[If you are interested in joining a setting like this, check out: roleplayerguild.com/topics/196759-ise…]

RP GOAL - Find Penny?

@DoubleChecker - Severin Vaust Asset Goal: ?
@Book - Liu Fei Asset Goal: ?
@pkken - Vetreus Draedora Asset Goal: ?
@Red Hood - Esther Keaten Asset Goal: ?
@Nakushita - Penny "Iron Maiden of Pax" Asset Goal: ?

The clearing is a scene of surreal devastation and confusion. The shack is a crater of splintered wood, the air thick with dust and the lingering scent of ozone and raw magic. Amidst the wreckage, the party's actions have yielded strange results. A significant portion of the debris has been teleported away, revealing the full extent of the destruction. The scattered, white bones of Fei Liu begin to twitch and skitter across the ashen ground, slowly, magnetically reassembling as his occult nature reasserts itself.

From the center of the crater, a small, soot-covered child stumbles into view. Seeing the group, she freezes for a moment, her eyes wide with terror. Her gaze darts between the imposing figures, the reassembling skeleton, and the monstrous boar carcass where Griselda is now feasting. The child lets out a sharp cry and scrambles away from the wreckage, trying to put distance between herself and the chaos. She trips and falls near the edge of the clearing, curling into a ball and sobbing, her small frame trembling uncontrollably. A familiar, clean scent—the faint aroma of soap and Penny's unique presence—clings to her like a phantom memory.

The forest itself seems to hold its breath. The rhythmic, oppressive THUMP... THUMP... of the Verdant Heart is gone, replaced by an unnerving, expectant silence.



Suddenly, a new voice echoes through the clearing. It is not spoken from a single point but seems to emanate from the very air, from the trees, and from the corrupted soil itself. It is Penny's voice, yet amplified with an ancient, primordial power that resonates with absolute authority.

"CEASE YOUR PANIC. ALL WILL BE PUT IN ITS PROPER PLACE."

As the words fade, the ground at the center of the crater begins to churn. Roots, thick as pythons, tear through the earth, weaving and knitting together with impossible speed. Moss and glowing fungi sprout and spread across the emerging form. In a matter of seconds, a new being stands where the Heartstone once rested.

It is not a construct of root and moss. It is Penny's physical body, now standing tall and unnaturally poised. Her maid's uniform is pristine, as if it were just cleaned, but her form is subtly changed. A crown of interwoven, glowing roots rests on her head, and faint golden light pulses in a web of fine lines just beneath her skin.

Her face is serene, placid, and unnervingly blank. Her eyes, once familiar, are now orbs of pure, pulsing golden light, devoid of her own personality. This is Penny's body, but the one looking out from it is the ancient entity of the Heart.

Inside, Penny can feel her own consciousness, a frantic, terrified passenger in a vessel that is no longer hers to command. She can feel the entity's immense power flowing through her veins, feel its ancient thoughts overriding her own, feel its cold, absolute purpose to impose "order." The control is slipping away from her, but a flicker of her own will remains, a tiny spark of defiance against the overwhelming presence that has usurped her.

The entity—the Voice—looks upon the party.

"Intruders," it states, the voice coming from Penny's mouth but amplified with primordial power. "You have served your purpose by delivering the vessel. You have disrupted the garden. Your presence is no longer required. You are... disorder."

It raises Penny's hand, and the ground around the party begins to tremble as the forest itself awakens to its new master's command. The battle is not over; it has simply changed.

Well that escalated quickly.

It was evident that something had taken control of Penny’s body, and was reluctant to release her. Furthermore, it was reluctant to let any of them go. A more pragmatic individual would say that Penny brought her fate onto herself, and that now would be the time to flee. But Esther was not a pragmatic person, and did not think that she was in the company of pragmatic people either.

"She finally speaks, and it’s to be the mouthpiece of some deranged spirit." Esther looked out of the corner of her eye at Vetreus. "Lord Draedora, you can handle monsters, but do you think you can handle a maid? If not, perhaps Griselda can help you." He did well with that other monster, but he wasn’t trying to spare its host’s life.

She addressed the other two. "Severin, is it possible to remove the maid from that growth? You were able to move all the debris off of everyone. Fei? Are you well enough to protect us?" That was quite the shot he took. If he was badly hurt, there was no point in sending him to a true death. She really didn’t understand how familiars worked. "If not, then protect the child. I’ve seen how you move." If they managed to free the maid, they needed to make sure it didn’t get a hold of the child.

But before Esther went to try to fight that thing, she had one other thing to check.

