kaisou | dragons amok 🔸 lover's oath

dragons amok 🔸 lover's oath

WHO: Azhdaha (NPC) and everyone else who is part of the City Crew. You can sign up still if you want!
WHERE: Central Square
WHEN: Forward dated to November 19th
WHAT: Dragon plot!
WARNINGS: Violence, mentions of fantasy dementia (?), uhhh I'll update if necessary.

Azhdaha

Argh...! Is once not enough!? You would forsake me again!?

Why did you abandon me?
Lonely and wandering, trapped in such a harsh place,
there is no way out of this miserable generation.
— Ode to Azhdaha

On the afternoon of November 19th, the already-struggling Central Square receives another visitor.

A flash of light. A portal. And a humongous dragon whose every step makes the earth shudder before the mightiness of a once-dragon king. Covered in scales, crystals, and bark-like armor, a beautiful tree forms his tail. This creature was once something of the earth, and he remembers.

The crocodile-like dragon fights the barrier that confines him to the square, smashing against it again and again. He roars and stomps his feet, sending out shockwaves that knock over anything that hasn't already crumbled from the Yamato-no-Orochi fight a day or two earlier. He rages against the barrier, just barely held in place by the one known as Shroud.

A tall figure steps forward. Even he is dwarfed by Azhdaha's size.

The dragon sees him and bellows in a rough voice not unlike the sound of rocks rubbing together.

"MORAX! You would confine me again?! Then... then you will pay! You shall suffer eternally, as I have!"

Rocks and boulders erupt from the ground. Glowing veins of power zigzag over everything, even the dragon, as Azhdaha taps into the strength of the earth itself.

Even a mountain erodes eventually. For those who cannot die there is only madness or oblivion, their fate to be locked away inside a library unaging.

So it must be.

[ooc: Feel free to thread whatever. There is no set turn order, but I will interject if necessary if Zhongli or Azhdaha are needed specifically for something (such as the special option threads)-- otherwise you may RP getting knocked around/attacking as much as you like.

The sealing and aftermath will be posted once we have a better gauge of how Phase Three proceeds. We are aiming to SUBDUE not kill the dragon, so if things are going that way we should talk about it!]

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[Anything right up until the dragon shows up goes here. Eat your buff food, don your armor, complain about Zhongli, whatever you need to do.

General contributions can also be noted here: for example, Blade's extensive wind-aspected armory is available for perusal just outside the square for anyone who wants an extra edge.]

Edited 2023-11-17 13:11 (UTC)

[Zhongli has every intent of drawing the dragon's gaze, and he makes sure that everyone knows it. He wraps himself in a transparent amber shield glowing with ancient symbols and takes off, turning Azhdaha so the dragon's sides are exposed to his attackers.

But Azhdaha is not happy to simply stand there and be hit. He is mobile, able to swim through the ground like it's water in order to change position rapidly. He summons massive tremors beneath the earth that send out cascades of rocks and crystals in a wide cone ahead of him. He'll even body slam or shoulder-tackle anyone standing within range, up to and including charging bodily at someone.

And that's to say nothing of the huge tail, which slaps and swipes at anything behind him.

The key to progressing through this phase will be characters whittling down Azhdaha's health while avoiding getting hit themselves. Zhongli will be throwing out shields in this phase to those are caught in the crossfire, and those who are wounded will be healed slightly by Venti's song. For now.]

PHASE SUCCESS:

Regardless of the damage done to the fighters, Azhdaha will transition to the second phase when a significant chunk of his health is gone.

PHASE FAILURE:

Regardless of the damage done to the city, Azhdaha will transition to the second phase when a significant chunk of his health is gone.

[Fuming from his ineffective attempts at bringing the city down, Azhdaha lets out a deep, rolling roar that shatters windows for a mile around. Anyone with a weak constitution might find it difficult to keep standing through that.]

MORAAAAAAAAAX!

[The leylines running through the ground flash a bright purple.]

No... He's drawing power directly from the Spirit Vein!

[Zhongli summons another jade shield to try to cover his allies, but he isn't fast enough. The dragon hits him at full speed and hurls him into the air. Zhongli's body hits the ground with a sickening crack, and he does not move again.

More crystals erupt from the surface of the plaza, and they crackle with Shadow energy.

