FE on the Forums: Scarlet Crown [IC]

[ElfCollaborator]

Michi storms forwards, a sense of deadly purpose on their mind. As everyone might notice, the reason for their silence throughout the fight might suddenly make itself apparent.

Their helmet, part of the armor they so valued, has been very badly dented. 

 "I will not give up the fight."

"But you....you have soiled the pride of the Wilhelm family. This armor was passed down in our family for generations, and I wear it with pride and purpose. You have blighted this world, harmed my comrades and made fools of all of us for too long. So, as we stand here...."
Michi wrenches their helmet off, after some effort, an armored fist smashing the dent out of the helmet to smash the dent flat. 

 "....I, Michaela Adler von Wilhelm, daughter of the ancient Wilhelm family, will no longer allow your injustices to continue."

"Whether it is by my hand or the hands of my comrades, BEGONE!"
J5, set fire to the bastard

[rokubiraijuu]

"Wil... Wilhelm. Where have I— oh, i-it doesn't matter! I don't care if you came from a sow's stomach or of pile of gold bricks! You won't best me!" Despite his posturing, though, his voice has gotten notably higher and shriller, and the loss of his composure ( or whatever composure he has ) is evident as his elthunder blasts seem to be just landing at random.

Spoiler

(Michi is affected by charisma!)
(Milich is on a throne!)
(Milich is used to being a hands-free combatant!)

 

Michi:
Attack: 8
Hit: 56%
Crit: 0%

 

Milich:
Attack: 12
Hit: 42%
Crit: 7%

 

Michi's attack, 8, hit!
Milich's counterattack, 100, miss!

 

Milich takes 8 damage!

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Knight 1 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 2 : (12/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 3 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35), Poison Vial (3/3)
Mage 1 : (9/25) Thunder (40/40)

Mage 2 : (25/25) Thunder (40/40)

Myrmidon 1 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Lockpick (15/15) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 2 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 3 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 4 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 5 : (11/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Door Key (1/1) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 6 : (4/24) Iron Sword (45/45)
Cavalier 1 : (5/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 2 : (1/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 3 : (10/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)

Cavalier 4 : (3/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)
Soldier 1 : (12/28) Iron Javelin (45/45), Chest Keyring (5/5) (Droppable)

Soldier 2 : (10/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 3 : (3/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 4 : (28/28) Iron Lance (45/45), Poison Vial (3/3)
Tactician 1 : (3/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 2 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 3 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 4 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 5 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 6 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Scholar 1 : (11/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 2 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 3 : (2/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 4 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 5 : (14/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)

Scholar 6 : (26/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)
Fighter 1 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 2 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 3 : (15/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Spy 1 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 2 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 3 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)

Spy 4 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 5 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 6 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 7 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)
Archer 1 : (1/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 2 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 3 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)
Hati, Warding Armor(E): (30/30) Hrodvitnir (1/5), Killer Thunder (25/25)
Milich Oppenheimer (5/30) Elthunder (35/35), Ray (35/35)

 

Door A : (30/30) Opened

Door B : (30/30) Opened

Antoinette: (0/50)

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (I4) : (0/29) Wooden Sword (29/50), Unsigned Blade (34/40)E, Focusing Drug (2/3) Focusing Drug 1/3 ( Hit +5 ) Downed 2/3
Kerr (H9) : (20/25) Slim Lance (24/35), Iron Lance (40/45)E
Kris (L10) : (17/21) Iron Knife (32/45), Hustle (36/40)E, Parrying Dagger (35/35), Vulnerary (2/3), Lockpick (9/15)
Naomi (H6) : (7/24) Lightning (12/40), Ray (31/35)E
Michi (J4) : (20/24) Fire (19/40)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Ceridwen (I8) : (7/27) Slim Lance (17/35)E, Iron Javelin (34/40) Dismounted
Fallon (K9) : (20/24) Worm (21/40), Flux (35/40)E
Dulcibella (G3) : (7/24) Training Bow (19/40)E, Chest Keyring (5/5) Poisoned 3/4
Rhian (I9) : (0/28) Wooden Greatbow (28/40), Iron Greatbow (29/40)E Downed 3/3
Verden (H10) : (19/19) Heal (22/30)E, Antidote (29/30)

