"Where brilliance is good and madness is better..."
Helovia Info
Helovia opened in February 2012! We are an active fantasy equine RPG
Where once the world narrowed into naught but gray dust and desolation, the gods called for life. Wielding the elements of fire and light, dark and wind, earth and water, spark and time, they have created Helovia. The realm is set within the mythical globe of Loorien, a planet rich with all variety of creatures and blessed with all manner of magic. Originally populated by nomadic, tribal characters, they've since grown into massive empires saturated with culture and history. Separated into four distinct segments of Helovia, called "The Regions," each band of horse strong enough and capable enough, took up the power and responsibility of leadership. Unicorns, old, wise and mysterious, took to the north, hidden in forests of mists and shadows and rarely making themselves known beyond their cliffs of the World's Edge. Equines, vast, organized and militaristic, split into two, one group went north to the Windtossed Foothills and the other group went south to the Dragon's Throat. Pegasus remained nomadic, making their homes in various parts of The Wilds in a migratory manner. For many generations, the land was peaceful and calm, but peace was never the way of the gods. With a clash of argument, war and bloodshed massacred Helovia, and in the aftermath, the realm was eerily quiet. Now, as newcomers sweep into this land, they are met with the lingering bitterness of the gods and the struggle to reclaim what was lost. Nothing remains safe or certain while sorcerers and soldiers alike brood and bide their time for revenge, honor and glory.
Site Wide Plots
Kaos :: The Beginning of the End ☼ - 6/2017 - Kaos placed Helovia in a time-bubble for a short period of time, but the Helovian gods are fighting back. But Kaos is powerful- far more powerful than anyone thought. This may be the beginning of the end of Helovia as we know it.
Kisamoa :: A New Kind of Kaos ☼ - 3/2017 - Kisamoa asks Helovians to help him restore the Spectral Marsh. Which side will you choose?
Invasions :: All Out War ☼ - 5/2/16 - New layout and the brand new invasion rules are up! Thank you for your patience and we look forward to getting started with this new adventure.
The Rift :: Gods Do Die ☼ - 8/2015 - Helovia Gods are saving the Rift from corrupt gods! Can Helovians band together against these foreign deities?
The Literal Ship ☼ - 2/8/15 - Oh no! You have to pair up for Valentine's day!
Sky Island :: Murder ☼ - 10/25/14 - Vesta has been found dead on the island, and the gods have called to you to solve the murder!
Sky Island :: Peace ☼ - 7/7/14 - An island has appeared in the sky! Clouds carry Helovians from the Veins to the sky.
Restoration :: We Welcome the Dawn ☼ - 9/21/13 - The sun has finally risen on this day, giving the land new light, but the Time God and the Sun God have yet to be seen.
Endless Night :: Broken Magic Plot ☼ - 8/30/13 - The earth god has returned and is walking across Helovia to heal the land. Every area can now be considered lush and prosperous, but the sun has still not risen.
☼ - 7/19/13 - The moon has risen in the sky, heralding the return of the Goddess of the moon. Lamp trees which light the paths have grown brighter, moon flowers which grow in dark places have begun to grow and prosper and the world is brighter, filled with a new hope.
Endless Night :: Dead Magic Plot ☼ - 6/22/13 - The gods of Helovia, in order to protect the world, have disappeared into the rift, leaving the world sunless, moonless and magic-less in their absence. Only the herdlands have a source of light, but lamp-trees with glowing leaves and branches sporadically line the popular roads and paths from place to place.
Doppleganger Plot ☼ - 6/20/13 - The God of Time is still struggling to close the rift though which the dopplegangers have come. He has requested that his brothers and sister assist in closing this hole, but without knowing why it opened, the task is proving difficult. Magic still remains faulty and hard to control, but the herdlands continue to be places of refuge for those who are fortunate enough to call these lands home.
ORANGEMOON cools off the lands with a a viscious force. Colder than normal, a sign of things to come during Frostfall, Helovia is bathed in a rich tropical lushness - albiet a cold one. The coastlines of the Dragon's Throat are pelted constantly by tidal waves, and the desert climate is humid but chilly. Ice begins to form early in the Aurora Basin leaving the winding trails slick and dangerous. The mists of the World's Edge coat everything in a glistening crystalline shine which encourages mould to grow everywhere. The Spectral Marsh is the only area which remains fertile, blissfully temperature and lush.
Cotm
Character of the Month for
June, 2017
WEAVER, Corporal of the Aurora Basin, is a relatively recent addition to Helovia and has taken it by storm. Branded with the seal of Death on her chest, intrigue and interest follow both her past and present. Though she is assuredly beautiful, her sometimes sharp personality reveals that there is more to this uni-peg hybrid than meets the eye. Proving herself able on the battlefield in the Basin’s warrior ranks, we can’t wait to see her test her mettle against the looming Kaos happenings! Congratulations!
Helovia RPG was created by Tamme and Blu and coded by Tamme also known as Schwartze. All coding, palettes and imagery are copyrighted to the website and are not for use outside of Helovia. Thank you to our ServerMaster for hosting Helovia. A special thanks goes to Neo for all of her coding help and fixing Tamme's errors, Boom, for her loyal service and creation of the Time God, and to Ali for her consistent contributions and dedication.
04-14-2014, 09:54 AM (This post was last modified: 05-27-2014, 09:02 PM by Official.)
Day one of the job and he was already thrown in the deep end. After meeting dear sweet Kahlua, Fiore had taken the role of warrior, it was his best skill and the area he had more knowledge in after all. However, his abilities weren't exactly well honed at the moment, he hadn't fought in a real competition for well over a year and even then folk never bet their fodder on the small girly stallion that always did slightly better than the death they predicted. Those competitions were trivial too, like who got night guard watch or who had less rations. Yet, here he was again in a strange place full of fantasy creatures and fighting for the honour of Captain, to stand beside royalty and command the army. What right did he have to that? A newcomer from nowhere over the mountains, an ordinary sack of blood with stumpy legs and feminine features. What burly soldier would look upon him and think 'yes, I could follow a stallion like that'. Yet, Fiore took part for several reasons. Friends were often earned through combat, father had taught him that to brush hooves with another could often be the closest of bonds. He also took part to just take part if he was to be a warrior of this land he didn't want to be known for his casual interest, he wanted to be known and heard. To banish the thoughts that he was just some pretender from God knows where with no clue to what being a warrior entailed.
So he lined up and admittedly almost cried. There was a pegasus, a unicorn and a stallion that was albeit the most normal looking bar himself, but was huge and had a dog just because he wasn't enough on his own. The unicorn was a shade of black mixed with white and gold, the tip of her weapon dipped in red and the stud wondered if it was to warn any idiots (like Fiore) who dared to challenge her. She also flaunted a brown bear as if the circle of life wasn't even relevant any more. Fiore drew deep breathes and reminded himself that there was also the pegasus, who could obviously fly which was already considered cheating in the paint's mind. Lo and behold, he defied nature's natural sequence too with a lynx friend. Who had a lynx for a friend?! Note, apparently.
If there was ever a moment Fiore felt like he'd been completely transported to a different world, this was the time. He had signed up, however, and if anything the equine was loyal even to his word. Even if it meant he really did die today. Silently he prayed to the Gods that inhabited this strange land to at least spare him his life and he gallantly set off at a calculated canter, Fiore had nothing to lose and no reputation to uphold. The underdog who could give everything and probably not be ashamed at the end.
