Michel Bollinger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
userunfriendly) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
altimit2023-11-05 07:39 am
userunfriendly) wrote in altimit2023-11-05 07:39 am
11/05 — ΣHeartless Snaring Cathedral...?
Who: █████ & visitors
What: scheming
Where: Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground (Hulle Granz Cathedral)
When: Sunday, 11/05
Warnings: to be added
[ Despite the ominous aura, the haunted tower has seen no shortage of visitors recently. But for those who gate in today the air itself is different. The skies are black, and the mist that had blanketed only the top of the tower now pours out across the plains, shrouding the ruined city from sight.
Anyone who goes looking for the master of the tower will find that the room he occupied before now holds only a single door, standing unsupported in the middle of the room. It beckons, tugging with a terrible compulsion — you know whatever sight awaits you is one you'll later wish you could forget, and yet... you look. But the door opens only onto the bridge leading to Hulle Granz Cathedral, where the first quiet strains of choral music through the open doors guides you on. ]
((Note: Characters are welcome to receive the location from any other player and gate directly to Δ Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground. Allowing those who found his tower inaccessible to come join, too, is cruelty.))
SIGN-IN
Character & Class:
Character Death?:
Character Permanent Injury?:
Bracelet or Core Type:
❄ IMPORTANT ❄
<details>tag, but please be mindful of your own boundaries and contact me if you have any concerns.no subject
Character Death?: N
Character Permanent Injury?: N
Bracelet or Core Type: No bracelet, Armor Core
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Character Death?: we'll see what happens
Character Permanent Injury?: we'll see what happens
Bracelet or Core Type: No bracelet, Heal core
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Character Death?: Nope.
Character Permanent Injury?: No, he needs to move around unencumbered for Uta's fight
and technically he already has a perm injury. Definitely up for a lot of emotional damage, though.Bracelet or Core Type: Bracelet + Damage Core (no i did not stutter)
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kBladeCharacter Death?: Y
Character Permanent Injury?:Y!
Bracelet or Core Type: Armor Core
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Character Death?: N… alas
Character Permanent Injury?: N… alas
Bracelet or Core Type: N, Heal Core (yep for once lol)
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Character Death?: N
Character Permanent Injury?: N.............................. unless...........................
Bracelet or Core Type: Zelly Bracelet + Heal Core
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Character Death?: N
Character Permanent Injury?: N
Bracelet or Core Type: Zelkova Bracelet + Damage Core
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Character Death?: N
Character Permanent Injury?: N
Bracelet or Core Type: Lily bracelet, Damage Core
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Character Death?: No
Character Permanent Injury?: Yeah I'm fine with it and we can discuss the hows if it comes up.
Bracelet or Core Type: Armor Core
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Character Death?: N
Character Permanent Injury?: N
Bracelet or Core Type: Zelkova bracelet, Heal Core
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Character Death?: Yew said no :catcry:
Character Permanent Injury?: Probably not, but if you have a really dope idea.......................
Bracelet or Core Type: N, Armor Core
i only just recently submitted my bonus ac, so i'll ping you when i'm all caught up and can jump into the fight! good luck michel
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Re: SIGN-IN
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MECHANICS - READ ONLY
FOR PLAYERS!!!
Doors
Doors may be opened as a round action! Please either attack or door, and only open or close one door... for the sake of my sanity when resolving field effects as I try to track what's in play with what moves.Defending
As always, if dicebot comes for our lives I will recalibrate as needed to make this narratively a good time... ganba, all!
WHISPERS OF THE WITCH
CREEPING MURDER
PRELUDE
The figure by the altar seems to feel no sense of urgency to acknowledge the sound of footsteps behind him. He stands where the statue once stood, indifferent and unmoving now as a statue himself. Like the cathedral, he might seem surprisingly little changed since the last sighting in the tower. But the eyes embedded in his armor track each intruder; and between the gaps of breastplate, tasses, pauldrons, little wisps of shadowy flame escape to mingle with the mists.
