Patrollogs
(A battle in the Nightmare)
[Sat Mar 2 2024]
At Devil's Hook Point
The wind-swept peninsula reaches its end in a sliver of land, thrust out into the Atlantic Ocean. Curving around a deep-water inlet to the west, this rocky promontory is called the Devil's Hook after 19th-century stories of Old Scratch coming here for ancient and profane rites. The grove of twisted black trees at the head of the peninsula does nothing to dispel that legend: a circle of black oaks surrounding an empty clearing, with a single fallen boulder in the center like a rough-hewn, natural altar.
It is night, about 46F(7C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky. The area is wreathed in mist. There is a waning crescent moon.
Lilah blinks as her companion suddenly collapses, and she turns to look over at the owl. "What?" she asks, worriedly. "Did you do?"
Alexander takes a slow deep breath as he finds himself drawn into the nightmare. "Solomon, now is not a wonderful time." He flicks a hand. "Hope you missed my friend..."
Solomon calls out, summoning some rift to hell with a low chant. "Is there a good time, Alexander?" he asks, striding in his direction. "And ah, Lilah -- it is nice to see you."
"Righto, Solomon is clearly on the bad-guy side of this particular venture." Miles tries to catch up as he's pulled into the nightmare, before squinting aside at Lilah, "Is she one of ours?" He asks of Alexander.
"And another, really?" Solomon asks. "It seems as if the whole world is arranged against me," he says, striding forward as he casts some second smell. "I am Solomon Inigo," he tells Miles. "We haven't had the pleasure."
Lilah crouches beside the sleeping man, sending off a few texts and nudging him a time or two. "Alex?" she asks, before sinking down to sit very slowly, and pulling his head into her lap. At least he can sleep comfortably.
It's a powerful smell, alright. It sets Miles alight. "For the love of-" The rest of his words are drowned out as he desperately tries to pat the fire out, stopping and dropping and rolling for all he's worth.
"Oh," Lilah says. It doesn't seem to put her mind at ease, exactly, but probably explains the strangeness that she's noticing, through the warped mists.
"She isn't actually here, just caught up. I was in a room with her," Alexander murmurs. "Just stay focused, close in on him."
Another spell, murmured as Solomon strides forward. He seems to glow with power, and now some terrible hellhound paces at his side. "Come to me," he bids them both, a black sword sheathed at his side. "God is nowhere to help you."
"What do you want with Alex?" Lilah asks quietly into the mists, looking over toward the owl that hovers nearby. As she asks, she just sort of strokes the sleeping man's hair.
"We want him to realize his power," Legion whispers.
"Just that? No tricks, no traps, no deals?" Lilah asks, soberly, though she nods faintly all the same. "He's stronger than he was when he got here, you know? He's probably still getting stronger." She looks down, pondering the man she holds, then tips her chin up again. "I can't imagine he'll ever end up like Mr. Inigo though - even if there's more than thirteen years left."
Alexander charges forward, coughing, struggling the breath, still, his ring shines as he extends his will forth towards a fire-breathing hellhound. "SIT!" he bellows.
Moving forward, Solomon lets out some low, upset sound as he begins to chant.
Alexander continues forth, drawing breath again
Then suddenly Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur)'s body ripples into something awful -- shifting, terribly into the visage of an awful Black Goat as it leaps in Alexander and Miles's direction.
Alexander groans. "Miles! I need to get in range!" he obliges anyway.
Rushing towards Alexander, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) roars -- some bestial cry.
Alexander moves to Miles and treats some of his injures. "I have a handgun!"
There's something hurled -- an arrow drawn, just thrown sidelong at Miles as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) rushes forward.
Miles does his best to duck the missile sent his way, blinking over at the arrow-flinging goat with clear surprise. He raises his rifle, nudges Alexander to do the same with his pistol, and fires at the beast again.
Alexander nods and opens fire on the goat, taking a shooting stance near Miles as he does.
Another arrow, cast underhand, as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) moves past Alexander's ridiculous robot. There's a snarl at it -- he's charging at the other sorcerer, even as he hurls arrows in Miles's direction.
There's not much else for it, the goat gets closer, and Miles continues to fire upon it, hoping to slow and frustrate it's advance through hot lead alone. "Can you stun it?" He quips aside to Alexander.
Alexander shakes his head. "No, only so much at a time, soon, maybe." He explains and does his best to keep Miles up as well.
And then a leap again, trying to close the distance. Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) snarls -- he's hurling arrows, but it is those terrible claws that need to close the gap.
If there was ever a time for Miles to have brought tasers and tranq guns along, this was it. Alas, he clearly hasn't had the chance to stock up on gadgets as of yet. There's a sharp nod afforded to Alexander, but then Miles is right back on task, trying to fire at the goat.
Alexander moves in front of Miles protectively as he fires upon the Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur).
As Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) runs, he swipes at a gleaming plastic one foot tall robotic warrior of justice with a claw.
It might just be working, really. Their combined efforts. It seems, at least, like the goat is being slowed beneath the hail of bullets. Miles takes a moment to stuff some gauze into the gaps in his armour, and pat out the flames left lingering by the mean old dog.
Alexander dashes in, blade slashing off the Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur)'s.
And now the melee is joined -- with Alexander in close, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) snarls, bringing across some awful claw to strike the man.
Alexander keeps up the assault. Panting as he fends off, narrowly, the blade.
And then an awful rush of power, as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) reels back. He kicks out, some savage blow at Alexander.
Alexander swings on, slashing at his chest and scowling. "Miles! I'm more useful up close, stop giving me tactical considerations!"
And then Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) presses the assault on Alexander, getting closer and closer.
Alexander is pressed hard, panting he flicks his blade out, glancing off Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur). Then he hisses. "In this form you are of nature and within my domain! CEASE!" he bellows.
Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) may be of Alexander's realm, but he surely isn't of Miles's. The deputy just keeps firing and firing, and a voice at the back of his head complains about the paperwork for all the spent rounds.
Alexander winces trying to keep himself up.
The beast is bleeding -- from the fire in its eyes, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) is closer to death than it would like, but it is on Alexander, now, rushing at him with terrible power. And now it is on land -- now the situation shifts.
"Closer to me!" Miles calls over at Alexander then, darting over toward him and the terrible beast as he calls. He reaches down and unclasps the axe hanging from his waist, just in case the arcanist doesn't have something sharp enough himself.
Alexander manages to keep himself upright to take one last blow. He cries out. "No chance Miles, you ran too far away you doofus!"
And then there's a terrible slash at Alexander -- Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) leaps on him again, full of fury and power, even as he trails blood. He is doing poorly indeed, but he will perhaps take one down as he goes.
Alexander fades out of the nightmare.
Alexander says "Ow... "
Lilah is holding Alexander with his head in her lap, but as he startles awake, she startles too. Perhaps she'd started to drift off into sleep, herself, while waiting.
"Run, and gun!" Miles snarks back at Alexander, as if the fellow wasn't aware that he could move and shoot both. It doesn't matter though, because the deputy clears the space then. The rifle is slung about his shoulder, and replaced with cold steel - the axe raised and brought down upon the goat's arm with a yell.
Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) fades out of the nightmare.
A Battle In The Nightmare 240304
(A battle in the Nightmare)
[Sat Mar 2 2024]
At Devil's Hook Point
The wind-swept peninsula reaches its end in a sliver of land, thrust out into the Atlantic Ocean. Curving around a deep-water inlet to the west, this rocky promontory is called the Devil's Hook after 19th-century stories of Old Scratch coming here for ancient and profane rites. The grove of twisted black trees at the head of the peninsula does nothing to dispel that legend: a circle of black oaks surrounding an empty clearing, with a single fallen boulder in the center like a rough-hewn, natural altar.
It is night, about 46F(7C) degrees, and there are a few dark grey stormclouds in the sky. The area is wreathed in mist. There is a waning crescent moon.
Lilah blinks as her companion suddenly collapses, and she turns to look over at the owl. "What?" she asks, worriedly. "Did you do?"
Alexander takes a slow deep breath as he finds himself drawn into the nightmare. "Solomon, now is not a wonderful time." He flicks a hand. "Hope you missed my friend..."
Solomon calls out, summoning some rift to hell with a low chant. "Is there a good time, Alexander?" he asks, striding in his direction. "And ah, Lilah -- it is nice to see you."
"Righto, Solomon is clearly on the bad-guy side of this particular venture." Miles tries to catch up as he's pulled into the nightmare, before squinting aside at Lilah, "Is she one of ours?" He asks of Alexander.
"And another, really?" Solomon asks. "It seems as if the whole world is arranged against me," he says, striding forward as he casts some second smell. "I am Solomon Inigo," he tells Miles. "We haven't had the pleasure."
Lilah crouches beside the sleeping man, sending off a few texts and nudging him a time or two. "Alex?" she asks, before sinking down to sit very slowly, and pulling his head into her lap. At least he can sleep comfortably.
It's a powerful smell, alright. It sets Miles alight. "For the love of-" The rest of his words are drowned out as he desperately tries to pat the fire out, stopping and dropping and rolling for all he's worth.
"Oh," Lilah says. It doesn't seem to put her mind at ease, exactly, but probably explains the strangeness that she's noticing, through the warped mists.
"She isn't actually here, just caught up. I was in a room with her," Alexander murmurs. "Just stay focused, close in on him."
Another spell, murmured as Solomon strides forward. He seems to glow with power, and now some terrible hellhound paces at his side. "Come to me," he bids them both, a black sword sheathed at his side. "God is nowhere to help you."
