Night 59: Staff Only Outdoor Patio

[stray_shinigami]

Renji stepped out onto the patio. It was nice to be out of the oppressive halls, but he didn't let his guard down. If it was a monster party, there'd likely be some nasty things outside

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[age_of_kings]

Alright, it was a giant bird monster. There was a weak shield around them and it was coming right for them. On the positive side, they weren't on an airship or a sub. Even ground. Firm footing.

"Get the door open!" Tolten called. He could at least hold the thing off with his pipe if the shield didn't deflect it. Of course, then he'd have to be right close to it and it was obvious the monster had set its sights on him!

Desperation kicked in. They were shielded, as evidenced by the creature battering against the shimmering area and bouncing back. It was...good god, it looked dead. And it was shaking itself and preparing to come back, and those talons were wicked.

It was time to pull out his emergency weapon. Tolten searched for a calm well within him, feeling time seem to slow and swim gently around him. He didn't have his lyre, but that was alright. He didn't really need it. And if he were forced to rely on his most embarrassing of skills, at least it was in front of Locke. He didn't quite mind Locke knowing about this - besides, the other man had given them this chance!

Squaring his shoulders and setting his feet apart, Tolten pressed his right hand to his abdomen and began to vocalize. He couldn't call to mind any words so he simply sang notes, high and clear and soothing. The creature slowed, as though woozy....

[kings_thief]

Locke was fully prepared to either have to start a full-on battle or to grab Tolten and throw him through the door to get him out of the creature's sights. What he wasn't expecting was to hear singing. He glanced over to his friend but kept the barrier up; just in case.

He didn't really know what it was Tolten was doing, but he could guess there was some sort of magic in it. Which, really, he had no reason to be surprised about; it wasn't like Tolten had ever told him he didn't have magic, Locke had just assumed. A silly thing to assume when dealing with people from other worlds.

"Whatever you're doing, it's workin'." Keeping the barrier aimed against the monster he moved to the door, opening it with his free hand.
"Let's go."

[age_of_kings]

Tolten had hoped - prayed, really - that the creature would actually fall asleep. Sometimes, it happened. He'd even managed it with arthosaurus'! But the death bird - like some inverted phoenix - simply slowed and stumbled as though struck. But it was something!

The young king kept up his vocalization, wondering if maybe it would work better with words. Or more emotion behind the tone. It was a gift he'd never quite understood, and no one had any interest in further developing. He was only glad it was actually coming in handy!

He could only nod to his friend, not wanting to risk lapsing in his song and losing the tenuous hold he'd managed over the beast. And without Locke's barrier, he wouldn't even be able to do that. The death bird screamed and beat its shedding wings at them, as though struggling and fighting for freedom. Even the stench of it, like the others, was rotten and dead.

Tolten joined Locke at the door and then turned helpless eyes to his friend. How on earth did they manage this so they both got inside before the thing took a piece out of one of them? Could Locke set the barrier for a moment or two, cover the door while they slipped inside and closed it? He found himself reverting to his previous role, and seeking help from one he judged smarter and more capable than he.

[kings_thief]

Locke saw the look in Tolten's eyes and figured he probably knew what his friend was thinking. This thing was relatively fast and, even with whatever was happening to it, it could probably get to them before they were both safe.

But this thing didn't seem to have an interest in him at all, so that made Locke's decision a lot easier; all he had to do was get Tolten to safety. Of course, he wasn't interested in finding out if the thing would suddenly change it's mind about him once it's main prey was out of range, either.

"We'll have to be quick."

That was all the warning he gave before grabbing Tolten's arm and pulling him so that he was in first. Then he let the barrier down, already building up the power necessary for the strongest fire spell he knew and unleashing it on the bird-zombie.

He hoped the rules about zombie creatures and fire applied here too, at least enough to buy him enough time to get in and get the door closed.

[age_of_kings]

The young king saw only the blast of the fire and the creature recoiling, releasing an unholy sound into the night. He smelled the burning of its flesh, a sickening smell but welcome nonetheless. Then he was through the door, his breath fast and ragged in his chest.

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