Death Mountain - Dorjan's Assault

* **Death Mountain - Dorjan's Assault**: Dorjan brings his most formidable undead army to bear against the refugees on Death Mountain.

* + - * +

*Characters involved:*

* *John*
* *Itami*
* *Dorjan*
* *Lude*
* *Noab*
* *Netri*
* *Shura*
* *Sayah*
* *Tika*

**DEATH MOUNTAIN**

JohnAPP 10:15 PM
It's been two weeks since Dorjan retreated beneath the water, and they've been stressful weeks for John. He's been debating with himself the entire time about what the best course of action is, even while working on fortifying the mountain against attack. A part of him keeps saying this is *his* problem, and it's not right that the Kakariko Town refugees should be endangered by his presence. It's him Dorjan wants, or rather, the jar of souls that he's holding. So if he took that jar away someplace, Dorjan wouldn't have any reason to attack the mountain, right?

Well, the problem there is that historically, Dorjan doesn't *need* a lot of reason to attack folk. e.e; In his pursuit of the wizzrobe, John ran across towns that had been burned to one degree or another by Dorjan's magic, and often the residents couldn't give any reason for the assault. Nothing had been taken, nobody in particular had been targeted, and no warning or explanation had been given. It was like Dorjan had done it just for fun. So even if John were to hide the souls away somewhere, or run off with them in plain sight...Dorjan would probably sic his undead servants on the townsfolk regardless. Especially since, as Itami informed John, he can't seem to move them through water very quickly. Dorjan is setting himself up in a use-'em-or-lose-'em situation, so he seems likely to use 'em even if he stands to gain nothing by it. x.x

So the conclusion John keeps reluctantly coming around to is that the best course of action is the selfish one: lean on the protection of the community and do whatever he can to prepare everyone for the coming battle. >.> John has explained the situation to the best of his ability to what passes for leaders in the uprooted town, and of course the same to the Gorons *(OOC: Wish we had a Darunia-player about now)*. Some folk don't seem to grasp the seriousness of the threat -- after all, they chased the wizzrobe off once already, if he shows his non-face around here again they'll just give him another helping! >:] A few who were refugees from Castle Town remember the time Dorjan's mob made a night raid. There weren't nearly enough to overwhelm the castle's standing guard once they were mustered and it turned out it was just a diversion while Dorjan grabbed what he wanted, but they did do some damage. >.> Still, they know he's coming this time, right? So maybe that'll be enough to give them the advantage.

John can only hope...

ItamiAPP 12:27 PM
Itami is...debating her options. She could just leave. She's spent long enough here, right? There was no need to truly settle and work out a living here. Despite how lucrative it is and how many goods can be found on the mountain, not to mention precious metals...and..."Here you are. This should help with Roan's fever. He likely had a run in with a tektite mite while playing. They tend to do that sort of thing. Not too dangerous. This will get him back together in a few days."

And so she's still stuck here because she is needed. Sigh. In the time she had spent since going into those caves, she had been assisting the wiling few in reinforcing their weapons with her magic. It was going to be needed for what they intended to face off against. She, too, had given warning to people and considered the level of attack they were soon to face. "I could erect a barrier, but that would be a lot of time and energy spent for something so temporary..." She grumbled.

"We're going to need extra hands." Placing up a sign to close her shop, she steps out and into the town. This place is doing far too well for it to collapse so soon.

DorjanAPP 9:41 PM
It starts with a single scratchy voice crooning over the inky wavelets from some distance offshore.

:musical\_note:

The scene seems quiet on the mountain tonight

Not an undead to be seen

But that's just an obfuscation

They're hid down in the marine

A fearsome army from the bones of those who've died

All the very best that your graves supplied

:musical\_note:

A burbling chorus arises from beneath the mats of bread kelp which the refugees have been cultivating for food.

:musical\_note:

Don't show yourself, don't let them see

Be the flotsam that floats in the seaweed

Conceal that steel, don't let them know

Well, now they'll know

:musical\_note:

The keenest of watchers manage to pick out Dorjan's blood-red wizard hat levitating over the waters. There's a sound like a fingersnap, not loud, but somehow carrying farther than such a sound has any right to. The first row of bleached skulls surface from the water as stalfos walk up the mountain path, and Dorjan's smug crooning takes over again.

:musical\_note:

Let 'em go, let 'em go

Not hidin' back anymore

Let 'em go, let 'em go

Time to rise and wade ashore

I don't care if they fall or slay

Let the horde march on

I can't take 'em anywhere anyway

:musical\_note:

JohnAPP 5:47 PM
Uh-oh...this is it. 8/ John hurries to the front line and readies his bow. Arrows aren't great against stalfos -- there's only so much surface area on a skeleton to hit, after all -- but any they can drop before they come into melee range will be a help. Scruvo flits back and forth over the defenders, squawking directions as if he had any authority. "Remembah lads, y'got nothin' t'fear except death'n'dismembahment! Don't fire until y'can see the whites of their eye sockets!" John and the other townsfolk start loosing shafts into the approaching wall of undead.

ItamiAPP 1:06 PM
For those who didn't have the fight in them, they were moved up the mountain, risking the danger of its activity in favor of being in the direct path of an army of undead. For the rest, they figured they'd stay and fight. Whatever tools and means they could manage, they've cobbled together, outside of those who did have formal arms to utilize in this fight.

Makeshift barriers were erected to slow down advances, but they weren't fit to hold for too long. "Alright, the plan is simple. There are some crops of bomb flowers that are speckled all around the mountain, but only a few that will be of any use. We need to carefully make our way to them so that I can use them from above. Whether it'll work or not is to be determined," Itami instructed a scrappy band of fighters before her.

"Your weapons and armor are all reinforced with my magic. Its duration depends on how careful you are about taking strikes. We're trying to reduce the numbers to make this a fair fight. You know what you have to do. Now, go!"