"Don’t be scared," she told the little girl. "We’ll keep you safe. Can you tell me your name?"

She snapped her fingers, and her hand glowed.

"Likely not," he grumbled in reply to Esther. One skeletal hand rose to cradle his forehead and the other pushed his torso up from the floor. With his legs formed it was effortless to stand. He merely regarded the new creature. As a conduit or avatar, it was likely in its most vulnerable state in these first few moments after formation. Yet, it may still be too powerful for them to stop. Unsteadily, shod skeletal feet slid into a more robust stance and he waited for acute danger to coalesce. It would not be long now.

Quietly, he calculated the priorities. Surely a magical baby should be the first one. Liu could not claim to understand what was happening but perhaps it swapped states with Penny in some sense. Indeed the baby should be treated as a high priority, but if this thing were to grow out of control, how many more would be claimed by the cataclysm? Liu could speed the baby to safety, perhaps even to a house, but would the team live without his potential to evacuate them? Furthermore, would these folks save more people than the child here? As with all of the capable, they have equal chance to kill more than they save, that cannot be calculated here. How would he be seen if he, a monster, were to prioritize anything other than the child? Before he moved, he turned his head to the side to indicate that his attention was on Vaust.

​

Titles
[Monster], [Undead], [Monster - Mundane], [Monster - Evolved], [Necromancer] - [#2d7d38]
Noteworthy Perks: [Evolved] - gain the title evolved. Something about your physiology or aura identifies to others you are of a higher species than your peers. Gain a +1 to social exchanges with others of your racial tree.
[Menace] - An aura of fear emanates from the creature at all times that makes lower grade creatures take a -1 effectiveness on attacks against monster or monster allies.

Noteworthy Perks: Resilient C (28) [Aging/Fatigue and Exhaustion/Suffocation/Surprised]

Asset Goal: ?

Severin watched the chaotic turn of events with narrowing eyes. The child received the least of his attention, his hazel eyes instead were focused on the new being that was brought forth, taking the guise of Penny. ‘How interesting…’ He thought to himself, his gaze turning appraisingly as it examined the ancient being.

It was time.

Not a single movement came from him, as a wave of energy burst from him as the epicenter, Illusion being used to cloak its origins. [Action 1] His targets however were rather peculiar: the Scrying Orbs themselves. Only when he heard each of the cracking, like glass, would he finally address Esther’s question.

“This is rather different from simply yanking Penny out of it. My best guess is that this is a possession, not too different by those employed by lowly ghosts, wraiths and spirits, but in a different level altogether.” He brought a gloved to his own lips, thumb and index grooming his own mustache. “Even with us being out of a cleric or priest, we shouldn’t count ourselves out of luck. There are more ways than one to handle this type of… puppeteering.”

His eyes became bright azure, his mind focused on the ancient being in front of them, both spirit and vessel, as he peered under the veneer. “Let’s see what I can gleam from it. Knowledge!” And, at the same time, arcanic chains were shot from his sides, aiming to wrap around the avatar’s limbs and keep her in place, at least long enough until he had the knowledge he desired. [Action 2/3]

He would not allow for competition.

Actions:
1 - Illusory Blast - Magic E + Magic Range F (30ft distance) + Magic AoE (15ft radius) + Magic Targets F (up to 5 targets) + Illusion E + Energized E + Selective Magic E + Componentless Magic E (Targeting only the Scrying Orbs) - Grade E 0 Post Cooldown
2/3 - Knowledge! - Magic D + Magic Range F + Appraisal D + Religion D + Arcana D + Academia D + Sixth Sense D (21) [Spirits and Soul-tethers] + Affinity Tangle E + Selective Magic E + Energized D - Grade D 1 Post Cooldown - 12 Base Effectiveness

CDs: D 0/1

[If you are interested in joining a setting like this, check out: roleplayerguild.com/topics/196759-ise…]

RP GOAL - Find Penny?

@DoubleChecker - Severin Vaust Asset Goal: ?
@Book - Liu Fei Asset Goal: ?
@pkken - Vetreus Draedora Asset Goal: ?
@Red Hood - Esther Keaten Asset Goal: ?
@Nakushita - Penny "Iron Maiden of Pax" Asset Goal: ?



The clearing has become a stage for a new, terrifying confrontation. The air crackles with tension as the party faces the entity now wearing Penny's form.

As the Voice declares them "disorder," its power begins to manifest. Before it can fully unleash the forest's wrath, Severin acts. A silent, invisible wave of energy bursts from him, cloaked in illusion. It isn't aimed at the Voice, but at the four dormant Scrying Orbs still hovering near the party members. A series of sharp, distinct CRACKS echo through the clearing as the lenses on all four orbs simultaneously shatter, rendering them useless. The Luminary's eyes and ears are now blind and deaf to what happens next.

