Crusader Lord

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Sophia von Zeerover

---

As she looked back, watching the greater horror leave the boat, watching chain and rubble bound Monster Queen being hefted up in the air...the pirate's attention was not totally on the situation itself. As the heat of battle thrummed in her veins, even as the flaring hunger of her darker side prodded at her psyche to be satiated, one thing stood out above all others. The glint of a familiar silverlight, pale skin, and the teeth of a great and dark maw. Sophia did not even speak, gritting her teeth as her body seemed to move without a second thought and plummeted off of the rear of the Dutchman as it continued to steeply rise up into the rainy skies of Penrose.

Brown feathered, hawk-like wings erupted from the girl's back, though rather than flap about they merely helped steer her through the wind and the chill and the rain towards her target. It was almost as if time was moving in slow-motion for her, at least to her perception, though her Boarding Axe and rings and Chain Arm seemed to thrum with magic as she darted like an arrow towards the open maw of the beast. A great maw, a mass of deathly teeth and a slavering tongue, and yet without hesitation the winged pirate dove right into its face (not mouth) with an almighty roar on her lips and her axe already brought up to fire.

She could feel the rings on her fingers get hot, as mana surged into them as a little magical barrier coated her body. She could feel the surge of her mana, entering into her Boarding Axe and supercharging its attack and nearly making it shake in her hand. She could even feel as much mana as she could squeeze into the largest possible magical attack she was forcing out, the warm glow of white-hot gunpowder surrounding her body and coating the shimmering golden magical shield now covering her body briefly as she flew in. Though even as the teeth of the monster moved into place about her, even as her whole being fell right into the formerly howling monster's mouth at top speed, her goal was simple...

...Give em' hell.

"NOT MY ONLY FRIEND YOU BITCH!!!"

If she succeeded, several things would seemingly happen all at once.

The pirate's axe would fire off in a mighty blaze of fire and shot and powder that erupted into the monster's face. Even her own body would seemingly erupt in great flame and light, the Focused Assault attack spell erupting off of her briefly shield-covered body like she was a living bomb. Gunpowder magic in all of its explosive glory would shine like a brilliant star in that moment, shining amidst the dark and the rain and terror that had become prevalent in Penrose at this time.

But what of Sophia? Would she succeed in saving her scantily-clad ally? What of the Monster Queen? Would she be stopped for a moment, or perhaps even turn her mouth enough to actually devour the pirate? What of Amaryllis? Would she have a chance to escape?

Only the GMs the following moments would tell.

For now, however, for just that very moment the ring of one magical girl's battle cry and the din of explosions might be heard as they tore into the night.

---

Serenity Gates

And

"Super-Duper Magical Patron Party Girl Chulhu-Chan"

---

The infuriated magical maid was barely able to dodge the tentacle of the monster queen in her blind rage, but even so she didn't stop attacking. She lashed out with her duplicating knives, throwing them in a concentrated 'fire' as she multiplied and thew them, multiplied them and threw. There wasn't much for her to say, though at least her attack were directly aimed at any allies or the ilk. Yet the former horror girl...wasn't exactly in her best state of mind either. Overcome by the swelling of emotion and raw fury at the disgusting scene and Hyun for eating the dead and deceased, she was attacking with single-minded focus and attention. It was perhaps the most furious and angry she maid had ever been, or perhaps even felt, since her 'creation'.

Meanwhile, a certain Greater Horror looked on as she watched the bodies rapidly disappear in the spreading fog. Not paying any mind to the lack of attention on her, however, she seemed content enough to watch on as the magical girls attacked and struck at the now in-the-air monster queen. She seemed to be entranced at the ferocity, the tragedy, and the insanity of the entire situation itself really, though not in a manner that made it come off as thinking light on things. But this was it. The light of humans, fighting for their very lives and world against the things that slithered in the night...A beautiful thing indeed.

At least, even if someone working for that big-meanie-head-alien-goddess that had dropped on her head so long ago was somewhere in this area. No hard feelings though~

---

@Ariamis@ERode@Flamelord@twave@BrokenPromise

Fate/Castle of Glass

Johann Maximilian Wald

Main Room, Red Team Mansion, Downtown Residential District, Black Rock

---

"By the way, Lancer reports that there is no danger around our base here at the moment. Yet a strange presence in the open gardens is there, and likewise some of the enemy might be at the mines currently.

As for the plan? Hmm..."

The young man seemed to think for a moment, a hand coming up to his chin with the metal instrument still clutched in his fingers.

