At the heart of the world...
A small rabbit climbs through the portal, wearing a magician's cap and cloak and carrying a small rod on its back. It sniffs around a bit, wondering where in this empty place there could be any food. Or shelter. Or water. Where is everything?
Where is everyone?
Right behind the rabbit, a mare nearly tramples her, trippin over her tail as she runs in.
"Wait. This isn't my home!" She looks around, surprised at the environment and mad at herself for being so impulsive.
"Now I'm in an even bigger mess because I just leaped into a random portal without any thinking! GAH!" She sprawls out on the floor, hooves on her head as she berates this world with little insults she couldn't hope to follow up on. All while a little rabbit cowers quietly in some nonexistent corner...
Breath of the Sun
A tall metallic man walks through the gateseal, cracking his knuckles.
He looks around at the emptiness. But he does not move his head, for he is blind. His other senses make up for this, giving him a clear picture of the area, and he senses the energies within.
He holds out his hand, and it glows gold.
"Not quite Mantra, but similar. Interesting." He grins. "Whoever you are, fight me! And we'll see who the maggot is!" He calls to the vastness.
edited 27th Nov '14 8:05:00 PM by kagescorpionakki
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
Shadow of Legends
The birds twittered cheerfully on the roof of one of the Arena buildings, no combat to disturb them for once…
…until the blue flash.
Isaki rides out of a blast of blue light, scattering the panicked birds, and blasts full-tilt off the edge of the roof, leaping high into the sky. She grins with gleeful joy as she backflips and surveys the Arena from high above.
Aww yeah! Fresh air, clear skies, I'm out of the Sanctuary...
Now, let’s see what the Arena has in store for me toda-
Mid-fall, she spots the message, and angles her body towards it.
What’s this?!
...summoner...? GATESEAL?!
Hydra?! FM?!
She dismisses her rollerblades, landing nearby in a perfect Three-Point Landing instead, a blast of blue magic preventing impact damage. To her, at least.
I’ve got to see what this is about! I’ve got to save him!
She rushes into the portal, and spots the others. Skidding to a halt before she can crash into anyone, she waves cheerfully.
"So, looks like we're in for a party! Where's the bad guys? Anyone seen FM?"
edited 27th Nov '14 8:13:29 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
At the heart of the world...
Mare!Giygas is over somewhere groveling, unable to hear Isaki in her sea of anger and insults.
However, a peculiarly-dressed bunny hops over to her and looks up at her, sniffing her leg for God-knows-what-reasons.
Maid of Time
A small, powerless girl steps out from the shadows, walking across the empty streets of the arena. She sighs heavily, and her breath fogs up in front of her. She shivers miserably, pulling her scarf more closely around her face.
"Maybe it wasn't worth it. I should've stopped them. I knew what would happen."
Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted when she walks into the main building and sees the message left behind for her.
"I have the summoner... Come find him.... Maggots of flesh? Gods, the characters in this place..."
She starts to walk off towards the cafe, when suddenly it strikes her just who this message is about.
"The summoner... I don't suppose they're referring to that troll with the fairy wings... And don't I recognise that seal?"
"Oh gods, FM's alive. And he needs our help." The girl fades back into the shadows, but comes back a few seconds later with a sword, some throwing knives, and a large pointy stick. She then takes a deep breath before running through the gate.
Ryan.
A dim orange light penetrates the darkness of his peaceful sleep.
Wake up.
"N... five more minutes..."
We're needed elsewhere.
"Huh?"
The boy opens his eyes to discover he has absolutely no idea where he is. Of course, this is far from the first time, but he had hoped that was all over. Where did he fall asleep this time?
Some sort of facility, it looks like. But what really catches his eye is the massive gateseal embedded in the wall, and the message left behind.
"I have the summoner. Come find him, maggots of flesh. Sounds fun. Am I equipped enough fo- Oh look it appears I have an entire arsenal of weapons for some reason. Lovely." As he has no idea what else to do, the boy walks tentatively through the gate.
i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
Shadow of Legends
Isaki looks down at the bunny. "Aw, aren't you cute..." She kneels down and holds out a hand for it to sniff. "What's a cute little thing like you doing in a place like this...? You should go-"
She looks over to where she came in from. Presumably, something's happened to keep her from getting out.
"...home..."
"...I guess I'll just have to protect you for now, hey?"
edited 27th Nov '14 8:36:09 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
Eh I figure this is enough people for now. The others will get a seperate trek through the realm I guess.
Once these few were through, the ground beneath them would shake. Cracks would form beneath their feet as a massive sinkhole opens up before them. Deep within it being a writhing mass of the Hydra's now limitless heads. One of which, one large enough to eclipse the entire group, rises high up into the air and looks down upon the group. [MAGGOTS, ALL OF YOU.]
[I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE FOR SIMPLE REASONS. TO DEVOUR YOU FOOLISH MAGGOTS, AND TO WATCH AS THE MORE DESTRUCTIVE MINDED OF YOU DESTROY THE PESTS INFESTING MY REALM. FOR THE FEW WHO BELIEVE THE SUMMONER IS ALIVE, THEN THINK OTHERWISE. HIS EXISTENCE IS NAUGHT.]
edited 27th Nov '14 8:39:54 PM by FracturedMancer
Shadow of Legends
(First line of Hydra dialogue.)
