Vox

The Doors of Janus [ Malice / Vox ]

No worries, it happens!

I'm happy going down the adventure route. Everything has the potential to lead to political shenanigans in this RP anyway, so dealing with that is more of an inevitability than an option imo, especially if the option for Aeris to obtain a dragon (whether she wants it or not) is publicly announced IC, it will lead to certain parties being very upset anyway.

✤ Delve ✤

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It wasn't so much that Kori didn't understand what the person in front of her was saying, but believing it was another matter. An alliance of gods? Head?? Odin??? Someone trying to touch her ears without permission????

With all the information she received combined with the fact that she was standing in the middle of Little darntootin' Valhalla with the eyes of quite literally some of the most powerful people in Orario and the fact that someone was trying to touch her ears threw Kori into a bit of a hissy fit, again quite literally. Her ears flattened against the wide brimmed hat, shifting it slightly back to reveal a face full of teeth and hisses as she jumped back at the same time Dahlia smacked away the skull man's hand, her tail upright and agitated behind her.

It was then she also got to take a proper look at the new party assembled before her: a man with freakishly long arms already stained red with wine in more ways than one, a boy wearing a skull-face mask that apparently thought her ears were fake because the alternative was just too far-fetched to believe otherwise, and someone who looked like they had just come from a barroom brawl. Of all the people assembled before her, skull-face boy might have been the only one Kori seemed to be okay with because at least she dealt with people like him in her familia every day.

Without a second thought Kori wheeled around on a heel and ordered from the nearest Valkyrie a Dragon's Breath. If this wasn't a dream, she was going to follow wino's lead and make sure it was going to seem like one the next morning.

Too bad it was going to take her more than a few wine glasses.

REBOOT COMING SOON. INVITE ONLY.

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Near Barstow Heights
Afternoon

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Despite Jules' attitude, he couldn't keep the sulky persona up for too long, especially after seeing Em running into the RV and crying and Umbra faceplanting her way inside. The sudden shifts in mood were too much even for this sleep-deprived (former) slut and he rejoined the rest of his pack once everyone and everything settled down and the rickity behemoth under them rumbled into some state of living.

The next two hours passed by pleasantly, though Jules didn't remember much of it, especially once Sami jerked the RV violently off to the side, taking them off the safe concrete path and slamming them into the roadside dirt. Uncharacteristically, Jules' body followed the path of least resistance as it followed the momentum of the vehicle with it stopping at almost the exact same time as the RV by way of his head meeting a wall that was denser than Sami. Immediately his world turned to black as an incessant ringing started to chime and rise in volume only to return back to reality a second later. Unfortunately an intense headache followed suit as it clamped it's vice-like embrace around his skull, eliciting a groan of pain as he rolled around in his seat.

Jules was dimly aware that something was happening outside and people going out to see what was up. It sounded like whatever it was, it was about to get violent which meant that Sami was more than likely about to do something stupid which meant that Jules had to be there to knock some sense into his perfect Cuban ass.

But as Jules attempted to rise from the couch, something that he only now noticed that he was laying prone on, he found that he couldn't. His arms felt like they were filled with concrete and his body was deep in the Mariana Trench. And the couch was so comfortable and smelled only slightly off-putting. How long had he slept last night? Like maybe three hours total? Non-consecutively at that? He was tired. Everything was heavy. Going outside again sucked.

His friends were out there however, dealing with who-knows-what in who-knows-where. What if it was some crazy person that tried to deliberately run them off the road. What if Sami got into another fight. What if Val started fighting. What if Em started breaking down again. Or what if someone started touching Kim. What if-

With sudden clarity of thought and desperate strength, Jules forced himself to tumble off the couch and stumble up onto his legs as he made his way outside, his mind racing through hundreds of worst case scenarios, fists balled and legs ready to kick whoever's nuts he had to so that his friends would remain safe.

By the time Jules stepped his first foot outside, he was ready to beat the shit out of the whole fucking world if he had to, only to find that he wasn't ready for the scene before him. At the very least, it looked as if all his friends were safe, but he didn't expect his other friends to be here as well. Well, really, the only non-Misfit he knew that was gathered around him at the moment was Aleks, but it wasn't too far fetched to recognize that the rest of them were likely the Gearheads judging by the fleet of fancy cars that surrounded them (which also meant that Yessi was more than likely nearby).

The hidden strength inside him drained away immediately as he took one step to the side and slumped down next to the Misfits' metal monstrosity, saying to no one in particular, "what the fuck."

✤ Delve ✤

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Hecate House
Sometime earlier

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Bouncing bubbling bacon and bits bounded their way across the set table, the sizzling scent sounding harmoniously with the cacophany of clatters and clicks as Hecate's familia settled down into their seats except for one white haired cat woman who was dancing around serving their breakfast. An rustic work song hummed its way out of her as she weaved between voluminous robes, large conical hats, and even larger egos as she placed down the hearty meal. There were quick complaints about this food item or that, but they were quickly silenced with a smile, a spatula, and a subsequent smack to their head if they continued their over dramatic moaning, bare heads or large hats notwithstanding.

