[VIDEO] 9 April [SEELIE] A Call to Arms [OPEN]

[waterbearer]

[ The video is aimed largely past the speaker, to the twichting-writhing forms of three snake-like horned-creatures, the crackles of electricity still racing across their scales as they move. The locket is likely proper up on a rock or tree somewhere, as the speaker is turned to face the worms, his arms up and tattoos glowing electricity crackles from his hands. He is standing on land near a small river-stream near farmsteads. ]

Attention.

I am Kaldur’ahm, recently brought here with the rest of you. I was exploring the rivers and streams nearby and found that several had been blocked by these creatures, and that they were attacking the farms homesteads.

[ One of the worms seems to recover from the temporary paralysis, and lunges towards Kaldur, who leaps away and grasps two devices firmly in his hands. He jumps up again slams downwards on its tail with a water-formed spiked mace, inadvertently severing part of the tip from the worm. He bats the rest of the worm back further away and continues. ]

I am requesting assistance. Several of the civilians have been bitten, and are displaying signs of being in a critical condition due to the creature’s venom. I have been attempting to combat these worms for a few hours, and they grow more resistant to my electric paralyzation with each attempt I try.

[ The severed tail-end starts wriggling violently, and he forms a sledgehammer to knock it back several yards, closer to the still-paralyzed worms. ]

They are quick to regenerate from severed pieces, like echinoderms.

I need those who can help me combat these creatures and those who can help transport the injured to the castle, as well as individuals to help care for those injured by the worms.



{{ooc: The four first comments titled as "Alpha Squad", "Beta Squad", "Gamma Squad" and "Support Team" are for the 'action' part. (Where I will also attempt to GM as worms if people so desire). Feel free to answer the comm itself before immediately jumping into action, or to handwave being assigned to the team you are on and head straight for the action, as well as forming your own little threadlines!

They are more for organization purposes and keeping your squad-mates straight than anything else, and any number of threads can be started below the heading!

NOTE: IC'ly, the Squad assignations are happening on the spot.}}

Comments

[waterbearer]

[ Kaldur's expression sets, and he moves closer to the worm's head, and takes his waterbearers to form a pair of swords. ]

Garth [ And it is strange, in that moment how it feels he is speaking to another Garth, one who had been his closest friend for many years. ] Let us see if we can kill these creatures.

[ Normally, he would be focused more on the preservation of life. But there are no mere predators, there is something wrong-seeming, unnatural about them, and it seems that nothing short of death can truly turn them form their task or slow them down. ]

[chromosomes]

Can do. [ And if people don't answer, then he's not really above ambushing them and shoving them in the direction he wants, either. ] Trial by fire, huh?

[ Literally, if you're one of the worms. ]

Not sure the patients are going to be real fond of that, when they come to. But that's not my biggest concern. [ John pauses, ignores the urge to shift uncomfortably; for now, Thranduil is essentially his CO. He needs to be professional. ]

Last time I saw anyone bitten by strange creatures, two things happened. They either died, or they turned into one of them. I doubt that's going to be the case here, considering they seem just fine at creating more by being hacked into pieces, but I'd like to be prepared in case something like that does happen. Now or in the future.

[ofloveandbeauty]

[Venus gives him a brief smile but nods, getting right down to business as she looks back at the worm.]

Are there any places where we should be aiming our attacks? There has to be a weak spot. [She said with a frown, jumping back slightly as one of the worms approaches her.]

[waterbearer]

The more damaging the attack, the longer it takes to heal, but the rate at which they can recover is worrying.

[ Kaldur's arms go up, quickly forming a shield of water for the worm to crash against.

He then directs the water to shoot out at it with a stream and sends electricity along the waterflow to shock the worm. ]

Truly, only fire seems to be causing lasting damage. I am trying to ensure such that each squad has some sort of fire supply.

Video

[windowpain]

My lord, I am told that you are in charge of the castle's defenses.

[ He has just finished speaking to Kaldur. Thranduil, he recalls from having seen his post to the network earlier, is a king. A king who had been asking for information and counsel, as a good king should.

