Horizon Walkers (Game Thread) Dead

[Anti-American Eagle]

Kyras looked around the Colosseum as the manticores stopped swarming him for a moment.
There was a group forming around the muzzled creature. The scent of burning flesh was coming from nearby, a charred manticore against a blackened wall, there was a mage amongst them. A dwarf was challenging the lion. The other creature was still killing manticores.

Kyras knocked another manticore from the air with his blade as it swooped at him, let it slam into the ground, and finished it off.
A plan began to form in his head, he'd let the dwarf distract the lion, and he'd burn it to death as its back was turned. He thought that ff fire didn't kill it, it should atleast weaken the behemoth's hide.

Kyras slashed into another manticore coming at him, he left it to bleed and started moving towards a position he felt would be close enough to the lion and the dwarf to burn the lion, but far enough from them to avoid the lion taking notice of him over the dwarf.

 

[IFS]

"She's hardly just some creature,"

The cat didn't seem to like the term either, giving an angry growl as he said it, well this is sure to be trouble might have to be sure we can trust it. He heard the flapping of manticore wings and glanced at some shadows breaking free of the other monsters, heading to attack their makeshift alliance from behind, perfect.

"As soon as she's given me a name I'd be happy to call her by that," he replied to Des "the announcers were sadly unhelpful in that regard."

The flapping of the wings drew closer, and his grip tightened on his sword arm as he prepared to spin around and fight, but the cat did as he'd hoped it might and pounced over them striking the beasts down.

"Do not drop your guard while the Vermin are about. Remove this vile thing from me, and I will aid you in this meaningless battle"

Still not the most likable creature, but it at least sees reason to defend us for now. Des moved to take off the muzzle, and Alex spun to fend off any manticores that might try to disrupt the process. He glimpsed another fight, Dalrel, being attacked by another gladiator as he made his way to join their group. Someone's popular, wonder what he did to get someone to stupidly attack him instead of the viscous beasties all about.

"Thanks, but I'm not as fragile as the mortals. Also, if you don't mind, what kind of being are you? I've seen some different ones, but you don't seem like a demon to me."

Speculation on that front was cut short by the comments he heard from Des, not mortal eh? What then, he knows of demons at least, though from what I've seen the ones of my world are not the same as those of other worlds, he's likely more dangerous than he seems. Wears his human guise more closely than the masked one as well, not a good sign.

This was not the time to act on such information though, it was too limited, besides Alex thought as he finished off another monster there's still these things to deal with.

 

[Lunar Templar]

"What's your name? I'm Des."

"As soon as she's given me a name I'd be happy to call her by that, the announcers were sadly unhelpful in that regard."

Well this was problematic "From what I under stand of your, language is it? It does not have the sounds necessary to say it." She said as the muzzle came off, she sat back on hind legs and on on her front legs and rubbed her jaw a little "Much better."

"Also, if you don't mind, what kind of being are you? I've seen some different ones, but you don't seem like a demon to me."

She tilted her head a little "What are these 'demons' of which you speak?" standing up again "Now, that name I can give you, we call our selves 'Ranglie'" She said turning her back to the duo, looking around a bit "The large one should be the focus, not these flying Vermin" She said as the plates on her back and horns on her head began to glow, faintly at first then brighter, her gaze on the Manticor gate "Though it seems the Vermin we have left are all there are. Good."

The plates on her back hit a consistent glow, she took one last look at the Vermin open to her, and fired a rough, almost flame like beam of energy into the cluster of flying Vermin, killing several, and wounding several more, the beam only coming to a stop against the shield, directly in front of the announcer, and where she assumed the other 'VIPs'. To further drive home this a planned 'attack' she stood up again and mimicked a 'come on then' gesture she'd seen some of the others use, openly challenging the vermin in the stands who think the own her to come after her.

The muzzle was off, and far as she was concerned, the vermin in the stands would pay for their insult to her.

 

[hiei82]

One by one, the Manticore dropped to the ground, their blood pooling around their dying forms. For a time, their numbers seemed endless for, with every death, another seemed to crawl its way into the arena. Yet, after the first pride had made its attack, the remainder of their number seemed smaller and more cautious - clearly not the pride of the pride. Finally, after more than half the gladiators had dropped, the stream of flying monsters ran dry. Many of the remaining gladiators took a moment to shout in joy - the end was in sight.

