sticks and bones. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sticksandbonesmods) wrote2023-08-24 11:28 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote2023-08-24 11:28 am
Entry tags:
NPC CONTACT
NPCs
To request a thread with an available NPC, put their name in the subject line and anything else you feel is relevant. NPC threads cannot be used for Main AC, but can be used for Bonus AC.
Available NPCs:
Shopkeeper / Heimr.
(he/him)
A tall, heavier man who dresses in slightly oversized clothing not unlike that of a wandering merchant of sorts. He has golden orange eyes and long, curly dark hair that's starting to turn silver here and there, and though he carries a certain weeriness, this does nothing to mask his kindness. He has absolutely no pokerface whatsoever. During the day and late at night he mans the General Store with the help of Plum's magic, though now that he needs to sleep, he's more prone to catnaps at the counter. That said, he'll always be ready to listen or offer a cup of tea. Late winter/early spring, he became human — but not the man he used to be. Heimr gained his name from Mizuki.
A tall, heavier man who dresses in slightly oversized clothing not unlike that of a wandering merchant of sorts. He has golden orange eyes and long, curly dark hair that's starting to turn silver here and there, and though he carries a certain weeriness, this does nothing to mask his kindness. He has absolutely no pokerface whatsoever. During the day and late at night he mans the General Store with the help of Plum's magic, though now that he needs to sleep, he's more prone to catnaps at the counter. That said, he'll always be ready to listen or offer a cup of tea. Late winter/early spring, he became human — but not the man he used to be. Heimr gained his name from Mizuki.
Trader / Ydalir.
(she/her)
A large woman who adorns herself with rich colors and baggy clothes to hide her shadowy form, and the Shopkeeper’s sister. Like her brother, she has given her name to the forest and with it, her identity and humanity. She is much more energetic, but more likely to anger as well. She runs a trading booth, armed with magical items from who knows where and a mirror that allows her to reach for items across dimensions, which she will use for the new residents of the Grove! For a price. Her name was given to her by Mizuki.
A large woman who adorns herself with rich colors and baggy clothes to hide her shadowy form, and the Shopkeeper’s sister. Like her brother, she has given her name to the forest and with it, her identity and humanity. She is much more energetic, but more likely to anger as well. She runs a trading booth, armed with magical items from who knows where and a mirror that allows her to reach for items across dimensions, which she will use for the new residents of the Grove! For a price. Her name was given to her by Mizuki.
Rusty.
(he/him)
An old dog who desperately wants to go home. Before the fence erected itself, he spent most of his days trying to get into the manor with little success. The Shopkeeper says the children of his former master are inside the manor, and he wants to return to their side. He can be fussy and has a flair for that doggy judgmental side eye, but he’s gentle and loving as well. What secrets does he hold?
An old dog who desperately wants to go home. Before the fence erected itself, he spent most of his days trying to get into the manor with little success. The Shopkeeper says the children of his former master are inside the manor, and he wants to return to their side. He can be fussy and has a flair for that doggy judgmental side eye, but he’s gentle and loving as well. What secrets does he hold?
Zahliya.
Played by purifier
(he/they)
A Gargoyle rescued from the fog who is very fond of his titles. Known as "the Purifier, He Who is the First Sentinel, the Grove's Guardian" and fifteen other things, Zahliya is short, combative, and possesses the ability to cleanse corruption by taking it into himself, or burning it out with magic. While formerly unable to conjure said magic, Zahliya is now capable of curing all but the most dire forms of Corruption. His true name is "Amun-Ra", given to him by the Goddesses who created him. He can typically be found perched on the roof of the church, and wields two holy blades called Daybreak and Nightfall.
purifier(he/they)
A Gargoyle rescued from the fog who is very fond of his titles. Known as "the Purifier, He Who is the First Sentinel, the Grove's Guardian" and fifteen other things, Zahliya is short, combative, and possesses the ability to cleanse corruption by taking it into himself, or burning it out with magic. While formerly unable to conjure said magic, Zahliya is now capable of curing all but the most dire forms of Corruption. His true name is "Amun-Ra", given to him by the Goddesses who created him. He can typically be found perched on the roof of the church, and wields two holy blades called Daybreak and Nightfall.
Zonari.
