Graterras Chapter 2: A Second Chance [IC]

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Tentacles screeched at the Flames and the Wind, so high pitched it would hurt your ears. They crumpled pitifully before dissipating. More kept popping up though, and it seemed as if they were spreading from the others. It would be tough to rid of them all. Ones near the tree lines started grabbing the trees, and literally uprooting them. They crushed them until they broke under the pressure.

((just a vanity thing, they are't really affecting you guys while uprooting the trees, I just want you giuys to know how crazy these things can be.))

More ringing clanged throughout the Clearing as blades danced, and the Earth shook as Hammer blows missed their targets. The battle raged on between the Scaled Brothers and the Death Knight. It was a frantic battle, both of them barely matched the power of the Death Knight. Not much occurred other than parried blows and utter misses as of now.

[Flux]

Nero picked up Odin's axe before walking towards the dwarf, his right arm hanging limp at his side. He returned the axe before muttering another spell. He waved his left hand, and a small, transparent bubble appeared around the two. It was barely noticeable to the eye, but visible if you looked closely.

"We should be able to speak without being heard," he said. "What did you want to tell me?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Odin grabbed some first aid stuff out of his bags. "Hold still, going to patch you up right quick." Odin started to prep the bandages while asking another question. "What can you do magic-wise? I need to get up into the battle with the Death Knight, anything to aid my approach in stealth would be appreciated." after that he went back to the bandages quickly applying pressure to stop the bleeding. He then preceded to apply them quickly and firmly. It might have hurt quite a bit at first, but it would definitely help. "and there, now ya won't bleed to death."

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

The great wolf, lowered by Odin's side, snarled as he glared at the tentacles. Some cautious part of him decided not to just go around biting those wriggling things. How could he be useful now? He turned and watched the lizard-like warriors move in sync against the undead, four-armed monstrosity, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The clanging of blades still clanged during the fight between the Death Knight and the Victonari. Orpheaus had managed to grab his attention for now, blocking two of the blades with his own,and the others with the small buckler. "Brass, now!!!" He shouted, as the Giant dashed forward. He brought down his behemoth hammer straight down on one of the 2 lower arms. It shattered into pieces, as his sword clattered to the ground.

"Shite, clever Fleshings, but not clever enough." said the Death Knight as he kicked of Orpheaus. Using the strangth Orpheaus was pushing agiant him to stay his blades, he leapt backwards. He landed roughly infront of Brass. "Think Fast." he shouted as his trhusted his blade towards the giant who was recovering from his mighty swing. The longsword slide into his rocky armour. From the distance the heros were at it was hard to see where the blade landed, but it looked as if it landed in Brass's heart. A spray of crimson came out his back and soaked the ground.

"Fuck, looks like you got me." said Brass, blood dripping from his mouth. "But, you don't know me well if you think you are taking me unscathed. REPULSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" with that word, Brass's armour exploded along with the hammer he was wielding. Rock shards flew everywhere. The Death Knight was sent flying back, along with Brass's limp body. Orpheaus was mostly safe from the blast as the Death knight took most of it.

"BRASS!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU SCOURGE!!!!!! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!!!" Orpheaus screamed with every fiber of his being. The shining warrior wore a mask of hatred on his face. He moved faster than ever striking a blow at the Death Knight. It was quickly parried.

"Fool. You fleshings cannot defeat me, surrender here, don't throw your life away like your friend, just surrender and make this easier." The Death Knight uttered. He no longer looked amused, and wore a grimace on his face.

"Nero, nevermind the spells, looks like I no longer have time for stealth." Odin said, his Orange eyes blzing with fire. "I need to get up there now." Odin placed his hand on Hunter's head. "And your coming with me Mister Hunter, we got a score to settle, and I think you would agree with me." with that Odin pulled out a familiar hammer instead of his hatchets. Nero recognized it as the one Magni used back in the battle at Brinestar. "Nero, stay safe, you can't fight with that wound, the rest of us will take care of this menace, you have fought well." and with that, the Dwarf Father stormed off, as he gestured to Hunter to follow him.

[Jory]

Dru finally reached the other side of the undead horde. He was breathing heavily as he turned around, grinning at the trail of shattered bones he'd left behind him on his way toward the hill with the singular cherry blossom. It had been far too long since the rest of the heroes left to face the Death Knight, and the sorcerer believed that he could help if he was truly needed. As he crested the hill, however, he was brought to his knees by the Earth's shrieking. It was an outcry unlike any he had heard before. It was a gut-wrenching, blood-curdling scream of pure, abject grief.

