Patrollogs
Konstantins Ghost Banishing 240831
In the eerie atmosphere of Arkwright Cemetery under a waning crescent moon, an otherworldly battle unfolds as two ghostly armies emerge to resume their eternal conflict. Spectral warriors clad in ethereal armor and sorcerers hurling elemental magic fill the air with a haunting energy, transforming the graveyard into a battlefield that transcends time. Konstantin, armed with his device, alongside Ash, Korina, and Illyana, engage in a desperate attempt to quell the chaos. As the ghostly forces exchange icy shards and crackling bolts, our reluctant heroes navigate the treacherous terrain, employing magic and technology to fend off the spectral onslaught. Korina and Ash, bolstered by their magical skills, begin casting intricate circles of light to encompass the battlefield in a bid to suppress the ghostly combatants.
The conflict escalates as phantom cavalry and nature mages join the fray, shaking the ground beneath and testing the resolve of our characters. Despite the danger, Konstantin bravely unleashes a wave of infernal flames, favoring the spectral knights in a surprising display of magical prowess. Meanwhile, Ash and Korina synchronize their efforts, sandwiching the graveyard between circles of light that culminate in a powerful containment ritual. As the supernatural storm rages, a decisive moment arrives when Ash's and Korina’s circles activate, enveloping the spirits and quelling their unrest. The ghostly armies recede back into the earth, leaving behind a calm that belies the intense battle that took place. Our heroes' combined efforts have restored peace to the graveyard, at least for now, proving once again that even in the face of otherworldly chaos, unity and courage can prevail.
(Konstantin's ghost banishing)
[Fri Aug 30 2024]
On the Sprawling Hillside of Arkwright Cemetery
It is night, about 80F(26C) degrees, There is a waning crescent moon.
An eerie stillness settles over the graveyard, the fog thickening like an otherworldly veil. The ground trembles, and two ghostly armies surge forth, locked in a battle that defies time. One side, draped in ethereal armor, charges with spectral weapons, while the other hurls crackling bolts of elemental magic. The air is alight with haunting energy as the spirits, long dead, resume their eternal battle, heedless of the living who are caught in their spectral warpath.
Ash sighs, going, "Oh, this group again... near impossible to dance with this crowd."
Konstantin presses a button on the face of his device. It chimes a high pitched beep and suddenly all erupts into motion. "Blyat, right. I am going to keep taking readings, monitor things. Arcanists; do your thing."
A group of ethereal berserkers charge, only to be met by a rain of icy shards summoned by frost mancers. The temperature plummets, and living breath freezes in the air, while ice forms treacherous patches beneath the feet, threatening to send everyone sprawling upon the ground.
Korina's eyes widen just a tad, a barely-there recognition crossing her features before she swiftly moves to take cover behind a nearby, sturdy-looking headstone. "That would not be a problem if you got faster at it like I have been telling you," she nitpicks at Ash, a few motes of light popping into existence around her.
Ash warns Konstantin, "They will cast wide ranging sorceries, Mr. President - you'll want to watch out for -" They hop to avoid their bare feet from getting trapped in ice, grabbing a tombstone for balance.
Illyana enters with a nod to Ash, Konstantin and Korina. "Things I cant punch suck." she comments. As the soldiers charge and the mancers begin their volley, she tucks, drops and rolls, popping up behind a grave marker.
Ash informs Korina, "Actually, I got it down to half an hour... been working on it."
Konstantin calls out towards Illyana, tapping at the screen of the tablet-sized device again before reaching into a pocket, drawing out a pair of metal rods with plastic handles, both connected by a length of wire that trials loosely. He plugs that into the bottom of his device; "Here, Illyana. Try to keep these where there is activity but don't get.. whatever spirits do to people."
Korina squints at Ash for brief moments, then nods her head. "Good," she says. "Then you have no excuse." There's a twiddle of her fingers towards the group of ghosts battling it out flashily, as though she expects Ash to get right there in the middle of them while she remains huddled up safely behind her headstone.
