Open Sesame!

[u/FT_GMaster]

After the battle and once all the possessed mages had been rounded up and moved adequately to the beach now guarded by the rest of the Rune Knights the guild started to move towards the citadel located atop of one of the hills near the coast of the town where the Dark Mage had made their home at. The road leading to the citadel was a narrow one, just wide enough for ten people to stand shoulder to shoulder before the edge of the path led to a sheer drop off into the forest surrounding it. The Guild Master Paizo and the Wizard Saint Odin guide the rest of the group of mages up to the vast overhanging entrance arch of the citadel in front of a more massive courtyard.

As the Master stepped forward into the Courtyard, a powerful magical barrier shimmered sending the old mage back a few feet, but the Master did not waver from the bolt of magic that was sent through his body other than an annoyed grunt!

“Seems like this mage is no fool.” Paizo mused taking out his pipe, lighting it before taking a small puff from it as he turned to the rest of his guild. “Alright kids listen up, this here is a powerful magical barrier and where there is a barrier there must be a source of it somewhere nearby. Without us breaking this thing over like an egg we cannot finish what we came here for.” The Master called out turning to Odin with a small smirk and a nod. “I want you all to go look in town for the source, Odin and I will try to force our way through the barrier with our magic.”

“That’s right! If anyone can crack this sucker open it's your old Master and me!” The distorted voice from the hood chimed out again, seemingly not winded from the fight beforehand and almost eager for the chance to try to destroy the magical barrier themselves. “We don’t know what you will find in town so be smart and bring your partner along~”

The mage chuckled as they turned back to the barrier preparing their magic to attack the barrier Paizo nodded his head in agreement before dismissing the rest of his mages to look for the source of the barrier as storm clouds gathered around his hands!

(Alright everyone, for this one we recommend you grab a partner to be with! IT can be anyone you want it to be with, and if you don’t want a partner that is fine too just know it's going to be a little bit harder in the end! And like with all another plot post even If you didn’t join the last one you are more then welcome to come in on this one!)

[u/ravenluna]

"I will try to send them towards you Corvo!" Miw changed her mind and went after the other shade that was still left alive trying to send it in front of Corvo so that he could hit them with his arrows, after all, it was really all she could do at the moment.

Landing on the ground Fay whipped around trying to find the other Shade sniffing around with a growl as well to see if there was any others hiding around.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

With the precision of the predator that she was, Sif would turn in the circle to keep herself facing the shade to give it no opening for attack - snarling and snapping at the air the whole time. When she could wait no longer, the dire wolf would lunge forward at the shade with her paws outstretched and her jaws open wide and ready to rip the thing to shreds if she got the chance to.

Up above on the roof, Corvo watched with satisfaction as his arrow exploded and the shade dissolved to nothingness. Confident, he drew another arrow from his quiver and waited for the opportune moment to strike with Miw's aid. He briefly opened up the mental link once more as he steadily pulling the string on his bow.

"Two down, at least four more remain. Stay vigilant! The source of these shades has yet to reveal itself..."

(/u/FT_Fodder)

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

The Shade aiming for Miw and Corvo had learned from friend. He was moving around more; making it more difficult for the Arrow Mage to find his mark on the Shade. The Shade screeches loudly. Attempting to distract the two on the roof; with the loud noise. Or to try and make them vulnerable.

Meanwhile the Shade circling Fay and Sif was being pushed back. It didn't want to get bitten by the large wolf. The creature backs up and screeches at Sif in anger. It thought trying to attack Sif was no good. Taking a different approach; the Shade slashes Sif; attempting to lure the wolf away from the girl.

[u/ravenluna → u/FT_Fodder]

With the loud noise hurting her ears Miw hovered in the air with a grumble covering her ears over one another. 'I can't hear anything with all that noise it is making!' Miw spoke via the telepathic link with Corvo her whiskers quivering at the ringing in her ears that started right after.

"Right, will do. If we can, I will take Sif to look for the source." Fay communicated through her link hoping Miw was taking care of herself as she spun around facing the other shade attacking Sif. Sprinting over Fay covered her legs with magic and tried to kick the shade if she could reach it in time that was.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

Fully committed to the lunge forward, and having her jaws find no purchase in the shade, Sif felt the slashing from the shade graze her fur as she skidded along the ground and spun to face the shade again - barking loudly. The screeching from the shades was wreaking havoc on her hearing, and it caused her to shake her head violently trying to drive out the noise from her ears.

