private Deep Science 1x1 with Blitz Boom

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Void]

The earth pony didn't jump this time, instead just charging straight towards her. She was able to dodge his attack, but he was also able to parry her strike, it slowed him down a bit but didn't seem to hurt him much. Foe was ready to take advantage of the distraction, swinging the large hammer at his legs. He tried to do another explosive jump, but it wasn't nearly as powerful as before, nor as he had expected given his expression, the hammer landed only a glancing blow on one hoof, but it was enough to remove the shoe and send the earth pony sprawling to land uncoordinated to stumble.

(I'll explain what happened in the ooc)

[Null]

Null's words seemed to irritate the pegasus. "Do you have any IDEA who I am? I'm the freaking Baltimare Basher!"

If the sisters had ever been to Baltimare, especially in the back alleys, they would have heard of the Basher. If even half of the stories were to be believed he had beaten dozens of ponies to death over the span of only a few years before suddenly stopping. He never left any witnesses, only a broken bat on the remains.

He spread his wings, the plated feathers glowing as he took a ready stance before launching himself forward almost faster than she could see, ready to introduce her to the business end of his nail bat.

If she simply dodged, he would land a solid hit on the earth pony behind her, then land on the other side of them. "I'm a freaking blur here!"

If she tried to strike he would dodge and strike at the back of her head, but with the smooth part of the bat.

If she fainted a dodge and struck he'd only be able to dodge mostly, she'd strike a glancing blow, and he'd bodily crash into the earth pony behind her.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

Foe were a whole lot less merciful than she were. That came out clear to Void, after seeing the pony use her distraction to just slam away at their opponents legs. A good, solid strike too, which might still have failed, if the shoees on the burly earth pony had not suddenly lost a good deal of power, leaving him unable to get completely out of range of Foe's attack.

So he lost one of the fancy, apparently semi-magical horseshoes? Void just didn't know what to think anymore, what with magic not being as one sided around them anymore as she had thought for most of their lives.

Regardless of how it worked though, one shoe were down, though he had avoided getting his legs broken, so he were still overall doing well. Despite his minor setback, he could be back to attacking them again in mere moments if he wanted to.

(the next part only happens if Foe does not wander over to hit on him some more)

Void stood ready again, in front of Foe, with her spear turned towards him and her overall demeanor reeking of a defensive stance. She weren't going in to do the first hit now, despite him being in a state that would make it a good time for an offensive strike. Instead she thought that maybe, seeing as he had now been faced with the fact that they could fight back against him, and were potentially more dangerous than him in a good deal of situations, there were a chance that he'd see reason.

"Please. just s-stop. I don't w-want to kill you, I j-just want to c-close the gate, and e-end all of this. Don't f-force my hoof..."

The eye that looked at their setback enemy, carried the same pleading that her tone and choice of words would, as she spoke her honest mind on this. She wasn't a killer by nature, and if there were even a chance that they could sort this without having to go that far, she felt like she had to try. Surely he couldn't keep avoiding reason, just because of stubbornness, right?

(Null)

Null were not the sort who just dodged and let something slide, so as he rammed at her, she instinctively jumped a step to the right (which may be seen as kind of a dodge, though it were mostly to gain a better angle to swing at him, as she didn't have the time to do a proper dodge with that speed of his) and struck forward in a sort of spring motion attack, sword aiming for whatever part she could hit of this dangerous, yet ultimately corporeal enemy. Something which she sadly also were, as the attack she struck at would leave her right in the path on his body, which would result in her hitting into him and being bounced off like a rag doll.

The sliding across the floor wasn't as bad as it could've been. Some rocks might have gotten up and torn into her swanky clothes, but she weren't wearing the mask anyway, so who cared, right? It'd be ruined anyway. Might be if some sharp rocks were there though, she'd end up getting torn into her skin too, and get some bleeding going. That would probably gonna end up sucking in some capacity in this place, but that were future talk. Right now, she were getting back up on her hooves, and look back over towards the apparent Baltimare Smasher.

"I'm supposed to be impressed over a few dozen alleged murders? Gimme a break."

Null wouldn't wait to even stop talking before going on the offence, aiming to ram right at him, and deliver a good, upwards, underhoof strike with the sword. Usually something she went with to smash someponys jaw up their upper lip when they got snarky, but with a sword at hoof, it'd do wonders to instead slice open that stupid face of his.

As for his reputation, she had heard of him alright, and she weren't impressed. Disgusted to some degree, but a few dozen alleged kills? Was she supposed to be shaking in her hooves at that? She had killed more than that to get to Void several times, using cursed items that were far more vile than a beating with a nail bat could accomplish. His little misguided sports fetish did not impress her, and she were sure to let the pompous butt face know it, while she made shish kebab out of him. Preferably before he did the same thing to her foolish companion. Might be he were a bit damaged upstairs, judging by the explosive attempt before, but she should probably try and keep him alive. Morale and all that jazz.

In case her leg had gotten broken or bent in some sort of way, she'd just stand ready to hit him instead, not wanting to stagger over to him unless she had to, as that would show a handicap he'd probably be more than happy to use right now. Quite the time to have that happen, what with them being what, a lifetime away from the nearest doctor by now?

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Void]

Foe took advantage of the earth pony's fall to collect the horseshoe instead of striking again, bending the metal to fit it around one end of her hammer, she had a bit of a smirk to her as she approached behind Void towards the downed earth pony.

It seemed the downed earth pony was not swayed by her words. "You're a disgrace to Equestria!"

He would leap rather nimbly to his hooves, apparently he had used being down to make himself seem weak, drawing her in closer. Such that when he jumped up, and subsequently swung his shovel to knock away her spear, either throwing it to the side or breaking it in half.

He would swing his head up, allowing her to see his eyes under his helmet for a moment, they had a crazy vibe to them, glowing slightly with the same color as the metal. "What's the matter Hippie? Hair get in your eyes?" He would taunt as he went for another swing this time with the flat side of his shovel towards her face.

Whether she dodged, parried, or took the hit, he would continue taunting. "You are all daisies and I will plant your sorry flanks in my war garden!"

He would then spin on his forehooves to deliver an explosive buck to her chest, so long as she did not try to dodge it. The explosion itself would flow harmlessly over her, but if his hooves struck it would still be the full force of a grizzled war horse.

Provided Void failed to dodge one of the above attacks, Foe would leap over her during the buck, landing a direct explosive hit with her hammer on the earth pony's back, launching him painfully into the ground.

(The enemy's attacks being in rapid succession, this was the earliest she could get to them after he jumped up.)

[Null]

The Basher hadn't broken anything of Null's in the attack, so she was able to rush him as he fought with the other earth pony who had grappled him when he had fallen after Null's strike. His wing seemed to be bleeding slightly, a few of his feathers on the ground between them, including one of the plated ones if she wanted to pick it up.

"Get OFF me!" The Basher would throw the earth pony off him with a surprising show of strength, if Null cared to look she'd see his eyes faintly glowing the same color as the metal. If Null were fast enough she'd be able to dodge the thrown pony without loosing speed, in the which case she'd be able to swing fast enough to just barely miss the Basher's face as he jerked it to the side, simultaneously bringing up a hind hoof to strike the hoof holding the sword.

The earth pony, to his credit, recovered quickly from being thrown, and seemed to be readying to throw something, whether a repeat of the previous, or something new, or simply to distract the Basher's attention, remained to be seen.

The Basher himself didn't seem too fazed by the near strike. "Wassamater, ya'freakin' stupid? I am gonna Mess, You, UP!"

If Null had the reaction time she'd be able to dodge his disarming strike, else she'd drop the sword.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

(Void)

11 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He would swing his head up, allowing her to see his eyes under his helmet for a moment, they had a crazy vibe to them, glowing slightly with the same color as the metal. "What's the matter Hippie? Hair get in your eyes?" He would taunt as he went for another swing this time with the flat side of his shovel towards her face.

