El!
El has been with the site for nearly two years now and has continued to prove her value. Currently, she is heading up our site event, Battle for Liberterram, on top of keeping up with her own personal plots.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peggy Carter!
Lux's posts are all wonderful to read. She has done a wonderful job of grasping the new universe and incorporating Peggy into it.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peter Parker!
It's good to see Spidey back on the site. Watching him deal with the universe shift in his own snarky way has been nothing short of entertaining.
THREAD
SPOTLIGHT
Eight O'Clock on the Dot!
El and Lux are making magic in this thread. Straight up fireworks, and the way they've played with drawing out the reveal is top class.
A heavy storm hung ominously over the capital of Liberterram. Heavy gray clouds blowing in as the day began carrying a bitter chill. But this was no ordinary day. Throughout the previous night a new illness had began to ail the residence of the city. A new sort of plague, spreading like a wildfire through the streets. It was carried by Egyptian soldiers who marching the streets. These Egyptians were no normal soldiers however. They were augmented. Possessed by the very symbiote-based venom plague that they spread. The soldiers themselves produced the pestilent tar like a venomous web which infected it's victims on impact. At first it appeared to be some new strain of the Bubonic Plague, though as it's effects set in on the victim they found themselves vomiting masses of black tar. This substance then took over it's victims violently engulfing, twisting and morphing them into a vague resemblance of the original symbiote. They acted more on their primal instincts, reverting to movement on all fours. The infection itself left those under its effects with enhanced strength and agility.
The city was itself seemed to be infected by the plague. Long strands of the sticky tar ran between buildings, along the streets and over former vehicles and around land marks. A small front of forces fought to hold their ground around the buildings capital. Emergency vehicles and militarized forces fought off their former residents as the infected masses bashed against their barricades. Liberterram was hosting a new plague now.
Egyptian forces patrolled the streets in mass forces. Soldiers herding the infected through the streets, forcing them further into the populous. Similar forces went building to building, hunting down every last hint of humanity in the capital. The forces acted like a virus themselves, driven by only one goal: SPREAD.
Post by Freya Njordsdottir on Apr 4, 2017 1:48:04 GMT
The storm outside made the world dark, but even from this height, Freya could tell there was a different kind of darkness looming over this poor, war torn country. Usually bright eyes narrowed as the man in the co-pilot’s seat spoke to those gathered in the back, but she was not glaring at him. Instead, her gaze was focused below them, at what seemed to be a sea of black roiling high above the city they were set to land in.
“...and that’s where you ladies will come into play.”
Freya snapped back to the present as the man turned up to her - most Midgardians seemed to share the same plight of being shorter than the Aesir who visited their realm. “I apologize, Son of Coul,” she offered, her expression softening to the middle aged Midgardian. “Death seems to be grasping this city tightly. My daughters and I will help in whatever capacity you need.” Nodding towards Sigyn and Idunn, she moved towards the rear of the jet, her eyes skimming the soldiers preparing themselves for the upcoming drop.
“That’s quite alright, Lady Freya. Honestly, we’re just glad to have a bit of help from on high.”
“We’ve got a problem…”
“Bogey?”
“I’m going to try to shake it. Hold on.”
Planting her feet, Freya lifted one hand to grasp the bar overhead just as the female pilot yanked hard on the steering column. Despite what she assumed were the woman’s best efforts, she felt something slam into the side of the jet and braced herself further as the whole of the back end became a sort of vacuum. With the flick of her wrist, she used the knife at her belt to slice the net holding back a large case. In one fluid movement, she resheathed the blade, plucked the case from the air, and guided it towards the hole in what seemed a casual manner. The case didn’t fill the whole gap, but it cut the effects significantly and allowed them all an easier time of hearing one another again.
Now that they were losing altitude at a significant pace, Freya could more easily make out the shadows covering the city. And yet, they did not seem to be shadows, for they moved of their own accord. Like a pool of ink given life, if she could put any kind of description to it. Frowning, she moved to the far end of the jet and pressed the button she’d seen others control the ramps with. “Sigyn, Idunn, with me. We will begin to clear the area and rendezvous soon, Son of Coul. Odin be with you.”
