*Hidden Nature* A Shapeshifting RP

[Bantambird]

Ravek started at Asclepius's voice. He hadn't known the golden dragon had returned. He'd only voiced Shaylee's words aloud for Fay. He was glad Asclepius knew the means to fight this Incubus. It went aginst everything his heart told him to do to release Shaylee's hand. He looked to Asclepius and asked as he stood to come over to the desk to look over his shoulder. He stared at the book with trepidation. "How do we beat it if it's draining her of life force, without hurting Shaylee as well?"

"That's the real question now, isn't it?" Asclepius murmured as he scanned over the information. "We could summon it and force it into a new contract. Often times they don't want to leave voluntarily, since these things are parasites. We will have to remove it carefully. This book has a list of specific contracts we can use with him once we excorcize him from her. We will need to create a containment field before removing him. A new contract will bind him to serve our cause instead of Markus. Incubi prefer female victims, but I'm sure, being a goddess, you are safe, correct, Fay?" Asclepius glanced up at Fay. "Perhaps, you could set up the containment field for him? We don't know what he will do or exactly how strong he is. We will need to move slowly."

 

[StarrNico]

"That's the real question now, isn't it?" Asclepius murmured as he scanned over the information. "We could summon it and force it into a new contract. Often times they don't want to leave voluntarily, since these things are parasites. We will have to remove it carefully. This book has a list of specific contracts we can use with him once we excorcize him from her. We will need to create a containment field before removing him. A new contract will bind him to serve our cause instead of Markus. Incubi prefer female victims, but I'm sure, being a goddess, you are safe, correct, Fay?" Asclepius glanced up at Fay. "Perhaps, you could set up the containment field for him? We don't know what he will do or exactly how strong he is. We will need to move slowly."

Fay dipped her head and smiled "We have to deal with demons on occasion. They don't like us much, since we don't have a 'soul' like a mortal's." She said, standing to make the containment field for them. "They cannot touch our life force the same way, unless they are the highest level there is, and even then it is not easy for them. Does it have anything particular about these 'dream' demons in there?"

 

[Bantambird]

Fay dipped her head and smiled "We have to deal with demons on occasion. They don't like us much, since we don't have a 'soul' like a mortal's." She said, standing to make the containment field for them. "They cannot touch our life force the same way, unless they are the highest level there is, and even then it is not easy for them. Does it have anything particular about these 'dream' demons in there?"

"The book says they feed on love, lust, and positive emotions, and can suck a person dry should they choose. Left alone, they can suck out all the good a person has, leaving a sad, empty person devoid of the vibrancy of life. They usually only kill the victim when ready to move onto another, unless contractually obligated to stay. They can also be used to extract information, since they love to muck about in your head. It says here that some powerful spellcasters, demonlords, and the like, use these guys specifically to dig around valuable captives' heads. Afterwards, the victim isn't much use if rescued too late, as the demon will take and consume everything good in her mind."

 

[StarrNico]

"The book says they feed on love, lust, and positive emotions, and can suck a person dry should they choose. Left alone, they can suck out all the good a person has, leaving a sad, empty person devoid of the vibrancy of life. They usually only kill the victim when ready to move onto another, unless contractually obligated to stay. They can also be used to extract information, since they love to muck about in your head. It says here that some powerful spellcasters, demonlords, and the like, use these guys specifically to dig around valuable captives' heads. Afterwards, the victim isn't much use if rescued too late, as the demon will take and consume everything good in her mind."

Fay frowned at that and looked to Shaylee then over to Ravek. That really sounded bad for the princess, they had to help her get free from this thing.

 

[Bantambird]

Fay frowned at that and looked to Shaylee then over to Ravek. That really sounded bad for the princess, they had to help her get free from this thing. 

