Ferrus roared back at the monster, even as his armor groaned in protest. He had one last trick up his sleeve, a maneuver he learned as a supposedly mostly recreational activity to stay in shape.
Ferrus flicked an emergency switch, sent all the energy left in his armor into this single attack...
And flipped backwards, attempting to bring the monster with him and suplex it. It was obviously immune to piercing or otherwise bladed weapons, and so bludgeoning would be the best use in hand-to-hand combat.
THE SLORG!
Varlam continued his run up the wall until he reached the top, swinging himself up over the drain pipe onto the roof. With the device still attached to the pipe, he had to flip around as he did so, then had to work on detaching the grappling hook from the pipe in the rain, which made him miss most of the events going on with the monster up until it appeared directly below him and started hauling itself up.
"Oh, this is bad" Varlam said to himself, stepping away from the edge of the rooftop and looking around. There was only two easy avenues of escape; jumping to the ground, which could break his legs and would be going in the general direction of the monster, or... He could start moving along the buildings lining the street. Building owners always got mad and yelled at other orphans for doing such a thing, which meant that up until now Varlam had avoided it. Now however, they could yell as much as they wanted, but he really needed to get away from that thing.
And so Varlam dashed across the rooftop away from the side where the monster was climbing, heading the way that would take him deeper into the city. He stopped at that edge and looked across the gap to the next building; he could probably jump it, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to risk that just now. So he fired the grappling hook at a metal chimney, and used its reeling in combined with his running jump to get across more assuredly. He started dashing across to the opposite side of that rooftop, intending to keep this pattern going.
Under normal circumstances, Varlams legs would be complaining about the great deal of running he'd been doing, and preparing to give out on him. Now however, between a rush of adrenaline and pure survival instinct, he didn't feel it at all.
You are reading this.
The Maid
Weist Town - Border - Noon
Rebecca charged another blast with her staff and got closer to the combatants... though unfortunately for her, the knight's maneuver didn't allow her a clear shot that would not also strike the armored fighter.
If I'm sure of something it's that I'm not sure of anything.
highly secure
Acetus—Noon
Legs still trembling, Gabriel made his way out of the room. Along the way, he picked up two of guards.
"Follow me to the Ivory Tower," he said. "I need an escort."
Above, Gabriel's eagle and the monster machine continued to battle. Keep it below the cloud layer and distracted, Gabriel thought. Whoever was casting those lightning bolts from the Ivory Tower needed a clear shot .
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka fics
Attitude is prohibited
Weist Town - Border - Noon
The creature was not at all pleased with being suplexed, its coiled body tensing up and breaking through the outer layers of Ferrus' armour, putting the squeeze on more vital components as it hit the ground. It thrashed wildly, using its muscular mass to knock Ferrus off-balance, quickly uncoiling itself from around him and making a break for Rebecca.
Somewhere behind her, Weston and Selia ran out into the rain. He jammed a table leg into the ground, and she clumsily propped the prototype ontop of it. "Let's just hope this works..." Weston said, as the front of the glove's hand began to glow faintly.
Not entirely dead.
Attitude is prohibited
Acetus - Circium - Noon
The black clouds turned and churned above her, forming a massive spiral in the sky above the tower as the wind, the rain, the very storm itself capitulated to her will. Circe knew that this was a massive undertaking, but she also knew her limits, and this was far from impossible. I just need time! She thought, her arms still spread wide, as she watched the eagle harass the mechanical terror. Just a little more time!
While not terribly damaging, Gabriel's eagle succeeded in slowing down the beast's attacks, preventing it from aiming with the precision it needed, and thus, preventing it from firing. Its mouth was shut, but fire and smoke still spewed from its gills, nose and the minuscule gaps between its large, metal teeth. Streams of fire were abruptly thrown out of its nose and into the space around it, trying to remove the assailing eagle so it could continue its siege. The monster's movements were slow and ponderous, but it's attacks were powerful and its armour strong...
Not entirely dead.
Brrrzzzssshhhh...
