Fantasy Hunter's Moon: Ascendancy [IC] [CLOSED]

[Infab]

Tiverpool - Tsavanian Trenches - Turn Four
Werewolves #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, and #20 suffer 6 DMG from Xiaòzhou's fire! Werewolf #13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20 HP = 4. Each is now on fire for three turns, suffering a point of damage per turn.
Azathor - 9. Does 3 + 6 DMG (9, Combination Power, A Sister's Legacy) to Werewolf #13. Werewolf #13 is dead!
Sebastian uses Explosive Ordinance! Chance Roll = 5. Does 5 DMG to eight of the incoming Werebeasts. Werewolf #21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28 HP = 5.
Constantine uses Card Thrower! Chance Rolls = 5, 7, 6. Werewolf #26, 27, and 28 were struck! Cards will detonate next turn!
Xiaòzhou 6. Acc. Roll = 8. Does 6 DMG (Like Water, Returning) to Werewolf #21/22/23/24. Werewolf #21/22/23/24 is dead!
Rajko uses Flash Ball! Chance Roll = 9. Chance Successful! All enemy werebeasts have been stunned for a turn!
Camille uses Dagger Dance! Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successfull! Werewolves #25/26/27/28 have been stunned for an additional turn! All damage done to these four werewolves will be doubled!
Gribov - 7. Acc. Roll = 13. Does 5 + 5 DMG (10, Camille's Dagger Dance) to Werewolf #25. Werewolf #25 is dead!
Cassandra uses Crimson Sorceress! Chance Roll = 7. Chance Successful! Cassandra sacrifices 4 of her HP, and hits Werebear #1 with 16 DMG. Werebear #1 is dead! Cassandra HP = 16.
Rebecca uses Voice of the Saint! Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successful! Rebecca restores 4 of Cassandra's HP. Cassandra's HP = 20.

--- --- ---

Enemy werebeasts cannot attack! All have been stunned for a turn (Rajko's Flash Ball) and Werewolf #26/27/28 have also been stunned for an additional turn! (Camille's Dagger Dance.)

​

The burning werebeasts, struck by Xiaòzhou's burst of fire, continued their assault. They burst through the wall of fire, but the werebeasts soon found themselves hit with a renewed effort from Rebecca's determined group. This flood of werebeasts would be stopped, one way or another, but they needed to thin the heard a bit. and this would be where the group's talents would come into play.

Azathor cut down one of the burning beasts, his swords cleaving the head of the creature from its shoulders. He soon looked upon the front line of beasts, fire scorching the hair from their bodies as they attempted to push forward towards them. They were heavily weakened, with most suffering from second and third degree burns, but were still pushing. If they were to die, they would do so in combat.

Sebastian, having gained a set of grenades to put to use, pulled the pin on one and tossed it over the beasts into the middle ranks. And a few seconds later, it detonated. If the blast and concussive force didn't hurt the eight werebeasts that it landed amongst, the shrapnel sure did. Bits of metal jutted from their scorched flesh, as they struggled to get up from the blast.

The front four of the group Sebastian had hit with a grenade, once they were back on their feet, were cut down immediately afterwards by a supercharged blast from Xiaòzhou's magic enhanced revolver carbine. The shot hit them at chest level, knocking all four of them back into the mud.

Rajko then let loose something special he had brought along. Flash balls, a tool of the Inquisition used to blind supernatural entities with a flash of blinding light. He shouted and tossed one into the crowd, forcing the rest of the group to shield their eyes just before the ball shattered. A bright flash of light followed, blinding the group of werebeasts. Stunning them all briefly.

Next was Camille, who let loose a series of four stilletto daggers at the four behind those that Xiaòzhou had struck. The daggers hit the beasts in the legs and feet, pinning them in place with their silver blades. This opened the door for Gribov and others to make their moves. A shot cracked from Gribov's rifle, ripping through one of their torsos and putting it down. Constantine drew out his special cards, slinging three at the rest of the trio that Camille had pinned. The cards began to heat up, glowing brightly with the wraith magic. They'd detonate soon enough.

Cassandra chose to aim for something further back. One of the large, armored werebears, lumbering about now as they were stunned by Rajko's flash all. She searched for a proper spell to use, found one, then sliced her arm open using her fangs.

