Fantasy (Open) The "Last Castle" Bar & Grille

[shadowdude505]

Once again she had underestimated Tom. The vampire was much more gallant than anticipated. Try as she might, the foxy woman couldn't hide the blush on her face. Being held above the ground and kissed at the same time made her feel like she was on cloud nine. Wait...was she actually feeling something? Something felt different than when she was wooing her now human ex. He had never made her heart pound like this.

Growing up, she had heard the stories of kitsunes marrying humans and later being killed once their actual race was discovered. Mai vowed to herself to never be like that. She wasn't going to fall in love with a human, they were just sources of entertainment; something she could get a reaction out of. She didn't hate humans, but she didn't want to end up like the pour housewife kitsunes that put their heart and soul into a relationship with them...and for what? A swift death. Some reward for wanting to cook, wash, and have a man's babies.

Now a vampire...that was different. She wouldn't have to worry about Tom killing her over her secret; he already knew it.

After being put back on the ground, Mai slid her arm around one of Tom's and stuck by him, eyeing him with a foxy expression on her face. After all that happened, it felt like the safest place to be; but in a way, she was also signaling that she wanted to see where this romance was heading.

~~~
"Morgan le Fey...," Randy said out loud, but mostly to himself. He remembered learning about the legend of King Arthur at some point...but it wasn't as fresh as he wished it was right now. What he did remember was vague and mostly filled in from his knowledge from the Fate/Grand Order mobile game.

"She's never been depicted as a good guy... If there's not time for an in-depth history lesson; Arthur and Merlin... they're still the heroes the legend makes them out to be, right? Or at least similar?" It would make him feel better if he knew he was fighting the good fight, he bet it would help Roxy too; deep down though, they both had an inkling that finding Merlin, AKA Taliesan, was probably the right move to make.

Gwalihir Ashy_OCdesigns BasilOwO

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

"So, she's a rival of Merlin, right?" Niko raised one eyebrow
"she still appeared out of nowhere, that would make her random, right? Why would she find you now?" Niko asked, moving to speaking distance of Tom

 

[Gwalihir]

<< She shrugged, pulling away. "I don't like Tom, and I never will." She growled under her breath, getting to her feet. The pained look stayed on her face, but she knew it was hopeless. "I have but one, why would she come for us if she's searching for Merlin?" >>

“I’m so sorry,” murmured Azalea, keeping her tone low and confidential. At her next question Azalea stood and spoke louder. “You misunderstand. She is not looking for Merlin, we are. And she wants to stop us.”

<< After being put back on the ground, Mai slid her arm around one of Tom's and stuck by him, eyeing him with a foxy expression on her face. >>

He smiled down at her and grasped her hand and squeezed it gently. “I think we have business to attend to right now, but we will certainly talk later.”

<< "She's never been depicted as a good guy... If there's not time for an in-depth history lesson; Arthur and Merlin... they're still the heroes the legend makes them out to be, right? Or at least similar?" >>

Azalea nodded. “Flawed heroes, to be sure, but yes, their pursuit was noble. At the time the English isle was divided between Celts and Christians. They sought a kingdom uniting the peoples of both faiths, just as we seek to unite werewolves and vampires in peace. Surely they would help us, and then go on to seek to help our now divided world, though the faiths be very different now.”

<< "she still appeared out of nowhere, that would make her random, right? Why would she find you now?" Niko asked, moving to speaking distance of Tom >>

“I must assume she somehow detected the magic of Last Castle, mistook it as having a primary purpose of raising Merlin.” said Tom. “That was not my intent, solely because I did not know such an opportunity would present itself. But Azalea has been working behind the scenes to persuade me to do all the things required to make it possible.”

Azalea nodded. “Please forgive my deception, but we have only minutes before the chance will escape us. I beg you all for your assistance. Please, help me raise Merlin so that he can raise Arthur?”

BasilOwO shadowdude505 Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[BasilOwO]

Sam nodded, "I can help.. I think. Before I was turned, I spent my time learning all sorts of witchcraft, at least the darker ones. I saw ones on how to raise the dead, but being human, it never occurred to me that I would have to use it." She murmured, looking at her. She rubbed her eyes, scanning the room. Despite everything that had gone down, she felt more energized than she had moments before. Ready to help Azalea no matter the cost. Taking a breath, she turned back, a small smile adorning her face. She didn't know what the older woman would want her to do, but she would do it without question, as she always did. She had made a promise when she had been turned to protect her friends, her new found family, even if she wasn't able to protect the humans that she had once called family. "But one more question, what will Arthur do?" She asked her, head tilting.

Gwalihir Ashy_OCdesigns shadowdude505

 

[shadowdude505]

Mai smirked at Tom. There were more important things going on than chasing pleasure, but that didn't stop her from hanging on his arm like a casino woman trying to give a man some luck.

Uniting the world. That would include kitsunes. Maybe kitsune wouldn't have to die just for hitching up with a human they loved. "Count me in," she said to Azalea.