With that, she turned and jumped. She knew the Midgardian soldiers were wearing something referred to as parachutes, but a drop to the top of the building below them would not harm women of she and her daughters’ caliber. As her feet slammed into the roof, leaving spiderwebbed cracks spreading out from the point of impact, she looked up to follow the trajectory of the jet. It was heading straight towards what she guessed to be some kind of amphitheater (or whatever Midgardians used domes for).
“I have never seen this darkness upon Midgard before. Sigyn, have you ever encountered such a thing in your studies?” she asked her daughter, heading for the edge of the roof. There were other buildings nearby, and with a few well placed jumps, the trio could easily reach the ground in no time. “Idunn, keep your eyes peeled for danger. My Valkyries roam the country as is their duty, but until I have further information in this war, we are alone.”
Post by Idunn Iwaldidottir on Apr 6, 2017 1:33:48 GMT
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings
She had been in Midgard for several months now and was starting to grow accustomed to their world and all of it’s quirks. Their history was fraught with wars, fought for various reasons of which most, she didn’t understand. When the news came to them that a large scale attack was being carried out, the Asgardians offered their swords for aid. Freya, her mother, was the most skilled in battle. Queen of the Valkyries. Sigyn had magic at her hand to assist her. Idunn was just thankful that battle had been a topic that she had been taught both in Vanaheimr and on Asgard.
When the call for assistance came, Freya was the one to deliver the message and Idunn was only too happy to follow her mother into battle. It wasn’t that she longed for the bloodshed, but she did like to protect those who were less capable of it. In the airborne vehicle, Idunn spent most of the flight over sharpening her sword and axe, tools she hadn’t needed since she had arrived on the planet and had stowed at Sigyn’s abode. Now, however, she was making sure they were as sharp as possible. One of the men with them, the son of Coul, was explaining something to them, but the Asgardians were more than capable of planning their own fights. More in the way that they adapted to whatever came at them, then trying to pre-plan everything.
At the sound of his voice and the mention of ladies, Idunn looked up at the son of Coul and then around at those in the ship. She would have to apologize for having not been listening to him, but Freya got in before her. When she mentioned Idunn and Sigyn, the elder nodded and felt along the blade of her axe, standing and slipping it into the sheath on her back. The sword that had been lying next to her went into her dominant hand and she gave the blade one last test before moving toward the middle of the jet. “You have asked for aide, and it is a sign of good honor to help those in need.” She smiled tightly for the man just as the pilot spoke and he turned away.
The pilot gave an order and like her mother, Idunn’s feet seperated to better ground herself against the planes floor. Her hand tightened around the hilt of the sword, expecting that the battle had come to them now, but the plant tilted violently before rocking with the force of impact. Before the hole in the side caused too much of a problem for those inside, Freya had dealt with it and Idunn pushed herself back onto her feet. “It would be wise that not happen a second time.” She mused loudly to the chuckle of a man beside her.
With her mother’s movements, Idunn refocused her attentions towards her and watched her. It was time to earn their stripes as she called her daughters over and Idunn crossed the plane in a few short steps. “I am ready to descend.” She looked to her sister and finally smiled more openly. “Good fortune.” She clasped her sisters shoulder for a moment before following her mother from the plane and preparing for the impact. They had been close enough to the buildings that the fall did no more than jarr her bones at impact before recovering immediately as she stood.
Her sword hung at her side, but gripped tightly and expertly before she swung it up and observed the space around her, clear of any enemy forces. Whilst her mother and sister spoke, Idunn went to the edge of the building and looked down into the street, watching humanoids walking around below them. Several other buildings around them were smaller, and if they were to get to the floor of the world, they could use them as platforms to descend. For Idunn, whose strengths lay not in physical combat, Freya offered her advice and Idunn nodded to indicate her attention. “I am on guard, mother. There is a feeling about the air that I do not enjoy.” Something twisting strangely in her gut. Perhaps that was just the anticipation of battle though, and she didn’t let it consume her.
Post by Sigyn Iwaldidottir on Apr 9, 2017 1:06:55 GMT
Sigyn had not received any magical forewarning to this attack, but that was not the that troubling; visions came and went as it were and one did not always have one for every crisis that occurred. However, once the news reached them about the attack on the Free Land….or Liberterrum, as it was called, Sigyn volunteered to help. It was their job, after all, to help protect Midgard.