Korina says "And wear shoes next time."
Rolling back out as the ice assault is disrupted, Illyana moves back to Konstantin. Taking the device she just assumes is an actual, real world PKE meter, she does as instructed, sending her aura out to sooth preemptively. "Got it." she says, moving close enough for the devices to react, but not so close the spirits could touch her... Yet?
As a battalion of armored specters marches forth, a group of wraith-like sorcerers unleashes a storm of arcane missiles, shattering the ghostly shields; the resulting shockwave threatens to make ears bleed, if someone gets caught without cover.
Ash begins anyways, holding out upwards facing palms and allowing small, flame-like creatures to manifest from them. They bubble up out of their skin, like pale blue and green lava lamps, almost pure white. Ash moves behind a gravestone, much like Illyana, but remains standing, watching the battlefield carefully as they do. They let the will o' wisps grow in number, moving their hands slowly to push them together without touching them. They glance at Korina, an expression threatening to cross their face, but maintains neutrality. They move forward, around the gravestones, walking towards the battlefield carefully. Then, when their little faery lights are squashed into an invisible bubble, they clap their hands together, sharply.
Konstantin winces and grits his teeth slightly, tucking an ear against his shoulder. "Blyat..", Konstantin mutters quietly, almost falling afoul of crossing the beams when the spectral cryo-mancers unleash their power. He taps at his phone a bit then, connected wirelessly to Illyana's device, starting to document and observe for the inevitable report writing later.
Employing bursts of speed followed by acrobatic dives and what has to be said, some rather spectacularly inexperienced parkour, Illyana keeps to the back lines of the combat where possible, weaving through when not. The speed isn't inhuman, but fast as it is, she's -mostly- able to keep from being caught between too many groups as she uses Konstantin's devices to take readings.
Ash was, of course, without cover - that's what Korina's unspoken command told them to do, after all. They are deaf, their ears bleeding, but they pay no mind more than a wince - between Illyana's aura, and their own regeneration, they will likely recover soon enough. In the meantime, the will o' wisps have turned into liquid light goop, that threatens to fall onto their toes. This time, however, they do it a bit differently. With willpower, they draw the goop of brightness back into their hands, squishing it, then suddenly pulling their hands apart. The liquid light forms strands, like strings, and Ash forms a Cat's Cradle with them.
Another second of that look from Ash, and Korina may have just decided the ghosts can wait. Thankfully for them, and not so thankfully for the ghosts, they look away, and she's free to channel her energy elsewhere; Korina's fingers light up at the tips, and the begins drawing a pattern in the air, light remaining behind where her fingers pass with sweeping gestures and precise movements until there's a circle filled with esoteric symbols floating brightly in the air. There's a wince and a glance at the headstone in front of her when the shockwave passes, as the stone cracks ominously, but she continues on with the air-drawing silently.
The air thickens with an unnatural fog as ghostly archers let loose a volley of arrows. The projectiles are swept away by a whirlwind conjured by spectral windcallers, and the gust of wind sends everyone alive flying against tombstones with bone-jarring force.
From her spot behind her trusty headstone, the gust of wind is mostly blocked off, but Korina does get some dirt in her eyes and has to blink rapidly, eyes watering up from it. It's truly a fate worse than being bodily launched into the air.
Ash isn't even aware that their totally unique and on-the-spot, impromptu style of ritual casting... is mirroring their mentor's, behind them. They bend and twist their hands and fingers carefully, forming new shapes and patterns in the threads. And every time they achieve the desired shape, the shape forms a sigil before them, which they then rotate, forming a circle as they add part after part.
At least, until they go flying back, hitting a gravestone and yelling, "FUUUCK!" as they flip over it - if anyone can hear, anyways.
Konstantin nearly loses his footing, reaching aside to grip hold of a tombstone's edge at the last moment. There's a quiet pop from his shoulder and a grimacy, but nothing his kind's innate supernatural vitality can't regenerate. "Hold device lower, Illyana!", Konstantin calls out, tapping at the screen, "Keep going!"
