14950/The Asgardians and the Hag

The Asgardians and the Hag
Date of Scene:	18 May 2023
Location:	Palace - Asgard
Synopsis:	The Asgardians face the Hag at her Tower and discover things were not as they seemed.
Cast of Characters:	Brunnhilde, Thor, Sif, Kelda Stormrider

---

Brunnhilde has posed:
"That's as far as I am willing to go.."

The guard Gardar had rode with the Asgardians through the night, towards the Tower where Amora was supposed to be. And the closer they got to the Tower the more destruction they could witness, almost as if the land itself was being leeched of it's life. Grass had turned brown and dead. Trees withered. Animals? None in sight. Even their horses were having trouble, the unnatural feel of the place felt by their equine senses.

It's still a bit till dawn yet there is no mistaking the Tower ahead of them on the next hill, a gloomy green light keeping it in view. Screeches are heard from it. Very similar to those winged creatures they fought before.

Brunnhilde brings her horse to a stop, watching the looming Tower with a frown. "Even for Amora it's a bit too much." the spite in her words visible. "Perhaps she thought she could do what she wanted when the Prince disappeared.." a look to Thor then to the others.

Whatever is happening here Hilde isn't liking it one bit.

Thor has posed:
    It had not taken too long to gather their mounts and return to the pursuit of the one known as Amora. Hag to some, enchantress to others, if these works had been indeed due to her then there would be much for her to answer for. At least such was the hint on the mien of the Thunderer.
    When the mounts started to balk, Thor had said simply. "Best we tend to the steeds, find them a suitable place to take their rest and we go on. They will be of little aid to us for now." Easily said for the one that can fly, of course. Though it was clear that the mounts were displeased.
    He slung his leg off the steed and dropped to the ground, then proceeded to go through his gear, setting Stormbreaker upon his back and taking one of the saddle bags. A look is given to the others, "I know we have seen horrors so far, hopefully we may be able to at least speak towards peace. Though Amora will have to answer for her crimes lest there is some other threat that has harmed these people."

Sif has posed:
"Agreed." And with that single word, Sif followed Thor's example. She gave the horse a few strokes on her neck, speaking soft words to her. The mount stilled some but the nervousness was still there in the wideness of the equine's eyes sand the flicks of her tail. "We will be better off on foot." Even though she couldn't fly.

She pulled her lance from the saddle, slinging it across her back. It was in the stowed version, thus shorter than it would be once she extended the ends. Her sword was at her side. A glance was given toward the tower and she frowned darkly. The whole area didn't just look wrong, it felt wrong. Even to someone like her with no ties to magic.

"If this is Amora and she is responsible, she should be dealt with. Permanently."

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
The Tower consumes Kelda's attention as they ride closer. Its innate evil, fascinating and repellent - a vortex sapping the energy the life force of any living creature in its surroundings. Her mount is restless under her; only its innate bravery keeps it obedient to her will.

"It is the kindest thing we can do for them. I hope we are not too close to the evil that blights the land, and they suffer for it."

Kelda dismounts and goes to the mare's head, stroking its neck and encouraging her. The mare flinches under Kelda's touch, unsettled, shifting restlessly, then quiets.

"There is no reasoning with one who would wound the land and its people so," she says, giving her mount a final pat. "We will stop her."

Brunnhilde has posed:
Hilde immediately slides down from her mount, arming herself of a long iron spear and her shield, already a piece of it missing from the earlier fight with those winged serpents. It would do though. She feels the weight of it on her arm and nods at the others, stormy blue eyes resting on Sif and at her words.

"We should."

No love lost between her and Amora. But then again, considering their past it's hard to imagine there would still be any care for the sorceress by Hilde. In fact there's so little that she shouts out a defiant, "WE ARE COMING FOR YOU, HAG!" her voice echoing across the barren land and towards the Tower. Clearly not a believer in a stealthy approach. Not in this at least.

Gardar takes the horses, "I will take care of them." he murmurs, relieved they don't ask him to continue on, starting to grab the reins to keep them away.

As they approach further towards their destination a figure can be seen coming to the window at the top of the Tower, a musical laughter heard. "Such illustrious visitors that are coming for a visit. Though I do not recall having invited you for tea." the figure singsongs.

