier! even if it was bloodier.
​

One thing was sure, she felt alive for the first time. She was free of Samsen, free of control, even if it wasn't her choice to be on this god-forsaken island. She was here, fighting and being who she wanted, able to stand and show her talents. No more white walls, no more lectures from her partner, no more assumptions about how she feels. She wore it on her sleeve, and the creepily wide smile showed her glee at this deadly situation.

Location: Dall Island


Interactions: The Regal Rper

code by RI.a

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"The Shade"​

Species Death Golem
Partner None (Autonomous)
Rank One-Star Elite

Location Dall Island to Gaea Glade
Mission Survive
Status Confident

​

Mentions: Gav ( The Regal Rper )

Situational assessment. It was an acquired skill. An idiot or group thereof could fight on instinct and perhaps get results. Those with good instincts may even make it to a Plan B if the first failed. The problem was that risks elevated with each subsequent failure and energy itself was a resource they could not afford to waste, especially if the goal was to survive two days. If Midori intended to make a run for it, like the flier, he was sure he these beasts would have no hope of keeping up. What he didn't trust was the potential punishment for doing so. Two days of just fighting these creatures wasn't likely all they had to face. His mind ran through a dozen scenarios where the mages or the flier would have far more utility; and, given his primary tactic to eliminate targets wasn't permitted, it seemed a poor idea to go it alone.

Again, he felt targeted.

Two immediate threats to him presented themselves: a slashing tail and a projectile from another beast. Midori defaulted to his most fundamental defense: his deftness. He dodged, then back-pedaled in a bolt to the freeline of the glade. He needed a better idea of what was going on. A storm had brewed, Gav was on the assault as much as ever albeit defending another, and there were assorted skirmishes that provided more and more details about the creatures. It was time to review what he learned.

The creatures could spit a venom that could petrify even weapons, apparently. They were not to be killed. They could withdraw their appendages to become snakes. They did not seem to target each other whatsoever. They were agile enough regardless of appendages to be a problem to the bulk of the group. This had to be considered. Mido then went into forms of speculation based of his experience. It was likely that they could also lose their tail and regenerate it at will. They likely communicated at some type of ultrasonic frequency. They likely weren't a hive mind, but did function as a structured group. There was a chance that there was some type of leadership hierarchy within the group, but deciphering it was unlikely and creatures of a reptilian family likely wouldn't stop because a leader was incapacitated.

Additionally, the group had splintered. While the bulk remained in the Glade, some remained in the treeline. This was disadvantageous. It made them more difficult to monitor, which meant intervention would be more difficult. All in all, not a great scenario. More so, there didn't seem to be a clear form of leadership in their current group; hell, teamwork barely seemed to exist at all. That was likely to be expected given the nature of the individuals.

Midori reiterated his goal: incapacitate the targets. Eliminating limbs alone proved pointless, however, he had another idea. If the limbs were unable to be withdrawn, at the very least, a creature could be pinned in place and perhaps be prevented from shaping its body. It was worth the effort to test his theory, at the least.

Midori empowered himself--he would need it. With his bladed arm, he emerged from his hiding spot only to carve down one of the thick trees and continue to make quick slashes through it until he formed four thick pikes, moving quickly--they weren't perfect, but they sure were fucking bulky. Next, he enhanced his senses. Not his Soul Perception. He found that the creatures were beyond his level of tracking, but every creature made a sound. He was taught that even the faintest heartbeat could be secluded from a melody of commotion with enough concentration. Luckily, he wouldn't need to extend himself that far to figure out what to do.

Targets were scattered and on the move. None after him since he bolted, if only because he was likely too fast for them to see or track. He made the decision in that instant that if his plan worked, the best way to communicate it would be by demonstration. At this moment, Gav was fighting one of the creatures and utilizing his wavelength to do so. A perfect distraction if he ever saw one. Much like the Meister, Midori allowed his wavelength to pour through him; his next feat would require strength he rarely used, and thus wasn't nearly as efficient with. He heaved three of the massive pikes over one shoulder and the final he kept in his hand.

