[Quest] The Trials - Part III - Printable Version

Lapis Ninety-five

Oh, you fool, there are rules, I am coming for you
Darkness brings evil things, oh, the reckoning begins

The distant rumble caused Lazuli to slow, coming to a dead halt with her beak nervously clacking. She felt the ground rumbling beneath her feet, and braced herself at first. But then the great bird began to look around frantically, instinct urging her to look for high ground, to climb out of reach up onto ledges that made the canyon walls. And so she struck out, hurrying to the canyon’s sides, picked her route and struck out.

She heard the roar of the water soon follow. She climbed, ever higher, claws scrabbling at stone. And then, finally, as the flood swept by, she scrabbled upwards one last time. She felt the droplets spraying her feathered coat, the roaring water ringing in her ears, but she was just beyond it, sides heaving, eyes wide.

She had survived.

"Speech."
"Thoughts."

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Magnus - Jun 15 2019

After making sure the lizard - Amazon - was okay, Quartz Eight-Six-Zero was ready to move on. He followed Amazon as they began to catch up with the others. It didn't take long to find out exactly what the obstacle was. The rain pouring down made it hard to see, but he could hear the flash flood. He tensed. This was new. And he didn't like it, not one bit.

He'd have to move, and quick. If he could just leap across, find stable purchase...And hopefully Amazon could grab onto him. Though if she did, he'd have to make sure he didn't fail...He closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, then opened them again and leaped.

For a moment, he thought he had misjudged his timing. He could feel water, and he thought it was over for him. But then his hands managed to find purchase against the rock wall and he held on tightly before looking back to make sure Amazon made it.

860 will be staying behind

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Amazon - Jun 15 2019

At the roaring sound behind, Amazon glanced back, freezing with horror at the waterfall crashing onto the groups. She whipped towards the yeti and scampered after him, the water growing closer and closer behind. She leaped, trying to grab onto the white hair and hold on, but her jump fell short and she landed on the ground. A second later, the water consumed her. With a cry, she disappeared beneath the waves, trying desperately to get her head above water.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Game Master Dark - Jun 15 2019

The roaring flood continued to rush through the narrow canyon. Its chaotic, deadly waters swept survivors along, though two submerged: Opal Three-Seven-Six, and Amazon. Both of them--part of the same group--were dragged under, susceptible to being crushed by tumbling boulders or inhaling the coppery mud that ripped inexorably past them, carrying them forward.

Amazon and Opal may roll to save themselves. Others may act to either aid or to sabotage those they are near to (or may choose to take no action). However, the floodwaters are deadly--and those who fail will be dragged back into the flood. Those who attempt to aid or sabotage, and who fail, will then be dragged away by the flood and given only one chance to save themselves--they will be swept away too quickly to be helped by others.

The speed and raw power of the water has also spread the groups farther apart, with large gaps between some of the Gembound present. The speed of the current will keep the Gembound at equal distances until they either drown, or arrive in the Dead Marsh (for this round, Gembound cannot change their placements further, bar through sabotaging enemies).

Rolling a critical fail will inflict a severe injury and cause the character to fall farther behind. Please post & roll only once.

Click to view current placement rankings.

1. Garnet Five-Seven-Nine
2. {empty space}
3. {empty space}
4. Lapis Ninety-Five
5. Labradorite Five-Four-Six, Desert Rose Thirty-Five, Reseda, Yoosung
6. {empty space}
7. Imp
8. Shango, Amazon, Quartz Eight-Six-Zero, Asimona, Quartz Five-Two-Four, Styx, Opal Three-Seven-Six
9. {empty space}
10. Agate Two-Three-Six, Mayngo

@Yoosung @Amazon @Shango @Opal Three-Seven-Six @Quartz Eight-Six-Zero @Labradorite Five-Four-Six @Agate Two-Three-Six @Desert Rose Thirty-Five @Lapis Ninety-Five @Garnet Five-Seven-Nine @Quartz Five-Two-Four

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Amazon - Jun 15 2019

Amazon tumbled along the the horrible flood, her tiny limbs fighting back against the current, but she had never been a good swimmer. The couple of times shed fallen into the river had proven that. But, as her claws lashed out this way and that to find a hold, she felt them scrape against something hard. Immediately, she pulled herself up and out of the water, taking a deep, gasping breath as air, merciful air, flooded into her lungs.

Exhausted from the fight, she lay on the rock, safe from the flood for now, trying to catch her breath.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Vander - Jun 15 2019

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
here's to my yesterday

Mature for strong language

Veins pumping, lungs straining, Thirty-Five raced against the walls as his purchase grew thinner. The rushing water was beginning to push up against his ankles, spraying him unending and threatening to topple him over. He could feel a tunnel forming around his vision in this maze of rock.

Sharp movement jerked his sight to the right.

There was a lizard. Floating a rock.

This would be normal in the caves. Thirty-Five would even admire the ingenuity, if he didn't recognize the spell.

That was the spell that threatened to kill his brother.

His tunnel shifted. A dangerous roar blasted out of the reptile as he bound forward, new energy electrifying his muscles. No- No! He refused to let this.. Heathen, this gemless bastard, this absolute stain to continue on like nothing had happened. This was the fucker who threatened his brother's life. It was time to turn the tables.

Thirty-Five didn't give a shit if he was putting his life on the line. The one Gembound he cared for's life was at stake, all because of this dickweed lizard. It was inferior- not even a dragon, some little.... Thing! A guttural hiss sounded out of his throat as he frantically searched for something to do. He didn't have magic. He couldn't fight.

