hadriel_logs | Event Log: Predator vs. Prey

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the Predator vs Prey event
Where: All over the city
When: March 13th-March 21st
Warnings: None

It all starts with an explosion, because Rage is excellent at managing her anger. But an explosion isn't enough - she hasn't worked out all her feeling yet. Not until the city itself has gotten caught up in her anger at Fear for being unable to save Delight. And yeah, that means you.

So now you're a predator (Rage) or prey (Fear). You want to hunt, or you're being hunted. Maybe you were defenseless before, or maybe you're the sort who no one could be afraid of... but it's different now, because the gods are passing on their blessings to you. All the better to catch and kill, or run and hide.

What will you do? Try to resist the urge? Good luck with that. Who would want to resist, anyway, when it feels so right to give in? Hunt someone down like a cat after a mouse, or flee like a deer before wolves. Maybe you can find someone to help you, whether that means hunting in packs or looking for safety in numbers. Who knows, maybe you'll even make a few new friends while trying to kill your old ones.

► This log covers March 13th-March 21st.
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you get caught by a predator or have things turned on you by your prey, please let us know here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Maybe it is. What does she know? She's killed before, and killing someone with magic seems no different than commanding that a dragon or soldier do so. Magic is just another kind of weapon. ]

You won't find easy prey with me. [ Well, she might. Dany is terrified to her core and trapped, heart pounding like a rabbit ensnared. She tries to steel herself, channeling all she has - all Lup taught her - into producing two fireball spells, both of which she lobs toward the other woman. ]

We'll see.

[ The fireballs surprise her, though. She's not expecting magic, not from this scared, fragile-looking young woman. Lucretia manages to avoid one of them, but the other catches the hem of her robe, setting it alight.

Her eyes narrow, and she casts a quick Ray of Frost at her own feet, dousing the flame. Then she glares down at Dany again. Now she's annoyed. ]

Cute trick.

[ But how is she with defensive magic? She raises her staff again, and casts Ice Storm, raining icy hailstones down on Dany. ]

[ The answer is "not great." The ice rains down on her, and though some of it is melted by the fire she sprays sloppily over her head, most of it strikes her.

There will be bruising, at the very least. The situation is incredibly fraught.

Words aren't going to reach this woman, she knows. Breathing hard, she straightens up again, frost and embers both mixed across her clothes, her hair.

What next? What can I do? Something tells her that Lucretia isn't looking to draw this out for very long, and so she makes an attempt at something like a wall of fire...but, not knowing that particular spell, her flames are something easily stepped over, and she feels both embarrassed and terrified at the tiny attempt.

Think. Think fast, or die. ]

[ It's almost sad. Lucretia sighs, watching as Dany casts what's not so much a wall as a foot-high fence of fire. She wonders, briefly, if this is even worth it. Surely she can find more challenging prey.

But there is that delicious look of fear in Dany's eyes, and - even better - alongside it, something that can only be determination. She's still fighting back, or trying to, even if she's woefully underprepared to do so.

She still wants to live.

Lucretia smiles, cruel and too casual for the situation. She steps easily over the flames, flicking the hem of her robes almost in annoyance, and walks towards Dany. She doesn't hurry. Why make this even easier than it already is? ]

You don't seem like you're having much fun, little one.

[ On a whim, she casts Hideous Laughter, yelling sharply as she advances. ]

Lighten up!

[ The hilarity takes root and she struggles to resist. Laughter bubbles up from deep within, perhaps from-...not within her at all, and the young queen seems almost to spasm as she chokes down the unwelcome experience. Despite this, she shrinks down, half-collapses as it overtakes her, and she's torn between fear and humor, feeling absolutely horrified about it all from start to finish.

What is this woman? Like the warlocks of Qarth, but with much more expression. With something like a terrible and almost sadistic, predatory way about her.

Later, even after Fear's exposure dies down, she'll feel the same fear in remembering all this.

There's still...one thing... If she could just fight off the laughter that robs her of her voice, she could try the final spell Lup had taught her... ]

[ She watches in satisfaction as the young woman doubles over with uncontrollable laughter. She's helpless now, unable to run or defend herself or try any of her pathetic attempts at attack.

Lucretia keeps walking closer, still taking her time. There's no need to rush; there's nothing Dany can do to fight her off now. All she needs to do is decide which spell will be the one to end her. ]

[ There's still one thing. Dany pushes with every fiber of her being through the terrifying laughter that's gripped her, using all her remaining strength to focus her mind. She's still laughing, but she's thinking back to her lessons with Lup, to something not of fire, but of mind.

The young woman is still on the ground, doubled-over, when she manages to utter: ]

Go.

[ Her arm is outstretched as she casts Command, fingers trembling as Lucretia's own spell still has her trembling, chuckling strangely. It's her final gambit, unless someone else shows up to dig her out of this mess.

No. Concentrate. Don't give up just yet. ]

Leave! [ She tries again, stretching her arm out even more vigorously in the other's direction. ]

[ Lucretia has over a hundred years of experience in practicing magic to Danys' few weeks or months. She's not only mastered most spells, she's developed her own, a spell strong enough to save the multiverse. Add the heightened adrenaline and faster reflexes provided by Rage's blessing, and she should be nearly unstoppable.

The problem is, she knows that. She knows that Dany has no chance here, that it's only a matter of time before she's beaten. She knows she's helpless and afraid. And she's secure in the knowledge that there's nothing Dany can do.

She's overconfident. Barely paying attention to what she's doing, even as she moves ever closer. This is almost too easy.

And that's what undoes her. Because Dany may be a novice, she may be wounded and terrified and struggling to do anything but laugh, but she's also desperate. Fighting with all her will to live. Focusing on the spell with all her concentration.

It's enough. Dany casts the spell, and without blinking Lucretia lowers her staff, turns around, and begins to walk the other way. ]

Event Log: Predator vs. Prey

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