VitaVitaAR

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

Soon after she had begun reading, Fio swiftly became engrossed in the tome. The information it relayed was vaguely known to her. At least, she knew some of the lesser-known myths of the land and its peoples. But this one was new to her.

"So, the Wings of Dark refer to a dragon? Curious..."

To be honest, while the information was interesting it hardly deepened her understanding of the Fomorian's words. Rather, it gave her further questions. Of course, it was unlikely that the dragon referenced in the myth could possibly rise again. The Sword Witch was quite certain such feats of revival were impossible even for primordial dragons. But the monster's title, the 'Wings of Dark'...

Perhaps, rather then the dragon itself, its role in the myth was the important factor here? Rather then the dragon itself, someone or someones were using the title as a symbol of opposition? Of their role as an enemy of the Queen?

It was more likely then the alternative.

Shutting the book, the small girl rose to her feet.

If nothing else, this information was important to relay to the Queen. On top of that, she felt her own conclusions were of equal importance.

Fio paused for a moment as she turned to leave.

Had that strange maid seriously fallen asleep standing up?!

"..."

Perhaps some questions were best left unasked.

The Sword Witch departed from the library, in search of the Queen. The sooner she found her and relayed the information, the better.

@Rune_Alchemist@Pyromania99

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

Seelay was silent as she took in the surroundings, and the injured fisherman's words. So much ice... she'd never seen anything quite like it. It stretched out into the ocean, a vast plain of whiteness obscuring the sea below. With conditions like this, it was almost impossible to determine just what could be lurking below. On top of that, the fact it was capable of leaving the water indicated that it would not be harmless if brought onto land.

Still, in terms of options for trying to combat it...

She needed to learn more. This much simply wasn't enough information to determine how to go about stopping it. Certainly, she was more versed in hunting terrestrial prey, but she knew how to fish quite well and she could grasp the principles of pursuing a beast such as this.

But without any more information, it was simply impossible to decide how to begin.

The silvery-haired elf considered her next move, arms folded across her chest.

"Has anyone ever gotten a decent look at this creature?" she asked, "Enough to get a sense of how it's shaped, or how long it might be."

Huge was one thing, but if she had something more specific it would be a little easier to think of a plan.

If no-one had gotten a good look at the beast, perhaps she would need to see it for herself.

@Rune_Alchemist

Advent of the Dawn —A Mecha Musume/Tokusatsu-Inspired RP

There was a sound of tearing metal and crumbling concrete as both frame pilots went down, descending to the second level of the facility. It was certainly one way to get in.

Above them, the writhing arms shot over the hole, slamming into something with a loud, metallic thud.

The creature's mass was too large to effectively fit its whole body into the hallway they had entered, but how flexible it was and how capable it was of altering its shape remained to be seen.

At least, though, for the moment, it did not seem aware that they had descended.

In a contrast to the upper floor of the facility, where nature had taken hold, the level they had arrived at seemed to be largely shielded from such degradation. Certainly, a few plants capable of dealing with low light conditions seemed to have found their way in to grow along the walls, and there was a musty, damp scent. But aside from that conditions seemed remarkably better.

However, visibility was quite poor.

At least, for a moment. As if somehow detecting a presence, the lights slowly began to come on, starting from the pilots' location and spreading outwards. The floors were linoleum, the walls fairly plain and featureless, with evenly-spaced lighting fixtures on the ceiling. The featureless walls were occasionally broken by a door that likely did not conceal anything relevant to their mission. Ahead of them was a corner where the hall turned right, and all of this would have seemed relatively mundane aside from what marked the wall at the bend.

Something had cut into the wall. Three lengthy gashes, marked with a dry, red-brown stain.

There was other sign of violence, no discarded body.

@JDubs@ERode

Urban Starlight Wonderland: A Magical Girl RP

When the blue flames struck the immense frog shade in its inflated underside, it did very little in the way of actual damage. It seemed as if the shade's altered body shape provided it a little more resistance against such attacks. But, surprisingly, the attack was enough to slow the massive amphibian-like mass of negative energy's descent.