Next came the incantation, her words full of malice as she spoke. "Hell-sent spirits of this hateful age, I call thee. Guide these sanguine shards; let this ursine mongrel taste agony before death." she said aloud, as the droplets of blood running down her arm began to lift off her skin into the air. They straightened out and hardened, resembling long razor sharp shards of some crimson gemstone. Then, she flicked a her fingers towards the werebear, and the shards darted through the air. All twelve of them that had formed becoming tiny missiles, seeking their target.

The shards swarmed the bear like a cluster of red bees, hitting it and ripping through its flesh. The attack made one think of several sewing needles being sharply jabbed and pulled through a mass of cloth. With every piercing stab, blood spurted out and stained the ground or the creature's allies around it. Its cries were of rage, then pain and anguish as every stab shredded more of its flesh and internal organs. Armor was pierced and destroyed, eventually falling off. Then, limbs were severed from the body. In the end, the bear collapsed in a heap. Lifeless.

The shards returned to Cassandra, returning to their liquid form and hovering just near her hand. She was ready to do it again if need be, looking towards the other werebears with a gaze of hate.

Rebecca, nearby, watched with scrutiny. Blood magic was dangerous, and dark, magic. This was doing more harm than good. But as long as she kept an eye on her and maintained her health, she might be able to mitigate the damage done to Cassandra's body and mind. She held out a hand, healing Cassandra as the rest of the group prepared to eliminate the rest of the werebeast forces.

 

[K0mori]

Having witnessed the overwhelming barrage of attacks his side had dealt the werebeasts, Sebastian felt his confidence rising. The first grenade had worked a trick, and so he pulled the pin on another and threw it into the crowd of werebeasts.

Only after he had done this did it register to him that Cassandra was using magic again, but this time employing a spellbook and some evil incantations. Rebecca seemed to be healing her. Why would she encourage her like that!? He silently fumed. They didn't need any more of this foul witchcraft in their midst.

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou frowned as the battle continued on, checking the integrity of his revolver carbine following the magic-enhanced attack he did. They were nearly done here, and could soon head over to aid Veronica. However, before he continued his volley of barrages against the remaining enemy, he worried at the sight of Cassandra doing her magic. He thought, was this not blood magic, the kind of magic the Saint warned them about at their last major battle? Of course, here, she appeared to be using a spellbook - so her suffering the Burn didn't seem as likely. But it was still magic she shouldn't be messing with. He hoped that the Saint will reprimand her for this after.

To aid in finishing up this encounter, he went ahead and continued what he was doing, firing an AoE mystic barrage from his revolver carbine into the enemy.

 

[Breadman]

The wraith snapped his fingers when the cards hit their marks. He then switched back to his revolvers to finish the job.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Rajko grimaced as the battle raged on, finding little satisfaction in the butchery displayed. Though he normally affected greater feelings of bloodlust, held back with stalwart discipline, the old battle-thrill seemed to have left him this eve. Mercifully, this will be over soon and they can continue on their task. As the inquisitor leveled his rifle to loose bullet after bullet, his trigger stopped halfway as his nose twitched something fierce, roused by a familiar scent - yet distinct from the literal pools around them.

Blood. Vampiric blood. Lowering his rifle, Rajko threw a quick glance as his eyes picked out the crimson runnel on her arm. He scowled. In the half-darkness of the pavilion-cover, his pallid features were obscured in the hard shadows as he watched on with disgust and frustration. Though the pragmatist in him equally applauded and criticized the action — hopefully, she will not make a habit of this. The Saint warned against this.

He bent the knee, rifle up, and fired off two rounds to finish one of the werewolves off.

 

[joshuadim]

Having dispatched yet another werebeast, Azathor shifted tactics again to ranged combat as he used his momentum to sheathe Belias' sword before twirling with grace to unholster his pistols. He took quick stock of the stunned werebeasts, before settling on a target. Aiming his pistols at it, he let loose a barrage of shots towards the enemy with intentions of putting it down.

 

[Dmaster]

After they seemed clear of the bright flash, the huntress adjusted her gaze to the battlefield's conditions. Their enemy was routed, caught in place as crowd controlling tactics were employed. The group was holding the line, and thus it would be foolish for Camille to rush in and engage the numerous foe in melee so long as they had kept their ground. All the explosives going off at present would make such a hypothetical advance even more foolish. As foolish as Cassandra weaving more of that dark and suicidal magic? Perhaps not. At this juncture she lacked the words or capacity to even be bothered by the pureblood's actions.

