The Evrensel Conflict: Act 1 -- Chapter 1, Mission 3 -- Paragon Blues

[Wade Von Doom]

A new world to explore.

For the first time in these people live's, they have found themselves with irrefutable proof that there exists a multiverse, and now have the means to travel between them. The discoveries to be made, the races to meet, and the great challenges they must overcome in the great voyage across the stars, all to be first experienced by these men and women. And their first stop was this world, and like the explorers of old, were to discover it for all its beauty.

It's just a shame it was freezing out.

Chapter 1, Mission 3 -- Paragon Blues

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The breeze was stiff, and snow lightly fell to the ground, as the temperature felt around 10 degrees Celsius. While the first group headed east, they were headed north, towards one of the more populated cities they could detect from the TARDIS sensors. It said there was a massive population within one of the massive mountains within the region, and needing information about this world, that was the best place to start looking from where they landed. It was only a mile or two away, an easy walk... Well, if it was sunnier. The cold did not help, along with the snow, which reached past their ankles with each step they took. But, when they came close to their destination, it would be easy to see it.

A massive door, built right into the side of the mountain. The pathway became clearer as they found a proper road, with stone archways directing them to where the door was. The area in front of it was connected by a stone bridge, and the group could see tents hanging around the trees and sides of the mountain. It looked like merchants. Before they could approach, however, there was a group of people in front of them.

"About time a Warden showed! Loghain sends his regards!" One of them shouted, before a fight broke out. Five men, dressed in heavy metal armor attacked four others. One wielded a shield and sword, another a claymore, the third short-swords in both hands, the fourth a crossbow of all things, and the fifth was a magic, casting electricity from her staff. The four they were attacking though looked a bit... well, as random as the heroes were.

 

[littlekreen]

Reegan - Character Sheet - GDoc

Reegan's ironwood bark kept tearing through clothes so after her contact with the refugees they'd been forced to improvise. She was now in an angular tethering of heavy climbing cord tethered in very tight knots over most of her body. Particularly in dense triangles on portions that the refugees seemed uncomfortable with their children seeing. Between that and heavy ribbon, she wasn't quite as stiff as the last time Reegan was in such a cold locale though the human seemed to enjoy making them rather tight. As a Spriggan, she didn't see the problem being naked but didn't need the access right now anyway plus this cord was complex to remove.

The walk up to this dwemer city made the ropes creak from all the ice but at least her ironwood wasn't cutting through them like the dress they'd tried. The magic environment wasn't any better she felt like she was walking through a swamp with snow up to her hips. The layer of roots on her feet could touch magic here but didn't take to it well when there was some strange daedric layer. It crept into her body but her inner light was keeping something at bay.

Long dense thorny vines with a menacing aura grew out to the small of her back and refused to change away as soon as she stepped foot on this plane. The long hair seemed to evade getting stuck on the ropes but Reegan wasn't sure why. As they came upon the combat without knowing who was on what side she wasn't about to just shoot people. Zhen said she shouldn't just start stunning and think first. There was a stone elemental, two humanoids, and what she felt might be a hag. At least she was well-formed with all the crow feathers and not distorted like the lower hagravens she was familiar with. There was another mage nearby firing electricity though they hadn't noticed the new group yet.

She looked back at the others with her bow's bracelets clinking their way to her wrists, "We're here to see the dwemer, people of the deep earth? Which ones are dwemer? I can't tell who the bandits are."

 

[The Wanderer]

Jotaro Kujo

Wearing his usual white outfit with some layers underneath to keep out the cold, thick boots and gloves protecting his extremities from the cold. A thick scarf around his head, Jotaro walked alongside the others, his face obscured slightly by the strange hat he wore and the scarf. He was thinking long and hard about certain information regarding Dio and the fact Reegan while with the effects of a stroke, could move within stopped time.

The side effect was being examined in hopes of creating a bypass to said issue as Jotaro didn't want to cause perhaps his only current ace in the hole to die or end up attacking him if he were to stop time. The Doctors said they would look into it after this mission, maybe even allow Jotaro to start training some of the others in dealing with a time-stopping vampire, with Reegan hopefully leading the charge on that front. He was not going to hold back, for Dio was a merciless bastard, resorting to the most shameful of tactics if it meant his victory.

Shaking his head to dislodge that train of thinking before he tripped and fell into the ocean of snow that surrounding them as they walked through the forest, as to not induce a migraine. They had a mission to get done and things to be examined.

Trudging through snow that thankfully didn't bother him, thanks to the boots and thick layers of clothing he was wearing.

Coming up on a door carved into the mountain, a series of tents alongside the mountain, no doubt merchants seeking passage. However they were stopped by a group in front of them. Each of them strange in their own right, Jotaro couldn't help but be unimpressed. Granted, over the past few days he has gotten desensitized to such bizarre sights, that when a fight randomly broke out was the only time Jotaro's expression went from deadpan to one of focus.

Looking to the others, as he didn't know what the fuel that started this fight was, or if the four were in the right or if the heavily armed men were instead. Jotaro was not about to start joining a fight no one knew who was the good or the bad.

@Wiggin @littlekreen @YeetLee @Noble Scion @Henryboy003 @Valkan

 

[Asterios]

Kobe

The feline hunter already knew he hated this world as soon as he felt the cold wind. Though he was wearing thick furs for the mission, Kobe was used to thriving in a tropical jungle, not whatever frozen hell this was. So the poor catman was shivering as he walked through the snow with the others.