Watching the team off, she turns her attention back to the army. "I think I'm going to need some chu jelly."

DorjanAPP 11:09 PM
The stalfos advance slowly with shields raised, weathering the pelting arrows. A few shafts do find lucky passage and bring down a collection of bones with a rattle, but they're quickly replaced by a rear rank stepping up to close the gap. John starts mentally calculating when he should shout for everyone to shoulder their bows and pick up spears (or the closest approximation they have) to poke through the barrier at –

"CRIKEY!!! HEADS UP MATES, FIAH FROM ABOVE!!!" OoO;

Scruvo's warning comes just in time for the frontline defenders to scramble back and avoid a fireball which impacts the ground just behind the barricades. While they'd been focused on the stalfos, Dorjan had floated overhead and taken a potshot at the group. A few fighters return fire, but it quickly becomes apparent that Dorjan is outside of archery range. The wizzrobe sniggers while building up another fireball.

:musical\_note:

It's funny how some distance

Makes every missile fall

And the arrows of puny humans

Can't get to me at all

:musical\_note:

Meanwhile, the stalfos continue pressing forward and are soon chopping at the barricades with their swords.

:musical\_note:

It's time to crush the living crew

To test their defenses and break through

Their blood will freeze when the banshee

Go skree

:musical\_note:

The meaning of this last line becomes horribly apparent when a small group of redeads that had been shuffling up behind the stalfos give their ghoulish wail. John and the other defenders are paralyzed while the stalfos continue breaking down the barricades. X.X;

ItamiAPP 3:23 AM
"On second thought..." Itami began to herself. Would it really be of much use here? She'd have to use it carefully. After that fireball, she doesn't just want the fighters to toss it anywhere without regard or reason.

While lost in her thoughts, the first call came through as her crew signaled to her that they've secured one bomb. She quickly swoops in and waits for them to pull the crop up to hand off to her. "Alright, time to advance up the trail. There's more where that came from." With the live round in her hand, she flew back, hearing that familiar screech echo against the walls before she established sight back on the makeshift village.

"Re-deads!?" She had thought it was just stalfos, but nope, this guy brings additional undead. Of course it's tilted. She can't necessarily be upset at the numbers, but because she's on the wrong side of them, she's more than a little peeved.

"I suppose this is what it's like to be on the other side of a Pirate's fight. The odds are never even," she sneered. Using her broom to build up momentum, she slings the bomb flower into Dorjan's ranks to whittle them down a bit.

"Hey! You sorry scrap of linen! What do you think you're doing!?" She called the wizzrobe out.

JohnAPP 11:38 PM
Well, that helps quite a bit, tossing an explosive into a packed enemy group. A few of the stalfos are quick enough to hold up their shields as the bomb comes in, but they're still tossed back by the blast. Others are splintered to bits. The downside? The bomb also blows a hole in the barricades, not that they would've stood for too much longer anyway.

John and the others recover from the redeads' scream and are presented with a relatively open path to the zombies. High-value targets of opportunity! "CHARGE!" John shouts, hoping to chop down the redeads before they can muster another shriek. The force rushes haphazardly through the breach and starts jabbing and slashing at the redeads. A few of them, including John, turn aside while this is going on to try and prevent the recovering stalfos from interfering. After all, redeads aren't hard to finish off as long as you keep hacking at them once you get in the first blow, but stalfos take a little more skill to contend with. :/

Meanwhile, the one factor not directly affected by the bomb is Dorjan. He looks a tad concerned for a moment by the reversal pulled on his mob, but then shrugs and continues building his fireball.

:musical\_note:

Let 'em go, let 'em go

I am safe in the darkened sky

Let 'em go, let 'em go

Don't need any guards nearby

I'm secure here above the fray

Let the horde march on --

:musical\_note:

Just as Dorjan is about to hurl the ball down without regard for his own troops, he's distracted by Itami's shout to him. Oh, so he's not alone up here after all. "Well hey there, hot stuff. I could ask you the same thing. Still siding with these chumps? Must be something *really* profitable in it for ya." Dorjan decides to focus his attention on a target that's more of an immediate threat (however small) to him personally, and doesn't involve getting his minions caught in the crossfire. >) He hurls the huge fireball at Itami. He'd rather not *kill* her, but if she's half the mage he thinks she is, she'll find a way to survive -- and a close encounter with one of his bigger spells should impress on her what a stud HE is! >D

ItamiAPP 10:51 PM
It was too late for second thoughts on what just occurred, here. Itami said something and drew attention to her. It only just struck how much of a mistake that could be. She could still disappear from here, but now she's committed and she hates that she is and this is all just so frustrating. Admittedly, all these people have been a good source of income and at this rate, this would be the second time she'll be losing a shop to some event and she honestly just wonders if it'd be better to wander—fireball!

Her reaction is to toss up a quick barrier between herself and that fireball. Not enough time to put some concentration into it, so it's more like a window trying to stop a boulder. Still, it gets the job done despite the blowback she endured. Righting herself on her broom after spinning out, she makes quick work of patting out her robe to take care of the flames on them.

"Flaming keese, that was hot..." She hissed to herself. Wizzrobes were a pain in Termina and they're still a pain here.

Next bomb is ready...

Concentrating her magic, she shapes a bubble around her and charges Dorjan directly to bash him head-on with all the momentum her broom can muster.

JohnAPP 11:00 PM
Dorjan smirks. "Oh yeah, she wants me -- huh?" o.O The unorthodox tactic of *ramming* in a magical duel catches the wizzrobe a tad off-guard. Having expected to swat away or even fling back some magical blast, Dorjan can only hold out his hands with the beginnings of an ice blast to counter her momentum. Dorjan tumbles head over heels in the aftermath of Itami's tackle, the bizarre physics of magical levitation causing him to flail disconcertedly. A glowing sphere slips from his robes as he rights himself. "Ugh...y'know, I'm starting to think I hate fast women." XP Dorjan chucks a quick lightning ball at Itami, just to make it harder for her to do that again while he thinks about countermeasures.

