Sutoratosu

"...." An ornery glance was all the rider received from the ghost, before he turned his attention directly to Maya herself, sighing in defeat. It almost seemed as if he'd expected this type of outcome, from how easily he accepted his beating... "I never meant to hurt you... never meant to put you through any of that. If I could've talked to you back then, tell you the truth sooner, I would've. Believe me, I would've. Watching you do that to yourself, over and over, forming that cycle in your head... I honestly wanted to tell you the first time I was strong enough to do it. But I didn't know how to break it to you, after so long, after fucking up so much and letting you pay for it..." "What you said on the battlefield though... breaking it gently be damned, I couldn't let this mess go any further. If you went through with it... because of what I'd done... it would've defeated the point of everything up til now. Those people I had to use would've died for nothing. I owed it to both them and to you to just fucking say what needed to be said. So I did. And I'm sorry Maya. Sorry for the suffering, no matter what I intended at the time. Using them all to unwittingly keep you save, yeh, it wasn't right, wasn't noble, but it was the only avenue I had available with so little power... putting a thought into an enemy's head here, changing their perception a little to ignore you for someone else there... you were the only family I had left though. And I'd swore to ma that I'd look after you, do whatever it took, regardless who or what got in the way or came for us. She bound me to it, with her voice. Made me repeat exactly after her...and I did the best the could with what I had, after those Cloudfucking Pigs found us. But me watching you suffer, fall apart, and not trying harder than I already was to figure out a way to tell you it wasn't your fault, explain everything upfront... that was unforgivable. And I'm even more sorry for that than anything else. I was so busy keeping her damn promise, I forgot about the one I made to you...that I would never leave you, that I would be there. I don't expect you to ever forgive me for that, and I'm not asking you to either, hell, I don't even forgive myself. I am sorry though." "This ain't how I wanted things to play out for you. None of it. Maybe if I'd been a bit less of tunnel-visioned ass, I could've found a different way, stop the whole decoy method, saved you all of it. I wished I had, sis. I wished I had. You could've stayed with The Greys if it wasn't for me... could've stayed with the Old Man. Hell, they probably would've done a better job than I ever did keeping you safe-" "Just stop." "I know I can't make shit right, can't bring any of them back or-" "Just. Shut up... and stop." "..." "That's all you have to do. That's all asking from you. I know that nothing can be fixed now. I know what's been lost. Just stop the madness. Stop killing the people who I've been trying to help and who've been helping me. I'm not the little girl you knew back then. I may not be able to fight, but I'm not alone, I was never alone, not in the Greys and not here... and I've learned more than enough to look out for myself. If you're sorry, then stop talking, and start doing. I won't accept anything you say, until you show that you mean it. Do you understand? Just. Stop." "...yeah. Yeah, I get you... man... you've become pretty scary for a priestess. But there's just one thing..." "If you won't stop...then know I'll have no choice but to call the Light back and destroy you. If it means ending this... I'll do what I must-" "No, no, I don't mean anything like that, calm down sis... you don't understand. I can't do anything anymore. What you did, how you attacked them before you broke through and got to me... the Elder Spirits are scared shitless, won't carry out any order I give while you're around, or, more specifically, they won't so long as light that powerful exists where they can be harmed by it... and even if they would listen, the Tome is more or less ruined beyond what it already was. I've literally got nothing sis. striped, shunned, before all I could do to protect you was... all of that mess. But now, I couldn't even convince your little friend here to ignore you for a few seconds or walk away to go inspect something else if I even tried. I only had one signature trick maya. That trick's gone now. I've got no choice but to stop. And I don't wanna hurt you anymore than I already have. So this is it. I'm done...but she's still got me bound. But there is one last thing... try to satisfy the conditions..." "Freyl...what are you?" "I gotta do this maya. I know you can take care of yourself, but I can't just end it without making sure. It doesn't feel right. And you said it yourself, you're not alone, so... You there, Dragon boy." Given there was no one else there but the three of them, it was painfully obvious he could've meant no one other than ecquis "I may not know you that well, but I know you and my little sister here are friends... Protect her for me, alright? I can't do jack shit anymore, and honestly... that's probably for the best, given the pain I've caused her and the good folks I've had to put under before their time. All I can do know is keep watching. You've got the body, you've got the steel, you got the talent. I expect that if you really care about her like a friend should, you'll put them to use making sure she stays safe...and that's all I really want from you. Kill any violent morons that think they can take out the healer easiest... do we have a deal, man? Can you take over where I gotta leave off?" As odd as it was, the phantom rose and actually outstretched his hand to the Rider. whether or not Ecquis would end up actually touching anything other than thin air if he accepted the request though, was anyone's guess

