Graterras Chapter 1: The Darkness Descends. [IC]

[Flux]

Nero allowed the darkness to fade away, walking towards the crowd. He turned towards the dwarf, Odin.

"I believe I can be of use. I have certain.. talents." He paused, looking out the doorway. "Give me some time to prepare, and I'll be out to help."

[Chim]

Sigurd dropped his mug when a man with arrows in his chest claimed they were under attack. Odin and his son reacted immediately and so did a few adventurers. He stood up while the Half-Orc, who was responsible for the earlier prank, yelled what Odin had done for him. You’re not the only one who thinks like that, Half-Orc.

The young Templar put on his cloak, grabbed his swords and walked over to Odin. Meanwhile others had taken up arms.
“It looks like I can cut something else then steak,” He said while putting his hand on the Dwarf’s shoulder. “Let me show you the Sacred Dance taught to us, Whirling Dervish, loyal to our Goddess Aelia!”

Sigurd took his battle stance, prepared to follow the Elf that charged recklessly at whatever was waiting for them.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Xavier was met instantly by two creatures he had never seen before. They were like Lizardmen but they had Jet Black scales. They had just torn apart a guard as he charged into their midst. Three more appeared from around the corner, along with 2 Goblins and 3 Green Orcs. The two closet to him both had ugly swords, curved and made for the dicing of limbs and bone, with huge weights at the top of the blades for easy cutting. They both came down at him quick and hard.

"Thank you all of you, now we need to get going." Odin said inside the bar. Suddenly a crash came from the back of the Inn, must have been a window breaking. All of a sudden a Wolf appeared as if from nowhere, he wasn't harmed in anyway other than a few superficial cuts on his muzzle from leaping through the window. He lay at Helzebeth's Feet, waiting for his master to give him a command.

((Quick Note for Zephyr, I have limited control over Hunter. Very few times will I make him react certain ways but just keep in mind this can happen. As a Wild animal he doesn't always listen to command. I will almost never have to use this, so don't worry too much. He is definitely 100% under your control now that I delivered him to the Inn.))

Somewhere In the Middle of the Enemy Hoard.

"Master! Casualties are climbing Milord, it looks like the test is going well for our little ragtag force, hehehehe." Scoffed a small Red Imp. "Shut it Haster (Has-ter). This is only a small village, not like they have much of a chance. This is beyond boring. It is much to easy to slaughter these people." said a larger figure dressed in terrifying armour. Half of his Armour, was an angelic effigy, the very likeness of Holy armour. The other half was the Hideous form of a Demon, they met exactly at the center. The chest had the Image of a bleeding heart, that had a matching brother on the man's Shield. His sword looked like an Angel's wing, Curved, Deadly. He watched as the battle raged, as his menagerie of forces moved about the battlefield. He wondered if this run proved anything, he wondered if destroying a village mattered. He finally decided he would be destroying it anyway, best kill them now and get them out of the way. "Haster, I feel like getting closer to the battle, mind riding in with me?" The Terrifying Knight said. "As long as you keep me from harm, I don't mind." Haster said a crazy giggle accompanying it. "By the way Gentleman, your title is so hard to say in a normal context, why do you have to call yourself The Gentleman? Makes talking to you a pain in my behind." said Haster as they began to ride towards Brinestar.

((Though I used man to describe him earlier, it is entirely unknown what The Gentleman actually is due to his ridiculous Armour obscuring like everything about him. People reckon he isn't even a creature from this plane of existence, but nobody really knows. He is a humanoid though, which is the only reason I used man to describe him.))

[Chevaleresse]

Xavier adroitly dashed around one of the strange, lizard-like creatures, and launched a heavy strike, embers appearing to fly off of his blade and strike the other nearby. The blade whistled as it swung through the air, the edge heating up from the elf-knight's magic.

[Ragnar]

As soon as Odin finishes his command, Akuma without hesitation draws his massive hammer "i'll join the front lines" and runs with his wings wide spread to give him acceleration. he dashes towards as he swing his massive hammer to break the wall near the entrance leaving a huge gap and hitting one of the Orcs nearby with a bone shattering force.

Edited April 16, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The flaming blade crunched into the Beast's Arm, a sickly sweet Cinnamon smell rose into the air as it's skin burned. It swung it's Kilij wildly trying desprately to hit the Cinder Knight. The second also swung. One of the goblins threw a crude spear towards him as well. A hatchet went flying past Xavier's head, it was Odin's. It landed Squarely in the face of the Creature he struck with his blade, slaying it. Odin drew another hatchet out of his waistcoat as he turned back to those in the Inn. "Let's get out there and fight!" shouted the dwarf as he went to try and backup Xavier. The Green Orcs and the other Strange Lizard-like people started to charge to meet their brethren.

