Warrior Clan Cats
The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Honey Badger
Former Staff
Characters : Current: Acornstar, Badgermask, Creamsky, Duckpaw, Eveningmoon - Old: Badgerfang, Silentherb, Stormstar, Stormeye, Twistedfoot, Badgerpaw, Nightcloud, Maplestar, Honeypaw, Bearmask, Ryefur, Owlheart, Morningpaw, Creamstorm, Smokeheart, Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, Elmpaw, Stormpaw, Larksong, Amberpelt, Lionspark, Smokestripe, Mottleheart, Storm that Lights the Clouds, Leopardpaw, Honeytongue, Foxfire, Flintshard, Hayglow, Muddyleap, Theron
Clan/Rank : [A]ThunderClan T5 Leader [B] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [C] SkyClan T5 Warrior [D] RiverClan Apprentice [E] WindClan T2 Warrior
 
Number of posts : 7390
Gender : She/Them/He
Age : 26
| | Subject: Critical Role Fanfics Tue 25 Apr 2017 - 13:03 | |
| A few of you might have heard of the web series Critical Role (mainly from me but perhaps otherwise). It's a Dungeon and Dragon campaign with the players being famous voice actors, the Dungeon Master being Matt Mercer himself. It was something that came to my attention a few weeks ago (all thanks to this video) and I was swiftly dragged into the Critter community and I have seen every weekly show of Critical Role since. Having watched almost every episode (a few of them more then once), I felt inspired to capture my favorite moments not in picture like so many Critters have done… But in story. And thus this is where this topic is for. These are some of my favorite moments for either emotional reasons or funny that I wanted to share. I will give fair warning that almost all of these are very big spoiler moments with only Uninviting Waters and The Elephant in the Room being based on funny/awesome events (but still have spoilers in them). Because of big these moments are, all the information will be kept in spoilers so that if you are a fan of Critical Role or plan to watch the videos without being spoiled, you can pick and choose what story you want to read. I would also recommend not being like me and jumping into episode 71 with no idea what is going on. I mean, I loved it enough to watch the other episodes but it was a confusing time. These stories are from a Point of View of a different characters for each one. Vax the half-elf rogue for Denouement (1)Percival the human gunslinger for Denouement (2)Keyleth the half-elf druid for Uninviting WatersScanlan the gnome bard for Cloak and DaggerPike the gnome cleric for Passed Through FireGrog the goliath barbarian for The Elephant in the RoomVex the half-elf ranger for The Deceiver's StandReminder: Denouement (1) and (2), Cloak and Dagger, Passed Through Fire and The Deceiver's Stand are very big/important moments. There will be spoilers not just for the events of the ‘episode’ but also for prior events needed to give context or that are referenced. If you want to stay to stay spoil free from Critical Role, do not read any of them. Not even their summaries.Also there are swear words throughout the stories so a warning for that. The fanfics have had to be separated into a few different posts due to reaching the post length.
Denouement (1)Episode 35- Summary:
Deep beneath Whitestone, the vampire Lord Briarwood has been killed and the fate of his necromancer wife, Lady Briarwood, is yet to be decided.
But things are not alright. While they have come all this way to seek revenge for the past of one of their own, it's clear that things are more messy than they appear. Throughout their time in Whitestone, Percival has been growing darker and more violent and Vax has had enough. But it quickly seems that what little they have been told by Percy is just the tip of the iceberg and that things are far more complex than it seems.
- Denouement (1):
Things were...Strange.
The cavern was dark as the group of six stood in silence with two unconscious bodies. In the middle of this clump was Vax, his eyes darting as he did his best to keep an eye on everybody. They had barely escaped with their lives - his sister had almost died but here they were...Victorious he suppose. His eyes remained mostly fixed on his sister who had recovered enough to be checking on Lady Briarwood, who was now missing her entire right arm thanks to Percy’s marksmanship with his weapon. But things still wasn’t over - they had choices to make.
There was a shimmer in the air as a faint glow started to flicker to light that dragged the rogue from his thoughts. Vax spun to see the light condense in the golden aura of Pike, who looked very confused as she glanced around at the group around her. There was a sigh of relief from him as the others all turned to look on in surprise. Vax had been worried that the strange black sphere that seemed to cancel all magic had stolen Pike’s astral form from them but it seemed being out of range of it restored her connection.
“Pike!” Both Keyleth and Vex called out to the gnome as her connection stabilized, relief and excitement in their voices at her sudden reappearance.
“Pike! You’re back!” Scanlan gasped, overjoy to see his fellow gnome appear - even in the astral golden form that she was. He took a step forward, his arms outstretched in welcoming as his eyes glimmered.
Pike sighed in relief at the warm greetings, shaking her head. “I’m back, I’m back, I’m back!” she repeated in a soft but hurried tone.
“Oh thank god.”
“Okay, woah, woah, woah, woah,” Pike wave her arms around as her gaze focusing on the group as there was a flicker of confusion, no doubt due to fact that the group had moved a good distance away from where she had disappeared. Finally she spotted where Vex was kneeling next to the unconscious form of Lady Briarwood. “We were- we were killing Lady Briarwood?”
Scanlan took another step forward, shaking his head. “No, we’re okay, we’re okay,” he explained softly as Percy spoke up from where he stood off to the side near the other unconscious form of Cassandra - his sister.
“We’re fine.”
“Everything's okay,” Scanlan soothed, before sighing slightly in relief. “Thank Sarenrae you’re back.”
Pike almost looked a little crestfallen that the danger was over. “Okay, well, okay,” she sighed as she glanced around the group before her expression perked up slightly. “Can I heal somebody?”
Vax spotted his sister glance up at the talk of healing, opening her mouth to say something but didn’t manage to say anything as Scanlan shifted on his feet and spoke. “Well, we did that a bit while you were gone but yes,” he started to say sheepishly before Vex stood up, raising a hand into the air.
“But I’m still pretty low!” she gasped as she took a few steps forward, wincing slightly in doing so.
Scanlan glanced over his shoulder at this, quickly amending what he had just said. “Vex is low.”
The ranger took a step forward as she looked down at the glowing cleric. “Pike, if you feel like it I’ll take it. I’ll be grateful,” she added with a smile.
Pike nodded her head at this, allowing her gaze to once more scan the group of her friends. “How is everybody else?”
“Can you heal a couple people?” Grog questioned from where he stood against the wall, towering over the group and completely dwarfing Pike.
“Yeah!” the cleric quickly said, her tone as light as her form.
At this, both Keyleth and Percy focused their attention onto the gnome.
“Um...I’m-I’m a little shaky,” Keyleth said as she took a step forward the healer.
“I’m a little shaky as well,” Percy concurred.
Vex stepped away from Lady Briarwood, a large smile on her face as she beamed down at the gnome with warmth in her eyes. “Pike! Heal us all! We love you,” she cooed.
The cleric simply bobbed her head in agreement to this, her smile all but blinding.“Okay! Let me use a mass cure wounds…” she drifted off, closing her eyes as she started to prepare the spell underneath her breath.
“Gather together everybody, gather together,” Vax called as he took a few steps closer to the cleric, only for Keyleth to come bounding up with glimmering eyes and open arms.
“Group hug!” the druid said cheerily while the rest of the group followed at a slower rate as they all drew closer to the gnome.
Suddenly Vex came to a stop, her eyes widening as she glanced over her shoulder. “Oh wait! But wait!”
Scanlan paused as well, allowing his gaze to trail after Vex’s as they both allowed their vision to rest on Lady Briarwood. “We don’t want her to heal,” he noted in a slightly cold tone to his words.
“Don’t let Lady Briarwood in the circle of healing!” Vex gasped sa she took a step forward only to pause as the gnome bard spoke up once more.
“Is she alive? Did you check on her?”
“She is alive,” Vex said with a slight dip of her head.
Vax took a step forward, away from the group as he scanned the tunnel they were in. It wasn’t all that big and they had a good distance to go before they were going to get back to the castle proper. He allowed himself to judge how far would serve the purpose of keeping her out of the healing circle before pointing to an area that he deemed far enough. “Grog,” he said as he turned his gaze onto the large goliath. “Drag her over there.”
“Okay,” came the gruff response as the barbarian started to move toward the unconscious form but paused as Keyleth took a step forward.
“Can I stabilize her?” she asked as she glanced around at the group, causing Vax to focus his attention onto Lady Briarwood proper.
Taking the time to asses, he realized with dim surprise that she was most likely bleeding to death from her missing arm. Percy’s blow had managed to stop some of the bleeding but it was still an issue...But did they really care about her enough to stop it?
“Let's-” Percy started to say something but was cut off as Grog spun to look at the group.
“Yeah, let’s stabilize her first,” he agreed with a bob of his head.
There was a faint growl from Vex as she took a step forward, standing next to her brother as she stared at the unmoving form. “We’re away from the fucking sacrifice area, maybe we should just kill her.”
“Let's…” Vax allowed his attention to focus on Percy as the human started to speak, his attention drifting down to the gun in his hand as he turned the barrel, studying the chambers before he looked up at the group. “Hold off just a bit before we kill her.”
Nothing more was said as Grog continued his way to Lady Briarwood before anybody else could, dropping to a knee as he started to pull cloth from his bag. Vax’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward to get a better look at the cloth that Grog was using, his eyes widening slightly as he realized that the cloth was absolutely filthy but said nothing as the barbarian somehow managed to stop the bleeding. Once done, he got to his feet and leaned down, grabbing her by the foot as he started to drag her away from the group carefully...But allowing her face to drag across the ground. As he reached the spot that Vax had pointed out, he started to sit her upright slightly as Percy called over to him.
“Double check...Perhaps gag her as well.”
Grog paused at that, straightening up as he looked over at Percy before his eyes widen slightly. “Oh right yeah. She talks that sh.it doesn’t she?”
“I don’t want her speaking and she only has one arm so magic is going to be a little tricky.”
Vax found himself nodding along to this. That was smart - gagging her to remove any spells that she could use. “Yeah, she can’t do this kind of thing,” he said as he waved his fingers in the classic ‘magic spell’ way as he spared a glance to where Grog was. “But she can still talk.”
Grog reached into his bag again, this time pulling out one of their many fancy robes as he easily tore a piece from it and started to wrap it around her head. As he finished up, his eyes widen slightly as he jumped back with a startled gasp. “Gah! Oh sh.it, she is awake! Ah!” he gasped as he allowed his focus to turn on to the group as he struggled to come up with any idea of what to do.
“Punch her in the face!” Scanlan called from across the room, before he paused as his eyes widen slightly. “No wait, you’ll kill her!” But it was too late. As those words left his mouth, Grog reacted as he drew back a hand and slapped Delilah Briarwood hard across the face, sending her crashing to the ground with a cracking sound that they could hear all the way from their side of the tunnel. “Sh.it.”
Grog however looked pleased with myself as he came strolling back to the party. “If you are curious, she is still alive,” he said as he reached them.
It was at this time that Vax felt a faint warm energy fall over him, realizing that Pike had casted her healing spell as he watched his own wounds started to heal over from the radiance glow. Vex however crossed her arm, a scorn on her face as she stared at where Lady Briarwood laid in the dirt of the tunnel.
“Let her die,” she growled softly, glaring at Percy as the gunslinger simply dipped his head to Grog.
“I can tell.”
“She almost killed me!” Vex pointed out, only to be ignored as Grog spoke up again.
“I did bandages on her real good,” the goliath noted happily, looking even more pleased with himself.
Vax however kept his attention focused on Percy. Something was off. Why was he so hesitate to kill Lady Briarwood? There was nothing to gain with keeping her alive other than information, it was no sweat off their back if they decided to kill her now or just allowed her to bleed to death. Besides, Vex was right. She did almost kill her and Vax wasn’t going to let her live when she almost took his baby sister from him.
But Percy didn’t seem to care all that much as he turned and walked back over to where his sister had been placed. Hmpf, that was another thing. Cassandra had betrayed them and left them for dead but yet Percy refused to kill her either. Perhaps there was the chance that she had been under the Briarwood’s spell but there was also an even chance that she wasn’t the sister that Percy remembered. Five years was a long time...But nonetheless Vax watched in silence as Percy gently gripped his sister’s shoulders and shook her until she stirred away.
The young girl opened her eyes as she groggily took in the sight of her brother. “...Percy?” she asked softly.
“We will have a discussion later,” Percy swiftly responded as he narrowed his eyes at his younger sister. “In the meantime, do you know what that thing in there is and how do we stop it?” he questioned sharply, pointing his finger down the way that they had come.
A confused look spread across Cassandra’s face as she forced herself upright slightly as she stared at her brother.
“I don’t...What?”
Vex took a step forward, stopping next to her brother as she glared down at the young de Rolo. “The spinning orb of death!”
At this, Cassandra planted her back squarely on the wall as her gaze started to shift around in panic at the group that slowly started to surround her. There was a true terror in her eyes as she struggled to find the words to speak. “What happened? What’s going on?” she demanded.
“You betrayed some bitches,” Grog growled from where he stood. “That is what you did.”
At those words, her eye’s widen as she doubled over as if she had just been punched in the gut. “I-I’m sorry,” she managed to gasp as tears started to well up in her eyes, breaking down into sobs.
At this, Percy slapped her across the face.
“That’s your sister, Percy!” Scanlan gasped while the rest of the group was shocked into silence. However, Cassandra took in a deep breath as she calmed herself down, her gaze unfocused as she collected herself.
“I need my sister back,” Percy said firmly as he leaned forward to stare at his sister. “Are you awake? Are you a terrible person? Do I want to strangle you right now?” The last one came out as an exasperated sigh.
“Probably.”
Percy leaned back with another sigh, this one of slight relief. “Good! Then we can work with this! What are they building down here?” he questioned sharply once more. “The Briarwoods are no longer a problem. They were building something, what do you know about it? It may be started. It...Seems to be affecting magic. I think.”
Cassandra could only look up helplessly at that, shaking her head as she focused on the others in the group. “I don’t know. I...They wouldn’t let me near it. They-”
“Don’t lie to us anymore!” Vex countered, her tone sharp as she glared at the bound girl.
“I’m not lying!” she gasped as she focused her attention onto the ranger. “Do I have a reason to lie right now?”