For most of these gladiators, it was a safe choice. Unfortunately for one however, his shout distracted him from the greater threat; that of the Nemean Lion. In his haste, he turned from the lion; allowing the mighty beast to make a single pounce and tear the gladiator to viscera. This blood of the fallen mixed with that of the fallen Manticore and his fellow gladiators, draining into the sand of the arena floor.

That was when Vaerys arrived. "Lion! Face a true warrior!" Vaerys yelled out. "Face me you sloven, overgrown cat!" Kyras took position not far from Vaerys. The Lion turned slowly to face the dwarf, more interested in its recently acquired meal than. Still, the creature was smart enough to know not to ignore an enemy. It lifted its head from the meal of gore long enough to roar at Vaerys.

The roar was loud beyond reason, carrying sand from the ground into the air and cracking the stone beneath under its force. But, as quickly as the roar had come, it ended. In its wake, the Lion charged forward at the dwarf, intent on getting a second meal.

Meanwhile, across the field of battle, the combatants who'd gathered to remove the muzzle found the few remaining gladiators gathering around them to put up a defense and generally happy they had. The Manticore seemed wary to make aggressive actions against the small band of warriors and had shifted to making hit-and-run tactics from the sky against the group; picking off those who wandered too far from the group and using distance as their defense.

Those few who hadn't met up with the group found no such defense, quickly being set upon by Manticore by the dozen.

 

[The Ubermensch]

Orika had found her way to the center of the ring of gladiators and was taking pot shots with her cross bow.

Bolt in. Pull the leaver. Make sure the string catches the latch. Press stock into shoulder. Aim. The bolt moves at 50 meters per second. Lead and correct accordingly. Finger on the trigger. Exhale. Pull.

The rehearsed motions circled in her mind as she did her best to stave off the waves of beasts. She missed a few and got a couple in the head, but the majority of them just took one in the wing and fell out of the sky, and they were falling, slowly.

Most of them weren't dead once they were grounded however, and this proved to be a fatal misunderstanding for several of the warriors, who were impaled by the thrashing poisonous barbs on their tails. They learned quickly however, making sure to jab them once more to make sure they were dead.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

The lion charged at Vaerys at a great speed just as he anticipated.

"Come at me, kitty cat!" Vaerys taunted. He dropped the poisonous coil next to him, noting where the non-poisonous part of the tail was. With both hands, he gripped his battle axe so its large blade was placed between the lion's eyes. The lion sped at him at blinding speed but the best part was that the lion came right at him. It didn't deviate or try to trick him for this lion was a natural warrior but only one would come out on top today. For a few brief moments, Vaerys and the lion exchanged eye contact. He peered into the beast's eyes, challenging it but also showing his respect for it. Never would Vaerys share eye contact with an enemy he didn't respect.

But the moment was short lived as Vaerys raised his axe over his head and brought it back so the shaft of it was temporarily perpendicular to the ground. When the beast was close he let the axe loose. With one clean motion, he brought it forward and towards the charging lion. He let go of the axe and let it sail towards the lion's head, hopefully to at least allow him time. Then he grabbed the Manticore tail by its non poisonous section and swung the it like a whip towards the lion.

 

[DarkRawen]

"From what I under stand of your, language is it? It does not have the sounds necessary to say it."

"Ah, that's a shame. Do you have anything you'd prefer me to call you by?" Des asked, and examined her again. She did look similar to a feline, but not just a feline. Something more, slightly human, slightly... something.

"What are these 'demons' of which you speak? Now, that name I can give you, we call our selves 'Ranglie'"

Before he got time to answer, she continued with saying that they should focus on the bigger one. The Ranglie opened her mouth and fired burning light from her mouth. Des watched as she did, waiting for her to finish so that he could talk to her some more, it appeared less manticores were around the group now. He spoke when he had the chance.