(she/her)
A Gargoyle constructed by the Fallen Sun/Forest who was brought back to the Grove with some reluctance. Zonari is firmly on the side of the Fallen Sun, though she will entertain being spoken to, and is operating under a truce with everyone here under the promise that they will reunite the Fallen Sun with Beiwe and repair the trust lost between the siblings. She refers to Zahliya as her brother. Her magic deals in Corrupting and modifying memories, and she has a small amount of control over Time. She rarely visits the Grove to "check on you all", and will not get directly involved in affairs of the players at this time.
A Gargoyle constructed by the Fallen Sun/Forest who was brought back to the Grove with some reluctance. Zonari is firmly on the side of the Fallen Sun, though she will entertain being spoken to, and is operating under a truce with everyone here under the promise that they will reunite the Fallen Sun with Beiwe and repair the trust lost between the siblings. She refers to Zahliya as her brother. Her magic deals in Corrupting and modifying memories, and she has a small amount of control over Time. She rarely visits the Grove to "check on you all", and will not get directly involved in affairs of the players at this time.
Moder.
(she/her)
A terrifying, two-story tall moose monster known as the Guardian of the Forest. Moder speaks exclusively in a language that sounds similar to Old Norse, but her words are automatically translated in the heads of those who hear her into something legible. She roams the Grove freely and slips in and out of the fog, regularly killing dangerous monsters to protect the people within the fog's protective bubble. If you ask nicely, she will give you rides around the Grove. During Spring and Summer, mosses and flowers grow along her back and bloom in her hoofsteps.
A terrifying, two-story tall moose monster known as the Guardian of the Forest. Moder speaks exclusively in a language that sounds similar to Old Norse, but her words are automatically translated in the heads of those who hear her into something legible. She roams the Grove freely and slips in and out of the fog, regularly killing dangerous monsters to protect the people within the fog's protective bubble. If you ask nicely, she will give you rides around the Grove. During Spring and Summer, mosses and flowers grow along her back and bloom in her hoofsteps.
Sinann.
(it/its or they/them)
The River Guardian, Sinann is a five-foot long fantail fish. It is the reason the river flourishes, and it is the reason you should return the bones of fish you take from the river back to it. Despite appearances, Sinann is just as powerful as the other Guardians. It has the ability to enter a humanoid form to go on land, but will largely still be a fish in the river. Sinann's healing water can heal all but the most fatal of injuries, and it recommends carrying a bottle of it with you just in case.
The River Guardian, Sinann is a five-foot long fantail fish. It is the reason the river flourishes, and it is the reason you should return the bones of fish you take from the river back to it. Despite appearances, Sinann is just as powerful as the other Guardians. It has the ability to enter a humanoid form to go on land, but will largely still be a fish in the river. Sinann's healing water can heal all but the most fatal of injuries, and it recommends carrying a bottle of it with you just in case.
Callan.
(he/him), art by ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
winterbolt
The Lake Guardian, Callan, lives within the lake primarily, but his "mobile home" is in a fishtank in Pure Vanilla Cookie's house. He has the ability to charm people with his siren's song, though lately he's learnt to "be good" and ask first before he tries to take bites out of people. To make matters worse, he's also a shapeshifter, and tends to take on amorphous forms. He cannot shapeshift to something that would break his usual powers — no birds/flight, and no saltwater creatures. Mostly, he wants to play and taunt people. He acts much stupider than he truly is, but he's not going to tell you that.
The Lake Guardian, Callan, lives within the lake primarily, but his "mobile home" is in a fishtank in Pure Vanilla Cookie's house. He has the ability to charm people with his siren's song, though lately he's learnt to "be good" and ask first before he tries to take bites out of people. To make matters worse, he's also a shapeshifter, and tends to take on amorphous forms. He cannot shapeshift to something that would break his usual powers — no birds/flight, and no saltwater creatures. Mostly, he wants to play and taunt people. He acts much stupider than he truly is, but he's not going to tell you that.
The Sky Guardian/"Aurora".
(she/her)
Dubbed "Aurora" by the residents of the Grove, The Sky Guardian, the "bird of rainbow", was killed by the Fallen Sun when it Fell. Thanks to the efforts of Pure Vanilla Cookie, she has been resurrected. When she initally perished eons ago, it is said the stars fell from the sky with her; with her return, the stars, too, have come back. She is kinder and more patient than the other Guardians, and can shapeshift into various types of birds. When in her real form, she stands at three stories tall. A single rainbow tailfeather can bring people back from the dead without consequence — but the offerings required can be steep.
