I let out a growl as I realize he's being controlled, I don't like people being subjugated any more than I like it happening to furies.

"We won't let him enslave you. Keep struggling for control!"

And when the young man appears out of the shadow of the vampire I'll shoot a bar of light at the shadow connecting the two. I'm trying to burn away the hold that this man has over Leona and Selene's father.

"Everyone, try to put a strain on that young man. We may be able to shake him enough that he can't continue exerting control.

The Shadow says
"So you've finally figured it out? But it's too late! Michael the Elemental Swordsman. This is where you must leave us. I can show them the way from here... The way for those two... to Darkness, that is!"

You sense a surge of darkness into the Vampire and then he screams. The Shadow disappears.

He charges Leona and then Selene knocks her out of the way.
Selene says
"We need to hit him with Solar magic to disrupt the Dark magic controlling him. He has the speed of a vampire and he knows how to use it. Cover me so I use a Dark Hole to hold him in place!"

OOC: So, here we are. A team up between a Verser, the Solar Magician, the Dark Magician and the Earthly Maiden to defeat a Vampire armed with the power of the Sun.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Thu 01 June 2017.

OOC) Its an interesting team for sure. Time to get to protecting my friends. :).

I hold Vadahf in a guard position and prepare to intercept any attacks against Selene. She needs time to prepare and I'm going to get it for her.

I'm letting my mind and essence meld with Vadahf, and embracing the role as guardian. I am not pushing the offensive, I'm protecting those in need. All of my effort is going into parrying and deflecting the vampires attacks against myself and my friends. I'm using Lightning Strike Interruption to make sure I get into place to parry each time. I think it's appropriate that the first time I use that is after I harnessed lightning for the first time in the waking world.

Selene starts charging a sphere of darkness while Lita and Leona press the offence to keep him buzy. The Vampire moves with inhuman speed and has the skills of a fighter to back him up. The most Lita or Leona do is glancing blows that do little to no damage. While the Vampire's offence consists of fireing the Solar Gun, launching swords like the Count did or charging in with claws or a bite.

You resonant with Vadahf and her nature as a guardian. You find yourself parrying attscks that you shouldn't have time to react to. You teleport all over parrying for Selene and the others.

Selene finishes making a sphere that is six feet in diameter. It is sucking the vampire towards it. But the Vampire is resisting.
She says
"Knock him in!"

I dart to the opposite side of the vampire from the Dark Hole and cast out both hands, creating a wave of air to push the vampire into the Dark Hole. I'll taper the edges of the wall of air inwards, to prevent the vampire from being able to easily dart around the side.

Once he's stuck in the Dark Hole I'll combine forces with Leona to blast him with solar energy to drive out the immortal that seems to be enslaving him.

You get behind him and then push him into the Dark Hole with a burst of wind. You Combine your magical might with Leona's to scour him with Solar magic. You feel the darkness unwinding under the pressure of your magic.

Then he bursts out of the Dark Hole. Sending both you and Leona to the ground a few feet back.
as you get up you see several swords pointed at Selene

I shout out, "Selene, warp on the mark you placed."

The mark she placed on me hopefully will make it so she can teleport to me more quickly. I need to finish driving out the force controlling the vampire. I rush towards him and slash in such a way to force him to dodge towards me. When he does I'll release Vadahf and grab him, getting him in a grapple and using the technique Kyotsu taught us to hold people. With him held I'll align my aura to solar energy and begin exuding solar motes to push out the darkness in him.

(I forget the name of the move Kyotsu taught, and don't have time to look it up now. Will try to later and also make notes on each of the moves names.)

Selene teleports away just as the swords would have gone through her chest.

You confront the Vampire And swing in such a way to draw him into your grapple. You use Sliding Glacier Grip to prevent his escape.  He is trying to bite you.  You feel something shift in your mote pump and then suddenly you are radiating solar essence. It is burning him and he is trashing against you. You are actually being hurt by the force of the thrashing.

You also sense the shadow's hold on him weakening.

I grit my teeth at the pain and force myself to maintain the grip. I'll call out to Leona:
"Leona, I need your help to push the shadows hold on him out. Selene, distance yourself. I don't know what allows this creature to get a hold, but I don't want it just switching into you."

Selene backs off at your command.
Leona comes in and grapples him with you. She emits all of her magic into her father with you.
You feel the shadows hold on the Vampire disappear.
He stops struggling and his hat falls off.



"You two...
Leona... And Surly not... Selene?"

I release my hold and back away slightly when he appears to have gotten a hold of himself. I'm still staying vigilant in case this is a ruse or the thing that had a hold on him is lurking here yet.