If Kokoha was going to attack, now would be the time.

@RolePlayerRoxas@Rune_Alchemist

---

"... I see..."

The girl didn't speak for several moments, her gaze returning to the streets. It was as if she was thinking about something, though what was difficult to say. Was it her desire to jump? Was she reconsidering? Or was there something else entirely on her mind, complicating the entire situation even further?

Naturally, without the capacity to read minds, it was impossible to tell.

But there was no denying what followed.

The white-haired girl's gaze returned to Nico. Her expression didn't change, her eyes still looked quite dull and empty, but she stepped away from the edge of the roof as she stretched her right arm out to her side.

"In that case... prepare yourself, magical girl."

The faintest hint of something coiling around the girl's arm was visible for only a moment.

"Mishaguji-san."

A black light flared across her arm and immediately traveled outwards, coating her entire body and seeming to burn away her clothing. It condensed itself, swirling as it manifested into a white kosode and hakama. The negative feelings emanating from her suddenly grew as her outfit fully formed, practically pouring off of her body in waves. A scale-like pattern had spread across her cheeks and up to her forehead, framing her now-golden eyes.

Thrusting her right hand forward, a yellow light ignited in her palm.

"Curse Essence: Bounty."

A wave of golden shapes, resembling large rice plants, sprouted from her position in an expanding wave, heading right towards Nico!

@Ammokkx

---

Even as the attacks were thrown towards it, the orange orb floating above the mantis-like shade's lower half was flaring up, charging another attack, aiming squarely at Ukiko. Even in this state, it seemed as if it was able to detect that one of its potential targets had been weakened by its initial attack.

But when the wisps struck the creature, the orb flashed again, a hairline crack running through its surface even though it appeared to be entirely composed of light and negative energy.

The mighty slash to its back half was the final straw. The shadowy portion of its body seemed to collapse, curling in on itself and spewing orange fluid, as the orb of light cracked and violently shattered.

All that was left, in a few moments, was a dark mist drifting into the air and dissipating into nothingness.

@Shiyonichi@LuckyBlackCat@FrogRFlowR@AzureKnight

---

Hisako could only watch for a few moments, in perplexed awe, as Abigail spoke to her dog. She'd never seen anything like it, she'd never known a magical girl that transformed alongside their real-life pet. She'd seen some who summoned a familiar alongside their transformation, but none whose ordinary pet seemingly had their own magical girl transformation.

But she understood the plan well, once the British magical girl told her. Coming at the shade from both sides would make it a lot harder for it to try and escape again!

It was a several tense moments before anything happened.

But then, it appeared. Roughly the size of a large car, it resembled an octopus in some regards. Its main body was a hexagonal shape with points one either end, each face lined with orange lights. At each of its lower corners was a tentacle, each bearing a squared-off tip. Currently, it was using two pairs to stand, the final pair raised in the air, lasing out in the direction of the dog that had been pursuing it.

"There it is!" Hisako immediately raised her broom, at the ready, "Let's finish it off!"

@Raineh Daze

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

"..."

It was clear the person she was dealing with was...

Perhaps abnormal was the best word for it. She couldn't be entirely certain, but going off of her strange, sickly state, the fact she could freely remove her heart and put it back in, and the fact her own blood seemed to dot her outfit all indicated to her that she would absolutely be dead on the spot if not for whatever curse was currently inhabiting her heart. A curse that the inflicted actually found to be beneficial?

If not for how incredibly squeamish the sight of the heart made her feel, Fio would almost have wanted to see it again just to understand. But the fact it made her feel ill just to see it, as well as the embarrassment she felt over her initial panic, made it impossible.

"No," she said, "I most certainly do not need to see that again!"

Fio paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. The assistance from someone who knew the library certainly would be useful, but why did she have to introduce herself like that?

