nextgen_asgard (nextgen_asgard) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-02-11 01:09:00

Entry tags:

aridis, asleif, halbjorn, inactive - danielle hrimharisdottir, inactive - moira hrimharisdottir, npc - douglas hrimharison, npc - hjordis volstaggsdottir, npc - skari thorsson, plot-"the encroaching darkness", svalin, vincent vernard

The Raging Battle
An eerie calm fell over Asgard for a few brief moments. The forces of dark were outside of the shield over the city and were still. Inside the Asgardian warriors waited for the moment when the shield would come down and the battle would start. They were warriors, men and women, caught in an endless struggle against the dark forces that were camped outside the walls.

This would be another battle in an almost endless series of battles. Two forces locked in a constant struggle until the day the last battle came and all would be decided. Today was not the day of that last battle, but it was a day of battle.

The warriors inside the shield had taken up their proper places and waited for the shield to come down. The warriors armed with swords, shields, axes and other weapons were on foot and horseback. Beserkers waited to unleash uncontrolled fury upon their enemies. Magic users stood perched upon high battlements waiting to unleash their spells upon the enemy. Archers also lined the battlements, waiting to rain a storm of arrows upon their foes. Valkyries waited to take to the air to strike at their enemies from above. The battle commanders paced the upper battlements looking out at the forces, dark and light, below them.

Everything was still. Man, woman, horse and enemy. Not even a breeze blew.

The shield came down and chaos erupted.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

nextgen_asgard
2010-02-11 05:44 am UTC (link)

Even while waiting on her command, once the shield comes down, there's another new sensation for Vincent. He's a potent spellcaster, one of Earth's better, due to his practice and blood.

Here, he's a novice. Literally hundreds on the other side have enough inborn magical might to challenge the full blooded gods themselves, casters on par with Vincent's mother, and some even on par with Loki. Spells that he'll probably grasp fully in two hundred more years of intense study and analysis fly about the battlefield. Here, he's not the master - but one of the thin line of defense that the Asgardians depend upon to work together and protect the troops when they're opposed by Dark Elf shadow magic, Frost Giant shamans as old as the mountains, and hordes and hordes of demons whose very blood boils with sorcerous power. There can be no grandstanding here - in many cases, entire cadres of wizards are needed in concert to shield units of troops from massive fireballs, or to unweave dark elven underworld illusions.

His own bent for such trickery gives him some small edge, as well as the capacity for understand what he's seeing to grasp just how much he has yet to learn.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

godlierthanthou
2010-02-12 12:11 am UTC (link)

Magic runs strongly in Asleif, not for nothing had most suspected that she would one day succeed Amora as the Enchantress of the realm or go mad with the pursuit of power like Loki.

But even she feels outmatched here. A magical prodigy, yes, but not one yet tried in warfare.

She quickly wove and cast simple spells, blasts of magical power into the densest concentrations of the enemy. "Strike quickly," she told Vincent. "Favor disruption over the killshot. We must keep them on the defensive."

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-12 12:56 am UTC (link)

Vincent dispatches a wide area enchantment, designed to shake the courage and increase the anxiety of its targets, following in the wake of Asleif's own assault, keeping his attacks far from the front line, before Asgardian forces can penetrate further.

He cringes as he watches a cluster of enemy sorcerers rush staffs-ready into the breach, and get summarily slaughtered in moments. He presumes the same will happen of a similarly clustered group of mages heading to the east.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower nextgen_asgard 2010-02-12 05:29 am UTC (link)
	Alfrun continues to direct the battles through the area surrounding the city, working her own ritual magic all the while, directing forces she has some connection to to strike here or there, even if those engagements don't make the greatest sense tactically. She has a plan, after all. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower godlierthanthou 2010-02-12 10:30 pm UTC (link)
	Asleif unleashed another spell, doing little more than hurling bombs of magical energy. But something... something else was at work here, though she did not yet know what. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-12 11:26 pm UTC (link)

As the forces mix further and further, wide area spells become less viable. Vincent switches tactics, targeting the largest brute targets with stronger individual spells. A giant is targeted with a stupefying bolt as warriors already rush at it; followed by setting to work with unraveling a particularly nasty bit of illusion, his specialty.

His gaze narrows as another battalion of mages is sent clambering over the giant as it falls, being caught in not only it's flailing death throes, but the oncoming Asgardian shock troops.

