this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 4, 2018 15:31:25 GMT
there is no spoken response, nor any motion to bandage the wound, the roll of bandages left unused. maddox finishes tying up the ends of the bandages, tugs experimentally at them once and stretches his legs out to ensure that they are secure before he turns to sirius with somewhat of a glare; he meets eyes of molten gold with flickering monsoon grey and says, bluntly, “asshole.”
exasperation bleeds into his voice, its source twofold. he likes to think of it like this: he is a concerned companion, agitated over the summoner’s liberal use of his abilities, half-certain that sirius is over-exerting himself. perhaps, on a more tactical angle, he thinks that sirius will burn out before they reach the root of whatever problem they have been contracted to fix.
he does not like to think of how he feels, once again, extraordinarily useless in such a situation. not only is he limited in his ability to help, he is essentially forcing sirius to work more than necessary simply to compensate, and he hates it. normally, situations hardly escalate to such a level ( or if they do, they are typically not witnessed by others who possess such an incredible amount of idiocy that they would actually help him ). he briefly considers the notion of attempting to be more careful, simply to avoid a repeat of such incidents in the future. it is quickly discarded.
another monosyllabic command is given and maddox folds his arms, leans back against the walls of the alcove and tries his best to stay annoyed at sirius, whose back is now turned towards him. “you know, teamwork normally involves something called, i dunno, communication?” he continues, though not expecting an answer, “also, do we have a plan? besides, you know, letting you do all the heavy lifting? literally?”
somewhere at the back of his mind, moosely laughs.
and despite wanting to stand, to accompany sirius head-first into a fight just because sirius told him not to, he remains still. not entirely inactive, though, because the atheneum interface flickers into existence, mana coalescing into scrawling white script as he turns his focus onto sirius. he’s not going to sit here doing nothing, and at the very least he can try and figure out what sirius is doing, whether it be to concoct some vague plan about future monster-hunting strategies, or to find a way to force sirius out of whatever state he was in -- he had no doubts about how useful it could be, but it seemed equal parts blessing and a curse.
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 5, 2018 8:23:14 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
the thing about archangelic grace is thus: intellectually, kasimir is entirely unchanged. intellectually, he knows he would be negatively effected by maddox's judgement. intellectually, he knows that were his veins not sun-bright and brilliant, he would be folding in on himself with apologies on his tongue. but here, now, with this beautifully perfect conviction threaded through his being, he simply cannot understand how he could possibly ever let himself be distracted by mere emotions.
that being said, there is logic to informing maddox about his soon-to-be whereabouts and plans - provided the witch will not attempt to follow. kasimir pauses, considers. turns back. "i will scout the surroundings," he informs maddox, matter-of-factly. the athenian interface the witch has pulled up is of no concern to him. kasimir's eyes seem to flare brighter for a moment. "stay."
his partner adequately informed, he turns in a swirl of fire-hair and light and takes flight, star-spangled sky folding beneath his feathers as he methodically scours his way through the area within a general radius from the location, then glides up up up to the moon where his aerial vantage point allows him to check the environment again. nothing, thankfully. there is some movement in the far east where the rocks give way to forest, but any monsters potentially there appear to decide discretion as the best part of valour.
he briefly contemplates eliminating the threat before they become potential danger later on, then discards the thought. unnecessary.
satisfied that everything is as it should be, kasimir returns to maddox. alights down, pauses, considers the situation. allows the archangelic grace fade since it is no longer necessary. and promptly staggers as the mana drain of his constant casting and the previously ignored pain of his side makes themselves known. neither is as bad as the profound emptiness within him feels, though.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 5, 2018 16:22:38 GMT
he gets a reply this time, at least, a statement unembellished and perfectly factual. then, another command, sirius’ eyes golden and burning, and maddox bares his teeth in a grin more challenge than compliance. “fine,” he says in the end, but there is an edge absent from his voice. “stay safe.” there is an inability to stay irritated, for a reason that he does not know if he wants to think about. but he stays, nonetheless.
he tracks the shrinking light that is sirius until he is but another star on the horizon, shining a little brighter than the rest. a sun in the night sky, radiant. ( consider it a play and then consider his role in it: who is he, another foolish icarus?) the alcove by now is once more shrouded in shadow, lit only by the dim glow of the translucent interface as it cycles restlessly through the information gathered.