~~~
"That's good enough for me," Randy replied. He didn't need to know everything, just that they were helping the world instead of unleashing more evil on it. "What do you need us to do?"

By now, Roxy's brain had caught up to everything. A part of her wished she could have been more help during the fight. She wished she could have helped with Sam's injuries; she was relieved when Azalea started to heal her co-worker. Maybe she should ask Mark to show her how to fight as a wolf.

Light returned to her eyes and she nodded after Randy asked what they should do next.

Gwalihir BasilOwO Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[Gwalihir]

Ashy_OCdesigns : please catch up as soon as you can. Thanks!

<< Sam nodded, "I can help.. I think. Before I was turned, I spent my time learning all sorts of witchcraft, at least the darker ones. I saw ones on how to raise the dead, but being human, it never occurred to me that I would have to use it." She murmured… >>

Azalea looked up in surprise and delight. “Oh, that’s fabulous! Yes, the awakening spell is very similar to necromancy, just focused on living things, not dead ones. If I had to do it without another mage to help me I was going to do an incantation with a summoning sigil in a circle of sand (try saying _that_ five times fast) for the calling forth, but with two of us, I am sure we can find something more potent. What summoning enchantments or methods do you know? We would want something based on the power of two (that’d be us in the center), but making a ring of seven (that’s one of each race), and an outer circle of support: everyone else who wants to help laying hands on one of the seven. And of course, we don’t have much time. But I do have a case full of magical herbs and ingredients for charms and such if that will help.”

<< "Count me in," [Mai] said to Azalea.

"That's good enough to me," Randy replied… "What do you need us to do?"

Light returned to [Roxy’s] eyes and she nodded after Randy asked what they should do next. >>

Tom nodded. “Wish you had told me sooner, but yes, of course I’m with you.”

“Same here,” replied Lucas: “Always thought I’d enjoy being a knight.”

Azalea laughed. “If we pull this off, you just might get the chance. We are just raising Merlin, then Arthur, not the whole Round Table.”

“Hey, the more, the merrier, right?” said Jeff. “Count us in, dudes and dudettes!”

Azalea ticked off numbers on her fingers. “Kitsune, human, wolf, vampire, Tuatha: we need a zombie and a Nymph. Niko: can you help us out?

BasilOwO shadowdude505 Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

"sure,but we need to go to the graves first. I could help you guys differentiate corpses by scent...so count me in."
After a while of talking, Niko muttered "I'm rambling again, aren't I?"

 

[shadowdude505]

"Where would you like us to stand?" Roxy asked.
~~
Mai gave Tom's arm a playful squeeze before walking off to where Azelea directed.

Randy and Roxy listened to any instructions given and quickly followed them; they were racing the clock after all.

Gwalihir BasilOwO Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[BasilOwO]

Taking a breath, Sam limped over to Azelea. "After this is over.. after we bring Merlin back, can we talk? I know it's stupid to ask but it's just.. I need to get it off of my chest." She explained, looking over their group. She found it funny how all sorts of species could join together for one cause; to protect all others, to keep all supernatural races as one. She knew the human cared more than she let on, all things considered, and she felt a deep respect for her.

 

[Gwalihir]

<< "sure,but we need to go to the graves first. I could help you guys differentiate corpses by scent...so count me in." >>

Azalea laughed. “We only need one zombie, not many. You will do just fine. Please, someone give him a sword, and then you stand here as part of our circle.”

<< "Where would you like us to stand?" Roxy asked. >>

“Take each other’s hand and stand by one another in the circle. Get a sword first.” Azalea instructed.

