It Feeds On The Blood, It Feeds On The Heat

[itstillhurt]

Who: Azula and various CR
Which: Noctaere Plot Log (Closed)
Where: Various locations in Reverein, the Wastelands and Interactive Dreamscapes
What: On the night of the 21st, the heat becomes unbearable. A thunderstorm rolls over Reverein, but there's no rain- posing its own problems when lightning strikes the dry earth. The shape of a bird made of blue flame can be seen fleeing from the village, but the weather disturbances remain, as does the damage it's causing. Fires are a serious concern. The unnatural storms will last until the end of the 22nd. After that, the unnatural dry and intense thunderstorm will subside into a normal heavy rainfall.

Warnings: A lot of violence, possibly including arson and burns. Also some examination of a backstory including abuse, neglect, war crimes, and themes of genocide.

Comments

Noctaere Encounters

[itstillhurt]

[Against the dark and heavy clouds, it's hard to miss the massive birdlike shape made of fire. If one gets close enough, one might notice the form of the actual human girl in the center of the flames.

She's keeping to the skies, heading toward the wildlands. Which would probably be fine, if the unnatural weather wasn't sparking off random fires- particularly in the places she travels.]

For Najaran @najaran

[itstillhurt]

[Azula isn't... doing well, clearly.

She's panicking. Trying to escape the village, trying to will herself back to normal, to exert control. It's not working.

Her eyes are still flaring blue, and licks of blue flame keep erupting from her arms. Her chest hurts. Her gut keeps clenching. But the worst feeling is the loss of control, the feeling like something inside her is fighting free, and she can't stop it.

She hisses in pain, doubled over and leaning against a tree. The tree ignites where she touches it. With a frustrated snarl, she collapses to her knees. She tries to still herself, tries to breathe, tries to reassert control- and then she hears footsteps approaching.]

Re: For Najaran @najaran

[najaran]

Najaran had spotted the fires and she and her Cards had been trying to carry water buckets to find them until Najaran realized that the fires... Was that a path?

Look, Najaran can be stupid about a lot of things, but sometimes she has moments of clarity and seeming genius. Usually when it comes to combat or tactics. To lessons learned from her Master and her friends. And one thing she learned from Alta was the basics of trail reading. And this trail was written in giant flaming letters.

She wished she had Water creatures with her. But she'd do her best with what she had.

Najaran left Gremlin out, letting him perch on her head. Then she called back everyone except Thunderbeak. Hopping onto his back they took to the air to follow the path of the flames. If it was a creature causing the fires then wasn't it better to stop the creature first rather than just following to fight the fires?

So she flew, keeping her keen eyes open for...

That wasn't a creature! That was... AZULA!

Najaran landed a bit off, remembering that Azula hadn't been fond of Thunderbeak. So she called him back and went to her friend on foot. "Azula?" she asked when she got close, voice concerned.

[itstillhurt]

She glares up at Najaran, teeth clenched in pain, eyes wild- and lit blue instead of the typical amber-yellow, as if the eyes themselves had her typical blue flames straining to erupt from behind them.

"Get... away!"

Even getting that much out is clearly a struggle, and she staggers back to her feet, spontaneous blue flames flickering from her arms, her legs, across the ground beneath her.

[najaran]

"Um... no. Something is wrong. I can help. Just tell me how."

[itstillhurt]

Normally, she would probably just bristle internally at being so openly pushed and defied, perhaps roll her eyes and make a biting remark. If she were particularly emotionally brittle, she might snap. But now, it's far worse. Right now, it prompts a stab of rage. Violent, barely-controlled rage. It's not normal. Like something else inside her, something else. Something alien, animal, savage. The urge to hurt her. The urge to make her suffer.

Azula doesn't think of herself as easily frightened. There are a few moments that have inspired brief panic in her- Ty Lee's betrayal. Being trapped and helpless at the snow peasant's hands after the Agni Kai. The first encounter with Leshy back in the city. The moment when she first saw Nanashi nearly-dead from starvation. The massive creature that Shealtiel's double had become. Zuko protecting her from Ozai. And, of course, the nightmares that plague her night after night. Those were the worst of all, because they tended to last the longest and feel the most intense. The stab of terror she feels at whatever unnatural force is influencing her right now is worse than any of that.

Her hands tremble with the effort of restraining herself, and she stumbles back from Najaran in a blind panic. The flames spitting from her body flare violently. The rolling storm clouds overhead suddenly split open, a flash of lightning striking close to them- too close- despite the lack of rain.

"I'm warning you."

She tries to keep her voice controlled, but it's all but impossible. It's all she can do to control the rage and panic surging inside her. The composure is lost. Her voice breaks, almost a sob, and the attempted threat comes out more like a desperate plea.

For Ken @whatsamada

[itstillhurt]

[At first, the Noctaere flies low over the village, spreading fiery wings for the first time. The blue light it emits is blindingly bright when it's this close, and trees and wooden structures around it begin to ignite here and there as it begins its flight through the town.

