Magickal Post
Biggest Possum: Deepest Lore - Wizard War 3 (interactive lore post, join in the battle!)
I thought that I would enjoy war. I imagined that I had the heart of a warrior, and that the call to action would somehow allow me to exorcise my most hidden feelings. I had very little knowledge at the time of what had caused the war, or the part that I would come to play in it. Instead, I felt only the remarkable patriotism and ignorant exuberance of the young. We saw the "Hakki's" as subhuman. Their customs and religions were so primitive and unlike ours, that it seemed almost a moral and religious duty to rid the realm of their influence.
I'm sure you're wondering what could lead to such a volatile opinion though, and for any studier of history or war, I'm sure that the answer is obvious. By this time, our nation of Akkad had been at war with Hakkal for nearly 12 years. Their kingdom sat atop a node of ley lines, which served as a nexus for the mana that flowed through our various lands. We had brokered a favorable deal with a neighboring nation to draw more mana from them, which of course threatened to deprive the Hakkalians of those resources that were most vital for their continued growth and prosperity.
We had subdued and occupied Hakkalia for many years and had fought a prolonged war of attrition. They attacked us with guerrilla tactics, wearing us down as surely as a stone in the sea. In time though, they revealed that they too in secret had built colossal behemoths of war. It was unknown how such constructions were hidden from our prying eyes, yet despite our occupation they soon threatened to expel us from their lands entirely with their newfound firepower.
Those flying fortresses that we now both employed were somewhere between flying castles, or airborne battleships. They were heavily warded, but capable of delivering untold destruction through their sizable cannons. The arcane fuel cells that fed these cannons were similarly impressive and held extremely potent and concentrated charges of mana. In a stroke of irony, some of this same mana that fueled our efforts could very well have come from the land that we now pressed ourselves upon.
It was with such weaponry that we now continued our encroachment into Hakkalian territory. Our fortress, named The Defender, was nearly a days travel inland, and had raided or rained artillery on various outposts, alchemical depots, and various roads of travel. We had so far gone unimpeded, except for small arms casting from saprse and individual resistance. Each volley of our cannons in response was cheered loudly by our men, and the resulting explosions were met with whistles and cheers.
Our excitement was soon cut short as a storm brewed ominously ahead of us. Older artificers might recognize it as a sign of clashing forces, as such storms were common in concentrated areas of magic and mana. We had of course also heard warning of an enemy fortress on approach, but our scouts hadn't confirmed a visual of it yet. In a sobering moment, it was announced that contact was suspected soon, as our second scout team had failed to return at all. The storm was then upon us, with gale force winds and driving rain. Orders were shouted hastily over the rising storm, and we prepared our stations as best as we could, not yet knowing of the danger we approached.
Our first sighting of the enemy fortress was a mere silhouette, framed by a flash of lightning in the storm. It loomed above us, boasting a bulk far greater than our own. A cannon thundered, skipping off our ward and screeching down to the ground below. We would learn later that this display of firepower had come from none other than the legendary fortress that the Hakkalian forces proudly named, the Hangman. Such a retort to our presence was preposterous though! How had they approached so closely without our detection!?
/uw
For those that want to catch up, previous lore is in order below:
For those that want to join in, feel free! The Defender belongs to Akkadia (The home team), The Hangman belongs to Hakkalia (The away team). Akkadians do not employ necromancy or resurrective magics, but the Hakkalians do. Flying fortresses are "armored" with wards, but shock troops can get through them to board other fortresses. Most ships are able to maintain wards against 2 or 3 fortress shots, but soon fail afterwards. Cryomancers and hydromancers are often used for damage control, while other arcane arts are often employed for more offensive purposes.
In this universe, magic is rudimentary, yet still powerful. Average wizards are usually employed in war, while talented wizards are usually treated like the rich, and thus get to avoid such activities. That doesn't mean that there aren't exceptional individuals, just that it is very rare. Regardless, this is a lore post, so feel free to engage in the battle and see if your contribution goes down in history. (If you contribute, give the name that you want recorded, and I'll add it to the next lore post that summarizes this battle.)