"Even if my doors are always open for my dear Thor." A beat, ".. if he comes with good intentions."

Thor has posed:
    "Amora!" Thor says from the base of the tower, shouting upwards in that booming voice he so often uses in the field. He lifts one hand to shade his eyes slightly as he looks upon the visage of the figure above, he takes a deep breath then bellows. "I would have words with thee!"
    A turn to look at the others and he says simply, "I wish to try diplomacy as we can, I would ask you to bear with me until a moment we are left with little choice." As he says that he looks between the stern women amongst him, his one blue eye flitting from each to each. He quirks an eyebrow as he asks a further silent question though they likely get the gist, wishing for them to hold their judgment for now at least.
    Then he turns back, "It has been some time, will you grant us entry?"

Sif has posed:
The lance is back in Sif's hand, a push of a button extending the dual blades out either end of it. Then she hefts it, obviously testing the weight. And her eyes aren't leaving that figure in the tower.

Those that know her will recognize she is considering if she can make the throw.

But then Thor's words force her to look at him instead. A moment. Two. Then the button is pushed and the weapon compacts once more, blades disappearing within. She slings it to her back and gives a terse nod but says nothing. For if she were to speak, she suspects her voice would betray her annoyance.

Thor has asked and she will not deny him his opportunity. Both as a Prince and, more importantly, a friend.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
Kelda casts a humorous glance at dear Thor, her mouth quirked wryly. She murmurs softly for no one's benefit, "Oh, we come with good intentions, Lady. Though you may not like them." A skirl of icy wind bends the dry grass around the mage as she leaves her horse's side.

"Thank you, Gardar. Leave this area and return to the edge of the sickness. Forfend that it affects you."

She takes a step, then stops, eyes closed as she explores the tainted magic infecting the Tower, then sends words whispered on a cool breeze for her companion's ears alone. ~"This magic is Amora's, yet not. Its power has a strange twist to it. Ware, the Tower, friends, it amplifies her powers."~

Brunnhilde has posed:
The figure /leans/ over that window tower, making no effort to keep her assets modest or hidden, "Words..." Amora says wistfully, "... always words, and nothing more..." hand brushing over long blond hair as she considers the various Asgardians way down there by the base of the Tower. Yet for all the wickedness Amora may or may not have one thing has always been true, she can't bring herself to deny Thor so...

"Very well, I shall grace you with my hospitality. Even those .., others." and when her clear blue gaze runs over Sif, Hilde and Kelda there's undisguised animosity there. She never played well with other women. Specially ones that are friends with the Prince.

The doors start to open, slowly, giving way within. Hilde doesn't lose time, starting to walk inside, "Hope we are getting into the wolf's mouth." her eyes burning as if aching for a fight. Yet like Sif she won't go against Thor's wishes. Perhaps there's a way to solve this without bloodshed. She doubts it though.

The Tower opens to an expansive foyer. Larger than what the tower suggested it would be from the outside, but perhaps that's Amora's magic at work. Some of those serpents that attacked them before are present, hissing. But they do not attack. Simply watching the group move through.

Thor has posed:
    At the sight of the serpents in the confines of the tower, Thor's expression slips more toward the pensive. His lips purse as he frowns, then he begins to move toward what would be the most suitable way to ascend toward where Amora held her vigil. He cannot help, however, but grimace a little at the creatures. Perhaps even catching a sidelong look from the others where he murmurs, "I know this does not look good, but perhaps there is an explanation."
    Even as he says this he lets his saddle bag drop from his shoulder and he holds it loose in his left hand. He spares a glance at Sif then Brunnhilde, one of those old glances between warriors that they had seen before. It offered simply, silently, 'be ready.'
    With that their ascent begins.

Sif has posed:
Upon seeing the beasts within, Sif's left hand rests on the pommel of her sword. She does not grip the handle, much as she would like. Nor does she draw, much as she would like even more. They agreed to be polite until it was no longer time to be.

And perhaps Amora was being true to her word as the beasts just seemed to be waiting.

The words of Kelda were fresh in Sif's ears and she looked to the woman, keeping her voice low. "Does it seem as though someone else assists her? Or perhaps she has been..compromised?" She doesn't sound hopeful that she might be. Because if she was, that would mean they have to continue to play nice.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
It amuses her to set Amora's teeth on edge, Kelda, head high, deliberately walks closer to the Prince's side as if it were her accustomed place, courting her blind ire. How could she imagine that anyone who injures the people of this realm would be an object of his affection? Let her imagine there is a rival and she might misstep in her anger.

