|
Post by Vincent on Nov 27, 2017 17:36:35 GMT -6
Vincent's eyes widened and his mouth quivered ever so slightly when Duma revealed the origins of his facial scars. He was struck by a magic blade? It was a miracle indeed that the two were able to talk like this now. Vincent may have faced off against magical blades in the past he had never suffered such a harsh strike from one, save Mizuyuki's strike against his arm. Had there not been talented healers on standby or rules forbidding killing in place he doubted he would ever have use of his arm again, let alone his arm still in place. The talents of the man that wielded the blade were irrelevant but Vincent was thankful that the man to harm Duma did not unleash power only a deepened bond yielded.
Being alone was impossible, Vincent nodded in agreement, as he too had reached such a conclusion. "Not even the heroes of legend or the terrors of Hargus were able to be done alone."
So Duma was far from ready to settle down? Vincent chuckled as he brought up the mentionings of finding a wife, that was not quite what Vincent had meant when he said settle down. When Duma returned the question Vincent smirked slightly and accepted the assistance. "Well, I didn't really mean marry but..." Vincent rubbed the back of his head. "I have met some amazing women on my travels but these things don't really work out. Some would say with the state of the world this is the time to rush into marriage but those that are out there in this fight disagree." He felt the necklace he wore beneath his tunic subconsciously. "Besides, all the best women are far too exciting for my sentimental and poorly philosophical self." It was self depreciating but also done in good humor. As an aside Vincent had to ask, "How does everyone keep learning about that Heelcutter business, I don't much advertise it."
But on to business as it were, the two spent far too long resting and talking. "Right then, nightfall." Vincent surveyed the area considering vantage points on the crypt and where they might work from. "Well, here are my thoughts, we get the torches around the crypt lit. The moment these things dare emerge they're going to regret it just by the nature of light. Perhaps we can line a general area with them. Its not much but any discomfort is to our benefit." Vincent groaned. "I've never fought an entombed before though so, you know much about it?" Vincent was rummaging his bag for some torches they could use to create a sort of combat area but he was open to suggestions.
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Dec 3, 2017 19:14:18 GMT -6
"There's a reason they were called the eight heroes. And I doubt it was just those eight. They probably had armies of people helping them during the Scouring." He spoke in response to Vincent's comment about the heroes of legend.
"I wonder what sort of unsung heroes lived to witness the eight rise to greatness." He shook his head.
"Or rise to terror, depending on what side of the war one was one." Duma knew history was written by the winners of the war. To those who conquered lands and murdered people. People who may or may not have been innocent in their own lives. To those whose cultures were washed away and replaced by that of their conquerors. This wasn't the time to think of such things. The past is the past and there was nothing no one could do to change it.
Duma smirked lightly at Vincent's comment about women and marriage in general. He liked the young hero's philosophy of it all. Duma too had met many women in his travels across the land. Women, he'd lose a fight too. Women he'd fight for. Women he'd like to avoid. There were men he met that were like that too. And he didn't want to marry any of those women or men either. Not that he'd want to marry a man but for the sake of his own mental conversation he'd figure he'd cover all bases.
"You may not advertise it but other people do. Plus, there are not many white-haired heroes with a light weapon walking around Elibe smiting monsters." He cracked a small smile. Duma rummaged around through his own things. He had a handful of materials for making torches.
"I.. don't know much about monsters in general. Most of my fights have been against living opponents. Looks like I've enough to make three torches. We're going to need to light them just before the monsters come out to maximize their longevity. And we will need to put them in strategic locations. We should keep one with us in case if we need to make a hasty retreat back to town and need to see in the middle of the night. Do you see any other torches around here? Those that are already hanging up on some of the crypts or mausoleums?"
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 12, 2018 19:53:41 GMT -6
Vincent had never put much stock into considering who else must have been fighting alongside or even against the heroes of old. It was an intriguing notion now that it was planted into his brain. "I never really thought about it like that before." He admitted. "I wonder how modern legends like Kenshin and Richter would compare or shoot, let us take a crack at it eh?" While he meant it as good humor he truly would have loved an opportunity such as that. One of his goals was to best Kenshin and Richter... and even Duma too. He had lost to him previously after all.
