Chapter 38
The ice berg with their corracles on top of it that the party have been travelling on has been sailing along through the current's of the Water-Way under Thaylorn's direction for the last five days. The party's make shift camp here on the ice-berg has taken on a pretty well built look by now thanks to Kier's help and input but there is still no sign of land.
Raziel watches the horizon quietly as the days go on and he checks the supplies on occasion. Right now though the man is pacing, wandering back and forth while he keeps looking off and then finally turns towards Thaylorn, "do you think we are even going in the right direction??"
Penny reclines in one of the ice-locked boats, her duffle serving as makeshift pillow/seat-back, feet propped up on one gunwale, and eyes, shadowed under the brim of her helm, tracing Raziel as he paces back and forth. Hard to imagine she's comfortable doing this in her armor, but it is evidently so, as evidenced by the lack of shifting, as one might expect if she were uncomfortable. She sighs, rubbing an eye with one finger, "He's got a point; it's been days, and there's been nothing on any horizon worth mentioning. I mean, no disrespect, Mister Thaylorn, seeing as this *is* your back yard, but any idea when we'll get... anywhere?" Talen has busied himself for the past five days shoring up the iceberg, forming foot-high walls to keep waves out, setting up a hardened middle section where a fire could be built, though that might require the sacrifice of one of the boats. But he's tired, and a little cranky, for he's not gotten much sleep at all. Even on the larger mass of the iceberg, he still feels queasy from sea sickness. He sits up from where lays in one of the boats, and stretches, joints popping and cracking loudly. "Mmmmph. Ow. Erg, as long as we head east, we shall come upon our destination. I do not know how long, but it shouldn't be too much longer, I would guess."
Vazkor has kept himself fairly occupied, having brought a pocket novel that he's been reading, and even trying his hand at some fishing from the edge of the ice float with a makeshift fishing rod- really just a string and hook tied to the end of his Katana sheath-... Though having also made sure to keep an eye out for any sea monsters while doing so. Just returning from one of those attempts, in fact, he strolls up where their camp is situated, whistling to himself... Only to pause as he hears Raziel's question, and he looks around at the others to see what the answer might be. Soon hming a bit at Talen.
"Even if this is my 'home' realm, this is actually the first time I've ever been here." Thaylorn offers in return to penny as he dips one of his hands into the water. He has taken to sitting rather near the water at the very edge of the iceberg "But well, we're getting much closer than you'd think, in fact, it feels as if we're almost there." The Imp adds, standing to move nearer the center of the iceberg before pointing eastwards.
As Thaylorn speaks and moves to the east and points everyone can just about make out a dark brownish smudge on the horizon, as they ice-berg drifts closer it starts to take on form and shape, the colour shifting to more of a green. It is definatley an island of some sort. You page, "You can see there is also a structure on top of it. It is like a big green hill rising out of the ocean with a tower on top of it." to Penny.
Raziel's eyes narrow alittle, his eyes focusing in on that smudge. A glance is given to Talen and Thaylorn before he nods quietly in responce, "it lookslike the two of you were correct." The man looks back again towards the rise before he walks over to offer the armoroed lady a hand up. "Then we should prepare. We don't know what will wait us when we get to the shore. Penny hrms and frowns slightly, a part of her not liking the answer Talen and Thaylorn give, but there's nothing for it, and she'll just have to live with the wait and the idea of "eventually". Which turns out to be a much shorter span of time than she feared it might be as Raziel points out land on the horizon, just the thing her boredom required! She climbs to her feet, looking off in the eastern horizon, squinting slightly and a hand adding to the shade given to her eyes by her helm, "Well, there's a tower... Hopefully something more than just wildlife?" She turns to her duffle, starting to situate her gear in preparation for landfall, though that itself is probably still at least a bit of a wait away, "I just hope that whatever's there, if anything, is nonviolent."
Talen grunts and steps out of the boat, stretching once more and doing a little jog in place to get the circulation going. He grins at the imp, "Well, I hope your home realm has given you a good first impression at least. It /is/ an awful lot of water..." He glances around at the expanse of water, and notes too the smudge of colour in the distance. He moves to stand next to Raziel, nodding slightly. "I think we should get everything ready to go. We don't know what or who we'll encounter, we want to be ready to abandon iceberg if necessary, yeh?" The viera moves to the boat he'd been sleeping in at times, and moves it into position for easy maneuvering. Pursing his lips, the viera calls out, "I'm going to use a bit of fire magic for a moment. Just a warning..." The summoner concentrates for a few moment, and a wee puff of fire starts to melt down the small wall he constructed to keep waves off.
