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Entry tags:
December open log
Who: Emet-Selch and YOU
Status: Open
Where: See individual prompts
What: The new-ish Ascian on the block hasn't even been here a month and he's already fought off a tombstone spirit(?) and gotten recruited into a crew, what more shenanigans could this place possibly pull him into?! LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER
Warnings: Out-of-context spoilers for prompt 1 and 3
(Will match format)
1. The Picture of Dorina Grey (MANTA General)
Status: Open
Where: See individual prompts
What: The new-ish Ascian on the block hasn't even been here a month and he's already fought off a tombstone spirit(?) and gotten recruited into a crew, what more shenanigans could this place possibly pull him into?! LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER
Warnings: Out-of-context spoilers for prompt 1 and 3
(Will match format)
1. The Picture of Dorina Grey (MANTA General)
What manner of portrait could a blind woman possibly paint? That is the question he asks himself as she cajoles him into taking a seat. Were she any less insistent or, indeed, possessed of the usual sight, he would have stood firm and walked by. But time is something he has an abundance of to waste at present and he is still reeling from the realisation that the last twelve thousand years of his work have been for naught.2. Magitech Madness (MANTA General)
So, it isn't unfair to say that he welcomes some time to talk through the sordid details of his long, long...long life. Summarised, of course, for her benefit.
The end result shocks him into silence. He hardly knows what he had been expecting, but it certainly isn't to gaze upon his original face, with a clarity that he has long forgotten. Sharp yellow eyes, irises gleaming like the stars above, yet the expression twisted into one of savage glee as it gazes upon the viewer. Like an emperor gloating over their final victory. A psychotic man enjoying the fires of purgatory surrounding him being visited upon others because he knows no other way to make them understand his pain.
Is this what I look like? he wonders.
Caught up in his own thoughts, he doesn't notice anyone approaching until they're right beside him or they speak up.
Having successfully introduced non-magical means of energy to the natives, is it any surprise that they would immediately turn to thinking of ways to weaponise it against each other? Emet-Selch gazes upon the workshop he's been enthusiastically invited to assist with open resignation on his face. This is how mankind is and always will be. This is the sort of world that the Warrior of Light and their friends are intent on defending.3. Fountain of Blades (MANTA Paladin)
Sighing to himself, he finds an empty spot at a table for himself and starts to tinker with some of the leftover munitions and scrap. Should one choose to join him, one can either find him building a crude, Garlean-style gunblade prototype or testing its firing capability on targets.
Emet-Selch has a lot of memories for the pools to use against him.4. Untitled Goose 2 (Bounty)
Being a solitary man, he, of course, has set off without a companion. With his magicks, he's confident that he won't run into anything particularly troublesome. Besides, he doesn't care for the 'competition' that the other paladins are making of it, to see who will be the first to find the sword. He's only here to clear his mind and distract himself from brooding.
Once he reaches the pools, he carefully navigates across the wet and slippery terrain. As he does, he glances idly down into the water.
(3-A) Firstborn
"Lucius?" he says without thinking. He wades further into the water, tiny little fish darting away as he reaches for the face he sees in the pool's reflection. Cold and still as death, he thinks with an aching heart. He doesn't realise that it's because his hand is submerged.
(3-B) Home
Amaurot is beautiful any time of day, but it is almost certainly more beautiful at night. Windows softly lit by gentle lights, its twisting spires reaching for the heavens, wide, beautifully paved streets and gentle slopes - oh, how he misses home. Emet-Selch stares at the image in the water and ignores those trying to pass by him, lost in his own homesickness.
(3-C) The End
Emet-Selch yelps as he slips into the water. There, in the dim, ruddy depths, he sees a fireball hurtling towards a group of cowled figures fleeing through broken streets. Water churns and Emet-Selch almost swallows some trying to stop the meteor striking his people. Coughing, spluttering, filled with indescribable terror, he flings his own dark magic indiscriminately through the cavern. Watch out!
