Champions of Mythology

"Huh, where?" Ishaq said, flailing his hand around. Thankfully, whatever that harpy had warned him about hadn't killed him. Turning around, he saw a cyclops that had aparently taken a swing at him. Landing in a hurry, he picked up the nearest of the dropped tower shields in his left hand, braced it in front of himself, and charged forward at the cyclops.

Wordlessly, Melqarth leaped forward, intending to drive the spear through one of the slaver's necks.

Though after this, he hoped, deadly blow he would try and quickly react to any of the other slayers that were close.

1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this post

The champions made short work of the remaining slavers, disadvantaged as they were by the inadvertent flanking maneuver. Shortly after the last cultist fell in a convulsing heap, they heard a terrible, inhuman war scream from outside. The Horakhti man disregarded it for a moment, turning to Melqarth,

"My thanks, Anubite," Nyarthek bowed. "My prayers finally met His pointed ears, it seems."

edited 12th Jun '14 3:50:42 PM by StygianEmperor

Flesh is a design flaw.

Melqarth looked at him for a moment, raising an eyebrow.

"That name is... familiar, but from what I can't tell. However- I serve Charon, The Ferryman of the Styx, as well as Styx herself."

He cleaned his spear of blood for a moment.

"I would call this... fated coincidence."

edited 12th Jun '14 3:44:02 PM by RegularDefender

1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this post

Glaukon wiped his trident clean of blood, hearing the war-cry. "I don't like the sound of that..." he murmured, pointing the trident in the direction of the noise. He then made his way towards the entrance of the temple, brandishing it carefully. He tried to get a good look at whoever (or whatever) made the sound.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.

"Oh thank Ra. Wait, I mean Hephaestus, sorry big guy," Ishaq said quietly upwards to the heavens, wiping his brow with his arm. Or at least making the motion, as his armor was blocking his forehead and didn't let him actually wipe any sweat away. The cyclops's shield that he was still gripping in his hand made the motion all the more awkward. Still, with the coast clear, he shrunk down to normal size, and leaned against the towering shield that was now taller than he was.

"I really need some aloe," me muttered to himself, looking at his right arm that was still dangling around loosely.

With a groan, he dragged the shield behind himself as he walked in the direction of the temple, where a Merman seemed to be looking around for something. "Hey," he said to Glaukon. "Got any idea what we should do now?"

Xyka scrambled to the other champions, quickly picking up his shield and readying his spear.

He stood next to Ishaq and whacked the flat tip of it against the back of the Falconman's helmet. "Fool," he snarled as he pointed to the charging spiderman. "Continue to fight!"

Xyka then headed to Sethos and Buliwyf to join their defense.

edited 13th Jun '14 12:18:25 PM by Crimsanotikku

grup we please

Solhildr rode atop Aethondaughter.

"Fire!"

Aethondaughter unleashed a stream of flame at the oncoming spider-being.

GIVE ME YOUR FACE

Still determinedly throwing her axes at the cyclopes', and moving closer to get more accurate, powerful and damaging shots while staying far enough away from the cyclopes' swords, Roxane only ceased her onslaught when the lizardman reprimanded Ishaq for feeling sorry for himself and reminiscing about aloe and changed direction to head off the spiderman.

Diving low to avoid missing Draclius or hitting his armor again, Roxane sent her axes and daggers flying at him, even slowing down so as to hit the exact right spots, or even the gaps imbetween his armor if she had the chance. If and when Draclius attempted to strike back, Roxane would simply continue her attacks, but hover higher in the air, out of reach of anything that could hurt her sent by the spider.

If you're reading this you have 5 seconds to...

Riding behind Solhidr Cereen aimed a shot at the least damaged cyclopes, aiming at the head so that it would have to raise it's shield and expose itself to ground attack if it wanted to block.

edited 14th Jun '14 12:42:15 PM by tricksterson

Trump delenda est

Nyarthek was puzzled by the jackalman's response, though after a moment of examining Melqarth he seemed to piece it together,

"Well whomever you serve, thank you."