Meanwhile, down on the mountain slope, the risky charge appears to be working. John holds his ground against the nearest stalfos while those behind him stab away at the redeads. Just when the last of the zombies is about to go down, though, a circle of long, blotchy white arms burst out of the earth and seize some of the fighting villagers. Startled by the sudden assault and the panicked screams of their snatched companions, the others turn to try and free them. This is a mistake. The remaining redead recovers and gives another screech. Everyone is suddenly paralyzed again, and a gurgling voice comes from the dirt beneath them, growing louder with each second.

:musical\_note:

My pinions spring into the air up from the ground

My food is trembling in frozen terror all around

And one body emerges with an earthen blast

My master's summoned me, it's time to eat at last!

:musical\_note:

The main body of the dead hand surfaces mid-verse, leering at the hapless villagers surrounding it. It turns to the nearest piece of living flesh and opens its impossibly-long maw to chomp. B{ }

**THONK!**

The dead hand is knocked off course from its incredibly lucky intended target by the orb from Dorjan's robes falling on the monster's back where its neck starts. The orb bounces onto the ground and starts slowly rolling downhill.

A curious thing happens with some of the stalfos, including one that had its sword raised to smite the paralyzed John. o~o; They hesitate, then lower their weapons. The stalfos stand unmoving as though unaware of their surroundings.

#ooc\_general

Lude:skull: 1:24 PM
Everybody cool with me just magically bringing the crimson wolfos to death mountain?

So my characters could meet up with everyone

Fallon:fireball: 5:16 PM
I mean, sure. Lol. There's two of 'em for the separate events taking place.

One is taking place close to the peak, the other is down before getting invaded by an undead army. Haha.

NoabAPP 6:43 PM
Permission granted. I could do an establishing pose for that, unless you have something specific in mind. Did you want to show up in the battle scene, or after it? I'm thinking that one prrrrobably takes place before the other scene IC, since the one with the Triforce holders will ostensibly get rid of the ocean.

Fallon:fireball: 10:27 PM
And now I'm home~

I'm thinking of showing up after the battle scene. Or at the very least way late into it.

Lude:skull: 3:06 PM
I'd prefer you do an establishing pose.

You're better at it

**CRIMSON WOLFOS INN**

SpoofAPP 12:26 PM
The Crimson Wolfos with Sayah's house attached begins drifting towards Death Mountain

**DEATH MOUNTAIN**

NoabAPP 6:42 PM
The Crimson Wolfos Inn is headed to Death Mountain along with Sayah's house, apparently. Noab considered ordering the attachment cut when the other building took motion, but really, do they have anywhere better to go? e.Ua Death Mountain seems as likely a place as any to find ~~paying customers~~ people in need of the inn's services, and they might as well move in formation. Strength in numbers and all that.

Now they're approaching the southern slope of the mountain with its winding pathway up to Goron City. Noab and most of the other staff are awakened by a call from the lookout. "DEATH MOUNTAIN AHOY! Looks like there's something going on there!" There's a general push to get to windows and look out at the mountain. >\_> Sure enough, there's torches visible lining part of the pathway and milling activity between them, plus the occasional flash from the air up above. "All hands standby for action!" Noab orders. The workers rush to get properly dressed and equipped while the Inn sails closer.

When will they arrive? Whenever it's narratively convenient for those who wanted to be here. ;)

Lude:skull: 8:04 PM
In Sayah's house Lude sits, sharpening his swords, while he works he whispers a prayer to the goddesses. Netri sits next to him watching his technique.

He isn't able to finish polishing his shield however as the sound of the Captain's voice catches his ear. He looks out of the window and sees death mountain. "Why have we come here i wonder?" His question is answered by the sounds of distant battle and flashes of light.

"Netri stay here with elder Sayah i must ready my horse."

With that, Lude mounts Strife and rides hard towards the battle, he makes sure to thank Captain Noab first though.

NetriAPP 8:07 PM
Netri, who was absolutely bored during this forever boat ride has no intention of just staying here on this big dum houseboat.

She wants to go to deaf mountain too!

Why do they call it deaf mountain anyways? Mountains can't hear.

Maybe that's why.

Lude:skull: 9:11 PM
"FOR HYRULE!! FOR THE PRINCESS!!" Lude joins the battle, rushing and slashing at the remaining redead and dodging dead hands before dismounting next to an injured fighter

Strife, being a trained warhorse knew what to do take the injured and get them to safety if possible up the mountain.

Lude wields his sword and shield and takes a defensive stance, momentarily confused as to why the stalfos stopped attacking.

"Goddess guide my blade." He says before advancing towards the Dead hand and slashing at one of its arms, releasing the trapped person inside and hopefully catching the dead hand's attention at least long enough for everyone's paralysis to wear off.

NetriAPP 9:22 PM
Netri was secretly following her big brother up deaf mountain.

Riding Ponyo she made sure to keep a good distance away so big bro wouldn't see her.

"Hee" she laughs to herself excited to fight, her wooden toy sword at the ready.

When all of a sudden she is distracted by a cool ball! Rolling down the hill.

"What's that Ponyo?"

Netri hops off of her bull and chases after the glowing ball catching it in her tiny hands.

"Oooh!" She admires her new glowing ball giving it a real good shake.

ItamiAPP 9:41 PM
Itami was fairly surprised that actually worked. She put /some/ thought into it. It made sense in theory, but the practice was incredibly risky and ridiculous. Granted, it was a solid combative move. One Pirates have often used, but still, she took up magic, it's been a while since she's had to do anything physical and ugh, she hates this so much.

