i must succeed

I prepared explosive runes this morning. [ rp blog for sxh ]

[gserkhrab]

❝ The bitter end is just a matter of time.

[gserkhrab]

Silent. Karna simply analysed Vaarsuvius for some moments, and with that he quickly decided he wasn’t a threat. No, if anything… this person was lost. Perhaps in a situation worse than his own, somehow concealed by this town. He could feel it, but not understand exactly. 

- “…”

It was more than enough for now, he thought. He’d allow himself to mingle, until he could arrange his memories properly again. He was given this elf’s name, but as for his own… 

… first, he was not supposed to disclose it. Second… there was no way for him to. All that there was for him was the name of his class, clouded memories about some events of his own life that he could not understand… and that was it. It was like living on as an empty shell. 

- “…Lancer.”

He finally replied, nodding at the comment that they will be roommates from now on.  It was… awkward, to say the least. Karna never had been one for idle conversation, his soul always focused on warfare and his undying loyalty to his previous Masters. He could only wonder for how long his body would resist before disappearing if he did not find a new one (without knowing that this would prove to be no problem in this place), how long until he—

— magic.

It was low, but there was a chance. Especially considering how he could sense he was not the only magic being here. It was everywhere. So, maybe… 

- “… Let me ask you a question. Are you a magus?”

[familicides]

'Lancer' seemed a strange name, but Vaarsuvius had certainly heard stranger in their journeys. Filing it away mentally, they turned to address the matter at hand.

"In fact I am," they said. "I am a wizard, an evoker to be exact, skilled in the ways of all things arcane, tirelessly trained to wield the power to bend creation with but the force of my own will. The powers at my command are myriad, though recounting a thorough list would be a fruitless exercise, as firstly it would take a number of hours, and secondly there are few who would understand its secrets as I do. Does that answer your question?"

The elf pondered for a moment, then added, "Why is it you ask? Are you also an acolyte of magic, or merely one who is curious? Or could you perhaps have another reason altogether...?"

[phyrnnion]

Unfortunate Circumstances

[phyrnnion]

          He plans to move, to perhaps engage in battle but this world is different than the Middle Plane. He’s weakened here in this world and even if he could overwhelm the other with just sheer strength, his firepower would keep them locked until one or the other called it quits. Yet, the elf doesn’t move so to follow in suit, neither does Phyr. He watches with full attention on the being standing some distance from him. Huh, what an interesting expression he wears. To his dragonkin, guilt and pity were two in the same. His nostrils flare, small flames appeared, and he lazily turns his attention away, closing his eyes again.

          “You are mistaken elf. I won’t waste forgiveness on someone who has done no malice against me.”

[familicides]

Vaarsuvius jolts at the sound of the dragon's voice. Did they say that aloud? The strange sensation that grips the elf's heart and mind dissipates instantly as if it had never been, leaving them with a strange sense of emptiness.

Straightening up, V does their best to compose themself. "Quite right," they say, and their voice only cracks a little. "I don't know what could possibly have come over me. In my recollection I can think of nothing that I could have done to bring about the ire of a dragon."

That's the truth, and yet it sounds like a lie coming from their mouth anyway. Their eyes dart to the sides, looking for possible escape routes should things go awry--this wouldn't be the first time their bad social skills landed them in hot water.

"Well, now that we've resolved that little miscommunication, perhaps an introduction is order, since it seems this forest has no intention of letting me leave at this juncture." Their cursory search of the surrounding trees showed no sign of an easy path out--by the time they could climb through any of the gaps between the trees they would easily already be a grease mark on the earth. Diplomacy seemed the better option, though only slightly. Mostly, the elf is loathe to sacrifice their pride by doing something so cowardly as running for their life, even if that were on this occasion probably the smarter thing to do.

"I am known as Vaarsuvius," they say. "I am a wizard specializing in evocation." Please don't kill me, they add silently.

