[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

Josh

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[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 8, 2021 23:58:29 GMT

Post by Josh on Oct 8, 2021 23:58:29 GMT

[attr="class","header"]The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand

The plan seemed simple enough. With the pieces of the Mirror of Twilight in the possession of Hyrule’s forces, all that was left to do was send a team with the shards into the Arbiter’s Grounds, where the Mirror itself was located, return the lost pieces, enter the Twilight Realm, engage this Twili mastermind and put an end to this war for good. On the surface, it was a solid, low casualty plan, and the Royal Family had begun organizing an elite squad for the mission.

But while investigating the disappearance of Ursula von Brandt, the Royal Family would discover that she was also being held in the Arbiter’s Grounds. Which meant that most likely the enemy knew they were coming. A scouting team would report back that a massive sandstorm had appeared and was now preventing access. One that would require a great deal of magic to dispel. But from what they could see, there were signs that a gargantuan army of monsters had been marshalled in the area, an army even bigger than the ones that had besieged Hyrule City, Zora’s Domain, Death Mountain and Kakariko Village previously. This was very likely to be the entirety of the remainder of the Twili’s monster army after the Battle of Eldin. To make matters worse, it was likely that more had been conscripted in the months since then. Sending in a small team alone would be impossible.

An unprecedented war council soon took place between representatives of the Royal Family, Goron and the Zora. It was decided that if the enemy was going to bring out their army in full force to stop them, then they as well would have to unite as one in order to make a path for their infiltration team.

For what would hopefully be the final battle, the Grand Army of Hyrule would be officially formed for the duration of the war. Hylians, Gorons, Zora, Sheikah and many others have come together for one last stand. For failure would mean the end of Hyrule as we know it.

The enemy force has already sighted Hyrule’s army and has begun its attack. Unfortunately, a giant sand vortex has encapsulated the Arbiter’s Grounds themselves, apparently held together by magic, and it has kicked up a merciless sandstorm in the area surrounding it, making even getting to it difficult. It is unwavering and never appears to stop. The monster forces appear able to move through it just fine, seemingly protected by the Twili’s magic, but any who would attempt to get through it on Hyrule’s side would be torn to pieces before they could even get to the prison.

According to an informant, it is an ancient magic that carries a great amount of power. The only plausible way to dispel the sandstorm and vortex is to hit it with a force of even greater power. The decided answer was the wielder of what the Royal Family has dubbed the Crest of Courage, Sir Josh Dragelion of the Knights of Hyrule. Escorted by a forward vanguard, Sir Dragelion was asked to try and find a way to harness the power of the Crest of Courage in Hyrule’s time of need, in hopes that it may dispel the enemy’s magic. There is no guarantee this will work, but if the sandstorm cannot be dissipated, their journey to the Twilight Realm ends here.

But the enemy has sent a battalion ahead who has passed outside of the sandstorm. It will be up to the score of soldiers in the Grand Army of Hyrule, as well as the group who has volunteered for this assignment to ensure that Sir Dragelion has time to try and enact the magic of the Crest. These volunteers include his siblings Desmond and Ophelia Dragelion, as well as the wandering maiden Selene Merrows. All who didn’t just volunteer, but insisted.

If the eldest Dragelion can be covered long enough and the sandstorm dispelled, the first thing the group will see is a Gerudo town that was close enough to be caught inside the wall of the sandstorm and as such, has been staving off attacks of an enemy siege for some time. As the front vanguard unit, you are now the closest unit to the Gerudo town, and it will not hold out for much longer before it is overwhelmed. With the bulk of the enemy army soon to be upon you, the main bulk of the army will be needed to fight them back so the infiltration team can get inside, and you cannot risk the Gerudo town and those within it being caught up in the fight even further. Save the town and protect its people from the monster forces before it’s too late.

[attr="class","section"]Monster List

Wave 1 (While dispelling the vortex): 3x Fire Bubbles, x2 ReDead Knights
Wave 2 (Attacking the town): x3 Moblins, x2 Stalfos, x5 Stalkin
Sub-Boss: Silver Lynel

LAST EDIT: Nov 18, 2021 23:24:20 GMT by Josh

Josh Dragelion

Protector of Ordon

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:25 yrs old

WRITTEN:1,036 posts

TAG:@josh

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 12, 2021 12:58:44 GMT

Post by Josh Dragelion on Oct 12, 2021 12:58:44 GMT

"For my Kingdom...

Ursula was his teacher in magic, and in some respects, a friend. He wanted to, and had initially pushed to be part of the infiltration party. Especially when he had learned that His and Her Highness would be headed inside. They needed someone capable of protecting them, even if he knew Leon could take care of himself. But in the end, well. It was as Marianne said, no? There wasn’t much room for selfishness in this army. Not unless you were royalty, anyway. Josh had been asked to aid in the war effort. His work in the Battle of Eldin had been pointed out. If he could work miracles once, perhaps he could do it again? That seemed to be the train of thought.

And boy oh boy did they expect him to work one hell of a miracle. This sand vortex which had engulfed the enemy’s stronghold and had kicked up a sandstorm so dire that none could pass through it without being ripped to shreds — they expected him to somehow summon the power of this “Crest” thing to dispel it. Literally put the fate of the entire mission in his hands! If he couldn’t pull this off, they were screwed, straight up. Wouldn’t even be able to breach. The war wouldn’t end until Hyrule was finished.

The problem was, he didn’t know a damn thing about this crest thingy! He had tried to learn about it, but the librarian had screamed something about a Triforce of Courage and alerted literally everybody, and he learned nothing of substance. He had looked into the Triforce of Courage, but all it talked about was the few heroes who had wielded it. None of them actually said how!

So, that was a problem. They had entrusted the entire mission to him, otherwise they were going to have to chance the sandstorm and the vortex. They had no other choice. It was that or death. But the sandstorm would lead to much…

Goddess, he knew he shouldn’t think too much about it. He didn’t know where in his life that he had gone wrong and found himself here, but here he was. It was funny. Back in Termina he would have reveled in this opportunity. The chance to be the big hero, widely recognized for his deeds, to bring glory to his name and to his house! To forge a legend of his own! The old Guard Captain would have loved that.

The problem was that he’d left that man in Termina.

The man that walked through the desert, cursing this insufferable heat all the while, no longer had those desires. This was a man who had once retired as a swordsman and started a farm. Who had enlisted only to protect his village, his farm, and his family. It was ironic, really. To have great things thrust upon him only when he wasn’t seeking it. It drove the nagging thoughts into his head that unlike when he was in his glory-seeking, hungry prime — he wasn’t ready for this.

But he was going to have to be, wasn’t he?

It was funny that he had once envied Selene for being in this exact position. He loved her to death, but gods, he couldn’t help but be envious. All the chances and opportunity to prove herself, all the adulation and acknowledgement. All while his deeds were ignored. He hadn’t thought about the weight of that burden. Only what came with it. He had supported her as much as he could, it was the right thing to do after all, but he had always been envious.

Now here he was, with that same burden. And with no idea if he could keep it up. How Selene had walked with a burden this heavy, he didn’t know. When everything was riding on you and you didn’t know if you could do it, was this how she had felt? To have a world of pressure on your shoulders, everyone looking at you, who would be disappointed in you and think you a fraud if you failed? That you would be blamed for the calamity to come? Knowing that their lives were in your hands?

He was going to be sick. He wasn’t ready for this, that little voice in his head kept telling. But he was going to have to be, wasn’t he?

And he didn’t know how to feel about his company.

Normally, this would be a dream for him. To have Selene, a woman who while he had once felt envy, he now could only see the deep care he held for her, at his back. To have at each side the two siblings, Desmond and Ophelia, who he had thought lost. To fight together as one, this was everything he could have ever wanted.

But not this way.

If he couldn’t dispel that sandstorm, he risked losing everything. He would watch Selene, Ophelia, Desmond… Soldier on and potentially be torn apart, ripped to ribbons before his eyes. He couldn’t take that. To lose everything again. To see his siblings die a second time. Hadn’t he lost enough? Hadn’t the gods made him suffer plenty as-is? And yet, he knew the choice wasn’t on the gods this time. They had insisted, all of them. Despite Selene’s heritage, none of them had any obligation to be in this fight. And Selene, a Princess even if in secret, could have stayed in the back if she so chose.

No, they were exactly where they wanted to be. For better, or for worse.

So he would have to be strong for them. Strong for his people, for his kingdom. His confidence wasn’t high… But he was just gonna have to try.

Here they are.

At the head of the Grand Army as its forward scouting platoon, Dragelion led a legion of soldiers. At his sides were the three he cared for most. They had been able to utilize Nayru and Farore magic to stave off the heat and make getting here in armor bearable. Allow them to ride their horses to get here as soon as possible. But none of that could prepare them for the sandstorm. It hit like an entire building being pushed their way, with an unreal force even when they had yet to dive into it fully. But that vortex was something else. It trapped the entirety of the enemy’s territory in a protected bubble, unable to be breached.

And they expected him to topple this thing?

The Hylian swore under his breath as he dismounted Cabuck, patting the horse’s head to calm them down. He took a deep breath. Nobody had thought to sit down with him and try a test run with this thing. Were there magic words or something? So with that, he took one last swig of his canteen and cleared his throat.

He was going to need a far stronger drink after this.

“Uhh… Abra kadabra!”

He shouted the first thing to come to mind as he lifted his crested hand. No dice. The thing still just only faintly glowed, as if mocking him.

“Great. Uhhh, Cresty Dee Dee!”

Nope, no go. No matter how much he shouted ridiculous magic sounding works and thrust his hand forward, the little cresty wasn’t getting zesty. The Hylian’s eyelids lowered. Well, this wasn’t good. Maybe something more articulate?

“Um… Goddess Hylia, maidens Din, Nayru and Farore! Creators, protectors of Hyrule and guardians of the Triforce! In our hour of need, I beseech your aid! Deliver us, and so may we fight for our land in your-“

He didn’t get the rest of it out before a hoard of monsters would begin to pass harmlessly through the vortex. Whatever magic the Twili had on them, it was protecting them from the sandstorm and the vortex. A small army was upon them, and it didn’t look good.

“Oh come on, I think I had it this time!”

Said Josh’s last remnants of optimism. There was nothing for it, they would just have to clear a path so he could try again. Drawing Dragelix, he raised it into the air to signal to the troops to stand at attention. With everyone ready, he thrusted the sword forward.