Anyone who still has something to say to him: now would be your moment. ]
((Note: People are welcome to join at any point in the fight, but please hit the sign-in above. I'll be kicking things off at 12PM PST. As with the previous fight, please bold your action + dice roll for my visibility. Happy violence!))
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One might assume he stays far away, but he can't help it, Ganymede is running on straight towards him, ensuring the distance between the both of them has been breached; it is not insignificant. He is only standing a few feet away.
The eyes do not deter him, the ominous feeling doesn't shake him, and his environment will not distort him.
The ringing in his head is the only noise in this room, but for only a moment. Yet even that isn't enough to distract him. ]
...I've arrived, like I promised I would.
Whatever happens, I'm ready for you.
[ He looks at Michel, possessed by the apparition of this thing named "Gorre", and does not flinch. Determination alight like flames spoken alive in his turbulent eyes. ]
And I will bring you back to me, Michel.
You'll just have to accept that.
[ Ganymede has no amazing speeches ready, however...
'I will be the best theatre dancer in Greece, and the world. And you will see me at the apex of my dreams.'
'I love you, Michel. And I always will, for all eternity.'
'...I wouldn't have asked you for eternity.
..You are my eternity. These weeks have been — everything to me. And I love you.'
These are key memories to him. Ones he will never forget, spoken to him even in Fragment. Identity unshaken no matter what tries to take and just take from them.
And it will be that way, forever. ]
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ROUND 1
Which would you believe is the greater cruelty? That part of him still remains and will watch as I tear you to pieces? Or that he believed until his final moments that he could protect even one of you?
[ He reaches up to pull the visor down over his face and the flame within his armor flares, clawing out between the plates and beginning to take form. One arm, another, ghostly and incorporeal, stretches out for the mists to draw them around him like a cloak. But those standing closest may want to step back: because the mists and the ghostly flames begin to billow outwards as the shape within them distorts and grows. For a moment, all is silent. And then a cape swirls, the mist flies away, and Gorre, perfected towers above the group. The voice that echoes from deep within the helmet now is hollow; hollow, emotionless, and dead. ]
According to his data... hope is a cruelty all its own. Come and show me.
[ If anyone was hoping that a Blade Brandier's limited targets and range would simplify this: here comes raid-boss-sized Gorre. He swings (18) for Fai and Ganymede, standing closest, with one blade made of shadow. Another arm brings down a blade with a Vak Slash (11), clipping Miharu; Levi receives a backhand (15) from a third arm. Owen and Haru each feel the wind of two more blades passing very near (7, 7), and the final lands a GiGan Crack (16) on Hector.
Welcome to the party! ]
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Focus. Focus]
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CORE USE 1/3
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ROUND 2
CORE USE 1/3
Re: ROUND 2
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ROUND 3 - (1/???)
The data drain strikes true, direct to the chest; but this pain is a known one as well, isn't it? Where Michel had screamed, Gorre is silent, though the giant body jerks as data unspools and the shields crumble. As before, the hits pile in; Sinclair's first, with a resounding thud. The flames roar up around Gorre's bound form and he begins to laugh. ]
Is this what you believed he meant? Let him go on ahead.
[ Burn what's left of those memories. Love and cruelty inextricably interwoven. The lightning rod planted inside his helmet buzzes with each subsequent hit; the water of Fai's spell buffets him, leaving him shaking his head in irritation at the "no damage! no damage!" message pinging each time the rod activates. Again, for Noe's Orchid Dance. Again, for Albedo's Lateral Moon. Again, for Fuurin's Salted Earth, for Shoka's punch. As the lightning filaments of Cat's Cradle fizzle away and release him to rise, he puts a hand to his helmet, shaking his head again and again. That incessant buzzing...