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

((OOC: Roger that, boss.))

"Glad you could make it, friend," Helzebeth said, patting the head of the huge wolf easily, as his head came up to her waistline. And I suppose worrying about my identity being known here is the least of my worries, anyway-- there's nothing to hide and protect if I'm dead, she thought.

With that, she drew her arms up her long, wide sleeves and with a quick motion, threw her robe over her shoulders, revealing her face, framed by her near-black hair, as her hood fell back. The protective garment stayed fastened at her collarbone with a feather-like pin((right, don't worry, I'll be uploading the drawings soon, I just haven't quite finished yet)). "Hunter, kindly lend them your aid from the ground." With that, the great wolf leapt through the open door, into the bloodbath.

"I fight best from a distance," she stated simply and loudly enough for all to hear. And having said thus, she dashed up the stairs of the Drunken Clam. Upon reaching the landing, she opened the nearest large window she saw and climbed her way up to the rooftop. From there, she readied a simple looking bow, placing at arrow at the riser. Holding the bow and arrow in her left hand, she pulled out a short sword with a dragon design for the hilt from a scabbard fastened to her back.

It'll be like hunting dumb wild pigs. She readied herself to support from afar.

Edited September 1, 2014 by ZephyrEnyalios

[Notus]

Marcus ran out of the bar, sword in hand, but Xavier and the others seemed to have already dealed with the first wave of attackers.

"Hey, don't you start the fun without me!" he shouted, eyes glistening as if ablaze. He than moved his sword towards the incoming enemies, shooting a wave of flames from it in order to flinch them.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Notus

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Magni charged into the fray beside his father, his hammer coming down to bring Righteous Fury. Light sparked off of it has he hit The second Black-Scaled Creature, knocking his blow off track. Xavier had one more blow less to worry about.

Somewhere in the Enemy Hoard

The Gentleman noticed a few scout fleeing back to the backlines. "What are you running from you Idiot?" he barked. "There are strong peoplessss in the town, mesa want to tell you abouts it isss all." said the scout, an actual Lizardman. "Hmm, sounds like fun. Good thing I decided to join the fray huh Haster?" The Gentleman scoffed. "I guess Master, seems like we gots a bunch of cowards for an army." Haster said, laughing. "Oh and a parting gift for you friend, no one in my army flees, even to tell me information." said the Gentleman. He raised his hand as Black Energy formed, he shot it towards the scout. When the Black Mist touched him, nothing happened at first, but then he started to swell at an alarming pace. It kept happening until the scout literally exploded, a painful death indeed. The others around were only retaught a lesson. Never cross The Gentleman.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Hukuna

[Chim]

Sigurd watched closely as he picked his first enemy. His eye fell on the Goblin who threw his spear at the Elf. Using the wind to accelerate, he dashed forward. As soon as he reached the enemy, he launched a strike at the Goblin's chest, rotated, and prepared to launch his second sword at his opponent's waist.

[Notus]

The Green-Orcs didn't back off from the flames as Marcus expected. He mutterd a curse and raised his shield, catching the first blow, while trusting quickly as a snake with his sword , the heated up point melting it's armor. He than hit the second with his shield, gaining some space to prepare another blow.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Notus

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The goblin fell easily, with no way to easily defend himself since he threw his spear. (Lesson Today Kids: Don't throw the only weapon you have, it leads to an untimely death.). The Three Charging Lizard-like Creatures all converged on Sigurd, all wildly swinging their Kilijs at him. A few goblins appeared on the rooftops, and started to fire arrows down. (not at any target right now, they are peppering the area, so be careful where you dodge ).

Edited April 16, 2014 by Hukuna

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

A goblin began to draw back its arrow on the string, getting ready to fire hell down below...

... Only to have an arrow rip through its brain, thus causing it to fall off the roof it stood, going ker-plop on the ground.

Helzebeth had no problem spotting the enemy archers, especially since they were lighting up their arrows with fire.