Johanna (H8) : (26/27) Iron Axe (10/45)E, Iron Axe (45/45), Hatchet (33/35) Dismounted

 

NPCs:

??? (M10) : (26/26) ---
 
EXP Tracker: 45/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 300

 

[krim]

Michi taking off their - her - helmet gave Fallon pause. That wasn't where he was expecting this encounter to go. While she had the general distracted with a bolt of fire, he gave the room a once over before moving toward an opening. And then the general started screeching.

 

They had been fighting to take this castle for what felt like days, and now the man couldn't even die with dignity? He wasn't particularly surprised, with what Millich's soldiers seemed to think of him, but it still annoyed Fallon greatly. To the point that he didn't even think about the thunder tome in his hands. "I am so tired of this." he said furiously while launching a dark sphere towards him.

 

H3, Worm Millich

 

[rokubiraijuu]

Fallon isn't one to put on a show, but he gets the delight of seeing Milich's eyes widen in horror as the orb of dark magic flies straight at him, colliding and immediately beginning to expand wildly as the chaos magic comes into contact with the organic order of human matter.

 

"N-No! This can't— not my face, not...!" is the last of Milich's screeching that they hear as he drops his tome to fruitlessly claw at the magic enveloping his head. Within several painstaking seconds, though, his movements fade, then twitch to a stop, and he topples over off the throne dead, as ungainly as they come.

Spoiler

(Fallon is affected by charisma!)
(Fallon has a commander's intuition!)
(Fallon will enact draconic vengeance!)
(Fallon has the advantage!)
(Fallon is experiencing a storm warning!)
(Milich is used to being a hands-off combatant!)
(Milich is on a throne!)

 

Fallon:
Attack: 11
Hit: 88%
Crit: 7%

 

Milich:
Attack: 9
Hit: 26%
Crit: 16%

 

Fallon's attack, 80, hit!

 

Milich is defeated with 11 damage!

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Knight 1 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 2 : (12/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 3 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35), Poison Vial (3/3)
Mage 1 : (9/25) Thunder (40/40)

Mage 2 : (25/25) Thunder (40/40)

Myrmidon 1 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Lockpick (15/15) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 2 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 3 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 4 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 5 : (11/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Door Key (1/1) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 6 : (4/24) Iron Sword (45/45)
Cavalier 1 : (5/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 2 : (1/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 3 : (10/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)

Cavalier 4 : (3/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)
Soldier 1 : (12/28) Iron Javelin (45/45), Chest Keyring (5/5) (Droppable)

Soldier 2 : (10/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 3 : (3/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 4 : (28/28) Iron Lance (45/45), Poison Vial (3/3)
Tactician 1 : (3/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 2 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 3 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 4 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 5 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 6 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Scholar 1 : (11/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 2 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 3 : (2/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 4 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 5 : (14/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)

Scholar 6 : (26/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)
Fighter 1 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 2 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 3 : (15/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Spy 1 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 2 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 3 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)

Spy 4 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 5 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 6 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 7 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)
Archer 1 : (1/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 2 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 3 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)
Hati, Warding Armor(E): (30/30) Hrodvitnir (1/5), Killer Thunder (25/25)
Milich Oppenheimer (0/30) Elthunder (35/35), Ray (35/35)

 

Door A : (30/30) Opened

Door B : (30/30) Opened

Antoinette: (0/50)

