They were hiding. 'Cowards,' its mind hissed as it whipped its head around, a flick of a tentacle dragging along its cheek. Oh, that was enough! Rearing back its head, it opened its maw once more, roaring into the dark. Accentuated with it was a crack, and a water-shaking boom, rattling the valkhound into action.

Snapping its wings out, it surged higher and higher, coalescing sparks flying over its body up to its head. Fluttering the water over its gills deeply, it charged up, and fired. Void-dark lightning shot out of its mouth in an arcing beam, aiming to travel over as many pustules as it could aim for.

BATTLE REPORT

100%

ATTEMPT: Attack a pustule with lightning
DEFENSE: Voltage set to max (~800 volts) so any touch will be Nasty
INJURIES: None yet

Illness began to writhe its way into Khavur's system. Hallucinations began to sprout; not the stuff of nightmares, but things that certainly didn't make sense. Khavur was having a hard time registering... anything. Tiny pieces of the world were beginning to break free and twist on their own, and Khavur felt like it was melting? All very distracting. And the Kraken was breaking up the fight by flinging its tentacles around--

So what could it do?

Something was coming for it -- a tentacle? No, a-- someone to help! What were they...?

Khavur blinked. It had to think. Maybe move out of the way? Maybe this person could help it -- maybe they had a pouch of -- oh! Wait!

A thought made it through the haze: "Anyone with pouches that- with negative effects, put them in the Kraken's sores and wounds." Enough pouches might stop the flailing and stun the Kraken for a long enough time to kill it. They could aim for another weak spot -- maybe the Kraken was leaving an opening in the midst of all its flailing.

Oh look a colorful orb in the corner of Khavur's eye-- NO!

It had to focus! It would try to make some more open wounds; perhaps its friend-- the person here could help.

Khavur is trying to keep opening wounds.

Khavur said via the Pattylink: "Anyone with pouches that- with negative effects, put them in the Kraken's sores and wounds."

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

gore

will be in this color.

THE BLACK CITY

BOSS ENCOUNTER: THE KRAKEN

[THE INFESTED, USURPER OF THRONES]

90 / 500 HP    18%

▼ DISEASED ▼ POISONED




The deep black water became a chaotic mess of hallucinations, churning tentacles, disease-infused ink. The thrashing of bodies as Gembound struggled to escape its rampaging path only added to the madness. Some avoided the strikes; others were knocked from the fight, rendered exhausted or too hurt to continue.

Yet in the midst of the monster's massive tantrum, damage was still inflicted: Telesto, rending claws into tentacled flesh in desperation; the violent forking of chaotic lightning from Deep Dark, rending rippling streaks that split the Kraken's flesh in vibrant violet display; and then the strange crackling boom that sent the water rippling, a vacuum snapped open and crashing shut into it. Madhukar's magic joined the Void Lightning in spasming through the Kraken's body, the sudden pressure of it popping a number of its sickly eyeballs one after another in rapid bursts, leaving only pus and blood leaking forth.

The Kraken spun wildly, gone from hunter to hunted, from territorial monstrosity to desperate prey.

And then, there came a... trembling.



The immense stone doors, hanging partway open, were suddenly levered by a massive, violently violet claw: a claw that seized one, braced against the other, and snapped it wholly free. There was a crash as the door fell away, and then the glowing nodes of toxic light and eyes that were Farina's hallmark erupted from the dark beyond. From behind the Gembound she forced her way into the gap, breaking both doors and leaving them to crash down into the depths.

"THE GATES OF THE CITY ARE OPENED," came her voice, burbling through the water and echoing through the Gembounds' minds. It screeched with triumph, and with hatred, and the immense master wasted no time making for the Kraken, claws raised and ready to sever it.

The Kraken at once turned its attention to this threat: Farina was far larger than any of the Gembounds, and had crossed the distance in horrible speed. It tangled with her: tentacles wrapped around legs, gripping fruitlessly at her shell, and she laughed, a horrid screeching sound. "YOU TRY TO USE MY OWN MAGIC AGAINST ME?!" she cried, and snapped down with both claws.

The water filled with blood.