Dubbed "Aurora" by the residents of the Grove, The Sky Guardian, the "bird of rainbow", was killed by the Fallen Sun when it Fell. Thanks to the efforts of Pure Vanilla Cookie, she has been resurrected. When she initally perished eons ago, it is said the stars fell from the sky with her; with her return, the stars, too, have come back. She is kinder and more patient than the other Guardians, and can shapeshift into various types of birds. When in her real form, she stands at three stories tall. A single rainbow tailfeather can bring people back from the dead without consequence — but the offerings required can be steep.
Dragon Hatchlings.
(varies)
A clutch of seven dragon young who hatched upon the beach midwinter. The young vary greatly, but are friendly and playful little things. They like to play at the Rec Center or can be found in various places around the Grove, though they all have favored guardians and caretakers.
You may ask them for a blessing or two, threaded here.
A clutch of seven dragon young who hatched upon the beach midwinter. The young vary greatly, but are friendly and playful little things. They like to play at the Rec Center or can be found in various places around the Grove, though they all have favored guardians and caretakers.
You may ask them for a blessing or two, threaded here.
Nene.
Played by mermaidcursed
(she/her)
A young girl who was previously corrupted, but healed by the Cosmic Serpent's holy rain and Pure Vanilla Cookie's efforts. This has resulted in the more malignant plant growths on her to drop and die, but at this point she is still significantly plantlike, as she's come to rely upon these mutations to survive for thousands of years. At a glance Nene will stand out due to her eyepatch, metal legs and the flowers growing out of her hair. As she's now free of the Forest, her exuberant and bright personality is starting to really shine through. Upon death and revival, Nene will personally lead you back to the Grove. Just don’t let go of her hand on the journey.
mermaidcursed(she/her)
A young girl who was previously corrupted, but healed by the Cosmic Serpent's holy rain and Pure Vanilla Cookie's efforts. This has resulted in the more malignant plant growths on her to drop and die, but at this point she is still significantly plantlike, as she's come to rely upon these mutations to survive for thousands of years. At a glance Nene will stand out due to her eyepatch, metal legs and the flowers growing out of her hair. As she's now free of the Forest, her exuberant and bright personality is starting to really shine through. Upon death and revival, Nene will personally lead you back to the Grove. Just don’t let go of her hand on the journey.
Elsword.
Played by simplicitas
(he/him)
A young man who was once living among the Grove's residents and formerly Corrupted. Elsword formerly resided in The Garden, where he greeted and spoke to the dead, as well as researched the secrets of it. He decided to resurrect for a chance at attacking the Fallen Sun out of revenge. Fully blind, he can be found living with Mizuki, but spends a majority of his time outside camping out across the river and upstream from Vash's House.
simplicitas(he/him)
A young man who was once living among the Grove's residents and formerly Corrupted. Elsword formerly resided in The Garden, where he greeted and spoke to the dead, as well as researched the secrets of it. He decided to resurrect for a chance at attacking the Fallen Sun out of revenge. Fully blind, he can be found living with Mizuki, but spends a majority of his time outside camping out across the river and upstream from Vash's House.
Callisto Abella.
(she/her)
A merchant and 'treasure hunter' if you believe her words, Callisto is a cynical woman who has the unfortunate crime of freeing the Fallen Sun, letting him claw his way back to power. He's kept her as a personal pincushion for centuries, killing and resurrecting her at whim, and though she's still full of fire, she is also weary from years of guilt, suffering and the realization that everyone she knows and loves is dead. Callisto keeps to herself but can be drawn from her room at the inn with good company, good food and good wine- which she also enjoys making.
A merchant and 'treasure hunter' if you believe her words, Callisto is a cynical woman who has the unfortunate crime of freeing the Fallen Sun, letting him claw his way back to power. He's kept her as a personal pincushion for centuries, killing and resurrecting her at whim, and though she's still full of fire, she is also weary from years of guilt, suffering and the realization that everyone she knows and loves is dead. Callisto keeps to herself but can be drawn from her room at the inn with good company, good food and good wine- which she also enjoys making.