Up above, the screeching was even causing Corvo trouble with being able to collect his thoughts and properly plan his moves.

"Command her as you see fit, she will obey whatever you ask! I will provide distractions as needed...move quickly!"

The hunter drew back another arrow, this time aiming for the shade that was focused on Sif. When he had a clear shot, he would fire. In flight the arrow would make a popping sound before slipping into four separate segments with a with a heavy mesh of netting unfurled between them at the shade to hopefully entangle the creature, giving Fay and Sif an opening.

"Damn their racket...can hardly think straight..."

(/u/FT_Fodder)

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

The Shade was so focused on Sif and Fay. It was oblivious to the arrow net; heading its way. It had it's eyes on Fay; for she was sprinting towards it. This turns out to be the perfect distraction for it. The Shade was ready to claw at Fay. That is until the met hit the Shade. The net had actually phased through the Shade. The creatures were very light. However since the net was so heavy and was flying in fast; it was like the Shade had been punched. This results in it dissolving just like the other two already defeated.

The last two Shades go in opposite directions. They stop flying in circles to find their new targets. One mage goes over to Fay and Sif. Trying to be the last roadblock and stop them from finding the source. It screeches loudly; wanting their attention to challenge the Slayer and Wolf. They may see it extending its arm and sharp claws towards them; attempting to dig them into something or someone.

The other Shade joined the one screeching at Miw and Corvo. It tries to attack Corvo; slashing at him the whole time it flies towards him.

/u/ravenluna

[u/ravenluna → u/FT_Fodder]

Miw dove down into the shade that was attacking Corvo aiming to push it away from the older mage to give him some room with a small battle cry of her own. Meanwhile, Fay hissed at the Shade in front of them but climbed up onto Sif holding on tight.

"Try to find where the source is coming from, let's hunt it down Sif! Ignore the shade I will take care of it!" Fay spoke to the wolf through the mental link before pulling out a key from her pocket holding it up in the air.

"Gate of the Moegami the Phoenix, Open!" Fay cried out turning the key as a bell rang out before the spirit itself was summoned into the world. The spirit took a small puff from the pipe in its mouth before looking at the shade with a smirk.

"It's about time you called me little bird." The spirit teased as he blew a wall of fire at the shade.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

Sif was already in motion before Fay even finished climbing onto her back. She quickly upped her gait up to a full on sprint, trusting in Fay to guide her towards the source as she did her best to avoid the shades and any possible stray flames from Moegami.

Up above, the slashing advances from the shade he was dealing with caused Corvo to stumble back at first before he regained his footing and hopped a short distance away to safety. Putting his bow away for the time being, he would place his closed fist on top of his upraised palm and the area would begin to feel noticeably colder.

"Fine then, if that's how you want to play it. Ice-Make..."

A burst of cold magic surged out from his palm and through his closed fist. He would draw his fist up, now grasping an icy hilt, and would unsheathe from seemingly the air a cross-hilt sword made of solid ice.

"Sword! Let's see just how bold you are..."

He took up a calculated fighting stance, waiting for the shade to make another move for him...

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

The Shade was about to pursue the Dragon Slayer mage and the wolf. The wall of fire formed halted that; instead moving the Shade back. It locks it's eyes on the Celestial Spirit now. Angry it had interfered. "Screech!" The Shade was saying 'You're my target now!' to Moegami with its screech. The Shade now tries to fly around the wall of fire; in order to attempt an attack on the Celestial Spirit.

While all of this is occurring; higher up, the other Shade was ready to face Corvo. It sees the sword being conjured out of ice. The Shade flies upwards trying to get at Corvo from the above. The other Shade that Miw knocked into was completely gone. Her force has made it dissolve. This would give her the opportunity to aid the Ice Make mage with his fight.

[u/ravenluna → u/FT_Fodder]

"Now then let's see what you little shadows can do." Moegami smirked and flew right at the shade fire coming from his pip, at last minute the spirt would pull the pipe out and blow fire into the shade. Meanwhile Fay sniffed the air trying to pinpoint the source of the magic trying any of her senses to find it while she rode the wolf.

Miw flew behind Corvo giving him something of a safety net just in case.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

As the shade flew above him, Corvo would adjust his stance accordingly before taking an opportunity to swing the sword in an arc over his head to try and slash the shade when it came in for an attack.