For this reason, he was more than glad to see they reached a building that would provide some shelter from the cold. And if anything, the sight of a fight going on only made his grin even wider. It was the perfect activity for warming up. Though he couldn't help but be intrigued by the group of four, especially the stone being and the lightly-dressed woman.

He noticed the group talking about which band to help. "Well, men in carapace obviously attacked first, so they gotta be the bad ones. And others look more interesting." If the other were to watch the warrior, they would see his gaze was focused on the witch.

 

[Noble Scion]

Ami'Lana Nar Marin

Ami was absent-mindedly following alongside the others, allowing her mind to wander onto things such as home and her parents when she was suddenly interrupted from her thoughts by the sound of a battle. Looking to the others, they seemed equally as confused. "I think we should stay out of this, at least for now. History is written by the victors, wouldn't want to get in the way of things here." she commented to the others.

The cold didn't bother her in the slightest, despite the apparent tightness of the suit. Thankfully the suit was adaptable for various different atmosphere and weather conditions, and she was very much glad for it as the others seemed to be shivering from the cold, though she had to wonder what it felt like. "If.. Any of you feel cold, I can very easily set up a fire." she mumbled, a little bashfully, unused to feeling sympathy for others.

She had to admit though, watching the battle unfold between the two parties was a little discomforting. Both Ami and her people favoured diplomacy over combat, but she wasn't about to serve a mediator between two clearly aggressive groups, so instead she unholstered her weapon and began, once again, ensuring that it was loaded and faultless, just in case.

 

[Wiggin]

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Kilgren
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

The trek to the dwarven city that the group was meant to explore wasn't that much of a distance, but sure was it cold. Kilgren had been informed that they would be going somewhere this cold though, so she dressed accordingly. What Kilgren wore was actually a large fur coat, the body of the coat was a somewhat muted green color, while the fur itself was a bright blonde. Underneath she had a blue long sleeved wool shirt. Around her neck was a long brown scarf, and she had a pair of goggles on her eyes for snow blindness. She looked somewhat overprepared for the cold compared to the rest of the group.

Once they had actually made it to the "checking area" to get into the city, there seemed to be some sort of scuffle arising. It looked to be between a group of eccentric adventurers that included a magic construct that resembled those of Kilgren's world, a witch of sorts, and two knights. The group was debating to help or not when Kilgren chimed in, "We believe it would be the wisest choice to watch and see what happens much like how Ami and Jotaro seem to see it at the moment." Kilgren then finished with taking off the goggles and setting them on her head to get a better view of the situation.

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Ashwin
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

Ashwin had somehow missed the memo where everyone was told that they were heading to somewhere cold. They had half expected to go to some sort of rainforest or something, not some god-forsaken frozen mountains. Even with their mis-preparation, Ashwin still felt oddly comfortable in the cold. Everyone was complaining about how freezing it was, yet Ashwin wore a red t-shirt with a large smiley face on it and felt fine. They also wore the "stylish" ripped jeans you would usually see people buying for $50 at a local Target. On their head they had a pink baseball cap that looked to have been worn numerous times that was flipped backwards. The only thing that seemed to remotely be for cold weather were the boots that Ashwin wore on their feet. "It's really nice out here, I'm not sure what you are all complaining about," Ashwin had mentioned before they arrived at the entrance for the dwarven city of Orzammar.

When they had arrived, they were met with a massive stone door lodged into a mountain. It had a strange solitariness to it as the cold wind whipped past the group and up the cliff face. A large red banner hung above the door and flapped loudly. When the group approached the door, there seemed to be some sort of attack happening on a group of individuals, very unique in their attire compared to their attackers. These guys seemed to be hired thugs, considering their whole "evil man sends his regards" line. Ashwin wasn't going to just sit and watch while a group of people was attacked, and Ashwin didn't need the rest of the group to tell them otherwise. Without a word, Ashwin took the bow off of their shoulder and readied several ice arrows in their quiver. Three arrows were then prepared on the string and unleashed in the direction of the attackers. Two of them went for the electrical caster, and the third went for the crossbowman. Ashwin ran ahead and joined the ones being attacked then and gave a thumbs up to the construct. "Hey, mind if I join in?" Ashwin asked.

 

[YeetLee]

For the first time in Markha's life, and at the strangest point in her life besides it, the former Jedi finds herself in something that even if it were not 'love' in the conventional sense, was close enough to feel as real as her own skin. The bite Kaz had given her in the underground hangar had been the start of a relationship which grew rapidly in the time between their escape from New Moscow to the start of their next mission. Whether it was conscious or coincidence, she walks alongside Kaz through the snow first then on the road. Her lightsaber had been lost in the mayhem of that hangar (Likely fried in her outburst) but it was the will of the Force that of the myriad of weapons on the PAthfinder, there had been several lightsabers in one case.

That had been a solemn moment. Seeing those dozen hilts taken from fallen Force users like her. Jedi or Sith or rogue, it must have been a lonely death for their former owners. She'd chosen two with blue blades out of a need for that familiarity, and she made a promise to herself that she would build a new one when there was more time and the proper tools. It was familiarity and necessity that made her put on a dark brown robe with a hood. As they walk, Markha keeps her eyes moving slowly around. To be vigilant, but also to keep stealing glances at Kaz. Glances and a smile.