"Hm... what is a demon indeed," he replied to her question before, as he thought of a good answer. He supposed there was no reason to hide it now, these humans were different, they were used to beasts he had never ever seen before. "Beings such as me, I'd say, but also different. I'm much fonder of humans," he smiled. "Well, humans and Ranglie, from the looks of it."

He noticed a woman a distance from them, wanting to help her, but becoming surprised as she was surrounded by black smoke. She then ran towards the group, and stopped when she was there, out of breath.

"Hello"

"Hi!" he said, and walked up to her. This one was human, as well as taller than him, but still beautiful -all women were, some more than others, but that didn't make any of them less precious- and he smiled warmly. Her Vitae was more similar to the kind he was used to, though not entirely, these mortals weren't exactly like the ones he knew.

I wonder what the different kinds of Vitae would taste like.

Des thought for a slight moment, before he noticed her leg. "Are you okay?" he asked her. "Did you hurt your leg?"

 

[Lunar Templar]

After her initial blast she backed toward the group once more, and waited for the vermin's next move.

"Hm... what is a demon indeed" The 'demon' began "Beings such as me, I'd say, but also different. I'm much fonder of humans, Well, humans and Ranglie, from the looks of it." he said with have she'd heard called a 'smile', she knew it to be a generally positive gesture, but it just looked funny to her. She could help but feel he didn't really answer her question though, not that it really mattered at the moment, though she did remember that he'd as asked her if she had another name, again this struck her as odd, and her expression reflected this added confusion. "Why would I have another name?"

She stay close to the group that removed her muzzle, letting the thin human with the pointy ears shoot then vermin down before jumping on them and finishing it them off and generally running interference when she could, making note of the other too humans to join them, while keeping an eye on what the larger beast was doing, though it seemed more interested in a small human, though she wasn't sure if this little human was brave or stupid for challenging it alone.

She also took note of another human wearing something she'd heard called 'armor' who seemed to be trying to take on a bunch at once. For a few moments she gave thought to just letting the vermin rip him a apart for his foolishness, but since he was still alive that he could probably still be useful, and began to charged a blast to reduce his load a bit. Like last time, her horns and plates slowly began to glow as she picked off the vermin, as well as helped another human who came out of some strange cloud get to the group safely, before wheeling around and firing into the group of vermin circling the lone armored human, and again remaining close to the group, a little winded after the second shot, and growled a curse at how out of shape she'd gotten due to that restraint she'd have forced on her.

 

[IFS]

Alexander stood back and watched, the manticores were thinning out now so he hardly needed to act, but the lion remained. The armored dwarf was already challenging it, but it looked to him like the lion might just crush him in his armor, no a plan of some sort was needed. Besides this was a good opportunity to observe the others, make mental notes on how they fought and acted. The pointy eared woman with a crossbow moved with the practiced style of a soldier, though most of the others lacked the same discipline.

"Beings such as me, I'd say, but also different. I'm much fonder of humans,"

He turned, surprised by the remark. Admitting to being a demon? Either the word means something else on his world or he's exceptionally foolish. Alex knew he would have to keep an eye on him, taking action now would be foolish especially with the others trusting Des so easily so far. The fact that he claimed to be fond of humans meant nothing though, many demons that could speak would claim so, though each had their own reasons. The Tall man had even once said that he admired man's drive, his will to survive.

He shook his head and focused, putting together a plan. His smile never fading he turned to the 'Ranglie' and Des, yelling to get their attention.

"Ranglie, hold down the lion if you can, Des try to paralyze it like you did those manticores," he said, he had noticed how the beasts had stiffened at the demons touch before but he wasn't sure if it would work on something so much larger. The next words were spoken more quietly, he didn't want the howling crowd to notice them "We don't need to kill it, just make it look like its dead."

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

The manticores began swarming Kyras as he readied himself to take on the lion. He swore he saw an energy blast take out a few nearby as he fought back against them. He had enough of this, he was about to live up to the name the announcer gave. He saw the lion charge and the dwarf attack.

In a quick and smooth motion he sheathed his sword, and drew in as much energy from the area as he could.

For a brief second it would appear that he was wreathed in flames, a bubble formed around him briefly before exploding out through the manticores, frying several of them, leaving burned corpses and several burning alive, scrambling away from him.