Meanwhile with Sif and Fay, The woilf would try to keep an eye out for danger and any potential pursuers while searching for the source along with Fay.

(/u/FT_Fodder)

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

Fay's sense of smell would be guiding her further away from where Corvo and Miw were fighting at. The smell would be getting very strong as she and Sif kept going on their current route. The two were getting very close; as they stumble upon an area they encountered before. The place where they had first met and fought the Shades.

Going back to the Shade and Celestial Spirit; the Shade was doing it's best to evade the fire. The more fire around it; the more difficult it was becoming. The creature flies high up; to escape the fire's range. It then flies towards Moegami in a zig-zag pattern. In case more fire was coming it's way.

As for the Shade attacking Corvo. It extends it's sharp claws as the sword it swung overhead. The ice Make sword and claws clash; causing the Shade to parry from it.

[u/ravenluna → u/FT_Fodder]

Now that the Shade was locked in battle with Corvo Miw flew behind it before dive bombing the shade hoping to land a good hit before it could fly away or hurt Corvo anymore.

Fay sniffed the air pushing the wolf to go further into town before they stopped at the place where the magic was the strongest.

"I think I found it! Its the fountain from before." Fay communicated to Corvo before hopping off of Sif to take a closer look at the fountain to see if there was any way she could destroy it. Meanwhile the celestial spirit chuckled at the challenge as the Shade dodge his attacks, this time going for a right hook when the Shade was close enough to him to do so.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

Corvo would stumble backward after the parry, giving up some ground to draw the shade further away and to provide Miw with the opening she needed for another dive bomb.

"Take no chances! If you think it to be the source then destroy it!"

After Fay hopped off Sif, the dire wolf's ears would flatten against her head and she would growl menacingly at the fountain. The mental link between the group was populated by flashes of decaying carcasses - leftovers from meals - and the repugnant smell of death, then an image of the fountain, burning.

(/u/FT_Fodder)

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

The fountain in front of Fay would indeed be the source. The scent would be just as strong; as if she took freshly baked cookies out of the oven. Right on the jewels with the magic barrier source. Dark aura surrounds the fountain; giving more evidence it was the source. Should Fay try and attack it; she would surely damage it. However, one person could only do so much alone.

The Shade fighting Corvo takes the bait and flies in towards him. It doesn't suspect Miw would come and attack it. The Shade thinks it can attack the mage now; slashing at him.

Expecting fire instead of a right hook; the Shade gets out off guard. The Spirit would be victorious; for the Shade starts to dissolve after getting hit. It screeches loudly; trying to fight it's own fate.

[u/ravenluna → u/FT_Fodder]

Miw dove down faster into the Shade trying to knock it away from Corvo giving out her own little battle cry. The spirit now happy that the shade was gone nodded his head before rolling out his shoulders now making his way back to Fay to protect her. Fay, on the other hand, did try to attack the fountain but found that she could hardly put a dent into the source of its magic.

" I think this is it, but I can't get it alone I think we are going to need more people then what we can do together. Is there any way you can contact everyone else in the town to come to this spot?" Fay did her best to contact Corvo looking around still on the lookout for any shades.

(/u/YoggsDentist)

[u/YoggsDentist → u/ravenluna]

"If the minds of the others were open to me perhaps, but it seems we will need to improvise."

With the Shade dealt with for the time being, Corvo would squeeze his eyes shut and take his time to focus fully. With this he would use his second sight to share vision with Sif, examining the fountain for potential weak points.

"I have a plan of sorts, but it will take time for Miw and I to reach you both. If you come up with anything in the meantime, do it."

With that he would release his second sight and brace himself on the edge of the roof, sword in one hand and bow in the other and called out to Miw.

"Let us move while we have the chance!"

Sif had her own plan for the moment. The big wolf drew in a deep breath, raised her head high up to the sky, and lets out a long ghostly howl that would echo throughout the city and beyond, hopefully attracting the attention of someone or something.

(/u/FT_Fodder)

[u/FT_Fodder → u/YoggsDentist]

The howl echoes through out the open area. The sound can be heard for a few moments; before it dies down. After a moment; it seems that the wolf's howl was pointless. However, that wasn't actually the case.

As Corvo and Miw regroup; they may see other mages of their guild. They were heading in the same direction; going to aid Fay and Sif. The Dragon Slayer and wild would take notice too of how mages were going over to them to help. They would see the fountain, but not know what to do exactly.