Then, he darted out the treeline like a madman, running fast enough to leave natural afterimages and arriving near Gav and Achyls from where he was before the sonic boom even caught up. In this same motion, he threw the first pike at the front limb of the creature, then began launching the remaining three in quick succession, trying to pin the first four limbs of the creature down like tent spikes at an angle. Even if they all didn't land their mark, he was sure at least one would and he trusted his arm enough to not impale the creature lethally. If it worked, then at least two others would see. If not, then he just expended some of his energy and caught up with at least two others. It was a calculated risk, but running around haphazardly without a plan just plain wasn't working. They needed to do something.

 

[Mook-LandStrider]

Lillith 'Lilly' Pantera
Mentions: BriiAngelic (Tau's Storm.)
Interactions: Sir Les Paul (Midori) The Regal Rper (Gav) Sybil (Adra)

Seeing the beginning of the tails movement Lilly took a deep breath and readied herself for the inevitable impact. Her skin seemed to shimmer as it shifted at her chest into a chitinous looking material. The impact while immense was buffered by the plate absorbing most of the impact. Not immediately injured Lilly was thrown up and through the air by the force of the impact. Turning midair Lilly managed to reorient herself before impacting the ground. Shredding her shoes, her feet shifted to become far more animal-like as talons dug into the ground causing her to slide to a stop before hitting a decent sized rock and flipping over it. Laying on her back for a few moments Lilly took several breaths before rolling over and onto her stomach. Pushing herself up she let out a grunt as her mind suddenly shot to the pain wracking her body.

Running a hand down the side of her arm she saw blood on her hand and immediately she felt her eyes twitch. Her mind snapped back and she felt her head throb in pain as she forced a desire to go berserk down. Stuffing away the feeling she stumbled for a few seconds before collapsing onto the ground, her head throbbing. Rolling onto her back she placed her hands on her chest and concentrated. Feeling a blinding pain shoot through her body Lilly let out a scream as a bone snapped back into place in her leg. Gritting her teeth as they sharpened she fought back an even stronger urge to lay into the creature that had thrown her.

Breathing heavily for several seconds she got back up and onto her feet before setting off back towards where she was thrown. With her senses finally coming back she witnessed the trail end of the lightning storm and almost immediately recognized the flavor of magic stemming from the remnants of the storm. Standing still for a second she bounced up and down as she took in all the noise of the battle. Isolating the voices of someone she knew she turned her head towards them and quickly set off. Closing the distance rather quickly Lilly stopped and grounded herself as she came up close to Paha. Moving her feet and pivoting her hips she made an upward movement as the ground behind her seemed to suddenly cave in. Transmuting the terrain she caused a sudden spear of rock to jut up and impale Paha through the side.

With the creature that launched her immobilized she began to turn away from it but not before bounding out of the path of a spit attack. Free from her pursuer she quickly made her way towards Gav, Adra and Midori. Arriving next to them as Midori pinned Achyls to the ground Lilly leapt over it at full sprint and dragged her long shimmering talons across its back, digging into it and tearing open any bare flesh she could. Landing on the other side of it she redistributed her momentum and kept running towards Gav and Adra, trailing just behind Midori.​

 

[Xcelgamer]

Vivi hadn't been fully paying attention to busy focusing on fixing up her mess off her hair, she got the basics of what to do, get to a glade in 35 minutes otherwise be force to fail and have the Blip with her when she gets there. She purposefully lagged behind every one else as she chewed bubble gum finishing up on her hair. It didn't matter she was a Demon Weapon so she could deal with anything that was thrown at her... at least that's what she assumed about this place especially since she could just punch monsters out of her way. "Hmmm it would probably be quicker if I went through the forest rather than follow the path" she thought unfortunately as soon as she tried her hair kept getting in the way getting stuck in low hanging branches and in bushes making her turn back and made her follow the path

"Stupid bloody trees getting in the way of my plans" she huffed, Vivi looked around but she hadn't seen anyone since the start. Good, just the way she preferred it meant she didn't have to drag around dead weight or have someone to talk to. It was nice to just be alone and listening to what nature was out here unfortunately she couldn't take her sweet time so she keep at a quickened pace as well as keeping an ear out for any monsters or even worse other weapons, meisters or casters.

