Active [Eastern Border of the Fae See - M’lynra Village] - One Last Push

[Irihi]

Corporal Iona Glimmerleaf
​

Equipped Titles: Tiny (0.2m), Fae, Fire Team Leader Mentions: Speed TheTimePiece Karcen Develius Elvario Giftvi

Glim found herself in Almeida’s pocket as the hammer-wielder took the Tank Bug to task, Valerius smashing almost completely through the monster’s defensive claws. As the joyful warrior pressed her attack on the huge adversary, Glim felt the [Appraisal E] wash over her and spied the approaching type 1’s and type 2’s. The fairy gritted her tiny teeth, her fingers tightening on the edge of Almeida’s pocket.

Irihi’s second shot would come at less than half the power of her first. It would not get through and Glim knew the necromancer wouldn’t engage the tank until she was recharged. That would leave Almeida standing alone against the massive creature. Even if it had expended its most powerful attack, it could kill the construct with its secondary strength.

Someone is going to die. Glim realized. She’d always known it; when Almeida had volunteered, there’d been a little glimmer of hope, but--no--they were still outmatched, and with the bug reserves descending upon them, they would lose someone; herself, Irihi, or Almeida.

If Irihi died now, none of them stood a chance. If the mercenary died, then they could hold out for one or two more attacks--not enough. The tank would crush her and Irihi before they could chew through its heavy armor and armaments. If Almeida dies, I’ll be next. Glim realized.

I can make it three hundred feet. I can find a place to hide. Glim hated herself for that thought; of teleporting away to save her own life. When her company had first been thrown into this meat grinder, retreating while her friends died had saved her, and deadened her soul. She had told herself she didn’t care--couldn’t care--about these swords-for-hire, but that was a lie. Memories of her own cowardice still cut her, and that little flash of self-loathing pierced the terror of these days in hell. Or I can make it ten feet. She thought, steeling herself.

Ten feet. The width of the central square back home; in the village humans, and most bigger Fae, couldn’t even see. Ten feet that chimed with fairy laughter mixed with the tinkling of the town’s font of magic. Ten feet that glowed and sparkled when the moon was full, like it had on the night she’d had her first kiss--”Oh fuck it! She didn’t have time for these sentiments.

Almeida might not notice the sudden emptiness of her pocket as a tiny weight departed. [Teleport F - Energized F - Glim warps from Almeida’s pocket into the path of the Tank Bug’s Pincer.

She couldn’t fly, but she could fall. Glim reappeared in midair above the Tank Bug, with momentum enough to strike it. As she fell, Glim took aim at the Thrower bug with one hand. If the bugs were smart, they would use it to take Irihi out. She didn’t have the range to shoot down thrower shots; her magic would rebound on her if she tried, but not if she leashed it to Glim’s shot. Maybe this would make a difference. “PRIVATE!! ON ME!! SHOOT THE FUCKING THROWER!!” She screamed as she launched [Ice Spike E] at the Thrower. Glim looked up (down) at her next target, falling toward the tank in concert with Almeida’s Grand Slam.

Summary;
Glim Teleports to attack the Bug Tank.
She launches Ice magic at the Thrower bug.

Spoiler: Glim’s Actions

Action1: [Teleport F - Into range of the Bug Tank]
Action2: [Ice Spike E at Thrower] - Magic E - Blight: Ice E - Energized E - Range E - Teaming with Irihi
Action3: [Basic Mana Attack ] - Ungraded - Teaming with Almeida
Cooldowns:
C: 1/2
D: 1/1 - Ready next round
E: 0/0 - Ready next round
(Distant Support Mages):
B: 4/4 - Ready

 

[Irihi]

Irihi Spokelse
​

Irihi lowered her athane as Almedia pressed on, hammering away at the giant insectoid monster. {{“I cannot.”}} The mage replied to Almeida’s exhortation to finish off the tank. The only magic guaranteed to hit was Irihi’s overwound primary attack, and she needed a moment to recover before she could launch it again.

Like Glim and Almeida, the necromancer espied the smaller bugs rushing to aid the tank. This is the end, then. She could not defend against Thrower and Pincer, if the Thrower stayed out of melee range. Even all four of them at once were no match for her least-powerful spellcraft, but they would not attack together. The thrower would strike from beyond her range, and she would die by rock, or by her own backlashing spellcraft.

Then Irihi saw the Corporal’s ice magic. She was too far to hear Glim, but she understood the Fairy’s intention. Intoning the words of the ancient curse, she raised Corpsemourn and imbued the [Ice Spike E] with [Snapshot F(C)] as it winged downrange toward the Thrower.

Irihi could not risk launching another spell at the Pincer Bugs unless they attacked her, but she could stand them off. She lowered her Athane, still crackling with channeled Mana and tracked the Pincers as they ran past, heading for Glim and Almeida. “Come at me, insects!” She growled, hoping they would.