HAVEN ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	KHAVUR ▼ DISEASED 4/20	KAIMANA ▼ DISEASED 11/20
MADHUKAR ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	ELECTRUM ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	ESTHER ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20
CERILAINE ▼ DISEASED 11/20	BEDLAM ▼ DISEASED 11/20	HUNTER ▼ DISEASED 11/20
HESTIA ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	GARNET-EPSILON ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	TERROR ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20
DRAGON 20/20	DEEP DARK 5/20	CARJA ▼ BLEEDING ▼ DISEASED 1/20
FAHL ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	ASCENT ▼ DISEASED 15/20	TELESTO ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20
ASTERI 4/20	ATTIKIAS ▼ DISEASED 13/20	WHALE ▼ CHRYSALIS 0/20
BRANDLE 20/20	V-LABRADORITE-ONE ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	BLIGHT ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20
THE ORARIAN ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20	BEAST ▼ DISEASED 11/20	FRIEND ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20

[ ACTION LOG ]

> THE KRAKEN is now focused on FARINA and is no longer attacking the GEMBOUNDS.

> KNOCKED OUT Gembounds are considered UNABLE TO FIGHT, and are no longer allowed to roll to aid others or attack. They may be posted observing, recovering, etc.
> ALL DISEASE, POISONS, AND BLEEDS will also inflict ONE DAMAGE per round.
> All DISEASED Gembounds will feel ILL and experience HALLUCINATIONS.


> BEDLAM successfully DODGES THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> CARJA is struck by THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and takes 11 DAMAGE (reduced by armor).
> CERILAINE successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> WHALE is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING. Immense damage caused by putting herself in harm's way to also protect KHAVUR forces WHALE into her CHRYSALIS.
> HESTIA is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> HUNTER successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> THE ORARIAN IS STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and takes 11 DAMAGE (reduced by distance), and is KNOCKED OUT.
> ASCENT successfully AVOIDS the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING with GLACIATE.
> FRIEND IS STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and FESTERING MIASMA upon entering the room, and is KNOCKED OUT.
> BRANDLE successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> TELESTO IS STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and is KNOCKED OUT.
> V-LABRADORITE-ONE is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> ATTIKIAS successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> FAHL is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> GARNET-EPSILON is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> ELECTRUM is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> BLIGHT is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> DRAGON successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> BEAST successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING, but is struck by FESTERING MIASMA upon entering the room, taking 9 DAMAGE, and is now DISEASED.
> MADHUKAR IS STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and FESTERING MIASMA upon entering the room, and is KNOCKED OUT.
> KAIMANA successfully DODGES the KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> DEEP DARK is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.
> KHAVUR is successfully PROTECTED by WHALE.
> ESTHER is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> TERROR is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING and KNOCKED OUT.
> ASTERI is STRUCK BY THE KRAKEN'S BLIND LASHING.

> TELESTO inflicts 8 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with PHYSICAL COMBAT.
> MADHUKAR inflicts 20 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with SONIC BOOM.
> DEEP DARK inflicts 23 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN with VOID CONDUIT on a WEAK POINT.

> FARINA inflicts 70 DAMAGE to THE KRAKEN.

> THE KRAKEN has now turned its attention on FARINA, and Gembounds who are not KNOCKED OUT may attack it freely.

This quest is closed to new entrants. As a reminder, characters will need a minimum of three posts in this thread to claim rewards.

BEDLAM enters their chrysalis and gains the chrysalis consequence:
Oculi. They will emerge from their chrysalis with one additional, functional eye somewhere on their neck. Edited in after Bedlam's post.

Code:

<SPAN STYLE="text-shadow: 0px 0px 8px #ef78ff;color:#deb8ff;"><b>accidental thoughts font code</b></SPAN>

@Forgraves @Electrum (Garnet-Episilon) @Attikias (Cerilaine, Deep Dark) @Hunter (The Orarian) @Khavur (Madhukar, Kaimana) @Bedlam (Ascent, Pelt) @Haven (Carja) @Indigo @Hestia @Fahl @Whale @Galleon (Skein) @Beast (Friend) @Telesto (Brandle, V-Labradorite-One) @Esther @Dragon (Blight) @Terror (Astéri)

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

body horror due to warping will be italicized

The staggering hits inflicted on the other Gembound were mostly treated with disinterest, other than noting the massive damage and that it would be wise to keep avoiding those attacks. Blight received a little more empathy, and the catwhale winced when he was hit.

