Wither-hunt - The Fight for Mendahar

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

45 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"You weren't exactly being discreet," Jahr replied dryly. "I-"

He cut off suddenly, frowning. Outside, people were beginning to scream.

Nyx shifted uncomfortably. "What's happening?"

Quote

No one is adopting Ari? :plead:

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Hoofteps thundered and cracked on the gravel, hurling dust through into the wind. The rays of falling sunlight sliced through the haze, scalding golden-orange patches onto the walls, rooftops, and grass. Shadows slashed across the ground, pillared and stretching towards the horizon far behind them. The blaze from the sky pierced against Letch's eyes, but he kept his gaze hard and bent on the village streets.

Not a single withergeist. Of course, they wouldn't be sitting out in the open in the sunlight.Maybe it was nigh impossible to see with the sun in his face, but never was it brighter at day than it was now. The weakest could even die in this light. That much was by design: it narrowed down the 'geists options for escape, making them far more manageable to corral.

"Fan out!" Letch ordered, chopping his hand through the air. "Stay in your groups and get in position! Tarker, Murk: get us eyes!"

Tam felt the icy grip of unnatural fear. He shivered. He'd heard about withergeists that could do this, but feeling it for himself... well, that was something else entirely. 

All of a sudden, his horse reared backwards, nearly throwing Tam off. A dark hand reached up from the pavement, the ground turning black from its touch.

40 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nyx shifted uncomfortably. "What's happening?"

 

Jahrdor shhed, reaching to open the window-A twisted, inhuman face looked back.

"Stars!" he cursed. "Withergeists."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

20 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

Jahrdor shhed, reaching to open the window-A twisted, inhuman face looked back.

"Stars!" he cursed. "Withergeists."

Nyx squealed in fear, running up behind Jahr to hug him behind the waist. 

Edited May 12, 2022 by Zephrun's Imperium

[Mat he/him]

Linus stuck back, as per orders. He complained to himself about running second, but in truth he was often glad for the position once a battle began. Recon was where he felt useful, but second was where he felt safe. As safe as you could be out here, at least.

He felt the chill of a withergeist, but brushed it off, simply shivering. Focus. He had to focus. No matter how many times Linus did this, keeping his composure was a fight. He won, as he always did.

[Frustration]

"Ya excited lad?" Yonath asked Linus. Carefully reading a prayer he had pre-prepared, Yonath braced himself. He hated waiting at the start of an attack, there was always something missing. Some level of power that action gave to him.

[Channelknight Fadran]

1 hour ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

No one is adopting Ari? :plead:

Quote

Oh yeah. Hold up...

*Pretend this dialogue was back during the speech*

"And you..." Letch turned his gaze to the... 'new' one. "Join the reconnaissance team. Be good."

25 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

Tam felt the icy grip of unnatural fear. He shivered. He'd heard about withergeists that could do this, but feeling it for himself... well, that was something else entirely. 

All of a sudden, his horse reared backwards, nearly throwing Tam off. A dark hand reached up from the pavement, the ground turning black from its touch.

"BLAZES!" Letch yanked his reigns, rearing his horse to run aside. "Stay in the sunlight! Recon, get up and get up fast! Everyone else: keep your distance!"

That's one. He began circling the town, hooves thundering. No way in mal it'll just be that. Where the blazes are the rest?

In the shadows, of course. Despite his horse's protests and the pain in his eyes, Letch stuck to the sunlight. Even the most powerful of unbonded 'geists couldn't manifest in focused rays this direct. At the very least, not enough to drag his men right down to mal.

But if it was manifesting through the floor... wasn't any chance it had gone without something to run off of.

"Get in position!" His words cried out long and hard, echoing in the dirt and wind. "We're gonna fish out those blasted devils if its the last thing we do! Stick to your partner, and stay in the sun 'til I give the order!"

[Kvothe the Bloodless he/him]

Nerevat was struck by a sudden pang of fear. Oh Mal, this was a bad idea, he thought. On his horse, Nerevat followed Letch, eyes scanning the tightly packed buildings for any signs of withers. This was the moment he had been waiting for: to kill withers. And yet, it took all of Nerevat's willpower not to start screaming and run away, far away, so he didn't have to hear a mention of the word "withergeist". Stay in the sun. That's all you have to do. Stay in the sun, and Letch will take care of the rest. He knows what to do.

[Emery the Steelrunner he/him]

Quote

Can you guys try to capture a withergeist for Chemiker? He is an alchemist, and will probably want to experiment on one.

@Channelknight Fadran.