[phyrnnion]

Unfortunate Circumstances

          A paved path, the smell of humans and elves coming and going, all these sensations were new again to the Eternal Dragon. He couldn’t recall how he had gotten to this Sleepy Hollow or how he was able to hear anyone after so long. His wrists feel lighter, his head clearer, but still the vague world around him left him uneasy. He decided the best exit would be into the forest, way from people. Despite all that humans and elves have done to his people, he wouldn’t go attacking innocents simply because he could. Well, not yet anyway.           Phyrnnion stumbles upon a wide, open meadow. Exhausted in his human-like state, he transforms himself into his true form, spreading out his wings before laying himself against the cool earth, curling up to rest under the bright midday sun. There didn’t seem to be anyone nearby at the moment and even in such a vulnerable state, he was confident no harm would be done to him. After all, weak weapons would not pierce his rigid scales nor would he not sense someone arriving. The peace is short lived when he senses someone almost immediately, eyes open slightly. He makes no effort to speak, not about ready to waste his energy until he really needed it. 

[familicides]

Trancing has so far done Vaarsuvius no good. The elf's head remains clouded, spells for the most part still out of their reach. 'Fresh air, perhaps,' they thought to themselves, which brought them out here to the edge of the forest. They walk along the treeline, instinctively watching for movement between the branches. The trees keep unnaturally silent watch over the forest, their branches outstretched as if warding off intruders.

Vaarsuvius comes to a path weaving through the foliage and wanders down, now curious about what may lie within. The path cuts a winding trail through the trees, far enough that the elf considers turning back--yet when they turn around, they find no path behind them. Forward it is, then.

The path opens up on a sun-drenched clearing--Vaarsuvius' attention is drawn away from the beauty of the meadow by a towering figure that takes their breath away.

Vaarsuvius is familiar with dragons, as much as any experienced adventurer is. They're large, powerful, and a good source of experience and treasure if you don't end up dead. Deprived of their most powerful spells and a balanced adventuring party, the thought of fighting such a beast doesn't even cross Vaarsuvius' mind.

That would be the logical explanation for the creeping dread that overtakes the elf's thoughts and drives all others out. They wish it was so logical, but with all their intellect they can't find a reason for this absolute and all-encompassing agony that eclipses all thought in their head and all power in their body. Even the idea of escaping is outside their grasp. Vaarsuvius can barely keep themselves standing, entirely paralyzed by...

'Guilt' is the word that comes to V's mind. It makes no sense, and their immediate instinct is to dismiss the thought out of hand, but the feeling is so strong it seems imprudent to discard it so carelessly. Words press at the back of their mind, words the elf has no strength to say and that they cannot begin to comprehend. 'Forgive me.'

[gserkhrab]

❝ The bitter end is just a matter of time.

When he woke up, there was nothing. Karna’s first thought was of being summoned to a new place once again, but there was no one there. His room was empty, and his memory was quite lacking. 

He could remember his name. That he was a Heroic Spirit. But that was all. The thought of a failed (or less-than-ideal) summoning crossed his mind, something that could happen with an inexperienced Magus, or one that lacked enough prana to correctly execute the ritual. But once again… there was nobody there. 

So, why…? His golden armor felt so familiar, yet he could not recall anything. Somehow he doubted that his questions would be answered, so there was nothing he could do but to organize his own thoughts and his hazy memories. His powers suffered a heavy blow from this, too… this situation was far from ideal. 

A loud click, the sound of someone approaching. Right, he woke up in this room. An inn of some sorts, maybe…? There were other beds next to his own, so he’d be safe to assume the person who just entered the room was someone he’d be living with from now on. 

This situation, this scenario. They were all out of place. He could not sense enemy Servants, nor he could feel there was a pressing reason for him to be there. 

- “…”

His gaze lingered on the newcomer for a while, memorizing their features without saying a word. If this person could answer his questions or not, or if he was going to ask them… that was a whole different story. He’s simply watch for now, sitting on his own bed without saying a word. 