“FOR HYRULE!”

As the armies clashed, the group of Josh, Selene, Desmond and Ophelia would find themselves beset upon by a score of Fire Bubbles. Threatening to set them alight, the bubbles barreled their whole, fiery bodies at them with reckless abandon.

For my people... I need to do this."

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDNIGHTBLOOM!

Ophelia Dragelion

but here i touch an open wound: my memory

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:22 yrs old

WRITTEN:15 posts

TAG:@ophelia

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 20, 2021 0:18:03 GMT

Post by Ophelia Dragelion on Oct 20, 2021 0:18:03 GMT

[attr="class","ophie_title1"] steel, ivory & porcelain ...

When Ophelia imagined everyone together, it hadn't been under these circumstances. War united people, yes, but so did a delicious meal. Was it too much to ask to be united over that instead? They already paid their dues, fought their own wars and grappled with the damage it had done. Why did it seem like just when the pieces of themselves - ravaged and devastated - were lovingly being healed, something came to break it apart again? Why did the goddesses see the landscape of their minds and bodies as the perfect place for battle? Such was life's nature.

It never was a debate whether she'd join the cause. Whether she cared for Hyrule as a whole had never been a question. Land was land; its boundaries and names held little importance to her. But the people in them, that's what moved her volunteer.

What Labrynna stole, Hyrule returned with gentle hands. Hyrule promised not a repaired past, but a hopeful future. One where she lived with her brothers and friends in peace, their wounds nurtured and cared for until they sprouted something beautiful; flowers bursting from the seems of their scars to remind them of their strength. They had been damaged, but not broken. Never broken. For these lands - for Hyrule - to do that much, Ophelia saw it fit to return the favor by fighting.

Still, she couldn't help the titter that rose at the familiar feelings it invoked. When Josh first made his decision to train as a knight. When Desmond - with bright admiring eyes - seemed to be heading down the same path. When she fought her first few battles without them to hold her steady. It made her want to fall to her knees and cry. Scream until she past out from exhaustion. To reunite them only so they could die in front of the others' eyes; the Goddess had not shown her kindness, only prolonged her grand finale.

Despite turning her head to Desmond and laughing at Josh's failed attempts to activate the crest, something in the pit of her stomach stirred and tighten. Doubt. Doubt - with its stable instability - turned her determination sour. Swallowing the vinegar and turpentine from the dubiety, Ophelia bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to turn the flavor with iron.

That was the only blood she'd allow them to take from her, her brothers, or Selene.

"I swear to Hylia if any of you three die on me, I'm bringing you back just to kill you again." Ophelia huffed out a laugh.

Then it had started. Volunteering to fight in this war, training, traveling; since the start and everything in between, to this very moment - it all felt like a hazy dream. How quickly had that dream ruptured into reality.

Hands flew to her daggers. Their blades cut threw the air with a silent whistle as their target became clear: the Fire Bubbles' wings. Aiming for the head would've been easier, but clipping the wings guaranteed something at the very least.

tag: Josh Dragelion , Desmond Dragelion , Selene Merrows
notes: LET'S GOOOOOOO \O/

[attr="class","ophie_title2"] in this new world, they know my name

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDNIGHTBLOOM!

LAST EDIT: Oct 20, 2021 0:22:02 GMT by Ophelia Dragelion

Desmond Dragelion

Okay... Wait, huh?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:221 posts

TAG:@desmond

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 21, 2021 4:10:08 GMT

Post by Desmond Dragelion on Oct 21, 2021 4:10:08 GMT

war team a

603 words

Battle and the trio had not been strangers.

Each one of the Dragelions having made their way into a fight for life and blood in some form or another. For honor, for safety, for survival, and for the chance to move forward. Each one leaves behind the innocence of youth with blood stained hands and scars on flesh, on hearts. Some never wanted to return to that place and others knew they had to come forward and expect to spit blood on the pavement on a day to day basis.

Really, Desmond fell into the former.

If he could have avoided another fight for survival, he would have. To fight for his life against opponents stronger and weaker was a time of his life he longed to leave in the past. The blood on sand and the cries of broken bones, the clattering of blades and the twang of bows. When his adrenaline got too high and the threats were made, it did something to him. The crackle in his blood that begged an inner child's desire for protection and a ferocity it took forever to cage away.

God he was a f--king idiot. He was an idiot for letting his tongue move faster than his brain. But what was he to do? Be rational and think of his own mental state when his siblings were going off to war? To fight for their lives and possibly not come back - again? Like hell he was letting that happen. They may have each other, but three was better than one or even two -now they even had the gift of a fourth to their party.

Now while Desmond was a fighter, he was not a mage. His electric affinity was not exactly useful in his own line of work and he avoided using it at all possible, just from his lack of knowledge and his instability. He had no desire to mix a volatile element and a volatile mind - but dear goddesses above…

Did he at least know that none of those suggestions were going to work when his brother was calling for their help. Desmond had to bite his tongue until he tasted copper at each line that fell out of Josh’s mouth. At least he could hear Ophelia giggling beside him, also amused at the elders' attempts. Each one felt more ridiculous to the last until finally, finally he got something.

Kind of.

The portal had decided that it also had enough and begun its own attack.

Now was his own test, at least. Desmond had followed his brother in dismounting, not daring to see just how badly he could fight on horseback in a sand storm. The blond unsheathed his own blade, twisting it lightly as their first opponents began to approach. Primary goals were to protect the town and give Josh enough time to figure out just what the hell the magic words were for the Goddesses to give them a hand in closing that portal.

While it had started as a hobby, Desmond found his free time in the peculiar study of monsters. Like animals, each one had been unique and had their own methods. Fire bubbles typically have little skulls with wings of their element, coated or of them entirely.

It was best to keep distance or extinguish the fire before approaching, but it seems one of them was covered. Ophelia's blades flew by to reach their wings, slicing through the flesh and whistling through the fire. The second son moved to follow, his feet pushing off against the sand and hands swinging his sword towards their heads.

a quiet mouth and a loud mind, lets get this bread homies

?

Selene Merrows

who fights? who flies? who falls?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:213 posts

TAG:@selene

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 27, 2021 11:50:05 GMT

Post by Selene Merrows on Oct 27, 2021 11:50:05 GMT

Inevitably, this is always how things went. Wars, battles, death. It was a cycle Selene had been apart of plenty of times. Oftentimes, she knew their goal and it seemed straightforward. Yet this time was reminding her of all those many years ago, when she was thrust into the enemy's arms with uncertainty. In general, their goal was to get rid of the enemies, yes, but with Josh unable to summon the crest's light... How she remembered that burden so many years ago. She did not envy him. But she did wish she could help carry the burden. She somberly looked down at her own hand, wondering why hers hadn't come back instead... Such trivial beings, those Goddesses...

Selene trudged through the sand along with her troupe, using her double-edged glaive as a walking stick to keep stop the sand. She had never been to the desert before, and gods, was it unforgiving. Hot, despite the winter in the lands surrounding. She was already beading with sweat. And she doubted she's feel better after seeing the enemies they were to face first.

The battle had started, and Selene made sure to keep her distance from the fiery bubbles. She swung her glaive horizontal to the ground, using it's blade to slice instead of stab. Hopefully she could keep the fires away from her skin.

Josh Dragelion

Protector of Ordon

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:25 yrs old

WRITTEN:1,036 posts

TAG:@josh

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Oct 31, 2021 20:27:53 GMT

Post by Josh Dragelion on Oct 31, 2021 20:27:53 GMT

"For my Kingdom...

This would be the first time that his siblings would see him battle. While they knew now that he was a Knight of Hyrule, there was a difference between hearing and actually seeing. That was quite something to live up to, wasn’t it? Setting the standard high with knighthood and now this crest thing too. Boy, had the fates not been kind on the pressure front.

Speaking of pressure and crests, did this damn thing really only work when it wanted to? Because with all this pressure on his shoulders, that was a serious problem.

"I swear to Hylia if any of you three die on me, I'm bringing you back just to kill you again." Ophelia huffed out a laugh. “I wasn’t aware you had a killing bone in your body” the blonde teased right back as he then watched his sister take the tactical approach. Her daggers sliced through the wings on one of the Bubbles, knocking it to the ground. But that didn’t stop its approach as it began to bounce towards them instead, trying to bite at Ophelia. Then came Desmond, who finished it off with a sharp strike. But another had approached from behind, hoping to catch Ophelia by surprise. Just as it swooped down and lunged at her, a hand caught it by the jaw.

The fires of Din magic radiated around Josh’s large, gauntleted hand as they protected it from the Bubble’s flames. Unwilling to lose his sister again, he crushed down on the jaw as the fragile bone shattered, splitting the Bubble in two as he then finished it off with Dragelix. His expression had changed. The reality of war was upon him, and the stakes were higher than ever. If he couldn’t summon the power of the crest, then he would kill every monster that lunged upon them until he did.

Meanwhile, Selene struck from a distance at the third Bubble, batting it like a ball with her glaive as the blade cut through, but didn’t finish it off. But the Bubble would come to a stop at the chest of a hulking, armored figure. Its flesh was rotted, and it loosed a stunning scream that would pierce the ears of all those on the battlefield. Swinging its large sword wildly, it would slash through the Bubble as it launched itself at Selene with an aggressive, merciless fervor, its motions wild and unpredictable as it seemed motivated solely on destroying all that lay before it.

For my people... I need to do this."

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDNIGHTBLOOM!

Desmond Dragelion

Okay... Wait, huh?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:221 posts

TAG:@desmond

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Nov 7, 2021 8:09:50 GMT

Post by Desmond Dragelion on Nov 7, 2021 8:09:50 GMT

da bois

261 words

Demise hath no wrath like a woman's scorn.

Oh how he missed the chance to use that quip. Along with some smart-ass one liner about women being one being on this earth he would never get the chance to fully understand. But the battle had begun and monsters had no care for people's attitudes nor their cares. Josh sought to take Ophelia’s back and Selene started making her way through the growing opposing force.

The two girls seemed to be distanced fighters so far. He didn’t have much of a reference to go on, but the magic with glaives and daggers gave him at least somewhat of an idea. Alright, time to be a front-liner instead of giving shitty one liners.

Desmond grimaced at the sound of the creature's scream, grinding his teeth until his jaw ached. The stable hand pushed against the sand, utilizing the passives of the blessing of Farore as he pushed each step into a leap.