 

[Arcanist]

Agnes Fairhair
Mentions: Tau's Lightning ( BriiAngelic ) Septus ( The Regal Rper ) | Interactions: - ​

Agnes could hear the rumbling, the crackle of lighting striking the earth from afar. She felt like she could smell the smoke rising from the ground, though, maybe that was her senses failing her already, her mind decieving her. She wasn't surprised, sitting in some hole away from the others, hiding instead of facing the creature head on. Hiding would only do her good for so long. All the while, she wondered what her father would have done in her position. The Great Magnus Fairhair, Magnitude, as he regrettably had to call himself after losing a bet to his own Weapon. It suited him. The man who could make the ground rumble beneath his feet. Rumours blown out of proportion, he said, but he always undermined his own achievements.

Magnus was snatched away from Agnes's thoughts when she noticed a shadow rising over the bushes of her cover. She stilled her body. Don't make a sound. Easier said than done, but she had no choice to. She watched the tongue appear, reappear, the sounds of heavy sniffing and breathing threatening to send fear right into the very core of her being.

It landed on the ground in front of her cover. Agnes could feel the vibration through the ground as it reached her, and she bit into the sleeve of her coat. She refused to flinch. She tried to bury the fear that was rising in her like hot steam, the closer its head and that ugly sniffing nose got. Agnes turned that fear into adrenaline. She felt the years of training grow heavy in her legs. She would kick it back, send it reeling before she stood her ground and attacked. Hiding and running was going to exhaust her, get her killed. Agnes needed to fight. And so she counted.

One...two...!

Three never came. The reptile backed off from the burrow, its senses leading it elsewhere. Agnes refused to budge from the burrow, not until she knew it had disappeared. It rustled amongst other bushes, and Agnes listened to its steps fading...she waited. She waited a minute, then two, then five, eventually ten. Even as she wiggled her way out of the burrow, she was still unsure of whether to leave or not. But she knew she couldn't stay there forever.

So, Agnes turned off in the other direction. Not quite running, but knowing she wasn't out of the woods just yet. All she had to do was find higher ground, find somewhere to nestle down. And with any luck, she wouldn't run into any of the other reptiles that were on the hunt too...

 

[The Regal Rper]

• Ciel & Sera
• Agnes
• Acchlys & Gav
• Tau & Co

• 
  
  
  

  Morta & Babi
  ⬇
  Forest​
  
  
  
  

  
  There was a success and there was a failure.
  
  Ciel's attempt at using natural logic here failed spectacularly. While, yes, the Viperigiths were reptilian in form- their morphology was nothing short of magical. The unique bodies they possessed gave them resistance to heat, cold, and their scales with the durability they possessed made most normal attacks fruitless. Babi was not impressed judging by the lack of reaction she showed, and if that said anything- it also meant she wasn't feeling the slightest shiver either.
  
  The success, came at Sera's sudden surprise appearance. His quick thinking and quick planning worked. Morta swapped targets, and while still visible- she leaped straight for Ciel-- just as Sera shot out of the way.
  
  At the same time, Sera's actions drew Babi's attention. Who not only instantly vanished on the spot, once the Meister had shot off, she began moving after him. While he moved on tree tops, she moved below. She moved like a bullet, fast, swift, silent, deadly. The deadly being the goop of purple Babishot at the meister- aiming for the spot he was about to land, inches away from the next branch- where avoiding mid-jump would be hardly possible. If he used Grapnel-- Babi would break her invisibility and leap after him as he shot towards his next destination.
  
  If he somehow managed to avoid the shot. Well, then the invisible serpent would go after him on the trees. Shifting forms, and chasing him like a monkey after a banana.
  
  Meanwhile, Ciel now faced a bipedal Morta. The creature utilizing its claws, tail, and striking in very sharp, quick attacks that left little room for recovery. Where Gav had faced a similar assault: a barrage of fists that moved at expert speeds, Ciel would soon be facing the same attack. If distance was gained, then a bullet sized form of goop would go shooting him to the ground or try to keep him grounded. If the Weapon was really intent on escaping back to the air- that's what the tail was for. Just a grab around the ankle, and a axe swing straight into a tree.
  
  

  
  Interactions: Phayne Elenion Aura
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  Septus
  ⬇
  Forest​
  
  
  
  

  
  Agnes ran, and then she was pounced. Not from behind, the flanks, or her blind spot. No, no. It was from above.
  