<< Sam limped over to Azelea. "After this is over.. after we bring Merlin back, can we talk? I know it's stupid to ask but it's just.. I need to get it off of my chest." She explained… >>

Azalea searched Sam’s eyes with her gaze, and nodded. “Certainly. When this is done, we can talk all you want, about anything.”

She glanced down. “Even about that leg. I thought I had healed you better than that.”

So saying, Azalea removed a pendant from around her own neck and placed it around Sammy’s. The amulet was a silver, six-pointed star with an amethyst at its center. “For your protection from further injury. You will need it more than I.”

Azalea considered what she had. “Zombie, human and wolf. Three down, four to go.”

The minutes were counting down as Azalea paced to the middle of the dance floor.

“‘Oncst seven races all combine:’ I need one representative of each race to stand forward, now.

“Mai: you are our only kitsune. Please choose a long weapon, a sword will do, and stand forth.

Azalea nodded. “I stand forth for the Tuatha de Danaan. Does somebody have Morgan’s staff?”

She thanked the person who brought her the staff and looked about. “Lucas: I have Roxy for the wolves due to her bond with Randy. But as Pack Leader, will you assist me? If so, grab the battleaxe and come forth.”

“Most certainly,” replied Lucas, replacing his mace with the battleaxe, which had a somewhat lighter heft, and stepping forward.

Then she turned to Thomas. “Thomas of Avalon, eldest vampire of those present and founder of this Last Castle, will you stand forth for the vampires?”

“I will,” he said, and strode forward and took a position next to Mai.

“Lastly, we need a nymph. Will one of you stand forth to complete our circle, that we may summon Taliesan Merlin forth from the ice?”

The nymphs murmured among themselves, then one shyly tiptoed forward. Someone offered her a saber and she took it clumsily, as if she had never seen such an object before.

Now there were seven in the circle. Azalea raised her hands and called out to the rest. “Will the rest please come forward and lay a hand on one of the seven, or on one who has a hand on them. We need all your power, and we need it now.”

Soon there were two tight circles around the center circle, and Azalea was satisfied. She waved an open jar of sand over the center of the floor, covering it in a fine layer. Then she drew a sigil in the center and stepped back to her place in the middle with Sammy. At her instruction they joined right hands and began to walk clockwise around the sigil, one on either side. Azalea began to chant.

“Now we implore the sands of time
Release to us our long-lost friend
A thousand years he paid his crime
Let his punishment now end.”

She glanced up at the clock, now reading 9:20:41. “Weapons forward! Be ready to strike the ground in the middle with them. We strike at twenty-one seconds past 9:21!”

She nodded to Sammy and Lucas. “We will kneel and support the staff. Lucas, you break it on my count.”

Somehow the second hand seemed to crawl ever so slowly around the next 40 seconds.
At fifteen seconds she stopped Sammy and they knelt, the staff across one leg of either one. Azalea urged: “Arms up!... We strike… NOW!

Those in the circle struct the ground, obliterating the sigil. Lucas struck the staff with the battleaxe and the staff exploded, knocking Azalea one way and Sammy the other from the center. And suddenly everything shifted under them, and the lights went out. And then they were someplace else.

They appeared to be in a large cavern, perhaps thirty feet across. All the walls of the cavern were covered in crystals, and there was a crystal mound about seven feet across in the middle. Light came down from the ceiling, as if there were a hole in the roof of the cavern. The light illuminated the mound, and in the middle they could see the huddled figure of a man lying on his side.

Azalea pulled herself to her feet. “It’s him. It’s Talesian. We’ll need to dig him out ourselves. Use your swords, but no stabbing: we don’t want to injure him…”

Ashy_OCdesigns shadowdude505 BasilOwO

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

Niko dug at top speed,using the flat of the sword. He tried to ignore the bright light that was in the tavern. There were the scents of dirt,blood and a very faint scent of vegetables and lamb(last thing he ate before he died) once the man was dug up.

"I'd say he's been dead between four days and a week, because he smells a tad bit like vegetables and lamb, it was definitely the only thing he had before he died." Niko sniffed again "oh...his scent is like a barn and lemons mixed together. Other scents were kinda covering that."

 

[shadowdude505]

The ritual was surprisingly a little fun. Walking around the circle was like a dance. She couldn't help smiling at Randy. She even caught a glimpse of Mai, holding hands with Tom, and grinning at him; but it was clear that she wasn't acting as foxy as she usually was. Probably didn't want to be too distracting and mess up the ritual.