"...he gave himself up trying to save me, but I'll think nor say nothing further about that foul day." The tone is just as curt and to the point as her answer, before he could even respond, she was already pressing forward to his other points "the how of his condition is irrelevant here. Only the what. Every person who's died while keeping my company since it happened, all the people struck down and slaughtered like pigs around me despite my efforts to save them, my mentor, my brothers in arms, my friends... all their untimely deaths, he is cause of it. The blame I placed on my own shoulders because of my survival, the hatred I've born against my own being because of it, the feeling of utter disgust whenever I looked at my reflection, all because I felt myself to be the only possible cause of their lives being cut short, he watched for years as I slowly began to destroy my own self from guilt that wasn't even rightfully mine, never once saying anything, never once giving a sign of his presence, just killing. Constantly killing. Using those around me as shields, manipulating the battlefield to deflect the blows that were meant for me unto good and noble folk who didn't deserve to die as mere pawns in a game of phantasmal chess. Haven't you ever noticed why not a single enemy has ever targeted me, Ecquis? Why even when they've clear shots, when they're practically right next to me, they always choose another, regardless how much extra effort it takes to reach them or how much more of a risk it is to engage someone stronger? It's all. Because. Of him. Just as he exploited the lives of my friends and allies in the past to protect me, he's been doing the exact same to you all, ever since I was put into your group. But it stops now. Blood be damned, I'm not letting even one more good person bite it because of his sorcery... He told me everything on the battlefield today... while the rest of you were holding off those Nohrian Scum. And tonight, I end it, once and for all." The phantom meanwhile, was silent as a church mouse, likely still dazed and shaken by the viscous might his sister had brought to bare...

"..." "......" "......................" "There was." two words, after goddess knows how many moments of silence. Only two. If one didn't know any better, it might have almost seemed like she'd been waiting for something... "But even after hearing all that, he's still too much of a coward to give me the answers I deserve..." the motion is quick sudden, the tome flies through the air and hits the earth with a surprisingly heavy thud. Still though, there is no response from the thing beyond a few pages turning in the wind. At this, Maya's eyes only harden further, the sensation of malice grows stronger, and with it emerges an inexplicable snarling around them, savage as a pack of wolves. The embers of holy light begin to group closer and closer together, pulsating in their thick swarm. "Fine. I'm done playing this game. I never agreed to it to begin with. If you're not going to show your face willingly, I know how to draw you out-" she turns her sights on the swarming lights that practically choked the air by then with their number. Like loyal hunds, they bayed in anticipation, but held their places "you tried to harm the boy earlier, I stopped you because he wasn't the one who deserved it. But that book on the ground, that tome? It may not look it, be there lies the one who does deserve it... Sic Semper Proditor." At those three, archaic words, and those three alone, the Healing Light leaps forward as one single beast, closing in upon the fell tome like vultures descended from the heavens to feast upon the flesh of the damned- a virtual storm of snarling, snapping howls and roars, but beneath it all this a cacophony even greater- screaming. Screeches most inhuman in both nature and volume, so great in their magnitude, Ecquis could likely feel his very body vibrate with every blast of it's noise, though Maya stands unphased and unmerciful as she watches what would surely be utter carnage if inflicted upon a man, but is here little more than a chaotic rush of scattered wisps and streaking energy. And from the gradual shift in feeling, it becomes clear, that whatever power obeyed her command in those moments, it was the Light of Healing no longer, but something far more vicious, far more vindictive. Her malice pervades like never before in the small space. So great is the light's fury, physical is imparted upon the tome, small at first but quickly growing in magnitude as pages fly, the sound of leather being shredded and torn somehow prevails above the horrid screeching and snarls. Soon Ecquis can not even see the book itself amidst the onslaught, but in it's place, the faintest silhouette of a man lying on the earth. writhing in what seems to be agony as the Light of Divine Retribution continues to tear away at his form with it's unyielding fangs. The inhuman screams that had dominated all else for so long now faded in both volume and pitch until they became that befitting of a young man being eviscerated, and eventually, even those fade into words, sentences, begging "S-...Stop.... STOOOOOOOP! NO! NOOOO! Away from me, you beasts! BEGOOOOONE!" despite his attempt at retaliation though, no bolts of unnatural darkness forms no spirits of the night rush to his aid, for all those he had under his command had themselves been driven out by the power of the goddess brought to bare by the priestess, and with them, whatever power the dead caller had once held to change his lot in this situation. Gradually, despite the violent attack, his form solidifies further and further before their very eyes, until at long last, on the ground fighting vicious streams of unending holy light is not a mere shadow, but a being seemingly just as solid as Ecquis or Maya, even if it were a mere fleeting illusion. Then and only then, as this man has chunks of him torn away only to be replaced by veils of unnatural darkness that gives way to yet newer flesh in a seemingly never ending cycle of torment, does Maya finally step forward once more, voice striking with the force of thunder despite it's careful volume. "Enough." and like clockwork, the Light of Divine Retribution disperses from his form, hovering away like a swarm of enraged bees and fading into the night one by one as the wisps flee. Before the man lies the tattered remnants of the Tome, the thing looking like it had been smothered in bacon grease and tossed into the nearest kennel. Pages and shredded parchment scattered the earth all around. Without a single word to the spectre, Maya finally returns her attention to Ecquis. "You may have traveled far and wide, but I doubt you've ever seen a true phantom up close. Ecquis, this... is my brother."