Gorre is now at just under 90% health. And the shadows around him ripple and shift, lines of binary flowing out in blue and yellow mingled. ]
ROUND 3 - it's go time
The candles light again, staggered this time; in fits and bursts around the arena, red and purple flames illuminate the space again. And Gorre, almost as he was before... but this time his armor pure blackness, translucent, showing glimpses of the flames behind him as he shifts. He gives a satisfied nod to Nanashi, only a little belated. ]
...You are. Helping me.
[ He moves in a flicker now, vanishing and reappearing to swing (1) at Oria... wildly miscalibrated, and nowhere near him. Look. Moving as a ghost isn't easy. Ignoring this, he pivots instead to bring down his sword on Yael with Be Not Afraid (17), an automatic crit. ]
And you. Did you come back only to have him watch you die in person?
[ He can use that, too. He shadow-steps again, striking at Fai with a Vak Slash (1) that again misses... shamefully, although the flames burn brighter than usual. Another Vak Slash (4) towards Albedo goes wide, and an ordinary strike towards Ganymede (4) and Shoka (2) likewise.
Then he seems to find the flow of this. Flicker, step, stab; Vak Slash towards Nanashi (12) and Noe (14), and cleaving swings of the sword at Dehya (15) and Kara (12).
Sinclair and Owen are under the effects of Whispers of the Witch: they may either see or hear a memory of theirs associated with cruelty. For the duration of the tether, they experience the heightened emotional state of whatever they felt at the time: fear, disgust, anger, satisfaction, etc. They will drain HP and SP towards Gorre at a rate of 40% of their max HP per turn. ]
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cw child abuse/neglect/starvation and also The Genders
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ROUND 4 (1/2)
Oh... And I suppose you had no part in that? You were never a catalyst for their suffering?
[ Shouldn't have hinted darkly on the forums, Hector. But his efforts restore Yael's health, so that particular crisis is avoided. And with Nanashi and Noe's efforts, Sinclair and Owen have their damage healed.
Oria's barrage of bullets connects, piercing through Gorre and passing through; though those spectral swords can still block bullets, and do, deflecting them away from the doors. One strikes a corner of Sinclair's door as it ricochets... and the door sways. But despite the bullets passing through Gorre, Oria's efforts are far from futile. With the help of Yael's little Data Drain debuffing his defense, Gorre's HP drops notably more than it had for any hit in his first form... and still more for Fai's MeAni Zot, the purple flames of the arena flaring bright. Back down to 90% health for Gorre with those two hits alone —
And then Levi's summons hits the doors. For the instant before it connects the red flames dance wildly, their glow and the phoenix seeming to resonate. Despite that, the doors take no damage; but the wave of flame does slam them shut.
Abruptly as that, the tethers cut and the candleflames turn pure colorless again. Gorre turns corporeal, though back (temporarily) at full health thanks to the effects of the drain. Sinclair and Owen are now freed from Whispers of the Witch! ]
ROUND 4 (2/2)
How long until you tire of this...?
[ He can go all day... clearly. Kara is rewarded for her attack with the backswing (4) of a sword wielded by a phantom arm, missing badly. The followup GiGan Crack hits Albedo (13), sending rocks just grazing past Dehya (7). Oria receives another glancing strike with a sword (9) in his distraction over Sinclair; Fai, beside Yael, a weakly-aimed Vak Slash (9). And one sword sweeps towards Ganymede again (2), falling far short of the dancer's quick steps.
Near Miharu, another door swings open; the emptiness inside drags her in, calling to her with far sweeter whispers than Owen and Sinclair were treated to. Enjoy your nap until you return, Miharu! ]
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wakes up no action just snarking back
ROUND 5 (1/2)
I do... so little... and you paw at the doors like animals...?
[ Lashing out instantly, with force, without thought. Fai, Albedo, Noe, Shoka, Kara, Fuurin: these attacks are weak with their emotions. They deal glancing blows at best, like the slight scrape of Yael's anemone petals against his armor.
The complacence and Tylor's diversion buys room for the others. At least some of these others have the force of fury behind them: Sinclair, Dehya, Haru, Deto, Levi all do enough damage to notice. Gorre turns his attention to them at last, exerting some effort on these parries. The physical defense debuff is still in place, and they can see that these do hurt, if only a little. ]
How far will you go for me to release her? ...Is it only for her?