"Drawing out their servants should be no problem, once they get wind of their familiars being shot down. A seemingly lone enemy in a vulnerable position poses a great target to try to rush, depending on who's giving the orders. At least to give my two cents.

Given that, though, I would suggest sending out our familiars to scout for a base or other presences while Lancer catches up with Archer. Keep the enemy busy, keep their eyes off of our familiars and let whoever it is mull about at the mines. "Divide et impera".

...Thoughts?

He was no genius of stratagems or the ilk, just a mage and a student of the Clock Tower making an educated guess based on his own knowledge and ideas. Simple as that. It was almost like a game of chess, but with a lot more dangers and a lot more to lose. Get too cocky, as some other magi could be, and they'd be dead before sunrise. Move too slowly or not at all, and victory would remain out of their grasp. Even so, he felt it proper to defer back to his ally in order to see if a consensus could be come to. Lancer's information was already a boon to what was going on anywho.

Though speaking of his servant...

'Danke, Lancer. I am trying to propose a plan in the meantime, something to take advantage of the enemy splitting their forces...at least if I understood your information correctly.

Finally got my runes done as well. Should form a temporary bounded field around me when activated, albeit it's one-use due to the time I had to make these."

@Anza@ColourlessKing

---

Saber

Roof, Church, Downtown Residential District, Black Rock

---

A little ways from the radio tower, a servant knelt in prayer upon the large roof of the building. His attire was that of a glorious king, from his crown down to the battle attire that donned his form. A monarch chosen of god, a ruler of the Holy Land itself, and yet his appearance was just that of a...boy. Yet even so he was here, having been summoned to claim a most precious prize: The Holy Grail. The cup that had held Chirst's blood, or even not, oh how glorious the opportunity he had been blessed with! God was looking down upon him once more, it seemed, providing the chance to once again face adversity and seek to spread his glory. Once again he would seize victory, charge into the heat of battle, and with his wit and the holy blade he carried now it would be akin to the old days.

...Minus those Saracens of course. Maybe. And if not, then perhaps there would be another chance to strike at his fated foe with allies by his side?

Ah, but he was perhaps getting too lost in thought for now. There would be plenty of chance to battle, but they had to strike well and true to achieve victory! To this end his master had sent him here some time ago, allowing him to pray but also 'keep an eye out' for things going on. Though he had almost collapsed upon hearing the voice of a saint, a sweet saint called to moderate this conflict! He wished to have words with her later, if there was chance, to peak with her about her life.

Though even as he thought to himself, his master was now sending him word again. Good. Something was going on though, it seemed, and...he was to finally join the fray? Good.

Standing up once more, the lad swiftly dusted himself off and glanced towards the radio tower. After a moment he would merely smile, then, before leaping forward towards the next roof with the mighty speed of a servant. He was coming, and his allies would not be forgotten in their adversity. He had prayed long for them and those involves in this, even for the city itself. Even so, he could feel it in his bones. The din of battle.

The Holy Grail War had finally begun.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Sophia von Zeerover

And

"Super-Duper Magical Patron Party Girl Chulhu-Chan"

---

'CREEEEEEEEAK!!!'

As the anchor chain came bursting out of the warehouse ceiling, and the yell of an ally came out, the ghost ship frankly responded before the pirate girl even could. The large chain and anchor of the ship shot out on seemingly its own volition, meeting with the growing mass of Amaryllis' chains that were reaching up for it. The silvery chains would ultimately intertwine with the Dutchman's own anchor and chain, and through the Patron's magic seemingly fuse into it to anchor them to its own frame in the end. This would both solidly attach the magic chains to he boat, and their cargo encase on Amaryllis' end, but would also provide a strong attachment the Dutchman could move forward with.

And move it did, without any hesitation.

"HEAVE HO, YA CRUSTY PILE O' PLANKS!!!"

Sophia egged on her patron as it would suddenly move away once more with the chains attached, moving at full force with the intent to pull the monster queen up and out of the building and high up into the air. Like one of those kids 'fishing for a prize' games at a Halloween event for little children. Except in this case, it was a massive ghost ship of superb size yanking with all of its might to drag away a far more dangerous 'prize'.

Though as it did so, the skimpily dressed and twin-tailed gray-ish haired girl seemed to jog over to the back of the boat. She also had-..wait, was that a plank of wood she just pulled up out of the ship-?!

'CREEEAK?!'

"I know those mean little Horrors aren't your favorite, but doooooon't worry new bestie's patron~! Imma' get down there and just place this plank to let you help zap up those broken little corpses! Not doing anything myself, just placing something of yours is all~

At least to help get them away from the big meanie on the end of those chains!"