"Come Prince," she nods, ignoring the serpents that hiss and writhe on seeing them.

"Assists?" she replies, making no effort to hide the words. "There is a taint to it that speaks of other influences." Shaking her head doubtfully, "If she is then I would say she welcomed it. Being ever greedy for more power. Perhaps, she miscalculated."

Brunnhilde has posed:
The serpents hiss at Kelda with feral intent even if they do not attack. Yet what they see seems to be seen by Amora too considering the way they react. And if Kelda wanted to be the object of ire? Well, she got it. "Foolish ice sorceress." Amora's voice coming from one of the large serpents, "You can't even warm your own heart and you expect to warm another's." musical laughter rings through the Tower as they ascend...

And if they found the outside barren and ugly on the inside it's completely different. Opulent hallways, a marble stairwell with gold filigree on the sides that give way to a large solarium where the sun is hitting down on an endless field of flowers. It almost begs for them to have a rest and nap. To forget all the ugliness outside.

"Good. I hope there's another sorcerer so we can skewer two of them." That's Hilde, giving way to her own anger and not even casting a look to the field of flowers. For some reason it seems as if she has been here before, continuing to make way through. "We are close." she tells them.

Eventually, after going past a few more rooms with rather realistic human statues they come to the Enchantress's den itself, doors opening to a large room. Amora is there, standing in her usual magnificent green dress, chin up. Smug smile to her lips. "Welcome, o Prince." the others? Ignored!

The room itself feels magical, walls and counters filled with magical pieces, many most likely taken from other sorcerers. Rows and rows filled with books, scrolls, even the occasional wand or staff. A tall-sized, full-figure mirror is over at a corner, covered by a piece of cloth as well.

Thor has posed:
    "Amora." Thor says simply as they enter that solarium with flowers so prominent. He is not as the sorceress remembers him, though still the Prince she's known. He draws himself up and furrows his brow, expression clearly reserved as he looks upon the tall blonde woman. Then he gestures to the side, "You know my traveling companions and comrades."
    A hand turns to motion to each, "Sif, Kelda, and Brunnhilde. We are come upon a task originally of some import only now to find that these creatures you hold close to you prey upon the people of this realm."
    He rests his hands on his hips and frowns, "I have known you in the past to act for your own goals, Enchantress. But never have I known you to prey upon the small-folk. What has passed that brought you to this sorry time?"

Sif has posed:
As they traversed the tower, Sif was getting more and more anxious. She frowned mightily upon seeing the field of flowers. Though they were not poppies, they reminded her of a movie she had seen since coming to Midgard. Only there seemed to be no road of golden bricks winding through it. There was also something else amiss and it took a moment to figure it out. "They look away from the sun," she murmured. "It is as though they mirror themselves."

Then the humanoid statues got even more attention and there was no longer resting her hand on her sword. She was gripping it now because that was just too creepy for words. Were they statues? Or men turned to stone by some magic?

Upon reaching the Enchantress, she took a little step closer to Thor, on the side opposite Kelda. Not touching him but not backing down one whit. And when she was introduced, she gave a half-smile since she was supposed to be polite. It looked more like it was painful but she tried.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
The opulence underlines Amora's disregard for all that is good in the people and the land. Under the beauty of the decor, the flowers even the statues, there lurks something out of kilter to Kelda. The overly ornate rooms are stuffed with trophies to her greed and quest for power, trying to mask the acts that brought them here, no matter the cost.

Kelda, her blue eyes cold and proud, matches her stride to Thor, "What would she know of hearts, Amora?"

When they arrive, she regards Amora disdainfully, neglecting to bow or smile in greeting. Taking a deep breath, the mage strives for patience while Thor questions the sorceress and examines the room. Among the trophies is a covered mirror that calls for attention, more than other objects in the room. Kelda cannot pull her eyes from it. For an instant, she feels Amora's magic deep within its matrix.