It was early morning, the bird song sun was up already and setting to work on burning off the perpetual mists that rolled in off the sea as Fiore prepared his first attack in the meadows just outside the forests, nearer the cliff. He chose to strike the smallest after himself, not really wanting to fall under the hooves of Goliath and rather wary of the horn the girl brandished, he chose the stud with the wings and the lynx. His eyes did flicker briefly with uncertainty to the feline creature, but either way he was going to get mauled by teeth at some point, so he plunged into a quick gallop with his head down and when he thought he was close enough to Note he quickly darted to his opponents left side, attempting to spear his teeth upwards towards the bay's neck area and hopefully grabbing onto the flesh quite harshly. He also hoped that his smaller and insignificant body would go unnoticed in the lingering mists, giving him a small starting advantage. After all, there was no going back now for the rabbit amongst the wolves.
[Setting; I placed it in the meadow area just outside the forest, it's early morning and the mist still hangs around a bit. The sun is trying to burn it off :D
04-14-2014, 07:16 PM (This post was last modified: 04-14-2014, 07:18 PM by Note.)
NOTE
Springtime caused many, Note found, to do absolutely ridiculous things. Produce unwanted offspring, cause silly fights, utterly toss their world into turmoil. This was ridiculous for him. He had not fought in a year. His skills were not just rusty, they were practically nonexistent at this point. It was a common fear for him; losing not just himself, but everything he had ever been taught. Every shred of information. But today, Note wasn't just fighting to regain what little skills he had formed all those years ago. He was fighting for something much greater than that: his home. Even without every piece of knowledge he had been given, his home would be there for him.
It was time to give back to the greater good. He could recruit others, as he had done with Zaps, but Note strived for something even greater. A rank of which was given to very few: General. With such an honor, he could not only protect the home in which he was newly faithful to, but help others find their way in the grand scheme of things. If that way happened to be in the hoof-prints of the warrior, then Note would be there to aid them. To lead them into every war they happened to be dragged into, and fight till the death for the Moon.
It was ambitious even for him, but Note enjoyed challenges. They fueled a fire that was so rarely sparked within him. It made his sharp green eyes fierce as they admired each of his opponents. He did not wish to lose, but if he did so, he would be more than happy to fight beneath any of these formidable warriors. There was a leviathan-looking black stallion with a little dog and a unicorn mare accompanied by a bear. They were both much larger than himself, their coats worn with scars as representations of their experience. Sabel lingered by Note's hocks, the blind lynx's excitement and nervousness pouring off of her in waves. It would be her first spar, a very important one at that, which didn't help the cause. This fight would not be an easy one. At least he could have some peace knowing that they wouldn't be trying to rip his throat out or anything, for they were his herd members. They would not dare to attempt such a thing on a brother. Right?
'Not right, definitely not right,' Note realized as this spotted, compact little fellow came charging at his left side. No words were exchanged, the man had just charged, aiming for his neck. He wasn't much smaller than himself, a tank compared to his own lanky form. Like...Kri. 'Just like fighting Kri,' Note told himself, relaxing slightly and letting his instincts take over as he sent Sabel a mental image of their attacker. The faded bay lunged forward, pulling his wings up to his throat and tucking his head behind them. The appendages would be serving as his shield. Note hoped to give the horse a nice thrashing with his wings as he lunged. He tried to position himself so that their shoulders would collide as well by pulling his wing up slightly to expose his own . Note was well aware that would give them both a nice jolt, but at least he would be expecting it. It was how Kri had fought.
Now it was Sabel's turn. As Note was pulling up into his rear, the cat scurried around his left side, bounding up to the spotted horse's right side. Within a few bounds, she was in the air, petite, lanky bodice not quite visible among the mist until she was jumping. Her paws were outstretched, claws extended, aiming for the stallion's shoulder or leg, perhaps even his stomach. Her aim was not precise, but she knew the general direction of her target which was enough for her. If her claws were to hit, she would try to latch onto the stallion's skin until he shook her off. Her sightless eyes were filled with terror, even though she was the one attacking. She had never done anything like this to someone so much larger than herself. She wasn't even sure she wanted to. But Note did, and she would gladly put her life on the line for him.
To Note's pleasure, the smaller fellow missed his target. The bay landed upon the ground with a thud, veering left to face his opponent once more. Sweat was beginning to coat his figure. His body was still unused to so much activity. It was a miracle the ground wasn't soaked and he wasn't flailing all over the place, considering the mist. Note wasn't about to think twice about it, though.
"The thought made Note's heart ache, but that's what love is. You don't care if the other person hates you or rejects you or anything of the sort because you just want to see them be happy." pixel by tamme
when your eyes are red and emptiness is all you know
with the darkness fed i will be your scarecrow</style>
The air seemed to be electrified with the coming storm of battle and it left The Constrictor feeling invigorated and ready to welcome any who would oppose her in her goal of becoming the Captain of the Edge's forces. Mist swirled around her white stockinged legs as she paced and fixed her bloody gaze on the stallions that arrived with the same goal in mind that she had. To be perfectly honest she was not so much worried about the little feminine stallion who seemed out of his element. The pegasus, on the other hand, would be a little more troublesome to deal with if he decided to take to the air and try to attack from above. The one who worried her the most, though, was the very stallion who had served as her own general in the Foothills before everything went to hell. "Dauntless." She greeted her old friend, if she could call him that, and even nodded her head to him. If anything the stallion had her respect for his strength and his cunning.
Attention was drawn back to the smaller stallions, both smaller than herself she noted, as the feminine one attacked first. Her muscles tensed as the pegasus moved to defend himself and with little more than a glance to the grizzly at her side, Ktulu entered the battle. The little spotted stallion attacked from the left side and because of that The Constrictor circled around at a canter to attack from Note's right side. Unfortunately for the spotted stallion his attack missed, but fortunately for Ktulu the pegasus veered to his left which kept her on his right side as she continued to circle around. "The cat." She mentally commanded the bear who immediately broke away from his bonded and made a beeline for the lynx who had already targeted the feminine stallion. Had this been a real battle she would have commanded the bear to destroy the lynx, but with it being a competition it was for the best that the bear only beat her up a little if he caught her.
Ktulu slowed her approach and began to draw and concentrate her magic. She could feel it in her chest, a tightening and burning as the dark magic she wielded demanded to be released on the most unsuspecting opponents. And she did so. The Constrictor aimed the full force of her dark magic at the pegasus and as she did so a satisfied grin curled the corners of her lips. Should he feel the full effects of her magic he would probably feel like he was drowning on dry land. Her legs burned with the desire to charge the pegasus and ram her shoulder into him, knock him down, trample him, and make him beg to be released from the battle but she held her distance and concentrated her magic on him from afar. She knew the sudden jarring of her body would break her grip on the magic she wielded and in such close quarters she would be an easy target for two stallions and no matter how much smaller they were than her their numbers alone would be troublesome.
