Fantasy The Great Games of Nye

[Jet]

​

Marigold strutted around like an actor on a stage, humming and hawing at their many questions. He flourished his hand and spun around to face the group, raising up his arms like a preacher. "It was horrific! Horrible! A haunting hex upon my heavy heart! I saw savagery so satanic it surely shant be said! A murder in cold blood, killers in cloaks the color of coal, carving centurions to the bone!"

"I ran as fast as my legs could take me!" He leaned against a couch for support, shaking his head in sorrow. His voice was a sad whisper like he was in mourning. "But alas I was spotted."

"They soon found me and dragged me to the deepest of dark depths, demanding to know who I'd told! But there was a man you see."

"Sympathetic and kind and most importantly of all, he was dumber than the rats in my cell! I convinced him I was a lost prince of Valencia!" He smiled and tipped his hat. "He released me in exchange for a mountain of Valencian gold, paid once I've gone home of course!"

"Wow," Bean droned. "Riveting."

He released a monumental sigh from the bottom of his soul, bored and tired of the charlatans around him. They were performers without a shred of honesty in their hearts, and Marigold was the worst of them all. He wasn't even ashamed of his fraudulent personality. The damn phony — counterfeit human reciting lines like a robot. Bean wanted to rip him in half.

"Alright!" Bean slapped his knees like a tired dad. "Questions answered, annoying imp acquired, one expensive carpet ruined—

"Mission accomplished eh?" He said to Nihall. "Time to see what those louses found in the slums, hope they have something better than this..."

He searched for a word to describe the man they were saddled with, and after a moment he settled on, "Creature."

It was far more than Marigold deserved, but the centurion was in a generous mood. He didn't even steal on the way out of Casablanca — though the thought occurred more than once. Instead he breached the front door like a whale desperate for air, bolting outside with Marigold right behind him, rambling about the best type of cheese.

Anne Boolean Lost Echo

 

[ZackStop]

Ren let out a sigh of relief as soon as Ava too reunited with the rest of them, and as a bonus she was unharmed. He wasn't going to leap at her with a hug like Anya did, especially because that looks like it would hurt, like throwing yourself into a wall, but he did approach as well.

"We were worried the crazyyy-" Ren stopped himself from saying something he'd regret as his face went a little pale for a moment. Marjorie's curly blonde hair caught his eye as she too warped into the room. Odd that she didn't take this chance to bail, but her very presence here was almost a confirmation that the woman had some sort of scheme going on between her ears.

Ren cleared his throat before speaking a smidge more cautious. "Worried she may have done something. Looks like you're in good shape though!" He gave her a firm pat on the arm, and to no one's surprise, it was hard as a rock.

"That kinda stung!" Ren thought to himself, before turning his attention back to Johan who was dead set on making an enemy out of Damian.

The man was odd, and his wordings were a bit suspicious when the boy first met him, but was he evil? Ren tried really hard to see what Johan was seeing, going as far as to squint to maybe point out a detail about the man to discern if his attention were truly corrupt.

He began to detail what sounded like some sort of lab like that owned by a super villain in a movie, an unbreachable prison where heinous acts are done to innocent people. He wished it was just that, but this was no movie, it was real. Ren was shocked by what he was hearing if what the man was saying was to be believed. Then he add on a layer to this crazy place, looking directly at Anya.

His head went back and forth as the two spoke about a girl, a girl who must be a friend of Anya's based only on her negative reaction to the information he present. He looked down as her hands had become fists and her tone shifted from the one he was used to.

"Wait, what's going on? Who is this girl?" Ren asked her out of pure ignorance. He was completely out of the loop.

Lost Echo Jet rozukitsune Huntertabbysandshark3

 

[ZackStop]

Ilana was too focused on what was in front of her to notice what the two geezers were up to, let alone what her own group was dealing with at the time of her departure. Even with her eyes glued to the vanguard, she could smell the lingering scent of something metallic and she soon found out why.

After a half a dozen cannon balls she sent the rest of the rocky stump flying with a heavy grunt. It was then that she glanced down to find a man's corpse with smoking holes shot through him. The sight made her nose wrinkle in disgust. Overkill was a good word for it. Had she not already put him down? She only planned to take him out of the fight, not kill him, yet others seemed to have different methods. She glanced back for a moment to see Felix's sparking hands, clearly making him the culprit. She didn't dwell on it however, and with a quick spin to avoid the next incoming attack Ilana countered with a powerful open palmed strike.

As the man slid across the ground, she readied herself for whoever dare approach. It was so reminiscent of where she came from; the streets of the outlands. Where she was raised it was always a fight for survival, and that usually spelled violence. She was well trained, but it wasn't so easy when it was 5 on 1, 6 on 1 and so on. Just like all those times, Ilana gritted her teeth and fought like a dog.

"Gotta do something about the girl." She thought to herself. "If I rush in I'll get smoked." The kidnappers were certainly too numerous even if they were all terrible fighters.

Now standing between two old men, one intent on killing and the other boasting about how he has yet to be killed. Of course she would be stuck with a couple of crazy old men. There wasn't much time to talk as the girl's cries for help were still getting further away. It was times like this that Ilana's empathy would show in the form of combat. She would not let that girl be taken away no matter what. She didn't have to know who the girl was or why she was being taken or what any of this meant. She was in trouble and that's all that mattered. It wasn't so much heroism for Ilana, it was more so a desire to help someone in a bad situation much like what her late master did for her. Like tunnel vision however, she did not realize there was more going on than a kidnapping, as Felix pointed out.