He began to laugh bordering on the maniacal as he made a cone of fire appear from his hands, aiming at the lion, making the flames envelope the beast.

 

[Terratina.]

The focus had shifted from the manticore to the lion; however, the manticores' focus hadn't shifted one bit. Diving and roaring, they swarmed about Id. The rest were happy to take pot shots at the bands of gladiators, happy to swoop into a sea of swords. Id wondered about the audience felt about the fight, was it an epic struggle between man, manticore and Nemean lion or just cowards banding together just to live for a few minutes more? Or even, what about its own little performance? It must've seemed somewhat comedic with the arcane experiment being hounded by a bunch of flying vermin, desperately trying to shake them off. It was true that Id couldn't deal with such numbers, that was not its purpose, however that was only what was happening on the surface...

The puppet contorted and twisted into impossible positions - an arm bent backwards, its back coiled up and so on - as it left faint footprints in the sand. Already it had let the manticores' claws rake its clothing, revealing what or what wasn't inside. Just material things they may be, but forming another body would be an arduous task in itself - not to mention that of its favorite scarves now had a huge rip in it. In short, the situation was less than optional and that needed to be amended. The manticores' reckless behaviour along with the loose organisation and strategy of the savages gave the Archinet an idea: a strategy of its own. It had been stated that it was on the side of whose who must chose, in return for that designation, it would present the manticores with a choice.

In fact, as a result of its plan, there would be a lot of choices to make. It could be said that the plan was more of a little experiment than an actual plan. Simply, it felt right to Id and so Id initiated it and continued its evasion of claws, teeth and poison stings. Though now it ran towards the Nemean lion. A lone combatant like Id was practically a meal on a platter to the manticores, now to see how far they would go for one... On the other hand, a lot of other combatants had chosen to go for the lion - there was a possibility of complication. But no matter, there weren't any other steps to the plan. Well, except one. As the arcane experiment got closer and closer to the lion, it got ready. Then it hit the ground and slid under the lion's belly, contorting as was needed.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Why would I have another name?"

"Hm?" Des replied, turning back to the feline. "I just wanted to know if you had something you'd prefer to be called, a nickname or something." Perhaps he should just call her Ranglie for now, but that felt arrogant and rude, like addressing a human by "human". However, before he could reach a conclusion, Alex spoke, doing what he was wondering if he should do.

"Ranglie, hold down the lion if you can, Des try to paralyze it like you did those manticores,"

"I don't know..." Des said. "It seems we've lost our window of opportunity to do something like that." He motioned towards the lion, several mortals -as well as the other being that had to choose- were attempting to take it down. "Besides, I don't know if I'd be able to, it's... a bit too costly." How much would he use if he tried to paralyze that lion? It was one thing to use it to protect himself, and on smaller creatures, but the lion was larger, much larger.

And Des wasn't currently in danger. As much as he wanted to help others, he also really didn't want to die.

It looks like it'll be fine, though. There's not much I could do either way.

He turned instead to the woman who had just arrived, she healed herself, and spoke.

"Lucky me, looks like I'll be fine for now."

"Yeah, that's great! What an amazing ability," he said, looking into the eye not covered by an eye-patch. It was a beautiful color, different from what he usually saw. A lot was different here, but at least the women were beautiful. "I'm Des," he said. "What's your name?"

 

[Lunar Templar]

"I don't know ... It seems we've lost our window of opportunity to do something like that. Besides, I don't know if I'd be able to, it's... a bit too costly."

"I feel the same, the beast is to large for me to 'hold down', to try would be of to great a risk to make it worth while to try." She said, adding her thoughts on it "Though I must ask why we not simple stay back and attack it at range." adding that question as many seemed less then eager to attack this larger beast, sure it was large, but they had number on their side now as the vermin where becoming less and less of an issue.

 

[Josh123914]

Dalrel followed after the woman with the crossbow, past a few corpses she had made.
''Hold on,'' he called after her, reaching her as the elf began to loose shots.
''My name's Dalrel, yours? Also whats the plan?'' he asked urgently, casting a few fireballs and lobbing them across the arena to make himself useful.