Meanwhile Eytan drew in closer to the Lynx, whom had targeted the spotted stallion. "Incapacitate her." Ktulu's voice instructed him. In response the bear grunted, though Ktulu would not hear him from the distance. The grizzly knew that he was not so lithe and maneuverable as the lynx was and that alone led to his decision to use his own magic ability to try and throw her off of her game and hopefully knock her out of the competition mentally. His stance widened and he let loose a roar aimed at the lynx that seemed to reverberate through the meadow. In that roar held all of his terrorizing power aimed at the lynx. It was easy for Eytan to pick up on what a bonded might fear most and if the cat were susceptible to his ability she would see image after image of her bonded maimed, beaten, dead.
ooc://
WC: 678
1/3
Attacked Note and Sabel
@[Archibald]
The mist swirled around the feathered white hooves of the Dauntless, caressing gently, pulling him towards to battleground. He was given a place and a time, and here he was, standing in the meadow. The sun was breaking over the horizon, the rays battling against the mist that perpetually covered the lands of the World's Edge. He remembered the last time he was here fighting. He remembered Lace, the grullo stallion as he stood his ground. Loretta remembered, too, and her jaws ached with the sensation of the dragon between her teeth. Not today. Competition, not war. Golden eyes waved down to give his bitch a firm, warning glare. You will have mercy today. Loretta looked up and, today, he knew, she would be obedient.
The grass beneath his Goliath frame was dewey, though it would dissipate soon with the coming sun. He knew it would be slippery, the fine blades each covered in a good lick of water, but he had fought in worse conditions and his footing never gave way. The meadow itself was hard, steady, and would be easy for maneuverability. The Dauntless would need it, be concluded, as he noticed his opponents in the distance. One, a pegasus; another, an equine; the third, a unicorn. The equine was the smallest it seemed, and unbonded, for no creature lingered at his hip. He reminded the Dauntless of Smoke, his body compact. He would turn sharp and move quickly, taking the upper-hand from the behemoth. The pegasus was, however, was a lithe sort of creature with willowy legs. Svetlana the Stormchaser came to his mind, and he remembered how she moved with grace. This faded bay would be quick and agile, gifted with wings. The Dauntless knew he would have to keep these two in close quarters to defeat them, and he would need to keep that pegasus on the ground. Molten eyes fixed finally on his last challenger. The red tipped horn and black body rang true in his memory. It was none other than Ktulu, a mare he had fought side-by-side in his past, much like her father. So, she too seemed too stagnant with the life of an outcast. Archibald knew Ktulu's heart--she was a soldier, as he was, and she needed duty and structure. He gave her a look of knowing when she greeted him, but no words graced her ears.
After what seemed an eternity of staring each other down, the painted stallion broke the steadiness. He glided towards the pegasus, and threw an unsuccessful attack. Archibald's eyes narrowed and his chin tucked some, Loretta following in suit to set her own defenses, and in sync the pair's ears pinned against their skulls. The warlord snorted and watched as the pegasus protected himself as Gaucho had done before, using his wings as shields against Fiore's anticipated blow. Ktulu then entered, and Archibald commanded Loretta forward. Not Ktulu.' He commanded her firmly, and Loretta obeyed. The lynx was attacking the spotted boy, and Loretta would join her. Eytan, it seemed, had his eyes set on the lynx. The Dauntless lowered his head some and threw himself forward at a canter.
Loretta darted forward towards Fiore's head, her muscles bunching before she leapt from the ground. She aimed to hopefully attack his right cheek, the same side the lynx had attacked towards. The bitch's iron-trap jaws opened and she attempted to bite at the spotted's cheek, to rip a wound in it. Eytan roared, catching Loretta's attention and making a shiver run down her spine. The bear was a fearsome opponent, and her heart fluttered, relieved that she was not against him at this time. Archibald's steel clad hooves thud against the ground as he attempted to close the distance between him and the trio of horses. The Dauntless aimed to barrel into Fiore and knock him off balance, Archibald's shoulder jutting forward to hopefully slam into the small stallion's chest. He continued his forward momentum, however, keeping towards the dusty pegasus whether he hit the painted or not. In a single downbeat of his front hooves, Archibald sent his magic out beneath the hooves of the competitors.
The ground rumbled and shook, bending at the will of the ebon warlord. It radiated outwards as Archibald shot his head forward, his intentions to aim a bite on the pegasus' face. Archibald's teeth aimed to scrape over Note's left eye, though any blow to the left side of the stallion's face would be pleasing. Archibald stopped abruptly, his head still lurched forward. The king drew his hind legs up under him, balancing himself in a low rear as his magic continued to send tremors over the meadow. Swiftly, Archibald kicked out with his front hooves, hoping to land a demolishing blow to Note's front legs.
[WC: 799 | PC: 1/3 | Tremor Magic use: 1/2 | Bone magic use: 0/-- ||
Archibald attacks Fiore and Note. Loretta attacks Fiore. Archibald's magic, however, might affect everyone? ||
:: [Magic: Earth (U) | can create earth tremors with a stomp of the hooves that unbalances and disorients the opponent]
:: [Restrictions | Can only be used twice in battle, with the tremors lasting up to a full post; the tremors are strong and should cause severe disorientation] ]
ARCHIBALD the DAUNTLESS The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me
What Fiore wasn't expecting was his own clumsiness! With everything else so daunting and with hopes of opening his fight account with at least an admirable performance. The last thing on his mind was such a catastrophic mistake! Feet clambered to match the agility Fiore requested of them, but somewhere along the way the mad scramble turned into hooves falling over hooves and instead of grabbing the flesh of Note the painted boy fell towards the ground. The earth raked against his nose causing him to wince as it took away the flesh and left an injury of blood and dirt. His muscles burned in effort to keep his body upright, which he managed with difficulty, but act one certainly didn't plan out how he imagined. His mind was a blur of confusion as he tried to get over his own stupidity and the fact there were three other opponents to worry about who certainly had not forgotten him.
In the madness of chaos and his growing mastery of bad luck, Fiore had managed to miss the shield of feathers and the bump of shoulders Note had thrown up in a well informed defence. However, he couldn't hide the cold fear that flashed across his gaze when the lynx lunged for him and Fiore only had enough time (and balance) to keep running forwards. A sharp noise of pain escaping his scathed muzzle as the feline's claws managed to scratch into his right shoulder, leaving trails of blood and lines that would fade to scars in time. Pain, fear and frustration; those were the most prominent of emotions on the mustang's mind. He was slowly getting hotter, sweat forming between his legs mostly from uneasiness more than exertion. His body was fit, but not well trained in fighting fairytale characters and carnivorous predators. Yet, his plucky stubbornness would always win out in the end and as the female went for his first adversary, Fiore turned his attention to the next danger.
There weren't, in all honestly, many advantages the boy could gain and perhaps his objectives were slowly changing from admirable performance to 'lets not die today'! The roar of the bear caused the stallion to tuck his tail and lay his ears back, turning quickly to his left in attempt to stay away from them and managed to bolt straight towards the damn dog! His hooves dug into the ground and his shoulder screamed in protest causing his meek attempt at a rear to look rather pathetic. His head shied away from the mutt and he managed to lift only high enough to take the bite to the right side of his neck rather than his cheek. The whites of his eyes showed and as soon as his fore hooves grasped the earth he burst forwards again, his compact form allowing good agility, but he didn't run without attempting to leave his own mark. Rear hooves lashed out as he did so, aiming to strike Loretta square in the body before he turned again.
By now Fiore had stopped cursing his own bad luck and instead had taken up praying. The machine that was the only other equine on the field was simple as he was dangerous in his moves. However, through nagging pain and the need to simply breathe Fiore continued doing what he did best and at the moment running was his best! Fiore shifted to his right and slightly clipped his left shoulder against the draft monster, even that was enough power to send the smallest horse in the field struggling to keep his balance. Eyes widening at the sheer immensity and presence of him. Seconds passed when the ground began to shake and Fiore dropped into a disjointed canter. Earthquakes. Great!