Glaukon, meanwhile, was taking in the ruined battlefield from the temple entrance. The monster he had only caught glimpses of during his detainment in the temple was now in full view; Draclius, harbinger of Parlat. This abomination was responsible for the deaths of an untold number of prisoners that had passed through the island, and if he had his way, Glaukon had overheard, the god of plague would be brought to Gaios in the flesh.

Nyarthek came up beside the merman to get his own view. Within seconds, his face twisted in fury, and he bolted in the direction of the warped Polemarchos,

"That bastard! He has my sword!"

---

The flames of Apollo licked out toward the charging Draclius, but he was expecting it. His left bracer came up swiftly and seemed to absorb the heat completely - if he felt it, he did not show it. His huge abdomen whipped around like a runaway horse cart as he suddenly turned, casting out a fetid stream of web, which wrapped around the airborne Aethondaughter's neck and front hooves. Toxic smoke wafted up from her burning aura as, screaming, she was brought to the earth by the disgusting, sticky substance. Draclius began to pull back, running in the other direction toward the forest.

Roxane was hot on his many heels. Having thrown weapons left and right to unbalance the remaining cyclopes, she now seemed dead-set on her main target. The skittering monster took a thrown dagger to the underside of his bloated abdomen, but the blood trickle it drew certainly didn't slow him - he responded with a blind shot at his pursuer, abdomen raising and casting a sickly-green stream of web uncomfortably close to the harpy.

Despite his mount falling beneath him, Chereen landed on his feet, as usual. He didn't miss a beat as he sent an arrow soaring toward the cyclops' head, intending to make it duck in cover. But Roxane's many weapons flying through the air had drawn the giant's attention, and the elf's arrow unexpectedly found its target. The golden helmet's enchantment gave way to Heartstrike's divinity, and the arrow punctured through plate and into brain. The monster fell hard on his back, unmoving.

Xyka pushed past the remaining two cyclopes, distracted as they were, and stood by Buliwyf and Sethos to witness Draclius turn tail and the harpy's dogged pursuit.

edited 14th Jun '14 2:47:36 PM by StygianEmperor

Flesh is a design flaw.

Glaukon glared daggers at the twisted spider-creature holding Nyarthek's sword. He readied a javelin to try and spear the creature through the head, but then he saw Nyarthek bolt towards it. In a panic, he tossed the javelin at Draclius, and then bolted after his colleague. He gripped Thyaferos tightly, and continued to glare at the monster that had killed so many, had imprisoned him and his friend, had spread this infernal disease and defiled this sacred temple. No more.

Glaukon would end him.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.

"Hmmm?" Ishaq groaned, and looked up. "Shit!" he muttered. He hefted the pilfered tower shield in front of him again, and followed after Glaukon, trying to get ahead of him to act as a shield against anything Draclius threw at the Merman.

Roxane rose high into the sky and flew in a circular motion, meaning that she could dive back down again and attack Draclius without entirely losing her momentum. This time, she didn't dive so near the spider/person/thing so that she would have ample warning in case those webs flew at her again.

If you're reading this you have 5 seconds to...

Having taken out a cyclopes, Chereen switched his attention to the man spider and used Natures Weaving. Any plants near him would reach out and attempt to entangle his arms and legs. If there weren't any then the elf would shoot.

edited 16th Jun '14 4:59:57 PM by tricksterson

Trump delenda est

Solhildr picked herself up and gentely stroked her stead.

"Rest for now.."

Aethondaughter turned into a flame and was absorbed back into the shield. Strapping it to her back the Valkyrie took off in the direction of Draclius. She held up her hand and a golden lyre appeared. She gave it a strum.

"Dear Brother of the sun, grant my ally speed!"

A beam of light shone down on Roxane, quickening her movements.