Kevin hesitates. What he's going to say is Tactics 101, and something he would have assumed a king would know except... ]

Are there knights enough in the castle? Because the attack to the north could be a feint. A strategem to draw out the best fighters and leave the stronghold unguarded.

[ Except.

Kevin has just spent the last two days in the company of Legolas, who has spent a good chunk of their journey talking gibberish to trees. And the horses. Fellow's not right in the head. So if the prince is odd, what does that say about the king...? ]

Galadriel | with the wounded

[inafadingcrown]

[Like her daughter, Galadriel can be found among the wounded, moving swiftly and confidently through her tasks. She has been a healer for thousands of years and it shows; she does what must be done with little fuss, casually giving orders to anyone who looks like they don't know what to do.

When she's not making demands, if you listen carefully enough, you might hear her singing softly as she works- a song of healing, slow, lilting, and lovely. There's a power to the song and to her voice, but it's something more felt than directly observed, like the tension in the air before a storm.]

[silvergift]

[As soon as he's with her and not resisting anymore, Celebrían moves to his side and looks over his injuries. The bruising isn't so much a concern as his bleeding and the mention of the worms being venomous.]

'Not that bad.' [She repeats with a soft sigh, taking a piece of cloth and wetting it, gently wiping away the blood so she can get a better look at the bite.]

Clearly your companions disagree.

[kilimanjaro]

[Kili sighs, clearly frustrated. The elf woman starts to clean the wound and he winces slightly, sulking.]

Of course they would. They still think I'm that stupid reckless child wandering aimlessly into danger.

[ofloveandbeauty]

[As he blocks it with a shield, Venus summons up one of her weaker, chain attacks to at least try to damage it and slow it down somewhat.]

We're going to need a lot of that fire power and soon!

[devotedqueen]

[She focuses for just a little longer and soon, it's like Mako was never injured in the first place. It doesn't make up for his lost chi reserves though.

She frowns thoughtfully to herself as she puts her staff away, searching through her things to see if there was anything she could give him to aid him]

If you're running low on energy, you should fall back. We can cover for you until you're well enough again.

[Had Mako been one of her retainers, it would have been an order. But since he wasn't, it was more of a gentle request. This was too much for one person to handle on their own. And since her sword didn't burn anything...]

B

[devotedqueen]

[As the battle to keep the civilians safe carried on, Elincia could feel her reflexes slipping as her energy slowly drained away under the strain of battling and healing.

It only takes one slip up but it only takes one blow to her abdomen to pull her out of the battle. Wincing, she presses her hand to the slowly spreading red stain against her tunic and nods, forcing herself to keep still]

My apologies. I am not used to...this.

[She was far more used to being the healer and not the one in need of being healed. The injury wasn't too serious but if it wasn't treated, she knew it was only a matter of time before she became a hindrance rather than a help]

[firith]

You may ask whatever you wish of him, though he is doubtless about his own business and will not be disturbed from it.

[ The scepticism in Thranduil's face is unshielded, driven home with a pointed look. Wizards, as if he's had enough dealings with them to know not to rely on their timeliness. ]

He also mentioned we should stand and protect ourselves, which is what I suggest we do in the meantime.

[firith]

If they are causing unrest, I care nothing for their preference in how they are removed from a position of governing any such thing.

[ He tilts his head, considering the awful truth behind John's confession. ]

If they are bitten and ... turn, they must be secluded somewhere from the others. A tower ought to be secured as a precaution.

[firith]

I have known cities of Men. Is London a prosperous place?

[firith]

[ 'Magical locket' is working out well enough for Thranduil, whether it sounds foolish or not. ]

You may speak with John Grimm, a soldier whom I have charged with the fortification of the castle in the absence of so many others. If he has no job of great import to give you, you may lend your ears to the reports of those who return. Already, we know that fire is a detriment to the beasts.

[ A nod. ]

If you own the skill to slay them, a fine-tuning of the process would not go amiss.

Video

[firith]

In the wake of anyone else willing to assume that responsibility, I am.

