Graded [The Underbelly] Demise's Verdict

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance



​

The giant behemoth of corpses slowly lumbered towards the champion, shocking all other living beings in the arena as the giant had glowing lights where lights would be at on its head, it let out a synchronized groan of five hundred corpses in one body. The lights died off and revealed only corpses where its eyes were. The giant slammed an undead fist down on the ground before lifting it up with about ten corpses staying on the ground, they rose up from the ground and began shambling towards the group, arrows pierced the heads of each zombie from Lunes, the Divees Crew archer was great in her targeting of individuals. Orchid's [Meteor Falls] was a power move, leaping into the air like an incredible hulk, the undead amongst the behemoth raised their hands up at the orc as she took her mighty leap. Crashing on down while swinging her scythe, the undead in the area she aimed for all aimed straight for her, raising their hands to try and grab her as she crashed on through the knee of the behemoth. Even emitting a powerful WAAAAAAAAGH! in the process like a distant and bloodthirsty relative people of hers. Wirejaw helped with the efforts, using the Orc's momentum to charge straight through the undead like a whirling wheel of doom as the undead continued to invite the large, armored lizard by raising their hands up at Wirejaw. He would crash on through the undead [Ranahan Cattle Toss]. As he flew on through the undead, the hands, arms and body enveloped the large lizard. Sucking him into the body of undead as all he would hear now were countless and loud groans with constant biting occurring all over his body, luckily with his strong armor none would penetrate his skin, but he was now stuck inside a moving tomb of grafted undead.

Orchid's strike did not go unnoticed... For about a few moments, it did blow a large chunk of undead and blood from its knee, the giant fell down onto one knee as the moans came. Although in a quick amount of time, the knee began to regenerate as bodies covered where Orchid had taken it out at. The behemoth let out a loud roar as from its hands that were on the ground, undead crawled out with missing limbs but they instead had these strange looking whips for arms as they did this weird slithering motion towards the group as they moved their arms around moving quickly at the group. With one of them stuck within the behemoth and the other's attack not doing much besides stopping it for a moment, more undead poured out. Vido saw the undead coming and growled, " What the fuck are these monstrosities! Boss! We got new variants! Whiplashers! " The Half-orc called them before moving forward at one, the undead swung an arm trying to whip at Vido who moved undead the attack, holding both greatswords, he swung at the next whip arm and slice it off before swinging his other blade and cutting the head off like butter.

​

Of course, with this new variant of undead coming, it placed them in a worst situation than before. Orchid's attack did nothing and now a new enemy was unleashed. With Dayle's defensive circle of the Champion and Victorique, Arthur heard the Red Star, his cold amber eyes stared at Dayle giving him a slow nod before turning to face the behemoth. He had to think, Arthur was not sure what to do at this point. His shifted everywhere, from the fighting Ryken Knights to the laughing and watching Orcus. The Eagle Company taking on whatever remainder of undead that fought both the Eagles and Ryken Knights along with the Duke, Vengron. Orcus was watching this entire thing play out, manipulating the course of events happening right now. Arthur looked at his ghastly weapon and released it with a huff. His cursed arm glowed as Arthur conjured spiritual energy. " Come to me. " Arthur growled as spiritual energy manifested in his hand, [Spiritual Ordnance: Expert B]. Arthur had a long rifle conjure into his hand, the hitman got down on one knee and held his rifle, a M1 Garand in both hands, aiming at the watching Orcus. Arthur let out a quiet huff and took a breath, holding it as he had the undead in his sights. Arthur unleashes two shots at the necromancer [Fighting Style: Gun Play - Linked Shots - F]. Two ghastly bullets flew at the necromancer the first hit Orcus in his chin and the other missed as Orcus dodged. The undead held his chin as he lost his focus on the behemoth who began to shake and slightly began to fall apart.

• Spiritual Ordnance: Expert - B - Magic Affinity B, Weapon Affinity C, Spirit Affinity C, Magic Range D, Sixth Sense E, Magic Duration E: Using Spiritual Essence, Arthur is able to conjure powerful weapons from thin air, great firearms (Glock 17, Lupara, Tommy Gun, M1 Garand.) Range is extended to 100 feet and weapon lasts for 1 hour. With sixth sense it can affect spirits and other entities. - 4 Post Cooldown
• Fighting Style: Gun Play - Linked Shots - F: Linked F, Penetration F: Arthur fires a couple shots at a target, penetrating through armor. - 0 Post Cooldown

With corpses falling off the body and stranger eldritch undead coming, the Whiplashers were moving towards the Champion and Victorique. Arthur moved his head seeing the undead coming, moving his hand, his M1 Garand transformed into a Lupara. Pointing up at the undead coming, he fired one blast of his shotgun [Fighting Style: Gun Play - Shotgun's Ire - F]. A blast moved thirty feet in front of Arthur, wiping out any undead that was coming towards him, but there was still more coming towards Dayle's defenses. " Dayle, get your men ready! " Arthur roared, Wirejaw would be able to move freely within the body of the undead now, able to crawl out and it seemed lasting damage would be able to be sustained on the giant behemoth. It was time to retaliate.

• Fighting Style: Gun Play - Shotgun's Ire - F: Linked F, Area F, Penetration F: Arthur is able to use his experience to his advantage, using his skills and alteration of his shotgun, he can fire at multiple targets, penetrate armor, and cover a wide area in quick succession. - 0 Post Cooldown

Within the Heirloom

​

The Bloodwraith laughed at the fear that protruded off of the Halfling as the wraith moved forward with her massive bleeding claws dripping onto the ground, wherever the blood landed, the ground darkened into black, killing and corrupting the ground. Aaron watched Victorique tremble with fear and sighed, " Gods... You should have let me die all those years ago... " The old man grumbled, " Now I'm going to die a horrible death. " He sighed looking up at the approaching wraith who got somewhat low like she was going to leap. With Victorique quickly taking off and busting through the broken cage, she was very [Lucky] as the halfling was able to both free the Vengron ancestor and catch him in her pocket dimension. Where he was surprised to be freed just to be placed within another prison. Victorique would be somewhat okay after she broke through the cage, although she would feel sharpness in her side but there was no time for that at the moment. Right now, she had to flee a painful death that was a bloodwraith's death. It was said that if they were able to capture you, they literally absorb your blood from out of your body, pulling it like a magnet through the pores of your blanket of skin. It was a long and painful process while also being very nutritious for the bloodwraith. The end result would leave you a husk of skin but just barely alive as you lived your last moments of life as nothing more than a worthless bag of dried skin and bones. The Bloodwraith laughed a haunting one before charging after the halfling, leaping far distances after Victorique, the land darkened with each drop of blood that landed on the ground.

​

As the halfling ran for her life through this small dimension, she would run up a grassy hill with the bloodwraith hot on her tail, making her way up through a delirium of fear, the Halfling would come up to a large castle in this world, a castle that looked familiar to the Ryken castle, but this version looked a whole lot newer. There were no guards around and as it was her only way in, she would hear the screeching of the bloodwraith coming, while it was far behind, it was following her by scent it seemed. As Victorique moved, she would feel a very sharp pain in her side, looking down she would see that she had a piece of the broken cage break through her dress and stab her in the side, just surface level, the dressed just barely saved her it seemed, otherwise at the speed she was going, it would have killed her. Moving through the castle, she would see many different sights, it was like royalty, luxurious and all. Just like in the books as almost no one was allowed inside. There were many paths for her to take despite her bleeding blood. She could go left, right or middle. The left looked like it went to a hallway that had many doors down it. The middle looked like it would go to the royal throne room and the right had a staircase that would take Victorique to another floor. Wherever she wanted to go was her call.

OOC: Ask questions if needed!

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

Victorique gritted her teeth as the pain of the cage-shard settled in. She'd been running for her life and had still been unable to outrun this thing in any decent manner. All things considered, she wasn't eager to become more closely acquainted with the blood gal, so she'd kept running regardless. Although it was pretty darn clear the monstrosity was able to hunt her down with ease, she'd at least managed to gain some distance on it, through blood, sweat, and honestly a few tears at this point. She was made for investigating after all this type of drama and chaos went down, not during it. She had no clue which way to go and she didn't wish to risk running into a dead end, so she figured now was the time to use the precious few seconds of time she'd bought running from the blood-wraith by letting out the old man. “I've bought us a few seconds, that's the most I could. Now how do we get rid of that thing or how do we get out of here?” She didn't trust this old guy to be able to beat the blood-wraith, but at the very least she hoped he had a plan or could point out where she had to go in this castle. Surely this castle had some meaning to it and wasn't put here at random. Perhaps that was just positive thinking in a desperate situation.

She was trying to come up with theories, but the pain, stress and fear made it tough to think clearly. Normally, you'd expect the most important part to be the throne room, but without having a clue what she was looking for, she didn't want to risk simply going there. Then again, why was the champion wearing an amulet with some sort of Pocket Dimension with an entire landscape and castle in it to begin with? Why was there some family of the Vengron's in it? So many questions, so little time to get answers. She hated it. As she was waiting for the man's answer, she made the mistake of looking at the wound she'd gotten from ramming through the cage. Her stomach nearly turned, seeing the piece of metal protrude from a bloody hole in her dress and body. Her instinct was to yank it loose immediately, but she had just enough presence of mind to know that's only make her bleed more without having anything to close or tie off the wound with. This whole thing was more than she could chew on, making her wish it'd end already. After this, she should take a long a well-deserved break.

B Grade Cooldowns (0/4)
C Grade Cooldowns (0/3)
D Grade Cooldowns (2/2)
F Grade Cooldowns (0/0)
Lucky Usage (1/2)

 

[Shatter Shard]

Dayle Keller
"Red Star's Bastard Dog"

Strength
Precision
Intelligence
Vitality
Speed

[ B ]
[ F ]
[ E ]
[ B ]
[ D ]

D

Active Titles:
Human | Thug | Unruffled

-Ryke-
Underbelly of Ryken, Colosseum

Code by: Shatter Shard

Dayle watched the entire situation unfold even as he and the Red Stars kept the undead at bay. "More of them fuckers! Can't we get a fucking break?!" Frustration was starting to build up within Dayle as a new variant appeared. However, the Whiplashers was playing a game Dayle was good at. After Arthur gave the necromancer a lethal poke on the chin, the giant wobbled and spewed out undead that started moving towards their area. He readied his chains as Arthur called out to him. "Men! Buckle up!" He commanded, with the Red Stars roaring in unison as they readied their sabers. Dayle positioned himself at the direction of the Whiplasher, intending to protect the side of the circle facing it. "Remember! Our goal is to last! So whatever you do, don't fucking die!" """RAAAGGHH!!""" Bellowing with fervor, the Red Stars began their defense as their sabres formed arcs in the air, a much more elegant swordplay in contrast to their desperate movements when they were coming in from the outside. Now that their boss was on their side, it did wonders to their morale as they once again did their best. Roy was not among the circle but is instead keeping close to Dayle to back him up. (Basic Swordsmanship).

Dayle eyed the Whiplasher, and then shifted at the unstable giant and necromancer. Orchid and Wirejaw were doing work on the giant, but the biggest threat was the necromancer. Judging by how the titan dropped down as soon Orcus was shot in the jaw, Dayle's mental gear worked and guessed the necromancer's role about all of this. "Arthur! That asshole seems to be focused on controlling the giant!" He spoke. "You should keep his focus towards you! You are the only guy I know with powerful shots!" Dayle suggested, whacking away an undead as he did so. "The undead are gonna overwhelm us soon, so I suggest making sure Orcus never gets to control any of the damned corpses!"

Dayle made sure to preserve his energy by only whacking at enemies with his chains, and not using too much movement. He also made sure that his aura is protecting from trivial attacks (Can't Touch This).


Invoked Abilities:
Dayle:
[CD | 0 Post] Can't Touch This: Fighting Style [Dreadnaught] F, Nope [Deflect] F, Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] F, Hellhound [Aura] F| Dayle uses his aura to clad his body in palpable heat. This aura physically manifests as a protective film around his body, allowing him to deflect non-magical attacks.