  Septus was nothing more than a dot, then suddenly he was an arrow. Leaping from above and coming from the skies, shielded by the sun as he dropped down, he landed directly in Agnes path of flight. Arms shifting, extending, reaching, claws slashing in her direction the second its four feet touched ground. One arm slashed down, the other slashed to Agnes' right to grab, if he missed all those attacks then both those taffy extended arms sank their claws into the ground. Yanking itself towards her with the muscles in its arms returning to regular length, Septus utilized its other two arms to punch as it closed distance. Pressuring her into moving back as it struck the 9ft tall lizard, as tall as a standing bear but as slim as a standing gecko- struck without mercy in her direction- size clearly not being a problem for it as it let loose one low jab, and a left arm back swipe.
  

  
  Interactions: Arcanist
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  Midori, Adrasteia, Lily, Remi
  ⬇
  Glade → Forest​
  
  
  
  

  
  Stunned, and then a cry of agony that could burst eardrums if it were even perceptible. Perhaps it was that cry that made the others facing Tau, Vivi, Vanya, and the rest that gave them pause or perhaps, it was the cry of absolute fury.
  
  Adrasteia's attack on both eyes and the horrible, metallic scrape that was accompanied with lime green ooze from both sockets left the beast thrashing. Thrashing wildly. Had Adrasteia not fallen off it the moment after she'd destroyed both eyes and promptly fallen off, then the beast might have crushed her with its grabbing claws instantly. Ironically enough, Gav had no need to do anything pulling of the sort, because Achlys did it themselves. It rose, on two legs and scratched at its face, falling to the side- and in that same instant, Midori's pikes came streaking-- missing the first target, but striking the last three. Each stake ended up striking the back of the creature as it writhed on the ground and banged its head, maw wide open and tongue flicking out- but despite the three thuds that came to hit its scaled back, Achlys barely registered the minor thorns in its thick hide. In fact, its main focus were its own eyes.
  
  

  ✴​

  
  Adrasteia's violent display of brutal sensory destruction, while slightly unhinged with the look he caught in her eyes, did nothing but keep Gav more alert of what the beast would do next. The smell, the blood, the ichor, it hardly mattered to him at all. What did matter to him was the writhing Hiljainen they-- or she specifically, had just pissed off.
  
  As she fell, the beast rose and ripped the blade in its face out of both eyes. It was a piece of cake catching Bells. Achlys rising to two hind legs however, put the 7ft large reptile just a couple inches past that, so when Bells had said: Run~!-- well, he didn't. If there was one thing Gav couldn't trust it was the abilities of a shapeshifter. He knew from experience how flexible shapeshifters could be. So even when three of Midori's stakes slammed into the creatures back, Gav didn't immediately go running- because the second Achlys had dropped-- one, two, three, four he counted the Hiljainen turning their attention to them.
  
  "Shit." Was the only thing Gav said as he tightened his one arm grip around Bell's waist and wrapped his other arm around her legs to keep her steady.
  
  Not a second after Gav said that, was the same moment a rain of fire came in two different directions.
  
  Lempo, Gav's own former sparring partner Razel, and two of the Viperigiths that were closer to Tau's group began raining a rapid fire of purple bullets at them in consecutive fire; one after the other. Each covering for the last after one spat, a continuous cycle of paralysis being shot at them in small projectiles- increasing the speed but minimizing the chances of it covering a wider surface area if it hit.
  
  The first barrage struck at the feet, missing everyone. The second- shot by the ear. Concentrating on his hearing, Gav could hear it. A whistle, A trajectory coming at him, Midori, Lily, Adrasteia-- and there was another, someone else that was rushing after them- just behind him. The note was different but he recognized it. One of the others, probably taking advantage of this window opportunity to follow him, Midori, and the rest out of the opening before it got closed up again.
  
  Another barrage. Projectiles came at 7, at 4, and at 3:21 o'clock. Tau was sending out some sort of attack- but Gav ignored it. Useless information he had no need of-- he focused on what was going on around him, how fast these venom bullets were coming meant Midori had the highest chances of dodging all of them with how quick he moved. Lily, probable. Whoever was behind them, he had no clue-- and with Adrasteia weighing him down- unless he dropped her.
  
