Gizmo
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"Ha! What is he, like eighteen?" Erik asked, recalling his brief rooftop run-in with the fun-sized Avenger knock-off. "That's explain the whole trying-to-be-Dad-but-won't-admit-it vibe. I get a lot of teenagers at the school-- oh, I'm teaching self-defense now." He walked over and retrieved a couple of beers from the cooler while Talyor was reassuring her doctor friend and sauntered back over. "They all figure they'll take a couple of classes and turn into Bruce Lee, right? Usually a couple of good kids who stick with in from every bunch, though." Handing one of the cans to Elis he popped the tab on the other for himself. "Family thing, huh? We know how that goes, eh love?" he commiserated, looking over to his wife but otherwise leaving it at that. He caught Jack's eye as the broader man looked over and offered a small shrug. Not that long ago he would have had a lot more to say about a new face walking around with everybody unmasked but the doctor had some good character witnesses and Erik supposed he'd mellowed some. Maybe. "Oh, um," Ellie began, a little distracted as she strained her neck to keep an eye on Yolanda with a small frown at her reaction to the other girl, "well, a lot of those guys honestly aren't that bright so--" Her brain caught up to her mouth and she realized that she wasn't exactly achieving the desired level of humility in response to Elis' compliment. "Ah! I mean... thank you...?" She caught Mara's hand and gave it a small squeeze, hoping against hope that her girlfriend could rise to the occasion and be the less socially awkward between them. "I'm just glad there was the option to take more advanced courses. And emergency medicine, yeah," she added in response to the older guy with super-speed who looked a little familiar even if she couldn't place him exactly.
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"Nnnh..." Kimber removed her arms from around Tarva's neck to place her hands on either side of her nose, her eyes squeezed tightly shut for a moment. "Ooooh marmalade. Alright, this is... alright. Tarva. Honey." Keeping her voice low as well, the poltergeist reached down to take both of Tarva's hands in her own. "Listen, this is very, very important. I know you'd never, ever do anything to hurt the baby but kidnapping is still bad even if nobody ever finds out." With a stricken look that she couldn't entirely hide even as she did her very best not to panic or upset the sorceress unduly she glanced down at the sleeping child. "Just... really bad. I understand how much this means to you, honest sweetie, but we need to take her home right away, okay? Please? Then we can talk about better ways to do something like this, eh? Like babysitting, maybe, without all the abduction."
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"Phwahaha, okay, yes, good puppies, ha!" Kimber giggled as the hounds displayed their approval, scratching their heads until the retreated into the shadows then wiping her face with the back of one arm. "Oh, just the one little secret?" she asked dryly as she floated after Tarva high enough off of the ground to bring her to eye level for the powerfully built priestess. Her outline unfocused as though she'd just slipped into the very edges of Tarva's peripheral vision before snapping back into clarity with her disheveled hair back in place and her sweater dress and leggings reappearing. Tossing her arms around the other woman's neck from behind she her legs float nearly parallel to the floor behind her. "You know... technically I'm never really wearing clothes, per se." As she grinned broadly the toppled objects scattered about the room collected themselves into one out of the way corner to be properly rearranged later. Still hanging around Tarva's neck like a very affectionate scarf she gave her partner a more serious look. "It's not actually a baby, is it? I promise I won't be mad but if it is you really need to tell me."
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Kimber's eyes winded in surprise at Tarva's admission, which had obviously not been what she had been expecting to hear. The hounds bouncing up onto the bed sufficiently distracted her for a moment as well, however, yelping as the recoiling mattress tossed her slightly into the air where she hung levitating for a few moments until the shadowy beasts had settled themselves. She settled back down with her legs tucked under her with an exasperated sigh but the hounds looked so happy and they made Tarva happy and she'd never really been very good at staying annoyed anyway. "Oh alright, you precious stinky puppies, fine," the poltergeist laughed brightly, reaching out one hand tentatively so that the closest hound could smell it, not entirely sure how they were likely to react to anyone other than their mistress. As for the shadow witch in question, Kimber put the index finger of her free hand to Tarva's lips briefly before replacing it with her own for a slow, deep kiss. She did her best to communicate every ounce of warmth and reassurance that she could but even with her recently expanded experience she still felt the need to eventually break away and growl, "You can say anything to me." It came out fiercer than she'd really intended, pressing up against Tarva's shoulder and touching their foreheads together. "I may not be ready for that and I'm not sure-- I don't know how we'd-- I'm not saying no. Okay? This is the sort of thing I want you to talk to me about." She embraced the taller woman tightly, listening closely to her heartbeat.
