Even This Power Is Not Enough

[Genon]

Looking at this newcomer, Shiki thinks for a moment, then holds out her hand to return the handshake.

"Ryougi Shiki." She replies, then, seeing the general not-Japanese look of her new conversation partner, decides to clarify, "Ryougi is my surname."

Not holding any especial interest in Agatha, Shiki considers her normal conversational tactic of 'standing there silently and possibly humming occasionally' but decides against it in favor of saying, "Edon just explained... what he could of what's going on to me. We're going to try to kill this Maldurion, are you coming?"

Click to shrink...

At Shiki's clarification, Agatha replies, "Good to know. My full name's Agatha Weiss, but you can also call me 'Vector.'" But when Shiki mentions offing Maldurion, Agatha grows serious. "I overheard. My hearing's quite sensitive. I was dumped into Maldurion's Killing Fields not twenty minutes ago. Edon pulled me out. In any case, I'm onboard. Oh, before we go, I should make some stuff to give you an advantage."

An earring materializes from thin air, and she hands it to Ryougi. "This is an object from my world. A Potara Earring. If both of us wear one of these on opposite ears, we can temporarily fuse, and the new being has all of our strengths. Our different physiologies will cause serious side-effects from prolonged use, so it's best to only use it for very brief periods. I'd give us about fifteen minutes, tops. However, between my physical abilities and your powers, it might be enough to turn the tide. Oh, and take this too." She then produces two significantly more futuristic Scouters than what Ryougi probably saw on TV (suspiciously resembling that of Tagoma from that Ressurrection F movie that was making the rounds), also from thin air, and hands them to her and Edon. "That's a dual-eye Scouter. It's primarily useful for detecting power levels, but it'll also let you talk to me through my suit's comms. It's handy for keeping in touch, especially on a battlefield. And even with a non-ki-using multiverse like this, there are still power levels to detect."

Then she hands Ryougi...a bag of beans? "And these are Senzu Beans. They heal you instantly upon eating one, but it won't work if you've been impaled through the stomach, for obvious reasons. Try to ration them if we're separated; if I'm not there, I won't be able to create more of them, and we probably won't be able to get anymore otherwise.

"And this"--she hands Ryougi a small, futuristic-looking bracer, generated from thin air (everyone drink)--"is a Federation Navy shield generator, with a 100,000 power ki cell. Chump change compared to my attacks, but it'll make you significantly tankier. It can also launch basic ki blasts from the unit itself, but turn off the safety first. It digistructs a glove over your hand when activate blaster mode, so be prepared. Also, while you can lower the power output with the dial on the side, you should probably avoid aiming it directly at the ground. You stand a good chance of blowing up the planet."

She then turns to Edon. "Anything else before we go?"

 

[Genon]

At Shiki's clarification, Agatha replies, "Good to know. My full name's Agatha Weiss, but you can also call me 'Vector.'" But when Shiki mentions offing Maldurion, Agatha grows serious. "I overheard. My hearing's quite sensitive. I was dumped into Maldurion's Killing Fields not twenty minutes ago. Edon pulled me out. In any case, I'm onboard. Oh, before we go, I should make some stuff to give you an advantage."

An earring materializes from thin air, and she hands it to Ryougi. "This is an object from my world. A Potara Earring. If both of us wear one of these on opposite ears, we can temporarily fuse, and the new being has all of our strengths. Our different physiologies will cause serious side-effects from prolonged use, so it's best to only use it for very brief periods. I'd give us about fifteen minutes, tops. However, between my physical abilities and your powers, it might be enough to turn the tide. Oh, and take this too." She then produces two significantly more futuristic Scouters than what Ryougi probably saw on TV (suspiciously resembling that of Tagoma from that Ressurrection F movie that was making the rounds), also from thin air, and hands them to her and Edon. "That's a dual-eye Scouter. It's primarily useful for detecting power levels, but it'll also let you talk to me through my suit's comms. It's handy for keeping in touch, especially on a battlefield. And even with a non-ki-using multiverse like this, there are still power levels to detect."

Then she hands Ryougi...a bag of beans? "And these are Senzu Beans. They heal you instantly upon eating one, but it won't work if you've been impaled through the stomach, for obvious reasons. Try to ration them if we're separated; if I'm not there, I won't be able to create more of them, and we probably won't be able to get anymore otherwise.

"And this"--she hands Ryougi a small, futuristic-looking bracer, generated from thin air (everyone drink)--"is a Federation Navy shield generator, with a 100,000 power ki cell. Chump change compared to my attacks, but it'll make you significantly tankier. It can also launch basic ki blasts from the unit itself, but turn off the safety first. It digistructs a glove over your hand when activate blaster mode, so be prepared. Also, while you can lower the power output with the dial on the side, you should probably avoid aiming it directly at the ground. You stand a good chance of blowing up the planet."

She then turns to Edon. "Anything else before we go?"

Click to shrink...

(...Did I seriously forget to tag @Terrabrand? I fucking hate when I make this mistake and have to doublepost).

 

[Terrabrand]

Santa Claus smiles, nodding to himself. He'd prepared for this. But- just in case- he withdraws a small, glittering silver pot with a hinged lid, and a little silver-handled paintbrush, from the Bag, and slips them into a pocket of his red coat. Then Santa starts jogging away from the group, as time slows for him. To non-speedsters, he blurs and vanishes into invisibility.

He approaches each of the beast creations of It-That-Slays along his path, trotting along at ground level. Or not. For what of it, if the beasts are clambering through the vast trees above his head? Gravity is irrelevant to him, at these speeds- a gentle suggestion. Santa may climb down chimneys to enter homes, but on the outside, on the rooftops? He can walk up the side without difficulty. As he approaches the beasts, slowed to seeming immobility, he reaches into a small pouch he withdrew from the Bag earlier.

...

As he passes the beasts, he gently flips little treats into their mouths, and a burst of magic bolsters them. The creatures of It-That-Slays feel sudden, magical strength and vigor flooding them, augmenting their formidable might, redoubling it and gifting them with a formidable reserve of regenerative power and stamina.

Though the pouch affixed to his waist would seem large enough to contain only a few dozen of the animal treats, it does not slim or shrink. Not for nothing does it resemble a smaller version of the Bag itself.

If there are mouthless beasts, as he walks towards the creatures he pulls the pot of ointment from his pocket, flipping the lid up and taking the little brush in his free hand. Upon the great beasts' haunches he dabs a single stroke from the seemingly inexhaustible contents of the pot. And the creatures are invigorated, like their companions.

Even mobile or monstrous plants get their care, from sprinkles of enchanted fertilizer drawn from a separate pouch. Gifted with strength, for the battle to come.

...

On Santa Claus goes, onwards. Occasionally, he stops for a few microseconds for a milk and cookie break, from the nearly inconceivable reserves stored, ever-fresh, in the Bag. After traveling for a time, he pauses, nods to himself and noting a landmark, and stops. Then he returns, by a straighter and faster course. For in the time of his passage, those creatures have moved but a short distance.

After another time, he reaches the place where Boros still stands, where Beta Ray Bill has hurled his terrible hammer Stormbreaker and stands awaiting its impact and return. There, he pauses as if in meditation, focusing on the intentions of his cobelligerents, on any sign of the powerful and ruthless will of Aerguon in action, on any actions of the creatures of Castae. He peers around, scanning the surrounding area for any sign of the mysterious Stalkers and Assassins.

In these instants, to one without a speedster's senses, there would be a brief flicker of red as Santa Claus pauses.

...

Flicker. Half a second has passed, and all the creatures along an fifteen-mile stretch, parallel to the front line to It-That-Slays' left, are strengthened and bolstered. Further empowered to fight the stony minions of Castae. He trots forward, to provide such enhancement to the great war beast that is serving as It-That-Slays' "point man."

Flicker. He trots out to cover a section of the front. Fifteen miles to the right, in half a second more.

Flicker, flicker. The line of beasts behind them, charging hard on their heels and only a second behind, likewise.

Then he does it again, and again, until there is some appreciable change of status...

Flicker, flicker. On and on, for It-That-Slays' legions rush forward in seemingly endless waves, replenished from behind.

To the jolly old 'elf,' each flicker is the pleasant labor of a full day, with leisurely mealtimes. Without sleep, but the Christmas spirit has no pressing need of sleep. Every Christmas is like this- for a full night to the mundane world, and for subjective decades- centuries- millenia of time to him. It is well that Santa Claus is the soul of patience as well as of generosity.

@TheMaskedReader
@CV12Hornet
@I just write

Click to shrink...

As Santa passes through the first time, It-That-Slays comments casually "That is an interesting effect. I may be able to optimize designs to better take advantage of it as the fight continues."

On the seventh flicker, Santa has an idea.

It-That-Slays is more than fast enough to track him, and may be choosing to interact with Santa as he pauses near the group after each run. If so, Santa will ask the question directly. [skip to paragraph after next in that case]

If not, the Christmas spirit fetches a piece of crisp, decorative stationery and a jolly green pen from the bag, and leaves the dragon a note, on the ground some short distance in front of where he stands.

"I've been thinking about an idea. As I understand it, Castae's daemons are unliving, and thus immune to your 'Quirk,' which is to easily kill living things slashed by your claws. Can you sense that the daemons are unliving, and sense that other sorts of beings live? Or do you only know whether they live or not by trying to kill them?"
-Santa Claus

@Terrabrand

Click to shrink...

