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@Moonberry
@Tellussoil

Titles
[Human - Mundane], [Noble Ryke Baron] B, [Apprentice Lancer], [Power Potential], [Get Looped], [Dark Knight], [Knight in Black], [Dark Horseman] - #0E0101
Noteworthy Skills: [Resilient Surprised], Regeneration F
Asset Goal: ?

"Petulant fool." Edwin hissed, his three-pronged lance was raised, tip already aiming at Noelle back. What made him pause and not continue whatever he had planned was the small mana pup. As the creature dashed towards him and began pawing his armored greaves, his eyes narrowed. The insistence and sharp whine: something had to be wrong.

It enough to send the dark knight lunging forward. With each shrieked of plate on plate, a thundering footfall followed. Sabatons smashed against the polished marble, each strike heavy enough to leave cracks in his wake. He didn't slow down. He wouldn't slow down.

Edwin kept the maddening rush, ready to trample anyone who got in his way. The three-pronged spear pointed forward, shield held up right beside it. It was a charge without horse.

And, as one of the screens flickered to lane Seven, he slowed infinitesimally. Only enough for his azure eyes to catch on what was really happening on it. Speed increased once more. The scarred beast was seen, but she had little importance to the moment.

The dark horseman crashed through the barrier and into the lane, a bull-rush towards the one holding the masked one holding Aedrianna down. "I WILL STRANGLE YOU WITH YOUR OWN INTESTINES!" He bellowed, veins on his temples bulging, looking ready to burst; The cords on his neck stood out like steel cables; His nostrils flared in quick succession.

When close enough, he winded back his shield arm, bringing it forward with full force, ready to smash the golden masked cultist with it. [Action 3]

Actions:
1 - Movement 20ft
2 - Movement 20ft
3 - Shield Bash - Fighting Style [Lance] C + Generalist [Shield] F + Blight [Lightning] F + Continuing F + Deflect F + Superstrength E + Athletics F - Grade C 3 Post Cooldown - STR A (6) + Shield B (5) + Ability C (4) = 15 Base Effectiveness

[Shield of Brutality and Constancy] - B 2/4
Edwin - C 0/3

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Lest you want everyone to know that you try to mug another contestant without reason" Noelle said to Edwin, still with her back turned to him when she noticed he was pointing his lance at her. A pride so easily triggered that he forgets they were still surrounded by other visitors to the festival.
As the pup started writhing in Noelle’s arms, the mermaid let go of the beast without resistance. She saw it run to Edwin, pawing at his greaves to get his attention, and then run forward down the corridor. It was clear what it wanted to say. Aedri was in danger. Noelle followed without missing a beat till they reached the plaza with all the screens.

Noelle looked at the screens that showed clips from the various lanes. Even a replay of her and Edwin’s fight. Seeing it, she realised how much luck their opponents had to exit that fight with minimal damage, or was it just that her healing was so powerful? Anyway, those two were lucky for that.
Her eyes were glued to the screens. The mana beast, who were also watching the screens, had led them here to see something. And then it happened. The screen jumped to the feed of lane seven. She saw the blond girl and instantaneously recognised her as Aedri. But something was wrong. Where others looked away, distracted by brighter and shinier things, Noelle kept looking. There was another entity. An entity that tried to hide its presence from the feed. And Noelle already had an idea who it might be. The snarling of the mana pup pretty much confirmed that it was the one she thought of. <"It’s him!"> eyes narrowed, and her fin-like ears pressed against the side of her head. She glared at the screen for a second before she rushed after Edwin and the mana beast.

Arriving at lane seven, Noelle witnessed what happened inside from behind the invisible barrier. When the barrier came down, Noelle didn’t jump in like Edwin and the extremely buffed cat person who she doesn’t recognise. Rather, she slowly walked onto the field. Seething with rage, Noelle looked towards the masked freak. <"You!.. How dare you!?>" She said under her breath as she took her lyre in hand. <"GET OFF HER!!!"> With that said, Noelle unleashed her [Rage unleashed: Sirens Scream]. A blast of sound erupted from the mermaid’s mouth, targeting the masked man, blasting his ears out with an extremely loud screech strong enough to blast their victims' brains ears out. Once the scream was over, Noelle came to her senses and remembered the blond girl. "Miss!" She strummed her harp, and [curing water: water veil] enveloped Aedrianna. The water was cool and soothing, healing the girl from pain. Noelle’s gaze was fully focused on Aedri, making sure the girl was not harmed too seriously.

The collision was inevitable.

Steel, claw, and sound struck nearly at once.

The masked judge did not have time to recover his footing.

Brandy’s charge tore into his guard with brutal speed, talons flashing for the throat. Edwin’s shield followed an instant later, the impact thunderous enough to shake the lane itself. The force drove him sideways, posture breaking as necrotic power and raw momentum crushed what little balance he had left.

Then came the sound.

Noelle’s scream ripped through the arena like a blade of pressure, the air itself shuddering as the shockwave struck. The sound was not merely loud. It was invasive. It forced its way inward, rattling bone and thought alike.

