"You're brilliant, and I know you can do it again. I have the utmost faith in you, and in the good that the angel has abandoned, that you can do it again. Take another shot, adjust for the winds, and hit that jerk where the sun don't shine!" -Draza, Page 4.
Kingdom of Renalta - Heart of Madness
Abjaar uses his vial of blood, and after a few moments of anticipation, an ethereal wolf appears. The wolf looks up at Abjaar, his upper lip forms into an irritated snarl.
"You want a guide, ehhh? You want me to lead you around the swamp, ehhh?... You're my grandson! You hadn't had the sense to pack a map?!" Mikan blinks as she points at the map each of them had.
"Oh! Well, didn't you at least pack an animal that can tell where these time distortion bubbles are?!" Mikan motions to the ferret in her arms, which licked her left arm twice before nipping it randomly. The wolf's eye twitches.
"My grandson is an idiot then." Mikan shrugs, and looks at Abjaar.
"Enjoy your family reunion, kiddo." With a giggle, the woman dashes off into the swamp. The wolf starts moving into the swamp, looking up at Abjaar.
"Please tell me you've at least made that woman your slut. Surely you wouldn't let her talk to you like that otherwise..."
Mikan nods in response to Zin, flashing a flirtatious and reassuring look before she quickly follows after Murderok and Cennick, looking between them as they make comments about steak.
"You'll save me some too, I hope! Nice steak is hard to come by nowadays."
The interior of the swamp quickly grew darker and muggier. Looking around the interior of the swamp, Mikan wrinkles her nose in disgust. Eric Vadlegarf sticks close to Zin, grasping his crossbow tightly as he remained highly alert of any trouble that might appear. A few times they spotted various animals, some were as common as could be, and others were totally unrecognizable and nameless. Occasionally, the wolf guide or the ferret in Mikan's arms would react to something in their path, and letting the ferret go, he would lead them around time distortion bubbles before leading them back to the small path they were traveling on and leaping back into Mikan's arms.
Reaching the end of the dirt path laid out for them, Mikan looked out into the swamp. A fog had started to roll in, but Abjaar's ethereal wolf growled as it looked eastward.
"I smell orcs... Some humans too. Is that what you're looking for?" Mikan looks at him and nods. Putting the ferret down, she pats him lightly on the head and then looks back to the others as she slips her hood on.
"I will lead the way. Follow quietly." Proceeding ahead into the fog, her form was barely visible as it darted between trees, tall grass, shrubbery, and other such plant life through knee-high, muddy water. It didn't take long to see through the fog, the entrance of an old temple. The temple had a pyramid shape to it, with strange carvings of primitive non-human creatures etched on the sides. It was impossible to discern what they were at the distance they were looking at the temple from however.
Fifty feet away, three figures were standing guard outside what was presumable the entrance of the temple. They stood perfectly still, and it was impossible to discern their armament through the fog. There was little in the way of cover between the temple and the treeline which Mikan had led the group to, leaving a large, open space to attempt to charge across. Still, it seemed like there was a few options. Eric loads a crossbow bolt and raises it, taking aim at one of the three figures before Mikan shoves his crossbow down and motions for quiet.
"I have a clear shot! Just let me take it." Eric complains quietly. Mikan looks back at the group.
"Murderok, Eric, I trust you both to hit your targets, but there are two of you, and three of them. I could slip to the side with Cennick, having Zin use her illusion abilities to keep Cennick out of their sight. You'd be able to see us approach and hit a third target from afar while we hit two of them up close." Mikan looks around at them.
"Unless none of you care for a stealth approach or have a better idea... I'd be really open to one."
Imperium/Amazons - The Dream of Empire
With Elrithos leading, he would clearly be able to see several hundred steps down a tight spiral staircase lead to a large, open chamber. Where one would expect decorations, the walls were fairly barren, uniform in aesthetic almost. Reaching the large chamber, a quick look around would reveal several passages leading in every direction. Before they could figure out which way to go, Veira flinches and looks towards the southern passages.