Breakfast continued in much the same hectic manner as Kori sat and happily chowed down her food amidst cries of overwhelming power and renewed strength as everyone ate the farm girl's home cooked meal. Plans were being made, spells were being shown off, and a general close familial atmosphere permeated the room. Things were starting to settle down until the girl with the largest of hats and gaudiest accessories of all the persons that were before her suddenly stood, a hand clamped over one eye as if in agony and pain.

"AHHH!" She screamed. "The dark powers at my beck and call have shown me a vision! Something most terrible and haunting!" Immediately the table became enraptured as their goddess slammed her open palms down onto the table, causing a clatter of cutlery as she began to heavily pant.

Kori was more interested in the fact that all of the vegetables were still whole and pristine on Hecate's plate with everything else around the offending green substance being picked clean. "Hekki," she sighed. "What'd we say about visions at the table."

"But O child of mine, this concerns you directly!"

"Even more reason to save it 'till after yer done eatin'"

"Impossible! This information is-"

"Ah."

"But-"

"Nope."

"Kor-"

"Zip."

When Hecate looked like she was about to speak again, Kori gave her the evilest non-magical evil eye she could muster as she planted an elbow firmly onto the table and pointed a knife at her goddess, ears twitching and tail swishing in agitation. "Don't make me come over there again. Gettin' real tired of having to tie you down to feed you."

A collective shudder shivered down the table, goddesses included. The now sulking witch deflated faster than a torn blimp and sank back into her seat as she began slowly picking away at her greens. It was only when Kori was silently washing all the dishes for a second time after two other members of the familia were forced into doing so did Hecate approach her again. This time the cat girl's ears lay flat against her head and without looking up saying, "Sorry about that Hekki, but ya know I hafta be a bit harder on you than the others."

Similarly, instead of appearing to be an all-powerful witch who held dominion and command over the powers of magic and death itself, Hecate just looked like a girl wearing clothes that were three sizes too big for her frame. "I- I know. I don't... I don't blame you but, but what I had to say was important."

"I know, I'm sorry darlin', but you successfully conquered vegetable today so go on."

"Um, so, a Valkyrie came by earlier saying that uh, Odin, had invited you. Personally. Kori Lielle. To go to Little Valhalla."

"... Say that again?"

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Little Valhalla
Present

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In a sea of decadence and splendor where status and power infected the atmosphere to a choking brim stood a tanned white-haired cat shaped by an elegant white backless mini dress all tied in a manner that was a tad too tight for her sinewy figure. Aside from the comically large conical hat that was also borrowed from Hecate (yet suspiciously already had holes ready for non-human ears to poke through), the only other thing that Kori wore was a necklace from which strung a symbol of Hecate's Wheel that rested just below her collar bone. The comfortable coat that she had worn on her way was immediately whisked away once she had stepped foot inside the grandiose halls of Little Valhalla. The paladin had wanted to bring along her greatsword as well just to have something familiar with her, but Hecate had adamantaly refused to let Kori even touch it while she was getting ready to go and thus it was all the little farm girl could do to not curl into a ball and hide in a corner away from all the gazes that lasered onto her.

Still, she was here, and no matter her status, Kori Lielle would represent herself and her familia as best she could for whatever reason that she was invited here. Taking whatever willpower was left that wasn't dedicated to not hiding and channeling it into plastering on the widest smile she could manage, daring the world to throw whatever else it had left to offer at her. The smile certainly didn't look natural by any means nor did it really do much to hide her anxieties, but she was born a fighter and would always be a fighter through and through as she glided down the velvety rugs towards someone who at least looked like they were expecting her presence.

And it turned out that Kori's instincts were right as the literal starry eyed girl greeted her by name before turning to greet another person, then another as a few others came up to her. After it seemed as if everyone had been gathered, the cat girl listened intensely to what this mysterious lady had to say, though Kori couldn't help but show surprise at being referred to as a "guest of honor." She supposed that in a sense that she was, but all Hecate had really told her was that she was invited and that it was very important that she answer the invitation and attend immediately.

"Right, so, before we get caught up in anything, do you mind telling us oh I don't know, why any of us are here in the first place?"

✤ Delve ✤

Because I had time and because OwO already did most of the work in making everything the same size, here's stamp avatars of your characters for y'alls use:

Varanense

Grímhilðr

Castor

Oben

Vox Box / Updated 10.08.22 / [ O P E N ]

_{Lookin' for some dumb fun action}

✤ Delve ✤

Oh yeah, I'm not too hung up on all the mechanics of everything, it's just something I automatically do when stats become involved. At the end of the day, I'll always write what's more story appropriate; the stats just help with deciding that.

