• Closed • [Noatun] The Storm

[Balthazar Black]

3 Saun 720

Something just did not feel right about this whole situation and as they moved further from the crowd and into the wild, Balthazar grew a little more uneasy. A few small sparks popped between his fingers and the mage focused on the frequency of the woman leading them. He had Victor and three others with him yet still felt nervous. There was something familiar in the frequency, something he'd sensed a short time ago... but he couldn't put his finger on it. When they reached the clearing and the Baroness turned to face them, Balthazar finally put the pieces together and his eyes widened in surprise. It couldn't be, not here in Melrath. By the time the woman mentioned planting a seed, Balthazar was fairly certain he knew where things were going.

His suspicions were confirmed not long later when he sensed the sudden movement of vines near him. A thick one shot out threatening to impale the mage who sidestepped it, wreathing his body in an armor of blue flames as his hand shot out and grabbed the vine that had come towards him. He was fast but embracing his kin had taken a small portion of his attention that made the call closer than he was comfortable with. Balthazar squeezed the vine with his hand and called on the flame around his arm to burn down the vine and consume whatever was connected to it in fire. However he did not stop his attack there, giving little room for the monster who didn't seem hurt by conventional weapons to breath.

With a stomp of his foot he summoned a head sized stone spike from the floor and with a jab in the air, the spike flew towards the Baroness. Whatever ensnared Victor's feet didn't seem to hold him for very long but it did little to aid the battle. With his focus on the creepy woman he was fighting, all he noticed of Victor was that the mage was moving away from them all.

► Show Spoiler

Defiance (Master) - Embrace to light the vine and everything connect to it on fire.
Unarmed Combat (GM) - To grab the vine that was shot at him.

[Pig Boy]

When the chaos reared its head, the soldiers were given pause. Even the steadfast Valkyrion stood in his feet, cautious of this new horror unveiling itself before him. His morale failed, however, when Victor ran from the scene leading ostensibly the Ragnari with him into a full retreat.

Yet one man stood alone against the Changling here. That was Balthazar Black. A veteran of the Siege of Quacia, Element of Scalvoris, and Grandmaster martial artist, and a master of magic besides.

His flames took to the vines, almost too easily. Fibrous tissue withered and curled as the flames ate up the material consisting of her vines. Yet instead of the unearthly screams of the ferahorns and creep of Quacia, this one only laughed at his etheric ministrations.

The flames swiftly consumed the Baroness, but not before she left him with some parting words, which echoed throughout the forest. Surely the Ragnari retreating even overheard what was said.

”We’ve grown ever so accustomed to your caress, my dearest Balthazar. Seedlings of the darkest root take hold in ashen soil. Fire isn’t always a foe to our kind, but then you aren’t much of a gardener, or you might know that?!” So saying, she cackled as the flames consumed her whole, from stem, to trunk, to root. And she withered into innumerable grains of ashen dust.

There was nothing left for him to do, but confer with his Ragnari ally Victor, and perhaps move on. If he inspected the spot where she’d fallen, he’d find little to nothing there.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Victor

Points awarded: 20 xp
Magic xp: 10 of these points may be used for Transmutation.

Knowledge:

Investigation: x4
Leadership: x4
Discipline: x 2
Detection: x4

Renown: 15
Loot: Nothing
Injuries/Overstepping: nothing.
Wealth Points: nothing
Consequences: The Syns have noted Victor's report back, and also noted his leading his men in flight from the scene of an arcane anomaly.

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Player Name: Balthazar

Points awarded: 20 xp
Magic xp: 10 of these points may be used toward Attunement.

Knowledge:

Investigation: x4
Interrogation: x4
Discipline: x 2
Detection: x4

Renown: 15
Loot: Some ashes, that smell vaguely like wildfire. They dissolve before he can get far with them, however.
Injuries/Overstepping: Nothing.
Wealth Points: Nothing
Consequences: The Melrathi government has noted Balthazar's involvement. The events taking place here will have a knock on effect in cycles to come and events occurring even in this season.

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: Good job you two. It was an interesting investigation, cut short perhaps by Victor's flight, and Balthazar's utter devastation of the Changeling.

It was a bit touch and go with my activity, and for that I apologize, but you all played this in an interesting way that was true to both of your pcs. Good job!


If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!