thewizardguy

Mordhaben's Institute for Aspiring Mages [Gaslamp Fantasy] [Completely Dead]

Matt Harken - Mordhaben's Proper

With some astonishment, Matt beheld the rather unceremonious entrance of the administrator. While he had certainly heard that there would be chimera among the staff he hadn't imagined that there were quite so many, nor that they would be quite so.... monstrous. Having never seen a chimera from up close before today Matt couldn't help but stare at the absurd lobster man, and in fact missed Boorkat's entire speech. He had no intention of being a racist, but he was rather worried about what it meant for the school if the person in charge was a monster person. A rather angry monster person, too, if his 'tone'(?) was anything to judge by. It was only the novelty of moving images that snapped Matt back to reality as the film started.

It opened up with the iconic imagery of brave young soldiers in their natural environment. Matt was a bit overwhelmed at the sheer manliness on display, although reassured at the confidence in these people's every movement. Clearly the country was being protected by the best of the best. Unfortunately Matt wasn't exactly soldier material, as he was well aware, although if he were he would have jumped at the chance to join the men in the film. It looked like a good time, after all, and he'd be doing a lot of good. But before Matt could go over the pros and cons of army life the film started to take a sudden dark turn. Some kind of evil fog monster attacked, and seemed to destroy the entire town! Matt was shocked, seeing these brave men suddenly dumbfounded. What was that thing, that it was able to so casually brush past the soldiers and deal so much damage.

The lobster man seemed to be of the opinion that this Terraphage was no longer a threat, but such words were no assurance to Matt. How was anyone supposed to stop that thing if it attacked? Certainly not the lobster. All at once his unwavering faith in the safety of the nation was severely shaken, and the ominous tone of the following message did nothing to assuage the situation. Looking a bit paler he walked into the cafeteria, hoping a bit of good food would set his mind at ease.

Like everything today, the cafeteria was filled with new sights and sounds. And now also smells. The menu was filled with things he didn't recognize, and some he did recognize but wouldn't ever have considered 'food'. Who would eat crickets? Maybe it was for the chimera. After all, there was no way that they'd be allowed to eat people on campus. While he would have to try all these new things (well maybe not the crickets) eventually, after a day filled with strangeness he longed for the comforting embrace of good, simple food. He managed to stuff most of a chicken onto his plate, complimented by baked potatoes slathered in gravy and a crop of carrots. They weren't quite as good as they were back home but no matter where you were, chicken was still chicken. At least that was one thing that would never change. Matt set upon his food with a ravenous appetite that one would not expect of such a small person. In food he found a small piece of home, which would serve him well as his day got ever stranger.

Mealtime was interrupted by a nearby scuffle with a doglike chimera. It barked something at some girl about machinery and being a soldier, licked it's plate a bunch and acted like anything it just did made sense. Matt just shrugged it off. It was a dog person, so it probably didn't know about *people* manners. Although it was a bit rude, even for dogs. Baxter back home was always nothing but pleasant. Absentmindedly Matt wondered if one was supposed to 'train' a chimera or 'educate' them. Would it be offensive if he asked? It probably would be.

Speaking of offensive, some strange girl was loudly announcing that she was looking for a 'friend'. Matt stared for a moment and then looked away, as if protecting his eyes from a bright light. He had found it, after all of these years. That holy grail he had seen only in his dreams. Someone more socially awkward than he was. Aghast he once more glanced in her direction, as she continued to ask people. It seemed she was oblivious to the glances she was getting from the students around her, as well as the concept of 'personal space'. It hurt him in a way he didn't know he could get hurt, in a strange mixture of sympathy and secondhand embarrassment. How could she act like that? Was it even possible for a person to be that clueless? Maybe she was really drunk or something, and would come to regret this later. How horrible it would be for one's first impression to be so thoroughly ruined. Having been a bit of a social recluse all of his life Matt couldn't help but sympathize and, in a rare bout of courage, decided to do something about it. He probably wouldn't be here long anyway, so why not at least try and help this girl while he was here? The warm meal in his belly granted him confidence, and he strode up to the strange girl even as she was attempting to get someone's attention. "Ah, miss, that uh.... isn't how you find friends. You should probably sit down for a bit and sober up." Matt offered, feeling a bit more awkward now that he was actually there.

Mordhaben's Institute for Aspiring Mages [Gaslamp Fantasy] [Completely Dead]

Sorry for the late first post, real life has been a bit busy for me lately.