Vazkor arches his brow as he turns towards where the Imp is pointing, soon squinting his eyes a bit as he peers at that smudge of land... Glancing at Penny then, he hmms, and remarks, "A tower?" Before shrugging some, and actually grinning as he swings his 'fishing rod' off his shoulder where it was resting, and starts untying the string from the end, freeing up his sword to be secured at his side once more. Looking at the others as he does so, and adding, "I'm not really counting on anything non violent, myself. We're starting to get close. That usually means things will try to stop us."
"There's much more down below than you or I could possibly imagine, not yet anyways." Thaylorn chimes in response to Talen with a faint grin "And I'm sure as long as we're careful, and don't seem threatening whatever locals there will hopefully not try to eat us, maybe." He shrugs slightly and goes about preparing the few things he has for a venture onto land namely his swords once more.
As the party makes preparations to debark they continue to approach the tor and the sea-bed grows shallow. Be the end of the third hour it is only a few feet deep and their ice-berg starts carving a path through a massive field of curled green stems as the sun sets. Once the sun is down and the stars are coming up the stems uncurl, revealing beautiful flowers that seem to drink in the starlight and glow with an etherial light. The flowers are clear and gleam and ahead in the distance is the brilliant lonely Tor. The star-lillies are beautiful and as they progress deeper music rises around them all, a mesmerizing and entrancing melody that slowly but surely starts to lure the party into a hypnotic daze, it is almost impossible to resist. Dust succumbs almost straight away and for the others the song is everything, the music is all that matters as it continues to rise.
Raziel tilts his head and then his hand lifts up to rub the bag at his chest. He looks at Thaylorn then and his brown lifts before he looks around at the others, "a siren's song.." The man shakes his head a little bit before he starts to walk over and shake people, trying to wake them, though he also checks on EM to see how the mongoose is faring.
Penny doesn't seem to hear Raziel , the mouse swaying slowly in time with the song, ears drooping, eyes half-closed, smiling and slightly slack-jawed, and her polearm held loosely in one hand, in danger of falling to the ice under her feet. If she's aware of anything at all aside from the music, it certainly doesn't show.
Talen's eyes go vacant for the briefest of moments, before he blinks and gives his head a shake. He looks over at Raziel, "Oh, is that what that is?" He looks around and hmms. "I suppose it would be bad form to set fire to all those flowers, wouldn't it?" Sighing, the viera looks at the others. "I'll carry Penny if you want, if you could carry my pack, and maybe her polearm? I figure if we can get away from the flowers, she'll probably snap out of it, yes?" The viera steps over to the mouse, and grins wryly. "I sure hope you will forgive me." He stoops down and wraps an arm around the woman's waist, hefting her up upon a shoulder, and after a moment to balance himself properly, he strides off the iceberg into the shallows, heading for shore.
Talen eyes go vacant for the briefest of moments, before he blinks and gives his head a shake. He looks over at Raziel, "Oh, is that what that is?" He looks around and hmms. "I suppose it would be bad form to set fire to all those flowers, wouldn't it?" Sighing, the viera looks around at the others. "Maybe we should sit them down? Is there some way to counter this? It will be all bad for our heroes if Ultimecia arrived to find us dancing like drooling idiots to this music."
Vazkor swaaaays as well, a goofy sort of smile on his face, and his eyes distant as he's fallen thoroughly under the siren spell, the man actually quietly humming along to the magical song, seeming to be quite enjoying himself, all told.
The Imp looks about in awe as the flowers bloom beneath the light of the stars and with the rising of music he turns his attention back to the others in time to see it's effect upon them. "Uhm, Raz." He begins, hand going to a pouch at his side for a moment "What's going on, think the music is coming from the flowers?" He questions, gaze going to Penny in particular with a faint amount of worry. "If you can keep her from falling I can try to push us through all this." Is added in there as Thaylorn moves to the back of the iceberg to give the iceberg a boost towards shore at Raziel's approval. "Don't burn them, either." He quickly adds with a glance to Talen whom doesn't seem quite as effected.
Hmm Talen REALLY shouldn't have made that comment about Ultimecia attacking... because the coruscating ball of dark purple energy that flickers into life and starts to boil and coil around itself ahead of the raft doesn't look friendly. It tracks the ice-berg as Thaylorn thrusts them forward with speed toward the tor even as Raziel starts to communicate with the coins. Which is about when Grievier leaps out of the ball of energy and with a roar slams into the ice-berg, claws raking into the ice as he lashes out with a claw to knock Penny backwards into one of the corracles! The small boat cracks in two under the armour weighted mouse-lady but things are a bit... desperate looking as the giagantic beast of Ultimecia roars its defiance at the others!
Raziel's eyes widen and he mutters a curse while thrusting his hand into the bag. He Quickly pulls out three of the coins he has at random and first shoves one into Vazkor's hand before he gives a second to Talen while running by him to leap into the boat after Penny and start pulling her out while the third is pressed into her hand... the movements coming quickly while he repeatedly mutters, "shitshitshit," over and over again.
