[Nexus] Those Forged by Flames 1: Fortunately Fireproof

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

The last person I know of with pure fearblaze disappeared into an organization known only as KINDER...

He looks at the weapon he has made, admiring the style. It's rougher than the picture...but that's the end goal.

What do you think? Thatcher asks, offering Ashna the weapon.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

On to octagons, decexagons, and then cone tips. Just as the nails should be.

"Maybe they've left. Or it's someone in my fire."

She looks over the blade, frowns, shakes her head.
"A weed cutter. The guildblade should be better than that. You can't put as much swing behind this, and the angle for stabbing stretches the wrist. Quick, but that's about all I'd recommend it for."

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

Thatcher nods distractedly, Possibly...

He looks at the weapon again, frowning...
I suppose you're right. What would you suggest?

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

Ashna starts beating another nail into shape.
"Well, you know I'm partial to hammers and axes myself. But since we're making a blade, here, it should be versatile. Two edges and a point, with a long handle. Handle? Hilt? Grip? Light enough to swing in one hand, though. Straight. At most wavy."
"I guess it could be curved, as long as we make use of the outer edge too. That would complicate the grip.

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

Thatcher starts flipping through the papers Ashna brought, pointing out a simple, but deadly looking weapon.
Thoughts on this one?
For all his dramatic flair, the pyromancer seems to keep his blades simple, easy to the eye, and effective...

I would likely make the blade wider all down the length, and extend the handle.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

Ashna nods appreciatively.
"That will be fitting."

Practice on nails done, she starts heating a much larger, longer piece.

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

Thatcher glances over at a table nearby the anvil. On its surface rests Thorinsgaet and the recovered scraps of Cerulean...

We're still missing one piece...
We need Aric, or rather, his dagger. Without it, the sword is almost useless.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

Begins hammering at it, widening one end.

"Be sure that once we find it, you're ready."

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

I've dropped some hints where Aric will find them. He should be here within the week...if all goes according to plan. In the meantime, I'll be making and remaking this blade until I can craft it left-handed with my eyes closed.

He stokes the flames, sweat pouring off of him as he hammers the iron into shape.

Thatcher would be ready when the time comes...

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

"Heh. At least we'll have no shortage of swords."
Ashna continues work on the new hammer. No fire magic, nothing fancy. Just a solid tool.

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

That is true, Thatcher chuckles, which will be useful if we need to supply Groundtown with shoddy swords for a revolt against the gangs below.

He clearly isn't trying to improve his speed...the smith-to-be takes steady, even strokes, more concerned about the quality, rather than the quantity of swords.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

"You getting some revolutionary ideas?"
The smith-that-was is a bit quicker, but that's from having moved faster before, and the memory of the action still there.

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

I'm not planning on leading anything...but if there's a war, I'll definitely pick whoever looks to be winning.

I wouldn't be surprised of those below us decide to overthrow the government, for lack of a better term.

The myriad of different flames flicker in the forge as Thatcher pounds out more swords. His progress isn't exceptional, but one look at his older work and you can tell he's improved.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

"Install a government, you mean? Hah."

Ashna shakes her head and resumes shaping the hammer.

"Groundtown can't even organize itself, much less try to get Skyside to accept its rule. Hey. You're getting better at this. Quick learner."

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

That is certainly a more accurate term...Groundtown is nothing but a mess.

And thank you, I hope to be able to make a blade worthy of Those Forged by Flames.

He admires the edge on his latest piece of handiwork. It could do well, but it did not have the materials to be great.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

"It's shaping up. Say, ah...how do you feel about the living dead?"

Ashna's none too fond of them herself, but they keep turning up in the future, and, well, a deal is a deal.

The head of the hammer is starting to take it's shape. I'm not sure they're usually made all of one piece, but I trust Ashna knows what she's doing.

"Maybe I will look to some enchantment for this, actually."

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

Eh, hammers are tools, not often fit as weapons...

As for the living dead, I don't mind them, but I wouldn't want to be one.

Now, I'm not looking to get killed. It's not fun, I know. But when I finally bite the dust, I want to stay there.

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

Tool hammers and weapon hammers are quite different. More elegant than swords too. Straightforward.

"Agreed with you there. It's no good to get back up after that."

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

Straightforward. That's one word for it.

Have you died yet, Ashna?

[Hattish Thing]

The Forge

As the pair continue to have their conversation, the answer to Thatcher's uncomfortable question may never be known, for suddenly a terrible sound is heard. It's loud, nearly deafening. As soon as the great burst finally fades away, and the ringing of your ears begins, all light goes out in the city. There's an incredible silence as an entire city takes in what just occurred. The streets are covered in glass from broken windows, and the only light shining down upon the city would be that of the crescent moon. It's certainly spooky. A few minutes will pass, giving the pair some time to react before something can be heard. It's... the sound of a car when it turns around a corner harshly, that rubbery sound. It's fairly far away though. I wonder what that could mean?

((Aric_Kale has given me permission to include this plot here.))

[Recaiden]

[The Forge]

"Yes, I-"

No time to elaborate, for the threat has been carried out. Funny how time flies when you're working in here.