When Severin commands "Knowledge!", his eyes flare with azure light. Spectral, arcanic chains erupt from the ground, shooting upward to bind the Voice's limbs. The entity, still wearing Penny's serene face, meets the assault not with physical struggle, but with a surge of raw power. The golden light in her eyes intensifies, and a wave of chaotic life energy pushes back against the magical constructs.

For a tense moment, the two forces are locked in a perfect stalemate. The chains strain and groan, their ethereal links glowing brightly as they fight against the entity's immense will. They do not break. The binding holds, but it is a tenuous victory; the Voice is immobilized, but the sheer power Severin can feel pressing against his spell is immense.

While the chains hold her fast, Severin's true spell takes effect. His mind is flooded with a torrent of esoteric information as he peers beneath the veneer of the possessed maid, analyzing both the vessel and the spirit within.



Simultaneously, Esther kneels beside the terrified child. As she speaks, she snaps her fingers, and her Appraisal magic flows into the child.



The child, who can now be identified as Lily, looks up at Esther with wide, tear-filled eyes, too scared to speak.

The Voice, now identified as Penny, reacts to Severin's binding spell. The being is now hostile. It will use its actions to attack the party, prioritizing the one who has just attempted to restrain it.

Voice's Attack 1 & 2: [Root Impalement]
Target: Severin (as the primary aggressor).
Action: The Voice will raise both of Penny's hands. From the ground beneath Severin's feet, two massive, sharpened roots, thick as spears, will erupt violently, attempting to impale him from below. This is a powerful, two-pronged physical attack.
Roll: This is a direct attack. Roll 8d2 for the attack roll. Severin will need to defend.

Voice's Attack 3: [Grasping Vines]
Target: Vetreus and Esther (as the next closest threats).
Action: The thorny Razorvines that line the clearing will come to life, lashing out like whips. They will attempt to wrap around Vetreus's and Esther's legs to immobilize them.
Roll: This is an attempt to restrain them. Roll 6d2 for each target. Vetreus and Esther will need to defend against being grappled.

There was no time to quip. Not even a chance to ask why Severin had destroyed the scrying orbs.

Shortly after confirming the girl’s status, both Esther and Severin were attacked by the creature. There was no time to assess what the others were doing. Hopefully they would help in their own way, be it spiriting away the child or tending to Maid’s overgrowth.

Against such an opponent, it was important for the team to not overextend themselves and maximized their effectiveness. The temptation was to go all in on the roots attacking Severin, but the encroaching vines could have taken them both out of the fight. Could she do something about all of it?

She wasn’t skilled enough to play anything complicated on the run, so she stood her ground. Even with Severin’s menacing aura and the situation being what it was. She began to play, and her music took shape. A single ribbon of light attempted to intercept not only the roots but the vines that swarmed them. It was fast and precise, and narrowly avoided hitting any of her allies. From a distance, it might have looked like a giant dome of yarn made out of light was forming. She played furiously, attempting to keep up with the creature’s quickening tempo.

The baby was not the one in danger just yet.

Liu sprang into action to take the professor out of the destructive attack. Using prodigious speed and adroit control, Liu speed away from his spot and curved around the shifting earth and angry vines to slide in behind the professor from a short jump, hoping his vestibular dexterity would prevent him from tripping, or some other deadly and humiliating error. Aware of the professor's true nature, he reached out mid step and snatched the body in a manner that would serve for either the living or the dead. Aware of the caster's need for the hands, he braced Vaust's coccyx against his hip and gripped the left shoulder, pulling down so that it formed a rigid lever against his solid form. Given Liu's empty body, even a fleshy being would sit on the iliac crest as if gently hooked in. Liu did his best not to crush or bend the professor but he used a firm grip and attempted to shield from attacks using his sturdy frame.

The hope was that the extraction could be completed in the blink of an eye. He sped clockwise rapidly using his prodigious speed, away from the roots and at a right angle from the rest of the group. The hope was to be well out of the way quickly enough to avoid the attack. It was possible that Vaust would be disoriented, being in one place and then being subjected to a blur. It was lucky that the professor didn't have organs to be jostled around, on account of which Liu was not as gentle as he could be.