Konstantin nearly loses his footing, reaching aside to grip hold of a tombstone's edge at the last moment. There's a quiet pop from his shoulder and a grimace, but nothing his kind's innate supernatural vitality can't regenerate. "Hold device lower, Illyana!", Konstantin calls out, tapping at the screen, "Keep going!"
Illyana nearly drops the device as she's sent flying, but no. She's quick enough to snatch it from the air, even as she slams, full force into a stone, bowling it over. There's a wince, a grunt, and she looks for a moment as though she might not get up, but thankfully, her regeneration kicks in, and the bohemian moves unsteadily to her feet. There's a sheepish look to the tombstone she just smashed through, but setting it back up, she props it -reasonably- in place. Whistling casually, she begins, though slowly; Something is still healing, Back towards the combat with a look that suggests 'That stone was always like that.. She does though catch Konstantin's instruction, and this time holds the device more casually, more so like one might a scifi device and less like a weapon.
A phalanx of ghostly knights charges forward, their spectral lances aimed at a line of mages, who summon a wall of fire in a desperate attempt to halt the advance. The resulting explosion sends waves of heat blasting throughout the graveyard, setting plants and clothing on fire.
Korina can totally hear; whether she's going to help Ash out is a different question entirely, though. She blinks at them with watery eyes, just having gotten the debris out of it, wipes away the tears, and then tells them, "You are not being very useful!" Way to go. Good thing they can't hear her, right?
And then she goes back to her own ritual-casting. The smallest circle hangs in the air between ghosts, and she begins to create a larger one overlapping it-- right up until her dress catches on fire. There's an annoyed and alarmed, "Ay!" that escapes her as she begins patting it out.
Konstantin is caught by a conflagration from the spirits, ducking low to avoid most of it. His head is singed, which would probably be pretty devastating for him if he wasn't already shaven bald. "-this- is what happens on these jobs?", Konstantin asks, surprised now. He's certainly read the instruction manual for his ghostbuster ripoff gear well but actual practical experience in spiritual banishment is something he seems to lack.
Ash gets up with a groan, looking irritable as they rub their rib and wince. But, it doesn't stop them from returning to their spot, where the half-finish circle waits undisturbed. They stagger forward, and get right back to it, their fingers covered in liquid light, still. They stand before it, then starts making the sigils even faster. They don't react at first to the flames, focusing on making up for lost time. Their eyes are protected by their sunglasses, and really, that's all that matters, right?
Not right, actually. They eventually are brought to attention as it begins to *really* hurt - and then they drop to the ground. Tucking their arms in, they roll back and forth, just like they were taught in school, and it goes out quickly. Back up, and back at it.
"Sometimes it is just the annoying pirates," Korina tells Konstantin once she's no longer on fire, though there's an annoyed look cast down at the singed hems of her dress. Maybe she can pretend it's the newest fashion. Back to work after that - the motes of light around her that light up the room intensify further, and the flames of the grass on fire begins to change hues, burning in strange, pastel hues.
Yelping, Illyana stutter steps backwards. She pats out the flames on her jacket and jeans one handedly, making sure she took the brunt of that rather than Konstantin's device. There is a curious look that spreads however as she pats those flames out; It's not quite a revelation, but perhapse some sort of dawning understanding or the first steps towards some sort of affinity. "Last time I did one of these, demon monkeys." the bohemian calls out. "Oh and there was one with pirates." Banter over with, she moves back to the ranks of spirit warriors,wielding the device like a Star Trek Tricorder, or indeed, yes, a Ghost Buster.
A group of ethereal berserkers charge, only to be met by a rain of icy shards summoned by frost mancers. The temperature plummets, and living breath freezes in the air, while ice forms treacherous patches beneath the feet, threatening to send everyone sprawling upon the ground.
