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Post by Talon on May 25, 2009 22:01:47 GMT -5
The lone figure stood on the beach in the dying daylight, eyes closed as the breeze made her hair gently billow. Her eyes were closed as she gave a long exhale, right eyebrow twitching for a moment, seemingly in concentration. She listened to the waves of the lake lap onto the ring of sand encircling as she stood completely immobile, then slowly opened her eyes and let her shoulders sag with an intake of air, smiling.
"Almost there.... I can feel it calling..." She whispered, folding her arms over her chest.
She looked up at the setting sun, and gave a small laugh.
How very ironic that this is my Aspect...
She sighed, shaking her head, then brought her arms up, muttering,
"Alright Lora, can't stop now, you're too close..."
With that, she went into a pose, shifting her feet apart and bringing her hands up before her, clasping them together as she went into her meditative state once more. Her breathing slowed, but her face strained a bit as she concentrated on her goal... astral projection.
Once I achieve it, it should all go downhill from there... She thought, slowly bringing the Material and the Ethereal Planes together at her location.
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 25, 2009 22:22:33 GMT -5
Volk slowly approached in his Urhan form and perched on a rock down the shore and watched as the sun began to set. He was actually free now. He could do what he wanted with his life and as such decided to watch the day turn to night for the first time in ages. As the light began to wane he noticed a tall girl on the shore watching as well and was fixated on it.
'Who is this girl? She seems familiar to me for some reason and yet I am sure I have never met her before in my life.' he mused.
A small breeze blew bringing her scent with it to his nose. He brought it in and could smell traces of the Darkwood pack from her and instantly knew what was going on. Interested in what Aspect she was channeling he watched her meditation. He could feel something ethereal about the entire situation and merely sat content to watch in complete silence.
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Post by Talon on May 25, 2009 23:14:17 GMT -5
Lora's brow started to bead with sweat as she felt her energy suddenly spike, and started to mutter something breathlessly in an inaudible tone. The air seemed to shimmer about her as she slowly tilted her head back and issued a short, strangled cry before abruptly collapsing. On the Ethereal Plane, however...
"Oh wow... so this is what it looks like...?" Lora's disembodied form muttered, looking around at the monotone environment.
It looked exactly like her previous location, but all color was gone. Nothing but grays, blacks, and whites. It all looked a bit distorted too, in a hazy way. As she looked about in awe, a wispy shape glided out of the nearby trees, resembling a smoky, cloaked humanoid in shape. Lora whirled around just in time to see it stop, whereupon it assumed a much more definite shape. It turned out to be a long-haired woman somewhere in her late 40's or 50's wearing rather simplistic, robe-like garments, slowly stepped forward, smiling, hands folded at her waist.
"Hello, Lora..." She whispered.
Lora's eyes widened, and she muttered,
"A-Aunt Trista?! How're you... why're you here?!"
The woman, Trista, simply tilted her head and replied with weary eyes,
"I'm here to congratulate you, my dear niece. You've finally managed to pull it off. But-" She held up a finger, her smile turning stern, "That doesn't mean you've reached your Aspect yet. You've got to determine the meaning of this place, the Ethereal Plane. You must learn to coincide with it. You must learn of all its traits. Become one with the Planar Bridge. Then, and only then, it shall grant unto you its power."
Lora bit her lip, looking around. Just as she was about to ask a question, turning back toward her aunt, she realized the specter was gone, and sighed.
"Ashen says hi..." She muttered hoarsely.
She shook her head, then paced down to the Ethereal shoreline, sitting down before it as she breathed in the air. It seemed... cold, colder than the air was in the Material Plane's version of this place. She folded her legs and placed her palms on her knees, musing,
The Ethereal Plane... the border between the realm of the living and the realms of the dead... it is like a bridge, isn't it? Hmm. But then again, a bridge doesn't let people get lost... it's just one end to the other, while this place is more like, well... a hotel or something. It's on the way from one destination to the other, but lets people hang around if they want to, or are lost...
She slowly opened her eyes and smiled.
It's not just a gateway... it's a home, too... for those who're too scared to move on... or have lost their way... or have unfinished business... but it's still willing to show them on if they wish. But, it needs others to do that for it... people like the Shinigami, or Pack Shamans... or... someone like... me...
There was a rush of air, and Lora grunted, feeling as if someone just punched her in the gut. As she uncoiled from her doubled-up pose, her eyes widened, looking around. The color was back- she was back in the Material Plane! She gave a gasp of surprise and delight, then noted her strange feeling of queasiness, of which had been with her the past few months, was now gone.