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"I guarantee that nobody has ever been this pleased to cuddle with their pretty girl," Kimber confirmed, draping herself over top of Tarva as the sorceress rolled to look up at the ceiling, careful to avoid her scars without drawing attention to them. She ran the tip of her nose along the edge of Tarva's jawline slowly, interspersed with little kisses from smiling lips. "Just please don't make me wait that long again! I want to learn how to... all of that, for you. All of that would be good." She lifted her chin to meet Tarva's eyes when she grew more philosophical, curious. "Besides staying right here where it's warm and soft and naked?" she teased. "I'm not really sure. I've never really lived in a house like normal people." It was a noticeable change in the way the ghost framed such thoughts, with no mention of lost memories or what she assumed she'd done when she was alive. She was her own person now, distinct from the girl who'd gotten lost in the woods as surely as siblings were distinct. "What do you want to do now?"
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Robin's talk about alternate dimensions and alien worlds might as well have been in another language to Winifred so she instead focused on the offer to bring her outside. "Ah, no, thank you. I think I should like to minimize the amount of time I spent being carted about like a sack of flour, much as I appreciate your seeing to my current infirmity." She managed a small smile and was about to respond to Cathy when Raina handed her the small pile of snacks. She looked from the foil wrapped rectangular prism to the puffy sealed bag with its garish logos advertising an 'explosion of flavour' to the ribbing up and down the plastic bottle and took a slow breath. "...apples," she said finally, holding up the fruit in one hand while she cradled the bottle of water in the other, eyes squinting with the effort of staying calm and focused. "I am... familiar... with apples." She took a sip of water that turned into a long, messy pull as she realized how dry her throat was, ending with her wiping the corner of her mouth with the sleeve of her borrowed jumper. "You made a bucket appear with a wave of your hand," she pointed out to Hannah with a cough, a little embarrassed by the minor mess she'd made. "'Regular' has perhaps taken on an ironic secondary meaning in recent years?"
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It had taken knocking over the shelf that held Kimber's meager collection of physical possessions, sending souvenirs rolling across the floor, and several conspicuous thumping sounds against the walls that surely would have been noticed by anyone passing by but eventually the hitherto unused bed was given the opportunity to justify its presence in the room. Sheets that were normally left undisturbed save for the castle staff switching them out every other week to guard against mustiness were left bunch and tangled, heavier blankets tossed unceremoniously to the foot of the bed where they couldn't get in the way. Curled against Tarva's torso with her head tucked under the sorceress' chin Kimber was exhaustively confirming that her still novel corporeality extended to every square centimeter of her surface area. "You... are truly truly my very favourite bad decision," she purred, idly tracing the musculature of her lover - !!! - with an index finger.
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Set recoiled from the transforming ankh with a look of revulsion that quickly gave way to a look of utter hatred of visceral intensity. "Apep," he growled, snout curling to bare his elongated canines, enough loathing etched into the two syllables to wither any living thing caught too close. Set's shoulders heaved up and down with accelerating breath as he stared murder at the unconscious White Knight, crimson electricity sparking violently about his fingertips as he took a step forward. Fingers clenched into claws and static rippling through his dreadlocks the godling stalked forward, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. He stopped no more than a half dozen paces away from the object of his wrath, visibly shaking with fury. He stood stock still for a long moment then screwed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth, taking slow, ragged breaths. Nearby Sekhmet straightened up into her human form and looked on with grave concern but made no move to interfere. After a long moment and obvious effort Set let his hands fall loosely to his sides and shook his head like a dog shaking off water. When he opened his storm grey eyes he'd shifted into his own fully human appearance. From the way his left foot was fidgeting he was clearly still agitated, only just holding onto his composure. Looking about for some distraction he narrowed his eyes in Monsoon's direction and pointed a pair of fingers emphatically first at his own eyes then in the princess' direction. "You, Typhoon-in-a-Teacup! Why are you... nngh!" He made a irritable gesture that encompassed all of the woman. "And I want my ring back!"