Ash turns their head back, saying, "What was that?" They are starting to get their hearing back, it seems - and the last thing they heard from Korina was praise, isn't that nice? They don't stop in their movements, the circle coming to completion. They make motions like on a smart screen, zooming out, and the circle grows. It *should* offer *some* protection for those behind the circle, and then they start to work on the second one, this one a bit more complex. Catching the conversation, they say, very loudly, "Oh, this is the worst one, but the demon shadow warriors are pretty bad - they get into your head, whisper strange things - while trying to chop you into bits."
Already crouched in place after the singing, Konstantin remains mostly unbothered by the ice as he taps at the phone screen. "Good reading! I think is weakening", Konstantin calls out to Illyana but also the group at large. "Arcanists; How close you think we are?"
Ash seems almost casual, despite the injuries, dancing between waves of ice before they find a safe place for their feet. The heat waves creating puddles does *not* help. Unlike Konstantin, Ash seems *very* familiar with this sort of job. After all, they were able to give him some warning ahead of time. Courtesy of Korina, of course - though whether or not Illyana or Konstantin know of Ash's past history of ghosts is unknown to them. Still, they've changed significantly since then. "Oh, I'd say... 10 minutes? Maaaaybee closer to 15? About 3 or four more waves of big spells."
"At least these are not trying to kill you, yes? Only each other, really." Korina offers up some very positive vibes, missing Ash's question entirely as she works on the second, overlapping circle. The nature of light does, indeed, mean she doesn't have to stand out there in the open, perfectly 'safe' casting her ritual from behind her gravestone, a fact she's still waiting for Ash to clue in on. "It will be over faster if you help," she points out to Konstantin.
Spectral war drums pound as cavalry specters sweep in from the flank, met by a line of phantom nature mages who attempt to pull at the soil beneath their feet. The clash shakes the ground, causing cracks to appear underfoot and sending the living stumbling as the earth heaves.
"I like the lack of the demons." Illyana calls over, still taking readings, and making like she has any idea how the device works. "Next time, primer on the Ghostbusters tech, please." she asks Konstantin, likely to be more useful in future. Then, the earth shifts; The ground cracks and she's skipping for solid footing before slipping behind a series of markers for cover from the ghostly nature mages and what ever they intend. There's a moment where a cavelryghost might trample her, but with a burst of motion, she's able to at least dodge that, taking up a good spot beside the middle ranks of phantom casters.
Ash continues working from out front - given that they had started out hiding behind a gravestone, but only moved forward *after* Korina's gesture, they're probably well aware of which is safer. Perhaps they believe that Korina enjoys their torment - they know that the other two likely do. They're about done with their second circle when the cracks start to form - they hastily finish, then drops to a squat, moving this way or that as the cracks form, keeping their center of balance lower to avoid losing balance. Once they feel settled enough to continue, they start zooming out this circle, rotating it horizontally and lifting it, until it is above them all.
Ash informs Konstantin, "Almost done! Just gooooootta... set this...." They move the circle down, shifting it until it wraps around the battlefield, before zooming *in*.
Ash asks over their shoulder, "Ready, Korina?"
Korina lets out a totally dignified yelp when the ground underfoot heaves, and reaches out to grab hold of the gravestone to keep herself from falling back into the ground. Her reflexes are more than capable for the task, and there's an annoyed glance down as though it had been the earth's fault for moving around. A huff, and she turns back to her work, the second circle complete. It lingers in the air instead of Ash's upon the ground, moving up, high up to sandwich the graveyard between circles of light, the smaller circle in the middle encircling the ghosts. And then a nod - yes, ready.
"Da, right, let me just cast some spells", Konstantin offers to Korina, ever the adept magician. "We are taking recordings for Shadow Headquarters research", Konstantin explains to Illyana then before he is jostled into the stone beside him as the tremors disturb his balance.
Sniffing once and grunting deeply, Konstantin rises to his feet, drawing in a deep breath of air. The stink of brimstone joins the scent of freshly turned earth and charred grass as he prepares before sending a wash of infernal crimson flame through the ranks of the spectral mages. Apparently, Konstantin is pro-knight.