Confirming that her crossbow was racked back with a bolt, the huntress grasped her arm with a palm to steady her shot. Her eyes narrow as she finds a suitable target, once more working to deliver a bolt straight into the skull of her mark. With her wrist-mounted weapon's compact design, it could not really afford sights for long distance shooting - but Camille's accuracy with her knives translated quite well to this new addition to her arsenal. A squeeze of its trigger and she let the bolt fly.

 

[Infab]

Tiverpool - Tsavanian Trenches - Turn Five
Constantine's cards detonate (Card Thrower)! Does 10 DMG to Werewolf #26, 27, and 28. Werewolf #26, 27, and 28 are dead!
Sebastian uses Explosive Ordinance! Chance Roll = 7. Does 7 DMG to eight of the werebeasts! Werewolves #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, and #20 are dead!
Xiaòzhou = 3. Miss!
Constantine = 7. Acc. Roll = 5 + 2 (7, Pistolero.) Does 6 DMG (Silver Bullets) to Werebear #2. Werebear HP = 9.
Rajko = 3. Miss!
Azathor = 4. Miss!
Camille = 9. Acc. Roll = 10. Does 6 DMG (Silver Bullets) to Werebear #3. Werebear #3 HP = 9.
Gribov = 5. Acc. Roll = 13. Does 10 DMG (Silver Bullets) to Werebear #4. Werebear #4 HP = 5.
Cassandra = 6. Acc. Roll = 14. Does 5 DMG to Werebear #5. Werebear #5 HP = 10.
Rebecca = 7. Acc. Roll = 20. Headshot! Werebear #6 is dead!

--- --- ---

Werebear #2 = 7. Does 3 DMG to Xiaòzhou. Xiaòzhou HP = 17.
Werebear #3 = 7. Does 3 DMG to Rebecca. Rebecca HP = 17.
Werebear #4 = 4. Misses Gribov.
Werebear #5 = 3. Misses Cassandra.
Werebear #7 = 8. Does 3 DMG to Azathor. Azathor HP = 17.
Werebear #8 = 1. Critical Miss! Hits Ally instead! Does 3 DMG to Werebear #7. Werebear #7 HP = 12.

​

The incoming werebeasts were being thinned out quite quickly, thanks to the crowd control tactics being employed by Rebecca's group. Soon enough, they wouldn't have any werewolves to deal with. Sebastian's next grenade landed among the werebeasts that were already on fire, and the detonation of the stick shaped device proved to be their end. The blast and shrapnel ripped the beasts to pieces, sending limbs and chunks of flesh and fur flying through the air with the mud and dirt. Immediately afterwards, the three charged cards that Constantine had thrown detonated, blowing three more werewolves to pieces in flashes of hellish fire. Now, it was down to the large, armored werebears. One was already dead, thanks to Cassandra's blood magic, but the others were still coming. Enraged by the deaths of their comrades.

As Xiaòzhou fired off his shot, he found it went a bit wide. Missing the werebear that was about to charge him. And it did, catching him with a swing of its massive bear claw. The sharp claws carved a gash in his arm, almost forcing him to drop his rifle. Constantine took a shot at it, attempting to help out Xiaòzhou, and managed to hit the werebear in the shoulder from behind.

Both Rajko and Azathor would miss their target, but the bear would only focus on Azathor. It rushed in close and made its own swing, catching Azathor across the side with a claw. Rebecca would put one bear down with a revolver shot to the eye, but would soon find herself being engaged by another bear that was charging her. It managed to plow into her, knocking her down into the mud, before being hit by a shot from Camille's crossbow. The beast Gribov managed to shoot in the chest charged him, but missed as the veteran inquisitor rolled out of the way.

As the werebeasts thinned out, Cassandra opted not to use blood magic again. Instead, she swapped to something with a bit more impact. She muttered some words under her breath, leveling a hand at some sharp, splintered wood nearby as the blood droplets from her arm simply fell to the ground. The wooden splinters began to float, pulling themselves from the muck and floating upwards. Sharpened ends pointed towards a werebeast. And a moment later, one was let loose. Sent darting towards the target and ripping through its arm. It yelped in pain, before singling her out and charging. With a graceful step, she avoided the charge and sliped beind Camille as the bear sailed past her.