Penny is thrown forcefully into the boat, and while she doesn't weigh a whole lot by comparison to larger folk, the addition of inertia from being swiped more than makes up for it as her impact damages the boat in question. Her short trip and sudden stop leaves her none the worse for wear, though she's still completely mesmerized... Until Raziel presses a coin into her palm, at which point she snaps suddenly and abruptly back to awareness. A quick look at where she is, then up at Raziel, "What- How did-" Of course, Grievier making all that noise forestalls her questioning, and she blinks, quickly climbing to her feet, retrieving her poleaxe, and leveling it at the beast. She's still catching up, mentally, but... There are priorities. And Grievier is evidently high on that list, understandably.
Talen blinks at the coin thrust into his hand. "Oh no, the last time I used one of these, we got... holy hells, what the heck is that?" The viera edges towards Penny and Raziel, standing between them and the beast while Penny recovers. He adopts a crouched stance and mutters several long words of magic, a gout of flame erupting from his outstretched hand and streaking towards Grievier.
Vazkor snaps out of that siren's call the moment the coin is pushed into his hand, the man blinking, and looking around confusedly, "... Huh?" Seeming lost for a second. But then reality comes rushing back as his gaze falls upon the roaring Griever, his fuzzy wolf ears twitching at the sound, and his eyes narrowing, "... Right." And with that, finely honed combat instincts spring into full gear, and as he still holds the coin in one hand, the other is quick to drag that Katana from its sheath, the cobald blade crackling with blue electricity, before the man simply charges forward even as Talen's fire spell zips past him, "Didn't you learn you lesson before, beast?" The man growls, even as he deftly arcs that blade in quick succession towards Ultimecia's monster [Pummel]
Having turned his attention back to pushing the group's chunk of ice towards land, Thaylorn doesn't take note of Grievier's appearance until the iceberg is slammed into, causing the Imp to fall back from where he was sitting again "Oh did we hit land already?!" He attempts before the beast roars out it's hatred towards them "Nope guess not!" He quickly diverts his attention from the moving of their craft to the attempted destruction of this creature, maybe once and for all. First order of business, getting the creature away from the rest of the group! Raising both his arms he attempts to summon forth the water beneath the craft to swell beneath the creature as to push it away from the rest of the party, and maybe back into the water itself without effecting the rest of the group!
FWOOMPF! Goes Talen's fire that launches out and roars over the beast.... Grievier turns its head, seemingly unaffected by this and ROARS, launching a sphere of Purple Energy at the Summoner. Thankfully for Talen he is able to hurl himself out of the way of the ball of gravity magic with ease. Then Vazkor is upon the beast, his sword a whirling blur! One... two... three slices at the beasts body and three rather unhelpful sounding "Clangs" as the blades do nothing... just strike it's body and cause flashes of white light to burst forth from where the blades connected. That should quite frankly be impossible. It turns its head and looks down at Vazkor. "Yes.... I did learn...." it growls as it rakes at the man with his claws. Which thankflly Vazkor is able to dodge as they slam into the raft and shatter the ice, causing large cracks to lift up along it! Thaylorn's wave thankfully has an effect, it pushes Griever back by about a foot but the beast leaps off the ice into the water which comes up to just below his stomach now as the sea bed has continued to grow shallower the closer to the tor they get. You page, "Sorry about that! You got such awesome rolls I felt bad about that >.> But Ultimecia is cheating big time...." to Vazkor.
Raziel mutters to Penny and Talen in a low voice, "don't use them, don't lose them.. They're what's keeping you awake." His eyes are upon the Griever though and as Thaylorn's wave sends it back and it leaps into the water after it's retort to Vazkor the mage yells, "Did you learn? Then let us see how well you did!" The man begins summoning up the power around him as his wings start to glisten with lightning energy. The electricity arcs over his golden wings and down to his hands before he releases a torrent of the power, aiming it not only at the creature, but at the water around it, knowing how conductive water can be to such things.
KRAAAAKOOOOOOOM! Raziel's Thundara spell charges into the water with a mighty effect! The lightning races through the water causing Star Lillies to explode in a radius up to two hundred yards away! The ice-berg cracks and chunks of it fall off and Grievier shivers and growls and turns its eyes to Raziel and in that deep gravelly bestial voice whispers, "Ooooh tingly....."