A sudden gust of wind sweeps through the graveyard, scattering the remnants of battle - ashes, shattered stones, and burned foliage - until all that's left is an unsettling calm. The ghostly combatants begin to falter, their spectral forms flickering like dying embers. One by one, they retreat into the earth, their energy spent, until the graveyard is once again quiet.
The conflict escalates as phantom cavalry and nature mages join the fray, shaking the ground beneath and testing the resolve of our characters. Despite the danger, Konstantin bravely unleashes a wave of infernal flames, favoring the spectral knights in a surprising display of magical prowess. Meanwhile, Ash and Korina synchronize their efforts, sandwiching the graveyard between circles of light that culminate in a powerful containment ritual. As the supernatural storm rages, a decisive moment arrives when Ash's and Korina’s circles activate, enveloping the spirits and quelling their unrest. The ghostly armies recede back into the earth, leaving behind a calm that belies the intense battle that took place. Our heroes' combined efforts have restored peace to the graveyard, at least for now, proving once again that even in the face of otherworldly chaos, unity and courage can prevail.
(Konstantin's ghost banishing)
[Fri Aug 30 2024]
On the Sprawling Hillside of Arkwright Cemetery
It is night, about 80F(26C) degrees, There is a waning crescent moon.
An eerie stillness settles over the graveyard, the fog thickening like an otherworldly veil. The ground trembles, and two ghostly armies surge forth, locked in a battle that defies time. One side, draped in ethereal armor, charges with spectral weapons, while the other hurls crackling bolts of elemental magic. The air is alight with haunting energy as the spirits, long dead, resume their eternal battle, heedless of the living who are caught in their spectral warpath.
Ash sighs, going, "Oh, this group again... near impossible to dance with this crowd."
Konstantin presses a button on the face of his device. It chimes a high pitched beep and suddenly all erupts into motion. "Blyat, right. I am going to keep taking readings, monitor things. Arcanists; do your thing."
A group of ethereal berserkers charge, only to be met by a rain of icy shards summoned by frost mancers. The temperature plummets, and living breath freezes in the air, while ice forms treacherous patches beneath the feet, threatening to send everyone sprawling upon the ground.
Korina's eyes widen just a tad, a barely-there recognition crossing her features before she swiftly moves to take cover behind a nearby, sturdy-looking headstone. "That would not be a problem if you got faster at it like I have been telling you," she nitpicks at Ash, a few motes of light popping into existence around her.
Ash warns Konstantin, "They will cast wide ranging sorceries, Mr. President - you'll want to watch out for -" They hop to avoid their bare feet from getting trapped in ice, grabbing a tombstone for balance.
Illyana enters with a nod to Ash, Konstantin and Korina. "Things I cant punch suck." she comments. As the soldiers charge and the mancers begin their volley, she tucks, drops and rolls, popping up behind a grave marker.
Ash informs Korina, "Actually, I got it down to half an hour... been working on it."
Konstantin calls out towards Illyana, tapping at the screen of the tablet-sized device again before reaching into a pocket, drawing out a pair of metal rods with plastic handles, both connected by a length of wire that trials loosely. He plugs that into the bottom of his device; "Here, Illyana. Try to keep these where there is activity but don't get.. whatever spirits do to people."
Korina squints at Ash for brief moments, then nods her head. "Good," she says. "Then you have no excuse." There's a twiddle of her fingers towards the group of ghosts battling it out flashily, as though she expects Ash to get right there in the middle of them while she remains huddled up safely behind her headstone.
Korina says "And wear shoes next time."
Rolling back out as the ice assault is disrupted, Illyana moves back to Konstantin. Taking the device she just assumes is an actual, real world PKE meter, she does as instructed, sending her aura out to sooth preemptively. "Got it." she says, moving close enough for the devices to react, but not so close the spirits could touch her... Yet?
