Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Damian0358]

Takato was mortified following Ralvas' booming declaration. He pinned himself in place and protected himself with the dark mist, as he witnessed the Icon's metamorphosis into his true form, making him appear more akin to the demons of yore. Even if Ralvas hadn't truly been hiding his power, it felt ever more potent as more and more of his visage faded away. The explosion didn't help either, even if he managed to keep himself safe. He could not imagine a worse position for them to be in, even the hermit's dark mist trembling.

Quickly enough, the Icon was upon them, striking down three of their own - Mariette and Venextos had managed to avoid too much damage, but Riberta had taken significant damage. They couldn't let their strength slip away like so, so he began rushing towards Riberta to heal her. But he had to make a decision - would he give her his full attention, or would he sent qi attacks towards the towering Icon as well? The former could ensure she would get better faster, but the latter would ensure more damage was being done...

He opted instead for the former, attempting to use far more qi than earlier to heal her. At the same time, unbeknownst to him, the dark mist was trying to open up his bag.

 

[joshuadim]

Before he even knew it, Venextos had been blasted to another cabin in the train and was on his back atop splinters and rubble. Thankfully, he had instinctually managed to soften the blow with a defensive posture via his staff but it still hurt like hell as he groaned in pain. He slowly began to pick himself up as he realized what had just happened. Ralvas was now in his true form as was much more powerful than he was before. All sense of caution went out the window as the threat was made apparent and Venextos spat out some blood: "Fine. Let's finish this." he spoke to no one in particular as he began to fully charge the same attack he had used on Kellea. He just hoped that he wouldn't miss when the time came.

 

[Breadman]

"YESS! MORE BEAST! THAT HIT TASTED GOOD!" The echo in the hammer bellowed as Henderson readied to hit the Icon again. He sighed out of frustration, but the demon was a nice punching bag. As he raised the hammer for another hit, Ralvas changed the rules. Their opponent now towered over them and declared his intent to finish them off for good. Already he was assaulting the others with viscous strikes. In all of this, Henderson noticed something else. The hammer was silent.

"Finally something shut you up." The brute was relieved that he found a way to buy himself some quiet. Now they had to find out how to silence the other one. Eyeing the height difference between them, Henderson had another sadistic idea. Not a place to hit in a gentleman's fight. Bollock to that. Literally. The mutant aimed his next hit right in the Icon's waist.

 

[Dmaster]

Ralvas created some kind of explosion of air pressure and erupted the roof off of the train, causing Hudson to slide backwards as he blocked his face and upper body with the blade of his sword. He stared through the Icon as he could now tell that matters had gotten even more serious, to the point where he was quickly forgetting just how insane Mariette and Cassandra were getting. If the Icon was bringing his full power to bear now, things were now particularly dangerous. The hunter straightened up, twirling his blade so he could get a better grip on it before angling it down and starting to run his hand from the base of the shining surface of the sword to its edge. As he did so, the weapon was beginning to get bathed in golden light once again.

"I've killed countless demons, you repugnant creature. Yet I've never had the honor of killing a demon like an Icon. Be prideful that you're the first to get that honor!" Once the sword was completely sheathed in holy energies, Hudson grasped the handle and performed an upwards swing. A slash of radiant energies was rapidly propelled toward the Icon!

SUPER MOVE: SILENCING STRIKE​

 

[K0mori]

Thanks to another devilish illusion, Mariette had gotten what she lusted after: the blood poured into her body, invigorating her in a way which shook her to the core. It felt just like consuming the forbidden Romanov blood, all those years ago, and the witch was filled to the brim, if not overflowing, with power. "Haaaaa... Haaaaa..." she huffed deliriously as she yanked the blade back out and staggered away. "I missed... I wanted your heart, monsieur! I WANTED ALL OF IT!" Mariette let out a crazed cackle which evolved into excited outbursts and screams as she stumbled about the train car like a drunkard, clutching her head as the others landed their attacks on the Icon. "How... How can it feel so good!? Aaagh!!"

Unlike before, her hand did not reappear after the successful attack, and the sword instead remained integrated into the flesh of her arm, pulsating as its crimson veins wormed their way deeper into her flesh which rippled with unnatural strength. Horns were beginning to sprout from the sides of her head, just as they had done with Henderson, and her golden irises soon became glittering islands in an inky, black sea, no different from those possessed by the demonic masters who ruled over her during her captivity. She was rapidly becoming like them.

"I want... more... more..." she moaned, drool trickling from her mouth to the floor.