It-That-Slays responds by saying "I can sense the composition of any being within my Territory, in general. As they lack any form of life energy and more or less lack organs and biological processes, it is clear- when I can use my Territory based senses. Otherwise, no."

"Brace yourselves, all of you!" Beta Ray Bill declares. "I am sensing an energy surge from within the wall! Our enemies gather to strike! And if they mass to strike, then we must strike first!"

Action follows word, and with no more warning Bill hurls Stormbreaker straight at the wall, an aura of energy surrounding it and packed with enough force to turn Earth's moon into rubble.

Click to shrink...

The walls explodes. Not metaphorically- the wall actually explodes violently when hit by Bill's mighty hammer, a rain of stone shrapnel flying quite a few yards out. Several of the energy signatures, well, simply die. Perhaps 30% in all.

Oh, and a cloaked figure leaps from the glaring hole in the wall, making a parabolic arc for Bill. Those of keen hearing will, well, hear the unending chain of nonsense words he weaves. The figure never actually leaves Castaen Taint- the world around him is reshaped into a field of floating stones as he goes. The trees die and shatter into stone in a bubble around him, joining the field. And arcane runes light up on the stones, as well.

"Aerguon comes." It-That-Slays announces, at this. After a pause, it continues. "I cannot engage him in hand to hand so long as he continues to maintain the Taint of Castae." Then a spear forms in it's hand, of simple wood, before it begins glowing and burning with an unearthly light. "I am, however, a Weaving type. "​

Boros looks somewhat excited for the battle.

Boros follows suit, blasting the section of the wall nearest to him with an eye beam. His face turns into an absolute mask of calmness as he prepares to enter battle.

Click to shrink...

The wall craters rather than shattering, for whatever reason. No immediate response is forthcoming, though the nearest Chanters in the grid die, as Stormbreaker can helpfully inform Bill.

In the Bone Plane

An earring materializes from thin air, and she hands it to Ryougi. "This is an object from my world. A Potara Earring. If both of us wear one of these on opposite ears, we can temporarily fuse, and the new being has all of our strengths. Our different physiologies will cause serious side-effects from prolonged use, so it's best to only use it for very brief periods. I'd give us about fifteen minutes, tops. However, between my physical abilities and your powers, it might be enough to turn the tide. Oh, and take this too."

Click to shrink...

Edon frowns in concern. "Multiverses are fickle things. I would not suggest attempting to use something so strange on one from another multiverse, lest you kill them based on differences in the rules. You think of physiology, but the problem runs much deeper- I am not made of the same fundamental particles as you, nor as those of the Bone Plane. The differences run deep and your method may fail- possibly harmfully. Probably harmfully, in fact."

"That's a dual-eye Scouter. It's primarily useful for detecting power levels, but it'll also let you talk to me through my suit's comms. It's handy for keeping in touch, especially on a battlefield. And even with a non-ki-using multiverse like this, there are still power levels to detect."

Click to shrink...

At this Edon waves her off. "Thank you, but my methods are probably more secure. It is a wise idea, though. Zirtash?" At the last word, he holds a hand out and two medallions drop from the air into it. "These are, strictly speaking, Daemons of Zirtash. They have a suite of senses, including hearing, and can speak. They are in continuous contact with him, and he they, so they can relay messages by that connection between us. They can also, if needed, invoke the shamanic arts common to all Daemons, which may be used to, for example, protect you from the powers of hostile Jind. They aren't terribly sophisticated so their vocabulary is limited, consequentially limiting the range of effects, however. Please, take one, if you wish." He says, offering one to each woman.

@Azrael.

 

[CV12Hornet]

The walls explodes. Not metaphorically- the wall actually explodes violently when hit by Bill's mighty hammer, a rain of stone shrapnel flying quite a few yards out. Several of the energy signatures, well, simply die. Perhaps 30% in all.

Oh, and a cloaked figure leaps from the glaring hole in the wall, making a parabolic arc for Bill. Those of keen hearing will, well, hear the unending chain of nonsense words he weaves. The figure never actually leaves Castaen Taint- the world around him is reshaped into a field of floating stones as he goes. The trees die and shatter into stone in a bubble around him, joining the field. And arcane runes light up on the stones, as well.

"Aerguon comes." It-That-Slays announces, at this. After a pause, it continues. "I cannot engage him in hand to hand so long as he continues to maintain the Taint of Castae." Then a spear forms in it's hand, of simple wood, before it begins glowing and burning with an unearthly light. "I am, however, a Weaving type. "

Click to shrink...

The wall craters rather than shattering, for whatever reason. No immediate response is forthcoming, though the nearest Chanters in the grid die, as Stormbreaker can helpfully inform Bill.

Click to shrink...

To Beta Ray Bill, someone who has fought against and alongside fighters far faster than the mere human speed Aerguon is moving at, the Herald may as well be moving still. Holding out his hand, Bill wills Stormbreaker back to his hand, the hammer leaping out of the wreckage of the wall and handle-first into his palm.

"Don't worry about hand-to-hand, It That Slays!" Bill declares, spinning his hammer. "Craft your weaves! I will keep him off you for as long as you need."

And with that, Bill launches his hammer, and himself, into that same arc as Aerguon, meeting him head-on. Were the local Caster strength not decimated by his first hammer throw, he wouldn't have considered this, but said Caster strength is decimated, this he knows. As he approaches Aerguon, Bill grips Stormbreaker in both hands, and when he is close enough he swings the hammer with all his planet-destroying strength, the angle such that if the attack does move Aerguon, it will be towards Boros.

After all, Bill knows he cannot be tied down for too long against the Herald.

 

[Azrael]

At Shiki's clarification, Agatha replies, "Good to know. My full name's Agatha Weiss, but you can also call me 'Vector.'" But when Shiki mentions offing Maldurion, Agatha grows serious. "I overheard. My hearing's quite sensitive. I was dumped into Maldurion's Killing Fields not twenty minutes ago. Edon pulled me out. In any case, I'm onboard. Oh, before we go, I should make some stuff to give you an advantage."

An earring materializes from thin air, and she hands it to Ryougi. "This is an object from my world. A Potara Earring. If both of us wear one of these on opposite ears, we can temporarily fuse, and the new being has all of our strengths. Our different physiologies will cause serious side-effects from prolonged use, so it's best to only use it for very brief periods. I'd give us about fifteen minutes, tops. However, between my physical abilities and your powers, it might be enough to turn the tide. Oh, and take this too." She then produces two significantly more futuristic Scouters than what Ryougi probably saw on TV (suspiciously resembling that of Tagoma from that Ressurrection F movie that was making the rounds), also from thin air, and hands them to her and Edon. "That's a dual-eye Scouter. It's primarily useful for detecting power levels, but it'll also let you talk to me through my suit's comms. It's handy for keeping in touch, especially on a battlefield. And even with a non-ki-using multiverse like this, there are still power levels to detect."

Then she hands Ryougi...a bag of beans? "And these are Senzu Beans. They heal you instantly upon eating one, but it won't work if you've been impaled through the stomach, for obvious reasons. Try to ration them if we're separated; if I'm not there, I won't be able to create more of them, and we probably won't be able to get anymore otherwise.

"And this"--she hands Ryougi a small, futuristic-looking bracer, generated from thin air (everyone drink)--"is a Federation Navy shield generator, with a 100,000 power ki cell. Chump change compared to my attacks, but it'll make you significantly tankier. It can also launch basic ki blasts from the unit itself, but turn off the safety first. It digistructs a glove over your hand when activate blaster mode, so be prepared. Also, while you can lower the power output with the dial on the side, you should probably avoid aiming it directly at the ground. You stand a good chance of blowing up the planet."

She then turns to Edon. "Anything else before we go?"

Click to shrink...

"Nice to meet you."

As Shiki is passed objects, she briefly examines them before deciding what to do with them; the earring is looked at dubiously before being returned upon Edon speaking up, the Scouter is tried on then also returned with an irritated 'I can't see through this', the beans are shoved into a jacket pocket, and the bracelet is placed around her wrist.

"So, you said something about Killing Fields? What was that like?" More information about the enemy or his... Territory, would only help them, as far as Shiki could tell.

It was a shame Touko wasn't here to explain everything for her. She doubted the older woman knew much if anything about this, but at the same time she couldn't really picture Touko not being able to exposit necessary information.

Edon frowns in concern. "Multiverses are fickle things. I would not suggest attempting to use something so strange on one from another multiverse, lest you kill them based on differences in the rules. You think of physiology, but the problem runs much deeper- I am not made of the same fundamental particles as you, nor as those of the Bone Plane. The differences run deep and your method may fail- possibly harmfully. Probably harmfully, in fact."

Click to shrink...

As the concern is raised, Shiki questions Edon.

"And the beans? Would those be any safer to try?"

While she had no intention of getting hurt, such a convenient means of recovering would be useful if she ever was.

At this Edon waves her off. "Thank you, but my methods are probably more secure. It is a wise idea, though. Zirtash?" At the last word, he holds a hand out and two medallions drop from the air into it. "These are, strictly speaking, Daemons of Zirtash. They have a suite of senses, including hearing, and can speak. They are in continuous contact with him, and he they, so they can relay messages by that connection between us. They can also, if needed, invoke the shamanic arts common to all Daemons, which may be used to, for example, protect you from the powers of hostile Jind. They aren't terribly sophisticated so their vocabulary is limited, consequentially limiting the range of effects, however. Please, take one, if you wish." He says, offering one to each woman.