( as far as he knows, he hadn’t planned on falling asleep, but his vision dances in and out of darkness regardless of his wishes. moosely rematerialises some time about then, standing guard at the edge of the alcove. )
it is at the gradual brightening of his surroundings that he jolts fully back into wakefulness, mere seconds before sirius lands. stands abruptly and becomes aware once more of the sting in his hands and across his legs. disregards it easily, perhaps even more so when he catches sight of sirius stumbling, the gold fading. the interface glows faintly, the mana readings updating to display information that was far less than ideal.
he steps closer, an arm outstretched and ready to catch the summoner should he fall, the other retrieving the previously discarded roll of bandages. “so,” he says lightly, though the jest in his voice belies the concern in his eyes. he offers the bandages once more. “any chance i could persuade you to change your mind?”
pauses. lets his gaze flit over the interface’s data once more; returns to his partner, solicitude thinly veiled. “please?”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 7, 2018 2:13:00 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
seeing maddox with his arm half outstretched as if ready to stabilise him should he fall, kasimir forcibly attempts to straighten himself, to regain autonomy of his disgustingly weak feeling limbs. but what is the will of a mere human compared to the perfect and absolute conviction he remembers from just moments prior? even blinking feels like an effort - it is as if he is now a fragile paper epigraph where he was incandescence and light and burning gas before, as if the seven thousand and sixty four dimensions he could previously see have been folded down into a mere mortal three, as if he had scooped out his organs and bones and everything bright and colourful from inside of him leaving just a shell behind.
this is why he does not use archangelic grace if he can help it.
making another valiant attempt at straightening, kasimir manages to close shaky fingers around the proffered bandages before he gives in to the inevitable and seats himself before he can fall. exhaustion heavy in his eyes, he looks at the roll blankly for a moment, before looking up at his mission partner. shame and self-recrimination curl in his stomach as he remembers how he had treated maddox.
"i'm sorry," he whispers, looking away and bowing his head. excuses, explanations hover on his tongue, but he chains them back with grim determination. it is not the scroll's fault he had, as maddox had put it, acted like an 'asshole'; it was his own doing. the concern in his partner's voice is more than he deserves.
quietly, he begins to pull up his shirt for access to his side, only to falter and pause when he remembers that maddox is here and kasimir has too many scars. too many scars that are too straight and even to be anything but deliberate. his hands tremble, slightly. the night is dark, but is it dark enough?
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 7, 2018 4:19:40 GMT
he doesn’t know enough about the spell to help in any substantial way; in fact, even if he does know more about it, he is powerless to help regardless. it is simply not within his skill set to heal the tears of the flesh. he can fix things, in the way that purifiers are wont to do, but that is a process mechanical and thus unsuited; blood stains his fingertips scarlet and he is armed with nothing but the offer of clean bandages and good intentions.
sirius looks two steps from falling, and maddox hovers anxiously. don’t fall don’t fall and please don’t pass out either. he crouches down as sirius finally takes a seat, watching carefully, ready to lend assistance if need be. “don't worry about it,” he murmurs, and is somewhat surprised to hear the sincerity in his own voice. “you did what you had to do, or something like that.” besides, on the scale of terrible things to do to a mission partner, this is basically negligible in his books.
dim light makes for difficulty in dressing wounds. there is no true darkness under an open sky, but human eyes have never been the best equipped for the job, regardless. a moose, on the other hand, differs. the familiar’s eyes glitter, reflecting the moonlight pooling on the alcove ground, his eyes sharp. while maddox simply raises an eyebrow in mild concern as he catches the hesitance, moosely sees. notes it, with a wise decision to say nothing just yet. shuffles closer, inadvertently casting a greater shadow over them.
a suggestion comes silently to maddox, though in moosely’s terms, a suggestion always sounds awfully more like a demand. ‘nothin’ is gonna get done if you keep bloody staring.’
