[Guild Event] Beach Party, Sand and Surf!

[ad_libitum_npcs]

Who: EVERYONE (this event is open to all PCs)
Where: Beaches of Port Merrium
When: All day
Why: It's the final day of the beach party! Celebrate with some sand, surf, and... wait, is that a monster? Defend your city from the sea serpents, Ad Libitum!
Open/Closed: Open
Warnings: Only for possible violence!

Comments

[absolute_pact]

[At the first sign of trouble, and with the serpents too far away for her to attack effectively, Sheena concentrated her efforts on getting the bystanders away. It reminded her in dark ways of Luin. People were scrambling and running away without direction; until the monsters got closer, Sheena focused on the kids she could see, stranded on the beach without adults nearby, or separated from them in the chaos.

Heading for the water's edge, it occurred to her that fighting in her bathing suit could become a problem. She still couldn't go after the sea serpents until they got closer; it seemed like a silly concern, but she had time to at least grab the wrap she'd worn that morning. It would be better to fight without being distracted by thoughts of swimsuit accidents, and the beach was clearing out pretty well on its own.

And then one hit the beach nearby and she focused on keeping it from advancing any further. ...Not that that was easy, with cards. The thing was huge, and even magic paper couldn't do much to get through hard scales and skin. But she had to, for the sake of the people still escaping behind her.]

Demon Seal!

[arisenfromashes]

[Asch had tried to avoid something like a beach party, but seeing and hearing the chaos along the shore aroused his suspicions. Muttering a curse under his breath, he raced over to find rampaging sea serpents, spellcasting and sword-swinging Ad Libitum members,and a lot of panicking bystanders. One in particular had reached the shore, and it was fighting someone he recognized as an Ad Libitum member. This was the member who fought with cards. It wouldn't have taken him long to realize that she could probably needed help, but before he could come to that conclusion, he had already begun to charge toward the serpent. ]

Move! Fang Blade!

[The uppercut at the end of the attack would have sent a smaller target flying, but he succeeded in shoving it backwards, though only marginally so. As Asch landed from the arte, he positioned his blade in a defensive stance as he glanced back for a moment to keep in mind the whereabouts of the other fighter.]

What the hell did you people do? Just stay back and do whatever you're supposed to do with that paper. I'll handle the melee.

[absolute_pact]

We didn't do anything! They just came out of nowhere.

[The insult to her cards, though. That was really irritating.]

This is what I'm supposed to do with 'that paper.' This thing's just huge! And I didn't bring a knife or anything to the beach party. [Which, to be fair, she should have. It's best for a ninja to be prepared. But in her defense, the cards are usually more than sufficient. She did appreciate the help, though, so she stepped back to concentrate.]

Tethe Seal! [Asch's sword would have a temporary lightning-element boost, probably the best thing to deal with a sea serpent.]

If you gimme a distraction I can try to get up there and attack its face.

[That was, of course, before it decided to swipe at them both with its tail. Sheena ducked, but the force of it sent her rolling away on the sand anyway.]

[anythingforsis]

[And who would catch Sheena as she was sent flying? A certain boy with angel-grade strength. Mithos set her down gently, his wings fluttering a bit, though he made a special point not to touch any 'certain' part of Sheena's body. She's a dirty human, after all.]

There, tell Genis we're even. [Mithos said as he set Sheena down, saving her from a nasty blow. She could heal herself, Mithos wasn't going to waste any magic on a human. That serpent, however... Mithos began charging a spell, his wings glowing.]

Repent for your sins through suffering... RETRIBUTION! [A large wave of magic washed over the entire area, and suddenly, the serpents in the immediate area fell ill, confused, or strangely stiff as a plethora of status effects struck them all at once. That should make things easier for Asch.]

[arisenfromashes]

[Wait, really? Asch probably should have known that already, but it just seemed like one of those weapons that mages used while they stayed back. He shrugged off her irritation in favor of the enemy. He noted the strange power coursing through him as she used that weird attack. It was like being surrounded with third fonons. That worked.]

Fine.

[No thanks were in order. He motioned to channel them into his next attack when a scaly tail collided with his chest. Luckily, he pulled up his blade to soften the blow, but the force of it still sent him skidding backwards. Based on the conversation he heard behind him, Sheena was alright, and someone was with her. That one guild leader from Wuldorwurth. Whatever he did, it gave him an opening, which he took without hesitation. Seconds later, charged toward the monster's exposed underside.]

Rending Thrust! [By the time the final blow connected with the serpent, he had already started using an arcane arte to follow it.] Light Spear Cannon!