Ferrus' armor, drained of any energy, was now just a slightly cumbersome and heavily damaged normal suit of armor. He laid on his back for a moment, but only that long; he lifted himself up with a grunt, groan, and clank, and drew his sword. He attempted to compact his shield, only to encounter a jam: that creature's teeth had left holes in important bits, apparently. Oh well, that could all be fixed. Except that—no!
The creature was going for Rebecca! Urging what was left of his endurance to power him forwards, Ferrus ran after the beast, sword in one hand and shield in another. "What, lose interest in me you monster?"
Attitude is prohibited
Takei - Anilix - Noon
The sludge-beast continued its messy pursuit of Varlam, and while his roof-hopping was faster and more agile than its attempts, it wasn't getting tired anytime soon. Or ever, quite possibly. Flowing through and around obstacles effortlessly, the creature sprinted after him along one particularly long roof coming very close to absorbing him like it had with at least a dozen others since its rampage began. Thankfully for Varlam, it only managed to graze his back before the old house's roof gave way under its weight... The screams if its inhabitants echoed out into the darkness... But at least he was only left with a partially dissolved shirt and a highly peculiar, but only skin-deep, wound.
It wasn't long before the thing came crashing out of the now-empty house, charging madly in a seemingly random direction. With startling speed, it chased a terrified group of people through Aisha's park, quickly gobbling them up and leaving nothing but diseased and dead plants in its wake. The stench from the plants, and perhaps the beast itself, was horrific, and cut through the howling winds to sting the shaman's eyes and nose. It stopped about halfway through the park and turned towards her humble home, the lights in its head swinging wildly.
Not entirely dead.
the cutest lizard
Weist Town - Border - Noon
Niel ran out after the two, careful to stay away from the prototype. "You've tried this before, right?" Niel shouted over the roaring storm winds.
Magitech, Niel realized with a start. A mixture of magic and technology... That would make sense; it was odd for magitech to move beyond the prototype stage.
The prototype got Niel thinking. What if it could help him with his magic problem? It would certainly be easier than learning water the old-fashioned way with Yinnil.
Of course, that was assuming it even worked...
Niel backed away even further. If something went wrong, he didn't want to be caught in the aftermath.
Gave them our reactions, our explosions, all that was ours For graphs of passion and charts of stars...
THE SLORG!
Varlam yelled out in pain as the slime struck him, falling to his side as the monster collapsed the building under it. Varlam looked down, breathing heavily and gently prodding at his back as the monster tore away from the building and started to leave.
As he got back up to his feet, he noticed the direction the monster was going in and started to worry. "Circium lady!" Varlam sputtered out, trying to start running again but having his leg give out after one step; without the monster chasing him immediately anymore, his brain allowed the complaints from his legs to finally catch up to him.
Varlam groaned out, more from soreness than pain, and dragged himself into what remained of the building the monster collapsed to take cover from the rain. There he rested and rubbed his legs for a minute, until they seemed willing to at least stand and walk again. Once at that point, Varlam got up and started heading towards the park, walking slowly now.
You are reading this.
The Maid
Weist Town - Border - Noon
"Yeah... come here ugly... come here, closer now..." says Rebecca in a whisper as she holds her staff tightly with both hands... accumulating as many magical power as she can gather within it and waiting for the creature to get closer and closer.
She then would try to fire the staff's magical blast right into the creature's face, nose, open maw or whatever proved to be the better target.
Takei - Anilix - Noon
This was no avenger of the land. The foulness it left behind was nothing natural... nothing she could defend. Thus Aileen did not hesitate in going to engage the strange being.
Aileen, standing on the roof her home jumped to the nearest roof as she tried to draw the attention of the mud monster, gripping her staff in one hand as she fire orbs of spectral green fire at it.
edited 21st Jul '12 5:25:37 PM by daltar
If I'm sure of something it's that I'm not sure of anything.
{Acetus-Hospital}
"Admin has finally approved your stay, and extended their exceedingly gracious hospitality. For the sake of our overall patient care, we urge you to remember that we will only be providing water during your stay, and that you must depart the moment the storm subsides."
