#s:julius

[amitieos]

nanomachines, son | team 4 iron round

The world shifts rapidly, flashing before her eyes in a blur. It’s disorienting, enough to leave one nauseous, and as her vision swims and blurs, Elincia wonders if it will ever end.

Then it halts, abruptly. Her head jerks forward as she tries to steady herself. Their surroundings haven’t changed at all, strangely. Yet her garb has and so has that of her comrades. She breathes a sigh of relief. Thank Ashunera that Julius’ accursed hat is a thing of the past. Their foes have changed too, multiplied as well unfortunately.

Lilina is standing once more, at least. Or more accurately, flying, of which Elincia is admittedly rather jealous. Being grounded on the battlefield frustrates her to no end.

“Caeda, be careful! We don’t know how dangerous these things are,” Queen Crimea calls out, dashing over as fast as the hem of her robes will allow her. Whilst used to wearing long skirts, it really is an impediment during battle. She skids over, next to the airborne pegasus knight and feels yet another pang of jealousy. If she has to be trapped in such a terrible situation, she could at least have her beloved steed by her side. “Ah, I miss the skies already. Here, let me patch you up before you fly off into battle. We’re all a little sore after the last battle.”

Elincia casts Recover on Caeda. Roll d20: 2! 5 HP recovered Caeda has 7.5/10 HP remaining.

The mental block she felt earlier still lingers, but the spell she casts now is more powerful. It helps make up the difference, reinvigorating the marine haired woman to fight another round.

“Good luck! I believe in us, as a team!”

@childofvalla, @arcaeda, @disgracedvessel & @higaneion

[nagargent]

[ Dance ] At first glance, Julius mistakes the silvery hair for that of his mother and turns sharply on his heel to pass in the opposite direction. Yet something compels him to look again, and he finds the face to be younger, the hair straighter, the features familiar to his own reflection. He stops to watch her, certain that she is indeed his sister but hoping that, by some chance, she wasn’t. An old envy begins to rise from the pit in which he had long-buried it. Here, he had the opportunity to be the favored child, and its with this realization that regret, too, surges, but a pair of students passing by bump him back to the ballroom before his mind can sink its claws into a new fixation.

Julia is suddenly alone. Confident, resolute steps carry Julius to her. He grabs one of her hands and pulls her into a closed-position dance.

“Enjoying yourself?” he hums as the photo-artifex flashes.

She feels his presence long before she catches sight of him.

It sends a shudder down her spine, one she tries her best to suppress. Her breath catches in her throat as she’s overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions. Joy and fear, relief and revulsion; peace and confusion - all crash against her like waves against the shore and for a brief moment, Julia feels as if she’ll drift away with the sea.

Poised and assured, he takes her hand and pulls her in to pose for the camera. If she wasn’t certain before, the moment their hands touch she knows it to be true. The brother she thought to be long gone is right in front of her, hidden just beneath the mask.

He is not the sweet, kind little boy she once knew. Nor is he the pawn of Loptous anymore, that much she can tell just from standing next to him. It doesn’t make her want to run the way it used to. She isn’t really sure how to handle this stranger whose hand held hers when they first entered this chaotic world. Words are difficult to come by, no matter how familiar he feels there’s a loneliness that separates both of them.

“Quite well, thank you,” Julia mumbles, staring at her feet. He must think her a coward, pathetic in the way she still cowers before him, trying not to step on landmines. There’s something she needs to say though, has to impress upon him before he leaves her to find his fun elsewhere. “It’s very kind of you to ask.”

“Julius,” she whispers his name, so only the two of them can hear it. He still draws breath and that alone gives her heart reason to rejoice. Even if there is no room for her in his life, she will always hold love for him softly and quietly in her heart. “I’m glad you’re here. I hope you have a lovely evening.”

[hezulion]

why can’t you just stay dead?

It’s a calm, sunny morning and Ares is on the warpath. Today, he believes himself to be totally justified and in the right as he carves a thunderous path through the crowds gathered in the monastery. People whisper as he pushes forward, sword already in his hand. He wears a face of pure hatred as he stalks through the corridors, heading to the courtyard.