Brunnhilde has posed:
Blue eyes regard the Prince as he speaks, only briefly taking note of the other three with him. There is recognition there but perhaps not in the same measure as one would expect. Almost as if it was only the Prince that was at the forefront of her memory. "Perhaps I have changed in the same way you have." she finally tells him. "For are you not a shadow of what you once were...?" she wonders, elegant fingers gesturing towards the missing eye. The missing hand (cybernetics don't count!).

The doors behind them close with more of those serpents sliding closer.

"Do you even know what -I- have endured?" She shakes her head at Thor, "No, you wouldn't know. For you could never see -me-, could you?" her eyes widening in a feverish manner and she leaning forward. "But I can show you. You but have to stay.."

The lure in her voice strong.

Thor has posed:
    "Indeed," Thor's answer is given as he looks upon the Enchantress, "In some ways I am less, yet others I feel I am more. Much has transpired since last we shared words."
    The Thunderer shifted his weight to the other boot, his hand resting upon his hip, the one that he had lost during the war with Malekith. He looks upon her, gaze steady even as he seems utterly at ease with the others by his side, trust given in its entirety as he murmurs, "I know not what you have endured, though it must have been dire true. For you would otherwise never have taken the blood of your countrymen nor the small folk who look to you."
    There's a pause then as Thor seems to weigh something, words spoken or unspoken before he takes a step forward, "Whatever ill temper weighs upon you, whatever event has so transpired, I tell you this at the least. It is not too late. Surrender to us and you will be treated fairly. Then we can find what has passed and hopefully lend what aid we can."

Sif has posed:
Still he was giving Amora a chance. Yet, his words did say that either way, the witch was coming with them. To pay for her crimes. Having her beasts steal away people to their deaths. Presumably. They hadn't come back, after all. Though she had a momentary thought about the statues in the other room but dismissed it. It hadn't been only men who had been taken after all so she was sticking with her Amora is a bad person who killed them line of thinking.

Yet damn Thor, he had Sif's mind following that path as well and she frowned even as she spoke for the first time. "Perhaps if you return the people unharmed, it can be looked upon in a positive light."

Yeah, she didn't believe it even as she said it because Sif could not look at Amora in a positive light. Ever. It just seemed to be physically impossible for her.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
The frost from her breath still wreathing her head, Kelda turns pale eyes on Thor in wonder at his largess. She nods a decision taken, and regards Amora.

"Poor unseen child." Kelda's words chill the air. "Murder in the name of neglect, yet we offer you life and a chance to redeem yourself."

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Are we just going to keep talking in a civilized manner with her after all we have witnessed?" That's Brunnhilde, trampling through the diplomatic efforts from Thor, letting out a dismissive laugh at the Hag. Like Sif she can't really see Amora in a good light. Too much history. Too much pain. Pain that not even all the booze in the world (she has tried) can make her forget, "Let's just drag her back to the Palace and bring Odin's justice upon her."

Amora lets out a lilting laughter that expands and fills the whole Tower with it, so soft and soothing, "She was always so .., impetuous." eyes on Hilde before she dismisses her with a look back to Thor. She claps her hands and a few attendants begin walking into the room, all dressed in the finest silks, beautiful, long blonde hair, the men broad of shoulders and the women with the strong nord features, perfect specimens. They each carry a tray with drinks. "Please, before you do something you may come to regret. Do have a drink. I am your hostess after all, and the rules of hospitality apply." it's also her Tower, where supposedly her powers may be quite more powerful.

"It is all a small price to pay." The Witch finally addressing Thor's words about the people she took hostage, or worse, "Would you have me surrender if you knew what I am keeping from being unleashed once again..?" she shakes her head. "But please, have a drink." she takes a goblet and has a sip.

Thor has posed:
    Thor's answer to Amora as she brings forth the servants and the offering of drinks, he shakes his head slightly and murmurs, "We cannot accept guest rite, Amora. You know this as well as I. For what passes here... blood may well be shed."
    The Asgardian Prince is stern, and there is an iron to his tone, yet there is that push toward diplomacy, perhaps still clinging to the hope that matters can be eased. "But you say there are matters we are not privy to, that you are keeping something bound... _tell_ us what is afoot, what may be testing you so. And even then whatever your answer may be, there are lives that have been lost, and they demand justice."
    That said, Thor rests his hands on his hips, his stern expression strong as he turns his head slightly, bringing his comrades into his line of sight. A small glance given in the faint moments before whatever must pass passes.