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (I4) : (0/29) Wooden Sword (29/50), Unsigned Blade (34/40)E, Focusing Drug (2/3) Focusing Drug 1/3 ( Hit +5 ) Downed 2/3
Kerr (H9) : (20/25) Slim Lance (24/35), Iron Lance (40/45)E
Kris (L10) : (17/21) Iron Knife (32/45), Hustle (36/40)E, Parrying Dagger (35/35), Vulnerary (2/3), Lockpick (9/15)
Naomi (H6) : (7/24) Lightning (12/40), Ray (31/35)E
Michi (J4) : (20/24) Fire (19/40)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Ceridwen (I8) : (7/27) Slim Lance (17/35)E, Iron Javelin (34/40) Dismounted
Fallon (H3) : (20/24) Worm (20/40)E, Flux (35/40)
Dulcibella (G3) : (7/24) Training Bow (19/40)E, Chest Keyring (5/5) Poisoned 3/4
Rhian (I9) : (0/28) Wooden Greatbow (28/40), Iron Greatbow (29/40)E Downed 3/3
Verden (H10) : (19/19) Heal (22/30)E, Antidote (29/30)

Johanna (H8) : (26/27) Iron Axe (10/45)E, Iron Axe (45/45), Hatchet (33/35) Dismounted

 

NPCs:

??? (M10) : (26/26) ---
 
EXP Tracker: 75/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 300

 

[Powder Miner]

Ceridwen had gone through an intense gamut of emotions in but a few seconds. First, relief and elation as instead of being brought painfully to the ground once more by the enemy mage, her javelin hit him in the throat and then carried through, piercing him and pinning his corpse to the ground. Gory as it was, that victory did a great deal to reassure Ceridwen of her usefulness. Then her emotions turned into shock and frustration as Argos proceeded to be brutalized and mocked by the bastard Milich, to raw intensity as the battle with him continued, and then an unidentifiable mix of emotions when Fallon finally killed him.

 

She hadn't managed to get involved in the fight against Milich, but her eyes came to settle on his throne, and a resolution snapped into place in her eyes -- she plodded towards that throne, and Yn Ddiddorol followed her, his body language tense but wondering. She walked up to the side of the throne, raised a leg, and kicked it as hard as she could, a titanic blow that put a hole in the throne's side and put it ajar but didn't manage to unseat it. She did it again, tipping it over, but it remained hooked in the ground by a bolt -- growling quietly Yn Ddiddorol bent his head down and proceeded to pluck the bolt right out of the chair with his teeth, before giving it a savage whip of his tail which knocked it fully to the floor. Ceridwen then stomped on the throne, flattening it into planks of wood and thoroughly ruined finery, before reaching out to stroke her dragon's head.

 

"To hell with this place, and all the evil things that have been done here!"

 

I3, seize obliterate that throne.

[rokubiraijuu]

VICTORY!

 

From the remaining chests, Dulcibella receives a Rescue Stave and a Nul Needle.

 

Final Results:

Spoiler

Enemies: Health, Weapons
Knight 1 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 2 : (12/28) Steel Javelin (35/35)
Knight 3 : (28/28) Steel Javelin (35/35), Poison Vial (3/3)
Mage 1 : (9/25) Thunder (40/40)

Mage 2 : (25/25) Thunder (40/40)

Myrmidon 1 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Lockpick (15/15) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 2 : (5/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 3 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 4 : (10/24) Iron Sword (45/45)

Myrmidon 5 : (11/24) Iron Sword (45/45), Door Key (1/1) (Droppable)

Myrmidon 6 : (4/24) Iron Sword (45/45)
Cavalier 1 : (5/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 2 : (1/25) Iron Mace (40/40)

Cavalier 3 : (10/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)

Cavalier 4 : (3/25) Iron Halberd (40/40)
Soldier 1 : (12/28) Iron Javelin (45/45), Chest Keyring (5/5) (Droppable)

Soldier 2 : (10/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 3 : (3/28) Iron Lance (45/45)

Soldier 4 : (28/28) Iron Lance (45/45), Poison Vial (3/3)
Tactician 1 : (3/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 2 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 3 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 4 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 5 : (27/27) Thunder (40/40)

