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Entry tags:
【fallen stars vs TREE】
Punch A Tree Log
A Twisted Rumor
It's the day after the Fallen Star Meeting regarding the recent rumor. As morning brightens the city's night, stories are making their way from the bottom level to the top.
"The cherry blossom tree isn't going to hurt us, is it? It looks so scary."
For those who have learned the truth about rumors, this may especially distressing to hear. There's no time to wait: If anything is going to be done to save the tree's spirit, it must be done now.
The current plan is to address the tree spirit's wish to be remembered and acknowledged by holding a picnic by the lonely cherry blossom tree. Fallen Stars hope to reenact the lively Reblooming parties that had been happening on the upper levels all month. This tree, though the origin of that tradition, exists at the bottom level of Starsand City: Where spirits and kami are still feared. The hope is that this party will soothe the raging spirit and bring it peace... and, ideally, bring back all of the people who have recently gone missing.
But the meeting also ended on a note of caution. If the spirit will not peacefully give up the missing people, then more drastic measures may need to be taken. And... Spoiler alert, but this log is titled tree FIGHT.
Timeline of Events
This log will operate a bit different from normal! It's also an experiment, so if it doesn't work then apologies in advanced! In order to maintain an easy-to-follow timeline of events, there will be a top-level for each stage of the encounter. As the encounter progresses, new top-levels will be added to reflect each stage of the Rumor.
Character top-levels are still welcome, but please try to use the top-levels for time sensitive threads. Threadjacking is welcomed & encouraged, though please be respectful of one another. And of course, make use of the feedback section!
Backtagging is also still welcome. Event stages will be staggered over the course of the next week & past threads still have time to make an impact. Please don't feel rushed!
Character top-levels are still welcome, but please try to use the top-levels for time sensitive threads. Threadjacking is welcomed & encouraged, though please be respectful of one another. And of course, make use of the feedback section!
Backtagging is also still welcome. Event stages will be staggered over the course of the next week & past threads still have time to make an impact. Please don't feel rushed!
! Timeline of Toplevels
- Battle A - VS Tree Spirit
- Battle B - VS Bread
- Battle C - VS ???
- Battles D - VS Lost Spirits
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Thank you.
[It seems like it turned out okay after all, because while she was still tired, her illusion was getting easier to maintain.]
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It's one that she should know, but Hanyuu's mind, after being in this form, after using her claws for so long...
She can't immediately place it.
It isn't as if she's lost the memories. Rather, it's like the memories themselves end up proverbially slip through her fingers like sand. They're there, but she can't reach them. That's what it feels like.
Thankfully, it's not like anyone can peek into her mind or physically tell that it's crumbling, falling apart at the seams. ]
Sometimes, you have to! If you don't take a leap of faith, if you don't take risks -- how can you possibly reach that happy ending!?
Everyone--
Everyone has had selfish wishes at times! You're not alone! Humans have them. Kami have them. And even if the whole world decides to hate you... I, alone, will not! You can trust that, on my word as Oyashiro-sama!! If not wanting to be alone is a sin, then I will carry that sin with you! If your wish is a sin, then I will take the burden of those sins within me! For that is my role!
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Just hold on for a little longer, alright? We're almost at a breakthrough.
[Then he hears out Hanyuu's speech again and a rather complex smile forms on his face. Her words came from a good place, but he could also see the hypocrisy within them. If you carry everyone's sins, then you become a sinner yourself. If you fight monsters, then you eventually become one. Kevin had also thought in a similar fashion that if he continued taking on sins to punish himself, then he could make up for his past failures. And if he wasn't saved by his friends, then who knows where he could've ended up...
As the man who carried the weight of a Stigma and the power of a demon within him... He knew the sins of loneliness and power. That's why he decides to say his next piece with less bravado than he usually projects, but his tone was sincere.]
And if she can't shoulder those sins alone, then we'll share the burden with her. After all, there's three of us here which means that we can split it all even. Sounds like a fair deal, yeah?
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[Hanyuu and Kevin's words resonate with Soma in some pretty interesting ways. Selfish wishes and sins? Yeah... he knew all about those, even if it was secondhand knowledge and experience.]