“Move!” Bellowed the blond. His last step pressed his weight to the sand just to leap as high as he could towards the monster. Swinging his blade, he slashed at the back of the monster. His momentum pressed him forward still until he extended his leg to follow his blade, slamming against the slash he had made and catapulting him to the side.

Grunting as he hit the sand, he rolled back into a crouched position. This thing seemed to big to take down so easily, but at the very least having its attention away from the others was enough to start.

x

?

LAST EDIT: Nov 7, 2021 8:10:16 GMT by Desmond Dragelion

Ophelia Dragelion

but here i touch an open wound: my memory

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:22 yrs old

WRITTEN:15 posts

TAG:@ophelia

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Nov 13, 2021 0:21:05 GMT

Post by Ophelia Dragelion on Nov 13, 2021 0:21:05 GMT

[attr="class","ophie_title1"] steel, ivory & porcelain ...

"I don't," The lie sat on her tongue like the hot sand to her skin, "But I'd always make an exception for my favorite people."

Fighting monsters had been... a new experience for her. The lack of familiarity was one she hadn't taken into account. The skull that sought to bite her, the one who came from behind - for the briefest moment, Ophelia couldn't bring herself into the realization of their predicament. No, that realization had been tucked away with the small girl that hid behind the safety of her ribs. When had been the last time she had seen monsters like this? Even if the numbers had been few, for the time being, the promise of a stronger wave carried itself through the storm. Had that been hidden alongside the girl, or had that been what she was hiding from; the etchings of that fact making their home in her bones.

Even now, she was still under the care of her brothers. Even if their faces seemed more like a war torn stranger's and made her flinch. Seeing them in such a way... that was something she would have to grow accustomed to. Or rather, she prayed that wouldn't be the case.

With the Bubbles gone, Ophelia made quick work of collecting her weapons before skirting the outer peripheral of the lumbering monster. Its scream - alongside that of Desmond's - ripped a full body chill from her, yet her legs continued to lead her forward. She clutched the dagger in anticipation, lowering herself in preparation to leap and latch onto its back. Hands wrung themselves into the tattered red cloth around the creature's neck; it would've been easier to hold onto a muddied pig than to keep her grip on the sporadic monster. Her blade blindly entered the putrid mass. Allowing herself to drop, Ophelia dragged the blade - mapping her fall on the monster's flesh.

tag: Josh Dragelion , Desmond Dragelion , Selene Merrows
notes: :)

[attr="class","ophie_title2"] in this new world, they know my name

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDNIGHTBLOOM!

Selene Merrows

who fights? who flies? who falls?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:213 posts

TAG:@selene

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Nov 18, 2021 5:58:57 GMT

Post by Selene Merrows on Nov 18, 2021 5:58:57 GMT

[attr="class","deepindigo"]

❝

Stand tall, my friend. May all of the dark lost inside you find light again.

[attr="class","Rose"]

[attr="class","Tea"]Josh Dragelion Desmond Dragelion Ophelia Dragelion
hnnnggg I suck at combat

Her range seemed to have her at both an advantage and disadvantage right now. It frustrated her that the dumb bubble bounced around so much. She was so close to finishing it off, had she just been a bit closer... But after hearing the piercing scream, and seeing what made that scream, she was sure to count her blessings. Selene already had a bit of distance between herself and the wild, rotting monster, but why not make that gap further? It was erratic in its movements and she couldn't take a chance against that. She jumped back, taking on a defensive stance as she racked her brain for her next steps. Her eyes scanned the battlefield, to make sure her comrades were in safe positions as well. They mostly seemed occupied with their own enemies, until the undead appeared. With their focus shifted, Selene called out, "Cover me!"

She stabbed her glaive into the earth and erupting from the cracks it formed were bright, glowing lights. They spread in a circular shape around the glaive, making it the circle's center. When all was finished, she removed her glaive and a light rune was left in its place. "Try luring it over here," she called, "This may help... I hope." Admittedly, she had not yet experimented too much with her light magic, so she hoped her plan would work.

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Josh Dragelion

Protector of Ordon

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:25 yrs old

WRITTEN:1,036 posts

TAG:@josh

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Nov 18, 2021 23:08:59 GMT

Post by Josh Dragelion on Nov 18, 2021 23:08:59 GMT

"I accept the burden...

Desmond soon took to the skies in a bid to take the ReDead Knight from behind. The creature swung wildly at the group, and Josh would move to meet it. Stopping its blows with Dragelix, he would struggle a moment against its strength in a battle of wills. The monster continued to screech, and it almost froze the blonde to the bone with the chill. But he stubbornly held on -- until Desmond would soon come from behind it and strike. Hitting it flush, the creature would reel as Josh then took the advantage and slashed with Dragelix across its torso. Then came Ophelia, seizing the opportunity to contribute to the all out attack with her dagger. The creature wailed in pain and anger as it would try and swing at Ophelia in an attempt to pierce through her, but Josh would block once again with Dragelix, taking the full brunt of the creature’s screams as they pounded through his head. In a rage, the creature changed its trajectory and swung the other way. While Josh realized the change, he was only able to shift slightly before the flat of the large blade would strike the knight across the head and send him flying back, hitting the sand with a thud. Fresh blood seeped from the mark on the side of his head, and his breath came out haggard as he found the wind knocked out of him.

But it paid off, for Selene soon got her wish. Moving to strike Josh had brought the creature into the range of the light rune. The sight of Selene in the distance caused the already wounded and enraged creature to veer her way in blind fury, and soon enough it stepped right onto her trap. The rune exploded and towers of light would shoot up where the creature had been. Hylia magic began to melt what was left of the ReDead’s bones, and the scream in pain and fury it loosed was ungodly loud in turn. When the dust settled, there was nothing left.

“Urgh… Ah-agh…” Josh groaned as he stumbled back to his feet on wobbly legs. That wound was going to need to be patched up, he knew. But his head was foggy from the blow, and he could only barely hear the sounds of the creature’s death throes. Loud enough for him to know something had hurt it badly. The remnants of the rune told him enough.

But the piercing scream that came next was definitely not the scream of a creature at the point of death. For a second ReDead Knight had heard the cries of agony. Attracted to them, it had moved through the sandstorm -- which had begun to increase its ferocity throughout the battle and was now beginning to lap at their heels -- and was now charging towards Desmond and Ophelia. This one was much bigger than its comrade, brandishing a gigantic greatsword that it swung with effortless strength. And it was fast, despite its size. They were going to have a hell of a time taking this one down.

Josh had begun trying to use magic to heal himself (if none of the party hadn’t attempted already at this juncture) when he heard the creature coming. While he was clearly in a fair bit of pain and still a bit dizzy, he was quick to draw Dragelix when he was almost blinded by a bright light. Holding up his arm to try and block it out, he soon realized that a tingling sensation had begun to erupt across his right hand. Darting his gaze towards it, Josh would discover that it was the Crest of Courage that had begun to glow brightly. So it would only activate when it felt it was time… It was not something he could directly control the timing of. He knew that he had to go now, this may be their only chance… But the creature was bearing down on his siblings and on Selene

His eyes widened as he realized the circumstances before them. If he didn’t act now, he was putting his loved ones in danger. But if he left them to that thing, then what if he wasn’t able to get back in time to help them if they got in trouble? It was a no-win situation, and the anguish was written all over his face. He had to make a decision, and it was a hard one. In the end, he knew what was the right one. He understood, of course. He had to trust them. Desmond, Ophelia and Selene. His siblings weren’t children anymore, and he couldn’t coddle them forever. And Selene had taken down that monster back in Termina. If anyone could take down that thing... It was her.

“Des! Ophie! Sel! It’s now or never!” Josh called out to the others, holding up the hand to show them what he meant. “Cover me for as long as you can! This might be the only chance we get!”

As the remaining ReDead Knight would charge at them, Josh would approach the vortex. The closer he got, the more he was buffeted by the sandstorm. But he could feel it, the closer he came to it… The worse he was hit by not only the sandstorm itself, but the dark magic that concocted this vortex. It had taken a dark, twisted manipulation of the magic of the gods to create this monstrosity. And it was very likely that only something else created by the gods could counteract it.

“Goddesses three, hear my voice! Please, we beseech your aid in our time of need! End this manipulation of your magic and let us protect our people!”

His pleading voice rang out as loud and passionate as could be. Normally quiet and awkward, in their time of need he had summoned the strength he had displayed only during the Battle of Eldin before. The mark began to glow ever brighter, now with a slightly green tint in its coloring. He didn’t know how he knew, but in that moment he was aware that the goddesses had granted their favor.

“Thank you” he whispered with eyes closed in light prayer before he turned to the task at hand. Extending his hand once more, he found himself able to walk further into the storm, shielded by Farore’s winds. Until finally, he could see the source of its magic, as clear as day. A core, entrenched in darkness. He reached out and touched it…

… And electricity immediately surged through his body.

“A-a-AGGGHGGGGGGGHHHHHH!”

His scream was gut-wrenching, a bloodcurdling roar that broadcasted pure, absolute agony to the field with no doubt of just what it was.

It was the worst pain he had ever felt. He had been stabbed, slashed, bashed, and stabbed even more. But every passing moment felt like an hour, as every inch of his body felt like it was burning and being stabbed with hot knives on bare skin all at once, stabbing over and over again with no mercy to be had. The jolts kept his body awake even when it so badly wanted to pass out and end this agonizing pain. And the longer he tried to fight it, the worse the pain got. It didn’t stop, it only hurt worse. Every waking moment was excruciatingly painful and felt like it lasted an eternity even if it was only mere seconds. But…

Despite it all, the hylian dragged himself back to standing up straight within a minute or so of being subjected to this. Loosing a pained growl, he weakly kept his hand up.

“You don’t get it,” he seethed out, taunting the thing as if it could hear him. “This thing’s going down one way or another. Because these people need me. MY FAMILY NEEDS ME! And I don’t care what it takes, I’ll keep them safe no matter what happens!”

He was as stubborn as a bull, and so long as he could feel the seal weakening, even if it was only a little by the moment… It was enough to fuel that stubborn determination to keep going. He knew that if he failed here, if he gave up, the Dragelions and Selene would be overwhelmed by the quickly worsening sandstorm and the protected monsters would likely mow them down before they could retreat back to the main bulk of their forces. And he refused to let that happen. With a fierce scowl and a stalwart stance, he held his ground no matter what came at him. With a piercing growl, he roared his last declaration of defiance.

