middaeg | [closed] we must be swift as the coursing river

[While the politics surrounding this quest are a little lost on Sora he knows how important it is to keep leylines pure. And to keep the infection of cwyld outside of the city and in the wilde under control. Sora is of the opinion that now that Morgana has been dealt with that Dorchacht might finally be able to flourish as a free city but it won’t ever really get there unless the cwyld is less of a problem too.

So that is where Sora and his friends come in. He calls on Kor Meteor and Roxas for help this time in ridding the recent overgrowth of cwyld and to purified and energize damaged leylines. Kor as their resident witch to work on the leylines themselves while Sora and Roxas team up to keep him safe from the violent and overgrown creatures that have come from this. The land is still fairly ravaged from Morgana’s work so they have a lot of work ahead of them.

Sora stands there with keyblade in hand as he looks up at an old blackened tree that is burning with infestation and the smell of dark magic and cwyld is still heavy in the air.]

Well, guys...! I think we got a lot of work to do today. Let’s get to it.

[And hopefully, the ugly and growling noises cooing from around them aren’t all unfriendly... But that might be a little too optimistic in this case.]

[Like Sora, the politics involved in this quest were beyond Kor's understanding. What he did understand, though, was that there was a job to be done to help this world out, and he was just the guy for the job. Or one of the guys for the job, at least. Any old witch could handle this, but this time, it was Kor's turn to be that any old witch.

He stares up at the tree with a frown on his face. This was a gnarly looking beast, now wasn't it? Just feeling all that corrupted magic still lingering in the air makes him feel sick to his stomach.]

Right... Let's give it our all, you two!

Politics will be politics. Right now, Roxas's main concern is doing what he can to help the people of Dorchacht out and keep them safe. When he heard that Sora and Kor needed help, he was just glad to help out.]

[He's got his own Keyblades out with him, both resting in his hands as he looks up at the tree. His ears angle to the sides as he looks at it, practically smelling the corrupted magic lingering in the air. He nods.]

Right. Just tell us what we need to do.

[At least they can still use their weapons even as monsters. Sora's grip feels a little strange with the sharpened claws but he manages. Sometimes he still does wish he could summon his keyblade like he used to, though. He misses how it used to be like an extension of his whole being, always there for him when with a flash of his fingers. It's odd carrying around keyblades.

But he does use it to point at the large blackened tree in front of them.]

We're gonna fix that leyline up there in the tree's big branches.

[The grass and surrounding area are also blackened and ruined. There's been a fight here recently. The ground is ripped up and there is black magic seeping everywhere.]

This is where they took down Morgana and her goons. So now we're gotta fix the damage as best we can.

[Kor was a bit envious of Sora and Roxas. If there was danger coming, he wanted to do the fighting too instead of sitting on the sidelines. But he understood the importance of his job of being the witch here and using his magic to fix things like this.

He takes a step forward, inspecting the trunk of the tree more closely. He definitely didn't like the feeling he was getting from it. It reminded him of the feeling he got from a Xerom-infested Spiria... It must be so cold and dark and full of so many twisted emotions.]

I don't entirely get everything that went on here, but... We've got a mess to clean up here, that's for sure.

[Truthfully, Roxas is grateful he can fight at all as a monster. He misses the ability to call upon his light spells when he needs it, or use portals like before. But at least he has the familiar weight of Oathkeeper and Oblivion in his hands.]

[Roxas doesn't get the politics himself, but from what he's heard, this Morgana wasn't a good person at all. So if they can do something to undo the damage she's caused, that's a positive.]

Then how do we go about fixing the leyline?

Yeah, me either but if we can help stabilize the area I guess that means the cwyld infection won't get worse around here too.

[Hopefully both boys know a little bit about the cywld by now. The strange dark poison-like substance that changes and mutates anything and everything into mindless hungry creatures and kills and burns anything living. There are spots of it all around them right now and the faster they fix the leyline that would protect this area from it growing thicker, the better.

Speaking of mindless hungry creatures there's a strange howl sounding from the distance.]

Ack- Well that's where Kor comes in, Roxas! [He pats Kor on the back.] Witches can replenish leylines with their own magic but it takes a while. So we've gotta watch his back in the meantime.

[Luckily Sora's done this several times with Vanitas already in the past.]

That's right. [Kor turns to face his bond partners, nodding with the best confident grin he can muster. He pounds his fist into his open palm.] You can just leave it to me!

[Thankfully, Kor had some experience of his own with working on the leylines, even though he'd rather be the one fending off opponents and letting someone else handle the leylines.]

