Player Plot: Unwanted Houseguests

[lyriumcarved]

WHO: Fenris, Aleron, Bethany, Korrin, Inessa, Church, Saoirse, and Ellana
WHAT: Getting rid of some nasty visitors... and a little demony surprise twist on top of that! (OOC Post)
WHEN: Close to the end of Bloomingtide, we'll go with the 29th
WHERE: Fenris' mansion in Hightown
NOTES: This is slightly forward-dated to the end of the month. See directions below about groups and things! As for warnings, uhhh... bad interior decorating?

The manor stands in Hightown, Kirkwall's high class area where the nobles live. Fenris had intended to step in and reclaim it when he'd first arrived in Kirkwall, but there were... complications. Major complications. He's had to do quite a bit of sneaky surveillance to find out what was even going on. As he uncovered more over the course of the month, it only made him angrier. A magister had seen fit to move on in and take over while he'd been away. To make matters worse, he's brought along a bunch of slavers, and they've really started making themselves at home as they use the house as a base of operations.

Now that Fenris has all of the information, he's more sure than ever that this has to be dealt with. Immediately. It's more than he can handle alone, though.

So he asks around and finally gathers a group together to deal with it...

Group 1: Fenris, Aleron, Bethany, and Korrin

This group will be going in first! They'll make their way through the house and generally deal with taking down slavers. There's another subthread for the initial battle against the magister and his followers.

Group 2: Inessa, Church, Saoirse, and Ellana

After a rift erupts and Fenris makes a distress call over the crystals, these folks will be joining in. Now it's a matter of fiiighting all the demons, and making sure that rift gets sealed. (It's all on you, Church!)

Comments

Group 1: Getting in

[lyriumcarved]

They meet at the Hanged Man, where Fenris informs the group about what's going on. He gives a runthrough of the mansion's basic layout, and tells them what else to expect. There are slavers swarming all over the place, plotting and planning their next moves. There's also a Magister from among Danarius' people back in the day. Although he wasn't really of much significance back then, he's running this whole operation now. With Danrius gone it seems others have risen up from near obscurity to fill in the gap. Fun. The Magister's name is Calanthus... apparently, he was named for a historic magister who turned into an abomination.

Soon enough, the group makes its way to Hightown...

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris' eyes narrow as they approach the mansion and he suddenly becomes even more tense than usual. He'd been chasing after something like this for a long time, something to give his life more of a direction yet again. But now that it's happening... well... he's not exactly pleased about it. They've taken over a place which he'd come to see as... home? Maybe? Or something very very close to it. He's been really thinking about that for a while now.

"Our timing should get us in before one of their patrols. If we hurry, we can be sure we'll take them by surprise." He sighs a little afterward. "I just want them gone."

[gatheringstorm]

"Don't worry, Fenris. We'll make them wish they were never stupid enough to come here."

Korrin nods over to him, gripping her staff and blade hilt in each hand. She's been itching to get out and fight something ever since arriving in Kirkwall, so she'll enjoy this. But seeing what this means to Fenris, she'll rein it in a little, in hopes that the mansion will remain standing after they're done.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"She's right." Bethany stepped up to his side, pressing a hand to his shoulder and offering him a comforting smile. "And once we get there, we'll clean them out and you can have your home back."

She gave him a warm and dimpled smile, with a faint tease to ease his tension. "Maybe this time you'll let us clean up! Decorate it. Fresh paint, clean bedding ... the whole nine yards. And a bottle of wine that won't get broken against the wall."

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris nods to Korrin, a familiar fire returning to him, something he'd long since thought gone. It's... kind of unpleasant, thinking that this burning rage drives him so much, but there it is. He's different when he has a target like this. Focused.

He gives a glance to Bethany. "Who knows, we may make improvements on the place with any damage from our fighting. But I'll take that bottle of wine, at least." There may even be some vague sort of humor there, since he's well aware how others feel about his... choice of decor. He's especially serious though, as he adds, "I'm glad you've all joined me."

He wishes he could have done this alone. But there was no chance, not with what they're up against.

[gatheringstorm]

"When this is done, we'll all have a drink. Promise." Korrin smiles grimly, having decided on that well before arriving. Whatever Fenris does or doesn't do with the place is up to him; she's in this to see that he has that choice, and rid the world of a magister.

Group 1: Magister Battle

[lyriumcarved]

It's taken a lot of work, but they've finally made it through the house and to the main open hall. Their enemy awaits, a casually amused expression on his face as he notices Fenris in particular. Alongside Magister Calanthus himself is a trio of mages, all of them powerful and ready to fling deadly spells at the group. Periodically some of the stronger slavers that are still left over will also come in to add to their numbers.