  Time slowed down. Gav flexed his wavelength just a bit more- exceeding it as bullets closed in. He could feel them crossing feet every single millisecond. The tempo of his movement changing as he focused and his wavelength climbed; 79- 86- 91- 94- 95- 96% Energy radiated in a outline across his whole body as he ran, the light flickered, then was gone and all Gav had was the residual energy coursing through him for just a few seconds. If he wasn't careful- he'd be destroying his own body by the end of this- but if any of those bullets hit him while he was carrying Bells, it was practically game over if the poison relied on movement to spread faster.
  
  In 40 milliseconds or less than second, the meister carrying the Weapon vanished. Gav spread his spiritual energy like a blanket over Adrasteia like a shield as he moved in a blur of motion, moving at superspeed from the residual energy that was fading from his body and rapidly. Come on-- He shifted his position an inch to the right, a bullet went by--- missing him. Aiming straight for Lily- Gav reached out with one arm- flared his wavelength like an engine that was quickly shut off a moment after- and casted a shield of his wavelength over her to protect her body as he physically yanked her onto his other shoulder.
  
  Midori, no doubt had the speed to keep up, so Gav chose not to worry about him. He was putting faith in Midori's speed to be able to keep up but if the rare possibility ended up the Hoshi couldn't then Gav would simply drop these two lightweights off and come back for the Hoshi-- and if he had to, whoever the hell was chasing after them.
  
  In less than a second, Gav cleared 270ft of distance, skidding into the woods on his shoes, empowering them with his wavelength to keep them from burning up on friction; his own muscles burning from the stress he had just put his body through. Not even fully stopping Gav hit a pebble and like a car, he flipped, releasing the girls, rolling on his shoulder as he toppled, and rolling further for several feet before he eventually came to a stop.
  
  Body sore. Muscles aching...then after a second, once he saw Midori nearby- raising a thumbs up he offered the Hoshi a minor smile.
  "Fuck, my body is sore."
  
  And if he was lucky- hopefully nothing was torn.
  

  
  Interactions: Sir Les Paul Sybil Mook-LandStrider Asagi
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  Akka & Co
  ⬇
  Glade → Forest​
  
  
  
  

  
  The cries of rage were the perfect opening that Tau's attack needed. It granted a window of hesitation that gave those gargoyle golems the chance to rain down their fury upon the hoard of charging reptiles, plus Akka- who had gone gargantuan. The gargoyles hacked and slashed with their ground made claws and attacked without mercy while their master stayed out of range. Tristan's swiping claws keeping the group at bay from pushing in any further.
  
  It was when the final group consisting of Gav, Midori, Lily, Remi, and Adrasteia had escaped from projectiles and faded into the shadow of the forests that Akka let out a wail that echoed in the surrounding area, scattering birds that cawed in fright.
  
  The reptile shrank back down to size and while taking the beating the Gargoyles were giving it, it moved away with its group. In that same moment, so did the one's further away that had been shooting at Gav, Midori and company. The fallen creature that had been taken down rising, black holes where eyes once had been staring where multiple eyes at the neck had sprouted. Akka let out a low whistle that could barely be heard by any ears-- and retreating under assault by Tau's creatures- the whole group of monsters swiftly ignored the remaining fae and her small band to enter back into the forest. Where they to quickly vanished into the shadows.
  
  

  
  Interactions: BriiAngelic Xcelgamer @mewmilk
  
  
  

 

[Sir Les Paul]

Midori☆Hoshi​

"The Shade"​

Species Death Golem
Partner None (Autonomous)
Rank One-Star Elite

Location Gaea Glade
Mission Survive
Status Confident

​

Mentions: The Regal Rper Mook-LandStrider Sybil Asagi

What he saw were four consecutive misses. It didn't matter that the creature was impaled. Midori didn't hit his mark. It didn't matter that throwing uneven, lop-sided pikes made from off the cuff cut trees was a skill he hadn't trained for. Not hitting his target was failure. If there were time for wounded pride, Midori would feel it--especially given his nature as a mid-range marksmen.

There, however, was not time. Right as the impaled reptilian gouged itself in agony, a rain of projectiles were headed their way. Midori wanted to fight, there was no doubt about that. He was sure that the group should be able to fend them off and incapacitate them, if at all working correctly. There wasn't a reason an Elite shouldn't be able to take on one of these creatures individually; they had the advantage in numbers. It was apparent, however, they had a massive disadvantage in coordination. This was effectively the deciding factor in his next series of actions.

