Map & Compass [IC]

[Sketching101]

Sunderlake Isle - The Bottomless Pit [12:24]​

A few seconds after the portal opened, two pairs of hands covered in armour pressed on the backs of Omen and Willow, shoving them in. Just as they passed through the portal, it started to close, with the staff zipping back through to the other side. Right before it snapped shut, Willow could catch a glimpse of one of the two figures that pushed them through: a large, burly figure, with an unmistakable and familiar pair of unnaturally blue eyes brimming from under his helmet's visor.

The moment the portal completely shut, the ship started to move on its own, the wheel and pulleys rotating as though someone were driving it.

@Polaris North @TheQueensGuard

Sunderlake Isle - Airship, overlooking ??? Chapel[14:21]​

After about two hours of travel across the island, the airship slowed down over what appeared to be the ruins of a chapel, and the place that the beam of light had appeared just earlier. In the distance, below the airship, a group of prisoners and Templars were visible, most of them familiar. Once the airship came to a halt, it slowly began to drift downwards and sideways with the wind. Whatever was driving it had left the reins, and the wheel was now slowly turning in place.

@Polaris North @TheQueensGuard

Sunderlake Isle - ??? Chapel [14:21]​

Several moments passed before Thibault spoke again. "Did you not hear me? I gave you your orders, Templars!" As he finished his sentence, the ground started to rumble. The prince lost his balance and stumbled back, leaning heavily on his cane. As Elle stood balancing herself on the shaking ground, Thibault clutched her arm to pull himself up. The approaching airship eclipsed the sun as it loomed overhead.

As the chapel's structure began to collapse, dust and pebbles starting to fall from the roof. A tiny, roughed-up clockworker began whizzing around Arturo and Sasha. "More creators? What a blessing!" it yelled enthusiastically. "Though you look like you're in poor shape. I didn't know creators could get worn out too... Do you need any repairs?" Its arms split into several, tinier arms, each of them holding a different tool, clearly intended for fixing machinery rather than people.

After hearing Thibault speak up again, Theo took a step back, and stared at Amelie and Jacques with a strange look, a mixture of anticipation, caution, and confusion. "Any ideas for how to get out of this mess?" he asked, still staring at the Templars, though clearly not speaking to them.

@ItariChan @Jess Incognito @TheQueensGuard @Polaris North @fish-writer

 

[Polaris North]

Willow Howst​

Interacting with: @TheQueensGuard
Mentions:
Location: Sunderlake Isle, Chapel
​

Willow's eyes as she widened as a portal appeared on the tower - the familiar expansion of the portal put her mind and heart at ease. On the other side was a familiar wooden staff. She's never felt more relieved to see that stick than she was right now. "Oh Captain. Could it be possible that-" Before she could finish the sentence, she felt something push her from behind and she stumbled right into the portal. She had to flap her wings to stop herself from actually landing on her face.

She quickly turned around just as the staff zipped away. "Hey wait!" Willow saw them for only a quick second. There were two figures behind the portal. She reached out but the portal had closed almost immediately. And just like that, the airship began to move by itself. She shook her head. "It's just one thing after another isn't it?" She commented to Omen with a small, nervous grin before moving to the controls. "Alright Captain. Time for a crash course in piloting this while it's driving by itself."

They were in there for hours when they started to come upon what seems to be... a chapel? Or at least, it used to be a chapel. Willow looked out of the window to properly view the people on the ground. Her eyes widened as she realized they were the other prisoners - Theo and Silbur were perfectly fine too! Or well, they seemed fine for the most part.

The airship was slowing down to a stop but Willow quickly grabbed the wheel. "Alright Captain. I'm gonna do something absolutely crazy. Better buckle up!" She steered the airship right into the field. She wasn't aiming to slam the airship down onto the ground but was aiming to startle the prince enough for him to at least move away from the group.

Jacques Lumoise​

Interacting with: @TheQueensGuard @Sketching101 @Jess Incognito @ItariChan @fish-writer
Mentions:
Location: Sunderlake Isle, Chapel
​

Jacques was looking between the Prince and the group, wondering Thibault himself had graced them with his presence. Maybe it was because of the bright pillar of light that had shot up into the sky? Or was it because it had come from the chapel and everyone knew of its importance. But whatever the reason was, this did not spell good for either him or Amelie. This was not the ideal position to be in.