She fired at another goblin that stood three rooftops away and prepared to fire again. Said goblin fell as well but survived, only to be mangled horribly by a vicious Hunter, his muzzle and black-and-gray fur stained with blood from tearing out the throats of other units.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The goblins started freaking out on the rooftop across from Helzebeth, the Wolf was their main concern as they all drew crude blades and tried to lop at the Wolf. Hunter easily dodged the most of the blows, be able to seriously wound a few few of them in the process. The next rooftop over all the goblins aimed directly for Helzebeth. At least like 10 Goblins archers all trained their bows in that direction. Releasing a flaming volley of arrows straight at the Rooftop where Helzebeth was standing.

Down below more strange Lizard Creatures poured out from down below. A group of 10 came from the south, headed by a huge one. He was still black in colour, but was bigger than the others, He wielded a huge Curved sword that edge had a sinister blackish glow. He barked out in a strange lanaguage, as his men formed a Phalanx. They began to march down the street, 5 shields above, 5 out in front. Taking up the entire street it wouldn't be possible to flank them from the street level. Let alone would Helzebeth be able to fire at them until they were already upon her comrades. The Officer donned a Simple helm, that had a Dragon's Face etched into the front, he began marching behind his force, moving quickly for a creature his size.

[Ragnar]

Meanwhile..

Akuma grabs a nearby goblin, he keeps punching the goblins face with his metal fist interrogating it "where do you come from you vile beast !?" not realizing he was bashing him too hard which cause its skull to break. "ops..poor thing never got to answer my question".

Akuma draws his hammer and turns around to a nearby lizard enemy "where do you come from?" as he swings his hammer towards its head bashing it's skull to pieces " Ops..never meant to do that..evil are so fragile these days" as he provokes a 4 orcs nearby " Can someone answer my question!?"

As the group of orcs turns their attention to him, they see a birdman all covered in blood from their fallen allies and charges. with a grin on his face "looks like I'm painting my hammer red today!" Akuma bashed their heads with swing after swing and enjoy every moment of it.

[Chim]

After he slayed the Goblin, Sigurd immediately had to defend from incoming attacks. The three Lizardmen weren’t very skilled, but they were annoying. Their wild attacks didn’t leave much room for counterattacking and it didn’t help that more Goblins showed up firing arrows everywhere.

“You’re all such a pain!” Sigurd yelled as he used another wind technique. This time he blew one of the Lizardmen forcefully away, creating some space. He was planning to do something about the Goblins on the roofs first, until some of them dropped dead. “Well that’s handy...”

He took his stance back, facing all three Lizardmen. “Come on! Let’s see who the Goddess Aelia smiles upon today!” He dashed forward to his opponent on the left. His sword met his opponents Kilij, trading blows, leaving the beast wide open for Sigurd’s second sword.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Chimchain

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

"oh shi--" said Helzebeth

Helzebeth looked up and saw the goblins release the volley of hellfire. Feeling a little sorry for the soon-to-be-in-flames Drunken Clam, she ran for the nearest rooftop with goblins and leapt, robe flying behind her making her look like Batman-- okay I'll stop with all the lame jokes orz as she fired at a distant goblin, and upon taking that one down for Hunter to catch and devour and/or tear to bits, she stabbed the goblin in front of her with her dragon short sword.

((OOC: how many gob's, exactly?))

[Notus]

Marcus got rid of the remaining Green Orc after a little dancing, his heated sword slicing easily through it's bad armour.

He than looked down the street, and saw a far more organized group of attackers coming on their direction, a huge Lizard thing leading them. At the same time, arrows where flying between the rooftops, the big Kenku was doing some pretty nasty damage to some Orcs and Goblins, and the Wind Templar was facing three opponents at once. They all needed to be quick here, else the newly arrived troops would be on them in no time.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Notus

[Jory]

Drug'thok sighed, shaking his head as the group ran recklessly out of the tavern. "And we're off without even a simple plan," he said aloud. He turned on his heel and strode out the door into the pouring rain, immediately encountering the fallen corpses of both friend and foe. Kobolds, Goblins, and... Oh, mercy no... he thought to himself as he saw the corpse of a savage Green Orc. The half-Orc delicately stepped over the body and joined the line of heroes, looking down the street at the horde. A volley of arrows flew toward him from a rooftop on his left. Six of them on a roof. Drug'thok raised his right hand and quickly said: "Terra locoxe." A large chunk of mixed earthen materials two meters high and one thick rose up from the ground near Drug'thok. "Terra expulse." The mass flew toward the goblins, picking up their arrows and crashing into them, taking a large chunk of the roof with it as the earth crushed the sorcerer's foes and continued off into the woods.

