VG Rumble

Luke and the others crept silently through the cave, careful not to make too much noise. They had passed a number of Husks on the way, but because of Luke's stealth they were able to avoid any battles. Husks were just giant suits of armor that were given life. The only senses they had were sight and sound. But their hearing wasn't as good as a human's, therefore it was easier to sneak past them.

When they were sure that no Husks were nearby, Warren asked, "Why do we have to sneak past them all? Why can't we just fight them?"

"We need to save our strength for the one that controls the others. It's at least three times as strong as any other Husk we've encountered. Taking it out won't be easy."

"But what about all the other Husks? They'll still be here when we have to leave," Raven said.

"Not to worry," Luke said, "once we destroy the leader the others will fall apart."

They entered a large cavern with a small shrine in the middle. There were two entrances into the room and another tunnel at the other side of the cavern. There were cages against all the walls. Some of them held children, too frightened to say anything as they entered the room. The rest of them were empty.

"What is this place?" Raven asked.

"This is where they extract the souls of their victims to prolong their own lives," Luke told her.

Karana and Ilum entered the room through the other entrance. Ilum looked hurt. Raven and Warren ran up to them, Luke just walked. "Are you OK?" Raven asked, "What happened?"

"We ran into a few Husks," Ilum told her.

"Hold still, "Raven said as she used her magic to heal his wounds.

There was a small thud that sent a vibration through the entire cavern. It came from the tunnel on the other side of the room. Luke already had his sword out and ready for battle. "The leader is coming."


Boss Battle

Enemy: Husk Champion
Duration of battle: 10 posts

Karana

I clung to Ilum as the whole cavern shook. The children in the cages began to scream in terror, running to the back of the small chambers they were trapped in.

"That's the boss?! How big is it?!" I screamed as another footfall shook the place.

"Too big," Warren answered me, getting ready for battle as well. "Karana, we may have to combine attacks. You up to it?"

"Yeah!" At least, I think I am! I shuddered when I remembered the fight Ilum and I got into at the entrance.

"Ilum," I whipsered, leaning close enough for him to hear me. "Be careful."

I drew my bow from the case on my back, arrows ready and charged with electricity.

Raven

I held my mace out in front of me as the huge creature reared its head and then fixed those piercing eyes upon us.

"I'm guessing only lightening works?" I prompted. Luke nodded. "Fine. I'll be the distraction then."

"You'll what?" Karana demanded but I was already hurrying forward. As I reached the husk, I slipped under its legs and then turned and smashed my mace down hard on its foot. There was no visible damage but the creature was clearly irritated and it reached out to grab my arm but I was already moving, darting away. It stepped towards me and then spun round and let out a dreadful shriek as the combined attacks of Karana, Warren and Luke smashed into its back. I used this opportunity to leap onto its back and hammer its head with my mace. Perhaos if I could hit the eye I would do some damage? It was certainly worth a try.

Luke grabbed one of his throwing knives. He used his magic to surround the blades of both his throwing knife and his short sword. He threw the knife and started running before it hit the Husk in the neck. The electricity in the knife caused the creature to shriek and slow down.

Luke ran up to the creature's leg and slashed at it. The electricity coming off the blade ripped through the metal like a sword through cloth. The insides of the Husk glowed with hundreds of small flickering lights.

The Husk spotted Luke. It lifted its leg and brought its foot down over his head. Luke was able to jump back and avoid it, but the creature lifted its other foot and kicked him. He flew into the side of an empty cage, breaking the bars upon impact.

Karana

I saw Luke fall, stunned. He'd be sore after that hit, I knew!

I loosed three more arrows, two of them striking the Husk, one of them in an eye. It made a sound - like a roar - in pain and spun in circles, lashing out in every direction. It barely missed striking me; I was just out of its range.

"Raven! Keep distracting it! I need a shot!" I screamed at the girl, but my voice was drowned by the noise. "Damn!"

I would have to do this the hard way. A long-range lightning attack would be useless against a rapidly moving target. I looked around the whole room, searching for a clue, a tool, anything!

Luke's sword lay at my feet, still charged with some of his magic.

"Perfect!"

I picked up the sword; it was heavier than I thought it would be, but that wouldn't affect me too much. I focused another wave of lightning magic into it, charging it so much that sparks flew from the edges and the sword grew hot to the touch. "Now we're in business!"

I laid my bow in a dark, sheltered corner before turning and breaking into a run, barrelling towards the giant husk.

Karana can use Weapon Conversion! Attack before it goes away!