Click to shrink...

Shiki accepts that she is being handed magical objects- or possibly very advanced technology, she wasn't certain what Agatha's contributions counted as- and places the medallion around her neck.

"Hello? You have a name too?" She addresses the medallion, holding it in her hand and looking down on it.

 

[Terrabrand]

As the concern is raised, Shiki questions Edon.

"And the beans? Would those be any safer to try?"

While she had no intention of getting hurt, such a convenient means of recovering would be useful if she ever was.

Click to shrink...

Edon considers. "At worst, your body would find them poisonous. While one can never be sure, it is more likely to provoke vomiting than kill you, or pass harmlessly through your system. I doubt it would even be hazardous, and depending on how it actually works has fair odds of mending your form, if the process is compatible with your biology."

Shiki accepts that she is being handed magical objects- or possibly very advanced technology, she wasn't certain what Agatha's contributions counted as- and places the medallion around her neck.

"Hello? You have a name too?" She addresses the medallion, holding it in her hand and looking down on it.

Click to shrink...

The medallion speaks in a quiet voice. "Is Communicator of Zirtash."

Zirtash speaks, himself, clarifying. "Lower class Daemons have no individual identity unless they perform feats worthy to develop a Myth far enough. As this one was freshly generated, it is merely 'another of it's class', as carved by my will into my own Myth."

@Genon

 

[Simon_Jester]

As Santa passes through the first time, It-That-Slays comments casually "That is an interesting effect. I may be able to optimize designs to better take advantage of it as the fight continues."

Click to shrink...

Santa nods, keeping up his pattern of motion-

It-That-Slays responds by saying "I can sense the composition of any being within my Territory, in general. As they lack any form of life energy and more or less lack organs and biological processes, it is clear- when I can use my Territory based senses. Otherwise, no."

Click to shrink...

-And nods thoughtfully at that, revising one of his plans-

The walls explodes. Not metaphorically- the wall actually explodes violently when hit by Bill's mighty hammer, a rain of stone shrapnel flying quite a few yards out. Several of the energy signatures, well, simply die. Perhaps 30% in all.

Click to shrink...

Santa was unable to detect the caster-daemons on the other side of the wall, but the massive blast created by Stormbreaker's impact catches his eye in- relative- slow motion. Debris moving at a few miles per second would seem slow to him, as he is now. Anything less, crawling.

As he trots along, distributing his seemingly boundless reserves of little treats to It-That-Slays' minions, Santa takes time to watch the explosion erupting from the wall of Castae's domain closely. As though comparing it to some old memory.

The wall craters [from Boros' eye-beam] rather than shattering, for whatever reason. No immediate response is forthcoming, though the nearest Chanters in the grid die, as Stormbreaker can helpfully inform Bill.

Click to shrink...

Oh, and a cloaked figure leaps from the glaring hole in the wall, making a parabolic arc for Bill. Those of keen hearing will, well, hear the unending chain of nonsense words he weaves. The figure never actually leaves Castaen Taint- the world around him is reshaped into a field of floating stones as he goes. The trees die and shatter into stone in a bubble around him, joining the field. And arcane runes light up on the stones, as well.

Click to shrink...

Aerguon's appearance on the field is strange to Santa.

He can see the cloaked humanoid and the escorting shoal of rune-scribed, levitating rocks. See him very clearly. But Aerguon brings with him a bubble of another world, the realm of Castae and not the realm of their Wood Dragon host. Standing as he does in one realm, Santa's more esoteric senses cannot penetrate into the other.

For the first time in long and long, Santa sees a being and cannot sense their intent, their character, their naughtiness or niceness.

Santa may or may not be able to even identify Aerguon from earlier; he's felt the Herald's mind in detail during the earlier reconnaissance through Beta Ray Bill's portal, but cannot do so now. He can directly see the Herald's body now, but could not see him before. Either way, he knows a dangerous foe has taken the field.

Flicker. Santa comes to a stop near the 'command group,' where Beta Ray Bill is reaching out to recover his hammer, and Boros is presumably trying to gauge the effects of the cratering blast fired from his great, single eye.

"Aerguon comes." It-That-Slays announces, at this. After a pause, it continues. "I cannot engage him in hand to hand so long as he continues to maintain the Taint of Castae." Then a spear forms in it's hand, of simple wood, before it begins glowing and burning with an unearthly light. "I am, however, a Weaving type. "

Click to shrink...

This time, Santa's flicker is a split second of invisibility. A vanishing, as Santa disappears in a burst a thirtieth of a millisecond in duration, as Santa makes his next run down a fifteen mile line of advancing beasts at relativistic speeds. Flicker, flicker. He takes care of several dozen more ranks of It-That-Slays' beasts, giving the creatures their gifts and enhancing them as before.

It takes him a few subjective months, but it buys time that he can use to act on more ordinary timescales, without abandoning his chosen mission, if he needs to.

Patience is a virtue.

To Beta Ray Bill, someone who has fought against and alongside fighters far faster than the mere human speed Aerguon is moving at, the Herald may as well be moving still. Holding out his hand, Bill wills Stormbreaker back to his hand, the hammer leaping out of the wreckage of the wall and handle-first into his palm.

"Don't worry about hand-to-hand, It That Slays!" Bill declares, spinning his hammer. "Craft your weaves! I will keep him off you for as long as you need."

And with that, Bill launches his hammer, and himself, into that same arc as Aerguon, meeting him head-on. Were the local Caster strength not decimated by his first hammer throw, he wouldn't have considered this, but said Caster strength is decimated, this he knows. As he approaches Aerguon, Bill grips Stormbreaker in both hands, and when he is close enough he swings the hammer with all his planet-destroying strength, the angle such that if the attack does move Aerguon, it will be towards Boros.

Click to shrink...

Santa Claus stops, several hundred meters from his host and comrades. He braces himself, withdrawing the Northmost Pole once again from its place in the Bag. Perceiving the canny Korbinite's plan, he stands in readiness, awaiting further developments and seeing how Beta Ray Bill and mighty Boros cope with the creature.

He focuses on watching and sensing the surrounding creatures, expanding his awareness and tracking Aerguon mainly by the 'hole in the world' the Herald keeps around himself. He searches for signs of Castae's stealthier minions trying to creep into position around the command group while the Herald's actions distract them. This is a threat Santa is particularly watchful for, given that Aerguon can apparently direct his minions and fight in his own person at the same time, without dividing his attention.

As a secondary priority, Santa tries to observe what is happening on the front line, as It-That-Slays' beasts collide with the stony legions of Castae, assuming this clash of creatures has at least begun..

@CV12Hornet

@TheMaskedReader

 

[Genon]

In the Bone Plane



Edon frowns in concern. "Multiverses are fickle things. I would not suggest attempting to use something so strange on one from another multiverse, lest you kill them based on differences in the rules. You think of physiology, but the problem runs much deeper- I am not made of the same fundamental particles as you, nor as those of the Bone Plane. The differences run deep and your method may fail- possibly harmfully. Probably harmfully, in fact."



At this Edon waves her off. "Thank you, but my methods are probably more secure. It is a wise idea, though. Zirtash?" At the last word, he holds a hand out and two medallions drop from the air into it. "These are, strictly speaking, Daemons of Zirtash. They have a suite of senses, including hearing, and can speak. They are in continuous contact with him, and he they, so they can relay messages by that connection between us. They can also, if needed, invoke the shamanic arts common to all Daemons, which may be used to, for example, protect you from the powers of hostile Jind. They aren't terribly sophisticated so their vocabulary is limited, consequentially limiting the range of effects, however. Please, take one, if you wish." He says, offering one to each woman.

@Azrael

Click to shrink...

"Nice to meet you."

As Shiki is passed objects, she briefly examines them before deciding what to do with them; the earring is looked at dubiously before being returned upon Edon speaking up, the Scouter is tried on then also returned with an irritated 'I can't see through this', the beans are shoved into a jacket pocket, and the bracelet is placed around her wrist.

"So, you said something about Killing Fields? What was that like?" More information about the enemy or his... Territory, would only help them, as far as Shiki could tell.

It was a shame Touko wasn't here to explain everything for her. She doubted the older woman knew much if anything about this, but at the same time she couldn't really picture Touko not being able to exposit necessary information.

As the concern is raised, Shiki questions Edon.

"And the beans? Would those be any safer to try?"

While she had no intention of getting hurt, such a convenient means of recovering would be useful if she ever was.

Shiki accepts that she is being handed magical objects- or possibly very advanced technology, she wasn't certain what Agatha's contributions counted as- and places the medallion around her neck.

"Hello? You have a name too?" She addresses the medallion, holding it in her hand and looking down on it.

Click to shrink...