Vax frowned at this, studying Cassandra for a few moments before he spoke up. “So you really believe your words but know that your words are worth fu.ck all right now. Fu.ck all.”
“I know. I know,” she sighed as she leaned her head against the cavern wall, staring off as she struggled to come up with the information to tell them. “I-I...All that I know about this is that they have been building it under the guidance of...Some other person…” she shrugged her shoulders with a helpless shake of her head. “Entity. They refer to him many times as the ‘Whispered Ones.’ Very secretive about it.
“The only reason I know is because I overheard a few observations and quested them about it. To which…” She paused with a faint sigh. “There was punishment. But I...They mainly kept me to try and keep the people at bay. My job was to...Keep in contact with anyone who would dare try to rise against them and inform them. Prevent any surprises although apparently…” she drifted off as she allowed her gaze to scan over the group. “Thankfully I didn’t do a very good job.”
“Cassandra I-” Vex started to say something but jolted in surprise as Scanlan suddenly gasped loudly from where he stood.
“T-The Whispered One! It draws a...I have memory - I don’t know where I learned of this knowledge, I am very old - but I did at some point in my travels,” he explained as he glanced around at the group with an excited flicker in his eyes at remembering this information. “I remember reading about something...A-A…” he paused, his expression shifting to one of uncertainty as his memory started to fail him. “A lich? A lich king? Who wanted to be a god. And his name was Venca and they called him the ‘Whispered One.’ That’s all I remember. He-he tried to achieve great power and I don’t know if it was successful or not.”
Vax frowned at this suddenly burst of information, unsure of what to make of it all. He wasn’t sure if it was good information or bad. They had dealt with a wizard once attempting to become a lich once in their travels - luckily stopping him before he could rise as the undead but it had been quite a journey to defeat him.
Beside him, his sister let out a nervous sigh as she turned her attention to Cassandra who stared at Scanlan with a mix of wonder and uncertainty at all of the information he had sprouted. “Cassandra, does any of that sound familiar?”
She could only shake her head at this. “Honestly I didn’t know anything beyond the name. I just knew that they were very...Close with this individual.”
“When you betrayed us you said you were ‘serving a high purpose’ Did they plan to sacrifice you to him?”
Cassandra shook her head again, closing her eyes. “I...Know there was a blood ritual involved. I didn’t know more then that. There was to be a gift of power should I give an element of my life to the ritual,” she explained before her expression fell as her eyes open once more, staring at the ground before her. “I...I don’t feel like I was right in my head.”
Vax frowned at this, unimpressed. So she was going with the mind control card huh? His eyes narrowed as he focused on her, trying to read her as Keyleth started to speak.
“Cassandra-”
“I look back on so many decisions,” she continued to say, her eyebrows furrowing as she thought back on her choices. “I’ve made an awful...People I’ve…” she drifted off as tears started to run down her cheeks again.
And Vax could only see true guilt written all over her face. The way her shoulders were slumped...The way that she had refused to meet everybody’s gazes but Percy’s during the whole talk. She truly regretted what she had done and feared what her brother thought of her now. The rogue shook his head as he started to move forward, coming to a stop before the sobbing de Rolo and crouched down.
“You backed a losing team. And that’s not surprising, you being through what you’ve been through,” he noted, Cassandra’s tears coming to a stop as she raised her gaze to look up at him as his tone took on a sharper edge. “That’s all gone now. Sylas is gone. Delilah is on death’s door. Whitestone needs to be tended to and protected. Do you know anything that can help us save your birthright here and now?”
There was a faint hint of hesitation as she looked over her shoulder before her expression hardened. “I mean...You’ve already done half the job,” she noted as she stared at the slumped over form of Delilah Briarwood.
Vax allowed his gaze to shift over, studying the downed form as he heard Keyleth speak up behind him. “Cassandra, is there any reason why they would want to sacrifice you in particular?”
“I don’t…” there was another moment of hesitation, this time simply due to trying to find the right words to say as Vax allowed his attention to focus on her once more. “They spoke very little intently of what they wanted to do...To be honest I think there was an element that even they didn’t know what they were doing,” she explained before giving a faint shrug of her shoulders. “I was a tool, I was to be used and I had my purposes and I...Did my best to fulfill them.”
“I have a question,” Grog called, having moved over near Lady Briarwood as he stared down at the unmoving form. “Do you care if I smash the sh.it out of Lady Briarwood's head now?” he asked, the faint hints of a smile on his face at the simple thought of such a bloody mess.
Cassandra finally allowed her gaze to shift to Percy, locking eyes for him for the first time really since she had been awoken. “Someone needs to avenge my family.”
As their eyes met, Percy’s eyes quickly narrowed as a look of uncertainty flashed across his face and smoke started to leak from his sleeves. Vax’s eyes widen as the human got to his feet without a word, swiftly moving across the cavern as his grip tighten on his gun. Within moments Vax was on his feet, knowing nothing good came from that smoke as Percy came to a stop next to Grog and raised the gun at Delilah’s slumped over body.
“Wait-wait-wait!” Scanlan gasped as he stumbled forward, his eyes wide with panic as he waved his arms. “Percy, are you going to shoot an unarmed women? Don’t shoot an unarmed women!”
Percy said nothing other than to raise his hand in a simple ‘shushing’ motion as Grog fixed Scanlan a strange glare. “Unarmed? She tried to kill us!”
“You changed the deal. Take her name off the gun.”
There was a moment of silence from the group as Percy suddenly spoke up, his words answering nobody but also had no target. Everybody stared at him with a look of surprise as the smoke billowed from his sleeve, curling faintly around his body as his eyes were narrowed as he stared at Lady Briarwood.
“Who is he talking to?” Grog questioned softly as he glanced at the group.
Vax however kept his attention focus on Percy, watching as the human pulled the gun away from where he had it pointed at Delilah's head, a sharp frown on his face. “Things have changed. We need to talk.”
“Alright.” Grog’s response was swift and natural, as he glanced over shoulder at Percy but once more...Percy did not respond, his focus on something other than the group.
Around him, Vax could hear the group shifting in discomfort at the scene before them.
“Woah…”Keyleth muttered under her breath as she stood next to Vax while Scanlan just wore a confused expression on his face.
“Who is he talking to?”
At that, Vax raised his hand and motioned for them all to be silent. Something was wrong - Percy had acted strange whenever the smoke had started to billow from him but nothing like talking to himself. He had talked of dreams and...And of making a deal in that dream.
Percy sighed, a confused look flashing over his face as he continued to speak to nobody. “Did I even want revenge before I talked to you? Did I-” he drifted off, truly looking lost as he spoke to the air. “I don’t remember anymore. What does she die for? What do I even need? I want my country - I want my sister!” he gasped, with a faint shake of his head. “I’ve killed two of those who have wrong me and nothing is better. Nothing feels better. Nothing is avenged!” There was a moment of pause as he aimed the gun once more at Lady Briarwood's head. “What is this worth to you?”
There was another moment of silence as Grog started to pull out his hammer from where he was positioned behind Percy as human’s gaze darken. Suddenly he straighten up as he pulled the gun once more from his target...Only to aim the pepperbox at his own head. “Maybe I will!” he growled into the darkness, the barrel shifting from his own head to Delilah's and back again.
Vax could only watch in sudden silence as his sister took a step forward, her eyes wide with terror. “Percival don’t!” she called out, Cassandra echoing after her.
“Percy no!”
He made no sign of hearing their calls as he continued to speak. “That deal was a soft deal. It was a dream. It was a...Vision,” he noted causing Vax to growl softly to himself.
So it was true, Percy had made a deal with something. But what? The smoke? It was billowing out even more from Percy’s sleeve and even from underneath his coat as he debated with nothing, the others only able to watch on in silent horror.
“I need more from you if you want anything from me. I don’t trust you anymore. Besides,” Percy grew silent as he raised his gun, seeming to shift between where to aim it until he finally settled on Lady Briarwood's remaining arm. There was another moment before he pulled the trigger, a small gasp coming from Keyleth and Vex as...Nothing happened. There was no sound, no movement. The gun simply failed to fire as Percy released it, letting it clatter to the ground at his feet. “The gun is broken anyways.” He shook his head as the smoke curled around his body, even thicker now. “I’m not satisfied. I want my money back.”
There was an uneasy look that flashed across Percy’s face as he finished and Vax found himself reaching for one of his daggers. He didn’t trust Percy. This talk of deals, wanting more and not being satisfied...There was no doubt that Percy hadn’t been himself ever since they stepped foot into Whitestone - hell, maybe Keyleth was right and things had been wrong with him ever since the Briarwoods showed up but he had made a promise to Percy. He wasn’t allowing Percy to bring any harm to the group and he was willing to do anything to keep them safe as he held the blade of his keen dagger in his hand, taking aim and ready to throw if anything went wrong.
It was at this time that Percy’s uneasiness turned to shock as his arm almost seemed to subconsciously move toward his back. He yanked his arm, shaking his head as he spun to look down at Lady Briarwood. Vax allowed his gaze to shift just slightly to look at her, noticing her stirring every so slightly, no doubt being awoken from Percy talking to himself. “Delilah! You are going to die tonight!” he vowed, his voice shaking with rage as the smoke started to grow thicker and thicker around him. “Whether or not it’s a mercifully quick death or a slow and agonizing one controlled by something darker than I know is entirely up to you! How do we stop that thing?”
Delilah glanced around at the group as she came to full conscious, fear flickering in her eyes for all but a second before it harden into dark, burning rage as she shook her head with feeble noises, her mouth was still gagged.
Beside him, Vax saw Scanlan take a step forward as he whispered an arcane spell under his breath as a large pink hand formed near Lady Briarwood and pulled the gag away from her face. As this was done, Vax raised her bow, aiming an arrow right at Lady Briarwood’s head while Keyleth’s hands bursted into flames.
“I know-I know the pain you are feeling right now. I know the rage. I know every moment of it and I can guarantee I can make it worst.” Percy all but growled at her as the gag slipped from her mouth. “I can make it so much worst! Fix this! And join your beloved!”
As he snarled the last part, Vax felt his heart drop. The smoke had grown so thick that only Percy’s head and feet were visible, the rest lost in the column of smoke that threaten to consume him. His feet dug into the ground and as Percy’s head turned just slightly...Vax could see that his eyes weren’t blue anymore but instead a pure void of black.
“Delilah, don’t make me hurt you.”
Vax heard the crackling of flames suddenly stop as Keyleth scooted slightly over to Vex, gently raising her hand- which was no longer lit aflame - and rested it on the ranger’s hand that was ready to fire the arrow, causing their eyes to meet as Keyleth looked hopeless. “W-What do we do-”
“Grog, get ready to restrain me!” Percy suddenly growled from where he stood, closing his eyes as he jolted his head away from the group before refocusing his attention onto Lady Briarwood once more.
“I’m ready,” the goliath said solemnly.
There was a shocked gasp from Vex as she lowered her drawn bow, desperation flaring in her eyes as she took a slight step forward. “Percival Frederickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo the third!” she called out across the cavern. “You will fight this monster inside of you!”
For a second, there almost seemed to be a pause from Percy at the sound of his full name but his attention was quickly drawn back to Lady Briarwood as the necromancer growled softly at him. “You’ve already taken everything from me.”
“I really haven’t,” Percy retorted as he leaned over her, his pure black eyes narrowed. “You still have your sanity and your life. I will take your life tonight but I can leave you your sanity.”
There was a pause from Delilah as she straighten up, meeting his gaze before the faintest hints of a smile flashed on her face. “Interesting,” she cooed softly. “You seem to be...Struggling Percy.”
Percy seemed truly thrown off by that, straightening up as his eyes grew wide as if surprised that she said such a thing to him. But then his expression shifted to pure anger, a darker expression then Vax was ever expecting to see as the gunslinger almost sneered as he started to whisper a spell underneath his breath. At that moment, the air around his face started to shimmer as it took on another form - the form of Lord Briarwood. The skin of the face - no doubt an illusion - started to melt as the Sylas’ mouth opened in a scream...But there was no sound other than a roar from Percy that seemed to shake the entire cavern.
“That pain you’re feeling I’ve felt for years! Don’t think I have imaged every way to hurt you! I could spend years before you die, in ways you cannot imagination. Now.” There was the faintest of pauses as the dreadful illusion faded, Percy’s blacken eyes narrowed as his voice lowered into a growl. “How do we stop it?”
To Lady Briarwood’s credit, she remained calm in the face of that, taking a deep breath as she gave a faint shake of her head. “I don’t know,” she revealed. “I don’t know if it even worked. We’ve been preparing for this ritual for...Five god-forsaken years. All to repay a debt…”
“And that’s all?”
“You forced us. It was too soon.”
“Why?” Percy snapped as he glared down at her. “Why was it too soon? What were you waiting for?”
She raised her head, meeting his gaze with little fear in her eyes. “We were waiting for a particular date,” she announced softly, annoyance in her voice. “There is a time each year were the barriers between the worlds grow and grow very…Weak,” she almost purred the last word before she allowed her gaze to shift around at the others. “You recall Aravon’s attempt generations ago to blur between the realm of ice and this one. What you call the Winter’s Crest. Well.” Her gaze fell back onto Percy. “This is too early. And you saw our failure. He will not be happy I imagine…And I still owe him for what he gave me...For what he gave us.” There was almost a wistful tone to her voice as she leaned back on the wall, her gaze falling toward the ground.
“What did he give you?” Vex asked after a few moments of silences.
Lady Briarwood’s body tensed at that, a look of despair flashing over her face as tears started to run down her face. “He gave me...He gave me my Sylas back,” she whispered softly before her expression grew hard, her eyes snapping up to glare intently at them all. “And you took him from me again. So do what you must do. I know I’ve paid my pension,” she retorted before focusing on Percy once more with the slightest of grins on her face. “And I know that no matter what steps you take no, it will only drag you deeper into this dark hole you drawn yourselves. And you will hear me laughing.”
Percy seemed to pause at that, fixing her a strange look before he shook his head. “No, we really won’t.” He spun, staring up at Grog as the goliath loomed before him with his weapon at the ready. “Knock her out again.”
