Pandemonium

[tntoverlords.livejournal.com]

Characters: Mikoto, Warrior of Light, Firion, Refia, Edward, Locke, Genesis, Blank, Vivi, Rikku, Mjrn, Serah
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: The group finally confronts Garland.
Location: Pandemonium
Date: August 15, 1804
Warnings: Violence
Notes: Additional information on this week's segment can be found here. To see the entry walk into Pandemonium, you can watch here.

Out of the bleak starkness of the ruination that was Terra, there rose a dark shape. Entirely whole and ominous in mere design alone sat Garland's fortress. Large enough to compete with Lindblum Grand Castle for size, its shadowed approach led to a hulking edifice that defied destruction. The paths were disconnected circular stepping pads that would require deftness in leaping to navigate. Its owner had no visitors and no need to make for a welcoming walk. As the group approached, the heavy iron gates opened of their own accord. It was an invitation to enter. If they dared.

Comments

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

"No!" Refia's cry was loud and sharp as the light left Mikoto's eyes; fortunately Firion dove to protect her, or Refia might well have done it herself. That was it - Garland had lost all his chances. "Get back here you coward!"

And then the Wave hit her.

Being at the back of the group blunted some of the effect of it, but it still swept the small white mage off her feet and into the wall with a sharp thud. Once she could breathe properly again, the first thing she did was start lobbing Regens, one at everyone, including Mikoto. The next thing she did was run to Vivi. She didn't quite know what was going on with him but he wasn't going to go through it alone.

[knowshermachina.livejournal.com]

Being near the front of the group, Rikku barely even had time to react to watching Mikoto just...stop like that...before the wave of fire hit her and sent her tumbling to the ground with a squeal of pain. She lay there for a few seconds, waiting for her nerves to stop telling her maybe she should take a nap, before she sat up with a groan, reaching into her pouch to tug out two bottles.

She muttered something that might have been a thank you when she felt Refia's regen hit her, and then yanked the cork out of one of the bottles and downed the potion with a shiver, feeling it start to ease the pain as she hauled herself to her feet.

"That was...not fun..." She muttered, her eyes a little wide as she watched the tiny mage start to glow and hurl flares like they were candy. Wow. Well...she was going to do her part. She pressed the cork down harder into the second glass vial so that it wouldn't splash, and then hurled the flimsy container at Garland as hard as she could.

[cycleofchaos.livejournal.com]

As chaos erupted all around him, Garland retaliated with punishment of his own. The magical attacks being thrown at him stung, but by no means did enough significant damage to slow him. Cognizant of the abilities they each possessed, just from their reactions alone, he chose to take down those of the greatest threat to himself first: the warriors.

Using Psychokinesis, he raised his arm and levitated the weapons master into the air. He flipped his hand over and motioned towards the ground, which turned the unfortunate Firion upside down and sent him crashing to the ground.

That accomplished, he charged up a round of Flare, the cruel explosions blasting around every person, including the empty Mikoto.

[thisdesertrose.livejournal.com]

Firion didn't have time to charge when Light called out to, he felt himself lifted high into the air. "Wha-?!" And then he was falling, head first. He just barely managed to put his arm out first, just barely breaking his fall. His head still slamming into the ground, his arm snapping in two. He fell into a roll on his shoulder, crying out before darkness swiftly took hold of him.

[for-cosmos.livejournal.com]

Vivi's flares caused the Warrior of Light to draw to a halt before he could reach Garland. He had to wait for the explosions to clear before he could attack- it wasn't wise to jump into the middle of a Flare spell, after all, and he wanted to be able to see what Garland was doing. When the explosions cleared, however, it was already too late- Garland was raising his arm into the air.

The sound of Firion's shout made him whirl to see the weapons master being lifted into the air by Garland's power, then dropped headfirst to the ground. "Firion!" He shouted, when he heard the cry and the sound of breaking bone.

He turned on Garland angrily, ready to charge the man with sword and shield, but the man was already casting Flare as the Warrior turned to face him.

This time, he couldn't even get his shield up. He shouted in pain as the explosion erupted around him.

[nomerevessel.livejournal.com]

Though Vivi stood in her way, that didn't stop the Flare from hitting Mikoto. She took the damage silently, the magic searing through her body. Her only reaction was to stumble back and into a crouch, her tail brushing against the ground.

There she remained, while the Regen spell slowly healed her.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn stayed in the air as long as she could, trying to avoid the Flares. With the spell blasting all around her, she had not chance to reach Garland in time, not if she wanted to do more than a suicide run. While dedicated to their cause, the Viera dragoon would only consider that if all means were exhausted.

However, she couldn't stay airborne forever. Mjrn descended, not as close to Garland as planned, and narrowly avoided a Flare spell soaring past her...only to turn and see one speeding toward her anyway. She tried to dodge, but cried out while being unable to avoid the blast entirely.

