thebastion | Event: Day 278 [open]

[There's no time to talk this out or think it through. The mechanical bull charges, and Ragnarok is in sword form in Crona's hand before the bull hits Ryu.

Then Ragnarok gives Crona wings, and the meister is up on the bull's back in a split second, slashing at the rope holding the Ura in place. Hopefully someone else can grab Zee before he gets trampled.]

[There's no need to worry about that- Zulf still isn't much of a fighter, but he's quick.]

[There's a small cloud burst of smoke and he's suddenly besides the bull with his fingers desperately grasping at Zee to heave him up into his arms.]

[...But with extra weight in his arms, he might not be able to do his little trick now. Hopefully someone else can help him drag Zee out of the way.]

[Aoi shrieks, but as soon as Zulf's hand is off her jacket she books it. Track and field has made her fast, but Caffeine Rush certainly helps.

Zulf gets to Zee before she does, but she has her arms open to help take him. She bounces on her feet in place.] Let'sgolet'sgolet'sgo!

[Oh good someone thought to grab Zee. He won't get trampled then.

Vee will also dodge, and go over to help his unconscious friend. With Zee knocked out though, it will take two, possibly three people to effectively move him if Pyth charges in their direction.

Fortunately, Pyth is a bit occupied. It finishes off its charge, smashing into Ryu with the force of a train. Can Ryu stop that much force?

Also, Since both Ryu and Crona are touching Pyth, they will be able to notice the faint magical hum coming from the mechanical bull, which was not there during the festival some time back. It seems as though something powerful is inside of the mechanical Pyth, making it extra-strong, extra-fast, and extra-angry.]

[Ryu can't, but he'll hang on as much as he can and try to at least slow it. It hurts, but his other options put people in danger and he just can't let that happen.]

I think there's a core in there!

[It's the only thing he knows that would make something this strong and magical. He digs in more, trying to at least slow Pyth down as he's pushed along.]

[Crona can feel the magic, familiar and unsettling. Crona does not like magic.]

Hey, Ragnarok? [Crona is clinging to the metal of the bull as it bucks and crashes around. But Crona is determined.

Crona offers Ragnarok the idea, and the mouth on the sword grins. Those black dragon wings dissolve into a splash of liquid that seeps into the bull, coating gears and mechanisms in blood.]

Freeze. [Ragnarok laughs, and the blood goes solid, trying to lock the moving parts in place. It will probably work. Things can't break through black blood.]

[Ghaleon frantically gestures to the group that's grabbed Zee to bring him over. Come one, he can teleport, and running out there to make the lot of them an even bigger target is a terrible idea.]

[Don't worry, Ghaleon- they're on it. With Aoi and Vee's help, Zulf is doing his best to move away from the bull so that he can get over to the other man.]

[The boy's life is much more important than the Core, to him. They can focus on that later.]

[Yep, Vee is helping Zulf and Aoi carry Zee, so they will be there within a few seconds.

Fortunately, Ryu doesn't end up getting trampled, since him grabbing on to Pyth manages to slow Pyth down just enough that Crona's blood can work into the gears and hydraulics and freeze everything up. The bull sort of topples over, since its momentum didn't stop when its gears did, and everything within it is making this horrible grinding noise as it tries to move but is stopped by the frozen blood.

Fortunately, it fell on the side that Ryu is not currently attached to, so Ryu ends up on top of it.]

[Crona holds on for dear life as the bull grinds to a stop.]

Hey, Ragnarok. Bloody needles.

[The blood that's clogging up the gears keeps them locked, but also shoots out in massive needles, tearing through the metal of the mechanical bull. Thankfully, Ragnarok doesn't stab anyone who came from the Bastion.]

[As soon as they get over to him, Ghaleon's just going to carefully take Zee from them. With only a "Take care" as warning, he flickers for a moment before disappearing in a rather less than inconspicuous flash of light. Hope there wasn't anything important you guys had to say before he left.]

[That is a good idea for disabling the bull, except that the needles puncture some wires while it is still running.

Everyone currently touching the mechanical Pyth suddenly gets a very painful and very long electrocution.]

[... Ryu is very glad that he's not human, but it still hurts. Not as much as it would if he were in his usual form, but it's enough to make him roar in pain and nearly lash out again before he controls himself.]

