Corn, rushed to Belle 's limp form. I think I overreached a bit, he thought as he kneeled next to the fallen warlock.
"Belle? Belle are you OK?" he asked.
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Presence
Status (academic)
Analyze life, WP to boost a roll, Paradox mitigation, Non-path magic, Getting out of GrappleCorn, rushed to Belle 's limp form. I think I overreached a bit, he thought as he kneeled next to the fallen warlock.
"Belle? Belle are you OK?" he asked.
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Striking Looks
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Shit.
While she had some experience with Death, she couldn’t use it. Not now. Hell, she wasn’t even sure how she was going to get back down.
A deep sigh as she closes her eyes, why was this being difficult.
“Corn, need you.” She calls down. She hated needing someone else, absolutely loathed it. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
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Led through the darkness by the still glow of Belle's cell phone Corn finally reached his colleague without stepping on her or falling himself. How long would the Mastigos be out? Or the other guy, for that matter? It was true, the Moros discarded the spell seconds after he'd cast it, but that stuff did seem pretty strong when they talked about it on TV.
Belle doesn't wake up from Corn's questions, but at least she seemed alive at least. From deeper within the room he could hear the Shaman's voice. One cry for help, one unconscious form on the ground - this expedition didn't run nearly as smoothly as they would have liked.
They still had barely any light, they still were separated and worn out.
For all the less than ideal things they had to endure there was at least one thing that might lift Aurora's spirits: the memory of what she saw in the Twilight, of what this place meant to someone. Of course, that memory wasn't worth it's weight in Mana, so all she could do at the moment was to wait. She could only hope Corn would get her down before she rot here..
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Presence
Status (academic)
Analyze life, WP to boost a roll, Paradox mitigation, Non-path magic, Getting out of Grapple
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See, the Shaman wasn’t one to sit and wait for help. There was something else she could do. More painful than tearing the mana from her pattern. She could physically bleed for it.
And so she does. Her left-hand wraps around her upper right arm and she squeezes, digging her nails into the flesh. Forcing the mana to bleed out with her blood. She winces, gritting her teeth and trying to breathe slowly. She had this; she’d been in more pain before. Continuing to squeeze, pushing her nails into the skin, she felt it slowly, painfully slowly, seep out.
A shaky breath was taken as she leans against a wall if possible.
She had this.
“Uhhh, maybe?” the voice unsure, lacking her usual confidence.
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Corn dragged Belle over the more or less smooth stone floor, having little more means of orientation than the echo-y voice of the Shaman. While the Warlock wasn't nearly as big as the man, Corn didn't really make fast progress. Step by step, drag by drag they distanced themselves from the point of confrontation marked by the glint of Belle's knife in the light of her dropped cellphone.
Meanwhile Aurora took matters in her own hand: drawing more Mana out of her pattern rekindled the burning pain of her scoured muscles and made her nerves scream. The reward for this was definitely worth it though: she could feel the Mana being absorbed into her pattern, like an ice-cold, refreshing hail from the Primal Wilds. The walls of the alcove offered plenty of support as she sat across the stone coffin and caught her breath.
Her answer was underscored by a low groaning, which soon grew into a confused, then terrified rambling. "Ngh.. wha-? What is happening? Why can't I move?!" There was a second of silence, then he started again, his voice brimming with incredulous panic. "I am blind! This can't be happening, not to me! Let me go-o-o-o!"
Gone was the calm and calculating demeanor from earlier. This sounded more like a terrified kid. The solution might have seemed humane, but ultimately Corn put this man into a frightening and cruel position, deprived him of his freedom without any obvious provocation.
And with nobody keeping tabs on him they Mystagogues couldn't even be sure if he stayed that way.
Belle could also feel her consciousness coming back to her, drifting upwards from a sea of secret Russian knockout-gas and the smell of decay and fresh earth to.. well, the dark and damp cave they went looking for treasure in. Something wasn't right though: she was being moved, someone was dragging her across the floor. Through the darkness.
Turn order: (14)Aurora - (13)Intruder - (10)Belle - (9)Corn
Belle is up.
Corn and Belle are in almost complete darkness again for the time being (Belle's phone is where she dropped it, Corn's is pocketed).