maddox blinks slowly, raises his gaze to meet sirius’, momentarily unreadable. then he shifts, letting his legs fold under him as he turns to lean back against the wall. he looks outwards, across the craggy mountain peaks, stark lines outlined in pale blue. asks, as he waits for sirius to continue dressing his wounds, “so, see anything interesting out there?”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 9, 2018 14:37:48 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
he hears more than he sees his partner crouch down beside him, a shadowy movement in the peripheries of his vision as he continues to studiously avoid eye contact. a brief moment ignites the desire to move back, to increase the space between them to a safer one, but the next second smothers the sparks as rationality reestablishes its rule. maddox is safe, it is okay. he is fine.
nevertheless, the sincere concern he hears shading that familiar voice is both surprising and touching.
something warm spreads through his chest and tingles like stardust in his blood; it spreads further when his partner neither comments on nor questions his hesitation and simply turn away to look out into the night, burns brighter when moosely shuffles forth and casts his shadow like a veil over him. the long, unreadable look maddox had laid upon him is somewhat discomforting - does he know? did he see? - but even then there is still gold in his veins at his partners' actions.
kasimir finishes wrapping the bandages around him with quick, practiced ease; then, green eyes soft and movements hesitant, he reaches out to touch maddox's arm in a feathersoft touch. "i am sorry, none the less," he says quietly.
and then-
any words that his companion might have replied with, any question that might have proceeded to be poised, are subsequently lost to kirjava's urgent message; kasimir stiffens as a burst of alarm flashes across his familiar bond like a starburst at midnight, followed by a rapidfire tangle of emotion and thought before being forcibly pulled into something coherent. blood drains from his face until there is nothing but bone white remaining, every inch of his skeleton suddenly replaced by steel-stiff rods; had he been holding anything, he would have snapped it completely in two.
"dragon," he forces from his lips after a furious, concerned, terrified argument across thought with kirjava. he had lost; the edge in his shatterglass eyes is sharp enough to cut. "there is a dragon atop the mines. kirjava is helping the miners evacuate and escape, but-" his words cut off, unable to continue slicing into his tongue.
but. kirjava is not safe. kirjava is already injured through kasimir, and their mana is low, and she cannot possibly win a fight against a dragon. the risks are sky high but she will not come back to safety, and the worst part is that kasimir understands, she and kasimir are two halves of the same soul and he understands; he would do the same were their situations reversed, both of them know-
but that does not stop him from feeling sick to the stomach.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 9, 2018 15:49:33 GMT
take away the impending danger and the smell of iron strong in the air, and it is a pretty nice evening. from this vantage point, the streets of sundial are but a string of golden lights dotting the horizon, and there is nothing to distract from the star-spotted brilliance of a cloudless night sky. but even so, he cannot find it in himself to simply enjoy the scenery for what it is. he finds his attention constantly drawn back to sirius, his thoughts stuck in their inevitable, unerring orbit.
the touch is feather-light, ghosting over his arm; his response is a soft hum of acknowledgement and concession, an apology unnecessary but wholeheartedly accepted. turns to observe sirius over his shoulder and begins to say, “it’s okay,” but distress flashes bone-bright pale in his partner’s gaze and maddox halts the words before they make their way past his lips. something has happened. moosely supplies the answer at the same time sirius does, voice tight with fury or fear, he cannot tell.
'his familiar. kirjava.'
it is a level of terror that threads its way through himself, too, sympathetic suffering in a way he realises he feels only because he cares for sirius more than he thinks he does -- that epiphany hits hard and merciless, but it is neither time or place for him to consider anything as trivial as his own feelings. instead, he says, in as reassuring a tone as he can muster, “she’s smart. she’ll be okay.”
moosely is pacing the edge of the precipice by the time maddox gets to his feet. logically, they should rest, perhaps formulate a plan more tangible than simply getting to the mines. he’s always been partial to improvisation, though. maddox hauls himself onto the familiar, eyes the drop below, and extends a hand to sirius. “conserve your mana and get on. moosely can get us there without using much.”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 11, 2018 8:10:12 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
it feels like he has swallowed terror whole, swallowed a trembling, shivering creature of ice and ichor and needle-sharp fear that has burrowed into permanent dwelling beneath his heart and has turned the very marrow of his bones glacial. press long fingers to his stomach and keep pressing, keep pressing until nails curl around the ivory of his spine and claw out his organs and hollow out the insides of his ribcage and that is how he feels knowing the danger his familiar is in. knowing, and being unable to help.