[ Until the High-King and High-Queen make themselves known, at least. ]

There are attacks ranging across both Glaschu and Dorchadas, the Unseelie have unwittingly confirmed as much across the lockets. Whether it is a feint or not, I would prefer to keep competent soldiers close to the castle and will not permit them to leave through the gatehouse while my Arts hold it shut.

[ Lockdown is in effect, until the wounded require admittance. So there are knights at the stronghold, whether they want to be in on the action or not; this Elf has put his foot down on so much impetuous folly. ]

Your name?

[parallels]

It is.

It's the capital of the country of England and of the United Kingdom. So there's plenty of international businesses, arts, universities, music, all sorts of things.

[silvergift]

[She's trying to be gently but some of it has already dried and needs just the littlest bit of extra effort to get off. Once the blood is wiped away, she examines the bite, making sure none of the worms venom had gotten to him.]

Or they heard the announcement that those creatures are venomous.

[Celebrían says nothing about him being reckless, she isn't out there fighting to know. Tending the wounded can be a demanding task.]

Be thankful that your friends care enough to bring you to a healer.

[firith]

[ Thranduil is called to the infirmary only when the patients are too wild and distressed to remain quiet, largely leaving the entire ward to Galadriel's care. There is one incident where he stalks into the huge hall all the way to the far end, notified of the hollering disturbance ten minutes beforehand in the bailey, and opens the door of a private cubicle without prelude or invite; the screams within are silenced within seconds of his admittance and anyone else that enters will see him standing next to the bedside of the wounded soldier with a hand drifting from a sweaty forehead.

There is no great enchanted river here, but he spells him asleep with a touch as easily as any Woodelf has learned to do to outsiders on marchwarden duty. A soft mallet straight to the senses because Mirkwood doesn't fuck around, yo. Effective and not unkind, but it isn't a pretty song by far. ]

[firith]

[ 'International' has him lifting his chin curiously, but he thinks he catches the meaning. ]

Alike to Gondor in the far south, then. A city ruled by a just king, the son of a man who proved his worth with great deeds and bravery. Who rules London?

[jaywalks]

[ wow, that was incredible! and not to mention, hella fast.

he appreciates the concern, but shakes his head. ]

No, I'll manage. [ taking advantage of the brief respite, he rolls his shoulders a few times, the joints popping as he watches the rest of the team work against the worms. ]

But... [ thoughtful pause. ] ... if we can get a fire going somewhere on its own for the cut worms, it'd be helpful. I can control that without having to make it, which'll save energy, and we can put a second person on roasting duty.

[jaywalks]

[ this guy's pseudo-waterbending is incredible -- he's not using ice or anything that mako recognises as a waterbending form, and yet, they're solid walls!!?? dang, dude.

but he nods again, taking a deep breath to stoke up his inner fires in preparation for the blasts he's going to need. ]

I'll need more solid footing than this, but it's doable.

[parallels]

Sounds like the perfect sort to be a king.

[She cocks her head. It must be strange to hear of things like parliament when you come from a land of just kings.]

No one really rules. We have an elected party and prime minister that run things. They get voted in by all everyone in the country.Our Queen is brilliant but she doesn't have much power anymore. Kings and Queens have gone a bit by the wayside.

Video

[windowpain]

[ That is a sensible answer, at least, and calms his immediate anxieties. He doesn't know what Thranduil's "Arts" may be, but hopes very much that they involve a portcullis or several. ]

I am Kevin Regard, knight of the noble house of —

[ He breaks off, features frozen for an instant. Then he goes on, quickly: ]

I ride with your son. We have seen no worms here. But if the attacks are as widespread as you say, I think we shall. I...

[ ...will protect your tree-whispering son. ]

Our party has parted briefly, to better explore the area, and were to rendezvous this afternoon. But I will return to his side at once.

JUMPS ON THIS

[rues]

[ clarisse holds up her sword, and it has a distinct gleam in the light. it's definitely not a regular sword, by the looks of it. she looks entirely too proud of this. ]

You got your secret weapon right here. I've taken down things bigger than those puny worms. You stun 'em, and I'll do all the rest.

[ she seems pretty confident about this, too. ]