Just then, Ralvas blew the roof off the car with his raw power, and began to hurl lightning at his foes. As he turned his scorn toward Mariette, she didn't flinch, as she simply did not believe he was capable of harming her despite witnessing how easily Riberta had been swept aside. She pointed her sword arm at him at the same time he cast his black thunderbolts onto her, and the power ripped through her body like cracks through a stained glass window. Yet, instead of shattering her, the lightning was mostly absorbed into the cloak and armor plating, her humble servant shielding her from the bulk of the pain as she was thrown across the floor, tumbling like a ragdoll.

Focus, Master, I beg of you! I cannot preserve you from an Icon's unbridled fury, even if we share in his stolen vigor! Unless-

Do as you must. I can sense your intent, servant, and I welcome your embrace.

Yes... Thank you, Master.

Giving a low and evil laugh even as smoke rose from her dark cloak, Mariette rose to her feet once more. The silvery sheen of her armor shimmered like the surface of a moonlit pond, and it further enclosed her, creeping higher on her neck and onto her jaw with increased protection. Slowly, very slowly, the armor was engulfing her completely. Would it continue, and encase her face and head within some permanent helmet? Mariette didn't know, nor did she care any longer. The intoxicating magnetism of dark power was drawing her in like an errant ship on the edge of a whirlpool.

 

[Infab]

The Heartlands - The Train - Icon Battle (Ralvas'canekt) - TURN 7
Takato attempts to heal Riberta. D6 used. Chance Roll = 6. Chance Successful. Riberta regains 14 HP. Riberta HP = 20.
Henderson = 8. Does 18 DMG (5 + 13, Hellish Gauntlets, Abyssal Warhammer) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1984.
Hudson uses Super Move: Silencing Strike. D10 used. Chance to Hit = 8. Chance Successful. Does 334 DMG to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1650.
Mariette = 10. CH Roll = 3. Does 6 DMG to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1644.
Leakhena = 5. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Heavenly Blade) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1629.
Jakob = 2 + 2 (4, With Badge & Gun.) Misses Ralvas.
Gwen = 6 + 2 (8, Spiteful Survivalist.) Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Abyssal Tome) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1614.
Cassandra = 1 + 3 (4, The Crimson.) Misses Ralvas.
Riberta = 5. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Adriel's Trident) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1599.
Vincent = 8 + 2 (10, the Huntsman.) CH Roll = 5. Does 23 DMG (13 + 10, Killer Instinct, Abyssal Gladius) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1576.

The Heartlands - The Train - Icon Battle (Ralvas'canekt) - TURN 7 (ENEMY)
Ralvas'canekt = 8, 5, 9. Does 10 DMG to Hudson, Cassandra, and Henderson. Hudson HP = 10, Cassandra HP = 10, Henderson HP = 10.

------
​

The group unleashed their attacks once more, on the now altered Ralvas. As Takato moved to heal Riberta in the other room, Henderson rushed in and swung his warhammer. Aiming squarely for Ralvas' crotch. Sadly, he wouldn't score a direct hit. He did, however, hit him square on his hip bone. It forced a yelp from the demon, before Ralvas pointed his clawed hand at Henderson and unleashed a massive bolt of black electricity. Henderson violently shook, before being knocked backwards by the surge of electricity. Henderson's hit would prove to be the perfect distraction for Hudson, whom used his heavenly blade to strike at Ralvas. The slash of radiant energy darted towards Ralvas, and hit him across the chest. It knocked him backwards, but he quickly straightened himself and continued to float in place as he launched a retaliatory attack at Hudson. The bolt hit Hudson's blade, which took the brunt of the damage as it knocked Hudson to the ground.

Mariette would rush in with her still altered syringe-like arm, attempting to stab Ralvas again. She would prove successful, stabbing Ralvas in the thigh, but she wouldn't remain stuck into him long enough to draw blood before Ralvas planted his foot in her chest to knock her away. Leakhena was next, using her own sword to slash at Ralvas. Jakob launched himself into the air after her, attempting to knock Ralvas back to the ground, but Ralvas simply drifted out of the way to avoid him. Right into a bolt of magic from Gwen.

Cassandra clutched her head, teeth bared. Trying to calm herself. Some of the old her had seeped through with that stab she had done moments ago. Something that needed to stay locked away. She looked to the estoc in her hand, and grunted. "This thing is causing me nothing but trouble." she muttered, before looking towards Mariette nearby. She wasn't any better off. In fact, she seemed to be doing far worse. The armor was starting to take over, and she had sprouted horns along with a change in her eyes. This fight needed to end, quickly. She returned her attention to Ralvas, and rushed in for a strike...and Ralvas saw it coming. He moved out of the way quickly as she thrusted with the estoc, and she soon caught a bolt of lighting to the head which sent her skipping sideways across the floor.