They find a road and follow it, and the stone arches over it, to a small settlement in the looming shadow of an enormous stone door. And there was a conflict before them almost immediately. Four were armored in a uniform manner while the others were more eclectic. Her first instincts were shared by Jotaro and others. There was no way of knowing who was in the wrong, and it appears the two groups are not about to cease for diplomacy now. She and others were about to let this play out.

Except Ashwin chooses to put herself into the fray.

Markha runs and leaps forward with The Force in her feet. Her left hand reaches out to the group of armored soldiers and she wills The Force to push them harmlessly onto their backs, while the other draws and ignites a lightsaber as she comes to be in front of Ashwin and ready to catch any of the lightning attacks before both feet touch ground again. That is when she ignites her second and crosses it with her first.

"Ashwin. Do not move." She says firmly.

"Stand down." She says to the armored ones.

 

[Henryboy003]

A new world to explore.

For the first time in these people live's, they have found themselves with irrefutable proof that there exists a multiverse, and now have the means to travel between them. The discoveries to be made, the races to meet, and the great challenges they must overcome in the great voyage across the stars, all to be first experienced by these men and women. And their first stop was this world, and like the explorers of old, were to discover it for all its beauty.

It's just a shame it was freezing out.

Chapter 1, Mission 3 -- Paragon Blues

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The breeze was stiff, and snow lightly fell to the ground, as the temperature felt around 10 degrees Celsius. While the first group headed east, they were headed north, towards one of the more populated cities they could detect from the TARDIS sensors. It said there was a massive population within one of the massive mountains within the region, and needing information about this world, that was the best place to start looking from where they landed. It was only a mile or two away, an easy walk... Well, if it was sunnier. The cold did not help, along with the snow, which reached past their ankles with each step they took. But, when they came close to their destination, it would be easy to see it.

A massive door, built right into the side of the mountain. The pathway became clearer as they found a proper road, with stone archways directing them to where the door was. The area in front of it was connected by a stone bridge, and the group could see tents hanging around the trees and sides of the mountain. It looked like merchants. Before they could approach, however, there was a group of people in front of them.

"About time a Warden showed! Loghain sends his regards!" One of them shouted, before a fight broke out. Five men, dressed in heavy metal armor attacked four others. One wielded a shield and sword, another a claymore, the third short-swords in both hands, the fourth a crossbow of all things, and the fifth was a magic, casting electricity from her staff. The four they were attacking though looked a bit... well, as random as the heroes were.

Most would think a vampire would have no problem with cold weather. This vampire seemed to be the exception to that rule. Kaz was forced to be a bit more prepared for the snow and harsh weather seeing as she still had a pulse, and body heat. As soon as she had been told that she was going to a cold environment she had spent at least a few hours adding weather protection to her own clothing. That and actually making her clothes look the part of the warm they provided. Which involved making a new coat. Which was still red. But a warm layer of fleece lined the inside, as well as a few spells woven into the fibers to improve its overall strength, protection, and capabilities of keeping the wind chill down. All in all she was happy with her work.


While the stone doorway did remind her of the dwarves, it also reminded her of Golems and their culture back home. Constructing massive monuments out of stone and granite. That being said, the fight breaking out in front of her was rather entertaining. The two parties seemed to be trying to kill each other and well. That wasn't good for her own mental health, as that much blood being spilt would have an effect on her. So naturally she kept her distance. That and... well... Markha was right next to her, and she wanted to hold her hand.

When they had arrived, they were met with a massive stone door lodged into a mountain. It had a strange solitariness to it as the cold wind whipped past the group and up the cliff face. A large red banner hung above the door and flapped loudly. When the group approached the door, there seemed to be some sort of attack happening on a group of individuals, very unique in their attire compared to their attackers. These guys seemed to be hired thugs, considering their whole "evil man sends his regards" line. Ashwin wasn't going to just sit and watch while a group of people was attacked, and Ashwin didn't need the rest of the group to tell them otherwise. Without a word, Ashwin took the bow off of their shoulder and readied several ice arrows in their quiver. Three arrows were then prepared on the string and unleashed in the direction of the attackers. Two of them went for the electrical caster, and the third went for the crossbowman. Ashwin ran ahead and joined the ones being attacked then and gave a thumbs up to the construct. "Hey, mind if I join in?" Ashwin asked.

Markha runs and leaps forward with The Force in her feet. Her left hand reaches out to the group of armored soldiers and she wills The Force to push them harmlessly onto their backs, while the other draws and ignites a lightsaber as she comes to be in front of Ashwin and ready to catch any of the lightning attacks before both feet touch ground again. That is when she ignites her second and crosses it with her first.

"Ashwin. Do not move." She says firmly.

"Stand down." She says to the armored ones.

That is until the two more hot headed members of the current team launched themselves into the fray. Which prompted her to step up near the edge of the camp and give a nice golf clap.

"I would listen to her if I were you. Unless you would like to ah... be about six feet under." She proceeded to crack her own knuckles with a fanged smile.