"Not that way dearies." She says as she rubs her ribs gingerly. While the magician didn't appear injured, Sonia and Gremlock would be able to detect that she suffered feedback of some sort, likely from a spell being suddenly and violently dispelled. Fahim looks at her with an inquisitive expression and she smiles widely.
"Spikes, acid, death traps, and collapsed passages... Lots of terrible things, truly. It also seems as though many of these passageways are simply interconnected, like a spiderweb of catacombs. Truly a marvel of engineering, and if this place was fully staffed, I would imagine quite defensible."
Fahim looks around at the passages and scratches his head in slight confusion.
"Twenty four passageways? Why twenty four? Six passageways in each direction... The ones heading west would lead us back in the direction of the waterfall of blood." Veira looks at the passages east and north and sighs with dismay. Rashan, who had been silently searching the room the whole time, stumbles backward as she stepped on a trigger plate close to the stairs. A few ancient gears beneath their feet groan to life, and an apparition appears. All the mages in the room would immediately recognize it to be a form of illusion magic, though it was ancient, and made in a confusing manner: It wasn't drawing on the magic in the air. It appeared to be generating its own magic, something which was extremely difficult to do as a mage.
The apparition was that of a woman in an Imperial outfit, though from the looks of her, she had Amazonian ancestry. Rashan cautiously reaches out to it, though her hand simply passes through the apparition. Upon doing so, she stumbles backward and she speaks in a foreign tongue. It appeared confused by their appearance.
"Quis? Quid? Quam ob causam?" Veira smiles widely as she waves both of her wands. A small white glowing ball appears, floating near the confused apparition.
"Speak again!" Veira says cheerfully.
"Who? What? For what purpose?" It repeats, now speaking the common tongue. It looked expectantly at Rashan for an answer, though Rashan pointed towards the Queen's Blades. The apparition looks at the Queen's Blades, tilting its head inquisitively. Fahim glances at the Queen's Blades.
"It may not know how much time has passed... Be careful what you say."
Kingdom of Liveria - Ancestral Bonds
With the group ready to go, the Liverian witch hunter which briefed them grabs a crossbow and fires a blue bolt into the air. About a minute later, the group would hear a series of loud howls emanate from the nearby valley: Now was their chance! Zoe and Gabriel lead the way, bolting off on foot up the large hill between them and the cavern system. Zoe looked back at Elrbetrt on horseback and shook her head, confused with the woman, but leaving her fate in her hands. Princess Helénē was following on foot, moving at a surprising pace given her gentle upbringing. She made sure to remain in the middle of the group, between Rayvon and Kasim. Upon reaching the mouth of the cavern, two orc guards were on lookout and hadn't turned away from their duty to join in the violent mob in the valley below. Just as they noticed Gabriel Zoe crest the hill, Zoe slides through the dirt and pulls her large crossbow up. To her, it was a satisfying noise as the bolt whistled from her crossbow and impaled one of the orcs to the wall. Helénē on the other hand felt her face pale at the sight of death once more.
Before the other orc guard could yell for help, he was lifted into the air by a mysterious energy. There was an invisible grip around his throat, being exerted by Shaman Molkar as he stepped out of the dark mouth of the cavern system. He bashes the orc's skull against the rocky wall a few times until there was nothing left but a bloody, unrecognizable stump, before dropping the corpse unceremoniously on the ground.
"Orc." Zoe muttered with distrust, though she bowed her head respectfully.
"Liverian." Shaman Molkar replied. He motions for them to enter the cavern system quickly.
"I will have two of my orcs replace these guards." Helénē stops and looks up at the Shaman. The disdain she once had for him was not present in the way she addressed him now.
"Won't there be questions about the blood?" The shaman laughs and shakes his head.
"We are orcs. Blood on the walls just means we live here." Helénē grimaces, and enters the cavern system quickly with Gabriel at her side.