[ Three more doors around the arena open: Yael also vanishes separately into darkness. ]
ROUND 5 (2/2)
Glancing damage. Glancing damage. He's down to high 80s now as Hani's poison settles over him. Each tick of damage doesn't even deal a single percent. Tick, tick, tick — his HP drops, steadily, but so very slowly.
The data is a flood. He understands. He is no longer attacking randomly. Still blinded, cursed with bad luck, he makes four swipes (13, 10, 15, 16) at Ganymede in rapid succession. All miss; with Ganymede's dodge rate, with those debuffs, he can't get close. ]
You refuse to listen. There is nothing to carve out of me. All I am is hollow.
[ Shall he show them? The few seconds of blind clear away again, leaving him glancing coldly around the arena. Focused now. He swings a slash (1) at Haru, nowhere near; a Ruem Spiral (13 -> bad luck to 9) to Hani aimed only marginally better.
And then he lifts one hand, light gathering around it. They complained about the visibility of his arena... well. Let it never be said he is not a generous host. A beam of light, unavoidable, descends on Mithrun as Gorre activates Creeping Murder. Mithrun takes 70% of his max HP in magical damage, and the entire arena is illuminated with painful brilliance.
- Deto, Gany, Nanashi, Noe, and Oria are blinded. The next non-support action will hit a random target.
- Fai, Albedo, Sinclair, Shoka, Haru, Hani, Mithrun, Kara and Tylor are dazed and take -10 to rolls next round.
- Fuurin and Levi feel their eyes unfocused from the light, and take -3 to rolls.
- Dehya manages to close her eyes in time and is unaffected.
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ARMOR CORE 1/4
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CORE USE 2/3
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CORE USE 2/3
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ROUND 6 (1/2)
Oria's defense core siphons yet more of Gorre's (apparently considerable) defense to award it to the rest of the party; just in time for Dehya's Beastly Mane to connect as a critical. Gorre is knocked backwards — not out of range of his swords, not at his size. But as he lifts one to attack, Ganymede and Owen's debuffs hit. A brief seal; a brief paralysis. Nothing he can't shrug off with a roll of his shoulders in a few more seconds.
Unfortunately, what's harder to shrug off is the other effect of Cur Memini... he doesn't remember how to use his swords. The phantom blades vanish from his grip as he flails for Dehya, who's now been identified as the only real threat. Even with his -4 from ill luck, four flailing ghost arms each bludgeon her (18, 18, 15, 17). Another four blows (11, 14, 7, 19) are aimed towards Albedo, one of the only other people foolish enough to get close; two of these land. Both of them are currently under a 50% defense boost thanks to the core uses.
As Dehya's burn and Hani's lingering poison ticks away at him, Gorre's HP drops — slowly — towards 80%. ]
He is not 'kidnapped.' He is gone. I deleted him piece by piece, peeled away his identity in slow, bloody strips. And none of you... even noticed.
ROUND 6 (2/2)
As the door swings easily under Mithrun's hand, an energy tether snaps to Oria and the flames glow yellow. Owen's door repeats the trick; an energy tether to Deto, and half the flames go red. By now the observant may spot an arena-wide buff icon: one yellow up arrow, one red. And Gorre's form shifts again, armor melding back into ghostly darkness. ]
Would you like... to open more?
[ Oria and Deto are now under the effects of Whispers of the Witch, and may enjoy their cruel memories. They will drain towards Gorre at a rate of 50% max HP per turn as Gorre's HP begins to tick upwards again, more rapidly than the last time. ]
((Note: This is the last round for the night! Everyone tagging in overnight is free to hop on, and I'll try to start catching up for one round at 6-7 AM PST. Doors may now be freely opened as a round action. Characters under Whispers are also welcome to take an action, if their emotional state allows it. Thanks for all the hustle, everyone!!))