 

[littlekreen]

Reegan - Character Sheet - GDoc

The ones sensitive to the ether such as the Jedi or Jotaro, by way of his stand, might hear a faint hollow voice when someone inside Reegan talked across the barrier to her bramble. @The Wanderer

zhen

Two Blessed and Zhen observed by way of the large archway within the base of the giant tree where her mind, bramble, and glen now coexisted. He was her teacher and ally though wished he could talk to his own teacher for advice. Tireless now that his meditation could truly survive and grow from the loss of his flesh's attachment watches only to set her upon the right path than to goad her to one end. Then she stopped and hesitated when the present moment demanded action. The birth of wisdom in understanding her non-understanding had stalled her course.

Ashwin ran off to the other group "The feline one, Kobe, has the best grasp of it, Reegan. My attachment to my former nation and the things I was asked to do no longer causes me strain as it once did. Those men use words that carry with them an attachment to their violence."

Reegan sighed as she understood better the nuances of things as she traveled with the others but now started a rather one-sided conversation, "Nyeeeh! Everything is complicated, Zhen! I'm using my regeneration to not freeze, should I shoot them or not?"

zhen

"Your passion and attachment to vengeance must not control your course, Reegan. Word of the buddha is that Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. Upon which of these soils could you plant love that it might grow best? Perhaps you will be wrong but you must choose. You can say yes to one, or no to all."

Reegan hadn't figured out how to shoot something like a wraith as Zhen did, couldn't call him, and she might explode someone with the rifle even if she could hit anything with it. How could she assist in a way that didn't kill? Once Markha joined Ashwin she whined in thought and rubbed her back where the spiked waist-length vines of Felandaris made her bark itch and looked at Jotaro and Kobe, "Nnnnnn... I guess you're right. we should trust our friends and not benefit the ones that show outright murder for their aims." @Asterios @The Wanderer

After Kaz clapped, frustration boiled out an option before she'd known she had it the thorny vines flailing as Reegan slogged forward. She looked back to comment toward Ami'Lana, "I don't want to get used to smashing the living open but I can't just stand here. If they won't go away then I'll help Markha pick one up and beat another with them! You can make them somewhere warm where they can have their concussion in peace." @Noble Scion

The harmonics of the Veil were an ever-present thing to the mages here though as a strongly magical creature still poorly attuned to the new plane Reegan weighed heavily upon the veil. A ripple in that fabric rushed past the magic users with each of her footfalls beneath the white powder. The dwemer bracelets on her wrists clanged with an almost eager rhythm for destruction but Reegan only glanced at them. @Wade Von Doom

 

[Epiphany]

Dr. Morgan Yu

@Wade Von Doom
From the moment she'd arrived, Morgan Yu had huddled up. She looked vaguely chilled but she didn't shiver or evidence any sign of freezing, which might be surprising given her costuming consisted of a red and black patterned suit that was equal parts uniform and space suit, complete with telltale helmet anchor along the neckline.

She perked up a bit at the sight of the massive door, though, and pressed forward eagerly on the pathway. Once they found the road with its stone archways, Morgan looked relaxed. The tents around the trees and mountain sides seemed interesting and she studied them with evident curiosity, until the group of people ahead made enough sound to redirect her interest.

Five men in standardized armor, using different weapons but likely of the same manufacturing line. Part of an organization, military or perhaps the local security force. Their targets were just as clearly not part of an organization, having no standardization at all. The giant rock monster in particular resulted in a lift of both eyebrows and Morgan tilted her head, this way and that, to study the golem. As the battle was joined, she paid particular attention to the rock monster until she at last nodded once in satisfaction.

@littlekreen
Since they'd joined the mission, Morgan hadn't said a word to the Spriggan (and presumably vice versa). The strange being made her uncomfortable when she looked at her, because of how much more of her there was to look at.

The question was a good one, however. "The group of five appear to be a security team or military force, which makes them most likely tied organizationally to the population ahead. Organizations tend to resist the intrusion of other organizations so it would be unusual if this group representing a foreign power were here without an escort."

@The Wanderer
Morgan hadn't much of an opinion on Jotaro either, another one of the party who wasn't particularly verbal. Not that she was either.

His reservation to join the battle mirrored her own.

@Asterios
The catman had drawn Morgan Yu's attention for the span of a minute or two, when they first met, but time spent trudging through the snow had inoculated her against his particular form of strangeness.

His observation made her second guess her own, however. She turned the words she'd heard over in her mind. A Warden didn't match any professional titles he was familiar with but it did seem to be a title. Evidently the leader of the security force was named Loghain and he'd dispatched this unit to attack these people.

"Possibly," Morgan said in response to Kobe's remarks. "Or those attacked are the bandits Reegan mentioned. Their lack of conformity makes it less likely they represent the city ahead." Though they did look more interesting, it was true.

@Noble Scion
Ami's observation was also excellent. Rather than choosing a side, remaining neutral? Was that possible? Not in Morgan's experience but this wasn't necessarily a predator/prey situation which formed the vast majority of her life experience.

"A kind offer," she said to Ami, when the other offered to build a fire. "But the city gate is in sight, we might as well press on to see if we can find welcome within. A climate controlled environment will likely be less well ventilated than...all this." She gave a wave to the open air and looked slightly uncomfortable when glancing up towards the sky. So much space...

@Wiggin
But as the rest of the team debated a course of action, Ashwin took action, firing upon three of the attackers and rushing to join the defenders. Morgan found his behavior inexplicable, particularly when the rest of the party had been more pragmatic.