He as snapped out of his thoughts when Thibault spoke again - impatiently waiting for his orders to be given. It was then that the ground began to shake and what looks to be an airship was now flying above their heads. However there was something distinctly wrong. It looked like it was gaining speed and heading right for them. It was a risky decision but one they had to make. "Of course, your highness." He said before turning to them, making sure to hide both his face and his hands from the man to speak to the prisoners.

"Trust me." Jacques turned his eyes upwards to point out the incoming airship before speaking louder. "You heard the Prince. Fall in line now!" There was another order specifically for Princess Silbur and the other young man. But he collected them and planted himself behind the prisoners and began to gently move them forward. Just a little bit more.

The moment the airship was close enough to crumble the remainder of the chapel and started to become dangerous close, Jacques charged forward and let out an inferno aimed specifically for the prince.

 

[TheQueensGuard]

Omen Bridger
Aboard the ship
@Polaris North

Looking down he managed to make out Sasha among the prisoners. He smirked lightly, though he knew she was tough enough to hold her own. Glancing back at Willow as she grabbed the wheel, then to the tower he said simply "Brace." Helping her right the wheel as he judged the distance between the side of the ship and the tower he assumed they'd graze it before hitting the field. It seemed he was right as the ship gave a groan and scrapping sound as they managed to straighten the ship enough to not completely crash into the tower. It didn't cause any damage, from what he could tell.

Now to see if they could slow the ship enough to not crash it into the ground. If they could keep the hull from getting to damaged, they could use this to escape the island. "Not used to airships, but I outta' be able to handle this." Though he said it with confidence, he wasn't quite sure it was true. "You could fly down and help the other prisoners."
​

Amélie Octave
Sunderlake Isle: Chapel Exterior
@Polaris North @Sketching101 @fish-writer @ItariChan @Jess Incognito

As Silbur landed in the middle of the battle and almost immediately started scolding her. At first Amélie held back her smile, but as the list of complaints kept coming she couldn't help but to grin. "Princess, this is the only prison you've been to." Before they could continue talking, Thibault arrived. She gripped her blades tight and already decided she wasn't going to play this facade any more. She glanced beside her to Jacques. He was a good friend to her these past weeks, if only she had told him of her true intentions here. She had thought to do it before, but never mustered the courage. At times it felt like he even knew her true goal in freeing Silnur. As the ship came down towards them, Amélie was ready to go for the Prince-General when Jacques murmured 'Trust me.'

Smirking, she decided to follow his lead. As they lined the prisoners up and Jacques suddenly turned on the prince, Amélie yelled a command "Ravage, Kit. Attaque*!" The cat-like beast beside her darted forward, keeping behind Jacques flames before lunging for the Prince-General. The bird circling in the air lunged down for his eyes in order to keep him occupied at the very least.

Amélie herself went for Silbur and embraced her tightly.
"Are you alright Silbur? I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting." She glanced towards the other prisoners and pointed at them with her rapier. "Did any of these people give you trouble?" ​

 

[Itari]

The day seemed to be getting crazier and crazier. Something came shooting out of the hole in the ground. It took Sasha a moment to recognize Silbur and Theo floating down on large piece of metal. After landing in their midst, Silbur immediately began scolding the cat lady. Sasha felt herself relax a little. If Silbur knew her, then she probably wasn't the enemy. Which meant the fire dude she was with was hopefully safe as well.

"Wonderful job keeping things under control, Ser Lumoise."

Sasha turned toward the voice. It was the man who had captured their ship. Thia-something or other. Someone important. Out of the corner of her eye Sasha saw something coming towards them. She was about to say something when a small clockworker appeared and started flying around her and Arturo. "What the hell is this annoying thing?" Sasha attempted to swat it out of the way with her hands but it was too quick. "Creator? I don't know what you're talking about. And I don't think you'd be able to give me the repairs I need."

Thia-dude began to become impatient and fire man began rounding them up. "Trust me."

Sasha frowned but listened to him, letting him direct her forward with the other prisoners while keeping an eye on the airship coming towards them. It was coming down a little fast. Just as it came near, fire man charged forward and attacked Thia-dude. As cat lady and fire man distracted him, Sasha started running towards the air ship. By now she could see Omen and Willow on it. "Come on! Omen and Willow are up there!" She called to the prisoners behind her. "Looks like that's our ticket out of here!"

