Tomb of Marduk (231)

Drackos

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Tomb of Marduk

The Tomb of Marduk is a lost sacred site in Tobusekai. Built by the first humans after a great war, the meaning of the tomb has long been debated by Western scholars, although none are close to uncovering its true meaning. The tomb itself, situated on the coast, is sealed to all intruders. Much like the tunnels of the Earthen Temple, the tomb is seemingly coated in a hardened earthen mud-like substance that has rested atop it for thousands of years.

Adherents of Rot routinely scuttle through the area, looking to defile the secrets contained within the Tomb, though they have no such luck. Since Isabella Uchiha returned from the Roift contained within, the Tomb has once again been sealed by an unknown force, protecting it's contents from Millicent and her forces.

The Tomb of Marduk is a sacred landmark in Tobusekai and as such cannot be conquered, colonized, or claimed by foreign powers.
 
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The earthquake had shaken loose the muddy-protection that had laid dormant for thousands of years. With the quake that had shaken the world to its core, the calamity had stirred a long forgotten-relic that had been stored away by the first humans and their creators many millennia ago. It was the final protection, for this very occurrence should Tiamat the Mother of Beasts rise from her metaphysical prison, the heroes that stood against her would need aid.

It wasn't long before the sound could be heard all across Tobusekai, what started as a low humming could be heard throughout the east. It started as a quaking, a shaking, followed by a buzzing. Something was happening deep within the earth as the world fought for their own survival staving off the apocalypse. The hardened mud fell away revealing a golden-hued light that had been building as it pulsed through the tunnels radiating light all throughout the Tomb of Marduk.

With each passing hour, each moment the Mother was held off the buzzing and the humming intensified crescendoing into a high-pitched squeal. Little did the heroes know that their efforts were bearing unforeseen fruits. As the squeal got louder and louder taking over the entirety of Tobusekai the relic began to whir and grind against itself giving off waves of intense light that rivaled even the blue light that had shown over the Hokubo Ocean. Anyone in Tobusekai could see the column of light as it burst forth.

In time the light would rise up to the sky pooling into a massive orb of white energy. Like a miniature sun made of white-hot fire, the orb rose into the sky high above the clouds and the land of mortal men rivaling the landmark below it in size. Being so vast and so all-encompassing it rivaled settlements in its size. As it rose for all of Tobusekai and the neighboring oceans to see it would seem as if another sun were rising gradually eclipsing the actual sun creating a two-fold bright light radiating all across the Eastern Continent. Then as fast as it appeared it broke apart.

A bright flash, then a circular ring the orb exploded into a beam of light tearing through the sky clearing the weather as well as warping space and time itself creating a sonic-boom. This "sonic-boom" however, shook the fabric of reality using the cleansing light to strike out at it's one true enemy. Tiamat the Mother of Beasts. As it came into contact with the hardened-mud protection or any Sea of Life it would overwhelm it destroying it completely and totally as if the energy itself was erasing the substance from existence.

( Kami no Koe ) – Voice of God
Type: Offensive, Defensive, Supplementary
Rank: Forbidden
Range: Short – Long
Chakra: N/A
Damage: N/A
Description: An all-encompassing relic left behind by the Gods of Humanity, the firstborn sons and daughters of Tiamat, the Mother of Beasts. The Voice of God calls upon all of the remaining stored power of her children to wipe her existence from the dimension. With a high-pitched squeal, the Voice of God calls forth a burst of energy that can literally warp space, and time harming Tiamat directly by attacking her very core of existence. Each of her children stored what remained of their unimaginable power to create this final fail-safe should her prison ever break, or should anyone be foolish enough to free her from her bindings.

The light destroys any Sea of Life that it touches instantly eradicating it from all forms of existence while also dealing significant, nearly fatal damage to Tiamat herself if it is able to hit her directly. After being hit, Tiamat becomes stunned for three-turns unable to move, or act locked in place by the swell of energy as well as being reduced to 5% of her total remaining health. Any effects she had in play are revoked and she must reapply any buffs or debuffs to herself or those around her.

Additionally, the light has beneficial effects to anyone standing within a Short - Long range area from where it stands. Similar to Ring of Hell it creates a wave of transformative and empowering energy that radiates out from Tiamat. This light heals any human it touches and empowers them for the same three turns that it debuffs Tiamat. Any technique used by any human for three turns is increased in damage by sixty ( 60 ) passively with an additional thirty ( 30 ) chakra. The light also breaks any detrimental effects as well as allows them one boon of their choosing:

Dexterity: Grants flight for 3 turns allowing them to fly at x3 their speed.
Strength: Increases their taijutsu an additional thirty damage on top of the passive 60 for three turns
Power: Increases their ninjutsu an additional thirty damage on top of the passive 60 for three turns
Luck: Tempt fate, allowing for one boon specified above or a random one to be granted unbeknownst to the player
 
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Zatanna

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This post is starting a mission with the following element:
- Explore an abandoned site (2)





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Strix had been wandering through the continent of Tobuseki for a while, the voices in her head giving her different directions, giving her paths to follow. They all were telling here to go inland though, somewhere something was stirring, there was a power that was dormant and had been for a while.Whether it was calling out to her or she was simply insane, Strix was curious, her nature showing through even with the insanity that had taken over her. She had arrived at the Tomb of Marduk, a temple converted tomb of a bygone legend, stories telling of how during the time of Tiamat, line erupted from its site creating a worldwide event. Strix knew that legends can grow and become myth with each passing tale, but there was something curious about the Tomb itself. It had a connection to the ancient powers, there was something that it had a connection with Tiamat. Furth in Strix wandered, coming to the entrance of a dilapidated building, ruined and crumbling with thick earth build up over it. Something had broken most of the mud and earthen build up, but it looked like there was some build up once again from it.

Cautiously walking inwards, Strix listened out for any noise, the voices in her head silent for once as they all recognised the significance of the location as well as the potential for danger.

Well at least they recognised the instinct for survival.

Her footsteps echoed through the tomb, seemingly being lost and coming back from the dark deep tunnels that were on the far walls. She was curious about why this temple was here, what it was for and its purpose. Was it a tomb, was it a temple, place of worship? What was its significance? Most of the land itself looked relatively undisturbed, bar the ever changing coast, but there didnt look like any one had actually been through, there were no paths, no broken or cut down trees, no sign of contact at all. Even the wildlife itself seemed to be absent in the landmark. Strix was intrigued about what could cause this. She worked her way further in till she came up to an entrance, and where she found her first bit of information. The architecture clearly primitive, built really early, signs of early building with no signs of build laying, the stones were odd shapes and sizes with the contact being little more than mud and earth holding all the stones together. Anything more recent would have builds of the same size, any ninjutsu would have solid walls at least.