Fiore grumbled to himself as he struggled on the surface, warm fields and gentle mares feeling like a lifetime away in a much more desirable place. He was like a raindrop on a mountain to these folk, but even a storm could strike a rock if the lightening was well timed. Fiore clung onto the belief that for all his ordinariness he could still make an impact. He picked the girl this time, leaving the draft to his fight with the winged fellow and darted across, wincing visibly as the pain on his neck, shoulder and nose nagged away. She was much taller than himself, lithe, but not as compact. Wary of her front end that included a horn to skewer him with, Fiore aimed for a skirmish near her back end, teeth and a bloodied nose lashing towards where he thought her right stifle was to hopefully latch and rip into her flesh that was coated in dark fur whilst praying the bear wouldn't notice he was nibbling on his mistress.
[I feel like I should be dead already xD
Fiore attacked Loretta & Ktulu.
2/3| 798 words]
There were few things in this life that Note found terrifying: 1. Sabel in the mornings, 2. Dying without completing everything that he had wanted to, and 3. Sohalia. The first was unavoidable, the last irrational, but the second seemed as if it would be happening within this fight. He hadn't come here to die, but the other participators seemed hellbent on seeing his demise.
The bay smirked as Fiore hit the ground, not taking much notice of the sleek mare until he found himself without oxygen. He froze, gasping for a moment, brow furrowed in confusion until he glanced up at the unicorn. The glance turned into a glare when he saw the dark mare's satisfied grin. He concluded that the red-eyed unicorn was a demon. What else could find such happiness in pain?
Note acted fast, the anger, pain and fear welled within him, channeling into his magic. He aimed the lightning at the mare, smiling ever-so-slightly as he did so. The bay wanted yell "Karma, bitch," but his lungs were not cooperating. His vision was starting to go black, legs getting weak as they lost oxygen.
The bay didn't notice the Behemoth, either, until he was upon him. He quickly found himself panicking as the much larger stallion galloped towards him, bringing a large rumble of earth as he did so. In a weak attempt to protect himself, Note brought his left wing up, hoping to bash the larger stallion with the appendage and deflect his teeth. It didn't work quite as planned. Note squeezed his eyes shut as he began to stumble to the right, feeling the sting of the behemoth's teeth over his eyelid. 'That's going to leave a scar,' Note thought sourly, the pain surprisingly more unpleasant than he initially expected.
The bay halted his steps the best he could, opening his eyes. The world was a mess. Blood streamed into his left eye and down his cheek, causing his vision to be partially reddened and very blurry, very shaky. The fact that it hurt so badly to even open his left eye did not help. He closed it once more, blinking blood from his eye and swaying backwards. Unknowing of what was happening around him, Note brought his wings up around his body as a shield to the world. The appendages were weak and shaking, but they were a shield nonetheless.
'Backup is appreciated,' Note spoke to his lynx, but found no answer. The lynx had her own difficulties, this time with a bear. Her attack had landed on the stallion in which Note had directed her towards, but a loud noise, a roar, had stopped her in her tracks. The sound chilled her blood. It was strange, terrifyingly strange. Within seconds, she found sight. Stranger. The sight she found was not pleasant. It was Note. His body was falling from a perfectly blue sky, one of his wings were not present. The poor fellow was covered in blood as his fell. Try as she might, Sabel could not move. She could not cry out for him, or run to get help, nothing. She was useless as he hit the ground with a thud, blood quickly pooling around his body. She couldn't even go to him, rub her head against his own one last time. She was frozen, forced to watch the life drain from his body meters away. The scene faded to black within seconds, although it felt more like an eternity.
Her little pale body was shaking as she heard Note's cry. For a moment, she didn't know what to do, or what had happened. But Note was okay. Sort of okay, he needed her. This time, she would go to him.
Sabel worked out the distances easily, separating every sound into beings. It was a talent she had perfected long ago. She found a very large stallion a good distance from her and very close to Note. He seemed like a nice target, as he was the closest thing to her bonded.
The ground beneath her paws was shaking, a minor complication considering what she had planned would not be affected by the tremors. She had never used her magic before, but now seemed like a good time to try it out. Little Sabel directed the most furious storm she could muster at the behemoth sized stallion. Their size difference meant she had no real chance at attacking him with her claws or teeth, but her magic might work.
Her lithe body was still shaking, the effects of the vision still on full force. It had to be some sort of sorcery, but the feeling of being so useless as her bonded slowly died before her was sickening. She was determined to not let that happen. Not now. Not ever.
"The thought made Note's heart ache, but that's what love is. You don't care if the other person hates you or rejects you or anything of the sort because you just want to see them be happy." pixel by tamme
when your eyes are red and emptiness is all you know
with the darkness fed i will be your scarecrow</style>
The Constrictor's grip on her magic was firm, her intent to hold onto it as long as she possibly could in order to make Note as disoriented as possible. Ideally she wanted to incapacitate him completely but as Archibald entered the battle she could feel the grip on her magic beginning to wan. The ground beneath her hooves trembled and shook as the ex-general slammed his ironclad hooves into the ground and she found herself suddenly scrambling for decent footing to keep from falling. "Damnit, Archibald." She muttered, annoyance thick in her voice as her grip on the magic slipped more and Note looked at her. Ktulu made eye contact with the stallion and she lost the last of her hold on her magic. Lightning shot from the pegasus in her direction and had it not been for the ground shaking so fiercely she would have been able to dodge more effectively but she was only able to turn to her right, leaving the left side of her body exposed.
The pain that came with the lightning that slammed into her left hindquarter was excruciating at best. Hair was burned away and her skin bubbled and blistered and though it was a relatively small area that was actually burned it felt as though a lot more damage had been done. For several moments she was unable to feel her hind quarter and for even longer unable and unwilling to make the affected limb move. "Childbirth is less painful." She caught herself thinking bitterly. Finally, with the threat of attack from Fiore looming, she forced herself to move, limping and grimacing as her burned flesh pulled and stretched across the injured area. She was unsure how she managed to miss Fiore's attack, part of her believed that Fiore was incompetent having missed yet another attack, and because of that she was concerned very little about the small stallion. Instead her sights were set on Note and even though it was only supposed to be a friendly competition he had rattled the beast's cage and she was answering.
A hush seemed to settle over the battleground and all Ktulu could hear was her heart thumping heavily in her ears. Another sound accompanied it, drowning out Eytan's voice as the bear tried in vain to garner his bonded's attention. All she could hear was the "Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump." as her heart beat in rhythm with another's. The change that overcame her was sudden and it was unpleasant and even a little painful. Her body contorted and shifted as bulk was added to her already muscular frame. Hooves turned to paws armed with razor sharp claws, teeth lengthened as fangs protruded from a head that was changing into that of a bear's to match the body. She was running, invigorated by the sudden burst of magic that had taken over her body and ready to take on the stallion that had hurt her head to head.
Ktulu roared as she charged toward the pegasus, her lips pulled back to show off the sharp ivories that were one of her new weapons. Her mouth opened as she came closer and she snapped her jaws at one of the feathered appendages, knowing that the bones were more delicate and easily breakable. One broken bone would render Note flightless and just as prone to attacks as anyone else limited to the ground and that was exactly what she wanted. She wanted him to feel helpless and scared and realize that maybe he didn't have what it took to be a protector.
