Log: Holy Grail War

[colchismagecraft]

🧙 WHO: Caster & OPEN (with a couple of closed TLs)
⚔️️ WHAT: Caster's gone on a grief-induced rampage after learning of the death of her lover back home
🕒 WHEN: June 6th, late night
🗺️ WHERE: The Brocéliande woodland
⚠️ WARNINGS: Violence, Arson, Kidnapping, Death Threats, Magical Torture, Grief, potential Body Horror (Will add more as they come up)



So here it was...the Witch of Betrayal finally showing her 'true colours' to Avalon. After that network post, Caster readied herself for whatever would come of it- the forest fire providing an ominous backdrop.

Since she'd come to Avalon, so many had told her she was a good person- and now, she was publicly burning it all to the ground.



[ooc notes: TL prompts will be in the comments!

I don't want Caster to get killed, but I'm all for her potentially getting maimed/scarred provided we plot first. If you don't think it's IC for your character to not just murder her, send me a message so we can plot how she can remove herself from the situation/have someone else intervene before it gets that far!

She'll be using her familiar symbiosis to fight and leaning toward making the actual description of that transformation slightly body-horror-y, but if you're not comfortable with that then just give me the heads up and I'll have her already turned when the thread starts.

Darin will have his own TL for rescuing him/fighting his own familiar fusion, which I'll link here when it's up- feel free to tag one or both as you see fit!]

Comments

The Battle Itself (OPEN)

[colchismagecraft]

After reading through the replies her message had gotten...well, that was about what she had expected from it. She wouldn't ever clarify whether she'd meant to let the entirety of Avalon see it, for what little it mattered to her now.

For now, she just had to ready herself. She knew there were people coming for her, after all. If anyone tried to confront her, or interfere with her plan, or try to stop her taking her revenge- she'd deal with them as they came.

At least she knew she had a weapon to do it.

Caster turned to her now much larger familiar, giving it a little pet as she turned the enchanted dragon fangs over in her hand.

"Little one...are you ready? We have a war to win."

Re: The Battle Itself (OPEN)

[crimsongirl]

Homura wasn't even sure if she was first. She didn't care either, focusing entirely on Caster. Unless someone got into her line of sight, she wasn't going to gun for them. The only thing that mattered was confronting her....friend, and stopping this madness. She refused to allow anyone to kill the woman who helped her.

That said, she didn't look like she was gonna give Medea any hugs either. Swords had yet to be drawn, the air around her was hardly friendly either.

"No victory is worth this much," she appeared, jumping down a decent distance away from Medea. Her body had a few cuts and burn marks, all from trying to get here as soon as possible. "Call it off. Now."

[colchismagecraft]

"...So you really did come, after all."

Medea had a dragon fang gripped tight in one hand, pressing it against her chest until it drew blood- not activating it, yet, but ready to act at the slightest provocation. She'd had it in hand the moment she heard movement.

But-

Attack someone she'd come to see as a child, after all? That thought made her feel nauseous.

[crimsongirl]

"Of course. I'm not just going to--"

She paused, watching Medea...was she bleeding? And doing it to herself!? Unfortunately, such dark arts were lost on Homura, only able to remember all the blood and death needed to summon Orochi. Fists balled at her side, trying to suppress the anger.

Homura eeded to get Caster to stop. Now.

"It's not too late to just end this," she pleaded, cautiously stepping forward, not breaking eye contact. "I know it hurts. And I'd by lying if I said I fully understand it. But if you keep doing this, I can't protect you!"

[colchismagecraft]

"Why are you trying to protect someone who's already condemned herself in the eyes of this world and the last-?! All that matter- all that matters is my revenge. You know my legend. You know that my name was written for my vengeance, in the end."

Medea stood her ground, focusing on Homura's movements as the shadows around them ripppled.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Caster may well remember Hijikata - well, his face at least. The samurai caught her broadcast live as it aired and, seeing how half the off-worlder population seemed to immediately chime in with anything from shocked disbelief to angry threats to attempts at reasoning with her, didn't bother adding to the storm of voices. Instead he simply set out to the Brocéliande, alerting Camelot's fire fighting force on the way there. What he did not expect, though, was his familiar's arrival. He blinks at the crow tengu as he lands next to him.]

Hijikata-san, I am not surprised to find you here. However you should not face this person alone.

Well, if you show up unprompted my odds have to be really shitty. Any suggestions?

[The crow tengu wordlessly offers a small vial to his bond partner.]

Allow me to replace the fusion elixir of yours that I spent two months ago.

You've got the worst timing. Anyway, are you sure this will be necessary? She isn't all that cunning, kidnapping and hurting one of our main characters. Almost everyone knows Darin and that he's a good guy. She's got the whole town against her now.

Do not underestimate her. It appears that this is not the first time she resorts to such drastic measures to accomplish her aims, and her continued existence would suggest that the previous times she was successful.