'..CRE...CREEEEAK. CREEEAK CREEAK.'

After hearing the defeated creaking sound in her head, the greater horror prepared to jump off before-

“You should not be there, Cthulhu. Leave the premises.”

Ah, one of those boring things had appeared. Boo.

“One of your ilk is enough.”

Oooh, spicy!

"Soreeee, but I'm just here to watch little Umu! Try to make me leave, though, and imma' just have to put you in the timeout corner for big meanie-heads!

Besides, I'm just going down to get a better look at things with a souvenir! Noooot doing anything here myself, unless you think someone here wants to contract with me and you're just worried~"

Without leaving even a moment for a response after she gave the Puchuu a wink, Cthulhu leapt off and began to slide down the chain and back in the direction of the warehouse. She would then jump off from there, at some point, streaking through the air downwards until-

'CRASH!!!'

...Maybe that wasn't such a good landing after all. For Amaryllis and company in the warehouse, they would see this 'Horror-party girl' seemingly crash in through the roof in turn and face-plant on the floor. Hard.

However, a literal moment later a small plank of wood would also land near the crashed Cthulhu on the ground. This, however, radiated the aura of Sophia's patron...and frankly was a part of it for that matter. From it a light mist would begin to form, one moving out quickly from it to try to cover the floor and corpses on it.

If the Patron's idea actually worked, the dead the mist would cover would begin being magically transported into the hold of the Dutchman. At least to keep it away from Horrors, which was simply the being's true aim in this instance.

Though as the Horror avatar stood up again, she did quickly move to speak with the same valley-girl tone of voice at least. No goofy smile though.

"Owies...I'm fine! My newest bestie said I could come watch down here while you all try to take care of that big monster girl trying to eat the dead~!

Also something about her patron trying to help protect the bodies for now and giving them back later? Ummm...I think that's it!"

---

Serenity Gates

---

"T-Thanks, Alicia...w-wasn't my choice in this case t-though," the magical maid said, accepting the hand up before trying to dust herself off-. Ah. She had landed on the charred body. Crispy body. That was NOT going to come out of her memory anytime soon, or ever.

Yet despite trying to keep focus after following her friend and ally into the next room, though, the magical girl stopped cold in her tracks next to Alicia. The smells of fried, sizzled, and magic-roasted bodies and parts that were scattered all over the floor brought on a swelling of memories that...currently were not pleasant. No, could never be pleasant back then or ever again. Her human body also seemed to agree with her new sentiments about what she was perceiving right now, however, as it suddenly and without question pushed her stomach in a massive and terrible heave. A portion of putrid bile came up, and while she hastily put her hand up to try to keep everything down even the magical girl's hand could not stop her body as she ultimately lurched and threw up on the floor through her own fingers.

This was the sort of thing Soth might have enjoyed...but not her.

After her proverbial lunch had been spilt out, however, what followed after was a surge of something that seemed to rise from within and permeate her whole being. A wave of energy that seemed to push her body away from further retching, and left her clenching her teeth as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve.

It was a simple thing, however, something that she'd seen time and time again as part of a Horror:

Emotion. Anger. Fury. Rage. An all-consuming hatred for what lied before her eyes, and the scream of her humanity against the things that had done this.

From this a spitting, guttural roar would emit from the maid girl's mouth.

"You...YOU BITCH!!!"

Seeing Soth's memories was one thing, it allowed her to distance herself from the carnage. But this...it defied all ideas she had of mortal perceptions. It was so new, so sudden, and yet so vile she hadn't been prepared for it. She couldn't have been prepared...or ever prepared for it.

Serenity would barely bother to wipe her hands off on her skirt, before drawing out her knifes and taking a battle stance as the monster queen was wrapped up and chains shot out of the ceiling. It was crystal-clear from her body language, however, that all thought had literally gone out the window and that she was about to straight-up charge the chain-and-debris-covered monster before her. No hesitation. Just pure, unadulterated, and raw human emotion.

---

@ERode@Flamelord@AtomicNut@Ariamis

From Oubliette to Oublioth [R.I.P]

@Xaltwind The holy tiddies are not trying to drag Serafaye and get others to come along. Yes. Totally not a bad idea to run down a potentially blocked off crusty old alley while trying to keep a total weirdo safe from harm. Yup. :P

From Oubliette to Oublioth [R.I.P]

Yinha Karathros

---

Thank goodness for Kaze and his strength. And somewhat being in an odd group that all didn't want to die at least. That much the High Elf felt for certain as the Lizardman and Paladin and oddly-dressed girl seemingly took care of the scout in good time. Albeit, it also was not a solution to their situation of being surrounded by Imperials who it wasn't hard to think had a death wish for them. All of them. Probably. Or worse, if she wanted to think about certain stories she'd heard in the past.