As a battalion of armored specters marches forth, a group of wraith-like sorcerers unleashes a storm of arcane missiles, shattering the ghostly shields; the resulting shockwave threatens to make ears bleed, if someone gets caught without cover.
Ash begins anyways, holding out upwards facing palms and allowing small, flame-like creatures to manifest from them. They bubble up out of their skin, like pale blue and green lava lamps, almost pure white. Ash moves behind a gravestone, much like Illyana, but remains standing, watching the battlefield carefully as they do. They let the will o' wisps grow in number, moving their hands slowly to push them together without touching them. They glance at Korina, an expression threatening to cross their face, but maintains neutrality. They move forward, around the gravestones, walking towards the battlefield carefully. Then, when their little faery lights are squashed into an invisible bubble, they clap their hands together, sharply.
Konstantin winces and grits his teeth slightly, tucking an ear against his shoulder. "Blyat..", Konstantin mutters quietly, almost falling afoul of crossing the beams when the spectral cryo-mancers unleash their power. He taps at his phone a bit then, connected wirelessly to Illyana's device, starting to document and observe for the inevitable report writing later.
Employing bursts of speed followed by acrobatic dives and what has to be said, some rather spectacularly inexperienced parkour, Illyana keeps to the back lines of the combat where possible, weaving through when not. The speed isn't inhuman, but fast as it is, she's -mostly- able to keep from being caught between too many groups as she uses Konstantin's devices to take readings.
Ash was, of course, without cover - that's what Korina's unspoken command told them to do, after all. They are deaf, their ears bleeding, but they pay no mind more than a wince - between Illyana's aura, and their own regeneration, they will likely recover soon enough. In the meantime, the will o' wisps have turned into liquid light goop, that threatens to fall onto their toes. This time, however, they do it a bit differently. With willpower, they draw the goop of brightness back into their hands, squishing it, then suddenly pulling their hands apart. The liquid light forms strands, like strings, and Ash forms a Cat's Cradle with them.
Another second of that look from Ash, and Korina may have just decided the ghosts can wait. Thankfully for them, and not so thankfully for the ghosts, they look away, and she's free to channel her energy elsewhere; Korina's fingers light up at the tips, and the begins drawing a pattern in the air, light remaining behind where her fingers pass with sweeping gestures and precise movements until there's a circle filled with esoteric symbols floating brightly in the air. There's a wince and a glance at the headstone in front of her when the shockwave passes, as the stone cracks ominously, but she continues on with the air-drawing silently.
The air thickens with an unnatural fog as ghostly archers let loose a volley of arrows. The projectiles are swept away by a whirlwind conjured by spectral windcallers, and the gust of wind sends everyone alive flying against tombstones with bone-jarring force.
From her spot behind her trusty headstone, the gust of wind is mostly blocked off, but Korina does get some dirt in her eyes and has to blink rapidly, eyes watering up from it. It's truly a fate worse than being bodily launched into the air.
Ash isn't even aware that their totally unique and on-the-spot, impromptu style of ritual casting... is mirroring their mentor's, behind them. They bend and twist their hands and fingers carefully, forming new shapes and patterns in the threads. And every time they achieve the desired shape, the shape forms a sigil before them, which they then rotate, forming a circle as they add part after part.
At least, until they go flying back, hitting a gravestone and yelling, "FUUUCK!" as they flip over it - if anyone can hear, anyways.
Konstantin nearly loses his footing, reaching aside to grip hold of a tombstone's edge at the last moment. There's a quiet pop from his shoulder and a grimacy, but nothing his kind's innate supernatural vitality can't regenerate. "Hold device lower, Illyana!", Konstantin calls out, tapping at the screen, "Keep going!"
Konstantin nearly loses his footing, reaching aside to grip hold of a tombstone's edge at the last moment. There's a quiet pop from his shoulder and a grimace, but nothing his kind's innate supernatural vitality can't regenerate. "Hold device lower, Illyana!", Konstantin calls out, tapping at the screen, "Keep going!"
