RavingScholar

Gen barks out a laugh at Heather's response to his powers. "That's the best part!" he crows in victory. He would have offered a high-five, but he still doesn't feel confident in restraining his damage output. It wouldn't do to send Heather flying fifty feet because of a high-five. ---- He returns Josef's thumbs-up with one of his own. The other boy seems...off, somehow, but he doesn't bring it up yet. Asking about his well-being in front of literally the entire village would be just rude. ----- "Woah. That thing looks sick," Eugenides says when Karl comes out with his blood-red spear. "Don't listen to Heather." ---- Gen nods along with Karl's declaration to Lily. The girl's choice of Blessing is inspired, her use of it clever, and it's just plain hilarious.

Rhys's entire body sags in obvious relief. . "He is on the first level of Mistral. About five-hundred yards away. I will get him. Whether to avoid a response from Anya to his response, or because he wants to get Robin back as soon as possible (spoiler alert: it's mostly the latter, but the former is definitely in there), Rhys gathers his Aura back around him and speeds off immediately towards Robin. Robin It's barely six seconds after Robin leaves the building he was in when Rhys lands in front of the other boy. Robin gets half-second to exclaim in surprise before Rhys grabs him in an Aura-rattling hug. "You're okay," he says, as if he's trying to convince himself. (Pausing here to give Dodge a chance to respond)

Rhys had already turned his nose up to try and search for Robin himself. He glances at Anya and grunts. "Robin was taken. Of course I would be upset," he says with his usual stoicism.

When Lapis manages to grab Jack back from Vlad, Rhys can't hold back a genuine sigh of relief. Like, full-bodied, audible. He wraps several dozen chains around Jack's torso, securing him along with Lapis's threads. The boiling anger demands blood from the monster. But the haunted nightmares of the Battle of Beacon demand something far more important. "Run away empty-handed. Next time, I will burn you alive." With those words, Rhys spits in Vlad's general direction and flips him the bird before making a hard U-turn. He does his best to not give his teammates whiplash as he sprints back towards NBS and Robin, to get Jack more healing and to mop up the remaining vampires.