 

Edited May 13, 2022 by Emery the Steelrunner

[xinoehp512 he/him]

42 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nyx squealed in fear, running up behind Jahr to hug him behind the waist. 

Jahrdor stumbled backwards as the window cracked and shattered, the withergeists floating into the room.

"Run!" he gasped. "Run!"

25 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"BLAZES!" Letch yanked his reigns, rearing his horse to run aside. "Stay in the sunlight! Recon, get up and get up fast! Everyone else: keep your distance!"

That's one. He began circling the town, hooves thundering. No way in mal it'll just be that. Where the blazes are the rest?

In the shadows, of course. Despite his horse's protests and the pain in his eyes, Letch stuck to the sunlight. Even the most powerful of unbonded 'geists couldn't manifest in focused rays this direct. At the very least, not enough to drag his men right down to mal.

But if it was manifesting through the floor... wasn't any chance it had gone without something to run off of.

"Get in position!" His words cried out long and hard, echoing in the dirt and wind. "We're gonna fish out those blasted devils if its the last thing we do! Stick to your partner, and stay in the sun 'til I give the order!"

More dark spots appeared as withergeists rose from the ground en masse. The air began to get noticeably chillier.

Tam struggled to stay on his horse as the animal tried to dodge the painful touch of the withers.

[Channelknight Fadran]

That... there...

How many of them are there???

"GET IN POSITION!!!" Ilektchi broke open the clasp across his chest, sending his pack tumbling to the dirt. "Tam, get your men on the rooftops! Don't you dare get caught in the shade! Linus, take command there! Mirtram--"

He yanked his foot out the stirrup, then pulled on the torches to snap the cord.

"Follow my lead."

Ilektchi ran his horse just by a building, stretching out the torches against the cobblestone walls. The metal screeched against the stones, casting sparks out like powder in a fireplace. As his steed cleared the house, Letch leapt off the side, twisting his body to face the ground head-on and pull the torches in.

They burst ablaze, like the sunlight's scalding touch.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Get high!" Tam exclaimed, scrambling onto a nearby rooftop. His horse whinnied and ran.

Tam took a moment to catch his breath, retrieving his torch from his pack and setting it ablaze.

23 minutes ago, Emery the Steelrunner said:

Can you guys try to capture a withergeist for Chemiker? He is an alchemist, and will probably want to experiment on one.

Quote

I'll see what I can do.

 

[Frustration]

"YAA!" Yonath screamed, charging towards the rising withergeists.

Flicking a match against his silver knife, the torchbrands he had inbeded into its sides ignited. Yonath wasn't sure whether he was allowed to do that or not, so he had decided not to ask.

Screaming praises to Droit, Yonath plunged his knife into the nearest withergeist.

[Channelknight Fadran]

3 minutes ago, Frustration said:

"YAA!" Yonath screamed, charging towards the rising withergeists.

Flicking a match against his silver knife, the torchbrands he had inbeded into its sides ignited. Yonath wasn't sure whether he was allowed to do that or not, so he had decided not to ask.

Screaming praises to Droit, Yonath plunged his knife into the nearest withergeist.

Quote

As badchull as that is, I... don't think it'll work. Xino?

 

[Mat he/him]

1 hour ago, Frustration said:

"Ya excited lad?" Yonath asked Linus. Carefully reading a prayer he had pre-prepared, Yonath braced himself. He hated waiting at the start of an attack, there was always something missing. Some level of power that action gave to him.

“No,” Linus said, but it was a lie. Why did people always assume that he was young? Maybe Yonath just called everyone ‘lad’.

Quote

What exactly does work against these things?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Very little. They aren't cannon fodder in the traditional sense: you use the torches to ward them away, then conduct a ritual to banish them.

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

As badchull as that is, I... don't think it'll work. Xino?

Quote

In order to work, the silver would have to be imbued with energy. As it turns out, having all silver in the setting be naturally magical actually fits pretty well with some other details, so I'll allow it. 

I'll rule that it can interact with the withergeist in a way most other materials can't, and will be immune to the withering effect, but won't hurt the withergeists in the way light will. Wait- the knife is on fire. That'll hurt it.

 

1 hour ago, Frustration said:

"YAA!" Yonath screamed, charging towards the rising withergeists.

Flicking a match against his silver knife, the torchbrands he had inbeded into its sides ignited. Yonath wasn't sure whether he was allowed to do that or not, so he had decided not to ask.

Screaming praises to Droit, Yonath plunged his knife into the nearest withergeist.

The withergeist hissed in pain and shied back, but two more took its place.

1 hour ago, Matrim's Dice said:

What exactly does work against these things?