1. Fast C Move past Vaust.
2. Grab
3. Defend if needed, Natural Armor in play.

Cooldowns:
C [0/3]

​

Titles
[Monster], [Undead], [Monster - Mundane], [Monster - Evolved], [Necromancer] - [#2d7d38]
Noteworthy Perks: [Evolved] - gain the title evolved. Something about your physiology or aura identifies to others you are of a higher species than your peers. Gain a +1 to social exchanges with others of your racial tree.
[Menace] - An aura of fear emanates from the creature at all times that makes lower grade creatures take a -1 effectiveness on attacks against monster or monster allies.

Noteworthy Perks: Resilient C (28) [Aging/Fatigue and Exhaustion/Suffocation/Surprised]

Asset Goal: ?

As the knowledge flooded the Undead Necromancer's senses, the corner of his lips turned upward ever so slightly. "A symbiotic creature, mmm? A primeval being that needs a host to take form... an ancient parasite." The amusement on Severin's face disappeared immediately as he peered at the creature, his posture changing drastically, even at the face of such 'abomination': his chin tilted upward, eyeing the primordial fragment as a petulant child, something not entirely worth of his attention, but still in dare need to be brought down a few pegs.

"But, perhaps, you might still have a use." He mused, raising a single hand to deal with the creature's attack, his expression unchanging, his nerves steel. But just as he was about to bring forth his magic, Severin felt the sudden grab and shielding that Fei Liu provided impromptu by grabbing him and moving him away. Still, not one to gamble, as he was being moved away in high-speed, which would be sense scrambling for most mortals, he extended one gloved hand, and the same feint azure barrier began forming. "Barrier!" The defensive magic enveloped not only Liu and himself, but also Esther. [Action 1]

And, while still being moved, his hand extended forward, he decided it was still not time to break the illusion. "Void-Lock!" He echoed, magical chains once more shooting towards the being to tangle it and holding it down. This time around, however, it was accompanied by the surrounding environment around the Primordial Fragment becoming pitch black, like a mantle of darkness, allowing from vision from outside, but nothing from within. [Action 2/3]

Action 1 - Barrier FLUX (from grade C) - Magic F + Barrier F + Focus F + Magic Targets F (up to 5 targets) + Magic Range E (100ft range) - Grade F 0 Post Cooldown - Vitality B (5) + Heavy Armor C (4) + Ability F (1) = 10 Base Effectiveness (Blocking Action)
Action 2/3 - Void-Lock - Magic E + Energized E + Magic Range F (30ft) + Control Environment E + Selective Magic F + Affinity Tangle E + Focus E - Grade E 0 Post Cooldown - Intelligence B (5) + Catalyst C (4) = Ability E (2) = 11 Base Effectiveness (possible blind penalty from Total Darkness to target, -7 Base Effectiveness)

@DoubleChecker@Book @Red Hood @pkken

It had all been a haze, but her mind slowly started to sharpen and focus as the dreamlike state slowly slipped away into reality. Making agreements with a being she had no clue what it was and what its powers were was likely not the best idea she ever had. Finding herself trapped within her own body like a prison while the entity went on its rampage. Once the initial panic and confusion subsided she was able to finally collect her scattered thoughts as she came to an inner calmness. She would need to act as soon as she possibly could. It was clear it wouldn’t be easy to restore control of her own body without the being resisting. Perhaps using words alongside a push to regain control would lead to a compromise of some kind. Either way the longer she did nothing the more dangerous the situation became for her own existence and those of the group.

“Quite greedy are we? Taking my body and using it like this to make a mess, for such a powerful being as you with the power to take control of my body you are proving to be quite clumsy…now how about you give me back my body my greedy golden friend so we can go about cleaning up this mess into something that can be considered orderly” Penny internally addressed the entity as she tried to force her way back mentally against the being’s total control. Mustering whatever energy she could to try to resist it as much as she could from within. Even if it ended up failing it was still worth an attempt to try to whittle away its control bit by bit until she could find an opening to regain her body from the being.

[If you are interested in joining a setting like this, check out: roleplayerguild.com/topics/196759-ise…]

RP GOAL - Find Penny?

@DoubleChecker - Severin Vaust Asset Goal: ?
@Book - Liu Fei Asset Goal: ?
@pkken - Vetreus Draedora Asset Goal: ?
@Red Hood - Esther Keaten Asset Goal: ?
@Nakushita - Penny "Iron Maiden of Pax" Asset Goal: ?





The clearing erupts into a maelstrom of conflicting energies as the Voice of the Verdant unleashes its power.

The arcanic chains binding the Penny-faced entity strain and then shatter as it unleashes a wave of raw life energy. Freed, it raises its hands, and the ground beneath Severin erupts. Two massive, sharpened roots, thick as spears, shoot upward with lethal force, aiming to impale him.