Seraphim's voice seems artificially enthusiastic, the result of the hospital's forced formality for all official announcements.
"If you wish to urinate or have a bowel movement, you may only use the bathroom on this wing of the hospital on this floor. You are also not allowed to use staff or patient restrooms, and we remind you are not allowed to deposit your waste anywhere other than in the expected receptacle. In the case of an emergency, we will be expecting you to make sure that you realize that all doors other than the main ones have been magically locked for safety, and that you will have to make your way to the mai..."
Screams and shouts of fry fill the building, as fire lights the sky, bending around the nearby ivory tower. People in the front room are in an absolute panic, the few children causing an absolute ruckus.
"I request you to all sit down."
Seraphim pauses for a moment, and then reiterates this time his hands glowing a bright gold, all doorways suddenly closed off, causing his voice to echo endlessly.
"I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A PROPER MANNER!"
Seraphim stands still for a moment, his face laid over with a plastic smile.
"I request that you all read the remainder of this message, I will leave it projected on the walls," as he says this, the barriers dissipate and reform into a rather long announcement on each of the surfaces in the room. "I will be attempting to contact admin and see what is going on, so if you will settle down I can go about my affairs. I hope you have a pleasant stay."
Seraphim practically runs out of the room, making way for the main entrance of the hospital, and minor spells envelope him, braiding his hair into a less bulky and cumbersome mass, and shifting the robes into a more comfortable but less elegant shape. His silver earring glows blue to ward of rain, its very rudimentary ability to hold an enchantment temporarily being brought to use. Through the windows Seraphim sees a huge golden bird ascend and start to attack the creature, but he fails to see much of the battle due to how close it is, oftentimes it is too high up to observe from his vantage point. When he passes his general station he notices that his message board now requested him to go to city hall.
Well this is exciting, but it's hardly what I wanted. A little too exciting really, fireballs and a thing the archmage hasn't turned into scrap yet. When I was told I was required to go out in the case of an emergency and to prepare regardless of whether I'd been told or not, I was not expecting this.
His progress is slowed by huge mobs of people, but he makes it to the main doors of the hospital which have been cleared for the sake of safety. He reaches out and grabs the doors to the hospital, opening them the smallest amount possible. He steps out and around to go through the door, but a policeman walks through, absolutely drenched and shivering from the cold, but he attempts to be dignified nevertheless.
"I've been told to inform hospital staff that you are not allowed to leave this building until the council sends a message down to you."
"Why? What's going on exactly?"
Seraphim has a feeling that the answer is all too obvious and all too nearby, but he hopes it's just some stupid prank no matter how unlikely.
"We've merely been told to keep people indoors. Officially I was not told as we were in such a hurry, but I believe it has to do with that fire-breathing machine."
Machine? Then isn't this those weird Anilixian's fault?
Throughout his years he'd only talked with one, mostly about his artificial limb. He'd been awfully puzzled as to why you would replace what could be saved.
"Oh? That's what it is? I didn't really see, I was sent down here so fast."
Seraphim moves over to a window to watch the bird continuously lay into the airship, but it doesn't seem to leave any damage.
"Yes we've been told it isn't safe to be outside."
"Why? I don't see why we shouldn't other than the storm, and with the proper enchant..."
Seraphim gasps at the sight before him. Fire rains down from the sky, heading directly at the hospital. He stands gaping for a moment before pushing the officer aside and running into the street.
"You come back here civilian! I was explicitly told!"
The door slams in his face as Seraphim runs to the center of the street and turns around towards the building. He hold his hands above his head, and they begin to glow a sharp bright gold that cuts through the haze. Water doesn't strike him as strongly and seems to try to avoid him; his earring begins to spin rather oddly.
Oh god please work.