Irihi, despite herself, felt a twinge of regret. She could not risk aiding Almeida and Glim as they had aided her. If she fired on the bugs as they passed her, one might slay her target and cause her magic to rebound. If she teamed with her allies and the bugs teamed with their tank, Irihi’s magic would not overcome them, and it would backlash upon her. Only if the Pincer bugs were to turn to face her, alone, would she engage them with [Snapshot (D)].

Spoiler: Irihi’s Actions

Action1: Snapshot F(C) At Thrower Teaming with Glim - Magic F(C)[Backlash X3]
Action2: Snapshot (D) At Pincer (Contingent) - Magic Ungraded(D)[Backlash X3]
Action3: Snapshot (D) At Pincer (Contingent) - Magic Ungraded(D)[Backlash X3]
Cooldown E: 1/1 - Ready next turn
Cooldown F: 0/0 - Ready next turn

 

[Irihi]

Bug Tank
Even blinded, damaged, and with its low-level attacks enervated, the bug tank was still secure in the assurance of its victory. It had already analyzed, calculated, compared, and determined the outcome of this battle. It had taken damage, it might take more, but it could withstand these puny attackers. It would kill them one-by-one, starting with that necromancer. She was the only one which could pierce its armor. Without her, the others would be easy targets.

The creature had already determined that the Necromancer would not attack it this round, but it needed to keep her within range. If she moved away, she might have time to recharge and hit it with another damaging attack.

The monster had called in its reserves, and they were doing their job; the necromancer could not afford to ignore the Thrower beyond her range--it would kill her instantly if uncontested, but it would also kill her if contested. If she moved, she would die. She had no choice but to stay where she was and try a futile defense against the Thrower. With her pinned in place, the tank could crush her by teaming with the Pincer bugs.

Well, it could have, if not for the annoying fairy and hammer-wielder. Just as the necromancer could not afford to ignore its minions, the tank could not just absorb the teamed attacks from those two without contesting them. Instead of crushing Irihi, it would first have to destroy Glim or Almeida.

The hammer-wielder first then. Her blinding and damaging attacks were worse than what the fairy could launch. They had already forced it to waste time using its backup senses as it [Ecolocated F] the pair.

The tank was displeased. The tiny fairy was in the way, and she--in a spectacular maneuver--managed to thwart the thrower that should have killed the necromancer! It could not kill Almeida without going through her, first, so that is what it did. At least, with Irihi unable to attack it, it could hold back a bit, and use one of its less powerful attacks, preserving its defenses for when the necromancer and warhammer fighter were recharged.

The huge wings of the tank bug unfolded and blasted the fairy to the ground with [Wing Blast D], before smashing a huge Pincer down in a [Pincer attack F] steamrolling the combined attack of Almeida and Glim, leaving a burst of golden sparkles where it had crushed Glim--like a bug.

Spoiler: Tank Bug Actions

Actions
Action1: Echolocation F + Energized F
Action 2: Wing Attack D + Energized D
Action 3: Pincer Attack F + Energized F (+1 combo)

Bug Reserves
The Thrower Bug did, indeed, engage Irihi. It had no choice; Glim’s joint attack had forced its hand. If it did not shoot at the witch, it would be destroyed. Even so, the magic-boosted Ice Spice turned the three bricks it threw into powder, with enough energy left over to blast its tail from its body and shatter its armor. The thrower’s ranged weapon was put out of action and it was left with only its undersized pincers.

Except for the Thrower she attacked, the bug reserves ignored Irihi. Had they attacked her, they would have fared worse than the thrower. Instead, they decided to eliminate the pesky support Fairy. The bugs fell upon the smashed fairy with their powerful pinchers.

Spoiler: Reserve Bug Actions

Actions
Pincer 1,2&3:
Action 1: Move to attack Glim
Action 2: Pincer Attack F Glim/Almeida (+3 Teaming with Bug Tank)
Action 3: Move to back away from the Bug Tank as a group.
Thrower 4:
Action 1: Masonry Counter Flux C against Irihi and Glim’s attack.
Action 2: Masonry Counter Flux D against Irihi and Glim’s attack.
Action 3: Masonry Counter Flux E against Irihi and Glim’s attack.