Void had indeed gotten a little closer. Not by much, but enough so that when he swung to get rid of her spear, he'd manage to get a good hit on it, and slam it right out of her hooves. She could have perhaps held it and take the hit on it, but in the moment, she had been surprised by the attack, and her grip had loosened. Thankfully she wasn't slammed in the face, but that wouldn't be the case much longer, judging by the look in this maniac's eyes.

The crazy just radiated from them, and by the looks of things, whatever were infecting that metal he wore, had also gotten inside him. No wonder there seemed to be nothing to do in getting through to him, when he were influenced by some sort of external thing. She had seen enough of those sorts of things to know that once it had gotten to this point, they were either irreparably infected, or something had been implanted in them that had made them crazy.

Not that she had the time to think on this, as he swung at her with the shovel, and hit her right on the side of the face. Quite hard too, to a point where she staggered backwards. She could even hear it ringing in her skull. Not enough to tone out the taunting words though. Yet, as she were hit, her panic hit the roof, and as such, she didn't register what he were saying.

15 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

He would then spin on his forehooves to deliver an explosive buck to her chest, so long as she did not try to dodge it. The explosion itself would flow harmlessly over her, but if his hooves struck it would still be the full force of a grizzled war horse

As he started to fling around to load up quite the punch to her, Void's *fight or fright* instinct had taken over, and she were not one who reacted to that by fleeing. Instead, as his hoof would connect with her chest, her left front hoof would connect right into his face with as much force as her body could swing at him without having more windup than what she got from standing on her back legs and push herself towards him.

Her right hoof would come right after, as she were in the middle of something akin to the frantic series of kicks she had inflicted upon the golem back at the facility, yet as his kick connected with her, the right hook would only manage to have about half the force of her first hit, and she'd be pushed back quite hard. She were a sturdy mare, and the explosion didn't hurt her, but this stallion had quite the punch to him, so it took the breath out of her, and caused her to end up on the floor, on her back, in a mixture of trying to regain her breath and hyperventilating. All whilst her front hooves were flinging wildly in front of her.

As for the force of her own hit to the stallion.... It depended on how sturdy he were. She might not have the same swirl as he did to get a momentous slam in, but she were a tall, well build mare with strong legs from all the years of running and hauling heavy cursed items around. And if she could break stone and bend metal by putting her weight into her strikes (or panicked and just hit as hard as she could to make the bad things go away), this should leave some degree of an impact. Unless something strange were going on.

(Null)

16 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

If Null had the reaction time she'd be able to dodge his disarming strike, else she'd drop the sword

She dodged the thrown earth pony alright. Big lump weren't gonna get the better of her, so a quick side jump on her path were all it took to get that obstacle out of the way, and move in right on her real target.

And what do you know, the bloody rodent managed to avoid it. And to get a hit towards the hoof she were holding the sword in? See, this were why she usually held the hilt in her muzzle. But no, for some reason, she wanted to try and put some hoofpower into this, so she had popped it down there to swing, and now that plan were out of the window. Like hay he were going to avoid getting hit though!

With the sword getting smashed out of her hoof, Null wouldn't try to grasp for it, or fall back. Nope, she were right in his face after all, so she'd go at this her own way.

So her right and left front hooves went right in and took a hold in him, whilst she pushed herself up with both them and her hind legs on the floor, and smashed the top of her head right into his jaw.

Were this gonna hurt? Peh, likely, but what did she care? This maggot were an obstacle between her and Void, and there were only two things that happened to those sorts of things: They either moved out of her way, or she moved them herself. And since this low rung glory hound clearly wasn't gonna move out of here herself, she were going to have to get through him. Ideally by chopping through him, but without that in her hooves right now, she'd have to go for the next best thing.

In case he had quickly gotten hold in her and avoided having her headbutt his jaw, she'd raise whatever hoof were nearest and go for a swing that way instead. If not for the jaw, then his chest. One way or another, she were going to get a hit in on him.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Void]

The stallion was quiet after Foe brought the newly modified hammer down on his back, Void may have heard the second explosion before Foe rushed to her side, moving to stop her panicked flailing. "Come on, we need to keep moving. I'm not sure how long he'll stay down."

Provided she was able to calm her, she would hurriedly lead her forward, past the downed figure who's back was bent very much the wrong way, despite this he seemed to still be trying to crawl towards them, albeit weakly. "No... I do not have permission to die!"

[Null]

The Basher had definitely not expected her headbutt attack, thus he did not dodge it and took it right to the jaw, he pushed her off him as he stumbled backwards in a daze.

"Heads up!" The earth pony called out as another bomb sailed over her head, this one looked cloudy, almost like a hearths warming ornament. But when the Basher tried to hit it away it shattered on impact, engulfing the pegasus in a cloud of dense smoke, in reaction to which he started coughing violently as he tried to stumble out.

"Let's move!" he would call out to Null as he threw a more standard explosive over her, the ensuing explosion sending the Basher further down the hall and collapsing part of the roof between them. It wouldn't stop him, but it would at least slow him down.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Void]

The panicked mare almost hit Foe when she got near, before scrambling to her hooves and going over to grasp hold of her spear, at which point she'd turn and look at Foe with fear in her eyes, a risen spear, and a heart beating so hard she could've sworn it must be possible to hear for someone.

It weren't until that point that she got that this were Foe, and not the one who had attacked her, who she'd then look around for, and found on the floor, looking like he had been hit in a way that should have killed him, and yet for some reason, he were still moving, and talking even. It didn't exactly make her calm as an ocean to see something like that, yet she were pulled enough out of her state to finally hear it when Foe told her that they needed to go.

Getting dragged on out of here, Void would try something as they had to walk past their downed foe. Namely, stealing the shovel he had been using against them. Considering his state, it might have dropped out of his hooves, but if it hadn't, she'd try to see if she could kick it out of his grip. If he tried to swing out after her, she'd use her spear and stab him in the head, then try again if his grip loosened due to death (a mercy at this point) or shock of some kind.

However, if he were just stubbornly holding on to it, and it didn't go out of his grip, she'd just be on her way, and let him lie were he were. Void still didn't want to just kill him for no reason, even when she were on edge like now.

Scavenged or not, they'd be on their way soon enough, and on to whatever else this place held for them. Hopefully the other parts of their team. It weren't good to be separated here.

[Null]

On 12/1/2019 at 10:02 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"Let's move!" he would call out to Null as he threw a more standard explosive over her, the ensuing explosion sending the Basher further down the hall and collapsing part of the roof between them. It wouldn't stop him, but it would at least slow him down.

He didn't even have to tell her to get out of the way, before Null had already picked up her sword, along with the plated feather that she had run over as she were pushed back from this gnat. She hadn't wanted to go out of her way to get it, but it had quite literally stuck her in her stump - right on a bloody Nerve of all places - and well, no need to waste it since it were already stuck.

Besides, once she jumped back on her hooves, ready for strike two on this idiot, she saw the colored cloud that had engulfed Basher, and it didn't take a whole lot of math to figure out what this sort were. The earth pony were an explosion user, and this were a gas, which meant that it were time to get the hay outta the way, and right back to the bomb tosser before he fired it off. Something she made in time, though she could feel the heat radiating even from here. Must be one crispy bugger in there now.

A shame it had ended this way though. Not because she had pity over him, not in the slightest. Let the maniac roast for all she cared. No, she figured it a shame, since she wanted to steal his bat. Seemed like a good thing to scavenge for future beatings, and even if it turned out it were too heavy for her to consistently swing it, it'd make for a great gift for Void. Or a museum piece if they ever ran into someone from Baltimare in the future. They might be interested to get a piece of their history like this, even if it were a grim one.

As they got on their way, Null would pluck the feather out - seriously, it were starting to hurt - and put it in her beret. or rather, she would have, but she had forgotten that she had put it into the suit, as it didn't sit well with the helmet, so she just stuffed it inside her weird clothes to wrap it in said hat for now. There'd be time to look this over and stuff later. Hay, perhaps it were sturdy enough for her to use it as a sort of emergency dagger, long as she went for a soft spot? Might be worth a thought.