Mordhaben's Institute for Aspiring Mages [Gaslamp Fantasy] [Completely Dead]

Matt Harken - Mordhaben's Entrance

Mordhaben's.

It was a place he had hidden away in his wildest dreams. Secluded away in that imaginary land of winning lottery tickets and teenage crushes. A daydream of escapism, but never to impinge on reality. After all, magical talent or no, he was nothing more than a countryside farmboy, and Mordhaben's was a place for great men and women to learn the ancient arts. Countless times he had explored it in his head, with grandiose halls of perfectly elegant gentlemen and ladies, all clad in the latest fashions. People with soft hands and commanding eyes, all of whom were at least two meters tall! And there were chimeras, too, no doubt. And monsters. Over the course of these many imaginary adventures he had never once imagined himself as one of these prestigious students.

When the letter of acceptance arrived, he'd laughed and cried with the whole family. They'd held a feast, and invited everyone in the village. He could still remember it quite clearly. The chicken had nearly put him into a food coma. This all happened over a two weeks ago, and yet it still didn't feel entirely real. Like at any moment he'd wake up and find out the entire thing was a dream, and ma was waiting on him to get back to work. But how could he deny the reality of this? He was in the train right now, on the way to that academy he'd never believed he'd see. All around him were those students he had held in such high esteem. And, the most unbelievable part of all, he was supposedly one of them. A first-year student at Mordhaben's Institute.

Nervously, Matt stared into an old book on animation magic. He'd read it cover to cover already, which was good considering his mind was in no state to absorb new information. Unable to actually comprehend the pages he merely stared intently at the writing, overcome with a sickly nervousness that wouldn't let go of his gut. Occasionally glancing at the other students over the worn edges of the book he was able to get some idea of the people he was expected to live and learn with. They looked quite differently from how he imagined them. Their clothes looked more practical than he'd imagined they would, but then again he had no idea what was and wasn't fashionable. Perhaps they were all clad in the latest trends, and they were all secretly judging him for his choice of attire. The cheap suit he'd inherited from his father hung loosely around his shoulders, clearly intended for someone with more bulk. It didn't help that he was squishing himself into the corner in a vain attempt to avoid the notice of the other students.

Wait, was that a spider person? He almost dropped his book in surprise as he stared at the strange amalgamation of human and arachnid traits. Of course he'd been aware that there would be chimera at Mordhaben's, but he'd never seen one before. In his head they had been strange creatures, but he'd never imagined anything like that! Was that spider silk? Were they making a web? Why would a person-spider need to make a web? Was he hoping to catch giant flies? Were giant flies a thing? Would he need giant webs to protect himself? Matt snapped back into reality as he realised he was staring rather rudely, and instantly fixed his gaze to his book once more as a blush made it's way to his cheeks. In his embarrassment he failed to notice that he was holding the book upside down, which was probably a good thing considering he was already wishing he could sink into the ground and disappear.

When they arrived Matt quickly made his way out of the train, breathing a sigh of relief at the escape from the confined space. That many sets of eyes just made him nervous. Looking around his eyes were immediately caught by the rain flowing around the path as if they were walking through a glass tunnel. Matt's eyes widened in surprise and he stopped dead in his tracks, wondering how they'd achieved something like that. In his village he'd been the only one with any real magical talent, so this was his first time seeing another's magic. It was exciting, but also daunting. Back home he'd been assured that his magical abilities were astonishing, but he'd never had anyone to really compare himself to. Was he about to find out that he was sorely out of his league? The further he walked the more he felt like this place was too good for him, and some part of him began to envy the students walking next to him, casually chatting with each other as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

Oh well, he'd just have to do his best. That's what his ma always said. If he did his best and failed, then at least he'd know he'd given it his all, and he could go home without regrets.

Mordhaben's Institute for Aspiring Mages [Gaslamp Fantasy] [Completely Dead]

Putting up my CS again, glad this is back up.

Matt's Back

Name: Matt Dorn

Appearance:
A slight child, Matt stands at about 1.6m and doesn't weight much even for that height. He has long blonde locks with a hint of rebellious curling, and usually wears simple but practical clothing. He's always carrying around a backpack that looks too large for him, filled with art supplies and his own creations.

Age: 16

Species: Only Human

Gender: Male

Occupation: Student, first year.

Personality:
Raised in a small, tightly knit family environment, Matt is often shy around outsiders. To him the big city is a place full of surprises and strange people. He's a quiet kid most of the time, but if you get him talking about something he enjoys he has a tendency to rant. But despite his many social inadequacies he's always hopelessly optimistic and cheerful.