Spoiler: Effectiveness

Bug Tank + Reserves = Blast D + Pincer F(Tank) + Pincer F(Bug) X3 =
Abil D(3) + Weap A 6 + STR A 6 + 1Combo = BE 16 (+3 teaming (3 pincer) = 19
V
Grand Slam F: STR(B)5 + Abil(F)1 + Weap(C)4 = BE 10 + 1combo + 1teamglim = BE:12
+ Blight/Enervate/Flare: Don’t Hit + Ethos F (1) + Initiative F (1)

19 Bugs V 14 Heros = 5 damage to Heroes

HP:
Glim Absorbs the attacks and dies: Componentless: 0/3, Armor 0/2, HP -1/2

Tank Continuing 1/2 Armor 4/5, HP=6/6, Pincer 1: 0/5, Pincer 2: 1/6, Wings: 6/6
Tank Blinded: 1/2
Tank Cooldown B: 1/3
Tank Cooldown C: 2/2 - Ready
Tank Cooldown D: 0/1
Tank Cooldown E: 1/1 Ready next turn
Tank Cooldown F: 0/0 Ready next turn

Type 2: Thrower Flux - Tail C4 + PRE B5 + ABIL C(D)3 - Range F(E) = 12 + 1 + 1
V
Glim + Ri: Snapshot F(C) - IntB+2(7) + CatC(4) + AbilF(C)(4) + 1teamglim = BE16
+ Blight:Ice E (2)
14Bug V 16Villian = 2 Damage + 2 Blight Damage = 4 Damage
Thrower HP: Pincers1&2 1/1: 1/1 Tail: 0/3, Armor: 0/1, HP 2/2
Cooldowns: C = 0/3

 

[Elvario]

Almeida

Spoiler: full image and source

From: Almeida

Mentions: Irihi
Languages: Common | [Terran] | %Analog% | <Beastial> | {Sylvan}

It seemed the Pocket fairy had escaped her pocket at some point. She wondered why she'd soon hear the latter call for shooting a Thrower, but so be it. It was also a tad sad Irihi already needed to tap out, after such a great start. To make matters worse, her follow-up attack had been pretty negated by the bug. She clicked her tongue. Where did the fairy even go? She thought she'd seen her at some point, blitzing by, but perhaps she'd been wrong.

Either way, she was annoyed to see her attack had failed. “[Tssk. Bloody buggy bastards.]” She cursed, as she went in on another attack [Full-On-Hammering E] now that she'd regained some breath.

Full-On-Hammering E – Martial Ethos E, Initiative [Attack] E, Blight (Valkanite) E, Continuing (Valkanite) E, Deflect E, Enervation E, Flare (Sight) E - Grade E – 3 actions – 1 post Cooldown.

Actions
1 / 2 / 3: [Full-On-Hammering E].
Full-On-Hammering E – Martial Ethos E, Initiative [Attack] E, Blight (Valkanite) E, Continuing (Valkanite) E, Deflect E, Enervation E, Flare (Sight) E - Grade E – 3 actions – 1 post Cooldown.

CD's
E – 0/1
F – 0/0

 

[Irihi]

Irihi Spokelse
​

​

The corporal was dead. Irihi could feel it. Blinded as she was by her shackles, she could still sense the Un as it collected the lives of insect and fairy.

Actually, they all are dead; the Lieutenants, the sergeants, every enlisted, noncom, and officer. She thought, looking at the enormous Tank Bug and then back to the trio of type-1’s, chittering and snapping their claws. “Shit.” Irihi said quietly.

It was strange to think that her former powers--the power to rip out souls and channel the lives of those she killed--could have seen this battle won with far fewer deaths. It made her question the title of “Mad” King O’olam. Was he really so insane--or had he just cut to the quick of all war; ruthlessly spending lives to achieve goals?

And this was why Irihi did not lead. This was why she followed orders; because Glim’s death did not stain what was left of her soul as it would have if the Fairy had died by her hand, or by her word. “Goodbye, Corporal.” She said in epitaph, her bloodless hands tightening on her athane.

Irihi looked to the construct standing by her side. She should sacrifice Almeida next; send the hammer-wielder to attack the trio of bugs, alone. She would likely die, but it would buy Irihi time to eliminate the Tank. All she needed were two more good shots. Almeida’s life could buy her those. Idly, she wondered if the construct would follow orders like those.

It didn’t matter. Irihi was not a leader; she refused. If there was to be more blood on her hands, it would not be in service of anyone’s goals but her own. “Death is a doorway.” She repeated quietly. {{“I’m afraid it seems I won’t be able to keep our data, dearheart.”}} Irihi said, louder, so that Almeida could hear. She felt her the bolster on her magic fading as she turned away from those memories of bloody sacrifice on the fields of D’or Olim. This was a new world, a new beginning. Better to be an end now, as well before she took a single step on that same treadmill of atrocities she had walked over the millenia.

Irihi raised the dread scythe and swung it, still crackling with magic, over her head. {{“Strike with me if you will it. But you must retreat after.”}} She warned, describing a glowing green casting circle in the air over her head. Speaking what words she remembered of her once-powerful necromancy, she spun Corpsmourn once, twice, thrice, bending and folding the leylines upon themselves until a broad circle of necromantic power haloed her.