"You know, its not like I wanted to go traveling the lands hunting monsters... it just sort of fell on me. Like back in the caves with the baels." He chuckled. "Did not mean to fight them, just saw an opportunity to improve. It sucked and lessons were learned but here we are." Vincent looked at the torch material with an obvious expression of discomfort. "We don't have enough material, let alone stands to work out anymore of these. Unless we went back into the crypt anyway... no, bad idea." he waved it away with his words and a symbolic movement of his hands. "So, you probably won't like it but I recommend we just camp out until dark, maybe plant the torches we do have by the entry so we know when something emerges but otherwise thats about the best suggestion I have got."
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Jan 24, 2018 10:00:46 GMT -6
"I can't believe it's been so long since we fought those Baels." The baels of the that one mining town he remembered them. He remembered getting his butt kicked. But, he looked back at the event with some fondness.
"I had no idea what I was getting myself into back then. But, i'm happy for the results." Those Baels did help him meet new people. Learn new things. He glanced a bit at Vincent and recalled what he looked like back then then compared it to now. How time flies. He turned his head back towards the crypt. No movement.
"That second plan, sounds like a good plan." Duma found that solution to be reasonable. The job was to investigate the crypt right? And then they did and they found out about the massive undead multi armed monster. He let a sigh escape him. It looked like Vincent wised up to the idea that returning to the crypt was a bad idea.
"We would have to be quick about it though. Once we plant those torches we would have to run back. Lest we attract more of those smaller skeletons." Gah. I wish we had a messenger to send back into town. Maybe to fetch more torches. He glanced back up at the sky, the pair of them were burning up time talking like this.
"Alright. Let's get the torches set up. There isn't much time left. Next thing you know it will be dawn and those monsters would be doing something else. Though burning the whole thing down isn't out of the question if things get really bad." Duma spoke and prepared the torches. -- (please feel free to skip us along)
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 25, 2018 12:51:04 GMT -6
The forces were set and as dusk turned into night Vincent took a moment to light them aflame. Taking a deep breath of the foul air he backed away cautiously before planting Phoenix Heart blade first into the earth as he waited for whatever monstrosities would emerge. “Okay, remember, revenants only really stop when the head is removed and bone walkers break easier but must be burned lest they come back again. Duma had already admitted to not having fought many monsters before so Vincent offered as much advice as he could drum up for him in their last moments of calm. “Oh, and forbid there be a Wight they are basically magic infused bone walkers and not to be handled alone if possible!”
“Calm yourself partner, I think you’re more worried than the man is, and as I recall he was your better with the blade last you met.” Thanks Phoenix Heart, thanks for talking down to him, but it was not wrong either, Duma was plenty capable and Vincent knew it.
The night winds picked up with a sorrowful howl that threatened to blow out the torches before their efforts could amount to anything until a sound like wet rags began to echo with chains and other rattling metals. Swish, swish, clink, clink, clink. It was Rythmic and sinister. The winds seemed to howl more as the sound grew closer as though the creature itself brought the winds with it.
Vincent pulled Phoenix Heart from the earth and held it close. It provided a soft hum of light that shown brighter than your average torch and seemed to even make the air around them more tolerable. Vincent could feel his right leg shake in anticipation and fear. No matter how many battles he fought he could not escape it, only hold it at bay. “It comes.”
A single spindly arm came into view from out of the darkness. It was adorned with golden armlets and jewels but the hand had deformed into three thick fingers that curled into talons. The skin was leathery and dried like callouses. Then more of its body came into the light for only the briefest moment. It had a head but no real face! It’s face was smooth with grey flesh covering where it’s eyes should have been and it’s nose was replaced by slits. It recoiled from the light shrieking a sound that could petrify even warriors made of the sternest mettle.