I once knew a man who lost himself in his rage and sorrow, long ago. The things he loved most dearly were cruelly ripped away from him, at a time when he wasn't there to stop it. That man cursed God and human alike, and plunged himself into a war that lasted for centuries... but in the end, he was reborn and redeemed. If there is hope for one so steeped in darkness as he was, then the Wheel of Samsara can surely turn for one such as you, whose only sin is the desire to love and be loved.
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[The spirit gasps. Holding onto Hanyuu like a lifeline and hearing so many people willing to forgive her-- The dark petals that fall from her eyes become pinkish blossoms and her eyes lose their dark hue. Between the four fighters, a wind begins to stir. It pulls the remaining blossoms, pure pink and gooey black alike, into a whirlwind. And with a flash of light, the kami of Love finally makes her appearance. Her red eyes briefly flash with anger, before the emotion cools into a calmer smile.]
Sorry for making you wait. Soma-san. Tau. Fancy Man-san [sry kevin. she isn't psychic.]... Hanyuu-san. It's alright now.
[She calmly scans the battle. Though she cannot tell that Hanyuu's memories are in turmoil, Satou can see that a foreign kami has taken up her role. And for that, she is very sorry. Closing her eyes, the kami steels herself against her guilt... then clasps her hands together in prayer. Magic fills the barrier that surrounds the tree, so thick that its floral scent permeates the air.
With her blessing transferred, Satou's eyes snap open and flash an emotional red glow]
If you've chosen Love as your kami, so be it!
Sorry, but I need your help! Hanyuu-san, please! Borrow my power and hold her spirit in place! Don't let her go!
You three-- Destroy her body and free her from this Rumor!
Don't be scared! Love and faith can do anything here... Even defy logic, even rewrite the laws-- Even bring about miracles!
[As soon as they seem to agree, Satou will take off across the field.]
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Understood.
[Tau dropped her illusion and dreamed up some fireballs to shoot at the lower half of the tree.]
sanity roll: 7
Her grip around the spirit tightens, her sharp claws that have extended out digging into their body. There's an inhuman snarl that comes from her lips as she nods before closing her eyes to extend her power.
She needs this power.
She desperately needs it, because as she is, she's weak.
She's just a small-time kami from a small village. Insignificant, small, and weak. The static permeates her brain.
She's here for their sake, and that alone. That's the only coherent thought that she has left, that continues to ground her. ]
I won't let go. No matter what... if this means I can save you, then—!
[ Don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go-- ]
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[Look, he has to get one tsukkomi comeback in here! But it looks like they were given the green by the other kami in question. Tau was blasting away at the lower half of the tree, so he'd handle the upper half. And right now, Kevin felt like he could do anything... What better time than to use that. He never thought that he'd have to activate it in this place, but just as Hanyuu was tapping into great power. Kevin would also have to unveil his power. He turns to Soma for a moment with a determined expression.]
Soma, yeah? I'm gonna put this blade to good use! You couldn't had given me a better weapon!
[Lifting the sword into the air with both of his hands, Kevin takes a breath as he closes his eyes and an aura forms around his body. And a large blue seal blossoms out from his back like a pair of wings. The light radiating from it was very warm and protecting. This was the power of his Stigma... There were two sides to this power. One held despair and the other held hope. Both sides of his Stigma worked in an equilibrium for the perfect balance. Kevin, too, was afraid of this power. He was afraid of losing himself to the Stigma and creating another "sin" because of it.
But he couldn't forget the bonds that he's formed to walk onto the path of light. They were all here to save this kami from her suffering and loneliness. Resonating with the Stigma... Soma's blade will shine with a bright holy light. Then the knight opens his eyes with a chant as he dashes forward like a rocket.]
O blue seal carved within my soul's abyss, become a pillar of light upon this purgatory! Strike, sword of light...!
[Within his soul, he heard the name of the blade... Leaping into the air, Kevin cuts through the trunk with a flash of radiant cold steel.]
CLAIMH SOLAIS!!!
Warning: description of killing blow
[And Hanyuu... Hanyuu doesn't seem to be doing too well. There's a crazed edge to her that's giving Soma some 'oh no' vibes... but with Satou's arrival and the infusion of power, she does seem to be holding on, at least. Quite literally.]