In the other room, Takato used as much of his qi as he could to try and heal Riberta, as she struggled to get up from the pile of rubble that had fallen on top of her when she landed inside the cabin. That voice...the voice from the trident was talking to her again. "So, the self-proclaimed 'true Icon' reveals his true form. It will not save him from annihilation. You must get back to your feet, hybrid. Prove that you are a warlord as I once was. Help them put this false Icon down once and for all."

Riberta grunted, as she finally managed to push herself up. Glancing to Takato, she gave him a nod as thanks, before moving to rejoin the rest of the group in the other room. As she charged back in, she flipped the trident about, before hurling it like a spear at Ralvas. It connected, impaling Ralvas in the torso before Riberta soon collided with the Icon to knock him down and retrieve the weapon. Vincent wasn't far behind with his gladius, slicing at Ralvas as Riberta moved out of the way before retreating himself.

As Ralvas stood back up off the floor, more of the black electricity began to flow from his form into the floor. As he straightened up, he pointed both of his clawed hands at the floor, before firing off a massive black bolt straight into the car's floor. Lighting surged throughout the car, and soon the group heard a loud cascade of pops and bangs. He had just damaged the structure of the train itself. Then, there was a loud boom far ahead of them. The engine had been hit directly.

Ralvas was trying to derail the train.


VINCENT CAN NOW USE HIS SUPER MOVE AGAIN.
ONE TURN UNTIL HENDERSON AND CASSANDRA CAN USE THEIR SUPER MOVES AGAIN.
TWO TURNS UNTIL MARIETTE CAN USE HER SUPER MOVE AGAIN.
THREE TURNS UNTIL HUDSON CAN USE HIS SUPER MOVE AGAIN.​

 

[Damian0358]

As Takato healed Riberta, he could sense the damage going on in the main fight, worrying him further. Those attacked managed to deal with it fine enough, but another blow like so would be detrimental. At the same time, he could sense Riberta's distraction... before she finally got up. He gave her a nod back, as she rushed in to rejoin the others.At that point, he finally sensed that something was opening his bag, turning around to find his own dark mist doing so. He looked at it in a confused manner, because, well, is it supposed to be sentient??? If it was, his master never told him that! But before he could ask anything further, he felt Ralvas' attack and how it trembled the train in its entirety!

He wasn't sure what the Icon was doing, though the others likely were. That boom sounded unlike anything he had heard... but suddenly, something was thrust into his hands! It was... Zazriel's staff?! He tried to put it back into the bag, but the dark mist stopped him from moving any further. He wasn't believing what was going on! Despite what he had been told, he still felt it improper to use... and yet, he felt something... reassuring from the mist. Something familiar, telling him to go on...

Takato clenched onto the staff, reinvigorated. Twirling it in his hands, he could feel it extending at will. He rushed into the other room to rejoin the fray, knowing what he must do with it, as he leapt into the air - he was going to knock this airborne menace back to the ground! And as he leapt, he felt a massive energy elsewhere in the room...

 

[joshuadim]

His whole body was wracked with pain as the fount of power from his artifact continued to pour into him, giving him the strength to concentrate into his next attack as Venextos felt blood rush out in large amounts out of his mouth. The last time he had done this it had hurt him to such a degree that it took him quite some time to recover, but at this rate there might not be anything left to recover from considering the way he was going. Parts of his flesh seemed to turn to ash as it flaked off him body as it continued to deteriorate from the stress of such magic being cast. Such spells were not meant for ordinary humans to ever use.

His move was ready now however and Venextos began to move towards Ralvas as to get a clear shot at the Icon. It was hard to walk, even to stand, as he made his way over as quickly as he could as he continued to press onwards. He only was able to take a few steps before falling to one knee and coughed up another pool of blood onto the floor below, his attack still cupped in his hands. He realized that he would be incapacitated long before he could even reach Ralvas... unless he went all in. Venextos gave off a slight chuckle as he realized this was his only move at this point. Both to save the group from the train derailing as well as to defeat the Icon.

He turned his gaze towards Takato, seeing that he had been healing Riberta and was now on his own offensive, and gave a soft smile before redirecting the energy of his attack inwards into himself. The pain he was experiencing before was nothing compared to what he felt now as it was like pouring the sun into his very being. His body lit up like a beacon as he felt not only such pure agony but the strength he needed to get to Ralvas. He sprinted forward, not losing eye contact with Ralvas as he rushed ahead. He had no idea if this would work, if he would even hit, but his time was near and he wanted to make the best of it.

Without regrets, or hesitation, he accepted his fate as he directed himself for his attack for the last time with a faint smile. Au revior, mes amies. Make the most of it. was his final thought.

SUPER MOVE: FINAL FLASH​

 

[Breadman]

Henderson hit his head when he landed from that electric blast. Barely staggering upright again, he struggled for a few seconds until his vision adjusted from the blurry mess that it was prior. The brute grimaced towards the Icon, who appeared to not even register as a threat anymore. 'What was he doing exactly?' he wondered before the explosions clued him in.