Tactician 6 : (9/27) Thunder (40/40)

Scholar 1 : (11/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 2 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 3 : (2/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 4 : (4/26) Worm (40/40)

Scholar 5 : (14/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)

Scholar 6 : (26/26) Worm (40/40), Poison Vial (3/3)
Fighter 1 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 2 : (29/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Fighter 3 : (15/29) Iron Axe (45/45), Hand Axe (40/40)

Spy 1 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 2 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 3 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)

Spy 4 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 5 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 6 : (23/23) Poison Dart (40/40)

Spy 7 : (23/23) Yew Bow (40/40)
Archer 1 : (1/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 2 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)

Archer 3 : (25/25) Iron Bow (45/45), Yew Bow (40/40)
Hati, Warding Armor(E): (30/30) Hrodvitnir (1/5), Killer Thunder (25/25)
Milich Oppenheimer (0/30) Elthunder (35/35), Ray (35/35)

 

Door A : (30/30) Opened

Door B : (30/30) Opened

Antoinette: (0/50)

Players: Location, Health, Weapons (link to sheets)
Argos (I4) : (0/29) Wooden Sword (29/50), Unsigned Blade (34/40)E, Focusing Drug (2/3) Focusing Drug 1/3 ( Hit +5 ) Downed 2/3
Kerr (H9) : (20/25) Slim Lance (24/35), Iron Lance (40/45)E
Kris (L10) : (17/21) Iron Knife (32/45), Hustle (36/40)E, Parrying Dagger (35/35), Vulnerary (2/3), Lockpick (9/15)
Naomi (H6) : (7/24) Lightning (12/40), Ray (31/35)E
Michi (J4) : (20/24) Fire (19/40)E, Vulnerary (1/3)
Ceridwen (I3) : (7/27) Slim Lance (17/35)E, Iron Javelin (34/40) Dismounted
Fallon (H3) : (20/24) Worm (20/40)E, Flux (35/40)
Dulcibella (G3) : (7/24) Training Bow (19/40)E, Rescue Stave (25/25), Nul Needle (3/3), Chest Keyring (3/5) Poisoned 3/4
Rhian (I9) : (0/28) Wooden Greatbow (28/40), Iron Greatbow (29/40)E Downed 3/3
Verden (H10) : (19/19) Heal (22/30)E, Antidote (29/30)

Johanna (H8) : (26/27) Iron Axe (10/45)E, Iron Axe (45/45), Hatchet (33/35) Dismounted
 
EXP Tracker: 75/100

 

Gold Scavenged: 300

 

It's as though a collective sigh runs through the very stones of the castle.

 

Finally...

 

In a heavy motion, Johanna lets her axe swing low, planting the top against the stone floor and leaning against it slightly as she releases a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. For a brief, rare moment, she lets the weariness show as the adrenaline drains from her muscles, leaving her somewhat lightheaded. The myriad aches and bruises beneath her armor begin to make their complaints known now that the mission has, at last, come to a satisfactory end. She'd had faith that they would come through and do what needed to be done, but even she hadn't thought the battle would be so arduous. But it makes sense. This is, after all, one of the Caliss' premier fortresses.

 

Then a cacophony of snapping wood catches her attention and she looks up to see the other rider pair taking out their frustrations on the throne.

 

"Ceridwen! Yn Ddiddorol!"

 

Whatever her feelings, Scarleticia Castle is, in many ways, a historic and cultural relic. Reconstruction due to the battle was already an unfortunate consequence; deliberate further property damage was unneeded. The look Johanna gives her fellow Dragon Knight forgoes the need for words: don't make this day more exhausting than it has already been. Behind her, Idriss growls low, head spines rising in response to his rider's frustration. Johanna simply sighs and rubs her forehead.

 

After she's caught her breath, she moves to help the others with getting Argos and Rhian back on their feet, waves of healing magic from Verden's staff closing up injuries and easing poison on those who needed it. Once everyone is stable again, she addresses them in a renewed voice.