"I GOT MY ASPECT!!!" She whooped, bouncing to her feet.
She gave a cackle of joy, then slowly paused, looking at the setting sun, a mere hump of light on the horizon. It was almost set, making the sky above her a deep, darkening purple, and she sighed, stuffing her hands into her pockets.
"Twilight..." She breathed, smiling.
It's a gap between two worlds as well... day and night...
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 26, 2009 10:56:53 GMT -5
Volk had begun to approach the girl when she collapsed not knowing what had happened to her. He slowly took each step making sure there would be no surprises.
He sniffed around noting that something felt odd about the whole situation. He came within a few yards of her body before stopping and sitting again to watch. As he watched she eventually sprung back to life cheering and jumping about. He moved back about a yard or two and was standing in a defensive position all dogs take when surprised or frightened.
Just what Aspect did this girl get? I've never heard of anyone collapsing and then getting an Aspect just for that. How very peculiar and for one of her age no less.
He kept his head lowered watching as she celebrated her newfound success. The only thing he could pick up from her was a strange spiritual presence he had never felt from any other Lycan.
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Post by Talon on May 26, 2009 17:51:51 GMT -5
As Lora stared at the sun, she noted the nearby presence, and abruptly whirled around, only to pause upon seeing the wolf. She blinked, then shifted out of her offensive stance, thinking,
Well, that's... a new... color...
She then realized said entity was a fellow lycan, and her smile twitched at the corner.
Well, I don't feel totally goddamned embarrassed now...
She tilted her head to the side and readjusted her smile, greeting with a wave of the hand,
"Eheh... h-hello... who might you be...?"
She noted a small distortion in the air around her, and mentally scowled, forcing it to dissipate.
Just 'cause you have it, doesn't mean you can quite control it yet, girl...
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 26, 2009 18:06:53 GMT -5
Volk approached her slowly shifting into his human form as he went. When he finished he was standing a couple of feet away from the girl with an analytical look in his eye like he was sizing up what Aspect she could have gotten just now.
"My name's Volk from the Nightpeak pack. You just got your Aspect correct, seems a little late to be getting it for one of your age. What really strikes me is what I sense from you is unlike any other Aspect I've come across. Tell me what kind of Aspect did you get girl", he questioned.
He merely stood there taking in all the sensory info he could to try and identify what she was capavle of and who she was related to when it struck him. She was related to the Lycan that caught him in the Darkwood territory after his escape!
It was then that he relaxed a little bit as he had a feeling a relative of that man couldn't be all that threatening. He stood waiting for her to answer him.
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Post by Talon on May 26, 2009 20:25:18 GMT -5
Lora looked, and genuinely was, taken aback by the lycan's sudden inquisitions.
"Uh, well... yes, I did just get my Aspect... and as for it being strange, I discovered I never knew I was a lycanthrope until about two years ago... not that it's your business." She finished, eyes narrowing a bit.
She sighed, holding up her hand and inspecting it. She could see it was faintly outlined in a white glow, but it was doubtful that Volk knew it was there. It was then she realized something about her Aspect...
"As for what Aspect it is... I'm not sure. It doesn't have a name, and something tells me I'm the first lycan to receive it in a long time... it's given me a significant link to the Ethereal Plane, however..."
She looked back to the final glimpse of the sun before it departed below the horizon, and suddenly smirked.
"For now, we'll call it the Twilight Aspect, hmm?" She inquired, tilting her head again.
She looked around, scratching her head, then slowly turned back to Volk, hands folded behind her back.
"Nightpeak, eh? Haven't heard much about them, sorry... they're a neighboring pack that holds sway over the upper part of this mountain... s'all I know." She stated, rubbing the back of her head.
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 26, 2009 21:53:25 GMT -5
Volk stood there as he let the essence of her Aspect wash over him so he could identify it in the future. As he grasped a feel for it he couldn't help but feel its extremely arcane origins and indeed it was a long lost art.
"Well... say what is your name? But do you have any idea what kind of capabilities this 'Twilight' Aspect gives you? I'd have to imagine you can pull off some pretty nasty stuff", he considered.
The feeling he got from her was quite creepy and yet soothing at the same time. He felt something he hadn't for some time, and that was peace. He actually felt like just sitting down to watch the world instead of plotting how he would exact vengeance upon the elders of his pack.