"Oh no no you don't you poncy wanker!" Henderson gripped the hammer and swung it again towards the Icon's chin.

 

[Dmaster]

Immediately after he hurled the slash of energy at the Icon, Hudson was struck by a grievous counterattack that sent him flying. Fortunately he was able to transition his swing into a block that used his sword's blade to stop him from getting completely fried. Jolted from the strike, his muscles began seizing up uncontrollably as he took a sharp inhale, stabbing his sword into the ground to aid him in picking himself back up. Though his vision had been slightly blurred he grit his teeth as the Icon began to twist another electrical surge to damage the train itself.

Standing up to his full height, he unfurled one of his chained maces and started spinning it to gain momentum. "I'm not going to let you kill me..." he growled before forcefully tossing the caged flame up to the demon.

 

[K0mori]

Kicked backwards after trying to stab the Icon again, Mariette watched as Ralvas began attacking the train directly, trying to derail it. Some combination of her own, unaided attack being proved ineffectual, and the threat of total destruction, brought her back down from the delusion of invulnerability that had so badly distracted her. The hideous grin of razor-sharp teeth disappeared from her face, replaced instead by a murderous resolve. "My moon is still rising, monsieur. You cannot prevent it, any more than nightfall itself!" As she spoke, a series of dazzling sparks flashed in the air around her, purplish red in color. A smoky haze came from her breath in a similar hue. "...And I won't let you kill them, either. I'll eat your heart before it happens!"

The sparks intensified as she spoke, until, at the moment she lunged for the Icon, the length of her sword arm erupted into purplish hellfire. It was no illusion, and she did not need a grimoire to create it. It had simply emerged as if she had possessed it all along.

 

[Infab]

The Heartlands - The Train - Icon Battle (Ralvas'canekt) - TURN 8
Takato = 9. Does 16 DMG (5 + 11, Butoo Style, Abyssal Staff) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 1560.
Venextos uses Super Move: Final Flash. D10 used. Chance Roll = 9. Chance Successful. Does 1000 DMG to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 560. Due to the nature of this Super Move, Venextos suffers 10 DMG. Venextos is dead.
Henderson = 7. Does 18 DMG (5 + 13, Hellish Gauntlets, Abyssal Warhammer) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 542.
Hudson = 10. CH Roll = 4. Does 13 DMG (7 + 6, Velin's Tears, What I Fight For) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 529.
Mariette = 8. Does 5 DMG to Ralvas. Ralvas is now on fire! Suffers 3 DMG for 3 turns! Ralvas HP = 521.
Leakhena = 2. Misses Ralvas.
Jakob = 2 + 2 (4, With Badge & Gun.) Misses Ralvas.
Gwen = 2 + 2 (4, Spiteful Survivalist.) Misses Ralvas.
Cassandra = 7. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Abyssal Estoc) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 506.
Riberta = 5. Does 15 DMG (5 + 10, Adriel's Trident) to Ralvas. Ralvas HP = 491.
Vincent uses Super Move: Malevolent Calesvol. D10 used. Chance Roll = 7. Chance Successful. Does 500 DMG to Ralvas. Automatic Execution. Ralvas has been destroyed.

------
​

The group set upon Ralvas for the final time, as the Icon prepared to derail the train in order to kill them all. Takato made his move first, viciously whacking Ralvas out of the air and into the floor, before pummeling him with Zazriel's staff. It left him open for Henderson and the others to rush in, Henderson whacking Ralvas as he stood with his warhammer and knocking him backwards towards the rear of the car. Hudson was next with his signature weapon, the impact hitting Ralvas in the face and disorientating him. Cassandra and Riberta were next, each stabbing the Icon with their weapons, before Mariette rushed him and drove her arm weapon deep into Ralvas' chest. The purple hellfire coated the Icon, spreading across his torso and lighting him ablaze as she quickly pulled back.

Ralvas was too distracted to notice the incoming bomb that was Venextos...and the others in the group were too preoccupied to stop Venextos' last ditch attempt to put an end to the Icon. As soon as Venextos got close to the Icon, he leapt at him and embraced him as best he could. Ralvas let out a noise in confusion, before a blinding flash engulfed the pair. The flash was an explosion, a powerful one at that. One which obliterated the entire rear of the car and destroyed the link between the car and those behind it. It knocked everyone in the cabin off their feet with just the air pressure, and the cars behind the one they were in began to derail and go sliding off the tracks as their own continued on.