But in the split second before the roots can strike, Fei Liu moves. He is a blur of motion, a skeletal whirlwind that slides behind the necromancer. With a firm, practiced grip that is neither gentle nor crushing, he snatches Severin and yanks him backward, using his own body as a shield while moving at an impossible speed. The two sharpened roots burst from the ground where Severin stood a moment ago, punching through empty air with a violent WHOOSH.

As Liu pulls him clear, Severin, unfazed by the high-speed extraction, extends a hand. A shimmering, hexagonal shield of azure light materializes, enveloping not only himself and Liu, but also expanding to cover Esther just as the secondary attack strikes.

Thorny Razorvines, animated by the Voice's will, lash out like whips from the edge of the clearing. They snap harmlessly against the newly formed barrier around Esther, their paralytic thorns scraping uselessly against the magical energy. The vines aimed at Vetreus, however, find their mark. With no one to defend him, the thorny tendrils wrap around the draconian's legs, digging in deep and holding him fast.

Esther, seeing the chaos unfold, stands her ground. She begins to play her harp, a frantic, complex melody that weaves a dome of shimmering, multicolored light around the immediate area. Her Disharmony spell intercepts the lashing vines and the erupting roots, the unpleasant, discordant sounds of her magic clashing with the raw life energy of the forest, causing the attacks to momentarily slow and weaken.

The Voice, its initial, powerful assault thwarted by the party's swift, layered defenses, prepares to strike again. But before it can, Severin unleashes his own counter-attack from the safety of Liu's grasp.

A second set of spectral chains shoots across the clearing, but this time they are accompanied by a creeping, unnatural darkness. The chains wrap around the Voice's limbs once more. Simultaneously, a sphere of absolute, pitch-black void coalesces around the entity, swallowing all light. From the outside, the party can see the struggling, Penny-shaped silhouette within the sphere of darkness, but from inside, the Voice is rendered completely blind.

---

Inside the prison of her own body, Penny fights back. As the entity's power surges, she pushes against its control with her own will, her thoughts a sharp rebuke against the ancient being's actions.

The Voice, momentarily blinded and bound by Severin's spell, falters. The golden light in its eyes flickers erratically. Penny's mental resistance, combined with the external magical assault, creates a fissure in its absolute control. For a brief moment, the serene, goddess-like expression on Penny's face contorts into one of confusion and pain—her own pain. The entity is powerful, but it is not used to a vessel that argues back. The "instrument" is proving to be discordant.

The Voice is now blinded, bound again (however temporarily), and facing internal rebellion. The party has created an opening.

"My word!"

That was all Esther could offer to the frantic scene before her. Spells were abound, and in the frey, Liu was using his legs to do what Severin could not. For Esther the temptation was to run, but even a novice mage understood the dangers of running while trying to cast a spell. That was only for those with special training, and Esther’s focus simply wasn’t there yet for a spell of this magnitude. But while she had been spared from the attack, Vetreus had not. But that was okay. Griselda would free him in time. Now wasn’t the time to get distracted. They would free the maid, and tif they couldn’t help themselves, Esther or one of the others could offer help. But she hoped it would be her, because she had something smart she could say.

Or at least, that was the idea.

It seemed like there might be an opening to do something. Esther Scuffed her way to the side of the entity and attempted to reach through the fog with the limited range of her magic. It looked like the maid might be struggling with the curse that gripped her. She might have an easier time fighting it if they just freed her.

It was worth trying, anyway.

With the spirit momentarily distracted, Liu set the professor down right on his feet and brushed him off ineffectually, informing him that "I will extract the child so you may cut loose without receiving censure," and blazing away once again across the loamy ground recently cleared of debris. Magic protected the fellow creature so Liu felt more secure in speeding away, for the time being. The skeletal form blurred once more and darted right through the center of the encounter, and then out of the edge of the clearing, but not all at the same speed. It was a white streak to the child, which he then picked up gingerly, and at first began to run at an entirely human speed. By the time he was out of the clearing, it was just a little faster than the fastest person, and over the entire trip to the outside of the forest, he crossed carefully into a blur and out of one, avoiding the spiny hazards carefully and scooping up the infant. Rapidly using his [Special Sense: Spatial], he stuck to a manageable range and located a nook of some kind, a den of herbivores or a hollow tree. He avoided tree branches as unfortunately crows have compunction when a vulnerable meal is presented.