[That just leaves... the spirit form Hanyuu is holding onto. With a sinking feeling, he realizes that Satou wasn't just talking about the tree. Quietly, he says to himself:] So... it falls to me to play the villain.
[It's with a heavy heart that he draws another blade from within his coat. This one is less flashy than Claimh, but no less storied - Kaladbolg. He raises the blade point up before himself and kisses the crossguard - a crusader's salute - and in a blur, rushes the spirit, impaling it through the chest from the side. The blade passes through the space that would contain both lungs and the heart, narrowly avoiding Hanyuu's arms.]
One life ends and another begins, kind spirit of the tree. Be reborn and know happiness and love unending. So long as we here gathered draw breath, you will neither be forgotten nor forsaken. Relinquish your pain and your sins unto us and tread the path of rebirth. In the name of life - in the name of love - be free of this curse.
[He quickly removes the blade from the spirit's side before it can begin to unravel, hot tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. The observant might notice they're tinged red.]
[Balanced on the flat of the blade is a seed, faintly glowing yellow. Soma takes hold of it gently, and holds it over his heart. Pricking his finger on its point, he utters an incantation under his breath, and between his fingers, the seed glows more brightly, turning a pure and vibrant red.]
[Kneeling, he uses his blade to dig a small hole, and deposits the seed inside before covering it. Finally, he infuses the soil with the power of Life... and those attuned to such things might notice that he, himself, is a little less alive afterwards. Might want to tone down that holy aura a bit, Kevin...]
cw: death
She cries out in surprise at first. Twitching in Hanyuu's arms, confused and scared-- Then, gasping lightly in surprise.]
"I'm... free..."
"That's right. You won't be burdened by this type of story any longer."
[Almost like an explosion, everything that the spirit had created bursts into cherry blossom petals. They hang in the air, which seems rose-tinted thanks to the kami's magic. The spirit's body dissolves much more slowly in Hanyuu's arms. Her body leans in, trying to return the embrace.]
"Thank... you..."
[When the body has vanished, a glowing light is left behind. It's absolutely tiny, easily missed among the cherry blossom petals, but it's free. The tree is gone, but the spirit remains.
The petals that had been held by the tree's branches begin to fall slowly to the ground. The barrier is dropped and they begin spreading through the city. Tiny petals, little pieces of the spirit's curse, distributed harmlessly and beautifully.]
... I'll be right back. [And Satou walks off towards Fight C.]
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What mattered more was that t̴̡̠͓͖̥̳̽́́̄͑͛h̸̰̹̜͕͕͆̾͋ě̷̖̲̲y̸̟̪̋ͅ were safe.
Yeah...
That's good.
But then -- there's a sound. As if something was attempting to hit glass. A crack. For those with good enough eyesight to see, they'll notice it.
Hanyuu's chipped horn, splitting even more.
That's when she lets out a primordial scream, her eyes flashing, her teeth bared sharp and the strong power coursing through her, but it only lasts a second, maybe two before it fades away.
Her form sheds into sparkling lights.
No longer does she look like the woman from years past.
She is back to how she usually is, the bright red color in her eyes turning back into its normal violet hues.
And she falls from the air. ]
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[The tree spirit was safe? It looks like it was a seed now and hopefully her family would come back. She was ready to go back to her room and nap for a week when she heard the scream.]
Ah? Ah. Wait. Uhm.
[She threw her arms out in front of her, and the first thing she thought of would appear under Hanyuu. Which since she was thinking of sleep a second ago is a cartoonishly big blue plush bed with frame that looked like wood carved to be clouds. If Hanyuu lands on it it'll be extra bouncy too.]
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But what he could sense from Hanyuu gave him a big chill. Something was coming and he was ready to brace himself for the worst. But he hears something snapping and narrows his eyes... Something broke and turned her back to the more petite form that he was used to. He had a small theory in his head, but he'd have to leave it aside for now.
With his Stigma disappearing and retracting back into the confines of his soul, Kevin couldn't help and run over to the newly created bed that Hanyuu had landed on. Right now, his comrades took precedence over the pain and fatigue that he was feeling right now.]
Hanny! Khhh... [Okay, note to self. Don't yell too much.] Uh, Tau... Thanks for the save there. Dunno if I could've pulled off a princess carry right now.