"I would've gotten him, y'know. Good throw anyway."

This were the closest the earth pony would get to a *Thank you for the help* for his assistance. He could take it or leave it.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Void]

Void would have to kill the earth pony to take his shovel, and he wasn't in much of a position to defend himself, so killing him would be easy.

However, for whatever reason, the shovel had been glued to the pony's hoof, rather well in fact. Void would have an easier time dragging the body along than removing the shovel from his grasp.

Foe would lead them through the hole that the earth pony had come through, which was back into the main chamber they had first been attacked in. The sound of fighting continued deeper in the fort, a large hole having been added to the back of the room.

Foe would lead on cautiously through the new hole in the wall.

[Null]

The earth pony simply nodded at her words, and led on, presumably where the Basher had approached them from. Soon enough the sound of fighting could be heard further ahead.

The earth pony would lead cautiously forward, a bomb at the ready for whatever was at the start of the fighting.

[Both]

It was a large room, more like a cave than part of the fort, roughly an oval in shape. Null entered from the side, and Void entered from the front. Directly across from Void were the gates themselves. They towered over all those in the room, standing wide open they could see the fires and pits within, the moans of the sufferers barely audible over the fighting going on in the center.

The unicorn had maintained the shield, though it was smaller. The griffon had discarded his weapon and was now beating on the shield with his talons, each strike drving the unicorn ever backwards towards the gates.

And there, right in front of the gates, and elderly earth pony sat regally despite being chained to the ground. His coat was a dark purple not unlike Princess Luna, but his long mane was white like the sisters'. He wore a simple copper band atop his head.

 

The unicorn noticed that the sisters had arrived, and smiled. He stood strong, managing to push back at the griffon for a moment as he gestured towards the gates, looking between the sisters. "Can you feel ze Schadenfreude?"

Just as the griffon was preparing another attack the unicorn teleported backwards to the gates, and with a great burst of magic two familiar creatures emerges from the fires.

Closer to Null, the Basher emerged, somehow looking better than before despite lacking those feathers that Null had removed. "Boom! Back from da dead!" And it appeared just as full of himself.

Closer to Void, the enemy earth pony emerged. "Hello again. I did not have permission to die!"

The unicorn restored his shield just as the first attacks by their fellow soldiers reached them, defecting their initial damage, before they all raced forwards.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Void]

As the kick did nothing, Void would just be on her way. It was a bit of a shame really. The shovel seemed like a useful weapon with some additional usage, and she did kind of like the idea of wandering around a garden of sorts. That shovel would have made a great thing for both that, and defending herself with. Perhaps she should just keep this in mind, and see if there would be a blacksmith in the new world who could help her make this? She knew her way well around a forge, but glass work were her specialty, not blades and iron. She'd need some help with something as refined and precise as this.

[Null]

Fighting already? Guess that was no big surprise, but the question were who were doing the fighting. It better be Void and the others. The longer her sister were alone in this place, the more Null would worry for her, and the more aggressive she'd get. It was a compensation thing, with her forcing more anger in to cover for her anxiety, and then the weakness she still felt just made her more angry. It was a spiral that just kept going down until she eventually got to her sister.

*sigh* It were going to be a weird life once she had to leave Void behind, and didn't have her to watch out for anymore...

Before they got to the fighting though, Null had a small idea that she wanted to get out, and quickly reached into the suit to pluck four of her downs. It stung a bit, but it wasn't like a flight feather or anything that'd seriously hurt like a trip at a crazed dentist. She'd likely have preened these within a few weeks naturally honestly, but right now, getting it done prematurely had some purpose behind them.

That being, hoofing them over to the earth pony, and not taking no for an answer.

"The feathers works for a few days off me. Keep 'em in case they're gonna magic something up and you need to get through, or not get blasted."

Having an extra pair of hooves who could use these might well be important, and this ones gleefulness for throwing bombs might work well with these. Glue or stick one up front, throw it right, and it'd get right through any sort of magic shield, and then the payload could blast whoever it hit to bits. In case Void or her were not able to get up close, this might end up being really important.

[Both]

On 12/4/2019 at 2:46 AM, Illiad Easle said:

It was a large room, more like a cave than part of the fort, roughly an oval in shape. Null entered from the side, and Void entered from the front. Directly across from Void were the gates themselves. They towered over all those in the room, standing wide open they could see the fires and pits within, the moans of the sufferers barely audible over the fighting going on in the center.

"Sis!"

The first thing the sisters focused on weren't the *welcome* atmosphere of this miserable place, but rather that they had found one another again. And quickly this time too, rather than the slog through the facility. Had felt like hours had passed in that place, with many challenges. Here? One fight and a bit of a walk. Could be worse honestly.

On 12/4/2019 at 2:46 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Closer to Void, the enemy earth pony emerged. "Hello again. I did not have permission to die!"

Void's first reacting to seeing this particular fool again, were taking a step to the side, halting her path towards her sister, as she rose her spear against this crazy lunatic once again. A risen it seemed, or a golem of some sort? Why did there have to be so many variations of undeath and created life? Impossible to know what this one were supposed to be. Beyond out of his mind that were

"I w-won't give you another c-chance."

On 12/4/2019 at 2:46 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Closer to Null, the Basher emerged, somehow looking better than before despite lacking those feathers that Null had removed. "Boom! Back from da dead!" And it appeared just as full of himself.

Oh for the love of Here! Null just dealt with this idiot, and now he were back again? And clearly about to be in the way for her to get to her sister second time running? What a great start to this journey. Absolutely fantastic.

"Who are you again?"

She'd looked at him angry and bored as she said this, having seen that the crazy loon reacted on having his fragile little ego bruised. Get him closer, she could give him a right good stab in the chest, and perhaps get over to the unicorn before he got out a third time.

Soon as the fight started though, it seemed like the rest had their hooves full with these two instead, which were probably for the best, as that meant they could get to their actual target. Or targets she supposed. The unicorn, and the old pony that seemed locked in chains. Neither of them had any idea who this were - best bet were that it were that Hercules fellow - but chained up like this, they'd likely need to get him out of whatever magic held him downed by those chains. And potentially break said chains too, which Null might not be great at, but Void could probably handle at least pulling them out of the ground, or give him some leeway to slither out from his bindings.

They'd rush towards one another, and in case nothing got in the way, Void would bend her neck when she got near enough, allowing for Null to quickly jump up on her back, and they'd be going right for the unicorn, ready to deal with his little shield, and then carve him up real good. The carving were mostly Null though, whilst Void would probably just finish it quickly with a strike into the heart.

(if creatures from their past would be brought out to fight them, the following will happen)

From the fires, a griffon with scorched wing stubs and bones floating where the flesh on his wings should been, along with pulsating pink lines running over parts of his body from his back, got out, and soon as his eyes focused on Null, would let out a low, recognizing caw.

A few seconds after, a burly minotaur with an ashen coat, one eye, and a cloak made of varied creatures hides would emerge, and glance towards the sisters with a wide, hard to read grin spreading on his wartorn face.

The later would make Void halt and pale, as she remembered this one clearly. A hunter who had broken laws among even his own people, by hunting creatures of all kinds, with a speciality in higher sentient races like dragons, griffons, ponies, and even other minotaur. The second-best hunter of his kind, that were in to such a thing, and one who went only for special targets that'd be worth adding to his cloak. Void had been one such target, due to her curse, and he had been tirelessly hunting her for days. He would have gotten her too, if he hadn't been so arrogant that he ignored Null completely, and her sister managed to show a certain cursed item unto his back, which drilled in and consumed his organs. She could imagine he still had a hole on his back, showing this off, underneath the cape.

As for the griffon, Null knew this one well, and had lightning in her eyes as she saw her. The accursed follower of the elder dragon, La Perinne, who had mocked her and used her to get a concoction going for the old dragon. Last she had seen of her,t he griffon had her wings stuck in the pink liquid and gotten taken away, and by the looks of things, she either died of those wounds, or survived to inherit some sort of power, and weren't taken down until later.