Strix wandered further and deeper into the Tomb and proceeded to run her hand along the walls, trying to get a feel from some of the walls. She passed several carvings, further evidence that this was build by the early humans.
The carvings themselves looked like they depicted a great war, a battle of some sort, the humans fighting some creature. In several of the carvings there looked to be some bigger creatures, either fighting for the humans or controlling them, but clearly fighting this other bigger creature. Strix came across a unique looking carving, one of the great creature the humans were fighting, it had one symbol underneath, primitive but clearly similar to a modern translation, "Woman"

Strange to say the least, it only led to more questions. If this large creature they fought was a woman, what were the other larger creatures fighting it. As she reached one of the last carvings, Strix took in the sight trying to make sense of it.
It was a circle, a ball or orb perhaps of some description that was shining light, with the Woman creature running away or turning away, Strix couldn't really tell. The carvings themselves were crude at best, with no real way to properly interpret what they really meant.

Strix came up to a door with some ornate looking torch holders on either side, the sea drowned out leaving only a deafening silence that was Strix and her breathing. Each breath echoed off the walls and came back at her like a hundred more breaths, making it hard to hear her own thoughts. With a deep baited breath, Strix pushed on the door, wondering whats on the other side.
 
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Zatanna

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The door wouldn't budge, and Strix with a slight confusing on her face wonder if the door wouldn't move because it was heavy, too old or if something was stopping it from actually moving. Putting more weight behind it she tried again, pushing and pulling to see if anything would budge. Nothing. Even if it was locked or loose it would shake a bit, but it was as if something had forced it to stop moving. Dirt and dust had covered the door, giving it a thick coating and brushing it away, even knowing that it wouldn't make much different to her strength she tried to remove it all. As she did, she began to see signs of writing, words that were written into the door itself, finely cut than the carvings she had seen on the wall prior. Brushing the rest of the dirt and dust away, revealed a large ornate carving of a humanoid creature, stood on top of a hill that was surrounded by many smaller humanoids, looking to be bowing in worship. Behind him was a Sun, shining like a halo, a typical angelic like carving praising this creature. The words that Strix had spied originally were written around the edge, like a verse that bordered the entire carving itself written all the way around the door.

It took a few minutes for Strix to properly decipher the written words, this language was old, older than anything she had seen before, but there were some parallels that she could match up. eventually after an hour she had managed to make out a message that was written.

Praise be to Marduk, our Father and Protector
Divinity absolute, for he is ours
Break our chains and protect us from Life
We carry on His legacy, forever sharing
Our Children will know his name
Praise be to Marduk, our Father and Protector

The message was at times confusing, something that was hard to interpret at least without the cipher to understand where it all came from. Strix wandered back to the carvings she had seen earlier, and looked at the connections. It seemed that this creature, the angelic carving had the same armour, or body perhaps to the one was that one of the bigger creatures in the carvings. Was he a leader, or a king? Father and Protector, so someone who looked after everyone? Marduk, at least she had a name. The word itself had no other translations or came close to any other word that could be translated. It had to be a name. the next line, Divinity absolute, was he religious, some figure? Perhaps a power figure? Strix had more and more questions the further she read on. The carvings on the previous wall had this Marduk character shooting some kind of lightning or something towards the largest figure, did he have divine power? There was no way he could be a God.... right?

It was the next line that interested Strix the most, Break our chains and protect us from life, the entire premise was confusing. The smaller figures, which she had come to assume were just every other people, or ordinary humans, served this figure. "Break our chains" were they enslaved? Did they serve Marduk out of force rather than choice? Upon closer inspection to the Carvings Strix saw several of the humans, had strings that connected to the largest creature, something like a puppet string. Was this the 'Break our chains' that it describes? But Protect us from life? Why protect from life, who wanted protection from life, the thing that everybody needs. More and More questions.

Strix had no idea how to interpret the stone carvings and how to make any sense of them, with such limited information to go on. Even though Strix had read volumes on history, the further back you go the less history there is. The very first information starts at year 0.
"We carry on His legacy, forever sharing"
We this was no help at all, there was no mention of Marduk in anything Strix had ever read, so why was this line here. Who was sharing, and did they fail their job? 'Our Children will know his name' Again, Strix shook her head every line being just as confusing as the last.

Taking out her books she began sketching and writing down everything that she saw, documenting what was around her. This site had been undisturbed, and she perhaps could have been the first person to actually be entering the Tomb since its creation.

Some history for Strix. After being infected from a fog that was found on Tobuseki, Strix slowly went insane, or at least she thought she was. What had happened is the past lives of Strix had all surfaced and instead of usually guiding her and giving her advice one at a time, the link had been severed that kept them in check, and they were able to all speak at once.

The voices in Strix head suddenly began speaking, all panicked and rushing her.

Leave. Now.

Whether paranoia from them or a premonition, Strix decided to heed their advice and began to leave. There was something about this place that interested Strix. She wanted to know more, even if the voices wanted her to leave, and she slowly walked to where she came from. It was only a few minutes walks through the tunnels and through a couple doors, but Strix felt a tug at her curiosity to stay.

LEAVE. NOW.

They grew louder urging her to leave. Strix reached the main entrance, a large circular room with a large orb hanging from the ceiling, and she brushed it off once again as decoration of the Tomb. As she reached the centre of the room, there was a powerful wind, suddenly blowing from the entrance of the tomb pushing her back into the depths of the Tomb. Strix pushed against it, its strength incredible, was it unnatural, the whole place gave off unnatural vibes from the strange mud, to the brick work and carvings. Then suddenly the entrance itself sealed, twin doors erupting from either side of the walls sliding shut, cutting off the wind and trapping Strix in the darkness of the room.

The darkness was a semi comfort for Strix, letting it wash over her, with her senses fine tuning themselves to give her a sense of where she was in the room. She could have produced some bio-luminescence, a skill she learned from her fireflies, but sometimes it was easier for Strix to work in the dark. Taking a moment, she slowly calmly began walking to where the door was and gave it a push and tried to pull. Nothing. Same as the other door back behind her down the tunnel. Well she was now stuck and trapped in here.
Rolling her head on her neck, Strix forcefully quietened the voices in her head, something she was still able to do at the most vital times. They fell silent letting her think. Walking back to the middle of the room, Strix sat down, taking her bag off and sitting it down next to her as she closed her eyes, visualising the room and the landscape around her. She could remember the paths leading up, the tunnel and walls and door that lead back behind her, taking it all and building a 3D map in her minds eye. Strix began to meditate creating options of what was the best course of action for her, to potentially at least getting her out alive. There were fates much worse than death that could be had.
 
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The door wouldn't budge, and Strix with a slight confusing on her face wonder if the door wouldn't move because it was heavy, too old or if something was stopping it from actually moving. Putting more weight behind it she tried again, pushing and pulling to see if anything would budge. Nothing. Even if it was locked or loose it would shake a bit, but it was as if something had forced it to stop moving. Dirt and dust had covered the door, giving it a thick coating and brushing it away, even knowing that it wouldn't make much different to her strength she tried to remove it all. As she did, she began to see signs of writing, words that were written into the door itself, finely cut than the carvings she had seen on the wall prior. Brushing the rest of the dirt and dust away, revealed a large ornate carving of a humanoid creature, stood on top of a hill that was surrounded by many smaller humanoids, looking to be bowing in worship. Behind him was a Sun, shining like a halo, a typical angelic like carving praising this creature. The words that Strix had spied originally were written around the edge, like a verse that bordered the entire carving itself written all the way around the door.