Once inside it took most of the Queen's Blades a minute or so for their eyes to adjust to the dimly lit cavern system. There was already a fork in their path a few feet into the cavern system: Left, or right. The left path looked better lit, meaning it would likely take them straight to the central chambers, though it would also be harder to hide and present greater risk with encountering larger groups of better equipped orcs. The right path was barely lit at all, though there was a great deal of blood smeared on the floors and walls, implying that it still held some importance to them. The cavern system had many interconnecting chambers and passageways, likely meaning that both paths would lead to the central chambers, though there was still the risk that the right path would lead them on several detours before getting there, and the distraction in the nearby valley wouldn't last forever.
Gabriel inhales the scent of old blood, his golden eyes looking back to the Queen's Blades.
"We should use the left corridor and move quickly. I have faith we can overpower these orcs, especially since a few will belong to Shaman Molkar's clan, and thus will be loyal to us instead of their compatriots. There should also be Liverian farmers and merchants inside--innocents we can spare from a pack of enraged orcs, if we act now." Zoe shakes her head and walks over to Gabriel. He stood nearly a full foot over her, and yet she was not intimidated as she looked up at him through her mask.
"You place faith in orcs? The same orcs that, less than a week ago, wished to rape and murder the Queen's Blades they first encountered? My, but that you're a foolish optimist." Gabriel's eyes narrow to a judgmental glare as he looks down on the assassin before himself, his tone growing to have an unsettling chill to it.
"And I suppose the word of an assassin is any better? What would you have us do, risk the dimly lit passage that may lead us nowhere, while the Shaman's men die in the valley below?" Zoe scoffs and shakes her head.
"They are dying to buy us time. Whether a fraction of them die, or all of them die, is irrelevant, and the Orc leading them is aware of this. He is the one who chose to sacrifice them because he knows the same as I that their individual lives are meaningless in the face of success. What we should do is maximize our odds of success so that their sacrifices, few or many, are not in vain..."
Zoe motions towards Elrbetrt's horse.
"All we have to do is set a trap using the horse to make noise. Orcs keep horses in stock as a meat surplus. If they think one of theirs escaped, they will send a small group to retrieve it before it can escape. Therefore, we can lead them right here, ambush them, and kill all but the best equipped one for questioning, at minimal risk to ourselves." Helénē raises her hand slowly, and Zoe bows her head to defer authority to the princess.
"So... Why did we kill the guards outside if we need information?" Zoe sighs and scratches the back of her head.
"It is hard to deal a non-lethal blow with a crossbow as large as mine, and when an orc starts killing someone... They... Don't stop." The corners of Helénē's lips drop, as does her heart, upon the realization of what Zoe just stated.
"So we blew the easiest way to get information. That is what you are telling me, right now. That now, we have to find and murder more orcs just to get information." Zoe's voice turns unusually humble as she goes down onto one knee.
"I apologize, but I am a mere assassin. I only know how to take life, and it appears I was too efficient in my task, princess..." It almost seemed she wished to add more, but was unable.
Princess Helénē looks to the Queen's Blades and smiles, remaining calm, though there was a look of concern in her eyes as she looked at Kasim in particular.
"What do all of you think? I defer to your collective expertise." Gabriel looks between the members of the group, and makes a final plea for his case.
"Think of how much better we can make our case if we move to spare as many of Molkar's men as possible, and the prisoners we could save... Let's be ethical here." Zoe, too, makes a final plea for her case as she returns to her feet and brushes off her knees.
"Think of Princess Helénē. It will be much safer for her if we lure the orcs to us, rather than rush them head on. Besides, there is no guarantee we'll even encounter any of the chambers prisoners are being held in..." Zoe looks up at Gabriel once more and crosses her arms.
"Let's be rational instead."
Goblin Holds - Antiqua Scientiam
Unamo was the last one to place her feet on the cold surface beneath her feet. Much to her surprise, it was metallic in origin. The entire area was very dark, and it was difficult to see with the limited amount of light filtering in from the hole in the ceiling of what was likely an extremely large, cavernous space. How it hadn't collapsed in on itself was, thus far, a mystery. Around her waist was a belt with various pouches, and in one pouch she pulls out a small bit of black powder. Motioning her hands over the black powder, it starts to have a light green glow to it as she starts murmuring an incantation quietly.
