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Post by King Atlas on Jan 12, 2016 2:07:55 GMT
Overkill? Well, maybe in the sheer rank of the spells he was using maybe, but not the quantity. It was just that way more were coming than he initially expected. Yeah, he'd pretty much set the hornet's nest on fire, now there were a lot of them. So much for accurate dossiers. It wasn't anything he could handle; a blast of magic here, a swing of his sword there, and a swing of the trident to top it off elsewhere. So far he'd yet to take any damage, but he'd been careful about setting up defenses for his blind spots. But he wasn't sure if they'd even do that much damage if they did strike him. His Endurance was pretty good. As he obliterated another group in front of him, he wondered how Saber was holding up. His Trident swung towards his back to catch the claws of a beast between its prongs. The water that came with the swing slammed into the beast and reduced it to nothing. The Trident was definitely overkill, most Servants could hardly survive a direct hit from it, much less rabble like this. The beasts came again, Atlas coated the trident in magic power and slammed the butt of the trident into the ground, releasing a magic schockwave, disintegrating those that opposed him. Still, if he knew there was talk of tea, he might have wanted to stay there. Tea was always somewhat nice to have. But he was currently away, so if tea was to be made, Saber and Master Natasha would just have to share it between themselves. Also hurrying up would be nice. Master Natasha provided an excellent source of mana but he was pretty sure she wasn't limitless, and draining her dry would be pretty bad. Really now that he thought about it, Natasha had a lot of manage. Truth is he really couldn't pick up on the "bottom" of her pool so to speak. Something to consider in the future. tags: Natasha , Mordred notes: THE WIND IS PUSHING MEEEEE
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Post by Mordred on Jan 13, 2016 23:45:47 GMT
As the clattering sounds of battle continued to rage, Mordred finds it increasingly difficult to remain still. Though the importance of a strong rear guard line was obvious to a warrior like her, she didn't like the idea of continuously waiting as someone else got to fight. It was boring, it was insulting, and she was not possessed of infinite patience. That patience was further tried as Natasha's jokes brings a grimace to her.
"Do not insult me. I am not mere service staff, to make you tea and bring you chairs. If you wished the services of a butler, perhaps you should have contracted with one."
Though that was perhaps overcompensating due to her prior embarrassment, the fact of the matter was that Mordred still had felt her pride pricked. If Natasha had a poor opinion because of it, she had not yet spent enough time around Heroic Spirits worthy of the term...at least, that's what she told herself. Her patience needed more work...it was far from the level that she knew she could, and would reach, far from the level of her father.
"Overkill simply means that the objective is being met without issue. The losers always appear weaker than they are." As another harsh explosion crashes through the forest. accompanied by the sound of surging water, she shrugs. "Though in this case, you are probably correct. Still, we should try and end our time here before the wind has a chance to turn against us."
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Post by Natasha on Jan 20, 2016 16:38:54 GMT
Another thunderous blast from Atlas’ trident, and another time Natasha was left holding her ears – while her poor hair was met with another wave of dust and dirt… well, at least she could perhaps put her luxurious choice in shampoo down as a ‘business expenditure’ this time. His mana drain wasn’t the most enjoyable sensation either… honestly, she probably couldn’t go on too much longer like this. It’d been a long time since she’d be really drained, so perhaps this was a testament to the Servant’s power; or maybe it was a testament to Natasha not keeping up her appetite. But, as it felt like it ought to be running out, the lady felt her second wind – a wave of mana rolling over her body, both inside and out… ah, the cloud of mana around her was contributing, it would seem. Atlas would perhaps not appreciate this revelation, though… that was not very clean mana to be working with, to say the least.
Mordred’s complaints were met with a bemused frown from the fellow blonde – well, he wasn’t wrong, but it was a bit blunt. ”Oh, if only, you know? A butler Servant… does such a thing exist? I’m curious…” remarked Natasha lazily, not seeming as interested as she was saying at all – no, for now she was just noticing that the knight wasn’t in a very good. Perhaps she ought to step back a bit before that oversized knife was sent whizzing about. At least the Servant’s words were fair… ”Saber, would you be so kind as to sweep the cliffside for any stragglers while I prepare the device for, err, you know… extraction! That’s the word.” suggested the lady cautiously, deciding it best to give the swordsman a job in a hurry.