✤ Delve ✤

If by "leaving the pointy end inside" you mean that target takes continual damage from having a new plugged hole in their body, slap something like a bleeding status effect where they take x amount of damage per post round in which case it's up to you on whether Kori's skill shares in that damage or if it's only contact damage that she reduces. I'd like the former, if only so it can lead to situations where I get to stroke my ego more Kori could get some neat muted hero moments.

Thematically, maybe it's something like Kori and her target(s) have connected lifeforces or something, where every time the target is hit she sacrifices some of her own health or possibly her own literal body in place of the target. Bit hard to come up with a reason for me since magic isn't too well defined in Danmachi, but I mean maybe it can also tie in because Kori can also do some healing magic as well so maybe the Shielding skill is more like some instant blood magic shenanigans to heal the target using Kori's own body rather than using the mind to fuel the healing.

Another interesting route that it could take is that instead of the target's damage going towards Kori own body, it instead gives her an appropriate amount of mind fatigue. This could be explained by instead of sharing the physical wound, Kori more takes on some of the mental shock and burden of having new surprise orifices appear on your body, which I think is more in line and appropriate with how magic works in Danmachi. It'll also give a nice balancing act of "how much mind fatigue can I take before I don't have enough to patch everyone up afterwards" since I think Kori is also the only party member that can do any magical healing.

I'm also down for extra damage in the case of all defenses breached.

✤ Delve ✤

I always enjoy Discord for all the shittalk that can go in there that doesn't need to clutter OoC here.

There's also potentially some pretty gnarly balancing acts that are going to have to be made if both Kori's and the target's durabilities are combined, assuming durability is something like damage reduction and not health. Assuming there is DR of any sort, since if there is say Kori shields Grim who has a pretty high STR+END, coupled with Kori's own fairly high STR+END, then is there anything level appropriate that could touch either of them?

How I saw the skill working was that in my head, all damage is done on a "mark" system, where everybody has a certain number of health marks they could take before falling unconscious/dying/what-have-you. HP is determined by some combination of STR/END/AGI, maybe just STR leaving END and AGI as possible stats that could be used to determine "durability" or how many marks that could be negated from physical damaged either by laughing it off with your ripped bod or fancy flips n shit.

Assuming all of that, Kori's skill comes into play as essentially another layer of "durability" for the target, taking on a certain amount of marks determined either before or after durability is totalled for the other player and inflicting it onto Kori instead, with your choice of having those marks further reduced by Kori's own "durability" or just taking it all on wholesale. Then that all feeds nicely into Kori's skill where the more damage she takes, the higher her "durability" goes so her own personal incoming damage is reduced further and further as she gets closer to dying.

@OwO's word is law of course, so I'm fine with any ruling, but I thought I'd throw in my own thoughts into how I envisioned the skill working since it'll help me know what my character's capabilities are when writing.

✤ Delve ✤

Kori Lielle

_{^{FC: 666Pigeon | DC: F9CDF4}}

Kori Lielle

^{163cm ◆ Cat Person ◆ Hecate}

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P e r s o n a l I n f o r m a t i o n

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Appearance

Strong, sinewy, and entirely not afraid to show any of it, there's a lot of power packed into her compact frame and Kori knows it. While she prefers to be fully and sensibly armored in battle, she's more than willing to flaunt her figure every now and then in casual wear. The paladin further takes that confidence and has it exude from her every step as she always seems to walk with sure feet and clear direction.

Personality

Growing up as one of the eldest children in a large family, Kori developed her matronly instincts early as she helped raise her siblings for most of her life. Doting, caring, and at times overbearing, the young woman does her best to look after those she considers close and will stand by them thick or thin. However, getting close to her is often difficult as she holds almost everyone else at a comfortable arms length away.

Still, that does not stop her from being at least cordial to everyone she meets as she puts on a larger-than-life persona, pulling along everyone around her as tries to experience all that life has to offer. In pursuit of that goal, Kori has come to be about as direct and unsubtle as a boar and while she's no stranger to pulling the odd fast scheme or two, her brashness has made her prefer getting to the root of any problem or situation as quickly as possible. That has also unfortunately molded her into developing a very short temper. Luckily, she's willing to shake hands and make up with someone just as quick as she's willing to throw a punch or lecture someone.

Backstory

One half of the eldest twin pair among five other siblings, what Kori lacked in privacy the Lielles more than made up for it with love and company. Her parents did their best to provide for all seven of their children with both Arren and Nadine Lielle being somewhat successful adventurers before turning their swords into plows once Nadine became pregnant with both Kori and her brother. Farming was not the most secure or profitable profession however, and despite her parents' wishes or her siblings' tears, Kori left and journeyed to Orario one silent night.

But becoming a dungeoneer was easier said than done. Every familia that the fresh faced farm girl had tried to join wouldn't accept her, and the ones that would were ones that Kori refused to accept. It wasn't until she had come into the company of a strange goddess and her small and equally eccentric band of merry followers did Kori find a new home.

Armed with her falna and supported by her familia, the young adventurer now happily delves into the Dungeon to support both her families, new and old.