He’d been eating breakfast near Julia and Ishtar this morning. He stayed quiet - not wanting to interrupt the girls’ conversation, or say something rude and inappropriate. Mornings were his least favourite time of day and he wanted to avoid starting the day off with a needless confrontation. Unfortunately, they’d mentioned Julius - here in the monastery! Strolling around as though he hadn’t committed unforgivable sins, as if he wasn’t dead. Ares had shoved his breakfast away and rose to his feet, determined to find the disgraced former prince of Grannvale.

And he adds causing him to skip breakfast to Julius’ extensive list of crimes.

Ares arrives at the courtyard and spots him at one of the tables, a cup of tea in his hands. A teapot sits on the table and Julius looks entirely too comfortable, entirely too pleased with himself, entirely too alive for Ares’ taste. He sees red and advances forward before striking.

He cleaves the teapot and table in twain with a single movement. To Julius’ credit, he doesn’t even flinch. He does however, look up and pay attention. Ares seethes above him, burning bright with anger. For a moment, he’s lost for words. Only for a moment.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Ares is yelling - really loudly. If people weren’t already staring at them, he’d certainly drawn their eyes. “You’re supposed to be dead! Fucking dead!”

“We killed you! Why can’t you just stay dead?” This is literally the opposite of everything he wanted to happen this morning. He curses Julius to an eternity in hellfire for this.

@disgracedvessel

[delicatevalentine]

it’s a piece of cake to make a pretty base » team flood

Welp! Whatever the case, your first priority should probably be to finagle some manner of base camp, as well as rations, right?

1 Post = 1% of Progress (Max 20%)  Requires 1 Plank or 1 Sheet of Cloth per post

As Hilda wandered back towards camp, she saw that they had made little progress with the actual base construction. It appeared that some of the group had already split off to investigate other aspects of the landscape and had yet to return with the necessary materials. 

“Hm! Well, not to worry. Felix and I had a little luck over there.” She tugged on the piece of sturdy cloth that was still sticking out of his pocket and held it up to the present team members triumphantly. With a flourish, she laid it down on the ground, then stared at it with a thoughtful expression as though she expected it to pop up into a fully-formed tent. It did not. 

“Well, every little helps!” she said cheerfully, her eyes already wandering for another excuse to avoid work.

-1 piece of cloth +1% camp construction — 1% @pheraean @artificidel @aegisshieded @nagargent @disgracedvessel @cursedbluebird @ninocence @etoilerrante @shadoll @nabataprophet @grimstalkr

[amitieos]

no darkness, no season can last forever | team 4 gold round

She expects oblivion to blanket her. Cocoon her from the ravages of the world. Instead she stands once more in a crowded coliseum, face to face with a golden statue it’s gleam searing in the bright sunlight. Threatening to burn away the peace that had drowned her mind.

It moves, unlike a statue. Growls and roars with a terrible voice, the sound of angel’s strangled until their last breath falters.

Amaterasu heals Elincia for 1HP. Elincia has 6/10HP remaining

The shining, radiant faces of her allies is a small but welcome comfort. Elincia dares not hope this will be the last of their trials but there is no time like the present. Nothing to be gained just waiting to be assailed upon. Hand raised high she chants Luce’s incantation in a soft but self-assured voice. What need of her is there to bellow and shout when it responds so easily to her call.

Elincia attacks Shadow Self 1 (Chosen) with Luce Roll d20: 15! Critical hit. 6 damage dealt. Shadow Self 1 (Chosen) counters with Mauling Strike. Roll d20: 14! Hit. 1.5 damage dealt. Elincia suffers Def -2 until next player phase. Elincia follows up with Luce Roll d20: 16 Critical hit. 6 damage dealt Elincia has 4.5/10 HP remaining. Shadow Self 1 (Chosen) has 3/15 HP remaining.

Her assault upon the brazen King of the World is swift and assured. The bright light of her spells reflects from it’s golden form but it does her no harm. If anything it’s warm, refreshing. She isn’t quite done yet.

Elincia’s Galeforce triggers. Elincia casts Fortify. Roll d20: 16! 6 HP restored to party members. Live to Serve triggers. Elincia has 6 HP restored. Everyone has 10/10 HP remaining!