When the blasts cleared, Mjrn wobbled back into a standing position and glared at their opponent. As Regen did its work, she focused her efforts on directing a Silence spell his way, hoping to buy them some time. Then she took to the air once more, intending on running him through with her spear.

[recites-always.livejournal.com]

The Flare was harsh, but Genesis was used to such attacks. And having the Fire Staff did help in resisting the magic. He was smoking once the explosion was finished and he was singed in more places than one, but the Regen certainly helped. With another flap of his wing, he was diving once more, his sword ready swipe cleaning through the air.

[morehatthanmage.livejournal.com]

The flare spell had certainly done its damage, it was fairly unlikely he would be able to stand were it not for the fact that right now he couldn't not, but Vivi didn't even flinch. It was in this state that his origins were clearest, despite Trance being entirely fuelled by emotion the small mage's actions weren't betraying anything of the sort, he moved like a mage who hadn't awakenned. The only hint that that was still Vivi in there was when he moved a little to remain in front of Mikoto.

He considered Doomsday, running on pure emotion right now and unable to think of things as mundane as restraint. It was all whatever part of his mind was still able to think of anything but burning Garland could do to keep him from using the suicide spell.

"Flare!" He shouted again, no longer trembling. "Flare!"

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Seeing Garland's reaction, Locke's thief instincts took action as he flung his boomerang and attempted to dive out of the way of the incoming onslaught. What would have been a successful dodge among other opponents found him flat footed as he took the brunt of the attack along with his companions.

It was only visions of his Returner family that gave him the strength to stand once more despite the burns along his legs. They had to win this battle before them. Everyone was counting on them and he wasn't about to succumb to defeat at the hands of this crazy man.

[melodiesoflute.livejournal.com]

Watching the slaughter in horror, Edward was almost hesitant to act. He knew Garland would be powerful, but this powerful?! The man was like the reincarnation of Golbez, except ten times worse than before. Deciding to lend his aid wherever he could, the bard began to play on his lyre. He was further away from the onslaught, making his distance prove to be a challenge for Garland's magic. However, Edward's magical lyre could reach the ears of his many companions.

Much like before, he opted to play the Haste March to boost his comrades speed. But they need more than just increased speed, that is why he began to play another tune after casting his first spell.

If the others feel as if they have been encased with a protective warm glow, it was because the bard cast his own version of Shellaga and Protectaga upon the party. Garland's magic would have a tough time knocking down his magical defenses, but goodness those spells could still a kill a man if his friends weren't careful.

[cycleofchaos.livejournal.com]

With weapons zeroing in on his person and an unfortunate infliction of Silence, Garland had no choice but to weather the first round of physical attacks. He shuddered from pain, but persisted in his onslaught against the crowd. The little black mage was his next victim of Psychokinesis, lifting the puppet into the air then dropping him. Effortless.

Next, he gathered energy and thrust another Wave at the collective, with the intent of knocking back all his assailants until he could reverse the Silence. It would be ineffective against those airborne, but he hoped to significantly cut back on the numbers to deal with at one time.

[knowshermachina.livejournal.com]

When the second round of Flares came, Rikku took the chance and leapt off the side of the platform, landing with a gasp and a groan on one hanging a bit lower and then twisting around. Her eyes were wide as the magic ripped through the others. It was...she didn't even know how to describe it. Even at his most powerful, Seymour could not have cast a spell like that. And yet...here this Garland could do it, seemingly with easy.

She tugged out two more bottles, pressing down on the tops with her thumbs as she decided where to throw them. Garland was shrugging off their magic attacks as though they weren't even there. But something big enough...

She turned her attention elsewhere, hurling one of the bottles at the nearest support for the planet model hanging over Garland's head. Another twist and she hurled the next bottle at the next support.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Good, her Silence spell worked. Mjrn had wondered whether or not it would be worthwhile to use status effect spells on such a formidably opponent, but mages of any sort seemed to be vulnerable to such a spell. Every little bit helped.

...not that it helped Vivi. Mjrn cried out as the little mage was dropped, but she wasn't close enough to help him. Still airborne, she had to exploit her advantage as the next Wave affected those on the ground. Positioning her spear for maximum impact, she plummeted toward Garland, ready to strike the moment he was within range.

[morehatthanmage.livejournal.com]

Once again, Vivi didn't make a sound as he slammed to the ground, landing in a small, mage-shaped heap, eyes not leaving Garland the whole time. He returned to his feet without even stumbling, Edward's music might have played some part but even considering that Vivi was still a very fragile creature and the fact that he was still standing at all was remarkable. He raised a single hand at Garland once again and-

-the trance wore off, the glow fading as instantly as it appeared and exhaustion and pain were quick to replace the rush of emotion-fuelled power. His eyes narrowed as he tried to focus on his magic through the pain but failed, giving a choked, terrified whimper as the damage he'd sustained during the trance took its toll. After a few seconds more of trying and failing to concentrate enough to call another Flare, he gave another whimper and unceremoniously toppled to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.