(Note: I'll NPC Magister Calanthus, but feel free to go wild and do anything you’d like with the extras on your turns! No set posting order, so just hop in whenever.)

[lyriumcarved]

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? Danarius' pet has come home at last. Take him... and kill all the others!" Calanthus shouts the command at the other mages near him, who spread out and start preparing various spells, mostly setting up barriers before they start shooting off elemental spells at the group aside from Fenris.

The Magister meanwhile throws a hex at Fenris to start. "A Shackling Hex... appropriate, isn't it?"

Fenris growls, feeling himself slowed down by the spell. "I don't know what's worse... your magic... or your attempt at humor." But he doesn't let it stop him from carrying on the fight, aiming his sword toward the nearest mage, who's positioned herself to guard Calanthus.

[gatheringstorm]

The moment they enter the main hall, Korrin throws up a Barrier spell to protect the group. If it's negated, oh well, at least they'll waste their magic on that rather than frying them. If not, she's sure they'll need it.

"Oh, fuck you." Korrin narrows her eyes at the magister and casts Dispel in hopes of negating it for Fenris' sake, then summons her spirit blade as she charges another guard mage. Whoever steps in her way is going to wish they had picked just about any other target.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"I don't know how many times someone in my family has to tell you Magisters this - but Fenris Belongs To No One But Himself." Bethany Darton nee Hawke thundered at the Magister, her hair crackling from the electricity of Korrin's spells up to this point, as she lifted her staff in the air - and then slammed it back down into the ground again, as the Maker's Fury slammed down on the three mages and the Magister himself.

Her staff flared in her hand as she twisted it in the air, to bring across her first wave of ice towards the oncoming hoarde. "And the only person going away in shackles, if they are going anywhere at all, is you, you dirty bloody slaver."

[lyriumcarved]

Of course, there's some hideous laughter from Calanthus, especially at Bethany's words, but it turns into an angry growl as he has to turn his focus toward defense. The three mages end up taking the brunt of the Maker's Fury, tough he doesn't escape entirely either. Furious screams echo throughout the hall.

At least Fenris finds himself able to move around more thanks to Korrin's help. He doesn't have time to spare for more words just now, though, as the mage still cornering him grins viciously and readies another hex. But with his speed returning, Fenris shifts into his ghostly-looking state and counters fast with a Spirit Pulse, dark energy slamming into the mage.

Calanthus steadies himself soon enough, and unleashes an especially powerful Paralyzing Hemorrhage upon the group, going straight to blood magic to suck away his enemies' life force or render them useless... whichever happens first. Elemental spells keep coming from the others, fire and ice shooting toward the group, blasting throughout the area and causing quite a lot of damage.

Group 1 + 2: DEMONS

[lyriumcarved]

Well, this just went from bad to worse. Sure, they've defeated many of the enemies that have been coming at them, but Calanthus is still alive, and the demons spilling out of the rift really aren't helping matters at a point when everyone is exhausted. After the rift erupts, Fenris grabs his crystal to call for help. They can't deal with this alone... they desperately need back-up in general, but they also need someone able to seal the rift...

Here's hoping the back-up group gets here sooner than later.

(Note: Again, feel free to NPC demons as much as you'd like. Also, go ahead and make sub-threads here, if folks want to split up to fight demons in different sections of the hall, mix and mingle any way you want! There's plenty of room to spread out! I will also include a thread specifically for magister defeating for anyone to jump in on.)

[lyriumcarved]

Demons. It couldn't have gotten much worse, really. It's all felt like some awful repeat of the past, so sure, why not, throw some demons in too? Fenris has definitely had enough at this point.

He activates his Lyrium Ghost state, nearly fading from sight as it goes into effect. With that renewed, he slashes at the closest rage demon, wasting no time in getting his momentum back. He just hopes that help will arrive soon... he's not so sure they can last much longer at this rate.

[circleprodigy]

That call for help is soon answered, in the form of a mage and her mabari. As Garahel charges, Inessa casts Pull of the Abyss to draw any local demons to that central point. That will be followed up with Veilstrike, to knock them down. A promising start, but she's not about to let down her guard.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Church...realizes pretty quickly that he's the only one with a shard in this whole thing, and there's no time to call for any other backup. Shit, they're not supposed to be able to pain laser a rift closed by themselves, but...what the fuck else is he gonna do, sit on his god damn thumbs?

He just has to get close enough first. Church has no magic and no super special video game abilities. He just has his sword. And the little shield from his shard. Well, that's one super special video game ability, but c'mon, does that really count? "Cover me," he orders, even if he's in no position to really order anyone for shit, moving in. Any demons of reasonable size in his way he'll take a slash at, but he wants to save his energy if he can to maneuver as close to the rift as he can.