Four spindly arms lashed out from the darkness with taloned hands ripping apart the torches allowing it to emerge from the dark. It was hunched low before coming out where it could now stand tall. It’s body bardly seemed that of a man’s any longer. It’s torso was elongated to something wholly unnatural as it rose up to a mighty eight feet high. It’s lipless mouth then opened with a jaw that shook and unhinged falling down to reveal a gaping maw twice as large as any human’s.
“What in the blazes!?” Vincent looked on in horror and fear. Never had he considered it possible for such a thing to be what they were hunting. Revenants were so much more human but this, this entombed had changed into something so much more horrifying. Then with a second look Vincent realized that they were lied to about this creature. It was not only observed but seemed to have been engaged on multiple occasions. Arrows littered its body and out of its chest a blade had been thrust through it, so much good that had done its wielder.
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Jan 28, 2018 20:49:17 GMT -6
With the torches in place, the pair of fighters prepared for the night. Duma munched on a small ration he carried and kept himself hydrated with his canteen. He shared what he could with Vincent. The swordsman checked his weaponry as Vincent explained his knowledge of monsters. Duma deduced that cutting off the head of anything was a good way to kill it. And burning all the bones was the best way of preventing the condemned dead from resurfacing again. So he kept at least one unlit torch in his pouch as well as some tinder to make a fire.
Then the noises came. Duma gripped his brave sword and took a stance. He did not like the noises that were emanating from the tomb. Almost, immediately he could tell something big was coming. Granted he knew something BIG lurked in the tomb below them. Both of them got a glimpse of the creature earlier in the evening. But, Duma wasn't quite sure how big the baddie was until it made its way above ground. Almost immediately he regretted the decision to linger around until nightfall. The winds that blew only seemed to amplify creature's calamitous nature. We should not be here.
Duma kept himself close to Vincent. As some of the torches were blown out by the foul winds, he knew he needed to stick close to the light. And right now Pheonix Heart was only thing they had that was a stable light source. Duma kept his expression as calm as he could. But, his body would betray his true emotion. There were clear beads of sweat that seeped out of his forehead and neck. As the creature squirmed it's way out of the crypt, the swordsman's stoic expression shifted to mild shock and disgust. He knew he was expecting some sort of undead thing, but nothing quite like this.
A four-armed, putrid, shambling, thing... that was the best word he had for it at the moment. The swordsman found it hard to believe that this vile monster was once human. The inhuman screech it let out sent a shiver down the swordsman's spine. Compose.. yourself. The various arrows and other weaponry impaled upon it's back told the swordsman two things. One, people have known of its existence and have tried to execute it...and failed. And two, if they lived this they were going to have some serious words with the person who put up the ad for the job.
"Vincent.." He could barely hold back the stammer.
"I.. don't.. know what to do. You have any ideas?"
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 28, 2018 21:22:01 GMT -6
"Vincent..." Duma stammered. DUMA STAMMERED!!! Vincent never imagined Duma to be the sort to lose his cool under any circumstances, maybe wrongly, but if he was being honest he thought Duma was a really cool guy he looked up to, and here he was just as scared as he was! "I... don't... know what to do. You have any ideas?" Oh man, those words made him even less at ease. It was a sick feeling like he suddenly wanted to hurl. Nerves were overcoming him now.
"I..." Vincent's mind went blank! He could feel it racing for an idea of something! Anything! It almost hurt but the thoughts all came up black! "Run Duma! Just run and get to cover or something!" It all felt uncharacteristic to Vincent to react like this after diving headfirst into the crypt itself but now the beast was in the night, the way it would want to be and he felt like a fish starring down a shark.
"Partner?" His blade's voice fell on deaf ears. He still intended to fight, the idea of running never crossed his mind, but a tactical retreat seemed to be in order. And as though fear made his senses keened to such a higher degree he began to notice the signs of previous struggles. Chipped statues and claw marks littered the area.