Slamming the butt of her athane to the ground, she drew the life from the dirt, the air, and the water all around and beneath her. The ground shattered and collapsed underfoot, unwilling to bear up the evil presence pressing down upon it. As she sank into the pit her magic had created, Irihi reached up with a final word of power, piercing the blazing runes of the casting circle overhead. The sorcery exploded outward in green lances of power as she cast [Necromantic Javelin - Death Head E(B)] upon the Tank and the Pincer Bugs

Spoiler: Irihi’s Actions

Action1-3: Necromantic Javelin E(B) at Tank Bug and 3 Pincer Bugs - Magic E(B)[Backlash X3] - Magic Targets (4) F - Magic Range F - Magic Affinity: Penetrating F - Magic Affinity: Homing E - Magic Affinity Blight: Necrotic F + Combo F(C) + Combo Ungraded (D)
Cooldown E: 0/1
Cooldown F: 0/0 - Ready next turn

 

[Irihi]

Bug Tank
The massive tank again opened it’s powerful wings, blasting its puny attackers with hurricane-force winds, dirt, and debris with [Blast C + Blast Ungraded + Blast Ungraded]. It’s sight recovered, it could see it had won; the necromancer had taken the bait--she’d had no choice, really. It would survive, heavily damaged--true, while she would not. It would have one operational weapon, it’s vast strength, and enough stamina remaining to hold until The Queen sent reinforcements. The surface cattle would become food for the h--

The Tank’s wings were obliterated by Irihi’s spell. It’s armor was completely shattered by the crushing blow of Valerius, massive chitinous plates blasted completely away by the explosive strike of the warhammer. The monster’s senses were scrambled by the shockwaves ringing through its body.

Bug Reserves
Two of the Pincer bugs turned upon their compatriot, ripping it to shreds with [Pincer Attack E] before Irihi’s magic could fall. When the necromantic struck, Bug 3 was already dead. Bugs 1 & 2 were erased from existence, flashing to dust in the torrent blazing sorcery.

Finding no target for it’s folded magic, one of the three lances of witchcraft bent skyward, describing an arc against he cloudy sky before descending upon its caster, instantly killing her on contact.

Spoiler: Effectiveness

Irihi & Almeida Action 1-3: Attack Bug Tank: Int 5 + Cat 4 + Ability 5 = BE: 14
+ 2 Homing + 1 Penetrating + 2 Combo + 1 Teaming + 2 Ethos + 2 Initiative + 2 Deflect = 26
+ 1 Blight + 2 Blight = 29
+ Continuing 0/2 + Enervation E + Flare (Sight) 0/2

Irihi Action 1: Also Targets Bug Pincers 1-3: 21 Effective + 1 Blight

Almeida & Irihi V TANK
Action 1-3: Wing Blast Counter C - Irihi = Strength 6 + Weapon 6 + Ability 4 = BE: 16
+ 1 combo + 1 Combo = 18 Total

29 V 18 = 11 damage (6 wings 3 armor 2 HP)

HP: Pincer1: 0/6, Pincer2: 1/6, Wings: 0/6, Armor B: 0/5 Vitality A: 4/6
Continuing 0/2, Blinded 0/2, Enervated E
Tank Cooldown B: 2/3
Tank Cooldown C: 0/2
Tank Cooldown D: 0/1
Tank Cooldown F: 0/0 - Ready Next Turn

Irihi V TYPE-1’s V TYPE-1
Bug 1&2:
Action 1: Pincer Attack E Bug 3 = Strength 2 + Weapon 2 + Ability 2 + Teaming 1 = 7
Action 2-3: Pincer Counter F Irihi = Strength 2 + Weapon 2 + Ability 1 + Combo 1 = 6
Bug 3:
Action 1: Dies

Effectiveness Tally:
Bug1&2 V Bug3: BE 7 V 2/2 Armor 2/2 HP = 0/2 Armor -3/2 HP (Dead)
Bug 1&2 V Irihi: BE 6 V 22 = 0/2 Pincer1&2, 0/2 Armor, -13/2 HP (Very Dead)

Backlash:
5 Damage to Irhi: -2/2 HP (Dead)

 

[Irihi]

Glim

and Irihi
​

When the dust and magic cleared, only two figures remained in the town center. The Bug Tank remained, bleeding life from the effects of the hammer blow, but still armed and dangerous. Almeida seemed mostly unharmed, but exhausted and under threat from the huge insectoid warrior.

Smoldering craters and a curled-up corpse marked where the Pincer and Thrower bugs had died.

A few errant sparkles around Corporal Glimmerleaf’s tiny broken body winked out one-by-one until at last her remains were just one more sad vestige of the war that had come to the blasted and burned village of M’lyrna.

Irihi’s corpse seemed little more than a sad pile of rags in the dark and lifeless crater her sorcery had created. Her athane had stuck fast in the blighted ground; a canted sinister marker where she had fallen.