"...no sense in it...." He finds himself muttering aloud, casting a glance at Asleif.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

circle_of_seven
2010-02-13 07:54 am UTC (link)

That first hint that something is wrong, and certainly not natural for the foes of Asgard may well spark an idea in Aslief's mind - a memory of demonic magics from another battle in the siege at the Defenders' compound.
Either, or both may also notice Demogorge hanging back, feasting upon energies flowing from the battles around the castle, and a start of a pattern may begin to emerge.
Whatever it is, its powerful, no question about it. Nothing easily disrupted or halted - but it definitely seems to be benefiting Demogorge, who alone would be a threat to Asgard. Should he become active in this fight, it could turn things rapidly.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower godlierthanthou 2010-02-14 12:07 am UTC (link)
	Asleif frowned. "Aye. Tis illogical, even for them. But not... without the strands of reason. I doth see hints of a pattern, markers in this battlefield..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-14 12:19 am UTC (link)

As he pulls loose the illusions cast on one of the Asgardian battalions, Vincent spots two flares of magical energy go up, as a pair of sorcerer squads score victories, before dispersing.

A sinking feeling wells up in his stomach as he recounts the locations so far.

"No..." He expands his senses, and pales as he spots a familiar pattern. "It's a seal of seven. They're sacrificing their own troops when necessary to make the release of arcane energy. But... but.." He turns to Asleif, hurling concussive bolts still. "That's not Asgardian magic! I know it from the defensive lessons Mistress Jennifer had me study, but I don't know what they'd be using it for here!"

He tries to find the purpose of the seal. There's far too many of the opposing forces to simply raze the entire interior of the seal.

His search becomes more hurried as a sixth arcane slaughter happens, only one remaining.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower circle_of_seven 2010-02-14 04:11 pm UTC (link)
	The fire demons have been sent to make the final attack, their blood makes for one of the most potent seals, and they're fanatical enough to shed plenty of it on both sides. Alfrun is fully focused, surrounded by dark acolytes, well hidden on the field, conducting the ritual, feeling the spell growing stronger and stronger by the second. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower godlierthanthou 2010-02-14 08:15 pm UTC (link)
	Asleif frowns, stopping in her own assault spells to turn to a more scrying one, trying to find the last spot in the seal... (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-14 09:56 pm UTC (link)

Vincent manages to catch on to the location as well, finally gleaning the significance of the ritual. "She's going to empower the God-eater!" He calls out desperately to the other sorcerers.

"PLEASE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LISTEN TO ME! PUSH THE FORCES BACK FROM THAT AREA ON THE BATTLEFIELD!" He casts an illusion to illustrate the area. "ALL OF ASGARD DEPENDS ON IT!"

For his part, not waiting for them, he sets a shield spell at the center of where the seventh seal would be formed, and expands it as strongly as he can muster, trying to disrupt the movement of friend and foe alike without outright killing anyone.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

nextgen_asgard
2010-02-15 05:37 am UTC (link)

Several of the sorcerors look quickly annoyed with Vincent's tone. Sure, he said please, but he's still not going through channels or trusting anyone else to have some competence. With so many senior wizards, even of different experiences, it doesn't sit well. Enough begin to see what the pair have seen though that they begin to direct their own spells that way.

Vincent's shield shatters in an instant, as dark elven magics and Alfrun's own turn on it, and the spells cast into enemy midst just shed more blood.

"We are going to have to disrupt the enchantment itself." Calls one. "Lady Aslief, will you lead the enchantment - and guide the half-blood in how to conduct a circle? We will lend our powers to yours if you can see what is being done."

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower godlierthanthou 2010-02-15 08:20 pm UTC (link)
	Rules and procedures have their place, but Asleif found Vincent's boldness more refreshing. When things needed to be done, they should simply be done. "I can," said she, "and will." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-15 08:42 pm UTC (link)

Vincent's jaw had tightened as, as he heard it, 'half-blood' was spit out by yet another, but he kept himself reigned in, turning to Asleif for direction.

Facing her and taking her hands, they honed in on the core of the enchantment together. There was someone of no small amount of skill or power at work behind it. Enchantment was not the hammer-strike of evocation or summoned beasts, it was magic wielded as a scalpel and paintbrush. It was also Vincent's strongest school of magic.