He turns and raises his left foot then procedes to bring it down in synchronicity with his hands. The ground glows gold in front of the hospital and quickly a barrier grows straight up from it, protecting vulnerable wooden walls, and the now enraged policeman who is trapped behind it. Seraphim bows his head and closes his eyes, doing all he can to put his strength into protecting the hospital. As fire begins to strike the barrier his face twists with exertion. Next his whole body begins to shake slightly, and he almost collapses. Soon fractures begin to form on the golden plane, running in all directions from each site of impact as if it were a pane of glass. The cracks spread like spiderwebs and soon it looks to be nothing more than a collection of small fragments piled in a wall. It holds for a few more seconds absorbing the vast majority of the fire; before shattering, allowing a bit of fire to bathe wooden walls of the structure. Bits of it burn, but it is quickly put out by the now very upset and screaming occupants. The hospital stands, but all the buildings around it burn, and the boom of much lightning is heard near the ivory tower.
I.... fai.......
Seraphim's legs give out and he falls face first into the muddy street, passed out from exertion.
edited 13th Jul '12 11:35:35 AM by Aqueos
Bet you didn't see that coming
Attitude is prohibited
Weist Town - Border - Noon
"Uh," Replied Weston, uncertainly, as he exchanged a glance with Selia. "Um, yeah, we've done this before... Sort of... Selia?" He said, fidgeting nervously. "This is taking longer than I thought..." She said, trying to hide her anxiety. "You're sure this will work, right?" The front of the glove's hand was shining brightly now, but it didn't look like it was doing anything other than getting hot. "It'll work!" Said Weston, with certainty. "I mean, it should work... Probably... I think... No, no, it'll definitely work! It will!"
Meanwhile, Rebecca and Ferrus were probably hoping that, if Weston's invention worked it all, it would work soon, because their efforts didn't seem to be doing too much. The blast from Rebecca's staff hits the creature right in its armour-plated face, swatting it aside and derailing its charge towards her. The blast turns it, and with a terrible shriek it slammed head-first through another building. For a brief moment, its rampage halted, and it looked as though, perhaps, they actually managed to stop the thing. The hope was quickly dashed, however, as the beast's head reemerged from the settling rubble, its armour scorched but intact.
With a vengeance, it lunged ahead, its fanged, gaping maw aimed at Selia and Weston...
Not entirely dead.
Attitude is prohibited
Takei - Anilix - Noon
"You alright there, boy?" Varlam heard the hearty voice of a very tall, cloaked man through the darkness. Lightning struck again, revealing a thick, fine gentleman's moustache on his face. "Perhaps you'd better stick with me — or find shelter if you're hurt. But I've got a plan to take this thing out! And if you're up for it, I could use some help." He said. "I saw you leaping across the rooftops with that marvellous gadget of yours, and you strike me as a brave lad... What do you say?"
Aisha, meanwhile, would not be having much luck. Although she certainly captured the monster's attention, her fire right through the slimy beast - or else didn't bother it at all. It scaled the building she was standing on top of, no doubt seeking to absorb her as it had at least a dozen others.
Not entirely dead.
THE SLORG!
Varlam turned, a bit confused as the man spoke up, a little unsure of what to make of the man. A cloaked, mysterious man was something new to Varlam. "It stings a bit, but I am okay" Varlam answered about being hurt, then briefly glanced in the direction of the park. "Big monster's headed for park; might hurt Circium lady. Gotta save Circium lady, but... My legs are tired" he said apologetically, glancing down at his legs which were trembling lightly from the cold rain; as was the rest of him.
Varlam looked back up, turning his gaze on the path of destruction the monster left behind. He remembered now, more clearly than in the confusion and haste of the moment itself, the screams of the other people on the train platform. His fists clenched and his trembling subsided slightly as his face took on an expression of determination. "Legs can rest later, need to stop monster now" Varlam muttered as he turned back to the man. "You need help? I help" he stated simply and confidently.
edited 14th Jul '12 2:17:53 AM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.
The Maid
Weist Town - Border - Noon
"Selia! Weston!" cried Rebecca as she started running towards her two friend in desperation. She fished her revolved from a pocket and fired it at the creature... she didn't truly expect the weapon to hurt the thing, no matter that the bullets had explosives in them, but she couldn't stand still as those two were in danger.