"Sounds like that's more up your alley, then." She replied back to Felix with a sneer. "Not letting these guys get away!" She shouted her words with a spiteful insistence. With both hands she gripped the soil beneath them and claimed it as her own. She closed her eyes and listened to the cool earth and it's deep trembles to call upon it.

"If they can do it then so can I!" She thought to herself before sending the smallest shockwave through the ground and past the mob. A rumbling began to occur as the ground just beyond where the group of men were taking their captive began to shift. Puffs of dust began to be shaken out from between the crevices of the street, before a crudely shaped wall began to split it open. It was nowhere hear clean cut, more organic in appearance like spires of stone melded together to form a barricade. Ilana huffed from exhaustion, but before long her wall reached the rooftops of the buildings around them. Now Isaac, Felix and Ilana had them cornered.

Jet ManofManyRoles

 

[Jet]

Irina opened the door with the creaking of old hinges, revealing a basement with a short, claustrophobic ceiling. It was filled with blacksmiths and crafters and men studying maps, while some made posters and pamphlets. It was mayhem — pandemonium in a basement. There was barely any space unclaimed by someone already, and what remained was a network of narrow pathways, criss-crossing the room like spiderwebs.

Irina was immediately swarmed by young adults with shining eyes and bushy tails, hands overflowing with reports and plans needing approval, and one even mentioned Kwame. Irina politely nodded and gave them all the same sharp answer, "Leave it on my desk will you?"

"Forgive the interruption," she said as the swarm dissappeared. "They have the patience of children and the temperance of mosquitos."

"But where was I?"

"Talking shop as they say? I've always liked the vernacular of common folk, far more appealing than, may we come to an accord my lady?"

"In any case, we mean to remove the head from the most arrogant, dangerous of all snakes." Irina dodged interns as she walked through the room. They rushed back and forth without looking where they went, and on more than one unfortunate occasion, a bumbling fool bumped into another bumbling fool, sending a cloud of papers in the air.

Irina smiled before continuing her speech. "Lord Vincent is a plague upon humanity, a heartless beast even worse than the council preceeding him. We are organizing a—

She hesitated before saying the next word. These weren't mindless followers who treated her commands like gospel, but then again, they deserved the truth. The whole, unfiltered truth of what she asked. Her face hardened as she looked at them one by one, meeting their eyes as she said. "There must be a changing of the guard."

Her voice was restrained but angry and tense, condemnation bubbled from her like a volcanic eruption. Her mouth twitched and she dripped malice like poison from her lips. "Vincent must die," she said. "And once his corpse has been devoured by all manner of wild beast, a democracy will be formed in his wake."

"Does that make us sinners?" she said to Zulan. "Perhaps, and perhaps we are irredeemable, but we do what we must. We sacrifice our grace for the freedom of many, but the work is not finished."

"We must breach the palace but unfortunately for me and my delusional plans of grandeur, it's one of the most fortified locations on earth, and Vincent never leaves his comfortable confines."

Her eyes twinkled with opportunism and passion. Her voice raised with excitement as she said, "That's what makes you so important, insiders who can lower the defenses from within. Then we can end his reign of terror."

"And you," she looked at Galeine. "Join us while you have the chance! The Hydralines don't deserve the power they abuse! The people have every right to rebel against their yoke! Why toil for dictats playing God from high towers?" She reached out and clenched her hand. "Why not work together and pull down their house of cards?"

Lost Echo ManofManyRoles rozukitsune EldridSmith

 

[Huntertabbysandshark3]

Ava Marco
Interaction: Jet Lost Echo ZackStop​

Ava was the last one through the rift.. and frankly, the one with the least context on the bright side they didn't explode unless they did and these where clones? can magic clone someone? maybe? she reasoned or were they like golems made of rock and looked like living people? she certainly felt alive but then again of course she would Ava shook her head throwing away those weird thoughts it wasn't necessary at the moment back to the task at hand.. which was giving Ayna a slight too-tight hug. "yeah of course im ok! why wouldn't I be? ... weres the weird girl anyway. chess board one?" she'd ask with a small hum of confusion.. last one in most out of the loop.. then the wildest thing happened.. they were asked to go break into or at least get access to some stop security persion/nut house. oh great.. this would go swimmingly.. "ok so... just how are we of all people expected to go there.. not like we are super mages.. or anything.. sounds like a suicide mission of nothing else" Ava said crossing her bulky arms unconvinced

 

[Lost Echo]

…Were they really going to bring this man with them? Vixie was already getting a headache from him and Bean was likely to kill him. At the rate he was going before they even met the others.

She listened to his tale--noting he didn’t say why he was someplace where they were cutting people up--slowly growing less and less believing. She was grateful when Nihal mentioned meeting up with the others, but couldn’t help but ask, “Are we really bringing him with us?” Turning to interrupt whatever monologue she’d been ignoring, she asked, “Maybe you can tell us where to go and stay here.” She didn’t want Bean to rip him in half.

“How are we going to find the others?” There wasn’t any agreement on where to meet up, and Vivian was wary of going to the poor part of the slums, this facade was bad enough.

Outside of the glitz of Casablanca, Vixie had thought she’d be able to relax, but she still felt out of place. These streets were dangerous for her.

Anne Boolean Jet

 

[rozukitsune]

Narzas flashed Johan a loving, if wry smile at his words. Given everything they'd shared and discussed in their short time together, the sentiment was heartwarming. Still, they both knew that if they were going to die in this adventure there'd be little to be done about it. They knew better than anyone how lives could end in an instant. Hoping that they would find a way to avoid it was not the same thing believing that they'd manage to achieve old age. She continued to prefer to hope that whatever happened, at least one of them would survive - and that that would be enough when the time came. The uneasy feeling that Death was always following at her back never truly left her.