Back in her element, Elincia can’t help but feel her confidence renewed. Faith has always guided her well, stirred the magic in her heart to help in times of need. Her gaze dances over the others, the hint of a smile on her face.

“Are we well? Last round was brutal, if anyone finds themselves injured, please call upon me.”

[nagargent]

"Julia." Her name is hissed out between teeth through the dark. The late winter sun had long dipped behind the mountains before classes had been released for the day and Julius had lurked in the alleyway near the dorms for his sister to pass by. He reaches for her arm to stop her, and puts his finger over his lips. This time, he is without a mask, so he does not venture far from the darkness.

"I trust that you have kept my secret." Whether it's the hushed tone with which he speaks, or the motive he hides under his tongue, his voice is softer now than it had been at the Ethereal Ball, but he still locks his sister with an intense stare. "I have a favor to ask of you-- no, I beg you."

He has never been one to plead, but with Saias now an unreliable shield at best, and the arrival of the Scion of Light with the rest of his retinue, Julius recognizes a new need for protection.

"You can sense that I'm different, can't you? Loptous holds no sway over me anymore." He cups Julia's hand with both of his own, but that he harbors no compulsion to kill Naga's heir here and now does not quite rise to consciousness. "I fear that the others will not believe me though. I have been forced to hide underground like a rat merely to survive. You cannot even begin to imagine the filthy conditions, the disease and poverty that runs rampant down there. I'll not be able bear it for much longer."

He draws closer, still pleading with his eyes for her to listen to him. "So I ask that you fulfill your duty as my sister and see that my reputation is fixed so that I may come to live above ground once more. You must do this for me, Julia."

It's a little foolish of her, to follow him so readily. Or, it certainly would be, if he wasn't telling the truth. There is no sinister creeping in her veins when he stops her, no chill running down her spine. Her body does not react with fear or revulsion the way it once used to.

Loptous no longer controls the young man before her. He is still not the brother she remembers, either.

The tale he tells her stirs at her heart though. Whoever he is - even when he was under Loptous’ influence, Julius has and always will be her brother. Her twin, who has known her before she ever knew herself. Even if he was a stranger, the conditions he describes would turn her stomach. Compel her to do all she could to aid them.

That this is her kin makes the desire all the more stronger.

She doesn’t think he’s ever pleaded for her like this before. Not even when they were children, fussing over their toys. That seems a lifetime away.

“There is no need to beg me, Julius. I feel it in my very bones and no matter what you think of me, you will always be my brother. There will always be love in my heart for you, even if you choose to reject it.” Julia tries her best to keep her voice steady. To not show any weakness or draw his contempt. There is a slight tremor in her hands though, not caused by fear but something deeper. Relief, perhaps? Even if the Julius she once knew is long gone, he is alive in front of her and no longer under that dark god’s influence. Her heart hopes dearly they can forge a bond anew. However, things won’t be quite so simple for him with the others. She is not the only one to have lost loved ones by his hands. “I will tell people, that much I promise. For I know it to be the truth and I have nothing to gain from hiding that away. But people are swayed more by deeds than words, Julius.”

“I will tell them but you need to show them too in your actions. I am not... suggesting you put on a false persona. Simply that you put in the effort to approach people with a little more patience. Let them see the connection has been severed for themselves.” Her spare hand reaches up, cupping his in return. Julia gives a slight squeeze, to reassure herself or him is unknown to her. If it helps them both, that would truly be ideal. “There are people who may not be able to forgive and I won’t try to convince them they ought to. They have a right to their feelings, brother. I will however, endeavour to let people know you are no danger to the inhabitants of the monastery. I hope that will be enough for you.”

She slides her hands away carefully. Making sure to be gentle, so as to not signal rejection. There is a slight smile on her face, one she can’t force down even if she tries. It’s selfish of her but to have a chance to repair what was once shattered like glass is a blessing she cannot turn down. The thought he’s using her, manipulating her good nature crosses her mind briefly but she decides that even if he is, she cannot leave him to suffer without betraying herself before anyone else.

“If that’s everything, I’ll be on my way now Julius. I hope dearly that soon a day may come where we can break bread over the same table together.”