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris had almost thought they wouldn't be able to reach anyone... that the distress call would fail entirely. He's deeply relieved when he sees the others incoming to join them. That feeling is even better when he notices the glowing green shard in one of their hands. What a relief... now there's a chance to close that rift. He finds himself feeling very renewed as he lunges to strike at the nearest demon.

There's no time to thank anyone right this moment though. That'll come later.

For now, to deal with the problem at hand. Demons are all over the place, and the rifter needs to get through. The only good part at the moment? Is that even the magister is preoccupied by the demons too, in all of this chaos.

"Right! Do as he says!" Fenris immediately phases once more into his eerie, glowing ghostly state as he slashes at the nearest demons, trying to draw and keep their attention.

MAGISTER DEFEAT

[lyriumcarved]

Calanthus bids a hasty retreat up the stairs. Fenris has been keeping an eye on him throughout the battle, trying to maneuver closer to his position the whole time. When Fenris sees him heading off toward the main chamber at the top, he takes off after him.

"Fasta vass! This is the end of you and your kind!"

Although Calanthus makes an attempt to barricade the door, it's no match for an enraged warrior, even one who's battle-worn. Fenris slams into the door, bashing it open as he steadies himself with his large sword in hand. He stalks slowly toward the cornered magister.

[serannas]

Ellana doesn't think it's a good idea to let Fenris take on the magister alone, so she rushes off after him in time to see the door break apart. She lets Fenris enter and takes in the layout of the room before setting down a fire mine on one side of Calanthus, blocking his escape that way.

"I've got the door covered!" she calls, both so Fenris knows who set the spell, and knows that this man isn't getting past her.

[circleprodigy]

Sending Garahel up the stairs, Inessa follows as soon as possible, blurring ahead on waves of magic. She pops into place just as the fire mine is set, and Garahel without needing to be told is a big, muscular barrier wherever he needs to be. For Inessa's part, she taps into her necromancy talent and casts Terror. Whether it will hold for long, she's not certain, but the Grey Warden mage hopes that Fenris gets some satisfaction from seeing its effect on the magister.

[lyriumcarved]

Good, they've got him cornered. The fire mine will help considerably. Fenris is just... ready to see this ended, at this point. Between the blood magic and the demons, the slavers, the magister... everything happening in this house has been a nightmare. He almost wonders whether or not it'd be better off burned down afterward.

He stalks toward Calanthus, weariness showing with every step. But that doesn't stop him from bringing his sword up and striking downward with a harsh blow. "It's over. None of your kind will darken this place again."

The magister reels under the force of the attacks, noticeably weakened compared to earlier. He clearly does not like where this is going, nor certain individuals in the present company. "Pathetic elves! I'll see all of you in chains and forced to kneel in your rightful place..." He inflicts Blood Wound over the area, hoping in this moment to cause massive suffering and damage.

AFTERMATH

[lyriumcarved]

The last demon has dropped, and now the battle is over... for real, this time. Time to patch up any wounds, catch your breath, and admire the fact that the mansion actually looks worse now than it did before!

[lyriumcarved]

Well. That was... something. At least it's over now. The rift is closed, the demons cleared out, all other enemies seem to be gone... and importantly, the magister running the whole thing is also vanquished.

Fenris takes a look around: there's damage from fire, lightning and ice alike, in addition to a lot of the other spells that were flung about. The bodies of fallen enemies are scattered amidst all of this damage...

"That's... almost an improvement on the decor," he remarks dryly, though he thinks the remark may be most appreciated by Bethany, considering she's familiar with the place and his history here. He glances toward the others, looking at them with concern. "I can't thank you enough for your assistance with this... Is everyone all right?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin straightens and rolls her shoulder, frowning at the slight stiffness. Still, that was minor compared to what could have happened. She nods to Fenris, taking out a potion and glancing around for anyone who might need it.

"Alive and kicking, no worries here. And no sweat, just remember to host a party every now and then so we can scandalize Hightown." She smirks at the image, not really minding that Fenris isn't the party host type.

[lyriumcarved]

It could have been worse, a lot worse, he knows this. At least it's over... even if on some level he's unsettled at all that's transpired here. Another magister and his slaver lackeys, and then the eruption of the rift... Did all the world's most unpleasant things have to converge on this house? Really?

But it's over. That's what matters. He'll worry about the damage... later. As long as the place is livable, it's not a concern.

"And I thought this was a party," he remarks, looking around.

[gatheringstorm]

That gets a chuckle out of Korrin as she glances around. What a mess, though she didn't expect anything less for their efforts. "Beating up magisters was pretty good party entertainment, true. But I could do with a little less blood magic."

Ugh, the results of that still make her shudder. She wipes her temple, then nudges a corpse with her foot. "We should get rid of these."