[Open] ☆ 3rd Page ☆ January Catch-All

[noctuagoetia]

Who: Stolas and You!
Which: Open Log
Where: Various locations depending on prompt.
What: Stolas is going to be venturing around town. A general January catch-all for Daddy Hoothoot.
Warnings: Nothing really to put here. Other than Stolas is a demon from Hell, but only warning is possible sea of Dad Jokes.


1-A ☆ World Tree
There was something to be said about how there was never a dull moment in Reverein, even when things seem at their calmest. Each passing month something new would sprout up around town. And I mean sprout. There was talk about this new odd tree that had shown up in the neighboring forest around town. The curious owl had to go see for himself. Sounded like something of note to be added into his grimoire.

Packing his bag, filling it with his already collected research materials, he sets off into the woods. After a bit of wondering, the Goetic Prince found the clearing where the new growth had made its home. It was... certainly an unusual tree bearing a human like face. Stranger yet, when he drew close, magic tingled under his skin. It was... soothing.

Plopping a squat nearby, Stolas began to doodle what he saw in his book.


1-B ☆ Practice Makes Perfect
Around the parameter of the wildlands, there were pockets of warm spring-like weather. Plants and trees blooming out of season, prematurely waking up. Unnatural, even for a place like Reverein. Perhaps later he would wonder off to figure out the cause... Though for now, despite the oddity, Stolas took full advantage of the unseasonal temperatures to do a little arcane training outside.

In the middle of a ring of trees, the giant owl stood. It was hard to miss the display as the goetic demon waved his hands, lighting up the clearing with magic. Flashes of spectral illusions and twinkling lights danced around the demon prince as he was in his own little world. Every so often, the magic would vanish with a flick of the wrist and the prince would march over to a large stone. Placed on top was his grimoire and he would jot down a few notes before resuming his practice.


2-A ☆ Wild Card
Anything else you want to do with Stolas? Feel free to reach out to me at goddessofsugar or AkaUsa#4076

Comments

[systemofadowny]

"Oh. Okay! I'm still figuring out the specifics, but I know I channel dreamotion best through song. I know I can amplify things with it and sometimes, stir emotions in others. Sometimes the singing starts on its own. Most of the time, I decide."

Which is exactly what she's doing right now. It's a fair request; she'd have to demonstrate her abilities anyway, so what's the harm in doing so now? A song comes to mind, and as is the case with her, musical accompaniment fills the air so she can perform at her best.

♫I've been staring at the edge of the water
'Long as I can remember
Never really knowing why

I wish I could be the perfect daughter
But I come back to the water
No matter how hard I try ♫

A sense of doubt and confusion briefly fills the air, both cut down by a sense of determination. A drive to push forward despite the adversities ahead. Appropriate, given the owls' destination.

♫Every turn I take
Every trail I track
Every path I make
Every road leads back
To the place I know where I cannot go
Where I long to be♫

As if to complement the the rising bravery to answer adventure's call, the smell of the sea passes by them on a tailwind that all but encourages the birds to take flight.

♫See the line where the sky meets the sea?
It calls me
And no one knows
How far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I'll know
How far I'll go♫

For a brief moment while Octavia sings, the wind seems it cuts through the hazard air of the wastelands, cleaving a path of their own. The song ends partway through, Octavia looking up at her father expectantly while fiddling with her talons.

"How was that?"

[noctuagoetia]

Stolas stood there in the clearing with his eyes transfixed on his daughter. As she began to sing the tiny feathers on his forearms tingled, sensing the air around them ignite with magic. The owl could almost see shifting emotions while the song changed moods and it stirred something in him. His own magic tapped danced under his skin along side his daughter's. To say he was proud papa would be a vast understatement. By the end of the tune, Stolas was vibrating with parental pride.

"That was spectacular Via!" Stolas clapped his talons enthusiastically. "You are truly growing into your own woman. I couldn't be more proud."

Walking over to her he placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face the Wasteland.

"Now Via, I want you to practice something else. Close your eyes." The larger owl did the same, taking in the deep breath. "Breathe... Calm your mind... If you focus, you can feel the magic that fuels Reverein. Its pulse beating along your own." Stolas lets a beat pass to let it settle. "But... do you feel it? There is a third strum of mana with a sour tune. That's where we are headed."

[systemofadowny]

Via beamed from her father's praise. She wants to make him proud and the confirmation leaves her teeming with glee. And a little sheepish joy, but that's normal when this happens.

With Stolas' guidance, she closes her eyes, feeling for the magic in the air. The mana within the world itself, the dreamotion that powered a great many thing and...something darker. Something far less pleasant than the others. It's in great quantities in a certain direction, the one the two owls are facing. Octavia nods.

"Nightmare energy. Like dreamotion, but drawing from negative emotions. It's so concentrated...that must be from the crystals."

She places a hand over her chest. "I wonder if that means they're a live in some way..."

[noctuagoetia]

Stolas kept his eyes closed as he reached out with his own powers. Out in the Wasteland for those who were sensitive to the ebb and flow of magic, Via was correct in her observation. There was a darkness that lingered beyond the borders of the Wildlands. One could sense it stronger in different directions than others. A useful tool if one wanted to avoid possible danger. But for them, it was their beacon.

"That is an interesting question. I don't know if it is 'alive' or not. I suppose we will find out when we find one." Opening his eyes, Stolas gave Via's shoulders a small squeeze. "So Via, I want you to lead the way in the direction of that dark presence. I'll be right behind you."

[systemofadowny]

Octavia taking point? A new challenge, for sure, but Stolas wants her to learn and develop these skills on her own. Leadership is necessary for any member of the goetia, but at least her dad taught her in ways that supported her independence. She nods.