Azhdaha roars again. Zhongli rises slowly into the air, dangling by his wrists from crystal shackles. He is surrounded by an amber barrier not unlike the kind that Zhongli usually summons, but he is unconscious and currently no help whatsoever in that regard. Venti in his tiny "elf" form flitters nervously and tries to wake him up, to no avail.]

Is this the vaunted power of the Geo Archon? How humiliating. Has your strength dwindled in your idleness as you grew fat on my suffering, and ignored my pleas?

You abandoned me for them... Ceaselessly digging, destroying, denying...!

I will annihilate everything that you hold dear!

[Allies will not be receiving any aid from Zhongli or Venti from now on.

The crystals along Azhdaha's body and his tree-like tail take on the seething color of Shadow and spark with energy. He stomps, causing more piercing stalagmites to erupt from the ground where people are standing. Formless shadows also take the shape of bladed orbs that spin across the arena, trying to cut up anyone who doesn't move out of the way.

Azhdaha is still as formidable as before, but with the added deadliness of elemental infusions. His shockwaves are now filled with superpowered Shadow energy. Every few seconds, crystal shadow lances fall onto the battlefield, ensuring that one must Always Be ~~Casting~~ Moving.

Progression through this phase must include defending Jun/Shroud as he concentrates on the binding spell keeping Azhdaha inside the square. He has an innate weakness to Shadow. If the barrier falls, extensive damage to the city will result. (Jun can be NPC'd as needed as long as his player knows what is going on, since he can do nothing but stand and cast.)

All the while, the dragon taunts.]

How does it feel to be forsaken by your allies, Morax?!

PHASE SUCCESS:

As Azhdaha loses ground, he grows more enraged. He roars again and the earth trembles in response. Zhongli is still imprisoned, but he seems to be alive.

[SPECIAL OPTION] XIAO AND NEUVILLETTE:

Azhdaha hesitates in his madness as he recognizes figures from his memory. Is it this life or the last? Does it matter? His family is here. His brother. His son. His companions, until the very end.

What is he doing? Why is he here? Where is... home?

Azhdaha's strength will be decreased 25% for the rest of the encounter, and he will occasionally be stunned and vulnerable as he tries to remember.

PHASE FAILURE:

As Azhdaha loses ground, he grows more enraged. He roars again and the earth trembles in response. Zhongli is still imprisoned, but he seems to be alive. Jun/Shroud's situation is more dire: he is unable to keep his spell going beneath the onslaught. The containment fails.

With the breaking of his bonds, Azhdaha is now able to leave Central Square and begin damaging other buildings downtown. He topples the first high-rise office building he sees as easily as a child knocking over a tower of blocks, and then he gets an idea.

The damage of Azhdaha's attacks will be increased 25% for the rest of the encounter.

Tyrant! Kinslayer! Oathbreaker!

[Azhdaha's eyes burn like the deepest reaches of magma within the earth. Each stomp summons numerous shockwaves augmented with blades of Shadow ripping up through the ground and leaves any still-standing construction in a precarious state. The markings all over the dragon's body glow again, a brief warning—and then they turn red, imbuing Azhdaha with the power of Fire.

Massive fireballs like meteors come crashing down over the battlefield. Shadow blades spread like ripples from where they hit.]

You dare aid him, even now?! This land shall be your tomb!

[Ice coalesces around Azhdaha's tail, turning it light blue as he takes on the traits of Water energy. It forms a huge round ball like the sun floating above everything, and then it grows spikes. The spikes break off into icy lances that fly toward Azhdaha's foes.

Azhdaha fights desperately as he realizes he is close to being sealed again. With this lapse in concentration, Zhongli is able to break free from the Geo prison, but only just. He falls to the ground.

Success or failure during this phase will be determined by two conditions: Jun/Shroud must still be standing, and Azhdaha and Zhongli must be alive. As before, Jun will be casting, and can be NPC'd as long as his player knows what is happening. Zhongli will be in the care of whoever helps him and Venti.]

PHASE SUCCESS:

As Azhdaha's last bit of strength slips away, he finds it difficult to move, and finally collapses within the seal Jun has conjured. He is still conscious and alive, and breathing heavily.

PHASE FAILURE:

As Azhdaha's last bit of strength slips away, he finds it difficult to move, and finally collapses. The stones run with his blood, which has a molten gold sheen to it. The gravity of the situation feels heavier than any stone.