Roy and the Red Stars:
[CD | 0 Post] Basic Swordsmanship: Fighting Style [Windrider] F, Swiftness [Accurate] F| Their skill in swordsmanship allows them to hit foes faster than themselves, and thus have an advantage over similarly skilled opponents.

Mentions: Shatter Shard Skyhunter Garbage Pail Kid Elvario Lucius Cypher

 

[Lucius Cypher]

Tags: Skyhunter Elvario Shatter Shard , Garbage Pail Kid ​

---

"Tch! Fuck, that did not work as well as I hoped it would've." Orchid says as she lands on the ground, watching the giant seemed to begin regenerating from her massive blow. Worse still, it spawned more zombies, and not just regular ones but strange undead with tendrils for arms. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the lizardman who was helping Orchid just got absorbed into the giant. She has no idea if he's dead or not, he seemed pretty tough but even she wouldn't be able to survive getting sucked into a zombie moshpit. Orchid still had some tricks sure, but she wasn't entirely sure which one was going to be the most efficient given the circumstances. This wasn't the time for her to experiment and try something new.

Or was it?

In the midst of the chaos Orchid looked around. She noticed Arthur shooting, not at the giant or the zombies, but at Orcus. "Of course. Geek the mage. But how? That lich probably has some sort of resistance against physical weapons, especially mundane ones." Arthur's bullets were working but his guns were some weird magic construct that Orchid really should learn how to make one day. Orchid didn't have any magic though, and she wasn't sure if the scythe she picked up was enchanted at all. She certainly didn't notice anything magical about it at least. Another quick glance and she spotted the remains of Dirv. The strange ratfolk with all sorts of things left behind. None of the weapons were of use to her, but maybe she didn't need his weapons. Orchid dashed to his remains and quickly looked through his bag, spotting a couple of green vials labeled Bombs. "Thank god. I'll pour one out for you Dirv, but I need to borrow your kit."

Grabbing the vials, they had a note on them. Orchid didn't read all of it but she saw enough: shake and throw. Now she just needed to hit that Orcus bastard. She had no idea what sort of defensive abilities that lich had, if he could project a shield or just teleport to dodge. Not to mention he was really far away. But that wasn't going to be a big issue. Bombs in hands, Orchid looked for a vantage point and used her great jumping ability to leap towards a position closer to Orcus. And when she was reasonably close enough, she shook a vial rapidly, throwing it at the lich's feet. She wasn't going to bother nailing him with the vial itself but she intends to make sure he was within the explosion, centered on him.

Grade C Cooldown (1/3)
Meteor Falls - Fighting Style Polearm Master C, Earth-Splitter (Quake) F, Knockdown (Tangle) F, Jumping D - Taking a mighty leap towards the skies, falling with a mighty slam and burying her weapon into both the enemy and into the nearest surface. - Grade C - 3 Post Cooldown
Grade F Cooldown (0/0)
Quick Toss - Fighting Style Throwing F, Leading (Accurate) F - A simple technique where Orchid quickly calculates where her enemy is going and what they're doing, then throws something at them. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown

 

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Skyhunter Lucius Cypher

---

His efforts were fruitful for only a moment as the giant took the damage and started to heal from it's wounds soon after, as though he and Orchid's attacks did nothing. This was going to be one hell of a fight if this kept up; bad going to worse as the mass of writhing corpses swallowed him up. He was glad he was made of sterner stuff as the bites glance off his scales harmlessly, but the weight and pressure was crushing and that couldn't last. Their skin was cold, and steamed against the warmth of his scales; disgust and panic starting to wash over him. "Ah can't..." He Wheezed, eyes rolling in the back of his head.

Memories of sun basking over a vast field filled his mind, the sensation of corn fields tickling his skin, not scales. He turned his head to west and saw cows roaming, and horses galloping through the far off trees. He had survived The Battle of Sailor's Creek, and bore witness to the surrender of the confederacy for good. Memories came in droves and the sound of a young girl broke down the remaining walls of amnesia his strange circumstances had created. A small figure stomping down the porch stairs and running full speed at him, his daughter, Fyedahlia.

"Ah can't die here" He hollered, kicking his legs and attempting to brute force out of the mess he was in [Jumping F] and [Fast E], using his claws to try and force his way out. "Get off me ya damn fist factory"

 

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance



​

With more of these strange Whiplashers running towards the Champion and Victorique trying to get through, the Divees Crew had to move back to help defend the line to prevent the horde from pushing through, although the large, grafted behemoth was beginning to retake form. Vido was swinging both his greatswords like it was a blender, slicing bodies into two, Lunes was firing arrows at any that got too close, Clover was freezing the undead whenever she could while she cut them down with her kunai. With Dayle's commands, the Red Stars held their line as the undead came, crashing into them while whipping them, but with Dayle's help he sliced a whole row of them down with his own men taking out a few, they were holding the line. Orchid had taken the bag of the Dirv, the insane and wacky Ratkin alchemist in the Divees Crew. Checking the bag and seeing there were green bottles in the bottom with a note that read. The green boom-bombs! Remember in the case I am eaten! Shake and throw-toss! May or may not destroy-kill stuff! Be careful-safe! Prototype! The writing was rapid and sloppy, but Ratkin weren't really known for their great writing. Or their technology. Or their intelligence.

Although Orchid would do as the note read, looking to the rail of where the fight was, Orcus was watching over the fight, his eyes were glowing a dark blue as the Behemoth rose again and was now almost back to full strength. Orchid's thinking would have her shake these vials of green liquid, the contents within began to glow a bright green and shake violently just as she threw it at the rail towards not only at Orcus but also at the Ryken Knights, Eagle Company and other horde of zombies. There was a hissing sound as then as the vials struck the rail, a large shockwave of green energy blew everyone away, even knocking the behemoth over onto the bleachers. Everyone would black out for what seemed like moments...

Upon the dust settling, Orchid and Dayle would awake seeing that there was still fighting going on with Ryken Knights and the Eagle Company taking on the undead, with undead rising back up and the Divees Crew back on their feet already taking on the knights, Eagles and undead. " God damn it! Dirv was carrying highly explosive vials in his bag? For the God's sake I threw him a few times today! " The sound of Vido's voice rang out. Looking around the arena, everyone would see that it was now destroyed, one half of the arena was missing with a linger of green mist in the air. The undead behemoth was down now, with most of the undead not moving, Wirejaw would have felt the explosion but not be impacted by it besides feeling himself spinning around in the undead. In his final attempt to get out he would begin to slash through bodies until he could taste air instead of rotten blood. Making his way out he would see the arena was destroyed as he stood on top of the behemoth, with silhouettes fighting each other in this green mist it would be hard to tell who was enemy and friend.

Within the Heirloom

​

As Victorique she would feel the earth beneath her quake, whether it be something happening in here or out there beyond this small dimension was unclear, or it could be her losing blood. With Victorique releasing Vengron from her pocket dimension, he would reappear in front of her looking bewildered, " By the Gods... I can't keep handling this mockery of life I have been forced to endure with... " The old man complained, he took a deep breath and regained his composure. " Well now, miss. " Vengron sighed as he fixed his suit, his necklace falling out of his vest, she would see that the amulet he was wearing was one similar to the one that was stuck within the chest of Auregnog thanks to her investigation skills. " If I knew I would have been out of here a long time ago. But I know something that can help us with destroying this creature, but it is in the dungeons. Oddly enough I feel like I know that strange creature. Weird, isn't it? " Vengron asked as he shook his head, when the old man finished his speaking there would a loud screech just outside the castle they were in, she was near. " Gods above. " The man complained looking at the Halfling, " Hurry, to the dungeons. " Vengron quickly moved ahead of her, spry in his old age as he led her through the castle that looked very similar to the Ryken Castle.

" I don't look forward to releasing this creature in the dungeons, we've had many disagreements, but it won't let me die. " The old man spoke as he walked up to two large suits of armor before a sturdy wooden door with a small window hole in it. " If you could, gentlemen, we have an intruder. Deal with it. " The suits of armor moved on command, wielding massive axes and walked pass both Victorique and Vengron to face off against the bloodwraith. " That should buy us some time. Now then, we should be able to get into the dungeons. " Vengron opened the door and revealed stairs that led to a dark dank passageway below. Vengron moved his way down the steps and into the darkness, taking a torch that was next to the door to light his way. Victorique would feel herself become lightheaded with her losing of blood, she would see things begin to skip in her memory before they were in long dark passageway of cells with pitch blackness surrounding them, their only savior being the torch that Vengron held. They would be in front of a cell with bars wide enough for Victorique to fit through, " Hey, you hear me girl? " Vengron growled as he slapped her on the back of her head which would bring her back to reality, " I know you're bleeding out and all, but you need to fit through these bars and unchain our friend inside the cell. " Vengron handed the torch to the Halfling, " Now get in there. I would have had you throttled if I were still royalty. "

​

When she entered the cell, she would hear a deep growl and chains moving, " Who enters into my prison! " The voice was deep and snarled like a bite.

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

Hahaha. Who needed blood anyway. Blood was just overrated red body juice... Victorique was, as one might guess, not in the greatest condition right now. With the adrenaline from being chased by the blood wraith expiring, the pain from the wound in her chest was unbearable. She was also getting oddly woozy, enough to make this whole planet thingy shake. Whilst she noticed the old man was wearing the same amulet as she'd touched to get into this place, she was a bit too woozy to come up with any quick-witted conclusions (such as that it might be her exit). Instead, she just mumbled. “Why the hell are so many things locked up in an amulet in th Champion's chest and why in the world I am freeing them...”

With a fair bit of pain, she kept up with the old man, but she wasn't really managing to reach any answer to her own question. “Let's hope it'll think the same way about me, in that case.” She said with a grimace, when the old man told her they were going to release a creature that wouldn't let him die. Even in her woozy and pained state, she noticed the concerning lack of using them right there. She was not included. How fun. At the very least the man had some control over things in here, such as by being able to sent suits of armour to buy time for them.

As she was descending, she started to feel surprisingly nice. Warm, not in as much pain as before. Almost like she was going to taking a warm bath. Ah, she missed taking a shower after a long day at college, just before writing a new chapter in her latest crime novel. She wondered if she should ask that cute guy in college on a date the next time they ended up seating next to each-other. His smile was to die for. She was suddenly slapped out of her thoughts, realising where she was and what she was doing. “Ughrmhprmph.” Was the best reply she was able and willing to give this man right now. The pain was right back in full force. “You don't happen to know how to stop that bleeding, do you? Feels like I'm running a bit low here.” She said, gritting her teeth. She barely comprehended his task.

She sneered back when he talked about getting her throttled. “Nice thing to say to someone you're asking a favour off. Making me regret I didn't just leave you to the blood wraith... so what the hell am I freeing this time?” As for the torch, she didn't take it. “Keep it, I see well enough in the dark.” She had [Darkvision] after all. Only then did his words sink in. “Wait, you were royalty..?” Although she hoped for an answer, she didn't expect one and knew she didn't have the time to wait long for it. She could try to pressure him due to the time they had before the blood wraith would catch up, but she was in too bad of a shape to try such risky tactics.

As the voice called out, she called back. “Just a half-dead halfling trying not to become a fully dead halfling in the next thirty minutes or so.” The combination of pain and blood loss were making her a lot more snarky than usual. “Starting by trying to get you out of here.” She had no clue how, but perhaps the chains here were as flimsy as the cage the old man had been in. Or perhaps she could pocket dimension away the lock altogether. Or perhaps she'd actually spot the keys somewhere. At this point, she was too pained, tired and frustrated to think too deeply on it.