A crestfallen look fell over the barbarian's face at that, frowning sharply. ”Oh! Fine,” he pouted as he took a step past Percival and rested his hammer against the wall. With a sharp slap, Delilah was sent crashing to the ground once more...This time followed by the gentle sound of two loose teeth being sent flying from her mouth. Grog’s eyes widen as he scrambled after the teeth.
“Check her person for anything...Any…” Percy paused, seeming distracted for a moment. The smoke still billowed around him as strong as ever and his eyes still pits of blackness but nonetheless, Vex stepped forward with a faint smile.
“Oh! I will! I will gladly do that for you,” she said, starting to move over toward Lady Briarwood as Grog glanced up as he tucked the two gathered teeth into his bag of holding.
“Hold on a second!” he grumbled as he moved back toward the group, coming to a stop between Lady Briarwood and Percy as he focused his attention on the human. “Are you sure you don’t want to smash this bi.tch?”
“I do,” Percy responded swiftly before giving a faint pause. “I think we are just going to throw her into the acid.”
“What?”
“Let nothing remain…”
“Wait, wait, wait. What, what, what?”
Percy paused, taking note of the strange stares that both Scanlan and Keyleth were giving him. “No, I don’t feel…”
“What’s the plan here Percy?” Vax growled as he took a step forward, the gunslinger’s attention locking onto him. He didn’t know what the hell was going on and while he certainly didn’t trust Percy - mostly with all of the smoke that billowed around him, is option was still important as this was his home. “This is your home! What are we doing?”
“How-” Keyleth started to say something when the sound of something snapping cut her off. Everybody’s attention was drawn to Scanlan who had taken the opportunity to sneak over to Percy had dropped the Pepperbox...And was how holding barrel and the body of the gun in two separate hands. A sheepish look flashed over the bard’s face as he dropped the two pieces, causing them to clatter to the ground before he swiftly kicked them away from him as he started to back up but pause as Percy called his name.
“Scanlan.” His tone was even as he took a step toward Scanlan, holding out a hand. “Give me the other gun.”
The bard paused, his gaze looking uncertain for a second before he pointed to the two pieces of the Pepperbox that rested not far from Percy. “Oh, it's on the floor right there,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.
Percy’s expression remained neutral as he leaned down, picking up the two pieces but kept his eyes on the gnome. “The other gun.”
For a second, Scanlan looked conflicted before he took a step forward. “You were talking to something out there! What was it?” he asked in a soft, hurried tone. “I was very scared! I’m a little man! Who were you talking to?”
“I-I need a gun,” he repeated, remaining unmoving on the subject.
Scanlan grew quiet for a few seconds, a fearful look flashing on his face. “Are you going to kill me?” he whispered.
“Maybe?” he responded as the smoke curled around him.
Vax had had enough of this. He took a step forward between Percy and Scanlan, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the human with a solid expression. “Percy, what are we doing here?” he questioned as he threw a finger at the Lady Briarwood. “That women deserves everything that is brought upon her but what are we doing for Whitestone? What are we doing?”
“More importantly,” Keyleth started as she took a step forward, a look of terror on her face. “What was that just now? Who were you talking to?”
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“Things have gotten a bit weird!”
“Percy!” Keyleth gasped, her eyes wide as she stared at the smoke-covered human. “You cannot honestly tell us you don’t know anymore!”
“I don’t know!” Percy repeated, a slight desperation to his voice.
“We just watched you have a full-fledged conservation with yourself!”
At that, Percy paused. For a second, there was a flicker of confusion as he was thrown off before his eyes widen as if realizing something. He took a step back, his expression becoming very nervous as he scanned the entire group.
“This is what I know,” Scanlan interrupted as he took a step around Vax, his gaze flickering at his friends. “Venca is possibly, maybe on the loose, maybe coming back? We know this ritual has been started and we don’t know if killing her,” he pointed a finger at Lady Briarwood. “Is going to end it or not so I propose that we all start leaving right away.”
Percy blinked, seemingly having regained his composure. “I was going to-” he started but was quickly cut off.
“Pike!” Vex’s voice gasped as all eyes focused on the glowing gnome who had remained quiet throughout the entire thing. “Do you know anything about Venca?”
“Anything further?” Keyleth added.
The glowing beacon of a cleric blinked. “N-No...Well…” she paused, looking uncertain as she continued to speak. “I-I know that Venca’s first attempt to godhood was stopped by a giant battle on another plane but that was...Centuries ago. Only a few heroes returned from the climatic battle but he was stopped in the end.”
“I wonder what Aravon has to do with this…” Keyleth mused softly to herself.
“And he created a vampire?” Vex noted, a confused look on her face as she glanced around at the group. “He turned Sylas into a vampire?”
“Wait!” Pike’s face lit up before falling slightly. “Um...Venca is also the...Patron saint of secrets. T-The type of dark secrets that people don’t want to ever come to light,” the cleric explained as the group glanced at each other.
But Vax’s gaze was focused on Percy. The gunslinger seemed distracted, wrestling with some thoughts as he gritted his teeth. “I...Things are complex and I don’t trust myself to take her life,” the human said softly as he took a step away from the group, his gaze focused on the ground. “I’m in over my head,” he added with a slight flinch.
Vax’s eyes narrowed at that. About a week ago, Vax would have said that Percy was the most level-headed of the group. But now? Now he wasn’t sure what to think - other then that he didn’t trust him either. He was tired of it. All of the ‘I don’t knows’ that they had been getting as answers for the last few days whenever they asked about his past or his dreams. He couldn’t believe that Percy truly had no idea what was going on. Keyleth was right - he had a full-fledged conservation with well...Something. How could he truly have no idea if he could talk to it? No, there was more going on here then Percy was telling them. And they weren’t leaving this tunnel until he got his answers.
Denouement (2)Episode 35- Summary:
Deep beneath Whitestone, the vampire Lord Briarwood has been killed and the fate of his necromancer wife, Lady Briarwood, is yet to be decided.
The group is split on what to do, they all agree that she is to be killed but Percy, finding himself in disagreement from ‘the thing’ in his head is unsure. But the others want to know what exactly is going on with Percy but not even Percy is sure of what he has gotten himself into.With the group not willing to trust him and the thing in his head taunting him, Percy is left cornered from all sides.
- Denouement (2):
Percival gritted his teeth as he stood in the shadows the cavern, his body wreathed with smoke as he stared down at the unconscious form of Lady Briarwood, his friends all speaking as they spoke in hushed tones about Venca and what to do with Lady Briarwood. While most agreed that death was a suitable end for her...He couldn't agree. There was too much he didn't know. "I...Things are complex and I don't trust myself to take her life," he stated as he took a few steps back from the group, his gaze shifting down at the billowing cloud of smoke that covered almost his entire body. "I'm...In over my head," he muttered only to flinch as a voice whispered in his head.
Yes you are.
"Do you need somebody else to do it for you?" At the same time of the cold voice that had haunted him for days spoke, so did Vex, her voice a calming opposite. Percy glanced over at her, hurt by the confusion and worry that flashed in her eyes but he couldn't blame her.
"Yeah, she is worthless," Grog spat from where he stood between Percy and Lady Briarwood, his form towering over the group as gruff voice gave his option.
While he was honored that they were so willing to help him gain the last of his revenge...He shook his head as he clenched his fists beneath the smoke. “I don’t know if that will help…”
As those words left his mouth, the shadow of Grog fell over him, causing him to raise his gaze at the goliath as the barbarian spoke with a sharp frown. “She almost killed Vex, she didn’t kill Vax. We gotta fucking do something!” he growled as he waved one of his large hands at the crumpled form but Percy only shook his head.
Nothing had gotten better since he started this crusade against the Briarwoods - he couldn’t continue on any further while his sister’s name was on his List...He couldn’t. “This-This thing wants her dead and the only thing I can think to do is to say no,” he explained, as he met Grog’s gaze before glancing at the rest of the group.
Vax took a step forward from where he stood next to his sister, glaring at Percy with a sharp frown. “This thing…?” he questioned as he waved his hand in the air, a motion for Percy to give an answer.
“That’s true,” Vex quickly said before Percy could even start a response before she glared at her twin. “Venca,” she tried to state, causing Percy to frown slightly. She...She didn’t realize what he had meant, did she? Her brother ignored her however.
“What thing?” he growled as he kept his attention solely on Percy. It was at this time Percy became aware of the voice in his head again, calling his name in a low tone. No...
“Venca!” Vex tried to push forward again, only to stop when she saw Percy took a step forward.
“The thing in my head!” he stated quickly, the dreaded whispering in his head still continuing as he Vex turned her gaze to him.
“Your thing?” she gasped in shock, pointing at him only for her brother to push past her.
“What thing is that Percival?” he questioned sharply, his shoulders tensing up as the two squared off.
“I don’t know!” Percy answered quickly, panic and worry flooding his tone. He flinched as Vax took another step forward with a growl.
There was an anger in his eyes, an annoyance that Percy had yet to answer the simple question of what. It was clear he was tired of Percy’s simple response of ‘I don’t know.’ “Well start fucking talking Percival because we all watched you talk to yourself for five straight minutes and we are not going to deal with that for much longer!”
On the opposite side of Vex stood Keyleth, the half-elf druid shaking her head sadly as he glanced at her friend. “Sorry Percy...Vax-”
She was interrupted as Percy took a step forward, his eyes narrowed as his own anger at the fact that they couldn’t accept that he didn’t know as much as them. “I-I had a dream! That-That was all!” he begged them to believe. It was the truth, he didn’t know what he had gotten himself - or them - into.
A look of anger flashed onto Keyleth’s face as she raised her chin to stare at the lone human. “You mentioned just now that you ‘wanted your money back,” she noted in aspiration. “Was this a dream?”
“It was a-” Percy tried to defend himself but was quickly cut off as the druid once more, causing him to flinch.
“Did you pay someone?”
“It was a dream,” he tried again.
“And with what?”
“It was a dream in which I was offered…” his yet another attempt to defend himself grew quite, a pained look flashing over his face as he remembered the deal he had made so many years ago. “A means to revenge,” he admitted before he shook his head, taking another step forward. “It was a dream and-”
Keyleth cut him off as she raised her voice in the small cavern. “Well clearly it wasn’t!”
Percy felt surrounded on all sides, his shoulders sagging slightly as he lowered his gaze. “Well...I know that now…”
“Percival…” Vax’s voice caused him to look up, staring helplessly as the rogue glared sharply at him.
White haired gunslinger shook his head as he glanced between the group, wishing one of them - any of them - would believe him. “This is as new to me as to anyone!” he begged only for the rogue to cut him off once more.
“It feels like you are lying to us!”
Percy opened his mouth, ready to say something but stopped as his hands and arms started to grow warm. For a second, he was confused at the feeling until his arms started to move toward his back - to where he had his gun Bad News slung over his back. Panic seized his body as he realized he was losing control to the thing in his head as he closed his eyes as he forced his whole body to tense up. ”NO!” he screamed...He hadn’t even meant to, it had just happened. There were a few shocked gasps as he opened up his eyes, a single voice breaking the silence.
“No need to yell at us Percy,” Scanlan finally spoke up from where he stood between Percy and Vax with Pike, the gnome glancing at Percy with a sharp frown. “We are just trying to help you. I don’t think he is rational…” he had started to turn back to the group when something caught his eye and he fell silent. Percy stared at the group, seeing each of their eyes wide with panic as Vex turned her bow on him and Vax raised a dagger, ready to be thrown. Panic flooded his stomach as his heart dropped but as he turned his gaze onto his hands, his arms...He saw that the smoke that had surrounded him was gone...
“Umbeamsay! Umbeamsay!” Scanlan suddenly squeaked as he took a step away, moving toward Keythleth as the druid was frozen with shock, barely being able to reply.
“Cashed out...Ansay…” she whispered back, seeming slightly confused on why she had added the last part to her sentence.
Shadows fell over Percy as he watched everyone’s gaze move to him to the air above...Percy swallowed heavily as he was rooted to the spot, terrified to turn in case what he feared would be there truly was. Percival…Do it. The voice that had haunted his nightmares and even his waking thoughts echoed in the clearing as he focused on everybody’s reactions. The drain of color, the fear...They all heard it. But before anything could be said, anything could be done...Vex let go of her arrow and sent it sailing through the air. There was a scream of something unnatural...And hell broke loose.
______________________________________  Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckpaw ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀TC T5 Leader (80 HP - 170 SP) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ RC Apprentice (20 HP - 60 SP)~ WC T2 Warrior (35 HP - 70 SP*) Rosybrown (Forest)/ Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue*Disadvantage Stats
Last edited by Badger on Fri 7 Jul 2017 - 20:47; edited 4 times in total |
| | | | Honey Badger
Former Staff
Characters : Current: Acornstar, Badgermask, Creamsky, Duckpaw, Eveningmoon - Old: Badgerfang, Silentherb, Stormstar, Stormeye, Twistedfoot, Badgerpaw, Nightcloud, Maplestar, Honeypaw, Bearmask, Ryefur, Owlheart, Morningpaw, Creamstorm, Smokeheart, Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, Elmpaw, Stormpaw, Larksong, Amberpelt, Lionspark, Smokestripe, Mottleheart, Storm that Lights the Clouds, Leopardpaw, Honeytongue, Foxfire, Flintshard, Hayglow, Muddyleap, Theron
Clan/Rank : [A]ThunderClan T5 Leader [B] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [C] SkyClan T5 Warrior [D] RiverClan Apprentice [E] WindClan T2 Warrior
Number of posts : 7390
Gender : She/Them/He
Age : 26
| | Subject: Re: Critical Role Fanfics Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 13:59 | |
| Uninviting WatersEpisode 62Summary not yet written. Story not yet finished. Cloak and DaggerEpisode 68- Summary:
The group is fighting for their lives.
Anna Ripley, a figure from Percy’s past and the only person he truly fears, has lured the group into a trap. As they struggle to keep themselves, but mostly Percy who Anna seems to be gunning for, alive, Scanlan and Grog are facing against Ripley while the rest of the group deal with Orthax, who Ripley had made a deal with. But despite all of their work, their fears happen as Percy is slain by the work of Orthax and Ripley. Ripley tries to make her escape but Scanlan, who failed to stop the killing blow with his magic, is unwilling to let her leave alive.