Swiftly depositing the child there, he bundled his coat up and laid it on the child, trying to leave space to breathe, just to further muffle the sound and perhaps ward off insects. He stood once more and turned to face the forest, its dark corners and angry trees more intimidating now that he knew what was at stake. After a moment's reprise he moved to dart back to the fight, leaving the child behind him regardless of its response to it all. Children's cries grew unable to reach his heart long before he ever became a monster in form.

1. Fast B moving toward a location designated by:
2. Spatial Sense D
3. Deposit child using that information

Cooldowns:
0/4 B
1/3 C
0/2 D

@DoubleChecker@Book @Red Hood @pkken

Even without control, the pain Penny felt while trying to wrestle back control was immense. Even if it was all internal rather than physical it didn’t make the experience any more pleasant. The pain was unbearable, an intense burning that only grew the more she struggled. Feeling some give in the spirits resolve gave her the encouragement she needed to not give up. Penny tried to push against it even harder with more vigor than before to gut out the pain to outlast it as much as she could stand to bear. “If that is all you got then you won’t be able to keep me in here for too long, not with your crusade against cleanliness, you won’t disorganize and stir up a mess on my watch….” gritting against the overwhelming power of the entity as she wrestled with it for control bitterly.


She had to muster up every ounce of willpower she could get. The efforts of the group seemed to be helping her own cause as much as her efforts had helped them in return. The more she fought and struggled the more clear her mind became, the more aware of what was happening, the more determined to keep on fighting against its control. She could feel the control of her own body at the tips of her fingers, tantalizingly out of reach."Get out now...your time in control is over!" One final opening presented to the group that she hoped they would take for both her sake and their own. She was sure they would think of something as they had come off as a reliable bunch. She needed one last push to get her over the finish line and to rid her of the entity's control. It was all up to her new found allies, who she hoped despite only having met that they would do her the favor of helping her break free of the beings control.

​

Titles
[Monster], [Undead], [Monster - Mundane], [Monster - Evolved], [Necromancer] - [#2d7d38]
Noteworthy Perks: [Evolved] - gain the title evolved. Something about your physiology or aura identifies to others you are of a higher species than your peers. Gain a +1 to social exchanges with others of your racial tree.
[Menace] - An aura of fear emanates from the creature at all times that makes lower grade creatures take a -1 effectiveness on attacks against monster or monster allies.

Noteworthy Perks: Resilient C (28) [Aging/Fatigue and Exhaustion/Suffocation/Surprised]

Asset Goal: ?

For a moment, Severin just observed the creature and how it tried to fight against the magical shackles to pinned it in place. His face betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts, his gaze was analytical. From the look on his face, it was clear that he regarded that entity, that primal presence, as a thing more than anything else. His concentration was total, neither looking nor even nodding at Liu as the monster had prompted to take the child somewhere safe. No.

And after a long moment of seeing it squirm and seeing Esther approach it, he had finally come to a decision: the Voice of the Verdant was lacking.

"Unimpressive, seems like my search this time around didn't lead me to an interesting found." His expression was still unchanging, yet took on a colder and more distant edge. "Time to put you away. I will decide on what purpose can you serve eventually." The professor lifted one gloved hand, pointing at the creature shrouded in darkness. "Away with you."

With his words, a portal would appear just behind the gigantic Voice. With swirled with a sickly green color, miasma leaving the entrance. And from it, a cacophony of ghastly, sorrowful moans and wails accompanied spilled out. Ethereal hands reached out from it, semi-transparent, grasping for something: for the avatar. "Some time there will temper your nerves." A smile finally grew on Severin's lips, the kind that didn't reach his eyes. [Action 1/2/3]

Action 1/2/3 - Magic C + Magic Range E (100ft) + Magic Selective E + Componentless Magic C + Affinity Element [Darkness] F + Affinity Tangle (1) E + Portal F [Purgatory] + Teleport D + Sixth Sense D [Spirits and Soul-tethers] + Affinity Vorpal E + Control Environment D + Energized C - C Grade 2 Post Cooldown - 13 Base Effectiveness

[If you are interested in joining a setting like this, check out: roleplayerguild.com/topics/196759-ise…]

RP GOAL - Find Penny?

@DoubleChecker - Severin Vaust Asset Goal: ?
@Book - Liu Fei Asset Goal: ?
@pkken - Vetreus Draedora Asset Goal: ?
@Red Hood - Esther Keaten Asset Goal: ?
@Nakushita - Penny "Iron Maiden of Pax" Asset Goal: ?