Even from itself. Thor would not have declared Midgard under the protection of Asgard had he not meant it, and as Odin was now gone and Loki stripped of his inheritance, Thor was their reigning ruler. Busy with rule, it was up to them to fill in for him until everything was running smoothly on Asgard. At least, that was as far as she knew. She was sure Thor would return to Midgard as soon as he could; he was a man of action, not a man of strategy nor planning. Then again, that was how Asgard tended to operate; as Midgard put it, they were very ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ sort of people.
Sigyn was trying to focus on the words of Agent Coulson, but the noise of their contraption...well quinjet, made it difficult to focus at best. But they were to land in the writhing mass of black down there and combat it. It seemed to be alive. Idunn snapped to attention at the last bit of the Son of Coul’s explanation. He seemed slightly regretful that none of them had quite heard his speech. She was sure it was rousing. Their mother smoothed things, over though. “I’ve got the general idea, Son of Coul. We’ll do what we do best.” Sigyn stated. That was before a conversation with the pilot resulted in sharp movements of the quinjet and then the sound and impact of something rather large hitting it.
Freya and Idunn had braced themselves, and Sigyn held on to what she could, gripping her spear in the process. She supposed she should get a shield like Captain Rogers had, but most of Midgard, even this one, didn’t have too many things that could hurt people like her.
Her mother quickly solved the vacuum problem by allowing a case to fill the hole in the plane. “I must agree, sister.” Sigyn replied to Idunn’s rather obvious statement with either sincerity or sarcasm. No one was quite sure which it was. It was clear though, that their transport had taken quite a bit of damage, and had to land. Her mother improvised and proceeded to jump, with both sisters following out after her. Idunn clasped her shoulder in a mention of good fortune, before jumping out herself, leaving Sigyn to bring up the rear.
The quinjet seem to be heading toward the coliseum for the sporting events. Safe landing there, at least, for the Midgardians. The landing for the Asgardians was quite the same, though Sigyn would hesitate to call it ‘safe’. As her mother addressed her, Sigyn shook her head. “No. It seems to be alive though, so be careful.” If writhing, wriggling movement out of what appeared to be a gelatinous black mass could be considered living anyway. “Something isn’t right about it, though.” That went without saying, however.
Be that as it may, the three of them were the first response to this event. “Let us not tarry; we should make haste to where Son of Coul landed. I do not think they’ll have the means to fight this mass with them.” Sigyn stated, heading on after Idunn. “I can see if I can locate the source, but it may take too long to do so.”
Egyptian scouts picked up on the Quinjet as it entered the city limits. A three man unit of soldiers clad in black muck sat high on the skyline, watching as the aircraft approached. A deep hiss came from the commander of the small force watching the arrivals through binoculars.
"Clean!" The two scouts not watching the ships trajectory prepared an anti aircraft projectile. With careful aim and an order to fire they made short work of the transports hull, though it seemed to be maintaining some altitude as it descended towards the sports arena. The commander watched as three objects fell from the object as it passed over the roof of a building. The plague acted as a hive mind. As the scout watched the women access the situation from the rooftop infected pooled at the foot of the building. Several dozen civilians twisted into monsters by the plague twitched and thrashed out with tendrils. Twisted mouths covered in teeth sounding in guttural growls only to snap to attention as orders reached their minds.
KILL
The infected at the base of the building ran into the glass walls. The venom covering them reaching out and pulling them along as the scaled the shimmering surface of the building. As the mindless fodder made their way for the targets the Quinjet crashed onto the front steps of sports arena. The crash should have been fatal but apparently pilot was rather skilled. Not that it quite mattered. They had landed into the heart of the swarm, infected where on the jet before it had come to a full stop. Gunfire erupted form within the aircraft as they seemed to hold of the incoming forced before a thunderous voice sounded from the front gates of the arena. From the shadows of the dark tendrils that seemed to web out of the entrance came the clicking of large black spider legs as the horseman carried himself into the open. The hordes stepped back as their leader stepped down towards the jet. The Spider hanging from the legs brought his normal feet to the ground as the venom formed limbs folded into an elaborate fan on his back.
The agents of SHIELD had formed a final front. Soldiers fell into rank at the mouth of the vehicle, though two familiar faces stuck out. Memories of the host held them in high regards, they seemed unshaken by the overwhelming odds. A grin curled on the twisted fang filled smile of the horseman. They would make fun play things.