The people that had bombed the Arena were out there. Zuànshí was out there. This guy they were talking to right now had clearly had some hand in all of this even if his own weren't coated in blood. The person or people that had killed all those individuals back at the lab were out there. The mole in Nye's upper command structure was out there. Marjorie was out there. Honestly... it seemed laughable that any of them walked with any semblance of belief their next steps wouldn't be their last.

As Anya leveled accusations at Damian and the odd man began to describe what it was he wanted them to do to retain his services/get their questions answered, Narzas chewed everything over in silence. Johan had the interrogation well in hand at it seemed quite clear that this whole thing was directly related to Anya and her own personal concerns over the missing girl she'd only recently revealed to the rest of them. There was nothing really for her to add. She would follow wherever Johan led, and if that was to this secret new place... then it was. If it was into a fight here and now in this weird place in time and space, then it was. Whatever happened, it seemed things were about to get interesting.

----

​

Marjorie ate her dainty little sandwiches and chewed on crisp peeled apple slices while sipping wine from a thermos and watching the far-off hubub of the city in its machinations. Admittedly, thermos' were not the peak of taste purity that glasses were but she couldn't very well cart around such fragile wares around with her and expect them not to get destroyed in her line of work. She pulled a silver time piece from the many hidden folds of her voluminous petticoat and checked how long those five had been gone, then set it away again. She would give them... an hour. Hmmm... maybe better make it two. Who knew how long this conversation was going to last - and she wanted to catch Damian alone if possible. If they knew she was following them everywhere then the surprise of her showing up again wouldn't be nearly as fun.

No. She didn't need to be beside them in every moment. She would just hound them from the shadows until an opportune moment presented itself for her to strike. She far preferred individual targets to groups-after all. Her orders were simple enough. Anything else she wanted to do while she was at it was up to her discretion. And for these particular orders, it was mere happy chance that what she wanted to do and what she was supposed to do would work quite well together. Still, she needed to play it cool and aloof - lest they suspect her true motivations.

Yes. She would follow them... but as a shadow must endlessly follow a body in the sun, never allowing her quarry to truly realize when she would strike until she did. That would keep them wary, keep them watching - and most importantly: keep them distracted.

Jet Lost Echo Huntertabbysandshark3 ZackStop

 

[Jet]

​

"Full of questions aren't we?" He showed his palms and bowed his head with respect, even though he despised their questions. He liked when people followed along without digging in his business, and his reasons were his and his alone. He suppressed the urge to scold Anya for prying where she didn't belong. To force Johan to kneel for his accusations.

His anger was like a furnace burning inside his stomach, but he showed nothing but a peaceful, placid smile.

"I suppose—

"It's to be expected in your position. You've been roped into a world you can't understand, a game much larger than yourselves." He flipped through a book of cuneiform and pictographs, stopping at a picture of The Bearer of Gifts.

"And so it is known," he read from his book with dramatic flair, changing his pitch with each word. "He came bearing gifts to the flooded lands. He bore the seeing of fates and seeing of stars! He bore the seeing of time and the seeing of worlds. He came to the mighty gates of Ur. He lamented the ruination of our once great walls. He lamented the rot of our crops. He lamented the plague of our people. He bore us gifts yet each came with a curse, like the floodwaters that bring life to the land, but also bring death."

"So on and so forth." He slammed the book shut. "These gifts have exchanged hands many times over the years, and as the legend says, each one comes with a curse. I cannot directly interfere with the fate of our world, so much to my unending frustration, I must use proxies."

"I would normally use another person in my employ, but we share common interests no? I wish to free her from torment without bringing her harm, and recover what is rightfully mine." He straightened up and looked at the hulking woman, she was like a beast with a loud roaring voice. He almost laughed at how she phrased her questions, but as he was before, he maintained his peaceful, lipless smile. "There is a man who owes me greatly. He owns a submersible that can reach the ocean floor. He will take you there on my command."

"I hope that satisfies your curiosity," he said with the nodding of his head, like an actor proud of his performance. He hoped that was the end because this seemed pointless. If he was hiding information about his request, why would he reveal it? Would he come out and admit, "Look at me everyone! I'm a liar!"

He found people amusing in that way. How they burned away seconds like kindling for a fire. He was very intimate with time and knew how valuable each second was, how much occurred in every moment across the world. There wasn't a single second worth less than a mountain of gold, and people squandered thousands every day. It was a shame but he wasn't there to guide them through life. He was there to recover something dear to him — and maybe with their help, stubborn as they were, maybe he'd be reunited soon.

Lost Echo Huntertabbysandshark3 rozukitsune ZackStop

 

[Arcanist]

Brynwyr Protheroe

Mentions: Lost Echo ZackStop Jet

The scientist had similar questions to Brynwyr, her gestures making the knight feel a little. There was not much more one could do bar gesture and speak slowly when a man’s speech was so stilted.

Spivey, however, was less interested, pilfering a corpse of one of the fallen to grab a trophy of their kill after celebrating the carnage they wrought on the locals. Rhys was taken aback by his question, stuttering, “Well, uh, exciting is an interesting way to put it…” Terrifying was more of an apt descriptor. “I’m glad someone had…fun,” he murmured, sparing a brief look to the corpses around them.

Brynwyr watched as Spivey moved from Esther, after making some unsavoury comment about carrying her for a short distance and shoving the man to the ground. They ranted and raved to him, begrudging him for bringing the warriors in their direction. “Spivey, stop it!” She demanded, stepping him and grabbing their arm, though, it did not go beyond that. By then her additional feline feats had all but disappeared, replaced with a stern warning in her eyes.