The minotaur had a carving knife at his belt, sharp enough to split a hair, and nearly being the size of a regular pony. Whilst the griffon carried no weapons per se, beyond a small dagger that seemed carved from a dragon's claw. However, she did have silvery claws covering her usual talons, making for far sharper and deadlier instruments than they'd normally be.

The minotaur's name were Craven, whilst the griffon had long before her death cast off her real name, but had gone by Fheng, ever since converting to La Perinne's dragon worshiping cult.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null]

The earth pony seemed surprised at her offer, but wordlessly accepted, stowing them away in his vest.

[Both]

They were able to make it to each other just before the two they had previously fought would reach them, but those who had been defending them were still at their side, deflecting their initial attacks to leave the sisters free to run for the unicorn at the expense of leaving their guards behind.

The unicorn would look smug as they approached, until they got close enough to start affecting his shield. Just as with the earth pony Void had fought their field didn't cancel out his magic like they were used to, if anything it seemed to push back against them despite weakening. If they reached out they'd be able to reach through the shield, but it would feel like they were being pushed back by a strong hoof on their chest.

The longer they pushed against the shield the smaller it would get, so they should eventually get close enough to him provided they were not interrupted.

Behind them the griffon and the reindeer were fighting with the pegasus, the latter skillfully dodging the former two's strikes and shots, but not quite quick enough to land any serious blows of his own. On the other side, the three earth ponies were brawling it out, until with a pained cry Foe was knocked away with a well placed strike by the enemy earth pony. She looked pretty hurt.

Now without a fellow fighter the earth pony that had protected Null was taking a bunch more hits. If something didn't change then he'd get hurt badly too.

The Unicorn noticed this and smiled smugly. "You can't save zem both, together."

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

It were a slog to try and get to this unicorn, as his shield pushed back towards them, but it weren't something that they weren't able to make their way through. Void having an easier time with it as she were the stronger one, but Null had something that gave her the strength to push onward too: Her immense want to wipe off the smirk on this creeps face. It were a great motivator, if the rest of the reasons they were here to begin with weren't already.

Seemed like this could be an open and shut case soon, as Void pushed forth, and Null kept pounding on the shield as they moved through a little by little, but then unfortunately, something happened that presented quite a moral dilemma: Their team started to take damage. They both turned to look when they hurt Foe, and saw how it were with both her, and the earth pony that Null had to deal with before. From the looks of it, they'd end up on the other side soon if they didn't get some help.

Optimally, this would be the time to just go with how Null tended to see things. A few sacrifices for the greater good, which in this case would mean to let Foe and the unnamed pony potentially bite the dust, so that the sisters could finish off this mongrel, and stop all of this. Hay, perhaps if they dealt with him, the two resurrected ones behind them would just up and vanish, saving everyone.

Yet Null knew that this wouldn't be an option, as Void started to stop her march forward right after that, and she just knew then that her little sister were going to turn around to try and save them. Something which she wouldn't be able to do, and then she'd feel guilty about choosing one and leaving the other to die... Hay, Null might even feel bad about it, since these ponies were nice enough, she guessed.

*sigh* Fine, she'd join in, and they'd deal with this one afterwards.

On 12/6/2019 at 2:33 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"You can't save zem both, together."

Null narrowed her eyes at Faust and growled.

"I'm not done with you, coward.

Void, throw!"

Void turned around, and with a swooping motion, would take Null off her back as she turned, and throw her right towards the crazy nail bat user from before.

[Null]

Null wouldn't actually be thrown right into this guy, but rather, end up hitting the ground about a meter before, take a roll, and then get up on her hooves, running towards him with her sword well in her muzzle, and looking to do him in faster than the last time. They'd see where she got an opening to hit, but she were hoping for the jugular, or if she were lucky, a gut wound. That would be rather debilitating, and would cause him to die slower, which might buy them some time. Important thing were just to make sure that the pony - she really should have asked someone about his name earlier - didn't get through this as a spot on the floor.

"Hey small timer, remember me?"

[Void]

Meanwhile, Void would rush towards Foe, not letting anything get in the way, and depending on how it looked over there, would do one of two things.

1. The shovel pony would be headed for Foe, and as such, she'd ram into him, spear first. If he deflected that with his shovel, she'd loosen her grip and ram into him with her own body, and a hoof risen to smash his face in. Not her usual style, but she were trying to save Foe here, and this one were not a creature that could be saved, nor should be. Considering what she had seen, he were likely condemned to Tartarus, and no one would probably end there without a reason.

2. He weren't going for her right away, in which case Void would rush over and stand between them, spear raised, and looking at her previous enemy with a nervous glance in her eye. Not because she were afraid of him, but because she were already mentally grimacing of the fact that she were about to kill him. Even when it were one who deserved it, and she could do it without hesitating, it still didn't sit well with her.

"S-Stay away from h-her! I uhm... I w-warn you."

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null]

Given how the Basher was occupied with dodging the strikes of both the griffon and the reindeer, it would be relatively easy to sneak in a strike of her own as she approached from a flanking position.

The Basher would only become aware of her as she made a strike at his gut, his positioning making a jugular strike impossible. He spun to avoid it, but took the blow from her sword in the wing, losing another of the plated feathers in addition to others. This cascaded into taking a direct hit from the griffon's talons to the face before the reindeer staked a wing to the floor with a crossbow bolt, stabbing a wicked looking knife through the other. "Stay down mongrel, you're done."

The griffon would run after the unicorn then.

If Null went to make another strike against the Basher, she would get blocked by the reindeer. "Hey! If they ain't dead, they can't get brought back. Hold him so HE" he gestured with great disdain towards the unicorn, as if he knew him personally, "can't free him."

With that he went to join the griffon in attacking the unicorn, who had dropped the shield to fight with a crossbow of his own as well as a sharp looking bonesaw.

[Void]

Foe looked in very bad shape, if Void had much medical knowledge it would be clear that she had a number of broken ribs, and by her breathing at least one punctured lung.

The enemy earth pony was unconcerned with Foe, focusing his attention on beating up the earth pony that had protected Null. If she didn't rush in to help he'd likely end up as bad as Foe, or worse.

She could rush in with her spear, or grab Foe's hammer which lay nearby.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Null]

On 12/7/2019 at 7:52 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"Hey! If they ain't dead, they can't get brought back. Hold him so HE" he gestured with great disdain towards the unicorn, as if he knew him personally, "can't free him."

"Fine, I'll babysit. You better not let the twerp get away though."

Null weren't going to kill him... Anymore. She had wanted to go for it with the gut slash before to give them some time where he'd definitely not move on for a bit until he had bled out slowly and painfully, but after seeing him pinned down, she had another idea in mind, which granted, involved the sword she had in her muzzle. Guess that the murder look in her eyes didn't make her seem any less likely to take a literal stab at this one either.

So, seeing as the dirtbag were now pinned down, she'd go over and have herself a nice sit on the small timer, to make sure that her effect kept him there, though she also had something else in mind with this. A minor test if you would, just to make sure. Seeing how she were fairly sure she had already been near his chest area before, and it didn't seem like her presence made his heart stop, which would be counterproductive to what she had in mind.

In case he had been pinned on his back, she wouldn't sit on him, as that'd leave his hooves free to hit her, but instead just go straight for her plan and hope it worked.

Depending on position, she'd use the tip of her sword to make a cut in either the nearest leg, or on the right side of his back, and then pluck a couple of feathers off her wing, and shove them riiiight down the wound, making sure they got nice and deep in there, as best she could, so that he couldn't just shake them off. If at any point during this progress he would seem to have some bad reactions from this that may lead to a seizure of death, she'd pull 'em out again. But in case it didn't, this should effectively ground him for the next few days. Pretty sure they were done in here before that came to pass.