There is still the light of the forge, and the light of Ashna's flames, who are dancing happily around the workshop now that they are so much of the light.
And the fyrjewls, and the log of many flames, and, well, the place is full of pryomancers; there are flames everywhere. I'm sure they've put up an ever-burning flame outside the door. No shortage of light.

Ashna takes her hands off her ears, sets the finished hammer aside, and smiles. If she still had her gun, it wouldn't be working. But that's not the case. She throws on her scarves, sets her helmet on her head, and heads up the stairs.
"Gonna check what's coming. Be right back."

There is a flash of all colors separately, and Ashna is all of a sudden out of breath.

"City destroyed by the Empire. And before that, this place is demolished by, you remember the snail guy? He's bringing friends. I'll be in and out in case I need to revise the past. Don't worry; I'll be there when you need me."
Another flash, gone.

[Aric Kale]

The Forge

By the Light of the Fire...they actually did it...

Then Ashna is off!

Damn it...

And she's back, leaving him no time to reply. Gah!

Thatcher runs upstairs, taking one of the practice swords with him. As he enters the Main Room, the Pyromancer retrieves his revolver from a coffee table and hold it in his left hand.

He would not be opening the door to any challengers, but if any should be foolhardy enough to come barging in, they would be met with fire and steel.

For now, he waits, charging his gun with a blindingly white flame.

Just Outside

Aric had finally put it together! Zane Darkstar must be here, and if he wasn't, the guildmaster would know where he was. Thatcher Jsut...what an odd na-(aforementioned loud sound)

Damn! By King Eliam...what was that?
He had fallen to his knees, but quickly rights himself, his spear blade glowing in the light of the many fires showing through the Mansion's windows.

Kale had heard about this on the Wall, but hadn't expected anything to come of it. Now he was in some danger, best not try to enter the Guild Hall just yet, they may not be accepting visitors at this dark hour.

For those of whom have forgotten, Aric Kale is a tall, athletically built man with a spear, shield and dagger (I'll explain their abilities upon request). His hair flows down to his shoulders in wavy locks, and his beard grows thick, but due to his quest to claim Honor, his hair is now stark white.

Said Object is a gauntlet on left hand, covered by his shield. Being an Object, it is nigh indestructible, and its unique ability grants him the power to give complete mental invulnerability to those around him, but it offers him no such protection.

[Hattish Thing]

Outside

A few minutes after the unpleasant boom, the sound of screeching tire upon street becomes louder, until the source makes itself quite obvious. Two trucks have arrived on scene, unmarked. They're a little while away, and their tinted windows show nothing. The large trucks have two doors in the back, both of which are closed, but currently facing the mansion. How bizzare, and certainly threatening. Who were these people? Before anything can really be acted upon, however, there's an odd shimmering in the air. A figure seems to be flying through the air, his hands held over eachother across the wrist, his head facing upwards to gaze at the stars. The form is thin, extremely so, and clad in what seems to be completely mirrored armor, the suit skintight. His arms end in gauntlet's that seem much larger than the rest of him, hinting at the fact that the challenger is clad in some sort of matching set composed of power gloves, just as mirrored as his armor. A hood is drawn over the mask, it's cloak dark grey. The material shimmers, sometimes looking more liquid than solid, but reflective like a metal. He begins to slowly drop downwards, to where he's only hovering about five feet beyond the trucks, but a great deal closer to the mansion than said vehicles. Finally, he looks down towards the mansion and speaks, his voice distorted through the mask. "Now, Comrade." With that sentence, as the starlight reflects off his alien cloak, tiny shards of glass, which had shattered around the area during the explosion, begin to slowly shake and float upwards, into the air.


((Posting Order!))

Recaiden
Aric_Kale
Hatter
Technoscrabble <--- Your turn now!

[TechnoScrabble]

Outside

The second truck explodes open, the doors on the back flying off towards the mansion. Through the smoke, a red beam shines, passing back and forth, and out steps a familiar figure.

Comrade LESS rises from a stoop as he exits the vehicle, his new red and gold armour sleek and gleaming as he scans the area. His upper arms wield an oversized hammer and sickle acitinic lightning arcing between them, and his lower arms bear a chaingun and his shield.

"It is time to visit our vengeance, comrades!"

[Aric Kale]

Outside

Ho there! I have business with the people inside; if you plan their destruction, then you will have to walk over my lifeless corpse.
Aric hefts his shield, covering his torso and the greater part of his midsection. In his right hand, his murynstil spear shines like a beacon. If any energy or magical energy strikes his shield, it will bounce back at them.
If Kale manages to intercept it with his spear, then he can fire it back in a more concentrated burst.
I must warn you, I have proven difficult to kill.

Aric of House Kale has one ability of his own, granted to him by Steve, god of the labyrinth. The knight rapidly regenerates from physical damage, so he can take a fair bit of hurt.