The Sword Witch cleared her throat.

"I have plenty of questions, but first I'm looking for any books you might have relating to Fomorians, specifically any factions formed by them," she brushed her hair back over her shoulder as she spoke, "If you have any related to anything called the 'Wings of Dark' that would be especially useful."

@Rune_Alchemist

Advent of the Dawn —A Mecha Musume/Tokusatsu-Inspired RP

The sewers...?

It would be a lie to say that Hoshiko wasn't apprehensive about going down there. She definitely didn't want to touch the water, or to even spend any more time down there then she could need to. Certainly, this treatment area didn't look gross, but there was no telling what it would be like deeper in.

But...

It was the difference between life and death for plenty of people. Her personal feelings about the sewer being gross didn't matter nearly as much as human lives.

Hoshiko took a deep breath.

"Hinotori, ignite!"

The familiar sensation of light and heat washing over her body struck, her clothing replaced in seconds by the frame's underlayer, then the armor itself, and then finally the most complex portions that made for much of Hinotori's shape.

She took a step towards the sewer entrance.

"Okay, it might be super gross down there, but we've got to make sure everyone's safe!" she declared, steeling herself to lead the way into sewer. If there were Warped down there, she'd do everything she could to clear them out!

@PKMNB0Y@Laduguer@Mole

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

On the return to Dawn, there were many thoughts working their way through Seelay's mind. The Kyrnith's warning was chief among them. Not that she was worried about overhunting, as she would not allow the town's actions to come to that. Rather, the fact he had mentioned old creatures from the deep forest emerging to hunt.

That was a potential concern, and also a potential opportunity.

What hunter worth their salt would not desire to hunt such beasts, if given the opportunity?

But there was also a fairly immediate issue. Something was scaring the fish away, and had injured a man. Something in the water. While the elf was more adept at hunting on land then hunting things beneath the waves, she was still quite proud of her fishing skills. And a bow could kill a beast of the water just as well as it could kill a beast of the land, as long as it was near enough to the surface.

"Can you take me to the site of the fishing hole?" she asked.

@Rune_Alchemist

The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

While a larger library would have been appreciated, Fio found the surroundings cozy at least and an excellent place to do research. However, before she could begin searching the volumes for information on the 'Wings of Dark', she was interrupted.

It was a maid, an elf with darker skin then expected from most of her kind. She did not seem particular healthy either, given the fact she looked exhausted and she was coughing.

Fio hardly needed assistance with the library. Anyone attempting to help would likely be an annoyance, especially if their health was rather poor at the moment. She had no desire to babysit someone who was dealing with an illness, nor did it seem like it was the best choice for the maid's self-care.

"You should li-"

And then the maid pulled her own heart out. For a few moments, the Sword Witch almost seemed to go blue in the face, eyes wide as her jaw hung open and she stared in shock.

What?! Why?! How?! These were the thoughts that circulated through the petite girl's mind in that instant. Her stomach felt almost like it was about to turn itself inside out. The heart was still connected, still beating, and the elven maid didn't seem to think anything was wrong with what she was doing!

For a few moments this was the only way she could even function, to simply stare in mute shock with her mouth hanging open. But Fio's mind slowly caught up with the situation, and realized that the heart before her eyes was no ordinary organ.

It was drenched, suffused in curses, magical energy radiating from it like the most wicked and abominable Fomorian.

"That... y-your... your heart, it's cursed!" Fio nearly stumbled over her words. The alternative explanation was this girl was a Fomorian herself, but that seemed unlikely given her profession as a maid, "Y-you... C-can't you at least tell me before you do something like that?!"

@Rune_Alchemist

Advent of the Dawn —A Mecha Musume/Tokusatsu-Inspired RP

The only way to proceed through the rest of the building was down the crumbling, damaged hallway. Here and there were clawmarks, or places where the scaffolding had seemingly melted from intense heat.