Phil...May...no...
"Well isn't this fun. I didn't know they delivered snacks." The warped Spider let out a hardy laugh as he addressed his subjects, his mouth opening much wider than was natural. Drawing in a large breath the horseman exhumed a black smog from his jaws. The smog moved quickly to overtake the agents. Though a few shots went off in their blind confusion it was short lived as the fog dispersed to reveal them all laying unconscious on the steps of the Plague's hive. Stepping forward the Spider took the ones Parker called May and Phil by the back of their clothing. His legs unfurled and carried the three back up the steps.
A mountain of a mutant stepped out of the entrance as the horseman approached. Standing easily at fifteen feet the monster was covered in muscle wrapped in a layer of cushioning fat, a pompous guy hanging before him. Venom covered his body in patterns, augmenting his already incredibly durable physique.
"Kill the rest and destroy the plane." A grunt came from the general as it began moving it giant form towards the rest of the SHIELD personel. "Hey tubby. Give our guests some motivation." At that the horseman disappeared back into his nest, prizes in hand.
The winds continued to whip over the city in great force, easily carrying a dark pillar of smoke from the burning remains of the jet. The black smoke rose above the skyline in a matter of moments. A clear lure to those who attempt to cure the horseman's forces.
Post by Freya Njordsdottir on Apr 10, 2017 16:35:59 GMT
While Sigyn agreed with Idunn’s casual mention of an obvious fact, Freya herself remained silent, focusing herself on offering the pilot some semblance of relief with a large case. Piloting a jet the likes of this one was not easy. Here on Midgard, one had to get licenses just to do so. Keeping a vessel in the air after it had taken damage - especially to the hull like this - was an impossible task, even for the most veteran of pilots. If one had enough skill, however, they could at least make the impact with the earth halfway bearable, even if it was more of a slow fall than a true landing.
Freya’s arrival on the roof of the building she’d jumped to, however, was most assuredly a true landing. She frowned slightly at what Sigyn had to say on the matter of the inky substance coating many of the buildings, including the one the vessel they’d just been in had plummeted towards. “I do not enjoy it either…” Something about this place seemed wrong to her, not simply as a warrior in the thick of battle, but as a Valkyrie. Death lurked in every corner, but each time she turned her head, it disappeared. It was as if she were a cat and it the mouse.
Frowning, she nodded her agreement to her younger daughter. “We should take care not to let it touch us, then… Do what you can while we move. You and I are of a similar mind in that I do not believe Son of Coul can withstand this blight, even with such capable warriors as Agent May at his side.” she mused, taking a few quick strides towards the edge of the building and jumping. Her knee slammed into the roof of the building just next to and below the one they’d originally landed upon, and she tucked her sword and shield in tightly as she rolled in order to keep her momentum going.
As she turned back to make certain her daughters were with her, Freya caught sight of the inky blackness slowly working its way up the building they’d just come from. No, that wasn’t right. Were those… people? A look of slight horror threatened to overtake the goddess’ features, but she choked it down before it could become fully realized. “I fear the souls that departed my halls when Midgard suffered a dimensional shift will be replaced soon enough unless we find a way to rid the infected humans of this pestilence…” she breathed, shaking her head as she continued on towards the next roof.
It didn’t take long to finally reach a building that was low enough to the ground for them to make their final leap. As soon as Freya’s boots hit the pavement, it seemed as though the enemies were upon her. Gritting her teeth, she slashed at the inky creatures that accosted her. The least she could do for them was to at least give them a good, clean warrior’s death until they determined a means of ridding the city of this plague.
“I see the coliseum ahead. We are but a few hundred yards from its front steps,” she called out to her daughters, spinning to gain more momentum in her next swing towards what she guessed was the neck of an infected body. The inky creatures were all around, but she had faith that with her two daughters at her back, they would make it to the arena where an ominous pillar or black smoke was rising into the air like a gaseous form of the inky blackness that had overtaken this area of the city.