Takei - Anilix - Noon
Aileen was in trouble... big trouble. The thing was going after her... wanted to consume her.
Now it was time to make her escape and put as much distance as she could between herself and that monster. The sorceress retreated a few steps and then chanted a little spell as quickly as she could, calling upon the spirit of a feline. With it's power and direction, Aileen started to run faster towards the edge of the roof... to then take a mighty leap towards the next one. And so, Aileen started her escape.
edited 21st Jul '12 5:34:52 PM by daltar
If I'm sure of something it's that I'm not sure of anything.
Ferrus couldn't reach them in time, his armor was just too dead and damaged, weighing him down. However, he still had his trusty sword in hand, and so fired the grappling hook at the beast. Like Rebecca he knew he wouldn't do any real damage, but the actual point was to draw agression away from the couple long enough to get a shot off.
Attitude is prohibited
Weist Town - Border - Noon
Selia stood on the spot, her eyes wide, paralyzed with fear as the shadowy beast charged towards her, ignoring all attempt to distract it. "Selia! Come on!" Shouted Weston, shaking her shoulders to try and snap her out of the terrified trance she was in. She wanted nothing more than to turn and flee, but she found that she could not, as her eyes were locked onto the creature she felt as though her legs had been sucked into the mud as her shoes had been just a short time ago. Her heart pounded in her chest as it got closer and closer, she saw its gaping maw, filled with teeth, and shut her eyes tight.
A blinding light blanketed the town as a beam of white-hot energy suddenly erupted from Weston's machine, accompanied by a heat wave that evaporated all the rain near its path. And in an instant, it was all over... The monster lay dead, a steaming hole clean through its armoured head - even scorching the wall of the building behind it - barely a metre from Selia's feet. She dared to slowly open her eyes, and through a thin haze of smoke, she saw that the thing was dead. Overwhelmed with relief, she felt her legs turn to jelly, and she fell over. Weston, still quite shocked, barely managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
In the process of firing, the machine had partially exploded, falling to the mud in two smoking pieces as its wielder slipped her hand out of it. And, as if on queue, the weather gradually started to improve. The howling wind would become a light breeze, the pouring rain became a drizzle, and the black storm clouds turned to a thin, grey cover, even allowing a few rays of sunshine through.
Several buildings were damaged or destroyed, many were wounded in the chaos and a few people were even killed, but Weist Town had survived...
Not entirely dead.
Drummer Boy
Weist Town-Border-Noon
Friedrich figures he'd best grit his teeth, even though his head was grazed by some shattered glass, and take care of the folks that need help more than he does. Like the stupid kids in the middle of the whole thing. They were in the most danger. And if they're okay (or dead) he'll move on to the rest.
He surveys the inn. It got lucky, but some people, like him, got hit. He was the only one dumb enough to be standing so close to the window, so most of them are doing okay. After finding a handkerchief to soak up the blood on his head, Friedrich approaches the scene. "I'm a doctor. You kids need any help?"
The last battle's curtains will open on stage!
Attitude is prohibited
Takei City - Anilix - Noon
The man put a big, mechanical hand on Varlam's shoulder. "You're a brave lad, son." He said. "Now, to business! Take these," He said, handing Varlam what appeared to be a small crate of fireworks. "and get to the top of that clock tower over there - the elevator ride is noisy and bumpy, but it should get you to the top quickly enough. At the top floor, you will find a ladder to the roof. I shall endeavour to meet you there soon, but you must set off the rockets quickly, before the monster kills more innocents!" He starts to run off, and looking back, he said "Quickly now! You must trust me! Takei itself may well depend on us!"
Meanwhile, Aisha was successful in staying out of the creature's reach, as she was, much Varlam had been, faster and more agile. However, much like Varlam, she faced the issue of the monster being terribly persistent and completely untiring. It would chase her until it caught her or found a new target, and it was only a matter of time before she got tired...
edited 16th Jul '12 9:20:29 PM by Blackfire667
Not entirely dead.