Nyla, on the other hand, was tapping her foot on the floor at various spots, amazed that it was all metallic. Looking back in the direction of Aslo and then Daevon as they each spoke, she sighs and rubs her left arm with her right hand awkwardly.
"I'm sorry, I am not much of a diplomat... Just... The Imperium managed to bring order and civilization to uncivilized forests in ten years. To see another people be so backward and paranoid in their liberation is... Saddening. It makes me wish the dream of empire could seed itself in this place, too." Suddenly and without warning, the gunpowder bursts into green flames for a few seconds. A spirit erupts from the ashes, a small girl blinks and smiles. It was the same small girl that Unamo had banished from Child's sight before. Unamo smiles back.
"Light up our world now, and I will send you to where your parents wait for you later." The little girl's face lights up with joy as she flies several feet in the air and starts projecting a pale green light across the area. For a couple hundred feet in each direction, the area became clear in various green hues.
Nyla's knees grow weak at the sight around herself. Unamo gasps in shock.
The group was standing in a small plaza, about fifty square feet in size, made out of solid steel and other, unknown metals. To the north was a field of hundreds of broken down golems, all inoperable, but all made out of metal: Some out of iron, some out of steel. There was more refined scrap metal in a single field than perhaps throughout the entirety of the Goblin Holds. The east, west, and south sections were metallic huts of designs that were completely alien, being comprised of near-perfect squares, triangles, and cones. It looked like a city made by a mathematician, rather than an engineer, and yet somehow, all these structures remained standing and in solid condition.
Before they could all celebrate their find however, Nyla would perk up and look wide eyed southward, in the air. Everyone else would start to hear a whistling sound...
"GET DOWN!" Nyla yells as she slings her shield onto her back and then tackles Aslo to the metallic floor. Daevon's servant protects Daevon with his body as well, though he obviously couldn't tackle his master to the ground. Fafnir ends up being appropriately positioned to cover Maeven from danger. Child is able to duck for cover in time, having the reflexes to manage it. Esyllt Boudica is also able to duck for cover in time, though having a shield aids in her defense.
An explosive shell, akin to a mortar shell, explodes as it strikes the center of the plaza. Shrapnel erupts from the explosive, flying in every direction. Daeven's servant ends up with a chunk of metal through his chest roughly the size of his fist, and he falls dead instantly. Fafnir takes hits, but they do nothing but amuse him. Nyla's shield takes hits, but is able to deflect the shrapnel away, preventing both herself and Aslo from taking wounds. Esyllt is hit, but the shrapnel only causes minor cuts that bleed superficially.
Unamo, though she tried to avoid it as she leaped backward, would have been struck directly. Everyone, thanks to her light, would have a clear view of seeing several pieces of shrapnel head her way. Unable to use most of her magic instantly, she instead balls up to protect her head and torso. Shrapnel whips past her, and one piece ends up embedding itself deeply into her left leg, into her thigh. Another piece tears open her left knee, leaving a deep wound that was bleeding severely, immediately. Sliding backward against the metallic surface, she ends up staining it in her own blood.
Nyla rolls off Aslo in time to hear Unamo scream in pain. Aslo and Esyllt would be able to hear Nyla mutter to herself.
"Never light up your position to the enemy, damnable woman." She runs over to Unamo and motions to the lit-up ghost in the sky.
"Make that travel northward! NOW! We're heading east, down into an alleyway, where siege equipment can't hit us directly! Once we're there, try to summon it back silently, and with much less light!" Unamo nods as she motions for the spirit to fly North. Nyla then motions to a nearby alleyway to the east, deeper into the Mechanist city, as she starts dragging Unamo to the east. It seemed that their exploration of the city was going to be delayed briefly, but at least they confirmed one thing.
The enemy is present, and has a terrifying weapon.