Illyana nearly drops the device as she's sent flying, but no. She's quick enough to snatch it from the air, even as she slams, full force into a stone, bowling it over. There's a wince, a grunt, and she looks for a moment as though she might not get up, but thankfully, her regeneration kicks in, and the bohemian moves unsteadily to her feet. There's a sheepish look to the tombstone she just smashed through, but setting it back up, she props it -reasonably- in place. Whistling casually, she begins, though slowly; Something is still healing, Back towards the combat with a look that suggests 'That stone was always like that.. She does though catch Konstantin's instruction, and this time holds the device more casually, more so like one might a scifi device and less like a weapon.
A phalanx of ghostly knights charges forward, their spectral lances aimed at a line of mages, who summon a wall of fire in a desperate attempt to halt the advance. The resulting explosion sends waves of heat blasting throughout the graveyard, setting plants and clothing on fire.
Korina can totally hear; whether she's going to help Ash out is a different question entirely, though. She blinks at them with watery eyes, just having gotten the debris out of it, wipes away the tears, and then tells them, "You are not being very useful!" Way to go. Good thing they can't hear her, right?
And then she goes back to her own ritual-casting. The smallest circle hangs in the air between ghosts, and she begins to create a larger one overlapping it-- right up until her dress catches on fire. There's an annoyed and alarmed, "Ay!" that escapes her as she begins patting it out.
Konstantin is caught by a conflagration from the spirits, ducking low to avoid most of it. His head is singed, which would probably be pretty devastating for him if he wasn't already shaven bald. "-this- is what happens on these jobs?", Konstantin asks, surprised now. He's certainly read the instruction manual for his ghostbuster ripoff gear well but actual practical experience in spiritual banishment is something he seems to lack.
Ash gets up with a groan, looking irritable as they rub their rib and wince. But, it doesn't stop them from returning to their spot, where the half-finish circle waits undisturbed. They stagger forward, and get right back to it, their fingers covered in liquid light, still. They stand before it, then starts making the sigils even faster. They don't react at first to the flames, focusing on making up for lost time. Their eyes are protected by their sunglasses, and really, that's all that matters, right?
Not right, actually. They eventually are brought to attention as it begins to *really* hurt - and then they drop to the ground. Tucking their arms in, they roll back and forth, just like they were taught in school, and it goes out quickly. Back up, and back at it.
"Sometimes it is just the annoying pirates," Korina tells Konstantin once she's no longer on fire, though there's an annoyed look cast down at the singed hems of her dress. Maybe she can pretend it's the newest fashion. Back to work after that - the motes of light around her that light up the room intensify further, and the flames of the grass on fire begins to change hues, burning in strange, pastel hues.
Yelping, Illyana stutter steps backwards. She pats out the flames on her jacket and jeans one handedly, making sure she took the brunt of that rather than Konstantin's device. There is a curious look that spreads however as she pats those flames out; It's not quite a revelation, but perhapse some sort of dawning understanding or the first steps towards some sort of affinity. "Last time I did one of these, demon monkeys." the bohemian calls out. "Oh and there was one with pirates." Banter over with, she moves back to the ranks of spirit warriors,wielding the device like a Star Trek Tricorder, or indeed, yes, a Ghost Buster.
A group of ethereal berserkers charge, only to be met by a rain of icy shards summoned by frost mancers. The temperature plummets, and living breath freezes in the air, while ice forms treacherous patches beneath the feet, threatening to send everyone sprawling upon the ground.
Ash turns their head back, saying, "What was that?" They are starting to get their hearing back, it seems - and the last thing they heard from Korina was praise, isn't that nice? They don't stop in their movements, the circle coming to completion. They make motions like on a smart screen, zooming out, and the circle grows. It *should* offer *some* protection for those behind the circle, and then they start to work on the second one, this one a bit more complex. Catching the conversation, they say, very loudly, "Oh, this is the worst one, but the demon shadow warriors are pretty bad - they get into your head, whisper strange things - while trying to chop you into bits."