Before Vincent could manage to make his body act as he wanted it to the creature fell onto its arms and legs like some wild beast and bounded for the two letting out its terrible screeching all the while. Just before it could fully close the distance and strike it leapt through the air far over their heads and latched onto a tall family grave. It looked down from overhead almost curiously at them before it began to convulse, wracked by pain and its body twisting in ways even it did not seem plausible before its mouth began to ooze.
Even from the ground Vincent could smell the foul odor of what was once blood, but no longer. It seemed a mixture of nether and blood but wholly hostile as it began to drip from above. It pooled it in its gaping mouth before more of it leaked out. The dead and blackened earth hissed as the droplets made contact.
"What are you waiting for!? FIGHT!!!" Phoenix Heart was now shouting in Vincent's mind managing to push out his thoughts of fear and just in time too as it spat its nether blood at the pair of swordsmen. Vincent hurled himself out of the splash zone, forcing himself to roll to keep momentum as he got to his feet.
"Blast!"
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Jan 28, 2018 22:01:25 GMT -6
Duma waited for Vincent's response. As the horrible mass of repulsive flesh continued to move. The hero's response was not one he was expecting but very appropriate for the situation. Duma broke out into a run. He moved in the opposite direction as Vincent. The green-clad swordsman found small cover behind a broken statue of some dead man. Duma kept his back to the statue and took in some panicked breaths. The green-clad swordsman peeked through the legs of the half statue and watched the decayed mass of death, elevate itself, and roost atop the crypt. Liquid destruction seemed to ooze from its unholy maw. It's acrid effects could be felt upon the already dead earth.
Duma could see Vincent a fair bit away. Illuminated briefly by the pale glow of Pheonix Heart. This was both good and bad for both swordsmen. It meant that the horrible beast would have to focus on one attacker at a time. Unless it did something surprising like splitting apart and having half of itself go towards the other warrior. Duma prayed to every god he knew that the monster could not do that. If it did then both he and Vincent would thoroughly f*cked.
The monster seethed and spat out acid at the two swordsmen. Duma backed away in time. The broken statue he hid behind took the brunt of the caustic concoction. The green haired swordsmen could hear the faint hsss as the acid ate away at whatever stone the statue was composed of. If it can melt stone with its spit.. what chance do armor and flesh have?
Duma kept himself in a low crouch and hidden in the shadow of the eroding statue. Ready to move at any time.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 28, 2018 22:45:38 GMT -6
Vincent had to compose himself and come up with a plan A, B, and C all at once and he really had only one idea. Hit it hard and hope it dies. No... that was a terrible idea. Blast, he should be used to this sort of thing but he really only ever had to hit hard and win. 'Hey Phoenix, if I were to just blast it with everything you've got do you think you could take it out in one go?'
'No. This monster is far too seeped in the nether for that to happen. It would hurt for certain but it is also rather nimble and as of now too high to make the most of my power against it.'
'Right... since when were you so analytical?' Vincent was astounded by the information provided. It seemed simple on the surface but for the sword it was a true revolutionary breakthrough.
'Since we became partners' it was beginning to feel like the sword was milking that title for all it was worth but hey, if it was no longer threatening to burn him alive he was good with that.
The creature crawled down the crypt down to the earth slowly as it looked between the two men as though it were deciding which of them it should try to attack, and in truth it was. It looked in Duma's direction and missed him in the shadows so it settled for Vincent. It scurried with light steps that did not match its size and speed. Vincent's breath quickened before he braced clash with the monster but as he broke his cover it was no longer there. Was it playing games with them? His heart raced.
'Behind you!'
Vincent was urged to move and so he leapt and rolled once again narrowly evading a talon from the monster. "AHHHHHHHH!!!!" He yelled a warcry as he unleashed a seal from Phoenix heart creating a brief but blinding flash of light that caused the monster pain. It did not have eyes and it was not an attack but perhaps it could still see, but how? Still, it was enough to cause the monster to leap through the sky and land far away from Vincent now turning to look to Duma.