She did not entirely disagree with Spivey. The warriors were alerted to their position and now their clear unwelcome presence in their homeland, a terrible enemy to have, but the man did not intend to lead them – quite literally.

And they did not know this man, that was true. They could be anyone, perhaps someone smart enough to stage something, or to gain their trust and lead them somewhere.

But did the risk outweigh the price they could pay without having a guide, some extra help on this dangerous continent?

“We do not know them, that much is true,” Brynwyr murmured, removing her hand from Spivey’s arm, “but we’ve unwittingly made ourselves enemies in a place we don’t know. We saved this man’s life. He owes in turn, so perhaps there is some way he can work with us, not against us. Even if he does, we outnumber him, four to one.” Brynwyr sighed, rubbing her cheek. “We don’t know the lay of the land or what lurks beneath our feet, and I’d prefer not to make another enemy.”

Rhys, in the midst of Brynwyr saying her piece, moved towards the man thrown so viciously thrown to the ground and offered his hand out with a smile.

 

[Arcanist]

Faraji Aguta

Mentions: Goliath Jet

​

Forward was their only option. Faraji didn’t want to admit that was their only choice, but he was hardly going to be allowed to walk out of here without the knowledge, confusing as it was, he now possessed.

“I’m not sure we can get a hold of them,” Faraji murmured to Goliath’s question. Any chance of reaching them was long gone. He hoped they were having a better time than what they were right now.

Adrian raised the good question about how if she was so powerful, why didn’t he go and kill this man himself? Though, it was possibly something that they all thought, and simply weren’t brave to ask. Typical answer though, that something held them back from killing him. Always so convenient that way.

“Wonderful,” Faraji murmured to the answer he was given about the Labyrinthian. Once again, no straight answer, just riddles, just pawns to a higher fate with their destinies sealed. And apparently, they had some people waiting on them to lead them to their untimely fate.

Faraji was not awfully religious, but he figured now was a time to start praying. Adrian lost all patience, or at least, the patience to stand and talk to this demon for much longer. Faraji watched him walk off, and he stood for a moment, looking from the demon, to Goliath, back to the demon, before he sighed. “Fuck…” There really was no choice.

He followed then, as much he wanted to fight against the strings that forced him towards the inevitable.

 

[Lost Echo]

Anya ignored the old man. He obviously was pontificating. She could tell he was angry about her questions, but that was expected. She focused on Ren instead. She was surprised, though after a moment, she realized Ren wouldn’t know. She’d tried to protect him: he came off as someone who hadn’t seen many horrors before the Arena, she hadn’t wanted to break his naivety. But she would never not answer an honest question. Of a fellow kid at least. Turning to face the teenager, she kept her voice soft, even though the rest of them already knew. “Hannah’s a young girl, pre-familiar, that was kidnapped four months ago.” She took a second to swallow down her devastation, before speaking again, “I found paperwork leading to Nye. It was the only reason I joined the stupid games.”

As Ava asserted it’d likely be a suicide mission, Anya couldn’t help but agree. But if she could get Hannah out of there…she looked at her companions, would they get her back to Peirama? Or someplace safe? She tuned back in as he slammed the book shut. Right. Was he claiming to be some god-given gift? That’s one way to explain your magic. Sure, his had to be mythical, but Anya wasn’t about to believe any god gave a flying fuck about this world. If they even existed. Besides, his curse was to have people do his dirty work? What kind of curse is that? Shouldn’t he have warts or live forever or some such bs?

Whatever. The sub was what she’s after. Stepping forward, she nodded, “Okay. I’ll go.” Ava was right that it was a suicidal mission, but Anya didn’t care. “When are you sending us? Just before Hannah gets there?” It would be easier if they didn’t have to break into the impenetrable fortress.

Huntertabbysandshark3 ZackStop rozukitsune Jet

 

[Lost Echo]

Esther was nearly tired enough to take Spivey up on the offer, but made no response. Thankfully, the mercenary didn’t seem to need one. Unfortunately, it was to attack their only potential ally. Did he just want to destroy everything? Why couldn’t she have been stuck with the didgeridoo player? Or the hot chick? She seemed competent at least. Though not necessarily forest ranger competent. She’d even take Madam Percussive Maintenance over this bullshit.

“Shut up. And get off of him. You’re the fucking one who decided to fight instead of letting them pass. Don’t blame him for your stupidity.”

At least Brynwyr recognized their position. They needed allies, especially now that they’ve made enemies. Powerful ones at that. Maybe this man would want to sacrifice them or some shit, but that usually took a ceremony. He wouldn’t do it now. Maybe she could sleep before it. Spivey’d burn exceptionally well, with all that alcohol in him. For a moment she wondered if there’d ever been a study on the speed of immolation of the inebriated. Then she blinked and refocused. Ethics. She had to remember ethics with her science.

At least Rhys was helping the man up. “If you want to help us, we’re trying to go to that crash site. We’re missing people. They’d likely go there.” She leaned against a tree, after checking there wasn’t any spiny creature there first. “Unless you know a way out of here that is.”

Jet ZackStop Arcanist

 

[Anne Boolean]

Nihal scratched his head after hearing Marigold's account. Would someone who was skilled enough to kill a Centurion really be dumb enough to believe some bystander was a Valencian prince? A lost one at that?

"Is it?" the performer asked when Bean asked if their mission was accomplished. "Doesn't his tale seem a little... farfetched to you? Do you really think he can lead us to the killers, as he claims?" All that being said, it's not like they had any other lead. He assumed Bean knew that as he watched the Centurion start on his way out of the Casablanca. The cat boy followed along, letting out a sigh as their informant went on and on about cheese. It was similar to when a particularly chatty fan approached him. At least they were usually sweet though. Perhaps he was biased, as even though both were talking at Nyaall as opposed to him, the fan would at least be speaking words of praise instead of their opinion on fermented milk.