[Crona is human, or at least close enough. And Ragnarok is tangled up with the machinery, laced in to the things that are sending out the electric shock.

There's a scream, two voices in a horrible screeching unison. The blood collapses into puddles and sharpens back into spikes at random and Crona collapses and seizes and falls off the side of the bull and just twitches.

The air is full of the very horrible smell of burning flesh, and there's a growing puddle of black blood underneath the meister's body.]

Edited 2015-02-09 22:58 (UTC)

[Aoi's ready to settle down with Zee out of harm's way—but then there's the shock, and the screaming, and she gasps, screeches, freezes—

Crona's not moving. They're both hurt but Crona doesn't get up.]

Crona! [And she sprints over, drops to her knees beside them without regard for the blood puddle or the bull—her hands flutter over the meister for a moment until she forces herself to take a breath slow enough to focus.

Aoi hauls Crona by the shoulders into her lap. Light from her healing hands ability shines at her trembling fingertips, spreading across Crona's body and lingering over their wounds. It has to work, it has to; Crona has to be okay.] C'mon, c'mon, please...

[Ryu floats over to Crona and a white ball of light appears in his hand. He sends it towards Crona and touches down near them. Rejuvenate isn't the best healing spell, but hopefully it'll be enough.]

[Hopefully. ]

[Ryu doesn't say anything, just touches down gently.]

[Vee doesn't even know what he can do to help, he's no healer, but he's going over there too, if for no other reason than to help move the two injured people away from the sparking bull.

it's still sparking, by the way, and some nasty-looking (and nasty-smelling) smoke is coming from it. It looks like it could explode at any moment, and with how injured Crona and Ryu are, a big explosion wouldn't be good for them.

Of course, an explosion would destroy the power source within the bull, too. With time precious, there is an important choice to be made: help move Ryu and Crona out of the way, or try to get to the core?]

[ Well, screams are an easy thing to find. As uncomfortable as Moon is with showing this form to other groundlings, he's circling and coming down.

Nasty smoke is another warning sign. And wow, that blood scent is odd.

Okay, one last circle shows a sparking metal thing, which is the nasty smoke, and injured people, which is probably the blood.

Moon lands, claws sheathing once he has his footing and wings folding so he doesn't accidentally brain anyone. ]

Get away from that thing.

[ Sparking bad smelling things are never good. Assuming no one stops the new dragon-like person, Moon is going to scoop up Crona as carefully as he can and start retreating. ]

[Colin's running behind Moon, yeah, he's not happy with how this went. Dammit, people, wait for reinforcements!]

[Fortunately, he's tangled with Pyth's Bulls before. And this time, he suspected there would be some damage. So he's got a toolkit, insulated gloves, a heavy smock adorned with yet more tools, and he's got a large hammer, and he's got... a charm bracelet? And socks on under his shorts? Why, you'd almost think he had a feeling there was some godly thing going on here to some degree or another...]

Everyone! Get at least a hundred meters back! Zulf, pray with me! Pyth needs to hear us asking for a little order for at least a few more moments!

[His cybernetic eye is black, he's already scanning the bull. Yeah, that thing is going to blow up... but there's something inside. Something that seems out of place. Yeah, this screams wrongness... And energy he's seen before. Well, that's just swell...]

Oh Wakeful Bull, harm has befallen one of your idols... Hold back the turmoil, I beseech you, so that I can try to repair it.

[Yes, his sensors are screaming at him that this is a bad idea. That this is a phenomenally bad idea. But he's an engineer, this is what he does. He's going to approach the bull carefully. And he's going to try to get the bull open. He actually doesn't care all that much about the core, though it certainly makes him wonder if the might be more cores in other bulls?]

[No, what he cares about right now is the bull. During the festival, it definitely had a mind of its own. Or at least one in line with Pyth. It doesn't strike him as right that this bull should be defiled... and if it was sabotaged, then something REALLY needs to be done. The gods deserve better than this.]

I do not ask for much, Wakeful Bull. I simply ask that you delay the coming explosion... I can cut off the power, separate the volatile materials, and repair this machine of yours... I need only some time.

[He's paying honor to the gods here. It isn't much, but sometimes... even the divine may appreciate a little help and acknowledgement.]

[With his preparations done, Colin sets to work on the mechanical bull. He continues to murmur quiet words to Pyth as he works, describing his actions to the god even as he undertakes them. Please to not be exploding on him as he opens your frame and starts trying to save what he can.]