B Grade Cooldowns (0/4)
C Grade Cooldowns (0/3)
D Grade Cooldowns (0/2)
F Grade Cooldowns (0/0)
Lucky Usage (1/2)

 

[Lucius Cypher]

Tags: Skyhunter Elvario Shatter Shard , Garbage Pail Kid ​

---

Everything went black. Orchid wondered if this is what dying was like. She doesn't remember when she first died, and while she's had plenty of close calls, usually she saw it coming. When she threw those bombs she expected a grenade-like explosion. Big maybe, but nothing major. She didn't expect to release a green nuke in the stadium. By the time she came too her ears were ringing and her breath was short. She looked down and noticed blood on her. A lot of blood. She has no idea where it came from. She didn't feel any pain but when she stood she fell. She tried to look at her leg but she couldn't see it. Was it gone? Was it just her going cross eyed? Things were confusing. She tried to remember what she was suppose to do. What she had to do. "Where... Where's Victorique?"

The green haze made it impossible to see who was what. At least she was smart enough to have thrown that bomb well away from the others, but due to the mist she has no idea where they would be relative to where she was. If she remembers correctly, and big if on that, they should be one level below her. But with so much fighting going on it was hard for her to tell which way was where. Everyone was blind... Everyone but her. Focusing her senses, Orchid calmed herself down. She needed to reach the others. Slowly, carefully, she began to walk. Making her way back down. Occasionally something would lunge at her. But by the time it got that close, Orchid already knew where it was coming from and who they were. Zombies, Cultist, Ryken Knights, these people Orchid would cut down. But some weren't the previous three. Dayle's people, Orchid could only assume, lashing out at shapes in the darkness. Orchid would easily be able to dodge their attacks since they're swinging blind. She wasn't sure if she was making and progress but she would at least be able to defend herself as she moves through the mist, cutting down foes while avoiding any confused allies.

But there has to be some way for her allies to figure out it's her. Orchid wished she could've discussed a contingency with them for this sort of thing, but alas now wasn't the time to suddenly have a group meeting. No, she would have to rely on the only thing they may recognize: her voice. As her vision continued to change from clear to blurry, Orchid's voice rang out in the battlefield, hopefully heard by her allies to recognize who she was. She wasn't really sure what to say, but she had to say... Something. Whatever came to her mind. She chuckled a little as a funny thought occurred to her.

Kimi wa kikoeru
Boku no kono koe ga
Yami ni munashiku suikomareta

In this dim haze, surrounded by death, in this shit hole of a city, things were pretty bleak. But even so Orchid wasn't going to give up yet. No, if she was going to give up, she'd stay dead a long time ago. Alone, madden, taken by the darkness. The fact she was here still fighting, still struggling, meant that it wasn't over yet. The monsters that haunted this hell could be defeated. All she had to do was keep fighting. Everyone had to keep fighting. And there was only one way she knew how to express that feeling, the one thing that had kept her going through her darkest time.

Moshimo sekai ga imi wo motsu no nara
Konna kimochi mo muda de wa nai

Akogare ni oshitsubusarete akirametetanda
Hateshinai sora no iro mo shiranaide

She doesn't care if no one actually understood her, she barely knew what these words meant herself. But she needed to let them know, to let her friends feel, that she was still fighting. That this battle wasn't over yet. To rally together for one more push against the darkness that surrounds them and make a path towards the future together. Just as well she intends to show her might to her enemies, for them to hear her and realize that despite everything they threw at her she still stood defiant against them. Against all odds, she stood here, alongside strangers, to resist their tyranny. Let them hear her words as she cuts down their minions, their warriors, and feel the bite of her blade and the fury of her passion.

Hashiridashita omoi ga ima demo
Kono mune wo tashika ni tataiteru kara

Kyō no boku ga sono saki ni tsuzuku
Bokura nari no asu wo kizuite yuku

Kotae wa sō itsumo koko ni aru

Grade C Cooldown (2/3)
Meteor Falls - Fighting Style Polearm Master C, Earth-Splitter (Quake) F, Knockdown (Tangle) F, Jumping D - Taking a mighty leap towards the skies, falling with a mighty slam and burying her weapon into both the enemy and into the nearest surface. - Grade C - 3 Post Cooldown
Grade D Cooldown (0/2)
Off-Hand Backhand - Fighting Style Polearm Master D, Battle Intuition (Blind Fighting) F - Orchid's keen senses and martial aptitude has allowed her to easily deal with foes she cannot see in an almost passive matter. This is a quick and easy attack technique she utilizes to deal with opponents who try to flank her, allowing her to focus on the main threat while still able to fend off lesser ones. It's also useful to strike down those who are attempting to sneak up on Orchid, whether for ambush or thievery. - Grade D - 2 Post Cooldown

 

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Skyhunter Lucius Cypher

---

He felt his efforts had some purchase, but before he could get out properly, some radical upturn of events caused some sort of explosion to send this damn giant spinning, and him along with it. The corpse smell and the damn vertigo making his head so fuzzy he could hardly think; thoughts his estranged experience in the hell of war steeling his mind as the fog of amnesia no longer clouded him. The rumbling and spinning stopping long enough for him to finally exhumed his scaled form out of the behemoth's crumbling body. A gasp of air untainted by death filled his lungs as he stood upright and sloughed off the decay that clung to his body. He looked down from his grim perch, and saw that the battle had turned to chaos and confusion. The smoke made it difficult to discern who the hell was fighting each other.

He leaped down this behemoth-turned-mass-grave and made his way into the fray, confident any friendly fire would clang against his scales. The silhouette he cut through the mist a difficult one to confuse as he tried to follow the sound of Vido, wondering where the hell his crew had been dragged to. A song from a familiar voice cutting through the air. It was that green skinned warrior, and it seemed like she was trying to rally everyone lost in this cloud.

"Vido, if yah can hear me, follow the singin! We gotta regroup an finish this"

Wirejaw then lumbered toward the voice himself and was actually surprised he got one right. She was the guardian of that small child. "Howdy Ma'am, Looks like we're both lookin ta stay alive; Ah got friends that can help with that so let's all work together yeah? Yer probably smart right? Tell me what ta hit and how hard" He said, a few random attacks and silhouettes getting to close and he body blocked for Orchid, using his tail to keep her safe and glaring down the ryken knights foolishly swinging in panic.

 

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance



Arthur Verg

​

An explosion would occur which blew Arthur into the wall of the arena, knocking him out. Arthur would see blackness as he floated along deeper into it, he would wake up in a darkened world, a city of his past, the buildings and streets abandoned as he could feel like his old self again. He would find himself staring at a building, a restaurant named Queen of L'oro. Arthur knew this place; it was the old hang out of his previous mobster gang. Arthur stood in the middle of the street with cars parked on each side of the road, lighting lamps were standing on each street, lighting a dim yellow light. The sky was a dark red, similar to blood. The former hitman would hear talking and turned around, seeing two men walking towards him while carrying guns, he could see their shadows, they were carrying smaller weapons that looked like shotguns. He knew what they were, Luparas. A weapon to carry that every mobster knew the significance and meaning of. The mobsters were laughing seeing Arthur as they came out of the shadows. These men were lackeys for a mobster of his previous gang. " Hello Arthur, and goodbye. " One spoke as the two immediately raised their guns and began firing while having a laugh in their chests. Arthur quickly moved and ran for a car, jumping and rolling across the hood to land on the street as gunfire filled the air and pellets flew over him, having a smile on his face. Arthur quickly crawled across the ground as he saw he still had his ghastly arm. Smiling Arthur summoned a weapon into his left hand, a tommy gun, into his hand when he heard the firing stop, Arthur quickly peaked out and began firing out at the mobsters, lighting them up with bullets that penetrated through their bodies. The two bodies would fall, and Arthur stood up smiling, it felt good to fucking kill again. Without remorse or consequence. The smell of smoke coming off his gun filled his nostrils. This was what Arthur was bred for, to become a killing machine. He turned and walked to the restaurant door seeing that the inside was dark. He kicked open the door and walked inside carrying his gun in both hands. But as Arthur walked through the door, he would wake up in the arena, green filled his vision as the sounds of ringing and distant yelling filled his ears.

---

Arthur groaned holding the back of his head, he slowly rose to his feet and stumbled back into the wall. Sharp pain flowed through his bruised body. The last thing he remembered was a green explosion, darkness then being back... Home. Arthur was hoping all this was a dream but apparently not. The former hitman growled as he peered into the mist, seeing silhouettes in the mist, people constantly moving, the ringing died down a bit but all he could hear was the chaos of battle and war for the Underbelly. Arthur rubbed his eyes and shook his head finally getting over his delusion and moved forward into the mist. Listening closely for anything but couldn't hear anything besides fighting and groans of undead. Arthur would find the body of the champion and Victorique still in place, but then he would see a couple of soldiers from the Eagle Company standing next to the two, looking at the still bodies. Touching around both of them, trying to see if there was a way to remove Victorique. Arthur's eyes narrowed as he held his hand out conjuring a pistol into his hand [Spiritual Ordnance: Adept C]. Holding a pistol in his hand he moved forward and pointed at both unsuspecting knights, getting close Arthur pointed at the back one of their heads before pulling the trigger, sending a bullet through the head of one then moving his gun to the next that quickly turned around having his companion's blood on his face while having a look of fear on his face. Arthur pulled the trigger again, firing into the eye of the Eagle merc, watching them fall onto their back. [Linked Shots F]

Arthur scoffed as he stood close to the champion and Victorique, " The child needs to hurry up. I'm sick of this shit. " Arthur growled as he pointed his gun around into the green mist, trying to make out anyone that got close to determine if they were an enemy or ally, his other hand moved up to his head and gently rubbed the back as he hissed in pain.

• Spiritual Ordnance: Adept - C - Magic Affinity C, Weapon Affinity D, Spirit Affinity D, Magic Range D, Sixth Sense E, Magic Duration E: Arthur is able to use mana in the air to conjure weapons for his own use, range fire firearms is 100 feet and lasts for 1 hour. (Weapons: 9mm or Glock 17, Lupara, and Tommy Gun.) - 3 Post Cooldown

• Fighting Style: Gun Play - Linked Shots - F: Linked F, Penetration F: Arthur fires a couple shots at a target, penetrating through armor. - 0 Post Cooldown

With both Orchid and Wirejaw moving through the green mist, Orchid had the advantage to see around in a small area. She would see Ryken knights run pass them whether it be in fear or blind bravery. Eagle Company mercenaries ran by with their weapons ready. Undead stumbled by while groaning and with fresh blood on their faces. It was just absolute chaos. There was movement as a large body came closer while holding two large swords. Orchid would see it was the Divees Crew, the half orc Vido and Lines were together having bruises from the explosion with their weapons ready. " Wirejaw. Glad you're okay. I thought the undead got you for a moment. " Although as Vido spoke, the four would hear gun shots, " That's Arthur. We have to move. " Lunes told the group. Vido and Lunes would lead the two through the mist, as they moved through they would see bodies approach them, once they determined who they were, Vido would slice through the bodies before leading the group hearing more gunshots.

As the small group got closer to the gunshots that got louder and louder, they would eventually see Arthur in the mist firing at Ryken Knights that were getting closer. Victorique and the Champion were still in their same position, unaffected by the explosion. There was about seven confused knights coming closer to the Champion. Now that the small group was within range. Lunes fired a arrow at one knight, having a arrow fly through a kneecap of the knight which caused them to fall and start screaming. The perfect indication for the group to find the enemy. There were seven knights and in the mist Orchid would see more Eagle Company men coming towards the stasis imbued champion and halfling. Each armed with weapons as they grew every closer. Arthur was firing at the knights but with the mist was missing shots. Luckily he had a few bodies piling up already.

Within the Heirloom

​

Victorique would come face to face with some sort of being in the dark. They even laughed at her remark of almost being dead. " You'd probably be better off dead. " The being spoke as they then leaned into towards Victorique, she was still unable to see who it was. " I think we all are. " The being rose as Victorique would see two purple eyes glowing in the darkness. " If you are here to release me. Then you must allow me to kill my idiot nephew, Aaron Vengron. The fools even changed their name from such a legendary one. " Victorique would see glowing chains as the man began to struggle.