When it was time to stab their swords into the sigil, time seemed to slow down. A bead of sweat formed on Roxy's face. A reassuring glance from Randy helped her not get too nervous.

Soon the sigil was destroyed and they were transported into what looked like a cave?

"Did we do it?" she asked, before seeing the buried form of Talesian.

It was a little awkward using a sword as a shovel, but it was the first time she really held a sword, so it should have been expected. With everyone's help, it wasn't long before Talesian was dug up. Randy and Roxy backed up and stood together, waiting for signs of life.

Mai stayed close to Tom and manifested her tail. She carried herself in a dignified fashion, looking like a lady of high class in her kimono; she wasn't sure if Talesain was familiar with her kind and wanted to be a good representative of the kitsune race.

Gwalihir BasilOwO Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[BasilOwO]

Sam watched them, getting to her feet. Wincing, she'd feel the pendent around her neck, and a small smile appeared on her face. Despite the obvious fact that they were well.. grave robbing, she still felt a sense of belonging with the ragtag group. Staying back to make sure no more harm came to her seemed the best approach, considering she had been thrown backward a few feet. She had felt the pain of landing on her back, but she refused to show any more weakness. It just wasn't her. She considered herself stronger than that, better even. To allow herself to be seen as weak sounded like a myth, a reason to make herself well known, but not in the jealous wolf way. She knew she had lost against Morgan, and her dreaded weapon, but she always knew, with a little bit of practice she could come back stronger than ever, ready for whatever the world threw at her next.

Her parents had always told her that she would always see the positives in the world, even when they were none. She didn't like seeing the world for what it was, a wasted opportunity for something better. The world had become, to her, a place where crime and death ruled out all the good people had done, and it disgusted her. They were once a race, capable of something amazing. The supernatural beings were at fault as well, what with the wolves always fighting the vampires, it had made life a lot harder. They would blame it on the humans, when they themselves knew the truth. As funny as it was, Sam brought herself back to reality, lurching away from the smell of death and decay.

 

[Gwalihir]

Azalea laughed at Niko’s descriptions of the smells on Taliesan. “I think you are smelling yourself, Niko. He is but asleep, and his last meal a thousand years’ past.”

Soon the body of Taliesan was uncovered and free from the crystal. From his long white hair and beard and the wizened old wrinkles on his face one might presume him to be about eighty years of age. Buried under him they could see what appeared to be a staff with a celtic cross on the end.

“He will want his staff for certain,” declared Azalea, “but I think we need to wake him before we can dig for it.”

Lucas, who had been very effective at scooping away the crystals using his battleaxe, now leaned on it and asked: “Okay: so, how do we do that? An alarm clock?”

Tom laughed, and gripped Mai’s hand. “I am sure Azalea has a plan for that.”

Azalea had somehow managed to bring her magic case with her, and opened it now. From within it she drew a small crystal sphere, about five inches across. The sphere appeared to have a cracked center, and a sparkling light show was running through all the cracks. “An orb of Camlann,” she declared. “I have been pouring magic into this every night before bed for well over a year. It should be strong enough to wake and empower him.”

As she spoke a sudden wind sprang up, somehow blowing outwards from the mound in all directions. A small sphere of light appeared above the body of Taliesan and began to grow.

“We are under attack again!” she shouted over the growing gale. “Swords at the ready! We do not know what kind of attack she will use this time!”

She stumbled in the wind and suddenly the orb fell from her hand and began rolling towards them.

“Someone catch it!” she cried out: “We need to break it over Taliesan!”

Once again the sphere of light expanded to eight feet across, and once again a figure of a raven appeared in it and grew and transformed into Morgan le Fay. This time she held a fiery sword in one hand and a brown staff with a green orb on top in her other. Azalea swung the case at her, having no other weapon, and Morgan blocked it with her sword. Then she struck Azalea with her staff and Azalea went flying and landed in a heap. At the very least she was knocked out, possibly worse.

Morgan stepped out of the sphere and between them and Taliesan. “I demand you cease this at once!” she cried out. “Approach, and know my wrath!”

