[IC] Haunting Revolutions

[Skinner35]

"Look, I really do wish that this could've gone better. But this is the best that I can do." He then says under his breath, but the two of you still hear it. "We must stop the End of Times." Then the Carraige starts moving.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret shows her surprise. "What is he talking about?" she whispers.

[AwesomeZero5]

Book-worm replies back to Magaret. He's saying it is the end of the world. We assume the world is going to be forever plunged in some form of darkness. The dead will rise from their graves to kill the living. That kind of thing, a standard apocalypse by most standards. Unless of course you talk to some ancient elves in which case the end times are caused by this giant lizard monster and tons, and tons of floods. Although that's usually brought up by a deity of more.. divine nature or that's what texts tend to say.

Book-Worm leaned back a little. This one is too early for our tastes of course. Much to early, there should be at least three millennia to go.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret frowns. "Well it's a good thing we're getting started now. Especially since I don't plan on being around for that long," she grins slightly, joking to the best of her ability to ease the tension of their current situation.

[Skinner35]

As the Carriage moves, roughly two days pass without conflict. The days pass by in what feels like hours. Then, around Noon on the third day, in a large, expansive field, the Carriage stops. "Well. Here is where we will train for now. we're about two weeks away from where we're supposed to be, but I need to know that we're ready. Before I throw us in to, essentially, Hell." He says as he hops off the carriage, walks out about ten feet, then takes his heavy breastplate off. "Most of what we will fight won't have armor, I hope."

[Sharidi37495]

"I appreciate the sentiment," Margaret replies with dry humor, getting out of the carriage with ease despite her formal dress.

[AwesomeZero5]

Book-worm would spend most of those two days reading a book or three. It was something to occupy the time, mostly trying to study up on alchemy and alchemical processes.

Training against an unknown enemy of darkness. I guess that's fair, do you have any particular means of training you wish to try or are we simply to spar against one another?

Book-worm would slowly get out of the carriage.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret whips out needles hidden in her dress, and starts to play with them. "Sir Ariues, what do we do?"

[Skinner35]

"You two will fight me. Just so I can gauge your abilities." He says, unsheathing his sword, and brandishing his shield.

[Sharidi37495]

Nodding sharply, Margaret puts all of her normal needles in one hand, and draws a weaponized needle. She shifts into a shape of darkness, throwing a normal needle to test his reflects and response.

[AwesomeZero5]

Standard sparring it is. Book-worm stepped back with a rather obvious shiver at the thought. None the less their hands grabbed toward the concealed weapons under their cloak. They weren't particularly comfortable with this. The thought against going up against a paladin was, displeasing said the least.

Are there any particular rules to this engagement or is it simply a matter of seeing how far we can go?

They were less than comfortable to be making the first move. Relieved they weren't.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret crouches in the shadows. If I could use their skills to help me... She was never one for violence, but she'd fight if it was the only thing keeping her alive.

[Skinner35]

He easily blocks the needle. "Cmon. Try harder. They won't give us time to waste." He says as he moves his sword formation, creating a flaming cross in front of him. Then you hear him yell "HOLY FIRE."

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret smirks. She throws a regular needle below the cross, then silently dashes for his exposed back, and throws a weaponized needle.

[AwesomeZero5]

Bookworm just about panicked upon hearing that. In reaction they would not only try to increase the distance between themselves an Auries just as possible. They would leave a medium wave of suggestion toward Arieus mind. Seeing as they had been traveling together and likely been conversing during that time the mental influence should be somewhat fair.

The suggest was a simple one: Go after the attacker to train their defense.

They did regret the suggestion, but they were slightly panicked. It could not really be linked back to them in particular either way whether it too effect or if it failed.

Bookworm hardly realized they had used that very suggestion in panic. None the less they did start to prepare something else, as they increased the distant further. A buzzing noise could be heard.

[Skinner35]

The Paladin felt a movement to his side, and shifted to defend himself. The flaming cross then shot forth, towards @AwesomeZero5. He then charged toward @Sharidi37495. "Never underestimate your opponent, even if you think they have a weakness."

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret dodges his attack, to be knocked down by the Paladin's sword. A fresh cut bleeds from her cheek. Margaret kicks his leg, and whirls around behind him, holding another needle to his throat, and two more arms pinned down his arms. "I could tell you the same thing."

[AwesomeZero5]

Bookworm having tried to counter-attack to make up for his earlier panic gets hit by the flaming cross. They probably should have taken the time to try and shut off the telepathic connection. As the moment they were hit by the flaming cross they would wail, terribly in extreme pain. The bugs they were sending toward the paladin's way never full received their command and would likely be incinerated by the flaming cross itself.

The telepathic connection and actual sound escaping from Bookworm would be nothing sort of an ungodly and pained screech as their carapace and body burned with extreme intensity. They clung to their cloak just screaming in absolute dread agony which was split among their normal managed talk way. They were doing their very best to simply not drop to their knees at the moment. Bookworm struggled to stay standing and aiming to pat out the fires.

In a brief moment of psychic backlash the screaming, pain and horrible ungodly sounds of some unknown nature and creature would target right into the paladin's brain. It would feel like three sharp swords aiming to stab directly into his mind among the painful and agonizing wails and there was very little way to avoid all the psychic pain from it (unless the target was deaf). One could will themselves to resist, if they were focused enough but even then it was extremely likely that at least half of that sharp pain would flash into the mind. The very pain would aim to drive the paladin to move far away from Book-worm should they not be able to will through the portion of the pain that could be avoided.

[Skinner35]

As he was dropped to his knees, he could feel the weapons around him. "I'm surprised. But not in danger." He says as he rises, taking every needle into his body, and continues to stand up. Needles in him, and a smaller person hanging from him. "I'm a Paladin. Fight harder." He says as he simply pushes the small one off of him, the needles still in him. Just then, his mind is filled with searing pain. "I may have lost my eyes, but my hearing? NO." He shouts as he casts an odd spell. @AwesomeZero5 suddenly feels extreme hatred radiating from the Paladin, as his mental gaze pierces Book-worms mind. "My wrath upon you." Is all that Book-worm hears, repeated again and again.

[Sharidi37495]

Margaret ducks her head at the painful screeching. Twinges of guilt pull at her heartstrings, but her need to prove herself just a little longer is stronger. Sighing, looking away so she doesn't regret her decision, she lets go of the Paladin. She tears out the lining of her dress, and she wraps Book-worm in it, suffocating the flames. "Are you alright?"