Still, it worked and she began to make a hard turn to face the mountain when the lightning brushed past her and caught a few bristles on the broom. This guy just doesn't let up! "Alright, up the mountain and--wait a moment...." She muttered, surveying the battle below as she slows into a steady coasting from her previous launch. What's up with those Stalfos?

She doesn't waste much more time pondering over it, but her flight it somewhat slower as she approaches the mountain, making certain to keep an eye on the events below. Since when did this guy command so much authority over these undead? Dead Hand is now here??? Swinging around in an arc, she extends her reach to catch the bomb flower plucked from its patch to lob another bomb down into the thick of the forces.

"Reinforcements!" A smile split her face briefly, but quickly dropped. "Wait, no, what if they're mercs? They're just going to hassle the people here." Hmm. "What am I even saying? These lot will be alright. Don't need to concern myself that much."

NetriAPP 10:16 PM
**Shake Shake Shake Shake** Netri continues shaking her cool ball

JohnAPP 10:55 PM
Talk about your lucky reprieves! First the stalfos (well, some of them) stop attacking, then a trained knight shows up and charges through the enemy's back ranks. The dead hand shudders and turns toward Lude as one of its arms is chopped through. Meanwhile, everyone finally snaps out of the redead's paralysis. The townsfolk hastily resume freeing their companions while the dead hand looms over Lude with jaws spread.

John takes a step back from the stalfos after regaining self-control. o.o; It continues to stand motionless. John briefly debates letting it remain, but decides he can't risk losing the opportunity for an easy reduction in the enemy numbers. His sword smashes through the skeleton's neck, causing it to clatter into a jumble of disconnected bones. A faint bluish glow rises up from the pile, then floats away down the trail.

Dorjan, not being immediately assaulted again by the other flighted combatant, takes a moment to assess the situation. The ground battle is...not turning out to his liking. >:/ Not nearly enough casualties amongst the flesh-sacks, and it looks like there's actually more of them arriving from the sea. Dorjan snorts. "Well, it looks like your pets will survive this one, toots," he calls out, even as Itami lobs another bomb flower into the back ranks of the stalfos. "I would've liked to have this done tonight, but I can *always* make more, and with this puddle covering the temple, you breathers can't even come after me while I build another army right on your doorst -- " The movement of little blue lights in the aftermath of the bomb's blast catches Dorjan's notice. "What the -- why aren't they coming back to -- " Dorjan pats down his robes frantically. o.O;

Meanwhile, the lights begin to cluster around Netri, and an ethereal chorus, more felt than heard, can be barely sensed:

:musical\_note:

Let us go, let us go

We don't want to be wizzrobe's pawns

Let us go, let us go

Before he makes us respawn

Discharge us from the warlock's sway

Let the souls move on

We beg you for help with our getaway

:musical\_note:

Dorjan's glowing eyes flare violently. +O+ "NO!!! **DOMINUS CORVIDAE!!!**" A strong magical pulse washes out from the wizzrobe, throbbing through the mountain. Suddenly harsh caws fill the air from the darkness all around. "BRING ME THAT SHINY BALL!!!" Dorjan screams. DX< Dozens of guay leave their night-time roosts and dive toward Netri and her new toy.

NetriAPP 11:14 PM
"OH! TALKING BALL! how do i let souls go?"

Netri sees a bunch of dum birds and lets out a scream.

Ponyo rushes to hide her under his large frame.

Lude:skull: 11:35 PM
Lude prepares to fight the looming Dead hand but hears his little sister scream.

"Netri?!? NO!"

Lude considers leaving the fight to get to his sister but knows that these people are not fighters, they're refugees, letting this monster go would be a death sentence for a lot of them.

Lude begins his attack. Putting his trust in cold hylian steel, he slashes at the beast's face, it's weak point. He trusts that his armor will keep him protected enough from the things gaping mouth.

NetriAPP 11:36 PM
Netri tries smashing the glowey ball into the ground

Lude:skull: 11:43 PM
Lude from the corner of his eye sees John and feels a sense of relief to see a fellow knight, he remembers the knight of Loranis from their time at the shadow temple. It makes sense that these people survived for as long as they did against the hordes of evil

Lude:skull: 11:48 PM
If John is here then this must be the work of the wizzrobe Dorjan

ItamiAPP 3:22 PM
"How in Hyrule are you even able to continue remaking them?" Itami knows there's a lot of dead to pick from in Kakariko. It's no secret that this village hosts a graveyard, but it seems there's a great deal more dead rested here than the population suggested.

She looks at where he pats his robe and then searches along the ground trying to figure out what it is he's looking for. "Oh..." She could really use that. Without any guidance from her the broom jets off, in sync with her thoughts alone as she moves after the ball. "Hand it to me!" She called out to Netri. The cackling of all those crows just behind her makes her skin prickle, hastening her desire to get her hands on that thing.

JohnAPP 10:41 PM
Netri may have the right idea, but the ball is solid crystal, and a little girl's strength isn't enough to shatter it. The guay descend en masse, heedless of the danger from Ponyo's hooves and caring little for any scratches they may inflict on Netri or Itami. They swarm under the bull, pecking and clawing to wrest the orb and pull it out into the open. Meanwhile, Dorjan, as has been shown previously, can't fly as fast as Itami's broom, but he's definitely going to get there soon. +\_+ "I AIN'T HOLDIN' BACK ON THIS ONE!!!" he yells as he drops, forming fire in one hand and lightning in the other. "GET AWAY FROM THAT DEMISE-BLASTED ORB OR I'LL TURN YOU INTO CINDERS!!!" >O

Up the trail, Lude's strokes have the desired effect on the dead hand. It turns away after a few slashes and retreats back underground, releasing all of its captives. Everyone scrabbles away from it, and for the moment it's no threat, apart from controlling a large area of pathway. c.c; Some of the stalfos are still moving, but they seem to be heading downhill instead of attacking, drawn by Dorjan's paramount imperative. Scruvo alights on John's shoulder. "Johnny-boy, Dorjan dropped the orb! This is y'chance, we gotta smash it or somethin'!" John gives the bird an agitated look. "Scruvo, we don't know what will happen if we do that! What if Ruscov's soul is lost forever, or what if -- " "We ain't got time t'worry about it! Get down theah an' help Mizz Itami, before that blinkin' bathrobe gets 'is mitts back on it!" Scruvo takes off again, and John runs down the mountainside, slashing stalfos spines from behind as he goes. >~<; (edited)

NetriAPP 6:26 PM
"Here!" Netri chucks the ball at witch lady.