Attitude is prohibited
Acetus - Circium - Noon
Circe smirked as she felt the storm give in to her will. The distraction had been a success, and now she was ready to end this foolishness. She thrust her arms ahead of her, palms towards the mechanical monstrosity in the sky, and the very storm itself bent to her command. The wind ceased to blow through the city, the rain fell upwards and the clouds seemed to be sucked out of the sky. All of it formed into a massive, black, horizontal spiral, crackling with lightning, and engulfed the titan, pounding it with rain and hurricane-force winds from all side, ripping it apart in an intense show of violence completely shadowed by the storm clouds.
Metal chunks rained down onto the street below as the storm dispersed and the Arch Mage relinquished her control over the weather. As the final threads of the the black spiral dispersed back into the sky as thin, grey clouds, she spotted a particularly large chunk of the creature floating down to the ground slower than the rest of it. The last remnants of its head and body, still defiantly fighting on as its means of flotation slowly deflated. She was about to cast another bolt from the sky when the terror's body let one final blast of fire. It hurtled towards the Ivory Tower faster than before, now facing no resistance from the weather and weakened wards to protect the structure. The blast slammed into the tower, shaking it and much of Acetus quite violently and knocking Circe clean off her feet.
A massive crack appeared in the tower's otherwise pristine, white surface. The most important building in all of Circium had been harmed...
Not entirely dead.
Ferrus gasped. Such power exhibited by a new technology!
"We did it!" he cried, running over to Rebecca and giving her a massive, ironclad hug. "We slayed a mighty beast and, and, and triumphed! Largely unharmed! It's just like the stories, and here all my schoolmates thought I was just chasing windmills! Hah! Shows them!"
highly secure
Acetus-Noon
Gabriel's eyes widened as he saw fire profane the Ivory Tower.
Hurrying towards the Tower, Gabriel's mind raced. A culprit had to be apprehended to placate the public. The most obvious suspect was Anilix. As he reached the tower, he began climbing the stairs to the top.
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka fics
THE SLORG!
Varlam took the crate, a little confused and realizing a little hitch in the plan. "Wait, how I..." Varlam tried calling out to the man, but he was already running off. Varlam looked down at the crate, frowning just a little before shrugging. He would find some way to set it off; or he would improvise.
Then Varlam quickly looked back up and around, until spotting the clock tower again. His expression of determination returning, Varlam set off towards the tower at a quick jog. As soon as he got there, he would follow the man's instructions to get to the roof as quickly as possible, all the while keeping an eye out for any abandoned match boxes or pipe lighters.
You are reading this.
Weist Town - Border - Noon
"Well," Began Weston, with a big grin, eager to explain every complicated detail of his invention. "It's all very intuitive, if I do say so myself. a complex system of miniaturized fluid-containers and a series of tiny airtight tubes, I have discovered that the hydro-pressure pushed through the micro-tubular system-" Abruptly, as she gingerly fits the device onto her arm, Selia elbows him in the side and gives him an expectant look. "Oof!" He said, surprised. "Why-? Oh... Oh, right, uh, yeah, of course. In a hurry. Almost forgot." He said, rather sheepishly. "Anyway, um, basically, it amplifies magic. Just Fire Magic, right now, but one day it'll do anything!" He nods, confidently, smiling. "Wes!" Selia said, urging to hurry up. Again. "Right! Sorry! Sorry!" He quickly looked around for a saw and went to work on one of Rebecca's table's legs. He was mostly sure he could fix it later...
Ferrus' fight, meanwhile, was getting all the more dire, as, while he was pushing the beast's head away, it had sneaked its dark, slithering mass around his armour. Suddenly, it began to constrict him, its metal-plated musculature straining and bending the mech suit, restricting its movement. Rebecca's blast, startlingly, deflects off the creature's armour, knocking its head away from Ferrus, for a moment, but causing little real damage. Thankfully for Rebecca, it is too engaged it trying to kill Ferrus to go after her, though that's somewhat unfortunate news for Ferrus, as the creature attacks again with renewed vigour, speedily snapping at the Anilixian, its powerful fangs stopped mere inches the man's face.
Not entirely dead.