Why do this, rather than just sit down? Because this way, she could help out without leaving this one able to just get taken away, or do all sorts of nasty stuff with some kind of death magic mumbo jumbo. She'd stay here for the time being, but in case she had to go help out, she'd be able to take off without this one being an issue.

Also, if he attempted to use the hoof his nail bat were in to hit her, she'd dodge the strike best she could, and aim to finish her work. If it became too big of an issue, she'd stab his leg, and if possible, jump on the hilt to pin the leg and her sword into the ground. A lost weapon in that case, but she had more use of a skull not smashed in by a bat than this.

And yes, if there were time, she'd attempt to steal said bat, and likely have as much luck with that as Void had with kicking away the other one earlier.

[Void]

Void didn't have much medical knowledge per se, beyond what she had learned by the years on the road, but it did help her to have some idea of how bad a shape Foe were in.

With how often her and especially Null got into trouble, she had seen, heard and occasionally felt most things. Punctured lungs, broken ribs, bruised spines, twisted legs, and so on and so forth. And that were just on them. The things she had seen on others they had met and at times had to deal with, had given her enough insight to be able to tell that Foe had either a punctured lung, or a bend in rib cage that restricted her breathing, though with how she looked, it were more likely that the mare had a broken rib or three, rather than just bend. Nasty stuff, and if she were to move around, she risked puncturing the other lunge, which would end up killing her. The current state she were in were undoubtedly uncomfortable and painful, but it were survivable, long as it didn't get worse. Something which the Basher guy seemingly didn't care to, as he considered the job done for now.

"D-Don't fight Foe. I'm n-not losing you h-here."

As she said this, Void would pick up Foe's hammer, and rush towards the Basher pony, aiming to come in, and deliver a sideway smash towards his midsection before he got to the other pony. Top to bottom like he were a nail might be more damage, but it had a great chance of missing too, so this seemed safer.

Optimally, she'd be using the spear she had stabbed into the ground out of Foe's reach for this instead, but she had taken this hammer exactly Because of Foe. Perhaps without her weapon there, the mare wouldn't be inclined to try and get up and make a heroic last stand. An admirable feat, yet ultimately, a death sentence, and right now, there were still hope for the mare. She just had to not go and make it worse by fighting. It were better if she left that to her.

IN case the hammer swing missed, she'd start to move on to him, and either swing again, or parry his strikes with the hammer, making sure that his focus were on her, and not the earth pony. Of the two of them, Null stood the better chance of winning this fight, even if she couldn't take advantage of potential magic in this hammer. But hey, a hammer were still a hammer, and she were strong. It'd do the primary thing a hammer were supposed to, long as she made an impact.

...Perhaps she didn't have to kill him actually, but could just break his legs, so that he wouldn't cause trouble? It weren't kind, but then again, neither were he, his companions, or this place in general.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null]

For some reason, the Basher didn't seem at all fazed by her cutting, despite wincing when the feathers were inserted. If she payed close enough attention she'd notice that his blood had the same shininess to it that Vale's did.

"Do you have any idea how much you suck? This sucks on ice, that's how much. You call this torture? My Grandma could do better than this! Has done better than this! That didn't hurt, You even trying? Yeah I dare ya!"

He was anything but quiet about it, but there was little he could do pinned to his chest as he was with Null on his back. He didn't show an adverse reaction to the feathers.

He'd try and swing at her once the reindeer was far enough away, and get his leg pinned to the floor as a result. At which point he'd stop resisting, mostly because she couldn't keep cutting him with her sword stuck in the ground.

She'd be able to take the bat though.

[Void]

Luck seemed to finally be in their favor as she swung the hammer, the fellow earth pony noticing her coming up from behind delivering a well timed buck to push the enemy right into optimal position, the charged magic in the horseshoe on the hammer delivering an explosive blow to the enemy, knocking him far to the side, and allowing the guard to recover before gesturing for Void to follow as he charged towards the unicorn, now being pushed back further, nearly at the edge of the gates. A break in his already weakened magic would be all that last push needed to send him where he belonged.

[Null]

If Null left the Basher, as soon as she was a pace away he would display a remarkable level of self endurance, and tear out a number of his own primaries in order to free himself from being pinned down, then he'd rip the sword out of the ground fast enough to block if Null came back for him. "I am full of freaking magic! Don't need it though, this here's all natural!"

If she stayed with him like the Reindeer had said, he wouldn't try to escape.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Null]

On 12/10/2019 at 2:40 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"Do you have any idea how much you suck? This sucks on ice, that's how much. You call this torture? My Grandma could do better than this! Has done better than this! That didn't hurt, You even trying? Yeah I dare ya!"

"Peh, I'm surprised you don't deflate with all the air you're letting out."

What an annoying little thing this guy were, but she were pretty sure that he were just trying to goat her into gutting him, and if that were the plan, he would have to try a lot harder, because these insults were amateur. Besides, if she had wanted to torture him, he'd know it. She tried not to practice it if she could help it, since she didn't want Void to look terrified at her, but Null had learned a few things here and there throughout the years, and could improvise some crude, yet effective ways to make this guy scream. Tended to be something she only practiced on those who had association with someone who had kidnapped her sister and withheld information on where to find her though. There were nearly no boundary she wouldn't break if it meant getting that information.

On 12/10/2019 at 2:40 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He'd try and swing at her once the reindeer was far enough away, and get his leg pinned to the floor as a result. At which point he'd stop resisting, mostly because she couldn't keep cutting him with her sword stuck in the ground

It were probably bad that she felt really good about it when she pinned this one down, wasn't it? She were sure Void would have all sorts of words to her about it if she knew how satisfying it were, to let someone who well deserved it get treated like the over-sized moth that he were.

Eh, who cared? Wasn't the first time she had given someone a beat down, or worse, and considering her half agreement with Vengeance so far, just waiting to be finalized, it were destined to happen again. Over and over again, year after year, chasing down the varied schmucks of the world who thought they were above repercussion, just like this pompous flank... Honestly? Sitting in the position of knowing she had been part in giving this guy what he deserved, several times over? Felt pretty good, though she were annoyed that she couldn't join in on dealing with the unicorn. Perhaps she could get off this one and join in, but they were a lot against just him, after Void had smashed that other guy away - Null just knew that her little sister were gonna overthink this one later - so she might as well stay here. Both to make sure this one didn't suddenly get loose somehow, and because it gave her a vantage point to see what went on behind them, while they got on the unicorn. Probably the smartest thing, as annoying as it were to not get to bash that one's face in.

And speaking about bashing things...

Going over, she nicked the nail bat from this stallions hoof, and tried swinging it a few times, to see if the weight were something she'd be able to handle, or if it were best given off to her sister. She might be filly sized and a pegasus, but she had been carrying plenty pounds of cursed stuff throughout their years on the road too, and gotten strong as she couldn't rely on getting by with wing speed, so this might work for her. She sorta hoped so at least, because this were definitely gonna be a souvenir she'd take with her if possible, and she'd prefer if that went with her on the road. She kinda liked the irony in doling out vengeance and sorting rights, whilst using a weapon wielded by a psychopath who surely had several dozen beings wanting vengeance on him. Y'know, if any of them were still alive, after Tartarus attacked.

Anyway, time to see how this would go, and if she had to try and run over and become part of it, or if she were stuck with babysitting duty for the foreseeable future.

[Void]

A well timed push indeed, though Void visibly cringed as she saw how the hammer impacted and bashed the other guy away. Even if he deserved it, she could just imagine the sort of damage this would do to his internal structure, and it honestly made her feel a little bad for him. She probably shouldn't though. He likely deserved this, and far worse.

At the signal, she'd nod, and rush towards the unicorn along with the earth pony. The shield were already pretty weakened, and his defenses were getting consistently hammered on. It would probably just take one more push to get through, and expose him to whatever punishment he were deserving of. Though, even if Void ran with the hammer on her back, she didn't intend to use it here. The explosive effect might spread on the shield and hit the others, so this would take something simpler. That which her and Null had been brought along for.