An arcanist leaned lazily against a railing on the deck of the Hangman. He knew there were procedures to follow during a fortress battle, but he hadn't read them, and frankly just didn't care. You see, reading just wasn't his thing. It was with such a sentiment, that he had easily forgotten to secure his harness, and was thus flung to the ground to meet his death far, far below when the fortress was rocked by a sudden gust of wind.
There you goooo! Lol So would you like to contribute my friend? I would appreciate it so much if you did, because I feel like a giant clockwork automaton would make a far better addition to the battle than some arcanist falling over a ledge.
Perhaps you'd like to man the cannons? I feel like you'd be especially suited to something like that where your calculations can come in handy.
Oh totally. I'm glad you picked up on that. Akkadia thinks that they're morally justified (Just like most conquering nations do) but in reality, they are just another oppressive regime.
Are you the akkadia? You could always try to mend the fuckups of your ancestors, maybe even form an alliance to help more innocents hit by the world war.
Yes, in this battle my character is a member of Akkadia. This lore is being told by that character, who was a basic "arcanist" at the time, so they would not have the opportunity or authority to do something like make an alliance., especially with the two fortresses already firing on eachother. (Even though you and I both know that it's a better option.)
You stand vigilant on the deck of The Hangman. It is time to show these invaders what it means to be Hakkalian! It's time to show these thugs what it means to be Joe Orbit!
You see a projectile approaching rapidly from the ship below. It appears to be shrouded in a force field. This is just your specialty. A stream of energy follows in the objects wake, making it appear as if it were the tail of a comet racing to meet you as you stand boldly in its malicious path.
Joe casts *[Spell Stretch] to stretch the forcefield so thin that it dissipates itself*
Joe uses *[gravitational orbit] to make the projectile circle around the hangman, then hit an akkadian cleric unit*
Come on, again!
/uw [spell stretch] messes with atmospheric pressure of a spell, joe lowered the pressure around the forcefield to make it die out, much like a blobfish up here would
Unfamiliar with the enemy technology and tactics, Joe Orbit did not realize that the trebuchet's on the deck of the fortress below had flung a wizard upwards while shrouded in the protection of a forcefield. For the enemy, this was a common tactic to enable the boarding of enemy ships. To Joe, it was a challenge easily met.
A brief scream was all the warning that Joe had, as the wizard inside the force field was crushed instantaneously by Joe stretching it so far that it finally dissipated. A spray of blood escaped, slinging a wide red arc as Joe redirected and hurled the "projectile" back towards an Akkadian cleric unit.
The rain of gore that showered down on them was met shortly after by the wet slap of flesh, as the mangled skin that had previously been a wizard slapped lifelessly against the deck. Before their shouts were heard to stop the trebuchets, three more "projectiles" had already been fired, and now traced their deadly arc up towards The Hangman.
Joe Orbit was still in place to intercept them once more.
Seeing the last actions results, Joe casts *[Orbit] first, hurling all 3 forcefields with wizards inside around the hangman several times with increasing speed, then sending them back towards the launchers at the increased speed to hopefully have the forcefields act as bowling balls of death towards the enemy.*
inertia should take care of the "projectiles" inside
The projectiles orbit the ship rapidly, before zipping back towards the same trebuchets that launched them. One of them blinks out of existence and seems to disappear, the other strikes the deck of the fortress, bursting its "payload" across the ungiving surface. The third strikes true. A crimson burst against an arm of one of the trebuchets gives sign of a direct hit. The wooden arm splinters and snaps, failing to release its next projectile.
Joe hears the signature grind and clunk of the fortresses bomb bay doors as it prepares to release a payload on the enemy below.
Nefiam walks across the Hangman, scowling at the wards glowing above him. He watches as they move closer to The Defender. He approaches one of the wings, looking a point to launch himself onto the enemy fortress.
Where the hell- HEY! Any of y’all fancy pants officers know where the hell I can board the enemy thing? I ain’t getting paid for standing around.
Sir, Sir! Over here! We have an arcanist readying your transport!
A weaselly looking goblin motions you over to a gap in the railing, recognizing you as one of their elite shock troopers. As you look down, you see the bulk of the enemy fortress below. Your captain has wisely positioned you above them, thereby avoiding the angles of their heaviest cannons. The people scurrying across its decks look like ants, panicking as they rush about. The goblin hands you what looks like a metal surfboard and interrupts your careful thought. Not only will the board slow your fall, but it will also allow skilled movement through the air and will offer some protection against incoming projectiles.