This one feels pretty nasty, but I've been working on a special new magic that'll be just what we need to save the day, so I'm just the witch for the job this time!

[He hopes, at least.]

[Roxas's ears swivel in the direction of the strange howl, but he listens to Kor and Roxas carefully before nodding.]

Okay. That I can do.

[It's a simple enough task. He readies his Keyblades in hand.]

I'm ready whenever you are.

You can do it, Kor! Me and Roxas have got your back this time, okay!

[He gives both of his friends a determined nod. He'll let Kor take over what he needs to for the leyline reconstruction and turns back towards the open area around them. It is broken and beat up, the ground cracked up and burned from dark magic and fighting.

There's another howl in the distance but there is no immediate danger yet. This will be Kor's best chance to get started before any nasty things start getting attracted to the magic.]

[Kor walks up to the tree, standing mere centimeters from it. He was ready to do his job, face to face with the foul tree. He looks back at his companions over his shoulder.]

If I hear you guys in trouble, I'm stopping whatever I'm doing to back you up, so I'm counting on you two to hold your own here. Show me what you can do with your giant keys!

You got it!

[Roxas nods to Kor and Sora, getting into position. He will leave the magic and leyline reconstruction to Kor, and do his best to fend off what may be drawn to the magic.]

[As time passes the howls sound again, closer this time. It isn't much longer before Roxas's ears swivel and he turns towards the trees, a low growl in his throat.]

Something's coming.

[He growls, and out in the trees, a bigger, deeper growl answers him back.]

Keep your eyes on the prize!

[He believes in Kor and he knows that he and Roxas will be able to take down whatever it is that's coming for the leylines too. Even if he's surprised as the ground begins to quake as steps shake the ground. Something big and blue this way comes...

Sora grips his giant key and readies his battle stance.]

Here we go!

Edited 2020-11-15 03:37 (UTC)

[Kor feels the ground shake as the beast draws closer, and an odd, unworldly chill fills the air. He has to fight every urge in his body to whip around and join the fight, to protect and help his friends here.

But no, he has to trust they can handle it without his help, because they're counting on him to do his job.

Keeping focused on the tree, he places a hand on the trunk. Magical energy begins to rise up into the air around him, shimmering like particles of light, with the occasional arc of electricity crackling between them. First step, trace a path with his magical energy to establish a link with the ley line...]

[Roxas stares down the big wolf creature as it stalks forward, its hot breath misting in the cool air. He growls again, low in his throat, and at Sora's call he runs forward, his own Keyblades held at the ready. The giant wolf roars at them, and Roxas lunges forward, swinging his two keys at the creature.]

[The wolf leaps back out of the way, before turning to Kor, zeroing in on the pulse of magical energy. It avoids Roxas's swing in its direction and makes an attempted lunge at Kor.]

[Roxas is fast but Sora is faster. When the wolf tries to change direction towards Kor the first thing Sora does is use his powerful and fast leg muscles (thanks for being a puca!) to dash for the wolf. He leaps up and lands right on the wolf's face and hits it hard with his keyblade. He lets out a rabbit-like chittering growl!]

No you don't! Back off!!

[He casts a glance at Kor too. Just keep focusing, Kor! They've got this!]

[Kor wants to look back at them so badly, to watch them fight off this monster with their giant key weapons. He's so curious about it all and how they do it.

But he has to stay focused, no distractions whatsoever.

Closing his eyes, he tightens his focus here. His magical energy flares up around up, shimmering more intensely in the air here. He had to find and make the connection here, and he had to do it fast.]

[The wolf yelps in surprise as the keyblade smacks it across the face, causing it to divert its attack. The wolf glares at Sora, a deep, gutteral snarl rumbling in its chest. But before it can lunge and snap at the Puca, another growl sounds.]

Nice try!

[Roxas swings, both his Keyblades smacking into the wolf's flank. It's sent flying and falls to the ground on its side, away from Kor. But it quickly scrambles up to its claws, trying to bite the obth of them!]

[Roxas makes quick work and Sora's able to jump up and out of the way with a pivot in the air. He lands next to Roxas and grins at the other. They might be part animal now but it seems they're just a seasoned with keyblades as they were before.

He glances at Kor.]

Keep it up, Kor! We've got it backed into a corner already!

[Sora grips his keyblade and gets ready to lunge at the wolf again for another attack as it comes for them. When it tries to bite Sora jumps!]

Aim for its legs! Knock it down again!

[closed] we must be swift as the coursing river

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