Semi-Available NPCs:
Semi-Available NPCs are NPCs that are only able to be spoken to under specific circumstances. The circumstances are outlined under each NPC's informational blurb. These NPCs may or may not be moved to Available or Unavailable status depending on further plot updates. Characters who do not fulfill the requirements will not be able to thread with these NPCs. They live under a cut to save page space.List of Semi-Available NPCs (Click to Expand):
The Behemoth.
(she/her)
The "daughter of Callan", The Behemoth is an enormous, many-eyed crocodile who is now trapped outside of the lake due to the fog wall. She has interest in humankind, and will regularly stalk anyone near the river, but will not try to harm them unless she is harmed first. She claims that she will side with whoever makes her home better, be it humankind or the Creature in the Woods. She can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.
The "daughter of Callan", The Behemoth is an enormous, many-eyed crocodile who is now trapped outside of the lake due to the fog wall. She has interest in humankind, and will regularly stalk anyone near the river, but will not try to harm them unless she is harmed first. She claims that she will side with whoever makes her home better, be it humankind or the Creature in the Woods. She can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.
Plum.
(they/them)
A little fox spirit within the General Store, Plum is the reason that Heimr can get so many supplies and keep it stocked year-round. There is a shrine to them in the back of it. Plum can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.
A little fox spirit within the General Store, Plum is the reason that Heimr can get so many supplies and keep it stocked year-round. There is a shrine to them in the back of it. Plum can only be spoken to while using the Bone Ring.
Beiwe.
(she/her)
The Goddess of the Sun, Beiwe's statue rests next to the well. She traditionally wears armour and wields a sword. She is boistrous, loud, and passionate, and praying to her will make the area feel warm for a time. At one point, she rode on the back of a giant dragon named Sehul. Her statue shows her without her horn-halo cracked, but the real Beiwe does indeed sport that injury. She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.
The Goddess of the Sun, Beiwe's statue rests next to the well. She traditionally wears armour and wields a sword. She is boistrous, loud, and passionate, and praying to her will make the area feel warm for a time. At one point, she rode on the back of a giant dragon named Sehul. Her statue shows her without her horn-halo cracked, but the real Beiwe does indeed sport that injury. She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.
Ourania.
(she/her)
The Goddess of the Moon, Ourania's statue rests next to the well on the opposite side from Beiwe's. She wears a flowing gown and a scarf in her statue. Little is known about her, though she is said to be "very ill". Another humongous statue of hers lies underneath the far-off lighthouse, built into the cliff face. When prayed to, she makes the world feel colder for a moment.She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.
The Goddess of the Moon, Ourania's statue rests next to the well on the opposite side from Beiwe's. She wears a flowing gown and a scarf in her statue. Little is known about her, though she is said to be "very ill". Another humongous statue of hers lies underneath the far-off lighthouse, built into the cliff face. When prayed to, she makes the world feel colder for a moment.She can be contacted via prayer, but unless otherwise noted, cannot be physically interacted with at this time.
Felicity Morais.
Played by amethystic
(she/her)
A young witch and Star who was called to an uninhabited star shrine to empower it once more. She stays to both provide a beacon of safety to other Stars in the forest, share her power and a third, much less pleasant reason: to be live bait for that which would kill the holy lights and give them time to protect themselves best.
amethystic(she/her)
A young witch and Star who was called to an uninhabited star shrine to empower it once more. She stays to both provide a beacon of safety to other Stars in the forest, share her power and a third, much less pleasant reason: to be live bait for that which would kill the holy lights and give them time to protect themselves best.
Unavailable NPCs:
Unavailable NPCs are, well, not available for threads for one reason or another, but are listed here for bookkeeping/lore reasons. They may or may not become available at a later date. Available NPCs may also become unavailable at a later date, and will be moved to this list accordingly. To avoid clutter, this list lives under a cut, but all NPCs are lore-important and should be considered part of the story even if they aren't necessarily contactable.List of Unavailable NPCs (Click to Expand):
Aldric.
(he/him)
The founder of the Grove, owner of the manor, and Rusty’s previous master. He had planned on establishing the Grove as a pitstop town within the woods while trying to clear space for a shortcut trade route between towns. It seems that he invited people who needed to get away from their hometown as means of refuge as well. ... Recently, the Shopkeeper has confessed to being Aldric, though he can no longer call himself by name.