He finally spotted Nero and approached him at a run. "Quickly, Spellblade, tell me what has happened here. Is my assistance required?"

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

The brass Victonari had fallen and, well, exploded. He was an ally, right? The earth seemed to shudder underneath Hunter's paws-- he could sense it more, for he was a wolf, spawn of the forests, of Nature-- and her wails erupted in his ears. Hunter howled as well, feeling the sorrow of the earth. Then, after pausing a while, he dipped his head to Odin to show he'd acknowledged the dwarf-father's words. That hammer... That battle. He remembered it well.

Enough with sorrow and mourning, for now; It was time for vengeance. For vindication. Hunter snarled, looking in the direction of the hated Death Knight as he caught up easily with the dwarf.

[Flux]

"Quickly, Spellblade, tell me what has happened here. Is my assistance required?"

Nero turned to face the half-orc, the blood of his wounded arm already beginning to show through the bandages.

"Our plan didn't work as effectively as we'd hoped," Nero began, a grimace on his face. "Brass took a serious hit... he likely did not survive. Your assistance is necessary at this point, especially since we're down another fighter," he said, motioning to himself with the bandaged arm.

"I'll support as much as I can."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

A hard thump rang out around the clearing. followed by a loud shout. "Dewlock!!!!" shouted the dwarf fater as his mace collided with the Death Knight's jaw. A quick flash of light followed the impact and pushed the Death Knight back.

He took the time to snap his jaw back in. The blow from the Dwarf-Father knocked it askew. "If I was alive, that would have hurt like hell. Luckily, I am not." the Death Knight remarked. "So another Fleshing joins the fight. Intriguing."

"Aye, but no ordinary Fleshling. I am Odin Thunderbrew!!! You shall know my wrath!!!" he shouted as he chucked a Hatchet at the Death Knight's head. The Death Knight easily parried it, knocking it out of the sky. But it left him little time to parry the incoming blow from the hammer. Lucky him he had three arms. Odin grabbed his hatchet while dodging the Death Knight's next blow, and fell back. Now another Warrior had a go. Orpheaus came crashing through. His golden sword cutting through the air. It connected with the Death Knight's swords with such force it actually cracked the generic black longsword he was holding. The Death Knight dropped back. He picked up another sword sticking out of the ground. He was back up to 3 swords, having taken another flat black longsword, and still wielding Nero's Blade, and Steele's Katana.

[Chim]

“I’ve had it with these stupid tentacles!” Sigurd yelled as he finally managed to cut through one of them, but was forced to dodge two others immediately. Their entire plan had failed miserably. The Death Knight was taking them out one by one; Brass was already down and Nero didn’t look like he could wield a sword again. It reminded Sigurd about the Gentleman all over again and he lost his patience.

Not again. I swore on Aelia’s honor I wouldn’t let anything like that happen again.

“You there, Death Knight! Stop hiding behind these annoying tentacles and face me as a real man!” he said while the wind started to blow forcefully around him. He closed his eyes for a moment and focused on the breeze on his face and listened to the whispers in the wind.
Aelia is with me.

He opened his eyes again, accelerated by using the wind and started his battle dance. He managed to fend off the tentacles and made his way towards the Death Knight. He felt the wind getting fouler as he came closer, but it didn’t influence him like the first time. There was something different. The wind he created seemed to collide with the polluted one, like a divine protection that came from heaven itself.

He smirked as he stood in front of his enemy. “Your head is mine,” he said while aiming for the Knight’s arm that received Orpheaus’ blow.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

((keep in mind, all magic that isn't tied to an object is disabled in the Anti-Magic shell around Orpheaus, and since the Death Knight is inside of it you can't use it to fight him. THis is just so you know ahead of time.))

3 Swords collided with Sigurd's 2. All his forward momentum stopped. The Death Knight stared at him, with his red pin-point eyes. "You Fleshlings don't get it do you? You cannot defeat me."