"What do you want with Alex?" Lilah asks quietly into the mists, looking over toward the owl that hovers nearby. As she asks, she just sort of strokes the sleeping man's hair.
"We want him to realize his power," Legion whispers.
"Just that? No tricks, no traps, no deals?" Lilah asks, soberly, though she nods faintly all the same. "He's stronger than he was when he got here, you know? He's probably still getting stronger." She looks down, pondering the man she holds, then tips her chin up again. "I can't imagine he'll ever end up like Mr. Inigo though - even if there's more than thirteen years left."
Alexander charges forward, coughing, struggling the breath, still, his ring shines as he extends his will forth towards a fire-breathing hellhound. "SIT!" he bellows.
Moving forward, Solomon lets out some low, upset sound as he begins to chant.
Alexander continues forth, drawing breath again
Then suddenly Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur)'s body ripples into something awful -- shifting, terribly into the visage of an awful Black Goat as it leaps in Alexander and Miles's direction.
Alexander groans. "Miles! I need to get in range!" he obliges anyway.
Rushing towards Alexander, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) roars -- some bestial cry.
Alexander moves to Miles and treats some of his injures. "I have a handgun!"
There's something hurled -- an arrow drawn, just thrown sidelong at Miles as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) rushes forward.
Miles does his best to duck the missile sent his way, blinking over at the arrow-flinging goat with clear surprise. He raises his rifle, nudges Alexander to do the same with his pistol, and fires at the beast again.
Alexander nods and opens fire on the goat, taking a shooting stance near Miles as he does.
Another arrow, cast underhand, as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) moves past Alexander's ridiculous robot. There's a snarl at it -- he's charging at the other sorcerer, even as he hurls arrows in Miles's direction.
There's not much else for it, the goat gets closer, and Miles continues to fire upon it, hoping to slow and frustrate it's advance through hot lead alone. "Can you stun it?" He quips aside to Alexander.
Alexander shakes his head. "No, only so much at a time, soon, maybe." He explains and does his best to keep Miles up as well.
And then a leap again, trying to close the distance. Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) snarls -- he's hurling arrows, but it is those terrible claws that need to close the gap.
If there was ever a time for Miles to have brought tasers and tranq guns along, this was it. Alas, he clearly hasn't had the chance to stock up on gadgets as of yet. There's a sharp nod afforded to Alexander, but then Miles is right back on task, trying to fire at the goat.
Alexander moves in front of Miles protectively as he fires upon the Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur).
As Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) runs, he swipes at a gleaming plastic one foot tall robotic warrior of justice with a claw.
It might just be working, really. Their combined efforts. It seems, at least, like the goat is being slowed beneath the hail of bullets. Miles takes a moment to stuff some gauze into the gaps in his armour, and pat out the flames left lingering by the mean old dog.
Alexander dashes in, blade slashing off the Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur)'s.
And now the melee is joined -- with Alexander in close, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) snarls, bringing across some awful claw to strike the man.
Alexander keeps up the assault. Panting as he fends off, narrowly, the blade.
And then an awful rush of power, as Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) reels back. He kicks out, some savage blow at Alexander.
Alexander swings on, slashing at his chest and scowling. "Miles! I'm more useful up close, stop giving me tactical considerations!"
And then Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) presses the assault on Alexander, getting closer and closer.
Alexander is pressed hard, panting he flicks his blade out, glancing off Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur). Then he hisses. "In this form you are of nature and within my domain! CEASE!" he bellows.
Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) may be of Alexander's realm, but he surely isn't of Miles's. The deputy just keeps firing and firing, and a voice at the back of his head complains about the paperwork for all the spent rounds.
Alexander winces trying to keep himself up.
The beast is bleeding -- from the fire in its eyes, Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) is closer to death than it would like, but it is on Alexander, now, rushing at him with terrible power. And now it is on land -- now the situation shifts.
"Closer to me!" Miles calls over at Alexander then, darting over toward him and the terrible beast as he calls. He reaches down and unclasps the axe hanging from his waist, just in case the arcanist doesn't have something sharp enough himself.
Alexander manages to keep himself upright to take one last blow. He cries out. "No chance Miles, you ran too far away you doofus!"
And then there's a terrible slash at Alexander -- Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) leaps on him again, full of fury and power, even as he trails blood. He is doing poorly indeed, but he will perhaps take one down as he goes.
Alexander fades out of the nightmare.
Alexander says "Ow... "
Lilah is holding Alexander with his head in her lap, but as he startles awake, she startles too. Perhaps she'd started to drift off into sleep, herself, while waiting.
"Run, and gun!" Miles snarks back at Alexander, as if the fellow wasn't aware that he could move and shoot both. It doesn't matter though, because the deputy clears the space then. The rifle is slung about his shoulder, and replaced with cold steel - the axe raised and brought down upon the goat's arm with a yell.
Solomon(monstrous fusion of man and goat with black fur) fades out of the nightmare.