28 - The Hungry Forest (Final Battle)

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: At the heart of the mysterious forest lies a magical trap.
When: Nov 14, evening
Where: Within the forest
Summary: Working together, and with the (reluctant) help of some menaced cultists, the rescuers have pierced the wooden wall into the heart of the forest.






The sky is clearly visible here, but it’s an evening one – it’s taken the day to work their way through this far. Those with some astronomy knowledge will also be able to tell it’s a sky on Earth, and anyone who can climb up above the treeline will see a vast, mountainous and wooded area, with the lights of roads, train tracks and small towns glittering here and there. They're clearly not in the Heavens anymore. Somehow, in their journey through the forest, the rescuers have emerged onto the Near Shore.

An icy breeze is blowing, and although the vegetation is unseasonably green and lush in this clearing, there are patches of snow visible at the foot of some of the trees, hinting that they're fairly far up the mountain.

Rescues

The clearing here at the heart of the forest is vast, and five colossal sigils are etched into the earth, each one holding an incredible amount of power. It’s on these sigils, North, South, East, West, and Center, that the trapped gods and shinki can be found. Those unlucky enough to be at the Center sigil are bound by hypnosis, each staring at a firefly spirit that hovers before their unblinking eyes. These victims are still and unresponsive, and the spirits will need to be destroyed to free them. The firefly spirits can be harmed by both physical and magical attack, though they likely won’t stay still to let themselves be easily extinguished.

The captives trapped on each of the other sigils are around the edges of the clearing, entangled in vines, brambles or whatever other limbs the trees could provide to bind them to this place. Some may also be under the effects of the hypnotic fireflies if they’ve been particularly troublesome, while others who have fought less might have only those bindings needed to prevent them fleeing. Regardless of how tightly they're restrained, all of the kidnapped gods and shinki on all of the sigils look drained, the severity depending on how long they’ve been there. Some are merely tired-looking, whereas others are barely clinging to consciousness. Whether their power is being used to feed the spell or being stored for something else to come, one thing is clear – those trapped need to be freed before anything more can be done.

Sigils

Those sigils beneath each group of trapped gods and shinki are powerful constructs, brimming with energy and meticulously maintained by the cultists up to now. It’s the same power as what blankets the entire forest, but it's focused on each of those five points. They must be the source of the spell that's caused all of this.

If the spell is to be broken, the sigils need to be broken as well, but it’s going to take more than just scuffing out the etched lines to break the magic. Attacking with shinki in their vessel forms or using blessed water to wash away the magic will be most effective, but for those who didn't bring blessed water or don't have the energy left to transform, there's one other option. The clearing is lit by traditional paper lanterns hanging from the trees all around, and any object set aflame with these lanterns can be used to burn the spell out of the ground bit by bit.

The trees and any remaining soulless shinki are still furiously opposing the rescue efforts, the surviving cultists are continuing to work on maintaining the spell, and it will take time to fully destroy the sigils. However, as the sigils deteriorate, the effects of the spell will begin to fade, and characters will find it easier to access their supernatural powers to speed the process along. Gods' and shinki's powers (that is to say, the special power they gained as a god or shinki, rather than canon powers) will be as effective as a shinki or blessed water against the sigils.

But be careful. As each sigil breaks, some of the magic escapes, but some is captured by the remaining sigils. For the spell to fully disappear, all five must be destroyed – and quickly, because there’s only a matter of time before this power becomes unstable.

Comments

EAST SIGIL

[godsoffortune]

On this sigil, the following characters are held captive:

Mikoto Suou
Saruhiko Fushimi
Yona
Aymeric de Borel
Ross

Please reply here for rescue threads involving these characters, as well as to attack this sigil.

Rescue-Closed to Planned Folks

[onedrinkwithme]

[Among the tangled vines and branches, lies someone that sees like they're barely moving. It has only been a day and he shouldn't been in the shape that he is but unforuntately this is what happens when you kidnap a experienced soldier: they try their damnest to escape and fight back. The plantlife around him may also a bit bloody due to it but that's why the firefly is present in front of his face.

He can remember hearing about everyone vanishing, remember that a forest that had sucked in Sora long ago and how they had to fight through to get out...and his mind went on auto pilot. He had people to save: Goten, Yona, Izumo...he couldn't stand around and do nothing. Not again. Even if it was reckless, he thought he prepared better but sadly even he couldn't fight nature. But he sure could be fucking stubborn about it given the state of his clothes, torn from scraping the branches and tearing, the blood crusting over his wounds but prior to his capture. Call it pride or just plain bullheadedness, he didn't want to have this be lost in vain...but in the end, it was.