Sif has posed:
As the servants come forward, Sif shifts. Turning their direction a bit so as to have a clear draw of her sword that won't interfere in any way with her companions. For that ill feeling abides and grows.

Thoughts keep wandering to the statues. The people. For something in her mind is now nattering at her about the reality. Those are people. Were. No longer. She has flashes, glimpses in her mind, withered and dead as if dried up trees.

She shook her head and snapped a glance at Amora then to the servants once more. She didn't reach for the offered beverages. For those flashes were starting to come as she looked at the servants. Something dull about them. Lifeless, though they yet lived. "Witch, what have you done and why? Cease your prattling riddles and speak clearly for my patience is growing ever thinner. What have you done to these people?" She nodded toward the servants. "To the ones in the other room. What are you alleging to be keeping at bay? And at what cost?"

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
"Drink not! An unwilling guest does not share guest right. What is behind this?" The mistress of blizzards raises her arm and points to the mirror, blazing with magic.

"Truly, there is something beyond you here, Amora. We offer you aid in your labor. It is too much for one alone."

She shares Thor's glance, and sees Sif ready herself, certain that the next minutes will bring an answer. One that may overwhelm them all, for under the current of Amora's magic there is another. Amora's magic burns palely next to the blaze that seems to consume the Tower.

"Speak, Amora. What has you in its thrall?"

Brunnhilde has posed:
"You refuse my hospitality?" A twinge of something dark on the woman's expression, marring some of that unnatural beauty. The goblet she was holding is held tight between fingers and her frown follows with that opulent room darkening as well, as if it sensed her mood. "There was a time you would delight in Amora's attention. And now you refuse? Perhaps you are indeed a lesser version of what the mighty Thor once was. But not me. I am superior!"

And she tosses her goblet at Thor in a fit of rage. It bounces off his armor and clatters to the ground harmlessly.

A moment later and Hilde is taking a step forward, shifting that large lance on her hand, "Talking time is over." and she throws it mightily at Amora. The woman shrieks and the lance is deflected, spinning and hitting the mirror on the side. Not enough to make it fall but enough for the cloth to fall. On the other side? A very angry reflection of Amora, hitting the 'glass' as if she was imprisoned on the other side.

The serpents on the room shriek, following their master's nonhuman voice and the servants fall to their knees, clutching at their ears as if in pain.

Thor has posed:
    The die is cast.
    Thor's answer is immediate, as soon as the goblet is hurled, as soon as Brunnhilde throws her spear in response. The moment of choice has been made.
    "Kelda, free Amora from the mirror!" The words delivered in that sharp rapid-fire tone used for the battlefield even as Stormbreaker suddenly finds a life of its own and leaps into the Thunderer's hand, already crackling with the contained power channeled from the God of the Storms. He trusts Brunnhilde and Sif to have his guard as he advances toward the other Amora that is unbound. His stride is quick as he raises the powerful weapon.
    "Explain yourself, fiend. I am not known for my patience, and in this past year it has shortened even further."

Sif has posed:
The moment the mirror is revealed and Sif spies Amora within, there is obvious confusion on her face. Though she has to focus on other things as magic mirrors are not something she would be able to deal with. Outside trying to break the glass and would that destroy Amora along with it?

She drew her sword and mourned her earlier ruined shield as she faced the serpents. They were the danger here outside whatever the false Amora was. Though, what if that was the real Amora and the one in the mirror was some demon trying to pretend to be her?

Though the true Amora would likely have thrown more than a goblet. Maybe.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
Wincing at the unholy screech, Kelda rises into the air. Frost glitters in the air as a spear of blue ice appears in her throwing hand. With her offhand she gestures at the Serpents encasing them in ice that grows deeper with every passing second until their heads are but a blur deep within their prison.

Caught within Kelda's icy spear, runes of power pulse with Asgardian magic. Kelda balances the spear and hurls it at the mirror intent on shattering the spell capturing Amora behind its ensorcelled glass. "Release her and return Amora to this realm."

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Nooooo!"

Amora screeches when Thor tells Kelda to free ..., the other Amora? "You do not understand what it is ... to forever be bound in a mirror, at the whim of someone like -her-." venom and hate 'drips' from her tongue now as she retreats back from that sharp Stormbreaker, green bolts of magic surging upon her hands and she shooting them in succession against Thor.