What he wanted to do was enhance himself, dash forward with his speed, use his bolts to neutralize any projectiles he couldn't dodge, then freeze one of these creatures mouth's shut before lopping off its limbs, all in a brief instant using his touch of death. Sure, it could turn into a snake, but a snake with a frozen mouth, likely scared out of its wits. What he knew, however, was that Gav was exploding with a fairly impressive amount of energy and right about to dart the fuck out, so taking this course of action would put Midori alone in a fight. Much like idiots that splintered off earlier, he would just find himself another bit of noise in a clusterfuck of a battlefield.

No, Midori followed Gav. This would at the very least put them in a group of three, which gave them better odds in the long run. With as much energy as Gav was radiating, it was no surprise he was fast. To keep up with that pace, Midori would have needed to enhance himself just as much; much akin to the issue of just running along a path, he didn't quite train for quick dashes between Point A and B unless it was to kill something. There was no need for that. Instead, Midori resorted to his natural speed which while impressive did put him behind Gav. What did allow him to do was split his attention and fire bolts to neutralize the projectiles mid-air, making their retreat far safer. Less projectiles Gav' needed to shield while carving a way to safety and a designated path for Midori that didn't require a large expenditure of energy. A win-win. Not to mention, provide cover for the fourth member of their potential party, should she choose to follow.

When he arrived, he saw Gav half-smiling, providing a thumbs up. Midori didn't quite feel the same elation. He perceived the recent events as a failure. If their goal was to survive two days of this, then they wouldn't make it at that pace. His face remained cold and himself vigilant. Things were becoming eerily quiet as the creatures delved into the darkness. He didn't trust it.

"I'm sure it is," he responded to Gav. "I don't believe moderation is as... heavily emphasized in your training," he added, "but, I can't deny the results."

Midori began wiping the dust and debris collected along the sleeves of his jacket where his arms transformed. His eyes didn't quite make contact, but his intent did. "Question is, can you keep doing that for two days?"

 

[The Regal Rper]

Gav | Gaea Glade​

Midori's ultimate response was the stake that brought Gav back from his high. A mood killer that instantly drained the meister of his adrenaline high grin as he saw the look on Midori's face. In a lot of ways, it sent him back briefly to his master- Gaius; the only user of the Assassin Arts who didn't utilize traditional Weapons based on pure melee. The lack of impressed and equal lack of facial change brought Gav back to being exhausted on the field of more than one training session where a younger him had been showing off again. The look on Midori's face, reminded Gav a lot of the look on Gaius' face. It slapped reality back into him and knocked him off the high. Midori's question, despite the subtle critic, was an infallible one.
The subtle question occurred to him that his infamous mentor probably would have asked the exact same thing-- Not probably. Would.

Could he keep doing stunts like this for the rest of the day- and by extension, the rest of the next day?​

It was a simple and obvious answer. Midori's lack of reaction being more of a factor Gav assumed had less to do with him- and either more to do with the Solo Weapon's own personal code or perhaps- the failed attempt he had been making with Achlys back on the glade. The latter seeming more likely than the former, because if Midori was even the slightest bit like him- he was critical-- most importantly, critical of himself. Whatever the slightly distant air was for, Gav chose not to respond immediately. Instead, as he sat up, he tested what sort of damage he had done to his body by twisting- rolling arms, before finally getting up.

Well..." Gav said with no humor this time in his voice, "you do have a point." Yielding with a minor grunt, he rose slowly. "Wasting energy is the last thing I want to do- so I'll keep what you said in mind. Contrary to the tone, he actually did respect Midori. A lot more than he could say he felt about anyone else as far as anything. It wasn't about being colleagues of similar or different branches of one Art form. It was the fact the guy had come back to DWMA after all the shit rumors passed on through the vine. Anyone else would have left DWMA entirely. Even a Hoshi.

Midori? Guy had the stones to come back. And if the last thing his mentor said was true- perhaps he'd have new things to show them all. "Lily," Gav called, turning his attention to her with a hawk-like swivel of his head in her direction. "Good to see you again." He nodded curtly, expression impassive, not at all really friendly. "If you're done healing yourself up, I need you to come over here and heal me up...please." He added after a second. The subtlest of small grins forming at the edge of his lips even if the tone was slightly commanding.

Mentions: Sybil (Bells)
Interactions: Sir Les Paul Mook-LandStrider