@YeetLee
The actions of the former Jedi (whatever that was) more firmly put the team on the side of the defenders. This was something of a relief for Morgan, who was still not terribly good at people. Even if there was ambiguity about who was in the wrong here, they'd taken action and that action would reveal the truth.

The invisible Force that knocked the soldiers down instantly drew Morgan's attention. With the tap of a button, a mechanism lifted from the back of her TranStar uniform that self-assembled itself into some kind of helmet that fit not only over her hair but over her face as well, covering her eyes beneath a single giant lens. Whirring sounds sounded as the device spun up into operation and translucent blue-green light emitted from the lens, flashing over Markha's back.

@Henryboy003
The addition of the vampire (whatever that was) to the fray was added reinforcement. And to it, she added her own.

@Wade Von Doom
The TranStar Director reached down to her belt and pulled free a magnetically bound bundle of metal. The action of drawing it activated another self-assembly mechanism and the block unfolded into a gleaming shotgun in two seconds. As the security team of attackers reacted to being knocked down, she lifted her gun and fired a single round into the air. The roar of the Throne S4 Tactical Combat Shotgun was both unmistakable and very loud in the relative silence of a snowfilled bridge and clearing.

With the Psychoscope masking her features, Morgan said "We're here to gain entrance to the city ahead. You are encouraged, all of you, to proceed with us and make your case to the local authorities. In the meantime, please disarm and deescalate this confrontation."

 

[Valkan]

Agam Azuron

This time around, Agam's role was to take place in a frigid and mountainous landscape. He updated his outfit by adding a thick, gray cloak with a hood. Cold wasn't much of a nuisance for him, so extra coverage against it wasn't needed. He floated along the group, spheres at the ready and staff in hand. The group eventually came across some civilization, one that seemed to take the insides of the mountain as home, based on the large door. Though there was some activity on the outside, too. Agam stopped his surveying once he saw a confrontation start out in front of them. These were no times to meddle in internal affairs, especially when not knowing who was the truly righteous, if there was one at all. Agam ran through his head how to proceed with this in the most sensible way, but had barely any chance to do so, three of his allies ran straight into battle. Agam sighed, as they ran the risk of confronting the local authorities with their stunt. Morgan had an idea though. She materialized a large shotgun and fired a warning shot to the air asking for access. Aggressive, but given some had involved in the fight, it appeared adequate. Agam, with his hood now covering plenty of his face, floated next to Morgan ominously. As this transcurred, he used his sixth sense to scan the area for any anomalies or something that stood out.

 

[Asterios]

Seeing everybody act, Kobe grinned. Truth to be told, he hadn't charged in first because he wasn't sure if this group of 'civilized' people would like his people's violent way. He was glad to see he was mistaken about. "Work for me!" And so, the catman charged towards the soldier closer to the skimpily-dressed witch and tried to tackle him. Even if they were though, they had to be heavy and clumsy with those things on.

 

[Wade Von Doom]

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Kilgren
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

The trek to the dwarven city that the group was meant to explore wasn't that much of a distance, but sure was it cold. Kilgren had been informed that they would be going somewhere this cold though, so she dressed accordingly. What Kilgren wore was actually a large fur coat, the body of the coat was a somewhat muted green color, while the fur itself was a bright blonde. Underneath she had a blue long sleeved wool shirt. Around her neck was a long brown scarf, and she had a pair of goggles on her eyes for snow blindness. She looked somewhat overprepared for the cold compared to the rest of the group.

Once they had actually made it to the "checking area" to get into the city, there seemed to be some sort of scuffle arising. It looked to be between a group of eccentric adventurers that included a magic construct that resembled those of Kilgren's world, a witch of sorts, and two knights. The group was debating to help or not when Kilgren chimed in, "We believe it would be the wisest choice to watch and see what happens much like how Ami and Jotaro seem to see it at the moment." Kilgren then finished with taking off the goggles and setting them on her head to get a better view of the situation.

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Ashwin
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

Ashwin had somehow missed the memo where everyone was told that they were heading to somewhere cold. They had half expected to go to some sort of rainforest or something, not some god-forsaken frozen mountains. Even with their mis-preparation, Ashwin still felt oddly comfortable in the cold. Everyone was complaining about how freezing it was, yet Ashwin wore a red t-shirt with a large smiley face on it and felt fine. They also wore the "stylish" ripped jeans you would usually see people buying for $50 at a local Target. On their head they had a pink baseball cap that looked to have been worn numerous times that was flipped backwards. The only thing that seemed to remotely be for cold weather were the boots that Ashwin wore on their feet. "It's really nice out here, I'm not sure what you are all complaining about," Ashwin had mentioned before they arrived at the entrance for the dwarven city of Orzammar.

When they had arrived, they were met with a massive stone door lodged into a mountain. It had a strange solitariness to it as the cold wind whipped past the group and up the cliff face. A large red banner hung above the door and flapped loudly. When the group approached the door, there seemed to be some sort of attack happening on a group of individuals, very unique in their attire compared to their attackers. These guys seemed to be hired thugs, considering their whole "evil man sends his regards" line. Ashwin wasn't going to just sit and watch while a group of people was attacked, and Ashwin didn't need the rest of the group to tell them otherwise. Without a word, Ashwin took the bow off of their shoulder and readied several ice arrows in their quiver. Three arrows were then prepared on the string and unleashed in the direction of the attackers. Two of them went for the electrical caster, and the third went for the crossbowman. Ashwin ran ahead and joined the ones being attacked then and gave a thumbs up to the construct. "Hey, mind if I join in?" Ashwin asked.