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core 1/3
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CORE USE 2/3
cw: dv
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ROUND 7 (1/2)
Down, down, up, up, up. Gorre's drain outraces the damage dealt, doing more than breaking even. Shoka and Kara each abuse a door, slamming it shut rather quickly before Gorre can enjoy his full round of drain from the effect. Oria and Deto are freed from Whispers of the Witch — Gorre's form shifts again, back to his corporeal armor, and the arena flames once more burn colorless. With Nanashi and Sinclair's efforts, Oria and Deto find their health restored; the data drain takes a little more from Gorre, who hardly seems to mind.
Ganymede's Mumyn Lei does knock Gorre to sleep, long enough for Hector to land his Guiltridden and for Ganymede to attempt his candle metaphors. Gorre becomes exasperated eventually and attempts to shake Ganymede off with surprising vigor (19?!)... Ganymede may roll (with advantage, for a dancer's natural grace) for the dubious privilege of staying mounted on his giant boyfriend.
Whether he remains or not, Haru's Data Drain Type D: Blind strikes Gorre, leaving him incapacitated as Fuurin, Levi, and Mithrun also close to miss embarrassingly. Gorre takes irritable swipes at them in retaliation with his blades (13, 6, 3, 12), all misses in his blinded state. Kara and Dehya, however, make the most of the advantage, with Beastly Mane and Stagger Shot landing with force... that nonetheless only scrapes his HP in this form. Gorre has been dropped to about 90% again, and stunned, unable to act for the next round. ]
ROUND 7 (2/2)
Around the arena, two other doors, without handles open again. Miharu and Yael may reemerge at their leisure. Perhaps they were in a pleasant place, suffused with the nebulous feeling of a time when they were happy, and finding themselves abruptly on the battlefield again is cruel. Or perhaps they were somewhere cold, empty, and utterly alone. The choice is theirs! Welcome back. ]
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ARMOR CORE 2/4
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ROUND 8 (1/2)
The drain from Owen's door is offsetting that somewhat, gradually. And then Sinclair opens his own door, adding it to the efforts, and a very curious thing happens. Owen may perceive that the drain from his door has lessened slightly. With both doors opened together, each will drain 25% per full round. Gorre is bolstered back up a bit... to 70%.
Ganymede lands once more on his shoulder, apparently determined to survey the battle from the high ground. Between his dance and Owen's Temperance Reversed, Gorre will be slowed for a time... But he's finally moving again, shaking off the last of the stun and taking in the battlefield around him. ]
...I had just concluded that you came here unwilling to risk anything. Fickle, fragile creatures. Have you changed your minds? What is this worth, to you?
ROUND 8 (2/2)
You are so desperate to be useful. To them, you are no better than a convenience. But you have a use to me. And I can make your pain loud enough to be... of interest.
[ That is what he has learned. Being helpful, being kind — these things don't warrant love and consolation. It's only once something has broken that it needs attending. Gorre waves a hand to open Tylor's door, adding yellow flames to the red and purple lighting the arena. Tylor is now under the effects of Whispers of the Witch! Tylor's HP will drain at the familiar 40% per turn.
And Gorre is going to take that Thunder boost with him. He brings his sword down in Be Not Afraid three times (14, 7, 2) at Fuurin, Hani, and Dehya, crowded around him. Only Fuurin's hits; but the automatic crit, combined with the arena boost to Thunder is ample repayment for that earlier Reaper's Dance. Fuurin Needs Healing.
Gorre is so slow now. So annoying, to fight like this. If that's how they prefer to deal with him, then he has other tools at his disposal. He points a spectral hand at Albedo, and the data swirls around him in a way all these players must now be very well familiar with. The light lances from a spectral palm, and Gorre crooks the fingers of one hand as the Data Drain connects, yanking the data forth from Albedo's guts with ungentle claws. Albedo is severely injured and afflicted with Hysteria, Bleed, Curse, Physical Defense Down, Magical Defense Down! He is panicked, and any attack he makes will likely hit an ally; bleed eats away at his HP.