GIVE ME YOUR FACE

Glaukon's javelin simply didn't have the range to reach the retreating Draclius. Roxane gained altitude rather than following the arachnid beast into the forest, but in doing so lost sight of him for the trees. Nyarthek was intent, though, and outran his own pursuers by merit of his lighter equipment. The Horakhti warrior's movements became sluggish as he sprinted, however, and before they understood why, the two champions felt their feet catch on the ground.

A trail of webbing was coating the ground between them and the woods, presumably layed down surreptitiously by the Polemarchos as he fled. Nyarthek struggled with the slimy substance, pulling at his feet furiously but managing only to get the stuff on his hands. Glaukon and Ishaq were similarly caught; any exposed skin touching the unnatural web tingled uncomfortably.

Solhildr's prayer made Roxane feel like she had the energy of the sun itself, and her movements became remarkably easy. Circling there, she realized she could hear a struggle in the woods somewhere below. Draclius's deep, wet growls were unmistakable amongst the trees.

Chereen could feel the flora of the forest working under his will, branches and vines grasping at the taint within. Draclius would not be held there for long, however, and at this considerable distance from the particular plants he commanded, the elf's hold was weak.

edited 22nd Jun '14 1:28:32 PM by StygianEmperor

Flesh is a design flaw.

Glaukon scowled as the javelin clattered uselessly against the ground. "Damn it," he growled, giving chase to the spider-like monstrosity. As he pursued Draclius, he found himself getting snared by Draclius' web. He cursed again, slowing down due to the web, as his skin tingled both with the unnatural web and the divine lightning that was permeating his skin. He gripped his trident even tighter, tried to cut at the web with it, and continued the pursuit as best he could.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.

"He's held but it won't last! Take advantage while you can," Chereen shouted then suited action to words, drew his bow and loosed a shot.

edited 22nd Jun '14 2:18:46 PM by tricksterson

Trump delenda est

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Ishaq mumbled, caught in the webbing. He hugged the shield to his chest, and made a big sweeping motion with his wings, putting his strength into them in an attempt to fly free of the webbing.

Unwilling to let Draclius get away, Roxane, silently thanking Solhidir's burst of energy, attacked the giant spider with new ferocity, the burst of energy allowing her to throw more of her weapons than previously possible, aiming for the weak spots.

If you're reading this you have 5 seconds to...

Roxane dove through the forest canopy to take advantage of her captive foe. Draclius roared as several axes embedded themselves in the soft flesh between his organic plates. Chereen could hardly see the monster from where he stood, but the sense he got from the forest was enough to take aim. Such a distant target required a high angle, but the elf had made more improbable shots on an average hunt. From Roxane's perspective, an arrow slammed into the cursed Polemarchos from out of nowhere, breaking through chitin and burying itself deep in his abdomen.

Glaukon and Ishaq were fighting to get themselves free of the acidic goop, some distance between the two. Glaukon's frustration came through as an intense electric aura, burning the stuff off in a foul smoke. Avoiding the remaining webbing laid across the ground, he was able to continue his pursuit, or go back and help Ishaq and Nyarthek, still stuck in place.

Draclius finally broke himself free, and took a swing at the low-flying harpy with his two-handed khopesh to force her back as he fled back out of the forest that had seemingly turned on him.

edited 1st Jul '14 1:07:27 PM by StygianEmperor

Flesh is a design flaw.

Glaukon was about to rush ahead and continue to give chase to Draclius, but he saw that some of the others were still stuck in the web. Rushing towards them, he swung his trident at the webs holding them in place, slashing at the webs as best he could. "A soldier never leaves a man behind!" he assured them as he attempted to undo what the man-spider had done.

I can still hail the Horde even though the company has shamed us. Strength and Honor even if Blizzard has neither.

"Thanks pal," Ishaq said to Glaukon. "Three of us - we'll be out of here in no time." He tried tugging where Glaukon was cutting with his trident to see if he could pull his way out of the weakened segments.

The man spider having escaped Chereen put Nature's Weaving to a use the opposite of it's usual purpose. The vegetation around where his companions were trapped started moving to clear the webbing away.

Trump delenda est