[The bleeding has stopped, and there's no more smoke coming out from between the plates in Crona's armor. But the meister's unconscious, and the blood puddled around Crona's form ripples uselessly. Crona's not going to be any help for the rest of this fight.]

[Ever since that bone-slicing scream, Zulf has been rushing to help. Moon's presence is a relief- that takes care of one person. There's one other, now, and he shoves Ryu to Vee and Aoi's arms. Just one word hisses out past his lips-]

Move! Now, hurry!

[With that taken care of, there's no doubt in his steps as he goes over to Colin. Danger? Sorry, he's out of fucks to give. One hand reaches beneath his shirt and vest, pulling out a familiar charm of his own that's the only of its kind in the Bastion- a brilliant gleaming gear. With the necklace wrapped tight around one hand, he begins to make small gestures with it while the other stays free just in case.]

[Under his breath, he begins to murmur frantically in what Colin should be able to identify as Ura. Only he's not praying to Pyth.]

[A circle of his fingers around one wrist.]

Acobi, eldest sister mine and to us all, oath-forger and bond-breaker, I put myself before you, Chastened Maiden, and call on the strength of your chains. Tis you who is your brother's keeper and you who delayed him during the beginning of all. Do so now again so that we might right what has been wrong, tether me to this life for I cannot abandon what oaths I have broken just yet...

[Rushed taps against one eye then the other with his knuckles, charm pressing against his cheeks.]

Garmuth, wisest brother of your kin, your steps full of purpose and your pale eyes knowing all folly, I bow my head and seek your counsel. Not to me although I have done such foolish things but for that of your brother. You who holds most of our Mother's blood in your veins, I beseech you use her calming touch and pacify your wrathful sibling. Have him see that we wish only to lend our use to him, take pity on us who cannot spare to lose either tool or friends...

[Now, a series of lines over his heart like a star and his palm seems to clutch the charm in his hand all the tighter.]

Micia, Lorn Mother, it is in your hands that I have laid my life in trust many times before since I have been but a child and this is not the first calamity I have suffered. Still not do I understand your cruel kindness, still not do I understand why you reignite my life's light when even my own kin would demand it extinguished. Your gifts I merely accept, never have I demanded, but I plead, Mother, I plead now before you that you lay your sweet palms against the forehead of your eldest and first son as you did in the beginning of all. Shield me with your hands once more and if not me than the man besides me for he has the talents of the brothers bold and the kindness of your clever blinded duke. Please, Mother, hear me and grant what of my request you can and I will come to you when you finally wish, I will follow the wind and the glow of your star, and I will hold your hand, Mother...

[It takes Aoi a moment to catch her bearings after the bizarre reptilian stranger scoops Crona out of her lap and just leaves. Everything processes as Colin makes it to the bull and Zulf shoves Ryu at her, and of course, it's not safe, they have to get going!]

R-right! Let's go, c'mon! [If he's standing, he can run, at least for now; she grabs Ryu's wrist in one hand (and the healing light sparks at her fingers again, washing over his wounds, too, while the opportunity's there) and Vee's in the other, needing to be sure they don't linger, and sprints after Moon.]

[Ryu's still hurt, but he struggles out of Aoi and Vee's arms, raising a hand towards Colin to cast a barrier around him. It won't protect him from physical damage, only magical, but it can't hurt.]

[He's breathing heavily, and he's moving slowly, but he's still alive. And as long as he's alive, he'll do what he can. He doesn't pray out loud - and it feels somewhat silly for an Endless to pray in the first place - but he does send a mental cry for anyone, any Endless, any god, any power out there, to help.]

[For a moment, the mechanical bull sputters, and it looks like the shaking and smoking is getting worse. Most of the people are out of the way, but Colin and Zulf are right in the blast zone, and if things go wrong they could easily not be going home today.

But then the bull's gears grind loudly for a couple seconds, and all goes silent. Whether Colin and Zulf's prayers were answered, or if it was just a matter of timing and the bull was going to stop on its own anyway, it is impossible to tell. But all that is left is an unmoving husk of a robotic bull and a familiar glow coming from the cracks in the bull's shell.]

[Guess which one Zulf is choosing to believe?]

[He heaves a sigh of relief, making the gesture for Micia again.]

Thank the Mother and all her children...

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