"Aw great, here's the welcome wagon. Hope y'all are ready for this!"
Wow, is this girl like not scared at all?
(Second line of Hydra dialogue.)
"Y-you... k-killed FM? B-but..."
Her eyes glow blue, and her cheerful smile is wiped away.
No, that can't be... NO!
"You'll pay for that."
Holy crap, did she just start taking this seriously?
The blue-gemmed ring on her right hand comes to life, transforming into her Soul Gem, and she activates her transformation sequence, blue light flowing over her and transforming her ordinary clothes into her Puella Magi outfit. Most of the blue light falls away, but some flows into her hands, blue energy crackling across them.
edited 27th Nov '14 8:53:07 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
At the heart of the world...
The bunny leaps onto Isaki, frightened like any bunny should be after seeing a giant freaking hydra head.
Mare!Giygas is a different story, however.
"Who are you calling a maggot, you damn serpent?!"
edited 27th Nov '14 8:45:22 PM by BlackMageAnolis
Maid of Time
"Oh look, it's our old friend, the hydra," says the girl. "Infinite heads are stupider than one, isn't that what they say?"
"That's a hydra?!" exclaims the boy.
In an instant, a massive hammer appears in the girl's hands, and in the same instant, a set of claws unsheath from the boy's. Both of them begin glowing with a dim orange light.
i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
Breath of the Sun
"I don't care about this 'FM' man." Augus says, folding his arms. "I just want to kill you. So crawl out of that damn hole and face me!"
He turns to face the others that came through the gateseal. "And I'll fight the rest of you later. If you survive."
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?
[HIS EXISTENCE IS NAUGHT, BUT I HAPPEN TO BE A MASTER OF THINGS THAT...DON'T EXIST NOW. IF YOU ATTACK ME, THEN ANY POSSIBLE CHANCE YOU HAVE OF SEEING THE SUMMONER IS DESTROYED. THEN AGAIN, NONE OF YOU COULD POSSIBLY HURT ME IN MY OWN REALM.] The hydra head let loose a roar once it see's everyone gearing up for battle. Releasing a massive blast of noise and force that may knock the weaker ones on their feet. [THOUGH...I SUPPOSE I HAVE ONE THING YOU COULD DO FOR ME. FOR A PAYMENT, OF COURSE.]
Shadow of Legends
Isaki winces slightly at the noise, but glares fearlessly back at the hydra-head, holding her magical charge. She clenches her fists.
"Talk. Where. Is. FM? What have you done to him?!"
edited 27th Nov '14 8:59:45 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
At the heart of the world...
The bunny's still shaking and hanging onto Isaki. A number of thoughts race through her head, most of them wondering how long she'll actually survive...
She stops shaking and ponders on this notion.
If I could change forms...maybe I could have a better chance at all this...
She sighs. Her body starts to radiate in a spectacular fashion.
Mare!Giygas sits down on the ground, not necessarily wishing to fight now.
"After all the time I spent in the arena, I don't think the first thing I want to do is fight something."
She then stares up at the Hydra and shouts at him, "And who might be this "FM" Isaki speaks of?"
edited 27th Nov '14 9:01:46 PM by BlackMageAnolis
Maid of Time
"You seem to be contradicting yourself, snake. You say he doesn't exist, and yet you imply we have a chance to see him," says the girl. "Whatever game you're playing, you are not very good at it." She smiles deviously at the beast.
"I just have one question," says the boy to no one in particular. "What the hell is going on???"
The girl stands firmly on her feet as the hydra screeches its sounds, but the boy makes an audible yell of pain as he winces and holds his hands to his ears.
edited 27th Nov '14 9:02:36 PM by bRaHiAn1
i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
The Hydra chuckles darkly to itself. [THE SUMMONER IS NOT DEAD, BUT EXISTS...IN THE SORT OF UNREALITY ENTITY LIVED IN. SOMEWHERE NONE OF YOU CAN PROPERLY ENTER. AS FOR YOU WARRIOR, NOTHING IS STOPPING YOU FROM LEAPING INTO MY PIT AND FACING ME.] The Hydra growls to itself. [NOW IF YOU WISH TO BICKER SOME MORE, I REMIND YOU THAT THE ONLY THING RESTRAINING ME FROM TEARING THE WEAKER OF YOU APART IS THAT I HAVE A TASK FOR YOU. ONE THAT YOU MAY SEE THE SUMMONER ALIVE AGAIN IF YOU FINISH.]
At the heart of the world...
A girl, maybe about sixteen, appears perched on Isaki's shoulders where the rabbit used to be. She falls off and then sits up, trying to regain her sense of balance.
"Agh! My head!" She starts rubbing the back of her head.
Meanwhile, the mare is intrigued by the hydra's proposition.
"And what is this task you've given us?"
edited 27th Nov '14 9:15:59 PM by BlackMageAnolis
Shadow of Legends
The magic around her hands dims, but only very slightly.