To the arena at large: ]
Is this still worth it, to you?
[ And the many eyes swivel, calculating, seizing on new targets. ]
CORE USE 3/3
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HEAL CORE USE 2/3
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Cw references to vaguely discriminatory cousins + loneliness
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ROUND 9 (1/2)
And what do you know about "Winter"? That he disliked parsnips? You aren't here for him.
[ It isn't even a lie with enough cruelty to interest him. Don't feed him Innis' scraps. But that little distraction sets him up for Mithrun's knockback to stagger him; hopefully Ganymede is resilient to the jarring. Moreso when Fai's MeAni Zot wreathes him in flames, followed in rapid succession by another critical Vax Makima from Miharu that positions him for yet another critical from Dehya. It burns around him, his formerly intimidating HP melting away like a candle — each heal core use robs more, dropping him under 30% before the drain brings him back up, still under 50%.
He's hurting now. But pain is just redundant data; he already has so much of this kind. More... only completes his findings. ]
ROUND 9 (2/2)
"Prove his words... with his actions?" It's true. He hasn't convinced any of them yet, has he? Levi's attack slams Tylor's door shut, but Gorre doesn't need that one anymore anyway. He gestures, and Ganymede's door opens, adding orange flames to the arena.
He has use of this. What more does he need to prove? He rains strikes down around him at his attackers; GiGan Crack (earth), boosted at Dehya (16) and Kara (3, miss). A giant Vak Slash (fire), boosted descends towards Miharu (17), Mithrun (8, miss), and Haru (12, miss).
And he is moving, striding past them towards where Fai stands as the blind effect ebbs away again. Prove it? Prove it? ]
Only humans require the "right" to exist. That sad, pathetic, sniveling man... he never had even that. But if you require proof that he truly is gone—
[ A gesture, and Fai's door opens, adding blue flames to the arena. Would Michel do this? Rain down deliberate pain on the people he entrusted his final wishes and his love to? Use them as tools? Gorre raises his blades — the slightest hitch of hesitation, as if catching himself in a near-error, before he slashes them towards Fai (10, 12, 3), connecting twice.
Ganymede and Fai are under the effects of Whispers of the Witch! They will drain at 40%. Owen and Sinclair remain with their doors open, draining at 30%. ]
This is "me." The only "me" that remains.
Core use 1/3
CORE USE 1/3
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cw: kidnapping, captivity, violence, suicidal ideation
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cw: trauma over csa (not described)
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ROUND 10 (1/)
It hurts. It hurts. He staggers; behind the helmet his expression is unreadable as he sweeps a quick gaze over the people surrounding him, targets undecided for an uncharacteristically long moment. The calculations are a struggle.
One that Fai simplifies for him. The GiVak Kruz skimming past him deals no damage, but it does rivet his attention again. Prove... he still needs to prove himself. That he exists. That he is... ]
He is gone. He is nothing. You don't understand a single thing!
[ And in Gorre's distraction, Ganymede reaches Michel's door. It opens easily; why wouldn't it? After all, Gorre has never discouraged anyone here from clawing open each other's wounds at their leisure. Yellow flames ignite in the arena candles, joining the red and purple remaining from Owen and Sinclair. There's no visible tether now, no drain. But the warm light of Michel's own Thunder element illuminates Gorre as he strides towards Fai. His steps might be unsteady: but his purpose is clear. Shadowy arms sweep away anyone standing near, shoving them aside, backhanding them; the unlucky may be seized in a grip and thrown outright. Gorre will clear his path to his objective.
The swords descend towards Fai. (19, 17, 17, 9) — not a single miss. (20, 17). Gorre will make him understand. The pain. The cruelty of this. Michel is gone, and if any pieces of him have been left behind in these people, then Gorre will grind them into dust. He raises his sword high again, and the Thunder of Be Not Afraid crackles around it, furiously bright in the candleflames. ]
2/???