Ugh.

Yet even more odd were seemingly the action of Miss Serafaye, between a seemingly weak attempt to 'cast magic' and then...melting a sword in her hands and its reforming again?! It was an event so strange, even for a mage who'd seen some very strange and mentally-scarring things in her lifetime so far. But this, this person, she was getting more and more eyebrow-raising by the second. What in the name of the High Lords of Alimar was she, and why was she even here in the first place?

More importantly to the current situation, however, the way the scout came through didn't seem to be an option now. Yes. She had to focus on this task at hand and not die or get taken as a slave or something.

"Less time talking, more running please!" the Angelic Mage said as she hastily ran over, grabbed Serafaye's hand, and pulled her as quickly as possible towards a nearby alley...at least in the hopes it was a better escape route than the main road, "This way!"

She really hoped it was better than the main road. Really really hoped it would be better than the main road. She also hoped that the horned girl's hand would not suddenly now melt her flesh or something through it. That would be...rather inconvenient really.

Fate/Castle of Glass

Johann Maximilian Wald

Main Room, Red Team Mansion, Downtown Residential District, Black Rock

---

A magecraft originating from Scandinavia, Runes had been first created by the god Odin. These "originals" were aptly known as "Primeval Runes", and the power they boasted was nothing to sneeze at. Then there were the old runes, which were the descendants of these originals. Then from the old runes had come modern runes. Ultimately this magecraft had been watered down to a mere shadow of what had once been, a comparably tiny spark igniting a joint...at least as compared to the light of that great bonfire of its origins.

With this in mind, many had sought to "link the fire" that was that old tradition and bring it back. They sought to reclaim what had once been lost, eve a thamaturgical system founded by a god. Yet especially for those among his ancestors, this very dream had been so very long-sought after that their very existence was invested into it with a sincere earnest. Financial capital, diplomatic clout, precious time, and so much more blood, sweat, and tears had been spilt in order to actualize something that seemed to be a goal line that remained ever so distant.

Then that dream had been colored later on by the temptation of touching 「 」...just as so many other magi aspired to. Truth. Knowledge and power untold. Then that had led to now in turn.

It was too late to back down now, though it wasn't like he intended to either. All of this work would become something, mean something, and he would ensure that would be the case going onwards.

"Hmm..."

Yet it was almost karmic, in a sense, how he'd turned out. Just like his grandfather and a small scattering of past family heads in turn. So far from the normal path of a magus, and yet still treading forward upon it with a sense of sheer impunity and an abnormal savviness of the times. He still blamed himself in part for how he'd become after being sent 'there', really, but there was no changing the past either. It at times made him want to laugh aloud, which had admittedly scared his attendants once or twice before, as if wondering that this was all some joke of a grand design. Or, perhaps, was it fate?

Yet the words of his father only seemed to ring in his ears.

"Hahaha! Yes, the path of a Magus is one that we have trod for many a generation. All abilities, all efforts, all assets, everything and one's self devoted to finding 'Truth' and knowing it.

..But then I look at my own life. None ever thought I, of all my father's children, would come to amount to anything as a mage. Seemingly hundreds of years of labor gone to waste, some cursing my name as a byword by the time my education was done, and yet in the end I grasped the reins and furthered our dream more than my father could have possibly imagined.

All because I came to continue seeking out that far-flung dream through a somewhat different lens."

???

Standing before his bedroom window, dressed in a high-class black suit and matching tie, the man simply stared outwards into the sky and upon the German landscape with an almost empty gaze. A lit cigar sat in his right hand, clutched tightly but gingerly to not drop it as a thin trail of wispy smoke coiled up into air from its softly-glowing tip.

"Hmph. You did always have a way with words in some fashion, father, but more so a way with what you aimed for and achieved. Multiple new acquisitions and duplicates, a veritable treasure trove of knowledge and progress that I can scarcely imagine doing myself. We've come so much closer to 'It', and yet..."

Sighing, the man pulled his hand up and took another long drag on his cigar.

"The boy has made a mockery of our name, some say, a 'schweinhund' that doesn't deserve the crest. I'd already written out the groundwork plans to take Hansel in for training, a replacement I had hoped wouldn't be needed years ago...and yet I stopped there. I stopped there and found myself pausing recalling your words, and the damn stupid things you did, and how much was accomplished, and I just stopped.