Maya continues a few paces further before finally stopping. With a single turn to check the distance, she confirms it's far enough that none of the others were unlikely to overhear. Then she continues a bit further into the woods, though not so far as to lose sight of the flickering of the camp fire in the distance entirely. "Tell me, Ecquis..." she idly begins as she walks, "you've traveled around, met many people, haven't you? Have you ever been betrayed? Found out someone you've trusted for so long was lying to your face the entire time, undermining all your hard work behind your back?" She turned to the rider, and in her hands he could see plain as day what she held- the detached Heal Gem, burning with a near unnatural pedigree of radiance in one, and the dark tome she'd shown him much earlier clutched in the other, fingers bone white as she shook. "Have you ever met someone who made you feel like a total fool for ever trusting them? Someone who plays the part of the town crier, but behind the veil is none other than the burglar who plagues it in the night? Someone who stands by and watches you suffer and break down in defeat, bit by bit, day in and day out, for years on end, and says nothing? Have you, Ecquis?" The light slowly intensifies, a strange breed of malice permeates the air in between them, as do flickering embers of brilliant sapphire light, yet despite it's palpable nature, Ecquis would still be able to tell easily enough from their previous exchanges that none of it was actually aimed at him... but that only raises yet another question- who else would there be there, than him?

"Yes, given a bit of time to rest. He should be just fine by morning..." the light had already dispersed from the boy by the time Ecquis arrived, fading away in a storm reminiscent of faint blue embers dancing above the swirling inferno of a bonfire. Despite the smile on her face, obviously glad the boy would be fine, her eyes told another, far more clandestine tale altogether- infact, in the dimming light, Ecquis might've even noticed a hard glint, as she brushed past lightly and headed away from the camp towards the outskirts. Even as she walked, she was detaching the Heal gem from her staff and reaching into her sleeves, though for what reason was anyone's guess. From the sidelong glance she'd given him as she passed though, it should've been obvious enough she expected the rider to follow. She didn't bother checking to see if he did either.

Finally, the fiasco was over. Finally, after many hours, the dogged pursuit had ended. She didn't know how they made it, with so many units swarming in from both sides to crush them. Ironically it seemed the Commander's own aggressive initiative to tear into the rebels himself is was ultimately had saved all their lives. If he'd simply been content to stand there and let his many men do the work of slaughtering them, that would've surely been the end to their little division. To think, he'd come rushing in at the thunder mage only to be struck down in his saddle within a few moments as the others retaliated- Klaren especially had surprised her, with the light spectacle. Strange as it was to admit, the odd monk had easily contributed the most towards the rider's demise in that final confrontation. And in the end, they'd all made it out alive... Well, alive perhaps, but certainly not unharmed. Now that the chase had ended, she finally had time to tend to the wounded- it's not quite easy to find and heal everyone who needs it whilst your flying at top speed on wyvern-back, fleeing from pegasus knights and other enforcers who want nothing more than to capture and execute every last one of you. "Impetuous, ill-bred, loggerheaded, viper-tongued death-token of a Vixen," She muttered under breath, watching the red headed merchant and the blind man in the distance as she made her way towards where she knew Dash to be, "I hope your brief moment of petty vindication was worth it- you damn near signed all our death warrants today..." Her orneriness for the woman only grew as she got closer and finally laid eyes on the boy's injuries, but for his sake, and his sake alone, she stowed her insults and parlayed her venomous tongue, for now. There was work to be done, not as much she expected- likely thanks to someone having given him at least some basic form of aid to keep his condition from deteriorating -but still quite a bit. And any healing she gave would quickly turn into it's own unique form of torture if she allowed herself to persist in such hellishly hot temperament, she knew that much from past experience, and she had no intent to let it happen again, especially not to him. She glanced at Meredith and the fire mage nearby, taking due note of the soldier's weariness. Not even a moment later, light emerged and cloaked the commander in a gentle glow of pulsating white, restoring much of the stamina lost during their exodus from the Nohrian Scum "I take it you're the one who saved him, Meredith? Thank you, he'd never have survived this long without your help..." No sooner than the light finished with her, did it regroup itself into a spiraling storm before the child, scattering into countless streams of divine energy and weaving in and out of the boy's form, barely needing her direction as it worked with only one imperative: Find whatever was broken and repair it... though in all honesty, she allowed it such relative autonomy now only because she did not fully trust herself to properly compartmentalize... it seemed to be recurring theme, really, her finding more and more reasons to doubt the integrity of her mind. Even if most of what she thought to be mere paranoia and on-setting psychosis was actually the handy work of a certain murderous bastard- "No!" She commanded suddenly, the light seeming to almost recoil in surprise as whatever it had been about to do to Dash, it thought better off and backed down. The air filled with a sensation of confusion for a moment, a sound nigh too faint to quite make out, but almost resembling the baying and whining of hunds scolded by a kennel master. "You were given one order, I expect you to follow it! You take a liberty you've no right to, about to punish him for the sins of another... now get back to work." again, the scattered streams seem to almost... recoil, as if living beings, to the force of her words, but soon enough they return to the task at hand, Maya keeping a far close eye on the operation than before. Perhaps it was a mistake to give them autonomy in the task afterall... if the damn thing was just going to act out on her emotions of it's own accord anyway... regardless though, the boy was looking much better than his previous state, breathing easier too. That was what mattered. Even if she clearly had yet more matters to deal with after this...