The masked man convulsed.

Whatever spellwork or control he had been maintaining collapsed entirely under the combined assault. His grip on Aedrianna loosened, then failed altogether.

Aedrianna Shouted in panic, eyes widening as she looked expectantly at the masked man.

“No!”

But it was already too late.

The medallion at his hand flared violently.

The seven-pointed star ignited, the thorned ivy around it twisting and tightening as if alive. Light bled inward rather than outward, pulling at him in with sudden, terrifying force. The man’s body arched as his scream was cut short, sound swallowed as the token drank deep. His body disintegrated into the token as it fed on his life force. When not even a piece of his clothing was left,

The token clattered to the ground.

It was almost strange, like a little black hole had just opened. And closed.

Aedrianna lay gasping, water still clinging to her skin as Noelle’s magic cooled the worst of the pain. She pushed herself upright shakily, eyes wide, breath uneven, staring at the empty space where the man had been. Then she saw them.

Her gaze found Noelle first.

"Noelle! Thank goodness you're okay!" She threw her arms up and around the girl in a friendly hug. Before she seemed to remember herself and released the girl. Looking a little nervous. "Er...Sorry. Thank you for helping me Noelle. I was just so relieved..."

Her eyes slid towards the muscled cat girl. And Aedri blinked a few times in confusion. Then after a moment her eyes narrowed slightly, recognition tugging at the edges of memory.

“Have we… met before?” she asked quietly. “You feel familiar.”

Before waiting for an answer, she pushed herself up, and staggered toward Edwin as the mana pup bounded to her side, nearly knocking her off balance in its relief. She scooped the creature up without hesitation, pressing her forehead briefly against its fur as it whined and wriggled. She put herself within Edwins hold, before glancing worriedly at the token that lay on the ground.

The seven-pointed star lay inert now, its glow dimmed to a faint, oily sheen. Thorned ivy still etched its surface, but no longer moved.

"We have to be careful with those tokens. The more that it consumes,...the stronger our opponent becomes." Her voice trailed off as Footsteps echoed from above.

An official figure descended into the lane, flanked by attendants and protective sigils. One of the judges, face carefully composed, took in the scene with a long, assessing look.

Bodies gone. Token missing. Contestants shaken but alive.

“It seems a number of contestants have gone missing. And now, a judge.” the judge announced coolly, “This incident will be recorded as an internal security failure.”

Their gaze swept across the group.

“Each of you will be given some monetary compensation for your discretion. We will be handing this...” The woman waved her hand over the token. "To the council for their consideration."

Aedri looked over from her spot in Edwins arms, and started to try and warn the woman. "Those things are connected to-" But the woman held up a hand.

"I am certain I do not want to know. I'll leave this to the council to consider. And you should do the same." She frowned, giving a specific look the the ones gathered. Then attendants moved quickly to seal the lane.

The crowd beyond never truly understood what they had witnessed.

And the Pavilion, for all its light and spectacle, felt just a little more hollow than it had before. Aedrianna looked to Noelle and Brandy with a small and weak smile, still within Edwins arms.

"Would either of you be up to grabbing a bite to eat together and catching up?" Her chuckle was weak but it was an attempt to reach out to old friends, before she lost them again.

Narrators Involved
MoonBerry
Narrator Grade: S

Summary of the Roleplay
Edwin and Aedrianna enter a talent show in the duchy to try and investigate more of the cult of the seven pointed star talisman they keep running into. Aedrianna meets Noelle her old friend and finds Noelle doesn't remember her. Noelle And Edwin find evidence that the people are being manipulated mentally. And the Gold Masked Judge is suspicious. They're forced to work together in a team match. After they win, they realize Aedriannas own match went sideways. And she's being attacked by the masked Judge. They take him down, but the talisman consumes him.

The other judges come in just a little too late, and promise compensation for discretion, announcing that several contestants have gone missing. And declare they'll be handing the Talisman over to the Council for consideration.

Criminal Acts Perpetrated
None

Lore to Establish
It seems there's something strange that's beginning to cause problems around the Duchy and other areas. A Seven Pointed star talisman has been found where several people dissapeared.

Partial Participants
Kitty: Brandy Tomoko

Full-Time Participants
Maxxob: Edwin Stormcrest: A Standing
Tellusoil: Noelle Nishi: A Standing

Characters with Point Boosters
None

Assets/Titles Roleplayed For
Edwin: Keep in Northern Ryke F -> Keep in Northern Ryke E (Via the compensation promised at the end of the roleplay for the discretion and keeping quiet.)

Characters with [Wanted]
none

Criminal Titles
none

Special Skills or Assets(downtime activities)
List characters possessing:
Buddy skills.
Masterwork skills.
Complex assets.
downtime activities.

Transactions Performed
none

Character Sheet Oddities
none
Aftermath
There's whispers of a strange cult revolving around a symbol of a seven pointed star, and people dissapearing near it.

Narrator Bonuses
none
Additional Notes