But this wasn't the end of it. As they regained their composure, standing up and surveying the damage, they noticed through the smoke and debris that Ralvas was still there. Still standing, but barely. The damage done to his form left him barely recognizable. His arm was gone, as were most of his legs, and his body looked like a mangled mess of flesh and burns. His face had been half erased, replaced by a bleeding mass of scorched flesh. What was left of his eyes had been blinded by the flash and heat. Yet he still pushed on, his body slowly beginning to mend itself. What it could mend anyway.

Without delay, a member of the group rushed in to finish the Icon off before he could mend himself. Vincent, his gladius having extended once more to its claymore length. His skin pale, eyes black, veins pulsing. A man possessed by his his weapon. And before Ralvas could react properly, Vincent made his swing. An upwards arc, the blade carving through the floor before rising and bisecting Ralvas from his crotch to the tip of his scalp. The Icon's halves slowly split apart, before crumpling to the side.

Ralvas'canekt, the Icon of Pride, was dead.

As the group stood there, looking at the split corpse of the Icon, the train suddenly jerked a bit. They stumbled, and soon found out the cause. The train was stopping...in the middle of nowhere. It had suffered far too much damage to continue on, and thus needed to stop before the engine derailed.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato struck true, slamming Ralvas out of the air and onto the floor with Zazriel's staff, making sure to get more hits in, out of fear. Leaping off of Ralvas, as the others began to rush in and do their strikes, the hermit turned his attention to the massive source of energy he had felt whilst leaping.

It was the Grand Magus, Venextos. Right before he had struck Ralvas, he felt as though his gaze laid upon him, before the Magus began redirecting the qi he was gathering into himself. Takato was horrified - he recalled what his previous maneuvers had done to his body, and at this rate, this was actually going to kill him. He moved to the side, attempting to redirect his qi towards to Venextos, trying to do his best to maintain his body. But healing Riberta had taken much of the qi he needed at that very moment.. he couldn't outpace the amount of damage the Grand Magus was building up. He couldn't fathom the amount of pain he must be going through, as he sprinted forth toward Ralvas. He could not stop him.

He was too late, as he was about to scream the Grand Magus' name.

Takato was near blinded by the resulting flash and explosion, cut off and launched off his feet, having been among those closer to the combat. The dark mist protected him from harm, but it couldn't protect him from his thoughts of what could've been at that moment. As his vision returned, he was horrified to see Ralvas still living, if barely. Venextos' sacrifice almost appeared to be for naught, until Vincent swooped in and bisected him... and with that, he felt the Icon's aura abruptly disappear, as though a massive weight had been lifted off of him, and all those present... they had won...

He almost didn't process the jerking of the train, as he tried to think...

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

As Leakhena dashed forward to deliver another vicious slash into Ralvas, she suddenly stepped back and nearly slipped after forcefully stopping herself from completing her attack. She had to, otherwise she would've hit Venextos instead whom leaped in front of her. An insult almost comes out of her mouth, but she saw the energy surrounding him combined with the look on his face. A second is all she needs to understand what he's about to do.

She screamed his name for the last time. "VENEXTO-"

Too late for her to do anything now. The resulting explosion flung Leakhena right into one of the remaining car walls still partially standing, and the sheer force would've actually thrown her outside had it not been for her coat getting snagged on some bent metal. She nearly ignores Ralvas being bisected in half by Vincent as she frantically examines whats left of the car for any sign of Venextos. There's no trace, not even a shred of cloth, anywhere among all the scorch marks, blood smears, cracked stone, and splintered wood. He's gone, and he almost took Ralvas with him; an act she wishes he hadn't done. Leakhena curses under her breath as she wearily pulls herself up and back onto the floor. They've lost Senya not too long ago, and now one of the more skilled people in the group is dead too. Exhausted from all the fighting and from holding back a surge of thoughts, she slides down against a table that had been split in half as she tries getting a hold of herself.

"Fuck..." she mutters aloud to herself. "...Why?" This did not need to happen; to her, his sacrifice felt almost pointless, especially when they were doing surprisingly well enough against Ralvas already. They can't afford to lose another if they're going to keep facing down icons like this. Unfortunately though, she'll have to mourn him later as they're not done yet. As Hudson confirmed with her earlier, they need to keep moving no matter what. They shouldn't be too far from Dis now.

Though Ralvas is finally dead, there is some unfinished business still. She stands over one of Ralvas' severed halves and squats down to examine it further. Wiping away some of the ashes and burned flakes that were once skin and muscle, she finds a decent red spot and sinks her teeth into it, and eats it.

She almost wants to puke. Even if it's one of the few parts left of him unburnt, it still tasted just about as disgusting as he was.

 

[K0mori]

Mariette was once again on the floor of the train car, looking up at the Abyssal sky through the massive hole created by Ralvas' explosive power earlier in the fight. Her ears were ringing, but she could hear the sound of twisting, wrecking iron and shattering wooden facets. The train was coming undone. What, exactly, had just happened? She rolled onto her side, her arm finally separating from the sword and granting her the use of her fingers. Ralvas' aura was very weak- near death, in fact, and the witch watched as Vincent cleaved the Icon in half with a final swing.