“Cuz I’m done letting fate dictate my life. I’m not losing anybody else, especially not here!”

His parents, so many he had met in Termina, Maude… He had let them die. He had been overwhelmed and rendered helpless at every turn. He had to watch as a monster had born down upon Termina all those years ago, unable to stop it. Having to watch Selene, as inexperienced as she was, be forced to step up. With means the gods had cruelly thrust upon her, she had no choice but to do what he could not. And he could do nothing but fight to lessen that burden even slightly. A helpless, simple man that could only watch and do little. And have to live with the knowledge that no matter how hard he fought, it didn’t matter. This fate… He had let it run its course for so long, but with all he had lost, and now all that he had found and in cruel renewal stood to lose once again… How could he? In these moments of pain and suffering, as his body felt as though it could collapse at any moment… He told himself over and over, willing himself to keep standing -- the cycle ends here.

But the truth was cruel. And deep down, even Josh knew it.

It wasn’t enough.

This had been created by the gods. Perhaps one aspect of one god alone wouldn’t do it. The Crest of Courage by itself fought as hard as the man commanding it, but no matter how hard he fought to keep going, the effort would be fruitless. At best, if he held out long enough he may well overpower it. But it would be a long and drawn out conflict to get there — and most likely, he would die in the process.

But perhaps the gods were merciful. Or perhaps it was just the right time. For Selene Merrows would be beset with a heavy, but familiar tingling sensation on her dominant hand. One look, and she would know. A mark just like the one that Josh had been granted. And one Selene knew very well.

Except this time, this Crest had the side of Courage faded out, while Wisdom glowed brightly, and this time shone with a slight blue hue.

For at a moment most crucial, Selene had been granted a Crest of Wisdom.

That has been placed upon me."

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDDY!

LAST EDIT: Nov 24, 2021 22:58:18 GMT by Josh Dragelion

Desmond Dragelion

Okay... Wait, huh?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:221 posts

TAG:@desmond

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Nov 27, 2021 4:18:54 GMT

Post by Desmond Dragelion on Nov 27, 2021 4:18:54 GMT

War Team A

575 words

Too many moving parts, he thought at the scene before him.

The blinding light and the heat burned at Desmond's flesh. He blocked the brunt of the light with his arm, watching through squinted eyes as the first monster had been defeated. It was almost immediately followed by a groan of his kin and the scream of another monster - the howling storm following soon after as it sought to damn their work.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Each pump of his heart pulled adrenaline through his stature. Each pull and push of the anxiety and paranoia flooding through him in an instant. With the glow of the triforce marker on his brother's hand, he knew it was up to the three of them to take this on. Goddesses above, if he ever had the chance he would scold the divine for their choice in timing.

Without thinking, Desmond pushed against the sand once again. His sword shoved haphazardly into its sheath on his side, the middle brother bolted towards his sister. A swift scoop of his arms went to lift her just off the sand, stumbling at the brief awkward pause before he took off once again. Not exactly the most graceful but efficiency was more of the goal here. He bolted out of the direct line of the beast's charge, moving to the side and then in the direction it ran from. Away, away, away. His mind chanted. Away from Josh, away from Selene. And keep Ophelia away. Fast and big, perhaps, but momentum was a struggle especially in loose terrain. Desmond had to rely on his own experience and Farorres blessings to be able to maneuver as he did.

“Off.” He hated the sharpness of his own tone towards his little sister, but with the constant running and extra weight - he had to use his breaths wisely. He stopped moving, pressing into the sand at an angle to slide and slow. He patted his sisters side to lightly signal her release, not intending to injure her. From the corner of his gaze, he could see the shine on Selene, mirroring that of his brothers. The ringing in his ears mixed with the howls of pain from his brother and the whirlwind threatening them still.

Fuck fuck fuck.

Unsheathing his own blade, Desmond called out to Selene. “‘Pheli and I got this - help Josh!” The screams of his brother caused his guts to shift and melt, threatening to pull the worst of emotions out of his heart. As much as every nerve in his body screamed to help his brother, this wasn’t something he could do. Selene had to assist.

With his blade in hand, Desmond still charged forward to the ReDead Knight with the same reckless abandon as he had done with the first. Weaving and shifting as he got closer, the younger brother maneuvered to try and keep out of its blade's path as best he could.

The survival instincts, the rage it held, in his bones pushed to swing the smaller blade against the Greatsword as it came close. In towards the monster. Out away to create space. And forward again to clash blades. A constant ricochet. He relied on the range of Ophelia and her own maneuver ability to help keep it busy, or to at least keep the defense on the two crest-bearers from anything else.

They didn’t need to defeat it, for now. They just had to stall.

he's experienced, but he's still an idiot

?

Ophelia Dragelion

but here i touch an open wound: my memory

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:22 yrs old

WRITTEN:15 posts

TAG:@ophelia

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Dec 13, 2021 22:06:16 GMT

Post by Ophelia Dragelion on Dec 13, 2021 22:06:16 GMT

[attr="class","ophie_title1"] steel, ivory & porcelain ...

Motion. It had been nothing but a constant motion; a violent storm in a savage sea, wave after wave clawing to bring them under by overwhelming them. Ophelia felt a well-acquaint numbness seeping through the edges of her mind. What protected her from the mental consequences of her actions. The reason the memories of her growing years after the attack were so cloudy. In truth, it would’ve been beneficial to allow her mind into that lull. Her body knew what to do, she didn’t need to be there. Not there, anywhere but there.

But she was there. And there was no running from it as she did in the past. To do that now would be to disrespect the people she was fighting alongside - the people she cared most about. Ophelia dug her nails into the flesh of her palm, forcing herself down. Even if it meant getting hurt, even if it meant her fighting became sloppy, she would be present. Words of praise, albeit weak, filled her mouth for her team before her eyes drifted to each of them, inspecting any damage. While she couldn't do much beyond the most rudimentary of first aid, it would've been enough to protect against the harsh environment. The wound gracing her oldest brother's form caused her steps into action, until that action shifted into blocking the sudden burst of light from her eyes.

Light and heat; that's all it had been. That was almost all they were met with in the desert already. Yet something about it felt different, almost reminiscent of Selene's power. It wasn't a comparison she was allowed to mull over as she was promptly lifted and carried. A squeak trapped itself in her throat. Ironically enough, that moment gifted her a moment to breath. Despite not seeing him do it, Ophelia knew who it was. Were they not the same arms that tossed her around and lifted her in youth? Ophelia permitted herself the comfort of that memory. At Desmond's sharp command and gentle prompting, at the sounds of Josh's pained screams, she steadied herself once again on the uneven ground.

What she wouldn't give to sooth her older brother's pain; to make his screams her own, to share the burden at least a little if it meant saving him a fraction of what was inflicted The handle of her dagger weaved through her fingers as her grip changed. Desmond's foolhardy defense against the second ReDead Knight put her on edge - as if she hadn't already been there with the sounds her other brother was making. With a quick glance in Selene's direction and deeming her safe for the time being, Ophelia gauged the wind that brushed and fluttered her hair. The same wind that swirled and echoed Josh's torment. The monster's movements might've been wild, but even the unpredictable had their tells.

Waiting for the wind's pause, the young woman aimed and released her blade in a single breath. Just below its armor is where the dagger found its temporary sheath; nestled between the bones of its ribs. Another blade was thrown that, while not as calculated, wedged itself into the monster's stomach. Another quick look to Selene and Josh's direction, then Ophelia began to charge towards the hulking figure.

tag: Josh Dragelion , Desmond Dragelion , Selene Merrows
notes: :)

[attr="class","ophie_title2"] in this new world, they know my name

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDNIGHTBLOOM!

Selene Merrows

who fights? who flies? who falls?

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:24 yrs old

WRITTEN:213 posts

TAG:@selene

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Dec 27, 2021 6:52:34 GMT

Post by Selene Merrows on Dec 27, 2021 6:52:34 GMT

[attr="class","deepindigo"]

❝

Stand tall, my friend. May all of the dark lost inside you find light again.

[attr="class","Rose"]

[attr="class","Tea"]Josh Dragelion Desmond Dragelion Ophelia Dragelion
hnnnggg I suck at combat

Seeing her plan come together and actually work was a victory to her, albeit a small one. She knew the battle wouldn't be over just yet. There was definitely more to come. And as that next enemy pushed its way through the others... Selene's heart sank. The winds were whipping up, thin pieces of her hair stung her cheeks as it whirled around. She looked to Josh, and his siblings, to see what direction she should go in next. Everyone was holding their own. Selene stood tall and readied herself for whatever else was to come. It was hard to watch as the horde began to close in. As another undead monster, this time bigger than the last, erupted from crowd and came their way. Selene's tactic only proved to get its attention. She grunted and held her glaive firmly. But then she heard Josh begging and pleading the Goddesses for their assistance. In a flash of light, his crest began to glow and he pushed himself further into the vortex. Selene opened her mouth to shout, but the undead was gaining traction. Desmond seemed to gather its attention for now, with Ophelia's help as well as getting her out of the monster's line of sight. The two pleaded for Selene to go and help their brother. And they didn't need to ask twice.

With a steeled resolve, Selene trudged through the sands, pushing her way against the winds that tried to force her out. Silvery hair flowed about her shoulders, up into the air. For a brief moment, she could feel the winds begin to shift; growing slightly calmer. Amid the hurricane, she could hear the echoes of Josh's cries. Selene forced herself to push forward, even as the winds started to pick up again, forcing her to dig her glaive deep into the sand in order to hold her position. Please, she begged internally to those Josh had already tried communing, Please let me make it through!

A familiar sensation trickled from within her, from her core and down the length of her arm. A familiar light shone in her eyes as she glanced down at her hand; a crest of Wisdom... Shining clear as day through her gauntlet, bright as a beacon among the twisting sands.

Her brows knit closer together as she stood, suddenly gaining the strength she had been seeking. Whether it was all in her head due to the crest, or a work of the goddesses, one would never know. Selene grit her teeth and pushed herself forward, never once stopping until she could see the familiar blonde tresses of her dearest friend before her.

A hand reached through the sands to touch his shoulder. A hand that said "I'm here." A gentle touch that said "We can do this." Selene stepped next to Josh, both holding him up as he faltered, and pressed against him so she would not be pushed back either. With a nod, she turned to face the core of the hurricane.