Post by Idunn Iwaldidottir on Apr 13, 2017 6:19:48 GMT
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings
Sigyn’s words following her own slightly sarcastic ones made the man beside her continue to shake with quiet amusement. Also, fear, she could tell, in the way his eyes searched the flying vehicle for any further holes. Idunn nudged him gently and nodded, confident in at least her own abilities, and trying to impart some of that confidence on the more fragile Midgardian. There was a worry in her for him, that he likely would not survive the fight. She had to trust that his training would do him well.
After their descent, and before Idunn walked to the edge of the building they had landed on, she watched for a moment as the jet headed towards a colosseum. Sigyn had mentioned them before, but she was drawing blank on the designation of use as more immediate threats occupied their vicinity. It was reassuring to hear that Sigyn felt the same. The black mass threatening the streets was not friendly. She brought a good point to the head and Idunn’s gaze drifted quickly from the side of the building to the area where the jet had crashed. It was a way away, but nothing for the three Asgardians. They would arrive in minutes.
When Idunn looked back to the mass at the foot of the building, she noticed that their troubles were not over yet. “I mean not to worry either of you, but it looks as though the situation here is worse than we were led to believe.” She turned for her mother and let her feet take her from the edge of the building currently invaded by the black mass. “When this is over, we should ask his name.” She smirked gently at the insert and twisted her sword in her hand, praying in her own mind for her father’s handiwork to hold fast in the battle.
Idunn was not a warrior, however, and she waited for her mother to lead, following in her footsteps as she took a running jump from one building top to the next, falling and rolling into the landing before springing back to her feet and heading for the next. She knew Sigyn was somewhere near her, but she didn’t know where until she paused to follow her mother’s gaze. She had hoped that it hadn’t been, from where she had been standing before it had certainly only looked humanoid. Now, there was no mistaking it. It wasn’t even an honorable death.
Eventually the Asgardians reached their grounded destination, but it wasn’t a peaceful one. Idunn landed several feet from her mother and saw the beings descend on her, ready with her own sword by the time she had landed. It took work, but she twisted through the encroaching bodies until she was within the circle of her mother’s fight and assisted her from a different angle. It was better for them to have each others backs, then a complete circle around them undefended.
Post by Sigyn Iwaldidottir on Apr 16, 2017 5:01:48 GMT
Everything here stank of sickness and rot, a foulness hung in the air that threatened to make Sigyn choke. Something much larger was afoot here, something sinister. That much was obvious to her and her mother and sister, she wagered. “It stinks of plague.” Sigyn added, though she thought it unnecessary. “I will do my best, but the flow of magic here is not the same as in Asgard. I may not be as competent as usual, mother.” It was important information to relay, especially if she were to use barriers to attempt to protect them.
As her sister spoke, Sigyn was slightly annoyed. “Oh, do tell. I’m not sure it can get worse, unless the leader of this invasion happens to be based here.” She said in reply, sounding clipped toward her sister. They were as geared for battle as they could be, and she really didn’t expect Idunn to be the one to balk at such things. She protected the tree from many pests, so it should be more normal to the eldest sister, should it not?
“Regardless, we are made of sterner stuff than whatever this is.” Sigyn stated, as the trio went on the move as quickly as possible, following her sister and mother in movement to the rooftop of another building. “Not much we can do at this moment.” It was not a pleasant thought to have but to be pragmatic in this time was the best option. It was not something she would enjoy. “Whatever their status, they’ll have as befitting a death as we can give them, before we rip out the cause of this rot.”
It went ‘Treat the cause but not the symptom’ in that strange, little movie she’d seen once upon a time, right? Sigyn threw up barriers to protect them from the infection and swept out with her spear where she could. Time was of the essence. Standing back to back, they worked their way agonizingly slowly to the coliseum. They would make it there in time, and Sigyn chased away thoughts of the worst possible outcome.
As the Asgardians pushed their way down the buildings the plague was hot on their heels. A horde had already began to amass at their location as the reached ground level. The infected moved as a hive-mind, pushing and pulling as a single organism. Crowds of the infected fought over one another, each pushing with an undying urge to infect the invaders. The street leading to the stadium entrance was littered with the plagued forces. In the distance Egyptian soldiers wrangled infected into the direction of the Asgardians. The heavy chugging of an Egyptian tank could be heard be heard before it came into view the infected soldiers marched along side. Though the forces held at a distance, letting the plagued civilians clash with the attackers.