It took a few minutes for Strix to properly decipher the written words, this language was old, older than anything she had seen before, but there were some parallels that she could match up. eventually after an hour she had managed to make out a message that was written.

Praise be to Marduk, our Father and Protector
Divinity absolute, for he is ours
Break our chains and protect us from Life
We carry on His legacy, forever sharing
Our Children will know his name
Praise be to Marduk, our Father and Protector

The message was at times confusing, something that was hard to interpret at least without the cipher to understand where it all came from. Strix wandered back to the carvings she had seen earlier, and looked at the connections. It seemed that this creature, the angelic carving had the same armour, or body perhaps to the one was that one of the bigger creatures in the carvings. Was he a leader, or a king? Father and Protector, so someone who looked after everyone? Marduk, at least she had a name. The word itself had no other translations or came close to any other word that could be translated. It had to be a name. the next line, Divinity absolute, was he religious, some figure? Perhaps a power figure? Strix had more and more questions the further she read on. The carvings on the previous wall had this Marduk character shooting some kind of lightning or something towards the largest figure, did he have divine power? There was no way he could be a God.... right?

It was the next line that interested Strix the most, Break our chains and protect us from life, the entire premise was confusing. The smaller figures, which she had come to assume were just every other people, or ordinary humans, served this figure. "Break our chains" were they enslaved? Did they serve Marduk out of force rather than choice? Upon closer inspection to the Carvings Strix saw several of the humans, had strings that connected to the largest creature, something like a puppet string. Was this the 'Break our chains' that it describes? But Protect us from life? Why protect from life, who wanted protection from life, the thing that everybody needs. More and More questions.

Strix had no idea how to interpret the stone carvings and how to make any sense of them, with such limited information to go on. Even though Strix had read volumes on history, the further back you go the less history there is. The very first information starts at year 0.
"We carry on His legacy, forever sharing"
We this was no help at all, there was no mention of Marduk in anything Strix had ever read, so why was this line here. Who was sharing, and did they fail their job? 'Our Children will know his name' Again, Strix shook her head every line being just as confusing as the last.

Taking out her books she began sketching and writing down everything that she saw, documenting what was around her. This site had been undisturbed, and she perhaps could have been the first person to actually be entering the Tomb since its creation.

Some history for Strix. After being infected from a fog that was found on Tobuseki, Strix slowly went insane, or at least she thought she was. What had happened is the past lives of Strix had all surfaced and instead of usually guiding her and giving her advice one at a time, the link had been severed that kept them in check, and they were able to all speak at once.

The voices in Strix head suddenly began speaking, all panicked and rushing her.

Leave. Now.

Whether paranoia from them or a premonition, Strix decided to heed their advice and began to leave. There was something about this place that interested Strix. She wanted to know more, even if the voices wanted her to leave, and she slowly walked to where she came from. It was only a few minutes walks through the tunnels and through a couple doors, but Strix felt a tug at her curiosity to stay.

LEAVE. NOW.

They grew louder urging her to leave. Strix reached the main entrance, a large circular room with a large orb hanging from the ceiling, and she brushed it off once again as decoration of the Tomb. As she reached the centre of the room, there was a powerful wind, suddenly blowing from the entrance of the tomb pushing her back into the depths of the Tomb. Strix pushed against it, its strength incredible, was it unnatural, the whole place gave off unnatural vibes from the strange mud, to the brick work and carvings. Then suddenly the entrance itself sealed, twin doors erupting from either side of the walls sliding shut, cutting off the wind and trapping Strix in the darkness of the room.

The darkness was a semi comfort for Strix, letting it wash over her, with her senses fine tuning themselves to give her a sense of where she was in the room. She could have produced some bio-luminescence, a skill she learned from her fireflies, but sometimes it was easier for Strix to work in the dark. Taking a moment, she slowly calmly began walking to where the door was and gave it a push and tried to pull. Nothing. Same as the other door back behind her down the tunnel. Well she was now stuck and trapped in here.
Rolling her head on her neck, Strix forcefully quietened the voices in her head, something she was still able to do at the most vital times. They fell silent letting her think. Walking back to the middle of the room, Strix sat down, taking her bag off and sitting it down next to her as she closed her eyes, visualising the room and the landscape around her. She could remember the paths leading up, the tunnel and walls and door that lead back behind her, taking it all and building a 3D map in her minds eye. Strix began to meditate creating options of what was the best course of action for her, to potentially at least getting her out alive. There were fates much worse than death that could be had.
"Do you believe their lies?" A second feminine voice would echo in Strix's head, this one prominent and dominant; its firmness roaring above all other sounds within Strix's mind, or within the dankness of the Tomb of Marduk itself. After the mysterious woman's words, there was nothing. Simply silence, allowing Strix to return to her exploration.
 

Zatanna

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"Do you believe their lies?" A second feminine voice would echo in Strix's head, this one prominent and dominant; its firmness roaring above all other sounds within Strix's mind, or within the dankness of the Tomb of Marduk itself. After the mysterious woman's words, there was nothing. Simply silence, allowing Strix to return to her exploration.

Strix was raised in a quiet village, many days when there was nothing to do, she would practice meditation or read or write. She got extremely good at blocking out all other distractions and could focus on her inner spirit to think clearly about what to do, or how to relax. There was something different about this Tomb, something that was causing her to have her head filled with fog, making it difficult to clear away and empty her mind. Sat in silence she waited and practised meditation. Strix could feel the voices in her head, even silent she knew they were there, and then it was at the point where she was just about to finally slip into her meditation did another, unknown voice speak.

"Do you believe their lies?"

It was a voice Strix had never heard before, and suddenly all other voices in Strix head seemed to disappear, their presences gone, as if they were never there. Strix could feel the voice came from within her head, yet no other physical presence had disturbed the Tomb. She opened her eyes slowly, raising a single hand to produce a light, her trademark bio-light, to illuminate the tomb. The voice with one line had pushed away all other voices and fog in her head, for the briefest moment, she had clarity. What did the voice mean 'believe their lies?' and probably the more pertinent question was, who was the voice? Feminine perhaps, though hard to tell, it reached into every recess of her head as it spoke. It was clearly something powerful enough to have the ability to do so.

And then it hit Strix, the way it was worded. "Do you believe their lies?" The voice knew who these figures and people were. Strix needed to find the voice, to ask more, to find out more, her curiosity growing, her hunger for knowledge reaching higher.

Strix turned to the corridor and walked deeper, coming back once again to the door that had the carving of Marduk, the immovable door. Drawing herself up to her full height, dropping her cloak, and wielding her earthen sword Strix pushed it at the door. She was going to get into the room one way or another, and she was going to find out what this Tomb was about. She had adrenaline pumping through her, determination of academic knowledge rising in her blood to document what this place was, and a lust for her curiosity to be sated. As the Sword rested on the door, she drew back her free palm, and with a forceful punch, the hit the base of the hilt of her Earthen Sword into the door, focusing her chakra to flow through it, turning the door itself to sand.


