everyonelives | why is it you always get to sit in the shade

( Ryan goes flat and the fireball flies past him (18). Bonnie attempts to outrun the barrier spell but a (15) isn't enough. She was flown too far back and she's out until she can bring down the barrier.

Ryan attempts to wrap his legs around Witch 2 while covering her mouth (17). Can't chant if your mouth is covered.

Holding her hands up, Bonnie tries to overpower the barrier with magic so that it and the owner's spell to shield her from magic will be tested. Ideally, she'd love to bring them both down, but even defeating one would be a win.

... (Nat 1) )

[The owner can't help but smirk. "It's just not your night, is it sweetheart? Don't worry. After we take out these beasts, we can have a little chat."

Caroline goes for her witch again (12 vs. 13), and still she manages to illude her. Caroline gives a frustrated huff.]

Stay ... still!

[Isaac recovers, trying to slam his fist into the stone structure, and it does not go well for him (10 vs. 17).

Witch 1 claws at Caroline with a frustrated cry (17 vs 1), and she summons fire that sends Caroline back screaming, her vampire instincts going into a frenzy as she tries to get the fire off. Witch 2 breaks Ryan's pin (18), and attempts to do the same, slamming a flaming hand down into his chest (15).

The construct attempts to slam into Isaac again (4 vs. 7) and Isaac manages to dodge this one, pushing him closer to the owner. Owner reaches out, now that there's some security in place, and tries to take control of the werewolf (3 vs. 9), but she has to touch him and Isaac manages to step out of her reach, but now she's got his attention.]

( Ryan is too close, and has gripped onto Witch 2 that her flaming hand slams into his chest hard. He's burned and it hurts but it gives him the best chance and taking her arm and breaking it outright. Burned, and in pain, he tries his best (8).

Bonnie thinks... and pulls out her phone, putting it on speaker. This is middle of the night so Freya is hopefully on her way to Baltimore if we're following the timeline right.

This is her action this turn. )

[Freya answers, a smile entering her voice. "Bonnie Bennett. What can I do for you?"

Caroline is still freaking out, but manages to regain enough of herself to stop drop and roll, doing her best to put out the flames (17), when she finishes smoking out, her eyes fix angrily on the witch that set her on fire.

Isaac turns his attention to the witch behind the barrier, and brings out his claws to try and get past it. If she can touch him maybe he can touch her (13 vs. 19). Claws spark against the barrier but he can see the flicker of fear on his face that he tried.

Witch 1 tries to come at Care again to finish her off (4 vs. 12), but Caroline is faster and angrier, and she sinks her teeth into the witch's neck to try and help herself heal.

Witch 2 manages to yank her arm back before he can break it (15), before lifting said arm to try and snap his neck (10).

Construct tries to strike Isaac again (3 vs. 12), but the werewolf deftly dodges out of the way. Then the owner reaches out to try again (7 vs. 17), but Isaac is not about to be turned into her werewolf puppet.]

Nice try. But no.

( Sorry, Freya, this call probably sounds like she's in a wind tunnel, but, that's a backfired spell for you. She yells anyway. )

I need to bring down a barrier. Preferably in a way that might nullify any magic connected to said barrier.

( Ryan snaps his head back, but just barely (12), and he tries an elbow to the ribs next: (17).

Bonnie, meanwhile, is waiting on Frey's input for her own turn.(

Edited 2022-11-07 03:29 (UTC)

[Freya's quiet for a moment. "Can you cast through it?" Freya will ask the question, if Bonnie doesn't think of it herself. "If you can, try to break the concentration of the caster. If not, you can overwhelm it with your own magic."

Caroline sinks her teeth further into Witch 1 (13 vs. 17), but the witch manages to break away. She's woozy from the blood loss, but she's on her feet.

Isaac tries to go after the head witch again (10 vs. 10), and the barrier flickers under his claws, and the owner takes a full step back to try and get away.

Witch 1 is using most of her energy to stay up (9), and she tries to shove past Caroline to try and escape past Bonnie up the stairs. "Fuck it, I'm out of here." Caroline lets her go (5 vs. 3), moving to better help Ryan.

Witch 2 just writhes away from the elbow to the ribs (20), and attempts to snap his neck again (1), but the spell fizzles in her hands.

The owner yells at the construct. "Get him you idiot.". The construct swings down again (11 vs. 10) and it manages to knock Isaac off his guard.

The owner tries one last time (2 vs. 17), but Isaac is still not having it. Good for Isaac. She swears in frustration, and waves a hand to try and strengthen her barrier.]

( Ryan tries with all his might to just roll Witch 2 over to just throw them into the construct (19).

Bonnie tries casting, trying to immobilize Witch 2 wbut it misses. But, good news. )

I can cast through it. But - my magic hasn't been the same since the Damnum Essentia was dropped.

[Ryan can't quite get her into the construct. But he does roll her into the lines of the ritual (14). And that doesn't go well for Witch 2. As she collides with the live magic, she screams and then withers, almost as though whatever ritual they're concocting, it's absorbing everything that touches it.

Witch 2 becomes a charcoal briquette, leaving them with just the construct and the owner to contend with.