Alright, then. Let's spearhead this.

[Hijikata drinks the elixir, and the fog that seems obligatory for this "brand" of fusion trigger envelops him and his familiar. Once it dissipates they are properly merged, with Arashi once more in control as the dominant magic user. He takes to the air on his large black wings without further ado, holding his staff securely and feeling the weight of Hijikata's sword at his hip as a secondary weapon. As he searches for Caster, though, he already knows that steel is unlikely to bring her down, and even advanced magic will not guarantee success.]

tw gore/fusion transformation

[colchismagecraft]

[It was as Caster watched the smoke rising that she saw something headed her way, and her familiar's growl confirmed her suspicions. Someone was coming for her.

Without hesitation, she grabbed one of the enchanted dragon fangs and drove it deep into her chest.

A deep purple energy consumed her familiar, magical flames sinking into her body and transforming her body from the inside- burning through her as the fire awoke in her eyes, in the hollow of her chest as it shifted to bone- And then the skeletal wings and tail burst out of her back, bones of her spine visible underneath her cloak.

A pained scream-

And then the darkness shot up in a wave, countless tendrils aiming right for her opponent, to try and grab him- so he could slam him to the ground.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Arashi sees the flare of purple energy on the ground, just a moment before his sharp eyes would have detected the robed figure anyway. He takes the grim and seemingly painful transformation perfectly in stride.]

We are too late. She activated her own familiar fusion.

[He didn't really need to say that out loud since Hijikata can "hear" his thoughts and vice versa as long as they're fused, and the very next moment Caster forces him to focus his full attention on her by attacking without further ado. The mass of darkness comes shooting up like... Arashi doesn't have anything to even compare it too. It's so much bigger than a spear, more fluid than a giant launching snake, more contained than lava erupting from a volcano.

He sharply flies sideways and down, then changes direction again - only to see that the dark mass split itself in half to intercept him. He shoots up, barely avoiding the two halves that crash into each other and merge back into one. He has to speed up tremendously to avoid being trapped inside a narrowing cone of darkness, and as soon as he's out of that danger he has to duck a tendril lashing at him. This is bad... at this rate how is he going to get any closer to his opponent? He forcefully turns around himself to swing his staff through the dark matter, and the hefty hit successfully disperses that tendril, but the energy simply gets reabsorbed into the larger mass.

Arashi summons his magic and blows an enormous amount of wind at the hydra-like mass, hoping to, in the best case, tear it apart, or else to at least force it back a good bit. He doesn't wait and watch but rather shoots down towards Caster, blasting more wind at her to knock her off her feet and following it up with a scorching fire attack (borrowed from Hijikata). What happens next may be one of three things: either the darkness will grab hold of him before he can reach Caster or, if it got disabled for the time being, she'll counter his attacks in a different way, or he may actually be able to try and land a physical hit on her with his magic-infused staff. He doesn't intend to hold back.]

[colchismagecraft]

Caster's body, in this state, was one made only of curses. Of vengeance and rage and pain that was flowing out all around her as shadow- darkness that could only hurt. Only destroy. Only blind.

The cutting wind did force the mass back, the tendrils recoiling and giving something of an opening, but she was already starting to weave dark sigils in the air.

The tendrils near Hijikata dissolved into mist. Mist that started to curl around him- a curse for pain or to block his sight as Caster herself tried to retreat further back into the cover of the woodland.

[impostorsyndrome]

[This is not going to be much of a battle, if it comes to that. Kadoc wasn't kidding about what kind of fight he'd put up, and he's not interested anyway. He doesn't slam in with any weapons or threats—instead he approaches as he has before, hunched with his hands in his hoodie pockets, backpack on and mask up. Having his familiar with him is unusual, but it doesn't look any more threatening than he does right now, still slung lazily around his shoulders.

And his dramatic declaration when he arrives:]

. . . Hey. Guess I'm not too late.

[But he is vigilant. Very vigilant, not just of Caster, but of the surrounding forest, the fire, anyone else who might be in those shadows.]

[colchismagecraft]

[As soon as she heard the sound of movement nearby, she gripped one of the dragon fangs tight in her hands and prepared to drive it right into her chest- but there was enough of Caster's sanity left to recognise the figure.]

...Why did you come here?

[The forest still burned.

The sharp fang was pressed against her skin, drawing a little blood. Ready to force the change at the slightest provocation. Behind her, the skeletal dragon's eyes gleamed.]

[impostorsyndrome]

[What does she have . . . ? What is she doing with it? Kadoc doesn't know any of the details of the familiar symbiosis spell; he'd heard of it and been too reminded of the yaga of his Russian Lostbelt to ever consider learning it himself. So when it comes to the rituals Caster might draw upon for whatever happens out here tonight, he's in the dark. All he knows is that nothing about this sight fills him with confidence.