It was time for the moment Gen had been anticipating for weeks--FREE FOOD!!! Two of his favorite things: delicious cuisine and lack of required payment. Regardless of what is put in front of him, no matter the size or quality, Eugenides happily takes it and scarfs it down. At one point he's balancing three plates when he turns to see Josef just holding a plate of uneaten food. "Are you gonna eat that?" he asks the other boy. If he gets the go-ahead, then he eagerly takes the plate from Josef and starts to chow down. Whether it's just a good poker face or nerves of steel (not literal steel, he didn't write that request on his body), it seems like Gen is utterly unfazed by the pomp and circumstance surrounding them. And really, why would he be nervous or shy or embarrassed? The only person he would truly want to impress isn't here, after all...and never will be again. By the time it's his turn to speech it up, three of his friends have already gone ahead. And damn, but what a spectacle they made! Josef was a good start, very on-brand for the introverted boy, but Remy and Heather really blew it out of the water. He suppresses a chuckle at the illusory Laurel's antics and stands up to take his turn. As he passes Heather he gives her a commiserating pat on the shoulder. When he takes his place on the stage and looks out at the gathered crowd, he takes a deep breath. "I'll try to keep this short. Hard to follow up both Remy and Heather" he starts with a grin. "For those of you who accepted my mother and me, who took pity on a boy who had lost his mother and helped him keep a roof over his head--thank you so much. I genuinely wouldn't be here without you." "And for those of you who scorned my mother for her past, who laughed behind my back when she died or even said she deserved it--you know who you are--all I can say is: I'm glad I'll never have to see your faces again." He lets that linger for a moment, partly to get his emotions back under control. His gaze sweeps over a gaggle of children, still staring slack-jawed, and he can feel his face soften. "And to all you kiddos out there, take it from me: you can do, or be, whatever you want. Always remember that, and nothing will be impossible for you." ----- Once inside the gazebo and away from prying eyes, tension leaves his body that he hadn't realized was there. Okay, so maybe he had been more nervous than he'd thought--or maybe it was calling out the people who had badmouthed his mom. That probably hadn't helped...well, anything. But what's done is done, and it made him feel, just, so much better. The sight of the pool is soothing to his nerves, like as if just the sight is bathing him in a relaxing pool itself. He quickly changes into the purified robes, then holds his two Tithes. The obsidian--smooth to the touch, but with as many facets as any true gemstone--he plans to bring into the pool with him. As for his mother's diamond ring...he spies a particularly beautiful ley-crystal that had grown tall and proud, with a flattened top like a flower's. He sets the diamond ring on the top of that ley-crystal, with the diamond facing the pool as if to let his mother watch. He steps calmly into the pool, obsidian in hand. The sense of pulling is a novelty that helps take his mind off of the truly monumental action he is taking. His life will forever be changed with this one action, in ways he can't possibly guess. His tattoos burn against his skin, reminding him of his what he wants from this--freedom. It's with that wish that his head fully submerges beneath the surface, and the Blessing begins. ----- After an eternity and no time at all Gen wakes on the surface of the pool. What...what was that? Were all Blessings so...vivid? It had shaken him to his very core, filling his every cell with confusion that overwhelms his senses. He shoves himself up to stand...and suddenly he's flying through the air. He lands with a crashing thud into a group of ley-crystals, making a ruckus that can easily be heard by those closest to the gazebo and pool. "What...?" He pushes himself up with his elbows, and even that small movement sends him ten feet in the air with a yelp. When he drops down he makes the mistake of pushing off with his right foot, which sends him hurtling leftward. He just barely manages to stop himself from crashing into yet more ley-crystal, and even the action of stopping himself leaves deep divots in the earth. "O...kay," he says slowly. Every inch of his body is tense with the force of not moving. He'd never known not moving could take so much effort. The gleam of the ley-crystal catches his attention, and he turns to see the ley-crystal he had put his mother's ring on had grown even further and gained a diamond-like sheen. For the first time today, he feels a twinge of embarrassment, as if his mom had caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. With a sheepish laugh, he slowly starts the process of putting his clothes back on without ripping them at the seams. Before he leaves, he makes sure to harvest the diamond-like ley-crystals. ----- He makes what entrance he can--running out of the gazebo at top speed. Top speed, in this case, happens to cause a sonic boom when he stops. The stopping is the hard part, leaving two trenches from his feet in the ground. He windmills his arms when he stops and gives a sheepish chuckle. "So I'm faster, but also stronger! Watch this!" He goes to the nearest bench of people and tells them to hold on to each other. Going in the middle of the bench, he picks up the whole bench in one shot, all ten of the seated villagers and all. He holds them clear above his head without trembling for a solid thirty seconds before setting them back down. He returns to his seat with a satisfied chuckle, but also with the knowledge that he'll need to be even more careful not to hurt anyone with so much new strength. OOC Deception to Evaluate Mobility to Improve Speed, -2 Impaired

Perception Expertise (Knights)

Eugenides shrugs, but sets the waterskin next to Karl anyway. He'll pick it up if the other boy chooses not to drink from it, but that's the least he can do to show his continued concern. The guy always works too hard, way too serious about every little thing. Gen always thought he needed to learn to pace himself. Lily's comment on the Baron piques his curiosity--how much did she talk to the Baron? Is she a noble, too? He muses on those and other thoughts as they board the VTOL. He keeps up with Heather's conversations through the flight, happy to talk like they all had before going to training. Training until you bled and falling asleep immediately made it hard to catch up, after all. The Baron's food is eaten with tremendous gusto; seconds and thirds are asked for by Gen. He always did appreciate a good meal, always licked the plates clean even of the training gruel. He still sleeps like a log, as per usual the past year, and makes sure to follow Heather in voicing his appreciation for the Baron's hospitality. Overall, Gen feels...content, throughout the day. As if everything is falling into place. He couldn't say why he feels that way, only that as the VTOL comes in for the landing in Greenbrook, the thought of hundreds of people staring at him doesn't even give him pause. The only person whose gaze he cared to impress is long gone. He'll have to visit his mother's grave after the Blessing ceremony to let her know how he's doing. With those thoughts in mind, as the VTOL doors open, he stands straight and proud with a confident smile.