 

"With this, we've crippled the Calissian offensive, which should remove the pressure on the Knights. Without a point from which to launch their siege, the forces should have no choice but to retreat." Johanna smiles.

 

"It's no small feat to bring down one of Caliss' Five Generals, and on his territory. You all did well."

 

She looks at the now-empty throne, at the corpses of General Milich Oppenheimer and his men scattered about, and exhales slowly. There will be a host of work needing to be done to sort this out. To have had to put down one of the Five Generals... where is President Kirov? Does he know about this? She has no illusions about how momentous the death of General Oppenheimer will be to the Calissian public, and it would be the President's job to oversee what's going to be done about this situation, and whether and how to replace the man. But the order had come from Captain Levenheit, so they couldn't be at fault for killing the General, could they? After all, according to reports, it was Caliss that had launched the attack in the first place.

 

All this is beginning to give her a headache, and she's certain that the post-battle exhaustion isn't helping. As soon as possible, she needs to talk to the one person who has more knowledge on how this had happened: the Dragon Knight's Captain.

 

"We don't know what will come next, so it is vital that you all take this time to recover. We subdued General Oppenheimer's men, but if you choose to walk around the castle, be careful. We don't know how else he might have fortified this place. If anyone needs me, I will remain here. A report needs to be sent ahead to Captain Levenheit, and other arrangements need to be made. For now, you are all dismissed."

 

INTERLUDE START ( NPCs open for interaction: Johanna )

[Powder Miner]

Ceridwen briefly shrunk back at Johanna's glare and Idriss' growl, while Yn Ddiddorol met the other dragon's stare until Ceridwen lightly pushed his head away from Idriss' eye contact, rather hoping to avoid fighting betwene the two dragons. But she didn't actually reflect on Johanna's displeasure for very long, nor did she quite slump over, despite the fact that the wounds and savage injuries that she had taken throughout the battle were far more severe than Johanna's. ...well, she'd been unsteady and shaky in her posture for a while, and that was still true now, but she wasn't quite letting herself rest yet, even though blood still stained a massive portion of her armor from her only-recently-sealed injuries. There was still something left to attend to, after all.

"Johanna! What about the Commander he captured -- shouldn't we look for them? Who knows what condition they're in..."

[Aurorix]

After the threat had ceased Argos remained notably quite. Once dismissed he just walked away and just wandered around the castle. His vision was a blurr as he aimlessly walked about with no destination in mind,  "I really am useless... aren't I? What kind of great warrior has to be saved constantly? Maybe... maybe everyone at home was right... I am worthless."  He vision came into focus when he reached some sort of training area with hay training dummies scattered about. Upon looking at one, he was imeditly filled with rage. He has more in common with a shabby dummy than any warrior of any skill level in the world.

 

"wwwwwrrrrrrrRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" He roared taking out his wooden blade and ruthlessly bashing it into the the bale on a stick without cease.  "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!" The wooden blade began to chip and crack while pieces of hay scattered about.

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

Naomi sighed in relief. While she could still stand, her wounds did hurt. And for some reason, they were insanely itchy! She shamelessly scratched the sides of her tummy, and trying to reach behind her back. but the itch or the wounds weren't the worst of it, her foxy friends were gone. Naomi had kept her end of the deal, why hadn't they? And to add just the cherry of badness on a already very horrible metaphorical cake: she had been deceived. 

 

Naomi approached Michi getting in the armored girl's personal space. She stared at her face for a moment, and then walked behind Michi inspecting the back of her armor. Finally she put her nose forward and closed her eyes, taking a few whiffs of the air around Michi. 

 

"... So you really aren't a dragon. I had my suspicions, but this is just disappointing." Naomi sighed deeply, still trying to scratch at her back. "I'm not mad at you for tricking me, but I am a little sad. If you're just another boring and stinky human I really don't have any friends in this group. Ugh this itch!" She turned around pointing to a spot of her back. "Normal boring human, can you scratch my back? I can't seem to reach this place and it's driving me insane."