 

[BasilOwO]

Sam glanced at Morgan, before sneaking her way over to Azalea. Sitting beside her, she'd pull the woman into her arms, glaring at Morgan. "Come on.. wake up. Please.." She whispered, feeling in her pocket for a curved blade, the only silver she had ever bought as a wolf. It was a thing of myth, coming from a long history of wolves who had fought for what they had believed was right. The pattern on the blade was that of ivy, laced around the silver, making it seem magical in appearance. And of course, it was. She had remembered exactly what she had been told, how the blade was cursed. The one to use it, whether to harm themselves or another would find themselves in deep pit of pain and despair. Of course she had used it, and with how she was already it had no affect on her. Looking at the blade, she nodded to herself, before stabbing it deep into her hand. Remembering blood spell, she placed a protective barrier around Azalea. Of course, her loud yelp of pain couldn't go unnoticed, and she watched with the fury of a rabid dog, waiting for an attack that would either end her life, or worse, end the lives of everyone around her.

 

[shadowdude505]

When Morgan reappeared, Roxy felt her stomach sink. What could she, a new werewolf, do against a witch like her? No, those thoughts weren't going to help right now; she had to do something.

She dropped the sword as she chased after the orb; catching it with both hands cupped together.

Adrenaline pumping, she noticed Mai "blessing" everyone's weapons with her fox fire.

Roxy joined the huddle.

"I have the orb," she told the others. "How's it work?"

~~
Now that the weapons were imbued with fox fire, Mai made illusionary duplicates of everyone. Morgan could probably tell that they were fakes, but they would be something to hide behind,; if for nothing else, but to hide from Morgan's view.
~~
"Ok...I say we treat this like football. Roxy, wait for a chance to wake up Merlin, the rest of us will be a distraction. Sound like a plan?" Randy asked.

Gwalihir BasilOwO Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

"oh....He does smell like dirt and vegetables,though. And I smell like rusty metal"Niko smiled.

Niko's smile dropped as Morgan appeared. After Randy had proposed a plan, Niko nodded. "I could talk to her, be friendly as a distraction"Niko whispered

 

[Gwalihir]

<< She dropped the sword as she chased after the orb; catching it with both hands cupped together. >>

“Who’s got the orb? Roxy? Very good!” Lucas exclaimed.

<< "I have the orb," she told the others. "How's it work?" >>

“You’ll have to break it over Taliesan, release its energy. You can use the hilt of your sword to break it,” Tom explained.

<< Adrenaline pumping, she noticed Mai "blessing" everyone's weapons with her fox fire. >>

Tom gave Mai a quick hug. “That’s my lady! Now our weapons won’t break when they hit hers!”

<< Now that the weapons were imbued with fox fire, Mai made illusionary duplicates of everyone. >>

The two Toms practically laughed in delight. “Terrific! She’s not going to know what hit her!” Both Lucas’ nodded in agreement, and Jeff and George were (literally) beside themselves.

“Bodacious! Outtasight! Excellent!”

<< "Ok...I say we treat this like football. Roxy, wait for a chance to wake up Merlin, the rest of us will be a distraction. Sound like a plan?" Randy asked. >>

“Great idea!” Tom replied. “If this is football, Lucas and I will be your running backs: we’ll tackle her head on while the rest of you circle around, give Roxy a chance to get to Taliesan.”

Jeff chimed in. “We’ll help. Eight heads are better than four, right?”

<< "I could talk to her, be friendly as a distraction"Niko whispered >>

Lucas just looked at him. “You got a death wish, kiddo? Approach her and she’ll fry you!”

Tom nodded. “I have a gut feeling we have a slight advantage over last time. We destroyed Morgan’s staff from last time, probably her best staff. And we took her ice whip. That means she is working with her second-hand weapons, and won’t be as strong. Remember that, and feel a bit safer.”

<< Remembering blood spell, she placed a protective barrier around Azalea. Of course, her loud yelp of pain couldn't go unnoticed… >>

She could tell Azalea was still breathing. With a low moan, Azalea’s eyes fluttered open, then closed again. “You stayed with me? That’s sweet…”

Tom glanced back. “That’s good, too. If Azalea wakes up we’ll have one more aide to fight Morgan…”

Tom nodded to the huddle. “Okay: let’s do it to it!”

Both Toms, both Lucas’, both Jeffs and both Georges all turned and charged up the mound, Lucas’ waving the battleaxe(s) and all the rest their swords, all glowing from their foxfire blessings. For a moment Morgan looked startled. “What new deception is this? No matter: none shall stand against me!”