Freya is quiet for a moment, before asking: "Do you happen to have the necklace I gave you?" She can't do much for her over the phone, but with that necklace, Bonnie might be able to channel her, which hopefully will steady her magic some.

Caroline turns her attention on the owner as well, zipping very carefully around the edge of the ritual and trying to sink her teeth into the woman's throat (4 vs. 15), but she glances off of the shield.

Isaac also focuses on the real threat (3 vs. 20), and the stronger shield is enough to blow him backwards into the construct.

The construct takes the opportunity to slam down onto Isaac (6 vs. 17), but Isaac darts away.

The owner grins, now that Caroline is closer, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder (2 vs. 10), but Caroline is too angry for her to claim. Her fancy mind powers are proving to be a real bummer with all these strong-willed people.]

Edited 2022-11-07 04:13 (UTC)

( Ryan does his best do get a running bullrush at the construct to send it into the ritual, to char it, too (18).

Bonnie touches the necklace through her shirt. )

I do.

( Eyes closed, she tries to overwhelm the owner, not siphoning the magic but feeding her too much to maintain, that she'll have to drop one. Something is definitely blocking her adeptness, sob. (8 w advantage) )

[The construct is heavy, but Ryan does manage to get it pushed a few feet closer to the ritual (15). And while the owner is contending with both a vampire and a werewolf, she's not expecting the assault of magic from behind the barrier.

She'd forgotten about Bonnie. And therefore she's not prepared (4).

Both barriers flicker, both her shield and the barrier spell holding Bonnie in place. Isaac and Caroline look at each other and grin.

Caroline moves fast, getting her hand around her throat (6 vs. 6), but the owner holds her ground. Isaac turns to help Ryan with the construct, moving add his own strength to the push (18 vs. 20), but this time the construct is prepared and holds his ground.

The construct swings it's arms at Ryan first (7), hoping to have a new target it can actually hit.

The owner looks over at Bonnie, fingers clawing at Caroline's around her throat (6 vs. 20), but Caroline tightens her grip in response. "I was going to recruit you. From what's coming, your pet monsters aren't going to be able to protect you. I can."]

What are you talking about?

Thank you, Freya!

( Ryan (13) ducks under the construct's arms, "Isaac, jump" he says as he tries to, like before, sweep a leg under the construct send it falling backward (3).

Bonnie finally joins the fray, trying one last time ) Immobilis! ( But she gets a nat 1) Does she immobilize Caroline accidentally? Or herself? Or Ryan? FREAKING NAT 1. )

[The owner manages to just barely get a counterspell up, and it deflects into the ether (5). Isaac does jump (9), but kicking the stone legs of something is not the best idea, so the construct doesn't falter (15), and it probably hurts.

Caroline keeps holding the owner in place (3 vs. 2), though the owner is starting to struggle. "Explain. What do you mean what's coming?"

"Knightsbridge was sundered. The Colony knows it. They're starting the Gauntlet." The owner keeps her eyes on Bonnie. "It's a call to all witches. Arm yourselves, or be crushed under their heel."

Isaac tries to aim another kick to the construct's center mass, but in a moment of true comedy (1 vs. 1), Isaac can feel his shins crack against the force, but somehow it's enough to knock the damn thing over onto it's back, and the ritual's magic shorts out the spell keeping the creature mobile.]

Fuck.

[Isaac collpases to the ground, watching his shattered legs start to heel.]

Isaac!

( But, the construct is down, right?

Ryan, on the ground, feels his ankle heal but he can't get up just yet, it still takes time.

Bonnie turns toward the owner. )

Under whose heel? Who threw the Gauntlet?

[It is in fact down, so all that's left is the owner.

She keeps her eyes on Bonnie. "The Inner Circle. There hasn't been one in centuries, but I've heard whispers. All they need to do is find the Harper heir, and then it will begin and the strings of power will change. As will who is pulling them."

Caroline glances back at Bonnie, confused what any of this means.]

What was this about? Why did you kill two of your guests?

( Bonnie isn't versed in the Colony (thought she will be), but a name does stick out vaguely. It feels familiar. It's not the time. What was the owner doing here?

Ryan helps Isaac to his feet like two of the three stooges. )

["For power. They are offering up the crown of their coven, to whoever is willing to do what it takes to take it."

Clearly, she is willing to do whatever it takes.

Isaac lets Ryan help him up, and Caroline glances back to Bonnie, raising an eyebrow. What should they do with her - what should they do with any of this?]

( Bonnie can't have this get out, can't even get that there's been any recognition. )

She's not a basic witch. Compel her. Have her forget we were ever here in the first place - and have her turn herself in. Where she comes from, there'll be others. But we can stop one.

[Caroline raises an eyebrow because vampires can't normally compel witches of any variety, but she'll try. Fortunately, these aren't the born witches trying with nature magic to protect them. These are women who sold their souls for what they have, and as such, nature gives them no such protections.

So while the owner scoffs, as Caroline talks, her eyes glaze over and her jaw goes slack, and Caroline lets her go to slump against the wall.]

I gave us a twenty minute head start. I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to get the hell out of here.

( The Winchesters have to school them when they get to the bunker. )

Me too. We're packing and then we're leaving.

Works for me.

[And with that, off they go to pack and hit the road, leaving the horror of the evening in the dust.]

why is it you always get to sit in the shade

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