"What was he doing up there to begin with, watching for the bandits we already killed? Or was he just eavesdropping?" Cadence' attention had been briefly drawn by the snapping of branches and heavy thud in the distance. Though it only took a few moments of watching the rogue and the priest banter before she had to turn away from it all. A bit too much like Meeyla, that one. Except well, as naive as her sister's kindness made her seem at times, the woman was probably sharper than any of the other three of them... afterall, it was always her who busted the illusions and lies Cade crafted to get out of training, like a hammer to stained glass. Hells, In a way, she seemed almost the perfect foil to Ingrid. Never having to try to ferret out deceit or search for what was hidden beneath the surface, she simply saw it plain as day. She didn't have to search out the truth, because the truth was incapable of ever truly hiding itself from her, sought her out even. Yet she never used it to her own advancement. It always puzzled Cadence, how the woman could simultaneously be so incisive and shrewd and yet have the fangs as dull as an old hund who'd grown fat off of table scraps and soft from constantly playing with the master's grankids. What good was such an adept ability to see through the veil of falsehood if she seldom bothered to turn it against another person? Use it as leverage? Or maybe... maybe she did, in her own ways. Perhaps Cade herself only saw the most obvious side, the tip of a massive iceberg waiting below. Either way, she'd probably never know one way or another if so. She had no intent of returning to that Household, she doubted she'd see any of her sisters again... on good terms anyway. In that darkened space, that nook between life and death, father had asked her to stay and finish what he'd started... fine. For him, and him alone, she would honor the request. But as far as she was concerned, she was no Albus, not anymore; She had seen all too well what the family name truly stood for, how the Paragons of the Light could be just as, if not even more deplorable than the many vices they so often accused the Denizens of the Dark of. It did not matter whose blood had to spilt, who had to be shunned or condemned, who or what stood in their way. loyalty was a farce to them, blood was as thin as water, and past service and reputation meant nothing if you made even the slightest of steps towards what lies shrouded in the dark, for the road to hell was paved in good intentions, and the blood of the good men who once held them The Fanatic had taught her that lesson in one painful, fell swoop; she had engraved it into both her body and mind alike, eternal as stone. Cadence had no intention of learning it again. She shook her head, trying to clear it all away. She had more immediate issues, there was no point dwelling on what she couldn't change now, or have ever changed, really. She looked down at the shield in her lap for the first time in a long while; just as with both Merc Boi's sword and her own blade, the thing shined so pure she could see her own reflection in it's face. The rag and oil went away, back into the folds of the Brigandine, and she hefted the thing up. Light, took no real effort at all to carry, through such things were the hallmarks of a buckler, really. She'd not trained with that particular style of fencing- sword in one hand, buckler in the other, but given the rabble they'd faced so far, first a gaggle of suicidal pirates and then a throng of moronic bandits, she wasn't much concerned about it. That coat wasn't getting any lighter, nor the burden it placed on her true speed any lesser, but without the protection of the many iron plates woven into it, and Smitty's hardwork... she'd be dead already. She knew it. Grandad may have always said armor was for cowards, that a true warrior acknowledges combat as a deadly dance between equals, each prepared and fully willing to seize the life of the other as prize at even the slightest mistep... but she didn't care. In fact, she may have never cared about that particular principle at all. She was no Albus anymore. She was her father's daughter, the child of Ramza, the Silver Sage. No more, no less. She would be bound by neither their biases, nor their rules, and as she slipped the small shield onto her forearm, there was in truth some regret and longing, for though they did not care, blood had meant something to her, resolving to break that sentiment did not come without it's own brand of heartache, it could not possibly have. But beyond the regret, beyond the longing, beyond the flashes of her sister's faces and her memories of Smitty, the old fool's dementia be damned, he was quite well the closest thing to a true friend she'd really had, there burned something stronger. Freedom. However slight, however contrived by the circumstances of how she had arrived in this whole situation to begin with, still, it shined like a beacon, just the mere taste of it. and in it's immaculate twilight, she saw just it was she had missed, all this time. Like the foolish girl she had been. For the very choice she made now was proof positive of the matter... It didn't matter if they told her she had no decision, or made it seem like she didn't. They had controlled her, only because she decided... she would bow to their control. They had controlled her, only because it took a violent reckoning and the blood and tears such entailed for her to realize that she could not hope to escape if she never even tried, and steeled the resolve to push beyond the boundary of the unknown, even if only to preserve her own life. She had lived her life till then without choice because for the longest time, she'd let them make the choices for her. She had no one to blame here but her own self. Her own weakness. If she'd wanted her freedom back, all she had ever had to do was take it, even if she lacked the strength to do so by force, there had always been other ways, other methods. Methods she had ignored not because she had been blind to them, but because she chose to not consider them sooner. And as Cadence looked into that Buckler, and saw the young woman that stared back at her, she knew... she could never let herself forget how simple it was to remain free, even when it seemed so utterly complex and impossible. And not a word was piped by the Anima. Silent as church mouse before a benediction, almost as if sensing the subtle magnitude of the otherwise simple act of the girl who, for all intents and purposes, was their master so long as their old one was away. And there she stayed, staring into the reflection, as the fire crackled and the camp bustled with the life and activity of her comrades all around... Cadence uses the Iron Shield