So saying, she struck the ground with the end of her staff. The ground suddenly shook violently, knocking most of the group off their feet but doing no real damage. Tom, Lucas, Jeff and George scrambled forward, trying to make up for lost traction and speed...

BasilOwO shadowdude505 Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[shadowdude505]

Mai smiled at Tom as he hugged her, but when the fighting started, she stayed behind to maintain the illusions. She made some more duplicates and, to add to the confusion, included some with the magic orb; making sure none of them were Roxy. Some of the illusions threw the fake orbs around to each other as Mai tried to get Morgan's gaze to travel far away from the sleeping body of Taliesan.

Seeing Morgan already confused from her first sets of illusions, she wanted to let out an "oh ho ho" laugh. "You can't out fox a kitsune," she thought confidently.

Mai kept track of the real Roxy and prepared to intercept any magic blasts toward the girl with fox fire if needed. She was going to need a nap once this ordeal was over.

~~
"No matter what happens, you need to wake Merlin up," Randy said to Roxy.

He joined the charge behind Lucas and Tom. Like them, he got caught in the magic shockwave and was knocked to his feet, but he quickly got back up.

Randy held back for a moment, allowing Tom and Lucas to be our heroes' heavy hitters. He waited near some illusions for a chance to strike, before charging in himself. He phased through an illusion of himself as he attempted a hit-and-run on the witch.

~~
Roxy nodded. Merlin was a powerful mage in the legends; He could probably reverse whatever damage Morgan did.

She picked up her sword and crept in the back of the illusionary crowd of people. She was cautious at first, but seeing as good a chance as any, she started to make her way toward Taliesan; trying not to make a scene.

Gwalihir Ashy_OCdesigns BasilOwO

 

[Ashy_OCdesigns]

Niko ignored what Tom had,said "I mean unless you are,a cannibal, you can't fry me as frying is a method of cooking. And I don't have a death wish because I have died mentally''

"also, if Romulus had been killed by Remus,would Rome become Reme?''Niko.knew he was being stupid,but he was not a fighter, distraction was one of the only ways he could help everyone.

 

[Gwalihir]

(Darkness: am guessing this is due to the funeral you said you were attending, that we haven’t seen you. Don’t worry: just catch up when you get the chance…)

<< [Mai] made some more duplicates and, to add to the confusion, included some with the magic orb; making sure none of them were Roxy. Some of the illusions threw the fake orbs around to each other… >>

Morgan bared her teeth. “Fools! I shall grind your bones into paste! Give me the orb and I shall spare you!” She swung at several figures of Lucas and Tom, connecting of course with only two. The battleaxe did not break but went flying out of Lucas’ hands, and he groaned from the pain of the blow.

“Her staff is like a battering ram! Steer clear!” he hollered.

Tom’s sword was struck only by her fiery sword, but he was blocked from serious injury and burns. Jeff and George seemed to have a little luck ganging up on her and scoring twice with their swords before she swung in a great circle and swatted them both across the cavern. “Bogus!” groaned George.

Azalea stirred in Sammy’s arms and gripped her hand. “Do they need you out there? If they do, go on: I’ll be okay. Just need to get back to something living, out of this cave, to help me heal…”

<< "I mean unless you are,a cannibal, you can't fry me as frying is a method of cooking. And I don't have a death wish because I have died mentally''

"also, if Romulus had been killed by Remus,would Rome become Reme?'' >>

At a break in the action, when Morgan had just cleared the mound once more with a great swing of her staff, she faced Niko with her eyes blazing in hatred.

“Silence, you impudent child, or I shall silence you!”

She strode forward three steps and struck an illusion of Niko, then retreated.

“Hey!,” said Lucas: “why did she have to step closer? Why didn’t she just zap him?”

Tom laughed aloud. “She has no ranged weapons! She grabbed the first things she could find, and they’re strong but they’re hand to hand only! Stay out of her reach and she can’t touch you!”

BasilOwO shadowdude505 Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[BasilOwO]

She glanced at Azalea, before shaking her head. In all honesty, she would rather be beside the human than risking her life. Selfish? Yes, yes it was. It took all honor and dignity away from her to even think about ignoring the fight, sitting on the sidelines, taking care of the only person who noticed when she had fallen. Perhaps if she hadn't gotten hit, things would be different. She shouldn't be scared, but she felt something. A want to protect this person, this person whom she wished with her life to keep safe.