Type: Supplementary
Rank: A
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 30
Damage: N/A
Description: This jutsu is based on the Earth Chakra's abilities to harden or soften any earth feature. By slamming the user's palm on the ground, or on any thrown or erupted earth structure, the user is able to harden or soften the said structure, all at once. The technique is based on the user's chakra reservations, and thus the area and volume of the feature the user wishes to change varies with it.
As described this technique has two variants:

(Buru no Ai Naguriai) Bison's Love Fist, which allows the structure struck by the right hand to harden immediately. Basically, any soft structure, such as Sand, Gravel or Mud (Created by Earth Release (Canon Element), not Mud Release (Custom Element) will turn into rock.

(Ushi no Nyuujou Kissu) Cow's Milky Kiss, which allows the structure struck by the left hand to soften immediately. Basically, any hard structure, such as Rock, Harden Mud or Earth will turn into sand.
Note: Can only be used three times per battle
Note: Courtesy of Lili-Chwan

The door held rigid for a moment, as the chakra began to petrify the stone, causing it to completely turn to a fine sand, holding steady thanks to the earthen nature. As Strix would withdraw her sword it would start a change reaction that would draw the sand away, causing more and more to fall, disrupting any protection the door once had or any integrity that remained, crumbling away into the sand that was heaped before her. Strix held her breath for a moment before stepping through to the dark dimly illuminated room. Her ears were sensitive, ready for any movement that might make a sound, while her eyes adjusted to the room now the dust was settling. There was a dark outline of the room, hard to make out but it looked like there was a sarcophagus, a stone table in the middle of the room but like a single stone or concrete block, perfectly cut. The rectangular sarcophagus was surrounded by several stone knights the stood around the room, 6 in total that looked like they were watching over like guards. Strix once more used some bioluminescence from her body to let herself glow to cast a light into the room as she stepped further in. She paused for a moment, swearing that the stone guardians flashed their eyes at her, but perhaps it was just a trick of her light.

Edging closer slowly to the central stone slab casket, she could see that it was ornately decorated with more runes, more pictures and images that depicted battles and images of lightning or light that radiated from this creature. Was this the Tomb for the creature, was this the Tomb of Marduk for real? Was his body within this very stone slab? It would be a trove of valuable information if true....

Strix played with the idea of cracking open the sarcophagus itself to take a look. As she approached the Tombs lid, she could see a different carving that had been etched and chiselled on top. It depicted a woman, who was surrounded by several other smaller figures, something that looked like children. What was the significance to this....As her hand rested on the lid, she took a look around at the guards that were surrounding the resting place. It was curious but they didnt look like they were made from stone, or at least not the same stone that was the same as the Tomb, as if they were created with something else or brought from somewhere. Their weapons raised upwards, in a standing guard position, but it drew her gaze upwards. There was a mural, much like another carving on the roof picturing another scene, perhaps one that went back before the war. There were no humans or smaller creatures on it, but simply one large creature, a woman again, the same one as the coffins lid. She was on one side, with several of her children infront of her, and on the other side of the room was what looked like a carving of Marduk, with several other of these similar looking children of the woman. Was it a family portrait? but it looked like they were split, on separate sides, but all part of one family still. It was confusing to say the least trying to work out what it all meant. Did Marduk break his family apart? Why would he fight against his own family...

Strix wondered if this Marduk had really been a hero, as all these carvings had made him out to be, instead involving humanity in a family fight. Strix had known that Tiamat had children and although the larger image of the woman didnt look like any of the accounts that were described or written, there were some striking similarities and she couldny help but wonder if it was Tiamat. Had Marduk really fought against his own Mother, bringing his siblings to his side to slay her? What would even cause him to turn against her... Strix wanted answers and wondered if these were the lies that the voice spoke of.

Strix turned her gaze back down onto the coffin once again, and wondered if the body of Marduk was really here....
 
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"I can sense it." The voice had spoken again in Strix's head. This time she spoke slowly, almost seductively, using the allure in her feminine voice to trigger an impulse for more knowledge. To drive her lust for more information, and understanding. "You reject their legends don't you, little human?" Her words were a strange mix of soft, alluring, and firm. And they, like before, continued to dominate inside Strix's conscience. "What you see is the story of Marduk, the Chief God and the first of Tiamat's children. It was he and his siblings that decided they no longer needed their Mother."
 

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"I can sense it." The voice had spoken again in Strix's head. This time she spoke slowly, almost seductively, using the allure in her feminine voice to trigger an impulse for more knowledge. To drive her lust for more information, and understanding. "You reject their legends don't you, little human?" Her words were a strange mix of soft, alluring, and firm. And they, like before, continued to dominate inside Strix's conscience. "What you see is the story of Marduk, the Chief God and the first of Tiamat's children. It was he and his siblings that decided they no longer needed their Mother."
Her hand was reaching for the Tombs coffin, Strix' breath becoming heavy with the anticipation to discover who exactly this was and what the whole story was. The voice, the voice then spoke to her once more, causing her hand to freeze, holding her breath. She hadn't imagined it there was a voice speaking to her once more, the same voice as the entry chamber.

"You reject their legends don't you, little human?"

It was a curious choice of words that came to Strix, the first thought in her head agreeing with the voice, thinking to herself that, there was more to the story than what was written in the stone carvings. It was followed by a curiosity of the phrasing 'little human' at least deductive reasoning to Strix implied that the voice itself wasn't human.

She looked up once more at the roof, with the ceilings depictions of Marduk and Mother, Tiamat, the fracture that was between them.
"What you see is the story of Marduk, the Chief God and the first of Tiamat's children. It was he and his siblings that decided they no longer needed their Mother."

Strix had whispered under her breath, echoing the words of the voice, Chief God and Tiamat's children as they seemed almost impossible to believe. There were small accounts of these names in history, at least in various different kinds, "First Child" "Mother" and it all connected for their relationships now.

Talking in her head, perhaps the voice would be able to hear her, Strix answered the feminine call.

The story of Marduk, but written by humans... Why would the Gods reject their Mother or their creator? If Tiamat created her Children, what happened to fracture their bonds?

The thirst for the knowledge began to rise in Strix, she wanted to know the answers. There was a power in information, and Strix wanted to see this through, to know the original story. Human morality, Strix reasoned, was a construct depending on who the victors were. Social norms are created by whoever writes the book. Humans see nothing wrong with eating animals but from the other end of the knife, humans are murderers. It was this logic and reasoning that Strix threw away all morality from her life, dedicating herself only to knowledge and persuit of information.

These carvings and writings were no exception, and Strix had no doubt that Tiamant saw her children as the monsters.
 