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Set's expression as she regarded the reunited father and daughter was difficult to read but Phantom's florid address seemed to snap her out of her melancholy, a broad grin splitting the godling's face. "Ah, arcades, how nostalgic! The original microtransactions, you know. And tis always greater fun to win when one knows the other party be already cheating!" Cracking her knuckles in an oddly dainty manner she called to her taller companions, "Come, Sekhmet, we shall need your exceptional reflexes and disproportionate sense to competition!" Catching the eye of the little girl as they began to walk off, Set offered a small wave and a wink before returning to idle chatter and grandiose gestures.
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Avro scrambled around to look in the same direction as Jessie when she jumped backward, continuing around in two full circles as he found nothing amiss. "Mmrrrow?" Facing the startled visitor again he sat down on the hallway floor with his head tilted to one side quizzically, segmented tail swishing back and forth as he waited for her to continue toward the kitchen. "Aw, I'm sorry!" Kimber apologized, bringing one hand to her cheek and looking distressed by Jessie's distress. "Avro's just a kitten, we saved him from a poacher and now we take care of him! The waffles will really be waffles?" she offered hopefully. After a moment she was forced to admit, "Unless I mess up the recipe again. It's hard to know if you're doing it right when you can't actually eat what you make, but I get bored sometimes and like to try anyway!" Looking to Aquaria she offered a broad smile. "People usually think it's weird when I stick my hand through them! Go ahead, I won't even feel it! Neat, right?"
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Timberwolves Toughness Save vs DC 31: 5#1d20+10 21 17 12 24 15 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 4HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x3 [NORTH] 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [NORTH] 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [SOUTH] 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, 2HP [SOUTH] > 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x4 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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Pulled closer, Kimber let her knees cinch around Tarva's waist, even if she was still supporting her own levitating weight. "Oh, so the needy teenager look wasn't getting you going? Heh, yeah, me neither," she laughed knowingly, glancing away briefly and saying outright what the witch was dancing around. With dark tresses hanging in front of her eyes she inhaled slowly, throat feeling thick. "Tarva, I would really," she began, lifting her free hand to tangle it in the other woman's hair, "really," her voice huskily dropped half an octave, "really like to take that dress off of you with my teeth. But." She had to clear her throat softly before she was able to reluctantly continue. "I'm not going to be some distasteful chore you feel like you have to do to earn your keep. I won't be your excuse to stop trying to do better." The fingers in Tarva's hair clenched and her shoulder blades clenched together like she was bracing for a blow. "If you can't promise me that..."
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Jotun Skeleton Toughness Save vs DC 29: 1d20+13 24 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 4HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [SOUTH] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x3 [NORTH] 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [NORTH] 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [SOUTH] 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] > 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, Set-Up, 2HP [SOUTH] 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x4 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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Floating above Temperance and Revenant's head at eye level with the horde of jotun skeleton's surrounding them, Kimber rolled the shaft of her scythe back and forth in her hands, getting a feel for its weight. "Don't suppose you fellas want to pack up and go home...?" she offered with a confident grin, practically brimming with energy. The closest of the shambling giants responded by taking a swing at her with an arm that was more sickly green ice than bone and promptly lost the limb as the phantom's weapon sheared cleanly through its elbow in a single swing. "Didn't really think so, ha!" Surging forward through the air she brought the scythe around in a broad arc, letting its momentum carry her from one skeleton to the next, dancing through the air like an angel of death. The blade didn't seem to splinter bone or shatter ice where it passed but instead snipped the ethereal threads animating the monsters, causing them to collapse in her wake like abandoned marionettes. Within moments the menacing ring of skeletons had been reduced to a jumbled mass of femurs and vertebrae sticking out of the snow. "I could get used to this! Better go help the boys, I'll back up Wraith!" Kimber called down to the lawyer and college student before zipping off toward the Kinigosi warrior.
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Ghost Girl Free Action: Activate 'Indira’s Instruction' Standard Action: Take 10 for Spirit Sever vs Jotun Skeletons, with Takedown Attack 2. The Drain isn't really relevant since none of them can pass the DC 29 Will Save for the Damage effect! That clears the skeletons who were surrounding Temperance and Revenant; the remainder are circling Citizen. Move Action: Fly toward Wraith and the Timberwolves. 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 4HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [SOUTH] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x3 [NORTH] 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [NORTH] 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [SOUTH] > 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, -2 Defense, Set-Up, 2HP [SOUTH] 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x5 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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"Good question," Kimber agreed, letting Tarva take her hand without resistance and watching the weaving with interest. She certainly didn't mind being all but pinned against the door frame by the Terminus expatriate's presence if her thoughtful humming was any indication. Once the shadow witch was finished looping her threads about the poltergeist stretched up on her tiptoes then lifted soundlessly into the air until she was the one looking down slightly at Tarva, sweater bunching up as her spine slid along the wooden trim. Her slightly bent knees hovered to either side of the taller woman's waist as she kept their faces close enough that Tarva could have felt her breath had there been any to feel. "Also a good question: since when do you come out and actually say what you want, hmm, pretty girl?" The top of her hair brushed against the top of the doorway she let out of a little laugh. "It's not like you ever needed to wait for me to come up with a solution for being incorporeal. Why do direct all of the sudden?"