Penny grimaces as the raft of ice is damaged and starts to shatter, shifting her feet to keep from falling as the footing becomes a bit more treacherous. A glance at Raziel, then down to one hand, where she has the coin held between her palm and the haft of the polearm, and she nods, taking a second to tuck the coin away to somewhere safer as Raziel charges up and releases lightning into the water, the result causing the ice raft to break up a bit more. She watches the effect of Raziel's spell, and having seen the results of Vazkor's more physical attempt just seconds before, her ears droop, her options for what she can do becoming more and more limited. A whine under her breath, followed by an exasperated curse, and she spins her poleaxe in her hands so that the anti-armor spike on the back of the polearm's axe head is brought to bear instead of the axe blade itself, and she brings the polearm back completely, the head nearly touching the water off the edge of the raft opposite where Grievier stands, muttering, "Here goes nothin'.." Then, with a step forward, she spins her body with a sharp, loud, and piercing yell, building up torque and momentum before her spin brings the polearm up, and then down, in a vicious overhead swing that aims the spike at Grievier's head. (Heavy Blow)
Penny's pole-arm is lunged forward toward the beasts' head, he turns it and stare down the length of the weapon's haft as it slams against his fore-arm. There is a spark of light as with Vazkor's strikes and the beast growls threateningly at Penny, yawns its maw wide and bites down on the weapon and despite Penny's quick reflexes the mouse doesn't let go in time to stop the beast tossing her and her pole-arm about seven feet across the water were she lands in a SPLASH in the ocean! Thankfully it isn't very deep right now but still that splash down hurt!
Talen blinks as his spell, Vazkor's blades and Raziel's spell seemingly bounce off of the beast, not affecting it in the slightest. With Raziel's voice echoing in his mind, 'Don't use it...', the viera sighs and closes his eyes to concentrate. "Easier to ask for forgiveness..." he whispers, "Gemini, please heed my call, and help me tame the beast attacking my friends. Guild my blizzard spell, help me encase the beast in ice, to slow it down, to numb its mind." The coin in Talen's hand flares and jerks free from the boys grip and rises up, swelling in size and encompassing a shimmering figurfe made from starlight who stands on the raft, his hands on his hips glaring at Talen. "How dare you! Who do you think you are? You are not the Master Raziel, nor are you anyone I have given leave to call upon me! The affrontary!" He turns and stares up at Grievier and blinks, "Oh my... erm... Lord Raziel! The Imp! The Imp is the key you are in the....." he is cut off as Grievier LUNGES forward and snaps up the Gemini coin and.... GULP swallows it.....
Vazkor jumps back from the would be attack, landing on one of the bigger chunks of ice from the float as it starts to break apart, the man pausing, sword still out, and peering at the big beast, looking for an opening of somekind, before being momentarily distracted by the speaking star figure.
"So you've gotten a bit more resiliant huh! Nothing we can't take care of." Thaylorn calls out as he shifts his weight slightly to avoid being knocked off the cracking and unstable iceberg. Looks like any sort of direct attack seems pretty much ineffective, thinking briefly he comes up with something else! Gathering his energy once again he pulls at the shallow water to form a sphere of water directly overtop the beast's head! Thaylorn's sure the fiend has to breath and all. Although he attempts to cast the spell, it's rather half-hearted as well as Talen attempts to summon forth Gemni and the events quickly following with the coins short departure.
Thaylorn's sphere of water wobbles a bit as it zooms in toward Grievier's head, the distraction of the beast swallowing the Gemini makes Thay's spell miss it's target completly but Grievier jerks back and growls and quickly draws a deep breath before the globe encases its head completly. Gemini's warning however seems to give the imp a new idea and the sphere of water breaks apart and lunges out toward all his companions! Penny's pole-arm and Vazkor's and Kier swords are quickly engulfed in a shimmering, moving, flowing field of water where as Raziel and Talen get a rush of water wrapped about their shoulders and arms, it's energy feeding into their mana.... empowering them with its strength and energy, insight into how to twist their spells to flow through the water more effectivly flickering through their mind. Kier takes one look at the watery energy wrapped about his arrows and draws and looses! The arrow shoots over and embeds itself into Griever's upper body which makes him roar and jerk back in surprise even as Kier looses several more arrows in quick succession! The game... it would appear.... is on!
As Talen speaks those words and Gemini comes to life Raziel turns towards Talen, immediately shouting, "NO!" His hand outstretches and for a moment it looks like he's about to launch a spell at the summoner. It never happens though as Gemini bellows his outrage and the aegyl looks back at him in time to see Griever devour the coin bound spirit. The sound he lets out can't really be called a scream or a yell, but a cry of pure frustration and rage wrapped up together breaks forth from the golden winged man. As the water wraps around him and the magical knowledge is imparted he snarls and twists his hand while ice begins forming over his wings and then breaking off, launching in chunks at the monster before them.
Raziel is indeed upset! Ice streams through the air and slams into the beast, piercing his skin and making him jerk backwards and howl as those chunks of ice crash into him with fury! )
Penny grimaces as her blow has about as much effect as she feared it would, but her expression soon changes to one of wide-eyes surprise, then to something akin to fear as Grievier takes hold of her polearm and uses it as leverage to fling her through the air! The mouse screams as she flies, the sound cut off when she makes a splash-landing in the water a short distance away, the mouse floundering for a moment until she gets her feet under her, leaving her wiping water from her eyes in chest-high water. A moment to get her bearings, and she starts slogging her way back towards the group, and the nearest thing she can use to climb out of the water, be it ice or boat, the templar out of the fight until she can do so, poleaxe, with it's water-enchanted head, held upright and used to help her along through whatever waves there are.