Needle-sharp teeth were bared in a determined grimace as a giant crab came charging in. The quarrels that had led to the fight in the first place were of little importance to it. It was not one to study history from millennia ago; it found even the idea boring enough to put it to sleep. But this was an opportunity! It had an opening to use its magic now, in order to vitiate the kraken in the most reality-bending way. It would have its revenge. It would warp away the kraken's reality, as the kraken had poisoned away its.

Durian, durian, durian. The scent of the custardy blue fruit was pervasive. It infiltrated every crack of the underwater cavern, taking the catwhale away with it. All of a sudden, the pressure didn't seem so bad anymore. The weight of the water all around it suddenly lifted, and it felt itself beginning to stretch.

And stretch.

And stretch.

Its flesh began to ripple, bubbles rising up as if it were a lump of soft pizza dough. Durian pizza? Sounds… interesting. Bones softened into savory-sweet delicacies. Its laugh sounded as if from far away, sending bubbles streaming from its mouth. Oddly, its tongue tasted of tomato sauce.

Inside? Outside? How about casting aside those silly boundaries? It simply was. Flat? Maybe. Getting flatter. Uhh-- what were those green crystals growing on its hide? No, NO, THEY WERE TRAPPING IT JUST WHEN IT WAS FINALLY ABOUT TO BE FREE!

It was no longer durian. It was a catwhale-shaped lump of bayldonite, sinking to the bottom.

exit to chrysalis

(cw: eye trauma)

Attikias cowered in place, one arm folding up to cover his head in protection. Destruction swathed over them, and he could feel his head swimming.

Was that voice-- the pressure of water changing over him, the swoosh of the current- was that real? Blearily, Attikias peeled himself from his hiding place as Farina collided. Chaos increased, and he couldn't see, and he blinked hard. No- they had to finish this fight! Rearing back, Attikias perched on the ice as attacks swirled around him, surging forward for an eye of the kraken.

His knife was out, and all at once, he connected. Yes! Using his other hand, he struggled to dig into anything and hold on, keeping his knife in its eye and digging it in.

He would carve this thing, and, for once, he would prefer for it to be in wooden agony for this.

BATTLE REPORT

65%

ATTEMPT: Attack an eye with his enchanted knife
DEFENSE: Titanium-dyed armor
INJURIES: Diseased, hallucinating, a bit banged up

Cerilaine curled up under her shield, hearing the bangs- hearing growls, roars, danger, and she covered her ears with her paws.

As if that would help.

If it weren't for her water breathing, she may have hyperventilated then and there, but she had-- she had a duty. Reaching up, she smashed her paw through the surface of her protective shield, crawling out and focusing on driving more ice into the beast.

But-- nothing, really? Grumbling mentally, She drew back slightly, trying to avoid the physicality of the battle.

BATTLE REPORT

55%

ATTEMPT: Stab it in some pustules (and try to avoid Farina)
DEFENSE: Attacking from the spikes
INJURIES: Diseased, hallucinating

A sick gurgling noise left Haven's mouth as tentacles slammed into her repeatedly, leaving her slowly sinking down towards the ocean floor. Many things were definitely broken, her flesh torn up by the Kraken's spikes and her body bruised on top of it all.

Hope was dwindling and the screaming thoughts in her head as well as the screams of Farina were overwhelming, causing her to start shivering and her ears ringing. It was horrible. At this point she almost wanted to die.

’The last time I gave up was the most humiliating moment of my life,’ she thought suddenly, ’When that stupid, fat dragon came tearing through like he owned the place.’

The burns upon her face had flared up due to the overall stress of the fight, as well as a cut across them. A reminder.

Rage welled up and she hissed, her tail thrashing about despite the agony it caused all along her broken self. She panted and hissed, turning her pain to anger, and then turning that anger upon the Kraken. No... NO! She wouldn't give up, not now, not ever!

A terrible, shrieking roar left her mouth, like a thousand screams overlapped atop each other, her jaws jutting forward out of her mouth to bare rows of terrible, sharp teeth. Even if she could not attack anymore, she wouldn't let this beast cow her. At the very least, she would watch it die.

BATTLE REPORT

0%

ATTEMPT: Recover
DEFENSE: N/A
INJURIES: Knocked out

gore

Despite being smacked around by a Kraken multiple times and suffering from her own spell gone awry, Carja was alive. It was a miracle, honestly.

Carja cracked open her eyes and realized she wasn't dead after a moment of floating, dazed and suffering a terrible case of whiplash. She'd be surprised if she didn't have a concussion on top of all the other slashes and bruised she'd suffered that she really didn't want to look at lest she lose her current state of fearlessness.