He was tall, sounded angry and ancient. " Repeat after me then. Since a willing participant must be the one to say these ancient rites to allow me out of this prison. " The man spoke. " Koor luet vuin heam. Kurra hanwa kulog ooncu vqize sieas. "

" Hey! Everything alright back there! " Victorique would hear Vengron shouting out to her. " Hurry up with it! I can hear that bloodwraith coming! " The being laughed, " you going to help me or what? I can see your friends outside need help. " The being chuckled. " Trust me. I wouldn't hurt my liberator, if you are having doubts about that. "

Aaron's voice would ring out behind Victorique, " Halfling! Don't fully free that being! We need it to be imprisoned! But you can still command it in those chains! As long as they stay on, he cannot break them! Command him! Tell him this! The Bulvarks are the cause of their own destruction! The chains will force him to do as you say! " Aaron called. This obviously didn't go well with the trapped being who snarled, " Don't listen to my idiot nephew! He shouldn't even be alive! Release me with my freewill and I will save you and your friends! " The trapped being stated " I've been trapped here for millennium! Do not allow me to suffer this anymore! " He sounded desperate.

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

Victorique was confused as fuck. This thing looked evil as all hell and straight-up begged to kill Aaron, even though the old man had told her the thing would save him. If she wasn't in so much pain, she'd perhaps come up with a plan or something, but right now, she was just standing there trying to process what to think of this. She was about to yell back at Aaron, if anything just to tell him that he was wrong and that this thing wanted to kill him, when the thing started speaking in weird phrases. “Yeah.. no.” She shook her head. “I'm not gonna repeat random phrases in a language I've never even heard of.” That was a clear no, at least, but now what?

She could wait for the blood wraith to kill them or release this thing and get killed? Both options were awful, so she was a complete deadlock. He did seem genuine when he told her he'd save and free them, but he came across as the type of creature who'd say 'don't worry, I won't hurt you' only to then make sure his accomplishes did it for him. That's when she heard Aaron yell again. “You should've told me that at the start!” She sighed. That old man was pretty darn careless leaving this information out for so long.

“The Bulvarks are the cause of their own destruction.” She said, hoping it would work. “Defend me and Aaron Vegron from the Bloodwraith that's coming after us.” She made sure to try phrasing it well enough to leave little room for interpretations, as she didn't trust this thing in the slightest. After all, her first instinct was to tell it to just kill the blood-wraith, but that might leave him to do it after she and Aaron were already dead. That said, she wasn't entirely immoral. “If it turns out that I'm wrong about you, I'll see if I can give you your freedom later, but I'm sorry, for now I'm not able to trust you.”

Hopefully her words had done 'the trick' or something, as she wasn't sure how to proceed. She'd see if her words alone had freed him or if there was a second step she'd have to take (if he wasn't freed, she'd yell back at Aaron, “Should I speak this weird language to free him, a phrase staring with koor luet and ending with vqize sieas”), before returning back to Aaron. Back at the entrance of the dungeon, she'd inform him of what was up. “He wants you dead more than anything, it seems, as he tried to get me to promise that I'd let him kill you. He also tried to get me to speak in some strange language, but I've spoken those words and told him to protect us from the blood-wraith. I really hope your plan works.”

 

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Skyhunter Lucius Cypher Shatter Shard

---

He was glad that his hollerin' and Orchid's singin' were enough to bring attention to their allies. Vido, Lunes and the rest of the divees crew soon crowding together. "That biggun and the chain boys were tough, but ahm sturdy as ah barn" Wirejaw said with a chuckle as he clapped Vido's back. Wirejaw nodding at the mention of Arthur "Ah Reckon yer right, lets get a mosey on then" He lumbered behind Lunes as they started to move through the mist.

They eventually made their way toward the source of the gunshots; Arthur taking on Ryken knights as he fired away. The Champion and the child were locked in some kind of stalemate so he decided to just focus on the enemies he could handle, and that seemed to be these damned knights. Knights he was used to were good at the very least, but he didn't know who the hell any of these knights were so he would just do what he had to.

He lowered himself down to a near crouch before launching forward, toward the knights Arthur was engaged with. Arrows from Lunes sheered passed him and met their marks as Wirejaw dug his heels in and flung himself forward, claws battering into the knights as he faced them head on.

Spoiler

• [Ranahan Cattle Toss] 3 Attacks-Tengri Kai D, Technique Corvithian Cleave E, Fast E, Mortal Claws F- He dashes into a roll toward his enemy, whirling his claws with a flurry of attacks at the end of the roll. His claws are heavy-set, but slice through the air with an unexpected speed.-Grade D-1 Post Cooldown-1 Grade of Item defense

 

[Shatter Shard]

Dayle Keller
"Red Star's Bastard Dog"

Strength
Precision
Intelligence
Vitality
Speed

[ B ]
[ F ]
[ E ]
[ B ]
[ D ]

D

Active Titles:
Human | Thug | Unruffled

-Ryke-
Underbelly of Ryken, Colosseum

Code by: Shatter Shard

Dayle woke up to a debilitating situation, sprawled on the ground for a single moment, not knowing what just happened. His ears rang, only remembering an explosion before darkness consumed his consciousness. Dayle grunted as he stood back up, before realizing that a green mist had lingered. Behind him was Roy, who was kneeling and reeling in from the shock. Even further, in a circle, was the remaining Red Stars that were confused, but already scrambling to defend again (Basic Swordsmanship). The explosion had knocked a bit more of them, leaving only 10 left. "Roy! Get those sleeping in the circle!" Dayle commanded, with Roy nodding and getting to work as he dragged an unconscious Red Star inside the circle. "It's Roy!" He yelled, letting the others know that he's coming in the circle. The Red Stars recognized him and made way for him, while those who were displaced moved back to their place in the circle. Roy would notice two corpses around the Champion and Victorique. He clicked his tongue, knowing that they just let in enemies, and they had to let Arthur clean the mess.

Dayle scanned his surroundings, but the earlier ordeal had rattled his mind for a bit. he wasn't in the best of conditions, but he will have to persevere. Knights are coming from one direction, and there were others who he couldn't make heads or tails of while in the mist. Sounds of gunshot reassured him that Arthur was still blazing, and looking at where he was, Dayle let go a sigh of relief. If anyone falls short in this entire battle, all of them would either die or suffer severe consequences, and Dayle was having none of it. Looking at the incoming knights, he prepared his chains, only to see a hunkering piece of scales and bulk charge towards them like a bull. Dayle smiled at the back of Wirejaw, as he then hastily searched for another. There, a little bit further from their group, he saw the figure of someone weaving through people, cleaving them as they passed through them, singing something he couldn't understand himself. Them steering clear from allies pretty much confirmed their identity. It was Orchid, and she seemed to be the only one that can see through the thick mist.

"Fuckin hell..." The sight of this battle, although not much, fueled the fire in his heart. He laughed contently, and for the first time in a while, it was a genuine laugh that came from the depths of his heart. This feeling... "You are my brother first, before my boss..." Since when did he and his men had stopped this way of life? Fighting for scraps, going around the block making their presence known, and getting into scuffles with the other gangs? This life, although hard, was the point where he had the most fun. The calling of his life, to fight, and nothing else. But what made it the greatest, was that there were people who would go to hell and back with him. Why did he even had to worry about the life of his men? Just as he would die for them, they would die for him. To deny that resolve was mockery to them. From this point forward, Dayle had understood something within himself.

A laughter resounded within the mist, and although it was drowned out by the sounds of war, the Red Stars could pick up that distinct laugh. The roughness wasn't there anymore, nor the pressure from trying to keep it together. That laugh, was truly free. "Everyone! Keep your shit together!" He bellowed, trying to make sure everyone in the group could hear him. "I'm still up! So is everyone else! Keep fighting, we haven't fallen yet!". Dayle recognized that he was one of the primary fighters in the group, yet he had to recuperate from the explosion earlier. For now, he had to rally everyone else, and focus on defense again. He continuously scanned the perimeter, intending to intercept whichever enemy that would come his way (Can't Touch This).


Invoked Abilities:
Dayle:
[CD | 0 Post] Can't Touch This: Fighting Style [Dreadnaught] F, Nope [Deflect] F, Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] F, Hellhound [Aura] F| Dayle uses his aura to clad his body in palpable heat. This aura physically manifests as a protective film around his body, allowing him to deflect non-magical attacks.

The Red Stars:
[CD | 0 Post] Basic Swordsmanship: Fighting Style [Windrider] F, Swiftness [Accurate] F| Their skill in swordsmanship allows them to hit foes faster than themselves, and thus have an advantage over similarly skilled opponents.

Mentions: Shatter Shard Skyhunter Garbage Pail Kid Elvario Lucius Cypher

 

[Lucius Cypher]

Tags: Skyhunter Elvario Shatter Shard , Garbage Pail Kid ​

---

Through the mist, a few of Orchid's allies were able to find her. She was fortunate that some could recognize her voice well enough to rally to her. The first was the lizard man who had helped her take in the corpse giant. He was able to keep any goons off her back that were lured in by her song. Soon more allies arrived, folks Orchid didn't really know but she nonetheless would accept their help. She kept her song going, ready to defend herself as she tries to find the rest of their team.

Sugita kisetsu wo nageku hima ha nai
Nido to mayotte shimawanu you ni
Kazoekirenai hon no sasayaka na
Sonna koukai kakaeta mama

More gunshots from Arthur indicated he was spotting enemies approaching. Orchid really didn't want to get caught in the cross fire and hoped to hell he could hear her over the gunfire so he doesn't inadvertently shoot her in the back. More knights were approaching, and through the mist Orchid could recognize some Eagle troops. Mercenaries, like her. She's heard about them in some circles and assumed they must've been hired to act as infantry for the Ryken Knights. Without breaking her musical flow, Orchid moved to engage the Eagle Company, moving quickly so that they can join up with the knights and break through their defensive line.

Sono senaka dake oikakete koko made kitanda Sagashite ita boku dake ni dekiru koto

Standing before the Eagle Company warriors, Orchid flourished her scythe through the air, twisting and spinning her body to the point she was displacing some of the must. When she built up the needed momentum she needed she slammed the sycthe into the ground, breaking the floor beneath the Eagle Company and created a large 10ft by 10ft crater in the ground. This ought to slow down their advance for a bit, either causing the blinded warriors to fall into the pit or force them to take the long way around. As for those already in the hole, Orchid would easily cut down down as they try to climb up, striking their heads or hands from her vantage point.

Ano hi kureta kotoba ga ima demo Kono mune ni tashika ni todoite iru kara

Kinou yori mo kyou ha boku ha boku no Umarete kita wake ni kizuite yuku

Kotae ha sou itsumo koko ni aru

Grade C Cooldown (0/3)
Roar of War - Fighting Style Polearm Master C, Earth-Splitter (Quake) F, Cleave (Area) F - Orchid let loose a mighty war cry, sending out a shockwave by smashing the ground. - Grade C - 3 Post Cooldown
Grade D Cooldown (1/2)
Off-Hand Backhand - Fighting Style Polearm Master D, Battle Intuition (Blind Fighting) F - Orchid's keen senses and martial aptitude has allowed her to easily deal with foes she cannot see in an almost passive matter. This is a quick and easy attack technique she utilizes to deal with opponents who try to flank her, allowing her to focus on the main threat while still able to fend off lesser ones. It's also useful to strike down those who are attempting to sneak up on Orchid, whether for ambush or thievery. - Grade D - 2 Post Cooldown

 

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance





Arthur Verg

​

With Orchid and Wirejaw charging into battle and Vido following suit, Arthur made sure to now be more accurate with his shots and make sure not to hit his allies, he actually decided to hold back and allow them to do their job. " About time. Glad to see they're not dead. " Arthur mumbled to himself. He has seen what these three were capable of so it wouldn't be a bad idea to allow them to take out the incoming knights and mercs. Arthur made sure that if any got close, Arthur would shoot and take them down. Although he could hear the orc talking or singing in a vaguely familiar language in which it was annoying the hitman, he knew what it was. The Japanese. He remembered they had a Japanese gang that Arthur had run into multiple times. Which angered him, he had flashbacks of this Japanese gang killing a few of his friends. " Hey! Stupid Orc! Shut it with that damn Japanese before I unload this clip down your throat! " Arthur yelled over the fighting, he wasn't even sure if she could hear him with all the yelling and screaming and clashing of steel. He was honestly thinking of shooting her right now in her legs to maim her and shut her up.