If it weren't for the large bounty being offered, Emet-Selch wouldn't bother. However, in a new land, with few resources, it's prudent to gather coin as quickly as possible. With the reward from this, he should be able to use it and invest in something to gain an easy return - or so he tells himself.5. Wildcard
First, he has to slay the damn thing.
His arena of choice is one of the ports. He's not foolish enough to challenge it on the open water. Of course, he isn't the only one trying for the bounty. Plenty of strangers(i.e. NPCs)have turned up hoping to get a share. While they distract the goose-hydra, Emet-Selch has found a high position roughly eye-level with the monster to set up his spell. He stands in the middle of an arcane circle with his eyes closed, chanting. At the final line, he thrusts out the arm that has thin, red 'vines' twining around it.
"Begone!"
A thick streak of dark magic laced with red sparks shoots forward and strikes one of the goose heads directly. It seems to do heavy damage...but it's not enough to completely take off the head. And unfortunately, his strike has the effect of attracting the goose's full ire.
Help?
For anything else!
no subject
I'm speaking right now, you infernal bird!
[ The impact manages to stagger it briefly. Who knew the mage was this physically strong? ]
no subject
To think that he would verbally sap and take a swing? Interesting.
Not that G'raha is idle. He's already casting a Fire spell at the goose as a follow up. ]
no subject
Isn't this a nostalgic situation though? Him taking the front line whilst supported by another (or two) from the rear. If only it were someone else doing the supporting. ]
no subject
Which means that there will be another barrier being thrown Emet-Selch's way. ]
no subject
By the end of it, he stands amidst three carved heads upon a ground slicked with blood and gore. It's not a pretty sight and neither is he. Gods above, he could really use a shower.
Right now, though, he's utterly exhausted. The Ascian's weapon dissipates into motes of aether as he wobbles and then falls back against the side of one of the goose's decapitated necks, sliding down until he's on the ground. ]
no subject
G'raha doesn't stand still though. Despite casting another barrier or a healing spell, he is going to throw his own fire and ice spells into the mix.
And yet, when all is said and done, there is something that is a little disturbing about seeing the Ascian and the three heads just. Laying there. Blood and gore and whatever else have you.
Instead of addressing the Ascian, G'raha walks over to the goose and begins to look it over. To see how it is the creature could keep coming back. Is it even the same one? A different one? What gives? ]
no subject
'Tis truly fortunate the hydra concept was never approved, [ he mutters. ] What a horrid beast.
no subject
There was a concept for a similar creature?
no subject
[ But that doesn't stop one from forming on the Thirteenth. Left over from the escapees of Pandaemonium, he assumes. ]
No creature possesses the intelligence to sever then burn its heads, you see. None save man. We would have needed to cull its numbers ourselves.
no subject
[ For much of the same reasons that Emet-Selch is now talking about. Though G'raha would consider the one on the 13th a dragon not a hydra... Well no. The heads regrew, didn't they? ]
Aye, it would have needed near constant observation. Terrifying thought, an entire group of such beasts running about.
no subject
Someone had to be the first to bite into the onion. More importantly, how do we claim the bounty on this thing? Do they expect us to drag its corpse to a marshal?
no subject
[ So they could just record this defeat and then play it back later. ]
Additionally, we might just take a few pieces back with us.
no subject
[ But they had best take something significant with them too... ]
We'll take the body as well. The heads must be a gil a dozen with how they regrow.
no subject
[ All thought he is getting out the device they were all given to catch the recording. ]
no subject
[ Call it petty, maybe, but if he's going to go to the trouble of killing this thing then he wants the credit for it! ]
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Fair enough. Though now my question becomes how do we do this?
no subject
Did you forget that I'm a mage? Now, come.
[ To the bounty office they go! ]
no subject
[ He is following along, of course. But to think that they'd just what? Float behind them the entire way without being tethered? ]
I didn't think you had the energy left.
no subject
[ And not in a mood to explain the finer differences between being depleted of aether and simply being tired. ]
Put that youthful energy of yours to use and do the talking to the official when we arrive. I want to get rid of this corpse and take a shower as soon as possible.
no subject
[ Meaning he will take care of the rest from there. No harm done. ]
no subject
See you around, catboy. ]