Through the pressure of the winds, she lifted her crested hand and opened her palm. The bright light seemed to illuminate tenfold as she shot a beam of light. She hoped her light, Eye of the Beamos, would be able to penetrate the dark, pulsing core and bring an end to Josh's suffering.

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Josh Dragelion

Protector of Ordon

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:25 yrs old

WRITTEN:1,036 posts

TAG:@josh

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Dec 28, 2021 4:35:18 GMT

Post by Josh Dragelion on Dec 28, 2021 4:35:18 GMT

“Selene…?”

He felt himself be lifted up as Selene moved to support him. How had she even made it here?

“Please… Stay back. I couldn’t forgive myself if you…”

Selene raised her hand. The glow of the triforce emitted from her hand and struck at the eye of the storm. Josh’s eyes widened at the sight. So she had regained it after all… Somehow he knew this day might come. But he never expected it to happen now.

But the magic holding up the storm continued to resist. Selene’s body would suddenly feel like it was on fire and being shocked all at the same time. The pain would be overwhelming, hitting all points inside and outside her body at once as the spell’s seal tried to stop them from undoing it. But there was one silver lining. With two people able to use the Triforce’s power to counter it, they were able to shoulder the burden together. Josh found himself able to breathe a little better again, and his posture straightened as it felt like a great weight had been lifted. The pain had been halved, as Selene had taken the other half onto herself.

He looked to Selene with a mixed look. He was happy to see her. Relieved that the pain had gone down… But the cost was too high. The fact he had to watch Selene be hurt just to shoulder part of his pain in his stead…

But she had made her decision. And he would support it. Taking a deep breath, he would reach over and take her free hand in his own. Squeezing her hand to remind her that he wasn’t going down with her here, he focused his attention on the task ahead.

“Let’s go.”

It was a long struggle, and every second they took was a second longer that the siblings had to stall the monster. But Ophelia’s strike sent it sprawling back, buying them at least a little time. Slowly, the energy of the Triforce’s magic began to turn in on the seal. But the closer it came, the more it resisted, and the more strain that it put on the two Wielders. But they kept going. With so much on the line, their only choice was to keep fighting. Until finally…

A resounding crash of magic sounded throughout the battlefield. And with it, the vortex and its ensuing sandstorm disappeared.

Victory. At least, for now.

Josh and Selene’s marks would both fade, having served their purpose. Josh collapsed to his knees, long having been running purely on adrenaline and stubborn force of will as he tried his best to catch his breath, coughing and hacking furiously as the adrenaline began to die down and the full extent of the damage he had taken was beginning to show.

But their battle wasn’t won just yet. For the sandstorm’s disappearance revealed what was on the other side. The army of monsters that their enemy had prepared. And now, with nothing to obstruct them, they began to charge in unison. Some had diverted themselves to the nearby Gerudo Village that had been caught in the crossfire, having already set it to flame before the reveal had even happened. They would have to act quickly if they wanted to save the civilians.

Luckily, the ReDead Knight would be felled by a slew of arrows in the back. With the sandstorm down, Hyrule’s army could finally move forward. Speeches were given by King Leon and others before they charged. The two armies clashed, man and monster… A sea of bodies and swords as far as the eye could see.

TEMPLATE MADE BY MIDDY!

Josh Dragelion

Protector of Ordon

GROUP:Hylian

AGE:25 yrs old

WRITTEN:1,036 posts

TAG:@josh

[Event] The Shadow War: Battle in the Twisted Sand [Team A]

POSTED ON Feb 12, 2022 17:35:31 GMT

Post by Josh Dragelion on Feb 12, 2022 17:35:31 GMT

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 12/28/2021
“Selene…?”

He felt himself be lifted up as Selene moved to support him. How had she even made it here?

“Please… Stay back. I couldn’t forgive myself if you…”

Selene raised her hand. The glow of the triforce emitted from her hand and struck at the eye of the storm. Josh’s eyes widened at the sight. So she had regained it after all… Somehow he knew this day might come. But he never expected it to happen now.

But the magic holding up the storm continued to resist. Selene’s body would suddenly feel like it was on fire and being shocked all at the same time. The pain would be overwhelming, hitting all points inside and outside her body at once as the spell’s seal tried to stop them from undoing it. But there was one silver lining. With two people able to use the Triforce’s power to counter it, they were able to shoulder the burden together. Josh found himself able to breathe a little better again, and his posture straightened as it felt like a great weight had been lifted. The pain had been halved, as Selene had taken the other half onto herself.

He looked to Selene with a mixed look. He was happy to see her. Relieved that the pain had gone down… But the cost was too high. The fact he had to watch Selene be hurt just to shoulder part of his pain in his stead…

But she had made her decision. And he would support it. Taking a deep breath, he would reach over and take her free hand in his own. Squeezing her hand to remind her that he wasn’t going down with her here, he focused his attention on the task ahead.

“Let’s go.”

It was a long struggle, and every second they took was a second longer that the siblings had to stall the monster. But Ophelia’s strike sent it sprawling back, buying them at least a little time. Slowly, the energy of the Triforce’s magic began to turn in on the seal. But the closer it came, the more it resisted, and the more strain that it put on the two Wielders. But they kept going. With so much on the line, their only choice was to keep fighting. Until finally…

A resounding crash of magic sounded throughout the battlefield. And with it, the vortex and its ensuing sandstorm disappeared.

Victory. At least, for now.

Josh and Selene’s marks would both fade, having served their purpose. Josh collapsed to his knees, long having been running purely on adrenaline and stubborn force of will as he tried his best to catch his breath, coughing and hacking furiously as the adrenaline began to die down and the full extent of the damage he had taken was beginning to show.

But their battle wasn’t won just yet. For the sandstorm’s disappearance revealed what was on the other side. The army of monsters that their enemy had prepared. And now, with nothing to obstruct them, they began to charge in unison. Some had diverted themselves to the nearby Gerudo Village that had been caught in the crossfire, having already set it to flame before the reveal had even happened. They would have to act quickly if they wanted to save the civilians.

Luckily, the ReDead Knight would be felled by a slew of arrows in the back. With the sandstorm down, Hyrule’s army could finally move forward. Speeches were given by King Leon and others before they charged. The two armies clashed, man and monster… A sea of bodies and swords as far as the eye could see.
[12:36 AM]
@middy Dots @bee
December 30, 2021

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 12/30/2021
Bump

dots — 12/30/2021
A tempest of sand dismissed brought a wave of arrows to the monster and a wave of relief to Desmonds heart - even if some had gotten a little to close to him for comfort. The ability to see was not something to take for granted either. Despite the city beginning to burn and the clash of blades or meetings of magic, all that ran through the second son's mind was the safety of his family- blood and bond. Hurried footsteps brought him to his brother, sliding lightly across the sand to meet the two mark holders.

"You're fine, you're fine.." He muttered, more to himself than to them as it had been meant. With his sword sheathed haphazardly ay his side, he offered them both hands to bring them to their feet. "Up and at em. Deep breaths, hug, kiss, whatever ya need... As much as I'd love to say we were, we're not done yet…" Gods above he wished they were. Golden eyes scanned the area, praying there was a healer or a medic somewhere nearby to at least get them back to reasonable condition.

The smell of burning buildings and burning sand scorched his nose, but priority was the two of them. Places could be rebuilt.

"Don't pass out on us yet. How else am I going to roast you both for this situation." The joke was meant to be light but the lump in his throat was heavy. (edited)

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 12/30/2021
”Selene… Is she…” the blonde muttered desperately against his brother as he leaned on him with wobbly legs, barely keeping himself up. ”Please, please tell me…” he pleaded desperately between harsh, raspy breaths. He was clearly in incredibly rough shape, having been taking the brunt of the seal’s magic by himself for a good long while before Selene had arrived to relieve him of half. He could feel himself fading in and out of consciousness, but desperate worry kept him awake. ”Is she okay? Please, I need… Need to know… And where’s Opelia? Where is… Where’s… Where’s Ophie?”

middy — 12/30/2021
The energy that pulsed through the seal made her knees tremble, her body weakening with every second. But she held fast, squeezing Josh's hand as tightly as she could so they would not be separated. And then, after what seemed an eternity later, the vortex vanished. The residual force of air that exploded as it vanished pushed Selene over, and unattached from her companion. She was, however, not too far away. She dug her glaive into the stand to use it as a means to stand, but she also gladly offered Desmond's hand as he had approached. Selene managed to chuckle dryly, which turned into a true cough due to the sand that filtered her lungs. "I'm not gone yet, Josh," she smirked faintly, "Don't fret too much." (edited)

Bee — 12/30/2021
Ophelia's charge wouldn't find its target. The action would result in her not continuing the fight, but almost colliding head first into the middle Dragelion brother as he went towards Josh and Selene. There was still a fight to be fought. Their victory hadn't been earned just yet. And yet, there was a part of her that yearned to bask in the small glory of this battle. Despite it being good-natured, Ophelia resisted the urge to tackle the three into her small frame. They would need that energy for later. There would be plenty of time once the sun was set. Instead, the young woman - feeling the gradual weight of falling adrenaline - offered both a childish grin and a shoulder to lean on. "What, eager to get rid of me already?"

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 12/30/2021
Josh gave a long, deep breath in relief as he collapsed into their arms, wrapping his long arms around the shoulders of all three of them if he could. They were safe. They were all safe. It had been a long time since he had to worry about Selene on this level, and to boot, his siblings now, this was a first. The threat of losing them again, this time for good, it was almost too much to bear.

”Thank… Thank goodness” he spoke softly as he tried to get fully to his feet, only to slump to his knees again. Undoing the seal had taken everything out of him, and he’d taken a great deal of damage as well. He was too exhausted to heal himself, and he didn’t know the condition of the others. Worse yet, he could feel himself fading into unconsciousness.

But he didn’t get much time to rest, as the ground began to shake…

Screaming erupted through the field as several soldiers and monsters were grabbed by something below the surface of the sand and dragged under. A loud, unsettling sound bellowed through the sands before they parted to reveal a very large, and very angry beast…

dots — 12/30/2021
"Oop." Desmond felt his brother tug him into the embrace, moving to not squish their party too hard. He held firm to the frames of his siblings with an appreciative look to Selene. They were alive. Wrecked, but alive. As the ground shook, however, he held firm to the party - half of them on the verge of passing out with an earthquake wasn't great. "Looks like funs not over yet." Desmond could slready feel the exhaustion settle into his bones before the real battle even began. "Respectfully, though. You two look like sh-t and in no condition to fight that thing; One of you more than the other... Healer first, we can stall if not get the fight started."