 

[Jess Incognito]

ARTURO LEONE

In the moment Arturo connected with the Priestess' crunching innards, he felt a surge through his body, felt connected to the priestess. He caught a glimpse of her inner workings, but not by any normal sight. It was invigorating.

The connection shattered like rope gone through its last strand when he let go of the candelabra.

There were ever-more people present in the chapel. Arturo scrambled to his feet and edged around the hole newly opened up in the floor, now only darkness where the pillar of light had been. His head and shoulders swooped back as a smaller clockworker encircled them ardently. Sasha swatted at it as the end of its arm, a closed conical shape, unfolded into a blur of tiny instruments. "Fascinating..." he muttered. He'd have liked to get a better look, but there were more pressing dangers unfolding before them.

He stepped forward at Jacques' command, making each step with a tense stiffness of limb. Off in the sky, he could make out the shape of an airship headed their direction, apparently headed directly for the chapel. He couldn't make heads or tails of the situation. Too many unknown faces - too many faces he did know not acting according to given structure. The air ship drew dangerously close and an aggressive heat radiated from Jacques' palms as he assaulted the Prince-General. But why? Arturo stumbled out of the way, seeing Sasha dash for the airship as it flew overhead and into the field adjacent the chapel. She called back over her shoulder, but he couldn't make out the words over the roar of the fire-stream.

He backed up past the large pillars into the deconstructed side-aisle prepared to follow Sasha, but unable to tear his gaze from the struggle. He looked back the way Sasha had gone, still running. He hesitated to follow - for he did not know her or whoever was piloting that ship. Of course, he looked grimly at the scene in front of him, here he knew only Jacques, and he wasn't sure whose side he was on either.

 

[Sketching101]

Sunderlake Isle - Chapel [14:23]​

Thibault's eyes opened wide as the heat of Jacques' flames approached rapidly. The man had never known disobedience, and even though he had seen Jacques attack the priestess earlier, the thought that he would not fall in line had not even crossed his mind. Just as the prone prince barked incomprehensibly, the flames engulfed him. Just as Amélie's familiars started to move in, three large, translucent blue objects, shaped like blades broken off their hilts, shot up from the ground around where the prince was, blocking off the flame and the grounded beast. With the flames blocked off, the prince came into view, unharmed, and still on the floor. The Templar Elle loomed over him with smoke rising from her back, and a hole burnt through part of her uniform, right between her shoulder blades. Around the burnt skin, there was a maze of green marks, with blue writing along the lines.

The prince let out an ear-piercing scream as the winged familiar dove in, digging one of its talons through the glass of his monocle, and into his eye. The bird broke off quickly as Elle manifested another blade from up above. "You traitorous knaves! Ungrateful peasants! You would raise your hand against me?" Thibault sputtered, his jaw clenching and unclenching with each syllable. As he raised his hand, Jacques and Amélie would feel something echoing in their minds, compelling them to "know their place", and the space around them starting to warp. The sensation vanished just as the gust of the airship's approach knocked the prince off his balance and onto his back, even as he had simply been sitting up.

Mentions:
@TheQueensGuard - Amélie, @Polaris North - Jacques

Theo Russell | Sunderlake Isle - Chapel​

As Theo tensed up, holding his hands up in front of himself with the Templar woman holding her rapier up at the prisoners. He seemed to completely forget about his situation as the airship hit the tower of the chapel. "What the...?" Theo's eyes narrowed as he tried to discern what was going on inside the airship continued to descend. In an abrupt movement, he leaned down to pick up a pebble, and then threw it up toward the top of the chapel. He turned to Silbur and raised a finger as if to gesture "one second", before the ground opened up beneath him, swallowing him hole, and closing shut.

The crumbling rooftop of the church spat Theo right back out. As he landed, the tiling of the roof started to break down under his foot, but he managed to avoid falling off. He looked down, seeing two people below, one of whom he recognized by her voice. As the airship continued to descend from above, he finally caught a glimpse of what seemed like Omen and Willow wrestling with the wheel.

Mentions:
@fish-writer - Silbur, @ItariChan - Sasha, @Jess Incognito - Arturo, @TheQueensGuard - Omen, @Polaris North - Willow

Notes:
@TheQueensGuard @Polaris North

Amélie and Jacques

They would recognize the magic cast by Elle as spectromancy, and the magic cast by Thibault as an offshoot of spectromancy.