The founder of the Grove, owner of the manor, and Rusty’s previous master. He had planned on establishing the Grove as a pitstop town within the woods while trying to clear space for a shortcut trade route between towns. It seems that he invited people who needed to get away from their hometown as means of refuge as well. ... Recently, the Shopkeeper has confessed to being Aldric, though he can no longer call himself by name.
Renard.
(he/him)
Aldric’s best friend and the co-founder of the Grove. Currently, he is deep within the forest, sealed into a tree and awaiting rescue. He is said to have taken a magic artifact long ago that the forest wants, intending to hide to protect it.
Aldric’s best friend and the co-founder of the Grove. Currently, he is deep within the forest, sealed into a tree and awaiting rescue. He is said to have taken a magic artifact long ago that the forest wants, intending to hide to protect it.
Olivia.
(she/her)
Aldric's sister, who lived within the grove. Apparently she guards the star shards. Through magic and great sacrifice, Olivia gave up her name and with it, her humanity, to become the Trader.
Aldric's sister, who lived within the grove. Apparently she guards the star shards. Through magic and great sacrifice, Olivia gave up her name and with it, her humanity, to become the Trader.
Audrey.
(she/her)
Aldric’s youngest child. Her body was discovered in the manor, laid to rest within her bedroom. She has a gravestone outside of the manor, and both Rusty and the Shopkeeper can be found there sometimes.
Aldric’s youngest child. Her body was discovered in the manor, laid to rest within her bedroom. She has a gravestone outside of the manor, and both Rusty and the Shopkeeper can be found there sometimes.
Rillian.
(she/her)
Aldric’s oldest daughter, the middle child. She remains within the manor for reasons unknown, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.
Aldric’s oldest daughter, the middle child. She remains within the manor for reasons unknown, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.
Evan.
(he/him)
Aldric’s oldest son. He remains in the manor alongside Rillian, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.
Aldric’s oldest son. He remains in the manor alongside Rillian, and refuses to exit, insisting that it’s for something necessary.
"The Forest".
(he/it)
Or rather, the entity possessing the forest as a whole. Childish, sadistic, and power-hungry, the Forest has invited you to play! And you will play, whether you like it or not. Though it can show acts of kindness, it views all life as its toys, and will not be convinced otherwise. Known also as the Creature, the False God, and the Fallen Sun, the entity possessing the Forest was formerly a God that Fell and has seen fit to wreak havoc upon the world. The Guardians will tell player characters to call it anything other than a God so that it doesn't regain any more power. While not available for direct threads on request, the Forest will interact with characters through major events and storylines. At one point, it was named "Suri" by Affogato Cookie, though this name is not known by other player characters and should never be used ICly due to that. Do not do a metagaming, thank you.
Or rather, the entity possessing the forest as a whole. Childish, sadistic, and power-hungry, the Forest has invited you to play! And you will play, whether you like it or not. Though it can show acts of kindness, it views all life as its toys, and will not be convinced otherwise. Known also as the Creature, the False God, and the Fallen Sun, the entity possessing the Forest was formerly a God that Fell and has seen fit to wreak havoc upon the world. The Guardians will tell player characters to call it anything other than a God so that it doesn't regain any more power. While not available for direct threads on request, the Forest will interact with characters through major events and storylines. At one point, it was named "Suri" by Affogato Cookie, though this name is not known by other player characters and should never be used ICly due to that. Do not do a metagaming, thank you.
Sehul.
(they/them)
A long-dead Guardian, formerly Beiwe's mount and said to be a flame-coloured dragon. Sehul was killed by the Fallen Sun in an attack. The Guardian's skeleton can be found at the lake's edge, sunken into the sediment.
A long-dead Guardian, formerly Beiwe's mount and said to be a flame-coloured dragon. Sehul was killed by the Fallen Sun in an attack. The Guardian's skeleton can be found at the lake's edge, sunken into the sediment.
The Cosmic Serpent.
(any/all)
Lying in the whirlpool in the middle of the ocean viewable from the cliffside, the Cosmic Serpent is a long, glittering leviathan who feasted upon the fallen stars eons ago. They will not entertain conversation, and their preferred hobby is taking a nap.