Vazkor has been watching the whole proceedings even as he balances on one of the chunks of ice as the float starts breaking apart... The swordfighter studying Grievier, seeming to look for another opening to attack... But then he looks down, at the one sword he's holding- the other hand still clutching the Stellazzio coin- and watches as the cobalt blade is engulfed in shimmering water magic... The man's lips curling then, showing white teeth in a grin as realization hits only a split second after... And with that, he's suddenly on the move. Moving quick, nimbly, hopping from chunk of ice to chunk of ice, and heading straight for the great beast. The man letting out a loud cry to get Grievier's attention, right before he pushes himself off, and leaps up... His sword a blur in the air as he attempts to connect repeatedly upon the beast's body with his magically powered sword in mid-flight. [Pummel]
Grievier shrieks and bellows as Vazkor slams into him! Slicing deep cuts into his side and flank! Once, twice, three times. The giant beast roars and rears back! Pulling away from the warrior and his magical blade as dark, black blood oozes down his side... seems Thaylorn's water enhancement worked!
Following up with Vazkor's attack, Kier draws two arrows from his quiver, and slowly draws... exhaling a slow breath. With the water magic glimmering around the bow, it infects into the arrows, causing small mana droplets to patter into dust on the boat. The bow is turned horizontal just before he releases, sending twin empowered arrows into the wounds already created by Vazkor!
Kier's arrows sing true! Racing across the intervening space between himself and the giagantic black beast! They strike home, burying themseleves in its flesh and the spritual monster roars and turns to glare balefully at Kier.
Penny keeps pulling her way through the waves and water as fast as she can with the aid of her poleaxe as a makeshift pole, her armor keeping her feet firmly on the sandy floor beneath the water, and the resistance of the water itself keeping her pace rather slow. Still, she soldiers on until she reaches the nearest edge of the ice platform, next to one of the ice-locked boats, climbing her way laboriously back onto dry "land"! Sheflops onto her back once on the ice, and is tempted to take a moment to catch her breath, the water-walk having been something of a work-out, but no rest for the wicked, especially with the fight raging still, and so she rolls over and climbs to her feet.
Allowing his magic to do most of the work, Thaylorn takes a more supportive role in the fight. He moves back away from Griever so that he can focus on keeping the watery enchantment upon the party's weapons. The Imp does his best to appear non-threatening in the situation, mostly by not throwing any more magic and letting the rest of the group do the fighting for now!
Talen had watched Penny go flying, and took a few moments to see if she was alright. Since she was still mobile, and making her way back to the ice floe, he turned his attention to the matter at hand. "Now... how does one get a swallowed coin back?" he asks of no one in particular. "Hmmm!" The viera makes his way in a circular fashion towards the back of the beast, and without skipping a beat... tries running up the creature's tail.
Talen leaps onto Gievier's tail and runs up that tail and just as he reaches the base the beast flicks it up, cracking the boy in the shoulder! The summoner is knocked forwards, his hand sgripping the beasts fur! He's on his back... but... well... he's having to hold on as the monster bucks and roars and screams!
Raziel's head tilts this way then that real quick as his companion's take up the attack. Briefly the man glances at the water which the monster is half within and then he lets out a little growl. Shaking his head a little he begins to motion once again, droplets of water that linger around him hardening as the temperature drops along his wings and frost forms. He suddenly turns his wings forward then, his hands motioning sharply and the icy daggers shoot off of his golden feathers and hands, flying towards the Griever.
Icicles + Shadow Beast from beyond the Universe! Damn Raziel is good! That hurt it, he doesn't sound happy about that. He draws back, bucking and shaking his body! Trying to dislodge Talen! It's tail cracks back and forth, lashing out at the boys body! And somehow, with a scamper, a determined yell and a good grip the viera boy lunges out of the way of Grieviers tail and lands between his front shoulder blades and grabs hold! he is right behing the monsters neck now. Sadly it seems the beast can do more then one thing at once. He turns, lowers his head and roars, lobbing a ball of dark energy directly at Thaylorn! It seems he knows who has super charged the party's attacks and as the crackling ball of energy streaks through the air the water on everyone's weapons wavers and flows... the lines of magically charged water twisting away from Thaylorn. The magical energy tries to block the onrushing ball of darkness but it burns through them cutting off the water magic and slamming into Thay! He's tossed backwards off the ice with a scream as the Gravija attack drops him into the water with a splash! Thankfully there is still a residual charge around everyones weapons but they are going to need recharging after one more attack as the imps concentration has been broken.
