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

[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.]

[whatsamada]

[Now that he managed to get the bird away from the others, he had to figure out a way to take it down. He could hide in the trees and simply figure out a way to do a surprise attack.

No, that wouldn't be good. Not when he could do even more damage. Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed his Evoker out. Wincing when he pulled the trigger, the sound of scattered glass was heard. Suddenly, a creature appeared before them as it attempts to rain thunder down on it.]

Go Kala-Nemi!

[itstillhurt]

[There it was. The spirit he'd summoned when Azula first met him. The true threat.

The Noctaere doesn't know what it's capable of- it had shown little of its full capabilities at the time. And instantly, the Noctaere's mood shifts to a savage excitement. Still eerily silent except the flapping of wings and the rush of firebending, it opens its mouth and breathes a massive plume of blue fire at the spirit as it circles and swoops overhead.]

[whatsamada]

[As Kala-Nemi attempted to move back against the flames, Ken found himself looking at the bird in awe. Was it just his imagination or did he just saw firebending?

No way, he thought to himself. Even though his Persona was ready for another attack, it was hesitating. Almost as if the creature didn't want to attack.]

Azula-san, is that you? What are you even doing?

[More importantly, how did she even turn into that anyway?]

[itstillhurt]

[As before, there's no answer. No words, no sounds at all save for the flapping of wind and the rush of fire being thrown.

The Noctaere flaps its wings, and twin arcs of tightly focused blue flame arc toward the Persona with intense, cutting force. It dives after the fire with claws outstretched, ready to attack it while it's still occupied with the initial volley.]

[whatsamada]

[With no response, Ken didn't know if that was his friend(?) or not. Either way, he couldn't allow it to keep on attacking him. As Kala-Nemi rushes over in an attempt to use its entire body to knock it down, there was still some hesitation.]

Azula-san, say something! That is you, isn't it?

[itstillhurt]

[The only response from the Noctaere is a grunt of pain as Kala-Nemi successfully tackles it. The voice is oddly distorted, but it certainly sounds like Azula. And as the fiery figure slams into the ground- igniting small fires around it where it lands- it's easily confirmed, as her body visible from this distance within the bird.

It doesn't stay grounded for long, however, and it suddenly breathes lightning at Kala-Nemi before rolling upright and taking flight again.]

[whatsamada]

[It was definitely Azula, there was no mistake about it. He didn't know how or why she turned into this bird. All he knew was that he had to stop her somehow. Granted, upon knowing who the creature is, there was reluctance from his Persona to attack her. As Kala-Nemi attempted to dodge her attack, Ken was trying to figure out another method to calm her down.]

What happened? Why won't you say anything, can't we just figure this out?!

[Talking won't help but he had to try.]

[itstillhurt]

[The Noctaere isn't so fast as the human it used to be, and Kala-Nemi is able to dodge its attack. A second attempt fails as well. In frustration it begins to change tactics, abandoning distance and instead diving directly toward it.

As it approaches, lightning begins striking the ground around, unnaturally fast, far faster than any normal storm. It extends claws made of fire, trying to find some weak point on the spirit that it can damage.]

[whatsamada]

[Talking didn't do anything, it probably made things worse. With a frustrated sigh, it seems that he didn't have a choice but to fight. Before his Persona was trying its best to avoid any attacks, now it seems to be difficult with so many lightning strikes after it.

Now that it was getting injured, the creature attempted to strike the bird head on. Will it work, Ken didn't know but he hoped a pierce attack should slow it down somehow.]

[itstillhurt]

[Despite being seemingly made of fire, the Noctaere not only is as solid as a real creature, but seems to take damage like one as well. The impact of the strike sends it reeling, and it quickly backs away to a distance and begins circling warily.

Apparently it's going back to a more cautious strategy now, because it begins swiping with its wings again, sending long, thin arcs of cutting fire toward Kala-Nemi to try and cut it down.]

[whatsamada]

[If this creature was truly Azula, Ken found himself at a loss. Despite knowing he had to defeat her, he was hesitating. He didn't want to hurt her and especially when it seemed like she had no recollection of him.

Despite the cuts, Kala-Nemi attempted to keep raining thunder down on her as the Persona was trying to avoid the cuts. Even then, he didn't do much as it was doing some damage on it.

At the same time, Ken found himself....not knowing what else to do.]

Did some research on Kala-Nemi's attacks for this one just to be sure. ALSO SORRY FOR DELAY.

[itstillhurt]

[The physical attacks seem to hold the Noctaere at bay, but don't slow it down much. Ironically, the electricity seems to be much more devastating to it, and as it takes more and more hits it finally seems to have had enough.

It rears back, an explosion of flames erupting from it in all directions, and takes one last swoop past the Persona and its summoner, breathing lightning at both before flying toward the wildlands.]

HOW DARE YO-, it's all good!

[whatsamada]

[That hesitation might have been a mistake. Knowing that he was holding back, he found himself nearly being struck by lightning. Giving a slight hiss, he found himself getting a red mark on his arms. As he stared at the burn, he knew he couldn't wait for long. Not when she was attempting to go toward the wildlands.]

You're not going anywhere!

[As Kala-Nemi attempted to go after her, he was hoping his Persona's thunder attack would stop her for just a moment. Although, he couldn't stop himself from wincing in pain....]

/wrap after this, probably?

[itstillhurt]

[The Noctaere, it seems, has other plans- unable to quickly disable the pursuing spirit, uncertain of its ability to win against it in a more prolonged struggle, it doesn't respond to the challenge, nor the thunder attack that it only narrowly manages to avoid- the effort of dodging it instead sends the bird crashing through a tree.

It recovers itself in the air and continues its flight from the town.]