[Despite the colorful entrance of riding through a portal with a giant dragon, Jun has mostly been in the back focusing on his binding spell. Unfortunately, this is taking his full concentration to maintain- leaving him entirely defenseless to attacks. Best make sure he doesn't get hit!]

Edited 2023-11-17 13:55 (UTC)

[Dan Heng instinctively falls back into a familiar role. Defending his companions from whatever would cause them harm. In his past life, it had been in his capacity as the Astral Express's guard. In this one, it's as a guard to his fellow researchers. He's been conserving his full power for this moment, and takes on the form of Imbibitor Lunae. Jun and Mikleo's safety are now his top priority.

He uses his cloudhymn magic to form spears of water to intercept some of the bladed orbs, knocking them out of the way when they come flying at Jun. Unfortunately, he does have to keep moving and keep his distance so that the stalagmites don't get close to the holy knight, too. There's a moment of bad timing in which Dan Heng manages to intercept another orb, but at the cost of a jagged, crystal lance coming straight at Dan Heng with very little time to react.]

[Fighting to protect others was what the Warrior of Light did. Scintilla was good at it, she even enjoyed it when the occasion struck. Fighting was not her sole purpose, but it was the spark that lit the forge, what created the person she was and would be day by day.]

[That, I can't deny.]

[But sometimes--times like this--she really hated it.]

Ain't forsaken by nothin'- [A burst of light from the focus in her hand spread across the ground, Embolden and Magick Barrier respectively increasing her allies' strength and mitigating the damage to them from the Shadow energy. It wouldn't last more than a moment, but hopefully a moment would be enough until she could do it again.]

[...It always came back to despair, in the end. What would Estinien say if he were here? Nothing that would call this ancient wyrm back to himself, and yet would the lack of impact mean those words should go unsaid? Was it hopeless to speak with one beyond reason?]

-and neither are you!

[Of course not. Nothing was ever hopeless no matter how dark it seemed. She snapped the focus to the hilt of her rapier and held it out like a magic staff, aiming a burst of bright magic at Azhdaha's head--then barely avoiding a falling lance by inches.]

Can try'n draw some attention off th' rest of ya, but I ain't exactly equipped to take hits today!

Edited (I'M SO SORRY, I'MON MY PHONE) 2023-11-17 14:30 (UTC)

[Ei didn't recognize everyone fighting alongside them, but that hardly mattered. Here, she was in her element. She nods to Scintilla--she hasn't met the girl, but it hardly matters. She can feel her strength increasing.]

I'll distract him.

[By hitting him, very hard, with a naginata. Ei was very clearly told that their goal was not to kill Azdaha--and she's willing to honor that. But that doesn't mean she isn't going to do some damage in the process.]

[Ei rushes forward, lightning around her crackling as she brings her Naginata to bear. Her aim is to use whatever distraction Scintilla creates to land a hit. Hopefully it works.]

[For a very long time in her life, Ei was used to fighting alone. She has the skills--her time as a hermit haven't dulled her senses as much as she feared. She's able to dodge Azhdaha's attacks, dodging to the side whenever the tail comes her way.]

[Unfortunately, it isn't enough. Every time she charges forward, he rushes underground. She's fast, but not quite fast enough to catch him. She needs help, so she calls to someone else on the field.]

We need to work together. Bait him into an opening, and I'll attack.

[It's a far cry from how she usually talks, with none of her awkwardness present. This is a battlefield, after all, and that means--for once--she's in her element.]

[Thankfully, he was not the only pair of eyes they had.]

Watch yourself, mate! [So came Eunie, be it on ground or in air, massive shield at the ready to parry the crystal lance away from Dan Heng. For as shoddily made as her Mace and Shield looked, they were well reinforced with material made to fight against Ouroboros.

Eunie trusted in them and the person at the edge of her memory who she inherited this art from.]

I've got your back. Electro Field! [With the attack declaration on the field around where Eunie stood came a pulse followed by a protective ether shield around herself and the other two. For all her smoke blowing, she knew what she was doing on support.]