So she slammed her tail down and swam forward, teeth bared as she raised her claws. One last attack, one last try! She had to try!

And try she might, only to fail horribly.

Her screams filled the water as she writhed in agony, pawing at both of her hands with her hind feet, instinctively trying to get whatever was burning her off. It was rising up her legs, her scales warping and rising as her flesh burned from within. It was pure agony as her claws pulled off her own scales in an attempt to stop it.

”H-HELP ME!!”, she screamed, sobbing violently as she thrashed, blood filling the water.

BATTLE REPORT

5%

ATTEMPT: Use cauterize to enhance claw attack, attacking the other eye.
DEFENSE: Ice armor
INJURIES: Slashes, bruises, fractured bones, whiplash, concussion, burned hands and wrists, puncture wounds, diseased and bleeding.

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

gore

She was struck, too far to attack- to new to water magic to call upon it again; there was no escape for her. She did what she thought was best- she was a living boat in that current moment after all. Though she could only watch as the gembound that had once been safe upon her shell fled- and luckily to safety. She could only smile even as the tentacles struck her, tearing through her thick hide. Blood darkening the water as it crept through like twisted ink; spewing in a myriad of watercolor forms. Her stomach and head swirled from the sickness that still clung to her and she swore she could hear her mothers- one who had been long gone- but fond memories of childhood rattled around her skull.

Almost soothing in a way- in that voice that was all her's but- echoing in a soft murmur of melancholy as she tried to blink away the-tears? Was she crying? The voice of a mother long gone said they would meet again- yes she...Hestia was crying; she didn't want to die- didn't want to leave her mother- Nemesis. She blinked through them- almost comical as she was already deep underwater. Inhaling sharply she hummed- almost a whimper that rattled in her chest with each breath.

She was tired- exhausted and experiencing something that...danced to her like death- but no this was halucinations...it had to be- she couldn't die here! She couldn't leave her mother all alone!-Not after everything!. The sudden trembling helped snap her from current thoughts- the doors were snapped- something- someone enormous was coming through. Was this, Lord Farina!?

A voice booming and echoing through water and minds screeched-commanding attention- respect; she sounded triumphant and ready to fight- and that she did. Hestia could only attempt to swim a bit aways towards others who were unable to fight or take part in the final rounds. Hestia watched- eyes flickering through the water still blooming with blood from the Kraken- the tides evidently turning once more.

	HESTIA ▼ KNOCKED OUT 0/20

Battle Report
Attempt: N/A
Defense: N/A
Injuries: Slightly battered, diseased, knocked out

Blight felt himself falling, fading--his consciousness swimming in and out of the darkness. Distantly, he heard someone call for help--horrible, a scream, is that Carja-? but he could not tell, for sure. Monstrous forms were flashing before his eyes, a curl and coil of sinister nightmare taking form. His hearing filled with throbbing, thrumming sounds, drowning out reality.

What was real?

What was not?

For the first time, Blight was confronted with a prokaryotic power far greater than his own. He'd never experienced this before. He'd never met anyone with his form of magic, not that he could remember; and now this horrific disease curling through him was showing him true power.

He writhed weakly, and felt himself settle at the bottom of the 'sea': on the smooth, black rock that covered this area. Fever heat welled up in each muscle, a misery swarming through his skull, and he willed his own magic to rise, and purge it.

It took hold--by an immense force of effort, of pure will, it shaped and took hold. He felt the foreign illness slowly clearing, felt the hallucinations recede. Monstrous forms dissolved into Gembound fighting--dying?--and screams resolved into clarity. That--was unpleasant, ringing in his mind, a horror he would never forget; and his eyes tried (and failed) to seek Carja in the dark.

His body was weakened beyond all hope; he would be of no use to anyone, now.

But that power-... If he could learn that power...

Ghostlight eyes flicked to the most monstrous form of all--the one that had not faded, the one illuminated in its own toxic glow. Farina--the great crab--tearing into the Kraken that had her ensnared. Her shrill voice rang through his head again, echoing from side to side in his skull, and he winced at it--but he admired her, too.

So this was her magic..? Maybe he'd get a chance to ask her how to grow so strong, once all of this was over. If, that was, they won.

Blight is KO, and cleansing himself of disease as he watches the encounter.