Another werebeast rushed in to take a swing at Azathor, but completely missed. Instead, its claw slashed across the back of its ally. A gash appeared, as the beast forced out a yelp in pain. It seemed that the werebears were a bit more clumsy than their werewolf comrades.

 

[Breadman]

Constantine grinned as the cards exploded. Now they had to deal with the large ones, one of which was attacking the oni. The wraith took aim and shot at the werebear, aiming to bring it down.

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor cursed himself for missing such easy shots, and in turn had his flow that he had built up this whole time disrupted. And he got a new wound as a reminder of this, causing him to wince in pain momentarily. However, he was not dispirited from this matter as he holstered his pistols again and brought out his sword one more time. It was more his style anyway. He dragged it across the ground as he charged towards one of the last remaining werebeasts and struck from below with an upwards arc against its torso.

 

[Damian0358]

Once more, Xiaòzhou's unfamiliarity with firearms use has gotten the better of him, and it opened him up for an attack from one of the encroaching werebears. He grunted as his one good arm was gashed, before putting it aside and deciding instead to concentrate on what he was good at - mysticism and one-to-one. He reached for "Wuxing ~ Crimson Fire", to set this werebeast aflame, with one hand, and with the other, his staff, as to follow up with a staff attack.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The inquisitor quietly spat venom as the shots missed their marks, whizzing past the blood-matted fur of the werebear — selfishly, Rajko was relieved that the Tsavanian would focus on the spawnling's life than his own. He shouldered his rifle then raced to the attacking werebeast, dodging around the corpse of a werewolf, boots wet with freshly spilled blood. Head up, heart racing, brow slick with warm sweat. He drew his sabre, its blade catching glints from the lights left, he clenched the grip tight. As Azathor did from the front, Rajko would do from behind. He raised the sword high and aiming to slice down at the beast's back in a downwards arc. The edge screamed through the war-befouled air at its target.

 

[K0mori]

With the bears now right on top of them, Sebastian knew that he needed to switch strategies. He pulled out his shotgun and backed away, trying to get a clean shot at a werebear from between his supernatural allies. While he felt his axe might do more damage, it would do him no good to score a strong hit if the bear could then turn and rip his head off, he figured.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille had been preparing for their position to be overrun from the beginning, and when she saw Rajko and Azathor charge she too joined them. With a flickering flourish she withdrew her sabres and began to advance behind the demon prince. Allowing room for Azathor's oncoming strike, she would slip in and deliver a series of flurrying slices to bring down their remaining foes.

 

[Infab]

Tiverpool - Tsavanian Trenches - Turn Six
Constantine = 2 + 2 (4, Pistolero.) Miss!
Azathor = 7. Does 3 + 3 DMG (6, A Sister's Legacy) to Werebear #7. Werebear #7 HP = 6.
Xiaòzhou = 1, 9 (Like Water, Returning). Chance Failed. Does 6 DMG (Like Water Returning) to Werebear #2. Werebear #2 HP = 3.
Rajko = 8. Does 3 DMG to Werebear #7. Werebear #7 HP = 3.
Sebastian = 5. Acc. Roll = 19. Vital Hit! Werebear #8 is dead!
Camille = 9. Does 3 DMG to Werebear #7. Werebear #7 is dead!
Gribov = 8. Acc. Roll = 20. Headshot! Werebear #4 is dead!
Cassandra = 5. Does 3 DMG to Werebear #5. Werebear #5 HP = 7
Rebecca = 6. Acc. Roll = 16. Does 8 DMG (Silver Bullets) to Werebear #3. Werebear #3 HP = 1.

--- --- ---

Werebear #2 = 3. Misses Xiaòzhou.
Werebear #3 = 5. Does 3 DMG to Rebecca. Rebecca HP = 14.
Werebear #5 = 7. Does 3 DMG to Cassandra. Cassandra HP = 17.

​

The horde had been thinned to only six remaining beasts, even though more could be heard throughout the trenches. For now, they'd only need to focus on this lot. Constantine shifted his pistols, taking aim at the werebear that was attacking Xiaòzhou, and opened fire. Surprisingly, however, he missed his shots as the bear moved to avoid them while continuing to strike at Xiaòzhou. Its massive paw swiped at the Oni, forcing him to miss his burst of fire that was meant to light the creature's fur, but would actually miss striking the Oni with his claws. Xiaòzhou followed up with a brutal strike from his staff, however, which would slap across the side of the bear's head. A loud crack was heard, as if the strike had shattered the bear's jaw or some of its teeth.

