the exit already melted away / and now there's nothing left to say

[thequestgiver]

Characters: The Hero of the Mountain vs The Heroes of Schwanheim
Open? Yep
Where: Just outside the city
When: RD 10
What: The Heroes of Schwanheim confront the Hero of the Mountain. Also, explosions and time fuckery.

[OoC: Please note that very soon into the encounter, time will split the battle into small groups of 2 or 3 to allow for better/easier tagging and for all characters to have a chance at attacking! Please use this post (or any other form of communication) to set up your groups, and/or state in your subject line if you have a prechosen group, or if you are open to a random partner.

GROUP 1: Direct Challenge Alanna and...?
GROUP 2: Well Educated Ass Kicking Giles and Helios
GROUP 3: Asgardian Rage Thor and Sif
GROUP 4: Spies Ginia and...?
]



The air was still, as it had been for days, not even a dramatic wind to suggest that something was about to happen as the Hero of the Mountain stood, looking off in the distance. She had been standing there for some time, looking lost in thought, fingers resting on the a small pouch that always was at her belt.

But stillness cannot last forever before something will break it...

Comments

[consultmybooks]

Giles aims a kick at the Hero's back, meaning to keep her on the ground, and grabs for her bag. For a moment, he does consider just stabbing her right here and now, and once upon a time he might have...but, no. Not now. Besides, she might be able to explain what's in the bag.

"Find out what's happened to the others. It, it doesn't look as though she's teleported us, but...whatever she tried to do to me, she might have managed for them."

[thequestgiver]

The instant Giles's hand touches the bag, there's a strange feeling, like a pricking as time reaches past the barrier of safety that the smoke stones afforded the heroes, making the skin of Giles's hand start to age rapidly.

[folklorist]

Helios' eyes widen at that.

"Giles!" Let go of it now! Is the unspoken worry and terrified look on his face as he sees the power behind whatever is in that bag. Good gods it could turn back, or increase, time whatever it was.

[consultmybooks]

Giles doesn't need telling twice. He does need a few seconds to recover his mind from the sheer, base horror of seeing his body twisting and changing and ageing like that...but, with a cry, he yanks his hand away and instead makes to kick the satchel away. Whether or not that works, he immediately returns his focus to the Hero, instead, giving her a solid kick again in an attempt to stop any further attempts at escaping.

"What the hell was that?! Talk, right now!"

[thequestgiver]

There's a crunching sound at the kick, like the shattering of glass before the Hero lets out a soft laugh that quickly grows in intensity as the Hero's eyes start to glow. She throws out her hand, a gust of sand billowing outward towards the two men.

[folklorist]

Oh gods that did not bode well with the mage, not at all. The Hero's reaction is more deeply unsettling though, "Giles look out!" Before Helios really has any sort of thought towards his actions he'll push Giles out of the way with a rather powerful blast of air and then turn that air back on the sand billowing towards him trying to force it back at the Hero. If that doesn't stop it Helios will throw up a barrier around himself to try and at least counteract the sand or keep it at bay and from touching his person. But whatever this thing was it was no ordinary magical sand used for sigils or elemental spells, that much, Helios was certain of.

[consultmybooks]

Giles goes sprawling, propelled by the gust of wind from Helios that sends him tumbling to the ground. He pushes himself up on his elbows in time to see Helios fighting to deflect the sand. And one look at the Hero's face, or to hear her maniacal, insane laugh as it echoes around this little closed space, is enough for him to know that they're suddenly in trouble.

This time, he doesn't hesitate. This time, Giles aims for the heart as he stabs up from his place on the ground.

Sorry for the delay! ><

[thequestgiver]

The sand buffets against the wall, tearing at it in impotent madness, the space around the trio seeming to warp and bend.

There's a sudden halt in the laughter as Giles aim is true, the Hero looking suddenly very surprised. The sand doesn't stop, but the injury does not heal. With an almost betrayed look, the young woman crumples, her body aging rapidly to turn into dust that is quickly added to the assault on Helios's barrier.

No worries!

[folklorist]

Helios sees this and it makes his heart beat faster in his ears as he takes a step or two back. His barrier was slowly disintegrating right before his very eyes and he's not sure what that sand would do if it touched either on them. He'll try to affix the openings in his barrier with more power but he was starting to feel tired, his hands and legs shaking slightly from the effort. And then he watches in horror as Giles stabs the young girl through the chest and she turns to dust in the blink of an eye. His own green ones finally ticking to Giles. They betray his anxiety and fears because the walls protecting him were crumbling. But, no, this is not how it will end. He will most certainly not get hurt or have Giles get hurt either by whatever this was. He just...couldn't allow that to happen.

[consultmybooks]

This is not how it will end. They've come too far for this to be how it ends. They have plans and dreams for when all of this is over, and they won't end here.

The force, the consciousness, controlling the sand, whatever it is, seems to be focusing its attentions on Helios. Giles takes a deep breath, trying to steady his limbs from his own recent exertions. He pushes himself back up to his feet, chanting a familiar incantation under his breath, and moves around the attacking force to take his place beside Helios. One hand is up, in the gesture of the spell Tyr's Warding Hand. It might not do much, against an attack like this...but, with his and Helios' efforts together, maybe they can weather the storm.