Lying in the whirlpool in the middle of the ocean viewable from the cliffside, the Cosmic Serpent is a long, glittering leviathan who feasted upon the fallen stars eons ago. They will not entertain conversation, and their preferred hobby is taking a nap.
no subject
It was illuminating.
[ He lifts his eyebrows gently with a little head tilt, then turns back to Beiwe. ]
Would... I be able to borrow a long sword? I'm far more used to fighting with one.
no subject
[She winks, because of course she does.
At Clive's request, Beiwe laughs softly, and flicks her left wrist, palm facing the two boys. He can indeed borrow a longsword, because at least fifteen types of sun-forged weapons fall from the sky in a circle around the garden. Longswords, zweihanders, axes, she doesn't know if Joshua wants one too but they sure do exist!]
You can have your pick, both of you.
no subject
Hmm. He scans the arrangement, looking for something similar to his tuck. Once he locates something similar enough to it, he lifts it by the pommel, rotating it with his wrist as if to test the weight. ]
I think this will do nicely. What say you, Clive?
no subject
He finally chooses a longsword that feels much like his swords did, balance and weight, and he grunts a little satisfied noise to swing it into the sheathe on his back. Then makes a face and unsheathe it again, throwing Beiwe a look. ]
Sorry. Habit.
[ He looks at what his brother picked and nods, then pauses. ]
You're going to want us going all out, right?
no subject
[So y'know just don't burn the garden down.]
Anything else goes.
[She trails across to the other side of the courtyard area, flicks her wrist, and the glow behind her horn-halo flashes in a small burst. When the burst clears, she's fully armoured with her helmet on.
She has not yet decided on her own weapon to use yet.]
You both get first hit! Don't worry about me!
no subject
[ That, and doing so might not be healthy for either of them. Joshua watches Beiwe take her place, the burst very similar to semi-priming, though she... does not seem to have a weapon.
He glances sidelong at Clive, as if to say: "All out means all out." This is an important test. They can't afford to skimp, even if it makes him cough a little more later. He will ask for forgiveness, not for permission.
Drawing upon his aether, Joshua semi-primes in his own little burst of flames, the Phoenix's tail feathers trailing from his back and flame calling to light his blade. ]
Together, Clive.
[ And once Clive is ready, he will leap forward with his brother, blade poised to strike as though she were fully armed. ]
no subject
Odin.
Blackish red energy pulses around him as he calls on the Eikon of Darkness. Instead of replacing the sword Beiwe let him borrow as it normally would have, Odin's blade sprouts from his right hand, encircling the stone. He huh's a little and swings it then shrugs. ]
Works.
[ His voice echoes from the flames of Semi-Priming and he nods. Together. Then rushes with Joshua and attacks with both swords, each strike filled with the hiss of shadow and while she should have no issue seeing the speed of which he moves, his brother will see it as Clive blinking forward in a rush. ]
no subject
Very cool already! Beiwe makes a noise, an impressed whistle underneath her helmet that winds up muffled due to the metal. She indeed has no issue seeing how he moves, but it's a treat nonetheless. Fast! We like fast. Fast makes you a harder target to hit.
With a flick of her wrist in the split second before their blades meet her directly, Beiwe summons a shield, marked with two moving scales embossed into the metal. When both boys make contact with it, the scales tip one way, then the other. If they're astute enough, they'll figure out that this is an initial gauge of power, and perhaps get the impression that the scales would tip one way if only one of them were attacking, or one was putting their all into it harder than the other.
She hums, satisfied with these initial results, and then tries to fling both of them away with a sweep of the arm.]
no subject
They have to hit it simultaneously for the best results. Coordinating their attacks. But that's perfect - that's what they do.
The sweep of Beiwe's arm sends him backwards, but Joshua catches himself easily, sliding on the ground as he does and not letting himself get knocked down in the process. Flames erupt around him, and he leaps into the air, hovering there for just a moment, the Phoenix's tail feathers fluttering from his back. ]
Again, Clive! Together!
[ Hopefully, his brother has also noticed the scales and how they move, because he can only hold the hover for a second before he's divebombing Beiwe, a mess of fire and feathers spiraling toward her like an arrow. ]
no subject
He noticed the scales and is amused by them, even though he's throwing his all into this, his voice echoing from this semi-primed state. ]
Isn't that supposed to be my line?