Move to K16, Heal Ecquis

"If it was almost any other place in tempest, I'd say we take the opportunity to set up a welcoming party for them," The mechanic began, idly checking the temperature as her HUD flashed before her eyes, an overlay of data and statistics set before a screen of pure violet code visible to her and her alone. "But well, you've already heard how I feel about wrath, seen a bit of what it's like on a good day. The combat conditions are already bad enough for folks with Mechs and Favor to protect them from all the crap out here, I'd think they'd be alot worse for most of those who aren't native here and don't have any of that. It would probably be best to conserve our energy for when it's needed most, once we've found a better position or just can't avoid a confrontation..." "though from what I saw and heard earlier, I've got the sneaking feeling some of you aren't the type to listen to reason and will just do what you want, regardless whatever I tell you..." She closed out the data display, turning her eyes to the one who'd addressed her to begin with, ""But eh, that's just my advice. Make your own decisions... if you all really want to fight em that badly, there's not much I can really do to stop you anyway."

With the night came a chance to finally rest. All day, she'd spent mulling over their situation, as the spirits muttered aimlessly among each other in their own little discussion, and though occupied by her own thoughts she may have been, one repeated topic caught her attention, over and over again- Orders. What to do about their orders, whether the orders were worth following, what would happen if they disobeyed. There had been times throughout that she'd felt the urge to shout at them all that they could go ahead and try to desert if they wanted, but she knew well enough they weren't talking about any command she herself had given or even could give... Eventually though, they had all faded into silence, one by one. Whatever they'd decided, she knew not, but she'd been glad to have the chatter gone nonetheless. "Karik, don't do that to a sword." She called idly as she passed the young Pirate... or former pirate and the commander, "Sticking it in the ground is one of the fastest ways to ruin the point and edge." With that said, she unloaded her own gear next to a fallen tree not too far from the fledgling fire, tossing her coat atop the aging bark and the twin blades atop it not long after. What really interested her was the shield she'd... confiscated earlier. It was iron, that much she could tell. surprisingly fair craftsmanship, in decent shape considering it's most previous owners had kept it out in a damn clearing with the rest of their junk... hell, she couldn't even see any signs of rust setting in. Whatever poor sod they'd taken it from must've been axed fairly recently. A shame, really... to die at the hands of violent morons like those. Not that she could talk much, she quite nearly had herself, infact, she still couldn't decide whether it might've been better if it hadn't been so nearly... "If you're going to give it to someone, give it to the commander. Or just hang onto it till we get to town-" The spirits laughed at the sight of yet another blade stuck in the earth, all but too gleeful to see the destruction of such a hideous and dreadful weapon. Nasty metal sharpened to an edge with a pointy bit for stabbing things- why mortal men resorted to such base means of defense, when powers of so much greater magnitude existed practically all around him, they knew not, but it still was foolish in their eyes regardless. Foolish enough to bring amusement... Besides, why did Cadence care so much about the sodding thing? It wasn't one of her weapons, her life continuing wasn't dependant on it remaining in functional shape and ready to strike down a foe at a moment's notice. It was just another ugly bit of hardened metal that primitive fools used to slash and tear into each other, oblivious to how much easier it would to blast their enemies apart by manipulating the very fabric of reality around them. Just because she was stuck using such primitive means of self-defense herself, did not mean she was under any obligation to feign that she liked her situation. Yes, yes... there was no point lecturing him. It wasn't her sword, therefore, it wasn't her problem. "On second thought, nevermind Karik, forgive my overbearance. Do with the thing.... as you please. The Anima has a point..."