Vazkor ends up back on his feet after having jumped and slashed right at Grievier... Landing right next to the great beast, and not wasting much time. The man only briefly noting as Grievier seems to relatiate at something or someone, and then pressing the attack once more himself. The swordfighter spinning himself in a half circle, swinging that Katana in a wide arc, all his power behind it, and aiming right for one of the beast's legs, hoping to perhaps cut a tendon and hobble him with that last water magic charge.
The beast ROARS in agony as that sword does indeed slice into a tendon and with a shriek of agony he staggers and half falls onto his knee glaring daggers at Vazkor! Talen pages, "Okay.... soooooo, what would one need to do to get inside the beast, probably through his mouth... there is a coin to get after all." to you.
Kier looks at the beast for a long moment, then just... puts away his bow. Instead of aiming his last good shot from the still-enchanted weapon, the Viera-trained hume digs into his hunting pack and brings out something that looks like a rough charm made of bone and beads, with a few crystals. He holds it in front of him and begins to incant in the older Viera tongue, and in front of him, lines of power begin to form in the air... not a spell, but the beginnings of what looks like it's meant to be a Caller's summon... except the symbology is not set correctly, it looks more like an equation for a Libra spell! He takes a breath, and attempts to release this makeshift attempt to lock the circle around Griever and bring the attention of the Realm of Water to the abomination here. As the circle tries to glow to life around the beast, he says in the more common tongue, "Let that which does not belong be seen by all."
Kier's spell starts to take shape, the symbols and circles flowing out from his charm starting to snap and flow and flaot on the water. The circle is building but it is slow to form. It look half complete, a if it needs a bit more work! But it is a start, if they can keep the beat occupied long enough then Kier may be able to finish it and summon some help.
Penny watches as the others rain pain down on Greiver, waiting for an opening... And as the beast goes down to it's knees, she spots the opening she was hoping for, levelling her polearm and charging with a fierce yell, the pike-tip of her pole axe's head aimed at the base of Greiver's throat, the mouse building up momentum in the hopes of catching their attacker there and not skewering it through, necessarily, but lifting it up, just far enough that it's forepaws can't get purchase on anything, and letting gravity pin it on the top of her weapon to immobilize it at least a little, to make it that much more of an easier target for the others.
Penny attacks! Her polearm bites into the skin of the monster's chest missing his throat and sadly on the slippery ice she just doesn't ave enough leverage to heave the beast up and trap it as she was hoping! till she hit and did a bit of damage which made the monster grunt in pain.
Blasted beast is too smart of its own good. Especially as it turns its attention in Thaylorn's direction in the form of a deadly gravija spell. Being thrown off the ice as he has been, the Imp remains under the shallow water for a few moments as he tries to recover from the mostly direct spell. Slowely reemerging with an agitated groan Thaylorn tries to steady himself, looking worse than he did before getting hit with that spell for sure. "Oh you stupid bastard, we're going to kill you this time for sure." The Imp mutters as he moves to climb up onto the remaining ice once again. Instead of recharging the group's weapons right away, he prepares another spell to heal the wounds he had recieve. Magic energy seems to flow back and forth between the Imp and Griever, hopefully enough to distract him from Kier! (Drain)
The beast is indeed distracted a Thaylorn' spell sucks out some of its natural life energy and pours it into himelf! He growls and glares at the water imp as the large bruises and grating cracked bones that poor Thay was suffering from as a result of that gravity based spell knit and mend and then the imp starts to sparkle and glow blue... he's perfectly ok now!
Talen hangs on for DEAR LIFE as Griever bucks back and forth attempting to dislodge the viera. He ducks several times as attacks and magic fly at the creature, Talen not wanting to get clipped by something. In a momentarily lull, as the creature tips sideways from Vazkor's crippling, Talen stands and runs up and over the creature's head. As the creature growls at something smacking it hard, the viera swings off of one of the creature's horns, aimed directly at the open maw.
Raziel breaks off from the fight as Thaylorn is thrust back, a quick glare sent at the Griever before he rushes to the side of the ice just as Thaylorn is coming back up. As he launches off his spell the mage makes a quick grab for the imp to pull him back onto the ice flow before he then again turns back towards the monster, with himself between the imp and the much larger foe
As Raziel moves toward Thaylorn he sees there is no need, the water is supporting the imp! He is just standing on a small plume with ease that is holding him up. Talen however then takes the moment to swing around and try and leap into the beasts mouth! Well... Grivier GROWLS And snaps down around the boy as he tries to swing inside! One of those massive fangs can be seen to pierce the boys hand as vanishes into the beasts mouth and with a growl he rolls him around on his massive tongue, yawns wide and then swallows! Gulping the summoner down his throat in front of everyone.....