 

[Elvario]

Almeida

Spoiler: full image and source

From: Almeida

Mentions: Irihi
Languages: Common | [Terran] | %Analog% | <Beastial> | {Sylvan}

“{Hmmm? What do you mean?}” She'd ask, wondering why Irihi suddenly got water-shy after all. “{Don't worry, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, it'll be great!}” Perhaps she was ashamed of her figure or something, that was a thing, right? The next bit was just outrageous. “{Pfft. Retreat! Hah, we nearly got this big bug bastard dead! Let's finish it off!}”

Then she saw Irihi drop dead. “{Wha...}” It was pretty upsetting. “[No fair!]” She called out. Her mind was already wondering if she could resurrect her, but right now, she feared she had bigger issues.

Seeing how there seemed to be nothing ready to attack her at the moment and how the big bug was on the defensive, Almeida decided to push on with her attacks with another [Full-On-Hammering F] now that she had the chance to finish it off, or at least try to do so.

Actions
1 / 2 / 3: [Full-On-Hammering F].
Full-On-Hammering F – Martial Ethos F, Initiative [Attack] F, Blight (Valkanite) F, Continuing (Valkanite) F, Deflect F, Enervation F, Flare (Sight) F - Grade F – 3 actions – 0 post Cooldown.

CD's
E – 1/1
F – 0/0

 

[Irihi]

Bug Tank
The ranged mage was dead. The tankbuster was dead. All that remained was to crush this annoying hammer-wielder and bring in the reinforcements that would see the town secured until it could be repaired and the final breakthrough to the See could commence.

The bug tank met Valerius with its enormous claw, thinking to smash Almeida into the ground. Yet even as pincer met hammer, the cracked appendage exploded in an explosion of power and gore. In the heat of combat, with the taste of victory in its mandibles, the bitter flavor of defeat filled the tank’s mouth.

It tasted like Valerite, as Valerius continued through the remains of the claw, smashed through the tank’s mouth, and blasted the life from the monster.

Spoiler: Bug Tank Actions and Effectiveness:

1-3: Pincer Attack B(F)
Str 2 + Weap 1 + Abil 1 + Combo 2 = 6
Str 5 + Weap 4 + Abil 1 + 1 Deflect + a bunch more stuff = 12 + some more status.
HP: Pincer1: 0/6, Pincer2: 0/6, Wings: 0/6, Armor B: 0/5 Vitality A: -7?/6
Very dead.

Reinforcements

Neat formations of dozens of type-1 and type-2 bugs were approaching M’lyrna from the East when the bug tank died. With the loss of the area controller, the formations immediately broke down. The intelligence behind the troop movements was gone, the objectives were forgotten, and the smaller bugs became mindless monsters, even less organized than pack animals.

The wave of bugs still moved forward, they still felt the urge to crush, rend, and consume, but they no longer worked together. The specialized ranged type-2’s the Hive Queen had evolved for surface combat were much less threatening. Without a driving intelligence, they no longer even noticed creatures more than thirty feet away, rendering their powerful long-ranged tails almost useless.

The type-1’s had been in the lead, and they were the first to reach the town. They flooded in between the wrecked buildings still smoldering from the bombardment. It quickly became clear why there had been no bodies in the town or the no-mans-land surrounding M’lyrna. The corpses and pieces of dead bugs slowed the advancing wave of mindless creatures, as the first on the scene stopped to feast upon the bodies of their brethren.

The corpse of the Bug Tank was an attractive target, and many of the bugs headed for Almeida and the bodies of Glim and Irihi.

Spoiler: Bug Horde Actions

10 Bugs:
Action 1-2: Run toward the bug tank.
Action 3: Stop to feast on and fight over bodies and bits of blasted bugs.
30 Bugs:
Action 1-3: Run toward The bug tank.

Summary;
The Bug Tank is destroyed.
All type-1 and type-2 bugs in the area become undirected.
A company-sized wave of reinforcements (about 40 bugs) arrives, but they are distracted by feasting on bodies. Once out of bodies, they are likely to try eating living flesh.

 

[Giftvi]

Ambient Vibes

E Grade Character
Point Booster: Attentive Student
Languages: Common | <Bestial>
Titles: Beast [Mundane], Hunter, Guardian
Interaction: Irihi Elvario

As the two pincer bugs skittered up the scorched building, still fuelled by the intelligence brought by the tank-bug before its demise, to grant them a modicum of strategy. Something more fitted to those who had practised military training or anything above a ravaging beasts. Their huge frame of black carapace suited to the dank tunnels below the earth stood in contrast, against the small frame of Watching.

