The Futility of Building Bridges With Their Ashes PV Closed

House Colours: Ravenclaw

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Calming Presence in Effect: Evelynn Decipio & Figaro Affected

Initiative (t!scramble): Piérre | Francesca | Evelynn | Figaro

With a smooth incantation and a thorough cast, the Italian easily conjured the magic that was the Steelclaw spell into his intent (7) and caused the animal claws of Figaro to sharpen and toughen in the same vein. Figaro would be left with a set of claws that were sharp as perfectly designed galvanized nails... though he wouldn't get long to utilize them for any significant purpose. Piérre successfully casts Steelclaw

This was because of Francesca completely honing in on the feline threat as the focal point of its aggressions. This creature had stepped into its territory, it had made itself the largest target even among the other two perfectly good human hosts that it could have access to--this creature was infringing, it was overstepping its bounds. And it was perfectly, totally puny compared to itself. With another infuriated 'scream' from the blob of darkness whose hydrostatic skeletal frame seemed to be purely muscle alone before there would be a sickening crunch (20) of endoskeletal element being broken. The silver bengal had made a misstep, the 'tail' of the ugly creature had swept the feline's legs from beneath it (18) at the same exact moment that the massive head and mouth of the creature had crushed down upon both spine and upper body of the much smaller cat. There was not even enough time for a screech from the harmed critter, the loss of awareness (-400hp) came almost instantaneously and the furry bengal immediately seemed to transform into a limp and broken ragdoll on the ground sprinkled in fur, sludge, and blood. Figaro is Unconscious, and since neither I nor this site like pet murder he will not be insta-killed by damage overflow and will instead be rolling Death Saving Throws

Piérre's words had not gone to waste to the keen lioness--she too remembered the weakness of the dark creature upon prompting. In response, she conjured up a powerful third iteration of the already powerful duo flame spell. An Incendio Tria (WDC 16, Wis 2) beautifully spiraled across the fray, mercifully avoiding the feline senseless on the ground (CP 5, Acc 18) and struck the abomination of dark magic squarely even as it tried to recoil (2) from its dirty work performed upon Figaro. Engulfed in an inferno of flames that rivaled the renowned Fiendfyre spell, the black ooze and ichor of the creature began to hiss and bubble, producing 'blisters' upon the solid darkness instantaneously and conjuring instead the unnervingly sweet smell of something akin to roasting marshmallows mixed with the olfactory stimulant of earthy peppermint. Why it was that this creature smelled in such a way could become a source of mystery all on its own. The point was that at least it was now on fire. 220 damage, ablaze for -70hp next round

Meanwhile, the brave bengal's sides were shakily rising and falling up and down. Somehow deep within there was a strange reverberating purr that was rising up through the air. Even completely helpless and unaware of the world, something deep inside the feline demanded a continuation of the fight--demanded a need to live. Somewhere deep inside, the spark that gave life simply refused (12) to die. Figaro succeeds a Death Saving Throw

As the tiny blobby black slugs squealed and began to disperse whilst hissing at anything that even moved ever so slightly near them (they avoided Evelynn's flame by giving it a very respectfully large berth as it came to strike their hermaphroditic queen), Piérre let out a horrified scream of despair as his companion was struck down. "FIGARO!"

There was no compromise now. Forget any plan that he himself had had prior to this. Figaro's well-being was the very first priority, his beloved familiar that he had cared for and nurtured ever since the cat had been no larger than a slightly larger than palm-sized kitten purchased on Valentine's day of 2020 and then stowed secretly in his own dormitory so that nobody could force him to get rid of the sweet thing. For four years had Figaro constantly been at his side, for four years had Piérre taught the critter little tricks and how to be a 'messenger cat' for his purposes around the school, and for four years had the boy found comfort and companionship in the animal that had never vanished from him unlike so many others. Figaro was not a human... but there was something that could be said for the comparison of unconditional love between animals and humans. Piérre, at least, had felt he had witnessed that difference firsthand.

And now, as well as losing many of his human friends, his human companions... this thing was threatening to take his animal one too.

He had always been nimble in his youth, if unlucky. His feet were as sure as a cat's own, and perhaps that was part of the reason Figaro and he had gotten along so well. In a matter of a split second, he was already lunging across the room headfirst towards the dark creature, the fact that it was rearing again and beginning to go on the move to intercept his movements be damned. "I HAVE TO GRAB HIM!" He almost snarled the words in single-minded desperation to rebut any initial remarks of irritation from the redhead at his actions. "HIT ME IF YOU HAVE TO, BUT I'M GETTING MY CAT!"

Human and slug were meters from colliding, and the distance was closing fast.

Piérre cast Steelclaw at Figaro and succeeded
Francesca critically hit Figaro, dealing 400 damage and causing -1 to all his stats (-380/??)
Evelynn successfully cast Incendio Tria, and hit the slug for 220 damage. It is burning for -70hp for one round
Figaro succeeds a death saving throw (1-0)

The Infantile Slugs are being a menace, but are mostly trying to slip away.