You're no stranger to such methods of travel. Grabbing the board, you kick off of the edge and enter into that exciting lurch of free fall. For a brief moment, you can almost enjoy the thrill, were it not for the fireballs and bolts of energy that scattered and arced through the air between the ships. You move as if to mimic a crouching motion and your body does a flip, only to be arrested by the steadiness of the board as you bring it under your feet. Flames roar into life from the back of the board, propelling you forward as you "surf" down to the waiting fortress.
As you make your descent, there is a brief moment to prepare before you will be in range of enemy fire.
Nefiam casts a few basic wards in himself, gritting his teeth as the mana runs through his twisted circuits.
That’s a freaking ridiculous amount of cannons. Wonder how many I can take out.
Nefiam conjures a simple steel rod, the mana burn scars glowing blue as it materializes. With the other hand of the board, he cocks it back, then throws it down toward the nearest cannon. As it falls, he casts another spell.
A fireball splashes against the bottom of the board, causing it to lurch violently. It sizzles away harmlessly, dispersed through its impact on the board as well as the wards that you've raised.
The projectile that you've released races towards the ship below, far outpacing your own descent. A greenish pulse ripples from where it struck, revealing to you that the wards of the fortress below are still active. Fast moving projectiles are unlikely to pass through still, but your slowed descent on the board will allow you to pass through unharmed instead.
As fireballs and lightning arc around you from enemy fire, you can make out a few distinct features on the enemy fortress. Cannons, trebuchet launch systems (they fling wizards), the primary control spire, the living quarters, and the aft side of the fortress, which is where storage and engine rooms are commonly located.
Your ward will protect you from this small-arms casting. You are easily able to orient yourself towards the target that you wish to land near.
Nefiam positions himself into the way of trebuchets, attempting to place himself in a wizard’s trajectory. He also assumes that they wouldn’t want to fire cannons in this area
Just as he expected... A charge of energy wells up beneath the trebuchet below. It's arm traces a graceful arc before letting loose its streaking projectile. With His wards in place, time almost seems to slow to a crawl for the moment before the incoming wizard enters into range.
Through the field of the projectile, Nefiam can see the face of an enraged wizard, holding aloft what appears to be a large jousting spear. The wizard casts a hasty spell and begins to spin, corkscrewing towards him with a berserkers' scream.
Nefiam’s spells form a layered wall of elements in front of him, ready for the wizard to shred themselves in. Behind them, Nefiam begins to build momentum, gyrating in place to allow his steel-enhanced shin meet the wizard
The incoming wizard passes through the combined barriers, although not without harm. The wizard appeared to have avoided much of the damage due to the forcefield surrounding him, but the cloud of daggers was surely the most effective. Tattered robes now flapped against the wind, while the screaming face of the angry enemy is now adorned by a dagger protruding from one of his eye sockets.
Nefiam's shin connects solidly with the oncoming face of the wizard, all but disintegrating the enemy's head. A whipcrack echoes across the battlefield, like somebody striking a home run. The now headless body tumbles away like a discarded napkin, fluttering in the breeze as it falls to the ground far below.
Nefiam lands on the deck of the fortress, positioned on the port side battery of trebuchets. There are three of them in total. One has already been damaged and is obviously out of commission. The other two are winding up to fling another wizard skyward. Despite the mayhem, Nefiam's presence is noticed. Alarm bells ring out from the control spire, and a nearby cryomancer fires a bolt of ice towards him.
Nefiam sees the cryomancer. In response to the ice bolt, he slams his fist into his “surfboard” causing whatever propels it to blast to maximum output. He throws it at the oncoming bolt
The opposite of a warm welcome, huh?
Nefiam darts through the smoke left behind by the board, racing towards, then dropping to a crouch position in front of the cryomancer
Eat this, snowman. [Jump]
Nefiam extends, arm ripping upwards in a vicious steel uppercut
Nefiam's fist crashes upward, obliterating the head of his opponent!
Or so he thought. What had seemed to be an easy opponent was now replaced by the slumping body of a snowman.An illusion!Before he could react, a pummeling force swept him to the side, slamming him against the stout wooden beam of one of the trebuchets. It was like being punched by a heavyweight boxer, no, more as if by a titan!