- Cloak and Dagger:
She was here...Somewhere. Scanlan tighten the grip on his sword as his shoulders were squared, ready to strike out as his eyes focused on where he had last seen Anna Ripley, his friend Grog at his side with his axe at the ready. Any second now she would appear and- He didn’t get to finish that thought as the form of Ripley appeared into their view...And right out of their reach with their weapons. Her eyes focused on them for just a second in a quick acknowledgement and started to move away but stopped as an axe suddenly embedded itself deep into her shoulder, causing her to gasp in pain as she took a stumbling step.
Scanlan spared a glance at Grog as rage flashed though the barbarian's face. He was holding tightly onto the chain that linked to the axe in Ripley’s chest, ready to pull it out so he could strike again. That was one way to deal with not being in range - throwing your weapon. He had never done this before but, well, there was always a first time for everything he supposed. Scanlan tighten the grip on his sword as he threw his weapon toward Ripley with all of his might.
The human took two step to the side as the sword flipped past her head - not even close to touching her as her eyes focused on something else and a devious evil look flashed in her eyes. Panic gripped Scanlan’s chest as he Ripley raised her gun, allowing his gaze to follow hers only to see a column of smoke and shadow - Orthax - slashing Percy de Rolo as the gunslinger hit the ground all the way across the chasm from them.
No…
“Another name...” Ripley started, a bit out of breath as she aimed carefully toward her target, the downed human. “Off the list.” There was a sneer to her voice as she pulled the trigger to the gun. Scanlan’s eyes widen as he spun and threw out his hands as he tried to stop the bullet - to make it miss - but it wasn’t enough.
While the faintest hint of his magic surrounded the gun as the bullet left the barrel, he watched as the bullet flew across the battlefield. He couldn’t see where it had landed but his heart sank as shadows and smoke blazed around Orthax from where he loomed over Percy as Ripley’s wounds seemed to close ever so slightly and in a flash of purple, a script - a name - disappeared from one of the barrels of Ripley’s gun.
A scream echoed across the battlefield in response to the shot. The cry belonged to Vex, filled with grief and despair. And in that moment, Scanlan knew exactly what happened as Ripley started to back away from him and Grog with a look of victory on her face.
”Now…” she gasped, worn from the battle. “It's time to go ahead and make an escape.” She whispered something under her breath as she suddenly disappeared, Grog’s axe falling to the ground before she reappeared a good distance away but only for a second. Within moments of her reappearing, she suddenly disappeared much like she had throughout the fight.
Anger rose in the bard’s chest as he started to move forward to where his sword had landed, ignoring the sharp flash of pain of the glass beneath his feet. He could hear the thumping steps of Grog as the goliath headed to where his axe had been left in Ripley’s escape as the small gnome bard spared a heavy glance toward where Orthax and his friends where. He heard a scream of rage from Keyleth as she shot out a wave of energy from her,a thunderwave spell, which scattered the form of the shadow fiend.
But it was far too late - even from his spot across the battlefield he could see the unmoving body of Percival laying against the tree trunk he had been using somewhat as cover. There was no denying it...He was dead. Vax and Keyleth held grief in their faces, having been next to Percy and witnessing the whole thing as Vex floated down next to them on her broom, her face torn between utter despair and rage at the whole chain of events.
And now Ripley was trying to escape.
Picking up his sword Mythcarver, Scanlan started to utter a spell under his breath as his gaze focused on where Ripley had disappeared. No, she wasn’t going to escape. He had failed to save Percy with his magic - the least he could do was avenge him with the aid of his friends. The goliath towered over him as Grog readied as well, looking ready to throw his axe the moment she reappeared, his rage focused on the task before them.
Scanlan wasn’t sure how long he was going to have to wait before Ripley appeared, but in a flicker of arcane energy, she appeared once more looking ready to make a dart for it. His eyes glimmered as he quickly released his spell before Ripley or even Grog could react. A sphere of arcane energy flared to life around Ripley, trapping her within with little means of escape. This was it. It was time to finish this. Slowly he raised his weapon and started to move forward, carefully taking his steps as not to hurt his feet on the glass.
Within the magic sphere, Ripley was looking around in panic at the situation she was in. Her body was bloodied from the many wounds she had taken, looking worn as loose strands of brown hair fell across her face. “What…What the heck is going on here?” she growled, her voice distorted from within the sphere as she turned her gaze on the bard that had opposed her throughout the fight, even stopping a spell that could have ended everything far sooner.
“You can curse, it's okay,” Scanlan called out as he stared at the doctor, any humor he had tried to hold on to throughout the battle all gone with her final deed. Percival had even taken the time to stated that he forgave her. Scanlan wasn’t sure what had been going through the gunslingers mind but the fact that Ripley had wasted no time to kill him… “You killed one of us,” he finished as he drew even closer, allowing his gaze to shift to where his friends watched from the other side of the of the battlefield.
He raised his hand to his earring, allowing the magic to activate as he spoke in a calm but cold tone. “Okay. Everybody gather up around…” he paused for a second, letting his gaze shift back to Ripley with a look of scorn. “Her.”
“I-I’m not leaving Percy!” Vex’s response was quick, taking Scanlan off guard as raw emotion filtered her voice, almost a pled as she sounded on the verge of tears.
The gnome could only shake his head at that. “I’m going to drop this thing and we are all going to fucking kill her together,” he explained as he turned to look at the three half elves again. He wasn’t going to let Ripley get away - this was going to be a team effort for revenge. Percy might have forgiven her, but he couldn’t even think about doing so with what she had just done.
“No…” Keyleth’s voice quietly broke through the earring but was silenced as another voice, Vax, spoke up.
“Yes we are.”
Scanlan’s attention was drawn away from the half-elves when the sound of a muffled gunshot rang through the air, turning just in time to see Ripley attempting to shoot at the sphere that acted as her prison. The bullet simply bounced off, the sphere indescribable by any means Ripley had and there was a moment where she paused and...Nothing happened. There was the faintest traces of fear that flickered across her face, a hint that something was suppose to happen but failed to go off. At that moment a shadow darted across the ground, coming to a stop at the base of the sphere as it was clearly being drawn to Ripley but Scanlan paid it no mind.
The gnome bard instead allowed his gaze to focus back on his friends, only Keyleth starting to move forward. Vax was staring at his sister as the ranger made no movement other to land on the log next to Percy's still body, her gaze on the ground.
"We need you..." Scanlan started to stay over the earrings only for Vex's voice to suddenly snap at him, cutting him off before he could say anything more.
"I'll shoot her from a distance!"
Scanlan shifted in place, blinking once. "...Okay. Get ready though," he said softly as he turned his eyes onto Vax once more."Vax, you with us?"
There was a moment of hesitation but finally the rogue nodded. "Yes." He started to slowly move after Keyleth, heading toward the captured Ripley. Following him was the young boy that had been working with Ripley, a shell-shocked expression on his face as he smartly remained a good distance from rouge and the group.
A few tense moments passed as they all reached the sphere and started to circle it, taking their places as Scanlan looked squarely at the captured Ripley. He held no remorse for what they were about to do - she deserved everything she was about to get. "Ready?" he asked once everybody came to a stop, each stationed on one side of Ripley.
"I'm ready," Vax agreed softly, his voice cold as his grip tighten on his daggers.
"When you are," the gruff voice of Grog growled, holding his axe aloft, ready to make a swing the moment the sphere went down.
Scanlan's own grip on his sword tighten, already sure of what he was going to do to Ripley. He raised his chin to stare up at Ripley, his voice cold and even. "For Percy."
Within the sphere, Ripley seemed desperate for a way out as she placed her hands on the edge of the sphere. Her gaze shifting around as she was clearly trying to think her way out of this situation, whispering things under her breath but Scanlan knew that she wouldn't be able to work her way out of this. This was the end but Ripley seemed convinced otherwise as she glanced at each one of them with a cunning glint in her eyes and a smile.
When her gaze fell onto Scanlan, the gnome bard puffed out his chest. "Percy is killing you right now, not us," he coolly stated before he released the magic he had surrounding Ripley. The sphere faded but before the female gunslinger could even try to react in an attempt to make her escape, they all attacked.
Vax was the first one to reach her. There wasn't even a moment of hesitation as the rogue dug his blade deep into the shoulder of her right arm. Dragging the dagger in a circle around her shoulder, there was a sickening cracking as Vax tugged and the arm gave away from her body. Ripley fell to her knees with a scream of pain as the shadow that had been lingering around her suddenly shot forward, seeming to climb her body and disappearing into the fresh wound. Scanlan was the next to step up, his eyes cold as he reached out and grabbed her by her throat, having falling to just the right height for her to do so. His grip on Mythcarver tighten as he stuck out with the blade over and over, making skilling blows as the symbol of the De Rolos was drawn with slash after slash on Ripley's forehead. As he finished up, he found himself forced away from Ripley as vines sprung from the ground and snaked up her body, wrapping around her throat. Scanlan danced to the side, sparing a glance at Keyleth as the druid was focused very intently as she summoned the vines. Ripley tried to scream only for two arrows to sink into her body in that moment. One in her mouth, cutting the scream short as the arrow found its mark while the second arrow followed a few seconds later into her heart. Then Grog stepped up, his eyes narrowed in a calming rage as he swung out with his axe, bringing it down clear across her navel. There was barely any resistance as the axe separated Ripley into two, more vines wrapping around Ripley's lower part as her two halves were split apart and left to fall to the ground.
And then...Silence.
The only sound was their panted breaths as Vox Machina looked at their kill, no pity or regret in their eyes for what they had done. After a few moments, Keyleth buried her face in her hands as the soft sound of her sobs broke the otherwise silence as Scanlan glanced over his shoulder at where Percy laid unmoving against the tree truck. Even from the distance it was clear to see that Vex had broken down into tears as well as she dropped her bow, falling to her knees as she laid her hands on Percy's shoulder. There was a faint glow around her hands, the signs of a healing spell...Keyleth darted from the group, heading toward where Percy was lying. She crouched down on the other side of Percy, copying Vex but it was clear that their spells weren't having an effect.
Scanlan stood there in a numb, stunning silence next to Vax and Grog. How...How had things turned out like this? They had come with a single goal, to stop Ripley from getting away with Cabal's Ruin and Whisper while also putting an end to whatever threat she posed to the world. It was to be an end to those who had hurt Percy, the last name on his long destroyed list...Even if Percy had seemingly forgiven her it was clear that they couldn't have allowed her to walk away. But while she had been stopped, what had been the cost? There was no victory to be found here.
Despite doing everything that they could to keep him alive, Percival De Rolo was dead.
______________________________________ Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckpaw ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀TC T5 Leader (80 HP - 170 SP) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ RC Apprentice (20 HP - 60 SP)~ WC T2 Warrior (35 HP - 70 SP*) Rosybrown (Forest)/ Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue*Disadvantage Stats
Last edited by Yogg-Saron on Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 23:43; edited 2 times in total |
| | | | Honey Badger
Former Staff
Characters : Current: Acornstar, Badgermask, Creamsky, Duckpaw, Eveningmoon - Old: Badgerfang, Silentherb, Stormstar, Stormeye, Twistedfoot, Badgerpaw, Nightcloud, Maplestar, Honeypaw, Bearmask, Ryefur, Owlheart, Morningpaw, Creamstorm, Smokeheart, Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, Elmpaw, Stormpaw, Larksong, Amberpelt, Lionspark, Smokestripe, Mottleheart, Storm that Lights the Clouds, Leopardpaw, Honeytongue, Foxfire, Flintshard, Hayglow, Muddyleap, Theron
Clan/Rank : [A]ThunderClan T5 Leader [B] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [C] SkyClan T5 Warrior [D] RiverClan Apprentice [E] WindClan T2 Warrior
Number of posts : 7390
Gender : She/Them/He
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| | Subject: Re: Critical Role Fanfics Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 14:00 | |
| Passed Through FireEpisode 69The story was too long, has been split into two parts.- Summary:
Percival De Rolo is dead.
Having died a full day prior at the hands of Anna Ripley, the group has managed to bring him back to Whitestone in hopes that their cleric, Pike, can bring him back to life. When they reach her, they attempt to start the ritual to resurrect him but it seems that something has its grip on Percy’s soul and the group is left to scramble as they try to find a way to free him before it's too late.
- Passed Through Fire - Part 1:
The sun was setting as Pike sat on her bed, her knees against her chest as she lazily rested her chin on the top of them. She was tired...Very tired but she hadn’t been able to sleep at all last night and even throughout the day slumber escaped her. Something...Something was wrong. She felt...Sad, upset. As if her heart was broken but she didn’t know why. The gnome could only fear for the safety of her friends. They had gone somewhere dangerous. Had something happened? She couldn’t get in contact with them while they were...Well, she wasn’t even sure where they had gone.
She wasn’t sure what she was to do. There wasn’t any clear way to try to rid herself of the feeling of dread that was weighing her down. She feared having another sleepless night as the idea of rest seemed like a divine gift but how could she sleep with the knowledge that something was wrong? Well...It wasn’t knowledge, she couldn’t be sure but she trusted the feelings within her even if she hated them. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting on her bed, lost in the tumbling thoughts when a voice broke through the silence.
“Pike? Pike can you hear me?” The simple sound of the voice caused Pike to straighten up with surprise and relief for all of a second. She knew who that voice belonged within moments of hearing it but...There was an urgency to it. For a second, it was nice to know that she was needed but if she was needed...Something had happened.
Her heart sank as she reached up to her silver earring, the source of the voice. “Vex?” She called out into the air, trusting that the enchantment on the earring would, as always, allow them to communicate. But if they were communicating, they were nearby. They were in Whitestone.
There was almost a sob of relief on the other side of the earring as Vex’s voice broke through the silence once more. “Where are you darling?” she questioned, her voice sounding on the edge of tears. Oh no…
“I-I-I’m in the temple,” Pike explained quickly as she scurried off of her bed, one hand clinging to the earring. “Where are you? Oh no, something is wrong…” Her voice threaten to crack as she straightened her evening gown with her free hand, terrified of what could have happened. Vex was so strong. What had happened if...Oh no, oh no.
“We-We’re coming to find you!” the ranger’s voice crackled on the other side, her grief becoming all that more clear but the voice came to an end there. There was a silence, almost unbearable until Pike managed a weak response.