Statistics: Stamina 650/700 | Strength 5 | Evasion 18 | Wisdom 12 | Accuracy 16 | ArcPower 5
Running in to Secure Figaro

Abilities:
Keen Eye | Calming Presence | Beast Master [Cat] | Cat's Grace | Animagus [Hummingbird]

Figaro: -225/200 ~ Unconscious

Items:
Wand [Yew & Snallygaster Heartstring] | Soda | [Sharpened] Locksmith's Knife
[Red] Deck of 52 Playing Cards | Phial of Shadow Slug Goo | Phial of Strange Plant Goo

⋖ 01/May/2024 @ study period | ENGLISH [#715380] | FRENCH [#b654a9] ⋗
INTERACTIONS @Piérre Marchonné | MENTIONING n/a
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As a lifetime equestrian, and attentive pupil in Care of Magical Creatures three years running, Evelynn had a soft spot for the welfare and proper stewardship of creatures, mundane and magical alike. While she had appreciated Figaro's bravado, it had not been without a healthy dose of anxiety. And for good reason. As protective of his master he might have been, the small feline's ferocity was no contest for the monstrous strength that was the hag slug. Her efforts had been to keep the slick vermin's attention on herself and away from swiping paws, but apparently it had considered the bengal sufficiently annoying to dispatch. Her throat clenched in flare of panic as it lashed out at the furred friend, eyes wide at the implication of the subsequent thud and fall of a listless form.

"Leave him alone!" she hissed at the slug, offering Pierre no argument against his insistence to run into the fray to retrieve his familiar. "Your adversary is me. Get away from Figaro! Bombarda!" Repositioning herself in such a way as to attempt to make herself the more obvious target, she aimed the spell for the side of the slug facing the cat in an effort to dissuade any continued assault on the now helpless pet and command its full attention. Plus, its noise and general spray of debris would serve as distraction to hide Pierre's dart into the midst of it all.

Action: casting Bombarda at the slug

House Colours: Ravenclaw

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Calming Presence in Effect: Evelynn Decipio & Figaro Affected

Initiative (t!scramble): Francesca | Piérre | Evelynn | Figaro

The creature forced its mass to meet Piérre as the boy approached, lunging for his legs in a likely attempt to trip and force the kid into the prone. As the head swept for him (5), Piérre leapt, feeling his body shift ever so slightly and shrink as feathers began to bud slightly on his face and arms before he cleared the danger and caught his footing again (8) as the slug ululated in rage once again at being foiled. His hair, seeming to reflect in optic structural coloration shades of strange blue and green for just a second, regained chestnut sheen as the new feathers receded back into skin just as quickly as they had first appeared. Scooping up his poor feline in both arms and pressing him to his chest, Piérre dove for cover behind the nearest desk and covered his head, having heard the incantation that was cast by the fiery lioness. Francesca misses, Piérre retrieves Figaro

And what an explosion of a spell it was (15) as it kicked up the stone of the floor (CP6, 18) and made it to shred through the outer flesh of the creature (1) mercilessly. There was the sound of slicing and a squishy dulcet tone of bodily fluids beginning to splatter and extinguish the last of the flames that had been licking--that wound had been incredibly grave indeed. Even as Evelynn's words would dissipate into the air to the pause and moment of silence from the creature, its eyestalks would once more gaze and fall upon the girl that had challenged it. Evelynn had gotten what she had wanted. What remained to be seen was if she could handle it. Francesca takes 300 damage

Meanwhile, while Piérre's act to remove his feline from the worst of the danger was indeed beneficial to ensuring that he did not meet an untimely end by the further brutality of the slug or by unfortunate circumstance, it did mean that the boy had inadvertently disturbed the delicate balance of stabilization that the animal had settled into in habitual and unconscious recovery. The jostle and the suddenness of moving and hastily finding cover would disturb Figaro's vulnerable state (8), leading the cat towards a slipping further down the slope of bodily failure. Figaro fails a death saving throw

Piérre grit his teeth at the thought of the creature being set on Evelynn, but silently avowed to himself that the first opportunity he would get after ensuring the safety of his familiar he would be right there and doing his damndest to fight off the beastie. "Hold out just a few seconds, Eevee, I'll be right there, I swear!" His voice was shaking, trying to figure out the extent of Figaro's wound, a gouge around the middle to lower spine that was turning everything red.

Francesca missed Piérre, took damage from burn. (-785/??)
Piérre retrieved Figaro and dove for safety
Evelynn successfully cast Bombarda Treated like Confringo, and hit hit Francesca for 300 damage.
Figaro fails a death saving throw (1-1)

Statistics: Stamina 650/700 | Strength 5 | Evasion 18 | Wisdom 12 | Accuracy 16 | ArcPower 5
Casting Episkey when x=6 on Figaro

Abilities:
Keen Eye | Calming Presence | Beast Master [Cat] | Cat's Grace | Animagus [Hummingbird]

Figaro: -225/200 ~ Unconscious

Items:
Wand [Yew & Snallygaster Heartstring] | Soda | [Sharpened] Locksmith's Knife
[Red] Deck of 52 Playing Cards | Phial of Shadow Slug Goo | Phial of Strange Plant Goo