He lifts his hands a little in front of him in a placating gesture, a surrender if it's needed.]

I'm not someone who can leave something important up to chance. What was I supposed to do? Find out tomorrow morning what happened to you out here? I'm not doing that. It'd be nice if I had any confidence I could actually do anything about any of this, but that doesn't matter. I've gotta be here for you anyway.

[colchismagecraft]

Be...here for me?

[She'd been fully prepared to defend herself- to lash out at him for getting in her way- but that comment seemed to blindside her.

He cared what became of her, out here?]

I intend to destroy Archer...I am going to make him burn for- for everything he's taken from me.

Are you saying you don't plan to stand in my way?

[ofsilverflame]

Chris didn't know Caster, didn't know the reason she was feuding with a marksman, or the person she had kidnapped to force the confrontation. It was easy enough to see from the post she'd made that she was hurting, that she'd suffered a loss and her reaction, extreme as it was, was a result of what was likely a lifetime of mistreatment. One probably didn't come to be known as "the Witch of Betrayal" by choice. Or maybe she did.

At the same time, none of that mattered. Whatever her loss, whatever her pain, it didn't justify her actions, or insisting on this feud when a much greater threat was lurking over them all. This whole thing was utter nonsense, and Chris intended to put a stop to it.

Armed and armoured, and with a vial of Rinea's potion should she need it, Chris arrived, her expression stern. Her eyes glance towards the familiar, then back to the hooded woman that brought her out here.

"Caster, is it? Surrender now, and release your hostage, and it may go easier for you. I'm in no mood for games tonight. Will you come quietly?" She asks this knowing full well what her opponent's answer will be, but an attempt must be made.

Caster's garb, much like her name (if indeed it was actually her name), gave the impression of a sorceress. Which meant she was more likely to employ magic than engage in melee. Which further meant the familiar was likely the real threat. Chris just hoped the work she'd been doing on her secondary magic would bear fruit, at least long enough to subdue this so-called Witch.

[colchismagecraft]

Ah. It was the woman who'd confronted her over the network- not someone she recognised, but in some ways she reminded her of Saber. A noble, knightly sort of woman, who could not stand for the actions of an 'evil witch' like her. Caster had no grudge with this knight, but if was planning on getting in the way of her revenge...she would deal with her accordingly.

"Yes, Caster. But I don't believe you've introduced yourself. That's hardly becoming of a Knight."

She idly curled her wrist, letting shadows curl around it. It didn't seem like the hostage was anywhere to be seen- she'd already released him for his rampage, after all- but she had no reason to tell this woman that.

[ofsilverflame]

Chris stares hard at Caster, but nods in acknowledgment. No sign of the hostage...was she keeping him elsewhere? She'll have to get that information out of Caster once she's been subdued. "You're right. Forgive my lapse of etiquette." Chris says with dry sarcasm. She holds the sword in front of her in a blade salute. "I am Chris Lightfellow, Captain of the Knights of the Zexen Federation, and Flame Champion. And by the authority of King Arthur, you are under arrest." Flipping the sword around, she plants the blade into the ground, and channels her power through the blade. Think of the sword as the one doing the magic, not you. The magic is a tool as much as her sword or armour.

A circular field expands outwards from where the blade was planted, extending to encompass the area, bathing the would-be battlefield in pale light. With her Anti-Magic Circle in place powered by her Siphon magic, Chris pulls the sword out of the ground and assumes a battle. Her expression is serious, but her brow is knit in concentration.

My limit holding the field was three minutes, but that wasn't under battle conditions. A minute, maybe a minute and a half if I push myself. With any luck I can apprehend her before then.

Everything about this woman screamed "mage" so if she was denied the ability to use her magic it might be possible to subdue her before the field ran out, especially if she didn't immediately realize the field's purpose.

Even if it meant Chris couldn't rely on her own Elemental magic while within the field's boundaries.

[colchismagecraft]

If she were in any better mood, the fact that Chris had risen to that goading over her honour would have amused her, sarcastic or not. And to blade salute to one like her? It seemed the height of foolishness- it would probably come as no surprise to Chris that Caster did not return the gesture with either her staff or her twisted ritual dagger.

"Ah. I'm under arrest am I? How droll."

Caster wasted no time in lashing out with tendrils of shadow magic as she spoke, hoping to get a cheap shot in before she could finish her introduction- but her dark curses wouldn't hold up against the Anti-Magic Circle's powers. That could pose a problem.

The skeletal dragon at her side roared, stomping forward and spreading its wings as it readied itself to defend Caster. With the sorceress' emotional state so fractured, the familiar was responding to the perceived threat by increasing its own size and power.

[excalibeam]

CASTER...!

[ Saber bursts into the area, fully equipped and gales of wind coming from behind her—obviously what was allowing her to move this quickly. Her familiar, a red dragon, was perched on her shoulder and snarling as she grinds to a halt.