Eytan, while Ktulu was undergoing the sudden changes to her body, looked on in confusion and concern. He could feel a certain disconnect with her that he had never felt before. She felt out of unstable and not in control her her emotional state and that made the bear abandon any idea of an attack on the lynx or Fiore as he ran toward his bonded with concern flashing in his eyes.
ooc://
WC: 666
2/3
Attacked Note
@[Archibald]
"."
ooc:// :: [Magic: DarkxEarth | able to transform into a bear]
:: [Restrictions | bear form is approximately her same size and one attack as a bear counts as one use]
Note's magic says it causes severe burning and numbness so I went with it!
Everything was chaos as the sun began to filter through the mist. The day was warming around them, the dew diminishing, but it mattered not. Calls of war and the thundering of hooves were sounds of the orchestra today. This was a sound all-too familiar for the bonded pair that fought now for recognition, glory, and honor. Archibald the Dauntless was a warlord among these mice, an aged veteran of battles long past and victories piled high. He would not be bested today, and all around would learn of his prowess. Ktulu was the only one here that knew his true strength and power, and the swarthy knight knew she respected it highly. He had stood with her on the frontlines of battle and had commanded her troops with an unwavering, true battlecry. Loretta was even skilled, having(to her knowledge) killed a dragon in these very woods.
Now, however, her teeth found purchase on the painted stallion before her. Her intended target had been lost, but she tasted the sweat of the boy. She thrashed her head quickly, hoping to tear skin and muscle, but gravity was pulling her back quick. Fiore surged past her just as her back paws touched the ground, absorbing her shock but disengaging her from her flee, and one of his back hooves clipped her left shoulder. The bitch cried out, a high-pitched sound that cracked the air. Landing with a thud, she panted in pain, whining lightly, before coming to her feet again. White hot anger surged through her, blood rushing to the area as it began to swell beneath her thick coat. Snarling, her amber eyes narrowed and she spun to seek out Archibald among the fray. With a limp, Loretta moved towards him.
Archibald's teeth found purchase as well, striking dangerously on Note's left eye. The warlord's face did not twist in a wicked grin, nor did his chest flutter with the tune of satisfaction. His hooves struck but found no gain, and the king grit his teeth. Note had brought up his wing again and Archibald grunted lowly. Still lifted in his low rear, the Dauntless threw his body forward, hoping to slam his hefty, massive body into Note's left side, near his shoulder. Archibald was not afraid of hitting the wing, of snapping tiny, hollow bones. Gaucho had used his wings as leverage against Archibald once, and the warlord had bucked out at them, but caused no damage. Wilder told Archibald when he was young that wing bones healed quickly, though patience and careful care were key. From the corner of his eye Archibald noticed Ktulu struggling, a bolt of lightning screaming into her body. Rage, hot and magnanimous instantly set boil to the warlord's blood.
'NOW.' His mental command was rigid and tough, and caused Loretta to limp forward at a slow run. A silver light danced behind her eyes momentarily before she threw her magic out, pointing straight for the pegasus stallion. Loretta snarled deeply as she approached, but turned towards the small lynx as the feline advanced on Archibald. Loretta kept her magic focused on Note, trying to push its full effect for its full time, but she lunged, wincing, towards the cat. Claws and teeth scared her not, for she only wished to stop the blind cat from attacking Archibald. Before she could attack, however, a storm raged quickly over the Dauntless. Jutting out her blocky face, Loretta attempted to bite at the cat's scruff. Painfully, the bitch lifted herself slightly and pressed her weight forward, hoping to slam it into the lynx and knock her into the ground, and hold her there in submission, as she had done in the meadow years ago when Manhattan had attacked Archibald.
The Dauntless was, in fact, thwarted with the storm. The rain and heavy wind threw him off guard, but it was nothing to surprise him. He felt no injury, no pain. He had fought in a hard storm, battled against a dragon and an arrogant boy. Archibald was not a weakling and natural elements would not thwart him. The bear that was Ktulu, however, caused the king to pause momentarily. With wide eyes, Archibald pushed his hooves towards the ground to gain purchase. The grass beneath him was slippery and caused him to lose his footing just slightly, but he moved away from the attack she-bear. This was nothing he had ever seen before, and when he felt he was out of range, he turned to look back at his friend. She was attacking Note, but something in her eyes seemed gone, and the Dauntless knew the Constrictor would kill this pegasus today. "Ktulu!" Archibald called out, his voice bellowing, as a warmth spread through his stomach and he sent his bone magic towards her.
[WC: 798 | PC: 2/3 | Tremor Magic use: 1/2 | Bone magic use: 1/-- ||
Archibald attacks Note. Loretta attacks Note with her magic, as well as Sabel. Archibald attacks Ktulu with his magic. ||
:: [Magic: Earth (U) | The ability to turn another's bones to stone, causing immobilization or slower movement.]
:: [Restrictions | Bones are turned to actual stone; the effects will wear off gradually. In battle, attack lasts for 50 seconds. Can only be used once in a post.] ]
ARCHIBALD the DAUNTLESS The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me
It seemed Fiore wasn't even allowed a nibble this bloody hour! Females and their powers of multitasking, at least that was what the stallion was telling himself as his toothy skirmish missed its mark and Fiore simply carried on charging forwards and it looked like not a single one of them followed. The stallion's racing thoughts switched to a more dejected feeling as he almost felt like they had christened him the idiot of the party and left him to fall over his own feet whilst they got down to the real business. This was a kind of alienation Fiore had never experienced before, there was never a moment in a fight where he had felt like he hadn't been taken seriously or he was at risk of being laughed at; curse his own inabilities! The fleeting cloud of dark depression sat over him for a few seconds as he felt the full bleakness of life and the unfairness of circumstance. Yet, constant was in the meaning of his name, he was the flower that never stopped blooming, but he may just be dirt to these folk; it was his job to change this.
If the painted stallone could take anything good from the previous movement then it would be that he actually managed to clip the dog as he scrambled to get away. A stray hoof was better placed than all his well calculated movements beforehand; so typical of his current luck! In the lull of the fight, when their attentions were directed elsewhere, Fiore took a moment to regather and breathe. He thought of the mare that met him at the glass doors, nay Signora Kahlua your sweet smile told me nothing of these monsters his silent thoughts lamented. Yet, he had to smile at that, gentle mares needed burly warriors to keep them safe after all. Fiore didn't quite match burly, but he was stubborn hearted and danced on, keeping up his bouncy canter as he turned back to face the music of battle. He had the handsome face of a shining knight after all! Even if it was grazed on the nose end.
As Fiore turned the bite marks on his neck protested loudly as the skin stretched when he turned his head. He winced visibly, grunting and snorting as he plowed forwards, the oncoming air stinging his nose. The poor winged fellow appeared to have suffered an onslaught and Fiore caught the bellowing voice of the draft shout Ktulu. The monstrous Goliath himself looked a little trapped in an odd forming storm and by now Fiore took anything as fact. Fiction was reality in this world. Fiore decided to try for the girl once again, the mare in fact, who seemed hell bent on giving the pegasus an early grave.
As he neared where he thought her dark form was, Fiore shortened his stride and turned quickly to his right, attempting to push his shoulder into her hip or thigh area in hopes to at least knock her off balance. The little tank powered onwards, not lingering by the scary mare who could probably freeze a horse in one steely stare. This time he tried to take the fight to Archibald, though the draft was far greater in size, surely he lacked in finesse and speed that Fiore could easily master. It was possible, however, that this decision could go drastically wrong like most of his others and the mammoth would wipe him from the face of the earth. In fact, if the beast sat down at the wrong moment, Fiore wouldn't stand a chance. Daunting things, a daunting leviathan who Fiore imagined may have broken the backs of many. He certainly looked the part.