For the first time in Markha's life, and at the strangest point in her life besides it, the former Jedi finds herself in something that even if it were not 'love' in the conventional sense, was close enough to feel as real as her own skin. The bite Kaz had given her in the underground hangar had been the start of a relationship which grew rapidly in the time between their escape from New Moscow to the start of their next mission. Whether it was conscious or coincidence, she walks alongside Kaz through the snow first then on the road. Her lightsaber had been lost in the mayhem of that hangar (Likely fried in her outburst) but it was the will of the Force that of the myriad of weapons on the PAthfinder, there had been several lightsabers in one case.

That had been a solemn moment. Seeing those dozen hilts taken from fallen Force users like her. Jedi or Sith or rogue, it must have been a lonely death for their former owners. She'd chosen two with blue blades out of a need for that familiarity, and she made a promise to herself that she would build a new one when there was more time and the proper tools. It was familiarity and necessity that made her put on a dark brown robe with a hood. As they walk, Markha keeps her eyes moving slowly around. To be vigilant, but also to keep stealing glances at Kaz. Glances and a smile.

They find a road and follow it, and the stone arches over it, to a small settlement in the looming shadow of an enormous stone door. And there was a conflict before them almost immediately. Four were armored in a uniform manner while the others were more eclectic. Her first instincts were shared by Jotaro and others. There was no way of knowing who was in the wrong, and it appears the two groups are not about to cease for diplomacy now. She and others were about to let this play out.

Except Ashwin chooses to put herself into the fray.

Markha runs and leaps forward with The Force in her feet. Her left hand reaches out to the group of armored soldiers and she wills The Force to push them harmlessly onto their backs, while the other draws and ignites a lightsaber as she comes to be in front of Ashwin and ready to catch any of the lightning attacks before both feet touch ground again. That is when she ignites her second and crosses it with her first.

"Ashwin. Do not move." She says firmly.

"Stand down." She says to the armored ones.

Dr. Morgan Yu

@Wade Von Doom
From the moment she'd arrived, Morgan Yu had huddled up. She looked vaguely chilled but she didn't shiver or evidence any sign of freezing, which might be surprising given her costuming consisted of a red and black patterned suit that was equal parts uniform and space suit, complete with telltale helmet anchor along the neckline.

She perked up a bit at the sight of the massive door, though, and pressed forward eagerly on the pathway. Once they found the road with its stone archways, Morgan looked relaxed. The tents around the trees and mountain sides seemed interesting and she studied them with evident curiosity, until the group of people ahead made enough sound to redirect her interest.

Five men in standardized armor, using different weapons but likely of the same manufacturing line. Part of an organization, military or perhaps the local security force. Their targets were just as clearly not part of an organization, having no standardization at all. The giant rock monster in particular resulted in a lift of both eyebrows and Morgan tilted her head, this way and that, to study the golem. As the battle was joined, she paid particular attention to the rock monster until she at last nodded once in satisfaction.

@littlekreen
Since they'd joined the mission, Morgan hadn't said a word to the Spriggan (and presumably vice versa). The strange being made her uncomfortable when she looked at her, because of how much more of her there was to look at.

The question was a good one, however. "The group of five appear to be a security team or military force, which makes them most likely tied organizationally to the population ahead. Organizations tend to resist the intrusion of other organizations so it would be unusual if this group representing a foreign power were here without an escort."

@The Wanderer
Morgan hadn't much of an opinion on Jotaro either, another one of the party who wasn't particularly verbal. Not that she was either.

His reservation to join the battle mirrored her own.

@Asterios
The catman had drawn Morgan Yu's attention for the span of a minute or two, when they first met, but time spent trudging through the snow had inoculated her against his particular form of strangeness.

His observation made her second guess her own, however. She turned the words she'd heard over in her mind. A Warden didn't match any professional titles he was familiar with but it did seem to be a title. Evidently the leader of the security force was named Loghain and he'd dispatched this unit to attack these people.

"Possibly," Morgan said in response to Kobe's remarks. "Or those attacked are the bandits Reegan mentioned. Their lack of conformity makes it less likely they represent the city ahead." Though they did look more interesting, it was true.

@Noble Scion
Ami's observation was also excellent. Rather than choosing a side, remaining neutral? Was that possible? Not in Morgan's experience but this wasn't necessarily a predator/prey situation which formed the vast majority of her life experience.

"A kind offer," she said to Ami, when the other offered to build a fire. "But the city gate is in sight, we might as well press on to see if we can find welcome within. A climate controlled environment will likely be less well ventilated than...all this." She gave a wave to the open air and looked slightly uncomfortable when glancing up towards the sky. So much space...

@Wiggin
But as the rest of the team debated a course of action, Ashwin took action, firing upon three of the attackers and rushing to join the defenders. Morgan found his behavior inexplicable, particularly when the rest of the party had been more pragmatic.

@YeetLee
The actions of the former Jedi (whatever that was) more firmly put the team on the side of the defenders. This was something of a relief for Morgan, who was still not terribly good at people. Even if there was ambiguity about who was in the wrong here, they'd taken action and that action would reveal the truth.