Aymeric is breathing for sure but there's definite signs of injury, weither it was from before or after capture is a mystery. But for those who have come this far, he simply stares at the firefly unmoving. May want to work on that first...or get both it and the plants at the same time. Either way, it's best to get him out quick.]

[brynwieldr]

[Leo's hands are hurting and sore and bandaged. He's got scars from particularly pissy plants. He's tired.

He takes a bottle of water stolen from a cultist and proceeds to attempt to douse the firefly keeping Aymeric hypnotized before swinging Brynhildr down on top of it.

Fuck all of this.]

[saiyanhybrid]

[Gohan has no care for the plants or for whatever cultist tries to stop them. In fact, he's pretty sure that it wouldn't matter, anyway.

Regardless, with Leo taking care of the firefly, Gohan goes to free Aymeric from his binds, tearing away the vines in case they decide to try to wound around Aymeric tighter.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[On instinct, the vines did try to bind their captive tighter and it did give the man trapped a reaction of a sharp gasp. The result of the pitful firefly's death made it a bit more likely for Aymeric to snap out of his daze but only slightly. Seems that this magic lingers, go figure. But the plantlife could not match for Gohan's strength and stamina and they find themselves start to lose grip.

But just like Aymeric, they weren't going to give up as one vine wraps around his waist and another around his neck. Persistent buggers.]

Yona - Closed to Rescue Party

[darkestbefore]

[ There is a figure thickly tangled in the vines and thorny brambles within the sigil, the shock of familiar red hair all that immediately gives her away where she crouches on her knees, unmoving. Her head is bowed and her eyes fixated on the glow of a firefly that perches on her knee, wings fluttering occasionally but otherwise holding her gaze trapped, although her eyelids are drooping heavily as what remains of her energy wanes.

Her face is pale and drawn, eyes hazed and empty and the shallow rise and fall of her chest is the only sign of life from her as she remains frozen there, unaware of anything around her. Her cloak is shredded and torn, flecks of blood dark on the fabric from where thorns have bit into flesh during her struggles. Her skin is smudged and dirty and a dark bruise discolors high on one cheekbone, half-hidden behind the ragged fall of hair around her face, tangled with leaves and twigs.

She doesn't move, doesn't look up, even should voices sound or movement happen around her. Her eyes merely gaze unseeing into the gleaming allure of the firefly's glow, lost in its light entirely. ]

[justclaws]

Princess!

[Always bugs.

[why does it have to be bugs.

[He's found her, thank the Gods. Pale and exhausted and, oh horrible!, covered in cuts and bruises; staring, blank-eyed, at some hideous little insect perched impudently on her very knee: alive, though, alive and whole. As he stops short before her, as he drops to his knees by her side, Kija thanks the dragon that watches over him for that much even as he gazes in panic and gratitude and grief at his Princess, and realizes he has absolutely no idea where to start. What can he, what should he do first, that will not risk harming her more?]

Hak! Yoon! This way, quickly! Please!

[handsome_genius]

[ Yoon has been so focused on tailing Kija that he's genuinely not sure if Hak is following them anymore. He's been staring down at Kija's back to watch for branches snapping back at him - which has happened more than once now - and also deeply resenting how much the underbrush has gotten so much coarser that it's attacking his feet through his open-toed, self-made sandals. Walking through forests shouldn't have been so cumbersome, he thought, not on his FEET! His fear and concern had waned ever so slightly since Kija had been worrying enough for the both of them, keep his emotions squarely in the realm of anger despite trying desperately to keep his head level...

Only to have it all come rushing back as Kija shouted for Yona, his head snapping up to Kija's shoulders again. He couldn't see, initially, but off Kija goes quick as he can and Yoon finds himself tempted to snatch Kija's cloak. Finally, he manages it, but he's not sure he can hang on. ]

WAIT! It could be a TRAP! We haven't even found what TOOK her yet!

[ He's not looking for a fight, but he's worried a fight may find THEM. At least when Yona had been asleep for a month, they never truly lost sight of her. Having her whisked away from them had been a wholly different, frightening experience. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Something in Yona's gaze flickers as Kija approaches, calls out for her. Some part of her can also feel Yoon coming close, the link she shares with him flaring in the back of her mind.

Her eyes blink, as if she's struggling to snap out of the hold the bugs have, but they've drained far too much of her energy away already for her to be able to fully resist. The vines around her tighten slightly as the firefly on her knee flits its wings, its glow growing more intense for a moment in an effort to keep her gaze - and her mind - enthralled. ]

Rescue

[monkeyblue]

[Like most of the people in this sigil, Fushimi very clearly fought whoever was holding him captive. His glasses are broken, there's blood smeared on his face, and his clothing has seen better days. There's throwing knives scattered around the sigil too, more signs of Fushimi refusing to go quietly.