[ Yet he dashes forward again as Joshua leaps into the air, but this time he stops and grips the swords blade. Focuses as it glows white under his hand, waits for the sound of his brother coming down, before calling upon Zantetsuken, striking swiftly and in time with Joshua.
It might take them a few more tries but they've done this before, and whether it's been in small battles or in larger ones, they end up coordinating without thought. They are two halves to the same whole, after all. ]
no subject
Good, good! Aren't you two tons of fun?!
[She'll bear the full brunt of that assault head-on, sparks skittering off the shield as she measures their strength.
The boys might hear a warping sound behind them, then something like the sounds of ceramic shards clicking together... and if they look, there are several blunted spears of light behind them, raining down on them a short second later.
Time to test your ability to dodge!]
no subject
And he's right, as a moment later, the noise behind them catches his attention. He turns to look, breath catching in his throat as he gets sudden, vivid flashbacks to the Behemoth calling meteors down on them. Surely Beiwe won't wound them badly, but all the same-- ]
Stand back, Clive!
[ This is a test of their skills. Dodging may be a skill, but so are his shields.
Joshua quickly steps between his brother and the spears, tossing a shield forward that forms into a bubble around them. Hopefully, it will be strong enough to hold the spears back, and hopefully Clive will keep an eye out just in case Beiwe uses the distraction to launch her own attack. ]
no subject
Boy, this sure does remind him of some battles he's had.
No time for nostalgia as he lets Joshua shield against the spears, huffing a little noise as he turns his attention back to Beiwe. With Zantetsuken Odin's out, exhausted for now. So instead he calls upon Bahamut.
Let's see if Beiwe likes her own attack back at her.
Bahamuts scaled wings appear on his back as he begins to hover, careful not to leave the shield. ]
Keep it strong, Joshua!
[ Because this takes time, white light flickering and sparking around him as he builds Megaflare, the light slowly going from white, to blue, before orange joins in and he releases the built up energy. It'll cause beams of quick hitting light to coalesces and begin to fall around Beiwe in turn. ]
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The shields get a nod of approval, although between the flashy lights of the combatants it might not be so easily seen. The blunted slight spears bounce off of it, but Beiwe readies a second, stronger onslaught to really test them. The reflex test is over, now she's going to attempt cracking the shields. Depending on how easy they are to break, if she does get through them, the spears will disappear before anyone comes to harm.
Clive never leaves the shield, which is fine, although Beiwe is done measuring magic strength with it. Clive's ability to remain stalwart does impress her though, as she's forced to separate them of her own volition so she can use that shield to block most of the hits from Megaflare.
He may notice that she purposely takes a few hits. Further testing, you see.
This will leave her open to another attack — or alternatively, she's purposely leaving herself open. Hit her again, she dares you.]
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And it's a good thing that he doesn't, because more spears are forming. He doesn't need to tell Clive to stay inside the ward - Clive knows not to leave it. Instead, he grits his teeth, the Phoenix's tail feathers fluttering at his back as he strengthens the ward, because goodness knows it's going to need it.
The spears come down on it, and this time, they don't bounce. Joshua growls, steeling himself as the spears relentlessly press their attack on his shield. To his credit, it holds through the assault - but not without a significant crack forming in the barrier. ]
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He turns to raise his hand, Ifrits fire burning bright on it like Joshua's Phoenix as he joins his brother to stabilize the shield, his voice low. ]
One last onslaught?
[ Let's make it count, his voice says. Everything they have, short of Priming. He doesn't know if they can make a Semi-Primed version of Ifrit Risen... but there is Ultima yet in him.
Divine against Divine. ]
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To Clive's question, though, he nods. ]
One last.
[ He doesn't know what his brother has planned, but if this is their last, he will give it his all, just shy of priming. Only once he feels it is safe to do so does he drop the shield, and he immediately draws upon every ounce of strength he can muster, flames building at his hands to deliver a solid plume of flame directly in tandem with whatever Clive's next attack will be. ]
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As four wings appear along his back, along with the juts of Ultima's 'halo' as he coalesces his energy. It's not Divinity on the same scale as Beiwe's; it's only a fraction of what he wielded to remake the world, and there's no true harmony between vessel and power, but he's using Joshua to tie it together.