"Well if you want I can try to help you figure out what you can do with this Aspect of yours", he offered her which was a rare thing from him. He couldn't quite tell but she seemed familiar to him even though he knew they had never met before. Maybe they were in similar situations.
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Post by Talon on May 26, 2009 22:46:48 GMT -5
Lora scratched the back of her head, then lowered her hand and replied,
"Err, Name's Lora, Lora Ravenloft. It's a British name. Pack name's Luna Darkwood."
She glanced into the trees, then replied with a sigh,
"Thanks for the offer, but... something tells me I'll need to figure this Aspect out on my own..."
She abruptly went silent, as if she'd just heard something.
"Seems I'll get the chance to soon, however..." She muttered under her breath.
A myriad of hisses suddenly shot through the air, and Lora turned towards the trees. A small group of what could only be described as horrific, humanoid insects with neckless heads staggered through the trees, all about 5'8 in height and a dusky broccoli green in color. The staggered toward the two lycans, madly swinging their claws as they went, red eyes filled with a sort of primal hunger. Lora's eyes shrank as she muttered,
"What the hell...?"
It was then the creatures snapped into a dead run for the two.
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 27, 2009 15:53:58 GMT -5
Volk merely looked at Lora before he said to her, "Looks like you're going to have to figure it out now since we have company. I may not be one for teaming up but I'm not the type to leave people alone to die either so what do you say?"
Volk began to shift into his Gauru form to combat the bug like creatures that were headed their way. It was just then that his faithful sword came shooting out of the trees behind him and stopped at his side. Volk released a hail of Diamond Dust at the group of monsters and took the now shifted Grosspoliner in his hand awaiting Lora's response. While he waited one managed to close enough distance that Volk sliced it in half and knocked it away with a kick.
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Post by Talon on May 27, 2009 20:58:39 GMT -5
Lora snapped out of her daze, rapidly nodding before she shifted into her Gauru form as well. She too charged at the incoming abberations, snarling as she slammed her claw into one of the leading creatures and sent it flying backwards, several large gashes in its chest. Meanwhile, the one that Volk had just slain gave its dying shriek, then did something unexpected: It blew up. A wave of green fire shot outwards from the creature upon its death in about a five-foot radius, the bright flash of emerald lighting up the area for a moment as the flames continued to subsist on the burnt chunks of flesh that were once a body.
Meanwhile, the rest of the creatures were temporarily held at bay by Volk's Diamond Dust, but managed to charge past their pain and several of them slammed into Volk. Once on the ground, they swarmed the lycan and started clawing at the werewolf, quickly drawing blood with their gangly, oversized claws. Several of the total dozen had reached Lora as well, and one of them had managed to shoulder her backwards into the shallow water. She growled at it, then gave it a firm uppercut to what could count as its lower jaw, sending it staggering backwards, hissing.
"What the hell are these things?!" She barked, noting what the one Volk'd taken down had done.
shit... if these things keep coming, I'm gonna need one of those abilities soon...!
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 27, 2009 21:53:23 GMT -5
Volk remained calm underneath the pile of creatures that was clawing him. After taking a few slashes on his body he had enough and rapidly froze the moisture in the air on his fur creating his Iceberg Armor. He surged upright throwing off many of the creatures. He did however keep a hold of one which he brought close biting it with his Tundra Fang rapidly freezing a section of it's head. He spun around and kicked the side of its head with his shin shattering the frozen area before he tossed it into another of its comrades blowing the both of them up.
He glanced over to Lora who was still trying to grasp her abilities. He quickly called to her trying to help her figure something out, "Hey Lora don't worry about forcing your Aspect into an attack it will reveal itself to you instead. So just focus on the basics and let it come to you. Until that time just act as you would have without it because right now we need effectiveness over the power levels."
He went back to the current situation while keeping an eye out for Lora should she be overwhelmed. Since he had now begun the use of his Aspect the air grew colder the longer he battled. It eventually got to the point of being able to see the breath of everyone and everything that was in that area.
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Post by Talon on May 27, 2009 23:06:03 GMT -5
Lora growled, wanting to yell an 'I know!' at Volk, but couldn't due to the task at hand that kept interrupting. As two more joined the mob attacking her clawing away aimlessly and drawing multiple bloody gashes, she seemed to be overwhelmed as they drove her deeper into the water...
Until something seemed to snap in her for a moment, and she issued a howl.