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 12/30/2021
”Save your energy” Josh managed out, leaning hard against Desmond to keep himself upright as he reached for his belt. He would pull out the bottle he had been keeping in his pack. The contents had been a gift from Captain Tethras — something to use in an emergency. Tethras hoped it would ensure that the boy came back alive, but Josh had always intended to use it on the others. But he knew that if he didn’t use it himself here… He wouldn’t be able to protect them from… That thing.

Groaning as he fought to stay awake, he managed to weakly open the cork. A pink fairy would fly out, sprinkling magic powder on the party.

Quickly, Josh felt his strength returning to him. It wasn’t perfect, but his wounds were put back together and his energy reserves were being restored. It wouldn’t end his fatigue or stop this pounding headache, but it would keep him fighting for a bit longer.

”Alright. Now that we have that sorted…” Josh spoke as he got to his feet with a sore groan, cracking his neck and stretching his joints out. He was going to be really sore when they got back. If they came back at all. ”We need a plan to take that thing down, or we’re going to lose people fast. We’re outnumbered as it is, we can’t afford that.”
January 1, 2022

Wizard Master Fish — 01/01/2022
Suddenly, the team would hear a high-pitched tone as a powerful beam of light erupted from the side of the prison building. Whatever was happening within was coming to a head!

middy — 01/01/2022
With the magic of the fairy sending rejuvenating energy through her, Selene felt ready to face whatever that large sand creature was. But she'd be lying if she said she wasn't terrified of it. So much death... How could they escape it's giant maw? The explosion from the Arbiter's Ground took her attention away, eyes wide. Her fists clenched as she slowly closed her eyes and took a breath. Please let everyone be okay... Her chest puffed as she gazed at her peers with a fierce confidence. "Let's get that thing! I can try another rune. Maybe the explosion will blow some sand away and expose more of its body."
January 2, 2022

dots — 01/02/2022
With the fairy in the bottle and the two holders of triforce, Desmond was debating on more unnecessary snarky commentary. But it seemed that the universe had enough of it, instead focusing on the light on the prison building. The young man looked up at the sky for a brief moment as he gathered his breath and his courage. "I don't know much about Molduga, but I do know they don't like sound. Explosion might get it disoriented enough to get close enough to hit it. I'd wager they've got a soft underbelly too."

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/02/2022
Pallin:

What in the name of the Goddesses was that?! The horrible creature before them was nothing that Pallin had ever seen before. He hadn't heard of any creatures like this, either. Nowhere in the Royal library was there an account of something so large, so leathery, and so bony. It was going to take a lotto take this monster down. He was still wobbling from the tremors the thing caused, unsure of what his first action would be. It was quite a marvel to see the creature jumping through the sand, blocking out the blistering sun. It was too big to simply climb on... and it was too shaky to hold onto. There had to be some way that the team could get on top of the creature, right? There had to be a way to avoid its gaping jaws, and its massive belly. If they weren't careful they'd either be crushed, eaten, or pummeled to death by this monstrosity. Perhaps they could lure it into the tower? That'd knock it down, eliminating all the creatures on top of it. It might even incapacitate the monster. "Does anyone know what this thing is called?!** Pallin asked.
[12:20 AM]
@deleted-role
Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom
changed the channel name:
Battle Of The Twisted Sand
— 01/02/2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/02/2022
”Magic and Explosives, huh? We’ll need a lot with how big this thing is” Josh brought up. Amongst the fighting, one of the castle’s stablehands would manage to bring over Cabuck. Thanks to the magic of their army’s mages, Cabuck had been outfitted with magic charms that would keep them cool even in the desert. As well, a spell had been cast at its feet, giving Cabuck’s feet a blue glow that kept them from sinking into the sand. If Selene had brought them, Saffron would be brought as well with the same enchantments, as would any mount belonging to a member of the party who had elected to bring them.

Cabuck had been outfitted with a set of horse armor for the first time. Now that they were fighting in the thick of it, Josh had felt it was time. Mounting Cabuck, he offered a hand to any in the party who didn’t have a mount of their own. With that, he brought out his bow.

”I’ll draw its attention while Selene sets up her runes. If anyone here has explosives, or magic that can light it up, get ready to pelt it when it comes by you. If it turns its’ attention to you? Run like hell.” (edited)

L2 — 01/02/2022
Ichika takes his hand and climbs onto the horse behind him. “Ive heard the gerudo discuss a species of sand worms called the Molduga. I believe this is the monster they referred too.” she then turns her attention to Josh. “If you can get me closer to that thing, I have some spells that can pack a punch, and hopefully make it knock down that tower at the same time.”

dots — 01/02/2022
"I knew I shoulda studied magic." The mutterance was bitter beneath his breath. He watched as they were joined by another party, trying to gauge the group they were working with. Mostly Shekiah, it seemed. "I've got a stupid plan. Anyone got any explosives or anything they don't mind not bringing home?" The thing was huge and getting close to it didn't seem exactly comforting. But in lew of dropping a tower - were people still inside? - or straight up stabbing it...
January 3, 2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/03/2022
Josh blinked a few times when his hand was taken not by Desmond, Ophelia or Selene, but by a woman that he had a very clouded history with, on account that Josh hasn't posted in the Beach Episode yet. A very confused Josh looked to Selene for a moment, for one reason or another. But ultimately shrugged his shoulders between chewing his lip as he pulled Ichika aboard the S. S. Cabuck by the wrist.

"Let's... Not knock down that tower with our friends inside" Josh corrected Ichika, before looking to see the party that had joined them. He smiled slightly as he recognized Chirro ( maulkat (Chirro and Amura) ) and Pallin ( Pallin ) and greeted them with a light wave. The pleasantries would have to wait. With that, he looked to Desmond and pulled a few Bombs from his Bomb Bag, handing them over. How that tiny lightweight bag could hold bombs that size, only magic could explain. "I've got more where that came from. I would prefer not to blow up the whole bag at once this time" Josh remarked with a light smirk.

He had people to come home to this time.

"So, Des. What's the plan? We've got Selene with her runes, I've got explosives of my own, and some magic. We're going to need the biggest guns we got if we're going to-"

Having had its fill of the nearby soldiers, the Molduga soon turned its attention to them and began charging towards them at high speeds. Josh moved to comfort Cabuck.

"Yeah uh, can we wrap planning this up a bit more quickly?"

dots — 01/03/2022
The bounce of a companion neither knew onto the horse with little more than apathy in her gaze drew a small whistle from the stablehand. And the bag of explosives pulled out so casually by his brother to bring a look of concern.

"Long story short, I want to blow it up from the inside. It seems like the fastest way to get it gone." A shame to kill the creature, but it wasn't exactly on their side nor were they here for research. "Which means a distraction, a ride, and getting it to open up. Things are softer on the inside." If it didn't die... well, then Desmond was kind of out of ideas.

Linktwin — 01/03/2022
I can offer magic, Pallin said simply. What little magic he could do, he would provide to further bolster their chances of survival. He greeted Josh with a quick grin and a wave - Pallin wasn't good with small pleasantries before, and perhaps that hadn't changed. Or maybe it was the stress of the situation? Regardless, Pallin readied a ball of water in the palm of his hand. This is just to warm up, he said, I'm planning on hurling some icicles near its eyes t-to hopef-fully blind it t-temporarily.
January 4, 2022

Bee — 01/04/2022
Ophelia pat herself down quickly for anything mentioned. Explosives had been too loud for her way of fighting, and her magic... It wasn't something she was willing to gamble on at this moment. Maybe this had been her divine sign to finally become aquatinted with the magic that silently brewed beneath her skin. Although, couldn't that sign come at literally any other time than this? "As much as I hate the thought of not getting them back, I can throw my daggers alongside your icicles. It might help our chances of blinding it."

With the hug and rejuvenation she received earlier, the young woman bounced on her heels with a newfound energy as she watched the intimidatingly large beast part the sands as if it were water. Her eye hung onto the deceptively silent sheikah -- Chirro. It caused a breath of relief to see another familiar face, especially one she's already fought so closely beside.

"Not that I've ever doubted your plans, Des, but I really really hope this works." She didn't even entertain whether or not it would. She prayed to whoever bothered to listen that her blind faith in her brother's plan and their team would be enough.

2

Maulkat (Chirro and Amura) — 01/04/2022
"I'm a fist fighter. So if you want me to punch something, I'm game."

Seeing Josh, she gave him a small wave in return to his but did not spend too much of her time paying attention to him. They had encountered each other before and she figured they would do it again.

Listening to what the others had to offer, Chiro fell silent as she waited for any orders to be given.
January 5, 2022

middy — 01/05/2022
As more people gathered together to fight the Molduga, Selene simply nodded to them accordingly. Pleasantries would have to wait. There was a fight at hand. She was quite happy (and impressed) to see that a few soldiers had brought horses, Saffron included. He was equipped with fancy armor and even some magicked hooves to help his weight against the sand. She gladly hopped onto his back, a brow raising as she watched the brazen woman readily take Josh's hand up onto Cabuck. Odd, but... She'd have to move on. Holding the reigns with one hand, and her glaive in the other, Selene turned Saffron away from the group. Over her shoulder, she shouted, "I'll get going, then. Hopefully I can make a large enough rune for this monster. Saffron, let's go!"

Luckily for her, she and her horse had such a bond where she rarely needed to hold onto his reigns. Putting pressure on his sides with her legs was enough of a sign to turn. It allowed her to hold onto his saddle horn and lean over. The tip of her glaive slid along the sand, and as it went, bright white runes began to appear. In a circle she went, using much of her newfound energy to put her power into this large rune. She had never made one this big before.... And she really hoped it would work.

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/05/2022
Josh looked to Selene a moment with a sheepish smile, as if quietly apologizing for something. For what, was anyone's guess. He looked to the party around them and considered their strengths. "Alright! As Selene said-goddess that thing is getting close-we need to expose more of the creature's body. There are also still monsters around that are also coming for us, so Chirro you can punch the monsters. Pallin and Ophelia focus on impeding its course. Sel and I can focus on attacking and exposing the body, as well as diverting its attention while Des tries to aim some explosives in its-Sh!t okay, out of time, GO!"