She remembered the last person she had attempted to protect, and how she had failed. Because of that day, she had promised herself that she would never fail, never crumble and fall. She would protect them, and she would be damned if she lost another friend.

Gwalihir shadowdude505 Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[shadowdude505]

“Her staff is like a battering ram! Steer clear!”

Randy skidded to a halt at those words. As much as he wanted to fight, he was still just a human.

“She has no ranged weapons! She grabbed the first things she could find, and they’re strong but they’re hand to hand only! Stay out of her reach and she can’t touch you!”

All he really had to do was distract her.

"Hey, witch! You want the orb? You'll have to catch me first," he yelled. He started running away, so that her back would be facing Taliesan, if she was desperate enough to fall for his bluff.

~~~
Roxy crept up to Taliesan's body. It looked like Morgan was adequately distracted, but she still didn't want to draw any attention to herself. She unceremoniously broke the orb with her sword's hilt like Tom told her; no words, no incantations. "This better work...," she thought.

Gwalihir BasilOwO Ashy_OCdesigns

 

[Gwalihir]

( Ashy_OCdesigns : please catch up when you can )

<< "Hey, witch! You want the orb? You'll have to catch me first," he yelled. >>

Morgan was beside herself in frustration and fury. “Insects!” she hollered: “You are a swarm of mosquitoes! I could squash any one of you like grapes!”

But for all her boasting and swinging, she was not connecting with anything. Content to distract her, the real Tom and Lucas were remaining at a distance while their doppelgangers engaged her.

The crystal cracked and disintegrated in Roxy’s hand, releasing its energies into the prone form of Taliesan. The light crackled up and down his figure, dazzling Roxy.

Morgan’s eyes settled on Azalea and Sam. “If I can’t strike all of you, I shall at least smite your witch to oblivion!”

She strode towards the two figures on the ground, missing the glow rising behind her as she raised her staff to strike. And suddenly lightning struck the staff and it flew from her grasp.

“Traitorous witch! Ungrateful harlot! Jezebel! Sorceress, begone!”



Taliesan was furious, and with a swipe of his staff blasted Morgan with lightning. She screamed and blocked the blast with her staff, but the staff shattered and she fell backward.

“Treacherous turncoat!” she spat back at him, swinging her sword defensively: “Lecherous old fool! Betrayer of your own kin! We are not finished with you! Ere you lift Arthur’s head, we shall finish you once and for all!”

Taliesin was having none of it. “Begone, I say again! Malevolent minx! Accost me again, and I shall surely do in you and whatever wretched wraiths you have gathered to your side! So!”

Once again he blasted her, but it seemed she disappeared just as the bolt reached her. Taliesan sank to his knees, gasping for air.

“How long?” he gasped: “How long?”

Ashy_OCdesigns BasilOwO shadowdude505

 

[shadowdude505]

"Holy shit!" Roxy gasped in awe as the magic began to work.

After Taliesin woke up, it wasn't long before the Morgan situation was dealt with. The witch swore that she'd be victorious in the end, but the way things went made her wonder if Morgan actually had the power to back up her threat.

"It's been about a thousand years or so...," Randy replied to Taliesan as he put an arm around Roxy's shoulder. "Welcome to 2021."

"Great job, Roxy!"

"T...thanks," Roxy blushed.

"Everyone OK?" she asked. She glanced around at everyone, stopping her gaze on Azalea and Sam. "Shit...that's a lot of blood," she sounded concerned. She was no doctor, so maybe it actually wasn't a lot of blood, but it was more than she liked seeing.

~~~
With Morgan gone, Mai dropped her illusions. Hopefully the witch wasn't planning on starting round three anytime soon; if she did, Mai would have to let other people handle spellcasting. She was worn out.

She tried walking over to Tom, but with her magic fatigue, she ended up stumbling into his arms and wrapped her arms around him. It could have looked planned, but it really was just a lucky coincidence for her.

"Looks like we pulled it off...," she sighed happily. "Carry me to bed, tiger...preferably yours." She pressed her head against his chest. In a way, she was reassuring him that she was fine, but she was also pushing her luck a little. She just wanted to rest and have that talk Tom said they'd have. If her magic wasn't basically spent, she would have been tempted to push her luck some more; try out her seduction magic. She figured he'd have a strong enough will to ignore it; best case, he would have just played along.

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