"And you expect us to just believe you? We just do you a little favour and you set our friend loose? Yeah... that's not how your kind work, wormface, and we know it."
"Still, I guess we're in your house now, we might as well hear your rules. So spit it out, sausage head. What the hell do you want from us?"
edited 27th Nov '14 9:21:35 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
Maid of Time
"Hah, as if we're gonna trust you! I've dealt with bodysnatching entities like you before, and I won't make the same mistake twice. I will never trust a single thing that comes out of your scaly reptilian mouth."
The boy contemplates whether to state his opinion on the subject. For a second, he's tempted to see what the hydra's really thinking, but immediately realizes he'd really rather not.
"What are your terms?" he asks.
edited 27th Nov '14 9:19:29 PM by bRaHiAn1
i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
The head forms a smile, something that looks like its entire head is deforming itself to accomplish. [I WANT YOU TO PURGE THE LAST TRACES OF ENTITY FROM MY REALM. IT SHOULD BE EASY ENOUGH FOR YOU...EMPOWERED MAGGOTS TO ACCOMPLISH.] Though it growls to itself as Isaki and Bea state their minds. [VERY WELL. DON'T TRUST ME. YOU WILL STILL DO WHAT I ASK, AND IF I FEEL GENEROUS ENOUGH I MAY RELEASE YOU DAMN MAGGOTS.]
The Protagonist
From atop the main facility, a Black and Red machine had watched several of the Arena visitors go through the Gateseal created by that Hydra that his 2nd in command had been wanting to kill and mount on a wall for quite some time now; quite certain that this sort of thing isn't normal, V ponders why he should go through even though he can't be bothered to give a damn about some magician who couldn't master his own powers and pets.
Hmmmmm... For one, that multi-headed lizard is as powerful as the invaders' very best warriors and all of the ones that stepped through would seem to make for fine opponents... Humph. Guess I'll see where this goes...
Jumping off of the building, V then jets towards the gateseal and without hesitation, flies through it to whatever horrors and challenges await on the other side...
edited 27th Nov '14 9:28:55 PM by questor
Foolish donkey, you would not be able to resist me if I wished your annihilation.
Shadow of Legends
"And if I-"
"-Oh, you know what, whatever. I came to the Arena to kick ass and have a blast. And it sounds like it's gonna be different club, same music 'round here!"
"Entity's an asshole, I already blasted him once, I'd do it again, and I got no objection to wrecking his shit. So as long as there's no binding magical contract bullshit involved, I'm in. It's not like I got anything better to do..."
...or you leave us any better options. Yeesh... if there's any tricks involved, or this turns out not to be Entity's shit, I'm just gonna blast this guy with all my strength and zap back to Sanctuary.
Except then he'd probably fry FM... damn, this scaly bitch really does hold all the cards. Whatever. I came to blast shit, and that's what I'm gonna do. If I can do something for FM, bonus.
edited 27th Nov '14 9:36:43 PM by MicoolTNT
"We can handle what is true, for we are already living it."
Maid of Time
The girl sighs. "Well, you're the chessmaster, right? Guess we don't really have a choice here..."
The boy, however, still looks confused. What was the hydra even talking about? An entity? That's so entirely nondescript. An entity could be almost anything.
However, since he would certainly rather not be talking to this hydra anymore, he decides it's probably best not to ask. After all, why ask things when you can just find the answers in the minds of others?
Those two girls sounds like they know things, he thinks, looking at Isaki and bEa. Let's find out just how much. Slowly but surely, he reaches out his mind to the both of them...
i think i mostly want to see what happens when this whole place breaks apart
At the heart of the world...
The mare's eyes lit up as soon as the Hydra spoke of bringing her out of here.
Could it be? This could be my chance... My chance to get back home... But should I trust him? And what of Ninten...and Ness... Oh, dear, I'm in a predicament, aren't I?
She thinks it over for a while, even wondering if the Hydra is telling the truth at all. According to the humans, snakes, certainly those that can actually speak, tend to be very good liars. She wasn't going to make the mistake of blindly trusting some all-powerful...deity...
What are you? She decides to peer into his mind or at least try.
The bunny-girl is still sitting on the ground, very confused as to what exactly is going on. She has this nagging feeling, however, that the Hydra might not be too bad...
Maybe it's his frightening stature compared to her that sort of lulls her into some security, like an overprotective mother with her children. She can't really say, though...
edited 27th Nov '14 9:38:18 PM by BlackMageAnolis
You saw the Hydra's message scorched into the ground. You felt the odd energy of the gateseal call out to you. No matter what kind of purpose you filled in life, either acting as a hero, a villain, or something between, you are here for a reason. Either to save the mage FM, to enter the realm and get away form the arena for a short time, or even to merely challenge the Hydra in person. You, and several others stand before the gateseal.
On the other side, Hydra's realm...and initially only an environment of flat gray. Nothing in sight except the others who stepped through, and perhaps the small cracks of various light in the unusually blank sky.
First posts will be a mixture of your characters entering the gateseal, and then the first thing they do when on the other side.
To zee Discussion https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=14171470310A68191400&page=1#1
edited 27th Nov '14 7:57:49 PM by FracturedMancer