Cabuck rode off alongside Saffron, with Josh hoping that the warning would make sure everyone got out of the way as the creature bared its fangs and tried to bore into the assembled group, trying to eat them whole. They had been too tantalizing a morsel to ignore in a group, after all. Josh looked to Ichika. "Alright, light him up as soon as we get close enough. We're going to buy Selene a little time" he told them as he maneuvered Cabuck with expert precision, not wasting a single moment as the horse seemed to respond to his movements as though it were its own. Though he never thought too much about it, Josh appeared to have an innate ability to communicate with his animal companions on a level that, while not understanding them to the exact word per se, he was able to understand their feelings and emotions very easily. And he in turn was able to share his own, as well as his thoughts in a way that made it clear what he wanted when delivering instructions, and Cabuck especially seemed able to respond almost instantly. Cabuck, who had been his partner on the battlefield for many years now, handled better than he could get with any others.

Though it had been some time since the two of them had been together on the battlefield in this capacity. Hopefully farm life hadn't made Cabuck too soft. Josh watched Selene from the corner of his eye, as Cabuck darted towards the Molduga from the side. Trusting Cabuck to keep them on track, he would draw his bow and draw a special arrow meant to be able to click a bomb onto it. Clicking the Bomb in place, he took a deep breath as he looked for the right place, waited for the right moment, and then fired. The Bomb Arrow struck its mark, hitting the forehead area and clearing some of the sand obstructing it as well. This of course, didn't make it very happy and it loosed a roar as it started headed for Josh and Ichika. "Hit it now!" he shouted at Ichika as he started to direct Cabuck towards Selene, trying to remember where she had placed the rune as the creature chased behind them, gaining on them fast.

dots — 01/05/2022
With their pseudo-plan in place, the group began to divide. Desmond would motion any of those left with explosives to follow his lead.. First things first, get the hell out of the way and let the magic users do their thing. As they bolted from the creatures pathing, he took a mental count of just how many explosives they had and their fuses length. Next was figuring out how to get them in that creature without actually getting eaten...

Ok, ok.. Watching how the Molduga moved among the sands, scraping through his mind at the few things he knew from books. Sound.. Sound.. They didn't like it, but it kept its attention. Desmond hurriedly bound three of the bombs by their fuses. The others were bound in a similar way, extending their fuses with a rip of of the sun-cover fabric he kept. For now, he would hold off and keep an eye on the runes their magic-experts were working with to find the right time.

😎Cuddles — 01/05/2022
Luca had been going through the motions of this battle, going along with the plans set in motion by the other members of their war effort. His mind had been deadset on finding some way to help... but he's never heard of a Moldura, so his wits were a bit useless in that regard. But when the call for explosives had been made, that was where the sheikah would stake his abilities.

He followed the soldier, Desmond, and while they lied in wait with a few others for the next attack, Luca spoke up. "Hey, I have a way to make these explosives more powerful. But it's going to take a second to work properly. Are you willing to bet on me?"

dots — 01/05/2022
"You're running on a risk with me. So let's do this." Desmond nodded to Luca, a brow raised to him. He just hoped he wouldn't be putting anyone else in danger by strengthening the explosives.
January 6, 2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/06/2022
With Josh leading the Molduga towards the runes, he waited until the last moment before pulling Cabuck to the side. The Molduga would keep going, unable to stop itself or turn in time before it would make contact with the giant rune. Chains of light would wrap around its face, and it would begin to thrash around furiously as it was stopped in its tracks. The opening was theirs.

But in the process, its unexpected thrashing had caused it to slam into Saffron, violently knocking Selene off the horse. The young valkyrie would be accidentally clipped at the bottom right of her chest by the beast's teeth, narrowly missing her vitals as she hit the ground.

Saffron's whinny caught Josh's attention, and he had looked back just as Selene hit the ground. His eyes widened, his mahogany pupils shrank...

"SELENE!"

He wasn't thinking anymore. No tactical thought, just the knowledge that Cabuck wouldn't be able to turn around so easily and Selene was hurt. He leaped off the horse and made a mad dash for the Molduga, who was fiercely struggling against the chains. The chains of light had begun blinking, indicating they wouldn't last much longer. If they wanted to hit the beast while it was vulnerable, now was the time.

But Josh didn't care about any of that right now.

@middy (edited)
January 9, 2022

Linktwin — 01/09/2022
The size of this monster was purely unbelievable. Perhaps creatures grew larger in the desert because there was room for it - rolling dunes of sand stretched as far as the eye could see in nearly every direction, possibly even beyond the horizon. What if there were creatures larger than this one somewhere? What if... what if Vlad was fighting something like this in the dungeon? He had to survive it. He didn't have a choice. Pallin would also have to survive this creature's attack so the two of them could know one another was safe.

He couldn't care about anything else right now. Vlad was his goal, and to get to him, this creature was going to have to be destroyed. Thank the Goddesses that there was a whole team here. He concentrated on forming icicles, and was almost able to form some until the creature slammed into Saffron. The sheer panic he felt radiate from his core knocked his focus off balance. Was the woman alright? Josh clearly knew her well, from the sound of his reaction - was he going to be okay? The monster kept thrashing, though, and soon their opening would close as the Molduga could probably break free from its capture.

He had no time to waste, then. His breathing was shallow, but he had to remember what Vlad taught him about using magic. Imagine the feeling, imagine what you want... Imagine it coming to life. His thoughts went all over the place, but he finally found an image of what he wanted. The concentration provided him with enough energy to create long, sharp icicles that he hurled toward the monster, aiming for its eyes. (edited)
January 11, 2022

😎Cuddles — 01/11/2022
Luca's focused expression turned into a wild grin, as he had taken the explosives into his hands and taken his Sheikah case off of his shoulders. This would need to be done quickly and precisely, and he knew just the tool for such an occasion. An inventor like himself would often equip themselves with a menagerie of tools and kits necessary for their work, especially with the range of mediums that the Sheikah himself tended to work with. Dangerous things like explosives were nothing new to him, being used to crafting smoke and scented bombs on occasions, usually for performers or partygoers looking to have a little mischievous fun. One of the best things to work with was his trusty Faroquill, a quill infused with Farore magic that could be used to more finely apply Farore magic to his inventions.

At the moment, the best way to increase explosives would be a more concentrated, powerful burst. Explosives were flashy, with their power being concentrated at their center and exploding outward. But it would be much more useful for an explosive to be contained, forcefully concentrated or even absorbed in a way to fully utilize its overwhelming power. AHA! That gave Luca an idea. Using as many Summerwing butterfly wings as he could, he would wrap the explosives with them, hoping to have the wings themselves absorb the shock, with the aid of an engraved Minor Spark through his Faroquill. This way, the Summerwings would absorb the energy, and the minor sparks would be activated to release them upon contact. Once the contraption was complete, Luca handed the now large sphere back to Desmond ( Dots ). "One Summerwing Festival at your disposal. No need to light it, just throw it when you're ready!"

dots — 01/11/2022
The explosion of chains was a relief but its thrashing had proven more of an issue than expected. Desmond could only watch as Selene got thrown to the side and Josh hurried to check on her. He turned his gaze to Luca as he worked insistently to get the work done. What exactly he was doing? He had no idea. He honestly didn't care - so long as it got done. And with a moments hurry, it was ready. Had it not been for the circumstance or the adrenaline, he might have thanked him.

With the enhanced explosives in hand, he looked warily at the monster being attacked by icicles. Despite his expressions, he did not consider himself a holy nor a devout man. But for once, he would pray this would work. He pushed himself across the sand towards the bound monster and twirled to gain momentum. With his weight and the twirl behind him, he threw the bombs together into the howling Moldugas mouth.
January 12, 2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/12/2022
Icicles to the eyes, and some kind of super bomb prepped, the monster was damaged but still managed to escape. Selene was hurting badly, and had soon passed out, either from pain or bloodloss. The creature was soon upon her, and just as it opened its mouth, the bomb flew in just in time. The beast disappeared under the sands, as did Selene. Underneath, one could hear the muffled explosion.

”No no no…”

Josh’s eyes widened as he stopped. He’d been too late. Too late again. But she had to be alive, right? It was Selene, she’d survived lots of things! But he’d seen that thing get her, and then the bomb blew up, and then… And then… But she’d come out of the sand any second now! Any second… No, she wasn’t back yet. And yet-

The sand began to unfold once more before the Molduga arose once again. Thrashing and snarling and screeching in pain, it was clear that the creature was on its last legs. Josh’s expression dulled, as his arms fell.

His expression then suddenly darkened as he began his pace again. A fireball formed in his hand, one which began growing very quickly
Energy from the fireball began to flow across his body, engulfing it in flames within moments. Another fireball appeared in his other hand, then another at his side. And another, and another, and another.

When he spoke, it was calm. Too calm. But the roughness behind it told of barely contained despair quickly being churned into rage.

”If there’s any chance she’s in there and still alive… I’m finding out.”

Part of him knew it was likely she was dead. That part fueled him, while others fueled it purely to spite those feelings. Those feelings were back… Helplessness. Hopelessness. Desperately clinging to any vague possibility of hope. This thing had potentially taken her away, possibly forever. And there were a lot of emotions there…

”GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

Rage exploded as every fireball suddenly swelled in size and rocketed at the creature, one by one. The Molduga screeched and tried to get back into the sand to attack, but it continued to be pelted. As the last one hit, Josh seemed to run purely on instinct as he raised a hand, shooting a fireball into the sky. It quickly grew to gargantuan levels before exploding.

And a Firestorm rained down upon the Molduga.

Hundreds of flaming meteors were launched down at the creature, hitting its tough hide without relent. Eventually, it finally managed to knock the creature over, still thrashing around, almost gone. If the party wished to finish it off, now was the time.

His energy spent, Josh quickly crumpled as the fire disappeared. That was a spell far beyond his current level of casting. How he had used it at all was unknown. But it had taken everything.

Barely holding onto consciousness, he managed to make out a figure in the sand, that had been dug out after the Molduga had been moved.

”S… Selene…?” he managed out, half convinced he was hallucinating. But if there was any chance… The Hylian tried to inch himself forward. He had to get there. He had to know. He needed to get to her before her wounds took a turn… (edited)

L2 — 01/12/2022
Ichika curses as Josh scrambles off to help Selene. "damn fool, he's going to get us all killed" she mumbles as she just barely avoids a a meteor that had strayed too far from the beat. The girl was probably a lover of some kind, which infuriated her even more. Not only did he bring someone he couldn't afford to lose, but her abandoned the mission at the first sign of her being injured? What a fool he was.