[EMERGENCY EDIT BEGINS HERE]
At Ryougi's question about the Killing Fields, Agatha says, "The Killing Fields are a gigantic battlefield. Warriors of thousands of incongruent factions mindlessly fight each other to the death in a senseless slaughter. When I arrived, a knight made of living blood challenged me. He went down easy enough, but then Maldurion sent in more of them, endlessly. That's the danger of the Killing Fields: Not the strength of the opposition, but the numbers. Maldurion, according to Edon, can summon people from all across the multiverse, and beyond, to fight in this pointless slaughter, which makes me wonder how many troops actually wanted to be there, or were even under Maldurion's control. Every historical warrior you could think of, from Vikings to samurai to ninjas, were present. And several units could easily take a star-busting attack or three hundred, so it wasn't like I could just brute-force it. I recommend we avoid the Killing Fields at all costs, and try to approach Maldurion some other way."
[EMERGENCY EDIT ENDS]

At Edon's statement that the Potara Earrings would be problematic at best and lethal at worst, Agatha simply takes them back, the earrings and Scouter vanishing just as quickly as they appeared. She takes the medallion and places it inside a compartment at her thorax region, right over her heart. Naturally, any exoskeleton worth its salt would have storage compartments to pick up things the wearer found on a mission, and this one was no different, though it had the added benefit of being able to capsule the item automatically for easier storage. However, Agatha chose to leave the Daemon uncapsuled so that the medallion could "hear" her.

EDIT: It helped that Agatha might be able to just cut out the middleman and telepathically interface with the Daemon. In fact, why not try now?

She attempts to open up a ki-telepathy link to the medallion, saying to it, Hey, can you hear me?

Edon considers. "At worst, your body would find them poisonous. While one can never be sure, it is more likely to provoke vomiting than kill you, or pass harmlessly through your system. I doubt it would even be hazardous, and depending on how it actually works has fair odds of mending your form, if the process is compatible with your biology."



The medallion speaks in a quiet voice. "Is Communicator of Zirtash."

Zirtash speaks, himself, clarifying. "Lower class Daemons have no individual identity unless they perform feats worthy to develop a Myth far enough. As this one was freshly generated, it is merely 'another of it's class', as carved by my will into my own Myth."

@Genon

Click to shrink...

"So, with all of that out of the way, are we ready to go?"

 

[Terrabrand]

[EMERGENCY EDIT BEGINS HERE]
At Ryougi's question about the Killing Fields, Agatha says, "The Killing Fields are a gigantic battlefield. Warriors of thousands of incongruent factions mindlessly fight each other to the death in a senseless slaughter. When I arrived, a knight made of living blood challenged me. He went down easy enough, but then Maldurion sent in more of them, endlessly. That's the danger of the Killing Fields: Not the strength of the opposition, but the numbers. Maldurion, according to Edon, can summon people from all across the multiverse, and beyond, to fight in this pointless slaughter, which makes me wonder how many troops actually wanted to be there, or were even under Maldurion's control. Every historical warrior you could think of, from Vikings to samurai to ninjas, were present. And several units could easily take a star-busting attack or three hundred, so it wasn't like I could just brute-force it. I recommend we avoid the Killing Fields at all costs, and try to approach Maldurion some other way."
[EMERGENCY EDIT ENDS]

Click to shrink...

Edon blinks in surprise. "You misunderstand, I think. Those killing fields you describe would likely be the Fire Plane, which I have scouted before, wholly under Maldurion's control. He has an endless lust for battle, and it apparently pleases him to see the bloodshed. He only rarely pulls warriors from outside, the overwhelming majority of those that fight there are created by him, only to be restored unendingly by his Quirk by which he reverses wounds, even to the point of death being undone. He naturally makes sure they do not see how senseless his idle diversion is. The scale is immense, and truthfully we have no reason to go there. The other Planes, save the Bone Plane, are just as connected to the Throne as it, I believe."

EDIT: It helped that Agatha might be able to just cut out the middleman and telepathically interface with the Daemon. In fact, why not try now?

She attempts to open up a ki-telepathy link to the medallion, saying to it, Hey, can you hear me?

Click to shrink...

The medallion in no way reacts and you receive no feedback that would otherwise indicate success.

 

[TheMaskedReader]

And with that, Bill launches his hammer, and himself, into that same arc as Aerguon, meeting him head-on. Were the local Caster strength not decimated by his first hammer throw, he wouldn't have considered this, but said Caster strength is decimated, this he knows. As he approaches Aerguon, Bill grips Stormbreaker in both hands, and when he is close enough he swings the hammer with all his planet-destroying strength, the angle such that if the attack does move Aerguon, it will be towards Boros.

Click to shrink...

Boros has been blasting at the Chanter forces as he scans the battlefield for Aerguon. Once he spots Beta Ray Bill fighting him, he rushes towards him with incredible speed, shooting off a laser at the form of Aerguon before hitting him with all the momentum he's built up.

 

[Azrael]

Edon considers. "At worst, your body would find them poisonous. While one can never be sure, it is more likely to provoke vomiting than kill you, or pass harmlessly through your system. I doubt it would even be hazardous, and depending on how it actually works has fair odds of mending your form, if the process is compatible with your biology."

Click to shrink...

Shiki nods.

"I'll hold on to them then."

The medallion speaks in a quiet voice. "Is Communicator of Zirtash."

Zirtash speaks, himself, clarifying. "Lower class Daemons have no individual identity unless they perform feats worthy to develop a Myth far enough. As this one was freshly generated, it is merely 'another of it's class', as carved by my will into my own Myth."

Click to shrink...

"Hmm. I see." So saying, she lowers the medallion, allowing it to rest against her chest, and turns her attention back to her new companions.

Edon blinks in surprise. "You misunderstand, I think. Those killing fields you describe would likely be the Fire Plane, which I have scouted before, wholly under Maldurion's control. He has an endless lust for battle, and it apparently pleases him to see the bloodshed. He only rarely pulls warriors from outside, the overwhelming majority of those that fight there are created by him, only to be restored unendingly by his Quirk by which he reverses wounds, even to the point of death being undone. He naturally makes sure they do not see how senseless his idle diversion is. The scale is immense, and truthfully we have no reason to go there. The other Planes, save the Bone Plane, are just as connected to the Throne as it, I believe."

Click to shrink...

@Genon
Listening to what Agatha says, and Edon's clarification, Shiki remarks,

"So we're going to spend most of our time either here to rest, or the Soul Plane to help you get stronger, right?"

Comment made, Shiki makes another note of being ready to leave at any time.

 

[Terrabrand]

To Beta Ray Bill, someone who has fought against and alongside fighters far faster than the mere human speed Aerguon is moving at, the Herald may as well be moving still. Holding out his hand, Bill wills Stormbreaker back to his hand, the hammer leaping out of the wreckage of the wall and handle-first into his palm.

"Don't worry about hand-to-hand, It That Slays!" Bill declares, spinning his hammer. "Craft your weaves! I will keep him off you for as long as you need."

And with that, Bill launches his hammer, and himself, into that same arc as Aerguon, meeting him head-on. Were the local Caster strength not decimated by his first hammer throw, he wouldn't have considered this, but said Caster strength is decimated, this he knows. As he approaches Aerguon, Bill grips Stormbreaker in both hands, and when he is close enough he swings the hammer with all his planet-destroying strength, the angle such that if the attack does move Aerguon, it will be towards Boros.

After all, Bill knows he cannot be tied down for too long against the Herald.

Click to shrink...

Santa nods, keeping up his pattern of motion-

-And nods thoughtfully at that, revising one of his plans-

Santa was unable to detect the caster-daemons on the other side of the wall, but the massive blast created by Stormbreaker's impact catches his eye in- relative- slow motion. Debris moving at a few miles per second would seem slow to him, as he is now. Anything less, crawling.

As he trots along, distributing his seemingly boundless reserves of little treats to It-That-Slays' minions, Santa takes time to watch the explosion erupting from the wall of Castae's domain closely. As though comparing it to some old memory.


Aerguon's appearance on the field is strange to Santa.

He can see the cloaked humanoid and the escorting shoal of rune-scribed, levitating rocks. See him very clearly. But Aerguon brings with him a bubble of another world, the realm of Castae and not the realm of their Wood Dragon host. Standing as he does in one realm, Santa's more esoteric senses cannot penetrate into the other.

For the first time in long and long, Santa sees a being and cannot sense their intent, their character, their naughtiness or niceness.

Santa may or may not be able to even identify Aerguon from earlier; he's felt the Herald's mind in detail during the earlier reconnaissance through Beta Ray Bill's portal, but cannot do so now. He can directly see the Herald's body now, but could not see him before. Either way, he knows a dangerous foe has taken the field.

Flicker. Santa comes to a stop near the 'command group,' where Beta Ray Bill is reaching out to recover his hammer, and Boros is presumably trying to gauge the effects of the cratering blast fired from his great, single eye.

This time, Santa's flicker is a split second of invisibility. A vanishing, as Santa disappears in a burst a thirtieth of a millisecond in duration, as Santa makes his next run down a fifteen mile line of advancing beasts at relativistic speeds. Flicker, flicker. He takes care of several dozen more ranks of It-That-Slays' beasts, giving the creatures their gifts and enhancing them as before.

It takes him a few subjective months, but it buys time that he can use to act on more ordinary timescales, without abandoning his chosen mission, if he needs to.

Patience is a virtue.

Santa Claus stops, several hundred meters from his host and comrades. He braces himself, withdrawing the Northmost Pole once again from its place in the Bag. Perceiving the canny Korbinite's plan, he stands in readiness, awaiting further developments and seeing how Beta Ray Bill and mighty Boros cope with the creature.