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Jack looked back up at the open skylight in spite of himself wondering if anyone else was going to suddenly appear from above. "I know what you're thinking," he added aloud, turning back to the bemused police officers with his hands raised in his defense. "You're thinking, 'Jack of all Blades, beloved idol of millions, are you inexorably drawn to powerful women and they to you?' The answer is yes, my friends, you can ask my wife." Waiting for one of the officers to crack a smile the fencer let his expression turn a little more serious. "Listen, I know we're messing up your paperwork here and I'm not trying to yank you guys around but I guarantee you whatever other rules she was breaking Bombshell is ten times too good at everything she does to screw up like this, even if she was still stealing from places like this." It was a little too qualified to really count as a ringing endorsement but he wasn't trying to convince them to be the cat burglar's new best friends, just to start looking for the real thieves. "This is sounding more and more like an amulet-in-an-urn type smash-and-grab and those always end with some lunatic talking about the stars being in alignment for his ascension to blah blah blah and that is a way bigger headache for everybody than a delightfully sassy British lady with personal boundary issues."
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Timberwolves Toughness Save vs DC 23: 5#1d20+10 19 25 26 21 25 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 4HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [SOUTH] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x3 [NORTH] 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [NORTH] > 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [WEST] 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, -2 Defense, Set-Up, 2HP [SOUTH] 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x12 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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Stopping in the doorway, Kimber stared at Tarva, surprised, focusing on those long legs for a long beat longer than could have reasonably been played off as casual before clearing her throat and leaning against the door frame. Glancing down to her feet she addressed the manticore winding about her ankles and sniffing the air suspiciously, scorpion tail raised. "How about a little privacy?" "Rrrrowwr..." "Opinion noted," the poltergeist replied, folding her arms. "Go keep Indira company, okay?" "Mmrrrf." With a backward look at the woman in the black dress Avro padded off down the hall, making little brassy sounds of annoyance to himself as he went. Reaching up with one hand Kimber fiddled absently with the pendent framed by the low folds of her thigh-length cowl neck sweater. The top was a rich royal blue just as the rest of her was coloured with shades of the same from sea green eyes to beryl freckles dusting across her nose but she wasn't translucent and the door frame creaked slightly from her weight. "You're looking... lovely, yourself. Special occasion?" The Canadian woman had been coming across as considerably more confident and less easily flustered since the ritual in Jotonhiem but she obviously a little distracted just then. "I don't think I mixed up our rooms..."
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"Unique be good, handsome. Get some rest." Although she had more she would have liked to say to Huang's father the godling wasn't on the mortal plane because she wanted to get into heated arguments with other people's obnoxious relatives. Instead she let the pair leave without objection; obviously the dhampir was going to need time to recuperate and the mood had certainly been irreparably damaged. Planting her hands on her hips once they were out of earshot she confided to Frost, "Well, not so raw a deal. I placed my number in his phone whist we waited. And set the ringtone to a terribly catchy Janelle Monáe track. And made a rather flattering self portrait of myself his wallpaper." She glanced over at Frost and looked fairly smug for someone who'd been caught accidentally getting her impromptu makout partner high. "Quite fetching, even. I have every confidence a second date be imminent." Tilting her head to one side she considered his offer. "...actual fun or Russian 'fun'?"
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With the ritual having reached its explosive conclusion the oversized wolves hunched warily to the ground, growling as the shockwave washed over them. Once Ghost Girl reappeared their growls turned into save barks and howls as the pack redoubled its efforts. One group converged on Wraith, the closest target on the ground and began harrying the alien warrior in coordinated strikes. One timberwolf leapt forward with snapping jaws while another waited for the Kinigosi to shift out of the way before attacking with thorn-like claws. The remaining wolves reached the far side of the bluff and began making their way up to the top with agile jumps, moving lithely from one rocky outcropping to another with sinister intent.