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Jan 29, 2018 9:48:15 GMT -6
Okay. Okay. Think. How.. do we.. where do we even start? Duma needed to swallow his fear and focus. They had a job to do. They had a job to DO. Although part of him wanted to grab Vincent and run as far and as fast as they could. This monster was beyond them. Stop. Thinking like that. Duma lifted his head a bit and once again spied the monster. It's going after Vincnet!
The younger of the two swordsmen let out a scream. Duma's eyes widened as he pressed himself closer to the statue. He had to fight every urge to run out and smack the monster in the face for what it had just done to Vincent. There was a bright light in the distance another terrible scream. Presumably from the monster itself. He saw it's massive from leap into the air and land closer towards Duma's area. The swordsman's heart started to race and his breathing started to accelerate. He was not prepared for this. He was NOT ready for this.
But, the monster was going to find him and strike him down. Duma quickly gripped the flash-bang he had and prepared himself for the worst. Thanks to Vincent he knew that the monster did not like light. If he needed to he could throw the Flash Bang in the monsters face and make a run for it. He disliked running, but it was the only course of action he had at the moment. He could fight too, but after seeing the monster, being able to spit acid. And the fact that there were signs that the monster had been fought before. Calm. Your breathing. He told himself.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 30, 2018 11:39:41 GMT -6
The monstrous fiend continued to nurse its eyeless face as though it could still see. How odd it was that it reacted so and yet showed no signs of sight. Was it the very nature of light against the beast that brought it pain or was there something more to it that they were missing? Either way the amount of time they had to dwell on seemingly superficial details was growing rapidly short as it recovered and stretched itself out. One taloned arm patched into the partially melted statue Duma had made his protection by digging into the neck of what was once a respected rider. The horse portion was what was so horridly melted.
Scritch scritch scritch, the claw did not quite hold and continued to chisel away scrapes of the stone until the whole talon slipped off with one grand screeeeep! The creature let out a high pitched grunt of frustration before another talon landed by Duma’s feet. The creature was using its excessively long arms to raise itself over the statue and by extension to put itself above Duma. It’s legs wrapped around the torso of the statue’s rider to hold it in place and allow its extra limbs to move freely.
“Duma!!!” Vincent had to act fast just to help provide Duma a chance to move or fight or just take whatever action he was going to. Vincent rushed towards the monster. “Second Seal!” His blade erupted into light and force that jerked Vincent’s arm to the side before he regained his control of it. “Go, now!!!” With an upward swing Vincent loosed the greatest stream of magic from the blade he had ever produced. The power broke through a portion of the statue and right for the monster’s chest. A direct hit should give them time for something.
But behold the creature was unaffected! The statue had broken under it causing it to be dragged down angrily by its weight but the magic itself never even touched it! What!? BUT HOW!!!? The brief moment of bravery Vincent felt to take such an extreme action passed just as quickly when another wave of fear and a sense of uselessness struck him.
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Jan 31, 2018 18:18:41 GMT -6
As Duma worked to try and calm himself. He could hear the sounds of the horrid beast moving. And those noises grew closer and closer until he heard the initial thud of the monster hitting the statue. He looked up and saw the monster's claw trying to grip ahold of the once proud statue of the rider. There was very little light for the swordsman to work with. But, what light was there was more than enough for him to see the horror of the beast above him. The hilt of the sword impailed in the chest of the monster drew his attention. The pattern. He'd seen it before. A festered claw rushed at his legs. Duma quickly moved away from the monster's range.
Just as Duma was about to rise and make an attempt to strike at the monster, Vincent came rushing in. The hero thrust his dagger into the creature's chest area. Although it looked like he mostly hit the statue. But, the blast did not affect the creature. Duma crushed the flash bang in his hand and threw it at the monster's face.
"Vincent! Cover your eyes!"
Duma spoke as he broke out into a run towards the white-haired hero. He counted to three then closed his eyes. The screeches the monster produced confirmed that the flash bang went off without a hitch. Duma quickly pulled Vincent away from the danger zone.