She mounts Ponyo and rides up the mountain away from the birds.

"Stupid birds! I HATE BIRDS!"

Lude:skull: 10:48 PM
Lude after seeing the Dead hand retreat and making the assumption that the area is relatively safe, makes a dash towards Netri, he is currently following behind John. (edited)

ItamiAPP 2:14 AM
Itami reaches for the orb to secure it in her hand, clutching it in such a fashion that she slips off the broom and falls to the ground into a tumble. All the while, she keeps the orb pressed close to her while enduring the bumping and scraping of the mountain trail until she comes to a level enough surface to stop rolling. She's terribly dizzy, in a great amount of pain and she doesn't even want to think about standing. It makes her ill just considering it.

"Ugh, all this for--**hrk**--this orb..." She attempted to look skyward seeking out Dorjan, but the light show of that lightning and fire in his hands was just adding to her confusion. "Nnnngh, no, no, I don't think I liked that at all..."

JohnAPP 7:03 PM
John watches the scene unfolding before him as he runs, his mind racing as fast as his feet. o.o; He can see what's going to happen: Itami has lost her mobility and been isolated from any friendly forces. Dorjan is dropping toward her with deadly energy primed and ready. Any moment now he'll unleash his magic, and there doesn't appear to be anything John can do to intervene. Think, think, **think**!!! >~<;

...But John's forecast doesn't come to pass. Dorjan sets foot on the mountain and stands over Itami, hands still blazing with elemental threat, but holding it in check. "Okay, toots, fun's fun, but this has gone far enough," he says with a dry, wheedling chuckle. "You don't even know how to use that, do you? I ain't seen you try any necromancy in all this time." The guay horde catches up and starts swarming on Itami, still following their directive to recover the orb. "Now, you can gimme what's mine like a good girl, or I can stand here and watch my little pals give you a permanent weight reduction. What's it gonna -- GAH!!!" >O<

Dorjan stumbles forward a step, an arrow sticking from the back of his shoulder. "Keep hold of it!" John shouts breathlessly from a little ways up the path. "He doesn't want to risk breaking it!" Dorjan shakes the arrow from his ephemeral body and turns to fling his fireball at John. >P With distance on his side, John is able to dodge the spell without too much trouble despite his fatigue.

Meanwhile, though, Itami's still got a bunch of birds harrying her...and the remaining undead of Dorjan's forces are closing in on John and Lude.

Shura:crab: 11:14 PM
Upon being missing for a little while a strange figure crept from the shadows yawning and seeming a bit perturbed shura had arrived to the battle field but hung on the edge watching the latest part of this battle he growled lowly in his words " all this fighting and no one thought to invite me " his form showed only his glowing eyes behind his mask now glaring at dorjans forces and walking toward them with a heavy step that seemed to crush the dirt beneath him radiating a malevolent energy it flickering off of his body like purple and red flames seems shura already had his masumane in hand as his body took off from the spot dashing into the group of enemy's full force slashing his right side with massive blade one handed the other grabing the nearest enemy and slowly atempting to crush its skull with a low beastly growl

Lude:skull: 1:38 PM
Lude is following behind John. He sees John dodge a fireball and mutters to himself, "more magic.. great.."

As Netri speeds off past them he shouts.

"YOU ARE IN SOOO MUCH TROUBLE!!"

The remaining undead close in and Lude says to John "I'll try to hold them at bay as best i can, Dorjan is your fight i believe."

Shura seemingly from nowhere makes his entrance with a burst of violent energy.

"Reinforcements have arrived."

ItamiAPP 3:31 AM
It's true, Itami hasn't tried necromancy. Something about controlling the unliving never really sat right with her. Just seemed better to let the dead stay dead. If Re-Deads weren't enough on their own and angry Stalfos, there's always Gibdo, annoying Stal-kind and plenty more things that should just not...be alive that cause problems. She can definitely perform a mean summoning, among other spells. Just...ain't much to summon right now and not enough time to do it. Mostly that last part.

"You keep treating me like a child and I'll throw a tantrum all over this thing!" She shouted, curled up around the orb, attempting to reduce her surface area for all that pecking, snapping, and talons slashing into her. Her clothes are steadily ripping and her hair is being pulled every which way. She concentrates an unstable ice spell into her hand and places her hand to the orb to begin icing it over. "I'll make this thing so brittle, a wayward sneeze will cause it to break!"

JohnAPP 7:14 PM
Oh, great. The hyper-powerful wizzrobe is 'John's fight'. =.=; Not that John can argue, he *is* the one who took an oath to recover Ruscov's soul, and having people deal with the skeletons and zombies is definitely better than no help. Speaking of which, a few of the stalfos attacked by Shura are toppled, including the one unfortunate enough to be chosen for a cranium handshake. Others manage to raise their shields in time, or simply aren't within the sword's sweep, and in either case, none are intimidated -- they're just magically animated bones, after all, they can't feel fear to begin with. They strike back at Shura with rusted blades. Lude gets a couple of stalfos charging in ahead of the main group. They swipe at him almost as an afterthought, more intent on following the general order of GET THAT BALL than attacking enemies.