[He felt some blood spatter onto his cheek. ]

[absolute_pact]

[As soon as Mithos caught her and started talking, she recognized the voice - and who else here could catch her midair like that? - but didn't have time to get frustrated over being saved from serious injury by one of her sworn enemies. Spell or no spell, those things were still attacking. While she shook off the blow from the tail, she watched Asch attack. So this redhead fought like Kratos. She'd been on the receiving end of Light Spear Cannon too many times not to recognize it.]

Even for what? [Not that she expected Mithos to answer. Anyway, she was already running at the serpent again, intent on using some serious acrobatics to get near one of its more vulnerable points - its eyes, maybe, or near the neck]

[anythingforsis]

[With Sheena and the red-haired man distracting the serpents, Mithos had plenty of time to charge up one of his more destructive spells that was sure to put these serpents down. He took his 'angelic' pose, his multicolored wings glowing again, the feathers dancing around him as he radiated light. He then reached out an arm, the air around him darkening.]

JUDGMENT! [he yelled, as more beams of light poured down from the heavens, striking the serpents repeatedly in various parts of their bodies, melting the scales right off of their bodies. Mithos took a special effort to avoid hitting Sheena or Asch, though this spell was definitely going to weaken the serpents, if not outright kill them. They screamed in pain as the beams of light barraged them into oblivion, one of them already falling from the spell's raw power.

Mithos took a breather afterward, to regain some of his magic pool.]

[arisenfromashes]

[Asch warded off the serpent until the spell immobilized it for the time being. Too bad this one managed to survive the attack. For the sake of his pride, he wanted to land the final blow, but he noticed Sheena had already begun to make a move. Instead of going for the head, he continued to attack the same place, this time drawing in the light-based mana around him as he went in for another attack.]

Begone! Shadow Fury!

[Up the underside Asch went in a flurry of punches, kicks, and slashes, reaching just short of the neck before he lost his lift and landed on the ground. Seconds later, he had to jump back as the monster thrashed its tail in a desperate attempt to remove the trio of dangerous enemies. This time, he made it out of the fray just in time, though he had to parry one last strike before it pulled back its tail. Wiping the scarlet stain from his face, he watched with a sword ready in case the battle lasted much longer.]

[absolute_pact]

[This close to something she could actually target, Sheena unleashed a rain of quick, precise strikes aimed at the serpent's face and eyes. Hissing as its teeth grazed her arm, she finished with two Pyre Seals and a Serpent Seal. It felt appropriate.

It was all she could do to get safely back to the ground before the thing fell, blinded and thrashing around but still alive. Asch might have the chance for that final blow, after all, if Mithos didn't get there first.]

[anythingforsis]

[Mithos simply gained altitude to avoid the serpent's tail strike, thanking himself for his own Cruxis Crystal. He knew that Asch was going to kill this heavily wounded monster before he could get another spell off, so there was no point in wasting the mana. However, he turned his attention to the surrounding areas; only a few monsters were left alive, but something wasn't quite right. The serpents... it was almost like they were waiting for something, and this was far too organized to be a simple feeding frenzy for serpents of this size. Why would they come out to shallow waters to feed on people?

No... something was orchestrating this, and he had to find out what. First, he had to finish off these serpents, though it look like Asch had this one covered.]

[arisenfromashes]

[Asch had expected the thing to fall over dead from the attack to its face, but it could still wriggle, at the very least. Not for long. Since those two weren't about to finish it off, he took the chance without another thought. Even if it was blind, it moved wildly with no predictable pattern. After dodging, he managed to jump onto its head. He hurried over to the point at which it met the neck, a vulnerable spot, and plunged his sword down, using it to brace himself until the monster's movements ceased. Then, he retrieved the weapon, shook it off, and jumped back onto the ground.]

[Onto her answer to his question, now that the snake wasn't trying to eat them. He lowered his sword, though he kept a firm grip, just in case the fighting continued.]

That thing shouldn't have survived that long if it was just the average sea serpent. These things don't just "come out of nowhere" in this many numbers! Didn't anything seem off?

[It was important. To stop the stupid snakes and to tip him off on who he'd have to kill next.]

[absolute_pact]

No way, nothing. It was just a nice day, and then this started.

[Sheena's look was decidedly sour as she looked at Mithos.] Thanks. [The blow still hurt, but he'd spared her a very nasty landing, for no real reason at all. This serpent was dead, and others were still out far in the water; Sheena looked around now for anyone who'd been seriously hurt, or was otherwise in trouble.]

[anythingforsis]

[Mithos landed on the ground, his wings disappearing from his back. Apparently, Asch had the exact same idea in his head that Mithos was thinking of. These serpents came out of nowhere, and attacked in this many numbers. Something, or someone, was controlling them.]

Worry about the reasons why they came here after they're dead!

[Mithos said emphatically, and only shot a quick glance at Sheena when she thanked him. He didn't thank her for her. Why would he? She's a human. He could care less about her safety.]