@Jess Incognito

Arturo

The small clockworker's ranting about the creator would remind Arturo of a story told by his grandfather when he was a child, about a "cycle" where the worlds would be purged and reborn every few thousand years, long before Ydran. The connection would be hazy, and without much context coming to mind, other than the fact that his grandfather also used to use the word "creator" to refer to the god figure of that time.

 

[Itari]

The ship was close enough to board now but there was no to use to climb on to it. Sasha crouched on the ground and cut her hand with a knife. She quickly began sketching out a rope with a grappling hook on the end of it. Once she had it made, she used it to quickly board the ship. "Omen! Willow! Way to make a dramatic entrance." She gave them both quick hugs and looked over the side of the ship. "You'll have to tell me how you got your collars off later. Right now though, it looks like we might have a lot of stowaways coming along with us. I don't know half these people. I think they're friendly though? They all seem to be against the Thia-dude. The one who took our ship. Let me make a ladder for them. Oh! That's Theo on the roof there. Can you pull in a bit closer? Might be able to get close enough for him to just jump on."

Sasha pulled the rope she had made back over onto the ship and turned it back into a drawing on the deck. Then, with some fresh blood she added another line and some rungs to quickly make a ladder. It wasn't the prettiest or the most sturdy, but it would work. "Hey!" She called down to the people below. "Hurry up and get your asses up here!"

 

[TheQueensGuard]

Amélie Octave
Sunderlake Isle - Chapel
@Polaris North @fish-writer​

Amelie felt Thibaults attempt of magic in her mind, causing her to tense up before the blast of air from the ship interrupted him. Neither her or the princess could stand around while there was probably Templar reinforcements on the way. Things wouldn't well if they boarded the ship with actual prisoners. She'd likely be tossed off the side for being a Templar, nor did she particularly trust them to treat the princess kindly.
"We need to go Silbur."
She gave another glance back to Jacques and her two familiars. Raising a hand and extending it once more, three mirror images of her appeared with their swords drawn. Willing them to advance towards Thibault and Elle, she hopped it would distract them long enough for Silbur and her to get away. "That way, I'll be right behind you." Amelie pointed in the opposite direction of both the ship and the Prince-General. Silbur went to object, but Amelie grabbed her hand and gave a nod. "Trust me. S'il vous plaît*." With a silent nod, Silbur headed off in that direction.

Amelie turned back towards the fight. "Jacques." She called out, running up beside him. "Go with the others. I can get me and Silbur off the island, but not you. This may be your old chance." She swung her blade in a tight circle in the air. "I can distract them long enough for you to board the ship. Thank you, for everything. It's been a pleasure." She gave her fellow Templar a smile, running off to where Ravage, Kite and her three clones were already surrounding Thibault and Elle.
​

Omen Bridger
Aboard the Ship
@ItariChan @Sketching101​

As Sasha boarded the airship with a grapple and rope, Omen made his way to the edge to greet her. Though he stayed silent, when she went int for a hug he accepted the embrace."We'll sort them out once we're off the island." Omen stated simply to Sasha, before heading back to the helm to edge closer to where Theo stood. "They need to be quick, we have to put distance between us and this island." He said to Sasha as he grabbed a plank on the side of the ship and pushed it to the side of the boat towards Theo to make a bridge.
​

 

[Polaris North]

Willow Howst​

Interacting with: @TheQueensGuard @Sketching101 @ItariChan
Mentions:
Location: Sunderlake Isle, Chapel
​

Willow muttered something under her breath as her wings spread once more. She opened up the door and peeked outside, watching as their descent seemed to have thrown off the opponent of the group that was being tag teamed by what looked to be two members of... the opposition. Well, as they say, the enemy of your enemy is your friend right? When they got close, Sasha was quick to enter the airship and gave them both a quick hug. Willow reciprocated happily. "Glad you're alright Sasha. And we'll take those off later." She reassured the pirate before looking back to see Theo on the crumbling rooftop.

She waved at the boy as Omen pushed a plank off the ship to make a sort of bridge to Theo. Willow wasted no time in flying off to guide the plank safely to where Theo was, making sure that the unstable roof wouldn't give in. "I'm so glad you're alright Theo. After what the prince did to you I thought..." She stopped herself and shook her head. "What's important is that you're here now. And that we need to get the hell out of here before that other guy kills us."