Rhys Resistance DC 18 Counter-Disarm resistance

Memories flash in Rhys's vision once more, of Jade and Marron, of Pyrrha in the box that could have been her tomb. Rhys has faith in Robin's abilities. He can take any of these scum down no problem. But Jack is unconscious, and in the hands of a literal monster. It's not even a choice. "Anya, Lapis--grab on!" he shouts, as he lets out a few dozen feet of chain. The rest of the chains of Athloi wrap around his fists, wrists, and arms, like boxing tape and gloves. He looks at the remaining members of JNBS. "We'll get him back, I swear it!" And after waiting a heartbeat for Lapis and Anya to hitch their rides, Rhys disappears from sight in a split second of hasted movement. It's easy enough to track him, though--the chains of his weapon still sing with sun-bright light and corresponding heat. He catches up to Vlad, panting, and assumes a fighting stance. "You know nothing of our reputation, it seems," he growls. With a howl he launches at the vampire with blisteringly-fast blows. He makes sure to hit the vampire with only parts of his body covered by his shining chains, aiming for exposed skin to cause maximum damage. With one chain-wrapped hand he goes for Vlad's throat, and with the other he tries to crush the hand and arm holding Jack to force the man to drop him. The dozens of strikes aren't just to grab, though--they're to lay the groundwork of his chains, attempting to immobilize and capture the sonovabitch so he can't escape further. OOC Extra Effort: Power Stunt Sunlit Wrestling: Environment 2 (Light 2, Feature [Acts as Direct Sunlight]), Strength 10 (Extra Condition, Penetrating), Affliction 10 (Impaired+Immobilized/Disabled+Stunned, Extra Condition, Limited Degree, Secondary Effect). Reduced Defense 5, Enhanced Resistance 5, Flight +8, Ranged 1, Feature (Whisking), Feature (Supreme Grappler [May use any body part to maintain a Grab, and unless the Grab is broken or released Rhys can change which body part is doing the Grab as a non-action]) Free action: Can't fail Mobility to Improve Speed. Move action: Chase after Vlad, using Whisking to yoink Anya and Lapis for the ride. Standard action: Sunlit Wrestling, AoA/PA for 5, vs DC 25+Penetrating Grab+Disarm, Affliction (Impaired+Immobilized/Disabled+Stunned, Secondary Effect). Vlad Extraordinary Effort: DO IT AGAIN, now that there's just one enemy to nova on. If Vlad failed the Grab/Disarm earlier, it'll be just a Trip to get him prone. Vlad 2.0 Status: Fatigued, Incapped by exhaustion next round, Defense at 10 Bah, what the heck, I'll throw an HP at that second one: Vlad 2.0 Reroll

Rhys Deflect DC 22 Rhys Resistance DC 23, -4 for Bruises Rhys Resistance DC 18 Tanked both, though barely for the Weaken

Eugenides is all confidence and grins, even after the year of grueling training and the March of the Novices. Perhaps unlike most of his contemporaries, he's enjoyed the past year. How could he not? He got out of Greenbrook, finally! He got to see more than just the woods and streams and ponds he had haunted and memorized like the back of his hand. So even when he would go to bed bone-tired and dead to the world, he never stopped counting his blessings. He bid farewell to Kirel and Clayton, the fellow trainees he had been closest to the past year. Well, closest to aside from the rest of his quintet from Greenbrook, at least. Either way, they were good guys, and he wished them the best. He made sure to stay out of sight of Jorel, the brat he had thrashed years ago. They had squared off countless times over the past year, and it was generally best if neither one was within one hundred meters of the other. The weight of his new weapon hangs heavy on his back, and he unconsciously raises his hand to grip the handle as if to reaffirm it is there. It is a masterwork--elegance and weight perfectly mixed together, requiring insane strength just to lift, let alone wield. Six feet of solid steel, Gen is just barely taller and wider. Yet even without a Blessing he can utilize it to its fullest capacity. As he approaches their designated VTOL, he raises a hand to greet his fellows who had already arrived. He scrubs through his longish brown hair, swept back into a ponytail that is both artful and nonchalant at the same time. He moves with a fluid grace that belies his solid, well-muscled body, and his amber-gold eyes peek out from his comely features. Waiting his turn, he enters the VTOL and gives Archivist Levont a respectful nod. "Recruit Eugenides, inspecting his Tithe," he says. Opening his chest, there is a single object within. "A chunk of obsidian that resonated with me when I touched it in the Archives. That is all." Outside of his chest, all he plans to bring into the Pool is his mother's diamond ring, given to her by his sperm donor along with all the lies a man can give a woman. Hidden beneath his tunic is the inscription for "Freedom" written on his left breast; and on either bicep is the inscription for "Fortitude" and "Strength". His intonation done, he nods to the Archivist again and steps outside of the VTOL. A quick glance appraises the social situation--Heather engrossed in conversation with the outlier (as usual), Josef brooding to the side (as per protocol), and Karl...flopped on the ground like a puppet without its strings (out of the ordinary). Gen walks over to the seated teen. Placing a hand on Karl's shoulder, he shakes his waterskin. "Need some water?" he asks with a grin.