Charging right at this one, Void picked up speed, and did what she could to ignore the slight pain from her prosthetic gnawing into her stump from going up into speed. When she got near enough, she'd then jump up, front hooves above her head, and hammer down on the shield as hard as she could. Hopefully this would manage to shatter it.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null]

As she didn't leave him, the Basher remained docile while she went about practicing with the bat. If she cared to notice he seemed to be looking at her with an odd expression. If she stared back, or said something about it he'd shake himself from whatever he was thinking of. "Sorry, you just remind me of myself, so long ago." The yellow tint had faded from his eyes. "Don't do what I did, power never fixed my past. No, I just lost what I really wanted in the end."

[Void]

The unicorn waited until Void was in the air to burst his own shield with a gust of wind that put Pen's to shame, blowing all of the gathered soldiers and her backwards, but her less than the others. "Dummkopfs! I am ze Überpferd!" His horn glowed brightly as it had before when he first resurrected his fellows. The soldiers scrambled to their hooves ready to rush him until a very particular laughter sounded from behind the unicorn.

Twisted and demented, it could be no other creature.

The soldiers halted their approach, and actually took a few steps back, gathering on the reindeer who had pulled out a small book and was furiously flipping through it before casting a special spell, it seemed like a shield but it rippled in odd patterns. It would somehow hold up even if the sisters came near, though its rippling would become more agitated.

[Both]

The silhouette would appear first, approaching the unicorn from behind as the laughter continued twisting around in their ears. Then he would come into the light, the manic grin, the crazed eyes, similar yet not quite like when (If) they had seem him last. (If they never met him then how he was described to them.)

Discord.

But, something was off, the laugh turned sinister as his form lost much of the craze it had, a claw struck down as a small knife appeared in it, striking the confused unicorn in the base of the neck.

Ice cold fire washed over the image of Discord, revealing a massive changeling, standing a full head taller than the ponies in the room, but maintaining a regal posture nonetheless. Light grey body, ice blue back plate and fringes, but unlike most changelings his eyes were those of a pony. "I never really was on your side." In a number of the holes on his legs were rings of the same metal worn by the enemies and the griffon.

He pulled the knife out of the unicorn's back and let him collapse to the floor choking on his own blood before swiftly removing the unicorn's horn with another slash.

[Null]

The Basher was quite surprised at the turn of events, "Oh crap!" Immediately struggling against what held him bound to the ground.

[Both]

The reindeer let down the shield with a sigh as the griffon rushed towards the changeling, but instead of tacking him to the ground he stopped short. He nodded to the changeling, who nodded back, then hefted the dying unicorn to throw him unceremoniously back into Tartarous.

(Detailed explanation in the OOC)

 

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Null]

On 12/12/2019 at 5:36 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"Sorry, you just remind me of myself, so long ago." The yellow tint had faded from his eyes. "Don't do what I did, power never fixed my past. No, I just lost what I really wanted in the end."

"My past is littered with the scattered lives of my family, and it's all because I was too weak. You can't imagine what I'd be willing to sacrifice to save what's left.."

Perhaps it were a little too open, but what were he going to do about it? He were pinned to the floor, and soon enough, he'd be thrown back into Tartarus again, where he'd likely burn for a good long time for everything he had done. Hay, he might even still be there when she one day would be sent to burn. Too many bodies in her past to make Null think she'd go to Elysium, that were for sure.

Moving a little closer to the basher and looking him right into the eyes, she noticed the tinge of madness had seemingly gone from his eyes. Perhaps the unicorn were the cause of that, and with him in defense, there just weren't the magic to influence this one anymore? She hadn't a clue, but she wouldn't be too surprised. Magic were a load of crazy, and mind control to some degree weren't as uncommon as some might think.

"What did You lose, that makes you think you're anything like me?"

[Void]

Oooh, that cheater! She should have just charged into him instead. Well... She hadn't been blown too far away compared to the others, and the unicorn seemed to be full of himself and not too attentive, so perhaps this were the ideal time to just charge in and finish this, before any others from her team got hurt? *gulp* W-Well, here she'd go.

Void had gotten on her hooves and were about to charge in, when a certain laughter rung through the area, and made her halt.

"N-No, it c-can't be..."

[Both]

Sadly, as they'd all soon see, it were the lord of chaos himself, though not as Null and Void knew him. The one they had interacted with were a jovial clown with the powers of a god, who might have a crazed laughter and weird way of dealing with things at times, yet it had always sounded irritating at worst to them. More often than not, it just sounded and looked harmless, like an actor in a foals play.

This however, weren't the Discord that they knew. This were the one they had been told about, who had opened up Tartarus and flooded the world with monsters. A mad tyrant with nothing but destruction in mind, thrilled to be back and ready to cause mayhem once more.

Still, whilst most likely looked at him with fear, Void couldn't muster anything but pity and regret at the sight of him. She had such hopes that this draconequus truly were a good one, and even with all they had been told, she still had somewhat fond memories of their interactions with him, as well as seeing him joyfully interacting with the other citizens of Ponyville. Even if she knew what he had done, she still just felt pity that he had fallen and taken so much not just from the world, but himself as well. Along with the regret in knowing that there were nothing he could ever do to redeem himself again.

Null had a less kind reaction, as she clutched the bat in her hoofs and felt a tear try to break out from her right eye, as she remembered the good beings of Ponyville and Equestria that had welcomed them, and now laid dead because of Him. This monster would pay for his deception.

Deception turned out to be the ultimate name of the game though, as it turned out not to be him after all, but a changeling who stabbed the unicorn in the back first chance given.

On 12/12/2019 at 5:36 AM, Illiad Easle said:

Ice cold fire washed over the image of Discord, revealing a massive changeling, standing a full head taller than the ponies in the room, but maintaining a regal posture nonetheless. Light grey body, ice blue back plate and fringes, but unlike most changelings his eyes were those of a pony. "I never really was on your side." In a number of the holes on his legs were rings of the same metal worn by the enemies and the griffon.

He was a big guy alright, even to Void, who were the tallest equine in the room before this one appeared. It seemed like he were on their side, maybe? Though even then, he were a changeling, which were not something that made either of the sisters think him as any less deceptive. Though Void did give him a strange, questioning look among her mixed feelings of relief and fear over seeing that this were in fact not Discord. She weren't sure why, but there were something familiar about this changeling. Had she seen a picture of this one somewhere? She were pretty surre she had never seen him in the flesh, but something still felt familiar somehow.

Whilst Null poked at the basher's head with her hoof, telling him to best not be trying something, and standing ready to hammer the bat right down on him if it looked like he'd get loose and cause trouble, Void readied herself to charge forward along with the griffon, soon as she saw him aiming for the changeling. She had no idea what were going on here whatsoever, so if this one were still attacking, then she'd have to go by... Huh?

On 12/12/2019 at 5:36 AM, Illiad Easle said:

He nodded to the changeling, who nodded back, then hefted the dying unicorn to throw him unceremoniously back into Tartarous

"W-What's going on h-here?"

Whilst saying this, she'd lower the hammer and rush over to Foe, though you could see that she were still tense and ready in case she needed to suddenly fight again, as she weren't sure if this meant that perhaps the griffon had betrayed them, and him and the changeling had now started a plan to take over Tartarus. Which would just mean another foe to stand in their way, instead of an ending to the previous fight.

Hopefully Foe were still alive and keeping on, though if the blood filling up her lunge were getting bad, Void might have to do something kinda drastic, which would be very painful for Foe, and only relieve things, rather than fix her. In fact, she'd likely end with a scar for life, but she'd perhaps survive. And survival of their entire team were the preferred outcome for Void.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null, pre-Discord]

The Basher sighed. "I tried to impress my brothers, help my ma. In the end they all died. I couldn't save them, I just ran away. I've spent the rest of my life running away. Never stopping so the guilt can't catch up."