"Me too..." he agreed with Bean, shaking his head as their newly acquired "Creature" started to give him a headache. His eyes then went to Vixie, who expressed that Marigold should stay here. He certainly would have preferred that as well, but if Marigold was telling the truth, then they would need him to lead them to what they were looking for. "I think he needs to stay with us," Nihal responded. "Plus he wasn't exactly... welcomed at the Casablanca." Unless those shackles were for... "entertainment" purposes.

The girl then brought up another good question. "Surely wandering through the slums in hopes of running into them isn't the best idea..." He turned to Bean. Did he have some way to track the others?

Jet Lost Echo

 

[Jet]

​

"Do not worry yourself." He guided them through the village where the prisoners lived, ragged tents covered in dust and grime, men and women in rags and sandals. They narrowed their eyes as the newcomers passed them by, whispers filled the mine and for a brief moment, the workers stopped what they were doing to watch.

The curiosity passed after a moment. The sound of mining resumed and life, miserable as it was, returned to normal in the prison. The old man looked back at the newcomers behind him, eyeing them as he said, "We are not meant to know. We are meant to dig."

"You can dig no? You have two hands, broad shoulders—

"Yes I think you can dig." He tossed Baryn a shovel covered in rust. "But you—

He regarded Euclair with trepidation. He knew she couldn't break rocks and dig like Baryn could, but thankfully for her, there was no shortage of opportunities in the mine. "You can haul the rocks when he breaks them! You see!"

He smiled at them sarcastically. "Everyone has a place here, unless—

His brow raised with intrigue towards them. These strangers from another land with no connection to their captors. Their presence mirrored a story told many years ago, a vision of a better, perhaps unreachable future. He looked between them for a moment, words leaving him like one long, leading question. "You want to do something about your predicament? I normally wouldn't trust a stranger without testing them first, but you? You don't come from these lands."

He gazed at the mine entrance far above him. "You aren't here to sabotage us for those monsters, so perhaps we can work together?"

EldridSmith Monbon ManofManyRoles

 

[Jet]

​

Huracan had no idea what Spivey was screaming about, but he doubted this was a friendly greeting. He wasn't sure why the man was mad though — was Huracan supposed to have telepathic powers? To see the future and know who crossed his path? To stand and fight killers with his bare hands? His pathetic air magic to viciously, savagely ruffle their shirts? Huracan wasn't a fighter and wasn't starting now. He stared at Spivey with eyes wider than a canyon, color drained from his face until he was like a ghost. Then he stammered a string of gibberish like a mockery of common tongue.

"W-w-w-whayoudowhystopnodon!"

"Bad man!" He screamed before looking at the others. The friends who wouldn't cook him alive. "He crazy, bad man!"

He reached up at the woman with blonde hair, she was defending him like a knight in shining armor, a cliche he really hoped was true. He felt a wave of attraction for this paragon of beauty defending his precious life, and with his incredible looks, she undoubtedly felt the same way. It was a foregone conclusion they would be together. "You!"

His words almost caught in his chest. "Thankyou most thankyous, you are friend, I am friend. I take to village where safe."

His twitchy gaze moved to Esther, she was more detached and wasn't coming to his rescue, but she wasn't trying to kill him. It was a pretty good start. "Thanks and thanks to you too," he said before looking at the mercenary. "You hear to lady? Get off me!"

Lost Echo ZackStop Arcanist

 

[Goliath]

Goliath heard the riddle. The blood of Kratoria. Some mystery she. And a round gate with the answers. But he couldn’t process the words because the witch seemed more interested in harassing him further. His pupils narrowing as she moved around him.

The cold touch of her finger and the grime that almost made him want to cleanse himself in the Byzantine Church’s stupid holy water. And why did she always choose to touch him anyway??

“Sorry, Hag. Maybe you believe in a fated string. That our futures are predetermined and nothing we do can change it. But that’s not how I choose to view my existence.” Goliath spoke, running a hand through his hair. Not that he would argue semantics with an ethereal being who could see the future and the past.

He turned to Adrian as he confirmed once more if what they needed was down there. Was he still thinking that the witch was lying after all this?

They should probably regroup and talk about everything that had happened. Plus maybe the other two understood more of the riddles than he’d been able to? Like who was supposed to lead them to a hidden door? So much thinking made his brain hurt.

“Hopefully we stand a better chance against the filthy men. I’m feeling a little eager to fight after this bullshit,” he attempted to joke but the sparkle in his eyes showed he wasn’t particularly kidding.

“And look at that. We can agree on something after all,” he smirked before watching Adrian head down the hall first and then Faraji after.

He turned to the witch once they were alone, “Are the creatures outside yours? If so I assume you will call them back? Or will you make leaving a pain?” Goliath scoffed. But then his expression turned serious.

He had plenty of questions he found himself wanting to ask at that moment, though she probably already knew that. If the war in his homeland was useless. Who his parents were. If his familiar..— No. None of it mattered. And she wouldn’t answer seriously even if he did speak his inner thoughts out loud.

“If you have nothing else for me, have fun with your body before her life force is completely spent,” he spoke his farewell before heading outside to join the others.

Goliath breathed deeply once in the open air. The slums of the undercity laid out in front of them was also disgusting, but definitely better than the cabin had been. Moving to stand beside Faraji before he spoke.

“I would have believed that was a fever dream had I been alone. Just shows how little I know about the world if things like that are lurking in the shadows.”

“So .. anyone gain anything notable? Or at least what we need to do for the first step to get this over with? She did mention our ‘companions’, not that I would call them that, but should we start there?” He pondered out loud, fighting the urge to scrub the filth off his arm.