It doesn't seem to know, or care, about the attention it may be attracting.]

[whatsamada]

[As Ken was simply minding his own business, he wasn't aware of the threat that looms over him. While he noticed something seemed odd, nothing had attacked him just yet. It wasn't until he saw a certain bird in the sky that he found himself being a little worried.

Especially now with people running away in fear as he too looked for shelter. What was it planning on doing? He didn't know but he had to be prepared for something.]

[itstillhurt]

[As it flies overhead, the creature doesn't seem to be deliberately attacking- after all, most of the people who spot it simply flee in terror. No threat.

But even without intentional hostility, its mere presence is clearly disruptive. Lightning flashes and strikes the ground around it as it flies, and as it brushes past trees and rooftops, some of them are quickly set ablaze.

When it finally spots Ken, it seems to shift course slightly, circling him as if waiting to see what he does.]

[whatsamada]

[As the people ran in fear, he kept staring at the bird before him. Taking a few steps back, it seemed that its eyes were after him. Narrowing his eyes, he didn't know what it wanted. Was it looking for a fight? Did it want something from him?

Knowing that it could do harm toward the others, he simply ran away from the others in hopes that the bird would follow him. Should it attack, at least other people were safe.]

[itstillhurt]

[There's a moment of calculation as the primary threat seems to disengage. At first, the Noctaere content to simply continue on its original course and let Ken flee, but after a moment, it realizes that he isn't fleeing in the direction of the others in the village. Instead, it seems to be fleeing away from the town. Away from the populated area.

It was a logical, rational act. It was also an implicit challenge.

The Noctaere takes it up on the challenge, quickly following Ken away from the town.]

For Toph @toph_luck

[itstillhurt]

[It won't be hard at all to find the source of the disturbance. The Noctaere may have moved away from the town, but the bright, fiery wings are visible in the dark from quite a ways away.

Once she's approached, however, the massive birdlike form finally stops flying and- as soon as she detects somebody she recognizes as a threat, she'll turn and swoop to attack. The center of the unnaturally dry storm moves with her, and lightning begins striking repeatedly around you as she approaches.]

[toph_luck]

[ Something's not right. She can feel it in the air, she can sense it in the unease around her. Asking gets less helpful replies like "The sky is dark" or "It seems odd". Thanks, civilians.

There is a downside to her earth bending. Of course. She can feel and hear people nearby moving away, scrambling for cover and shouting as that ominous blue glow approaches.

Something's coming, but she doesn't know what. Toph takes a deep breath and waits, listens, dropping into her mantis pose and preparing to throw up rock walls the moment she can tell where she needs to. ]

[itstillhurt]

[It takes only a moment for the Noctaere to pick the most important target.

It may not have Azula's thoughts or Azula's feelings, or any of Azula's self-control, but it's still fully capable of strategy, and it still knows what she knows. It knows what Toph is capable of. And it knows how best to incapacitate her.

It pauses for a moment, rearing back from its charge, breathing fire at the rock below Toph's feet in an attempt to heat them up. It's a slow, time consuming process, one that requires it to stay low and still for a few moments. It never speaks, never makes a noise- only the rush of firebending and the sound of wings beating.]

[toph_luck]

[ Honestly she's lucky the fire bird doesn't go straight for burning HER instead. The blast of heat from beside her catches her off guard- ]

What the!?

[ She can't feel anyone, but she can hear those wings beating along with the gust of wind, fire blasting down from one direction and starting to scorch her feet. It gives her a direction and an estimate, wincing for just a moment as the heat starts to lick her feet before acting. ]

Take this bird-brain!

[ She takes several steps back, and with a lift of her arms a thick wall raises between herself and the heat, cutting off its attack hopefully before her feet are too badly hurt. Only moments later pillars start shooting up, 20, 30, 40 feet high and counting, like a disorganized row of trees dotting the road around her, a stone jungle that will catch wings and strong winds. She's serious now.

There's no aim to the pillars, so it's unlikely she'll actually hit the bird, but who knows. They're mostly as blockades to help her track where it is. ]

[itstillhurt]

[Fortunately for Toph, the Noctaere isn't nearly maneuverable enough to account for the sudden barrage of surprise attacks. It tries to dodge, but eventually, a pillar gets lucky, striking the center mass.

It's the first time Toph hears a voice from the creature, a distinctive grunt of pain as the Noctaere is struck and another as it tumbles momentarily into another rock pillar, smashing through it.

The voice is distant and distorted, but it sounds a little like Azula.]

For Maedhros @holdshisown

[itstillhurt]

[The sunrise was obscured by the unnatural storm clouds, and the Noctaere is keeping its distance from potential threats. It seems to be driven as much by fear as anger, and it's staying high and far. Despite this fact, the storm it created keeps intensifying, the winds growing heavier and the lightning getting more frequent and widespread despite the continued lack of rain.