He focuses on watching and sensing the surrounding creatures, expanding his awareness and tracking Aerguon mainly by the 'hole in the world' the Herald keeps around himself. He searches for signs of Castae's stealthier minions trying to creep into position around the command group while the Herald's actions distract them. This is a threat Santa is particularly watchful for, given that Aerguon can apparently direct his minions and fight in his own person at the same time, without dividing his attention.

As a secondary priority, Santa tries to observe what is happening on the front line, as It-That-Slays' beasts collide with the stony legions of Castae, assuming this clash of creatures has at least begun..

@CV12Hornet

@TheMaskedReader

Click to shrink...

Boros has been blasting at the Chanter forces as he scans the battlefield for Aerguon. Once he spots Beta Ray Bill fighting him, he rushes towards him with incredible speed, shooting off a laser at the form of Aerguon before hitting him with all the momentum he's built up.

Click to shrink...

As Beta Ray Bill and Lord Boros charge at the Herald, by seeming chance they meet the edges of Aerguon's altered space at the same time- and slam into it, their bodies hit hard as if an ordinary man slamming into a concrete wall. The air itself stopping them almost cold, bleeding most of their momentum violently- all beyond the rough range of speed Aerguon's own motions entail. The laser, meanwhile, barely affects Aerguon, shifting his position in the air slightly but not apparently hurting him to any significant degree.

If either remains in the area around Aerguon, they will find the air quite resistant indeed to any motions of significant speed.

As to Santa... Well. He's not sure how it got there, but the fact that there is a lanky stone figure some fifteen feet tall writhing with shadows from behind a tree that is, itself, behind It-That-Slays watching with black flames in holes on it's face, said holes evocative of eyes, is probably cause for concern.

As is the fact that he abruptly realizes that his intuitive sense of exactly how many sentients there are in the world has ticked up by a good thirty-seven while he has no location nor assessment of any of them. The forces of It-That-Slays and Castae on the whole are still closing, that part of the battle not as yet begun.

Bone Plane

Shiki nods.

"I'll hold on to them then."

"Hmm. I see." So saying, she lowers the medallion, allowing it to rest against her chest, and turns her attention back to her new companions.

@Genon
Listening to what Agatha says, and Edon's clarification, Shiki remarks,

"So we're going to spend most of our time either here to rest, or the Soul Plane to help you get stronger, right?"

Comment made, Shiki makes another note of being ready to leave at any time.

Click to shrink...

Edon nods. "If we can locate more of the outsiders like yourselves, contacting them may be overall beneficial, though I would hesitate to make appearances near them save to extract them myself- Maldurion typically comes for me directly. A fact that limits the timescale of operations I can engage in. On that note... Zirtash, I'd say we left Wotash long enough. Go ahead and retrieve her now."

The sword lifts into the air from his side, cuts into the air, and vanishes. Then Edon continues, saying "But overall, that's probably the plan. We'll head out either to request information from one of the Jarrow who sees to such matters or strike one of the targets I already had in mind once Zirtash gets back, if there are no objections or concerns remaining."

@Genon

Metal Plane Land of Zoss

Beneath His great helm, the King of Kings grinned. He was gaining ground, He had secured the advantage. Now was the time to exploit it.

Zoss' clenched one mighty hand into a fist, and after a moment, it burst into white flame, a core of angel stone, godly flesh and strength surrounded by formless, everchanging, unbound power. With His other hand, the god-king took a handful of flame, and scattered it like seeds over the ash field. For a moment, nothing happened, and then, without warning, the ash stirred.

Through the dust of millennia, burst hands- clenched in defiance. Heads- scowling in fury. Weapons, raised in anger. From the ash rose fallen heroes of past, present, and soon-to-be. Men, armed in mighty armor. Devils, clad in terrifying masks. Angels, bound to form of ancient stone. Their hands clutched swords, spears, axes, or simply were balled into fists, weapons unto themselves.

And the multitude heeded their Kings call, and stood silently, until He spoke to them.

"Who has summoned thee, ye warriors, dead by battle?" He asked, voice like iron.

"Zoss." The warhost echoed as one.

"Who has armed thee as you were armed in life? Who has delivered thee unto the battlefield?"

"Zoss." The host bellowed once more, slamming weapons together in a resounding crash of accentuation.

"Who dost thou serve?"

"Zoss!"

"Who is thou Conquering King?!"

"Zoss! Zoss! Zoss!" The warhost chanted, beating swords against shields, fists against armor, spears against ground. As one, they advanced on the edges of the Ash, seeking to extend their masters dominion, seeking to cut down His foes. Boots slammed into the ground, ash choked the air like fog. Zoss smiled, then turned His attention to his other foes.

"Your time is done." He bellowed. "Begone from this place." And He raised His burning hand above His head.

"Will of mine enemy, I defy you." And from His fist burst a star, and from that star flew spears of white, scalding flame, seeking the minions of His enemy, arrowing for, into, and through the center of their heads.

"Voice of mine enemy, I declare you silent." The fist came down, pointing accusingly at the serpent of bone. And once more a star was formed, and from it shot a ray of burning light, that rendered bone to dust, and withered souls to nothing, and this beam twisted like the serpent it targeted, so that none may escape its gaze.

Finally, the Conquering King turned his attention to the final avatar of His foe.
"Hand of mine enemy, I bind you." And He reached out, and despite the distance wrapped His fist around his foe's head, and He pulled and cast His foe into the ash at His feet.

Click to shrink...

The armies of horsemen that had been pouring around Zoss's position and that continue to stream from the massive structures in the distance quite suddenly and in great numbers turn upon Zoss's realm as he raises an army by sheer force of will. The forces of Raliant fall in droves, and yet 'droves' describes but a small fraction of their number- Zoss's area attack is effective, yet insufficient on it's own to seriously dent the swarming ranks.

The Herald, meanwhile, watches the damage, shifts it's words and motions, and a hexagonal shield of Something very not right forms between it and the beam of light, in indescribable colors, painful to focus one's eyes on. The beam is sucked unerringly into the barrier, and with a disturbing wrenching sound simply ends at the barrier.

Ralox, meanwhile, plants his feet and holds firm, regardless of the forces Zoss puts behind the pull. He laughs, jaggedly, voice clearly little used, before croaking out "To think such an attack would shift a legend is folly, but I must commend thee for pushing me harder than any Dragon ever has. But..." -his legs kick off the ground- "Thou art a fool whom understands not my nature." -and the massive knight has somehow leveraged the pull to launch himself in an arc towards Zoss- and before Zoss can even react has cut down some dozens of Zoss's new soldiers with furious swings of his scythe as he flies.

"Have at thee." Ralox says, matter of fact.

 

[Simon_Jester]

As Beta Ray Bill and Lord Boros charge at the Herald, by seeming chance they meet the edges of Aerguon's altered space at the same time- and slam into it, their bodies hit hard as if an ordinary man slamming into a concrete wall. The air itself stopping them almost cold, bleeding most of their momentum violently- all beyond the rough range of speed Aerguon's own motions entail. The laser, meanwhile, barely affects Aerguon, shifting his position in the air slightly but not apparently hurting him to any significant degree.

If either remains in the area around Aerguon, they will find the air quite resistant indeed to any motions of significant speed.

Click to shrink...

Santa Claus certainly notices Bill and Boros' surprise as they slam into the edge of Aerguon's zone of control, though they will likely penetrate into the zone and beyond his mental awareness soon after. Pausing to consider the effects of such a damper on his own activities, the Christmas spirit wonders if Aerguon has observed or deduced his own presence on the battlefield, or if this is a counter he's devised to It-That-Slays' own speedster abilities.

Either way, he makes a note to himself, always ready to acknowledge an opponent's strengths- for is he not the soul of generosity?

My enemy is smart. Maybe two warriors, balancing Naughty and Nice, will be enough. Maybe he's going to need the fairy dust after all...

As to Santa... Well. He's not sure how it got there, but the fact that there is a lanky stone figure some fifteen feet tall writhing with shadows from behind a tree that is, itself, behind It-That-Slays watching with black flames in holes on it's face, said holes evocative of eyes, is probably cause for concern.

As is the fact that he abruptly realizes that his intuitive sense of exactly how many sentients there are in the world has ticked up by a good thirty-seven while he has no location nor assessment of any of them. The forces of It-That-Slays and Castae on the whole are still closing, that part of the battle not as yet begun.

Click to shrink...

Santa does not hesitate, closing at a measured tread of several kilometers per second. If the strange creature with its black-burning eyes appears to react and perceive him at those speeds, he will accelerate, and accelerate further, striving to outpace it.

In his right hand, Santa Claus hefts the Northwards Pole.

To the mundane eye, it is clearly a magical weapon. To the enlightened eye, it is rather more. It is the North Pole of the Axis Mundi, its nature and status drawn from the axle upon which a world turns. To resist it is to resist the turning of the world on its axis, the stars in their courses.

...

Of course, the revolution of the world, in the arctic regions, bears only so much speed, turns only so fast, strikes only so hard. The Northwards Pole is not the Hammer of Thor, nor the Sword of Mars; weapons of such reknown and beings of such standing can resist its might. Stormbreaker could parry it safely. Could Boros stand his ground against it? Santa Claus knows much- but not that.