Azathor, Rajko, and Camille chose to focus on a singular target themselves, each taking turns striking at the bear until the beast was brought down. Azathor's blade cut an upward gash across the bear's torso, while Rajko's carved a similar one downward across its back. Then, Camille swooped in with the finishing blow. Her sword sliced through the bear's neck, severing the right artery and sending blood spurting from the wound onto the mud. The bear struggled to remain standing, but collapsed into a heap after a minute. Now, on to the next target.

And the next target, nearby, would be put down immediately afterwards. As the trio focused on the bear that had attacked Azathor, Sebastian focused on the one that had tried to hit Azathor but instead struck its own ally. As the bear spun about, looking for a different target to attack, it found Sebastian waiting for him. Shotgun shouldered, bead sight aiming directly at the bear's chest. A squeeze of the trigger later, and a mass of buckshot punched a hole through into the beast's heart. The bear collapsed immediately, falling backwards into the mud.

Gribov would put down the bear that had swung at him as well, firing a shot upwards through the bear's chin into its brain as it loomed over him. Cassandra and Rebecca, however, would have more difficulty with their opponents. Putting her book away and swapping to a sword, Cassandra would drive the blade through the beast's side. But soon, she'd find herself knocked backwards across the pavilion into a mass of allied soldiers by the beast's paw. Rebecca would fire a shot into her own target's chest, but would also be struck by the beast and sent into the mud. Her foe was still up, but it was clear that it wouldn't be much longer. One more strike would send the Tsavanian werebear to its grave.

 

[Breadman]

"Gods damn it." Constantine cursed as he missed the two shots. The wraith turned his attention to another of the werebears "What are you snarling at?" He answered with another round of shots.

 

[joshuadim]

A combined front had helped fell another werebeast, sending its body crumpling from a series of brutal attacks that rent its flesh asunder. By now, they were out from the worst of the attack - as there were few of the combatants remaining - but still some remained to cause trouble with their presence. And so, Azathor decided to rectify this by charging again with gritted teeth and lunging at the closest surviving werebeast with his blade. Driving the steel forward with a stinging thrust, he aimed for their heart.

 

[Damian0358]

Twirling his staff as the werebear attempted to recover, Xiaòzhou unleashed a further double staff attack to finish his opposition.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The sabre sliced down the werebeast's back just as Azathor's strike drove it into him. The blade went down to its tailbone. Gore, tufts of fur, and blood splattered Rajko's black boots and the everything around him then fell into a heap, crumpling so much like meat in a butcher's shop, as Camille delivered the coup de grâce. He acknowledged the combined assault with a nod to Azathor and Camille. He turned, the sounds of paws beating vampiric alerting him, and he saw Rebecca be belted aside. The inquisitor scowled then, without hesitation, drew his pistol again from the holster. He knew he had two bullets left - one in the chamber, another in the magazine, taking aim at the werebear that batted the Saint aside, he let off two shots to bring it down.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille's swiping slashes with her swords was punctuated by a pirouette during the follow through, and after witnessing the damage she dealt to such a vital artery she snapped her gaze to the next foe. There was no need to watch the beast's death throes when there were still foes encroaching on the group's position, after all. Despite this discipline the huntress' keen eyes snap on to the motion of Rajko's nod, to which she returned with a quick mirror of the gesture before she turned her gaze to the werebear that had assaulted Rebecca. As the inquisitor fired his shots into the creature, Camille fanned out from the line of fire with her swords at the ready. Once she had closed the distance, she would lay into the monster with a flurry of rapid slices.

 

[Infab]

Tiverpool - Tsavanian Trenches - Turn Seven
Constantine = 6+ 2 (8, Pistolero.) Acc. Roll = 9. Does 3 + 3 (6, Silver Bullets) DMG to Werebear #2. Werebear #2 is dead!
Azathor = 8. Does 3 + 4 (7, A Sister's Legacy, Combination Power) DMG to Werebear #5. Werebear #5 is dead!
Xiaòzhou = 7. Does 3 DMG to Werebear #3. Werebear #3 is dead!