[Null, post-Discord]

The Basher flinched at Null's use of the bat, "Hey, uh. Since you, or they, are going to kill me now. You mind doin me a favor? I've got this flask tucked under my right wing, can't quite reach it like this, if you could give it to me as a sort of last meal thing? You can try it if you want, no tricks. Not that I could do much pinned down like this anyway."

If Null went to give him the flask she'd find it strapped just like he said, and he'd hold still for her to retrieve it.

If she opened it she'd be hit with the smell of such overwhelming sweetness that it'd likely put even Pinkie in a sugar coma. If she tried some she;d find it just as sweet as it smelled. Leaving her with a sugar rush stronger than she'd ever had before.

[Void]

The reindeer rushed over with Void to check on Foe, who had rolled over on her side and breathing faintly. The reindeer motioned for Void to stand back as he started performing some magic on Foe, but he didn't look hopeful. "It's not good, and I'm not a medic so there's not much I can do to help. I could maybe stabilize her long enough to get back to the ship. As long as they didn't get hit too bad the medic on board should be able to help, but that all depends on you getting those doors closed."

Foe would look over at Void with a determined stare as she weakly motioned for her to go.

(Assuming she heads over to the gates)

The chained pony sat, regal as ever, seemingly unfazed by the fighting that had just ended around him. He would turn to face Void once she got close enough. When he spoke it was with a deep, old, yet even tone. Like one who was tired, but content. "I take it you're here to free me. Be warned, these chains, when broken, will summon one's greatest foe. I am held in that I cannot bear my greatest foe released again. And no others can stop the unbreaking enchantment. Your gift will stop the enchantment, but once the link is broken your foe is released. Your gift cannot cover the whole chain."

(The one that Void suffered most from will emerge when she breaks the chain. They will emerge just like you described them. Null will have to break the other chain to full free Hercules.)

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Null, pre-Discord]

Ah... Well, if this were true, guess he did know her a bit after all, since running from guilt were a trait she'd been failing at for the past twenty years. Still, this might just be a hoax, since she had little to no reason to trust this guy on anything. Considering they were recently trying to gut one another, she wouldn't put it past him to try and lull her into a false sense of security, and then take advantage of it.

[Null, post-Discord]

She didn't say anything, but just took the bottle and popped it open, giving it a sniff and almost immediately jerking her head away and averting her nose from the smell.

"By all known gods, that's vile."

When it came to sweets, Null could take a little of it here and there, and think it were fine enough, but she had always been more towards bitter or sour things, such as certain roots being used as snacks, limes, coffee beans, that sort of thing. Came a lot from just getting used to eating those sorts of things that Void didn't like all that much when they grew up, and then feeding her little sister the things that she did prefer, in case there were enough options for them to share. Eventually, Null just got more used to and preferred these tastes over sweet ones.

Though she were pretty sure that even if she liked sweets, this would just be far, far too much. It smelled like something that'd put a humming bird into cardiac arrest, and this guy actually wanted to take in this swill? Was he trying to give himself a heart attack, rather than being tossed into Tartarus or something? By how it had assaulted her nostrils, it almost made Her think that she'd end with one just from the smell swirling through her head.

As luck would have it for the Basher, the act of jerking her head away from this thing as much as possible, along with stretching her leg holding it away quickly, would cause some of the stuff to spill out, and head right down on the end of his muzzle. In case this were an escape plan of some sort, and he needed the energy from this or whatever, this might give the jolt needed by lapping it up from around his muzzle and nose. If not, then it'd at least provide some context to Null that this wasn't some sort of super soldier formula, but they'd see.

[Void]

"If... If it g-gets desperate, I t-think I can drain her l-lung, and buy her s-some time. I m-might need to r-remove a rib too... T-Try and keep her s-safe, while we d-do this, o-okay? And call me if i-it gets worse."

It wouldn't be anything short of painful if Void had to start doing something here, as it would include opening up Foe's chest and if the ribs were really badly poking at her innards, potentially forcefully break off at least one. Quite honestly, the pain alone might cause Foe to die, though if she were lucky, she'd just pass out, if she wasn't before that. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that, but they had to hurry to make sure, so she'd get over tot he gate right away.

On 12/14/2019 at 1:04 AM, Illiad Easle said:

"I take it you're here to free me. Be warned, these chains, when broken, will summon one's greatest foe. I am held in that I cannot bear my greatest foe released again. And no others can stop the unbreaking enchantment. Your gift will stop the enchantment, but once the link is broken your foe is released. Your gift cannot cover the whole chain."

"I'll... I'll d-do my best, sir. Big s-sis? Please, I n-need you o-over here!"

Assuming that nothing had happened over at The Basher, Null would come running. Potentially after giving the flask to the trapped one, and shouting for someone else to take over guard duty. Whoever seemed the most capable and willing to take over. Though if something had happened, she would stay over there and deal with it first, before coming over. Either way, Void would take the first step right away, and grab hold of one chain, letting her curse affect it, as she broke it off.

Her greatest foe would indeed show up after that, and make her take a step back, with her face going almost grey out of pure fear for the individual who stood in front of her. A horrid monster among even his own kind, Craven were not the strongest foe that Void had ever faced, as she could name a few individuals such as the siren brothers or a couple of demigods who surely had more power, but Craven were by far the most persistent of her foes, which ultimately made him inch out ahead of others, who had eventually stopped trying to fight, or just given on on their pursuit. This one never had, until the day that he had been careless and gotten his insides eaten out by one of their cursed items. And sadly, that wasn't an option right now.

"C-Craven?"

Much as she wanted to flee though, Void stood ready, and with a shaky hoof, rose the hammer, ready to fight. She were horrified about facing this one, even if she had years upon years of training since his death to help her, but... The others depended on her not to run away. Not just the world, but even close by, with Foe, who needed to get to a medic fast, and that wasn't happening as long as the gates stood open. Even if instinct told Void that she had to run and hide, she got ready to fight this old enemy of hers, and trying to steel herself by saying that she had to do this, for their sake.

*^gulp* H-Hopefully, Craven would fail a second time...

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

[Null]

The Basher would lick some of it up, and shudder inwardly, but wouldn't otherwise react. He'd simply wait, free hoof extended to reseave the flask if Null hoofed it over. "I'd much rather drink it than have it spilled on me. that stuff stains like nothing else."

(I assume she passes over the flask given nothing happened with the Basher)

The Basher would wait for Null to run off to help Void before beginning to down the whole contents of the flask, before dropping the flask with a hollow thunk on the ground. His whole body began to vibrate violently, loosening the sword in his hoof enough for him to pull it out and breaking off the crossbow bolts in his wings. He then wasted no time running straight out of the room, moving so fast as to appear only a blur.

[Both]

While the minotaur physically looked like the one they had faced prior, the look in his eyes was a crazed sort of rage. It seemed like in his suffering he had been wholly consumed by hatred for the ones that had put him there. Instead of focusing on Void, his eyes found Null and immediately launched himself at her. Determined not to underestimate her again. He bodily knocked the earth pony with the bombs out of his way as if he were a toy pony, and was only stopped in his charge by the griffon matching his charge. But even so, the minotaur would overpower the giant griffon if he wasn't helped.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

[Null]

Null were still debating it, seeing that it didn't seem to supercharge him or anything, when Void called on her, and she looked up to see that it were time to deal with the gate.

"...Whatever, just don't get on my case."

She'd put it down to him so that he could drink from it, and left him behind to go deal with something more important. A bit of a pause would come though, as she saw that it seemed to actually charge him up, and helped him break loose, but he'd take off instead of staying around and fight them, so quite honestly, she didn't give a hoot right now. He'd be a problem for the future perhaps.

[Both]

Besides, they had a problem about seventeen thousand times as bad as that overzealous bat pony, and easily six times as big. And oh boy did he look furious at seeing Null again. Real departure from last time, when he looked upon her as if she were worth less than the dirt on his hooves.

The earth pony Null had been hanging out with earlier were thrown aside like he were barely there, and the minotaur rampaged on, as Null had to hurry and ready herself for the inevitable trampling that were gonna happen here.