Rhys bounces off the debris as they all freefall and lands in a three-point stance as Ben sends the debris hurtling around like giant billiard balls. And even as the monster in human form lashes out at his friend, Nick, he throws himself in front of the strike to take it head on. Once he stops, he takes it all in at a glance and feels his anger rise once more. His hand grips the handle of his axe so tightly he can feel his skin start to get friction burns just from the contact. Friction...that may be something he can use. Focusing his not-inconsiderable strength into his grip, he feels the metal of his axe begin to heat him. He feels feverish himself, his own body heat rising with his emotions and adrenaline, and that heat pours into his axe and makes the blade bright red. With a final roar something in his Olympian Semblance catalyzes the heat--and his entire body suddenly begins to glow with a blindingly bright light, as if the midday sun had suddenly dropped into the basement of this hostel. "Bottom-feeders like you always skulk in the darkness," he growls as he hefts his searingly-bright axe. With blinding speed he dashes across the battlefield, hacking even at those vampires who are gaseous with vicious strikes. He ends in the spot he began, breathing heavily, but staring defiantly at Vlad Pale. OOC Power Stunting off of Rhys's full Huntsman Array: Apollo's Light: Environment 3 (Light 2, Feature [Treated as direct sunlight]); Ranged Olfactory Detect [Physical Condition][Emotions][Skill][Aura], Affliction 10 (Impaired+Vulnerable/Disabled+Defenseless, Extra Condition, Limited Degree, Shapeable Area, Secondary Effect); Damage 10 (Shapeable Area, Incurable). Reduced Defense 5, Enhanced Resistance 5. All effects gain the descriptor [Energy][Light]. Move action: Dazed. Standard action: Attack all the enemies with Apollo's Light, AoA for 5. DC 25/20 vs Damage (Incurable), Affliction (Impaired+Vulnerable/Disabled+Defenseless, Secondary Effect) Oh, and these crit on a 16+. V2,4,7,9,10,11,14,15,17,18,20,Vlad Status: Bruised 5, Fatigued, Exhausted next round Evaluate: 1d20+25

Rhys Resistance DC 23, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity Rhys Resistance DC 18, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity Rhys Resistance DC 25, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity Rhys Resistance DC 18, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity Rhys Resistance DC 28, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity Rhys Resistance DC 18, +2 for Mundane Energy Immunity After all that, Bruised 2+Dazed. And then Rhys will Interpose for the hit on Nick and use a Hero Point to fuel his Ultimate Effort (Resistance) for a 31, so Bruised again.

It finally gets through to Rhys that punching is not the most helpful thing he can be doing right now. He's been so laser-focused that he subconsciously limited his own options. Rushing blindly in hasn't worked so far, and Robin might not have time for him to waste. So he throttles his emotions and unlimbers Athloi, the Labors, from his back. The wickedly-curved axe shifts and transforms into an enormous bow that he wields with deft finesse. As he nocks each arrow and fires enough to blot out the sun, they drip wicked poison and blaze with napalm-like hellfire that will seek to leech the target's defenses and resistances alike. OOC Arrays set to: Ranged Combat Training: Ranged 4, Strafing (Feature: Become able to move between Multiattack attacks) {5} Apollo's Senses: Olfactory Counters Concealment (Power Stunt) {5} Hyppolyta’s Belt: Reduced Defense 5, Enhanced Resistance 5. {10} Brute Force: Weaken Resistance 10 {10} Lernean Poison: Weaken Gains Secondary Effect {10} Cerberus Hellfire: Weaken gains Multiattack, Extra Condition (Defense) {20} Stymphalian Archery: Weaken gains Shapeable Area {10} Agility of Hermes: Enhanced Flight 5 {5} Push Through: Mundane Energy Immunity {5} Move action/Move-by Action: I have 120ft of movement to play with, so moving appropriately to be able to get angles on all the vamps. Standard action: Stymphalian Archery, Multiattacking for 3, All-Out Attacking for 5. Rolling at +12 vs DC 20 Secondary Effect Weaken Resistance/Defense. Edit: Oh, and these crit on a 16+. Vampire 4 Vampire 7 Vampire 10 Vampire 11 Vampire 15 Vampire 16 Vampire 17 Vampire 18 Vampire 19 Vampire 20 End turn in the same spot, why not. Status: Fatigued, Bruised 2, Defenses 10 HP: 2

Damage DC 23, -2 Bruises Weaken DC 18 Tanked