Despite only having been here a couple of days, he looks awful as he's forced to stare at the firefly. That's what happens when you take terrible care of yourself and then get kidnapped by a crazy forest cult.]

[thevanguard]

[ Yata had split off from the group he'd fought his way in with the moment they reached the clearing, dashing around the outer ring of sigils looking for both Izumo and Saru. Spotting the latter, first, he skids to a stop with a curse before rushing towards where he's bound, his eyes wide and alarmed at the state he finds Saru in. The fact that whoever was behind all this could do this.... ]

Shit. Saru! Can you hear me? [ Which he doubted, because Saru hadn't so much as twitched when he'd run up. He reaches out, shaking his shoulders roughly, but carefully, not wanting to hurt him more. ]

[mostsuitable]

[After having extracted Kurosaki from the North Sigil, Reisi hurriedly makes his way to the East Sigil... because he knows he has to be there. As it turns out, he happens upon Yata rushing over to a heavily restrained Fushimi. Like Kurosaki, Fushimi had clearly put up as much of a fight as he could, and something in Reisi can't help feeling proud of him for it.

Perhaps when this is over, Reisi should apologize and see if Fushimi will pledge to his cause for the saber. If it's his own turn to be rejected, well... Reisi supposes he could understand the sentiment. While he doesn't remember any of it, he only has ever chosen those who will surely do the right thing in the end, and no one among those he's chosen has ever failed to come through for him. Even if Fushimi isn't ready now—though Reisi hopes is already is and has been, as Yata had said over a month before—then Reisi hopes he someday will be.

In the meantime, however...]

Yata-kun, getting rid of the firefly should help in waking him from his trance.

[Since it's possible that in the younger man's concern, he may have missed the spirit floating above its victim's face.]

[thevanguard]

[ He would have noticed, if only because Saru's gaze remains steadfastly fixated on the glow of the insect instead of reacting to anything around him.

Yata straightens, hand scooping up his bat from where he'd dropped it in his haste. He glances over at Reisi, a pinched look on his face - one bruised and scratched and smudged from his own trip through the forest to get this far. ]

Do you have anything that can cut through the vines? I'll take care of the damned bug.

[ His gaze narrowed as he turns back to whatever is keeping Saru enthralled, he lifts his bat, letting flames wash faintly over the surface - his power reservoirs are starting to run dangerously low, but this is what he's been saving them for, after all - before swinging at the firefly with fiery metal. ]

EAST SIGIL ATTACK (OTA)

[chibisu]

Holy water!

[Aomi is one of the few in Ebisu's guards who's thought to brought exactly that with him, grimacing as he pours it down on a line of the sigil. He's calling out to anyone who will listen.]

If you still have any to spare, please use that! For those who have their god or shinki, please help rend it! [But since not everyone might have that option available to him... He gestures with his free hand to the lanterns.] We can possibly burn it, so please-!

And if anyone is too injured, I implore you to go find Ebisu-sama and get your injuries treated!

[OOC: Feel free to use this top level to thread out characters going after the center sigil! If you want to interact with Ebisu's NPC, just let me know in the subject or option line.]

npc stuff because why not

[declamando]

[It seems like at least one of the old gods has decided to lend a hand here, by the look of this shinki, so Maria heads over at the sound of the call. She has both of her shinki on her person, meaning she's wearing a rather scarce dance outfit, but it's the sword in her hand she's holding more ready to go at the sigil with.]

Is blessed water or a shinki more effective? I have both, but I don't want to risk exhausting my shinki after doing so much to get here.

[Uta has more energy left of the two merely by virtue of not having a vessel ability, but she doesn't know how long that might last.]

[chibisu]

[That's sure a look to be wearing when running around in an aggressive forest, but Aomi hardly blinks when he looks up to see Maria approaching him. After all, shinki take a lot of different forms (as he can unfortunately tell anyone)... and gods make do with their servants.]

I can't say... [He winces a little.] However, I only have so much blessed water on me. Hopefully weakening them will make it easier to use your shinki, m'am.

Mikoto Suoh | Open

[lionhearrt]

[ Black scorch marks mar the earth and ash lays all around him, undisturbed. Two firefly spirits hover above keeping him under their spell. He's still, tired and complacent. His senses are locked away in a small monochrome world where a little girl holds his hand keeping him tethered to the spell. He's long past fighting the hypnosis, evident by the tangle of vines keeping him prisoner. Vines he could easily burn off if he were aware of the world around him but he's not. He's been here since the first day, the fireflies swarming him to keep him under control until only two remained to keep the peace. So he remains, captive in a dream of his own making.He looks drained, his strength exhausted. He didn't struggle because he was caged, a prison he understood, what he fought against was his jailer. Suoh always chose his jailers.