Quote

Light will weaken them.

"What do we do?" Tam called to the commander, holding his torch near to the edge to keep the withergeists grounded as best he could.

Quote

Demonstrate the ritual, perhaps? 

@Channelknight Fadran

2 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

Jahrdor stumbled backwards as the window cracked and shattered, the withergeists floating into the room.

"Run!" he gasped. "Run!"

Jahrdor burst into a scene of chaos as he entered the main room of the inn. The patrons and innkeeper had already gotten out, it would seem- at least, the lucky ones. Withergeists had already filled the room - he could see six from where he stood, and more were coming in. He cursed again, spinning around to see if there were any other exits.

@Zephrun's Imperium

Edited May 13, 2022 by xinoehp512

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"And you..." Letch turned his gaze to the... 'new' one. "Join the reconnaissance team. Be good."

Ari smiled up at his father. "Yes, sir," he said dutifully, skipping towards the team he'd been assigned to. He was dwarfed by the men there - at thirteen, he still hadn't hit a man's growth spurt - but it still felt good to be beside them.

34 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

Jahrdor stumbled backwards as the window cracked and shattered, the withergeists floating into the room.

"Run!" he gasped. "Run!"

Nyx's brow furrowed and she screamed, obeying. She was good at obeying. Most of the time. When it counted. And indeed, it counted now. She stayed as close behind Jahr as she could without being on top of him, a cold terror running through her thin framed body. 

It was then that thing started breaking. 

Stars. 

She tried to keep it under control, she tried to be good. Keep it under control, be good. Control, good....

A scream died in her throat. She was in the dungeons of the palace, bare-backed as a servant whipped her. Her father watched, tone-faced. "Keep it under control, Nyx. Be a good girl, and this won't happen again."

"Nyx is a good girl... Nyx is a good girl," she whispered. 

There was a snap the king's fingers, and the whip came down again, ripping open her flesh with a swift swipe. 

"Nyx is not a good girl. Nyx is a disappointment. You will sleep here tonight, where no one has to deal with your failure."

He'd left her crying. 

"Nyx is a good girl, Nyx is a good girl, Nyx is a good girl," she repeated.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

2 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nyx's brow furrowed and she screamed, obeying. She was good at obeying. Most of the time. When it counted. And indeed, it counted now. She stayed as close behind Jahr as she could without being on top of him, a cold terror running through her thin framed body. 

It was then that thing started breaking. 

Stars. 

She tried to keep it under control, she tried to be good. Keep it under control, be good. Control, good....

A scream died in her throat. She was in the dungeons of the palace, bare-backed as a servant whipped her. Her father watched, tone-faced. "Keep it under control, Nyx. Be a good girl, and this won't happen again."

"Nyx is a good girl... Nyx is a good girl," she whispered. 

There was a snap the king's fingers, and the whip came down again, ripping open her flesh with a swift swipe. 

"Nyx is not a good girl. Nyx is a disappointment. You will sleep here tonight, where no one has to deal with your failure."

He'd left her crying. 

"Nyx is a good girl, Nyx is a good girl, Nyx is a good girl," she repeated.

Jahr's heart sank as more withergeists poured in from the windows behind them. They were surrounded.

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nyx screamed, the floorboards screws rattling. All at once, they came loose, creating a tent over just Jahr and Nyx to protect them.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

3 minutes ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nyx screamed, the floorboards screws rattling. All at once, they came loose, creating a tent over just Jahr and Nyx to protect them.

Jahr gasped, too shocked for a moment to speak.

"We need to move," he finally managed. "They don't care about physical barriers."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Nyx was sobbing hysterically. "B-b-b-b-bad Nyx, bad Nyx!" She raked her fingers along her arm, creating a deep, bloody gash. The pain, she'd discovered, made the magic go away. The floorboards toppled. 

[Mat he/him]

Linus brought Prince to a stop, then quietly lit a torch as the fight raged around him. He stood at the ready, charging toward any withergeists that broke through, driving them back towards Poliar.

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

1 minute ago, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Nyx was sobbing hysterically. "B-b-b-b-bad Nyx, bad Nyx!" She raked her fingers along her arm, creating a deep, bloody gash. The pain, she'd discovered, made the magic go away. The floorboards toppled. 

Jahr gasped. What-?

No time to worry about it now, he thought grimly.

"No, not bad!" he replied. "Good, very good! Can you do it..." he gestured towards the wall. "That way?"

Edited May 13, 2022 by xinoehp512

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She shook her head, distraught. "No, no, no. It is evil, I am evil."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The withergeists encroached.