But, that being said, Natasha would indeed hurry off to check the probe – she was getting a bit nervous in the face of all these grumpy Servants. And the shadow beasts, although they didn’t care for her by the looks of things… that was probably good, at least. Indeed, the device didn’t look like it’d need much longer to do… whatever it is it did. Hopefully Chaldea was appreciating this. They were probably on lunch break, admittedly. But maybe that was a victory in-of itself. ”Oh, just a minute or two until lunch break… until we’re finished, I mean.”
While Natasha’s orders to Saber were well-intentioned, the cliff’s edge was anything but prolific in the beasts – Atlas’s position in the forest was definitely the place to be for the beings; assumedly since he was a much clearer threat to the Shades’ mana pool. But, Mordred would not be entirely disappointed; as a welcoming party of ghouls had made their hazardous way up the steep cliff in an attempt to see what all the fuss was about. Definitely nothing special, especially given the unfortunate terrain, but at least something more notable than rock formations…
However, this was not the only new development for the group’s enemies – a number of Shades that had been blown back from Atlas’s strikes had now gone to find some form of refuge in the mana in which they often lurked – perhaps for some attempt at shelter, but most likely in an attempt to bolster themselves given their typically aggressive behaviour. While this wouldn’t be much of a threat given how puny the beasts generally were compared to the Servants; this did mean they were currently clustered around Natasha instead. Both side seemed woefully unaware of each other in the magical fumes, but it wasn’t exactly the most safe situation for a confrontation either…
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Post by King Atlas on Jan 25, 2016 4:39:14 GMT
He was finally nearing the bottom. His attacks weakened to keep from draining the rest. Instead of hordes, individuals fell one by one. A couple clawed at his armor but there was no real damage done. The Trident had been dismissed, despite its low cost, and now his sword was cutting them away individually. The mission was important, and he already felt bad for having drained so much from the girl. Things were nearing the bottom, he slowed as much consumption as possible. If worse came to worse, he could fall back on Gemma Crystallum to handle his upkeep. And then without warning, she was back up to full speed, and the new wave of mana flowed into him. And then it all began to really make sense. She was corrupted. Whatever had happened, Natasha had been corrupted into the same type of creature as these things. Channeling the mana through his body, he drew the curse from his veins like the venom from a bite, crystalizing it in the air in front of him. Black, this was definitely the same curse. Infusing it with some of his mana, he threw it out to blow away one last horde. With that out of the way... Χώρος And within a moment, he was back with Natasha and Saber, and more monsters. The cliff side was crawling with them, but not to the extent of the forest. Atlas looked around before holding his sword up. Ήλιος! And a bright light encompassed the immediate area as he unleashed bolts of fire amongst the hordes on the cliff. He was drawing purely from his own reserves now. He wouldn't take anything more from Natasha. Not after what he learned. When the light faded, the creatures were gone, and there was a brief moment of peace for everyone as Atlas dismissed his sword. And it was indeed brief, as the next thing Atlas did was definitely not peaceful. Pointing to Saber he marched towards them, fury blazing within. "You! What the fuck did you do?!" His hand shot out to grip the Saber's shoulder, his other pointing back at Natasha. "Why the fuck does she have the same signature as those things do?!"Because really, he gave Saber one job. tags: Natasha , Mordred notes: EEEEEEEVILLLLLLLL
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Post by Mordred on Feb 6, 2016 7:34:10 GMT
Despite the orders, it only took a quick scan to tell that there weren't going to be any more beasts to fight. Mordred grumbles under her teeth, only managing to avoid an outright growl. She had barely gotten to fight! Why was she even there? She had wanted to enjoy a battle or two, even if it had been from those weak phantasms...
Eventually Mordred just sighs. Disappointment was something a king had to deal with too, she supposed. While it rankled her that the amalgamation hogged the fight, it also meant that there mission was a success, by far the more important objective. As the Ascended Heroic Spirit returns, I give a wave. "Looks like we're ready to-" It was right then that Atlas went on a tirade, and Mordred wasn't quite so patient that she'd be able to not rise up to someone that was yelling at her.