Vazkor is only peripherally of most the other's actions around him, his proximity to the beast requiring him to pay attention... But he can't help but look up as he watches Talen swing towards that open maw from above... And go right down the beast's gullet! A brief look of shock crossing the swordman's face, followed by one of concentrated anger and intent, as he brings that Katana back around, cocking his elbows back and lining the blade up, its hardened tip aimed straight at the beast's flank... And then THRUSTS forward, hoping Grievier has been wounded and weakened enough that his blade will pierce him even without the water enchantment. And aiming low enough that he shouldn't skewer Talen at that, figuring it'll take a while for the Viera to move through the beast's throat...
The strikes is a good one! Vazkor's sword slams into the beasts flank and the sword shakes and bends as it refuses to pierce the creatures skin. The sword, being a mystical and magical weapon of olden time straightens and kicks Vazkor back a few steps making the swordsman stagger away as the recoil from his mighty thrust sends him reeling a good three feet away fromt he beast. It looks like some magic is needed to harm the beast regardless of how injured he is, and he sure does look injured and he is starting to glow with the same purple light that surrounded him when he arrived... looks like he is planning, or trying to leave!
"Let me be clear, creature...", Kier says as he holds up the summoner's charm, and the inexpert but still potent energy pulsing through it, "You will cough up my brother, you will return the coin... and you will leave. Or I will complete the circle, and you will suffer the consequences. I am given to believe that Leviathan has a temper about it. The kind of temper that destroys things like fleets... cities... islands." He closes his eyes once more and channels more into the charm to put the circle to the point that all it takes is a locking phrase to set it off, and call down the Realm on Greiver. Taking another breath, more Vieran comes out under his breath before he adds, between verses of the nearly song-like language, "To honor your cunning, I give you this... do as I bid, and you may house yourself in my knife, safe from the Realm, and safe from your Mistress... who will doubtless be... displeased... at your failure." His eyes open, cold and unflinching, "Choose." (Repeating Channeling Roll)
It's an impressive speech! But Kier's lacking the magical no-how and power to back up the choic with power. Grievier sneers at the man and then laughs and speaks. "Why should I heed your threat? I have a coin... and I have your brother.... Your power cannot hold me... your call to Leviathan is week and will not pierce the depths.... I shall leave and take them with me in victory."
Taking note of the odd magical aura that is surrounding Griever, Thaylorn prepares for his next spell to toss at the annoying beast. We can't have him teleporting off with Talen inside of him and alll, would be bad! Taking note of how slow Kier's magic is though, he has a minor change of plan. Sliding down the ice the Imp moves to stand next to the man, one arm going up to grab onto his arm...The other, pointing straight towards the beast. "Let me see if I can't give you a little help, maybe?" He remarks as energy once again begins flowing between him, and Grievier. (Siphon)
The dark energy from Grivier's attempt to leave streams out and into the imps free hand... across his body and into Kier's arm! the sudden jolt of extra mana makes the summoning circle around the beast FLARE into bright golden light as it rushes to finishes writing itself and the beast growls in distaste!
Penny retreats again after her failed, at least in terms of what she was hoping to do, attack, though that she caused Greiver pain is, in itself, something of a success of another kind. Still, she waits for another opening as more attacks rain down, preparing her own for the right opening. Vazkor's failed thrust gives her pause, though, and she glances at the head of her poleaxe to see if any enchantment yet resides there. Finding none, she grimaces, commenting after Greiver's and Kier's exchange, "What a bastard!" She braces herself for a hard swing, her weapon arcing around, aimed for Greiver's nose; even if she can't hurt him any more, necessarily, maybe she can distract him enough to delay him, to give Kier and Thaylorn a few more precious seconds to finish what they are doing.
Like with Vazkor's attack.... the pole-arm hits! And bounces off Grivier's skin! Making Penny jerk back and stagger! Seems without that water enchantment people cannot harm the beast. Raziel pages, "I was asking if Raziel could make Kier's bluff more affective as he's got skills in channelling.. but thaylorn leapt in so I don't know if that'll help or won't." to you. Talen slides down through the beast's throat, and into it's belly, unseen to those outside. The spirits fade from his mind, and mana fails and goes dark. "Well. Not foreseen. Gemini, if you have any hope of getting out of this dark place, show me a sign. Let me find ye. And help me cut my way out." The long dagger that Talen keeps for just these occasions is carefully drawn as he stumbles about in the gloom.
Thankfully for Talen, despite the Jagd like properties inside Grivier there is a soft, very faint sparkle of silver... and the coing Gemini floats over to hang in the air before the boy.... flickering nd glowing lightly until he takes it in his hand.