The half-Orc then turned his attention down the street, to the crowd being led by the large, armored lizard. He strode forward, beginning an incantation. "Abre terra cun gryte fwyrte e lyste mes nakuma terra!" The earth around Drug'thok began to rumble loudly as he came to a halt several meters in front of the group from the tavern, facing down the lizard and his troupe. Shards of stone began to worm their way upward through the soil, some extending to nearly a meter in length and a third of that in thickness. After roughly ten seconds, a few decuplets of shards were floating in a rough circle around the sorcerer. "Terra expulse," Drug'thok said calmly as he joined the index fingertips and thumbs of his hands at the tips to create a triangle, the rest of his fingers splayed to the sides of them. His spell coincided with a sharp pushing movement of this hand formation, causing the shards to fly down the street toward the organized group of enemies.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Jory

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Large Creature leading the group shouted loudly in his strange tongue. A black haze appeared towards the edge of the the phalanx, glowing the same Black as his sword. As soon as the Rocks touched the edges, they vaporized. It was an Anti-Magic bubble as any of the spell casters would know (though strangely tinted black, they are normally off-white in colour from the outside.). They continued marching down the street, the bubble slowing following them, radiating from the Officer himself. The goblins had mostly fled at this point, being scared out of their wits. THe only foes that really remained were Green Orcs, and the strange Lizard-like folk.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Hukuna

[Jory]

Drug'thok backed away from the crowd slowly as his stones were vaporized upon contact with the anti-magic shield. He turned to the rest of the group, taking a deep breath. "We need some fighters down here, now! I cannot touch them with my magic while that dark shield still exists!" The half-Orc turned back toward the street, focusing his energies. "Terra locoxe!" he shouted, making a raising motion with his arms. A huge chunk of earth rose from the ground in the middle of the street, preventing any projectiles from coming from the horde.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Odin backed out of the main fight heading to Drug'thok's location. "Aye, me and Lady Jeneve can sneak around if the fighters can hold off the bulk of them." he managed to spit out, tired from the fighting "We should be able to get to the biggin' and take him down if you guys keep the group busy. That will get down the magic shield and hopefully get the fight to be easier."

[Notus]

Marcus heard the call from the Half-Orc Sorcerer and went to help. "Sure, for what I see of our allies we can hold these things down the whole night." he said. "The others seem to be doing fine with their own fights, so I'l get in position." He then walked behind the barrier created by Drug'thok and waited.

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

Helzebeth was about to leap for the next group of goblins when large boulders flew into the nearby rooftops and beyond, effectively taking out most of the goblin-archers. This seemed to discombobulate the other archers as well.

They seem too easily scattered, she thought. This squad can't possibly be what caused the havoc earlier?

Then she saw the oncoming phalanx of shields--physical and magical-- led forth by a greater lizardlike creature.

Hunter seemed to have noticed it as well, but focused on taking out the smaller, now seemingly insignificant lizard footsoldiers.

There were still some few archers left, out of her feet's reach-- she couldn't really leap down and assist now.

She looked down. The torch that the goblins were using earlier still burned.

A second later, Helzebeth began shooting her own mini-volley of flaming arrows at the opposing archers.

[Jory]

Drug'thok whirled to see Marcus heading for the barrier. He nodded at the Cinder Knight, then turned toward the rooftop where Akuma lay embattled. The sorcerer watched the bird-man physically dismember his foes, wincing with each brutal stroke of Akuma's hammer. The sorcerer stomped the ground, causing a pillar of stone to rise under his feet quickly, launching him toward the Kenku and landing him seemingly unharmed on the opposite side of the small group of enemies. The half-Orc swirled his cloak, trailing sand from a wineskin attached to his hip. Some of the foes turned toward the sorcerer, growling and baring their teeth before lunging at him.. Drug'thok grinned lightly, then said, "Arena expulse." The sand (which had by this time pooled into a layer coating the ground in a ten-foot radius around the half-Orc's feet) was pushed downward, creating a 5 meter deep pitfall for the enemies. Six of the feral warriors fell in, but one made it over the pit and swung at Drug'thok. The sorcerer sidestepped the wild swing and kicked the Green Orc in the chest, sending him into the pit with the others. "Arena cantrohl zed!" The sand came back up to the surface, filling in the pit with dense, hard-packed earth, then returned to the wineskin. Drug'thok calmly placed the cork back on the skin, allowing Akuma to finish the rest.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Jory