"Me? I didn't get to -do- anything! You hogged all the fighting, and I had to wait here and twiddle my thumbs! If anything happened to Master, it was because of you!"
Her retort didn't have much of a basis to support it, but the facts were clear. Mordred didn't cause Natasha to blacken. So when Atlas brought up stuff about the signature, Mordred just told the truth. "The hell would I know? I just killed the few that you let past and waited! If you think it's such a big deal, Mr. Magic Man, why don't you do something about it?"
Still...it wasn't like she was willing to completely ignore a potential threat. Looking back at her Master, she hopes that Atlas does find and do something about...whatever it was he sensed. Mordred couldn't really detect a problem, but then she wasn't a magus. Maybe Atlas really was onto something and not talking out of his ass, though she wouldn't be easy to convince there.
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Post by Natasha on Feb 13, 2016 19:33:37 GMT
At first, the sudden return of Atlas took Natasha off-guard – his gruff attitude and furious remarks certainly didn’t help; but she was simply left confused when he turned his attitude to Mordred. Err, wasn’t this about her? She suddenly felt like a child being argued about by her parents… very small. But, that was a short-lived feeling; swiftly overwhelmed by something worming its way around her heart… ah, it did feel good, but she always felt rather angry, too. She had to protect herself, or something terrible would happen to what she held dear. Everything she held… yes, this was do or die, in its own way.
”Now, now; I hardly wish to see this mission end in a fight. We’re just about done, so please leave your issues until we are back in relative safety.” commanded Natasha gently; although her usual elegant demeanour seemed underpinned by an unsettling iciness. Waltzing up to the prepared device which now whirred in satisfaction, the lady formed a link with Chaldea’s communications with routine ease; overlooking the pair’s protests as per her own demands. ”Chaldea, the mission is complete – the sensor’s work is complete, and without a scratch courtesy of my professional help. Please complete the ray-shift promptly.”
While seeming simply by-the-book about things, the Russian lady would then turn back to her compatriots – it was awful to think she would be leaving this wondrous air behind, but it felt very dangerous to leave these two to their apparent new priority. ”Sir Saber, you did an exceptional job defending me; even if no threats became readily apparent – if you hadn’t been there, I could easily have been killed if anything had gone wrong. Deterrence theory, right? I am equally confused by Atlas’ issues here… perhaps you fought a touch too hard? Or this supposedly troublesome mana has caused some problems with your magic? Whatever the case, I would imagine it’d be best to report to Chaldea rather than myself.”
Yes, report to Chaldea… no doubt it would be a job dumped on some research lackey, never to be uncovered again. Safety… she got to keep all her sweets and wonderful things. The present she’d made for herself would be fine. A troublesome Servant, this one… ahahaha, perhaps she ought to be more clear about her warning, though? Raising the floral-styled Command Seal shown the back of her hand, Natasha smirk gently as she spoke - ”While I hate to be so blunt, Chaldea rules that the mission should come before any further studies – especially priority work like this. I imagine only a pathetic hero would honestly throw a lady in danger to humour some idea, right?”
For just that moment, Natasha imagined she looked like a decadent queen. For just that moment, those wicked yellow eyes made that come dream true.