"We've almost broken through, just a little bit more..." The healer was by Hoshiko's side with startling speed after her exchange of fire with the godless monk. As it was wont to do, the light began coiling around her battered body, restoring the wear and tear inflicted by the ruthless nature of killing field all around them. They were so close to freedom, even if the others were still too far to help. They could at the very least get away from the approaching troop of soldiers long enough to regroup, goddess willing... "It's almost over..." Move to H15, Heal Hoshiko, Benevolence

She smiled ever so slightly as the arrows tore through the woodwork opposite the clearing and left the merc boi over yonder bleeding. She'd noticed him well in advance- it had been hard not too with the Spirits actually doing their job and maintaining a vigil. He'd been a relatively small threat though, at the time, something that could be dealt later if needed, or easily evaded after initial contact. And now, he'd become even less of a threat. But even as she crept forward out of the pines, she didn't let herself lose track of the man's pained movements. Even if a sane and logical man would be unlikely to further risk himself by attacking a fully armed and able-bodied opponent while near death's door, each and every last one of these violent morons they'd put down thus far had proven that they weren't dealing with sane and logical folk; she knew the fool was just as likely to try and charge as he was to simply stay his ground and lick his wounds. Regardless however, none of that mattered terribly much now. She began examining the site, looking for any sign of disturbed earth or other such methods of hiding loot, meanwhile the spirits kept their own watchful eyes on the bleeding swordboy. Move to Q3 and SEARCH FOR THE LOOT! (if there even is any)

Breathing deeply, she attempts to center herself... "There's no point getting mad... getting mad doesn't fix it. At least it's not quite as bad as the last time."

With no time to waste and quite a bit of open field in between her and the next batch of cover, the Fencer took no risk. Tapping into as much raw agility as she could muster while burdened by the Brigandine, she became a mere blur of motion as she darted out of the woods, only for her fleeting form to vanish once again into the tall pines opposite the small thicket.... Just a bit more...she could see the small glade opening up ahead already... Stealthily stealths her way to P3, Hold

With her allies clearing out the way back east and her own path unobstructed, the fencer dashed forward seemingly unnoticed towards the nearest thicket. For once, the way ahead seemed an actually easy one, but still, she maintained her guard, blade ever in hand and spirits whispering like the fleeting sweet nothings of the wind in the back of her mind. But she already knew they would not find her, not among so many natural pillars, and not while the others were so busy slaughtering their allies... Move to P8, Hold

"...." The fencer looked in utter silence, as the carnage unfolded across the river. Well, if one could even call the bloodless torture that the Shaman performed carnage, but regardless of the viscera or lack thereof, still the mere sensation of the energy from the violent assault was enough to send the Anima wild with trepidation. Interesting, given they'd not whined a single bit back in the Other Realm. Amazing how one man armed with a mere tome could do what an entire plane filled with clamouring, ravenous spirits of utter madness could not... "Stop this nonsense, you damn fools." she ordered, sighing as the storm of panicked whispers intensified, "you act as though you're the ones being torn apart. There's still work to do here, remember? If I'm stuck with it, so are you." Reluctantly, but encouraged onwards by the ever growing ire in her voice, they reigned in their hysteria just enough to quiet down. Her head finally clear of the chaos, she set her sights across the waters, only now noticing the rather... particular formation of trees to the far west. It seemed a bit too odd to be merely another landmark... pray tell, could these violent morons have hidden something there for later? If they did, well... they had started this fight, most of them would pay for it with their lives anyway. They'd have no use of any potential resources they were hoarding, once this was all over. Best to part them now. Move to O11, hold

Rame "Keep going, just a bit further..." Braith looked on as his charge stumbled through the burning landscape, his hands forced, his influence receded. Though he'd not wanted to let her have control back when her mind was still such a mess of trepidation, he'd had more important matters to focus himself on, and she was coherent enough to at least operate her own limbs. They could run, they could try to hide, but the wolf knew this escape would be worthless, unless he knew where exactly would be best to flee to, and searching the flames took precious time and focus; gathering the energy needed to let her pass through them as open doorways- purging through one swirling, roaring inferno only to end up emerging out of a different conflagration entirely, took even more so. Luckily she had not questioned his instructions, but the disorientation with every jump was there, and intensifying, he knew it. She needed time to learn the technique properly, but he did not have the time to teach. She needed his counsel, after coming so much closer to the jaws of death than ever before while at his side, but his counsel was a luxury he could not afford to expend at the moment. There was only the fire and the smog, the death and destruction all around. Every flame they passed, either a source to draw power from, or an open door for the next leap. Finally though, he saw it. Slowly but surely, the path out formed within his own sight into the flames, just as with the last blow from the Interloper, the Shatterpoint emerged, and without even thinking, he pounced forward like the alpha he was and grabbed hold of it in his jaws, and did not let go until at long last, the final inferno opened to engulf the girl, and as he held onto that image before him with all his might and will, spat her out, stumbling and unsteady onto the barren and blackened earth, the world around her swimming but Braith himself forbidding her legs from buckling or her equilibrium from failing, blasting mind and body alike with the essence of the flames all around and making up for their exhaustion with his own drive. And there, in the oh so near distance, he saw it. Just as in the Shattering, the gleaming beacon of pearl. "Good, good..." he prodded the young cub forward towards the awaiting Craft, but he knew she was barely listening, barely even conscious after the strain of what he'd put her through. It was muscle memory and subconscious impulse more than anything else that kept her actively moving. But that was fine, as far as he was concerned. They had made it, that was what mattered. They would get to live another day... Perhaps that day may well be worse than today. Perhaps all days after this would only bring more strife. But it did not matter. Every sunrise they would be afforded was an opportunity to grow stronger, every sunset a moment to reflect on the inborn weakness that still remained like a cancer in the body, every night a time to recall every defeats they had suffered... perhaps the visions he saw before him even now where true, and they would nothing but endless strife and conflict. But none of it mattered to It. It would not stop until the promise was fulfilled. Its word and the girl were all it had...regardless if it accepted or not, it's entire world began and ended with her existence. Even it's name and reputation began and ended purely in the depths of her heart, mere facades , but facades concealing what, it could no longer recall. But recall it needed not do anyway. For it was and had always been to Rame, Braith, wolf of the north, the scarlet fang, the snarling flame, and those names and legend had thus far proven as good as any for it's purposes.