Openness to Experience: 70
Neuroticism: 60
Agreeableness: 85
Extroversion: 30
Conscientiousness: 70

Attributes:

Details and Instructions. Remove me when posting

Distribute 40 Points. Most characters' stats should range between 3 and 8. Minmaxing players had better be good at playing that character, because these numbers ain't just for show.

Monster Characters may cap out any given two attributes at 12, and First Generation Chimera characters may cap out any given two attributes at 11, but they still have the same total point value. This is in exchange for their physiological inability to use human equipment.

0=Dead or Unresponsive. Don't use this.
1=Severely Disabled
2=Disastrous
3=Exceptionally Poor
4=Poor
5=Average
6=Above Average
7=Gifted
8=Exceptional
9=Monstrous
10=Absurd

P/F/V/C impact what each attribute is most useful for. P = Physical, F = Foundation, V = Vision, C = Compromise.

Strength: P (Pretty obvious. Can you suplex a train or not?)
Endurance: PFC (How long can one continue to work, fight, or use magic?)
Constitution: PF (Welcome to the Salty Spitoon! How tough are ya? - physical durability, including poison resistance)
Agility: P (Gross motor skills - movement speed, acrobatics, climbing, etc.)
Dexterity: P (Fine motor skills - weapons accuracy, finesse, writing neatness)
Intelligence: FVC (In this case, ability to learn new things quickly and draw connections between concepts.)
Wisdom: FV (Resistance to faulty information and impulse control. The lower your Wisdom, the more propaganda you swallow.)
Charisma: C (Social skills, language skills, and animal skills! Contrary to popular belief, not boosted by alcohol.)

Strength: 3
Endurance: 4
Constitution: 3
Agility: 5
Dexterity: 7
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5

Magic Type Preference: Enchanting
Innate Magic Talent: Golemmancy
Interests: Drawing, Painting, Origami, Pottery, Nature, Insects, General Art
Skills: Quite Artsy, Bookwise
Biography:
At home, Matt never really fit in. He grew up in a farming village, where everybody worked for their keep. As a scrawny boy he was never able to help out much on the farm, and he preferred to spend his time reading books or staring at flowers instead of playing with the other children. It didn't take long for his magical talent to manifest. One day he rushed into the living room in order to show off a paper plane he'd brought to life. Animating inanimate objects came naturally to him, and his parents accepted that Matt wasn't much like them. However they supported him fully, pooling up money with the whole village in order to send him to a good school. As such Matt was allowed to develop his talents, as well as his knowledge and artistic inclinations.

After some time Matt discovered that the village wasn't doing well. They had never been rich, but the success of magically enhanced farms and industrialisation was lowering the price of food. Farming the old-fashioned way just wasn't making enough money. It was only when Matt returned home from school that he realised just how much effort it had taken to get him into that school. As such he promised he would become a master magician, and he'd use his magical talents to support the whole village. With this determination in mind he came to Mordhaben's Institute, although he might be in for more of a challenge than he was prepared for.

(Sorry about the relatively short backstory, Matt just doesn't have much going on in his past).

The War of the Three

Antaeus, Lenuria Ruins -

Before Antaeus reached the grounds he noticed one of his compatriots reaching out to assist him. A set of strings flowed through the water and slowed down his descent through a power not too dissimilar from his own. With the assistance of these strings he'd be able to reorient himself in the water, and land on his feet. An excellent entrance! While he did not know the identity of his ally he made a note in his mind to speak with them when this battle had concluded. This was surely the beginning of an excellent friendship. Antaeus smiled slightly as he begun to adjust his position... only for the strings to suddenly leave.

Antaeus looked around, only to see string-wielding being leave as soon as they had arrived. But what about him? What about friendship? Oh no....

With a muted booming sound Antaeus crashed face-first into the ruins, smashing several buildings below him as he 'landed'. For a moment the giant didn't move, as he soaked in the humiliation. Great. How was he supposed to intimidate the foul demonspawn now? Could he even bear to continue, now that he had so disgraced the name of Deva? No, he had decreed that nothing would stop him. No blade, bullet or giant crab monster would halt his progress. So long as Heaven was in need of his services, he would never surrender. Even if it felt like he should just sink into the ground....