The invisible Force that knocked the soldiers down instantly drew Morgan's attention. With the tap of a button, a mechanism lifted from the back of her TranStar uniform that self-assembled itself into some kind of helmet that fit not only over her hair but over her face as well, covering her eyes beneath a single giant lens. Whirring sounds sounded as the device spun up into operation and translucent blue-green light emitted from the lens, flashing over Markha's back.

@Henryboy003
The addition of the vampire (whatever that was) to the fray was added reinforcement. And to it, she added her own.

@Wade Von Doom
The TranStar Director reached down to her belt and pulled free a magnetically bound bundle of metal. The action of drawing it activated another self-assembly mechanism and the block unfolded into a gleaming shotgun in two seconds. As the security team of attackers reacted to being knocked down, she lifted her gun and fired a single round into the air. The roar of the Throne S4 Tactical Combat Shotgun was both unmistakable and very loud in the relative silence of a snowfilled bridge and clearing.

With the Psychoscope masking her features, Morgan said "We're here to gain entrance to the city ahead. You are encouraged, all of you, to proceed with us and make your case to the local authorities. In the meantime, please disarm and deescalate this confrontation."

The male fighter with the light brown hair blocked a sword attack with his shield, pushing it back and swinging for his attackers chest, who narrowly dodged the blade. It was then that he heard Ashwin's question, and looked visibly confused by it. "Eh, what?" He said, before his attacker again tried stabbing him, only to be blocked by the shield again, and then tripped; face-planting his attacker into the ground, before stabbing him in the back. The attacker died, and the male warrior finally noticed the others standing there just looking on. "Oh, don't mind us! We'll just be over here fighting for our lives, you just... I dunno, keep eating your snacks and enjoying the violence!" He jokingly complained, before then Markha came in, pushing away another attacker.

As they finally all came over to help, with Morgan Yu making her intentions clear with the attackers. The fight stopped momentarily, as everyone looked on to each other. The woman in the red dress couldn't help but laugh aloud at such a ridiculous plea to end the fighting. "Tell me you aren't so gullible as to think that'll work." She told Morgan, keeping her staff at hand in case the attackers tried anything again.

"This is none of your business!" One of the attackers shouted. "These Wardens killed King Cailan in the battle of Ostagar! They are traitors to the kingdom, and by order of King Loghain, are to be killed on sight!"

"Lies!" The fully armored warrior shouted, their voice feminine. "Loghain is the traitor! While we fought the darkspawn, he turned tail and ran with his armies to claim Cailan's throne!" She then looked to the group. "Please. We have no qualm. We wish to enter the city like you do, and earn their alliance against the blight!" She pleaded with them all.

 

[littlekreen]

Reegan - Character Sheet - GDoc

Reegan stares at the ground shifting from foot to foot as the silica and thin roots from her feet feel something wet and mealy while speaking at the floor, "That's what's wrong, friends. Blight, then? I'm still not sure but we've been to a world just like it."

She looks back at Morgan Yu raising one foot then the other as they lost thin root threads and shined, "My Blessed called it a noosphere disease that infected outer things, like me. I had to cut off my legs." @Epiphany.

Reegan turns to the other knights as her inner yellow light darkens orange extending the palm of one hand for bracelets to ring forward on her wrist, "A Reaper's purpose is the cycle and we like elementals, not lies. I'm sorry if I accidentally move up your appointed meeting."

Suppression instead of destroying was a difficulty in restraint of instinctual combat skills that made subtlety difficult. Reegan tried to visualize less stringent words in her mind to fire with the arrow. Two barky hands struck a knell with her bracelets then pulled back to loose a super-sonic arrow that cracked with its sputtering purple glow.

The arrow as an effort was on target for the attacker who spoke but her phrasing of the words was still not quite there. Energy from the impact itself would pick him up by its speed and force. While she'd intended the wraith strike to suppress the life force it would instead peel the armor away in a sheet explosion of rust. That likely did entirely unfair things to the skin and life underneath.

Reegan sighed and lamented with a frown, "Ughh... the bow really isn't any easier than the rifle."

 

[Wiggin]

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Ashwin
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

"I mean honestly, I don't see a reason why the traitors would be the ones attacked and not the other way around… also traitors wouldn't really be asking for help from bystanders now that I think about it since y'know… it would be kinda dumb for a traitor to ask for help from the people they are traiting..." Ashwin started off the accusation on a strong note, but it slowly drew off to verbalizing their thoughts. "Is that the right word? Traiting?" Ashwin asked as they turned to Reegan, before immediately being distracted by an arrow being blown past their face. It seemed like they were continuing their attack from what Reegan had done, and with that, Ashwin surrounded the ground around their feet with ice. It would hopefully stop the electricity from going up through their feet. The actual action was a good idea, but doing so made Ashwin slip and fall onto the ground. A chain of ice then propelled out of Ashwin's chest and onto a nearby tree, pulling them back to their feet. "Betraying! That's the word!" Ashwin shouted in realization as they pulled their bow out and slid around Markha to shoot at the electrical caster.

