Thread: Myth Brought To Life WHO: Sorin, Ashton, Jae, and OPEN to everyone who wants a piece WHEN: Saturday, May 14 WHERE: Hydra dorms, spreading out into the grounds OOC: Jump in wherever, start your own threads with a hydra head or rescue someone, it's all good!
Sorin stared up at the giant painting of the hydra. He wondered who the artist was, who had taken those careful brushstrokes to capture the detail so perfectly, almost like they were studying off a live subject. There was the curve of the necks leading to one of the eight heads, their mouths open, serpent tongues lashing out, tasting the air or letting out an earsplitting roar. The hydra had green scales that faded to white or deepened to black in shade, depending on how it stood in the painted light. Its feet were clawed, two legs in front, with the rear of the beast made up of a slithering tail that split into many ends, equally as numerous as its heads.
Sorin wondered how such a monster processed thought, if it was with one main mind, or a hive, or if all of the heads acted independently to one another. He would soon find out the answer. The legend said that if you were to cut off the head of a hydra, it would multiply into two more. Many a Greek hero had learned this lesson and many had fallen. Sorin was in awe of the creature in the painting, as intimidating as it was. But he was not there to stare. He was there to summon it into being.
Jae had been reluctant from the beginning about him helping her, even though it was her idea. Even now, as he met with her at Hydra dorms, he could see that she was having second thoughts. Since she had never before seen him do a summoning from a painting, she had questioned his ability - or level of skill, rather - at being able to pull it off. Sorin, understanding that she did not want her friend to come to any harm, had not taken offense. He offered to show her, already knowing himself that he could summon from a painting. The painting of himself, of Nick, was still safely covered in his room as evidence of that. But to ease Jae's mind, he suggested they try it on something else before moving on to the painting of her trapped friend.
Jae had suggested the nearest painting, and it just happened to be the one hanging in the foyer. The Hydra House namesake was a beautiful and frightening image, but Sorin didn't back down. He'd prove himself, send the creature back, and then finally be able to keep his promise to Jae with both of them feeling confidence in his power.
Sorin grounded himself with the pentagram. It was a focus of power and a way for him to secure his own mind while still reaching out to connect with the one he meant to bring into the world. Sorin felt strong that morning. He felt powerful. While his personal life had taken a rocky turn as of late, Sorin had focused on his magic more and had built up some new methods to channel his energy. Even the drake, the little red miniature dragon tattooed into his arm, obeyed him better now.
The words began at a whisper as Sorin started the incantation. He had to work somewhat quickly. This exercise was not sanctioned by Ms. Hallowfen. Sorin didn't think she would approve at all. In hindsight, Sorin would know that rushing had been his first mistake, not counting attempting this feat in the first place.
The first head of the hydra appeared, first the tip of the snout, then the teeth, long and deadly. It stretched its neck out, sniffing the floor of the foyer, exhaling in a snort before retreating back into the painting. Sorin spoke with more command, his hand lifted, pulling, urging the monster to come. Then two heads appeared, three, four and five followed, and then a monstrous foot stepped through and landed heavily on the stone. Six, seven, and finally eight heads were now filling the foyer, slithering, hissing, filling the space as the beast began to fill its full physical form.
Sorin had broken out into a cold sweat. One mind was enough for him to handle. Two he could do. Three was pushing it, but by the time the eighth head emerged, Sorin was losing his focus. There were so many thoughts, so many needs and wants. Desires and curiosity flooded the summoner's senses and he was not prepared to withstand the assault when the hydra realized it was leashed and roared mightily from each of its heads. The sound rattled windows all over Hydra dorms and Sorin, white as a sheet, collapsed to the floor.
Without a master to command it, the hydra was loose. It thrashed, crashing through the double entry to the dorms, raw strength wrecking stone masonry and breaking apart the staircase that led to the second floor. Its heads shrieked again, poisonous breath starting to fill the small space until its lashing tail acted like a wrecking ball to break through the side of the dorms. Once the smell of fresh free air hit the first head, the others all turned towards the smell and then the beast was moving out onto the school grounds.
Ashton's skin prickled the moment he caught the first whiff of the hydra. He knew the smell of an intruder who did not belong and, dragons being territorial as they were, with his witch, his friends, and his gold at risk, he sprang into attack mode. The hydra had just cleared the dorms, making its reign of terror across the campus when the black dragon swooped in with an infuriated roar to land in its tangle of necks and tails. The two serpents twisted, coiling, biting and clawing. Ashton's jaw was locked around one of the necks while another of the heads came down and tore into his shoulder, almost piercing through his lava-hardened scales.
Students fled in all directions or came out from where they were peacefully enjoying their Saturday to see what was happening. In her office, Ms. Menides stood bolt upright, far seeing eyes widening.