The clearing holds its breath, the air thick with the tension of a battle frozen in a moment of opportunity. The Voice of the Verdant, blinded and bound within Severin's sphere of absolute darkness, thrashes against its magical prison. Inside, Penny's own spirit wages a desperate war, her willpower a tiny, defiant spark against the overwhelming presence of the Heart.

The party acts in perfect, unspoken concert.

Fei Liu, seeing the entity contained, makes his move. He becomes a silent blur, streaking across the clearing. He gently scoops up the terrified child, Lily, and vanishes back into the labyrinth's winding paths, his speed a promise of safety for the innocent caught in this supernatural conflict.

With the child secured, the final act begins.

Esther, seizing the opening, scuffs to the side of the sphere of darkness. She reaches out, not with her hands, but with her magic. A gentle, precise ribbon of musical energy, born from a soft strum of her harp, passes through the dark veil. It isn't an attack. It is a careful, surgical tool. The ribbon finds the glowing, parasitic roots that crown Penny's head and wrap around her body, and with a delicate touch, it begins to peel them away, loosening the entity's physical grip on its host.

At the same time, inside the void of her own mind, Penny gives one final, desperate push. Fueled by the external assault on the entity, her will surges.

This combined assault—Esther's magic from without and Penny's will from within—is the final crack in the entity's control. The golden light in Penny's eyes flickers violently, and a shriek of pure frustration, a sound of both primordial power and a human voice, echoes from within the sphere of darkness.

It is then that Severin, having watched the proceedings with the cold, detached interest of a collector, delivers the final verdict. He lifts a single, gloved hand.

Behind the struggling, blinded entity, the very air tears open. A portal, swirling with a sickly green miasma, yawns into existence. From its depths, a cacophony of sorrowful, ghostly wails spills out into the clearing. Hundreds of semi-transparent, ethereal hands reach out from the portal, grasping, pulling, seeking the raw spiritual energy of the Heart.

The Voice has no defense. The spectral hands seize the primordial entity, not Penny's physical body, but the very essence of the Heart that possesses her. They pull the golden, screaming spirit from its host, dragging it inexorably toward the ghastly gateway. The glowing roots wither and fall away. The light in Penny's eyes extinguishes, replaced by her own terrified, exhausted gaze.

The primordial spirit is dragged into the portal. For a moment, a smile—the first genuine expression of satisfaction he has shown—touches Severin's lips. The portal snaps shut, and the wailing ceases.

Silence.

Penny collapses to the ground, her body her own once more, trembling and gasping for air. The unnatural presence in the forest is gone. The oppressive atmosphere lifts, replaced by the simple, mundane quiet of a dark, damp wood. The battle is over. The Voice has been silenced.

(I think I just barely qualify)

And just like that, it was over.

Esther couldn’t monitor the entire battlefield, but she trusted everyone was doing what they could to ensure no one else got hurt. Did Severin just capture that thing? That didn’t matter right now. With the immediate threat removed, they needed to tend to the maid. Or at least, make sure she was okay.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

As much as Esther wanted to rush up to the maid and help her up, she also knew that wasn’t a great idea at present. It would be best to observe from a distance for now.

"Because if you are, we should probably get going before something else decides to corrupt us."

What a crazy adventure. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, but it did look like they might all get out of here. They even managed to rescue that girl, so technically the size of their party would be even larger once they got out of here.

She still had questions of course. Many of them would likely remain unanswered for a long time, but she was even curious about her companions. Liu the dapper skeleton, Severin the scholar, the now silent maid, Lily, and-

Was Vetreus still stuck?

With a sigh, Esther turned to look at the haughty man and the floating noodle trying to pull him out of the vines.

"My lord, might I suggest you add a gardener to your court? You don’t seem suited to the task yourself."

She approached the dragon pair to offer her assistance.

Liu was able to gather that the fight was over from general signs. The feeling was telling, his spatial awareness was another clue from a distance that the situation was resolved. He turned around and sped back to the location where he stowed the child to pick her up to return to that clearing a few moments later. With a quick proffer, he showed the crew that baby and secured it against his torso. It was probably best they return this thing where it belongs. Liu was glad in this moment for a lack of flesh. He could most easily tune out the outside world as it pertains to smell. As long as it has been separated and as long as it has been missing, he chose to not smell and not imagine the odor wafting from the baby's swaddling.

"I do not recall..." he looked toward the pile of rubble to his right. Though the little mounds of splintered wood and furniture were ordered in their placement, he was not planning on finding the book in their chaotically deposited contents. He continued again, "I do not recall the journal informing us of where this little one came from. Are any of you familiar with child care? It was never something I had the... pleasure to participate in," he asked, "I am sure the duchy can take care of locating the baby's parents. Perhaps the kidnapping was done without violence," he wondered aloud.