Both of these were magical beasts, creatures which had become fuelled by high-quantities of mana to become something more than a beast. To be something different. And in so many facets, just as much there was to contrast these bugs to Watching, there was also much similarity. These bugs which much like it were almost engineered for war, perhaps the bugs more in a literal sense then it. But its biology was made for the act of murder. For the sole act of survival through butchery. To kill was its only form of survival, after all.

In such a fashion they were so alike, rather than the black carapace was the muscle and bones inside its body, rather than their sharp claws which dug into the masonry as they climbed up. Its tail spines… They had turned almost into a literal weapon developed by mankind, and certainly utilized like such. So what differed between them and it?

What differed from these creatures, these monstrously huge bugs made for the sake of warfare, to it? Was it the lack of an individual identity which carved them as separate? Nay, its family possessed what it had. But many animals which did not seem to understand what it did… yet they could live in understanding. Was it out of what they've known? Is all they've ever known warfare, is all they've ever been directed towards malice? Is whatever directs them the sole drive towards this madness? Or was it that they were born just too big for their own instinct, were they not driven by malice or anything of the like, but rather in this fetid constant of growth. A future of their own, driven forward in a world too small to handle them?

If limited, could they ever understand living amongst other creatures, or was any future of such a kind too late now. Was all of this too late now? How doubtful of all of this would it have to remain… How will Watching feel as time passes, after it experiences more of these horrors and understands the terror of them escaping the boundary of the hive to be released into the world.

It's head hurt… Its mind assailed by thoughts, but dulled by the adrenaline running through its body. As it sat on the burning corpses of the two bugs, whose bodies it had pierced with its spine, it looked towards the two bug as they crested the roof of the building.

It knew naught what must have gone through the minds of these bugs. It knew naught how they saw it, whether as prey, an enemy that must be killed not for the sake of food, but for the sake of the hive. Or could they see it as more than such? Nay, not at this moment, as they snapped forward at Watching with their powerful claws it received their response. It understood perfectly what it was to them, and so it would have to be the same to them.

As the two lancer bugs snapped towards where Watching was with their powerful claws, tearing into the remains of the other bugs which it had stood upon, they became confused, suddenly having lost sight of their prey. Quickly, their mandibles began to make clicking noises to find their target, as their heads turned to look towards Watching.

As it had raced across the body of the first lancer bug, piercing its spine into the side of the creature. Before with brute strength, dragging the spine across through the hard carapace as it ran upon the back of the pincer bug. The audible horrified screech of the pincer bug, which had underestimated this creature, echoed out in response to being disembowelled.

Its body shifted and shook, trying to throw Watching off, as the second pincer bug thrust its claw towards Watching it would grasp onto Watching right arm. But instead of it escaping the grasp, from the shoulder it moved forward, as through brute strength it tore off the right arm itself.

Blood splattering immediately all over, but it moved forward, jumping off to use its tail to parkour down below the first pincer bug's stomach. Pulling out the spine in the movement as it did so, the bug visibly succumbing to the horrible pain as the deadly wound was dealt. Out of sight of both bugs, in but only a horrifyingly short span of time, the bleeding stump of what had been its arm stopped fully, within only but a second.

Running below the stomach, it jutted upward to stab the Pincer Bug inside its core. A horrible screech piercing the area, but it wasn't finished, the pincer in the adrenaline attempted to sting Watching as it moved out from underneath it, but it was too slow. Its body already beginning to fail under its wounds, its major organs badly injured. Watching jumped up towards the second pincer bug as it attempted to synchronize its attack with the flailing comrade, and would hit only air. Watching, moving up the length of its claw to pierce the spine down into the head of the bug. Screeching out in horror of what it was experiencing. They had put up a fight, but yet it was entirely one-sided.

Watching jumped as the pincer bug tried to shake the creature off of it, stabbing the spine down with the momentum into the nape of its neck. Its body seizing from the sudden moment as its body was severed from its brain, reflexively the stinger pierced toward towards Watching. But as it was to assail Watching, the spine within its remaining hand pierced straight through the stinger itself. Leaving its natural weapon useless, and flailing for a few seconds as Watching stood upon its body. Looking down upon the prey which it had killed.

It had elsewhere to be.

---

Flare and Yuna would have only faintly seen the circumstances as they happened, perhaps, depending on how long it took her to deal with the pincer bugs which assailed Yuna. But just as it finished the fight, its head turned to look towards the chaotic flash of mana which assailed the village. And began to jump and run amongst the debris of the village towards the centre, to find out what happened to the people who had chosen to fight the tank.

Rushing forward as it heard, before even seeing the hoard of bugs which began to stampede on the corpse of this village, with every intention to arrive before any of them could get close to the people there. As Almeida would see it jump off a rooftop in the town centre, its right arm had already entirely regrown, and it looked upon the horrible scene which was in front of it.

It looked upon the mess that everything had been reduced to, and towards Almeida, who was the only one still standing.