The streets were in ruin. Cars ablaze and overturned. A few dead scattered the ground already though they were few and far between. The plague made efficient use of the host bodies. Storefronts were smashed to pieces, overflowing with black tar acting as nests for the infected. One larger nest in particular sat high up on one of the towering buildings. A large portion of the building had been broken away and tendrils of the plague spread out from the point like spider-webs to overtake the surrounding structures. A piercing howl rang out over the street as a large form seemed to shift inside of the mass.
An infected creature, larger than the rest, perched itself onto the ledge of the building. It pulsated, seeming to be made of the plague itself. Though similar to the infected themselves this creature carried much more primal characteristics. It moved on all fours like an animal ready to pounce as it shivered its way onto the street. Large white talons taking the place of it's hands shoved aside the hordes as it made it's way for the warriors. It's head splitting apart to unleash a long whip-like black tongue as it pounced. First swinging a massive claw at their leader like a deadly sickle whistling through the air as it's tongue lashed at the girls at her back.
Post by Freya Njordsdottir on Apr 19, 2017 0:58:56 GMT
Freya had every right to be worried at this particular moment in time. As far as her eyes could see, black masses much like the one climbing the building near them were filling the world. Little pockets of pestilence. The thought summoned a slight sneer to the Valkyrie’s lips as she turned her nose up at the enemies climbing futilely up the building. No, she was certainly not afraid. The only emotion she had any intention of focusing on now was anger. These Midgardians had suffered so much already - they did not deserve this fate at the hands of someone (perhaps some thing) she suspected was not wholly human.
Sigyn’s admission was not one she wanted to hear, but it was also not terribly surprising. Nodding to show her understanding, she let a grim smile fill her lips. “I heard tales of your prowess during the last attack upon this realm.” Asgardians were good at many things - boasting about the epic feats from battles won was certainly one of them. “I am delighted to find myself at your side this battle.”
Chuckling at Idunn’s verbal revelation, Freya shook her head, allowing the wavy locks of semi-braided blonde hair to bounce and sway. “Be that as it may, we pledged ourselves to the task of dealing with it…” she drawled almost lazily as her body soared from one building to another. Offering her daughter a quick, questioning glance, she continued onward. “Whose name?”
The hordes were upon them as soon as they hit the ground, it seemed. Freya wasted no time in working her way through the inky creatures. Her eyes skimmed from one target to the next, always a step ahead of her own actions. It didn’t take her long to realize that despite the large quantity, the trio of women were making the most noise. So how were the creatures communicating? Did they have some kind of hive mind like the Chitauri? That would certainly make sense, she assumed, spinning in time to block an attack before slicing out to remove the creature’s head from its body.
“The men of our realm could learn a thing or two from these creatures, I think. Look at how they claw at each other to reach us, my daughters,” she called out over the din of battle. Barking out a quick laugh, she plunged her sword hilt-deep in another enemy before shoving it back with her shield. “Eat your hearts out...”
The sound of a large vehicle finally rose above the noise in their general vicinity and Freya spared a glance in that direction, but as of yet, nothing had arrived. Had the Midgardians of this country finally managed to get the upper hand? She didn’t have time to figure it out, however, as a piercing howl filled the area. Her attention whipped up to the black nest-like mass halfway up one of the nearby buildings and she grit her teeth. So the plague had not just taken human hosts, it seemed… There was no way the creature that burst forth could be anything that had once walked and talked.
“Brace yourselves…” she warned, keeping one eye on the inky creatures still attacking them, and the other on the beast barrelling towards them. As it made its lunge, she finally turned and charged head-on towards it. She ducked under the massive claw, the feel of it passing over her sending a shiver racing up her spine. There was no time for fear still, however, and she somersaulted forward, inside the beast’s reach. Its claw had not pulled back again for another swipe yet, so she struck her own blow, attempting to sever the prehensile tongue near the creature’s face so that it could not continue to attack her daughters.
Before she could tell if she was successful, the claw was arcing out towards her again. Lifting her shield, she braced for the impact. Knifelike talons sunk deep into the thick wood of her shield, gouging the paint job. Still, it held. Gritting her teeth, she shoved back at it with her shield before swinging her sword down at the creature’s arm in an attempt to relieve it of said appendage.