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"Marduk, Inanna, Nergal, and Enlil. Know these names well, curious mind. They were the First Four children. The first gods on earth, and you humans...you humans were made in their image. Slaves to the gods. That is what you were." Her words were dipped in venom, chiding Strix along a path of dark and seductive knowledge. "The gods - Marduk - saw their Mother as nothing more than a ladder. A stepping stool. Something to achieve greater power, but to simultaneously mimic her. And they did so poorly.... But in creating humans, they began their rebellion. A rebellion to kill the one that loved them unconditionally, all because they feared that her power was far greater than theirs ever would be. The gods were envious of their Mother." A timeless tale that the Voice, Imeroth, had preached for years thereafter.

"What you seek - under the Moon where the Void is strongest. It is there you will find the knowledge you thirst for." And so the strong voice in Strix's mind faded. All went silent in the Tomb of Marduk.
 

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"Marduk, Inanna, Nergal, and Enlil. Know these names well, curious mind. They were the First Four children. The first gods on earth, and you humans...you humans were made in their image. Slaves to the gods. That is what you were." Her words were dipped in venom, chiding Strix along a path of dark and seductive knowledge. "The gods - Marduk - saw their Mother as nothing more than a ladder. A stepping stool. Something to achieve greater power, but to simultaneously mimic her. And they did so poorly.... But in creating humans, they began their rebellion. A rebellion to kill the one that loved them unconditionally, all because they feared that her power was far greater than theirs ever would be. The gods were envious of their Mother." A timeless tale that the Voice, Imeroth, had preached for years thereafter.

"What you seek - under the Moon where the Void is strongest. It is there you will find the knowledge you thirst for." And so the strong voice in Strix's mind faded. All went silent in the Tomb of Marduk.

Strix' mind was a storm of thoughts and ideas, all coming from the eye of this tomb, so many new questions forming, so many still unanswered that needed to be found. She would feel the thirst for this power and knowledge, the idea of knowing this history over all others and the sense of accomplishment that it would bring. There was something about the pursuit of knowledge, forbidden and lost from the world that was a special kind of adrenaline, the adventure to taste that which has been lost and protected.

Under the Moon where the Void is strongest.....

She echoed the words of the Voice curious to reach the next step that had been laid out on her path. Strix knew that the further into Tobuseki one would go the more dangerous it would get, but it would be worth the risk. Exiting the chamber and picking up the cloak she left off, she draped it around herself and left the Tomb of Marduk towards the east.

LLM
 

Goetia

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Coming from [x]

This post marks the beginning of my mission with the following storyboard element(s):

Investigate the history of a landmark (3)

Summary: Somewhat recovered, Ozymandias and Merlin stumble upon the ancient resting place of the old god Marduk, one of Tiamat's offspring. Traversing the tomb, Merlin tells Ozymandias the story of Tiamat, and of the ancient humanity.




The next landmark the magus and the pharaoh passed through was an ancient place with a great history, spanning thousands of years into the past. "What's say we take a little detour, pharaoh-san? It shouldn't be long, and I think you may be interested in what you'll learn here." the incubus suggested, prompting a moment of consideration for Ozymandias. "Fine. But we won't linger for long." to which the incubus nodded enthusiastically, assuring Ozymandias that the venture would not be a waste of time.

Entering the underground complex through an open walkway that led down a hill, the two began to traverse the dimly lit hallways of the great structure. Inscribed along the walls were lines of text, indecipherable to the pharaoh. "These scripts tell the story of Tiamat, the Primordial Goddess of Life. As indicated by her namesake, she is responsible for the creation of all life on this planet. Her first children were the lesser gods, Marduk, Inanna, Nergal, and Enlil. Like their mother they carried great authorities, but their power paled in comparison to hers. Those offspring gods in turn gave rise to new divine beings. Even still, they could not match Tiamat in might." Merlin explained with a somewhat serious tone. Like when he explained the story of Artoria Pendragon, the subject matter caused his mood to change. In this case, it was due to the power of the forces he was discussing. "If Tiamat's power overshadowed those of her children so greatly, how was she defeated?" the pharaoh inquired, curious as to how it was the Goddess of Life saw defeat for the first time. "It was the first humans. Willed into being by the union between Marduk and Innana. A great war erupted between Tiamat and her demonic beasts, the Lahmu, and her children; the gods and humans. The end of the battle saw Tiamat and her Lahmu, as well as the Sea of Life, locked away in the Void. The gods receded from the world, allowing humans to become the dominant species of the planet. The Age of Gods truly began its end on that day." It took Ozymandias only a moment of thought to realise what was before his very eyes, the nature of the structure they were in. "Then..." without even needing to finish his sentence, Merlin nodded in affirmation of Ozymandias' conclusion "Correct. We're standing in the tomb of the Marduk, the son of Tiamat that led the charge against the creator of all life in this world."

Silence filled the air in the tomb, broken by Merlin in a moment of return to his usual levity "Whether his actual body is here, I'm not quite sure. I hope not, because I'm not sure how he'd take to his burial place or his body being trampled upon by us..." Ozymandias' curiosity was piqued by the magus' words, which implied that Marduk still lived, despite the two currently wandering his tomb. "You speak as if he was merely slumbering, and could reawaken at any moment." to which Merlin refuted by nodding his head. "Not exactly. Well, to be truthful, I'm not entirely sure of what has happened to him. These are gods we're talking about after all, their concept of death is different to ours. Tiamat herself does not possess it, which is why it was necessary for her to be sealed away." This revelation didn't necessarily surprise Ozymandias, but it created another question "The gods were not present in the most recent battle against Tiamat when she reawakened. How was she beaten?" The incubus cupped his chin with his hand, thinking to himself for a moment. He then shrugged his shoulders "That, I'm not certain of either. In the sense that the gods were not physically present for the battle, but I know that Marduk's power was invoked. I have kept my eye on this tomb for a great many years, and I watched as it was disturbed during Tiamat's incursion. Humanity definitely needed to rely on such a stroke of luck in order to secure victory this time around." With that, the incubus proposed that the two leave the tomb, for their tour through its interior threatened to leave them lost. Agreeing, Ozymandias allowed Merlin to lead the way, which resulted in them wandering for hours longer...

Eventually, the two managed to escape the treacherous hallways of the tomb, the pharaoh's mood soured somewhat by Merlin's incompetence. They would resume their journey towards Avalon without pause.

LLM
 

Zatanna

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This post marks the start of my mission using the following elements:
- Destroy a large group or settlement





Strix had reached the shores of where she had originally started exploring through Tobuseki, the Tomb of Marduk. It was this site that lead her to discovering the hidden history of Marduk, Tiamat and her children as well as the introduction to Phetra who had chosen to test Strix. Strix felt different upon returning, as if this Tomb was dedicated to hiding the truth, constructed to house a great God that only used humans, simply making them for his own end. Strix wanted answer, she needed to find the truth, and she would fight for it till the end. Until then Strix had plenty of pent up frustrations and stress that needed to be released, and lucky for her as she reached the jungle where the Tomb was hidden in, she came across a large clearing which house maybe 30-40 tents, a veritable army of men that looked pretty heavily armed. Strix cracked her knuckles and stretched her neck. Strix wanted to keep the Tomb of Marduk to herself, and she wasn't about to share it with some looters and grave robbers looking to make a buck selling stolen treasures.