She picked herself up, steadying herself against a brass pipe which had embedded itself in a nearby wall, and noted the train's sudden forward lurch; it was stopping. Everyone seemed to be fine, but she began a headcount to make sure. It took a moment longer before she realized that Venextos had been the one to attack Ralvas immediately after she had lit him on fire. She hadn't seen his attack, but, given the aftermath... It must have been catastrophic.

"What in all creation did that mage just do?" Mariette asked softly to no one in particular. She limped toward the aftermath, where Ralvas lay in two and Leakhana was stooped in the act of consumption. "...I don't sense him at all. Did he really sacrifice himself? ...Zut alors, there isn't anything left... nothing to bury..." She stood there for a moment in silence and hung her head. For all of her boasting and posturing during the fight, she hadn't forgotten the reason she hadn't discarded her armor the moment it became clear that it would corrupt her soul. Mariette had long ago reasoned that her own fate was nearly inconsequential as a dead woman among the living, and although the suppression of her moral conscience allowed her to revel in the power it granted, it would not be possible to enjoy any of it if not for the fact that she would be trapped within the Abyss forever, unable to spread her vain evil to the mortal realm.

But what was the point of such power if good people, her living allies, were throwing themselves on the sword to accomplish their tasks? First Senya, and now Venextos, were dead. "Please, all of you," she spoke, "don't do as he did." Sadness betrayed her vulnerability to the group; she hadn't lost her mind entirely. Venextos had reminded her of purpose in all of this, and she felt ashamed of her earlier comments during the fight. She looked about at the others, her eyes free of tears and yet strained as if she wanted to cry out in frustration. Instead, she reminded herself that it wasn't her place to seek their sympathy.

"Everyone else is healthy enough, I presume? We are running out of time, and need to move on."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson scored an impeccable hit on the Icon despite being so wounded, course-correcting his throw to be an overhead slam to accompany Takato's after he had grounded Ralvas. The threat of the train being derailed was real, but there was no time to waste when they could be spending it killing this demonic monster. And thanks to the efforts of Vincent and Venextos, kill him they did. While he could only make out the wizard out the corner of his eye he became all too aware of what he was going to do. By the time he made the realization, it was far too late before the blinding radiance of that all out attack rendered him momentarily blind.

Knocked onto his back he painfully sat himself up with a grunt, gradually working his way up to a kneel before climbing all the way back to his full height. All that remained of Venextos and Ralvas were blackened bits on the ground, and the hunter sheathed his weapons numbly as he slowly started to step through the ruined train car. While the others began to mourn, Hudson grit his teeth and balanced himself against one of the walls that were still standing, listening to Mariette passively.

Between Cassandra, Mariette, and Henderson he knew that the group was on borrowed time, but they still had a job to do. It was odd listening to the vampire countess talk of hastiness considering her mad ravings during the fight, but Hudson knew better than to comment on it. He looked out of the gaps of the train car's torn up walls, sneering beneath his helmet as he took a deep breath.

"Just one small problem when it comes to the 'moving on' part, Mariette." he says, gesturing to the completely static horizon around them. "The train's fucked and we're in the middle of nowhere. And I think one of the last people capable of using some magical gambit to get us out of here is no longer with us."

 

[K0mori]

"I meant 'on foot,' Hudson. Unless we can repair the engine, we have but one option." Mariette replied, tartly. She then suddenly remembered the fire she had created in the midst of battle. "Ah... speaking of 'magical gambits,' it seems that demonhood grants one the ability to use magic at will," she observed, snapping her finger several times in an attempt to summon up another flame.

It didn't work.

"I'm not certain as to the mechanism, but perhaps I'll discover a way to help us yet."

 

[Damian0358]

Takato watched as the others slowly came to their feet, and observed the mess before them. As the dark mist straightened him up and placed Zazriel's staff back into his bag for him, Mariette's remark on everyone being healthy enough almost subconsciously made him exert his qi, to ensure everyone's bodies were prim and proper, even as his body was tired (thought not comparable to what he felt from Vincent).

Getting on his feet, Takato followed up on Mariette's senses... in the place where the Grand Magus stood, only remained the artifact he was allowed to take from Jolvan. It made him wonder what else remained of Venextos... surely he still had a few belongings in the quarters he stayed in, no? They would have to deal with those properly, in respect of his sacrifice.

His artificial arm slowly but surely reconstructed itself, as he tried to keep himself up. He had come more unscathed than the others, yet he felt more shaken than he should... he recalled when those few, including Venextos, departed to do as they intended; back then, there was talk of Venextos meddling with fate, and all that entailed... was this what Venextos deemed as his ultimate forgiveness for what he had done, the crimes that permitted him into the Abyss in the first place... martyrdom? As his fist reformed, he clenched it.