Vido rushed pass Orchid and Wirejaw as he swiped both his large swords through bodies as he disappeared into the mist, screams followed after the half orc's slaughter. Both Wirejaw and Orchid would massacre their way through heaps of fodder because that's exactly what these men were, fodder for the real warfare veterans to come in. Easily Wirejaw and Orchid would destroy the men as they were clueless to what was happening. With Orchid creating her own higher ground, she would break through the concrete beneath her into a crater. Heads and limbs cleaved off with Orchid cutting through the fodder of men like a farmer with a scythe and a fully flourished wheat field. Wirejaw would help Arthur when men were able to break through Orchid's established high ground, a group of Eagle Mercenaries charged towards him, trying to get to Victorique and Auregnog. The hitman held his pistol ready to fire when the large lizard Wirejaw bulldozed over the men like a steamroller, Arthur pulled his gun and watched with cold eyes, he was impressed with how this large lizard was able to massacre through men with such ease, his size and weight certainly helped.

But as Wirejaw and Orchid easily killed the men, their numbers faltered. Surprisingly they did not turn into undead right away but as the sounds of battle quieted down to only distant fighting, Orchid would see something in the distance, a strange standing shadow within the mist, in the size of a chest. This chest had legs as the top looked like it opened up, a cape was flowing through the mist like a wind, long arms emitted out of the open chest as then weapons flew into the air, a short sword, a long tower shield, and a- a scythe? Orchid would count four arms, two caught the scythe and the other two caught the sword and shield as the figure charged forward towards the Orc before launching itself into the air, long limbs following after it as it now was close enough for Orchid to see, it was a- a fucking mimic with arms and legs!? What was this god forsaken Underbelly harboring!? " It is your turn to die, Orc! " A gallant voice that sounded somewhat disgusting was heard, it came from this mimic, " My name is Mim! The Mimic Knight! And you shall taste my blades! " The Mimic gallantly announced as a scythe blade flew over her head quickly to make her either move or dunk, but whichever was her action, she would be hit in the face with a large shield, knocking her off balance just as this four-foot almost five-foot mimic landed in front of her. Orchid's nose would be bleeding from the hit in the face she just acquired, but a detail she would see on this strange abominable creature was the eyes on this 'Knight' with random spots on the things opening and closing, looking all around itself. A scythe was its main weapon to be held in its front two hands and on the back arms that emitted from its great maw- well all its arms emitted from the mouth of this weird creature knight thing, the back two held the sword and shield, eyes forming on the weapons as well, looking all around the mimic to be aware of its surroundings. " You make the first move, Orc! " Mim announced with his same gallant voice with a hint of grossness to it while his cape flowed behind him like a wind was breezing by despite there being no such breeze. Was he moving it himself to make himself look more dramatic?

Mim, The Mimic Knight
​

Wirejaw would see this new opponent in the form of a living treasure chest with limbs and eyes, but there would be a call for the- " Giant Lizard! " A man called for Wirejaw as in the mist a man holding his sword in hand and on his other hand was a large talon looking weapon that had blood on it, both red and black as he walked up towards Wirejaw, a handsome looking man with fire in his eyes. He was young looking but he had the look of a experienced warrior about him, he was different from the other Eagle Company mercs that he had killed. " You slaughter my men and think you could get away with that? That it would be easy? " He asked with a vengeful tone as he pointed his talon at Wirejaw, " I'm going to rip your carapace off your back and add it to my own armor. " The man vowed as he then pulled his talon back and began to walk towards Wirejaw while holding his arms out to the large lizard, both sword and talon stretched out, telling Wirejaw to try and run him over. " My name is Griffin Warden, 3rd Captain for the Eagle Company, I will avenge my men for your killings today. " He swore.

Griffin Warden
​

Dayle would awake, his head was hurting and bleeding, Roy was okay luckily, although he would be disoriented from all the explosion, most of his Red Stars were still alive, a few were taken from the explosion that had occurred or knocked unconscious still. As Dayle would hear fighting not that far from where he was at orignally, he could hear gunfire, screams of pain and yells of war. That was what this whole shitshow was, war at its worst and finest. The struggle for such a shitty place, for the Underbelly, was Dayle's war. His Red Stars got into formation as Dayle yelled for them, as Dayle was able to rally whatever was left of his men, the Bastard Dog would see figures coming for them in the green mist, as they grew closer, he would see that the undead were back. They were alive! They were still around! A swath of undead came, but in the distance, Dayle would see a figure standing within their ranks, watching Dayle as the undead came, it was walking forward towards Dayle. " Dayle! Your head will be mine! " The voice rang out, even over the groans and moans of the undead it was heard. This voice was recognizable, like an old friend. " You were supposed to be their first pick and they chose me as their second pick! " The man yelled as he grew closer towards Dayle, holding a spear and sword in hand, " So now that I am this abomination, I'll slew you and prove I should have been the True Ruler's first pick! Not you! " The voice was an old friend. It was Zeke as he grew closer, Dayle would see his face, his face full of anger and glowing red eyes full of malice and hate. " I was given a gift I did not want because you denied it. But now I see. I see that I was wrong in trying to fight it. I will show you the power of the True Rulers! " Zeke charged straight for Dayle, jumping over his attack with his sword ready to slice through Dayle as the steel glowed with a red aura.

Zeke


Within the Heirloom


​

With Victorique siding with Aaron, the man's eyes narrowed at Victorique, " So be it, Halfling. I suppose I understand from your perspective. But consider my offer. " While he sounded understanding, he very much was unhappy with her choice. The chains around his body glowed and the man walked pass Victorique and easily moved through the cell bars, easily breaking them with his incredible strength. Purple magic in his hands degraded the bars into nothingness as he saw Aaron waiting for him, " Hello, nephew. " The man spoke with malice in his voice, Aaron stared up at the man and huffed, " Uncle. " He stepped to the side as the bars degraded, " Better go do you're told and save us from becoming the food for a Bloodwraith. " Aaron spoke. The man growled as he walked pass him, " Can't believe this is what my Bloodline has become, men who can't defend themselves and have others do the protecting, watch over the scary ole first king. " He mockingly called as he walked through the darkness. Aaron scoffed as he looked to where Victorique would be at, " Halfling! Where art thou at? " He called. " We better get going, that imprisoned kin layer will easily kill that bloodwraith. We best go watch ourselves a great show. " Aaron called as he followed after the imprisoned man.

​

As Victorique took each step, she would feel her wound getting a bit worst each step she took, she would begin to hear voices in her head. You can't escape this fate. This is a prison for those who are deserving of it. You'll be the next victim. Do not listen to the vessel. Weird stuff as her vision began to get a bit wacky and blurry but she would eventually find herself back to the entrance of this dungeon. Making her way up she would hear screaming, feminine screaming. As she made her way up to the top of the stairs there would be the imprisoned man holding the bloodwraith with a weird purple power, necrotic power as the creature was unable to escape or even attack, levatating off the ground as the red color that she had as a pigment began to turn darker and even fester. " You thought you could keep us chained down, deceiver? Did you really think you could truly destroy me? Were you not aware of who I am? " The man asked the entrapped bloodwraith as she only writhed and screamed in pain as her body began to decay and evaporate.

The man was laughing as the wraith as truly helpless, looking at Victorique, " Wait! Wait! Please! Help me! We can negotiate! I can tell you what this truly is! What this amulet is! " She tried pleading with the Halfling. Aaron was standing to the side watching, hearing this call for help he turned his head to Victorique, " Do not listen to her! Let my uncle kill her and be done with it! Then you can leave this forsaken place! " Aaron tried convincing Victorique.

​

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

The daisy fields were beautiful this time of year. The sun felt warm to the touch as well. Very warm, also surprisingly wet, flowing down along her legs. She snapped back into reality, realising she was feeling her own blood drip down her legs. Great. She wondered if she should've commanded the creature to bring her, as she dragged herself back towards Aaron. This whole situation sucked. “I'm a little too busy bleeding dry to hurry...” She grumbled back at the man. Kind as he looked, she was growing pretty sick and tired of his horrible attitude.

Great. She was hearing voices as well now. Perfect. She almost considered replying to these voices, hoping that something would finally grant her some answers, but she was afraid she'd just lose it instead. At the very least the Blood Wraith was no longer hunting her down. She scoffed at the creature's plea for help. “I tried to negotiate and you threatened to kill me. Why in the world would I trust you or listen to you now?” In fact, she felt an odd desire to see this blood-wraith gruesomely ripped to shreds by her command. This place was really getting to her head, wasn't it?

She was about to tell the chained man to just kill the blood-wraith quickly and without too much drama, resisting the urge to tell him to make it slow and painful, when Aaron interrupted. Something about her snapped at that moment even more so than she'd already snapped thus far. “Shut up!” She yelled at the man, highly frustrated. She was bleeding out here and the old fucker only cared about making her obey him. “I don't care who the fuck you are or what the fuck you want, but I'm not one of your fucking pawns you old fuck! It's quite fucking obvious you don't even fucking care that I'm bleeding out the fuck out here, so don't expect me to worry about whatever it is you want or need either.” She had been about to order the blood-wraith killed, but now she changed her mind. She also hadn't spoken so much foul language in a single sentence in a long while, but in a situation like this, perhaps she'd be forgiven.

That's when she had an idea. Perhaps cursing a lot was the stress-relief she needed to start thinking about more straight again. The chained one was still under her command, right? If that was the case... “Normally, I'd rather ask for favours nicely cause you're the only one that's been somewhat nice here, but I'm afraid I don't have that luxury...” She mumbled. “I command you to inform me of what's going on. Who you are, who Aaron is, what this amulet is, what this wraith might want with it. Don't hold back and don't lie to me. I'm sick and tired of being in the dark and being ordered and threatened around by all of you.” She hoped that would work. In the meantime, she attempted to keep pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding as best as she could. She debated commanding the thing to try healing her, but she didn't trust it enough.

 

[Garbage Pail Kid]

Skyhunter Lucius Cypher Shatter Shard

---

Memories threatened to flatten him on his back as he waded through the battlefield on a physical autopilot as sheer adrenaline had taken over. His name had been Silas Rhinerhardt, and he fought in the civil war. He had only been a dumb as bricks bumpkin who had been laden with good intentions. A whole life beaming into his brain that overlapped with the dire situation he was in. These eagle and ryken boys having the same terrified and unfulfilled expressions on their faces, just like those union boys did all them years ago. He wished these damn guys would wisen up and realize the undead were far more pertinent than the folks trying to stop them.

Killing felt different than it ever did before...he didn't like how easy it felt in this gigantic body. It made him sick everytime his claws met the plate mail of one these young fools and crumbled it like tissue paper from the weight and speed. It's not like he wanted to kill them, but just like the civil war. This was nothing but a mess of old regretful men, young fools, and confusion on what good this ever did anyone-

"Is that ah fuckin chest with legs? talkin?" This definitely wasn't Mississippi, 1868

It was a cruel twist of fate that the results of war were so swiftly kicked into his ass. Hate only bred more hate, and it seemed he had accidentally bred some of his own as a much more prepared warrior called him. He would have to ask Orchid about that later, but for now he seemed to have another fight on his hands. "When they are helpin the undead by killin the wrong folk? yeah ah suppose ah did. if ya think anythin bout war is easy then yer ah damned idjit. Ya think ah enjoy fightin children in tin can suits? Maybe it's easier ta avenge the dead then keep em alive right?" He spit at the ground and ground his teeth, feeling anger toward a commanding officer who spoke so carelessly about a situation he seemed to know fuck all about.