[familicides]

Vaarsuvius had had a stressful day. Coming to new cities alone was difficult--it was part of the reason they generally liked to travel with a party. Leave the mingling and asking for directions to people with a charisma that wasn't so... abysmal would be putting it gently.

They had spent at least an hour making a fool of themselves asking how to get to their inn, and now that they were there all they wanted to do was get in a bit of light reading to unwind and then trance for the night. They hadn't recalled using up all of their spell slots that day, but somehow they were all exhausted anyway. Hopefully getting in some rest would help with that.

So wrapped up in their thoughts was the elf that they were startled when they opened the door and saw someone else there. Thinking back, they recalled that there had indeed been talk of roommates. Vaarsuvius didn't particularly mind roommates, had been in situations that called for them before--they only hoped this one wouldn't be too much of a nuisance. Even that might be tolerable, they thought, reminiscing with a strange fondness on the last 'nuisance' traveling companion they'd had. Whatever happened to him, the elf wondered absently.

Not now, they reprimanded themselves. More pressing matters awaited, such as the enigma of a person in the room. Vaarsuvius didn't need a detect magic spell to sense the raw power the being practically exuded. As the elf sized up the man, they felt themselves being similarly examined. In this state, deprived of most of their spells and frazzled from a long day, they didn't think they cut a particularly impressive figure and apprehension knotted in their stomach. Not a good first impression.

They cleared their throat, pushed a stray lock of hair behind their ear, straightened their back. "Greetings," they said at length. "My name is Vaarsuvius. I suppose that you and I will be staying some time together, yes?" They shifted from foot to foot, wishing someone else was here to make the introductions for them. It seemed not a day went by recently that they did not regret making charisma a dump stat.

[familicides]

prestidigitation [event open]

When Vaarsuvius entered the town of Sleepy Hollow, it seemed the world had suddenly exploded into bright colors. The elf cringed, adjusting to the light and sound. What a time to enter a new place, V thought to herself. It seemed some sort of festival was taking place.

Gathering his cloak about him, V pushed through the crowd, taking in the sights. A performer did sleight-of-hand tricks to a round of applause on V's left. Her lip curled in a smirk. Child's play. A plan formed in his head, an illogical, stupid, pointless plan. Well. It wasn't like V had planned anything else for the day, or the foreseeable future for that matter.

Stepping up beside the performer, who looked at them in surprise, Vaarsuvius dipped their head ostentatiously, sweeping their cloak across the small stage.

"Greetings," she spoke to both the crowd and the confused performer before her. "You may call me Vaarsuvius. I happen to be passing through this fair town at the moment, and I couldn't help but notice this display of mediocre chicanery. Is this what you here would consider to be 'magic,' arcane or otherwise?"

The crowd murmured in confusion, wondering if this was meant to be part of the show. One voice spoke up in assent, then asked mockingly if the elf could do any better. Vaarsuvius' face split in a smug grin. "I was, in fact, hoping you would ask that," he said.

"The occasion is rare that one such as I would say this, but in essence my meaning is thus: enough 'chit-chat'--I believe that is the vernacular. I will let my magic do the talking for me." With that, Vaarsuvius began their own performance. They turned the performer's rabbit into a dove, then a rat, then a frog, then back again; made the 'magician''s hat float off of his head and change into a scrap of cloth that floated down and became a feather on the floor. They made fire spout from their fingers, made coins appear from nothing and disappear once more, sketched floating pictures in the air. At the end of all this, V turned back to the crowd, a confident smile on her face.

"Well?" he asked. "I am not a performer by trade, so you must forgive me there. My singular intention was to demonstrate for you the difference between a fallacious sleight-of-hand act and true arcane skill. Though this is but the lowliest cantrip of the spells I possess, even to the untrained eye it is myriad in its advantages, is it not?" The elf folded their arms over their chest and eyed the crowd, as if inviting someone to step in, be it to praise or challenge them.

[familicides]

[ this blog is being recycled for sleepyxhollow, feel free to unfollow! ]

[familicides]

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

Gratuitous application of destructive arcane might.