Overhearing the conversation being had, he looked over to the others thinking of ways of getting a move-on - he looked around them, considering the mess, and raised his hand;

"...could we not board a more salvageable part of the train and propel it without the engine?" he plainly proposed. In that moment, he didn't consider how plain that question really is, since the others may not be thinking what he is.

 

[Infab]

As the others spoke amongst themselves, Vincent sat where he had stopped. Clutching his chest, as if his heart was about to explode out of his chest. He could feel it beating in his ears, drowning out the words the others were speaking. This sword...this thing was killing him, and he needed to be rid of it as soon as possible. He stared at the sword for a few moments, as the veins in his arm slowly shifted and returned to their former looks. Skin was still pale. That probably wouldn't change.

He tried to stand, wobbling as he straightened up and looked at Ralvas' bisected corpse. Leakhena was near one of the halves, eating. It disgusted him a bit, really, but he'd keep that to himself. He noticed something of moderate size, laying on the floor in a patch of ash. Curious, he stepped over and squatted next to it, brushing the ashes off. It was the necklace that Venextos had acquired from Land of Dead Kings. Tariun would likely want it. He reached down and picked it up, before stuffing it into his coat pocket. Venextos...why'd you have to go and blow yourself up?

Eventually, he stood again, looking back to the others. After a brief coughing fit, he spoke. "Let's get off the train. We've probably got a hell of a walk ahead of us." he said, walk towards the hallway which would lead them out of the train. The others followed, stopping only briefly at the cabins to gather what was left of their things before reaching the door to get off. The ramp had already been deployed, stretching out and touching the ground a ways away from the train. As the walked down the ramp, they took notice of the black plume of some coming from the train engine. A massive hole had been blown in the side of it, yet there was nobody to work on it. Perhaps the conductor was still inside the engine, trying to inspect the damage?

They also took notice of something else. Dust and smoke in the distance, heading towards them. Demons come to intercept them...or friendlies? And as they neared, some of the group noticed the familiar sigils and markings of Azathor. Sazak's outcast son, whom had somehow survived being hunted by both his father and older brother. They were riding hellish looking mounts, but some were using trucks much like they had used to get through certain areas of the Abyss.

Riberta spoke up as they neared. "Fancy seeing your lot here, Azathor." she said, looking about at the various demons of his entourage.

 

[joshuadim]

Earlier. elsewhere in the Heartlands...

Their encampment was only temporary as they had to remain constantly on the move, only stopping to rest as well as to eat and to occasionally plan their next route of travel. These days, it was getting more and more difficult to move about due to how they were all being hunted, but Azathor was meticulous in his planning more often than not and thus had remained capable of evading his father's grasp... for now. He overlooked a map of the Abyss laid out before him, with his lieutenant both delivering information as well as exporting commands to those nearby. "The routes heading through the Hollowlands are likely watched at this point," Azathor surmised aloud, "And the lands nearby are also closed to us. We barely made it out of the Land of Wrath only to now potentially being stuck in the Heartlands. A worst case scenario, if any other don't exist."

"Sire, perhaps we should consider the Route of Gamril... it may yet be unguarded." his lieutenant Tebrik suggested, "It's an ancient route that few travel."

"That few travel for good reason... it is treacherous and we may lose more people on it... but perhaps-" Azathor began to speak before being cut off by the sounds of a distant explosion, far off away.

Azathor and Tebrik quickly exited their tent and looked about at their surroundings, unable to decipher the actual source of such an explosion. Were they under attack? No, it was too far away to signal an incursion by Sazak's forces... this was something else. Before long, a subordinate ran up to Azathor to report in: "Lord Azathor! The witch reports a train explosion! The abyssal train!"

---

It took some time to get there, but upon seeing familiar figures in the distance Azathor let himself relax for a bit as perhaps this was the first piece of good luck he's had in some time. The convoy came to a halt near the wreckage of the train before they began to move off. "Likewise." he simply commented as he dismounted from one of the trucks as his followers quickly took up defensive position in a perimeter and stayed vigilant. "Every demon within a hundred miles is bound to be interested in the noise made... you're lucky we got to you first. What happened?" he then asked as he surveyed the damage, seeing how completely wrecked the train was at this point.

 

[Infab]

"Every demon within a hundred miles is bound to be interested in the noise made... you're lucky we got to you first. What happened?"