Cheryn looked on in deadpan as yet more baffling nonsense unfolded in front of them. So much for the barrier, the broad had just gone and somehow bypassed it altogether, and now the thing simply faded behind her with a quiet crackle as she let go in the back of her mind. Typical, that she'd been utterly shown up by some Mech user. No, really, felt good to have a repeat of the old days, such a pleasant taste it left in her mouth. Like terribly-out-of-date strawberry schnapps and countless other brews mixed with the bitter, acrid hint of bile... actually wait... this wasn't the old days, this was too real- the vomit she could feel welling up in the back of her throat even now, and was already visibly lurching a bit and cringing as she swallowed it back down, was far more likely of an explanation. "Damn, the bitch was going so fast and disappeared so suddenly just before she got to the boundary... think I got a little motion sick just from looking at her...or maybe I should'a just let daddy just throw that stuff out last night... I knew it tasted kinda off...eh, whatever hindsight's always 20/20..."

somewhere in the depths of the Dreamyard two voices, shrouded in the night of the subterranean levels, betrothed only to the colors of their cause and the stubs of their paychecks. Around them sits a meager camp, a couple boxes of muted green and an even sparser assembly of metal chairs- their rust and general distress suggests they were anything but foreign to the site. A feeble lantern sputters in the dark, shedding shadows far more sinister than the fools they actually portray. "Heheh, bastard got you good, didn't he?" "Shut it mac... fucking psychopath and his dog. Next time I see em, I ain't bothering issuing a formal challenge..." "Eh, remember, Serge wants the body minimal here, if it even has to become existent at all. That shit's hard to explain to the higher-ups." "He burned me, I'll burst his heart while he ain't looking. An eye for an eye, what's hard to explain about that shit? besides, I'd probably be doing us a favor- if the guy was willing to go after us that viciously, then he ain't just some half-baked kid who decided he wants to be the hero, he's got actual beef he's looking to grind. I think this is some punk who thinks this place is his turf or something." "Yeh right, like a guy can really hold this place, single handedly without any type of gang to back him up. The pain's starting to get your head man, finish that Rawst paste and bandage up. And be happy... shit could be worse. Could be like old Burns, get your shit jacked by fuckin' houndooms. Houndooms man." "Oh please, that's just some crap legend you guys keep going..." "Hehehehehahahahaah..." "What?" "Ah, you're funny man. You think we make that shit up? We. can't. make. that. shit. up. the story is literally too crazy-" "And liable to get you killed if Burns ever hears of you spreading such rumors" a thunderous but calm voice breaks the conversation in half and sends its shattered remains hurtling against the nearest wall of silence. In walks another shape, his shade actually accurate against the barren facade of concrete, the light burning off his reflective lenses like twin spots of nuclear hellfire on the horizon "What have you soldiers been doing all this damn time? Macenhower, I sent your ass with him to help treat the burns and then get back to work, not to sit around and shoot the shit. So why do I find you two lounging in these ruins when you should be tearing them a new ass searching for this data?" "Eh- well, see boss..." "What!? Speak up, soldier! Or was your MAMA too busy having her HOT CHACHAS FONDLED by the MILKMAN to tell you the difference between an OUTSIDE and an INSIDE voice!? "N-no sir!" "No sir what!?" "I was just finishing helping Roy here patch himself up sir!" "Well, soldier, I can see that pure as sunshine. Question is, why does it take you twenty minutes and then some to treat a wound a competent man could in ten, and a God damn NURSE JOY FUCKING COULD IN 2 AND A HALF!?" "...Cause we were busy shooting the shit...sir..." "Damn right you were. Now wrap this crap up, put out that damn lantern, and for the love of fucking Arceus, put the lamp out. You numbnuts are supposed to be exercising SOME GOD DAMN DISCRETION HERE! LIGHTING A GOD DAMN LANTERN AND WASTING TWENTY MINUTES WITH YOUR GHOST STORIES AND POKEWOOD GOSSIP, IS NOT THE DEFINITION OF DISCRETION SOLDIERS! AM I UNDERSTOOD!?" "SIR, YES SIR!" simultaneously, they shout like the trained dogs they are. "Good. Now get the hell out of my sight, and don't you dare sit your asses down for another break until that Data is in our hands and we're riding back to headquarters, 'cause your asses will most assuredly become mine if you do, gentlemen. Dismissed." "SIR, YES SIR!" Again, they shout, and this time, they pack up the med pack and leave, letting the light die in their wake, the still burning twin eyes of the Serge tracking them like a hawk through every second of it, even long after the flame has faded into the choking abyss of death. *************** Brendan and Jack Leonidas and Lara depart not long afterwards, taking off down the hall and searching the unobstructed rooms. Before long however, the Hound returns to the doorway, barking incessantly as she points herself towards a spot further down the corridor, possibly towards one of the open rooms. Leonidas however, is nowhere to be found, likely still investigating whatever they found. Curiously however, As the trainer's eyes begin to adjust to the dim conditions, aided in part by the light of the moon, the subtle details they missed earlier on become slowly more and more apparent. With a bit of sharp sight from his days of Baseball, Brendan could even begin to notice the slightest set of paw and sneaker prints in the dust and dirt covering the floor, leading through the door, around the room, and back out again further into the hallway as if however had left the tracks had already scoured the ruined lab and gone about their merry way... Lara continues her incessant barking for the humans to search the hall all the while...