--- --- ---
​

The final trio of werebears were soon dealt with, being put down quickly and almost brutally. Constantine's revolvers leveled on his target, and he squeezed the triggers. Dropping the bear where it stood before Xiaòzhou's staff could connect. However, it didn't stop the Oni. He quickly spun about, twirling the staff about his body before flinging it with his enhanced strength at the werebear that had struck Rebecca. The staff connected, colliding with the back of the bear's head. There was a sickening crack, as the bear's skull shattered from the impact. The staff bounced off, flipping through the air and back into the Oni's waiting hand. As the bear fell, Rajko let off his final two shots which punched into the bear's flesh. A good measure double-tap, it seemed. Camille halted herself as soon as she saw the bear fall.

Azathor, meanwhile, went for the bear that had slapped Cassandra aside. He narrowly dodged a swing from the bear, and drove his swords deep into the beast's chest. Straight through the heart, where he had been aiming in the first place. The bear let out a groan, and as it started to go limp, Azathor removed his blades and quickly evacuated the space beneath it. It collapsed into a heap, revealing Sebastian standing behind it. Shotgun leveled at its back, just in case Azathor's swords didn't work.

That seemed to be all of the wave of werebeasts for the moment, and it also looked as if the group of Atracan soldiers with them were finishing off the group of Tsavanians that had charged from the rear of the trench line. As Rebecca straightened up, she glanced over to Reese. Reese looked worried, his eyes cutting towards the trench that Veronica had barreled down in a haste just minutes before. There were still sounds of gunfire coming from that direction. Shotgun blasts. Screaming was also heard, both human and werebeast.

Reese eventually noticed Rebecca looking his way, his head swiveling to look to her. He gave her a firm nod, before looking to one of his men. "Secure that trench the Tsavanians were coming through. We're using that as our way out." he stated, before looking to another. "I need five of you. We're going with the Saint to find the Royal Mage."

"She likely dead, you know." said Cassandra, moving back over to where Rebecca and the others were. "There may not be much of her left to find."

"If she's dead, we still need confirmation for the Royal Mages.... I need her ring." responded Reese, cutting the pureblood a look. "But I choose to remain optimistic. The woman's a hellion. She's not going down easy. None of the mages do."

"Then let's go get her." stated Rebecca, motioning to the others to follow. As she moved, she held up a hand, and quickly cast a healing spell. The group's flesh seemed to tingle briefly, as light flickered up like faint sparks from her hand.

Reese made his selection, picking out two shotgunners and a trio of riflemen. Those that needed to reload did so, slipping fresh ammunition into their weapons while on the move. Pushing into the trench that Veronica had disappeared into. As they ventured past an intersection, a path leading back towards the front on the left, they heard a bloodcurdling scream ahead of them. A female voice. It was followed by shotgun blast. Then another, and another. The roars of werebeasts were mixed in to the chaos. The noise forced Rebecca and Reese to pick up the pace, moving from a jog into a sprint through the muddy trench.

Eventually the roars stopped, as did the shotgun blasts. The female voice was still there, however. At first, she was shouting a string of curses. Then, the words shifted to a jumbled mess as they were replaced by moans, then whimpers and crying. Whoever it was had survived. Barely.

As the group neared where the voice was coming from, they came across bodies. At first, they were the bodies of Atracan and Tsavanian soldiers. Then, werebeasts. Werewolves, bodies coated in blood, missing chunks of flesh or limbs. Next to the body of a nearly beheaded werewolf was an arm. Female, still bearing the tattered sleeve of a royal mage's garb. A mace lay in the mud near it.

The group recognized it as Veronica's.

"Shit shit shit shit!" spat Reese, sprinting on through the trench. He vaulted over the corpses, his soldiers following close behind. Rebecca wasn't far behind, only pausing to motion for the group to follow quickly.

Eventually, they came into another open area. About half the size of the one they had made their stand in, apparently used for equipment storage until it was distributed to nearby areas of the trench. The entire area was littered with bodies. Most of them had apparently been killed by the blast from before, as most of them bore severe burns and scorch marks. Some of the werebeasts had been singed to the point where their bodies were missing huge patches of fur, which had been replaced with mangled crispy flesh.

Ground zero was to the left of the center, the blast originating there and obliterating all around it. The shattered remains of a staff were scattered about in the mud, as were bits and pieces of what used to be a royal mage's armor... and body. What remained of the mage that was still mostly whole was sitting against the wall behind the blast site, a portion of torso that was made up of only the half the chest, the head, and one mangled arm.