The book purred and whispered vaguely, responding to the emotions in the room. Asclepius chided it, but the illustrations silently laughed in response. "Alright, I'm gonna start the removal spell. We will put the stones aside for now, they will probably need purification, some of them. Salt works good for these situations. Ravek, you may need to hold her down so she doesn't hurt herself or us as we get it out. Here we go," he stated, sprinkling a handful of salt in a circle around her and another handful over her, as he started chanting the removal spell. The book levitated to a nice height for reading as it reacted to the recitation, enjoying the excitement of being out of that stuffy library.

 

[NickyKnack]

Slygotha bowed her head, trembling at his words and her helplessness. "Yes, let it be so, my wyrmling," she murmured. She fell to one knee, her exhaustion overcoming her as the adrenaline from the battle wore off.

Valstrath stood on shaky legs before he slipped down hard upon the ground. He closed his eyes and wished to have his dragon self back and hoped it worked the same shifting back. He felt a slight tingling sensation as it happened. He stood up on all fours and was about the size of a pony, Valstrath stretched out his neck to nudge his broodmother gently. He was very concerned for her and knew she needed rest.

 

[NickyKnack]

Shaylee gasped and tried to draw away from his grip. "Anton" She shook her head, "I thought you were my friend" She hadn't gotten much energy back, and didn't have any way to stop that draw. She reached out for Ravek to give him the only thing she could, information to help her "Ravek, he's a dream demon, an incubi." She sent that message as strongly as she could before her strength gave out and she returned to the coma-like state, at the mercy of Anton.

( I sliced this off to answer it first. )

Anton carefully caught Shaylee as she lost consciousness again. He eased her head down gently rest upon the stone floor . He looked to her and murmured softly, " Sleep, my sweet Shaylee. You are the purest soul I've ever encountered in my existence. How are you untouched by lust or greed, while motivated by absolute selflessness. You're courageous, fair, devoted and gentle. How rare you are indeed. I shall never let you go. I'm incapable of such selflessness. And knowing you exist has ruined me for my purpose for being here." He brushed her hair from her lovely sleeping face. He paused in his actions as he glanced around the room. His frown only deepened as he felt the burn of the salt of the summoning spell upon his flesh. "NO! NOT THIS! NOT NOW! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HER!" He said angrily with a democratic snarl as he shot to his feet. He call forward to the runes on the walls and poured his significant powers into strengthening them. He'd fight to stay with Shaylee with all his powers if he had too. His eyes glowed a bright blue with his efforts as he chanted.

The book purred and whispered vaguely, responding to the emotions in the room. Asclepius chided it, but the illustrations silently laughed in response. "Alright, I'm gonna start the removal spell. We will put the stones aside for now, they will probably need purification, some of them. Salt works good for these situations. Ravek, you may need to hold her down so she doesn't hurt herself or us as we get it out. Here we go," he stated, sprinkling a handful of salt in a circle around her and another handful over her, as he started chanting the removal spell. The book levitated to a nice height for reading as it reacted to the recitation, enjoying the excitement of being out of that stuffy library.

Ravek had listed quietly, but moved to action at Asclepius's instructions. He took his place on Shaylee's right and braced his hands on each of her shoulders gently, not wanting to hurt her by accident.

 

[Bantambird]

Valstrath stood on shaky legs before he slipped down hard upon the ground. He closed his eyes and wished to have his dragon self back and hoped it worked the same shifting back. He felt a slight tingling sensation as it happened. He stood up on all fours and was about the size of a pony, Valstrath stretched out his neck to nudge his broodmother gently. He was very concerned for her and knew she needed rest.

Slygotha leaned against her son gratefully. "This accursed collar... I am trapped in this shape."
She tore at it fruitlessly. Sighing, she twisted her long hair into a long braid, tucking it up into a crown on her head, then continued walking forward, her arm draped around Valstrath's neck.