John fires off another arrow, but now that Dorjan is paying attention to him, he can dodge projectiles as easily as John can. Dorjan fades from view, letting the shaft pass through the spot where he was. A glinting in the air tips John off to the wizzrobe's new location just in time for him to jump away from an ice blast. >.<; Dorjan's got a height *and* camouflage advantage in his dark robe against the night sky, and John will probably run out of arrows before Dorjan runs out of magical juice. Not looking good.

Meanwhile, amidst the snarl of feathers, talons, and beaks on Itami, a familiar voice whispers in her ear. "Good idea Mizz! Now let 'em take th'ball. Trust me!"

Shura:crab: 6:11 PM
shura had hoped with what lump of monster he was holding left was able to be used as a sheild as a responce to the strike on his now open side pulling on the body of the monster to move it in the way of as many of the rusted blades swinging the body to try and clip them away after contact " always hated the sneeky mages come out and fight like a man cowward" shura barked out chuckleing " im betting the dead have more of a spine then you " he was doing this in hopes to distract and or bring out the murderous mage

Lude:skull: 9:36 PM
Lude just barely rolls out of the way of an ice blast from above, frost clings to his greaves and the back of his shins feel the biting cold.

He makes a dash towards Itami, striking stalfos along the way, which was easier since they aren't focused on fighting him.

Once there he wields his scabbard and swats at the guay swarming Itami.

ItamiAPP 10:02 PM
"What!? I went through all this just to--ugh, fine! I'm tired of being pecked and clawed anyway!" Itami fussed. her outfit was steadily getting torn apart and she was going to need to replace it. Definitely after she gets herself cleaned up. All these guay attacking her was bound to expose her to some illness of some sort.

She can make out a break in the birds from Lude's attack before they swarm back together around her. Guess this is it. She decides to let the ball go and let the guay have it. "I don't trust very easily, but with my life on the line..."

JohnAPP 7:51 PM
The guay's caws magnify in excitement as the object they were sent to retrieve is surrendered. Several sets of talons latch onto the orb, digging into the layer of ice Itami put on it despite the discomfort, and wings beat frantically to bear the magic vessel upward. Lude's whacks send those that lingered on Itami scattering, but the majority of the throng takes off with the orb, circling anxiously around the primary bearers. Oh yes, and the rib cage of the stalfos Shura was holding does prove an effective momentary barrier against a couple of swords, but the skeleton soon falls apart as it no longer has a soul magically binding the bones together.

John nocks another arrow while watching for the next attack from Dorjan, but the wizzrobe pauses on hearing the approaching commotion. "YES! That's it, up higher!" John hastily draws back and lets fly, but Dorjan floats up out of bow range. The strange mid-air knot of birds and a glance down to see Itami's tattered (though thankfully still alive) condition tells John a dismal story. >~<; Dorjan's about to get the orb back, which means not only that John has missed what was likely his only real chance of fulfilling his oath, but also that the stalfos which have been standing still for the past couple minutes will soon lurch to unlife again and rejoin the attack.

Up in the air, Dorjan faces the guay and holds out his hands with eagerly twitching fingers. "Yessss, come back to papa, you slippery little talisman, and I'll make sure you never get lost ag -- "

Suddenly one of the bearer guay kicks downward hard, shoving the orb out of the grasp of the others. Dorjan stares agog (or would if he had a mouth) at the disobedient bird, who grins cheekily for a split-second before diving away. "Oops, buttahfingahs!" ;D

Dorjan teleports frantically after the falling ball, but his limited range and slow reemergence proves insufficient to catch up with gravity, leaving him swiping vainly at thin air several times over. @~@ Finally the frosted orb strikes the rocky path and shatters into tiny shards. "**NNNYOOOOOOO!!!**" Dorjan shrieks, pulling fiercely down on the brim of his hat and somehow jumping up and down even though he's still floating in midair, releasing shockwaves of raw magic from his 'stomping'. DDDDX< The wisps who'd been hanging around disappear like candle flames caught in a sudden breeze, and the stalfos who were standing rigid collapse. The guay, who'd also gone hopelessly after the orb in blind submission to their standing order, disperse in loud panic, several of them stunned by Dorjan's tantrum and dropping to the path.

There are still a number of undead around, but they seem unsure of what to do. <.> Dorjan's last general command is now impossible to carry out, and he doesn't seem immediately inclined to give them fresh orders.

Lude:skull: 10:34 AM
Lude digs his boots into the earth so as to not be moved by the shockwave. As the orb breaks and the stalfos all collapse Lude breathes a small sigh of relief and takes a defensive stance.

He's thinking...

The stalfos are down, all that remains is Dorjan (and he is currently out of reach in the air) and the few remaining redeads, (they are a ways away from the current party and not an immediate threat.) He does a quick scan for the dead hand and assumes it won't return.

Ok he knows what he's going to do.

He'll...

NetriAPP 10:48 AM
"GIVE ME MY BALLY BACK!!" netri rushes from around the bend riding Ponyo at full speed towards the party.

She tramples the remaining Redead on her way, a good thing too, the refugees will be safe now.
Counteracting their paralytic screeches by plugging Ponyo's ears with her tiny hands and wearing her ear muffs, the redeads prove to be not much of a challenge against an agry bull. Their bones easily break and their rotted flesh almost burst as they are trampled.

One of the redeads try to grab on to the bull and Netri hits it with a **BONK** of her wooden toy sword and it falls.

(If we're being honest, the bonk didn't really do much as she isn't as strong yet, Ponyo just kicked it off his butt but don't tell her, this is her proudest moment.)