And near that hunk of a mage's torso was Veronica, sitting against the same wall about six feet away. She looked horrible herself, coated in blood and mud. Her lever-action shotgun lay in her lap, smoke seeping from the barrel and a shotgun shell resting lodged halfway into the tube. One of her legs looked broken, and she had several claw marks across most of her body. A claw seemed to have made contact with her head as well, a set of four long gashes stretching across the left side of her head and through her eye. Blood poured from her wounds, but not as badly as it poured from the stump where her left arm used to be.

"Oh gods, Veronica..." muttered Reese, quickly moving to her side with his men. Rebecca approached as well, albeit at a slower pace. This woman was near death, and she was unsure if she actually could do anything to help her. She noticed tears streaming down Veronica's face, dripping off her chin as she gazed over at the remains of the mage near her.

 

[Damian0358]

Xiaòzhou frowned as his staff returned to him. Soon after Azathor defeated the final bear, it became clear that this fight - this unnecessary battle in the midsts of a needless war - was over. Before they departed to move on, he made sure to express his wish that everyone who died here would receive a proper burial, to make sure that they could join the battle in the afterlife. He clutched his staff as they rushed to get to Veronica.

The hermit could only watch in horror as they got closed to where she was and witnessed the massacre that had occurred here. He could scarcely imagine what had happened here, especially given what had been noted from here earlier. All he thought he could do is give Veronica a Douean prayer, and try to stabilize her. They had failed to aid her in battle.

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor flicked his blade, spattering blood from the final werebeast he had felled onto the dirt and mud underneath, before setting it back in its sheath on his back. As Reese hurriedly made his way to where Veronica had sprinted off towards earlier, Azathor joined Rebecca and the others as they pushed through the trenches. There, they were greeted with the grisly scene that had unfolded as well as the mortally wounded mage. The demon prince looked on without emotion as he saw her slowly fade away from her terrible wounds, before turning his head back towards the rest of the scene.

"No amount of medicine or magic can heal that." Azathor remarked, implying the next course of action for her.

 

[Dmaster]

Camille clutched her swords as they moved through the trenches from one battleground to another, for as calm as things were at the moment she knew that could change in an instant. Stepping over the bodies that peppered their path, she grimly looked upon the severed arm of their mage escort before increasing pace to the location of Veronica's final stand. Against that trench wall were not one but two ruined bodies, and it had become clear why the mage had abandoned them so quickly.

Stone-faced as Azathor was, a somber look crossed onto Camille's features as she looked upon them both. Moments before she had stated that looking upon Veronica was like looking in a mirror, and seeing her so mangled in a nameless battlefield surrounded by the corpses of monsters struck a chord with the huntress. There was a time where this was the sort of death she had been hoping to earn, and one she had nearly obtained throughout her more reckless and bloodthirsty hunts. There was a time where Camille cared for nothing but the eradication of her enemy, even if it meant that she would die somewhere cold and all alone.

Yet restrained sorrow would quickly turn to anger as Camille clenched fists around her blades. Misguided as Veronica's mentality had been this war was only brought on by Sazak and his ilk. Even the werebeasts the group had just killed were people made marionettes to dance to the whims of real monsters. "There is no repairing what has been wrought," Camille replies to Azathor. "If we are to find a way to ease her pain, let us provide it quickly." Cold as her demeanor may come across, Camille only thought of the other battlefields in the world where similar circumstances were taking place in this instant. Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, lovers, artists - people forced to fight, kill, and die for empty causes and reasons conjured by liars.

She grit her teeth. "I want all of this to stop."

 

[Breadman]

Constantine slowed his pace as they entered the scene of slaughter and mayham. There had been several moments so far that reminded him of the Abyss, but now he was really home. Something was off about the whole thing, but he couldn't understand what it was that bothered him. It wasn't the bloodbath, nor the sorry state Veronica had found herself in. But the others seemed to be preocupied with her the most.

"She's dead." Constantine remarked as he lit a cigarette. "She's fully aware of it, but the body hasn't figured it out yet." The wraith checked her aura again. The same burning desire for blood was still there, but now there was regret along with it. She had to go after the enemy in their lair. "Better grant her the mercy she needs and hope your gods see her worthy of rest." He didn't mean that. She was Abyss bound and he knew it. Nobody like her sees the heavens.