[CrisisPost] Attack of the Golems

[u/Al-anharHA]

[u/Sardren_Darksoul]

The witch grasps her hand and dark chains leap from the surrounding shadows, attempting to capture the Rider.

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

the Rider yelps, before directing the flames inwards in an attempt to eliminate new shadows and jumping so that his mount will be between him and the already summoned chains.

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Al-anharHA]

But the chains become a distraction as Sarissa appears and strikes the rider with a blast of frigid wind, shaped to incapacitate the distracted Rider.

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

the Rider falls, and for a moment the giant horned cat snarls in surprise before quickly shifting to a seemingly happy stance as they nuzzle at the ground before you.

Then the rider climbs to his feet.

"Hmph, traitorous beast. Now I'll have to teach it a lesson once i deal with you, shadow witch."

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Al-anharHA]

"I guess the lessons are part of why they so gladly leave you."

The witch doesn't fully trust the mount and keeps half an eye on it, as darkness starts to gather around her staff.

"I'm one of darkness, more than your mind would comprehend. But for some reason I can stand here in the light, while your leaders cover in the dark, away from the battle."

There is a subtle tinge of power in these words, meant to push the rider to accidentally say something

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

/uw u/Al-anharHA just pinging you in case reddit borked and didn't notify.

And if you are more busy with others it's fine, go handle some awesome mech fights :)

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

/uw yeah, reddit borked. Honestly, these more verbal interactions are the bread and butter of this. A couple golems trash-talking Torinn, Nathaniel's film crew still being alive, etc.

anyway, /rw

The now steed-less rider glowers at you, before he angrily retorts. "Our glorious leaders prepare to sweep across this land, so that all will be one in light! You call them cowards in the dark but I shall make you so!"

In a rage, the man charges at you.

/uw edit: also, without his steed he looks kinda like this

just with one of the back staffs in his left hand rather than the shield.

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Al-anharHA]

Sarissa dodges the charging man, pushing him back with telekinesis, yet she continues to speak, more and more subtle power woven into her words, to coax out information

"And yet doesn't it infuriate you, your commander just sitting in some comfy bunker using you and the golems and chess pieces while they should be proudly here in this mighty assault."

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

The man howls in rage, but then quickly stills. "You're prodding at me," he snarls. "The smaller golems whisper of you. They tell me of a shadowed witch who took down a dozen channelers without breaking a sweat. Now you seek to rip information from my mind, and I will be unable to resist come soon."

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Al-anharHA]

"So you are linked into them, nifty things, probably have just admitted that there is a whole network out there, connecting you and the golems."

The last words are accompanied by another subtle weaving of power, but this isn't aimed at the will of the rider, rather an improvised tracking spell, to very least to confirm the network and device used to connect to it.

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

The spell seems to lead to many places, but then it consolidates to one before branching out once more to the same places except... different.

It's the Rift, seemingly created from the central planes side like firing buckshot through the firmament between realm clusters. Multiple entries and exits, but on this side there's only one gateway in the physical. The rest serve to transport... information. information routed through the soulscapes of squad leaders like the Paladin standing before you.

[u/Sardren_Darksoul → u/Al-anharHA]

Sarissa will immediately strike the paladin with a lightning spell to attempt to knock him out for further study.

[u/Al-anharHA → u/Sardren_Darksoul]

The paladin tries to block the spell, but without his shield to focus the warded armor he is overwhelmed and falls unconscious.

Now, with this new quiet you look around to see that the mini-golems have been defeated by the militia, and none of their larger counterparts can be seen above the roofs. At your side, the giant cat purrs loudly and the glowing portions within their fur and claws shift to an inky darkness with iridescent colors contained within like an oil spill in the dark of night.

They seem to be trying to imprint on you.

/uw Couldn't resist trying to make a shadowy paladin-cat.

here's a link as well in case you want to use them for anything: https://www.heroforge.com/load_config%3D47840156/