Approach any who dare, but be aware, he's been under too long. Complacent far longer than someone like him can withstand. Once the fireflies are dealt with and the spell is broken, the area will go up in flames. The wildfire will spread, burning off the vines leaving nothing behind. For a single moment, his powers will fluctuate, Red mixing with White. Anyone too close will be caught in the crossfire. Those hit with the red flames will burned, those fortunate enough to be encased in white flames will be healed. Either way, his nature will soon win out and seconds after the spell is broken, the Red Sword of Damocles will materialize above, it's cracked fissures floating along the deteriorating sword. ]

[ ooc; faq on the Sword of Damocles. ]

Do you mind an unplanned rescue from fluffy here?

[cuddle_battery]

[Yumoto came in with the other rescuers but didn't have a specific person in mind. Really he was there to help everyone. And as the rescuers break up into smaller groups to aid their friends, he looks around for anyone who might have been missed in the confusion.

The scorch marks and ash catch his attention and lead him right to the captive man.]

Hey! Are you okay? Can you hear me?

Nope! It's an open post! Just be aware of fire!

[lionhearrt]

[ With two fireflies hovering above his line of sight, Suoh is blind to the world, the monochrome dream stealing away his senses making him deaf to those words. Lost in the hypnosis, Suoh only see's a little girl in red humming quietly at his side, keeping the red aura at bay while the swarm of vines keep him trapped in the real world. ]

Rescue

[shiitan]

[Like many others, he had fought back and attempted to blaze a trail in his wake, but in the end, he was here. Not only that, he'd worn himself out in the process by using too much magic. While the Mana Maker-kun's flame on his forehead was as vibrant as ever, having mana to use meant nothing if he had no energy or will to do anything with it. The fireflies buzzing around his head made sure of that, and his bindings didn't help either.

The brambles had bitten into his skin more than a few times, particularly around his wrists and ankles, and he'd shed his fair share of blood for someone who had to be forced into compliance. He was alive. However, his gaze was dull when he could keep his eyes open, and he was worryingly still as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

In more ways than one, he was helpless. That was scarier than any cultist or sigil, as hard as the fireflies tried to keep him numb to everything.]

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Stupid forest! Stupid fireflies! Stupid plot to capture freaking everybody!

[As is often the case, the Overlord's anger is heard before it is seen, a sign of irritated hope fighting its way through the forest. But only a moment passes before a nearby tangle of vines give way and ten minions pour out through the new gap, while behind them the floating book glared furiously at all and sundry.]

[Half of them race over to the tree to begin chopping for the vines and brambles, while another pair begin vigorously attempting to swat the fireflies. They're making said attempts with an axe and a fishing pole, so little progress is made, but at least it gets the bugs moving.]

[shiitan]

[He began to slump forward as Zetta's minions hacked at the vines and brambles; in his current state just supporting his own weight was a problem. Really though, the biggest sign that he wasn't doing so well was that he couldn't even muster any snarky comments at a fishing pole being the tool of choice in this case.]

Ugh...

[His voice was very small, but but was still a sign that he was beginning to break free of his firefly-induced stupor.

Sigil Attack OTA

[declamando]

[Though she'd come to rescue Elfnein, Maria does have other people here that she's worried about too. Particularly, she comes by the East Sigil to ensure Yona's friends have made it to her before she turns her attention to dealing with the sigils themselves. While she has two shinki on her, she's been using Natsuru's powers enough on the way in that she's unsure it's particularly safe to continue using them here, so instead, she holds Uta's short sword vessel form in her hand, gouging at the sigil and destroying the fine-edged work of the cultists to the best of her ability.

The cultists and remaining soulless shinki aren't exactly being the most conducive to that end, though, but Maria's still alert enough to catch sight of anyone trying to get one over on her...or trying to creep up on anyone else attacking this sigil.]

Behind you! [She's already grabbing a loose bit of tree from where someone's been hacked free and swinging it in the direction of the attacking party.]

[hellishrabbit]

[ Kamui ducks fast enough to avoid her attack. ] That's a pretty good idea.

[ Walking over to the same tree, he pulls the whole thing off the ground, the roots ripping out loudly. The next wave of attackers will be greeted with a wide swing , being thrown around across the floor. ]

[declamando]

[Well, that's...certainly one way of disrupting the attacks. Maria has the benefit of very strange experience in this area, so she only looks surprised for a very brief moment before focusing her attention on gouging out the sigil further.]

I don't suppose you could light that up and burn the sigil with it? [It's not entirely serious, but...well, it'd make their lives a lot easier to have something that large.]