wild plans flit through his mind at lightspeed - take flight and spiral through the heavens with all the speed angelic grace can offer perhaps, or simply resort to the basic scroll of the switch, or, or forcibly dematerialise her - but kasimir knows with the sinking despair of rationality and logic that he will be carrying out none of those plans. kirjava, checking in on their link, sends him a reminder not to do anything stupid.
surprisingly, maddox's few words of reassurance are somewhat helpful; kirjava is certainly intelligent and resourceful - much more so than himself. if there were anyone he would put his faith in to be stealthy and sly and successful in this situation, it would be her. he jerks a nod, once, swallowing the incoherent shatterglass of fear that wants to climb out his throat and instead offers his mission partner a shaky attempt of a smile. "you are right," he says, trying for a lighter tone. he is not certain how successful he is on either measure.
forcing himself to his feet, kasimir suppresses a grimace at the ache in his limbs, the exhaustion that has begun to settle in his bones. the rest of the journey up to the mines will... not be pleasant. not that he cares. surprise flashes across his face as maddox extends a hand in clear invitation from where he is seated on his familiar. this is... unexpected.
he looks at the air witch first, then studies moosely for any sign of displeasure before his eyes flit back to maddox and finally nods. "thank you," he says, gratitude infusing each syllable. kasimir takes maddox's hand and hauls himself up, studiously ignoring the pain that shoots like lightning up from his side and instead seats himself securely.
slight hesitation. "anytime you want me to get off," he says, "just say, and i understand. i- i have enough mana to fly up to the mines."
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 11, 2018 8:59:13 GMT
the sound he makes is somewhere between a huff and a chuckle. “we’ll be fine. moosely grumbles, but he’ll do it.” his gaze returns once more to the path and as soon as he feels sirius seated securely behind him, he has time only to murmur a few words. “hold on tight.”
moosely leaps;
lands, with surprisingly little impact to be felt;
and runs.
there is considerable credit to be granted to the fact that the pair are air-natured -- a moose, by nature, does not make for a particularly comfortable nor smooth ride. maddox’s concentration is devoted mostly to minute adjustments, a constant threading of mana through the winds rushing past them; a small hover here to compensate for the dip in the road, or a burst of double jump done horizontally to add an extra burst of speed. he leaves the pathfinding to the familiar, and moosely does not disappoint.
( granted, the moose takes a few unconventional shortcuts, bounding through some underbrush and darting beneath low-hanging boughs. one may sense a certain vindictiveness in his actions, perhaps a form of complaining about the extra passenger: maddox ends up with several scratches across his cheek courtesy of some tree branches, though their route seems carefully planned enough that they barely skim the top of sirius’ head. )
he slows as soon as the mine comes into view, where the craggy stone walls give way to absolute blackness; the mouth of the mines yawns wide and terrifying, though not half as bad as the shape that sits atop it. it is a beast cast in shadow, moonlight cutting severe lines across its scales. it moves, adjusts its position, and a baleful crimson eye looks out across the mountains. it does not see them, yet.
the moose comes to a halt a safe distance away, in the shelter of the trees. maddox’s voice is hardly above a whisper. “wow, okay.” he looks at the dragon, then back over his shoulder at sirius. “what’s the plan?”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 11, 2018 9:54:52 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
the journey is surprisingly smooth.
the moose is wind-swift and agile as a playful breeze, shadowy ground flying rapidly by beneath moosely's long legs covering the distance with speed he could not hope to match with anything save the fleetest of wings. kasimir is jostled far less than he expects - to the relief and gratitude of his side - despite the... somewhat unconventional shortcuts taken. ( here, he ducks to avoid some stray branches, though he probably could have just stayed where he was. there are advantages to being somewhat shorter. ) and, he thinks wryly as he tightens his hold to stay aboard, the aid from wind techniques likely helps.
there is a certain sense of helplessness that comes with not doing anything to help in a tense and dangerous situation, despite that there is nothing he can do; kasimir spends the majority of the journey hovering as a concerned lurker at the back of kirjava's mind. each time she sneaks a miner out of the hidden side tunnels, his heart skips a beat. there were many skipped beats.