Kingdom of Tuleria - Unto the Breach
Players
Within the tunnel, Quar noticed Aëyr staying close to him, and he smiled warmly as a result. He grew closer to her as well, and absent minded looked around the tunnel with a surprisingly relaxed look on his face: He was ready for the fight, or at the very least he gave the impression that he was. Otto, on the other hand, appeared quite uncomfortable in the sand tunnel as he attempted to keep his distance from the magicians inside. His large form seemed almost intimidated by the sand around him. Quar chuckled and looked at Otto with a mischievous grin.
"Scared, Templar?" Otto shoots a glare in his direction and growls, though before he could respond, something happened.
Something big.
The ground shook around them as the muffled sounds of several nearby explosions rocked through the sand, causing a few particles to rain down on the group from above and causing the buccaneer magicians upholding the tunnel to flinch. Otto looks between them as Quar blinks, his brave facade quickly melting as his eyes open widely: His staff had a slight, pale green glow to it as a reaction to his emotional state.
"Explosives..." Quar mutters as Otto rolls his eyes.
"No shit, witch. Tulerians use cannons on the battlefield, do you not remember this?" The elf had a look of momentary irritation, though he put it aside as he continues moving with his chin up. The templar raised an eyebrow at the sight.
"Imperial posturing doesn't suit you."
Quar leaves that comment alone as well as the tunnel starts taking an upward curve. Progressing up the incline for a minute or so, the sand suddenly gives way to a bright light. The young man with dark skin grins as he bolts forward, sword unsheathed. Otto grabs him by the arm and pulls him violent back and aside as a man-sized spear flies through into the sand cavern and rips through one of the casters keeping the tunnel open at the rear. His torso flies past Arkos as he narrowly avoids being buried by the back of the sand tunnel collapsing. While he avoided it, two of the buccaneers did not. Their last breath was spent screaming for the Queen's Blades to save them.
Otto glares at the young black man as he shakes, eyes wide open, sweat rolling from his brow.
"Your name, what is it?" He looks back up at Otto.
"M-Mas'ud Campos." Otto nods thoughtfully.
"Never go first." Otto looks to Quar and motions to the Queen's Blades. Looking at the Buccaneers he motions them down. A second man-sized spear comes flying into the sand tunnel, this time flying overhead as Otto then bursts into a charge, silently leading the handful of Buccaneers out onto the surface. Quar takes a deep breath as Otto departs from the sand tunnel and closes his eyes. The light glow his staff had grows a little as vines sprout out from it and cover his body head-to-toe.
"Mère Nature entend mon appel. (Mother Nature hears my call.)" He grips his staff tightly and looks to the Queen's Blades, likely awaiting instructions as he was told to do by Otto.
The moment the Queen's Blades leave the tunnel, they would find it collapse behind them as the three remaining magic buccaneers among them would focus their attention on the fight instead of keeping it open. They had emerged out of the side of a dune, approximately twenty feet above the small valley of sand in which the buccaneers and demons were engaged. It was about fifteen buccaneers against eighteen humanoid demons in melee, with two demon commanders apparent: A pair of lithe looking women, with pale skin. They looked to be vampires, though corrupted with demon energies. The moment the Queen's Blades appear they both lick their lips. One summons a dark red staff that throbbed with power, while the other pulls out a pair of daggers and turns invisible, the only thing revealing her presence being footsteps in the sand that were hard to keep track of...
The corrupted vampire with the staff--located on the opposite side of the skirmish between herself and the Queen's Blades--seemed to be preparing a spell of some sort...
The corrupted vampire with the daggers was hard to keep track of, it would take dedicated searching to find her before she got the jump on someone.
It was quickly apparent that the only thing keeping the demons fighting there was their commanders: Killing one of them would cause despair, and both would make them break and run. Arkos and Yuri would both feel the demon portal across two large sand dunes, though the demon patrol they were facing was between them and their target...
Army
The Demon forces and the Tulerian army have engaged each other, though neither side has yet to press an advantage. The cannon barrage has left the demons unaware of the small force moving for their gateway to the Nine Hells, save for a disconnected patrol that is unable to alert the greater force in time, assuming the Queen's Blades are prompt...