godsoffortune: (Default)
The Far Shore Mods ([personal profile] godsoffortune) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2018-05-03 07:07 pm

28 - The Hungry Forest (Final Battle)

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.

welcome_home: (048)

[personal profile] welcome_home 2018-05-08 12:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The ends of the scarf around Nanako's neck had started lashing out with unerring precision as Nanako and Suou work in unison. One wouldn't think a scarf could be used as a weapon, but the pair of them have been practicing on how best to make this arrangement work and it was clear Suou wasn't exactly a normal scarf.

Going after the vines in groups, Nanako carefully circles how Lann is trapped and held down until the restraints started falling away around him, severed away entirely. Nanako's expression is determined and focused on her task - their task - and its only once she's circled around Lann's form entirely, slashing everything that holds him in place that she lets herself waver, sinking down to her knees in front of the shinki, feeling drained and exhausted but still determined. And hopeful. ]


Lann? You should be able to move now.
trapperkeeper: (Worried)

[personal profile] trapperkeeper 2018-05-13 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[With the firefly gone he blinks several times as the fog in his head clears. That's right! The forest! Those weirdos and... and the tree! By the time he's sorted everything out, Nanako has cut him free.

As she sinks to her knees he tries to stand.]


Nanako! Are you.... okay...?

[As it turns out, sudden movement was not the best idea. The forest has been draining him for a while now and everything swims dizzily as soon as he tries to move.]

Ugh...

swordofzero: (staring)

[personal profile] swordofzero 2018-05-13 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Suzaku goes to one knee next to Nanako, his hand stretching out to support her and to be a brace if she wished to try and stand again. As Lann tries to move Suzaku reaches out to him as well, to stop him from falling or catch him if he faints.]

Don't try and move too quickly Lann. [A glance at Nanako, his voice is gentle as he speaks to her] Can you stand Nanako? [He is prepared to carry them both if necessary, but it will be difficult, especially with the battle happening around them]
welcome_home: (038)

[personal profile] welcome_home 2018-05-14 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nanako shoots them both a grateful smile for their worry, although her own is still directed at Lann, even if he is free now. ]

I'm okay, it's just that doing anything in here is really hard. [ She's really not liking the drain on any sort of magic. And without that... she's just a seven-year-old girl. And she's fine just kneeling here for a moment to catch her breath. She'll try standing again in a minute. ] Don't worry about me, though.

Lann, are you alright? It's okay if you need help. Take it easy, okay?
trapperkeeper: (melancholy)

[personal profile] trapperkeeper 2018-05-21 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[His pride spends a moment warring with his minimal common sense because he's totally fine obviously. Except he's so exhausted he's sure he couldn't even manage a single line right now.]

I'm... okay. Just.. gimme a sec.

[He has to accept that he can't fight. But he can at least stand on his own two feet. Maybe with some help. He looks up at Suzaku and holds up a hand, giving him a weak smile.]

Hey, dude, can I get a hand?
swordofzero: (hope)

[personal profile] swordofzero 2018-05-21 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Suzaku reached down to pull Lann to his feet, he kept hold of him for a moment, ready to catch him if standing proved to much for him.

He glanced down at Nanako and smiled at her]
Do you need a hand up as well?

welcome_home: (032)

[personal profile] welcome_home 2018-05-21 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ When Suzaku helps Lann to his feet, Nanako watches with a worried gaze, only looking relieved once the other shinki is on his feet and steady again. Only then does she place her hands on the ground and carefully push herself up a little. She wobbles a bit, but steadies quickly, smiling brightly at them both. ]

No, I can do it. I'm only a little tired. This place makes it really hard to use any magic, so there hasn't been a lot I could do to help. Thank you! [ She beams up at Suzaku for his assistance, before glancing over at Lann worriedly. ] I'm really glad we could find you. I was worried about you, Lann.
trapperkeeper: (friendly)

[personal profile] trapperkeeper 2018-05-25 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

[Once Lann is sure he's steady he gives Nanako a slightly sheepish smile.]

Sorry, Nanako. I, uh, don't usually lose fights against trees.

[Probably.]

But... thanks for saving me.
swordofzero: (not impressed)

[personal profile] swordofzero 2018-05-25 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
Are you injured? [Suzaku looked him over, for any obvious signs of blood or damage] The god Ebisu is gathering the injured to him if you wish to be seen to.

[Nanako seemed alright, just tired. Suzaku kept an eye on her, just in case that tiredness proved to be too much]
welcome_home: (005)

[personal profile] welcome_home 2018-06-08 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
It's okay, these were really mean trees, Lann. A lot of people got stuck here, even a lot of the gods! I'm sure you did your best.

[ She gives his shoulder a reassuring pat, so he wouldn't feel bad. ] And you're welcome.

[ Nanako glances between them before settling her gaze worriedly on Lann, waiting for his answer. ]