Today, however, was not the day to stand in awe of another when that other was the titan you were jousting with. Fiore charged forwards and aimed for a movement that made it easy for him to reach higher places. Hooves dug into the ground and his rear supported as his fore lifted into the misty air, his teeth unfurled and Fiore attempted to rip into Archibalds neck area (or withers). An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If it landed that was.
Surely the fight for favour was nearly at an end, his wounds nagged and stung, his big movements not helping as it increased the feeling of harsh pain. Though they didn't incapacitate him and for that, considering everything, he was glad.
[Fiore attacked Ktulu and Archibald
3/3 | 750 words
Note turned his lips down in the most disgusted scowl he could muster, bright green eyes flicking from the goliath to the unicorn from behind his feathers. It was clear that these horses weren't battling anymore, they were just showing off. Then again, the goal of the competition was to show your capability. It didn't make him any less sour over the others ganging up on him, though. His eyes shifted to the unicorn who was..no longer a unicorn? She was a bear?
Amongst the stallion's bewilderment, he lost focus on the large, black stallion. The behemoth slammed into his left shoulder, the jolt sending the bay to struggle away, silver hooves scrambling on the damp ground. His shoulder ached, as well as the base of his wing. Had the giant gotten it, too?
Note wasn't left any time to examine his shoulder, as the bear was bounding towards him with a bloodthirsty look in her eyes. He instinctually brought his wings upward in an attempt to avoid the snapping jaws of the beast, but it was in vain. The bear plucked out a mouthful of his feathers as the stallion next to him called out her name. It stung and blood flew from the appendage, but that was a pain he knew all too well. It made him grit his teeth, but the stinging would subside soon enough.
But then, the strangest thing happened. A sudden urge to flee overwhelmed the stallion. He pondered it for a moment, second guessing how unlike him that was. But his mother..where had she gone? Wild green eyes flicked up the bear. Perhaps it had taken his mother!
Note launched forward, head tucked as he brought his wings down along with a protest from his shoulder at the movements. But the bear could eat him so easily, as it might have done to mother! Oh, he had to get out of there.
The bay kicked out his hind legs, aiming for the bear's shoulder or chest. It was difficult to put weight on his aching foreleg, for when he came out of the buck, he stumbled forward. The stallion launched into a lopsided canter, eager to get away from them.
Sabel's confusion couldn't even snap him out of his childish thinking. The cat meowed softly, stepping towards the direction of her bonded. The lynx fluffed up her fur, sniffing the air when she remembered that Note was on his own this time. There was a creature heading towards her, this time it was a dog. It lunged for her scruff, and Sabel was all too thankful to find she had an inch or two of height on it. The cat twisted to her left, using the force of her action to lift upon her haunches. She outstretched her claws, attempting to give the dog a nice battering on her muzzle. The dog proceeded to ram into her side, throwing the cat to the right. She managed to retain her balance by digging her claws into the soft earth, but it wasn't easy.
Meanwhile, Note's childish mindset had faded. He was utterly embarrassed. He thought he was foal..a foal..the bay's embarrassment was short lived. It morphed into an uncontrollable anger in seconds. How dare they use such sorcery on him?!
Note glared at the other competitors. The stallion blinked blood from his left eye, the world still spinning slightly from the aftereffects of the earthquakes and his shoulder still ached. But he was not one for giving up, especially after what they had just put him through.
The bay snorted, launching into an uneven canter. His wings unfurled, and he launched himself a few feet into the air, flapping the appendages a few times. It ached his shoulder, so he didn't stay in the air for long, only lifting himself two or three feet above the ground. He was just trying to gain a bit of leverage on the goliath. He spun to the left side of the stallion, tucking his wings as he descended, avoiding Ktulu at all costs.
Note tucked his head, taking a deep breath before he aimed his front hooves for the rump of the larger stallion, coming upon him at an angle. It would make it easier for him to recover from the attack. The only thing that stood in his way was the painted equine. But he wasn't for that boy's blood. He was going straight for the large, black stallion. Note attempted to use the goliath's rump as a springboard, hoping to hit his hind legs upon his rump, then hop nimbly back onto the ground. He knew the ground was slippery and his shoulder would fatally impair his landing as well. Then again, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"The thought made Note's heart ache, but that's what love is. You don't care if the other person hates you or rejects you or anything of the sort because you just want to see them be happy." pixel by tamme
when your eyes are red and emptiness is all you know
with the darkness fed i will be your scarecrow</style>
Anger surged hot and violent in Ktulu as she clamped down on only a moutful of Note's feathers and not the wing itself. She had wanted to feel her teeth sink into muscle and bone and to feel that bone snap under the force of her bite. Even though blood flew from the wing and speckled her dark fur it was not enough. She wanted more and as she tried to go after him again she found that she could hardly move her body. A furious roar ripped its way from her throat and she turned crimson eyes on Archibald, knowing somewhere in the back of her scattered mind that this was his doing. The roar was cut short and turned into a grunt as hooves connected with her chest. The muscle spasmed but she did not have much time to contemplate Note's attack as the little paint that she had written off as no more than a nuisance pushed his shoulder into her hip.
The combination of Note and Fiore's attack caused Ktulu's magic to dissipate and her form returned to normal as did her mindset. Her anger, however, remained even as her body became lighter as Archibald's magic lost its grip on her. As she turned she quickly assessed the situation, seeing Note already in the air and Fiore attacking Archibald. Both sought to gang up on her ex-general and the mare was having none of it. "Eytan!" She mentally barked the bear's name. 'Here!' He answered quickly as he brushed against her foreleg. "Get the paint." Without saying another word Eytan ran after Fiore. His jaws opened as he approached from behind and he aimed a bite at the little stallion's right hind leg as he reared to attack Archibald.
The Constrictor was left to decide who she wanted to go after and after casting a quick glance up to Note and deciding that he was going for Archibald she decided to focus on Fiore. Archibald could handle the pegasus who was looking worse for the wear. The paint, however, seemed like he was beginning to catch his stride and, well, she'd just have to knock him out of it. Her muscles protested, chest burning as she began to canter toward the paint. Even her hip ached and she realized with growing annoyance and anger that Fiore had put more behind his shove than she had originally suspected.
With her anger fueled the mare plowed forward, her path arcing a bit because of Fiore's choice of attack. Despite the protesting of her muscles and the burn wound to her hindquarter she forced herself into headlong a gallop. If Fiore wanted to play a game of ramming she could play it and she was confident that she could play it better. Ktulu and Eytan were nearly in unison, she being only a few paces behind the naturally slower bear. Her pace did not slow of her own free will as she hurtled herself at Fiore. She knew with him being in a rear it would be so, so easy for her to just run him through with her horn but this wasn't a fight to the death. The Constrictor turned her head away from both Fiore and Archibald, blindly throwing her body at the paint should he remain where he was.
She was ready for pain that came with slamming bodies around. Was willing to sacrifice her body because no one attacked Archibald without consequence and she was ready to drop the hammer on Fiore for being stupid enough to.
05-19-2014, 02:49 PM (This post was last modified: 05-19-2014, 02:51 PM by Archibald.)
A dull, careful throb spread across Archibald's body where he had made impact with Note, though his mind was clear and on high alert, focused only on Ktulu and not the pain that waved over his body from the length of this endeavor. He kept his magic on her as long as it lasted, but he felt it fizzle and he shook his head. The Dauntless needed to bring her back, for he knew from the look in her death-like eyes that she had lost control. He had never seen Ktulu use this magic before, and he wondered in the back of his war-torn mind if it was a curse rather than a gift.