Gritting non-existent teeth, Antaeus shrunk down to a more manageable size. He decided to go for 10m tall. The added length would increase his movement speed underwater. Besides, after that debacle of an entrance he needed to look additionally imposing. Glancing around, he surmised that the forces of Heaven were certainly the most prominent presence in the underwater city. As it should be. Only those of righteous intent had the right to show themselves in this divine quest! However, how was he supposed to find the magical stick? It was a bit outside of his area of expertise. Oh well, he'd probably know it when he found it. It was his destiny to succeed, after all. And in the meantime, he would most assuredly be called upon to dispose of some unholy fiends.

Deciding to move towards the middle of the ruins, Antaeus fused his feet to the ground with every step to provide better grip. Long steps took him forward at a decent speed, for him, his sheer strength and mass allowing him to demolish anything in his path. No wall could stop him, and he tore a path through the city. At one point a monstrous crab creature did attempt to stop him, but this did not go well. It's claws found purchase on Antaeus' form but it lacked the strength to slow him down, and it ended up getting dragged behind him like a small child. Of course it was important not to disturb the local wildlife too much, so Antaeus decided to pay the crab no heed. Cute animals like that needed to be preserved in their natural habitat. Maybe he would give it a name while he was looking....?

Khaine, Lenuria Ruins -

It seemed that the forces of Heaven were rapidly advancing on the Ruins, which Khaine had decided to protect. That wouldn't do. Of course the powers of a demon were weak against the denizens of Heaven, but he was a master of crowd control. At the very least he should be able to slow them down rather considerably. Looking around, Khaine decided on his mark. There were a number of dangerous groups present, but only one of them looked like they knew what they were doing. A large group of heavily armed and armoured soldiers, currently in conflict with a group of giant crabs disguised as houses. Despite being clearly Heaven-alligned they were using highly advanced technology, much like the Machina. It seemed even Deva recognised the need to adapt. Or at least her lieutenants did. Clearly these people posed the biggest threat at the moment, and needed to be dealt with post-haste.

The technology they were bringing to bear was indeed impressive. A powerful forcefield surrounded them, extending an inch from their body on average. It was strong enough to withstand the various traps he had placed, although it needed a moment to recharge after taking a powerful blow. Certainly it was nothing to scoff at. A direct assault wouldn't work. However, Khaine had fought Machina forces since before most of these young ones had been alive. He had spent over 300 years studying forcefield technology. While he lacked the knowledge to put one together, he knew more than enough to take one apart. There wasn't enough room for a powerful attack between the shield and the body, and Khaine lacked the ability to teleport objects directly inside of people. Something about the presence of the Soul made a lot of magic weaker, making it harder to place objects inside of someone else. However, there was plenty of room to mess with the electronics a bit. To find out exactly how this system worked.

First, simple tests. Red lightning flashed across the ground as a blade emerged from nowhere, striking a nearby soldier's shield. Larger and smaller blades were employed, as Khaine performed a rapid series of attacks in order to determine the exact qualities of the shield. It appeared to let water and air through normally, but would block any attack. It did not create a barrier made of 'matter', and as such 'sharpness' was irrelevant when attempting to pierce the shield. All that mattered was the raw amount of 'force' being blocked, whether that was physical force or energy. The shield seemed to be capable of handling quite a lot, but if one were to force the shield into recharge mode the soldier beneath becomes suddenly vulnerable. In addition it seemed that multiple small attacks were far more effective than one large attack. Of course, performing tests like this would no doubt call attention to Khaine, who was suspended above the ruins this entire time by chains. This would provide an interesting challenge. How would he deal with these pesky little mortals?

Apocalypse

Got a post off. Should be able to post fairly regularly now. Sorry for the delay on that initial post.

Apocalypse

Light.....

Air in her lungs, wind through her hair, the taste of ash on her tongue and the smell of burning flesh in the air.

Slowly, Lilith materialised within this world. First her fingers, as they reached through the veil between worlds and tore at the threads. Then her arms, pushing through the holes in her fabric. She was known, she was heard, she was felt. She could feel it, a quiver in her soul as she moved from one plane of existence to another. As arcane bonds gave way to solid form, as her soul expressed itself in the words of matter and energy. From the fundamentals of this world she built her body once more, and with newly formed lips she savoured the taste of a realm nearly forgotten.

Why had her bonds weakened? How long has it been since she had been born into this realm? Lilith did not know, she could not remember. In that land of eternal torment to which she had been banished, time was a subjective concept.