Jet (Adrian) Arcanist (Faraji)

 

[ManofManyRoles]

Yua Smith
ユア・スミス

Despite the whizz of arrows flying by and the cracking sound of stone arrows cracking against the stone wall Yua had erected, she did her best to focus on her inner peace in that moment. Remember your lessons. Remember your lessons. Remember your lessons. It had become a mental mantra to keep herself steady. Her lessons in anatomy and healing, in medical arts and everything in between. And just as equally her lessons from Felix, her butler insisting that if she was going to journey West that he have a chance to instruct her. Of course her personal beliefs meant he had to change his usual teaching methodology...nevertheless, he'd managed to impart some wisdom to her. First and foremost is if she panicked and broke, everything would be lost...if she wanted to stand her ground on her own beliefs, she'd also have to stand her literal ground.

Mischa's cry of warning caused her to snap her attention towards the rooftops, clenching her jaw in frustration as she once again gave a small mental prayer to the gods of her mothers homeland for protection. However, at Mischa's compliment her head snapped around to look towards the other woman. Slowly, color drained into Yua's features as her naturally pale face heated with a rose of color on each cheek. She looked back towards Leon's shoulder than, her voice soft as a feather as she spoke, "I'm not that brave," she mumbled in objection. Whether she was convincing Mischa, herself, or Leon she wasn't sure. As Mischa continued to propose they engage in combat Yua bit her lip, her voice still weak "I can't fight." Or was it won't?, she wondered to herself. "I can defend, though...that I can do. I can also heal, as you know...but I can't fight. He uses Earth though, and so do I, so any attack I threw at him wouldn't matter...the opposite is true, though."

Yua looked over towards Rat as he'd arrived to provide his own insight, Yua giving a small nod. "Being in the open is dangerous...but so is going inside of a house. They're all flammable, all it would take is one of the Astalia to throw a spark on it and we'd be trapped inside. I can set up a small set of walls here, if we want."

Finally she gave Leon an apologetic smile, the rosey red that had bloomed on her cheeks in embarrassment at the praise of 'being brave' having slowly receded by now to a faint pink. "If you can, yes. We have to stop the blaze, and I don't know if I could throw enough dirt and dust into the blaze to smother it. Not by myself. We could work together, though? " She had politely refrained from commenting on his attitude of 'I'm fine' and 'It's just a flesh wound!'. Such assurances fell on deaf ears, it'd seem. Yua paused as she examined the wound...her eyes hadn't deceived her, it was stone. It didn't look like it'd bit into bone, only flesh and muscle. By all regards, it could have been much worse...no sign of toxin or poison, and no abrasive elements for the skin. Simple, but effective.

Suddenly, Leon stood upright only to find the short girl glued to his side, her grip on his wrist again, searching his face. "It's not that simple, Leon. It's not a cork, and you're not a barrel. But if you want, I'll do what I need to later, you're right. We need to focus on stopping him...I'll follow whatever you all suggest, but I can't throw a punch. I could trap him in a dust cloud? If I'm manipulating the earth, he can't...not unless he's far stronger than I am." It was a dirty, foul, and underhanded tactic what she was going to do. It was beyond cruel...however, it was an effective tool of any doctor. Distract the patient, and let them relax. She waited until Leon proved his mind had drifted at least somewhat from his prospective treatment...only for Yua to suddenly lash out like a viper towards the arrow with her prosthesis. In one smooth and potentially cruel motion, she yanked the blasted thing out. Perhaps however, with more skill than it appeared.

With the stone arrow now where it was without any magic holding it in place, and with it only in soft material, she could pull it out. And with it being stone, she could make sure it didn't yank out the muscle inside with it by simply turning the arrowhead as soft as soil. It was one quick, precise, and sharp motion. The arrow clattered to the ground as a small jet of crimson erupted from Leon's shoulder. Yua moved quick, however, and with practiced ease she had ripped free a strip of gauze from the materials she had on her person and bound his shoulder once, twice, three times until it was tight and staunched the bleeding. "Unless you want to tear your muscles up and make things worse, the arrow had to come out," she apologized, "I'll give you a proper look over once this is done."

​

Jet Emphoa Goliath

 

[Jet]

Bean stopped in the middle of the street. He looked up at the cavernous ceiling high above them; glowing mushrooms were like stars in the deep darkness. He took a long breath and for the first time in many, many days, he actually sounded bitter — sharpened with hatred for the bard. "I hate him twice as much as you do, but we can't leave him here, no matter how much I want to throw him in the sea for the sharks."

Marigold nervously shifted from one foot to the other, but he didn't make a peep. At least he knew when to shut up.

"If we leave this moron," Bean said. "Then he doesn't have to tell the truth, could mislead us and vanish across the world. Now if we take him?"

"If he lies?"

Bean smiled at the man. "I'll take my time with you."

"Yes!" Marigold bowed until his plume touched the ground. "Of course my captain! My gracious commander! That is precisely what you should do! A just punishment some would say, a very suitable, non excessive punishment!"

Bean watched with snideness and contempt. Marigold was like a worm writhing in the hot sun, a parasite begging to survive — and he would as long as he was useful. What came next was anyone's guess.

Bean didn't answer him though. His gaze slowly moved from the parasite to his less parasitic friends, choosing to answer them instead.

"You know," he said perking up. "This why I chose you lot. I do the burning and scaring of common rots, and you do the smart thinking with those big, big little brains!"

He tapped Vixie's forehead. "I reckon they should see this."

He pointed up and fire erupted from his finger, shooting high above like a missile. It burst into words written in pure white flames, visible from many miles away.