Surprisingly, one of them actually Were able to stop his rampage. That being the large griffon, who granted were a big one, but still, this minotaur were not exactly a weakling, so this were fairly impressive. However, it also looked strained, and were unlikely to keep on for long with how persistent Craven were in getting to the one who killed him and sent him here.

Back in the day, not paying attention and having cursed items got the better of this once great hunter, but now they had no cursed items, so... What were the plan here? Hm, perhaps take advantage of his rage? He looked pretty furious, so perhaps he weren't thinking as clearly as he once were? If that were the case, perhaps they could revert the roles this time, as since his focus were on Null right now, she might be able to egg him on a bit more, and allow Void to get up on him and smash that hammer down his spine. She were getting pretty close it seemed...

"Hey Craven, how's the back doing?"

This were so gonna get her chased, and Null would definitely have to kite this, as physically, she were no threat to Craven at all. He could crumble her into a small dice with one hand frankly. So now that she had taunted, it were just to keep sure that she were in motion, and let the others deal with smashing him.

Unless of course the griffon could hold the minotaur for about six more seconds, in which case Void could deliver an sideways blow to Craven's midsection. Much as she hoped that would fix it though, something just told Void that it would sadly not end this easily.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

Perhaps taunting the raging minotaur was a poor choice, as it was only a moment or so after Null's words that Craven hoisted the large griffon over his head to drop him between Void and himself to slow her approach as he then charged at full pace directly for her.

The griffon was a bit slow on the recovery after being dropped, and his large size would necessitate her either swerving around him or leaping over him.

The earth pony had recovered from the assault and threw a bomb at the minotaur, but the explosion didn't seem to do much to him, nor did he seem too affected by the crossbow bolts the reindeer was sending his way, despite them all landing solid hits on him.

If Null didn't react fast she'd get tackled by the minotaur. 

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

Now came the time for her to run for her life. Literally, because if she were caught, Craven were either going to trample her, crumble her up, or eat her. Those were all horrible options, and she were So not going to just stand around and be hit like that.

Sadly, it seemed like the distraction were not going to do much right now. The error in her calculations had been to assume that the others were able to do some good damage to him. Yet, it seemed like explosions and arrows were not really doing him anyway. The arrows were expected, but the bombs? What the hay happened to him in there?

Not something Null had the time to think of though, as she had to just run, and then hope that either the others would figure something out, or she'd need to figure something out herself, though what the hay were she going to do here herself, against an opponent that were pure muscle and currently, hatred? Sure he had lost his smarts it seemed (at least right now) but it wasn't like she had a lot of traps to work with here or anything. Not even a small cursed item either. Hopefully the others were gonna figure something out, and fast!

As Null took off - and left the bat on the floor, since she couldn't afford the extra weight - Void would look on in horror, from her spot where Craven had stood, before she narrowly missed her shot at him when he broke off from the griffon and took after Null.

Now... Now he were going to kill her big sister. And Foe would... All of them, they'd...

A horrified expression went over Void's face before she charged ahead, chasing after Craven and trying to intercept him in his path, so that she might hammer him with all her might. Preferably in his head, but she'd take any vital part that she could hit hard enough to potentially end up bending this mace. Wouldn't be the first time she broke metal on something, though this would potentially ending up being the first time it'd be on a living being. Or were he undead? She had no idea, and there were no time to think over this, if she wanted to save both her sister and Foe's life.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

The reindeer briefly stopped firing, then resumed with a new strategy. The bolts he shot started to hit directly in the joints of his typically weaker legs, most would have the same lack of effect, but some would bite.

And one in particular caught in the joint right when another bomb exploded. The combination of which was enough to make the beast stumble.

As top heavy as minotaur were, it would take long enough for him to get back up for Void to approach. The hole in his back was worse than when they last saw it, the exposed flesh seemed to glow as if it were on fire. It would also be an easy enough point to strike.

(Assuming Void strikes true)

Craven bellowed in pain as he collapsed to the ground from the magical explosion within him, courtesy of Void's hammer. Despite this he was not dead, and would still strive to drag himself towards Null, albeit at a much slower pace.

The griffon, having recovered, would approach the minotaur from behind, and drag him by his hooves back towards the gates, motioning for Null to go break her chain.

[Blitz Boom 4,428]

@Illiad Easle

10 minutes ago, Illiad Easle said:

(Assuming Void strikes true)

Considering the lives at stake, Void didn't hesitate, and hammered down upon the exposed wound without hesitation. The grimace on her face from doing this would tell of how this were not her ideal way of dealing with things, but seeing the situation as it were, there just wasn't another choice. Even back when he had been alive the first time, they hadn't been able to speak reason to him, and right now, he seemed like any sense of the cunning hunter they had once known were nothing more than rage and muscles. He had to be broken.

Sadly, it didn't seem to stop him from moving though, and Void rose her hammer again with a shaking hoof, getting ready to aim for the head of this minotaur instead of the back space, as that might be the only thing stopping him from moving again, when the griffon had taken hold of him and started to drag him back towards the gates to Tartarus.

"T-Thank you."

Void looked with sincere gratitude towards the griffon as he spared her from having to deal another blow. Hopefully he wouldn't have issues dragging the weakened Craven back to where he belonged.

"Yeah, thanks."

Null look at the griffon, then the reindeer, and then finally Void as she said this. They had dealt with this guy a whole lot faster than she had anticipated they were going to, and with some real team work going in first shooting him down, then giving Void an opening, before dragging the broken sot off to rejoin the damned in Tartarus. Perhaps after all of this were done, she'd try to formulate a better thanks than this for the effort they all put into it, but like the griffon seemed to indicate, they had a job to do here, and now it were her turn to finish it.

Running forward and grabbing the nail bat as she ran along, Null would grab the chain and break it, leaving her greatest foe to appear.

Much like with Craven, the griffon were not her most dangerous foe per se, and had actually not aimed to have her killed, but the way that she had fed the small pegasus hope in regards to her wing over about a weeks time, and even showing her how the elixir worked on others who got damages to their limbs, she had never felt more used by anyone. To be risen high, just to be broken down and not just have it shoved in her face that everything she had been were for nothing, but also mocked, and told that she were just lucky that she wasn't worth killing, had been crushing. It were one of the last times before she met Celestia where she had tried to trust someone else, to a point where she actually started to think that there might be light at the end of the tunnel, and it had led her to feel like nothing.

The only satisfaction she had in the slump she had been in the next three weeks after that, had been the thought that hopefully, the griffon were dead, or at least felt the pain of being grounded, just like she had. Something which had barely been a glimmer in the darkness at the time, before other threats managed to drag her out of the mental state she had been in.

Technically, the greatest threat in this story would likely have been La Perinne, who had orchestrated all of this and whom had complete control over what the griffon would do and say, but she were likely not here because she weren't dead. Likely for the best too, as even the small detail of the single eye that Null had seen, clearly showed the elder dragoness to be an immensely large member of her species, and when it came to dragons, size and age were often indicators of how strong they were, and Null would not be surprised if this were one of those who could use magic either. Magic using dragons were such a pain in the flank...

"You."

As for the encounter in front of her, Null's voice were cold, and seemed to drip venom as she saw who had showed up, and felt a bubbling hatred gurgle in her chest, at the mere sight of Fheng. This one she were going to enjoy personally bashing into a liquid state.

[Illiad Easle 2,973]

@Blitz Boom

The griffon looked concerned when the new griffon emerged, but didn't do anything to her.

While Craven had his eyes filled with a burning rage, Fheng's were much more of a cold sinister hatred. She strode out, eyes darting between all those around her, before settling on the sisters. "I never thought I'd have the chance to repay you, all these years of suffering have finally come to fruition. You took everything from me." She would lunge towards Void, her strike aiming for the hammer instead of her. If Void tried to block the strike the hammer would be knocked from her grasp. "I think it only fair then to return the favor."