 

[NickyKnack]

Shaylee gasped and tried to draw away from his grip. "Anton" She shook her head, "I thought you were my friend" She hadn't gotten much energy back, and didn't have any way to stop that draw. She reached out for Ravek to give him the only thing she could, information to help her "Ravek, he's a dream demon, an incubi." She sent that message as strongly as she could before her strength gave out and she returned to the coma-like state, at the mercy of Anton.
~~~
The wolves would spread out more in the confusion of the battle, firing at the troll from different angles so that it couldn't block them all. A few headed to try to check on Garmr, where she had landed, or as close as they could get.


With the troll distracted again, one of the dragonkin dropped down to try to wrestle Nektar to the ground while another pair went after Jaxon and Garth. They couldn't see Garmr, so they ignored her.
~~~

Anna growled then laughed "Well, I was trying not to hurt you too much, just to subdue, not to kill" She stated with a shrug as she tried to think of what could be done for stone skin. All the spells were new though, so she had to think about them. "Ah" She muttered as she thought about one that might work before casting it. It was a spell to soften skin, not really a fighting spell, but if she made it stronger than maybe it would help? She had to try anyway. 

~~~

"Find out it's weakness and use that" Kellan said. Yeah, not much of a plan, but he didn't know this creature. He tried a sleep spell, just to see if it worked on the dragon or the handler that had released it. "For the hydra, if that's what this is, it was the heart" 
~~~
Jason had another wolf hold the bag and sent a couple with Xatia to keep the young shifters together and headed the right way as he started pulling the files and putting them in the bag too. Soon enough they would have formed a chain one pulling files then handing them off and one that put the files in the bag.

The troll was overwhelmed at the frequency of the blasts and sticky fueled fire. He wailed in agony as the fire and blasts began to take him down. He stumbled to his knees, but managed to catch himself with his almost useless arms.

Nektar thrashed his sharp horns backwards at the dragonkin in an attempt to dislodge him. His badly mulled serpentine tail striking at the wings and anything else that provide a scale free target.

Garth dodged a battle dog that sprinted by them. It was almost Dire wolf sized, but had crow like feet and ebony feathers. Jaxon cause sight of a shadow from overhead. He looked in time to see one of the two dragonkin descending down upon them. He focused all his attention on the creature and burst the blood vessels within it's brain instantly.
~~~
Terminus snorted at that and moved to walk around Anna's fae wolf form. The strange sensation caught his attention as he looked to his softening stone veneer. He muttered under his breath an armor spell and instantly he was suited in custom armor. "I know spell too. Strong magic, far stronger this yours, thorn bush. " He taunted Anna with pleasure.

Xavier cursed at the suddenness of the armor. He turned to check Maxton's progress with acquiring a collar. The Fae upended drawers and cabinets in his haste. "No luck! Theyre not kept here. Where would they be?" He asked imploringly.

"The armory, I think! " Xavier shouted with inspiration. Maxton nodded and opened a portal to head there. That had been Ravek and Zypher's floor. He was glad to see that the battle here was almost under control. He hurried into the weapons closest to look for the device he needed. He jumped as Zypher asked, "Is Anna alright?! Why are you here, not with her?" Maxton explained quickly the situation and what he was in search of. Zypher stepped forward and grabbed a collar off the shelf and said, "Here it is, lets go!"

Maxton shook his head and explained, "That's not going to fit. That thing is huge. "

Zypher flipped a latch on the side and pulled the two parts apart to reveal the chain within. " Fortunate that it's a one-size-fits-all, then." He said with a smile.

Maxton grinned and hurried to the still open portal. "Indeed! " He agreed.
~~~
Ramis had taken to dragging both clawed feet across the barrier trying to dig through it some how. Three of the heads looked to the last as it fell limp upon their back. They also could compartmentalize amongst themselves, while leaving the others unaffected. As they return their attention to their desired targets. Only this time with more urgency and the anger. The last head on the right brought his head forward and started hailing the magic that kept the barrier stable to see if it would fail eventually.