“Okay.”
There was no answer to that as she hurried from her half finished room and into the unfinished temple itself. She could two workers clearing what they could, glancing up as she came hurrying from her room but quickly went back to their simple but needed work. Pike watched them for a few moments, a bit relieved to see the two doing what they could to help her. With all that was going on it was hard finding people to help her build but those two were kind enough to help her keep the place neat and help with what work they could manage.
Finally she tore herself away as she hurried across the temple to the entrance, pushing open the door and peeking out. There was a slight wind causing her hair, a bit messy due to her lack of sleep, to brush against her face. Before her was a group of five making for the temple, Vox Machina. There was the slightest bit of relief to see them but her expression quickly fell. There was normally six…
“I knew something was wrong,” she whispered as they drew closer, raising her hand as she stared at every single one of them. Vex, Vax, Keyleth, Scanlan, Grog...They all had a crestfallen look of defeat across their faces, none looking like they had a good rest but at least they looked like they had one. “Where is he?” Pike managed as she realized Percy was the one missing, only to quickly see the limp body of the gunslinger over Grog’s shoulder.
Oh no...
Her breath caught in her throat as she quickly pushed the door open even more to allow them to slip in as she turned and headed for her two helpers. “Can you get us a table, please?” she asked, their heads quickly shooting up in surprise as she addressed them but as they caught sight of the group silently entering without a sound, they nodded as they picked up one of the tables that had been placed at the side and moved it to the middle of the room.
There was a look of shock and horror in their faces as Grog gently placed Percy down on the table, no doubt recognizing one of the leaders of Whitestone but they didn’t say a word and backed away, giving the group much needed room.
“Pike can you do something?” Vex finally broke the silence as she tearfully looked at the small gnome. “Can you help him?”
Pike was used to the others coming to her for healing and it wasn’t something she minded. She adored helping them but as she looked around at the group, there was a discomfort in the air. Never before had she been so needed. This...This wasn’t the first death in the party but she had normally been there to resurrect them right away or at least somebody had been there to resurrect! But now? It was clear that they had come all this way just for her. She could only guess that Percy had been dead for almost a day if when her feeling of grief overtook her was any sign of that moment.
“I-I’m pretty sure I can try,” she sighed softly as she stared up at the unmoving body of Percy. It was hard, looking at the still body but she couldn’t deny there was almost a look of peace on his face. But she wasn’t sure if that made her feel any better or if it just made her feel worse.
A heavy hand was placed on top of her head but she barely reacted to the weight as a gruff voice spoke up. “We’re with you Pike,” Grog said softly, his eyes warm as Pike looked up at the goliath that towered over her.
Beside him, Keyleth nodded as she gazed down at the gnome. “Whatever we can do to help.”
“Okay,” Pike sighed softly as she brushed a hand across her face, moving some of her hair from in front of her face as the druid went on.
“We just knew we couldn’t do this without you.”
The white haired cleric blinked at that, her heart sinking a little more. She had already put that together but to hear those words just made it all that much worst. What if something went wrong? What if...No, no time to think about those things. “Um, okay…” she started as she tried to recall what exactly what spells of hers could be used in this situation. “I have two spells I can use. Raise Dead and Resurrection. Resurrection needs a diamond worth a thousand gold…”
“I have a diamond,” Vex stated, her voice even as she stared at the gnome from where she stood on the other side of the table.
“Raise Dead only needs a diamond worth five hundred gold however,” she pointed out lightly.
Scanlan spoke up from next to Vex, almost hidden thanks to both him and Pike’s short stature as gnomes. “I dunno Vex, we could save five hundred gold.”
There was a look of annoyance that flooded over Vex’s face as she turned her gaze to look at him, reaching into a bag she kept safely at her side and pulled out a rather large, beautiful diamond. Pike would have called it priceless if it wasn’t for the fact it very much had a price in this moment.
Pike watched Vex with interest, surprise on her face. For as long as she had known the ranger, Vex has been very keen on one thing - saving money. The fact that she had wasted no time in pulling out this diamond was almost shocking to the cleric as she raised her voice. “Well, we could save a little money,” she offered lightly as the whole group looked at her with a flicker of their own shock that their beloveded Pike would say such a thing but there was an amusement in all of their gazes which caused her heart to rise.
“No Pike no!” Scanlan gasped, but there was a lightness to the tone that was sorely needed in moments like these but then there was a pause before he spoke up again. “Well, we could buy him a-a better tombstone if we had the extra money!” He noted rather cheerfully causing Vex to give him an almost horrified look.
“That’s terrible Scanlan! That is terrible!”
Pike had taken the moment to scan the still body of Percy, her eyes glimmering for a second as she noticed something that she couldn’t help but add to the situation. “His glasses are broken! We can fix his glasses!” she added almost as cheerfully as Scanlan had, before pausing as she noticed the necklace she had given Percy was gone. All that remained was the chain...Her heart dropped as she realized that her gift had triggered but had not been enough to save him.
There was a soft moment of silences as both Vex and Scanlan almost seemed to agree with Pike’s suggestion before Vax spoke up from where he stood near the head of the table, between his sister and Keyleth. “This is-This is Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski De Rolo the third!” he said firmly, causing the whole group to stare at him in slight amazement at the fact that he had gotten Percy’s full name entirely right with no issue but Vax focused his gaze onto his sister. “He needs a large ass diamond so pull out the biggest one you have.”
There was a faint smile that flooded onto Vex’s face as she held out the diamond across the table toward Pike, making sure to hold it low enough that the gnome could reach it. “I’ve got a thousand gold diamond,” she stated with a slight nod of her head.
“We’re rolling it out,” Grog mused from where he stood next to Pike as the small cleric smiled as she held the diamond, seeming even larger in her small hands.
“Let’s do this. He is a De Rolo, he deserves the best.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything was set for the ritual to begin. Taking her place, the diamond resting in her hands, she closed her eyes as holy energy started to flood through her body. It was a warmth to the spell that she found comfort in as she allowed the divine energy course through her and allowed her to reach out into the Astral Sea. It should have been easy to find the soul of Percy, she knew him well but...She couldn’t.
She wasn’t sure how long she sat there searching, faintly aware of the sounds of reality, of her friends, moving around her in discomfort. Surely they had realized the spell never normally took this long. She focused as intently as she could on the energy of Percy, certain that she could sense it out there but...No, it wasn’t just that she couldn’t find him, it was blocked. Within her vision was blurred darkness. She couldn’t get around it but she was certain that Percy laid on the other side.
“I...I…” she tried to form words as she allowed herself to be pulled slightly from the spell. The darkness grew even more blurry but she held onto the sight, of the spell, as she heard her friends shift even more at her struggle to find the words to describe what was going on.
“Pikey?” Grog’s voice echoed in her head, a comfort but there was a worry in it. Even he was aware something was wrong.
Pike dreaded the next few words that came from her mouth. “I-I can’t find him,” she admitted into the darkness, biting her tongue as she heard the shocked gasps of her friends.
“What?” There was a panic to Vex’s tone as she cut the silences that had reigned for just a few moments. “What do you mean you can’t find him?”
“S-Something is blocking the spell or…” Pike struggled to find the words, not even sure what was going on with the spell herself. “I can feel him, he is out there but something is keeping me from him. I just...I don’t know what…”
“Is it Orthax?” The quick response from Vex caught Pike off guard, mostly due to the fact that she hadn’t heard the name in...Had it been two months now? Certainly it had been around two months. What had happened? They hadn’t spoken of what had happened, of how Percy had died and she was left to pick up what pieces she could. Certainly if they were talking about Orthax, they must have had ran into him but hadn’t they had defeated him those two months ago?
“I-Its Orthax. Its Orthax! It has to be!” Vax echoed after his twin, panic in his tone as well. There was no answer to that question, nothing was said but Pike heard the sound of movement, of something being retrieved from a bag as a cold weight was placed in her lap. What…? She couldn’t tell for sure what had been given to her but the vision before suddenly became cleared as her heart sank even more.
The darkness that she had seen was still there but there was a form to it, smoke swirling and hiding its obsidian body. It wasn’t facing her, it hadn’t even paid her any mind but she recognized it. It was indeed Orthax. Her mouth opened as she tried to form the words to describe to her friends of what she could see but the words were stolen from her mouth. The black body was bend, claws ripping at something within the smoke. Pike was still able to sense Percy’s soul...But it was within the darkness.
She rose her hands to her mouth, finally finding words to say despite the horror that flooded through her. “Oh...Oh no,” she whispered as she took in the scene before her. “It is Orthax and he is...Oh…” She swallowed as she wanted to deny what she saw but the others...The others needed to know. They had to do something. “He has Percy’s soul and is...He is feasting on it.”
There was an unbearable silence that followed as Pike forced herself to stop the channeling of the spell. She couldn’t bear to see what was happening to Percy and she opened her eyes only to see despair and shock written across each of her friend’s faces as they took in the words she had said. In her lap next to the diamond was an object she recognized as a pepperbox - a creation of Percy’s and no doubt what had been handed to her to strength her vision within the spell. There was a dark weight to it that only strength that idea and looking over it, she realized that this hadn’t been created by Percy...But then by who?
Finally, a voice broke the silence. Scanlan. He stood next to Pike, barely towering over her as she sat on the ground due to their common short height as he stared at the weapon she had in her lap. “In the gun?” he asked, as he shifted on his feet. “What…” there was a tone of helplessness to his voice, clearly lost on what to do.
“What do we-How do we...How do we…Draw him out?” Vex was the next to speak up, fear flashing in her vision as she allowed her gaze to shift across the group as she sought for some type of answer from anybody in the group.
“Do we…” Keyleth fidged where she stood, looming over Pike as she glanced down at the gun that the cleric was holding. “Do we try to destroy the gun again? Do we do this again?”
Destroy the gun again? Oh that was an idea...That was how they had gotten rid of Orthax the first time, hadn’t it? Scanlan had managed to convince Percy to hand him the gun with a spell only to throw it into the acid...Percy hadn’t been happy but it had gotten rid of Orthax for good...Well, at least she had thought it would have but it seems like it was otherwise.
“If we carve his name back on the barrel, what if we…” Grog’s heavy voice cut through the air as the barbarian tried to put his idea out but drifted off, seeming unconvinced of it himself.
“What if we use that scroll to go to him now?” Vax questioned from where he stood.
Scroll? What scroll? Pike frowned slightly in confusion, a little upset with how locked out of the loop she was but everybody else seemed to nod in agreement at the idea of the scroll. Clearly it was an object that they had found, no doubt a spell scroll but she wasn’t sure what kind of spell it would be. They were just being far to vague for her to be of any help.
“We can pull him out!” Vex gasped, clearly overjoyed with the idea that her brother had put forward. There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she glanced around the group.
“Go to Percy?” Scanlan asked with a frown as he looked at the much taller rogue who had put the idea of using the scroll forward.
Grog however, was the one to answer the bard’s question. “Or go to Orthax.”
“We can pull Orthax through the gate-” Vex tried to put forward, only to be cut off by her twin.
“Or kill him on his home turf and kill him for real.”
As Vax finished, there was a moment of silence - of hesitation - in the group at his idea. Pike herself felt unsure about it. There was something off...She knew little about shadow fiends, having enough knowledge to recognize one and recalled being the one that had put a name to what had been haunting Percy those months ago when they had saw it. After they had killed it, she had even looked into it a little further. However there was something that bothered her, letting herself get lost in thought as she tried to recall what it was as the others continued to talk.
“Can he be killed?” Scanlan questioned, uncertainly in his voice. “He isn’t really-”
Keyleth cut him off, shaking her head. “He is a shadow fiend,” she noted, her eyes narrowed in thought as she glanced at Vax. “He is a shadow fiend. Does that mean we have to kill him on his own turf?”
Vax simply blinked at her, opening his mouth. “I…”
“Orthax isn’t on his home plane!” Pike suddenly gasped, the information she had been searching for finally registering in her mind. It had taken destroying Percy’s gun the first time to get rid of him even after they had destroyed him. She felt all of their gazes land on her as she glanced back at them, taking in a deep breath. “H-He wasn’t sent back to his home plane when you killed him. No, a shadow fiend like him…” Her gaze drifted down to the pepperbox in her hand. “He is staying on this plane using his connection to this weapon.”
“So we need to destroy the gun…” Vex mused after a few moments of silence to let Pike’s words sink in.
At that, both Keyleth and Vax nodded at the ranger’s words. “Destroy the gun,” the both said at the same time, sharing a knowing look at each other.
Pike shifted at that, frowning slightly. While destroying the gun was indeed one way to end this, she was certain there was another way. “Or...If we had a way to break the connection.” As she said that, there was a glimmer in her eyes as another memory came to her mind. “Li-Like how I had broken that connection between that sword and Grog that one time…”
It wasn’t a pleasant memory, watching her best friend suddenly collapse in the snow out of the blue only for when the rest of the group to get there, he was dead. She had been lucky enough to bring Grog back with the help of their friends and recalled breaking the connection the sword had put between it and Grog before they had sent the sword into another plane to get rid of it for good. But if they could do that again, then they didn’t need to even worry about trying to find a way to destroy the gun and perhaps they could save Percy’s soul even faster...Only there was a slight catch...
“How did you do that Pikey?” Scanlan asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder, Keyleth echoing the question as well.
She didn’t know. It hadn’t been all that long since that moment, just barely under a month but it felt like so much had happened between that time and now that she couldn’t recall what spell it was. “I...I’m trying to remember!” she gasped, lowering her head into her hands as she tried to bring up the name of the spell she had used. Why couldn’t she remember it at such an important moment? “I’m trying to remember…”
“Wasn’t it…” Keyleth started before drifting off as she tried to recall the spell that the cleric had used.
Scanlan piped up from where he stood next to Pike, a clever glint in his eyes as he spoke. “Can we throw the gun into the-the-”
The druid cut him off before he could finish what he was saying. “Banish it?”
The gnome bard shook his head as he raised one of his hands, making a little circle out of one of his fingers and his thumb. “The little...The little hole under Whitestone castle?”
That caused Pike to pause in her thoughts as she glanced at her fellow gnome. The hole...Did he mean the sphere of darkness? That was certainly an option but they still had no idea what happened to the things that went there.