He was confident as he strolled forward and Wirejaw figured this would be a difficult fight. He didn't imagine third was an easy position to get so he focused up. His intuition warned him against a frontal assault as that was what he seemed to be prepared for, but maybe that was something he could take advantage of. The southern bumpkin digging his feet into the ground before launching forward, and several feet before they made contact. Wirejaw jumped backwards vertically and back into the mist, coming up with a plan on the fly...as were most of his plans.

 

[Shatter Shard]

Dayle Keller
"Red Star's Bastard Dog"

Strength
Precision
Intelligence
Vitality
Speed

[ B ]
[ F ]
[ E ]
[ B ]
[ D ]

D

Active Titles:
Human | Thug | Unruffled

-Ryke-
Underbelly of Ryken, Colosseum

Code by: Shatter Shard

The battle had already dragged on for far too long as Dayle felt the fatigue on most sides. The situation only became worse when the undead started their assault once again. The Red Stars clenched their teeth and readied themselves to defend against the oncoming horde (Basic Swordsmanship). Despite their bodies screaming, the Red Stars still had eyes burning with determination. So long as their boss stands, they will keep on going until the last one. Dayle furrowed his brows as he scanned the area again, when at almost the same time, Wirejaw and Orchid were once again locked in battle with new arrivals. One of them was someone he knew very well, after he strained his eyes. Those flailing arms, peculiar body shape, and gallantly righteous voice was something he recognized vert well. "Mim?" His eyes lit up, knowing that he could dissuade it from fighting Orchid, and perhaps bring him to their side. Just as he was going to confront Mim, a familiar voice echoed in the battle.

Dayle's eyes shook as his steps halted, and Roy watched agape to look at the source of the voice. Dayle slowly turned around as a figure came nearer and clearer. It was Zeke, a much different Zeke than he remembered. Dayle's eyes widened, but Roy was even more agitated, stepping forward as he desperately pleaded towards Zeke. "Zeke! Get a hold of yourself! You're-" But he was cut short when Dayle held his hand out in front of him. Looking at the face of his superior, Roy found Dayle intently looking at the turned Zeke. Melancholy and regret, those were the eyes that seemed to want to turn time back to the point where it wasn't like this. But just like before, those eyes were still clear. Beneath all the sorrow was something Roy had seen before. Resolve. Conviction. Dayle had made a decision that not even he himself could defy. "Back off, Roy. This is my responsibility." Dayle ordered, to which Roy blankly looked at him as Dayle walked forwards.

When he looked at Zeke, there was no pity in his gaze. Only a lingering pride of what his friend once was. With him reduced to a brainwashed thrall, Dayle's fervor only burned quietly, intensely. His friend rambled on about the True Rulers, and his desperation to prove his worth. However, to Dayle, he didn't have to. To him, Zeke had already repaid him many times over, and for that, his value was incomparable to the bullshit fed upon him by those bastards. You're priceless, Zeke. Dayle's expression hardened as he got ever closer. "Zeke..." He clenched his fists. "...just as you've helped me before, this time I'll repay you." His gaze turned fierce as Zeke began to charge straight at him. "And I'll make sure I'll punch you out of it!"

Dayle defended against Zeke's attack with his aura (Can't Touch This), and as his body shook, his heart shook even more. Although he was willing to fight, this was Zeke he's facing. Regardless if he was turned or not, he was still his former friend. He simply did not have the heart to go all out. His face hardened as he fought back, trying to restrain Zeke and throwing him to the ground (Cath 'em Lackin).


Invoked Abilities:
Dayle:
[CD | 0 Post] Can't Touch This: Fighting Style [Dreadnaught] F, Nope [Deflect] F, Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] F, Hellhound [Aura] F| Dayle uses his aura to clad his body in palpable heat. This aura physically manifests as a protective film around his body, allowing him to deflect non-magical attacks.

[CD | 1 Post] Catch 'em Lackin: Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] E, Chainz [Flexible] F| Dayle flourishes his chains, making it unclear when or where the next attack would come next, before striking wildly. If an opponent is caught off-guard, Dayle can potentially disarm or trip them.

The Red Stars:
[CD | 0 Post] Basic Swordsmanship: Fighting Style [Windrider] F, Swiftness [Accurate] F| Their skill in swordsmanship allows them to hit foes faster than themselves, and thus have an advantage over similarly skilled opponents.

Mentions: Shatter Shard Skyhunter Garbage Pail Kid Elvario Lucius Cypher

 

[Lucius Cypher]

Tags: Skyhunter ​

---

Cut. Stab. Slash. Orchid continued her song and was killing in a rhythmic fashion. The green smoke was still thick enough to blind most men and thus alloy Orchid to easily maneuver around them, cutting them down as they try to suddenly hone their hearing to follow her position among the screams and carnage. Orchid wasn't even moving that fast, she just never stayed still to make the mercenaries think she was everywhere at once. By the time she finished her song she was starting to run out of enemies to cut down. She was starting to hope that maybe, they were finally starting to win. But then she saw something strange in the distance. It looked like a box, but one with legs and arms. Initially she just assumed it was another Eager Company warrior in some quirky armor, until it got closer to her. It drew forth a sword and shield, as well as a scythe of it's own, and had four arms instead of just the two Orchid saw. This surprised her and Orchid went on the defensive, taking note that his scythe would mean a normal guard would be dangerous to use against him. She was forced to dodge his scythe swing but was then caught by his shield bash, bloodying her nose.

The mercenary orc put some distance between herself and the new enemy. Mim the Mimic Knight. Orchid was fairly certain she's heard of him before. If nothing else, she knows enough about mimics to realize that her previous advantage of the green mist wouldn't be of any use to her here. His many eyes would enable him to see Orchid from any direction and she wouldn't be surprised if they were sharp enough to pick her up in the smoke too, even if she wasn't singing. But what else could she tell about this creature? He was obviously very bizarre, and if she remembers correctly he's actually a mercenary. Was he paid to fight for the Ryken Knights? Or was he here for some other client? Ordinarily Orchid would just fight him anyways as is her duty, however that blow to the head did a strange job of making Orchid actually think a bit more first.

She's definitely heard of Mim, because he was one of those strange mercs who sometimes doesn't take money for a job. People playing the hero despite being a sellsword is a dime-a-dozen, and out-and-out monster like a mimic doing so was bound to be the center of many stories. This Mim fancies himself some sort of chivalrous knight, fighting evil and rescuing hapless folk from threats far beyond most merc's pay grade. So all the more questions for why he's here, fighting her. Joining the Ryken Knights to take over the Undercity was... Frankly that was probably something one could trick a naive heroic type to do, which Orchid suspects may be what's happening. But maybe someone else was paying him. Or maybe Mim just saw all the death and destruction and was going after everyone who looked suspicious, and frankly Orchid wasn't exactly a knight in shining armor. There simply wasn't enough information for her to work off of right now and she really didn't want to waste time, energy, or her life fighting this creature, so as Orchid sized him up she began to use one of her abilities to Metagame and get an analysis of his abilities, natures, and whatever other information she could draw from him.

As she looked at him, Orchid made sure not to get too distracted and let anyone else sneak up on her. Plus she still needed to keep a careful eye for Victorique, who was still motionless on the ground. Even though she did say Orchid could just take whatever she wants from her body as payment, Orchid would rather keep her clients alive. So Orchid needed to deal with Mim quickly, and opted to do so the easiest way: simply talking. "I believe you've already made the first move sir, attacking me before I could even introduce myself. I am Orchid, Blade of Victorique." Orchid flourished her scythe in a masterful fashion, showing that she was a skilled warrior with her weapon. Not some brute thug trying to intimdiate weaker men with strength alone. "Before we cross blades I have to ask, for whom are you fighting for? Did the Ryken Knights tell you to assist them in sowing chaos in the Undercity? Or are you assisting the cultists in their deranged ritual to bring back their dead gods?" Her words were as sharp as her blade, questioning Mim's nobility.

While Orchid may be a mere mercenary, she at least choose to fight against this evil cult and the knights who intend to use this disaster only to further their own ends, regardless of the lives lost. Even if the people of the Undercity are criminal, the consequences of what happens here reach further than these depths. "I ask you honestly because, as an honorable knight, I should let you know my goal here is to protect my lady as she attempts to investigate the circumstances of the Undercity's Champion, Auregnog, and prevent another war born from this disaster. My quarrel is only with those who would threaten her, such as the undead and the mercenaries here. I would hope one such as you are above the rampant slaughter of defenseless women." Orchid was well aware that she herself was not defenseless, but she didn't particularly care if she had to fight Mim because of it. She just wants to make sure that should she fall, Mim won't go after Victorique. Or maybe possibly even have him defend Victorique if he's going to kill Orchid. "Truth be told, while I am bound to her by contract, I decided to fight on Victorique's behalf because I believe in her cause. The payment she owes me is but a formality: I would sooner see her live long and well before I see any coin from this job. If you are not a threat to her life, than I have no reason to battle you, good sir."


Grade C Cooldown (1/3)
Roar of War - Fighting Style Polearm Master C, Earth-Splitter (Quake) F, Cleave (Area) F - Orchid let loose a mighty war cry, sending out a shockwave by smashing the ground. - Grade C - 3 Post Cooldown
Grade E Cooldown (0/1)
Metagaming - Appraisal E - Orchid knows she's in some strange sort of Isekai with quasi RPG mechanics, so she is going to take advantage of the fact she can examine objects and creatures in a gamified manner to try and figure out information that would otherwise be unavailable to her. Typically she'd use this ability to gauge someone's strength and abilities, though she may also just use it to read up on equipment and other objects. - Grade E - 1 Post Cooldown

 

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance



Mim, The Mimic Knight

​

Mim stared at Orchid with his large eye as a few more eyes opened up to stare at Orchid before they closed and blended in with his body. " I do not know what a Victorique is. " The mimic stated as he was flipping a sword in his hand as his eyes watched her every movement, he held the scythe in his front hands and rotated it as the blade cycled around in a 360-degree arch before stopping as the mimic caught it. Mim was not one to underestimate his opponent, he knew that a warrior was capable of anything within a fight, but it did not mean he would not fight Orchid, he would do as he must just like Orchid would. The question was raised of who he was fighting for, the mimic spun his scythe in one hand before catching it in his other, " I am fighting for the best option, that would be to save this city from itself. " Mim stated, " The knights asked me to help them as their efforts were being thwarted by gangs in the Blooded Guard's own home. So, i came and there you lot were. Trying to do something with the champion and killing the people trying to help this city. Even killing the Eagle Company, they hired. They want to bring peace; I've been in the Underbelly long enough to know that stopping the gangs is the best priority. They hurt the civilians that are forced to live down here. If putting a stop to those gangs is what I have to do, then so be it. I'd rather end this will no bloodshed but, it won't stop unless blood is shed. "

Mim planted his scythe onto the ground with his handle on the ground and the blade in the air, a large eye appeared on the blade, taking a look around him then at Orchid before disappearing back into the blade. " I am not a brute, Miss Orchid. I would not harm defenseless women but would apprehend them if need be. But as you already know, the war is already happening. If you thought war hasn't already happened, you should see outside the arena. There is a massacre larger than the Gangs War that just occurred a few days ago. Knights, Eagles and Gangs all fighting. Many civilians hurt. Or killed. " Mim sounded sad about all the death, even with his massive eyes, they drooped showing sympathy and sadness at the mention. " Your contractor won't be harmed. But she has taken down the Champion, she would get off free because of that alone if not rewarded by Duke Vengron, since you are her contractor, you would too. The knights are not looking to fight those that don't want to fight them, they want to put an end to all this. " Mim stated, " Get your contractor to stand down and I will make sure you are allowed to go. " Mim had stretched his hand out all the way to Orchid, " Help me end this with less blood and dead then there already is. Please. We can stop the Cult and the Gang Members you have been seen with. We can offer them surrenderance. If it is not taken... We will have to resort to violence like this city wants. " Mim had honesty in his voice but did the Knights really mean what they said, Orchid would hear the continuation of fighting all around her. Were they really telling the truth? Was it worth the deal if it meant not fighting Mim? Possibly getting Victorique out of this situation? To get away from the gangs, Arthur, Wirejaw and the Divees Crew. Dayle and his Red Stars. She could take the chance and turn on them with Mim and get Victorique out of here safely.