"I'm not sure that good, right?!" Degan asked as he watched with uncertainly.
~~~
Navar hurried along and paused as he looked into the room at the end of the hallway. "Jason? Thank goodness! I got Markus's personal computer hard drive. It's pretty fried, but I took it anyway. What's all this?" He asked curiously.

 

[StarrNico]

The troll was overwhelmed at the frequency of the blasts and sticky fueled fire. He wailed in agony as the fire and blasts began to take him down. He stumbled to his knees, but managed to catch himself with his almost useless arms.

Nektar thrashed his sharp horns backwards at the dragonkin in an attempt to dislodge him. His badly mulled serpentine tail striking at the wings and anything else that provide a scale free target.

Garth dodged a battle dog that sprinted by them. It was almost Dire wolf sized, but had crow like feet and ebony feathers. Jaxon cause sight of a shadow from overhead. He looked in time to see one of the two dragonkin descending down upon them. He focused all his attention on the creature and burst the blood vessels within it's brain instantly.
~~~
Terminus snorted at that and moved to walk around Anna's fae wolf form. The strange sensation caught his attention as he looked to his softening stone veneer. He muttered under his breath an armor spell and instantly he was suited in custom armor. "I know spell too. Strong magic, far stronger this yours, thorn bush. " He taunted Anna with pleasure.

Xavier cursed at the suddenness of the armor. He turned to check Maxton's progress with acquiring a collar. The Fae upended drawers and cabinets in his haste. "No luck! Theyre not kept here. Where would they be?" He asked imploringly.

"The armory, I think! " Xavier shouted with inspiration. Maxton nodded and opened a portal to head there. That had been Ravek and Zypher's floor. He was glad to see that the battle here was almost under control. He hurried into the weapons closest to look for the device he needed. He jumped as Zypher asked, "Is Anna alright?! Why are you here, not with her?" Maxton explained quickly the situation and what he was in search of. Zypher stepped forward and grabbed a collar off the shelf and said, "Here it is, lets go!"

Maxton shook his head and explained, "That's not going to fit. That thing is huge. "

Zypher flipped a latch on the side and pulled the two parts apart to reveal the chain within. " Fortunate that it's a one-size-fits-all, then." He said with a smile.

Maxton grinned and hurried to the still open portal. "Indeed! " He agreed.
~~~
Ramis had taken to dragging both clawed feet across the barrier trying to dig through it some how. Three of the heads looked to the last as it fell limp upon their back. They also could compartmentalize amongst themselves, while leaving the others unaffected. As they return their attention to their desired targets. Only this time with more urgency and the anger. The last head on the right brought his head forward and started hailing the magic that kept the barrier stable to see if it would fail eventually.

"I'm not sure that good, right?!" Degan asked as he watched with uncertainly.
~~~
Navar hurried along and paused as he looked into the room at the end of the hallway. "Jason? Thank goodness! I got Markus's personal computer hard drive. It's pretty fried, but I took it anyway. What's all this?" He asked curiously.

The wolves kept shooting, wanting to take down the troll and have it out of the way so they could get by once they had taken out the dragonkin and other defenders too.

His tail, even hurt, would do more damage than the horns, though that didn't make the dragonkin let go. The young male cried out his battle cry and tried to trip Nektar with his tail, putting all his weight on him.

That dragonkin was gone, but the other used it as a shield to attack the pair, running into them to knock them down then moving the body of the dead one aside to see what damage had been done.
~~
"You do not like the soft skin?" Anna asked lightly, yeah, she was stalling, but at least he would be easier to attack, even with armor. "You still have a chance to stop this fighting so we can take you away from this place." She added softly. She had to try one last time to get him to stand down, even with the blood already shed here, and if he kept to form, he would deny it
~~~
"Focus sleep and paralysis spells on each head" Kellan ordered, using his magic to strengthen the barrier so it wouldn't fall anytime soon then trying a paralysis spell on the dragon's legs. No legs, no walking, right? Worth a shot anyway.
~~~
Jason looked over to Navar "Put it in the bag, we can sort it out later. This is all files for the mix-breeds he made, we are taking them and the grown children with us. They are innocents of all this after all." He said then grinned and motioned to the bag "It doesn't get heavy and can hold more than it should. Magic is cool sometimes."