But those are the defenses of gods, and champions whose strength is godlike. Mere mortals, or mere monsters, against the Pole? They would do as well to pit their unaided physical strength against the momentum of a planet. Durable though they be, they will be stricken, they will be battered. The world turns despite their strength, and its impetus will carry them with it, will they or nill they.

This it is, this near-irresistible force, which takes the stony monster in the knee as the head of the Pole strikes home, smiting the rangy figure like a cannonball and making as if to throw its leg backwards.

Thanks to the Christmas magic, though, the creature of Castae is only struck thusly, and does not experience the full impact associated with Santa's own tremendous speed. The jolly old elf is still judging what his opponents are capable of, and wishes to observe the effects, if only in slow motion. He springs back, though, with a speed like that of light- fully intending to keep a safe distance.

...

At those extraordinary speeds, he looks around carefully for signs of other minions of Castae, then- if no others are about to strike- he carefully slows down his perception of time until he can at least determine what is happening to the giant he struck with the Pole.

 

[CV12Hornet]

As Beta Ray Bill and Lord Boros charge at the Herald, by seeming chance they meet the edges of Aerguon's altered space at the same time- and slam into it, their bodies hit hard as if an ordinary man slamming into a concrete wall. The air itself stopping them almost cold, bleeding most of their momentum violently- all beyond the rough range of speed Aerguon's own motions entail. The laser, meanwhile, barely affects Aerguon, shifting his position in the air slightly but not apparently hurting him to any significant degree.

If either remains in the area around Aerguon, they will find the air quite resistant indeed to any motions of significant speed.

As to Santa... Well. He's not sure how it got there, but the fact that there is a lanky stone figure some fifteen feet tall writhing with shadows from behind a tree that is, itself, behind It-That-Slays watching with black flames in holes on it's face, said holes evocative of eyes, is probably cause for concern.

As is the fact that he abruptly realizes that his intuitive sense of exactly how many sentients there are in the world has ticked up by a good thirty-seven while he has no location nor assessment of any of them. The forces of It-That-Slays and Castae on the whole are still closing, that part of the battle not as yet begun.

Click to shrink...

Growling, Beta Ray Bill immediately pulls himself back, and is gratified to find himself moving at the speeds he's used to. Let Boros handle Aerguon, and potentially solve the riddle of his ability; any chance of potentially ending this quickly have fled, and he has better things to do than stall in fruitless combat.

Like the two armies now closing with each other. There don't seem to be any high-value targets available, but that just means he is free to sow as much destruction as he can muster. And that means one thing: lightning.

Raising Stormbreaker above his head, Bill spins the hammer at high speed. High above the battlefield, clouds spontaneously form and gather at a point directly above Bill's head. And these are not fluffy cumulus, or flat, grey stratus. No, these are dark, angry cumulonimbus. Storm clouds.

Within seconds, the spontaneous storm system covers most of the battlefield, and is still growing. The wind begins to pick up, and a scent of rain fills the air. But all of this is secondary to Bill's goals. Light flashes between the clouds, and thunder echoes in the distance. And then, Bill brings the hammer down.

Lightning bolts the size of the trees around Bill flash out of the sky, unnaturally seeking Aerguon's army and striking, again and again, as relentless as their master.

Santa does not hesitate, closing at a measured tread of several kilometers per second. If the strange creature with its black-burning eyes appears to react and perceive him at those speeds, he will accelerate, and accelerate further, striving to outpace it.

In his right hand, Santa Claus hefts the Northwards Pole.

To the mundane eye, it is clearly a magical weapon. To the enlightened eye, it is rather more. It is the North Pole of the Axis Mundi, its nature and status drawn from the axle upon which a world turns. To resist it is to resist the turning of the world on its axis, the stars in their courses.

...

Of course, the revolution of the world, in the arctic regions, bears only so much speed, turns only so fast, strikes only so hard. The Northwards Pole is not the Hammer of Thor, nor the Sword of Mars; weapons of such reknown and beings of such standing can resist its might. Stormbreaker could parry it safely. Could Boros stand his ground against it? Santa Claus knows much- but not that.

But those are the defenses of gods, and champions whose strength is godlike. Mere mortals, or mere monsters, against the Pole? They would do as well to pit their unaided physical strength against the momentum of a planet. Durable though they be, they will be stricken, they will be battered. The world turns despite their strength, and its impetus will carry them with it, will they or nill they.

This it is, this near-irresistible force, which takes the stony monster in the knee as the head of the Pole strikes home, smiting the rangy figure like a cannonball and making as if to throw its leg backwards.

Thanks to the Christmas magic, though, the creature of Castae is only struck thusly, and does not experience the full impact associated with Santa's own tremendous speed. The jolly old elf is still judging what his opponents are capable of, and wishes to observe the effects, if only in slow motion. He springs back, though, with a speed like that of light- fully intending to keep a safe distance.

...

At those extraordinary speeds, he looks around carefully for signs of other minions of Castae, then carefully slows down his perception of time until he can at least determine what is happening to the giant he struck with the Pole.

Click to shrink...

Santa is not the only one watching his strike against the stone giant. Magnetism is one of the many energies Stormbreaker is attuned to, and even as it begins to rain lightning, Bill glances in the direction of the creature and fights the urge to curse.

'I should have expected a teleport in our rear! Recriminations later, Santa seems to have it handled so far. Thin the army, and then help Santa if he needs it.'

 

[Mina]

The Wyrm cocks it's head. "In my superiority, yes. Many Dragons would not bother, the fools underestimate mortal potential. In this city itself, I have a library, to better allow the mortals to plan for the foes they may face. I can show you to it, if you wish."​

Click to shrink...

"You're a credit to your...type then. We can retire there, I still have much to determine."

Frau Totenkinder's smile was polite, wan, and dry as grave dust. There were powers at work, powers that operated in such queer ways and along such strange avenues a lesser magician would promptly hang up their bag of tricks and stick to busking on the roadside rather than face the madness that surely followed.

Her smile grew an iota broader. It would be rather amusing untangling things and seeing what made these worlds and creatures tick...

 

[Genon]

Edon nods. "If we can locate more of the outsiders like yourselves, contacting them may be overall beneficial, though I would hesitate to make appearances near them save to extract them myself- Maldurion typically comes for me directly. A fact that limits the timescale of operations I can engage in. On that note... Zirtash, I'd say we left Wotash long enough. Go ahead and retrieve her now."

The sword lifts into the air from his side, cuts into the air, and vanishes. Then Edon continues, saying "But overall, that's probably the plan. We'll head out either to request information from one of the Jarrow who sees to such matters or strike one of the targets I already had in mind once Zirtash gets back, if there are no objections or concerns remaining."

Click to shrink...

"Then either Maldurion has started to change up his usual methods of entertainment, or he's been trying to replicate parallel multiversal troops to the letter. I recognized a variety of warrior cultures from my own multiverse's distant past among their ranks, including samurai and Vikings. Considering that Zirtash had no idea what a katana--the signature sword of the samurai--was before it was explained to him...well I'm pretty that can't be just a quirk of parallel universes."

After Edon (and/or Ryogi) replies, Agatha says, "Well, so long as my we bring my ship too, I have no more objections."

 

[Genon]

"Then either Maldurion has started to change up his usual methods of entertainment, or he's been trying to replicate parallel multiversal troops to the letter. I recognized a variety of warrior cultures from my own multiverse's distant past among their ranks, including samurai and Vikings. Considering that Zirtash had no idea what a katana--the signature sword of the samurai--was before it was explained to him...well I'm pretty that can't be just a quirk of parallel universes."

After Edon (and/or Ryogi) replies, Agatha says, "Well, so long as my we bring my ship too, I have no more objections."

Click to shrink...

(Forgot to tag @Azrael AGAIN. Dammit, why do I keep forgetting to tag everyone I want to see my posts?!)

 

[TheMaskedReader]

As Beta Ray Bill and Lord Boros charge at the Herald, by seeming chance they meet the edges of Aerguon's altered space at the same time- and slam into it, their bodies hit hard as if an ordinary man slamming into a concrete wall. The air itself stopping them almost cold, bleeding most of their momentum violently- all beyond the rough range of speed Aerguon's own motions entail. The laser, meanwhile, barely affects Aerguon, shifting his position in the air slightly but not apparently hurting him to any significant degree.

If either remains in the area around Aerguon, they will find the air quite resistant indeed to any motions of significant speed.

Click to shrink...

"So. Aerguon. I will introduce myself. I am Lord Boros." Boros shouts to Aerguon as he uses his speed to fall back from the resistant air. "Comrades, you may wish to prepare yourselves!" Then, he rushes into the hardened air at top speed with his fist outstretched, hoping to use his energy projection to create an enormous blast from the force of the punch hitting the wall, which will hopefully be able to affect Aerguon. At the very least, he hopes it will wipe out a good number of enemy forces in the area.

 

[Simon_Jester]

"So. Aerguon. I will introduce myself. I am Lord Boros." Boros shouts to Aerguon as he uses his speed to fall back from the resistant air. "Comrades, you may wish to prepare yourselves!" Then, he rushes into the hardened air at top speed with his fist outstretched, hoping to use his energy projection to create an enormous blast from the force of the punch hitting the wall, which will hopefully be able to affect Aerguon. At the very least, he hopes it will wipe out a good number of enemy forces in the area.

Click to shrink...

Santa Claus's eyes go wide as he senses Boros' intention to create a blast wave.