But reaching out to them isn't an option, not when Gorre is striding towards him, looming over him as his sword descends. Fai doesn't get a chance, opening his mouth before he gets hit. And where Gorre has missed with broad sweeps of his swords before, he doesn't this time.
It hits. Again and again and again and again and again.
Each slash hurts, cuts right through to his heart as more and more of his HP chips away. It dips into yellow and he starts to feel it now, his whole body aching and burning and screaming for healing.
Yael's defense boost didn't help, not where it really mattered. But what can a defense boost do when you're at the other end of real cruelty, your friend unable to stop himself even though you can feel that you're getting through to him? ]
You're so angry because I understand.
[ He watches, narrowing his eyes as Gorre's sword crackles with a wave of Thunder. He'll bear this. His friend is in there somewhere and Fai will rally the others to bring him back. ]
3/???? i'm sorry to Shay and only Shay
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ROUND 11 - LAST ROUND
So much data. He feels flooded with it, buffers overrunning again. Michel's screams echo inside his hollow, empty helmet. He recognizes the spite in that gesture too; programmer to program, a wavelength of understanding none of the others share. A layered cruelty, exquisite. ]
Was your loathing enough... to take me with you...?
[ The only humor Gorre knows is double-edged, vicious. This suits well enough. His head lolls back as he lets out a laugh. Levi's data drain leaves him confused; but his processing is overrunning now regardless. Oria's critical, Fuurin's, then Deto's punch, all landing with the boosted elemental strength of Sinclair's red flame. Kara's slap, boosted with nothing but her rage.
Gorre's efforts now are weak. Through the confusion he slashes out at Kara (13) and Deto (10). But his sword swipes are hardly more than tired swats now. His health is critical even before four consecutive heal core uses from Fai, Sinclair, Mithrun, and Hani sap what remains. Cruelty for cruelty, is it not? He drained them, and they drained him. But as Sinclair's door is closed, the only trickle of health Gorre has is from Owen, still tethered. Barely keeping the red sliver of his health bar present.
Michel's door gives him no health. And as Ganymede closes it, the yellow candle flames gutter out again, leaving the arena illuminated only in Owen's violet. Michel's voice is silent again as Ganymede's data drain core leaves Gorre stunned and immobile for subsequent hits. But he hardly seems capable of moving now anyway. ]
If you believe there are traces of him in here... then do with them what you will.
[ His counter to Michel's check, leaving the choice in their hands. The last cruelty he has the power to give. Still trapped in his phantom form by Whispers of the Witch, through the gaps in his armor, anyone can now easily see the core of light at the center of his shadows flickering still. A glowing boss weak point, as it were. ]
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A pity, Gorre, that you tried so hard to be cruel, learning from the people who cannot bear to be truly cruel themselves. ]
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honest to god no longer a gagtag
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FINALE
If only all the traces of the battle could be banished so easily. The scent of blood still lingers in the air. Not all who came here to confront Gorre will walk away from this place. And at the center of the cathedral lies Gorre's discarded armor, hollow now.
Unmoving...?
A piece budges a little, a tiny scraping sound of metal against the cathedral stones. Stirring. Struggling. It moves again, just a little more. Why was it so slow to despawn like the rest? But from beneath it emerges a face mostly familiar to those here.
Michel Bollinger looks very like his avatar had, after all. His hair isn't quite so unruly. His build is slender, fragile — not as though he'd have the strength to wield a sword. And hardly strong enough to move the remnant pieces of armor... although as he gives it a more determined shove, it dissipates at last: not into dust, but into a cloud of black butterflies that rise to the cathedral ceiling and vanish. He blinks up after them, wincing behind his glasses at the brightness of the sunlight, disoriented.
He truly... was never suited to the sun. ]
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But of course. Of course he was still there. He throws himself forward, hugging Michel roughly]
...I told you they'd find you.
[He just has to put that out there now, one last (only?) childish spite]
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waves hand in timing
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1/2
2/2