Griffin Warden

​

Wirejaw was in fact right that that was a talking chest with legs, but now wielded weapons that it seemed to have regurgitated out of its massive maw with its weird stringy arms holding and wielding the weapons similar to snakes. Although the large lizard would have more problems than the chest that Orchid was dealing with, Wirejaw would be dealing with the captain of the Eagle Company that they had been fighting, the men that Wirejaw had just steamrolled over. " Killing the wrong folk? Helping the undead? " The captain scoffed at the implication, having a snarl on his face as his talon opened up and clamped down sharply, " I think you are gravely mistaken. What we are doing is doing as we were hired to. For a good cause as well, stopping all the gang shenanigans that occur down in this cesspit of criminality and debauchery. I was down here a few days ago as I watched this city turn on itself and its citizens, the gangs are the problem and the best way to handle that and bring order is to kill the gangs involved, the ones that would be the largest threat. " The captain stated with a grimace, " I would have offered you a chance to stand down and surrender, but you killed my men. Good men and boys that were looking to bring order and do their jobs. " When Wirejaw looked at the bodies he had ran over, there was a mixture of men bodies and even young men faces, boys. Had to be the age of sixteen to seventeen. " You have worked for the wrong side and now you will pay the price, lizard. You and your gang, Divees Crew. You'll all hang or burn. You will die by my blade and talon. " The captain vowed.

As Wirejaw created a feint by launching forward at the captain, he stood his ground and pushed his talon out towards Wirejaw with the talon open like a sharp maw, as the large, armored lizard jumped vertically, the talon would clamp down and miss the lizard. Wirejaw would hear the clamp of the gauntlet and weapon, it sounded strong, like it was meant for dealing with heavy armor or breaking weapons. While Wirejaw disappeared into the mist above thinking he would be safe from the captain for the moment, he would be wrong, through the mist just as quick as the lizard had disappeared, the captain came flying after the lizard, with wings on his back made from magic, glowing red while being ethereal at the same time. Wirejaw wouldn't be able to counter the pursuiting captain as his talon was wide open coming for Wirejaw. Before the western cowboy would react, he would feel the talon clamp down on his shoulder digging through his armor and scales, piercing his flesh as it clamped down with a heavy crunch, Wirejaw would see the wings move in a weird fashion as he would feel the shifting of gravity being flipped. Wirejaw would hear a growl of determination from this captain while feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder as he was then flung and feeling the talon release his shoulder. Wirejaw would slam into the ground below him as the captain came flying after him, Wirejaw would land on his stomach hard enough to make the lizard bounce. He would feel a presence flying after him despite being dazed for a moment and the loud clang that follow afterward, he felt a faint hit on his back as the captain was knocked off course.

Griffin would land on his feet, stumbling backwards while holding his sword, he had struck Wirejaw with his sword on his back and it had protected the large lizard from a most likely lethal attack. Warden stood his ground as he rolled his arm back a bit that held his sword, he had a face of discomfort like he had may thrown it out of place or possibly struck awkwardly because of the armor that Wirejaw had, he did not expect his sword to bounce off of the back of his enemy. " Get up you coward and fight me. " Griffin roared as he held his talon up in the air, blood had covered it from when it clamped down on the shoulder of Wirejaw, his red wings disappearing in a flash. Besides Wirejaw was a debris on the ground, large rocks and boulders from the explosion of earlier, it seems that they had moved across the arena where the main explosion was at. There was even a hole next to him that would take him to the Warrior's Respite, an underground armory for the gladiators of this arena. There were weapons, armor and possibly more down there if he chose to retreat.

Zeke, Indoctrinated Cur

​

Zeke stared coldly at Dayle, his eyes were changed, they were lifeless yet held anger within them as he had charged the Red Star's Bastard Dog. Zeke was the Blue Viscera Occult's Indoctrinated Cur. A man who was killed twice now just to be brought back again to extend the goals of this occult he was a part of. Forcefully. But he was under there thumb now, his eyes showed what his beliefs were, what his goals were. He wanted Dayle dead. He wanted Roy dead. He wanted the Red Stars all dead. All dead and under his control for the cult he now served. As the Indoctrinated Cur neared the Bastard Dog, Dayle would see Zeke was wielding a double-sided spear in one hand and his sword was sheathed on his hip. Zeke spun his spear around as Dayle attempted to entrap the changed warrior. The changed friend would swipe his spear at the chain to knock it off course as he got close to Dayle. A knee drove into Dayle's stomach with more power than Zeke looked like he was capable of generating. There was an evil cackle that came from Zeke as Dayle would feel a head crash into his nose, blood flew into the air as Dayle would hear ringing as Zeke's angry and hateful eyes would be what he saw when he blinked, red eyes and an evil snarl on his friend's face.

Dayle would begin to fall back when his hand was grabbed, by Zeke of all people, holding him up from falling backwards. A foot was raised into the air as Zeke kicked Dayle in his chest knocking him back towards Roy where he landed on his back. Zeke shrugged looking at Roy, " You really want this weakling to lead you? He's going to get you killed Roy. Look at what he did to me. I died twice yet I am here because he wouldn't protect his 'friends' and that includes you. " Zeke spoke, while holding his spear in one hand, stabbing it into the ground. " Join me, Roy. The Red Stars can be destined for more, a higher purpose. Better than being under the thumb of not only a weak leader like Dayle but we will join a group of people, a King and Queen who will care for us, care for us better than the Red Stars. " Zeke stared down his opponent. " They've treated us like trash, like we are disposable, Roy. We can do more than just die here for a pointless cause. " He tried convincing, it would be up to Roy on what he would want to do.

Within the Heirloom


​

As Victorique had snapped on the Bloodwraith and Aaron Vengron, the chained one couldn't help but really smile at what was transpiring, in her delirium of blood loss she was getting more aggressive as time went on, each of the three parties she was now in front of were asking for her help as they were now at her mercy. Whether the Halfling knew it or not, the chained one did. He was powerful enough and been around long enough to know the signs. The Bloodwraith that was slowly melting away in purple necrotic energy was speaking up again. " Because I was tasked with keeping the Champion tethered down. I was hired by Duke Vengron, Halfling. I am Lykra, the First Captain for The Blooded Guard. " She spoke, " We need to keep this necromancer in his chains and this Vengron chained to keep the Champion tethered down. He will continue to sow chaos in the Underbelly. You know this. " The Bloodwraith that claimed to be Lykra was explaining quickly as she was melting away. " I assumed you were trying to release the Champion; I thought you were set on it in which I decided killing you would be easiest. Your wound gets worst. You look like you can barely stand. I can heal you with my own blood. Just have the chained one release me. " Lykra was continuing to get worst as one of her hands had fallen off.

Aaron did not like the way he was being spoken to by Victorique, " Excuse you but you are talking to Royalty, child! And you shall address me as such! Just because we are trapped in an amulet does not mean I am still not respected. And I would care about you bleeding out if you would listen to my every word. We can't allow these two to leave, they will destroy the world we are in. The Bloodwraith will kill me, and my uncle here cannot be allowed to leave. We can't even kill him. " Aaron stated, " So how about you kill the Bloodwraith, she's a traitor to The Blooded Guard. Once a traitor always a traitor, halfling. " Aaron may have been a grumpy and rude old man but he was right about Lykra, if she betrayed the Blooded Guard to try and save the Underbelly for the Ryken Knights to sac the cesspit of criminality, she could betray Victorique.

Then the chained one spoke, " Your wound worsens, your face pales. I can save you, but you must command it, Halfling. Although for me to heal you I must sacrifice one of these two to do so. Necromancy requires a sacrifice to heal your wound as it grows worst, and you bleed more. A grave thing. " The chained one spoke. Although when she told him to tell her who he was, what was the point of all this was. He smirked, " Very well, Victorique. " He said her name with a smile on his face but how did he know her name. " My name is Ryke Bulvark. I was once a king, the king of this country that I made. " He stated. " Aaron is the product of my mistakes catching up to me, rather than doing actual fighting he was the one who had others do the fighting for him. A coward. " His eyes looked to his nephew. " I was killed millennium ago. Yet before I would be killed, before the events that destroyed the Bulvark name, I laid with the only woman I loved, and we had a child together. This child would then be given to the house Vengron, a smaller family that was loyal to us, so loyal that they would in fact betray us when they realized they would be wiped out. " Ryke stared at Victorique with cold eyes, " Aaron is my nephew, the bloodline of the Bulvark family that was supposedly killed before this country truly was a country. Last of my kind that survived and took over the Vengron house. The reason of him is a mix of the amulet that was cracked which caused this machine we are stuck in to go haywire. I couldn't be truly killed so they dismembered my body and tossed it all around or tried to burn it. My soul they placed into this amulet after I was impeached for a war me and my lover had created. We nearly destroyed the country in the name of vengeance. Now, the reason why Aaron is here is because the amulet that held me within this Champion was growing weaker, they needed a body of the same bloodline to be placed in here. There were talks of that Aaron was killed or demoted but those were all lies, the history books lie because of what happened next, they needed a reason as for what I am about to explain, the Damn Royals. He did lose the First Control War, but it was found out by the criminals that he is a Bulvark. They kidnapped him and dragged him here, placed him within this amulet as his blood will keep me from taking control of the champion. In which I would have free will once more rather than be a prisoner. " Ryke explained.

" The Wraith here was hired by the current Vengron Duke, wanting to avenge the family name and sent this agent into the Blooded Guard where she worked her way up. " Ryke looked over at the melting Lykra. " She was told to lock Aaron away to keep the Champion in a stasis in which what caused this entire thing to happen. The rise of gangs, knights, mercenaries and now a cult. Strange times indeed. She wants to keep the Champion out of the fight, which the amulet is powering it up and keeping us in this prison. " Ryke smiled, " That is all true. I may be imprisoned here but I can still see bits of the outside before we were cut off when the amulet broke. But I can hear the outside world. War. " Ryke told the Halfling, " Do what you want with the knowledge. " He explained calmly. Aaron looked outraged. " WHY DID YOU TELL HER ALL THAT! Uncle! Kill the Halfling! " Aaron pointed at Victorique, " She mustn't escape the Amulet or the Champion with that knowledge! " But Ryke did not move, he smiled, " Foolish nephew. You played your hand too quickly. You don't command me because you did not bind me. She does. " Ryke looked to Victorique. " There he has shown his true colors. Do as you want. " Aaron had wide eyes at the realization. " Oh shit, I did not mean that! " Aaron stated although it was a lie, he wanted Victorique dead. He was a weak old man, but he could still overpower a weakened Victorique if he attempted but his eyes were full of fear at the moment.

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

Well, wasn't this great. She was getting all the answers all of a sudden. Turns out all she had to do was ask, or rather, command. There were only a few issues. First of all, bleeding out. That was a bit of an issue for sure. Secondly, she was pretty sure all these folk wanted her death to various degrees. Thirdly, she was no longer thinking all that sharply. Part of the 'oh-fuck-I'm-dying' process. Fourthly, it was a lot of information to take in and filter through, especially in her current state of mind.

“If that's true, you have the worst social skills in recorded history.” She snapped back at Lykra. Had they been on the same-ish side all along? It could be true, but something still confused her. “Wait, then why the hell does the old man think you're out to kill him and want you dead?” That made no sense at all, did it? She wasn't sure. Even now, the old man wanted to kill the blood wraith. Was the old man just trying to escape his faith here?