Given Boros' known willingness to ignore collateral damage, and that Boros himself may not know precisely how much power he'll unleash by punching the wall (the edge of Aerguon's zone of effect?)... Santa would be unsurprised if the alien warlord's fist raised an annihilating flash like that of a nuclear weapon.

Santa is fairly sure he could outrun a nuclear flash in a pinch, but he's never had to try. He certainly wouldn't care to risk it creeping up on him before he could react, at the speeds he's now operating with.

In the instant of Boros realizing that his fist is about to connect with its target, Santa steps sensibly behind something large and sturdy enough to soak up a hellish, searing flash of light. A large tree would suffice, though he'd probably want to skip out from behind that before it reacted too strongly to being set on fire.

The precaution may not be required, but until Santa gets the full measure of Boros' power, and not just his intentions, he's not taking any unnecessary risks. He trusts Stormbreaker and Beta Ray Bill. He doesn't trust Boros that way.

@Terrabrand
@CV12Hornet
@I just write

 

[Dust and echoes]

Metal Plane Land of Zoss

The armies of horsemen that had been pouring around Zoss's position and that continue to stream from the massive structures in the distance quite suddenly and in great numbers turn upon Zoss's realm as he raises an army by sheer force of will. The forces of Raliant fall in droves, and yet 'droves' describes but a small fraction of their number- Zoss's area attack is effective, yet insufficient on it's own to seriously dent the swarming ranks.

The Herald, meanwhile, watches the damage, shifts it's words and motions, and a hexagonal shield of Something very not right forms between it and the beam of light, in indescribable colors, painful to focus one's eyes on. The beam is sucked unerringly into the barrier, and with a disturbing wrenching sound simply ends at the barrier.

Ralox, meanwhile, plants his feet and holds firm, regardless of the forces Zoss puts behind the pull. He laughs, jaggedly, voice clearly little used, before croaking out "To think such an attack would shift a legend is folly, but I must commend thee for pushing me harder than any Dragon ever has. But..." -his legs kick off the ground- "Thou art a fool whom understands not my nature." -and the massive knight has somehow leveraged the pull to launch himself in an arc towards Zoss- and before Zoss can even react has cut down some dozens of Zoss's new soldiers with furious swings of his scythe as he flies.

"Have at thee." Ralox says, matter of fact.

Click to shrink...

Zoss snorted. His foolish enemy spoke of how the Conquering Kings command had done naught, even as he flung himself directly to where the King of Kings wished him to be. How such a being had come to inherent such power, Zoss knew not.

He stepped aside, leaving footprints in the ash where he once stood, yet leaving no more.

"Fool." He said. "Just as you claim I mistunderstand your nature, so too do you misunderstand mine."

And then he calmly waved a hand, and the dust of the void churned.

Ralox suddenly finds itself at the mercy of the void, and mercy to Zoss' whims, for it was writhing His territory now, and He held sway over reality. Its armor was eaten at by flickering white null-fire, its words turned to weak puffs of smoke, its sight clouded with visions of its past, inverted. The mighty foes body began to turn to solid gray dust, its feet sinking into the drifts that surrounded it, pulling it down deeper with impossible force. Its weapon blurred, flaked, and fought its master. Whispers of things unseen and unheard assaulted its ears. The air around it smelt of scalding incense. It touched not but billowing dust, felt naught but the surrounding cloud of swirling granules.

And then, the dust parted like a curtain, and there stood Zoss, by His disoriented- if not dead- foe, god-key burning bright.

"Mediocre." The King of Kings spat, and then casually delivered a open-palm deathblow, with the strength that had rendered the Primordial angels to dust.

 

[Terrabrand]

Santa does not hesitate, closing at a measured tread of several kilometers per second. If the strange creature with its black-burning eyes appears to react and perceive him at those speeds, he will accelerate, and accelerate further, striving to outpace it.

In his right hand, Santa Claus hefts the Northwards Pole.

To the mundane eye, it is clearly a magical weapon. To the enlightened eye, it is rather more. It is the North Pole of the Axis Mundi, its nature and status drawn from the axle upon which a world turns. To resist it is to resist the turning of the world on its axis, the stars in their courses.

Click to shrink...

The being's hands move into a specific formation, and the area around it is very suddenly not of this world. Then it flashes into a second, then a third- and then it's motions slow dramatically.

It-That-Slays whirls around to face it as soon as it carves it's place from the world of It-That-Slays. Light sparks across It-That-Slays form for a fraction of a second before the Dragon abruptly flashes across the distance, moving faster than light itself. Hardly after the Dragon has flashed into place the world bends out into the sphere and returns to It-That-Slays control. And as the world returns to it, It-That-Slays lashes out with the device Santa gifted it, smashing through the creature in one fluid motion. It-That-Slays seems almost surprised, but does not let that stop it from following up and tearing to ribbons the other enemies in the immediate area in a furious assault.

Growling, Beta Ray Bill immediately pulls himself back, and is gratified to find himself moving at the speeds he's used to. Let Boros handle Aerguon, and potentially solve the riddle of his ability; any chance of potentially ending this quickly have fled, and he has better things to do than stall in fruitless combat.

Like the two armies now closing with each other. There don't seem to be any high-value targets available, but that just means he is free to sow as much destruction as he can muster. And that means one thing: lightning.

Raising Stormbreaker above his head, Bill spins the hammer at high speed. High above the battlefield, clouds spontaneously form and gather at a point directly above Bill's head. And these are not fluffy cumulus, or flat, grey stratus. No, these are dark, angry cumulonimbus. Storm clouds.

Within seconds, the spontaneous storm system covers most of the battlefield, and is still growing. The wind begins to pick up, and a scent of rain fills the air. But all of this is secondary to Bill's goals. Light flashes between the clouds, and thunder echoes in the distance. And then, Bill brings the hammer down.

Lightning bolts the size of the trees around Bill flash out of the sky, unnaturally seeking Aerguon's army and striking, again and again, as relentless as their master.


Santa is not the only one watching his strike against the stone giant. Magnetism is one of the many energies Stormbreaker is attuned to, and even as it begins to rain lightning, Bill glances in the direction of the creature and fights the urge to curse.

'I should have expected a teleport in our rear! Recriminations later, Santa seems to have it handled so far. Thin the army, and then help Santa if he needs it.'

Click to shrink...

The enemy army is devastated by the strikes from the storm. The lightning is more than adequate to destroy most of the individual targets in one hit. It-That-Slays forces capitalize on the damage in opportunistic manners- they may not be sentient, but they are certainly capable of spotting weakness and pouncing. A fact that their enemies surely feel now.

"So. Aerguon. I will introduce myself. I am Lord Boros." Boros shouts to Aerguon as he uses his speed to fall back from the resistant air. "Comrades, you may wish to prepare yourselves!" Then, he rushes into the hardened air at top speed with his fist outstretched, hoping to use his energy projection to create an enormous blast from the force of the punch hitting the wall, which will hopefully be able to affect Aerguon. At the very least, he hopes it will wipe out a good number of enemy forces in the area.

Click to shrink...

Lord Boros screams towards Aerguon as the Herald adjusts his behavior ever so slightly, and the alien warlord slams into the air, crashing to a halt once more. Energy blasts forth... and a floating rock drifts into it's path, being ground down but not entirely obliterated. Aerguon, by chance or intent, is shielded.

Santa Claus's eyes go wide as he senses Boros' intention to create a blast wave.

Given Boros' known willingness to ignore collateral damage, and that Boros himself may not know precisely how much power he'll unleash by punching the wall (the edge of Aerguon's zone of effect?)... Santa would be unsurprised if the alien warlord's fist raised an annihilating flash like that of a nuclear weapon.

Santa is fairly sure he could outrun a nuclear flash in a pinch, but he's never had to try. He certainly wouldn't care to risk it creeping up on him before he could react, at the speeds he's now operating with.

In the instant of Boros realizing that his fist is about to connect with its target, Santa steps sensibly behind something large and sturdy enough to soak up a hellish, searing flash of light. A large tree would suffice, though he'd probably want to skip out from behind that before it reacted too strongly to being set on fire.

The precaution may not be required, but until Santa gets the full measure of Boros' power, and not just his intentions, he's not taking any unnecessary risks. He trusts Stormbreaker and Beta Ray Bill. He doesn't trust Boros that way.

@Terrabrand
@CV12Hornet
@I just write

Click to shrink...

There is, indeed, an explosion. Though significant, the blast is absorbed by the massive trees and foliage of It-That-Slays domain long before it can reach It-That-Slays, Beta Ray Bill, or Santa Claus. Some of It-That-Slays forces are destroyed in the blast, as are some of the ranks of Castae's legions, but the battle is surprisingly little affected overall.
​

Shiki nods.

"I'll hold on to them then."

"Hmm. I see." So saying, she lowers the medallion, allowing it to rest against her chest, and turns her attention back to her new companions.

@Genon
Listening to what Agatha says, and Edon's clarification, Shiki remarks,

"So we're going to spend most of our time either here to rest, or the Soul Plane to help you get stronger, right?"

Comment made, Shiki makes another note of being ready to leave at any time.

Click to shrink...