Fear, agony, despair. Cries for help resounded in her ears, cries of pain echoed in her empty being. She could feel them, the agony of mortal beings close to death. The thump of adrenaline, the determination born from desperation. The ones who broke, the ones who fought, the ones who filled themselves with deathly calm. The ones who gave up entirely. It was a beautiful sensation, an immortal melody sang in the sweetest voice. A taste with no compare. Such intense emotion, such feeling, such desire. Lilith could barely contain herself. How long had it been since she had feasted on such sweet despair? Surely it had been centuries, for she felt famished.

But there was also another sensation, one that she quite carefully locked away within herself. Pain, and not the pain of another. With an eldritch curiosity, Lilith observed the sacred flames tearing at her being. Frowning, Lilith wondered at the source. This was but a pale immitation of her Father's seal, of the light that outshone light itself. A mortal attempt to grasp at the divine, a seal divined from mortal will and mortal magics. But as far as such things went, it was no weak magic, and would certainly have annihilated a lesser demon quite quickly. Even Lilith, normally beyond the bounds of mortal magic, could feel these flames punishing her, sealing her, attempting to return her to the darkness. It was a rather unpleasant sensation, and as such one she chose not to feel.

With a smile, Lilith soon located the source of the power. Of the few mortals who remained within this barrier, there were but a couple who were not consumed by fear. Certainly no terrified mortal could have pulled off magic of this magnitude. Such a feat would require focus, and such focus would require willpower. Certainly that was one word from what she felt from the odd couple, who had positioned themselves conveniently in the centre of this barrier. How curious. How delicious. Certainly if she was to feed on a mortal, then should she not choose her first meal with care? It was an honour, after all. No mere common mortal would do. But this strange child, who had maintained her composure even among such despair. She would certainly suffice.

With a beat of her mighty wings, Lilith shot through the air like a bullet. She soared through the sky, diving down as a streak of darkness before she flowed over the ground. Before the couple responsible she emerged, in all of her glory. Pale perfect skin, wings of flowing darkness, clad in solid shadow and ethereal magics. An appearance slightly ruined by the blue fire, which even now clung to her, slowly eating at her essence.

With her appearance, Lilith unleashed a wave emotion. It was twisted love, it was an eldritch lust. Those nearby would feel it droning in the back of their minds, in the back of their hearts. The soft kiss of obsession, the dark love that drove men to madness. A joy that pulled at the heart, that made one forget their self-control. A bittersweet temptation, a pull that was all too easy to give in to. To simply kneel, to be engulfed in endless joy. Addiction for the heart, narcotics injected directly into the soul. This was the twisted thoughts that Lilith radiated. Unrestricted, the full blast of Lilith's power at this distance would have forced any mortal to their knees in moments. But even now, with her powers dampened by this strange magic, it was a powerful debilitating force. An eldritch allure to this strange figure that made one want to stop and listen, to look at her all day, to obey her every word. To stagger forth towards her, with no regards for the consequences. Without arcane protection or great willpower, there was little the mortal mind could do to withstand such unholy influences.

"What beautiful creatures, humans." Smiling, Lilith moved in closer to the pair, flowing over the ground like a serpent. "My, such strange magic you have woven. And what fearless determination. You have caught my attention, child. Now, what will you do with it?" Her last question was paired with an arrogant smirk. How would they react, Lilith wondered? Humans always had such a wide range of reactions. From terror to hatred to subservience. It was always fascinating. Like smelling your wine, before taking the first sip....

Apocalypse

@Balthazar007

Sorry, I've been meaning to post but I managed to acquire some internal bruising on my left side. I spent most of today laying in bed and trying not to move too much, because it hurts like Hell. Hopefully it'll be better by tomorrow, so I'll try and get a post off by then.

A 20th-ish Century Mage University.

I remain interested. Posting for posterity.

The War of the Three

Khaine, Lenuria -

It seemed Hell didn't have much of a vetting process, and Khaine had been accepted into their ranks without much of a fuss. That certainly made this more convenient from his end. It turned out that these demons were quite different from the army he had once served in. Whereas the Hell he knew was a strict and organised place, this Hell was relaxed and easy-going, with a murderous undertone. It was almost off-putting, but then he expected as much. Regardless, he'd have to work with the tools he was given. First, he would recover this staff. Then, he would begin to pursue his grander schemes.

