The Western Mountains

[Shukuen]

A muffled groan was Jan's answer, though whether it was to his proposed plan or a protest to the upcoming presence, no one was really sure.

"At least we're expecting them this time."

[Olvelsper]

"Show yourself, coward!" The man shouted to the prescence even as they scaled higher up the mountain.

[Dracos]

as they reached the top, more cruel laughter answered them.  The top was practically cleaved flat, as if some giant blade had sliced the top of the mountain plain off.  What was left seemed as if it'd been paved over in black obsidian rock with spears of clear crystal formed here and there.  The dark pit in the center.

Before it stood a petite old man, a long grey beard running from his chin to about halfway down his torso.  His head was bald and spotted with mrks and wrinkles as he looked out at them through black eyes.  His hands were folded over a small cane as he stood there, seeming not that imposing at all.  He was dressed in a kind of medieval village garb.  A brown cloak over his shoulders and a greenish robe.

"Show myself?" The old man lauughed more.  "So very eager."  He gave a toothy grin back to them.

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

"Where's the Mountain King?" Jan decided not to bother wasting time as he  began drawing power towards himself.

[Dracos]

"Mountain king?  I know of no such being.  Nor do I care.  It too will be destroyed."  The elder tapped his staff as the group suddenly found it very difficult to move, as if their bodies were wrapped in chains.

"Mmm, Such rubble.  At least it appears tasty."

Dracos

[Iron Dragoon]

Mary cracks his jaw and draws a pistol, aiming it dead center at the man's forehead, then takes a drink from the mug in his other hand before speaking.

"I reckon I'm about tired of this places' shit, son. You best start bein' friendly 'fore my good cheer from the festival disappears."

[Dracos]

The old man laughed and pointed, a bolt of darkness flying from his fingers at Mary with incredible speed, impacting Fizban who somehow moved in the way, grunting as he slammed back against Mary.

"This, I forbid." Fizban's voice was strained but carried clearly even through the rising winds that twisted darkly about the short old man.

"Forbid?  Mmm, now this is interesting.  I thought you were all dead.  It matters not though, you have no power here.  I shall devour your essence as easily as any other."  The earth rumbled beneath their feet.  "I shall shake you apart."

Fizban placed his staff down hard, a glowing symbol flowing golden and silver strands through the ground around them.  "These are not yours.  You shall not have them beast."

"All are mine.  Flee weakling." The elder laughed, walking towards them, seeming more imposing, but at least the painful winds and crushing force was weaker.

"I shall defend their right to choose their path.  You will not leave this plateau."  The old wizard's voice getting stronger as he glanced back.  "Flee here.  This is not the time.  Brute force will not be enough against one such as he."

Dracos

[Dracos]

Yomi popped out of his box and all but bit Jan to get his attention. "That's it.  That's Dark Gaia."

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

Jan grunted as the power that held him faded, nearly falling to his knees as his efforts to fight the hold worked against him. He turned to the others, then at Fizban.

"Dammit!" He wildly threw his power towards the old man that stalked towards them, trying to will the surging power to make the ground beneath the devil crush it.

[Dracos]

Glancing at Fizban, Jan noticed there was something odd with his shadow.  It was much larger than it should be and not quite the right shape.

The land rippled in front of the frail old man, only to be brushed aside as he walked through it seemingly unhindered.  "Fragile humans.  Your time is over."  The old man opened his mouth, a glow briefly showing there before a wave of energy came at them, searing the ground as it passed quickly towards them, smashing againsst Fizban's barrier with thunderous sound and awesome force, the two energies striving as the barrier twisted before the implausible assault.  The simple waves of air funneling off the collision came near to driving the whole group off their feet.

Fizban stood almost martyrishly before the assault, seeming to glow in response even as both energies faded away, a soft warm glow flowing out from the old man.  "You will not take them.  As hard as you try, you shall not."

The old man eyed him.  "None will leave here.  Your theatrics are meaningless.  Die."  He lifted a hand, almost skeletal in form and twisted, the earth behind them rumbling and shaking as twisted skeletons rose up from the depths..five..ten...twenty of them.  Humanoid mostly in structure, dark mist twisted around their bony forms as they growled blocking off the way that they'd come.  Some unarmed.  Some with swords or spears in their hands.  A few wielding famer's implements as they approached the heroes.

"Be as Nothing." The old man continued, lifting his other palm and blasting out again at Fizban with a lance of dark energy that twisted and shuddered as it came at the old wizard, a glowing shield meeting it as Fizban suddenly changed.  No longer an old man, but a gigantic dragon standing among their midsts, a creature of incredible beauty, each scale brilliantly glowing platinum as it towered high into the sky, letting loose with a blast of glowing light at the old man.

[Olvelsper]

Jan's eyes narrowed, and he made his decision as he called on his power. Thrusting his hands skywards, he called out the name that lingered on his tongue.

"ORIGIN! BY OUR CONTRACT, I CALL UPON YOU NOW!" The ring on his finger flashed as he summoned forth the god with the contract ring.

Power gathered deep in his soul as he prepped himself to turn into his other self as he unleashed a hail of bullets at the approaching mob.

[Shukuen]

Leets watched the battle - if it could be considered that - with trepidation, torn between following Fizban's advice or sticking around to help the old man.

At least until the old man turned into a GIANT BLEEDIN' DRAGON, which sort of made him feel ever so inferior. Thank you for asking.

He grimaced when it seemed the decision was taken out of hand yet again, as what appeared to be a demonic horde rising to meet them. He unsheathed Masamune, deciding to let the horde waste their efforts coming towards them instead of rushing headlong suicidally.

Oh, and Jan had apparently called in Origin too. Who says the gods must be crazy?

[Dracos]

The ring glowed...and shattered as lightning smashed down before Jan.  A sense of power twisting space as the dwarf king appeared in all his majesty, heading towards the apparently frail elder as the three beings clashed in blasts of light and thunder, the elder lifting off the ground as he faced off with the two titans at once, seemingly unafraid by the forces arrayed against him.

The skeleton hordes advanced on the four remaining closing on them as a roar was heard, bones smashing before the large figure of the lion leaped over them, landing in front of the group as well.

The bullets rang in, mostly to little effect as they chipped bone and slipped through the countless cracks in their enemies bodies.

Dracos
OOC: Sorry about not covering an action

[Merc]

Felix grimaced. Everything was moving too fast. Waaaay too fast. He'd blame the drinking for all of this, but...actually, what the hell, let's lay the blame on the drinking. Okay...recap.

Fizban turned into a dragon, Origin shows up, evil old man threatening blah blah... and skeletons.

Check.

'Let's start with the small fry,' Felix thought as he focused his attention to the skeletons, lancing out rays of lightning from his fingers towards the nearest skeletons, hoping to have better luck than Mary with his bullets.

[Dracos]

Several of the skeletons tore apart under the assault of the lightning, the lion roaring and charging in, making something of a path into them as he smashed his way through following the lightning bolt.

Dracos