"Then either Maldurion has started to change up his usual methods of entertainment, or he's been trying to replicate parallel multiversal troops to the letter. I recognized a variety of warrior cultures from my own multiverse's distant past among their ranks, including samurai and Vikings. Considering that Zirtash had no idea what a katana--the signature sword of the samurai--was before it was explained to him...well I'm pretty that can't be just a quirk of parallel universes."

After Edon (and/or Ryogi) replies, Agatha says, "Well, so long as my we bring my ship too, I have no more objections."

Click to shrink...

Before Edon can respond, Zirtash returns, cutting a hole in reality, and flying through the air back to Edon, spinning as he goes. Edon catches him out of the air easily, and then a massive, burning black coal humanoid figure steps through, easily thirty, maybe forty feet tall. Edon steps around and uncuts space. "Ah, Wotash. How did the battle go?"

The figure, clad in heavy looking crystalline armor shrugs while gesturing with a massive two handed axe for emphasis. "Maldurion showed right after you made your escape, of course. He's better by inches than last time, but did not bother to press me for long when it became clear you already left. I tried to hold him there, but he had no interest in me, for obvious reasons."

Then the figure turns fiery eyes upon Shiki and Vector. "Oh? Outsiders. How curious. I am Wotash the High Warlord, of the Jight, the Emperor's peerless lady of war, commander of adequate strength and martial skill to contest even Maldurion for a moment. I assume brother Zirtash already introduced himself."

Edon seems content for the introductions to play out, for the moment.

Zoss snorted. His foolish enemy spoke of how the Conquering Kings command had done naught, even as he flung himself directly to where the King of Kings wished him to be. How such a being had come to inherent such power, Zoss knew not.

He stepped aside, leaving footprints in the ash where he once stood, yet leaving no more.

"Fool." He said. "Just as you claim I mistunderstand your nature, so too do you misunderstand mine."

And then he calmly waved a hand, and the dust of the void churned.

Ralox suddenly finds itself at the mercy of the void, and mercy to Zoss' whims, for it was writhing His territory now, and He held sway over reality. Its armor was eaten at by flickering white null-fire, its words turned to weak puffs of smoke, its sight clouded with visions of its past, inverted. The mighty foes body began to turn to solid gray dust, its feet sinking into the drifts that surrounded it, pulling it down deeper with impossible force. Its weapon blurred, flaked, and fought its master. Whispers of things unseen and unheard assaulted its ears. The air around it smelt of scalding incense. It touched not but billowing dust, felt naught but the surrounding cloud of swirling granules.

And then, the dust parted like a curtain, and there stood Zoss, by His disoriented- if not dead- foe, god-key burning bright.

"Mediocre." The King of Kings spat, and then casually delivered a open-palm deathblow, with the strength that had rendered the Primordial angels to dust.

Click to shrink...

Ralox struggles mightily against Zoss's power, even as he is nevertheless dropped to his knees. His armor flakes away, slower perhaps than Zoss intends... and he seems to be laughing, for all the sound does not reach Zoss.

As Zoss steps forth to strike, Ralox surges to his feet with unbelievable strength, lashing out with his massive scythe directly into Zoss's palm strike, only for Zoss's attack to smash the weapon to dust in an instant, Ralox's body lighting in purple fire in response. Ralox's voice cuts through Zoss's effects, in the end, as the champion snaps a salute suddenly. "I acknowledge your great strength, oh King. I return to my master now, and... I look forward to fighting you in the future."

Then Zoss senses Ralox beginning to fade away, slipping... Elsewhere.

"You're a credit to your...type then. We can retire there, I still have much to determine."

Frau Totenkinder's smile was polite, wan, and dry as grave dust. There were powers at work, powers that operated in such queer ways and along such strange avenues a lesser magician would promptly hang up their bag of tricks and stick to busking on the roadside rather than face the madness that surely followed.

Her smile grew an iota broader. It would be rather amusing untangling things and seeing what made these worlds and creatures tick...

Click to shrink...

The Wyrm politely leads Frau Totenkinder to the library.

​

 

[Simon_Jester]

The being's hands move into a specific formation, and the area around it is very suddenly not of this world. Then it flashes into a second, then a third- and then it's motions slow dramatically.

It-That-Slays whirls around to face it as soon as it carves it's place from the world of It-That-Slays. Light sparks across It-That-Slays form for a fraction of a second before the Dragon abruptly flashes across the distance, moving faster than light itself. Hardly after the Dragon has flashed into place the word bends out into the sphere and returns to It-That-Slays control. And as the world returns to it, It-That-Slays lashes out with the device Santa gifted it, smashing through the creature in one fluid motion. It-That-Slays seems almost surprised, but does not let that stop it from following up and tearing to ribbons the other enemies in the immediate area in a furious assault.

Click to shrink...

Apparently the stony assassin-form tried to use some kind of defensive power that involved asserting Castae's control over the space immediately surrounding its body, or subverting the Dragon's control over same. And apparently this attracted the Dragon's attention, whereas previously the Dragon was unaware of their approach, or did not see fit to react to it.

Santa Claus searches the surrounding area carefully, running a few patrols around It-That-Slays' location at relativistic speeds to scour the surroundings for any other such creatures. It wouldn't do to simply assume It-That-Slays couldn't have missed a spot.

EDIT:

Assuming the patrol runs don't turn up anything immediately threatening, Santa trots back to It-That-Slays and asks a question:

"I infer that the creatures we just encountered were able to carve out a small bubble of territory for Castae in the middle of your own. You've said that Chanters can do much the same; could there be a similarity there?"

 

[CV12Hornet]

The enemy army is devastated by the strikes from the storm. The lightning is more than adequate to destroy most of the individual targets in one hit. It-That-Slays forces capitalize on the damage in opportunistic manners- they may not be sentient, but they are certainly capable of spotting weakness and pouncing. A fact that their enemies surely feel now.

Click to shrink...

There is, indeed, an explosion. Though significant, the blast is absorbed by the massive trees and foliage of It-That-Slays domain long before it can reach It-That-Slays, Beta Ray Bill, or Santa Claus. Some of It-That-Slays forces are destroyed in the blast, as are some of the ranks of Castae's legions, but the battle is surprisingly little affected overall.

Click to shrink...

Were his equine skull capable of it, Beta Ray Bill would have smirked. It-That-Slay's forces are pressing the advantage, Boros seems to be doing a very good job of keeping Aerguon occupied, and Santa was indeed capable of handling the mysterious new enemy, alongside the Dragon they are assisting. The battle isn't over, not by a long shot, but now they have some breathing room.

The urge falls away at that thought, and Bill, all business, turns his attention to the battlefield. His eyes scan the ground, searching for large concentrations of enemy forces; and through Stormbreaker, he searches for large or unusual sources of energy.

 

[Dust and echoes]

Ralox struggles mightily against Zoss's power, even as he is nevertheless dropped to his knees. His armor flakes away, slower perhaps than Zoss intends... and he seems to be laughing, for all the sound does not reach Zoss.

As Zoss steps forth to strike, Ralox surges to his feet with unbelievable strength, lashing out with his massive scythe directly into Zoss's palm strike, only for Zoss's attack to smash the weapon to dust in an instant, Ralox's body lighting in purple fire in response. Ralox's voice cuts through Zoss's effects, in the end, as the champion snaps a salute suddenly. "I acknowledge your great strength, oh King. I return to my master now, and... I look forward to fighting you in the future."

Then Zoss senses Ralox beginning to fade away, slipping... Elsewhere.

Click to shrink...

Zoss spat in annoyance. His foe sought to flee yet again. He was tired of His foe's running. Sliding one foot forward He drew from the void the Sword of Want, its blade longer than He was tall, its hilt of magnificent bronze and steel and energy, pulsing with greed for whatever it could take. And Zoss raised it above His head, eyes burning bright through the holes of his helm.

"I am afraid-" Said he. "That you will not have the opportunity to do so."

And then the realm of Zoss, so rapidly thrust into this world, froze. It froze the physical plane, as well as the plane of the spirit and of the mind. What faded away would be locked in place, what ran would be halted, what died would remain dead. Not even the swirling motes of void dust stirred, hanging in the air. Blood and shards of bone speckled the air like planets and asteroids in a massive galaxy. Fogged breath and incense smoke hung in the air like frozen nebulas and cosmic clouds. But one thing moved in this display of savagery.

That thing was Zoss.

He raised aloft His mighty sword, and did smote His foe across its neck, seeking to rend head from shoulders, spirit from body, his foe from life, killing not only their physical form, but their spiritual one, snuffing out their existence from the multiverse. The strike was clean, swift, and with its completion the flow of time resumed.

Zoss planted the sword at His feet.

 

[TheMaskedReader]

Lord Boros screams towards Aerguon as the Herald adjusts his behavior ever so slightly, and the alien warlord slams into the air, crashing to a halt once more. Energy blasts forth... and a floating rock drifts into it's path, being ground down but not entirely obliterated. Aerguon, by chance or intent, is shielded.

Click to shrink...

Lord Boros is now entirely serious. This battle has finally begun. As soon as his attack hits the shield, he darts back to observe it. Hmm. Very interesting. Let us dance, Aerguon.

Lord Boros begins to repeat his charge, over and over, taking different paths each time to hit different spots, in order to avoid interception. He doesn't think he can damage the warping space and time, no, instead, what he's doing is mapping out the boundaries of where the space warping effect starts and stops, as well as testing for any slightly weaker amounts of effect.