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Post by King Atlas on Feb 13, 2016 20:33:08 GMT
Atlas immediately thought to respond "okay" to Saber's challenge. Really, "do something about it" was the dumbest provocation you could ever make in his opinion. All it took was someone with an actual pair of balls to just do exactly that, and very rarely did the person who made the dare really appreciate the thing that was done. Instead, his attention was torn away as Natasha clearly threatened him with those Command Spells. "Good thing the mission's complete then, isn't it?" She had just reported it. The mission was complete and thus no longer top priority. His next words were going to be that she'd need all of those command spells if she was going to command him to do anything.And then she opened her eyes. Ah. The curse was deeper than he thought. He wondered then, how much of this was the curse, rather than Natasha? Challenging her would do no good. All he could do was swallow whatever hostility he might have normally flared. The aspect of pride within him balked. He looked at Saber for a moment before holding up his hands and positioning them as if gripping a two handed sword. A silent instruction that blindness couldn't pick up on. "Get ready" it said. Turning back to the Master, he started to step towards her. "Natasha," He spoke softly. He'd been a father once, and with his daughters he had known how to use that soft, fatherly tone. Maybe he still had it. Maybe a thousand years away from family hadn't taken that away. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he didn't want her doing something he couldn't control in some way. This was a dangerous situation. Dealing with that curse was a dangerous situation. Physical contact wouldn't be enough to infect someone like him. "You're cursed. An exceptionally high level curse. It feels good, I know. That's how the most dangerous ones are. They're a parasitic relationship that disguises itself as symbiotic. It'll eat you alive from the inside, it already is." The curses made by an amateur only inflicted pain and misery, and the cursed one did everything they could to get rid of it. This was not the work of an amateur. He knew that from the brief contact he had with it. "It'd be better to die than let it destroy you from the inside out." To be honest, if she refused, absolutely refused, he might just kill her. It'd be a better fate, and he'd face whatever metaphorical firing squad Chaldea had planned with no regrets. But there was a simple truth; "At this stage, I can't remove it," He paused. "but there might be someone who can." If he'd been a bit earlier, it'd be a different story. He was an exceptional magus, that was true, but curses were not his specialty, and it'd grown far beyond his expertise to remove. But clearly Natasha wouldn't budge without some kind of carrot. That was the curse, it felt way too good. "If you want, I can give you something for it. Even sight." He couldn't make her eyes well. But it wouldn't be too much to fashion a pair of glasses for her to wear that'd work. The only issue was whether she'd feel like a dweeb for wearing them. "We're heroes, Natasha. Some of us try and live up to the title. So name your price and we'll be on our way. What will it take to let us help you?" tags: Natasha , Mordred notes: rip in peace everyone
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Post by Mordred on Feb 16, 2016 4:30:03 GMT
Mordred was brash. She tended to fight first and ask questions later, and it was a very odd sight to see her without her armor on, even when it didn't matter. However...the tense situation that had clearly developed between Casterlancersaber and Natasha was blatant enough that she wasn't about to say anything as she listened. While it'd have been easy to stand with Natasha and return home in peace to the one waiting for her, that wasn't how the Greatest Knight would have acted. So she took Atlas' silent message to heart, and prepared for the worst.
As the pieces began to get filled in, a pit forms in Mordred's gut. A life-threatening curse...this was bad. Her Master needed help, even if it was for herself. "Master, you might wanna listen to the guy. He probably knows what he's talking about...maybe." She doesn't mean to put the dig in there, but it just slipped out. Chiding herself to be more serious, she continues. "At the very least, get this checked out by someone who knows his stuff. The jester, maybe. I dunno. Someone."
Mordred couldn't help but be touched by the offer Atlas made. It was something genuine, something that cut through all the crap that he had said so far in the mission and she could all too easily respond with in kind. The kind of inspiring, heroic action that she saw in her father, the kind she wanted to emulate. It was enough that Mordred was willing to burn whatever stupid hatchet had been made in their time together, and believe that his tone was actually what it was.
Of course, if she found out he was lying about that, he'd be dead.
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Post by Natasha on Feb 19, 2016 19:15:10 GMT
Begging, pleading; and such laughable explanations. She’d heard it all before from the other magus about this and that – the evils of whatever they didn’t agree with, and the virtues of whatever they did. She was quick to tune out; although she jolted a bit upon being touched, regardless of how grandiose the Servant’s presence was. Curses, curses, curses; better to die yourself then… whatever it was this curse did? It really did sound like a sorry excuse to try and kill her or something if he hadn’t a single idea of the symptoms apart from ‘you’re probably evil!’. Did someone actually want her dead? Was the Association coming back to get her? Was she in more trouble? Ah, damn; now she really was stressing out a bit.