I can't help but smile when he realizes who Selene and Leona are and nods slightly, but allow Leona and Selene to do the talking. I make my way to keep an eye on the room from the doorway in so that I can start recharging after this massive resource expenditure.

Leona says
"...You really are him... You've changed. But you still look like him..."

Her guard relaxes. And you feel the darkness from the vampire blood flare.

He rushes Leona quicker than you can react and bites her on her neck.
Selene screams "Noooo!!!" and fires her Dark gun at him. He runs out the door out side.

Selene and Lita rush to Leona's side. She is laying on the ground.

Selene says
"Damn! She's been hit with Vampire blood. The Undeadening is advancing... The Lunar Child blood should be suppressing the change but it's not working. Why?! The reaction must be too strong! If it's not stopped, not only will she turn into a Vampire... she may lose her life. It's a risky gamble, but... the Pile Driver's the only option!"

Not entirely clear how I was both too far to react to him trying to bite her, and also not in the door standing guard.

I'll also rush to Leona though, and convert any remaining motes I have into water motes and send them into Leona's body to combat the progression of the undeadening. Once that's done and I listen to Selene I'll nod, "I've never summoned the Pile Driver, but I've watched enough times. I've set my water motes to holding the darkness at bay as much as possible. Please, bring her outside. I need to start charging for this immediately."

I rush outside and assume a lotus position, basking in the sun. I close my eyes and activate my mote pump, giving all my will and focus to absorbing solar motes. I'll then set about to preparing the solar driver the way I've seen Leona do it how many times.

When it's all ready, and Lita and Selene drag Leona into the center I'll begin the ritual, holding nothing back.

Sorry. Knew I forgot to explain something.  He split into a multitude of bats and went around you through the door.

You spend your water motes to slow down the undeadening. Then you go out into the sun and gather solar motes.

You go about summoning the Pile Driver. You feel Otenko aid you.
You instantly burn the sigil into the ground.

Selene and Lita drag Leona out. A coffin of darkness has formed around her. They drag the coffin to the center of the Pile Driver.

You start the Pile Driver and hear Leona's voice say "It's Hot!"

Is rather simple to purify her. She doesn't really attack. The most she does is try to shut the piledriver down with ectoplasim.

You finish purifying her and then she is standing in the center of the piledriver.
But she looks different.  Her skin is pale along with her hair being a paler shade of brown. Her eyes are now red. You sense she didn't turn completely into a Vampire. But her blood and energy are now tainted with darkness.

She starts burning up under the sunlight.

She seems in shock.
"I've... Changed..."

She stands there defiant for a little bit. Then she retreats into the building.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Thu 08 June 2017.

Having to put a friend through the pile driver is deeply saddening, but it stick with it through the process, tearing up slightly as she shouts that it's hot. I'm relieved when I see her standing there still alive but feel like I have at least partially failed as a guardian.

When she runs in, I'll say to the others " we need to be there for her, I can't imagine how tough going through something like this is. But let's make sure she knows she's not alone."

I'll then follow inside, looking for Leona.

You go inside and find her sitting on the ground out of the sunlight.

She speaks.
"...I can't call myself a Solar Magician now. The sunlight burns me but I also sense that I need sunlight to gather my magic... but..."

She takes her staff and a halberd of darkness forms at the end.

"My magic is of darkness now..."

She seems to be on the verge of tears.

"I've become like what I fought."

I put my hands out to the sides, walking forward in a non threatening gesture, palms facing Leona.

"Our source of powers are not what define us Leona, but what we do with them."
 I continue as I walk towards her,
"We have fought against the immortals because they are unjust. We have rid the world of those who seek to destroy humanity. It is those qualities, not the source of their powers, that is important."
And I move forward and pull her into a hug before continuing.
"I am sorry that I failed you, that it didn't get there in time to stop him, and that I didn't realize it was a ruse. But I consider everyone here as close as family. I will not stop supporting you now. We will either figure out how you can adapt to live with these powers or how to purge the remaining darkness. We managed to stop its progress pretty early on so maybe there's still hope. Kyotsu may know more, but for now just know that we are all here for you."

You approach her in a non threatening manner. You hug her and she feels cold to the touch. Like the stone below her sucked the heat out of her. She returns the hug for a little bit. But she starts sniffing. She breaks away from you.
She says
"...Even that is denied from me... We need to check the seal on the Immortal below. I doubt our Vampire was the one sealed below.

Selene seems to be deep in though.
"Something was odd about that Vampire. He knew Leona's name before we encountered him.
...Well She still charges her magic in sunlight...So there is some hope I think. We should talk to Kyotsu. He seems to know all sorts of things. I guess it comes with being part of a verser."

I don't understand what else she is saying is lost to her, but think better on asking for fear of being indelicate. "

I wince when Selene talks about the vampires peculiarities, not wanting to add to anyone's pain but not wanting to keep them in darkness.