"Always watching her perfidy, her vainness. Those plots she conjures for her own amusement." she says, "Isn't the fate of a few a small price for so many more to be free?!"

The serpents lunge to attack at lightning speeds. Some get frozen down by Kelda's command of ice magic, some cracks appearing on the quick ice that forms to stop them but for now they seem handled down. The rest come to fight against Sif and Hilde, snapping with their fangs as they try to inject some poison in them!

Hilde dodges and punches one of the serpents squarely under the mouth, sending it to the ground. "I have this great idea ..." she suggests, "Let's break the mirror and get rid of the two of them."

Meanwhile, the 'servants' on the ground appears as they are, wretched people on the ground, most likely captured villagers, their features drawn and older as if their life essence had been sapped. And the more 'Amora' fights the more their condition seems to worsen, as if her magic was feeding off of these people.

Thor has posed:
    As the emerald blasts of magical power lance across the distance toward him, Thor's axe blurs into a whirling spin, its surface flicking and flashing the energy crackles into the blurring shield and knocked away with the thrum of power that comes form the newly forged weapon. It is with this shield before him that the Asgardian Prince's voice takes on a louder quality to it as he roars.
    "We must be quick, strike true!" As another blast slashes across the distance he turns to the side and /crashes/ the uru-metal axe into the hurled power that was sent his way, crashing it to the side where it exerts its wroth upon the ground beneath them.
    Though in that moment he steps forward and with an underhand throw he sends Mjolnir on its way crashing across the short distance as it seeks to crash hard into the visage of Amora that is not Amora.

Sif has posed:
"Kill it quickly!" Sif yelled even as she reached out a fist to grasp one of the serpent like beings at the back of the neck, to try to keep the head from being able to twist around enough to reach her with those fangs. Then she moved to sever that head from the body of the beast.

An instant later, she swung the blade to the side to try to sever wings off another serpenet in mid flight to keep it from having that mobility which gave it a great advantage.

"It is drawing the life force from the servants. They will soon be as those statues in the other room!" At least that's what she believed.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
To Kelda's eyes, a foul magic writhes in the air, lines of lurid green entrapping the imprisoned folk drinking their life essence. Spells frothed with foggy cold conjure swords of ice- one for each captive, their keen edges catching ambient light. With an abrupt gesture, Kelda slashes the veins of magic drinking the captive's life blood, seeking to severe them from the parasite sucking them dry.

Kelda, still suspended in the air, spins in place, undoing the ties powering the thing at the heart of the foul magic. Once again with a crack as loud as an iceberg breaking, a spear of ice appears in her hand, and as Mjolnir sings in its mighty trajectory, so does Kelda's weapon fly toward the mirror, bright with magic.

Brunnhilde has posed:
The scent of serpent blood permeates the air as Sif and Hilde go to town on the monstrous creatures even if they do not seem daunted by their own dying, single-minded in their need to protect 'Amora' and destroy these Asgardians, lunging at them with ferocity.

"Stop!" She tells the Prince, irritation mounting as he blocks most of her shots with that new weapon, "Don't release her, you don't understand what she wants---" And then Kelda is forming that iceberg and throwing it at the mirror. Just as the magic is sapped from her. Eyes widen and she extends one hand towards the mirror but it's no use, it breaks in a thousand pieces and she howls in pain...

And then is hit right on the chin by Mjolnir, tossing it to a wall with a crunching, painful sound before the form falls, unmoving.

The mirror breaks and the figure imprisoned starts stepping out, "At last. You came to my rescue, o mighty Prince." blue eyes fully on Thor. And ignoring the fact it was Kelda breaking the actual incantation.

Thor has posed:
    Even as the hammer finds its target, felling the other Amora, Mjolnir leaps back across the distance with a low /whom/ as it finds a home once again in Thor's fist. He advances, but then the voice of the Enchantress catches his attention. A quick glance given toward the fallen doppelganger before he turns and says quickly, "Come Amora, aid us in ending the tyranny of these creatures, though you were imprisoned there is still much for which you must answer."
    And as he says that he spins to the side, causing Stormbreaker to whirl around him once as he releases it and sends it spinning across the distance toward several of the serpents who dare still stand against them. The uru-axe slices across the distance even as Thor moves quickly to interpose himself between others and the fallen innocents and servants.