Strix climbed the nearest tree looking to gain a height to survey properly the area they were in. As she counted roughly she reached about 300, she got ready, taking her sword and leaping up off the tree, towards the camp edge. Landing roughly, she plunged the sword into the earth, surging her chakra causing the alarm to several of the bandits and looters. From the earth a large stone golem rose up, roaring to the camp and slamming its fists down, killing 40 of the men around it, the shockwave sending them flying or crushing them.

(Doton: Dai iwa Kyojin no Jutsu) - Earth Release: Great Stone Golem Technique
Type: Supplementary/Offensive/Defensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long (made within Short, but reaches up to Long)
Chakra: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user creates an even larger, much stronger version of Earth Release: Stone Golem Technique. However, unlike the smaller version, the user creates this stone golem solely from the ground. In order to do so, they slam a hand on the ground and manipulate it until a giant warrior hewn from stone has taken form, which then can be controlled so long as the user continues to keep in physical contact with either it or the ground. Naturally, they must continue to fuel the technique with their chakra. While the height of the golem can reach up to 30m, it has a capacity for moving quite fast that belies its hulking stature.

Youuuu....will leave.....this land....

Strix hissed at them, her raspy voice amplified through the Golem as if it was speaking.

Her entrance didnt go unnoticed as the alarm begun to sound, "Were under attack" the calls rang out. The bells rang repeatedly as men grabbed their weapons, swords, spears, clubs and ran towards her. She wasn't phased, but welcomed the challenge. She didnt expect the camp who were looking for loot in Tobuseki to be weaklings, it took men of courage to look for treasure on this continent, and these were men that had some combat experience. Some were warriors, but it wasn't going to be easy for Strix just to roll over them.


Twisting the sword that was stuck in the ground, the earth beneath 20 of the men approaching her rose up, a fair of jaws with jagged teeth rising and then clamping on them, skewering them with its stone teeth, as pain and agony cries of men rang out.

(Doton: Musaborudzuchi) - Earth Release: Devouring Earth
Type: Offensive
Rank: B
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 20
Damage: 40
Description: The user performs the Ram → Horse → Tiger → Rabbit → Snake and slams their palm on the ground. Instantly, the ground to the sides of the opponent take the shape of huge jaws and attempt to crush and stab him between them. The size of the jaws can be adjusted to fit the size of the opponent or other uses.

These men may have been warriors but still seeing their fellow warriors shook them, a few stopped or stumbled as they saw what happened. Strix was about to take advantage of their hesitation but a volley of arrows flew over their heads as someone had managed to organise a proper counter attack. Pulling up her sword from the ground, the earth around her followed suit as it rose upwards, forming a dragon that coiled around Strix, its tough stone scales easily protecting her from the arrows that flew in. It roared with the fury of Strix as it then launched forwards like a crazed snake that crushed several men, and killing several more in its teeth.

Doton: Dosenkiryū) - Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon Technique
Type: Offensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long (made within Short, but reaches up to Long)
Chakra: 40
Damage: 80
Description: The user after performing the required hand seals Horse → Dog → Bird → Ox → Snake will create a large dragon of earth erupt from the ground and direct it towards the enemy with devastating force. This technique much resembles the Water Release: Water Dragon technique.

Strix had taken out about a third of them, but they were starting to properly form up and have some kind of tactics now, given the initial shock and awe wearing off. A wave of warriors once more charged towards Strix, these ones wearing heavier armour and brandishing their weapons as they edged towards Strix. She knew that these men would be harder to take out, any physical attack would probably be shrugged off their armour. She could use a fire or Lightning but they werent really her forte. Drawing a v line in the earth infront of her, Strix used her sword to cut away the earth underneath the feet of the incoming soldiers, the earth crumbling away in a V shape in front of her with her point as the apex point. The soldiers screamed out as they fell down, bones shattering under the heavy armour that they were covered in.

(Doton: Daichidōkaku) - Earth Release: Great Moving Earth Core
Type: Supplementary/Defensive
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 40
Damage: N/A
Description: This technique grants the user the ability to freely lower or raise the terrain within a specific area surrounding them, in a similar manner to its parent technique, albeit on a much larger scale. The user will slam his hands on the ground which he can then lower or raise the ground up to 100 meters in a large section. The rise will be fast enough to pin enemies to the ground, restricting their movements as they struggle to get up and the drop will be fast enough to leave almost all enemies without a footing (albeit not airborne). Because of the large chakra needed to alter such a large area of the terrain, the user will be able to use it only a limited number of times.
Note: Can only be used twice.

Strix knew the commander or leader would eventually come out, she was close to destroying half the force, only a little bit more and she would find him. Time to show off some fireworks, to see where this leader was hiding. Taking in a deep breath and muttering a quick prayer to the Moon Goddess, the fury of the Lunari filling her veins as the power began to bubble and then in a swift moment as she let it all out, an explosion of her chakra erupted around in an omnidirectional sphere around her, tearing up the earth, throwing back a large group of the warriors around her, looking as if a huge explosion had just ripped through.

Gentei: Erementaru | Limit: Elemental
Type:Supplementary/Offensive/Defensive
Rank: B-S (S)
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 20-40 (-15 per turn) (40)
Damage: 40-80 (80)
Description:
One basic application of Cosmic Chakra is able to manipulate it into several different properties. Depending on the Drive form the user is in, depends on what application can be used. Should the user be in no drive form, but call upon their cosmic chakra, they can only produce such things as blasts or waves from their body. Simple and unrefined bursts called forth from the accompanying movement, where it follows the body. These blasts and surges only last for the the moment of the attack, not going beyond the turn used. When in the basic first Drive Form, the user is capable of create more complex constructs, creating walls, golems, creatures etc. These constructs while they can be launched from the body, cannot move on their own unless given the appropriate movement from the user. They last for 2 turns on the field, capable of being more advanced than the base form. When the user has mastered their Final Form, the user can create more advanced constructs. These techniques are created and made from cosmic chakra but additionally given the unique proporties having the flexibility to change form/shape should the user desire. This is not limited to the users Cosmic chakra, but can create constructs that can move about on their own, for 3 turns. This is not to be confused with sentience but instead given "direct orders" eg, "attack here" or "defend me" etc.

Notes:
- Constructs can only be used in the turn they were created in. The use of Master Drive extends this by 1 turn while entering Final Form extends this another turn.
- After use of S rank version, no other Cosmic Chakra technique above A rank can be used next turn
- S rank can be used 3 times max while A rank can be used up to 5 times.

As the dust settled the only sounds heard were moans and cries of pain from the men that had survived barely, and the crunch of footsteps as Strix wandered to the center of the camp. She had taken most of the men out, the remaining were looking scared, eyes darting back and forth between the other warriors unsure of what they should do. Then suddenly a horn bellowed out through the air breaking the silent tension between the witch and the warriors.