[ElfCollaborator]

Michi - or rather, Michaela- picks up a nearby fallen stick and obliges Naomi's request; armor wasn't exactly the most flexible thing to do anything with.

"I never said I was a dragon in the first place. You said that, I decided not to correct you."

 "I'm surprised nobody thought I was a woman. I had thought it supremely obvious. It wasn't something I was actively trying to hide."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Mmmmm a little higher please." Naomi let out a long sigh of relief. She dropped her arms to her sides and stopped scratching. "Well that armor really doesn't give anything away. Not very girly you know, and through your helmet your voice sounds totally different. I just thought you were a dragon, and since I wasn't even sure if there were boy dragons and girl dragons I thought it would be rude to ask."

[ElfCollaborator]

Michi continues to scratch.


"Acoustics. They're a wonderful thing. Sorry to disappoint you, but the closest I get to being a dragon is the family crest."

[rokubiraijuu]

Looking up at her name, Johanna furrows her brow. Right, in all the commotion afterwards, that detail had slipped her mind. She heaves an internal sigh, and resists the urge to glance at Rhian as well. 

 

"Yes. Can I leave you in charge of searching the dungeons and any holding areas for signs of prisoners? I wouldn't advise going alone... it'd be best to take someone else with you in case there's any trouble."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"So your family has a dragon crest but you aren't actual dragons. How does that work?"

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian slowly stood up with a coughing fit after her immediately threatening injuries were tended to. After she pushed herself up to her feet, she spat a wad of bloody spittle onto Oppenheimer's corpse before turning her attention to Johanna - and Ceridwen.

"I'll help." She was sure that Ceridwen wasn't too keen on her presence, but quite frankly she didn't care. "I promise not to hurt anyone too badly." She was telling the truth; a small part of her motivation was ensuring that Naomi didn't get put on interrogation duty. Rhian wouldn't put it past the girl to fry anyone who gave her the wrong answers.

[Powder Miner]

Ceridwen just quietly nodded at Rhian's offer to join her -- Rhian wasn't the nicest person in the group, but right now all she cared about was finding and helping the hostage, and that was something that she trusted Rhian to be able to help her to do. Rhian had been one of the steadiest members of the Allied Guard, after all. Ceridwen let out a breath, then stood up a bit straighter (though she hissed from the pain of doing so; despite the healing, she was still in rough shape). She had to brace herself, after all. With Milich doing what he did, this could be... bad.

"Right... let's go, then."

 

And Ceridwen set off with Rhian to search the castle for the hostage -- well, prepared to set off, anyhow, as the very first thing she did was check the throne room for any of the sorts of secret tunnels this place had already proven to have.

 

...She really hoped it wasn't bad.

[krim]

Fallon found himself contemplating after killing Oppenheimer. The echos of mages from long ago were always stronger than normal during times like these. He couldn't make out what exactly they were saying, but they almost seemed happy about how he had done it. That worried him. Even if the man was a brat that acted far below his station, it was needlessly cruel to ensure that he suffered during his last moments. There was only one person he'd wish that upon.

 

Breaking out of his thoughts with a start, he realized that Johanna had been giving the briefing. By the look of the others, it didn't seem to be anything too important, but ignoring officers wasn't something he wanted to make a habit of. As his mind started to drift away from the killing, the voices didn't stop like they usually did. Annoyed, he strode down the hallway nearest to him and headed towards the castle library.

 

If there was one thing he and they agreed upon, it was the importance of knowledge. They wouldn't distract him if he sought it. And maybe, just maybe, he could figure out more about the castle's "secrets" the fox had mentioned.

 

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian searched the room alongside Ceridwen, though she wasn't as keen on the idea as the dragon knight seemed to be.