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Timberwolves Combined Attack vs Wraith: 5#1d20+12 14 29 23 24 18 That's a DC 29 Toughness Save for Indira. The remaining five circle around to the opposite end of the telekinetic barrier. 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 4HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [SOUTH] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [NORTH] > 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [WEST] 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [WEST] 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, -2 Defense, Set-Up, 3HP [SOUTH] 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x12 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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Winifred heaved once in the direction of Hannah's prismatic bucket but nothing but air and a retching sound came up. Placing the back of one hand to her mouth, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and breathed slowly and deliberately through her nose for a while, ignoring all of the attempted reassurance while she tried futilely to regain her sense of equilibrium. When Robin's last question finally sank in she reflexively began to answer, "Ye-- No. ...no, I think I should be grateful not to be alone just now." Taking a shuddering breath through her mouth and opened her eyes, looking between the girls slowly. "If what you say is true - and fantastic as it may be it seems the only explanation - then everyone I have ever... Everyone... My parents..." Her shoulders rocked again as she fought off another surge of nausea. "Ah--! Water, yes, please. Perhaps an open window? I do not trust my legs to support me just now."
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Hopping back in initiative to wrap up the fight! I'll need Initiative rolls for Nick and Equinox as well. Blue Fox is currently up to bat. Ghost Girl Initiative: 1d20+3 15 > 33 - Blue Fox - Uninjured, 5HP [SOUTH] Telekinetic Barrier +13 Toughness [SOUTH + EAST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [WEST] 25 - Timberwolves - Uninjured x5 [EAST] 23 - Papercut - Bruised x1, 3HP [WEST] 15 - Ghost Girl - Uninjured, 3HP [WEST] 13 - Citizen - Injured x1, 0HP [WEST] 12 - Wraith - Uninjured, -2 Defense, 3HP [SOUTH] 12 - Temperance - Bruised x1, Dazed, 2HP [WEST] 11 - Jotun Skeletons - Uninjured x12 [WEST] 9 - Revenant - Uninjured, 1HP [WEST] 3 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, 1HP [BLUFF] ? - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF] ? - Equinox - Uninjured, 4HP [BLUFF]
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The towering skeleton that had crushed Temperance's ice barrier staggered back a step and lifted a hand of tainted replacement fingers, trying to shield its lidless eyes from the searing light. Just as the shockwave of released power rumbled past it the air was split by a high pitched whistling --SHIIIIING--. The undead jotun stood unmoving for a moment before the top of its rib cage slid to the left while the bones just above its pelvis slid to the right. The skeleton collapsed noisily in a heap, sheared clean through in more than a half a dozen placed before ever even identifying its attacker. With the gradually fading light from the bluff behind, Kimber descended slowly from on high. Gone was the shapeless reaper's cloak, replaced by a regal coat that still fluttered about her ankles with a tattered hem in her customary array of blues but was belted at the waist below dramatically flared shoulders emblazoned with a glittering ice crystal pattern that wrapped around to the top of her back. The bold capital G had moved from her chest to the buckle at her waist while the top underneath billowed out in a loose cowl neck. Reaching up with one hand to pull back the coat's low hanging hood, she revealed a face that appeared aged several years from the youthful visage she'd worn since her classmates had first met her, lips subtly fuller and cheekbones slightly higher. This wasn't a version of the girl who had survived longer before her untimely end, but a matured continuation of the Kimber they already knew. In her opposite hand was a slender shaft of faintly luminous wood, curving in a gentle S shape. A stylized skull charm hung from one end which the other was tipped with a wicked blade longer than her arm, impossibly jet black but still gleaming reflectively. The tang was ornamented with elegantly craved ivory, etched with patterns that matched those on her coat but which seemed to shift as one looked away and then back. As the ghost swung the scythe through the air experimentally it made the whistling sound again, slicing through the air as though it wished to cleave each molecule in twain. Testing its weight judiciously, Kimber deftly reversed her grip and swept it behind her to rest horizontally against the small of her back, gripping the other end with her free hand. She flexed slightly and there was a soft popping sound. "Aaah!" she sighed, voice just as melodic and cheerful but now more resonant, more confident. "You know I've had that crick in my back for almost twenty years?" Face splitting in a broad grin she twirled the scythe in one hand like a deadly marching band baton and pointed it toward the gathering mass of giant skeletons and massive bark-hide wolves. "Hello, boys! Who's next?"