He threw a kick at Sigurd's gut, Knocking him back. Though Sigurd maintained his balance. The Death then threw the Flat Black Longsword towards him, as he rushed forward. He picked up another Longsword from the battlefield as he rushed forward. He took a blow to his side as the Dwarf Father yelled "Dewlock!" once more. It knocked the Death Knight off course, and sent him flying to the left of Sigurd. He Quickly regained his footing. ((Sword is still flying at Sigurd.))

[Ragnar]

Still shaken from that blow, Akuma feels his jaw. He picks himself up after that close combat with death knight. He decided to take Brass command, He aids the others by killing the tendrils around the place.With his strength the Berserker picks up fairly huge log as he swings and pounds the tentacles with it. chucks of bark flies with every earth shattering blow the birdman delivers. He decided to target the main cause of all of this, the death knight.

"Oy, ugly, you like collecting swords ey? collect this!" The birdman hurls the thick huge log towards the knight.

[Chim]

Sigurd parried the flying sword by using his own. His opponent proved to be rather unique to fight; he never faced an enemy wielding more swords than him before. He circled around the Death Knight looking for an opportunity. He couldn’t just charge reckless as he usual did or go for an opening since there were none. To top it off, he neither had the patience nor the brains to come up with a new plan.

“Well, no point in thinking about it,” he said while preparing to attack again. He just hoped he could create an opening one of the others could take advantage of. Sigurd took a step when he suddenly saw a log flying over. His instincts kicked immediately in as he recognized a potential opportunity to strike. He crossed his blades and placed himself behind the falling log, prepared to do some damage.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The log flew true, and it would have struck the Death Knight if not for his unnatural strength. He Bore all three blades on it, Splitting it in half. One hunk of wood flew to the left, the other to the right. That was when the Death Knight saw Sigurd coming for him. Lucky him his blades where trained forward, but he would quickly need to adjust to take the weight of the attack. That was when he felt another smack to his head as Odin's hammer came crashing down. He flew forward losing his balance, falling directly onto Sigurd's Blades as he charged forward. He collapsed to the ground, and shuttered in pain. "Finally.......I can rest." he muttered painfully. He reached into the sky, with his left arm after dropping his blades. "Conner, I hope I can see you again, hopefully daddy has atoned for his sins." He said. The heros would be sure the Death Knight would be crying if he still could. "I never meant to hurt you......" The Death Knight seemed pathetic all of a sudden, as if he was nothing to ever be afraid of. He left out one last gasp of air, before his body crumpled and lost it's form The armour and the swords turned into a black dust, no longer meant to be in this world. His Skeleton lay there on the battlefield a grim reminder.

Orpheaus collapsed to the ground. The lotus on the end of Sunglimmer retracted. "It is over...."

"Aye, it is." Odin said.

The black satchel however remained. The one the Death Knight had gotten his blades from. Odin walked over to it, and peered inside, his curiosity getting the better of him. All that was at the bottom was a box made of Dogwood. It was finished in a sleek black color, with a Crimson Red Skull adorning the front. It felt sinister, but had a strange allure to it. "Anyone know what this thing is?"

"We should check our losses first." Orpheaus said, a slight choke in his voice. He got up and went to check on his friend. Brass lay still, it was hard to tell if he was alive of dead, the wound in his chest looked horrible. Orpheaus placed his hand on his shoulder, and cried. "You can't go yet friend, you have so much to teach me." Orpheaus mumbled, trying to quell the tides from his eyes. Just then a familiar voice was heard. "You.....think I am done yet you g...g...golden bastard? You still haven't made up on your promise to me and I am not d...d...dying until that day comes." muttered an awakening Brass. Since Brass's tunic was torn it was easy to see now how he survived. The medal that Dru had given him he placed over his heart in the pocket of the simple linen tunic he wore. The blow of the sword had been deflected by it, and it protected his heart from being pierced. "I probably look like shit, don't I?" Brass asked chuckling a little to himself.

[Ragnar]

Akuma was in disbelief and at the same time was glad that this nightmare is over, He almost felt sorry at the knight's dying message, except for the fact that he tried to wipe out an entire race and killing anyone who stands in his way. Conner? daddy? who the hell are those guys? it doesn't make any sense.maybe he's just a former fleshling just like the rest of us who got lost along way.

His trance slowly wears off along with his borrowed strength as pain take its toll all over his body, But he didn't care as long they've won. he walks towards Odin, passing Sigurd along the way, giving him a pat on the shoulder for a job well done on his part.

