final trial

[arsholes]

[After a harrowing couple of hours, some illuminating discoveries, a couple of new allies, and a couple of new injuries, eventually Garfield's warning comes to mind. Shit's popping off. And now that you've got all of the ritual components (minus the hammer which, well, you have its owner), it might be time to return to the trial room and see if you can do something about it.

Reconvene in the Great Hall and make your way upstairs.]

Comments

[reresurrected]

It's time to bring an end to this once and for all.

[Baldr follows them up the platforms, deciding that this is one particular situation where martial arts isn't going to cut it. So he goes for the big guns and unleashes a wind-based attack that should cover a significant amount of distance even if he himself can't get as close to Death as he'd like.]

[ghostsguysgyuudon]

[Mei looks over at them with pride, but then something around Felix makes her pause and turn red --]

I'm not going to repeat that, Somnus-san!

[Whatever it is he just said, it looks like you've got support.]

[unfinishedwork]

This is such fucking bullshit! [The staggering blow from Felix (with help) and the breaking of the first rune drop Death closer to the platform, so there's less parkour required to get to him.

Nuadha's slash hits him in the side, cutting off some of the ethereal gauzy violet sleeves and leaving a gash in the purple muscle-like sub-torso that oozes black ichor. Baldr's wind attack hits, but doesn't seem to do much damage, but what it does do is it catches Nuadha when Death attempts to swat him back off, giving him a boost to jump in for another attack.]

[rikonstructed]

My thanks, Baldr--

[No question that he's going to take that opening. He uses the boost from Baldr's wind arte to leap as high as he can, aiming another light-elemental stab at whatever the most vital organ he can try to reach is.]

[unfinishedwork]

[Nuadha pulls some Shadow of the Colossus shit. Unfortunately, skeletons don't seem to have vital organs, but in between the exposed ribcage, he does seem to be made of, well, some kind of flesh.

He lets out a yell as Nuadha's blade sinks into the meaty part of his chest, then reaches up with his free hand to grab Nuadha and pull him off and away from his sword, before throwing him out to sea.

Then Death straightens, pulsing once again with brilliant red death magic. Time for the next ward to be destroyed.]

Who's next to defy me?

[ghostsguysgyuudon]

[Your local medium signals to the others. The fire ward's almost done, given how she's pointing to it. But now to cause a distraction --]

We won't let you do this!

[Mei takes Hubert's staff in her hand and plants it on the ground in front of her. She raises her free hand and snaps her fingers. Instead of a fireball, a mass of fire from all directions closes in on the skeleton man.

...The effect might be ruined by Mei looking around excitedly, eyes lit up.]

It worked! Did you see? I've been trying all week!

[unfinishedwork]

[Death lets out a "Gah!" as the jets of flame close in on him, before he swats them out with a swing of his massive scythe.]

I knew I should have made sure you fell in the theater! Annoying little shit. I'm going to savor eating your soul the most.

[reresurrected]

I won't let you touch her--!

[Baldr comes springing down from the platforms to place himself between Death and Mei should he choose to try to strike back at her in retaliation.

He's got Felix's shield, he'll be fine! ... probably. If nothing else, he can probably at least dodge the worst of anything that might come his way because apparently Baldr put all his points into speed.]

[ghostsguysgyuudon]

[Mei cries out and stumbles back, following up with a few basic fireballs.]

Why me? I didn't do anything to you!

[The encouragement she hears (to herself and Bryn) seems to spur her on. Smiling gratefully at Baldr, she downs the bubbling Potion of Heroism and switches from the staff to the sword to get in close.]

[unfinishedwork]

Oh, how very noble. I'll be sure to put it in your obituary!

[Death swings his scythe down in a long, arcing swipe. The point of it makes contact with Orthrus' shield magic and sticks there, throwing off a blazing mix of sparks in the colors of Death's blood-red death magic, and Orthrus' golden shield.]

Rrrgh! I'll be back for you once I've eaten all your god-damned friends!

[reresurrected]

You're several years too late for that, I'm afraid.

[Please, he's already died twice, like that's really a threat anymore! But hey, that scythe looks like as good a target as any right now, so he's going to take advantage of it getting stuck in the shield to aim a few strikes at the blade. If he can at least weaken it a little, that should hopefully make it somewhat less of a threat...]

[twibeast]

You won't be eating anyone!

[ He pushes the barrier forward more, the magic making a deep reverb sound ]

[rikonstructed]

[There's maybe a moment for Nuadha to be surprised--not toosurprised, because what else was he expecting leaping at giant skeletal death--before Nuadha tries to react, twisting himself in the air and looking for anything to catch onto.]

[arsholes]

[Unluckily for Nuadha, the fastball special means that the debris floating around is too small and moving too fast for him to catch onto.

Luckily for him, there is a 'blip' of purple magic, and then suddenly Nuadha is on his hands and knees back on solid ground.]

[rikonstructed]

[Nuadha takes a moment to reorient himself, shaking his head and pushing himself back to his feet carefully. He doesn't know if the weakening of the barrier between the world of the dead and their own is enough to let his voice carry. But just in case:]

...Thank you, Hubert.

[And then dusting himself off to rush back to the circle with the others, casting a quick glance at the situation. Until he has a moment to make another sword, he'll do what he can with the others breaking artifacts.]