"Okay."

With her father close by, the younger owl took the first steps towards the wastelands. The nightmare energy is almost palpable and felt the instant the two of them set foot in the area. Thick as it is, Octavia keeps to her resolve, focused on the task at hand. Follow the source of strong energy and do not get distracted.

Of course, this is a more casual outing, even with the focus on research. While she does lead the pair, Octavia still reaches out to hold her father's hand as they walk. An assurance of comfort they can share. More importantly, the dreamotion the gesture generates is an extra layer of protection against the nightmare energy, letting them explore more safely.

[noctuagoetia]

Even though Stolas was letting Octavia take point, the over protective owl wasn't more than a few steps behind her. Nothing bad was going to happen to his fledgling on his watch. He was going to make sure of that. This was just a test, a practice round to explore her abilities while under the Goetic Prince's watchful eyes.

As they crossed the border of the Wildlands into the waste, Stolas could feel the weight of the nightmare energy that hung in the air like a choking fog. Admittedly, this has been the furthest the goetia had ever ventured. Up until now he had stayed within the boundaries of the Wildlands. Not that he was afraid, there was no purpose to explore deeper. Simple as that. He did not know what dangers that lurked in the desert, but from the stories he read, it was nothing good.

Giving Via's hand a reassuring squeeze, he lets her lead them through the broken bones of scorched earth. It was almost hard to believe a place like this existed among all the other whimsical dreamscape of Reverein. That black presence grow stronger as they drew closer to their objective and Stolas paused.

"Good job Via. I think we're nearly there. Keep your eyes open for anything unusual."

[systemofadowny]

Octavia's giving this the caution it deserves, but she can't help looking on with intrigue. For so much nightmare energy to circle around Reverein, she has to wonder about the town itself. Was the town functionally an oasis in this vast emptiness of the wastelands? Did it sprout out of sheer spite towards the energy that surrounded it? One good dream to push through endless nightmares...in a way, the younger owl can understand that sentiment, having at least one good thing to count on, to make bearing everything else a little easier.

Likewise, keeping her father closeby makes this adventure feel possible. He makes her feel safe.

She keeps focused on the journey, but stops suddenly when feeling a pulse of nightmare energy. More like a blip on a radar than anything harmful. "There!" She points out, towards a cave entrance with a dark crystal poking out of the ground.

"We found it! It's incredible..." Via chirps, immediately beginning to search her things so they can begin their examination. The owls don't have much time to prepare as the crystal already begins reacting to their presence, glowing brighter as smoke begins to wrap around its form. Excitement becomes concern as the smoke takes a more definite shape, with three eyes angrily looking back at the goetia. It growls and prepares to attack them, Octavia's eyes going wide as she takes several steps back.

"Dad...!"

[noctuagoetia]

It was only for a moment, a brief stupid foolish moment, but Stolas lets go of Octavia's hand when they approached the cave. Besides the ever looming aura of the nightmare energy that permeated the landscape, their journey there was rather uneventful. Despite being so close to the source, the goetic prince seemed relatively unbothered as he looked away to reach inside his satchel to get out his new grimoire. If was only for a second. Just one second.

While his head was down a pulse of nightmare energy vibrated through his ribcage. Although they have felt the plucks all throughout their search, this hummed differently setting all the quills on the owl's neck to stand straight up. It thrummed like a heartbeat. Hearing Octavia's cry set his heart in full panic mode and he snapped back up to see the dark smog that seeped out from the crystal. Stolas' jaw fell slack as the shadowy mass solidified into the monstrous form of a gargantuan multi-eyed dragon. With his fight with the Radio Demon, he had gotten lucky and he wasn't alone. Even then, he thought he could handle himself. But... Not with Via. This was much more than he had bargained for.

The dragon tossed back its head with a bellow, rattling the stone around them before setting its eyes on the closest target... the little owl.

"VIA!!"

There wasn't much time to react as the giant reptilian raised one of its powerful claws to strike. Added by the sudden rush of adrenaline and fear Stolas blindly ripped open a portal, reaching further than what he had ever been able to cast here before. He didn't have time to think about where the exit lead, just that it needed to be far away. And it wasn't a moment too soon. Via felt a hardy shove on her left shoulder as her father forced her through the gateway but he was unable to follow after. The last thing the young owlette saw was the look of horror on her dad's face as a massive taloned paw smash into him and the portal cuts out leaving her alone on a sandy hillside with the cave nowhere in sight.

[systemofadowny]

She wasn't ready to fight this. She didn't have the tools or the skills to handle such a creature. The fact that it turned into such an intense monster makes this all the worse. Via think they need to get out of here; her father is powerful, but the dragon has home field advantage and all she can do is support him with her song. Would it be enough? It may not let them find out--

But all of that quickly gets tossed aside. The sound of a portal opening, a firm shove on the shoulder and her father calling out to her, and the younger owl is on the other side. A look of horror washes over her as the talons come down and cut into Stolas, the force breaking his concentration on the portal. It closes as she rushes towards it with an outstretched hand. Once it's gone, the scene becomes eerily silent. The commotion is gone, the uncaring winds blowing by as they expect another's bones to be lost to the sand. The portal didn't take her to complete safety, but it's much closer to Reverein than she was a moment ago.

And she's there, alone. Tears welling up in her eyes. She wants to go back and help him, but...she can't do it alone. God damn it, she can't do it alone...

Part of her features turn inky black, the true form of a goetic princess ready to roar and cleave through everything in her path...but no. Not now. Emotions may be running high, but standing above them all is resolve. She will save her father...but she'll do it with people she knows who are up for the job...