the mines come into view just as the last of the miners goes free, and it is with no little sense of relief that they can fight without having to worry about protecting civilians too. said relief rapidly dissipates when he lays eyes on the dragon: moonlight sharpens the razor edges of its scales and reveals a monstrous creature carved from obsidian and the stuff of nightmares, towering over the mines as it lounges on the rocks above.
suddenly, the wild dogs from the encounter he had almost died at seem tame by mere comparison.
maddox's voice is a whisper barely audible even in the stillness of night. somehow, it still seems too loud. "try not to die?" the dry rejoinder slips out before he can rein it back. a slight grimace crossing his face, kasimir's eyes are grim as he studies the dragon. "i could blind it with an illusion," he muses, quickly evaluating how much mana he has remaining. "kirjava has already evacuated the miners. she could distract it before we attack."
he is not pleased with the danger his familiar would be in should that be their course of action, of course, but they have a responsibility, and both of them know danger and death like their own heartbeat. kirjava would no more sit out this fight than he, both of them know.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 11, 2018 15:14:52 GMT
he slips off moosely as noiselessly as he can manage, but even the scuff of his boots on the ground seems deafening. it isn’t a natural silence, as far as he can tell. the wildlife is hushed, the air thick with fear, and even the crickets are absent. if he strains, he can hear the scrape of its claws against rock as its paces across the top of the mines. ( his imagination supplies: claws against his spine, dragged across bone-)
his resolve falters, but only for a moment. he trusts sirius, perhaps comforted by the fact that he is in the company of another who thinks that hunting monsters was a nice way to spend the evening. ( he assumes, anyway., and there isn't much time to second guess. ) some semblance of a plan flickers into existence, the barest threads weaving into something almost tangible. the fear sharpens into the edge of a blade; his blood begins to run white-hot electric through his veins. there is the slightest smile crooking the corners of his lips when he turns to regard sirius. “i won’t if you won’t,” he quips back, eyes glittering. “be careful, okay?”
with the miners out of the way, there is minimal risk for collateral damage. that, at least, is one worry off his mind. he has always lacked aeris’ gift; never been a strategist, but he tries. his fingers drum lightly against moosely’s shoulder, considering. “you know her best -- you make the call. but if you want kirjava to attack, moosely and i can flank it from the other side.”
the dragon turns on its throne, and pale moonlight spills dim through the diaphanous membrane. “i can go for its wings. pin it.” pauses. “try to, at least. then you do whatever you need to do, i’ll improvise. just give the word.”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 18, 2018 10:25:21 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
this is hardly a time for humour and jest, when the shadow of battle and potential demise hangs over them in a grim veil of ominous danger. or perhaps it is the best time for humour - a juxtaposition of the fatalistic and the optimistic with a touch of reckless spirit like white lightning in his veins. kasimir huffs softly in amusement, before it fades to something more solemn, more sombre; "and you," he says, regarding his partner with serious eyes weighed down by concern. neither he nor maddox are in the best state to face a dragon; he very much desires for the other witch to come out of this encounter alive and unharmed, but knowing maddox's tendencies sees unease threading through his blood.
nevertheless, there is no other option; kasimir turns his mind back to their flimsy semblance of a plan with a quiet vow to himself to see to maddox's defence if the witch will not do so himself.
his eyes flicker to the dragon's wings, up, down, churning through potential angles of attack, potential vulnerabilities. there are very few of those. finally, he nods, tilting his head back at his partner. "kirjava will distract from the right side, then." there is an opening to the mines nearby from which his familiar can sneak out of - or dart back into should the need arise. "removing its flight capability would be beneficial."
slight hesitation, his fingers tightening around the grip of his sword. "i... will likely need to use archangelic grace again," he admits quietly, the corner of his mouth twisting downwards. there is simply too much at stake, too much to lose; the exhaustion creeping into his blood and bones is too much a liability to discount. "it has a side effect of hyperfocus - i... i tend to forget to communicate with allies." in truth, he has never used it with allies present before today, but even the brief shift into the angelic mindset leaves clear the impression of terrifying self-focus. "kirjava is not effected though."