Chernobyl-MSC "Yeah yeah, on it..." Chern sighed. She'd already figured from the earlier mention of trouble that she'd be asked to make something; already the specifications had been swimming in the back of her mind. "Type 5s would usually be the best for blocking entry, though that's probably way too much permanence for here...well, screw it, if all she wants me to do is slow the bitch down, then there's no point pulling out all 9 yards..." Muttering something unintelligible to all but herself beneath her breath, Cheryn gave a snap of her fingers, and like clockwork there came a spark of hellish light from them and the shields were birthed as, like the three rippling sheets of nuclear hellfire they were, they erupted upwards from the zone of flooring before Chern, blooming to life right in the center of the corridor the stranger had fled down and spreading across the width of the hall to completely cover the passageway. No sooner than they had, the blurred constructs of pure crackling crimson quickly began to meld themselves into one, the concentration of their rads and their integrity alike culminating further with each moment, their burning light intensifying And as they did, the focus that had up till that point been spent on three, became focus spent on one, and Chernobyl lowered her hand. The barriers were nothing terribly unique or even all that inventive for her though, the truth be told. Standard procedure for her, if anything; Bubbles were probably the simplest and quickest structural shield type she knew, and they were also the easiest to layer together and meld explicitly because of that simplicity and congruency in their shape... which not only gave them the benefit of being able to quickly build up a cumulative strength and integrity, but higher concentration of ambient radiation to douse hostiles with as well... "Hey, Merlin, who is this broad anyway?" She called back to the Elder Mage, not taking her true attention off either the shield or the hallway though. "You two seemed uh... kinda chummy... Not gonna lie, got some pretty mixed signals on how hard she's gonna try and murder us from watching that whole shabang."

Chernobyl-MSC-Tree Room Through the tremors originating from whatever the other team had managed to get themselves into and the scouting issues Chernobyl had stayed relatively silent. Even with Merlin's declared disinterest, still she saw the cultivated plant life worth examination, if only for the trove of relative small but nonetheless comulative implications. The entire room was filled with the things; the soil used to pot them was quite obviously all imported from another plane given Sloth's piss poor geology, and keeping them all sufficiently watered would've been no small task either, and from their numbers, some poor labhand probably spent a fair bit of their shifts conducting whatever tests they were doing and and collecting the results. The fact that they were apparently willing to waste time, manpower, and raw resources on a project that, according to Merlin's own assessment had nothing to even do with actual magic in the first place, spoke volumes alone about the place and it's overseers. Just like how not even a few minutes into his assignment, the damn scout had already gotten his sorry ass stuck in one of their traps. "So unless someone else goes out there to get him, he's just become about as useless to the mission as a sitting duck waiting to have it's neck snapped. That's the basic gist of it, right?" she spoke up for the first time, pursing her lips but not letting her true annoyance at the matter leak into the words. So much for "help search and hope you're not needed for anything more"...

Move to K11, hold ((Because screw the original "N11, draw out the bandit" plan, I'd prefer to not run the risk of going down again...))

well, my my, was not expecting to see this particular spin off so soon... still kinda sick atm, but I'll look at it later

Tesla had already stepped forward, walking around the large stone box and trying to examine it's markings... whatever it was, it had to have been left by the Precursors, right? "I uh, really don't care how close you might be able to get us to another teleporter, to tell the truth. Not even one of my kind would willingly choose to brave Wrath, if they had an immediately available alternative right in front of them...well, not the sane ones at least." She stopped her pacing, turning back to face Chronos "you got any idea how we're supposed to try and solve this thing? Hints to drop, pokes in the right direction? Even just some basic instructions, maybe?"