~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~
Kilgren
~=========~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~=========~​

A revolt? It had been a while since Kilgren had seen rebellion take place. She would need to research the reason for this revolt later after the battle, the idea was rare and intriguing. "We are already past the point of no return, and if you soldiers report back to your leader that we were taking part in this battle… well… we can't have that." Kilgren said, trailing off. She didn't mind helping these people, Kilgren just needed a reason to jump in. It seemed that the more rambunctious of the group gave enough reason, and so Kilgren formed a kite shield of pure flames in her left hand and a flaming falchion in her right. She was prepared to jump in and defend any of the group with her shield, most notably the strange witch in red, who looked like she lacked any sort of armor or defense other than the staff.

 

[Noble Scion]

Ami'Lana Nar Marin

Ami groaned as the group's choice seemed to be made by the few. She didn't want to get involved with the affairs of the others, but she did have a commitment to their little party, and as a number of their team rushed forward, she sidled to a nearby tree and quietly took aim, just in case their enemies had some sort of magic of their own as the others seemed to have already made their stance on the whole situation clear.

"... I'm beginning to see how primitive other species are." she grumbled back at the charging Reegan, who seemed intent on making the other group's business their business, and by extension, Ami's. So much for quietly passing on by. @littlekreen

Her words were apparently heard by one Morgan, seemingly having some sense in Ami's eyes until they fired their weapon into the air. "We're not here to call attention to ourselves!" she called in exasperation. @Epiphany.

"Neither party holds evidence, and my patience is wearing thin with all this tension. Both groups will back off now or I swear on Keelah both of your parties will die. We're all clearly armed and in my eyes you're all threats and intent on fighting, which is enough to warrant all your lives." she yelled into the fray, and while she meant her words, she was still wistfully dreaming she wouldn't have to act on them if possible.

Yet it seemed the others had once again chosen a side. Slamming her fist into the tree in frustration, Ami took a hand off the grip of her rifle and clicked open her omni-tool, firing a homing white bolt at one of the aggressors, one of the armour-clad knights , flash freezing them where they stood on impact. Not quite lethal, but she was still holding onto a sliver of hope that they could be persuaded to back down.

All her training had most certainly not prepared her for something like this, that was for sure.

@Wade Von Doom

 

[Henryboy003]

Kaz had found a nice tree to lean against and rest her hands along the back of her head. From how it seems everyone here was a bit more hot blooded then her. Though, just in case a mere moments before Kaz had flicked her wrists ever so slightly which allowed the bracelets on her wrist to unfold into a pair of fingerless gauntlets. You know. Always have to be prepared.

And it would seem others shared her proclivity to not rush to violence. She cocked her head to the woman who punched the tree with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "Next time go a little higher. A woodpecker took a chunk out of the tree you just punched and it itches like crazy." Kaz half joked to ease the tension in the woman. @Noble Scion

In her head she was formulating a plan if the whole situation went to shit. The soldiers in full plate most likely lacked the necessary protection to actually defend against her electricity, so they were her easy targets. The other party... she had no idea how to handle them. For the moment she simply sat back and observed. The mage she could most likely beat in a melee... the others needed more studying to figure out. Instead she had an idea. Reaching out with her mind to Jotaro for a moment to form a mental connection. Likely he wouldn't like it one bit. But it was a easy way of silent communication.

'Oi, Jotaro. What do you make of the defenders in this fight. If we need to deescalate the thing with force... I don't think I can get a read on the others in that woman's party.' Her voice echoed across the connection. Hopefully the slight rather strange accent of her thoughts didn't throw off his ability to identify who it was. @The Wanderer

 

[Asterios]

Kobe turned towards the blue lady and shouted towards. "Stop fighting by killing everybody in it, no matter the sides? That's really dumb. I'm just gonna help out those interesting dudes." Noble Scion

The catman charged towards the soldier closer to the mage and jumped to tackle the latter in the guts as hard as he could. He knew he couldn't tear those shells with his claws, but he could still pummeL;
Wade Von Doom

 

[The Wanderer]

Jotaro Kujo

"Good grief." Jotaro spoke as the situation before them unfolded into more of a clusterfuck than before, with some of their number joining in on the fight. Watching as some still stood by, Jotaro sighed as he heard what could only be Kaz speaking in his head, simply responding their inquiry with a mental message of his own. 'I don't know, but I'll advice you to go after the one spewing lightning, I'll try to be within range if I need to stop time.' It was weird speaking mentally to another person, but he shook his head clear as he was going to walk forward in an attempt to make both sides stop fighting by whatever means necessary.

Approaching the knight attacking the fully armored woman, Jotaro's Stand manifested to deliver a solid punch to the chest-plate of the knight with a yell of "Ora!" Sending the man flying onto his back with a fist shaped dent in the armor.

"I'll only say this once, stay down." He said to the attacker, [Star Platinum] looming behind Jotaro with its fists still raised. If he got back up, he was going to ensure the man lying down in the snow would never be able to eat solid food ever again.

@Wade Von Doom @Asterios @Noble Scion @Henryboy003 @Epiphany. @YeetLee @Wiggin

 

[Valkan]

Agam Azuron

And here was Agam thinking that this would be settled quickly. Boy was he wrong. More and more people jumped in blindly to attack, some more rationally than others. Disappointed, he sighed. "Acting as the better party and not being so partial may have been better... But what do I know?" he mumbled. What if they were actually siding with the ones in the wrong? Despite how things looked, just jumping in at the first sight of confrontation didn't seem like the appropriate approach. While considering this, he started floating as if meditating, with his staff resting on top of his legs. He did throw a glance at Morgan, curious of what she would do next, but gave her space to think.