"Logical place to start would be the dungeons," she commented, sounding more distracted than anything else. She didn't slow down her search despite the comment; while she believed the man would have gone for the simple route after his clear refusal to accept the idea that he might be defeated, it was also just like someone like Oppenheimer to squirrel the prisoner away in some damp passage, to be produced on demand with dramatic flair. "Let's head there next," she added after pausing and sniffing the air. Couldn't be too careful when flesh-eating spores were in the mix.

[rokubiraijuu]

Ceridwen and Rhian's careful search of the throne room yield no answers on secret passageways. There are no more of the false walls from earlier, or levers hidden behind curtains. Even the velvet ceiling-to-floor drapery behind the throne room, the color of Caliss' pale blue and bearing the crest of the Sovereign Rune, conceal just regular stone. In a small storage chamber at the foot of the throne that Ceridwen had toppled over earlier, they do find small vials of what looks like largely-translucent floating, pale yellow powder. They would both know to handle these vials with extreme care, as the powder is in fact living spores from the aforementioned fungus.

 

In an adjacent room off to the corner, though, little bigger than a dressing room and outfitted for apparently similar purpose, they are immediately hit with the much fresher scent of that bitter loam smell the spores give off. However, it's still identifiable as harmless by now, and there's a crumpled pile of clothing and armor on the floor in the corner, as well as the weapon the hapless soldier had carried.

 

Rhian and Ceridwen receive Steel Halberd.

 

Other than that, however, the throne room appears to be just that.

 

-----

 

Fallon enters the Scarleticia Library through a grand, engraved doorway. Despite the recent outfitting of the rest of the castle for war, the library seems to have been largely untouched. He finds himself immediately in an enormous foyer with blue-lined carpet, beautiful chandeliers giving off ambient light, oaken shelves lined with books, tomes, and scrolls of all sizes covering the walls from top to bottom. The ceiling domes, vaulted high above his head, with a detailed mural spanning the whole length and width if he cranes his head back. In the distance, the shelves grow more nested together as one enters the stacks, and seem to go on ad infinitum. Off to his right, there is a spiraling staircase that leads to a second and third level.

 

At first, the library feels empty, but very quickly there's a soft shuffle of movement behind the greeting desk, and Fallon would see a head of semi-greying hair peer very slowly above the desk to look at him warily.

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian jumped just enough to be noticeable on figuring out what was in the vials. Nasty stuff, that, and it can't have been easy to procure. Why the hell did a Calissian general have something like this? Where had he heard of it, and who on earth would be willing to cultivate the stuff? Her nose wrinkled further on discovery of the remains of some poor bastard that had run afoul of the stuff - or, as was more likely judging by where he was found, deliberately exposed to the stuff. It was almost a pity Oppenheimer was dead; death alone didn't seem to be enough punishment for someone willing to do something like this.

"Captain Levenheit, there are more spores back here. We should probably lock this up until we can dispose of 'em." She gestured toward Ceridwen as she began to walk out of the room. "I'm checking the dungeons." She didn't wait for Ceridwen to start moving, but she didn't exactly try to outpace the dragon knight, either. 

[rustytengo]

After being dismissed Kris wandered around the castle looking for anything interesting. She had been to if a few times before but usually as a stopping off point for her old work so she really never got a chance to look around. Which given what Milich did to things was probably a good thing especially with her bad habit of ending up in places others didn't want her to be. Turning a corner she flinched from and shook her head as she heard something. Frowning she stomped (her stomps still be rather light) down the hallway to the area she was hearing the sounds from. Looking in she frowned more as she saw Argos just wailing on a training dummy cause lots of pain to his poor sword. 

 

"Stop that you're going to kill it!!!" She yelled out to Argos as he went in for another swing.

[Powder Miner]

"He really was a terrible person, wasn't he?"

At least that was a was, now. 

 

Bending down (very cautiously, despite the now-inert status of the spores) Ceridwen picked up the dead soldier's halberd, looking it over for a moment with a keen eye.