From behind the men she saw a plumed helmet breaking through the lines, men stepping aside to let their leader through. Finally she would meet the one who was commanding them and would be able to cut the head of the snake. As the front lines parted and the leader walked forwards, Strix saw who was leading them, a woman, no younger than Strix, scars across her face, full of determination and rage with two large swords at her hip.
 
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Zatanna

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This post marks the start of my missions using the following element:
- Assassinate an enemy Commander (5)
- Fight an enemy much stronger than yourself (5)




You killed my men, they weren't cheap. You will not get any mercy from me.

I didnt come here......for mercy.....


Strix voice rattled from underneath her hat, directed to the commander of the forces. The men slowly backed of, giving their commander a wide berth and as Strix looked around they all had smirks on their faces, different from what the fear and terror she had inspired before. Where was this new found confidence coming from, was their inspiring commander that much of a threat?

Her answer was found when the woman roared into the air, bringing both swords down onto the ground, a massive shockwave erupting from the contact, blowing debris and chunks of earth towards Strix.


(Kudakeru chikyū) - Crushing Earth Blow
Type: Offensive
Rank: A
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: N/A
Damage: 90
Description: This technique is ab ability that comes from the users raw strength. Striking the ground, a shockwave rips through the battlefield damaging all enemies.

Strix was taken aback, the strength of the woman impressive that she had such power alone with her strikes, without even manipulating the earth. Pulling up a dome of Earth around herself, reinforced with the strength of her sword, the earth manage to protect her from most of the damage, at the cost of the shield itself being blown apart and now useless.

Doton: Puresha sufeera | Earth technique: Pressure Sphere
Type: Offensive/Defensive/Supplementary
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra: 40
Damage: N/A
Description:
The user forms 3 seals and concentrates their chakra into the earth in the landscape and begins to manipulate it to rise create a large Venus fly trap like construction. The size can vary from a small tree to that of the larger earthen stone golem. As an enemy jutsu is coming towards the user, the earthen trap extends encompassing the incoming jutsu and tightly surrounding it as a sphere, locking out all light and oxygen, becoming a perfect spherical ball. Capable of countering incoming fire jutsu much more powerful, it removes the oxygen powering the flames.
Notes:
-can be used 3 times
-no other earth jutsu on same turn
-1 turn cool down in between.

She was going to be a trouble, but before Strix could create a counter attack the woman struck both her swords together, as sparks flew from her sword, igniting the ground infront of her. Swinging both sword forwards in the arc like a fan, the flames ignited further causing a huge ball of fire was pushed towards Strix.

I WILL TURN YOU TO ASH!

( Katon: Shinku Kaen ) - Fire Release: Crimson Flame
Type: Offensive
Rank: S
Range: Mid - Long
Chakra: 40
Damage: 110
Description: The user forms three handseals and accumulates fire and/or lava chakra in his hand and triggers a series of large fiery flame projectiles. After colliding against the target, it will explode in red flame blasts. This technique is powerful enough to demolish an entire area, causing a massive mid ranged explosion. The more blasts the user makes, the smaller the ensuing explosions become.

Strix could see that it was a hugely powerful fireball that was coming towards her, turning the ground beneath it into lava itself or rather a sludge like magma melting the earth. She knew it was probably too strong to be blocked by her earth, and so reaching down in her body once more she asked for the blessing of the Moon Goddess. Her eyes shone white, as she raised her arms and infront of Strix she raised a barrier, a wide wall which caused the fireball to explode. The wall of chakra grew can contained the firey explosions from reaching Strix, but the effort took its toll, she had used the last of her prayers to the Moon Goddess. She was on her own now.

The commander, enraged that Strix could defend against her technique, would scream with fury, and dash towards Strix, dragging her swords in the burning earth covering them in the burning sludge. Reaching Strix she swung them, throwing the firey melted earth towards her as she swung her sword.

( Kumo-Ryū Omotegiri ) - Cloud-Style Front Beheading
Type: Offensive
Rank: C
Range: Short
Chakra cost: N/A
Damage: 60+20
Description: The user slashes forwards in front of them with their sword to strike the enemy target.

Strix barely had a moment to register just what the woman was doing, before she realized that the magma earth was a distraction from the sword attack itself. Twisting the sword in her hand, Strix manipulated the earthen chakra her body to encase her in a stone armour. She wasnt quite quick enough as the earth only manage to semi form but not harden, but thankfully enough to stop the strike from the swords.

(Doton: Koka no Jutsu) - Earth Release: Hardening Technique
Type: Offense/Defence/Supplementary
Rank: S
Range: Short
Chakra: 40 (+15 per turn)
Damage: N/A
Description: The user releases a burst of earth chakra from all over his body. As he does this, a multitude of rock seemingly grows from his skin, forming a large, dense armour or rock much bigger and bulkier than the users original size. The armour can be manipulated and used to create extendable weapons to strike a target with like rudimentary swords or hammers. The downside is that the user cannot mold techniques from other elements a part from earth while sustaining the armor. The armor can be manifested in only specific parts of the body if the user so chooses.

This was partially a mistake though as the magma itself began to heat up the earth around her, begining to melt through the earth and cause it to start to melt. Strix knew it would be moments before the magma burnt through using her own stone to add fuel to its lava. Strix saw that the commander was positioning herself for another strike, arching her sword back over her head, aiming to bring them straight down on Strix like a cleave. Stepping in closer to the commander, Strix stepped so close that she wouldnt be able to properly swing the swords she held. Strix would then place her hands onto the Commander, transferring the armour itself onto the Commander, then cartwheeling backwards to a safer range. The earth itself now hit a critical moment when it began to turn to magma as it started to spread all over the earth. Screams began to yell out from the Commander as she began to be burnt alive in the case of earthen armour. Punching and striking the armour did nothing, all her strength for naught, she couldn't strike it or break it now as it turned from a solid to a liquid, only sticking to her hands as she struck it. She tried pulling it off, her skin crackling and blistering as it burnt, her screams reaching a pitch as she collapsed to her knees.

No...Mercy.....

Strix wasn't going to be a match for the commander in terms of physical power, but she managed to find a way to outsmart her, using her own magma creation against her. The woman keeled over, twitching then eventually stopping as the putrid smell of burnt flesh wafted around, the screams now stopped, and Strix looked over towards the remaining men. Their faces were in shock, their strongest leader now a fetal corpse on the ground before this witch. Strix looked at each one and said only one word.

Run...

They all began scrambling away from Strix, panicked and hysteria taking over as they clambered over each other to get away. She had taken the camp and now had the Tomb of Marduk to herself.
 

Zatanna

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This post marks the start of my missions using the following element:
- Survive a near-death situation
- Fight an enemy stronger than yourself



Night had always been Strix' favourite time, even as a child. It had been that way since she was old enough to scramble over the walls of the Solari temple and watch the moon traverse the vault of stars. She looked up through the dense forest canopy, her violet eyes scanning for the silver moon, but seeing only its diffuse glow through the thick clouds and dark branches.