Whatever had occurred here had most certainly been swift and violent.

The previously-loud forest had gone utterly silent.

And the pilots were about to learn why.

There was a strange sound, something like a heavy and wet object being dragged along a rough surface. A slimy, slopping sound from behind them.

A long arm reached from the foliage. It was pitch black, and on close examination one would be able to discern that its entire surface was writhing. It was covered, or perhaps entirely composed, of thousands upon thousands of black, sluglike creatures, and it twisted in a fashion impossible for something supported by bone as it placed one human-like hand upon the ground.

The thing that lurched from the forest was supported by at least five more of these limbs. Whatever was beneath the writhing, sluglike creatures was impossible to see, if there was even anything within the mass in the first place. There must have been hundreds of thousands of them.

The only thing that broke up this undulating 'skin' was a pair of bright, circular red eyes, which rolled about slightly before fixing squarely on both pilots.

Each of this limbs retracted into its body, its mass writhing and growing for a moment as the black slugs squirmed over it. Then they exploded back outwards, at least a dozen tentacles composed of the squirming creatures surging down the hall towards the pilots.

@ERode@JDubs

Urban Starlight Wonderland: A Magical Girl RP

The white-haired girl quietly stared back at Nico, wordlessly, as she spoke. She didn't respond immediately, looking down at her hands, for a moment, then back to the other girl.

Finally, she spoke. Her voice was soft, without much tone or inflection. It was either with little emotion, or simply emotionally dead. Given the situation, either could have been accurate.

"... Someone came to stop me?"

She didn't move from the building's edge, but she didn't step off of it either. At the very least, if she had been planning to jump, she hadn't done so yet.

"How did you know I was up here?" the girl questioned again, this time her voice carrying the slightest hint of insistence as she did. It was strange, if Nico were to pay attention she'd be able to discern that the shade-like feeling was coming from the exact spot the girl stood in. As if it was coming from the girl herself. "I didn't tell anyone. No-one's supposed to know yet."

She glanced off the edge of the building again. She was mostly expressionless, still, but there was a deadness to her eyes that made the worst interpretation of the situation all the more likely.

"So how did you know...?"

It certainly seemed as if she was still planning on jumping.

At least, if that was really what was going on here.

@Ammokkx

---

At the attacks aimed towards it, the mantis-like shade shut its upper half, concealing the flame-like orbs as it leaned forward, preparing to scuttle away with a metallic, grating sound.

But it staggered when its legs were struck by the wisps, flames singing its body and causing it to stumble, unable to continue its attempt to escape. Soon, they were followed by the winding vines, locking it in place even as it struggled.

Its upper body bent backwards when the javelins of water struck it in the torso, blowing two holes through its shifting, shadowy body. And if that wasn't enough, the followup blast of flames washed over it, searing through its upper half. For a moment it was silhouetted in the flames, before slowly evaporating, wiped away by the intense heat.

And yet...

It was still standing. The dark, hazy remains of its torso swirled around a brilliant, blazing orange orb, which flashed once with a high-pitched whine, before erupting with negative energy. A beam of light exploded from its surface, sounding almost like a child's scream as it tore through the air. It burned through the street, tearing towards the nearest of the assembled magical girls...!

@Shiyonichi@LuckyBlackCat@FrogRFlowR@AzureKnight

---

"Hisako," the pink-clad magical girl replied, glancing around the park as she did. Thankfully, she didn't sense anything from the direction of the pond, but depending on where the shade was located that didn't necessarily mean it was somewhere they would be able to react easily, nor that it was necessarily not in the water.

But a natural space like this was marginally less likely to have active shades, especially at this time of day.

"If it's in the water, Sweep Up should be able to get it out!" she declared, her eyes sparkling as she raised her bamboo broom. It glowed slightly brighter at the mention of what was presumably one of her attacks.

The vague negative presence of a shade could be detected, after a few moments of searching it seemed to be a short distance to the north.

@Raineh Daze