"He knows her name, and yours, because he is your father. It is why I've been so dedicated to helping him instead of focusing on just destroying. He is being controlled by that other darkness... but we are here now, it would be best to check on the seal below, while we are here. I need to recharge however. I also am willing to pour solar motes into the mote bottle relic for you Leona. It may be less painful that charging in the sun."

I will recharge then, outside so that my mote pump can work at its best. I will help Leona recharge as mentioned if she wishes. Otherwise I'll push on, hopefully we can do some good today. I'll explore the pyramid, pushing on taking the lead and engaging the enemies. I am excising my anger and frustration at my failure on any undead that stand in my way.

They seem deep in thought at that.

You recharge outside, then transfer the energy over to Leona using the bottle.

You head into the next room. There is four statues of regal looking men with candles in front of them. There is an ornate door on the other side with mini sigils on it.

There is a stone with an inscription out in the center

'Give praise to the four king brothers who sealed away the Shadow, and light the kings’ candle stands, from the eldest to the youngest. But one of the kings is a liar.'

The statue of the Fire King has a inscription:'I am oldest and wisest of the four.'

The statue of the Water King  has an inscription:'I am youngest and most beautiful of the four.'

The statue of the Earth King has an inscription:'I am not the oldest but I am the strongest of the four.'

The statue of the Wind King has an inscription:'I am older than the king of water but I am the fastest among the four.'

I mumble to myself, thinking quickly.

"Logic puzzles, I've done these hundreds of times. Think quick Mike, think!"

"Ok, so the Wind King can't be the liar. As there is only one liar, and if the Water King is telling the truth and is the youngest, the Wind King can't be younger.

Likewise, the Earth King can not be the liar. If the Fire King is not lying and is thus the oldest, the Earth King is honest is saying he is not the oldest.

So that leaves the Water King or Fire King as the liars.

If the Fire King is lying, we know that the Water King is the youngest. We know that the earth king is not the oldest, and neither is the Fire King since he is lieing, so the Wind King is the oldest in that scenario. But The order could be Water->Earth->Fire->Wind or Water->Fire->Earth->Wind. In both those scenarios there is only one liar, and that liar is the Fire King. As such I must assume the fire king is not the liar, as it doesn't yield a finite answer.

So that leaves us with the Water King lying. So We know Fire is the oldest, Water king is not the youngest, and Wind is older than Water. So the order must be Earth->Water->Wind->Fire.

In that case, Fire is telling the truth, he's the oldest. Wind is telling the truth, he's older than Water. Water is lying, he's not the youngest. And Earth is telling the truth, as he's not the oldest. Further, it's finite, so I must assume I have missed something, and the secondary clues pointed towards Water lying instead of Fire."

With the I light the candles in the order of Earth->Water->Wind->Fire. Hopefully that works, and I'll press on.

OOC: Your logic is sound. But I was confused why you started from youngest to oldest.

You figure out the order of the four kings. You go to the Earth King's candles. Leona says.
"Your logic seems sound. But didn't it say to light them from eldest to youngest?"

Ooc) I over focused on determining order, and forgot to double check the order to light in.

"Oh, right. I do that sometimes, focus on determining the system and forget the initial direction. Thank you for catching me on it."

I'll light them in the opposite order then, having been corrected by Leona.

You light them in the correct order. The sigils on the next door grow dim.

You open the door and a large room with 4 sarcophagi.
You see four figures in there. You hear low voices say.
"We have failed."
"The shadow escaped."
"We are bound here to guard it."
"Destroy us, Release us from this torment."

The low figures rise. Each of their armors has a different elemental theme. Earth, Fire, Wind and Water.
The Earth figure has a great club of white stone like metal. It is studded with the same metal.
The Fire figure has two short swords of red hot metal.
The Wind figure has two chakrams of a sky blue metal.
the Water Figure has claws straped to his arms made of a metal as black at the depths of the ocean.

Can I tell which figure said which line? I'm cautious that one of them may still be the liar from the riddle. I suspect it might be the water king who said destroy us, and don't want to jump right into combat unnecessarily.

I draw deep on my bond with Vadahf to seek clarity of thought, and push my emotions of pain and anger aside, so that I can talk reasonably with these Kings.

I bow to each as they rise,
"I see you, Kings of Gaea. I must know more about this shadow though, as I will be pursuing this shadow. I would much rather have your aid in righting the wrong that happened here, than to engage in senseless battle, after all, I am a student of each of your domains. What can you tell me about the shadow that was bound here, that I might purge it from the world."

I'm letting my aura flicker between their four elements, a sign of respect to them, but also to prove my statement of being a student.