But then, Atlas made a particularly poor remark – “If you want, I can give you something for it. Even sight.” – Ah, that was how it was. And calling himself Mister Hero as well. Was there such a thing as a typical Servant? Because this was beginning to tick all the boxes, at least in her mind. ”How disgusting. I can understand that you Servants believe you are above everyone else, but I hope that very experience as a ‘hero’ might open your eyes a little to the feelings of us ‘puny mortals’.” snapped the blonde harshly; a leer growing across her glassy eyes. ”My ‘disability’, my ‘illness’, my ‘affliction’ is exactly what made me who I am today. Perhaps to you it my acceptance is merely some kind of guilt complex or something similarly self-loathing, but unlike you I cannot just ‘fix’ my state; nor do I wish to. I’m happy. I see a lot of things no one else does.”
”But, that doesn’t mean anything to you does it, Mister Hero? You want to feel good about yourself, to do ‘what’s right’. Maybe that was a fair assumption in your time, but now people have ambitions and feelings to keep up with. A miracle is only as wonderful as it is in the eyes of its beholder, right? And, well – I can’t see, can I? I don’t want such pity. I don’t need to be ‘fixed’.” continued Natasha melancholically; wallowing in her own melodrama… but hesitating for a moment. ”I do appreciate the thought, Sir Saber… but your ‘jester’ already made quite a scene of putting me through his purification nonsense. If there was a curse on me before then, well; it is most certainly gone now. Along with a few of my organs, and maybe a scraping of my soul… honestly, he’s hardly a gentleman with that sort of treatment of a woman.”
Giving a bitter sigh, Natasha seemed satisfied for the moment as she turned away from the two Servants – but thoughts about Atlas’s words still made her heart flutter with dark thoughts and frustrations. A hero, huh? A hero asking a price to ‘fix’ a problem that was only in his head. Magic this, magic that; egotistical scumbags; just like the rest of them! Something to be thrown away once it was handled, another trophy for the rack! A liability for her blessing, a curse they call brilliance! She hated it! Every single one of those people, she wished they would just –
Those yellow eyes watched Atlas again.
Turning back with a humourless expression, Natasha raised a hand – the Command Seal glowed red with threatening energy. Before, Atlas had been given a warning from just the curse; now he had wrought the wrath of the lady herself instead. No sadistic smirk, no predatory eyes, no self-indulgence. Hate. Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate –
”Servant, I hereby command you to kneel.”
...The contract barely buckled. The magus frowned. Well, it seemed a touch of restraint had its uses... she had more where that came from.
”Servant - I hereby command you to kneel!”
With the second Command Seal unleashed, Atlas would surely be forced down for at least the moment – anything more than the simple words and the superior Servant would surely be able to rebel, but with the blunt command and Natasha’s own grandiose prana supply backing it the spell was unfaltering. With a flick of her wrist and a series of clicks, Natasha’s cane extended from her hand. Turning the simple tool to Atlas; Natasha gently tapped his shoulders with it… was this some mocking knighting? Ah, no; she was just finding her target; as she rested its tip on the Servant’s nose… before pulling it back, and shoving it straight into his eye.
…Unfortunately for Natasha, her act of petty revenge vanished before she even put any proper pressure on – falling apart in front of her Servants’ very eyes; the lady would be snatched up by Chaldea’s ray-shift alongside the trio’s pylon. It was clear that Natasha was surprised, but not frustrated. She didn’t expect to harm a Servant, she merely wanted to make her position clear. With a tiny smile, the blonde would be straight back to her usual graceful poise; giving the pair a gentle wave as she vanished.
”If there's really such a thing as a hero - then you should have come when I really needed you.”
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Post by Chaldea-san on Feb 19, 2016 20:25:46 GMT
[SENSOR INFO] [DISPLAY.PROCEDURE INITIALIZED]
///////////////////////////////////////////////
This once solemn temple was now drowned in red light, littered with the unmoving bodies of those caught by surprise. Although disfigured and quickly melting away, the victims of this event were still conscious. That sluggish death was a curse by itself and by now, all of them had already resigned to praying and wishing.
Among them was a young, plain woman. She had gone to visit the temple on a whim, for no special reason on a day that didn't promise to be that amazingly special. Now, knowing she was going to face her demise soon enough, she found herself frustrated over having no saviour to pray for. Having no gods she believed in, she entrusted her fate to something else.
Almost as a joke
A childish fairytale she had once heard
The final thoughts of a dying crowd
[/div][/div][/font]
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