He could sabotage, though. A rock up ahead- it was loose from the wind. Perfect. His heart beat through his ears, drowning out all other sound as he leaped forward in bounds, the water kicking up to his belly. In one leap, he jumped up to the rock and felt it crack below him. Perfect. Yes. In one smooth motion, with the added weight of the water and body atop it, it snapped, crumbling beneath him as it gave way into the floods below.

Thirty-Five let out an intense breath of air as he shoved off the rock, powerful wings beating into the absolute downpour as he lifted up into the air somewhat. His heart beat hard as he angled himself back towards the wall and continued on his leaping pathway, dull claws drumming hard to the sound of his veins. Hopefully, it'd fall onto that thing. Death from above would be fitting for someone who tried to do the same with magic. Even then, it could end up slamming in front of her, hopefully distracting her in her concentration and causing the waves to flood over her.

Desert Rose Thirty-Five is attempting to sabotage Reseda.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Imp - Jun 15 2019

Imp's entire world was roaring water. He had lost sight of literally everyone else in the chaos. The thick mist, the rushing flood, the sheets of drenching rain--it was all too loud and too everywhere to pierce with any senses.

The hybrid clung to his log, wings half-spread, eyes wide. His entire body was coiled, completely tense, as he made constant adjustments of balance to stay afloat. He was half-terrified, half-exhilarated. At times his alligator-ridged tail dipped into the water, acting as a rudder to stabilize his ride.

He had no idea where anybody was. He had no idea if there'd been a fatality, if maybe someone--or many someones--had drowned around him, or been struck and killed by falling rocks or the like. All he could do was cling--cling for dear life, and hope he could ride out this storm... and survive.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Opal Three-Seven-Six - Jun 15 2019

BLACK OPAL
oh father tell me do we get what we deserve

Slime clouded around him like a protective, gooey blanket. It softened blows from rocks and small, broken trees somewhat, but did very little when the currents raked across sharp stones on the bottom. Dizzy and aching, Opal felt like he was going to puke. C'mon! His mind hissed. Swim! You shit-head! Swim!

Suddenly, the Opal felt the rough bark of a large tree hit his belly. Instinctively, he clung to it, flattening himself against its surface as it tumbled. Through the silt and froth, he saw a path, and felt the pull of the water. There! That way is forward! He knew what he had to do. The Opal push himself off the trunk narrowly avoiding injury as it collided with another, and streamed forward. Swishing his fins, he rode the currents downstream-- twisting, snaking, and swerving as he dodged hazards. Everything threatened to knock him off balance. Yet, he endured. It was an uncanny show of agility in the very element the Black Opal was born to master, to bad the overseers won't, well.. see it. Although, he didn't know how long he could last. I need to find shelter!

Then, as if his prayers had been answered, the Opal spotted a group of large boulders clinging to canyon's side. Without a beat to waste, he flung himself towards it, the current pouring him into the eddy. The Black Opal spread his fins and dug his black claws into the bed, halting himself. Relief washed over him like the calm water.

Thank the stones... He breathed.

Carefully, the Opal rose to the surface for a breath of air-- the flood water had been no good. He appeared to be under some under hang, shaded reprieve from the chaos outside. The Opal sighed and floated to the boulders, clasping on for a much needed rest, and to wait out the flood. Closing his bilateral eyes, while watching with the eyestalk, he allowed to be soothed by the water as it lapped against his skin.

It accrued him that this was first time he actually swam. It felt so natural, just like breathing and he longed to do it again. Not to bad for a beginner, although he wondered why the overseers would throw him in Hydra. Anger fumed inside his chest. He pinned the fins flat against his neck. All his life, he had been deprived of this simple pleasure. Why, and for what? To see if the salamander would fry? This seemed like the kind of torture Vargas would dream up.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Reseda - Jun 16 2019

Reseda continued trudging on, the boulder behind her keeping the water at bay, but she was thoroughly drenched by now. She frowned at the feeling, hating the water on her skin. How could creatures live in this?

She was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn't notice the dragon above her until a snapping sound caught her attention. The rock was already falling towards her and she hurridly tried to cast a spell forward, but there was a sudden burn at her neck. "What the fuck?" She stopped moving and clawed at the thick golden band around her that...was it...suppressing her magic?!

It was too late to act. The rock slammed into her and crushed her to the ground. She groaned and clawed at it, trying to get it off her, but it was really, really heavy. Thankfully, the rock she had been using to keep the water at bay hadn't been moved and she wasn't getting swept away. But now she was stuck under a fucking rock.

She snarled angrily. She'd get them back for this. She'd kill them. Even if it wasn't in here, if they all lived to the end, she'd tear them apart, limb from limb until they screamed and begged for her to kill them.

The thought gave her great pleasure, but it didn't solve the rock issue.

It took her a while of struggling and writhing, but she finally managed to get herself unstuck from underneath. She had fallen behind now, way farther then she wanted to be. She could feel blood tricking down her side and one of her legs felt numb. When she put her weight on it, it crumpled beneath her. Her lip curled. This was just great.

RE: [Quest] The Trials - Part III - Reseda - Jun 16 2019

There wasn't anything Reseda could do about the broken leg right now. Perhaps if she had time, she'd push the bones together with magic and make herself a brace for it to heal, but right now, with the water threatening to sweep her away any second, she couldn't do much. She let healing magic through through her body, closing most of the smaller wounds the boulder had inflicted, stopping the trickle of blood coming from her shoulder. The fewer weaknesses, the better.

The others were ahead now - that accursed dragon and the fox. There was a shift behind her and she looked back. The boulder was starting to move. Without her magic holding it in place, it began to shift. Reseda wasn't going to stick around, then, to let it crush her. Without hesitating, she plunged into the flood, using her good limbs to keep her head above the water.