Netri circles the party screeching her war cry and glaring at Dorjan
:watermelon:
2

Shura:crab: 6:58 PM
shura growled lowly as he slamed his feet into the ground holding his masumane to block and hold himself somewhat steady his sword somewhat in the ground seeing most of the skeletal combatants fall his eyes were drawn to the little warrior netri on her mighty steed trampling the remaining redeads his eyes locking down with the rampaging dorjan behind his mask his eyes focused narrowing readying himself for whatever came next glad for the oddly well made teamwork

ItamiAPP 9:45 PM
Itami was down for now. She wasn't in much of a mood for getting back up after that swarm came down on her for that orb. She's happy to see it gone and there's some temporary respite, but there's still some work to do here. She lifts her head cautiously to see the damage and smirks. She had to really confirm what she was feeling here and now she can gather to her knees. "Ugh, what a pain that was..." She groaned. "They're incapacitated," her words uttered mostly to herself.

The remainder of the fighters that were left here from the villagers fleeing inside their homes were left equally as baffled about how the tide of the battle has changed. "Well, go and get them!" She gestured with her head, showing the others here were already tearing the numbers apart. There was some hesitance, but the village fighters determined they didn't have much else to lose here after that and went in for the charge to cut down what was left of the army.

JohnAPP 9:59 PM
Dorjan finishes the peak of his tantrum and hangs in the air, huffing. "You...you insipid, mortal flesh-sacks...do you have ANY idea how far you've set me back!? I spent YEARS putting all the pieces together to enslave those souls! And I may never find another way to reap them! All that work burned up quicker than a dodongo's fart, because of YOU meddling insects!" DDDX< Dorjan raises an arm and starts building a fireball for an indiscriminate blast –

-- but he's interrupted by a small volley of arrows whizzing past him. The workers of the Crimson Wolfos Inn have arrived, a few of them armed with longbows capable of firing much further than John's hunting bow. Dorjan snarls and quenches the fireball, opting to teleport away. Soon he's well out of range again, retreating around the mountain and disappearing from view.

The remaining undead put up a little bit of a fight triggered by their basic self-preservation mandate, but they're disorganized and finally outnumbered. They fall underneath the assault of the mountain's defenders, their bones disconnecting and lieing still. A ragged cheer goes up from the Kakariko refugees. :D

John, meanwhile, stumbles down the path toward the spot where the crystal ball shattered. It looks as though his quest has been fulfilled, but... "Scruvo?! Scruvo, where are you!? Speak up!" Never thought he'd have to say that. =.=; The stunned guay recover their senses and start scattering, their natural aversion to humans taking over from Dorjan's domination...leaving just one wobbling and shaking its head on the path. John drops to his knees and dubiously reaches out to the lone bird. "Scruvo? Are you still there? Are you...you?" o.o; The guay shakes its head again, blinks, and focuses its beady eyes on John...then it utters a harsh, unintelligible caw, and pecks his hand hard. >v<

NetriAPP 2:20 PM
Netri hops off of Ponyo and walks to where John is and stares at the broken bally.

"Aww i wanted to do it."

She looks at the bird screech.

"What's wrong with your bird?"

"HEY BIRD!"

ItamiAPP 6:45 PM
Once Itami was back on her feet, she took a few moments to search herself for a potion to utilize. These cuts and bruises weren't going away anytime soon, but this exhaustion could take a hike for now. Once she rustled her clothes long enough, she finally found a personal potion that'd get the work done. Popping the cork and downing its contents, she cringed briefly and pocketed the glassware. That can always be reused.

"I know I don't know you all that well, but given our circumstances, I feel we're pretty well acquainted now," she began with John. "So..." She pointed out the guay. "What's the situation?" She glances at Netri and back to the guay. "I'm getting the sneaking suspicion something is wrong."

She looks at the bird as if she could tell it apart from the others. Truthfully, Scruvo looked exactly like the others, though there does seem to be a terrible lack of chatter. "Do you need a patch up as well? It looks like this whole mess has taken as much out of you as it has your handler," she kneeled down nearby to the bird. "Of course, your friend can compensate for any charges, right?" She proceeded to reach out for it to check the extent of its damage.

JohnAPP 8:06 PM
The guay, now surrounded by humans, gives a panicked squawk and makes a bite at Itami when she reaches for it. Then it takes wing and flaps off into the night.

John stares after it, then slumps. "I...thought this might happen," he mutters. "It was a piece of Ruscov's soul that gave Scruvo his intelligence...so now that the soul's free..." John gives a helpless little laugh. "Maybe it's better this way...a human's existence is worth more than a bird's, right? Especially when the bird's existence was borrowed to begin with. If I'd gotten the orb and didn't have to worry about Dorjan stealing it back, I'd have had to break it myself, sooner or later. Instead, Scruvo did it." John looks up at the sky through bleary eyes. "I wonder if he knew..." (edited)

Lude:skull: 9:34 PM
The battle being over Lude calls over to Strife and stows his weapons, seeing John's eyes and his guay fly away, he knows what happened.

He watches the guay ascend into the night and into the clouds and says a silent prayer to the goddess.
"Safe travels Duke."

He slowly returns to the party standing next to John and Itami, he won't ask about the bird.

NetriAPP 9:42 PM
The talking bird leaves and Netri walks over to the broken bally and picks up a shard, it is not sharp, and the glow has faded.

She swears she sees a face in the shard, Netri goes to call someone but before she could the face fades away, the already fading glow completly gone, replaced by a dull, cold feel.

Shura:crab: 1:36 PM
shura however being on the edge of the group smiled down at netri since he was in line of sight of her his eyes catching her face seeming to see something in the small Shard "cant say i understand any of you all much really ether we dont seem like a normal band of travelers least from what i can gather this land is much more full of surprises then my homeland"

ItamiAPP 3:06 AM
Itami retracts her hand and rubs at it. Just barely nipped it, there. The bird flies off and she sighs. "Well, the good news is that you don't have to pay me for anything," she sighed, looking over her clothes. "I need to get changed out of these and yes, if I had to guess, that Zol-brained bird did know as much." She slipped her hands into the sleeves of her outfit, though they could be seen through its tears.