Already crouched in place after the singing, Konstantin remains mostly unbothered by the ice as he taps at the phone screen. "Good reading! I think is weakening", Konstantin calls out to Illyana but also the group at large. "Arcanists; How close you think we are?"
Ash seems almost casual, despite the injuries, dancing between waves of ice before they find a safe place for their feet. The heat waves creating puddles does *not* help. Unlike Konstantin, Ash seems *very* familiar with this sort of job. After all, they were able to give him some warning ahead of time. Courtesy of Korina, of course - though whether or not Illyana or Konstantin know of Ash's past history of ghosts is unknown to them. Still, they've changed significantly since then. "Oh, I'd say... 10 minutes? Maaaaybee closer to 15? About 3 or four more waves of big spells."
"At least these are not trying to kill you, yes? Only each other, really." Korina offers up some very positive vibes, missing Ash's question entirely as she works on the second, overlapping circle. The nature of light does, indeed, mean she doesn't have to stand out there in the open, perfectly 'safe' casting her ritual from behind her gravestone, a fact she's still waiting for Ash to clue in on. "It will be over faster if you help," she points out to Konstantin.
Spectral war drums pound as cavalry specters sweep in from the flank, met by a line of phantom nature mages who attempt to pull at the soil beneath their feet. The clash shakes the ground, causing cracks to appear underfoot and sending the living stumbling as the earth heaves.
"I like the lack of the demons." Illyana calls over, still taking readings, and making like she has any idea how the device works. "Next time, primer on the Ghostbusters tech, please." she asks Konstantin, likely to be more useful in future. Then, the earth shifts; The ground cracks and she's skipping for solid footing before slipping behind a series of markers for cover from the ghostly nature mages and what ever they intend. There's a moment where a cavelryghost might trample her, but with a burst of motion, she's able to at least dodge that, taking up a good spot beside the middle ranks of phantom casters.
Ash continues working from out front - given that they had started out hiding behind a gravestone, but only moved forward *after* Korina's gesture, they're probably well aware of which is safer. Perhaps they believe that Korina enjoys their torment - they know that the other two likely do. They're about done with their second circle when the cracks start to form - they hastily finish, then drops to a squat, moving this way or that as the cracks form, keeping their center of balance lower to avoid losing balance. Once they feel settled enough to continue, they start zooming out this circle, rotating it horizontally and lifting it, until it is above them all.
Ash informs Konstantin, "Almost done! Just gooooootta... set this...." They move the circle down, shifting it until it wraps around the battlefield, before zooming *in*.
Ash asks over their shoulder, "Ready, Korina?"
Korina lets out a totally dignified yelp when the ground underfoot heaves, and reaches out to grab hold of the gravestone to keep herself from falling back into the ground. Her reflexes are more than capable for the task, and there's an annoyed glance down as though it had been the earth's fault for moving around. A huff, and she turns back to her work, the second circle complete. It lingers in the air instead of Ash's upon the ground, moving up, high up to sandwich the graveyard between circles of light, the smaller circle in the middle encircling the ghosts. And then a nod - yes, ready.
"Da, right, let me just cast some spells", Konstantin offers to Korina, ever the adept magician. "We are taking recordings for Shadow Headquarters research", Konstantin explains to Illyana then before he is jostled into the stone beside him as the tremors disturb his balance.
Sniffing once and grunting deeply, Konstantin rises to his feet, drawing in a deep breath of air. The stink of brimstone joins the scent of freshly turned earth and charred grass as he prepares before sending a wash of infernal crimson flame through the ranks of the spectral mages. Apparently, Konstantin is pro-knight.
A sudden gust of wind sweeps through the graveyard, scattering the remnants of battle - ashes, shattered stones, and burned foliage - until all that's left is an unsettling calm. The ghostly combatants begin to falter, their spectral forms flickering like dying embers. One by one, they retreat into the earth, their energy spent, until the graveyard is once again quiet.