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 18, 2018 11:24:48 GMT
he knows, with almost absolute certainty, that he will not escape unscathed. neither will sirius, as much as he wishes that the other would be safe. part of him wants to call off the mission, grab the miners and flee, perhaps return at a later date with a larger team to take down the beast. the other part of him is eager for the fight, bloodlust burning sharp at the edges ( this is the part that is a testament to the legacy he upholds, warforged lion-hearts ). the latter part gets its wish -- they have come this far, after all.
“stop it from flying. got it.” it sounds easier said than done. from the distance, he can almost convince himself that the dragon is not quite as big as he thinks it is. it fails, of course, because the dragon shifts restlessly in its perch once more, flares out its wings, and he’s left to think about whether he’s being maybe a little too ambitious in his approach.
not that he can think of anything better, though.
sirius speaks again, an edge to his voice that makes maddox turn sharply in concern. he listens intently, brows furrowing as he pieces the puzzle ( not a very impressive puzzle, only having two pieces ) together. “i understand,” he murmurs in return, more worried than displeased.
worst comes to worst, if sirius forgoes communication, maddox will adapt. he eyes the dragon once more, and tries to convince himself that he’s faced worse odds before. he breathes slow, controlled, and there’s the slightest curl at the corner of his lips, loose strands of hair curling in a breeze that wasn’t there before. the mana sings wild and untamed in these mountains, far less convoluted than the organised chaos of the cities.
“ready when you are.”
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1
Post by kasimir burovski ✨ on Feb 18, 2018 11:49:18 GMT
blue moon
you saw me standing alone
"ready when you are," maddox says, a call to arms in four words five syllables; kasimir takes a deep breath, kirjava a fiercely resolved on the other side of their familiar bond, and he nods.
"move closer," he murmurs, quietly enough that even the late night breeze picks up barely any hint of voice; an accompany gesture for them to begin creeping towards the dragon. slipping through the tenebrous night with the shift of foliage woven into his step and the ink-dark patterns of shadows cast across his shoulders is an exercise in stealth mired in disastrous consequence should he misstep; fortunately, it seems they are successful - the dragon does not so much as glance in their direction.
green eyes narrowed in concentration; kasimir pauses on the threshold of the rocky treeline with the monster close enough that the lethal glint of moonlight reflected off the curve of its claws is painted in exquisite detail. barely daring to breathe, he sends confirmation of kirjava even as he begins the countdown to her attack. five fingers, four. three, two, one-
a blaze of blue fire streaks out from the right and slams into the membrane of a massive wing-
gold and sol's blessing light up kasimir's veins-
darkness descends over the dragon's vision with an illusion sunk into its eyes-
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 18, 2018 12:26:50 GMT
he is not stealthy by nature, but the air element helps -- his step is light, and moosely, by virtue of his chosen form, is sufficiently familiar with the quiet habits of prey to move undetected. they draw closer to the dragon, and thankfully, it does not see them. maddox waits patiently, gaze locked on their quarry. he waits-
blue and gold bisects his vision into night sky and brilliance-
( go! )
he is moving before the word passes sirius’ lips, tearing out of the cover of the shadows. moosely is sprinting, the ground nothing more than indiscernible shadow beneath his feet, and then they are jumping, flying. moosely vanishes abruptly, a move well rehearsed, as does the earth beneath his feet. he falls through empty air, his familiar slipping back into existence a distance safely below. then it is only him, the axe in his hand, and the wing of the dragon rushing up to meet him.
a clack of teeth -- the dragon snaps wildly and misses, and maddox continues his freefall; catches himself on the dragon’s wing with the axe; drags it down. the beast roars in pain, deafening at close quarters, and leaves his ears ringing.
of course, it takes more than a single blow to disable a dragon, but he carves a jagged line down the membrane of its wing nonetheless. he is eternally grateful for sirius’ illusions: as he lands on the ground, axe scraping the ground for purchase and sending sparks flying, a massive claw swings out once more and misses by a hair’s breadth.
[attr="class","itemsblock"]
[attr="class","itemstitle"]ITEMS USED.
[attr="class","itemsicon"]
[attr="class","itemssprite"] large rock
[attr="class","itemssprite"] full reset
[attr="class","itemssprite"] the operationalization of magic, volume 1