[ was it an omen that he awoke to his vision dangling from the window this morning? that the wind began to coil around him more than it had ever done before? now, face to face with azhdaha's great form, xiao thinks that maybe it was.

he is all but a green and black blur upon the battlefield, dodging the cascades of rocks and crystals that come flying out toward him. as he moves xiao watches the others who have joined the fray, as jade shields surround them and the soothing brush of wind heal their wounds. it is difficult to fight with so many close by, difficult to keep his mind on the task at hand rather than looking out for them.

a warmth washes over him, the familiar warmth of zhongli's shield, and xiao launches himself forward dodging a tail swipe and landing a heavy blow infused with anemo. but azhdaha isn't so easy to take down, that tail he dodged before coming back swipe at him. this time xiao isn't fast enough, the jade shield surrounding him absorbing most of the hit but doing nothing to stop him from being flung back and away. it shatters the moment xiao hits a nearby wall, kicking a cloud of dust and debris.

... do you think he's alright?? ]

[ the fight in xiao fades almost immediately the moment azhdaha hesitates, clouded eyes clearing just enough to see him - to truly see xiao before him. stubbornly a trickle of hope blooms in his chest, a foolish thought that maybe - maybe - they can convince him to stop fighting, that they need not harm him in order for the spell to work.

it won't work, something tells him, but something inside of him wants to try. ]

Fùqīn, it is me. It is Xiao... [ his voice cracks, fingers curling tightly around his spear. ] We are trying to help you, if you do not need to fight!

[Azhdaha lowers his great head and breathes in deeply. Yes, this is a scent he remembers. He remembers the light steps, he remembers the beads on Xiao's wrist, the crispness of an autumn breeze.]

Hái zi... You must run away. This... this pain. It is too great for me to bear. I cannot—

[Azhdaha flinches and draws back, only to leave an opening. Someone's spell hits his side. He roars with anger and retaliates with a Shadow-infused stomp that he just barely manages to aim away from Xiao.]

Leave me!

[The dragon curls in on himself and shakes his head furiously from side to side. The hesitation is allowing the others to gain ground.]

[Blade, in his sized-down powered armor, sees the green blur that is Xiao go flying into the wall. He goes running after to check up on him. Naturally the loud metallic clanking gets Azhdaha's attention...

Another earth-aspected shockwave gets aimed at them, but Blade puts himself and a giant windy shield between Xiao and the threat. The force of it sends him scooting backwards, but Blade manages to stay on his feet.

They're too far from Azhdaha's range to keep his attention. Thankfully. The armor turns, and Blade's voice is the one that comes out of it.]

Xiao! Are you all right? [If he's still not moving, he'll sheath his greatsword so he can very, very carefully check on Xiao's condition with his armored hands.]

[There's a ten foot tall Gundam? in the area where preparations are being made. It has been equipped with wind-aspected armor plating, a big wind-aspected shield, and a massive claymore conjured from wind and lightning energy on its back. Blade is sitting on top of it with a ratchet in his mouth and a laptop balanced on his knees, making some last-minute adjustments if the rapid typing is anything to go by. His hair is done up around a sword-shaped hairstick.

There are also several tables (several) with all sorts of melee weapons that have been enchanted with Wind to be effective either attacking or defending against the Earth-aspected dragon's armor. Swords, axes, maces, shields, breastplates... He's enchanted a few with his own personal magic, which is very temporary, but it'll do for a fight.]

[Zhongli adjusts his dark gloves, then the sleeves of his uniform. He hasn't worn this in a hot minute. He looks to Jun, and then the place where he knows the portal to the headquarters is hidden.]

I will handle the pleasantries, if necessary. Are you ready?

[neuvillette, at this point, has sustained injuries not just from azhdaha's blind rampage, but also from the other citizens of this city: he has been trying to force them back, trying to diminish the force they are using.

he has seen this before, in snatches of memory: an usurper casting them down, leading to their eventual degradation, one by one, until only madness or death was left. it is hard for him to separate the two streams of remembrance. distantly he knows the person named shroud was right: there was no other way. but neuvillette would not, cannot leave it to chance. if azhdaha is killed here by accident or otherwise, he would never forgive himself.]

Brother. [his sword nearly slips from his hand at the lucidity, and he immediately sways closer, far closer than anyone should ever be to a rampaging monster. he reaches out a hand, palm underneath one of his kin's great horns.] ▩▩▩▩▩▩. [he breathes azhdaha's name, in the tongue all vishaps knew.] Come back to us.

[The long awaited day was at last here. Jun was making his final adjustments to his attire. Eunie had been kind enough to loan her uniform, and he had used his experience in cosplay and drag to make the part look as believable as possible. He's put in padding in all the right places to make their figures match closer, a brown wig to match Eunie's hair, and even crafted a pair of fake head wings just so his hood will bend in all the right places.