She puts her feelings aside and extends her palm, focusing her magic as dark energy begins to swirl around her body, collecting the darkness into an orb of entropy that swells with every moment, growing more powerful over the course of an entire minute. "Return to the eternal darkness from which all things came!" she commands before firing the spell at the molduga. the orb speeds towards the target with incredible velocity, splitting into a few smaller orbs as they all slam the monster with incredibly powerful dark energy. While she cannot see the results of the spell through the explosion of darkness, it is very likely that the Molduga is dead, though she will take no chances until she can confirm this. (edited)

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 01/12/2022
-DM post for @l2 -

While its master had jumped off, Cabuck had remained calm and the horse stayed on its path. The unique communication capabilities between Josh and Cabuck ensured that the horse would continue to strafe the Molduga, letting Ichika take control and time her shot from a distance. The monster loosed a roar in pain from the magic blast, and seemed ready to fall. Would they be able to finish it off? (edited)

Maulkat (Chirro and Amura) — 01/12/2022
There was one thing about Chirro, she was normally a loner. The kind of person that wandered alone and didn't make friends easily. Those she did, she cherished. Those people were in danger...even if she only really knew one of them. Perhaps this would bring her more. If not that was fine and she would continue with her lonely life.

They had a monster to beat and with her feeble skills in the light, she sent inspire to all of her comrades. It took time to do it, but eventually those around her were all covered with this ability.

Hoping one last ability worked, she attempted to bind the beast with chains. If nothing else, it might prove to be an annoyance.

middy — 01/12/2022
Did her plan work? Was everyone... safe? Selene... didn't know. The pain she felt was searing and overpowering, but then it all faded away. Her eyes had long since fluttered closed, wincing from the pain. The sand beneath her stained crimson, coming from the wound just at the start of her waist. The molduga hovered over her, casting its shadow on her. She could hear muffled explosions, see blurry flashes of bright lights. But then it all went dark. Sand began to surround her... drown her.

But then she felt the light of the sun hit her skin once again. She could barely make out his cries, but she knew it was Josh, scrambling to get her from the sand. All she could do was wince in pain, groaning and coughing slightly... But at least he'd know she was alive. For now. (edited)
January 20, 2022

middy — 01/20/2022
(c'mon folks we're almost donneee let's goooo~)

Bee — 01/20/2022
It had felt like a true test of her limitations, of allowances she granted to herself not moments ago. Her daggers had sliced the air, intertwining themselves with the barrage of icicles like a needle through fabric. Despite her intimidation of the beast before them, despite the dodging and adjusting and planning and prepping -- good Goddesses, were all of those explosives going into the monster?? -- Ophelia continued to breath. Selene, the meteors, the roars of the Molduga; the clamor of battle, once far removed from her memory, forced itself back into her psyche through these vessels.

Her remaining dagger, poised for its final journey, never left her hand. Her eyes remained locked on Josh and the fires he summoned. Locked on the speck drowning in the sea of Molduga's shadow. Her logic had been under threat by her desire to do something - anything - to pull them away. Ophelia's grip on her blade's handle tightened until her knuckles turned white, until her fingers groaned from the pressure.

It wasn't precise. It wasn't clean. But the dagger left her hands all the same. The act of prayer was one lost to her; clumsy from disuse and the emotions thrashing her about. She imagined that the Goddesses wouldn't grant such an orison. The act of saving two lives - two lives she held close to her heart - in exchange for another didn't seem like something they would've permitted. Blood for blood didn't make it pure or sacred. She believed, however, as her dagger made it's home within the beast's flesh, that it was answered. Whether it was by their hand that it was given or by the joint effort of the team remained to be said.
February 4, 2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — 02/04/2022
The beast was bound, and that opened the chance for Ophelia to make her move. The creature had been whittled down enough that as the blades sunk in, it loosed its final throes before it fell. The creature would hack out a chest and lay still.

The battle had been impacted greatly by its appearance, but it wasn’t long before its fall that the soldiers and monsters were at each other’s throats again. A scout meanwhile, would retrieve the chest for the group. Its contents would be shared with them later:

Jash - Hawkeye
Selene - Super Picto Box
Desmond - Adventurer’s Pouch
Ophelia - Super Picto Box
Chirro - Deku Nuts
Pallin - Beetle
Ichika - Bombs
Luca - Mask of Scents

But the group had little time to celebrate. A roar would resound through the desert, far more menacing and sinister than the Molduga. The ground began to shake violently, and the sky grew dark. Looking up, the party would see that the Mirror of Twilight had been restored… And hideous beasts were flooding from it in droves. The roar meanwhile, was one that Josh knew well, and it made him shudder.

An airship flew over their heads and picked up the dungeon party, but the ground team had something else to contend with. From the Mirror, a dark aura began to corrupt the very world around it, and it was spreading fast. Men and monster were caught within the curtain of twilight and disappeared…

Josh didn’t hesitate to make the call. There was only one thing they could do.

”RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”

The moment he made the call, he could see that Captain Tethras had done the same with his men. Josh would scramble to his feet and will himself towards Selene. Checking her pulse, he could hear a heartbeat. Seeing the curtain coming closer, he would quickly use what little energy he had left to begin healing her wound. Knowing he wouldn’t have much left after, he whistled loudly, calling for Cabuck and Saffron.
[10:41 PM]
@war!

L2 — 02/04/2022
Ichika stares at the mirror for a moment as the mirror's darkness begins to engulf the world around them. She moves to raise her sword, but realizes that Josh is right, to her dismay. As much as she loathed it, she would have to flee or be consumed by the encroaching darkness.

"he's right. There's no way we can stop this, live to fight another day!"
She then begins to bolt as far from the blast as possible. She wasn't sure if she could outrun the blast, but they had no other choice. The twilight realm had been unleashed.
February 5, 2022

dots — 02/05/2022
A plethora of curses ran through Desmonds mind, and for once he had wished for his sisters magic affinity - as if that would have stopped the mirrors rage. At his side, he pushed the young Shekiah ( Luca ) towards the exit of the grounds. His own feet hurried to his sisters side, hearing the familiar clatter of hooves to assist Josh and Selene. He made no hesitation to grab Ophelia's hand, with the crowd clamoring to outrun the mirrors wave of misfortune.
February 11, 2022

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — Yesterday at 1:18 PM
With luck, the group had been able to make their way out of the Arbiter's Grounds. The Crests of Courage and Wisdom held by Josh and Selene seemed to hold the Twilight Curtain at bay for a time, slowing it down long enough for them to escape. But not all were able to escape. Soldiers, monsters, their fates were left unknown. As were the citizens of the gerudo settlement who had been hiding during the battle. Perhaps in time, they would be able to liberate them. But for now...

The Battle In The Twisted Sand had come to a conclusion in their favor, but it was as hollow a victory as could be. The Curtain would eventually stop its movements before it could engulf all of the Gerudo Desert, but those trapped within still did not return as the months passed. Open warfare began as Hyrule herself became a battleground.

The Shadow War had truly begun.

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1
[1:25 PM]
Sir Josh Dragelion was commended for his heroism as the Knight had gone to great personal risk to give them a chance. His star continues to rise within the ranks of the Knights, and the offer was once again broached for him to take the mantle of Knight Captain. An offer he respectfully declined in favor of preparing Ordon Village for the coming storm. Desmond and Ophelia Dragelion were also commended for their service, and the mercenary Ophelia was paid handsomely for doing so. The sight of the three siblings working in tandem had left an impression, and Hyrule's military has extended offers to both Desmond and Ophelia to enlist, should they wish to take them. An interesting development, considering Desmond had in recent months become a personally requested favorite stablehand of Her Highness. One thing's for sure: Desmond and Ophelia could no longer hide their family name in public. The world now knew who they were. The question now was how they would respond.

The appearance of a different kind of Crest on the hand of Selene Merrows which mirrored that of Marianne's would provoke great interest. The murmurs about her only continued to grow, and some within Hyrule's well-connected and noble families even began to investigate into the history of this mysterious valkyrie who had come to Hyrule's aid time and time again, wielding strong Hylia magic and now possessing the same Crest mark as the soon-to-be Queen. With how much attention she had attracted, could Selene's secret stay a secret forever?

Josh, Lord of Bread and Freedom — Yesterday at 1:53 PM
Kakariko Village had been well represented by the Sheikah Ichika, Chirro, Pallin and Luca. The reputations of these warriors would be boosted by their part in slaying the Molduga. Ichika would be welcomed back to the village with open arms, with word having quickly spread of her part in the battle. Her determination to see things done and done right would catch the attention of Hyrule's military. When she returned home, she would find a letter waiting for her. An invitation to enlist in Hyrule's military, if she wished to accept. Ichika would also find that Kakariko's temporary ruling body had offered to ensure she would be mainly posted in the village as a guard, if that was her desire.

All would be paid well for their services, a boon especially for Chirro. The amount disclosed would benefit her in her plans to buy her family's inn to save it. Her family of course, would likely be sending letters out to find her and ensure her safety if she hadn't returned home already. The day she returned to her village, she would find that business at the inn had improved. Perhaps not enough to keep it in business long-term, but customers asking around for Chirro had been a constant the last few months. Between her treasures found on the islands and her payment, perhaps now was the time for Chirro to fulfill the first leg of her goal, striking when the popularity iron could be at its hottest?

In his travels, Luca would have to be more careful with peddling his wares. With the shadow beasts invading the region, he would find more difficulty moving around, but he would also find that his face was a tad more recognizable after helping to slay the Molduga. This did attract a bit more business for him though, as well as people approaching him at his stalls to ask what the battle was like. But his increased renown would also attract would-be thieves, thinking he may possess something worth a great deal of currency...

[1:57 PM]
Pallin, the Royal Family's astronomer, would find himself the subject of stares upon his return to Hyrule City. How was it that an astronomer would suddenly have a part in taking down a Molduga? While it was true that he had been involved in a bandit clash some time ago, he had been a hostage at the time. But this time, he had gone into this battle of his own free will. An offer to enlist was on the table if he wanted it due to his initiative, but it was unknown if Pallin was willing to be re-assigned from his previous position. Of course, things would only grow more complicated in the coming months, as Pallin would one day discover a glowing mark on his hand...