Raziel's brow twitches as he hears Kier's challenge. There is a moment of thought before the mage begins to draw upon his own knowledges and he draws one of his kukri to use the crystal to draw a symbol within the air before him. "I am not a man of many words, so I will say nothing nearly so impressive as the offer my companion gives you.. but as you say as his can't. Mine can." His wings flare out then the gold catching the light and motes of energy sparkling as he attempts to aid in Kier's binding.
CROOM! More power! MORE! Raziel is able to attune his energy flow to Kier's AND Thaylorn and the circle explode with even more light blinding the others. Grivier roars and shy back, jerking himself away from the edge of the circle as it burns on the surface of the water. What's more the lillies are starting to turn their heads... the song that lulled the party to sleep focussing on the beast also, the realm is taking notice.
Vazkor grunts as he's bounced back from his attempted stab, stumbling those three feet, and pausing for a moment even as he scowls and looks up at Grievier... Followed by a glance over at the others as he catches evidence of some large spell being conjured up with combined effort... Looking at Penny then, who's even closer, he simply gives the mouse a knowing nod... And then attempts to rush back in, for another attempt at the beast's flank... Only to be blinded as their spell hits, the man grunting and looking annoyed as he's forced to squint his eyes, and retreat once more, having lost his opening.
Kier replies to Greiever as Raziel takes up the slack, and holds the charm out in front of him, "Your fate is freely chosen. Fire and water are forever in opposition." And he tosses the charm up in the air towards Raziel, so that in the apex of it's arc, it will pause long enough for him to finish the circle, and alert the Realm of the intruder. He makes it look casual even, just lobbing it into the air in Raziel's direction...
The charm sails into the air, glittering and sparkling and Grivier roars as it seems to hang there at the apex of its trajectory! Sparkling and powering the circle holding the beast in place... one more influx of magical energy and concentration and the entire realm of water will be awakened to Grivier's presence.
Penny returns Vazkor's nod, preparing to follow him in, until the spell flares, causing her to wince and turn her head away as she's momentarily blinded! She retreats a couple steps, taking in the chance, and elects to not try to cross the spell's boundary, instead falling back into a defensive stance, in case she is picked out as a target of opportunity for reprisal from Greiver. (Defend)
Thaylorn keeps mainting the energy link between him and Kier, offering as much of Greiver's, and his power as possible to make sure the spell is a success! With the flare of light he closes his eyes, allowing it to follow it's course!
Talen huffs and grunts after a number of experimental stabs to the lining of the beast's stomach. "No wonder our attacks failed. It's like stabbing rock." The viera sighs and huffs. "Against my better judgement, and you do realize I face possible burning and maiming from the first time... but I'm going to need your help to get out Gemini. I don't think I can get past the stomach's upper iris... so we're going to have to get out a different way. Think you could brighten the place up a little?" The viera squints as suddenly a light begins to glow, originating with the coin. And squints harder as suddenly it gets very bright indeed. As Kier throws the charm towards his wings beat once, launching him in the air to snatch the charm with his free hand. In the other he grips the blade. The amber leaves an ark through the air as the sigils of the charm are repeated once again, burning them into the very air itself. "Come watchers of this realm, come guardians.. come and see what invades your sacred depths." He snarls then while making another slashing sigil within the air, "come and be Leviathan's eyes!"
The beast roars and white light seems to erupt from its throat even as Raziel finishes chanting and pours his power out to join Thaylorn's and Kier's! And the whole thing explodes! White light just rolls outward as Grivier all but disintergrates under the blinding Starlit force of the Gemini contained inside the ritual circle the party formed to contain and hold the beast bursts forth! Vazkor, Penny, Kier, Thaylorn, Raziel are all picked up and hurled off the ice-berg to go careening through the air. The coins everyone was holding to protect them from the sleep inducing harmony of the flowers spin and whirl and glitter in the air until with a rather uncomfortable thump the party land atop something hard, wet and uneven. The surface shifts and flows beneath them and as the white light begins to die down they can see a long straight road of blue/green scales beneath them stretching up.. rearing up coil upon coil to the great horned head of the water-dragon hanging suspended in the air above them. There are other figures stood on the waves in front of the dragon, Lady Undine with her trident in hand riding a cresting wave of water, Lord Bismarck hanging in mid-air in a way no Whale ever should, the gigantic clam shell chariot of Siren with the harp wielding mermaid sat within it. The eyes of the water realm have come to see what is going on and what they see... is the burning ritual circle with Talen sat in the middle of it, the glowing form of Gemini in his hands and the twisting, writhing form of Grivier shrinking, screaming... flailing.. glittering... reduced, contained... trapped... a chain seems to form out of the beasts head as the black enamelled, silver backed amulet in the shape of a rearing lion lands in the water in front of the young summoner.... The circle flickers.. flares.... and begins to die down as Leviathan rumbles softly, his gaze turning from the trio of Gemini, Talen and the now trapped Grivier to the form of Raziel and his companions lying on his scaled hide....
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