Once it sees another potential threat, however, it takes no chances. The fiery bird dives toward him as soon as it sees him, seeming to breathe a bolt of lightning at the massive warrior.]

[holdshisown]

[There's been a bad feeling niggling at the back of his mind long before the stormclouds started to gather, which is the only reason he brought his sword with him today. Somethings wrong, he can feel it in his bones, and he'd much rather face whatever was causing this head-on rather than to simply sit around hoping it would sort itself out.

It is only his keen senses and superior reflexes that keeps him from being struck when the creature dives for him. The first thought that enters his mind when he sees it's fiery form is balrog. But no, it doesn't have the same oppresive feel too it as a balrog and he's never seen one that flew or breathed lightning before. He readies his sword to strike the next time it comes for him, hoping that it will prove effective against a being that seems made of pure flame.]

[itstillhurt]

[The creature maintains its eerie silence as it suddenly pulls back, flapping its wings to send several individual bursts of flame toward the elf. It doesn't quite close into striking distance, but it's a lot closer now.

Despite having a form made of fire, it seems to have a solid enough presence. The beat of its wings disturbs the air, kicking up dust and dirt as it nears the ground.]

[holdshisown]

[He dearly wishes he had a shield at the moment, dancing around the flames thrown at him is not an ideal solution. A few of the flames manage to singe him a bit, nothing that truly register with him at the moment when he's so intent on the fight but he'll probably need someone to take a look on a couple of the injuries later.

A spear would probably serve him better than a sword in this fight, but he'll have to work with what he has at the moment. Maedhros aproaches cautiously, looking for an opportunity to strike but preparing to block an incoming attack as well.]

For Rokurou @rokubro

[itstillhurt]

[The Noctaere may be feral, half-mad with fear and rage, uncontrolled, but it's still Azula. It still recognizes the threats she recognizes, knows the things she knows. And it's got months, years, a lifetime of frustration to work out right now.

It recognizes Rokurou as soon as he approaches. He's a threat, to be certain. He knows her. He's fought her. Not in this form, of course, not with this power, but he's still a danger. His presence isn't an accident- he surely knows what she has become. He wants to stop her.

But prior encounters are anything to go by, he also craves a fight. A real fight. A worthy fight. And as the Noctaere turns to face him, there's some part of it- some part of her- that's looking forward to it.]

[rokubro]

[At first Rokurou didn't realize it was Azula within that giant fire bird that appeared in the skies. He just saw it as something he could join in to fight, and while others have...better intentions about it, and he also wanted to help, sure, it was certainly more out of the want to fight. However, as he got closer, he could feel a type of energy he's gotten more accustomed to lately.

Nightmare energy.

That fire bird is not just any kind of, it's a noctaere, and once he's close enough to get a good look, he catches the silhouette of a girl inside. And though brief, there's familiarity to it...just like the flames are also familiar.

Azula.

Now that he has an actual name to place with the noctaere, his motivations change...slightly. Before he would have been more willing to go all out with the intent to kill and destroy the creature, but knowing it's Azula, he'll have to alter his goal to subdue her somehow. Well, beating her down more or less still aligns with his initial strategy, so he just has to be sure to not go for a killing strike.]

Heh... Guess we'll finally having that fight.

[He does wonder briefly if he should try absorbing some of her nightmare energy. So far it's been fine with Velvet, but then again they're both from the same world and both daemons. Would adding someone else be too much? Something he should probably consider, but for now he'll just go for the physical approach.

So once they're finally able to face each other, Rokurou just grins and dashes in, blades flickering as he swings both blades towards the fiery bird.]

[itstillhurt]

[The Noctaere doesn't seem put off by the blades. It breathes blue flames at Rokurou as it charges at him, silent except for the rushing roar of firebending and the monstrous beats of its wings.

It has enough of Azula's memories to know that the fire alone probably won't put him down, though, and it does veer away slightly as it charges, though, angling aside at the last moment to avoid the inevitable counterattack.]

[rokubro]

[Having fought number of different kinds of daemons, including aerial ones, Rokurou is at least familiar with these kind of attack patterns. Thus, when she swerves, Rokurou pivots on his heel and attempts to jump up so he can try and catch her on the downward strikes of his blades.]

For Zuko @rediscovering

[itstillhurt]

[The Noctaere has been flying erratically all day, but it's been slowly making its way, through indirect and often-interrupted paths, toward the wasteland. It's been slowed enough that it only makes it part of the way, fatigue from the desperate and unsteady flight and injuries from the endless battles. Its flying is slower, more inconsistent. The flames are less intense. The storm, however, rages just as heavy and thick overhead, lightning blasting the rocks around it as it flies.

It finally stops in the wildlands, coming down for a landing near the rocky cliffs. The lack of foliage means a merciful lack of spontaneous fires erupting, either from lightning strikes or proximity to the Noctaere itself. It's resting and spent, making it possible to catch up- but as soon as it notices a threat, it will snap to alert and get ready to take off again.

In the center of the bird's fiery body, a solid human form is still visible.]