"The sword in its chest... it's a Regal blade. Magic nullifier. Save Pheonix Heart's energy." He spoke in between breathless pants.
"We.. are going to have to coordinate.. our attacks. One.. takes one side. Other person takes another."
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Feb 5, 2018 19:22:47 GMT -6
Crucnch, POP! A flash of light filled the sky blinding the beast and taking away any adjustment to the dark Vincent had gained in an instant. The entombed shrieked it’s unearthly howl. Vincent could never get used to it but the more it made the terrible raucous the less it got to him. Vincent felt his body lurch as strong hands grasped him. It was relieving to know Duma was the one dragging him around and not clawed talons piercing him to throw him all around.
The moment they were safe Duma explained why Vincent’s assault did not work. “Of course!” He should have realized it sooner. But if the sword in its chest was keeping his own weapon from working he had to wonder how they were to beat it. Duma told him not to waste his blade’s power; no problem, but thankfully the silver in it could still be useful. “Alright, so a coordinated assault sounds good, but what do you propose we do? I hate to be dour about this but I think we’ll be hard pressed to make a flanking maneuver work.”
The entombed was recovered and on the prowl for them now. It was cautious of their constant light shows and crept slowly allowing them precious seconds more to come up with an idea or two. Though it was cautious it was not unaware of them. “What if we pinned down its arms? Do you think that could be possible?” He was doubtful but it was the best he had other than I go left, you go right.
|
|
|
Post by Duma on Feb 10, 2018 22:12:12 GMT -6
Duma took bit to regain his breath. He kept his ears open. Listening to the sound of the creature moaning in agony due to the lights.
"I don't think our trick with the flashing lights will be effective for much longer. I don't have any more flash bangs." He spoke lowly so as not to draw attention to their location. Duma shook his head. I need to buy more of those things.
"Phoenix Heart power.. I assume.. like most things... isn't unlimited. We should reserve what energy it has left for when we really need it. I suspected whoever plunged it into it's chest thought the regal blade would nullify the magic that keeps it.. together." The owner of that sword had a good idea and good execution. Shame that the results were terrible. He bit his lower lip. The tinge of pain allowed him to focus on something else other then fear. As the monster continued it's shuffle through the graveyard wasteland, Duma focused on regaining his own composure.
He looked at Vincent for a moment, closed his eyes, and breathed deep. He then released the breath in a large open mouth exhale. His heart rate stabilized. The swordsman felt as if he was finally able to think clearly for the first time since this madness all started.
"Maybe.. if we can find a way to sever the arms. But, we must work together. I think.. if we can lure it back to one of the remaining torches. I can distract it with some sword work. You could attack it from behind with the silver in your blade."
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Feb 12, 2018 14:20:57 GMT -6
Duma was proposing that he could make himself into the lure to draw the beast somewhere else. This meant that it would be on Vincent to deliver on a follow through. Well, what could he really say about it other than "sounds like a plan." Cutting off the arms should leave it an easy kill, but since it had four of them it would complicate things exponentially. "What if we took the arms from one side first. Throw it off balance and making a weak flank?" Vincent proposed as he dug out to one solitary torch he carried in order to hand it off to Duma. The torch was just barely big enough to fit in one's hand and never before used.
Then there was the matter of the blade in its chest and the theory that Duma had proposed about why it was there to begin with. With how emaciated the body was, if one of them could get a grip on it then they could likely rip it out of the monster with relative ease. The monster was closing in now and Vincent recognized their lack of overall time to discuss or argue over flawed points in a plan. He dropped his cloak and prepared to move away so Duma could be the bait.
'Hey Partner? You better not be thinking of taking up that sword. That thing is enough to shut me down and that is painful.'
Hearing Phoenix Heart's words were enough to deter Vincent from that idea before he could even commit to it, but Duma on the other hand, "Arms, and then we get you that blade from its chest." Without staying to explain the idea further to Duma Vincent ran off to take the longer way around the monster to get in position.
|
|