She wasn't aiming to kill, but she was pissed now. ]

tw self injury / familiar fusion

[colchismagecraft]

Saber.

[Her own voice was calm- having taken the time to prepare herself for the battle ahead- And Saber was one she'd expected. Caster knew she couldn't afford to waste any time in this fight. Not with someone as fast as Saber was.

And so, her grip on the enchanted dragon fang in her hand tightened, before she drove it deep into her chest.

A pulse of power ripped through her body as her familiar caught light and melted into her, the flames burning through her body and building up in her eyes and chest- a hollow opening up to expose the bone. Ripples shot through Caster's back, skeletal wings and tail bursting out.

Even for one who'd been working with this world's magic as much as Caster had- the burst of magic was temporarily overwhelming- and the witch gave a pained scream as cursed darkness started flooding around her.]

SABER!!

[excalibeam]

[ Saber's eyes widen, but she doesn't stop. She recognizes that Caster has done... something and intends to fight. Despite her rage, she will not kill her... but she will not hold back either. ]

EX...!

[ It wasn't nearly as powerful as what her Holy Sword was truly capable of, but it was still something. She raises her invisible sword above her head the instant she saw her fuse with her familiar, and the invisibility turns into a burst of light as Saber brings down her sword. ]

...CALIBUR!!

[ Light Magic... she'd practiced enough with it to be able to mimic the light of her Holy Sword with a powerful beam of light. It wasn't nearly as explosive, nor was it capable of scorching to earth... but it was fast, and with the output that Saber was using... not enough to kill anyone.

Though it certainly wouldn't tickle either. ]

[colchismagecraft]

[Well, the light was enough to break through the darkness she'd been calling around herself by way of defence- but it kept flowing. The Sorceress moving her arms widely, bringing shadow upon shadow upon shadow to buffer the light.

The attack hit, Caster folding the skeletal wings around herself to shield her body from the worst- causing the bones to crack.

But then the cloud of darkness descended. A burst of power choking with curses to try and slow her down- hurt her- anything to slow the other Servant down.]

[patchricide]

[[OOC: For context, check out this thread!]]

Allura's running late. As much as she hates to admit it, Caster's plan to stop others from interfering worked, at least enough to stall her. But despite the damage to her clothes and the circle of blood smeared on her forehead, she's actually looking and feeling in better condition than usual.

And with a nice cocktail of adrenaline, magic energy and righteous fury running through her veins, there had better still be a piece of Caster left she can take her aggression out on.

"Caster!!" She brandishes her bayard, which is still in its glaive form from the fight with Darin. And then, as she runs towards the last place that she saw signs of battle, she reverts it — and then transforms it again, this time having it taking the shape of her energy whip sword, which streaks alongside her like a ribbon of light.

"Where are you, Caster?! Come face me, and answer for what you've wrought!"

lmk if you want me to change anything timeline wise

[colchismagecraft]

Caster had already entered a fused state by the time Allura entered the fight, dark energy flowing around the boney hollow in her chests and skeletal wings. Her tail twitched as she heard the woman call out, and once again she tightened her grip on Hecate's staff and twisted dagger.

Most of her traps had gone off by now- and she'd burned through a lot of her resources. She'd even gotten her chance to stab Archer. But she couldn't stop. There were still people who were coming after her.

And so, as she heard Allura's voice, she inhaled, breathing a curse in another language. A cursed darkness billowed out like a fog around her- to cause a burning pain to whoever entered it.

"...I was wondering when you'd come to find me."

all good here!

[patchricide]

"It took longer than anticipated to fix what you did to him."

Maybe she should be playing this closer to the chest, keeping the fact that she has a way to counter Caster's magic a secret until she's gotten close enough to disable it. But in her anger, she's opted for intimidation tactics instead.

So, when she sees the cursed darkness spreading outwards from Caster, she runs towards it — no, more than that, she charges into it.

Not that she gets far. There's a searing pain across her skin, and it makes her stop mid-step. But...

"Your spells aren't going to work against me!" And she holds her hands out to either side, palms out, fingers splayed — and she starts siphoning the magical fog into her body.

If she wants to break her fusion by force she's welcome to

[colchismagecraft]

"Ah...so my interference finally ran his course. That is unfortunate."

Her smirk was cruel- bitter and broken, but cruel- as she assessed the situation.

If Darin's fusion had already worn out, she wouldn't have a lot of time left in her own. That was even before she realised that Allura didn't seem wounded, and that her Siphon magic was the perfect counter to Caster's darkness.

She immediately pulled back, letting loose more darkness- this time to try and cloak herself in shadow. If she could get back into the woodland and conceal her position, that was the best way to stay safe. Maintaining distance was of upmost importance.

If only she could access her Rain of Light!