Sif has posed:
The simpering sound of Amora thanking the prince who she just Knew Would Save Her has Sif feeling particularly ill. Not physically. Simply mentally that they had to help the hag. For as beautiful as Amora was, she would always be a hag. It simply was. Her crush on Thor had been there since their childhood. Admittedly, Sif had shared that but she had grown up. Amora? She wasn't sure she could say the same.

She cut the head off another serpent and with the shift of an arm, it squirted outo of her blood soaked hand in a perfect arc toward Amora.

"Oops. The blood is so slippery," she muttered even as she caught the eye of both Kelda and Brunnhilde while trying very hard to hide a smirk. Just because they were in a fight for their lives didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun in the process.

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
The deafening sound of a thousand fjords crackling asunder in summer heat fills the room. Chunks of ice skitter across the floor.

"You are freed! Turn on the tyrant that held you, Amora."

"Pffft." Kelda smiles, of course, Amora, ever vain and shallow, would reward Thor for her new found freedom. But it is of little matter to the Mistress of Blizzards. She shares a glance with Brunnhilde and Sif, the disdainful smile widening as a gout of blood splashes Amora's overwrought robes. A serpent encased with icy spells shatters into a spreading pool of blood that lap Amora's slippers. Kelda shrugs.

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Of course, my Prince. All shall be clarified." and as Amora steps out of that broken mirror the more she invigorated she seems, drawing the powers from her Tower once more. Magic crackles in the air, "My heart warms to see you again, alive." she admits, a green glow expanding from her as the creatures shriek, killed by the dozen with the joined efforts of the Asgardians present here today. Yet as the magic touches them they start disappearing. Winked away. It's when some of the serpents start trying to escape but soon enough there are no more attacks, nor any shrieks, the creatures gone.

"I thought you gone, and I was lost in the grief you wrought upon me. Yet I forgive you." For Amora is so magnanimous. "And I shall make sure it never happens again." ominous?

It's also when that blood splatters her immaculate green tunic and she shoots a gaze at Sif. A gaze of promise for the future. And not the good kind of promise.

Thor has posed:
    "Time enough for promises later, for now we fight." Are the words Thor offers in rejoinder to those given him by the true Amora. Yet her presence offers no solace, as the heroes are still beset upon by those many serpents. And so much fighting there is to be done, and much battle to be had, until those monstrosities start to flee. It is when their morale fully breaks, however, that Thor seems to ease his anger.
    For as they run, the Crown Prince turns toward Sif and gives a single nod, old understanding of each other gives way the need for words. She has the lead and in this battle it is her efforts that now turn the tide and start to hammer home that these creatures shall not stand in Asgard.
    "Kelda, is there yet further magic to be undone here?" He smashes one of the serpents aside, while the rest around him start to flee at full tilt. "For I think victory beckons shortly."

Sif has posed:
The look is seen and accepted. Sif will not apologize though she had said oops so perhaps it was a mistake! Or...not.

As the magic swelled out and the beasts disappeared, the people around them fallen but still alive, Sif finally lowered her blade though she did not clean it nor slip it into the scabbard. Instead it remained in her hand as she breathed deeply the coppery smell now in the air.

But for a moment. An instant. Sif...understood Amora's response. For she too had sunk into the depths of sorrow upon the loss of Thor. For months, focusing on trying to find him, to save him if he was lost and not dead. She had lost her own relationship with a man she cared for because she was so obsessed.

Perhaps she and Amora were more alike than she would care to ever admit.

"Is there more to battle here, Amora? Or is the fiend vanquished? The tale can be told once we are free of this place."

Kelda Stormrider has posed:
Amora shows her true colors in the glance she throws at the valiant Sif. She expects no better behavior from the love-sick sorceress, spurned by Thor (for good reason).

"I cannot undo her vanity or blindness, Prince. Would that I could," she answers, still hovering above the blood slick floors. "But I can cleanse these halls of the sick magic that permeates it."

Wind whistles outside the tower, growing to a howl as Kelda calls on purifying cold to wrap the tower. A window blows open and a gust blasts the room absorbing blood and vestiges of dark magic.