Post by Idunn Iwaldidottir on Apr 21, 2017 1:04:28 GMT
After the night when I wake up
I'll see what tomorrow brings
Idunn threw a look back towards Sigyn at her sarcasm and studied her momentarily. Her mother received much the same. Did they think her statement was made in the suggestion that they leave? That this was something beyond their capabilities? Likely not, but on the chance that it was, she grit her teeth. Was she not the daughter of a Valkyrie? They would see soon enough that she was not one to turn away from the fight. She said nothing more on it, but when her mother asked whose name they should be seeking, she felt that perhaps her quip about Agent Coulson could have been suited for a better time. Why not banter in the face of danger though? It would certainly relieve the tension. “The Son of Coul. I do not believe ‘Agent’ is his chosen name.” And if it were, there were far too many Midgardians around them with the name.
The fight on the ground was no easier than a fight against an opponent on Asgard. Except in this case, there were no swords or axes and the creatures did not make much sound, or shout obscenities and insults. Sigyn’s enchantments aided them enough to hold the upper hand in the battle, but they were fighting with all their might still, and edging their way through the throng of bodies, leaving as many behind as there were ahead. Naturally, being the most used to battle, their mother was the one shouting positive gloats over the din.
What they had missed in their haste to reach the ground and battle on solid footing while aiming their destination towards their grounded allies, were the nests perched on the buildings and inside the storefronts. Including the largest that howled and twisted on a high building. Idunn, momentarily distracted by the noise, had to work twice as hard to stay the infected grasping for her for several minutes. Their strength, she would give them, was exemplary as they worked together. From the direction of noise came a shuddering behemoth and Idunn finally caught sight of it. This was most definitely not human in origin, but a small part of her was thankful that in its haste to claw its way to them, some of the infected it cast aside were removed from their misery.
As it’s flesh split to reveal a monstrous appendage, it lashed out towards the women and Idunn noticed her mother go for it first. Idunn moved to cover her, but noticed that the infected had slowed slightly. Not enough that they were ceasing entirely, but as if they thought that the new addition to the battle would fare better than they. Idunn and Sigyn were not left out of it’s attack, however, but the large tongue could only go for one sister at a time, and Idunn had moved just enough to avoid it’s assault on her.
A decision would have to be made in haste, as their mother alone did not seem to be dragging the beast down, but they would need protection from the hoard behind them. Seeing as she also had a sword, she found her back against Sigyn’s and drove her sword through a line of infected. “Can you hold them off?” She had faith in her sister, but was asking more if she would rather stay and defend them from this side. Who knew, perhaps she was eager to wet her spear, and Idunn had no doubt that they would be opportunities later.
There was a calmness to battle, that perhaps few understood. The chaos of the fighting was well known, but it truly was a place where men were made and forged into perhaps, people who finally knew what they were….or weren’t capable of. This was not that field, however. This viscous black...pulp like mess was alive and had taken over the mortals. At her mother’s praise, Sigyn seemed to embarrassed by the whole endeavor. It wasn’t part of her personality to boast, but she was aware that it was expected. “Thank you, mother.” It was a bonding experience, she supposed. “Indeed. If they are still alive, the jet will be the best place to find them.” Sigyn stated, before they continued on.
She stuck to sweeping their enemies with her spear, and only throwing up the barriers when it was absolutely necessary to do so. Magic was draining on this world even now, and being that she was the most magically adept of her relatives currently on Earth, conserving it was going to matter. Though she felt out of place next to her older sister and mother; Syn would fit in better with this crowd.
No doubt the second oldest of her sisters was pouting about being left out right about now. As the battle continued and they made their way agonizingly slowly toward the coliseum, Freya called out to them. Sigyn would disagree, but the sounds were all from them. How did these things communicate, anyway? Clearly they had orders, so it stood to reason that they had some form of senses. Keeping her back to her sister and arcing out, Sigyn was spared the full sight of the monstrosity.
She could see it, though, craning her head to catch a glimpse before having to strike down another abomination, it’s black tar sticking to her clothing this time, before the horde retreated and the monster lashed out at them with it’s tongue. Sigyn indeed braced herself, and struck back as her mother dived forward, weaving in and out of battle. Her battle against it rang out clearly, but Sigyn soon lost sight of it all, being back to back with her sister. “I can try, but it will have to be without much in the way of magic. Whatever...Whoever the commander is, I need to save what I can to deal with them.” Sigyn stated.