The secret to a good cosplay was in the details, after all.

There's little he can do to change his face itself, so he's now pulling up the hood over his face, obscuring his details. In some ways, this uniform reminded him of the garb his past self wore a lot while he lived at the Orden. Maybe another time, he could think on those complicated feelings, but for right now he'll just focus on the benefit of it being he'll be able to move around comfortably.]

I'm ready. Remember, I cannot speak while I'm in there, so I'll need to use telepathy to communicate. Don't become startled if you hear a voice in your head.

[Venti has assumed his wind spirit form once more. Part of him wishes he could be human for this after spending weeks as the "elf," but he's not about to jeopardize their mission. The little sprite flies out of Zhongli's pocket and into Jun's hood, popping his head out slightly from his hiding place.]

I'll use the wind to carry my voice and translate for you! I can make it more discreet from this vantage point.

[He then hides himself once more. There are some benefits to being as small as he is.]

Ready!

[Jun didn't particularly like Neuvillette, nor was he happy to see him here trying to disrupt matters. But even with that distaste, Jun was an empathetic person. His own negative opinions aside, he can't but feel for the pain that Neuvillette is currently showing. The grief.

He can't let up the binding spell, so he can't move from his spot. But with Azhdaha resisting just a little less, he's able to send a telepathic message. Instead of Shroud's harsh modulated voice, the voice in Neuvillette's mind is Jun's normal voice, a higher, more feminine and gentle voice. ]

I know it hurts, but this lucidity won't last. If you have anything you wish to say to him, please... do it now while he can hear it.

[picture this, so you've lived through a truly harrowing supernatural festival from hell. the city had melted back into normalcy for just a scant couple of days before you're thrown into another hellscape: this time featuring a giant thing of a very angry dragon, with varied and novel ways of possible maiming/death/injury via elemental magic.

A you might not have answered that heartfelt call for help, on the network; maybe you are just Staying The Hell Out Of The Way. as you're running away - hiding - or just rubbernecking - neuvillette will be trying to catch you by the arm, urging you farther away into a safe distance.]

Do not be a fool. This is no place to dawdle.

[B if, you however, went and got yourself involved, and are actively attacking the giant fuckoff earth dragon who's changing elements like a truly demented display of holiday lights - you may find yourself on the wrong end of a thin, water-slick blade. on the right side of it is neuvillette, eyes wide and wild and desperate.]

Don't touch him!

[Azhdaha shudders at the touch, but he doesn't immediately pull away. He lowers his head to regard Neuvillette. Beneath the mad glow these are absolutely the eyes of a vishap. Blind ones, but still.]

Brother... How long has it been...? No, you—you must save yourself! The agony will take you as it has taken me.

[He winces and lashes his great arboreal tail, almost knocking someone over.]

Not again... not again. My kin, my children, all dead!

[you might've seen this guy in the thick of it, here and there, seemingly switching between enemy and ally in the same breath.

here you can see his head snap up, in the direction of zhongli, his face twisting into indecision. the guy clearly needs help, at least to be moved out of immediate danger, but neuvillette just stands there, the tip of his ornate cane-sword pointed to the ground. maybe you can try convincing him to help? to leave? to not just stand there like an idiot?]

[Zhongli nods. Jun really looks the part. He knows that's not Eunie, but damn if he isn't close. They're about as prepared as they're going to be.

He takes a deep breath to steady himself.]

Then let us proceed.

[He leads them out of their little hiding place and toward the gate. Once they step inside, the familiar sight of the abandoned Asgard greets him. He remembers how lonely this place felt when he first joined the Black Order. It was still in its infancy then, only half-furnished and lacking in people. But looking at it now, it's almost like a small town, if that town was vast and had formerly belonged to gods.

Really, it's quite grand. Zhongli knows from being a bit of a nerd that some "lost" furnishings from palaces and lavish residences have found their way here instead of being burned up in various fires and disasters. It gives the place a historic charm, if you ignore the war crimes.

Zhongli's pace is measured and natural, and he knows where he is going. He won't stop unless they're spoken to.]

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Page 1 of 5

dragons amok 🔸 lover's oath

PREPARATIONS

PHASE ONE

PHASE TRANSITION

PHASE TWO

PHASE THREE

Take the wheel because Jesus is busy

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CLOSED TO JUN AND VENTI;

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