 

[IFS]

"I don't know ... It seems we've lost our window of opportunity to do something like that. Besides, I don't know if I'd be able to, it's... a bit too costly."

"Though I must ask why we not simple stay back and attack it at range."

Alex nodded "Shame, would have been the fastest way to end this, but yes attacking at range would be the second plan," he said. Though given the beast's appearance I wonder what will actually harm it, its clearly a powerful creature.

He reloaded his crossbow though and prepared to fire on the thing, trying to aim for the eye. He wasn't sure if it would hurt the thing but the eye tended to be a painful spot if nothing else. Shame Des won't try, would have spoken volumes for his trustworthiness. He seems to be quite easily distracted though, something to remember.

 

[The Ubermensch]

''Hold on,''

Orika stopped dead, lowering her crossbow and glared at the figure chasing after her, throwing fireballs as he went.

''My name's Dalrel, yours? Also whats the plan?''

Orika thought about how much information she should give him, taking the moment to survey the battle field. The gladiators she was with were starting to falter, and it occurred to her that her separation from the peculiar demon, the dwarf and the beast had lead to an unfavorable hand. She quickly hatched a plan to rectify that.

"Orika." she said simply, lowering her bow to her side as she turned her whole body to the tall man with a concentrated expression "And I'll need some rope."

 

[Josh123914]

"And I'll need some rope."
Dalrel glanced behind him as a battle raged between the now wounded manticore and the Snow Elf. Her silver locks red with blood and her silk dress barely held together by a rope around her waist.
She was tired, and the manticore was somehow avoiding being impaled on the small forest of ice that surrounded her.
''She's got some, would that do?''

 

[Lunar Templar]

She just stood back and watched for now, letting the humans come up with a plan, they confused her, so many odd customs, so for now she kept watch over the fodder as they slowly picked off the remaining vermin, though she was eager to just be done with this waste of time. She looked about the arena, at all the dead, both human and vermin, then to the cheers from the humans gathered to watch, and those in the VIP seats, all laughing and enjoying the sights.

She snorted, then remembered barrier that stopped her attack before. "Think we could break the protection they have from us and the beasts? Wonder how much amusement they'd get from this when it's them in the game" She thought aloud, though not intentionally.

 

[The Ubermensch]

''She's got some, would that do?''

Orika looked at the pale figure for a moment before turning back to Dalrel.

"Lets not piss off the maiden with the power to control ice at her disposal."

She considered her plan for a moment longer and shook her head "No, that won't work. I mean there's not much we can do here aside from fight for our lives and not die." she said with a shurg "There's no cover, no high ground, that Lion will decimate tight groups and the Manticors with gang up on stragglers."

She turned, for a moment, to the VIP stand with a curious expression.

"Mage." she said again, turning to Dalrel "Do you have any idea how magical barriers work. Is there a way we can nullify that one." She asked thoughtfully, doubting he or anyone else would know, doubting even more that even if they did, that knowledge would do them any good, but it would be better than this battle of attrition.

 

[Josh123914]

"Mage." she said again, turning to Dalrel "Do you have any idea how magical barriers work. Is there a way we can nullify that one."
''Sorry, no. My magic is based around elements, not illusion or transfiguration.'' Dalrel said, disappointed with himself.
He watched the madness unfold, very few combatants were alone, though that might be due to how many were now dead.

The snow elf dodged a blow from the manticore, ducking underneath it. She flexed one of her hands and an icicle fabricated into her hand. She jabbed it into the manticore's underbelly, as blood and water mixed.

''I can't do that with ice, but I can do it with fire, and if I wanted I could turn water into ice or stea-''
He stopped.
Steam.
''Have any water?'' He asked anxiously. ''I could create a shroud of steam if I had some more'' Dalrel removed the flask near his waist and emptied it on the ground. He closed his eyes and clapped his hands together, as the water instantly bubbled and enveloped the air around him.
''This could be good cover for us, the Manticores will be less likely to attack what they cant see'' he informed her, shrouding the two of them in the mist.
''If I had more water I could create a bigger veil, perhaps even see how far the barrier extends, or if there's anywhere the steam escapes to.''