Willow turned back to the battlefield where it seems like the other templar was making her escape with the princess. Sasha had thrown off a ladder for them to climb onto and make their quick escape. "Right. Come on guys!" She didn't know who they were but if they were fellow prisoners and were friendly to Sasha and Theo, then that meant they were allies.

Jacques Lumoise​

Interacting with: @TheQueensGuard @Sketching101 @Jess Incognito @ItariChan
Mentions:
Location: Sunderlake Isle, Chapel
​

The fire around him was hungry for fuel. Jacques was preparing yet another blast when everything flickered off with the prince's voice resounding against his head - the fire suddenly dying as he was thrown off for a moment. But it was disrupted with the coming of the airship as it threw the prince back onto the ground. It was such a shame that Elle was willing to risk life and limb for the prince, or else Jacques was confident he would at least stand more of a chance of defeating him.

Elle was obviously going for another attack and Jacques had his reservations, and yet there was no choice. If need be, he would fight both. But then, three images of Amelie had appeared and were beginning their advance and he saw the jailed princess running away from the airship and the battlefield. The explanation came soon enough. "I understand. Good luck, Amelie. I wish we could have stayed together longer but alas." He gave the woman a nod before stopping her just before she left, giving her a small notepad. "This is what I wished to teach you more. Stay safe. Read it only when no one else is around. Burn it once you're done. May we meet each other again on safer circumstances." With that, he spared a glance to Amelie and Silbur as they made their escape.

With one final powerful blast of fire to accompany Amelie's familiars, Jacques turned to the group to see that Arturo had been the only one who was waiting. Jacques wasted no time in approaching the man. "Arturo, I understand that you have your hesitations but you have to get on that airship if you don't want to get killed." He urged his old colleague before heading towards the ladder that had been provided by one of the prisoners.

He allowed for Arturo to go first before climbing up himself, keeping an eye on the Prince-General and his companion for any sudden movements.

 

[Jess Incognito]

ARTURO LEONE

Arturo watched the scene unfold with his jaw clenched, glancing back at the airship every few seconds. There was still time.

In the same moment that Sasha threw down a rope ladder from the safety of the airship, he saw Jacques headed towards him from the other direction. He tensed naturally, but saw the other man's gaze fixed on the rope ladder behind him and heard his brusque advice. Art nodded in dim compliance, relieved, honestly, to be given clear directions. His life before had not often necessitated decision-making of such immediate consequences, to say the least.

But he climbed the ladder quickly and efficiently up to the airship deck, where he scrabbled over the ledge and pivoted around to lend Jacques a hand behind him.

"Thank you," he nodded breathlessly to Sasha, to the large man beside her, to all of them. He wiped the sweat from his upper lip with the back of his hand and leaned out just enough to look back at the chapel, now partially inflamed and partially collapsed.

 

[Sketching101]

Theo Russell | Sunderlake Isle - Chapel Rooftop, Airship​

As the ship drifted closer to the rooftop, Theo took a couple of steps back. The moment the plank came into contact with the crumbling roof, he got across up to the ship with two large bounds. He frantically turned to look at everyone on board one by one, squinting his eyes.

"I'm so glad you're alright Theo. After what the prince did to you I thought… What's important is that you're here now. And that we need to get the hell out of here before that other guy kills us."

Theo grinned like a child. "Looks like the two of you've been busy since I've been gone," he said, before as he made his way to the front of the ship. He looked down at where Silbur and her Templar friend were fighting the prince and his bodyguard. Between them, a doorway opened, leading up to the ship. "Get up here!" Theo yelled, his voice and image travelling through the passage. Before the princess or Amélie could make a move, the prince's underling's magic went through instead in the form of a giant spectral spear, planting itself into the deck of the ship. For a split-second, both Theo and Willow managed to catch a glimpse of the woman, before the portal collapsed into itself.

Right as Jacques and Arturo got ahold of the ladder to the ship, the church's foundations completely collapsed, soon sinking deep into the ground, along with large chunks of the earth around them. Several other airships had taken to the air, but for the time being, none of the Templar ships seemed to have registered their escape.

Mentions:
@fish-writer - Silbur, @ItariChan - Sasha, @Jess Incognito - Arturo, @TheQueensGuard - Omen, @Polaris North - Willow, @Polaris North - Jacques

Notes:
@Polaris North

Willow

Elle looks almost identical to Elodie Russell.