"I guess there's something ironic about taking one of the weapons they'd meant to use to kill us Knights and using it for myself... but it is a good weapon... well balanced, no visible flaws... yeah."

Ceridwen took the Steel Halberd.

 

"I'm coming, Rhian!"

And Ceridwen followed the archer-knight.

 

[rokubiraijuu]

"I'll take care of that."

 

The reconnaissance pair find the stairs leading down to the basement levels in a dingy wing of the castle removed from the public eye. The steps are discouragingly well-worn, and as they descend, the daylight from the upper levels slowly filters out.

 

The basement is warmer than up above, but damply so, with the faintly stale smell of unmoving air. They pass several ordinary halls and chambers - various storage rooms and small offices - before arriving at a thickly sealed and magically warded steel-plated doorway. A set of keys has been hung on a hook beside it, which they can use to open it.

 

As it swings open, the smell that hits them is almost overpowering. The dungeon's barely-lit halls reek of body odor and decay, old blood and other bodily fluids, mildew, and rust, as well as the distinct scent of terror and death that has seeped its way into the very stone. A series of magically-lit torches line the corridors on both sides between each dank cell, giving off just enough light to illuminate the way to the next torch.

 

As they walk, their footsteps echoing eerily, the dungeons seem to be silent and largely empty. There's no sound from any of them, and if they should peer into the cells, the reinforced bars hold little to nothing behind them. Many are unused as far as can be seen; a few others contain the desiccated remains of corpses that haven't been cleared out, some dead on thin beds, others chained to walls, and others having met their end sprawled on the floor. In one, a body has decayed to the point of being unrecognizable, the flesh already having well liquefied. More than one of these corpses are laguz of varying kinds, mostly canid, but none look like what they're searching for.

 

It seems like the dungeon has nothing to offer them, until they reach the very end of one of the corridors. A sudden rattle of chains scraping against stone is jarring in the silence that's pervaded thus far.

 

"Come any closer and I'll kill you! I will this time; I swear it!"

 

The voice sounds weak, scratchy and cracking mid-threat, but still carries some fire. In the last cell is a young woman with a delicate face and doe-like eyes chained hand and foot to the far corner. She's dressed in little more than bloodied rags and is covered in light-magic burns, but strains fiercely at her restraints at Rhian and Ceridwen's approach. She's immediately identifiable as non-human, however; her arms and legs are cloaked in iridescent feathers, glinting in a bioluminescent gradient of green and blue that's visible even in the low light.

[Chevaleresse]

"By the Runes. . . "The place was somehow more horrible than she had imagined. She barely avoided retching; it was one thing to smell death in the heat of battle, but the reek of old corpses and filth striking in a wave was something else entirely. She almost thanked the powers that be for the woman's voice sounding from the back of the dungeon. 

"We're not with that bastard Oppenheimer. You might be happy to hear that what remains of his face is decorating the throne room floor right now." She moved closer, slowly but deliberately, checking the key ring for one that matched the manacles on the laguz. "Ceridwen, she needs a healer as soon as possible. Especially judging by the rest of the occupants here." Rhian fished in her pouch for her own vulnerary, and held it out to the woman. "I'm assuming human medicine works on. . . animal people, I guess." She wasn't that familiar with them. She'd heard the rumors, of course, but that had been a long time ago, and she hadn't been in much of a position to pay them a lot of heed at the time. 

[Aurorix]

Argos continued to mercilessly wail into the dummy until Kris' voice snapped Argos out of his rage fueled rampage.

 

"K-Kris!" It was here the anger filled adrenaline began to cease and the exhaustion not only from today's battle but his constant beatings began to catch up with him. The boy began taking deep breaths as his legs began to shake before giving way as he landed on his bum,  "Ow... So uhhhhhh, how long have you been here? I'm just, um, doing some post combat training! Y-yea that's it! This is what I usually do! Nothing out of the ordinary here at all! Heh heh..." This was more than a little embarrassing.