“There is also still acid here,” Vax tried to put forward only to be cut off by his sister as the ranger turned to look at Scanlan with a grin.
“Yeah! Yeah!” She nodded her head in excitement at what the bard’s option of what to do. “What if we brought the gun in front of the circle? It cancels out the magic!”
There was a slight excitement in the air as Keyleth’s eyes glimmered at that, a small smile on her face. “Like put it in the circle?” she questioned.
Vex gave her a small frown. “Or just bring it there.”
“But is it...Is it magi- Is it like an arcane magic like that?”
“I don’t know!” Vex sighed as she shook her head. “But we could try-”
“There is acid here,” Scanlan interrupted her.
Vax nodded at that, happy that somebody else remembered the fact that there was acid. “There is acid-” He was quickly interrupted by Scanlan as the bard continued to speak.
“We could do the same exact thing.”
Pike...Wasn’t sure on how she felt about that. Sure, it had worked the first time but was it necessary to do it again? If she could just recall the spell...Percival had been upset as it was when Scanlan threw the Pepperbox into the acid the first time. Certainly he would want them to hold onto this gun, wouldn’t he? But they needed the spell...What spell had it been?
“We could just repeat history Scanlan,” Vax noted with a faint sigh.
“How-”
“I-I think it was Greater Restoration!” she interrupted once more, the name of the spell finally coming to her. How could she forget? She was certain it had been Greater Restoration she had used to separate Grog and that sword but...Her gaze shifted down to the gun in her lap. “To the gun? Is that even going to make any sense?” The sword at least had been outright evil - it had been the one that had taken Grog’s soul. But it wasn’t the gun that had Percy’s soul...Was it even possible that cleansing the gun truly save Percy from Orthax?
She felt a large hand fall onto her shoulder and looked up to see Keyleth looking down at her, a faint smile on her face. “Pike I-I can try Greater Restoration if you want to save your healing magic,” she offered, holding out a hand.
“Yeah!”
“Do it! Do it!”
While both Scanlan and Grog were both to quick to support this claim, Pike found herself hesitation. Would it even work? It was better for Keyleth to try then her so she could hold onto her spells but…
“Do you want me…?” Keyleth spoke up once more, causing Pike to focus on the druid again. There was the slightest look of pain in the half elf’s eyes as her hand started to pull back but paused as Pike picked up the gun and held it out.
“In case this doesn’t work I-I’ll…” she drifted off as the druid gave her a small smile, taking the gun from her before stepping back.
The druid let out a soft sigh as she tighten her grip on the pepperbox, closing her eyes as she started to utter a spell under her breath. Her hands started to glow with a faint green druidic energy as she spell started to get underway. The group watched in silence as her body suddenly jolted, traces of a horrified look flashing across her face which grimmly told Pike that she was seeing the same thing she had seen in her trace. It was a good sign at least.
Keyleth’s gaze grew hard as she shifted the gun in her grasp so that only one hand was holding it, reaching out with the other hand toward nothing. But then her hand clenched and started to jolt around like she was holding something that was fighting back. The string! Pike’s heart picked up as she recalled having to break a string between Grog and the sword. It was working! It was really working!
The half-elf turned her wrist in a twisting motion, no doubt snapping the string she saw in her vision. There was a few moments of silence before Keyleth suddenly shouted. “Percy!” There was despair in it as she reached out toward nothing, calling for the gunslinger as her eyes flashed open. “Pike go!” she sobbed as she turned her attention onto the cleric. In the druid’s hand the pepperbox suddenly flared with dark purple energy. Pike saw script written on the barrel suddenly disappear leaving the barrels cleaned.
“Pike! Do it!”
Keyleth’s voice snapped Pike out of her shocked trace at what had happened with the gun, quickly giving a nod as she held the diamond to her chest and started to recite the resection spell under her breath once more. She felt the holy energy rise through her as she closed her eyes, letting her vision shift back to the astral plane. There was a warmness to it this time as she focused on Percival. Her vision narrowed as she spotted the soul of the gunslinger...Tattled from Orthax, but whole. They had saved him.
It was now time to bring him back to the material plane. She sent out a wave of holy energy toward the human’s soul, her way of begging him to take notice of them as the ritual made the connection. Her eyes flickered open as the symbols she had drawn around flared to life with a faint light as she gave a relieved nod to her friends. “The ritual is started,” she sighed happily. “Who wants to go first?”
There was a faint moment of hesitation as everybody looked at each other, silently deciding who would be the first of the three to make a contribution to the ritual. While the spell could be done with no contribution or less than the needed three, it was a way for them to call out for the soul in hopes of the spell succeeding and the soul being returned...Of course what was said and done was very important and Pike knew that none of them wanted to mess it up.
Finally Vex stepped forward, leaning over Percy’s body as she started to sort through the pockets of his coat, no doubt looking for something to help aid her attempt in the ritual. “Uh...Hey, Vex,” Keyleth called nervously from where she stood, watching the ranger pull objects from the coat only to put them back in dissatisfied with what she had found. “Will you look for that raven skull I gave him while you are at it?”
“Sure,” the ranger said absentmindedly before pausing as she pulled out a letter from one of the pockets. She flipped it over with a curious look, putting it down but not back into the pocket as she countuined her search. Finally she pulled out a shard of green glass with a faint smile as she studied the object she had taken from his pocket. There was a faint moment then as she paused and glanced at Percy. “Oh...The skull is on a necklace,” she noted as she reached out and gently pulled the skull from where it had been tucked into his coat, indeed on a string around his neck.
Grog leaned forward from where he towered over the group, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the green glass that Vex was holding. “What is that?”
“Its, um…” Vex held up the small green shard, letting it glint off the fading sunlight that filtered through the unfinished temple. “He says is suppose to amplify magic right?”
“Hmhm,” Scanlan agreed with a faint nod of his head before he paused. “I think.”
It was enough of an answer for Vex as she took a closer step to Percy, placing the shard of glass onto his chest as she took a deep breath. “Percy, I don’t know if you can hear me but…” She shifted on her feet, as she stared down at the peaceful face of the unmoving human. “That day in Syngorn was one of the best moments of my life and not because of what you might think. It wasn’t because of my father or the title...It was because of Whitestone. It was because of you.” Her voice cracked slightly as she forced herself to continue on, her whole body shaking slightly.
“You allowed me to be a part of the thing that you hold dearest and I was so proud. But I don’t want to be here if you’re not. Whitestone still needs you darling.” There was a moment of hesitation. “I still need you here.” There was another pause as she took in a deep breath, leaning down and kissing Percy. Pike could see shock flash through her friends faces at this gesture other than Vax who simply watched on in silence. After a few moments, Vex pulled back as she kept her head bent. “I should have told you. It’s yours.”
With that, Vex stepped back as part of the ritual circle flared even brighter than the dim glow it had held before. One third of the contributions was made and now the question was left of who would go next. There was another moment of hesitation in the group as they glanced at one another. The people who made the contribution was important - they had to bring something that only they could to the whole thing. Vex was a clear choice and while Pike was certain that Keyleth would give a contribution as well, it left only one spot to be taken...And nobody seemed sure enough to take it.
Then Scanlan stepped forward, a faint smile on his face as he locked eyes with Pike...And her heart dropped. Oh no… “I’ll inspire you Pike the best way I know how...Which is being an ass,” he noted cheerily but that only made Pike’s heart sink even deeper. What was she to bring to this? She was a friend to Percy certainty but what...She was forced to forget her panic for a second as Scanlan spoke up once more. “I know a gunslinger with a white coff-ah, who acted evil and had a bad cough-ah. He learned somebody had possessed his big gun so I threw that desu into the lava.”
There was the faintest hints of a chuckle that spread through the group as Scanlan’s limric about Percy and even Pike found herself smiling at the charm that only Scanlan could pull off in such dire moments...But she still didn’t know what to do as everybody’s eyes fell onto her. She swallowed as she shifted, trying to think of what she could do.
“What are you going to do?” Keyleth broke the silence as she looked down at the gnome, a worried flicker in her eyes.
“I...I just...I don’t know!” Pike admitted in panic, raising a hand to her mouth as she feebly tried to think of what she could do. She didn’t know Percy all that well, not as much as Keyleth or Vex and while she prayed that Sarenrae would help with this ritual, she also knew that Percy was not a religious man. He knew of them, certainly, but she was well that Percy held distaste for many after all that had happened to him. “I mean…”
“Can you sing?” Vex offered up as she looked down at the cleric with the faintest smile on her face. “Can you sing Pike like you did for that little boy? Percy joined you then.”
Pike blinked as the memory of that moment came back to her. She had been trying to resurrect a young boy that had been slain in a fight they had been in, a death they couldn’t stop among the chaos. She had been reciting the ritual when Percy had joined her suddenly. She had not been singing, simply letting the holy energy of Sarenrae speak through her in Celestial but Percy had decided to join her by bringing a tune to it, turning the spell into a song. It had been a heart-warming moment and something she hadn’t been expecting from the human.
“I-I could!” she gasped, her eyes glimmering at the idea of that. It was certainly something she could bring into the ritual, a special moment between her and Percy. She closed her eyes, letting the holy energy flood through her as she started to sing a soft tune into the dreary air. As she did so, she softly begged Sarenrae to help in any way her goddess could. To her relief, she felt that while the goddess could not truly help other then give the means to raise Percy from the dead, she was indeed there in spirit.
Finally her soft melody came to an end as she felt the second part of the circle flare brighter, her contribution being accepted by the spell. The cleric sighed in relief as she took a small step back as Keyleth stepped forward to perform the final contribution to the ritual.
The half-elf reached down and took the raven skull in her grasp as she swallowed, clearly trying to form words to say before she finally found them. “Percy, we had many conversations about life and death. And in many ways you were my total opposite...But you were also my best friend.” She glanced down at the raven skull she held clutched in her hands as she gave a faint shake of her head. “And even though I told you that day that I gave you this that...We’re all going to die and that you can still be saved from yourself, it was clear the journey was far from over and it still isn’t.”
She paused as she closed her eyes, uttering the small words of a spell underneath her breath as suddenly crows appeared from the air around her, filling the small temple area with their faint, low cawing and the beating of their wings. “As much as you might think your journey is not over, just because yours might be, ours isn’t...Because we need you, and I need you.” As she finished, Pike watched as Vax stepped from where he had been waiting at the head of the table, gently reaching down and taking Percival’s head in his hand as black raven wings shot from his back. Slowly, he lowered them to encapsulate Percy like a cloak.
With that, the third and final part of the circle flared to light, the whole thing glowing even stronger now that all three contributions were given. Pike felt a surge of holy energy flood through her as the ritual reached its final stage. Both Keyleth and Vax took a step back as Pike felt her body grow warmer from the divine energy as it coated her, giving off a faint golden glow as Percy’s body started to rise. The shard of glass that Vex had put on his body rolled to the floor as the diamond in Pike’s hands shattered into dust which were absorbed by the heavenly form that surrounded her.
She felt the energy reach from her body like wings, traces of it forming a well above Percy’s body as Pike chanted the final lines of the spell in Celestial. The well of light moved down and the moment it struck Percy’s body, it shot through and cracked the table that he had been laying on while his body remained afloat. The chanting came to an end as Percy’s body was lowered softly back onto the table, the spell finished as Pike’s holy form dispersed into a flock of golden feathers that disappeared before they even touched the ground.
There was silenced. Nobody dared to say a thing, nobody even dared to breath as they all stared at Percy’s body. It was unmoving as a second passed. Then another. Pike felt her heart drop. Had she failed? Had the spell not worked? Had- Suddenly there was a stirring as Percy’s chest suddenly rose with breath and then fell...And then rose again. There was a sob of relief from Vex as she raised her hands to her mouth, her eyes glimmering as she stared down at Pike as the cleric sighed in relief. “Pike!”
It had worked. Percival was alive.
______________________________________ Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckpaw ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀TC T5 Leader (80 HP - 170 SP) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ RC Apprentice (20 HP - 60 SP)~ WC T2 Warrior (35 HP - 70 SP*) Rosybrown (Forest)/ Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue*Disadvantage Stats
Last edited by Yogg-Saron on Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 23:43; edited 2 times in total |
| | | | Honey Badger
Former Staff
Characters : Current: Acornstar, Badgermask, Creamsky, Duckpaw, Eveningmoon - Old: Badgerfang, Silentherb, Stormstar, Stormeye, Twistedfoot, Badgerpaw, Nightcloud, Maplestar, Honeypaw, Bearmask, Ryefur, Owlheart, Morningpaw, Creamstorm, Smokeheart, Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, Elmpaw, Stormpaw, Larksong, Amberpelt, Lionspark, Smokestripe, Mottleheart, Storm that Lights the Clouds, Leopardpaw, Honeytongue, Foxfire, Flintshard, Hayglow, Muddyleap, Theron
Clan/Rank : [A]ThunderClan T5 Leader [B] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [C] SkyClan T5 Warrior [D] RiverClan Apprentice [E] WindClan T2 Warrior
Number of posts : 7390
Gender : She/Them/He
Age : 26
| | Subject: Re: Critical Role Fanfics Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 14:01 | |
| Passed Through FireEpisode 69The story was too long, has been split into two parts.- Summary:
Percival De Rolo is dead.
Having died a full day prior at the hands of Anna Ripley, the group has managed to bring him back to Whitestone in hopes that their cleric, Pike, can bring him back to life. When they reach her, they attempt to start the ritual to resurrect him but it seems that something has its grip on Percy’s soul and the group is left to scramble as they try to find a way to free him before it's too late.
- Passed Through Fire - Part 2:
There was another moment of silence but this was far more bearable as relief flooded through everybody at the spell being a success. Finally Scanlan took a step forward as he studied the now living gunslinger. “It's so quiet…” he mused before he glanced at his friends. “We should just let him sleep.”
“Percy?” Grog called out softly, ignoring what the bard had just said.
Percy failed to stir to conscious at the goliath’s call, still laying unmoving other than the now steady rise and fall of his chest.
Pike sighed from where she stood, the stress of pulling off that ritual along with the strain it put on her plus the fact she had gotten no sleep the night prior...She felt like she could collapse where she stood as she shook her head. “This is too fucking much man,” she muttered under her breath, pausing as she saw all of her friends look at her with a shocked look.
