Homestead Survival

<15 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Theo and Julia]
Theo could sense the power radiating from Patriarch Karzun. Julia, who had stepped up next to him, felt it as well. The web of paralyzing magic had receded.

Durn snarled, "You three are to suppress me while the System ponders my fate? And what makes you so confident? Especially you, you useless lizard, just because the System called you by your Godsbane title? You think that you stand a chance?"

Patriarch Karzun smiled at Durn, "I wonder. But I guess there is one way to find out. Eg'Valla if you would."

Eg'Valla Dreamscaper stepped back and slowly raised her hands. Around Durn, Patriarch Karzun, and Gurndin Darksmasher rose a shimmering technicolor barrier. Then Gurndin summoned a large mace with a flat face and a massive set of spikes opposite it. A feral grin fell over the Dwarf as he also summoned an Anvil that emanated a white light.

Patriarch Karzun smiled at Durn. "Durn the Unwanted. You are hereby Suppressed."

Gurndin brought the hammer down on the anvil, and a wave of white light flooded out, striking Durn and bringing him to his knees. Durn snarled and lunged at Patriarch Karzun, who backhanded the Unwanted God. "Durn the Unwanted..."

Gurndin slammed the hammer onto the anvil again, and another pulse of white light slammed into Durn with a sharp crack. Theo shuddered at the ominous KLANGOOM that occurred when Gurndin struck the anvil, the sound of a mixture of a hammer striking the anvil and the thump of a mortar shell leaving the tube. Patriarch Karzun continued.

"... you have violated pacts with the System pertaining to Skill usage..."

KLANGOOM!

Durn launched himself at Patriarch Karzun once more and was struck in the chest, sending him flying, only to meet another wave of energy.

KLANGOOM!

"... divine policy, and a plethora of other minor infractions. You have violated the non-interference pact of the newly inducted..."

KLANGOOM!

Durn glared at Gurndin, who looked as if he was reveling in the display that was taking place. He launched himself at Gurndin as the Dwarf prepared to swing again. He flew through the air and was met with a massive tail to the face.

KLANGOOM!

Patriarch Karzun had shifted into his small draconic form, taking up much of the space between Durn and Gurndin. He continued speaking, his voice now deep and rumbling.

"... The System has demanded your suppression. And we shall abide by the System's wishes..."

KLANGOOM!

Durn begins to lob green balls of energy at Gurndin.

KLANGOOM!

"... Durn the Unwanted..."

Gurndin slammed the hammer into the anvil a final time, a massive wave of white light slamming into Durn and knocking him to his back. Patriarch Karzun slammed a massive clawed foot down on Durn so that his head sticks out between two of his massive claws and Durn let out a wheezing breath as the full weight of the massive dragon forced out his breath.

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"... You are suppressed."

With that, Eg'Valla let the shimmering containment shield drop and stepped forward. She looked at Durn and smiled. "I invoke Direct Representation."

>Local Message: Judgement in progress...
>Local Message: Direct Representation invoked by User: Eg'Vall Joolnar, Dreamscaper of Krothniy

The massive eye in the sky snapped to focus on her, and after a moment, another message appeared.

>Local Message: Invocation approved

A beam of Cherenkov blue light slammed down from the eye to envelope Eg'Valla. She stared at Durn, her eyes no longer showing; instead, two orbs of solid light looked at him. She opened her mouth, leaving it open and unmoving despite the words that issued from it.

"Durn the Unwanted." The voice that spoke was deep and made the very ground they all stood on shake in reverberation, "Time and Time again you have violated the laws of the System, flaunting the power that you have managed to accumulate. Violation of the Non-interference pact of the newly inducted is unacceptable. You have already incurred multiple punishments. As such, you will be banished from System Controlled space and realities for a period of not less than five thousand years. At such a time, should another violation occur, you shall be purged."

The eye in the sky blinked, and a pulse of energy that drove every single being except for Eg'Valla to their knees ripped Durn from reality and cast him away. Everyone struggled to their feet, and Eg'Valla turned to look at Theo and Julia, still possessed by the System. It spoke once more.

"Such events are not acceptable. You are all children of the System now; you should not have had to go through this. Rectification and Error Correction shall continue."

The eye in the sky flared bright purple and then was gone. Eg'Valla grabbed her head, appearing normal now, and began to fall backward but was caught by Patriarch Karzun, who had rapidly shifted back to his humanoid form. Gurndin waved a hand, summoning a chair that was oddly anvil-shaped.

"ye' alright?" Gurndin asked, summoning a small flask with an anvil and hammer insignia on it and offering it to Eg'Valla, "didn't 'spect ye' to go that far."

"I didn't either," Eg'Valla said, accepting the flask and taking a quick pull from it. "Ohh, that is rough."

"That is me own, private brew!" Gurndin chuckled, taking a rather long pull. He offered it to Patriarch Karzun, who declined and then saw Julia and Theo standing to the side, gesturing them over, and proffering the flask to Theo. "Ye' look like a stout enough lad. Give it a taste."

Theo shrugged and took the tiniest sip from the flask. It was delicious, but he was almost instantly tipsy. Theo stumbled a bit and grabbed Julia's shoulder for a moment to steady himself. As quick as it came on, the intense drunkenness dissipated.

Theo let out a whistle. "Well, holy shit. That hits like a truck."

Gurndin chuckled, "Aye, it does. Good work on not passin' out, though."

The Dwarf laughed at the surprised look on Theo's face and then slammed another long pull from the flask. Patriarch Karzun smiled at Theo and Julia. "Young Humans, I see you have met my granddaughter."

Aflara stepped forward and bowed slightly to the three assembled entities. Theo smiled. "We had actually just started talking when the big green grump showed up and started spouting off about our death."

Julia looked concerned, "Speaking of, what happens to them?"

They all looked at the ten remaining members of the Horde. Eg'Valla shrugged. "They will do nothing for now. But the Horde of the Harbinger is technically a system-sanctioned event, so when this is concluded, there will probably be a fight between the three of you and them. But that also depends on the Rectification and Error Correction that the System Decides upon."

"Well, the method has already been chosen," Gurndin said.

Theo and Julia glanced at each other. And Aflara stepped forward. "I apologize, grandfather, but I was only here a few moments before Durn appeared, and the System acted."

Patriarch Karzun let out a long sigh. "We figured he would do something like that when you showed up. That is why we met early on the Moon. Gurndin, a meal if you would."

"Aye," Gurndin said, waving a hand, and a table in the shape of a strange circular anvil appeared, and around it were seven of the oddly anvil-shaped chairs. On the table was a large smattering of food.

"Now then," Patriarch Karzun said with a smile, offering a hand to Eg'Valla and helping her to her feet, "Theo Sorrenson, Julia Brahmin, and your new friend, I invite you to dine with us. You as well, Aflara."

They all moved to a seat and began to eat.