"You're right, we aren't a normal band of travlers. We just came together in the most unusual way. I honestly don't even know how I got involved, but what I do know is our new found companion is out of a job and I need someone that can risk life and limb to get me ingredients. So, what say you?" She bounced off Shura's remarks to pose her own.

"You could join him. I mean, you both are cut from the same cloth, right?" She gestured between Lude and John. "And with you on board..." She locked onto Shura. "The three of you could turn me a nice and tidy profit. I pay very well. Just think about it," she smirks.

She couldn't bring herself to be emotional over that bird. Yeah, he did get to her. Maybe a little too much.

JohnAPP 6:01 PM
"Wot's with all th'long faces?"

John turns his head suddenly and gapes. 8O Perched on the cliff lining the path is a guay who is regarding the group with more focus than a bird can typically muster. "Wha -- SCRUVO!!! Why didn't you answer when I called for you?! I thought you lost your mind when the orb broke!"

Scruvo swoops down to John's shoulder. "Oh, didn't hear ya, mate. Just got back from hidin' in the rocks a little ways round th'mountain. Wasn't about t'stick around for that wizzrobe chappie t'tell me wot 'e thought about me droppin' 'is precious bauble, y'know. Just saw 'im doin' th'bolt back into the ocean, so here I am."

John rubs his eyes with his sleeve. "So...you've still got that piece of Ruscov's soul stuck inside you?" >\_>

Scruvo spreads his wings. "Oh, good news on that, Johnny-boy! Th'lad's wakin' up! I can feel it!" :D

John exhales. "Are you sure? Phew...guess he won't miss that little bit, then." n.n;

"Nah, 'e's got dash t'spare now!" Scruvo says cheerfully. "Now then, wasn't th'lovely lady sayin' somethin' about 'ow she 'opes you'll bring 'er lots of goodies so's she kin reward ya 'andsomely?" ;)

John laughs helplessly. "I guess I do need a job of some sort. Dear goddesses, it's been so long since I've been able to consider anything outside the context of my quest, I hardly know what to do with my life now." X)

Fallon:fireball: 1:36 AM
(As Itami since this thing seems to be having a hard time with the code right now)

"Good, I can give you purpose. I have a list right here, but first we should probably, I don't know do the good thing and...no. No, we're not doing that. I have a list--" Itami retrieves a paper that was delicately folded only for it to unfurl into a pecked out, scratched mess. "...Had a list. No worries, I always know what I'm looking for. So, Chus are needed. They make an excellent base for potion brewing. I'll need the remains of a lot of them. Don't ask me how many, just bring me as many many as you can all the time."

Reaching for another paper. This one also suffering the same fate, but to a lesser degree, she snapped it open and gestured on it. "I had a mapper make this. They scouted the area and marked the most viable options along the volcano trail. Ever since that strange energy flowed through here the volcano has been a lot more 'lively'. Making certain patches ripe for the picking for these things. They seem to like swamps and bogs. Guess what this place has a lot of, now?"

She grinned. "So, since we got the bird back, he'll be a big help in spotting those patches from above. As usual, watch out for the common dangers and less common on the trail. Good luck."

NetriAPP 10:17 PM
Netri perks up at the word "Chu" she loves chu chus, they're wiggly and squiggly and jiggly and miggly and piggly.

"I like chu chus!"

She is gonna get a big jar of chu chu jelly and make a big jelly ball.

Lude:skull: 10:22 PM
Lude sighs, somewhat relieved about the guay, somewhat relieved thinking that maybe his prayer to the goddess worked, maybe the gods are still listening to us.

He locks eyes with Itami "My duty first and foremost is to Hyrule, though..." he looks out toward the expanse of water, "There does not seem to be much of a Hyrule to serve. Sure i'll follow, for now. I could use a break and stretch my legs anyway being on a boat for so long was rough."

SayahAPP 10:27 PM
"Have space for two more?" Elder Sayah says to the group as she walks up to the party with Tika in tow.

"I have to find the fairy fountain and i'm sure it'll be quicker going with you lot."

Sayah very slowly strolls her way next to Ponyo and climbs him.

"I hope you don't mind dearie, this climb will be too much for my old bones."

She says to Netri.

NetriAPP 10:29 PM
"You have to ask him not me." Netri replys.

TikaAPP 10:30 PM
"Hi everyone!" Tika says from behind Lady Sayah with a wave.

"Hi swordsman Shura!"

Shura:crab: 12:11 AM
" if the ladys are comeing along with us all then you will have my swords at your call" shura chuckled alittle the group growing up in numbers once more his blades being sheathed " hello lady tika and madam sayah" he bowed his head and torso to them lightly " i have also to find a beast in this area its silver in collor maybe i can find it along the way " shura was excited as he still held both his own bounty and the one of the lynel a challange he was looking for though this group dident seem to be scarse in that aspect

JohnAPP 8:44 PM
...Well. Just survived a big night-time battle with an undead mob and a ridiculously powerful wizzrobe, and apparently we're expected to go on a monster-hunting and foraging expedition RIGHT NOW. X) But John is feeling such a high from the completion of his quest and the relief at NOT losing his funny little friend, he decides to go with it. Probably won't be able to sleep for a while anyway, right? "Okay then," John says, accepting the map. "Let's see what we can find." :)

"G'day, mizz! Or should I say, g'night!" Scruvo responds to Tika cheerfully. "Bonzah news, Johnny-boy's schedule just got a whole lot more open! 'Ow's about I mark y'down for dinnah t'gethah at -- " The familiar clamping of Scruvo's beak occurs as John heads up the mountainside. He's not THAT relieved that Scruvo's still here. ;)