Attention thralls, come here and bow down to me.

He answered Nihall while admiring his handiwork, gazing up like a proud artist. "I don't trust him neither, but then I gets to thinking, as Beans tend to do, and I ask meself? Who can we trust anyway? There's treachery afoot ya-know? Two factions warring in Nye, centurions with bones to pick with the state, who bloody well knows?"

"So fuck it, eh? I'll torch him if he goes rogue." He clapped the man's shoulder. "Ain't that right big fella?"

Lost Echo Anne Boolean Goliath Arcanist

 

[Lost Echo]

Vivian tried to tell herself that Bean wasn’t going to kill the man regardless, but the sharpness, the hatred in his tone scared her. She wrapped her tails around herself without noticing, jumping when the portly man spoke up once more. She stepped away from him, not wanting any of that hatred to spill on her.

She flinched when Bean poked her forehead, seeing the sarcasm as the insult it was. She followed his gaze up to the sk-ceilling, her eyes registering the glowing mushrooms just before white flames seared across them. Scrunching up her face, she rubbed at them, then blinked repeatedly, trying to get the afterimage out of her gaze.

Her ears still worked though. And all she could think was, No, I don’t know what treachery is afoot. You didn’t tell us anything! Were there only 2 factions? She didn’t even know what each side wanted, let alone which side she was on. Her tails flicked amongst themselves, as she told herself, she was doing the right thing, but with her cleared vision, she looked at Bean clapping the older man on the shoulder. She knew he wasn’t right. He was too powerful to care about right and wrong. Her gaze shifted the Marigold. He was obviously embellishing whatever he was saying, but people didn’t have the right to lock others up for crimes. That’s what you went to the police for…right? Swallowing, she quietly admitted to herself, maybe Goliath was right.

But how did the others know what was right or wrong? Did they get some type of briefing from someone else? Did they know what they were looking for? They were willing to go on their own to get it. But how?!

Anne Boolean Jet

 

[ZackStop]

​

Spivey would have shouted back at Huracan's half-shitty English, but Esther was really proving to be a pain in the ass as she was still stuck on details of their skirmish. Spivey was too riled up now to let her insult go uncontested and began pointing as their voice crackled with static.

"Damnit, they wouldn't have passed! What part of savage do you not understand? You have way too much faith in these natives!" They shouted before a deep breath, ready to begin pressing the mud man again, only for the Valkyrie to grab their arm as she too raised her voice. The initial instinct was to yank away from their grasp, but looking over to find Brynwyr's pleasant face was able to calm them down just a smidge, enough to stop and listen to what she had to say.

It was like music to their ears. Sure, it wasn't as punchy-kicky as Spivey would have wanted it, but the woman wasn't blindly trusting either and made some good points that even a drunken mess could understand. She was perfectly neutral while still getting something done. It was kinda impressive, Spivey thought.

A crackling sound came from Spivey's mask as they took a long deep breath. "Fine." Spivey looked down at Huracan, a look of near hatred behind that mask of theirs. "We'll do it your way, even if he is a little bitch." Spivey took a few steps back, giving the man enough room to get on his feet. "I'll just have to save my punches until after he screws us over."

Jet Lost Echo Arcanist

 

[Anne Boolean]

Being one who hadn't spent time with Bean before, the disdain towards Marigold seemed excessive to Nihal. The man had a flair for the dramatic and certainly seemed like he embellished things. He was annoying, and may very well lead them to a dead end, and Bean seemed to think he was deserving of torture for such a slight. Nyaall wouldn't be surprised if Bean felt he deserved that simply for existing.

Marigold's defense mechanism was fawning. A fairly pathetic display, but the singer had done similar many times in the past when he had ended up in danger.

When Bean tapped Vivian's forehead, Nihal instinctively stepped closer to the girl. Perhaps it was because he had been drunk, but Bean's unhinged actions and mannerisms before seemed harmless. Now it seemed like there was malice behind the young Centurion's actions. Either way, apparently the reason for the "compliment" from him was because he had been given an idea to shoot up a flare to summon the others. Despite being underground, the glowing mushrooms were like stars in the night sky. The words that then spread across it in white flame were akin to fireworks on the night of a summer festival. The visuals of the flare weren't quite as comforting though, and for their purposes, were rather vague.

Nihal had half a mind to ask if that would really be effective. Would the others know that the message was intended for them? Even if so, how would they know where to find them? Even if they caught sight of the flare as it went up, the underground area they were in seemed pretty large. Wouldn't it be hard to pinpoint exactly where it came from after just a momentary glimpse? After the bit that Bean had to say about trust and treachery, he dared not ask. Like Vixie, a lot of the context was lost on him, although that might have been from his own actions as opposed to the naivety of being young. Either way, he couldn't help but wonder if it was a warning meant for them as well. A warning to stay in line, or face the consequences.

Bean had commented on their "big, big brains" though. Would the consequences of not being useful be worse than the consequences of questioning him? The performer decided so, and opened his mouth.

"Are you sure they will know the message is for them? And how will they know where to find us? The fire only shot up for a second..."

Jet Lost Echo

 

[ZackStop]

Ren listened to her as his expression that was once a look of confusion became one of shock. Something like that felt so unreal, that someone so young was taken to the place Damian had been talking about. Hannah was important somehow and to many people, but what did that mean? He knew nothing about the details, but as Anya continued it became clear that this girl meant dearly to her.

As she continued, Ren looked down as he began fully processing what Anya was saying. Hannah was a friend in need, that much was clear, but saving her was starting to sound incredibly complicated. There was a sad look on his face now. The idea of someone you know being so close yet so far in a way was a struggle for sure, possibly more than the mourning of someone already lost. For a moment he thought of his last living family that was so recently stripped away from him. He didn't want to dwell on it, but in that fleeting moment Ren realized he was alone now.

