cry for alcyone / team ruins finale
The combination of two forms juxtaposes the destruction of a third — as Aphie and the Mechanic twist and morph into a new amalgamation, the seams of the world holding the dream together start to tear, unraveling, revealing glimpses of that which isn’t here.
Reality, as it is known, lying beyond the fog of memory.
What an interesting prospect.
At Valter’s side: a pegasus. (He’d forgotten that he had had one.) He pauses, and then he mounts (he had always preferred the skies).
“ Don’t give me any trouble, ” the general mutters to the mount. Whether the pegasus even acknowledged him, she doesn’t make it very clear.
(It made no difference to him; she simply had to not be a nuisance.)
The Aphie-Mechanic monster already starts the offensive. Micaiah and Kurthnaga are quick to act first, the Knightly Forsyth striking not moments after. As his armor flares and the children recoil, sharp eyes soak in the combat — Valter sees the chance to strike.
Valter attacks Aphaea/Mechanic with Killer Lance (Tempest Lance)!
[d20 Roll]: 8 + 2 = 10. Hit!
Aphaea/Mechanic HP: 85.5/100
Wyvern or pegasus, the skies are the skies, and deftly, he glides, closing the distance between Aphaea and her demise. It misses a vital point, — for that, he scoffs to himself, — but it is not a weak blow. Her(?) very image splits for a moment before reforming, broken, fixing again.
They lash out in retaliation, a wild display of fire and sparks that seem to dance in the Moonstone’s direction, albeit vibrantly and brightly. He braces himself for the flames, knowing well the potential threat the spatters posed.
Aphaea/Mechanic counter with Strength of Spirit!
They die on Valter’s armor before they can even think to harm him. To think, he had thought a child capable of injuring him– He smirks, ever-confident, and with the grace of a pegasus mid-flight, seizes the opening they so graciously left for him.
(He could swear he heard music, but from where could that be–?)
Valter makes a follow-up attack!
Aphaea/Mechanic HP: 77.5/100
Once again, they split and reform, and once again, they return just as cheery. It was like a game to them, he surmises, fighting to the bitter end. He imagines if he were a child (in a world where he was god), it would’ve ended up the same, but without the games to hide the chaos.
In the mind of Valter the child, blood was the means and the end.
He flies out of range of imminent danger, taking the time once more to assess the situation. The amalgamation was already notably injured, and it felt safe to assume that they would make quick work of the child. No matter that the others spoke simply of sparing them. After all, accidents happen. Who’s to say their death wasn’t a mistake? The Moonstone then coughs, feeling a familiar burning in his throat as he does so.
Valter takes recoil from Killer Instinct!
Seems the dream remembered this for him — self-sacrifice in the name of bloodshed. Such a slight was irrelevant anyhow — this combat would be over before his tendencies could bring his demise.
Battle is just on the horizon.
Sirius affixes his mask to his face when two lost souls begin to fuse together, knowing that he must enter combat--that he must guard his body and secrets.
He has no words for Aphie, no goodbyes for the Mechanic. They are not of his world and as such, Sirius has long since anticipated the pain of departure. In that way things have not changed; he’s venturing out into a foreign land, fighting for its peace, and disappearing before his medal can be handed out.
The name Sirius will forever be just a phantom in history.
He mounts swift Pedasos for what feels like the last time, and gives the others the chance for the opening strike while he cherishes his companion. This one he had known and been separated from, but this dream gave him the chance for reunion. A gloved hand smooths over his mane. Something of a smile pulls on his features--stony though it may be--for it’s been nice turning back the clock with his dear departed horse.
Pedasos snorts once, flicking his head from the affection. He and Camus were always similar: looking to the battles ahead, never stopping to smell the roses. Sirius retracts, and his smile only widens. It’s good to see Pedasos hasn’t changed over the years.
But the time for sentiments has passed. Several of the others have already dove in and sunken their spears into the freak before them, Valter marking significant gore upon its flesh. Sirius nods to him, barking “Stay vigilant. As knights, you and I have a duty to return everyone to the monastery... Dying here is tantamount to failure.”
Kicking the spurs of his stallion into action, Sirius gains momentum to charge for the foe. He raises his shining lance, and in a display of Grustian might, cleaves the open wound--driving pain further into mutated flesh, playing into the weak spot created by the Moonstone.
Sirius uses Blessed Lance! Roll 1d20+2 = 9, hit! -4 HP; Aphaea/Mechanic 73.5/100 HP
Much to his surprise, Aphie’s voice giggles in response to the attack. “You’re good at this game, Sir Knight!” and Sirius is unnerved. He quickly realizes something is wrong when one of his most devastating blows doesn’t as much as shake his opponent, their conjoined arms winding up for a returning blow.
Aphaea/Mechanic uses Strength of Spirit! Roll 1d20-6 = 14, crit! -1 HP; Sirius 9/10 HP
The same sparks that flew for Valter confound Sirius and his mount until they have nowhere left to run. He tries to dodge, attempts to maneuver his beloved steed out of harm’s way, but the attack is too plentiful with the angles meant to claim his life. So he switches to holding his guard. His lance flashes out in front of him to try to dissipate the attack, yet still it connects, and it shocks Pedasos’ feet to the ground.
“Sorry!” the Mechanic’s words quip, “That was just a test! There are many who aren’t what they claim to be, y’know!”
Sirius is inflicted with -6 speed for three phases; Aphaea/Mechanic gains +1 to all stats; and true damage next combat
Their voices laugh in unison as the blonde’s own excuse is used against him. And he, for lack of any other option, slides off his horse. He’ll have to fight on foot for the next little while and draw enemy fire away from Pedasos. Once he’s ready to rejoin, Sirius has no doubts he’ll come running.