01-09-2017, 05:24 AM
In Retrospect, it was perhaps fortunate for Celestia that Veritas' episode began with him vocalizing his intent. It meant that she had plenty of advanced warning that the hallway she had been passing through. Perhaps she would have been able to see the attack coming in time regardless, as magic went it was both powerful and recklessly cast. She was glad she didn't have to all the same, when she ducked behind the wall and was able to watch the column of black flame incinerate most of the remaining undead in their vicinity.
And then Veritas decided the finish off the remainder personally, and without weapons. It was clear to Celestia, that at the moment he was beyond reason. It was not a good sign to say the least, but the worst part was that she couldn't stop to address the issue. They couldn't afford to delay while they were in the middle of actively hostile ruins. They had to get out, so they could have the time and space to think for solutions to any other problems. With this in mind, Celestia simply picked him up by his coat with telekinesis once he was close enough, and made a dash for the exit.
A few more skeletons were trickling in, either stragglers from the first group who were too far away to be caught in the various attacks which eliminated the majority of them, or quick arrivals from whatever group of horrors would be coming next. Revan was able to take care of most of them, but one or two managed to slip through. Fortunately that was more luck than skill on their part, and after taking a moment to aim it took Celestia only a quick jet of flame each to incapacitate them.
They began to move forward once again, and with Revan taking point and dealing with the undead Celestia took a moment to speak to Veritas as they moved. He'd succumbed to anger again, and although Celestia felt confident she herself could make it out of the ruins alright was wasn't sure if he'd be in a right enough mind to. And if he did need the help, she didn't want to face the possible choice of putting the group in danger to save him, or having to leave him behind. “Veritas!” She spoke in a sharp whisper. “You are stronger than this, don't let it control you!”
Celestia didn't have time for more than that. Whether Veritas sufficiently recovered or she had to pull him along, they needed to make it to the entryway. The undead ahead of them lay slain, at least enough for them to pass if they were quick, but the sound of many bones clicking against rock echoed from deeper in the ruins, as well as...other sounds, the source of which she'd rather not discover at the moment.
The reached the exit in good time. But Celestia realized that wouldn't necessarily be the end. The ruins lay open behind them, and that meant reaching the surface wasn't enough. It's denizens could come pouring out at any moment. They had just a little time. Celestia looked around quickly, and formed an idea. It was crude, but that was what she would have to work with, as she slowly recovered her previous abilities.
Taking a tense seconds to aim and charge, with the clamour from the depths getting steadily louder, Celestia fired another ball of molten rock. Only this time, her target wasn't their pursuers directly, but several loose rocks of the chamber above them. She could just make out the rotting forms of the undead rounding the last corner when the whole chamber came down around them, sealing the entrance to the ruins.
That wasn't quite the end. In what seemed like one last stab at vengeance, the island shook, and rocks rained down on the group. Celestia looked up, and readied to cast her shield slightly too late, the rock would hit her- if Revan hadn't tackled her out of its way. She was able to get her shield up in time for the remainder, which were deflected into ground around them in small bursts of dirt.
It was over. The hall was sealed. They had successfully escaped.
Celestia took a moment to catch her breath, and then turned to Revan and smiled. “I appreciate the rescue. It was a brave act.” The fact that she likely would have been able to survive and recover from the damage was beside the point, Revan had still demonstrated both quick thinking and a willingness to take risks on behalf of his allies.
Before Celestia would be willing to discuss where to go next however, there was a matter that required her attention. She looked over to Veritas, and moved toward him. She needed to make sure he was recovered, or at least conscious enough to endangering anyone, before they could return to inspect what they recovered, or to consider any further courses of action.
And then Veritas decided the finish off the remainder personally, and without weapons. It was clear to Celestia, that at the moment he was beyond reason. It was not a good sign to say the least, but the worst part was that she couldn't stop to address the issue. They couldn't afford to delay while they were in the middle of actively hostile ruins. They had to get out, so they could have the time and space to think for solutions to any other problems. With this in mind, Celestia simply picked him up by his coat with telekinesis once he was close enough, and made a dash for the exit.
A few more skeletons were trickling in, either stragglers from the first group who were too far away to be caught in the various attacks which eliminated the majority of them, or quick arrivals from whatever group of horrors would be coming next. Revan was able to take care of most of them, but one or two managed to slip through. Fortunately that was more luck than skill on their part, and after taking a moment to aim it took Celestia only a quick jet of flame each to incapacitate them.
They began to move forward once again, and with Revan taking point and dealing with the undead Celestia took a moment to speak to Veritas as they moved. He'd succumbed to anger again, and although Celestia felt confident she herself could make it out of the ruins alright was wasn't sure if he'd be in a right enough mind to. And if he did need the help, she didn't want to face the possible choice of putting the group in danger to save him, or having to leave him behind. “Veritas!” She spoke in a sharp whisper. “You are stronger than this, don't let it control you!”
Celestia didn't have time for more than that. Whether Veritas sufficiently recovered or she had to pull him along, they needed to make it to the entryway. The undead ahead of them lay slain, at least enough for them to pass if they were quick, but the sound of many bones clicking against rock echoed from deeper in the ruins, as well as...other sounds, the source of which she'd rather not discover at the moment.
The reached the exit in good time. But Celestia realized that wouldn't necessarily be the end. The ruins lay open behind them, and that meant reaching the surface wasn't enough. It's denizens could come pouring out at any moment. They had just a little time. Celestia looked around quickly, and formed an idea. It was crude, but that was what she would have to work with, as she slowly recovered her previous abilities.
Taking a tense seconds to aim and charge, with the clamour from the depths getting steadily louder, Celestia fired another ball of molten rock. Only this time, her target wasn't their pursuers directly, but several loose rocks of the chamber above them. She could just make out the rotting forms of the undead rounding the last corner when the whole chamber came down around them, sealing the entrance to the ruins.
That wasn't quite the end. In what seemed like one last stab at vengeance, the island shook, and rocks rained down on the group. Celestia looked up, and readied to cast her shield slightly too late, the rock would hit her- if Revan hadn't tackled her out of its way. She was able to get her shield up in time for the remainder, which were deflected into ground around them in small bursts of dirt.
It was over. The hall was sealed. They had successfully escaped.
Celestia took a moment to catch her breath, and then turned to Revan and smiled. “I appreciate the rescue. It was a brave act.” The fact that she likely would have been able to survive and recover from the damage was beside the point, Revan had still demonstrated both quick thinking and a willingness to take risks on behalf of his allies.
Before Celestia would be willing to discuss where to go next however, there was a matter that required her attention. She looked over to Veritas, and moved toward him. She needed to make sure he was recovered, or at least conscious enough to endangering anyone, before they could return to inspect what they recovered, or to consider any further courses of action.