"Speaking of violence, how did you all finally get rid of the spirit?" he asked idly, holding the baby away from his body carefully, making sure not to hold it the wrong way up or anything overly harmful like that. He began looking over it a little to make sure it wasn't in the process of perishing.

@DoubleChecker@Book @Red Hood

It had all felt like a dream,if it wasn’t for the pain she would have thought the whole experience was just a part of her imagination. Her current surroundings showed signs of the struggle that had happened outwardly while her own inner struggle had played out. Her current state kept her from surveying the area too far from where she laid. She felt utterly and totally drained and like she had just run the most intense marathon of her entire life as even the slightest bit of movement brought pain. She would have to remember not to let another being take her body for a joy ride again any time soon.

She at least could hear what was being said, answering it was another issue entirely on the other hand. She found she had just enough strength to lift up her right hand and give a thumbs up gesture hoping it would suffice the giant woman’s question as she had no answer for what Liu wished answered. This was the first she had heard of a child since she had been possessed and focused on resisting the entity's control. Where it had come from, why it was here of all places was a mystery she had no answer for as the powerful being had made no mention of it to her while she was under its control.

Though she had her own problems she had to take care of first before she could worry about another. Mustering up as much strength as she could she tried to slowly but surely push herself up from where she laid upon the ground. Taking her time to slowly rise up to a knee as she knew she wouldn’t be able to rush things. Once she had gotten that far she took time to take a breather, working on getting enough energy and will power mustered up to get fully back to her feet which she wasn’t looking forward to. For now she would leave the child and the question of what to do next up to the others.

​

Titles
[Monster], [Undead], [Monster - Mundane], [Monster - Evolved], [Necromancer] - [#2d7d38]
Noteworthy Perks: [Evolved] - gain the title evolved. Something about your physiology or aura identifies to others you are of a higher species than your peers. Gain a +1 to social exchanges with others of your racial tree.
[Menace] - An aura of fear emanates from the creature at all times that makes lower grade creatures take a -1 effectiveness on attacks against monster or monster allies.

Noteworthy Perks: Resilient C (28) [Aging/Fatigue and Exhaustion/Suffocation/Surprised]

Asset Goal: ?

Severin took nothing, but a moment gazing at the infant as Fei Liu collected her once more. “I’m afraid that particular knowledge is outside my field of expertise.” The necromancer and diapers clearly didn’t mix. “As for her origins, I have a hunch that she is actually a resident of the Republic, rather than the Duchy.” He said with confidence, even if he didn’t over-explain it where that came from. “Regardless, I’m sure some authority-figure of Aslan will care just enough to go after her family, if she has one, that is.”

His hazel eyes drifted towards Penny, analyzing the woman momentarily. “With the phenomena recorded, the being dealt with, I feel like our business in here has come to an end.” Turning towards the path the came from, he pointed towards it with his cane. “The carriage is still waiting for us.” Declaring so, he began walking towards immediately after, peering over his shoulder towards the group. “This Labyrinth is done.”

1. **Narrators Involved**
- Maxxob - Grade S

3. **Summary of the Roleplay**
- After having recorded enough of the magical phenomenon, The Voice of the Verdant ended up taking possession of Penny. The party fought against it, until it relented and released her. Severin trapped the creature inside his own domain. Their business in these woods have come to an end.

5. **Criminal Acts Perpetrated**
- None

6. **Lore to Establish**
- None

7. **Partial Participants**
- None

9. **Full-Time Participants**
- Esther, discord.com/channels/5207614178892185…, Red, Standing Grade E
- Penny "Iron Maiden of Pax", discord.com/channels/5207614178892185…, LS922, Standing Grade F
- Fei Liu, discord.com/channels/5207614178892185…, Fei Liu, Standing Grade C
- Severin Vaust, discord.com/channels/5207614178892185…, Maxxob, Standing Grade S

10. **Characters with Point Boosters**
- Esther - Attentive Student F

12. **Assets/Titles Roleplayed For**
- Severin Vaust - The Voice of the Verdant: Trapped inside Severin's purgatory, its uses remain to be decided.
- Esther - See Church E

13. **Characters with [Wanted]**
- None

14. Criminal Titles
- None

15. **Special Skills or Assets(downtime activities)**
- None

16. **Transactions Performed**
- None

18. **Character Sheet Oddities**
- None

19. **Aftermath **
- None

20. **Narrator Bonuses**
- None

21. **Additional Notes**
- None