[He takes another breath as he looks over to Soma. He was also worried about him... Not only did his Grail Sphere affect him, but so did using the holy side of his Stigma.]
Guess I owe you a drink for all the crap that I put you through today. How you holdin' up, buddy?
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He was already making ready to catch Hanyuu when Tau intervened, and he deflates a bit, relieved that he won't need to rely on the chaos ring's power any further. At least... not yet. Turning to Kevin, he offers a pained smile.]
Nothing rest and medicine won't fix. I wasn't expecting holy magic - it's one of the few things that can really hurt me in a lasting way. The dangers of being a dhampir.
[He sighs, and looks down at Hanyuu.] I fear for her. She hasn't come through this unscathed - none of us have, but her perhaps most of all.
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And another relief is that she's still conscious.
...however, her form seems to be flickering in and out of existence, as if struggling to maintain her physicality.
Her eyes gaze up, as if searching for something. ]
It's over now, right...?
[ Her voice is much softer now, but there's a struggle to her words. ]
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Yeaaah... It's all over now. You gave everyone quite the scare there, but it's good to see that you're back to your old self.
[He still had lots of questions, but those weren't important right now. Each and every one of them had survived this battle. That's what was the most important thing.]
For "Kevin's Angels" first outing, I gotta say that we didn't do so badly. This would be the part where we do a victory jump in the air, but I think we're all too beat for that.
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I'm going to give you some power, to try and stabilize your form. This is probably going to feel a bit weird, but it should be painless.
[So saying, he focuses inward, delving into the well of power provided by the ring. It's flickering, maddening, intoxicating and mind-bending, but he steels himself against it and takes from that well what he needs - what Hanyuu needs. Within himself he transmutes that power, drawing off the corrupting forces and tucking them away - his own soul is already dark enough, a bit more isn't going to hurt him - before transferring the clean, pure magical energy into her.]
[He staggers a bit when he removes his hand, looking bone tired but satisfied. He's done what he can, for now - the rest is up to Hanyuu.]
We should get her someplace safe and soft. I think Tau is just about drained, and I know I am.
[Aaaand that's about as far as he gets before he collapses. Face first, right into the grass.]
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It's when he collapses, however, that Hanyuu's eyes shoot wide. ]
--sir!?
[ She should know his name, he introduced himself to her earlier, hadn't he? But it slips by her, right now as she makes little panicked 'auau' noises, unsure of what to do. ]
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[He was worried for Hanyuu in one moment and after watching Soma generating energy to keep her stable and within this world... He was suddenly worried about him! What's with this worrying cycle that he was going through?! He might've jokingly named the team after himself, but he wasn't expecting to become the Team Dad!
He just stands up gesturing wildly to Tau, then Soma, then Hanyuu and then holds his head in bafflement.]
Oh COME ON! Do I have to carry all of you home?!
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I...can still walk...But uhm...[She looks at Soma and Hanyuu, before looking up at Kevin.] Maybe...Do you think we should get help?
[Nope, sorry, you're team dad now.]
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D'n w'rry 'bout me. 'll be okay. Jst n'd r'st.
[And the arm falls again. At least he's breathing. And awake.]
[...Someone might want to make sure he gets that ring off sometime soon, though.]
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[ She's going to worry and fret regardless, because she knows the reason why he's like this is because of her. ]
I... I don't need to be picked up, I should be fine walking back after a little bit. Besides, I want to speak with the little one now that it's over... au.
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[He doesn't sound all that annoyed, though. In fact, he really missed this kind of team spirit. So he decides to focus on the first order of business involving Soma on the ground. Whenever he was healing Hanyuu, he couldn't help and notice an odd glint to that ring of his. Could that possibly have something to do with his sudden fatigue and his bony hand? That was definitely a red flag if he's ever seen one.
It wouldn't had been the first time that he's seen an artifact drain someone of their life force. Even if he wasn't in his own world, Kevin was still part of the Gralsritter and he couldn't let dangerous objects run wild. He's only going on mere speculation right now, but he walks over to Soma and bends down to take his hand with the ring on it. Delicately, he pulls the ring off and stores it into his pocket.]
---I'm gonna be confiscating this thing, my good man. At least until you really need it and you're back at one hundred percent. Hate to be hoardin' all of your stuff, but I can't be overlookin' a case like this, see?