After another coughing fit, Vincent replied. "Ralvas happened. We fought him...Venextos sacrificed himself fighting him. We managed to kill the Icon afterwards." he stated, before looking at the rest of the group. "...Ralvas killed Kat and Wesix, the two lust demons that were helping us on the train, then he attacked us. Tried to derail the train too, which is how that happened." he said, before pointing at the massive hole in the engine ahead of them. "Venextos channeled an attack and turned himself into a bomb...latched onto Ralvas and blew himself up. Stunned the Icon long enough for me to split him in half with this." He held up the gladius, before looking at the others in his group. "...We need to get to Dis. The god artifacts are there, and we need to get them out of Taranoch's hands before we leave this place."

He went into another coughing fit afterwards, and ended up spitting blood onto the ground in front of him. "Well...that's not good." he said.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato seemed a tad saddened that no one seemed to get what he meant by his question, as he considered using his abilities to propel one of the more intact train cars without the need of an engine. But he nodded toward Vincent, who seemed to have Jolvan's artifact now. Before departing, he made his way to the cabins.

Though he had nothing in the cabin he had stayed in, given he carried everything on his person, Venextos' residual aura could still be felt where he had stayed. Entering the cabin in question, he began gathering all that was his, of major note being his staves and... what appeared to be a small bottle of brandy? He had heard of the sort of libation customary to Adonia, so perhaps they could pour this upon whatever grave is made in his name. He'd tell Vincent this as he handed him the brandy, clearing looking as though he didn't want any booze on him.

Takato breathed slowly, to maintain himself and his qi output in ensuring everyone else was getting better, whilst trying to figure out the best way to carry these staves... the thoughts of the black plume made him wonder if they should've investigated that further, but time was of the essence, unfortunately. But they had found themselves engaged with another group, a friendlier one, thankfully. He recalled the mention of Azathor earlier from Kat, as well as when Tariun recounted that the others that briefly split had bumped into him, which explained to him Riberta's tone.

After Vincent explained what had happened, Takato began channeling more qi into him, since coughing up blood is generally not a good thing.

 

[Breadman]

While the others were regaining their composure and mourning, Henderson was observing the situation they were in now. The wizard's death was a setback. They're going to go into their mission with less firepower now. Even with his healing, the damage he suffered was severe. No doubt there would be some marks from the battle.

The new demons were friendly at least, so maybe there is a last minute help they could procure. Something to help them get to their next destination at least. Then Vincent started coughing. It was blood. The mutant looked to the small puddle in the sand and then to him and then the demons.

"Can you give him something for that, please?" He pointed to Vincent with his massive paw "For better of for worse, he's our leader and losing him along with the magic bloke would be bad for the group's morale."

 

[joshuadim]

"...Ralvas is dead?" Azathor repeated, before spitting onto the ground. "Good. That waste of space, that kaz'drecht, got what was coming to him." He then whispered to his lieutenant nearby to deliver the news of Venextos to Hayley, she had the right to know what happened. When Vincent then made it clear as to what their goal was, Azathor was quiet for a moment before laughing. "And I suppose you want my help to get into Dis, the most heavily guarded place in the Abyss, is that it?" he then asked, shaking his head. "The situation is... complicated. Taranoch isn't in Dis, which is fortunate for you but Sazak and my brother are still on the hunt. They blaze a path of terror across the lands and I've only managed to keep myself and my people alive by staying on the move."

He took a seat on a small rock nearby as he thought about it. "And worse still, Azgon is in Dis as well from what I hear."

One of the demons nearby came to Vincent at Azathor's command as well and began to look over him for any signs of wounds or other damage to try to figure out what to do to remedy his pain.

 

[Infab]

Vincent allowed the demon to look him over, before motioning to the gladius. "Its the sword. Its using me like a power source, and its sucking the life out of me." he stated, before looking back to Azathor.

"And I suppose you want my help to get into Dis, the most heavily guarded place in the Abyss, is that it? The situation is... complicated. Taranoch isn't in Dis, which is fortunate for you but Sazak and my brother are still on the hunt. They blaze a path of terror across the lands and I've only managed to keep myself and my people alive by staying on the move... And worse still, Azgon is in Dis as well from what I hear."

"...Just another Icon will have to cut our way through to get out of this place, I guess." responded Riberta. "We killed one already. A second one won't matter."

Cassandra spoke up after Riberta finished. "Don't underestimate Azgon. Mariette and I have fought him countless times. He is relentless. We've never come close to harming him effectively."

As they spoke, Hayley Payne made her appearance once more to the group. "...Venextos is dead?" she said softly, a look of shock on her face. Vincent looked to her, before nodding slowly. "...He sacrificed himself to help us kill Ralvas." The blind witch stepped over to the group, her head turning as if she were looking at each of them. "...That means he's elsewhere here in the Abyss. I will need to locate him quickly, to make sure he remains safe and out of the Icon's clutches...He'll likely be in the Land of Pride, knowing him..."