[Hattish Thing]

Outside

As soon as LESS exits the back of the truck, the other vehicle's doors crash open loudly and reveal a large looking machine gun, racks of bullet clips all over the van. The same gun can be seen in the vehicle LESS exited, and both are now being prepped up and prepared. LESS goes rushing forward, hammer and sickle flailing wildly as he seeks a target. The Gray gazes upwards at the sky once more and ascends further, out of the van's gunfire range. He then wills for the many shards of jagged glass to float around him, revolving around and gaining speed. The form speaks, his voice echoing through a voice modulation caused by the mask. "Lifeless or not, you have no choice whether or not we're getting inside." With that, the figure stops speaking and brings his fist backwards behind him, preparing to strike the air. As he does so, the cloud of glass forms a fist in the air, jagged edges revolving even as the fist forms. He brings it down now, and the glass fist, easily as tall as the man, comes rocketing towards Aric. The small shards will act like a meat shredder, aiming to cut and slice at all exposed skin. At that same moment, the machine guns in the back of the van finally go off, two men operating each one. The machine guns are aimed at the mansion, and will rocket through doors and windows, attempting to batter the structure and kill those inside.

[TechnoScrabble]

L.E.S.S. bellows mangled Communist propaganda like an inverted Liberty Prime as he charges forward, chaingun sweeping side to side to clear a path in front of the rushing onslaught of metal! Lightning arcs between his pneumatic hammer and mono-sickle as he attempts to rush past Aric and into the front door!

[Aric Kale]

Outside

Aric's mighty shield is pelted with glass and bullets, and parts of his lower legs are shredded, making it difficult to keep his balance. The force of L.E.S.S.' charge is enough to knock Aric over, but the lightning will simply rebound and wrap itself around the mecha-slug.

Grah! Damn it... The knight groans as his legs heal themselves, allowing him a moment to continue turtling behind his shield, though now he will make his way toward The Gray...

Main Room/Mansion

Hundreds of thousands of bullets come racing through the air, aimed in a wide spray to destroy the five story building and all that it stands for.

There's a three second pause in which all of the bullets are caught in an invisible field...waiting...waiting...then a sound RUSH as they are flung back in a roar of fire! Djserit, Zane Darkstar's (similar to a djinn) slave has provided one line of defense. Who knows if it will work again?

Thatcher is still charging his gun, the barrel of the reconstructed revolver is blindingly white. It is so intense that Thatcher himself must look away and keep his eyes closed. The master pyromancer is sweating.

This will be one hell of a shot.

[Hattish Thing]

Outside

Aric's mighty shield is pelted with glass and bullets, and parts of his lower legs are shredded, making it difficult to keep his balance. The force of L.E.S.S.' charge is enough to knock Aric over, but the lightning will simply rebound and wrap itself around the mecha-slug.

Grah! Damn it... The knight groans as his legs heal themselves, allowing him a moment to continue turtling behind his shield, though now he will make his way toward The Gray...

Main Room/Mansion

Hundreds of thousands of bullets come racing through the air, aimed in a wide spray to destroy the five story building and all that it stands for.

There's a three second pause in which all of the bullets are caught in an invisible field...waiting...waiting...then a sound RUSH as they are flung back in a roar of fire! Djserit, Zane Darkstar's (similar to a djinn) slave has provided one line of defense. Who knows if it will work again?

Thatcher is still charging his gun, the barrel of the reconstructed revolver is blindingly white. It is so intense that Thatcher himself must look away and keep his eyes closed. The master pyromancer is sweating.

This will be one hell of a shot.

As the torrential pour of bullets rocket into the mansion, windows, furniture, and all manners of things that would have been damaged are protected. However, before any living beings feel the bite of speeding bullet ripping into them, a forcefield goes up. The field blocks the bullets from causing any further damage, and tosses the little bits of now-dented metal out of the mansions. The vans that had been firing the hailstorm of metal quiet down a bit as the men inside reload the guns, setting and placing a new clip into the large black tripod mounted repeaters. This round, the guns will be of no harm, however, soon the bullets will rain down death upon the house yet again. The problem now happens to be Gray, who definitely notices Aric. The figure will float higher into the air, his arms rising from his sides as he does so, until both limbs are arranged at his shoulders. Now, the same glass that'd been flung towards Aric earlier will float into the air once more, forming a sheet of floating shrapnel on each side of Gray. The glass that remains embedded in Arics lower body will be torn out as well, most likely causing a most unpleasant amount of pain. Now, two thick sheets of shrapnel float through the air, one on each side of Gray's outstretched arms. The figure speaks briefly. "No." A very simple and coolly spoken command, coupled with a motion. He claps his hands together now, and as he does so the two panels of shrapnel glass flies through the air incredibly fast, aiming to clap over Aric and smash him from both sides at once. The clap of shrapnel slamming into him from both sides ought to get him to pause. Following that, Gray inverts his arms at an angle and lowers his head. A manhole pops out of the ground directly below the villain, and will push forward into Aric. The attack ought to posh him back a bit and also pin him down, the heavy manhole pressing against his chest.

[TechnoScrabble]

L.E.S.S. slams against the same forcefield that stopped the bullets, flung back and leaving a deep furrow in the lawn where his massive metal feet dig in. This will not do. This will not do at all!

L.E.S.S. turns to Aric to charge him from behind, attempting to grab the knight and pin him with the massive sickle!

"DEACTIVATE THE FORCEFIELD, BOURGEOIS SCUM!"