Quickly, but not at the cost of precision, Vincent constructed, for lack of better words, a magical razor, slipping within the pathways the enchantment had constructed, and lashing out at the tether which linked them to their prime caster.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

circle_of_seven
2010-02-15 09:05 pm UTC (link)

Being an enchanter himself, he quickly recognizes the flavor of the magic, to a degree. He or she is definitely an enchanter and illusionist - but using ancient fey magic, strong, wild and raw, not the disciplined study of most sorcerors - and whoever it is is good, and of fey and Asgardian blood, the sorcerous rites flowing naturally through them.

The ritual is no brute force structure, its as delicate and finely woven as a tapestry, each thread put in place just so, carefully arranged not only for effect, but so that there can be no idea what attacking of unweaving any particular thread might do, either to the spell, the caster, or those trying to unweave it.

As to the Asgardians - once Aslief steps in, they fall in line well. They're disciplined and used to working together for the defense of the realm. But they're not about to follow Vincent or what he says needs to be done any more than they would anyone else they don't know or trust who shows up and starts giving orders. The daughter of Thor has no such difficulty, and under her guidance, they have the raw power they need - the question is just directing it.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower godlierthanthou 2010-02-15 09:45 pm UTC (link)
	Tradition was going to get the Asgardians killed one day, Asleif was beyond certain of it. She did not, in fact, even have to be certain. Ragnarok was in their blood, as was a cycle of forever repeating without learning anything. "Quite complex," she said to herself, as she examined the nature of the spell. "I do not think we will be able to stop it from here." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

nextgen_asgard
2010-02-15 09:55 pm UTC (link)

Aslief also has the advantage of knowing Vincent. Were she to voice her thoughts, they may well ask her how likely it is that she would immediately jump to obeying anyone who shouted orders that she didn't know and trust already.

They do, however, trust her. Her blood assures it.

"There ist no choice, m'lady. The legions broke for a time, the enemy ist right at the walls. Going down there wouldst be death. We must guess as best we art able. We hath trust in thy judgement, and wilt give thee the power thou needst to conduct the rite."

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

quitethecharmer
2010-02-15 10:14 pm UTC (link)

"I am at your command, Lady Asleif." Vincent speaks calmly, eyes shut as he tries to poke here and there within the enchantment. This spell reads like a booby-trapped information network. He clenches his jaw as he lowers his voice so that only she might hear.

"Let me take the brunt of any feedback. This is going to be... problematic."

Taking whatever energy of hers or the others' she can offer, he stabs at a thread, aiming to tear it loose, as he goes with the most thoroughly calculated risk he can comprehend.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower circle_of_seven 2010-02-15 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	Picking up on what's happening to her spell, Alfrun and her own collection of casters work to fight it, trying to weave the blood magic together faster than it can be unwoven, beginning an intense and powerful contest, back and forth, weaving and unweaving the threads of the complex spell. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

godlierthanthou
2010-02-15 11:22 pm UTC (link)

Asleif nodded to herself, following the weave and flow of power. There is magic other than that of Asgard here and despite her time in the realm of mortals and with other spell-casters of the Defenders, she has truthfully spent little in study of magics other than her own.

But she knows enough.

She gathers her own magics together and unleashes her most powerful enchantment breakers.

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Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower

nextgen_asgard
2010-02-15 11:34 pm UTC (link)

The rest of the sorcerors follow her lead, throwing their magical might behind her work while Vincent guards her. The threads slowly unravel while others reform, fighting back and forth for some time. Both sides throw more and more resources behind the work, engaging in an epic battle of wills, leaving the novices on both sides exhausted, or even passed out from effort and mental exhaustion rapidly, and fatiguing even the most powerful quickly.

As a thread is severed, there's a massive backlash, chaotic magic washing over Vincent and several of the Asgardians. Two of the lesser mages next to Vincent are consumed in magical fire. Another drops into a coma.
Vincent is awash in magical fire for a moment. Intense pain strikes all of his nerves at once, and there's a sensation like raw knowledge being brutally torn from his brain.

And then the ritual, and the backlash fade, leaving Vincent unconscious and with a long, jagged scar along the left side of his face. Very few of the mages on either side leave the encounter unmarked, but for now, the contest is over.

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	Re: On the Sorcerers' Tower circle_of_seven 2010-02-15 11:37 pm UTC (link)
	Alfrun reels back from the explosion, cursing in the tongue of the dark elves. Her side, too, has lost many of its mages to the contest, and most are exhausted. "The circle is broken. Demogorge, go forward, you shall have to consume them without the enchantment." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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