((Uh...I'll pretend I understood that...weapons conversion?))

Karana

I met the husk head-on, sword in hand.

It paused it's spinning long enough for me to slide underneath it, between its legs. I knew this would hurt, probably injury me, as I spun on my heel and fell back, sliding beneath it.

The blade ripped through one of its lower legs, sending a powerful shock through the machine. It slowed down, even if barely.

"Yes!"

I tried to turn onto my side and roll to my feet...I would help Warren finish it off -

I rammed into the cave wall as the husk recovered and began to move again.

(Weapon Conversion, it's a power that changes your weapon into a super weapon. I wrote down an explanation of it in the first post with all the rules. You can make it something simple, like, if you're using a bow it can grow three times its own size and punch a hole clean through the Husk's body with one shot. It's kinda like your Over-drive, except it's not a one-hit kill power.)

(And remember, this is a boss battle. You can only deffeat it after people have posted enough of the battle. This battle requires at least 10 posts before you can finish it off. We've already got 5, so we need to post 5 more.)

(Oh okay. I gotcha. I'll use weapon conversion in the future. As far my post goes, I hadn't intended it to sound like I had half-defeated it. I just meant to slow it down...sorry...)

Raven

The Husk faltered as it's leg was torn off but only a minute later it had recovered enough to strike out at Karana, pressing her against the wall. On my way across the room to help Luke, I faltered, divided between the two.

"Help Luke, we'll get Karana!" Warren shouted. With a roar of defiance, Ilum charged forwards, encasing the creature in ice but to no avail - it merely shook the shards of frozen water away. Then Warren threw a bolt of lightening and I realised their plan. Water conducts electricity, allowing Warren to magnify his attack. Wasting no more time, I dashed to Luke's side and placed a hand upon his warm forehead. He turned towards me slightly, a very dazed expression upon his face but as I healed him, it changed to a slight grimace of pain and then a grateful smile.

"Thanks," Luke mumbled as I helped him stand and turned to view the battle.

Warren and Ilum hurried closer, still throwing bolt after bolt of lightening mingled with water and ice, forcing the husk to step back further and further until it had no choice but to release Karana at which point, Ilum dashed over and caught her limp form in his arms and brought her over to me.

((Isn't it Pie's turn to post? Where is everyone?))

((Okay, since no one else will post...*growl*))

Karana

Nothing made sense. Only the pain was truly there, the pain of being pressed between solid, unmalleable metal and rock, slowly crushed.

I could hear shouting in the distance, somewhere away...Raven? Warren? Ilum? Was that electricity splitting the oncoming darkness, tearing through the silence around me?

"Ilum..." I moaned, barely hearing myself over the commotion, however far away it was...

I couldn't use magic. The pain was too much. I closed my eyes against the sight I knew was coming.

Then I was free.

Had they saved me? Had I died?

I sighed, relief encompassing me and relaxing me as someone caught me, holding me against them. A warm, strong body carried me away from the danger, assuring me I was still alive.

"Karana? Karana, can you hear me? Raven!" Ilum's voice echoed from very near me, just above me. "She's not responding!"

It was Ilum. Ilum had taken me away from harm. I tried to move, tried to make even the slightest sound to tell him I was fine...did I succeed?

Raven

"Let me see," I murmured, placing a gentle hand across her bloodied forehead. She groaned and her body shook with pain. Something was wrong. Very wrong. I pulsed my magic deeper and deeper into her but it seemed to pour out through the holes in her body, the holes in her life. Again I pushed my magic and this time some of it held, some of the wounds receded. I tried again and again, feeling my mind slip away as it was consumed by this one action, this one desire. And then it was done. Karana began to stir and I smiled absently as my body gave in.

"Ilum?" Karana asked, the word echoing in my mind as though she were a part of me, as though we were still connected. "Ilum is that you?"

Ilum's attack had done it, the Husk had collapsed in a heap of metal. Even though everything looked safe, Luke knew better. His experience told him to make sure they safe before letting his guard down. He crept closer to the giant pile of metal.

A surge of purple energy shot out of the pile and singed Luke's hand. He stepped back and yelled over his shoulder, "It's not dead yet!"

The purple energy began to course through the fallen pieces of the Husk. The pieces began to levitate into their original places. When the Husk was back to its feet the only thing that held it together was the dark magic that surged through its armor. The purple energy jumped from on place to another in a continuous current. Luke had thought they were in trouble before, he was wrong.

(Doesn't this look fun?)

((You can really come up with scenarios!))