“Pike!” Scanlan gasped from the other side of the table. “You’re in a temple! Don’t curse!”
A chuckle escaped the cleric as she shook her head, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t care!” she proudly proclaimed before letting out another sigh. She did truly love helping others but oh how stressful it was to deal bringing back her friends from the dead...She heard Vex call out Percy’s name,worried upon seeing that he still hadn’t woken up while Pike simply shook her head. “Holy moly…” she whispered to herself. She couldn’t wait for the day that this adventuring was all behind them all and they could go back to simple lives without risking death every day.
Pike allowed her attention to drift back onto Percival as the group gave each other concern looks at the fact that he had yet to awake. However, Vax stepped up as he laid his hands once more on the side of Percy’s face, his hands glowing with a faint gray light as his black wings fell apart into feathers that disappeared much like Pike’s holy ones had done. Once the spell was finished, the rogue took a step back as Percy stirred ever so slightly.
Scanlan took this opportunity to step forward, reaching up the best he could with his short stature and gently started to slap Percy on the face. There was a playful grin to the bard’s face which quickly turned to one of shock when suddenly Percy’s hand shot up and wrapped itself around the bard’s tiny arm. “Ah! He’s awake! He’s alive!” the gnome gasped, before wincing. “Ow! Ow!” At that, Percy’s grip on his arm slacked only for the human to slap Scanlan across the face - all without opening his eyes.
“His reflexes are working!” Keyleth gasped with joy as she clasped her hands together, her eyes shining at this silly display. “His reflexes are working great!”
It wasn’t until the bard scurried away to safety did Percy open his eyes with a sudden gasp, forcing himself to sit up as his chest heaven. There was a look of panic on his face, no doubt recalling the last few moments before his death as he stared in shock at the faces that surrounded him.
“Welcome back,” Vex cooed lightly with a smile of relief.
Percy blinked at her before he allowed his gaze to shift past them and at the temple they were in, a confused look flashing across his face as he swallowed. “Where...Are we?” he asked, his voice hoarse as he still struggled to catch his breath.
“Your home...Our home,” Scanlan spoke up from where he was rubbing his wrist.
Keyleth nodded at that. “Whitestone.”
“Oh desu, can you see?” Vex gasped as she leaned forward, seemingly recalling the fact that Percival's glasses were broken.
The human didn’t respond, instead deciding to lower his head into his hands as he let out a soft, weak moan. “I don’t feel well,” he muttered.
“You wanna feel better?” Vax stepped away from his spot at the head of the table, coming to a stop next to his sister as he looked at Percy.
“Yes,” was his simple response, not raising his gaze from his hand.
“Ripley is dead.”
Wait...Ripley? Pike froze at that, the name ringing a bell in her mind. Had she been the one that had killed Percy? They hadn’t seen her in...Why, the same time as Orthax! That had been quite the chaosic day they had liberated Whitestone from the Briarwoods for sure. She hadn’t even been completely sure what had happened to Ripley thanks to her spell cutting out during the period that Ripley made her escape. While relieved that Ripley was dead, she felt herself wishing that she had been there to be of aid.
Percy raised his head from his hand as the news, his expression hardening as he stared at the rogue. “Thank you.”
“Deader than dead, she is torn asunder,” Scanlan added from where he stood, a strange seriousness to his tone that wasn’t often there. “We have parts of her.”
Torn...Asunder? Pike felt her blood turn cold as she glanced around to see everybody looking rather serious at that information. Had they truly tear Ripley apart in revenge of Percy’s death? Then again...Pike was sure she would have joined that moment if she had been there. It was better that Ripley was dead then alive.
“There’s only...Ah…” Percy straighten up slightly, relief flickering through his face as he glanced around at his friends. “That’s...That’s good news. That’s...” he drifted off, rubbing a hand across his face as he let out a small sigh. “There’s only one part we need…” He paused. “Well, two.”
There was a moment of hesitation from the group.
“...Two?”
“...Oh.”
Percy glanced at them with a faint frown. “Did we keep both of her hands?”
Relief flooded through them at that, Vex being the first to speak up.
“We did!”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah!”
“I thought one was a fakey,” Scanlan noted with a frown as Percy turned to look at him.
“I’ll like to see it,” he stated weakly.
“Okay, alright. That’s a weird request…We can pull it out-”
“We kept her cloak too,” Grog interrupted Scanlan, his gruff voice covering the last thing the bard had said.
Percy however shook his head, having managed to catch what Scanlan had said. “Not now,” he sighed, waving his hand in a slightly dismissal gesture.
“Yeah, your sister is going to be running up in here very soon,” Vax noted from where he stood, his arms crossed as he watched this entire thing.
At that, Percy moaned under his breath as he raised his hands to his face. “Oh god no,” he sighed as he laid back on the table
“Percy-” Keyleth started to say something but was cut off as the doors to the temple were thrown wide open. Pike, along with the rest of the group, spun to see Cassandra standing at the entrance of the half-finished building. Her brown hair with the white streak was done in a bun, a few hairs falling loosely across her face as she stared into the temple with panicked eyes.
“Oh god,” Percy groaned softly behind her but Pike paid no attention to that. Cassandra wasn’t alone, she could make out a few of the guards of Whitestone but also Seeker Asum with the younger De Rolo sibling, the halfling watching them with slightly narrowed eyes as Cassandra took a step forward.
“Where is he?” she demanded, her voice filled with panic and terror. Pike was surprised, wondering how she had known to come before realizing that the others must have sent for her before they had come to the temple. “Is he alright?”
“I’m going to throw up,” he groaned from the table, loud enough for everyone to hear.
It was at that that Cassandra paused, straightening herself up as the fear left her face and relief took it palce. “Oh, he’s alright,” she sighed as she dusted her dress, taking small steps into the temple as she glanced around at the group. “You scared me. I heard that he was…” she drifted off, a slight pain flashing across her face but she shook it off.
“Everything’s fine dear,” Vex cooed, relief flooding in her tone as well as she gave the younger girl a soft smile.
Cassandra gave her a small smile back as she pushed past the group to reach the table, leaning over her brother as she frowned softly at him. “Stop getting into trouble brother,” she sighed softly. “Please.”
“Well…” Percy took in a deep breath as he returned the frown. “Just a few more dragons and then I’ll take a break. It will be fine,” he said softly before letting out a small sigh. “I’m...tired…”
He flinched slightly as his sister reached down and ran her hand through his pure white hair, her harden expression softening into one of true relief. But after a few moments, she frowned as she drew back just slightly, her gaze shifting around the group and the area around them. Finally, she allowed her gaze to land on Pike and the cleric knew in that moment that she had put all the pieces together of what really had just taken place. “Thank you,” she said with a faint dip of her head.
The gnome gave her a small smile in return, sighing slightly. “You’re welcome.”
Percy sighed from his spot on the table, causing Cassandra’s attention to shift back to him as she frowned at him. “Get some food in you and stop being so bloody useless,” she scolded lightly as she gave him a gentle slap across the face. With that, she spun and left the temple without another word, her guards shutting the door behind her and leaving Vox Machina to themselves.
As silence filled the air, there was another sigh of Percy. “Everybody who just slapped my face while I was dead, that would have been so more convenience,” he noted, a slightly annoyed tone seeping into his words.
Vex glanced down at him with a smug smile, her eyes glimmering. “Who says we didn’t?”
At that, Percy paused as he slowly raised a hand, touching each of his cheeks carefully which got a soft laugh to ripple though the group. It was nice, a sign of true joy after such a bleak event of struggling to resurrect him.
“That wasn’t the worst of it,” Vax however noted in a darker note, causing Percy to wince.
“No, it really was not. I’m...Very tired.”
Scanlan took a step closer to the table, a faint warm smile on his face as he looked up at the human. “Well you spent last night on a table which is much beneath a man of your station,” he noted, earning another long sigh from Percy.
Keyleth stepped up, a nervous glint in her eyes as she clasped her hands together. “Percy you were…” she paused, her voice low. “Gone for quite a while.”
To Pike’s surprise, Percy didn’t seem thrown off by this as he turned his head to look up at the druid. “How long?” he asked, his tone even.
“A day,” Vex sighed softly as Keyleth gave a little nod.
“Twenty-four hours.”
At that, Percy suddenly bolted upright, a confused expression flashing over his face as he stared at the group. “...Only a day?” he gasped softly, his gaze studying each one of them.
“Yeah,” Scanlan stated, a slightly confused tone to his words.
Pain flickered across Keyleth’s face as she leaned forward slightly as if studying the gunslinger. “How long did it feel?” she asked, her voice soft but filled with worry.
There was a few moments of silence as a helpless look flickered in Percy’s gaze as he shoulders went slack, his mouth open for a few seconds. “I don’t know,” he said with an uneasy swallow.
“What do you remember?” Grog questioned lightly.
Percy’s face took on an uneasy look as he gave a slight shake of his head. “Nothing worth repeating,” he said carefully only to focus his attention onto Keyleth as the druid took another step forward.
“I beg to differ,” she started.
Percy shifted where he sat, clearly uncomfortable with remembering what had happened to him and Pike didn’t blame him. She had seen what had happened to him between his death and resurrection. If he did remember it...Well, she certainly couldn’t blame him for not wanting to dwell on such matters. The gunslinger let out a heavy sigh but before he could speak, Scanlan suddenly spoke up.
“I wanted to use a gate spell to save you instantly but everybody else in the group said no,” the bard said in a light but almost matter-of-fact tone as he reached up to the table, pulling himself onto it as he continued to speak. “They wanted to save it for something else.” He paused as finished clambering onto the table, raising his gaze to Percy. “I stood up for you while you were down and they turned their backs on you.”
Percy opened his mouth, almost ready to say something but was swiftly cut off as Scanlan suddenly hugged him. He tensed up at it, seeming to wince in pain as the gnome continued to speak. “I think that entitles to me one of the guns we found. Just one of them, the smallest one. You can teach me how to use it on weekends,” he noted, his gaze focused on the human that stared down at him with a sharp frown while Scanlan just gave him the biggest smile.
He opened his mouth a few times, seeming lost for words before he shook his head. “We’ll discuss this,” he sighed.
“It’s a hard yes I’m expecting.”
There was a moment of stiffened laughter from the others as Percy sighed softly, freeing himself from Scanlan’s hug as he turned his gaze onto the others. “Ah...It was not pleasant,” he said softly, seemingly deciding to continue on the previous topic. “Thank you, thank you for…” He paused before allowing his eyes to focus completely on Kyleth. “Thank you for what you did.”
The druid seemed taken aback, her mouth agape as she struggled to find any words to say. “Howdoyouwhatywhatywhat?” she fumbled as she brushed a lock of hair from her face.
“I saw what you did.”
“What do you mean you saw what I did?”
He sighed softly, giving her a faint but pained smile. “Ah...It was the only thing I saw.”
Keyleth shifted on her feet as she took that in, silent for a few moments before she spoke up again. “Did you hear me yell for you?”
Percy blinked at that, before giving a small shake of his head. “No. I saw your hand…” there was a pause. “Thank you.”
“Percy…” Keyleth took a step forward, a worried frown etched on her face as she stared at the human.
“Yes?” He was quick to respond but there was a few moments of silence before he spoke again, smiling softly in relief. “I’m glad that isn’t waiting for me anymore.”
“Is...Are you sure?”
“Is he gone?” Vex interrupted, peering worriedly at Percy.
“Do you still...Feel him?”
Percy shook his head as he flickered his attention between the two female half-elves, keeping his focus mostly on Keyleth however. “I haven’t felt him in a long time. Ah...I stopped feeling him after what you did and then there was nothing,” he explained, faintly motioning his hand at the druid. “And then I was here. But…” He paused, shifting uncomfortable at the memories. “In between i did feel him. Quite a bit.” There was another pause at this, letting out a small cough before giving a weak smile at the group. “I would rather not think about it at the moment. I’m…”
Keyleth took a step forward, placing her hand on his shoulder as she gave him a faint but warm smile. “You should rest and get better.”
“I’m think I am going to rest…” There was a sigh of relief as Percy agreed to that, letting his gaze scan across the area they were in and the different members of Vox Machina.
“Bed time Percy,” Pike heard Vax say softly under his breath but the cleric froze as the human finally took notice of her.
“Hello Pike!” While his face clearly showed how worn he was after everything and his voice held a very tired tone to it all, there was no doubt there was a happiness in him to see Pike once again, something that warmed her heart as she gave him a small smile in return.
“Hi!” There was a chuckle of relief that followed the simple word as she beamed up at Percy, all too happy to see him alive again.
“I don’t suppose you’ve had time to - to read any of those books?”
...Books? For a second, Pike jolted as she tried to hurry recall what he was talking about before it came to her. Oh! Right! Last time they had seen each other, he had given her a list of books in the castle’s library he thought she would like. “I’ve read…” There was a hesitation in her voice, staring up at him before she gave a faint smile. “All of them! Just...All of them. And just…I’ve had lots of time on my hands,” she admitted sheepishly...Not that she was telling the truth. Things had been so busy dealing with the building of the temple that she had forgotten all about the list of books she had been given but, well, she didn’t want to disappoint Percy.
There was a moment of silence before she felt the shadow of Grog fall over her. “Pike!” he scolded, but his rough voice had a tone of teasing within, being playful as the small gnome stared up at the towering goliath with wide eyes. Had she really been that obvious in her lie that even Grog had caught onto it?
There was a small chuckle from the group as the cleric shrugged her shoulders, looking even more sheepish. “Eeeh, it was a joke! I was trying to make everybody laugh!” she said as lightly as she could, her gaze landing on Percy as the human leaned forward slightly to get a better look at her.
There was no denying a smile that was on his face, his eyes glimmering behind is broken glasses. “You just lied to me! I’m so proud of you,” he praised weakly.
“I’m learning, I’m learning!” Pike giggled as she looked up at him.
“I’m so proud of you.”
There was a rumble of amusement from Grog as he beamed down at his little buddy. “That was very clever Pike,” he mused, his voice still filled with teasing.
Percy chuckled softly as Pike started to move toward the table, shaking his head. “You should do that more often. I’m-” he found himself cut off as Pike hoisted herself onto the table, her arms quickly wrapping around his chest as she pulled him into a hug.
