TheWendil

Grimoiric Heart

I’ll be posting this weekend.

Grimoiric Heart

I'm working under the assumption that the new Pageless either hasn't appeared yet, or that it isn't currently visible from where Olivia and Wilhelmina are standing.

@Ponn

It's in the middle of the construction site clearing, a few yards away from the civilians and their dome.

Tower of Fable

No matter how much Riku called, there would be no answer to meet her. Despite the group’s close proximity and Runa’s careful instructions, it was as if everyone disappeared and walked into their own little dark corner. The result left only the princess and the Shogun. Hideya’s stare did not break even and she lashed out with a flick of her hand faster than Riku could process, smacking away the pathetic strike meant to harm her. Further disappointment colored her gaze.

“Do not dare to speak out against me,” the woman hissed, tone remaining low but sharp. “On your own? Your own person? You nearly got your friend killed because of a foolish decision. What were you thinking, trusting a demon? Did I teach you nothing child.” Hideya took a step closer, uncaring for the impossible angles of which she walked in the caverns. Her visage was very real, as real enough as far as the princess was concerned. “You do not belong here. All your silly tirade has done is further cause me stress and endanger the people around you. Come home, now.”

Further away, but in all actuality just a few feet from Riku, was Thomas experiencing his own surreal visions. The man who stared him down said nothing, nothing of his questions and nothing of his surprise. The only sentiment given was his own stare, one that furrowed into a glare as violent irises reflected back at Thomas like a questioning mirror. They glinted in their hue before the man shook his head with heavy exasperation. Something negative was mumbled under his breath, uttered just enough for Thomas to pick up some wording. Then the man turned away to leave the boy once more as if abandoning the child yet again in his life.

The others of the group held forth their own realities conjured by the Abyssal environment around them. In one moment, Akiko was with the group and in the next she too was gone; or rather, everyone around her disappeared. The once powerful monolith that was Castle was nowhere to be found no matter how hard the christened Jester called out. Nor were there knights to find her in the mish of light and shadow, her hand empty of any Serei cards. Her own appearance changed as well, reduced to a simple school uniform that marked her attendance at Miso City High. There was little more than the girl who had nothing before entering the Tower, the sun shining bright above as if the journey had only been a pipe dream.

But it was no dream, a fact only the most selfish of the bunch could understand very easily. The voice in Kanbaru’s ear made an audible sneer to match her own disdain. “Those are some big compliments for someone who ditched you. You always defend people like that, or just the ones who give you a good fuck?” Touka’s voice jeered. Words were put into physical shape with the former Magical Girl now standing in front of the hunter. She crossed her arms and gave Kanbaru a shark-toothed grin.

“Honestly, if you really thought she was a good friend, maybe you’d have stuck around when the magic left. You ditched Ami so it’s only natural seaweed head here ditched you too. And what’s with the get up? The stupid hat? Still wanting the glory days? We all moved on and grew up, but clearly you never-” The false Touka’s eyes widened and a wet gurgle bubbled from her lips. In moments the protrusions that embedded themselves into her torso revved with vigor anew and the buzzsaw whirled harshly before swiping upwards. Shock and hatred towards the whale were Touka’s last sentiments as her bisected body fell apart into a shadowy mess.

No sooner was the specter vanquished did Kanbaru feel a cold but tender hand cup her cheek. The JSTR loomed above like a silent angel, its smile as radiant as the light filtering through the cavern’s cracks. Driplets of “blood” painted its saw but this didn’t deter the virus from patting and caressing Kanbaru’s cheek like a good girl. She didn’t need friends anymore, or anyone for that matter, not when they lovingly had each other. Everyone else was only a happy distraction.

---

Grimoiric Heart

While it was true the Pageless behaved sporadically, almost more feral than usual, this did not dissuade the Magical Girls. If anything, their revamped threat pushed the girls to strike back twice as hard, the area rife with magic in the air so much that it sparked and felt dense. This sensation was normal for those denizens of the light but for someone like Nessie it pressed down on her chest and squeezed her body in different invisible directions. Forces of darkness and light clashed with the darkness fading away into nothingness, leaving the pressure of the Magical Girls around Nessie to nearly swallow her whole.

There was only one inkling of relief that would fester in Nessie’s chest and it got stronger in certain directions Stripes directed her.
The tiger-like Magical Girl would feel it too, as would everyone in the area. With the Pageless being slain one by one, the new Grimoire’s presence beat brighter like a pulsing heart. Despite their best efforts and instinctual hunger, the Pageless attacking the humans were destroyed one by one. By now the civilians simply walked in place and in circles, left in their deluded magical stupor as the darkness faded. The first objective of protecting the people was complete; all that remained was finding the Grimoire and hunting the last straggling Pageless.

But for every light, there was to be a shadow cast. No matter how powerful it was, the darkness these rays left behind always deepened in response. As the Grimoire pulsed harder, calling out to Nessie, goading her to find its birth place among the construction site’s rubble, the Pageless in turn grew restless. They screeched and snarled, clawed and hissed. Their bodies festered into one another, twisting and contorting and melding with the steel structures of the construction site around them until at long last they formed into a single Pageless, one whose visage was a mockery of their environment.

The new Pageless clamored somewhere high at the construction site’s peak. It swung loosely like a rusty bar before plopping itself suddenly in the middle of the clearing. Sand and dirt were swept into the wind and sent everywhere as the loomingly tall Pageless gave a mechanical whir. The humans may no longer be its target, but the area was still far from safe for the civilians. Spinning its massive wheel and gears, the Pageless crawled with reckless abandon in a single direction.

Somewhere at the base of the steel towers, in the direction Captain Goodhope’s legions followed, was the Grimoire. The Pageless smashed anything that got in its path, be it Magical Girl or more lingering construction work. The closer it got, the brighter the Grimoire beamed. It was the brightest of course for Nessie, all but screaming at the ginger lass to abandon all caution and pursue it at any cost.

---

Grimoiric Heart

You’re one of the cool kids now.

Grimoiric Heart

I'll be posting tomorrow, if not sooner.

Grimoiric Heart

I'll make a post in the coming week, if @KoL doesn't get to it first.

Grimoiric Heart

@The World

Ironically, the first CS is much simpler as KoL said and I'm fine with you using that one. It'll be interesting to see her how weapon fixation plays out in Britain of all places. Put her in the Character Tab.

Grimoiric Heart

@Izurich

My general ruling is people should wait 2-3 posts before posting again. Granted I don’t know what you actually did since it was redacted but @Lonewolf685 is right in that everyone who’s been accepted that has an established background has posted already and I know @Sonnambula is posting today. I don’t see a need to delete your post. That said if it seems like rushing, better to ask around first.

Grimoiric Heart

@Majoras End

To be honest, it's someone else we're waiting on. I suppose we can look at your CS and go from there but after you, we'll be closing entry for now. As for your question, folktales would be Fables.