The birdman confronted Odin."I don't know what that thing is, but if it came from that monstrosity.i say, destroy that box."

Edited August 12, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

Almost as if responding to Akuma's words 2 eyes popped into the skull on the Box. "Now hold on lads." it said as it leaped from Odin's arms.

It unfolded quickly, forming a horrid figure. A Skeleton with a Red Skull, wearing following robes of Black Velvet embellished with the same Crimson red as his face. "I have to congratulate you on defeating my most powerful general." the figure said, laughing like a maniac.

[Chim]

Sigurd still stood watching his blades when Akuma patted his shoulder. He couldn’t believe it actually worked. Well, Odin’s help was crucial, but still, he would be happy to claim the kill and the points.

His cocky attitude soon took over when he saw the box transform into a skeleton. “You’re welcome. I’m totally claiming that kill, by the way. But I guess I have to praise Odin’s help so you can have half the points,” he said patting the Dwarf on his shoulder. Then he turned his attention back to the skeleton. “So who are you and what do you want, Boney?”

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Oh, good it has a sense of humor." the figure scoffed loudly. "I am the Crimson King, perhaps you have heard of me? Whatever, it matters not. However killing my General is really putting a damper in my plans, now the Gentleman is going to be so mad, I can hear him already."

[Chim]

“Crimson King, eh? Can’t say I’ve ever heard of you. I mean, you’re basically the Gentleman’s bitch so you’re not important enough to remember…” Sigurd said with a threatening tone. He suppressed the urge of beating the Gentleman’s location out of the skeleton. “What plans are you talking about? If it’s about the Gentleman, tell him he has to come do his dirty work himself since his underlings are pretty much useless.”

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"You think the Gentleman is in charge?" the Crimson King asked. "You really are a stupid one child. Anyone with with 2 brain cells to rub together could see it is I who runs the show, no matter what he says." he said, laughing like a madman. "And my plans don't concern you, this land will be mine before awful long. But your interesting Fleshling, I will give you that." He snapped his fingers, before clearing his throat.....(which he doesn't have.....yet bothered to do for some reason anyway.) "And who are the rest of your friends? I assume they helped too? Or did this big manly warrior do it all by himself?" he said much in the tone as if he was talking to a child.

[Chim]

The way Sigurd was spoken to got under his skin, but he refused to let the skeleton now that. He started laughing before continuing the conversation. “Boney, you really think we’ll believe you when you say you run things? You look just as weak as all those skeletons we snapped in a thousand pieces earlier,” he said while walking closer towards the Crimson King. He stopped right next to the skeleton and whispered: “As for my friends; why don’t you try them yourself to see how each and every one of them can snap you like a twig.”

Edited August 12, 2014 by Chimchain

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Ah, really? You mortals have the power to match a Lich?" he sneered. "That's grand. I would have killed you all if this was really me, but you know I am too busy with my plans to come see you in person. Sadly, can't cast magic through a Simulacrum. Otherwise I would give you your prize for killing my general already."

((Nero would know what a Simulacrum is, but it is a fabled and extremely powerful Illusion technique.))

[Chim]

Sigurd had no idea what the Crimson King was talking about. He made a mental note to ask his companions what a Lich and Simulacrum were, but that didn’t restrain him from having a little fun with his new enemy. “Boney, there’s no need for excuses. Just tell me where you are so me and my companions can come over to play and kick your ass.”

If he was lucky he would find the Gentleman there as well, or at least a clue to where that bastard was hiding.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Hmm, I can't do that, but tell you what, if you let me come along for a bit I would be happy to show you around the place. My castle is so stuffy sometimes, I mean a guy just wants a night out on the town every now and then, you know?" not waiting for a response he kept yammering. " I can change this projection into a multitude of forms that aren't suspicious as you saw before when I was the box." The Crimson King mused. "So what do you say burly man? I promise, this projection can't hurt you." He said, a smile on his face. "It benefits you and me. You get to know where my place is eventually, and I get some good old fresh air."

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

Hunter stamped his paw on the ground as he stood by Odin, snarling vehemently at the red-skull figure, and then looked at Sigurd, as if warning him not to press on; it all seemed like a trap. "Dire"... No, wolf, as he was, he did not understand the workings of magic, much less black magic if so, but something told him not to trust the words of the red Lich.