Hell, kinda off already starting off like you said you did. For one thing, he finally re-acquired 'that' old journal your great-grandfather lost all those years ago. Something about a 'eBay' or whatever? Bah.

...Even so, what's in that old journal has been vastly more than simply promising. It's the treasure trove you spoke of back then. A veritable miracle for the future, especially after how that journal got lost in the first place, which even I can't fully process the contents of in my lifetime."

Another long sigh came out from between the man's lips, though at the same time the corners of his mouth began to turn upwards.

"A bunch of damned fools all of you, scattered like landmines on our family, laughed at, and yet you moved it all forward every single time. So I'll let him keep going, since he's been working on it anyways, and see if the fool of a boy really becomes the next 'you'.

If not, well, I won't hesitate in pulling the trigger myself and taking our Crest back. That I promise you. I won't be succeeded by a failure. Our work will not go to waste."

---

Whenever Isaac would potentially and finally make it to the Main Room, he would at least find a certain German magus sitting in a chair next to the coffee table. Donning very casual clothes and wielding a magecraft-treated metal instrument in his hand, he was seemingly etching runes into a set of stones that sat in front of him on the polished wood. A look of laser-focused concentration seemed to be on his face as he worked, however, and already visible was a small set of roughly ten rune-inscribed rocks were placed nearby on the table as well.

However, he without a doubt still smelled like a joint...at least after what he'd done earlier that day.

"Was wondering when you'd arrive. Archer seen if everyone else is in position so far? Any sight of enemy movement yet?"

Johann spoke to his fellow Master without batting an eye at him, much less even take the moment to look up, as he seemingly finished off and set aside his latest rune.

It was one thing when he'd hotboxed his attic-space workshop earlier after arrival, mostly to get himself high and able to focus himself more on the preparations at hand. The obvious complaints were obvious in their own way, when it came to a bunch of stuffy mages and odd types around him, but that hadn't phased him either. People tended to focus on the changes in his attitude at the Clock Tower, if they knew of his existence, and bluntly speaking many had just assumed the worst.

Still, none of his classes had complained about his getting work done. None of his teachers saw an issue with handing in assignments or projects or the ilk...frankly the opposite. Even his father hadn't complained about his continued work ethic, at least, after he'd sent him that journal he'd found online. Sure he got high and was more laid-back than before, but hell wasn't it stressful enough to be a mage anyways? He had to focus on his work, not kill himself over it and waste 900 years of progress. Flat had the right idea with keepin' it cool, at least, and to him that was good and all. But he still had a serious ethic in regards to his work that still resonated very true even now.

Then again, having people think less of you than get stuck in the sight-blocking brown-nosing some did was better in his eyes. He didn't mind if they hated him, because he did his own thing and he continued his work as a Magus. He'd never forgotten about the path, he'd just taken a slightly different but still-serious approach. Didn't have to keep a stick-up-the-ass to be a mage, right?

Though in the meantime-

'Hey Lancer, are you seeing anything suspicious around here? Archer's master is just walkin' in, so maybe we'll get to move out soon. Will keep ya' posted as I learn more.

..Though, ah, do please tell me if ya' ever see a stressed out British man and some girl in a gray hood walking around.'

Thanks to Flat for letting him know Teach had left as well. He'd wondered what would happen after sending that letter to tell him what was going on. Not like he could just hide it if he just disappeared, so better to just 'pull the band-aid off' in his mind and let his favorite instructor know anyways.

@ColourlessKing@Anza

A Galaxy Divided (Sci-Fi NRP)

@Lurking Shadow Could be interesting to talk on the Discord about an idea at least! If that would be ok i mean. ^^;

A Galaxy Divided (Sci-Fi NRP)

Interesting! Are outsiders allowed, or perhaps areas that were once colonies but were basically ignored and became self-sufficient as things declined? etc?

A Galaxy Divided (Sci-Fi NRP)

Just a curious passerby who is curious, with a question or two if i may:

1. Are there things like psionic powers, biotics, or the ilk in your RP's universe?

2. Likewise, has the premise been decided upon for the RP itself? :O

From Oubliette to Oublioth [R.I.P]

Posted. Lucky for you, Crusader-face, you posted right before my own post got out. Otherwise you'd been in a whole heckova lot o' hot water! >:(

Edited my post to include the part of Yinha's question to Serafaye, which yielded NATHING! >:3

Enjoy solving the latest problem, you guize~

@Xaltwind

Big Oof.