She felt Percy tighten underneath her grip as he let out a small gasp but she ignored it as she laid her head on his chest, tilting her head just so that she could look up at him. “Please...Please don’t do that again,” she whispered softly.
This got her a faint, but pained smile from him as he looked down at her with a sigh. “I...I can make no promises.” There was a pause as he shifted underneath her tight hug, keeping his attention focused on her. “Oh that hurts. Hi.”
Pike’s eyes widen as he said that, quickly letting go upon realizing that her hugs were very discomfortable to him. Of course they were - he had just been brought back from the dead. His body had to be sore and...She drew away slightly, staying on the table as she gave him a sheepish look.
“Did you thank her for the necklace?” Grog asked, causing both Pike and Percy to freeze at that.
Percy quickly snapped from his small pause, dipping his head in a small thanks to the cleric. “Thank you for the necklace. That was...Ah…” he drifted off, clearly lacking the words to say anything but Pike was wrapped up in her own thoughts.
She had forgotten all about the necklace with the stress of the resurrection ritual. So it really had gone off...But it still hadn’t been enough. It had been a family heirloom, a necklace that was said to allow the wearer avoid death. She had not been sure what it would truly do but she had felt something bad was going to happen and feared for his safety the most, she had given it to Percy with the simple request not to remove it. But even with the necklace serving its use, it still hadn’t prevented him from dying. Had Ripley truly been that focused on taking down Percy that even one save from death hadn’t been enough?
“That was…” Percy was still trying to figure out what exactly to say but Pike swiftly cut him off.
“Not enough?” There was no denying the pain in her voice, the hint of regret that even her gift hadn’t saved him from the fate he had almost received from Orthax. If only she had been there, only if she could have done more…
“No.” Percy’s response was swift, catching her off guard as the gunslinger gave her a thoughtful look. “Apparently it was just enough ‘cause here we are and she had been deal with…” A faint smile flashed on his face as he looked at the cleric. “So it was just enough.” Then the smile faded as he shook his head with a sigh. “I’m very tired…”
“You should sleep in and we’ll talk more tomorrow,” Keyleth pushed softly from where she stood to the side, a faint worried frown on her face.
Percy nodded, agreeing but spared a glance around the room. “I’m not going to sleep in here,” he noted before pausing. “Wherever this is.”
Both Vex and Keyleth spoke at the same time.
“No, we’ll get you to the castle,” Vex started only for Keyleth to speak up, almost overriding her words.
“It's still a construction zone,” the druid noted but Percy’s attention didn’t focus on those two but instead fell onto Pike as he looked at the small gnome.
“Is this what you have been building?”
Pike blinked at that, giving a sheepish nod of her head as she glanced around the temple. It truly was still a construction zone. While the supports of the temple was there, the walls stood half-finished and even the roof above their head was just a temporary placement to keep the rain from getting inside of the temple. “Yes it's...I know its still need some work and it’s not very cozy yet but it will-it's coming along,” she said lightly as she scooted from the table, back onto the floor.
“I don’t know if cozy is really the point,” Percy said, sounded unsure as he shifted on the table. He swung his legs off the sides, wincing with the movement. “I’m going to lie down somewhere soft,” he sighed as he pushed himself to his feet. As he stood, there was a shakiness to his movement as Keyleth swooped forward, her hands glowing as she moved to support him while also using her magic in an effort to make him feel even a margin bit better.
“Let’s get you to lie down first,” she cooed softly as Percy sighed in relief in her arms, her healing magic seeming to ease him slightly.
“I-I can walk myself,” he said as he shook her off, taking a small step before wincing as he glanced around. “...Where is Bad News?” he questioned, his gaze focusing on Grog.
The barbarian paused, reaching into the bag at his side before pulling out a weapon that seemed far too big to be able to be put in there - but was nothing compared to what could be stored in such a magic bag like that. Grog said nothing as he handed the large, long gun to Percy who took it carefully.
He studied it for a few seconds before he turned it, placing the butt of it on the ground as he leaned on it with a faint smile. “Now I can walk myself,” he sighed as he started to move forward toward the exit of the temple, the rest of the group following behind with a nervous look, ready to swoop in just in case Percy tripped or anything of the sort.
Pike found herself lingering behind for a few second as she watched them, taking in a deep breath as relief flooded through her. She was tired. She was very, very tired. Having not gotten any sleep, along with the energy the spell required...She was very tired but it didn’t seem to matter. She closed her eyes, whispering a small prayer of thanks to Sarenrae before hurrying after the group as fast as her tiny little gnome legs would take her, all too happy to be with her family once more.
______________________________________ Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckpaw ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀TC T5 Leader (80 HP - 170 SP) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ RC Apprentice (20 HP - 60 SP)~ WC T2 Warrior (35 HP - 70 SP*) Rosybrown (Forest)/ Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue*Disadvantage Stats |
| | | | Honey Badger
Former Staff
Characters : Current: Acornstar, Badgermask, Creamsky, Duckpaw, Eveningmoon - Old: Badgerfang, Silentherb, Stormstar, Stormeye, Twistedfoot, Badgerpaw, Nightcloud, Maplestar, Honeypaw, Bearmask, Ryefur, Owlheart, Morningpaw, Creamstorm, Smokeheart, Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, Elmpaw, Stormpaw, Larksong, Amberpelt, Lionspark, Smokestripe, Mottleheart, Storm that Lights the Clouds, Leopardpaw, Honeytongue, Foxfire, Flintshard, Hayglow, Muddyleap, Theron
Clan/Rank : [A]ThunderClan T5 Leader [B] ShadowClan T5 Warrior [C] SkyClan T5 Warrior [D] RiverClan Apprentice [E] WindClan T2 Warrior
Number of posts : 7390
Gender : She/Them/He
Age : 26
| | Subject: Re: Critical Role Fanfics Sun 30 Apr 2017 - 23:46 | |
| The Elephant in the RoomEpisode 72- Summary:
Vorgul is dead, leaving only two members of the Chroma Conclave still standing. But while Vox Machina is trying to recover from the harrowing fight, there is never such thing as truly a break of chaos for them.
Story not yet finished nor started. The Deceiver's StandEpisode 83- Summary:
The Chroma Conclave is finally defeated for once and for all.
The final member, Raishan the Diseased Deceiver, has been killed in a flash of divine light and the smash of a holy hammer. All that is left is to pick up the pieces but for Vex, she finds that the cost of this fight could perhaps be too much.
- The Deceiver's Stand:
The battlefield had gone silent. Vex found herself staring off in wonder as a blinding light that had seemingly marked the end of the battle faded from view, the source being around the corner that Raishan had disappeared to. Had...Had they won? Was Raishan dead? Her silent questions to herself went unanswered as she struggled for breath, glancing over at Keyleth as the druid seemed to relax in it all.
They had done it, the Chroma Conclave was no more and they had gotten vengeance for the Fire Ashari. Together, the two half-elves enjoyed the silence for what it was - the end of a fearsome era and the start of an era of peace when a voice echoed across the cavern.
“Ally?”
Vex recognized that voice - it was Kima sounding out over where Raishan had disappeared to. The halfling was alright...There was a sigh of relief at that but Vex realized that the paladin had the right idea - she didn’t know the status of anybody other than Keyleth and Grog, the barbarian nearer where the explosion of light had gone off. She reached up to her earring, feeling the spell within trigger as she spoke. “What’s happening?” she asked, sparing a glance over where Grog was, seeing just a bit of Raishan from where she stood, slumped and unmoving.
“I’m alright!” Another voice echoed out, not over the earring as Allura responded to Kima’s call.
Another flash of relief flooded through Vex at that. Alright...So herself, Keyleth, Grog, Kima and Allura were alright. That only left Kerrek, Scanlan, Percy and… “Vax?”Was her brother alright? She glanced around, rather sure he was over near the entrance of the area and the furthest away from the battle. Certainly he was alright…Within moments, she heard her brother start to say something over the earrings but she cut him off. “Are you up?” she asked, her voice rushed with slight relief that he was alright.
“Yeah…” There was a faintness to her brother’s voice that bothered her but she pushed it aside. He was fine, he was up. That was all that mattered.
“Good,” she sighed in relief, closing her eyes before she called out again - this time for another name. “Percival? How are you?” There was a lightness to her tone, certainly he was fine. Her gaze shifted to where she had last seen Percy. He had gone around the corner, Raishan chasing after him but her death had followed so shortly after that…
But there was no response from the human as Keyleth’s voice filtered over the spell as she stood next to Vex. “Sound out if you are alive!”
...There was nothing. Not a word was spoken as a few moments passed and Vex’s heart sank. But...No, he was fine. H-He had to be fine. She had seen him not all that long ago and…
“Percy?” There was the faintest hints of panic in Keyleth’s voice as she called out once again.
“Percy?” Vex could only echo Keyleth, terror gripping her heart as she darted forward toward where Raishan had fallen. She could hear the sound of Keyleth following after her but Vex didn’t slow down. As she rounded the corner, she found herself halted in horror at what she saw.
It was not the slumped body of Raishan that had caused her to freeze - despite the fact that the dragon was mysteriously missing her entire head - but instead the scene before the headless corpse. Percy was on the ground, his arms outstretched with his gun laid not far from him. His face was captured in a moment of horror and pain and his stomach...
His stomach was coated in a thick sickening crimson, torn open no doubt by Raishan’s own claws before her death. Beside him was the paladin Kerrek, kneeling down with a unfocused gaze as if staring off into a memory, his hands moved in a repeating but rhythmic motion as he struggled to return what Vex could only guess was Percy’s own guts back into his body, them having been scattered by the devastating deadly blow.
It was a painful second as Vex struggled to understand the scene before her, her chest starting to heave as a single word escaped her mouth. “No!” Grief ransacked her body as her hands flew up to cover her mouth, tears starting to form on the edge of her eyes. So much had happened - they had both finally announced their love for each other and they were happy. She couldn’t-She couldn’t lose him already! How could this have happened? He was fine just seconds ago! “No!” With the second hopeless cry as she fought back the tears, she darted forward toward her fallen lover.
She didn’t stop until she was at his side, collapsing to her knees as she leaned over him. She took his head in her hands, tilting it as she found herself staring into his eyes. There was no denying the last few seconds of pain that was etched onto his face, his eyes lacking the intelligent light that she loved...No sign of life to be seen. Tears started to run down her cheek as she snapped her head up to Karrek as the human still feebly attempted to return the spilled guts back into Percy’s torn stomach. “Help him!” she screamed, before she paused. No, Karrek couldn’t help him. Only one person could. Her gaze snapped over her shoulder as she cried out. “Pike!”
As if summoned in an instance by the sound of her name, Pike came darting around the corner. For a second, she paused as her eyes caught the dreadful sight before her, the color draining from her face. "Oh god! Um... But with a faint shake of her head, she darted forward as she armor clanked in the familiar sound. She pushed past Keyleth who watched a few steps away, horror in the druid’s eyes as she didn’t even react to Pike’s arrival. The gnome dropped to her knees as she pulled her bag open at her side, pulling things out as she started to utter the beginning of a spell under her breath.
There was a faint glow that caught Vex’s attention, not from Pike but from Kerrek as the paladin rested his bloodied hands onto Percy’s torn stomach, having managed to pile in all of the scattered organs, and started to uttered a spell of his own. While his hands glowed with a familiar and warm light, nothing happened as a look of despair flooded over the human’s face as his simple healing spell failed to take any effect on the body.
But as Kerrek’s spell failed, Pike reached forward as he hand glowed in a similar way as she placed one of her tiny hands onto the still gunslinger’s clavicle. The light in her hand cascaded over the body, a warmth flooding through the body that had been slowly growing colder every second. As the magic passed below Karrek’s hands and over the gaping wound, the skin started to close and repair itself.
There was a few seconds of tense silence as they waited for the spell to finish taking a hold and to see if it truly worked. Vex could hear her own heart beating loudly, keeping track of the seconds though it when suddenly Percy’s chest heaved with breath once more. He shifted in Vex’s grasp, stirring with a few weak coughs but they were quickly silenced as Vex swooped down and started to kiss every inch of Percy’s face while tears of joy and relief ran down her cheeks.
After a few moments, she pulled herself away as Percy gave her a faint, weak but sincere smile. “Oh that’s nice,” he hummed, a faint delirious tone to his voice as he shifted in her arms.
Vex found herself smiling through the tears as she ran a hand through his ruffled white hair. “Welcome back,” she cooed softly before pausing, her gaze drifting down his chest. His stomach was a giant crimson mess despite the fact that the wound has been closed. His clothes were torn and stained from where Rasihan had managed to make the killing blow, a strange sight while Percy often worked so hard to look so nice. “Don’t look down, you’re a bloody mess!” she said softly as she turned her focus back on his face.
Of course, her warning fell on deaf ears as Percy shifted once more, righting himself ever so slightly so that he could get a good look at himself. At the sight of all of the blood, his eyes widen slightly before he started to let out a loud laugh as he turned his attention back onto Vex. “Oh, is this mine?” he asked, his gaze unfocused as he teetered on the edge of consciousness.
“Noooo!” Keyleth suddenly gasped from behind Vex, her voice not very convincing but it seemed to be enough for Percy.
The gunslinger blinked once at that, giving a slight nod of his head. “Okay,” he mused softly before his body went limp as he collapsed fully into Vex’s arms as he passed out. But Vex didn’t care as she allowing herself to rock back and forth with Percy held to her chest, Pike, Kerrek and Keyleth watched her in silence. But Vex simply found herself relieved that she hadn’t lost Percy. She had already almost lost him once and now the threat was over...But she was simply overjoyed that he was still with her.
The working order of which ones I am planning to finish first are: The Elephant in the Room Has dialogue and outline written, just need to start writing it.Uninviting Waters Need to get the dialogue for but this is from one of their live shows so getting dialogue will be a little harder so this is being saved for last ______________________________________ Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckpaw ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀TC T5 Leader (80 HP - 170 SP) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70 HP - 160 SP) ~ RC Apprentice (20 HP - 60 SP)~ WC T2 Warrior (35 HP - 70 SP*) Rosybrown (Forest)/ Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue*Disadvantage Stats |
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