His brother is his stabilizing force, after all.
And he will hit Beiwe with everything they have to give together. ]
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Really, she's overjoyed that both of them are so coordinated, and so strong to boot. For as much as this is a "spar", it's really her acting as a training dummy to see how strong her newest disciples are — and boy is it working. Being clocked is apparently how she measures your strength. Rudimentary, but it works.
The strike is enough to knock her off her feet, which is marked by her sliding backwards and righting herself midair as she stumbles back and laughing. Good! She'll have to have them participate in a real, non-testy spar sometime!
For now, Beiwe corrects her posture and raises her sword high overhead, casts her shield aside, and slams down into the ground with an uppercut. Please dodge this because it quite literally creates a crater in the ground.]
Good! You two are strong! I think that's the limit of my testing — I'm quite impressed with you!
[You guys get the sense that you would not have knocked her back if she wasn't Just Playin', but she seems to be having a great time regardless.]
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Seeing his brother summoning Ultima, of all things, makes Joshua falter for only a split second. He has never seen Clive do this before. He knows the danger that Ultima poses. But he can't let it distract him - they are throwing everything into this, after all. Clive's attack will be far stronger than his own, so he splits off just a little of his attention, making sure that Clive stays grounded.
And... it works! If Beiwe laughing is any indication. Though, the crater is a bit concerning. Thankfully, the speed of his semi-primed form allows for quick dodging.
Doesn't stop him from coughing wetly into his hand as he settles back on his feet, though, the semi-primed form bleeding away from him into motes of aether. Ugh, he may have pushed himself a bit much... ]
Thank you, Lady Beiwe. It was an honor.
[ She could have kicked their asses. He knows this. But she is impressed nonetheless. What would it have taken? Ifrit Risen? ]
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And he thanks Joshua for keeping his attention on him, because it's being mindful of his brother that keeps that oily sinister sensation in check. And he's able to dodge as well with a quick slide of energy around him, spinning his wings at the last moment to keep them from being clipped, and landing himself as he does to quickly let that energy go.
Eyugh.
And once she calls an end to it, he drops the semi-prime as well, moving over to his brother to put a hand on his back gently and support him while he coughs, frowning a little, voice soft murmurs. Sorry, relax, breath. Then he turns his attention to Beiwe, only after Joshua has been taken care of, inclining his head with a little smile. ]
It has been. I'm glad we got to test ourselves against you.
[ And that she didn't just sit there and make them feel like ants kicking at a giants toe. ]
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[But she sees Joshua struggling, and hums in thought before she whistles. A holy animal in the garden that looks almost like a miniature lion, but could also simply be an orange cat, pops out of the bushes and goes running off into the house. When it returns, it has a bottle in its mouth that it drops at Joshua's feet.]
It can't heal everything, but it should soothe the cough and give you some energy back. [And with that given:] I'm happy to accept both of you as my priests. But I do know that both of you aren't too fond of being marked by deities. If you allow me to bless you, you'll have golden sun marks on your bodies, small but seen.
I want to ask you for your consent first before I do that. I'd hate to make either of you feel upset.
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He kneels, collecting the bottle and rising to his feet again, cradling it in his hands like a precious treasure. ]
Thank you, my lady.
[ It is a gift given in kindness, and one that he knows he should take now rather than later. So he does, listening intently as he drinks from it. It does indeed soothe his throat, and he feels significantly less ragged.
The question of a mark does make him pause, and Joshua turns to Clive, tipping his head. ]
... well, brother? What do you think?
[ Personally, he doesn't mind it. Beiwe has proven to be on their side. ]
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He glances up towards his brother to watch him drink, his hand soothing on his back still and murmurs a soft thank you to Beiwe as well once it looks like his brother is stable again.
The question makes him hesitate, studying Beiwe then his brother as he turns to him. He can see Joshua is alright with the idea and that makes him nod. Joshua is the one he was worried about, what with his mark from Ultima still. He turns back to Beiwe and salutes with his sword. ]
I would be honored, Lady Beiwe, to be your sword and Priest.
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But, with his brother's approval clear, he, too, turns to Beiwe, and mimics Clive with a salute of his own sword. ]
And I, as well.
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