Watching moved before it would ask any questions, grabbing the horribly tiny broken body of Glim, which had turned into as much of a bleak visage of what was before like this village. Cradling her body in its left arm as it held its spine with its tail. Looking towards Almeida hopefully as its attention was upon Irihi, almost visually begging for her to take the corpse with her. Even though it seemed like it had never met the woman before in its entire life.

---

Cooldowns:
B (X) | C (X) | D (X) | E (X) | F (0/1) | Regen (0/6)

Statistics:
HP: 3/3 {D grade Speed}
Armour: 1/1 {F grade Natural Light Armour}
Weapon: 3/3 {D grade Natural Weapon}

 

[Develius]

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Language Key:
| Common | {Sylvan} |
Mentions:
| Irihi [Irihi, Corporal Glim] | Karcen [Seranphina] | Giftvi [Watcher] | TheTimePiece [Yunaesa]
​

---

The bellowing flames released from Flare's chest cascaded over the incoming bugs, broiling the thrower bugs way in the back thanks to Watcher's assistance. However, the pincer bugs closer to Flare would take up evasive maneuvers, splitting off quickly into pairs as their armored carapaces nulled the impact of the fiery attack. The fire elemental's strongest attack had only limited success; but had otherwise mostly failed... a terrifying realization within the face of these many enemies.

"Crap." Flare hissed irritably to themself as they made their way towards Watcher, "That was a waste of energy."

This was a setback. Not a terribly bad one, but they had to ensure cooperation and teamwork in order to win the battle. Seeing Yuna now becoming alone in the fight, it would be unwise to leave her alone her. They had to act now! Gripping Sera's blade, Flare rushed towards the pincer bug heading towards them and began slashing at their head with all of their might, attempting to decapitate and/or rip open its mouth, before finishing it off with a clock to its head with a [Flame Punch F].

The battle would be brutal, as Flare and Sera fought for their lives through tooth and nail against the ever amassing horde. They only hoped they'd give enough time for the others to make it to the tank bug and finally end this. Because at this rate, they were going to to sink deeper into hot water.

And then, suddenly, they got their wish. A large explosion rippled where the tank bug was located, prompting Flare to glance over at the carnage ensuing. "T-They did it!" Flare exasperated relievingly. Almeida had dealt the final blow against the tank bug. Their fighting had surely not gone in vain.

Yet what they couldn't have possibly predicted, even against their more optimistic mindset, were the deaths of not one but two certain individuals. Corporal Glim's body lain mangled and broken, as the last of her pixie dust began falling to the ground. And Irihi; her corpse now sapped of energy and reduced to a pile or rags. The two had perished through means they didn't witness. Flare's heart sunk, finding themselves overwhelmed with questions and utter confusion. "Glim! Irihi!" they yelled, attempting to alert everyone, "How did they-? What happened?!"

But before they could race towards the bodies, reinforcements arrived. More bugs. Around forty strong. "Ohhhhh..." Flare groaned awkwardly with dread at what was coming down, "That's... that's not good."

What they'd soon notice was that they weren't nearly as coordinated as before. WIth the mastermind tank bug now destroyed, they now seemed keen to merely fend for themselves as they feasted on the dead corpses laying around. They weren't directly focused on the fighters anymore... but it wouldn't mean they were rendered harmless by any means. Fighting them all alone would be practically suicide. And with Glim and Irihi now out of the picture, all sense of unity and drive to fight on their side had been snuffed out too.

Not even Flare was willing to continue.

"Well Sera..." they muttered towards their spirited companion, "We gave it our best shot... but I think it's safe to say we're quite done here. Let's get the bodies and get the hell outta here."

Seeing Watcher come over to retrieve Glim, Flare then yelled towards their remaining companions to follow suit, both in common and sylvan. "LETS GO! GRAB THE BODIES AND LETS GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE! WE'LL MEET IN THE WOODS!"

Flare would retaliate at any incoming bugs as they oversaw the evacuation, ensuring the bodies were collected before they'd retreat back to the woods from which they'd emerged for a final assessment.

---

ACTIONS:
3/3 HP (D-Grade Vitality)
2/2 Armor ([Heavy Armor + Catalyst] E)

1. Slash Sera's Blade into [Pincer 1]'s head.
2. Stab Sera's Blade into [Pincer 1]'s mouth.
3. [Flame Punch F] at [Pincer 1].

• Flame Punch F - [Magic F, Fire Affinity F, Fire Blight F, Continuing F, Selective F, Energized F] - +0 Cooldown - Flare punches an opponent with a flame-imbued fist.

COOLDOWN F: +0 [READY NEXT POST]
COOLDOWN E: +0 [READY NEXT POST]

 

[Karcen]

Seranphina
Languages common, Terran​

Finally it was over the last bug was felled by flare and the explosions in the distance were likely the end of that stupid tank bug. This job was done and they could leave and report this bullshit to the guild. Maybe the see would lose their clout with the guild if it was shown they just wanted the people they hired to die. How nice that would be but the see likely had enough of whatever they used to commission jobs to sweep this under the rug. That was annoyingly how the world worked.