Now, this wasn't just any kind of howl, no. A normal howl probably would not have caused these creatures to stop in their tracks and take a few steps backwards. Lora's eyes were as most wolve's, her iris's a golden-yellow in color, and her fangs were bared in an angry snarl, claws held out to the sides. The green, pupa-like creatures all glanced at eachother for a moment, then renewed their assault. Lora complied as her claws seemed to glint for a moment, then rushed forward and literally ripped through one of the beasts completely, then bounced away from it as it collapsed into the water and exploded, sending a spray of steam and boiling water onto its surprised compatriots.
She snarled, turning back towards the others, the fire from the fallen abberation's floating corpse-chunks reflecting eerily in her eyes. The creatures all glared at her, then both parties charged at the other once more...
Elsewhere on the beach, the creatures seemed surprised at Volk's strategy- and icy abilities- and took the opportunity to spread out around him. Several of them suddenly leaned backwards before lashing forward, sending several sprays of a foamy substance at the werewolf. Most of it impacted harmlessly against his armor, but several 'spats' splashed against his midsection; the moment they did so, the werewolf could feel an extreme 'cold burning' sensation, and the fur on the patches struck fell off rather quickly...
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Post by shdwdrgn on May 28, 2009 10:52:41 GMT -5
Volk immediately dove for the water and splashed into a deeper section of the water washing off the the liquid that was clinging to him. As he came back to shore he froze the little bit the was left and shattered it into small blocks that were scattered on the shore.
Now that he had been hit by a cheap attack he was ready to get serious. Volk produced a Frost Shot and sent it flying into one of the creatures eventually sandwiching it between a tree essentially crushing its organ. It sat there for a moment before eventually exploding and causing the tree to fall to the ground. Volk used this new cover to leap out with both his claws covered in ice gauntlets. He came down on top of one and repeatedly slashed across its chest building up a large block of ice he proceeded to smash before he leapt off his fallen foe which exploded as the others before it had.
As he came back down to the ground he looked around and took a quick head count.
Seven left. It may have been a surprise attack but we can take them. She definitely has skill and with time this new Aspect of hers could likely become the most powerful one in use this day and age of the Werewolves. Now how else can I use the environment to my advantage. I can't freeze them in the lake since I would risk catching Lora in it as well. I don't think I can freeze them internally since they don't seem to have lungs of any kind. Seems this will just come down to pure battle instincts.
The area was getting even colder now. The edge of the lake was starting to gather an extremely thin layer of ice now and breaths were much more visible as well. Plants began to collect frost from the condensation that had gathered on their leaves.
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Post by Talon on May 28, 2009 11:25:19 GMT -5
The creatures seemed a bit daunted at the continual loss of their teammates, but like before, simply put it past them and renewed their attack, but failed to do much damage to Volk thanks to his ice armor. One of the creatures, however, was hanging back, seeming ill because of its spastic thrashings... and changing coloration.
Meanwhile, the berserking Lora had just rammed one of the beasts through on her claws, then kicked it off in time to watch it explode in mid-air, knocking down several of the other creatures nearby in the process. She then lunged at the next one, only to have it roll out of the way and have its ally slam its larger claw into her face, sending her reeling backwards into the water. She howled, bounding to her feet once more as her eyes slowly reverted to their original icy-blue coloration, and time suddenly seemed to slow for her as they loomed above...
Her claw flashed upwards, abruptly immersed in what appeared to be white fire, and she grabbed one of the creatures by the face. The thing screamed and writhed as she lashed her other claw across its chest. The other three creatures looked on in awe as their captured ally convulsed, then its hisses died away into nothingness as its movements did as well. What Lora had seen after slashing the abberation was the thing begin to emit a white 'smoke' at a rapid rate, said 'smoke dissipating as the creature's movements did. She glanced at her claws as the flames died away, pondering,
Was that... my first Aspect ability?
Unfortuneately, neither Lora nor Volk had time to think this over, for the one creature that'd stood back was now screaming, its skin/chitin turning a bright red and... melting away. The heat died away to reveal a slightly larger, more muscular creature, dark-purple in color and, like its previous self, seemed styled after an insect, this form resembling a distorted humanoid grasshopper with several sets of mandibles and an extra pair of gangly arms prouting from either side of its chest. It turned its hateful, multifaceted yellow eyes upon the two werewolves as it unleashed a gurgling hiss of a shriek at them, flexing its new sickle-like claws.
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