The use of his magics with such force, and the battle as a whole was taking a toll. Foamy sweat lathered his chest and the crevices between his legs, his underbelly and the crook of his neck wet as well. The morning light did nothing to dry it up in this mist, though the bright yellow orb was perched high in the sky now. Archibald saw the flash that was the quick painted stallion dash away from Ktulu and towards him, and the beast grit his teeth. Fiore was moving in a great, headlong canter towards him and Archibald took the time of the boy closing the distance between them to spin around. Archibald timed himself well, throwing his weight forward with practiced rhythm and kicked out both steel-clad hooves just as Fiore reared and bit for Archibald. The new positioning left the smaller equine's teeth to snap over the fatty part of the warlord's ass, just below his dock. The bite tingled, but Archibald hoped the impact from his weapon-driven hooves would demolish the poor, spotted boy that flailed around. Tucking his chin, Archibald brought his hooves heavily back towards the ground, gaining purchase as he pivoted away to remove his hind end from another attack from Fiore. Archibald hoped to land parallel to the equine stallion, and his movements hindered Note's attack.
Archibald shifted his focus to the pegasus as he darted towards him with dagger-like hooves. The front, silver weapons of the pegasus managed to slide across the top length of Archibald's right-side rib cage, the opposite side that the man had aimed for. Archibald had never faced a pegasus in the air, but Wilder had walked him through the procedure. Gaucho had stayed on the ground during their battle. If Archibald could snarl, he would be, but instead he head his bitch make her growl behind him. For a second, the Dauntless contemplated grounding the stallion with his bone magic, but pushed the thought away. It would be too draining. The pain was white hot and he knew it would bruise, just like his other injuries. The king had yet to spill his own blood. Tucking his hind legs underneath him, Archibald pinned his ears and shot skyward. His back hooves never left the safety of the knoll, but Archibald's neck stretched out as he attempted to land a critical bite on the bottom of Note's left-side rib cage, above the boy's barrel. After his assault, Archibald landed on the ground, Note's rear-hooves missing him clean. Tucking his chin and turning towards the bay, Archibald threw himself into a calculated canter, his body throbbing and protesting in pain as he charged for the pegasus stallion. He felt no pity, no mercy, to remorse for the bay that had taken the brunt of his attacks. Sodden earth flew up behind Archibald as his hooves tore huge rivets into the ground. The dew was no longer a worry in the king's mind, for the light of day was drinking it up selfishly. With a bellowing whinny, Archibald pushed his weight forward again, hoping to crash into the bay's left-side, just behind his wing joint. Archibald wondered how the cracking of ribs and wing bones would feel under the weight of his shoulder, and for the first time in the battle, a small, nearly unnoticeable smirk lifted the corner of the Dauntless' lips.
Loretta, filled with a white hot rage focused at the cat before her, snarled a sickening, deep snarl that could curdle the blood of the devil himself. Her fangs bared in the bright daylight, the slightly yellow weapons not hidden by the mist of the Edge around them. Sabel's paw came and slapped over her right cheek, leaving deep trenches. Blood pooled from the wounds, and Loretta whimpered high and tight. It did not hinder her assault, however, as she crashed into the cat's side. Loretta bit at Sabel's side, hoping to rip skin. She was in pain, but she would die before she let anyone hurt Archibald again, and this cat was attempting to do just that.
[WC: 799 | PC: 3/3 | Tremor Magic use: 1/2 | Bone magic use: 1/-- ||
Archibald attacks Fiore and Note. Loretta attacks Sabel. EDITED TO FIX WORD COUNT]
ARCHIBALD the DAUNTLESS The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me
As ever in battle not everything went perfectly to plan, but surely if he survived this hell with all his limbs, the next battle would almost seem like a walk in the park. That was if the realm of Helovia didn't have anymore Goliath monsters and carnivore soldiers up its sleeve. Or it might even have something completely different and wacky all the same, to which by now Fiore wouldn't be surprised. His face had been in a permanently shocked position for so long that his features would surely begin to ache sooner or later. He wondered if horses like himself were in short supply and maybe he was the rarity here. The dance went on regardless of the paints internal complaints about the idiocy of it all and slowly Fiore learnt a few new things about fighting fantasy creatures meant to be told in stories. First rule, don't trip over your own feet. Second rule, run away from all carnivores. Third rule, don't piss off hairy giants. Which was exactly what could happen now.
Hooves raised and teeth bared, but he didn't quite get the spot he had wanted and instead got a mouthful of fleshy posterior. That wasn't all as gravity didn't take him to the ground quick enough for him to avoid the giants oncoming hooves, his head raised and his eyes flashed, leaning away to his left as if to try a last ditch to attempt to scamper away, but all was too late. The behemoth's hooves slammed into the right side of his chest, the power rattling up his neck and across his body, previous wounds screaming in pain as Fiore took in a sharp breathe and stumbled to regain his balance. His two rear hooves he had been balancing on awkwardly fell backwards to his left, narrowly missing the charging bear as his fore legs came down to the ground and the painted boy continued left trying to regain his balance, floundering on all fours now, with the whoosh of Ktulu's charge missing him vaguely registering on the boys pain riddled mind. He had been lucky, if the scary mare's double team attacks had hit then well, he might just be littering the floor right now.
Ow was an understatement. Fiore gasped for air as Archibald's responding attack had quite badly winded him and his chest was throbbing in continuous dull pain. Combined with the stinging from his nose, shoulder and neck, one could easily say that now Fiore was in a bad state. His dainty hooves had finally found enough purchase on the ground to stand still. The stallion breathed heavily for a while, trying his best to get his breath back as the others finished what was left of their wild fight. He could stand and his body protested at the bruises and scrapes he had just received, Fiore couldn't remember a time he'd been in a bad shape like this. The soldiers at his old home would often land a scratch or two on him and sometimes they had scarred.
When the dust had settled and Fiore managed to do better than heave air through his lungs, the boy turned to look at his competitors, marred by the mist that was slowly being burnt away and wondered if this kind of thing was normal to them. Either way it had been an experience he would never forget and a rather strange way to introduce oneself. "A pleasure, ladies, gents. My name is Fiore." His flamboyant voice cracked as the pain was easy to spot in his almost choked words, but it was customary for the boy to offer his name after battle to those who might not know it. A name to a face, perhaps they did not care, but the lad did.
[Defence Post | 632 words
dern cool fight guys <3]
when your eyes are red and emptiness is all you know
with the darkness fed i will be your scarecrow</style>
"Stop!" Eytan's voice screamed in Ktulu's head as she threw herself blindly at Fiore. The sudden intrusion of the bear's voice made step falter and she slowed. "Archi kick!" The desperation in Eytan's voice made swerve to avoid slamming into Fiore if only because she ran the possibility of knocking him out of the way and taking Archibald's kick, herself. She knew that her ex-general had enough power in his kicks to break bones. Up until then she'd never experienced a broken bone and she certainly didn't plan on it. Ever. The sound of Archibald's hooves slamming into Fiore sent a chill up the dark mare's back and she cantered in a wide circle, her crimson eyes searching the sky first for Note then the ground for Fiore and Archibald. Much to her surprise the little stallion was still standing though he looked worse for the wear.