"Will you be alright? You look kinda fire themed." Khaine looked to the side, and noticed he'd been addressed by a... well, he wasn't entirely sure what it was. It looked like some kind of undead abomination was in the middle of absorbing a small child. She didn't seem very bothered by it, so he assumed that was normal. "I'll manage", Khaine retorted, as she proceeded to leap into the water. Faintly, he saw her form shifting beneath the waves. A shapeshifter, then? Whatever. She was probably one of the strange results of Hell's surprisingly accepting attitude towards inter-species mating, and the abnormally high success rate of such pairings, two facts that have undoubtedly left mortal scientists stumped for years.

Returning to the matter at hand, the environment certainly wasn't ideal. Fortunately, it would take a lot more than being submerged in water in order to harm him, but it wouldn't be comfortable. With an inward sigh, faintly resembling the death groan of an old car engine, and dropped into the water. Dropped would be the correct term. He had no need to breathe, and his sheer weight was more than enough to drop him down to the bottom. With a gesture he sent a number of chains into the face of a nearby underwater cliff and pulled himself down, like scaling a cliff but in reverse. Moving down he looked around the environment. Everyone would be searching for the artifact by now, but without some form of lead it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Lacking any sensory abilities that might help, he doubted his own ability to find the artifact in question. As such, while his other teammates searched, his role would be to prevent the enemy from doing the same.

Reaching out, Khaine focused on the ruins below him. Red lightning flashed through the water, jumping from building to building as it spread throughout the ancient city. Wherever it struck, the lightning left behind a little gift. Movement-activated mines, arcane binding seals, boobie traps on the doors, and even a number of fully automated sentry turrets. In truth Khaine's abilities were limited only by his focus, and now he was able to devote his full focus to this task. Large-scale environment manipulation was a specialty of his. He'd make sure that any enemies attempting to pass through would find their way barred in a hundred different ways. And if anyone turned out to be particularly persistent, he would get involved personally. Of course there was every risk that a demon might fall victim to these traps, but most of them had been designed not to trigger for demonic entities. Most of them. And considering the diversity among Hell's ranks, some of his more esoteric companions might not count as being 'demonic' enough. Oh well. If it was a big problem, he could always remove them from a particular area.

Having placed his traps Khaine chose to stand watch, using a series of chains to hold him in place high above the ruins. He could already see a number of other parties moving, but hadn't yet decided who he'd intervene with. Whomever turned out to be the most trouble, probably.

Antaeus, Lenuria -

At last, the mighty Antaeus was called to battle! Truly, this would be a day of sorrow for the enemies of Heaven. He would make clear to the unworthy the true price for their sins, a message best conveyed through plentiful corpses. The mighty Antaeus himself stood at the edge of the water, gazing down without the least bit of apprehension. Water wasn't exactly his strong suite, but there was no need to fear! The wise Deva would not have deployed him, had she not believed in his ability to surpass such challenges. He would conquer this strange new environment without pause! And once he arrived on the battlefield, all would fear his power. Nay, the power of Heaven and Earth, which had merely chosen him as it's unworthy vessel. A messenger of certain DOOM to the fools and infidels who opposed the reign of Heaven.

.....

Glancing around, Antaeus once more made sure there wasn't some sort of alternative route. An elevator, maybe, or a nice old-fashioned set of stairs. But no, alas, no such route presented itself. Of course he had no qualms about tackling this challenge, nor was any obstacle great enough to make him hesitate from his path. However, one must always be aware of their surroundings. Indeed, he was merely being wary of all possible approaches. The forces of Evil were sneaky and treacherous, they would not hesitate to take advantage of some unknown approach in order to attack from the shadows. Not that such an attack would phase Antaeus, not in the slightest. It was merely prudent to properly consider the possibility. Just in case.

.....

Having completed his survey of the surroundings, checked for enemies, stretched, and run out of excuses, Antaeus finally stepped into the water. It was wet and cold, flowing around him like air. And yet it still had the substance to slow his descent. Upon losing contact with the ground Antaeus rapidly returned to his original size, as he began sinking down towards his target. At this size his sheer surface area slowed him down far too much, even with his immense weight, and he simply drifted down like a giant angry statue. He did his best to look intimidating, but this was hard to do when one was afraid to move. Not afraid, cautious. After all, he was completely surrounded by water, and who knew how it would react to sudden movements? Best to leave it alone, if at all possible.

Slowly, Antaeus' massive frame descended upon the sunken city. He seemed to be centred on some sort of temple-like building, and he had no way to reduce his size before impact. Hopefully he didn't crush anything important. It would be rather unfortunate if he managed to break the artifact they were after on his first mission....