Corn , please make a Wisdom-degeneration roll (4 dice). Don't forget to roll your new score for possible derangement if the roll failed.
Aurora as per the house rules, remember that your next action suffers a (-2) penalty (because this is the second time in the scene she scoured).
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The return to consciousness for Belle is kicked off by the sensation of being dragged across the floor. There's an unconscious instinct that wants to call it a dream. Five more minutes, please. Hit the damn snooze. But that is quickly put to rest with the muffled cries of a downed Magi and the feeling of dirt on her hands.
The Warlock shakes her head, looking up to see a colorless approximation of Corn's face somewhere above. "Hey, knock eh off." She's still a bit groggy from the knockout gas, and a bit grumpy for the lack of warning. But the tactical side of her can't help but admire Corn's hard and fast solution. She begins pushing herself up, feeling a bit naked without her weapon.
2 successes
Quickly taking stock of her surroundings, Belle rushes over and recovers her knife and phone, keeping one in each hand for now. The contained trespasser draws a soundless snarl from Belle's lips. Damn fool got what was coming to him. Stepping in all high and mighty. There would be time for self-reflection later, right now they had a treasure to find. "Okay, somebody please tell me we've got some eyes on our prize. Or at least a slightly better flashlight?"
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Analyze life, WP to boost a roll, Paradox mitigation, Non-path magic, Getting out of Grapple
The cries of the trapped mage cut through to him. He didn't have much choice; a mage is always like a loaded weapon, or better a grenade as he has just proved. A mage without sensory deprivation is someone that can throw that armed grenade on you at any point. But he didn't like what he had to do. Sensory deprivation was a kind of torture, he has heard. Time slows down considerably especially when you're bound like that.
As Belle regains her senses, Corn replies. "I didn't think to search that guy before entombing him, sorry. Aurora ? Any news?" he called out.
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There was a shaky breath as the Mana was absorbed.
While she could keep doing this, she didn’t want to. Time to tap into another Arcana while the others dealt with the intruder. Who did not sound like he was having a good time. Normally that might bother her, but not right now. She was in pain and shit needed to get done.
Hearing Belle was a relief, she was ok.
“Yes.” She called down to her. At least, she assumed it was the prize.
If this didn’t work, some people were getting turned into birds.
When Spirit fails you, try Death.
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Maybe it was her affinity for Space, maybe she just got lucky: Belle retrieved her belongings quickly and without much further ado. She still was a bit unsure on her feet, but it may even seem like the Warlock was even more determined to find whatever was hidden in here. Of course, with the 'threat' taken care of they found themselves pretty much back on square one: in the dark, without much to go off of.
Corn knew that his solutions might not have been the most.. humane or even wise, but they got the job done without any bloodshed. The constant wailing, growing hoarser by the second, made the Moros question his decision to leave the mouth free. It made their echoed communication harder, much like their ability to brainstorm for solutions. "What do you mean, search me?! You can't do that, I am your superior, chosen by God to rid this earth of all abominations!"
So it wasn't just mindless screaming, it seemed like the other Mage was following their discussion - at least to an extend where he could recognize them talking about him. Finally he seemed to have run out of air, the yelling now being replaced by panting breaths. Was he thinking strategy or just gathering his strength to voice his indignation again?
Although things didn't always come easy, Aurora was resourceful and not above spilling some blood to get things done. The muscles in her arm shook and there was a second where she thought she'd suffer a cramp, but the moment passed and she gathered her will to tap into Death's purview again. The Imago got translated easily into existence by the Shaman's sheer determination and as soon as she felt the spell take hold within her Pattern she felt a sense of serenity come over her. Wie the ability to see potential ghosts and her feline eyes, Aurora looked around and noticed a change from before: across from her, on the sarcophagus, sat a pale apparition of a woman. She seemed middle eastern in heritage, long dark hair falling gracefully around her elegant face and big, dark eyes watching the Thyrsus with a mixture of curiosity and longing. With the other Mage quiet for now, the Ghost tried to speak, but no words seemed to escape her lips. After another unavailing attempt she closed her mouth in a grimace of frustration. And then she hummed that melody again.
Turn order: (14)Aurora - (13)Intruder - (10)Belle - (9)Corn
Belle is up.
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