The Constrictor's steps slowed and her ears tilted forward as she caught a voice laden with pain. She couldn't help but feel a certain amount of pride for Archibald nailing him the way he had and because of that a small grin became visible. As she came upon the two she caught the smaller stallion's name, Fiore but she did nothing to address him just yet. Instead as she came to stand close to Archibald she reached her muzzle out to touch his neck should he allow the gesture. "Thank you." She murmured, assuming that he would know that she was thanking him for keeping her under control when that strange magic had taken over her body. "Are you okay?" Her own body was aching and bruised. She was dreading the next morning, knowing that the hit to the side that she had taken from Fiore and the kick to her chest from Note would prove to be especially painful once her muscles had rested.
Finally she turned her head toward the small paint. "Ktulu the Constrictor." The mare said. "And Eytan." The bear came to stand next to her right foreleg and growled his own greeting to the paint stallion. There was nothing more for the mare to say so she remained quiet and allowed her mind to drift back to the Edge and Lakota. She was sure her mate would have some knowledge tucked away for treating burns like the one that was still stinging her haunch and reminding her that she could have gotten a more serious injury. In her head she could already hear Lakota's voice chiding her for being careless enough to get burned. Despite her sore, aching body she turned and looked toward the trees as if she were expecting to see Lakota there waiting for her.
First and foremost, I just wanted to let everyone know that I did my best to give positive comments but, for the sake of my sanity, most of the comments are things that I thought could have gone better rather than things that went well. That said, all of you did excellent and there are so many positive comments I could have given all of you that it would have taken me all week to write up this rubric. Great fight and congratulations to everyone!
FIORE Realism [+4]
You did a great job documenting Fiore's contemplations on who to attack in your first post and subsequently making him choose most realistically. I felt that you did quite good translating dice rolls to damage. You also did a great job keeping the timeline of the fight organized and each of Fiore's responses to the attacks seemed realistic and well thought out.
Emotion [+3]
Great job setting up the fight with lines like this- “A newcomer from nowhere over the mountains, an ordinary sack of blood with stumpy legs and feminine features.” I was laughing right from the get go! This great grasp of emotion followed through into your second post as I felt Fiore's struggle right along with him- fighting fairytale creatures and dealing with his own mistakes as well. Poor Fiore!- “he almost felt like they had christened him the idiot of the party and left him to fall over his own feet whilst they got down to the real business.”
Prose [+4]
There was a period splitting two sentences that should have been connected with a comma at the beginning of your second post. In a large fight like this, succinctness is important and you showed good ability to write clearly even with limited space. In your last attack, I wasn't quite sure if you were aware that Ktulu was in bear form or not. I get the impression that Fiore would have seen it while he was sitting out, but I wasn't entirely sure.
Readability [+3]
Nothing of particular note, everything was very easy to read and understand.
Finally tally: 31+14= 45HP
*******************************************
NOTE Realism [+3]
Starting off, you did a excellent in providing references to old fights and training that Note would certainly be thinking of. There was an instance of borderline powerplay here- “As Note was pulling up into his rear, the cat scurried around his left side, bounding up to the spotted horse's right side.” Even though we know Fiore is on Note's left, you should always indicate trying something with regard to your opponent instead of stating it as fact. Same thing in your last post- make sure you're 'trying' to position yourself. Towards the end of the fight, with Note as beat up as he was, I think that he was probably a little more mobile than he should have been, but overall I think you did fairly well in translating dice roll to damage and maintaining that damage throughout the fight.
Emotion [+1.5]
I didn't feel entirely drawn into Note's personality in the first post, but by the second you had me laughing out loud. I also liked that you were able to work Sabel's personality and emotions into the post, giving me insight into the two as a pair as well as single entities. Good job interpreting the Time Slip and it was really nice to see Note get angry about everyone beating up on him.
Prose [+4]
I think there might have been a missing word in your first post, but I didn't see anything particularly glaring or wrong. I caught one minor error in your second post- one of his wings was missing, rather than one of his wings were missing.
Readability [+2.5]
I had to go back and read just one thing in your first post. The way you said that Note was rearing made me feel like I was missing something so I had to go back and double check. It wasn't a big deal, perhaps just worded a little oddly.
Penalty: I docked you -1HP for missing your closing defense as it seemed pointless to disqualify you after finishing the fight and I think it might have been partially my fault that you didn't know to post the closing defense.
Finally tally: 8.5+11-1= 18.5HP
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KTULU Realism [+3]
In your first post, remember that even if you feel like your opponent has no good way to escape a motion you're making, you should always 'try' to do something instead of 'doing' it. I interpreted this as a borderline powerplay- “but fortunately for Ktulu the pegasus veered to his left which kept her on his right side as she continued to circle around.” In your second post, I think you took just slightly too much damage for what the dice roll said. The dice was a 5/6, so you have to keep in mind that if Note rolled a 6 you would have to take more damage than what you took for the lightning strike, which I think might have been difficult. That said, this was a difficult call considering what Note's magic restrictions are. Again, remember that you have to 'try' to do things- “Her mouth opened as she came closer [to Note].” He could be moving away from your attack.
Emotion [+2]
You did a good job setting up Ktulu's calculating mind throughout your first post. I like that she's got enough emotional investment in the fight to remember that it is her herdmates she is fighting while still being very calculating in all of her actions. In your second post, you continued to do a good job of making her personality shine, especially as she sort of struggled between this being a friendly spar and wanting to get back at Note. I especially enjoyed in your last post, Ktulu fighting for Archi's honor.
Prose [+3.5]
In the first post, I understood what you were getting at, but this was slightly awkwardly worded to me- “In that roar held all of his terrorizing power aimed at the lynx.” One messy sentence in your second post- “he felt out of unstable and not in control her her emotional state...”. In your final post, although you did give good indication of where and how you were taking damage, I would have liked to see a little more time spent on describing the injuries.
Readability [+3]
Nothing of particular note, everything was clean and easy to read.
Finally tally: 31.5+11.5= 43HP
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ARCHIBALD Realism [+3]
I really enjoyed Archibald comparing each of his opponents to somebody he had interacted with in the past and am glad you took the time and words to do it as I think it was very true to Archibald's warrior personality. Careful not to go too far back in time, early in your second post you were potentially creating new damage to Fiore that he would not have been able to respond to- “Her intended target had been lost, but she tasted the sweat of the boy. She thrashed her head quickly, hoping to tear skin and muscle, but gravity was pulling her back quick.” Also, in your second post, I had a hard time seeing where you took your 7.5 points of damage from Note. I think some of it might have been Loretta injuring herself to get to Sabel and some of it Archibald maybe slipping on the grass, but I never really got a clear picture of where the damage was taken.
Emotion [+2.5]
Right in the feels right from the beginning- good job remembering Archibald's past and how it would be affecting his interaction with Loretta. I was also very appreciative of Archi's calculating mind. In the second post, I love that he took time out of the spar to keep Ktulu from killing somebody. I thought it was an excellent move and really displayed his character.
Prose [+4.5]
Everything was very well edited and it shows that you took the time to really check over everything. Towards the end of your second post there were a few long sentences that didn't necessarily affect readability, but might have come across cleaner if they had been split up. One mistaken word in your last post.
Readability [+3]
Nothing of particular note, everything was clean and easy to read.
Finally tally: 48+13= 61HP
Archibald is awarded +2VP (capped) for this battle.
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[JUDGED] Break a Leg [Edge Captain Comp]
![[Image: 52f3087fe3a26]](http://images.helovia.net/index.php/view/52f3087fe3a26)