Then they got to the tank bug and there was only one survivor, and or wasn't one of the two people Sera had cone to dislike. Well one and a half she hated irihi's attitude but the witch herself was a bit lower one shit list than glim. Well they were both dead and would be bug food a fitting end. Death was a doorway and hopefully a one way one at that.

" Why do we need thier bodies they betrayed us." well one had " besides Mrs death is a doorway will be back by next week if her boasting was anything to go by " seraphina sighed.

Flare at least was sensible about leaving when the next wave of bugs showed up, a wave no one had told them about. This while mission was a cluster and seraphina was more than happy to just be done with it.

 

[Elvario]

Almeida

Spoiler: full image and source

From: Almeida

Mentions: Irihi | Yuna TheTimePiece | Purpler Giftvi | Flare Develius
Languages: Common | [Terran] | %Analog% | <Beastial> | {Sylvan}

“[MUAHUAHAHA, get fucked scrub!]” She laughed upon seeing Valerius finally smash through the tank bug like he was supposed to have been doing from the very beginning. “[Well done Valerius!]” She'd compliment her trusty hammer.

There was only one thing that let her down. Irihi seemed pretty dead. “[Tssk... You're not getting off that easy...]” She mumbled. Resurrection was a thing, wasn't it? It was worth a shot at least. They had a bathhouse to visit, after all. She'd move over to Irihi's body picking it up and trying to fling it over her shoulder whilst wielding Valerius one-handed with the other arm.

“[Oh, back off! I had dips on her!]” She called out to the bugs that were trying to feast on Irihi's corpse. Should any of them get too close, she'd strike at it with a [Tiring Hammer E] whilst trying to retreat.

Noticing Yuna had caught up, she'd call out. “[Yuna! Can you help cover me?!? I want to try drag her back with us!]” She'd inform her trusty ally of her plans, as she felt like this plan would be doomed to fail without some aid.

She'd notice Purpler had joined in as well. “<Ah, Purpler, buddy, did you find the fairy? Good! Let's try take her back as well!>” She'd acknowledge his efforts. “<You surely got the easier one though, she's heavier than she looks!>” She'd call out, regarding Irihi. In truth, it was probably just Almeida being more weary from the battle than she'd wish to admit.

The was a tad surprised that first Purpler, now Flare, were going on about the body she'd already been planning to drag along. They'd made a bathhouse deal and a deal was a deal, after all. “{I'm already doing so, just cover me!}” She called back at Flare, a tad annoyed.

Actions:
1: Move / Pick up Irihi.
2: Tiring Hammer-On E – Martial Ethos E, Initiative [Attack] E, Blight (Valkanite) E, Continuing (Valkanite) E, Enervation E - Grade E – 1 action – 1 post Cooldown.
3: Retreat

CD's
E – 0/1
F – 0/0

 

[TheTimePiece]

Yunaesa
​

Interactions: Irihi Elvario Giftvi

The big boom was pretty exciting for Yunaesa and Zjorn. What she hadn't been expecting necessarily was the chaos that ensued, it didn't take Yunaesa much to see that the bugs looked less coordinated, and instead of acting like an organized army, now they were sort of just doing what bugs did, that didn't change the fact there was still a good deal of them and they were dangerous, plus evidently there had been causalities on the field, which was quite unfortunate to say the least.

When she heard Almeida call out to her, she'd call back "[Sure me and Zjorn will cover, Mission's pretty much in the bag! let's get Glim and Irihi out of here!]" Also taking note of what Purpler had done. Purpler seemed like a pretty cool person if they were willing to help get someone off the battlefield in hopes they could be revived presumably, Yuna could understand why it seemed like Almeida thought Purpler was pretty cool, as Yuna found herself thinking similarly with how they fought and helped others out.

"[Zjorn says that Valerius did an awesome job back there!]"

She'd come over to assist with a
Zooming Zjorn's Zinger F - [Specialize] Fighting Style F Zjorn’s Mechanized Melee, Incurable F, Fast F
Yunaesa moves up to 40 ft and slashes and or stabs a single target up to 5 ft away from her to try to inflict a wound which is more difficult to heal.- Grade F, 0 Post Cooldown.

To hit any bugs that tried to get near Almeida in her efforts. Depending on what was needed Yunaesa would go in for another basic and or movement action to keep the momentum while they were on the move, possibly assisting Purpler if they needed help too on the way out and she was capable of providing it.

Spoiler: Actions

Actions: 1 & 2: Zooming Zjorn's Zinger F
3: basic attack or move depended on what's needed to most help.

​