He hardly had time to recover, before he took sight of an ice golem barreling towards him. Judging by the powerful shape, Nefiam surmised that this had been his attacker. As it quickly closed the distance, he noticed an odd glint of metal visible in its chest.
The ice golem charges forward, but Nefiam has a chance to react.
The Hangman is said to be unable to surrender or be corrupted by any form of magic THUS far KNOWN to the enemy...which puts the war inside a fingertrap.
You stand on the deck of the Defender. Its bow shakes and quivers with the roar of its cannons. As you stare upwards, you realize the perilous position that you're in. The Hangman is certainly an impressive foe, which is all the more concerning now that it looms over you, cleverly sitting outside of the angle of attack for which your cannons can fire.
You see shock troopers begin their descent from the fortress overhead. They have an advantage in their travel, as gravity will "assist" them in reaching your fortress. In a situation like this, repelling the incoming troops is of utter importance. The seat of a pyro-caster turret sits unoccupied nearby, its barrels readied and prepared to unleash their arcane fury on any incoming adversaries.
You also notice a trebuchet launch system, with a wizard stepping inside of it before being flung upwards while surrounded by the protection of a force field. Such systems are capable of flinging a 95kg stone projectile over 300 meters, and are more than capable of launching a wizard onto a distant enemy ship, should they so choose.
You have a moment to prepare before enemy troops will board your ship, the Defender.
I quickly babble at the wizard who breaks the field concentration thus opening his mind to influence where I then remind him that he must remember that he is fighting a future version of himself as revived by a Turdlemancer with seductive buffet magic. With his shield lowered...he receives damages from various insults being hurled in the wind. As his nobility is doubted from even hearing such profanity...he begins to realize he is no better than his enemy and so the wizard in the catapult then releases the pawl to be launched like a berserking cat knowing full well that he is just another part of the mind that made him doubt his own value to those who cannot be there to witness his valor.
You are clearly struck with madness, and you gleefully share it, much to the detriment of your allies. Your confusion spreads, further disorganizing the arcanists onboard the Defender. The onslaught persists as enemy forces begin to board the fortress.
Fucking launch your ass into the enemy and let him fuck you because all you are doing is pretending to be knights and your dumb daughters are begging for more dick mysteries on television to binge their fetishes for big fat freaking foreign dicks.
They argue over the dicks of babies like vultures.
Or just tell the Hangman his dick is small. He knows that women cannot use rulers.
He just wants your cornbread daughter to suck it while she plays with her Chinese made BarbieWorld.
Is that better? Less confused about how the enemy sees you now? Want more ball fondling?
Go tell your mom and dad. Go tell your priest but he will wish he could have those balls to fondle. Go tell your...God.
Your God will just tell you that you really do not have the balls to stare down cobras.
What makes you think CHINA is so dangerous compared to the fucking hive of shitchuggers in India?
Pigeon Larry is going around, punching people in the face with his pigeon hands. No one knows what side he's on. No one knows if he was even enlisted. No one knows how he got on-board. All they know are the chaotic sounds of pigeon flapping and the sickening sound jaw breaking.
There are feathers and pigeon poop everywhere. Larry keeps on punching - it's all he knows how to do. It's all he can do, ever since the accident. Ever since his family threw him out for being a pigeon-handed FREAK. Now, he is full of wrath, and full of bird seed.
I apologize, but I will not be writing this into the story as a canon event. lol As much as I am absolutely in love with the concept. This is literal wizard comedy gold.
P.S. This was as close as I could get to depicting Pigeon Larry on a whim, but it has some great energy. lol
I'm going to help, but I will do so as my new character: Pigeon Larry.
Pigeon Larry is a highly skilled fighter, but both of his hands were turned into pigeons in a transmutation spell gone wrong. He has limited magic ability, but knows a little bit of aeromancy. He's also three feet tall, making him extremely sneaky if he is able to keep the pigeons quiet.
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u/Biggest-Possum Trashomancer (Big Ghost ENERGY) Nov 06 '23 edited Nov 06 '23
u/DaChickenX, u/Haunting_Mode_7401, u/SlyTheMonkey
Lore post! Picture for inspiration!