The trees were pressing in, black and moss-covered, their branches like crooked limbs reaching for the sky. She could no longer see the path, her route forward obscured by rank weeds and grasping briars. Wind-blown thorns scraped the curved plates of her armour, and Strix closed her eyes as she felt a memory stir within her.

A memory, yes, but not her own. This was something else, something drawn from the fractured recollections of the celestial essence that shared her flesh. When she opened her eyes, a shimmering image of a forest overlaid the close-packed trees before her. She saw the same trees, but from a different time, from when they were young and fruitful and the path between them was dappled with light and edged in wildflowers.

Raised in the harsh environs of Mount Targon, Strix had never seen a forest like this. She knew what she was seeing was an echo of the past, but the scents of honeysuckle and jasmine were as real as anything she had experienced.

Thank you

Snapping out of the vision, she found a path. It led Strix through overgrown and withered trees that ought to have been long dead. It climbed the slopes of rocky highlands, and passed through stands of twisted pine and wild fir. It crossed tumbling mountain streams and wound its way around sheer slopes before bringing her to a rocky plateau overlooking a vast lake of cold, dark water.

At the centre of the plateau was a circle of towering stones, each carved with looping spirals and curving sigils. On every stone Strix saw the same rune that shimmered upon her forehead and knew she had reached her destination. Her skin tingled with a sense of febrile anticipation, a sensation she had come to associate with wild and dangerous magic. Wary now, she approached the circle, eyes scanning for threats. Strix saw nothing, but she knew something was here, something utterly hostile and yet somehow familiar. Strix moved to the centre of the circle and drew her sword. Its dark brown metallic blade glittered like diamond in the wane moonlight penetrating the clouds. She knelt with her head bowed, the blade’s tip resting on the ground

She felt them before she saw them. A sudden drop in pressure. A raw charge to the air.

Strix surged to her feet as the spaces between the stones split apart. The air buckled and a trio of screeching beasts charged her with ferocious speed; Dark purple flesh, pale white bones covering their hide, multiple tails.

Chakra Beasts.

Strix dived beneath a snapping jaw filled with teeth like polished ebony, slashing her sword in an overhead arc that clove the first monster’s skull to its heavy shoulders. The creature fell, its flesh instantly unravelling. She rolled to her feet as the others circled like pack hunters, now wary of her gleaming blade. The creature she had killed now resembled a pool of bubbling tar. They came at her again, one from each side. Their flesh was already darkening to a bruised purple, hissing in this world’s hostile atmosphere. Strix leapt over the leftmost beast and swung her sword in a crescent arc towards its neck plates. She yelled one of the Lunari’s holy words and incandescent light blazed from the blade.

(Kumo-Ryū Kaengiri) - Cloud Style: Flame Slash
Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short - Mid
Chakra cost: 30
Damage points: 60
Description: The user imbues their blade with fire, before slashing in the direction of the desired enemy, resulting in the creation of large arcs of intense flame that follow the trajectory of the previous swing.before slashing in the direction of the desired enemy, resulting in the creation of large arcs of intense flame that follow the trajectory of the previous swing. A skilled user of this technique, is capable of surrounding their immediate area with a circular wall of these flames, incinerating multiple targets even if they approach from numerous angles simultaneously.

The beast blew apart from the inside, gobbets of newly-wrought flesh disintegrating before the Earthblade’s power. She landed and swayed aside from the last beast’s attack. Not fast enough. Razored talons punched through the side of her ribs, and dragged her around. Blood began to weep from her wound, the beast’s chest split apart, revealing a glutinous mass of sense organs and hooked teeth. It bit into the meat of her shoulder and Strix screamed as numbing cold spread from the wound. She spun her sword, holding the grip like a dagger and rammed it into the beast’s body. It screeched, relinquishing its hold. Steaming black chakra poured from its ruptured body. Strix spun away, biting down on the pain racing around her body. She held her Earthblade out to the side as the clouds began to thin.

The beast had tasted her blood and hissed with predatory hunger. Its armoured form was now entirely gloss black and venomous purple. Bladed arms unfolded and remade themselves in a fan of hooks and talons. Unnatural flesh flowed like wax to seal the awful wound her blade had ripped.

The essence within Strix surged. It filled her thoughts with undying hatred from a distant epoch. She glimpsed ancient battles so terrible that entire worlds had been lost in the fires of their waging; a war that had almost unmade this very world and still might.

The creature charged Strix, its body rippling with the raw chakra of another realm of existence.

Strix' vision was starting to blur, poison working its way around her body and slowing her movements, causing her body to begin to shut down. It took Strix a sheer will of determination to cause her body not to shut down instantly, at least using her medical mastery to slow it down with the circulation of her blood. It felt like an acid burning from the inside, at the same time a fog rolling over her body like a comfort of sleep calling her to give in.

No... NO....

She wouldn't give in. She wasn't going to fall now to these chakra beasts.

Clouds parted and a brilliant shaft of silver speared downwards. Diana’s sword drank in the radiance of distant moons and light burned along its edge. She brought it down in an executioner’s arc, cleaving plated bone and woven flesh with the power of the night’s illumination.

(Yama no Hōkai) - Collapsing Mountain
Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short
Chakra cost: 30
Damage points: 60
Description: The user will channel chakra into their arms and blade and then acquiring the Jodan no Kamae stance raising the sword to above their head and taking a central body posture with the left foot forwards and the right foot backwards the user then brings the sword down with devastating power to break through many defenses through using the understanding of ones joints to maximize performance with the least wastage. However as this is taken under a kendo stance the wielding of the sword allows a user to still subsequently react in time to most incoming techniques other than those that would require heightened perceptive and reactive capabilities.

The beast came apart in an explosive detonation of light, its body utterly unmade by her blow. Its flesh melted into the night, leaving Strix alone on the plateau, her chest heaving with exertion as the power she had joined with on the mountain withdrew to the far reaches of her flesh.

She blinked away after-images of a city that echoed with emptiness where once it had pulsed with life. Sadness filled her, though she had never known this place, but even as she mourned it, the memory faded and she was Strix again.

This night’s work is done

She turned to where the moon’s reflection shimmered in the waters of the lake. It beckoned to her, its irresistible pull lodged deep in her soul as it drew her ever onwards.

But there is always another night’s work.
 
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Imperfect

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Not wanting to make himself, or more importantly his exotic, borderline Mythical animal companion an easily identified target, Emiya opted to land within the region of Tobusekai that contained the apparent resting place of Marduk, and continue on foot. While he knew very little about Tobusekai's history, or even the grand history of the world itself, the idea that the physical body of a God was laid to rest seemed almost too ridiculous to entertain. Then again, with everything he'd been through, from meeting a flesh and blood God, to knowing there are tools out there that could definitively harm, and even kill Gods, the concept wasn't the most foreign to Emiya now. For now he would continue to follow the path he had been put on, but made a note to return, and see what the Tomb held.




Leaving Landmark. Heading to #237, Veskal's Exchange.
 
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