They had only a few more shields before Sigyn would insist on conserving power. Luckily, the Coliseum loomed ever closer to them as the distance grew shorter with each step the trio took. The monster roared and lashed again, and the sound of claws on metal and wood was unmistakable. And people wondered why the Captain used a shield. “I will hold the line; get rid of that beast quickly, please.” Sigyn said to her sister, allowing Idunn to charge in.
The creature reared back with a mighty roar as it's tongue fell to the pavement. Sharp vicious teeth, gleaming with slime, flashed from it's gaping mouth as it howled at the sky in pain. The venom covering it's hide churned in reaction the fresh wounds it received from the asgardian mother. Blank eyes carved along its face narrowed as it let out a low menacing hiss. It's claws, one with a small bit of transferred paint, clicked against the pavement for a moment. The creature assessed its opponents for a moment, now more wary since it had been wounded.
The horde around them seemed to thin slightly as the sisters fought back the infected though stragglers still remained. Still along the street from the arena the tank had come to a stop. The escorting soldiers moving into a defensive holding position as the tank seemed to be awaiting orders. The venom covering the back of the tank lurched down the metal sides of the militarized vehicle and shot into the ground, anchoring the massive rolling weapon.
The creature moved on all fours, striding striding from side to side against the collected females. A long and low sweet of it's claws with it's uninjured arm tested their defences. Another low hiss escaped from it's jowells as the creature lurched forward. Rearing onto it's hind legs and exposing its underside it's hide seemed to pull away from itself. Long black tendrils separated from the body of the host and lashed out at the warriors.
Post by Freya Njordsdottir on May 1, 2017 15:57:21 GMT
Realization dawned on Freya’s face as Idunn answered her question. She had learned the agent’s first name upon her first introduction to the man, but it hadn’t occurred to her that Idunn might not have. “Oh. You mean Philip,” she responded, nodding in her understanding of the conversation now. “Philip, Son of Coul… though he has told me that his father’s name is not actually Coul…” Midgardians were a confusing lot sometimes.
The fight was not an easy one, but thanks to the martial and magical prowess of the trio, they were at least making ground. She could see the entrance to the coliseum now, only half a block away from them. Her gaze was torn away from the destination, however, at the shrieking arrival of their newest adversary. Now this would be a creature worthy of killing here today. Whether it had started as a dog, cat, or other such creature, she was at least certain it had never been human in nature. Freya’s eyes lit up as she turned her attention towards the beast finally, lunging forward with all the fervor of a battle-hardened shield maiden.
She felt certain that her back was safe with both daughters there, and so Freya gave the creature a vast majority of her attention. A grin of satisfaction sat upon the Valkyrie’s lips as she noticed the tongue had indeed fallen from her original strike. Now she felt even more secure in her battle against it, knowing she would no longer have to worry about her daughters being forced to fight off the serpentine appendage. “Is that all you’ve got?” she taunted as the beast hissed its agitation at her.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Freya knew there was another adversary chomping at the bit to whet its appetite with the trio of Asgardians. She could not afford to give the tank even half of her attention, however - not while this plague-born creature still had any spark of life inside of it. Her eyes followed the creature as it paced around, and her feet kept her squarely in front of it so that each time it swept one claw out, she was there to provide her daughter’s cover and offer the beast a taste of its own medicine with a slash of her sword.
At last, Freya saw her opportunity and as the creature lurched upward, she moved in shield at the front. The sound of multiple object colliding with her shield had her glad for the thick wooden defense. Spinning as she neared the beast, she put all of her momentum behind the swing of her sword as she brought it across - and hopefully through - the beast’s leg in an attempt to either sever the limb or at least hamstring the monstrosity to set it off balance.
Without missing a step, she continued moving until she was out from behind the beast. Now she could see the mass of tentacles protruding from the creature’s underbelly and realized that must have been what hit her shield. The goddess twirled her sword in her hand, readjusting her hold on the weapon’s handle so that as she brought it forward in a downward slash towards the base of as many tentacles she could reach, it would sever them from the creature much like she had the tongue moments earlier. As she repeated the motion, she turned so that her shield was between herself and the creature’s claw she didn’t have a good line of sight on just in case.