voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-09-15 10:04 pm

Onward: Purple

Villages

Each village has a central area and that is where the blighted have gathered. Or, not just the blighted; truthfully, most people have gathered in the commons. It is a hub of activity, people gathered for safety, for company. There is plenty to do for anyone not currently fighting golems or trolls: the village wells are often on the vulnerable outskirts, so fetching water is an important chore, as is collecting firewood.

Inside the village halls, there are injured to be tended and the blighted to care for. Most of them are well enough, they just are unable to do much for fear it will set off the powers inside them. They need help with most basic things, and apologies for stray fireballs or flash-frozen surfaces can be frequently heard in the large spaces.

Roaming

The outskirts of the villages are where the danger lurks: golems and trolls roam the woods and will lumber out to attack when they get near the villages, especially if they see people.

The trolls are big and swing large clubs with impressive strength and control. Their cunning makes them harder to fight than may be expected from their brutish appearance, teaming up or feigning attacks to get the upper hand. Their skin is mildly resistant to magic, but their size makes them easy targets.

Likewise, the golems are not particularly hard to find, nor hard to hit. They are, however, highly resistant to most damage. The crystal set into their faceplate pulses with a sickly, overbright energy that continues even if removed from the golem. (The golem itself does not continue, but falls into a passive state.) Golems are not equipped with weaponry, nor do they have any ranged attacks; their offense is great, spinning punches, or bulldozing.

Further afield, wild animals roam in great numbers, displaced from their usual homes by the aggressive trolls and misfiring golems - or blighted members of their own species.

Purification

Roughly in the centre of the cluster of villages, there stands a shrine. It is a simple structure, dark, curved walls open to the sky. Within the shrine, a circular pit about a foot deep can be found, which is where the crystals must be placed.

The ritual itself is simple, though requires some magical casting. Those who do not share in the magical arts can be helpful by helping clean, polish or mend the crystals before the ritual, or even by taking part in the chants. The natural, latent energies of living beings aid in the ritual, it seems, and so the attendants will not turn away any who wish to remain.

For the most part the ritual doesn’t look too exciting: chanting, small spells being cast into the crystal with small flares of light or song. However, right at the climax of the ritual, the whole pit burns with a brilliant light that fills the shrine before flowing back into the crystal. Once purified, the crystals can be placed back into an inactive golem, which will take up their natural roles of protectors of the villages if they are not in too poor a shape.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971790)

Roaming

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-17 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
While Kitty generally stuck with dealing with the golems stuck in the gorge, occasionally they would come across one while on the outskirts.

She had been helping to get some water from the wells when a golem suddenly appeared. And while she planned to phase through it when she had the chance, she kept the golem's attention for now, trying to draw it farther away from the village.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair flying-scowl)

Re: Roaming

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-17 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
Trunks was starting out on another 'patrol' of his own when he came across Kitty and the golem. Kicking off the ground, as flying would grant him more speed and momentum; especially when boosted by ki. "Got your back!" He called in warning, before aiming to slam himself (shoulder and arm first) in a controlled strike at the Golem. Staggering it and moving it another step or two away from the village.

Time for him to play distraction.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13969454)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-18 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
Slightly startled, she looked up as Trunks flew by and rammed into the golem, pushing it back some.

Then, as the golem was trying to recover, she ran forward. "Keep its attention!" she said, before diving head first and phasing into the golem.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-looking-serious)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-18 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
That had been his plan. Letting himself drop back to the ground and blocking one staggering punch from the golem, both arms braced and still driven back a step or two. Trunks ducked the follow-up-punch, turning with the momentum and lashing out with force at the golem's torso in another hard kick.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971821)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-22 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
Inside the golem, Kitty winced a little; while she wasn't being hit directly, she could feel the impact of the blows through the golem, and it was a powerful sensation.

Finally reaching the head, she phased halfway out of the top of his head while pulling on the crystal to dislodge it.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair speaking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-24 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Dislodging it helped, and Trunks let another hard punch-and-kick combo stagger the golem and dislodge Kitty and the crystal more fully. "Kitty, time to go!" Called while moving quickly back so she'd have room.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971673)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-24 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
As the golem began to fall backwards, Kitty phased the rest of the way through, holding the crystal as she launched off the golem's head to jump forward.
light_of_willpower: (long-hair looking back)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-24 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Which Trunks had been watching for, ready to help her with the landing. Arms out and up, half-catching her as the golem crumbled while falling backwards. Teamwork.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971678)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-25 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
As she fell, she twisted her body so that he would catch her in a princess carry, to keep the crystal held tight and protected against her body.

As the ground shook with the weight of the collapsing golem, she released a breath and glanced up at him.

"Nice catch."
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-26 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Good thing Trunks was steady on his feet; sometimes when the big ones fell, it was pretty hard. "That was the easy part." He replied with a half-grin.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971820)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-27 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Good to know," she joked with a giggle, carefully letting herself down so her feet touch the ground. Then she held up the crystal with a grin. "Now we just have to get this to the shrine to get it purified."
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-09-27 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think I'll keep patrolling, just in case. I can't phase through things, but I can keep a golem or two busy pretty well." Trunks replied with a grin. "But I look forward to working with you again."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971656)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-09-28 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
She nodded. "All right. I'll take this to the shrine then. But I'll probably see you later."