"I had no idea." Was all Ren could say at the moment. He thought about the situation at hand, and it didn't take long for it to become clear. This was really their only option, and luckily for Anya, it was a way to get her friend back. He took a moment and glanced over at the others, then down at his most trusted companion, Phalanx, then eventually looked back up at his fellow gearhead with a brave face.

"In that case, I'll do whatever I can to help!" He considered the risks, and despite what the others may have thought about it, Ren was ready to jump right in and give it his all for her if it meant saving a friend. He too looked back over to the man with his book to see what he had to say.

Jet Lost Echo rozukitsune Huntertabbysandshark3

 

[Emphoa]

Evaline was quiet, for the most part, watching the few interact with her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Her lips pressed firmly together as she listened to Kwame- and she couldn't help the small puff that left her lips as she looked back up at him. "Come now, Kwame, you should know better than to take everything at face value, you know." She was teasing, it was light hearted, but her eyes soon hardened as she looked right back at the knight himself. He seemed so determined to keep them a secret- she truly had to wonder why, especially when they were the ones here to help... She supposed it was a blessing then, that Kilderkin was good at pressing him for more answers rather than the vague ones he seemed to be heavily content supplying them.

She was contemplative, however, as she listened to him talk about their suspect, her eyes narrowed just a touch as she slowly glanced right back towards Kilderkin, quirking a brow as she let the other woman take the lead. She was certainly good at this, she had to give her that much. It was easy enough to let her lead, and she focused more on the knight, now, as he was being grilled currently. "... I have to say, I would be rather unconvinced as well- especially since you don't seem to trust us with your information." She murmured, placing one of her knuckles to her chin as she cocked her head to the side.

"But I suppose maybe you might be onto something." The woman finally sighed out, shutting her eyes for a few moments. "It would be good to look into Irina I surmise... Even through all of this chaos, that might make it more difficult." She stated with a click of her tongue, and she took a moment to glance at Kilderkin. She wasn't used to questioning such individuals, really, but... She would do the best that she could manage. "So, there's nothing more to go off of?"

Jet Fred Colon

 

[Arcanist]

Brynwyr Protheroe

Mentions: Lost Echo ZackStop Jet

Tempers were still high, adrenaline still pumping through all of them, evident in the sniping between Esther and Spivey. Brynwyr wondered what that man thought of the foreigners, shouting and making a hubbub in the middle of his home.

Brynwyr couldn't see the change with Spivey's mask, but she felt the tension escape them through her grip. She didn't think her words would reach to Spivey and she was sure her stern eyes wouldn't have been taken seriously, but they seemed to calm down. Or perhaps they were giving her the rudest, venomous state behind the mask.

Brynwyr felt a hand reach up to her and call to her. She swerved to look down at its owner, the long-haired man, on his knees and staring up at her. He was starstruck in his thanks, acting as if she was a paragon of justice and all things good in the world. She could only nod, an indication of her understanding. Even in her surprise, she wouldn't lie that she enjoyed the way he looked at her as some sort of hero.

She earned enough of his trust for him to take them to his village, a place of safety. An ally in unknown territory, until they reunited with the others and found who they were looking for.

And anyone who shouted at Spivey was a good ally. She took secret joy out of seeing them be berated for their chaotic ways.

Brynwyr heard Spivey's relenting and saw him step back. "Then you can make sure we never hear the end of how right you were," the knight jibed, turning back to the man. She helped him onto his feet.

"It's okay," she reassured him, again, slow and stilted. She gestured, "Spivey won't hurt you."

Well. Maybe.

"I'm Brynwyr. We came from an airship above, but we were attacked by a giant snake. We want to head back to the crash site, to see if we can find other people." Perhaps their village would be able to help any other survivors, or give them more information on who they were looking for...if they could get past the language barrier. She pointed to him. "Your name?"

 

[ManofManyRoles]

𝓜𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓻 '𝓜𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴' 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓮𝓻
Mavior had glanced over as Zak had called his name over the screaming winds, only for the wet splat of dirt to cover the bleeding wound at his temple. It matted in his hair and obscured one of his goggles, and the scent of earth filled a nostril. He shook his head at the impact, using a gloved hand to scrape the mud away from his goggle and having to blow a puff of air rather hard through his nostrils to dislodge the mud that had become an unwelcome tenant to it. He swayed for a moment more before giving a firm nod to Zak. "You have my thanks!" Mavior called to Zak before kicking off from the ground towards a mast again.

Another crack of lightning flashed overhead, but this time it didn't earn a cry of pain. He soared towards a blaze that threatened to spread even farther, that invisible 'bubble' of calm around Mavior protecting him from wind and rain. He had to hover before the blaze a good distance away, the heat too strong for him to get close in any regard. He raised a hand in a sharp swipe to the side, a gust of wind redirected into the blaze before it began to spin around it and the mast itself. It was a somewhat messy application, his control not to the poinnt he'd like. But if he could create enough of a cyclone of air, he could deprive it of oxygen to decrease its size. Once that was done he simply had to redirect the wind into a firm gust to smother the embers and cool the wood. He moved quickly from there, planks and wood nailed into the mast as quickly as he could. As he finished another booming crack of thunder overhead made him sway off course away from the mast for a moment as he cupped his ears, taking longer this time to regain his bearings and soar off towards another blaze in the masts. He had to trust the others could get the supplies, while Zak and he tried to prevent the masts themselves from collapsing in on themselves.

​

Jet EldridSmith Emphoa Goliath