She ignored the blabbering of the old man regarding her tone of voice. From what she gathered, the old bastard himself was just as much as a traitor and coward, so his arguments against Lykra didn't hold up all that much either. However, he did seem correct in that they couldn't allow those two to leave. Ryke Bulvark's speech made that much clear. He must be the guy those undead freaks wished to free. It'd never been about the champion for them to begin with. That meant she couldn't let him go free at any cost, as the one thing she knew was terrible more so than other things, was the undead cult.

Eventually, some things clicked. Lykra had caged Aaron, which had 'killed' the champion, as Aaron previously used to be in control of it to make it 'alive' like it used to be after the Controls War. That, in turn, allowed Duke Vengron to attack the Underbelly as it was no longer protected by the 'Aaron' champion. This likely also triggered the undead cult into action, as those plans might've leaked and taught them of the location of the necromancer royal they were looking for. Right now, Ryke probably wished to take back control over the champion and to be free again to take vengeance or restore his old kingdom. Aaron likely wished to take back control for things to get back to 'normal' where he rules over the Underbelly. Lykra likely wished to keep Aaron caged so the Underbelly could be wiped out by Duke Vengron.

None of those options were ideal, but she could cross out one of them. She didn't wish for this undead royal to hold control of the champion. She was far too afraid of the chaos and horror the necromancer would sow after he'd be freed. She also wasn't sure about putting Aaron back in power. For one, that dude just tried to kill her. Secondarily, she hated the Underbelly and agreed this place would be better if wiped off the map.

Eventually, she came to a decision. However, she wanted to to check a fourth option first. “Lykra, with your blood powers, would it be possible for you to take Aaron's place by taking over his blood and bloodline?” Putting Lykra in charge of the Champion would be a terrifying risk, but out of all sides, she favoured Duke Vengron the most. That said, she didn't like the plan of merely caging Aaron back up again, as they had all seen the results of that, with the Champion going haywire.

Ideally, she'd get rid of this old fool that wanted her dead, wouldn't free the dangerous necromancer and would get healed before bleeding to death. That was a lot to ask, she realised, but she'd still try.

 

[Lucius Cypher]

Tags: Skyhunter ​

---

Orchid listened to Mim, thought still kept her eyes on her surroundings, getting a feel for how the flow of battle is going. Frankly, if Arthur's friends are safe, they really should get out of here. They would've been fine if they had fled when they had a chance but the only reason they were here was to help his friends, and now that they're together it was time to go. So trying to figure out a way to get out of here with the least amount of casualties would be best, but most importantly was getting Victorique out of here. Just as Orchid suspected, the Ryken Knights convinced Mim to help them for the sake of the city. Fair enough Orchid would suppose, if the Ryken Knights had hired her, Orchid would be doing the same. From a purely mercenary standpoint everything was in order: it was hardly their business to speak of morality. Still, some things don't quite add up and she wonders how much of it does Mim actually know. This entire business could've been born out of a huge misunderstanding and poor situational management.

Mim claims that the knights had been working to rid the Undercity of gangs, and while that is a noble intent in and of itself, that doesn't explain why the Ryken Knights also worked with that Death Cult. Hiring some of the gangs to cooperate with them to take out bigger gangs that rival them is a smart move and one that Orchid can't find any flaws with. But that Death Cult didn't show any signs that they were just going to be peacefully worshiping their dead gods and seemed like they were going to kill everyone and anyone, regardless of their allegiance. Orchid didn't turn her back on Mim, but she did try to move closer to Victorique's body. "Ordinarily I would accept this offer and take Victorique out of here as far as I can. However I do not intend to leave with just her. I have a few friends here that I also need to bring out, and it seems like they've also incurred the wrath of your ah, allies. Maybe this whole conflict was borne entirely out of a sever misunderstanding.... But there's still some things I don't quite understand."

Orchid motions towards the general area where she had thrown those bombs at the lich. "The Ryken Knights had entered some sort of alliance with that death cult, who they would later plan to betray. This tells me that they're more than willing to cooperate with people even worse than the gangs, literal necromancers who want to kill everyone for their twisted religion, and subsequently stab them in the back after they've served their purpose. Had Victorique not had discovered this treachery and revealed it, that death cult may have continued to kill and add us to their army of the dead, all under the command of that Ryken duke. So I'm not entirely sure how much I can trust the duke to not betray us if we were to cooperate and simply leave peacefully. He may still deem us threats simply because we know more than he wanted any of us to learn." Frankly, Orchid wasn't even sure if that Cult was finished off or not. She hasn't actually seen the remains of that Lich and for all she knows he's still alive and really pissed at her. All the more reason Orchid needs to get out of here, so instead of being stuck at an impasse Orchid would try to reach some sort of compromise.

"Far be it from me to judge the Ryken's morality or politics. I'm just a mere mercenary. But regardless I do want to leave without further bloodshed. If you can guarantee the safety my client and my allies, than I will do the same and ensure that they leave this area without any further conflict. We're not here to stop the duke anyways, and only stayed to ensure the safety of my other friends from the Cultists." Orchid says as she lowers her weapon and extends her hand to seal this deal. There wasn't any time to be writing up a contract, not even a quick one, so a verbal agreement would have to suffice. And Orchid was also aware that Mim might end up sticking to her hand and eating it, so she was taking a big risk here as a show of her own sincerity.

Grade C Cooldown (2/3)
Roar of War - Fighting Style Polearm Master C, Earth-Splitter (Quake) F, Cleave (Area) F - Orchid let loose a mighty war cry, sending out a shockwave by smashing the ground. - Grade C - 3 Post Cooldown

 

[Shatter Shard]

Dayle Keller
"Red Star's Bastard Dog"

Strength
Precision
Intelligence
Vitality
Speed

[ B ]
[ F ]
[ E ]
[ B ]
[ D ]

D

Active Titles:
Human | Thug | Unruffled

-Ryke-
Underbelly of Ryken, Colosseum

Code by: Shatter Shard

Roy looked on in shock, but when Dayle hit the dirt right in front him, his body started to tremble. He never thought that Zeke could become so strong, by just becoming a monster. His eyes slowly turned towards Zeke, and the smile of twisted desire that seem to distort his perception of the man he used to know. Zeke's visage made Roy fall into the recesses into his mind, and for a moment, a memory echoed.

"I feel inferior to you Zeke." On an empty lot designated as a training area, was Roy standing over a dumbfounded Zeke, who was on the ground panting. They had just finished a spar, but Roy proved to be superior in combat, even if both of them used none of their abilities. "The shit are you on about? You just beat my ass down!" Zeke asked as he sat up looking at Roy. The Red Star mook only shook his head. "Not that." He spoke, tapping unto the side of his eyes. "That fire in your eyes. How do you always keep it alive?" The question left Zeke baffled for a moment, before he burst out laughing. "I've got someone I've dedicated my life to, you see." He confidently answered. "You too Roy. You'll have the same fire as mine eventually."

When he came to, Roy was already trying to convince him. Just as his words were puncturing his heart, a single image superimposed on the figure of Zeke. His dull eyes were looking at his own, seething rage apparent from the intensity of his stare. The fire that he had respected was nowhere to be found anymore. "What happened to you?" He eked out, his voice almost faltering from the bottled-up emotions inside of him. Anger, shame, and regret swirled around his heart whenever he looked at Zeke. "What the fuck happened to you?!" Roy yelled in desperation, that even Dayle had to pause from standing up. "Did you already forget our brotherhood? The same one you've loved so much?" Roy's eyes had become frantic, despair slowly creeping up on the face that used to be so calm. "You swore, Zeke! That we would follow Dayle until the end! We fucking swore!" He roared with a hoarse voice, almost as if he's trying to make someone hear. Roy paused to catch his breath, and was about to say something more before Dayle stopped him. He was bleeding, his nose running blood, with parts of his body swollen or bruised. Yet there he still stood tall, uncaring about the pain.

"You're a pawn Zeke. They will not care for you, no matter what you do." Dayle spoke, cracking his shoulder as he reoriented himself. "That much is obvious when they picked you as my substitute. In their eyes, you were picked because it was convenient." He spat out spit and blood, before continuing. "I brought you in not because I saw value in you, but you were willing to follow me with your life. You forgetting that..." he paused, as if solemnly trying to deny the next words he was going to say. "...it means right now, you're not Zeke. You are a thrall pretending to be him." Once more he leaped towards Zeke, his chains tightly wrapped around his arms, but now it was different. Dayle's muscles seemed to contract to its fullest as his arms readied to punch, this time with the maximum amount of strength he could muster. "Weakness is bowing your head for selfish power, Zeke!" He roared as his fist came crushing down. "And you've only disgraced yourself!" Dayle used his aura to both reinforce his defense and empower his attack. (Can't Touch This).

Roy shook as he held the claymore in his hand, before looking back at the remaining Red Stars. There weren't many of them left, only amounting to five, but they kept on fighting without complaints. Despite their pathetic situation, they could never be more gallant to Roy's eyes. He gritted his teeth and looked back at Zeke as he mumbled. "Red Star did treat us unfairly..." He closed his eyes for a moment. "...but ever since we've followed Dayle..." And once he opened them, a fire had ignited within those crystal-clear eyes. "...our allegiance has never been the same." A newfound resolve, born from tumultuous emotions and high adrenaline. Although his hands still trembled, he strengthened his grip and narrowed his focus to one single goal: the subjugation of Zeke. He took a single step. Then two. And then three, before it turned into a full sprint. Roy clutched his claymore tightly and moved behind the trail of his boss, just like he always did. He stopped at the side of Dayle where he was most vulnerable, and with the momentum of his run, swung his Claymore at Zeke. (Basic Swordsmanship)

Invoked Abilities:
Dayle:
{F} [CD | 0 Post] Can't Touch This: Fighting Style [Dreadnaught] F, Nope [Deflect] F, Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] F, Hellhound [Aura] F| Dayle uses his aura to clad his body in palpable heat. This aura physically manifests as a protective film around his body, allowing him to deflect non-magical attacks.

{E} [CD | 0 Post] Catch 'em Lackin: Fighting Style [Bonebreaker] E, Chainz [Flexible] F| Dayle flourishes his chains, making it unclear when or where the next attack would come next, before striking wildly. If an opponent is caught off-guard, Dayle can potentially disarm or trip them.

Roy and The Red Stars:
{F} [CD | 0 Post] Basic Swordsmanship: Fighting Style [Windrider] F, Swiftness [Accurate] F| Their skill in swordsmanship allows them to hit foes faster than themselves, and thus have an advantage over similarly skilled opponents.

Mentions: Shatter Shard Skyhunter Garbage Pail Kid Elvario Lucius Cypher

 

[Skyhunter]

The Bloody Defiance



Mim, The Mimic Knight

​

Mim listened to the orc speak, from one mercenary to another mercenary, the mimic understood her point and stance of distrust of the Ryken Knights. " Understandable, madam. " Mim held his shield down on the ground, placing his hand on the top of the shield. His many eyes appearing then disappearing as his main large eye stared at Orchid, " But I would not lie to you, that would be unbecoming of a knight to do such a thing. " A fifth arm came out of his mouth and was placed on the chest below his mouth like a knight would placing a hand over their own heart. His arm would retract back into his mouth as they continued talking despite the chaos around them, an undead came behind Mim as one of his hands swung his sword, slicing the undead in half from head to crotch, showing his awareness and quickness to action even if he was in a dialogue.

Mim stared at the Orc as she spoke of the knights conducting a covenant with the undead cult. The mimic knight looked a bit confused, which was a strange sight to see as a mimic's face contorted that way, almost indescribable. " Is that so? " Mim asked with a curious tone, " If what you speak of is true, that is a very... Disagreeable thing to do. " The mimic knight arms bulged from the accusation, out of anger, not at Orchid but at this piece of news that he may have been serving and helping a faction that was dealing with the worst group from among all in the Underbelly when they were supposed to be the good guys. " I will need to see evidence of this. If they would betray a group that helped them, they could do that to me or you. " Mim stated, while he seemed foolish, he was somewhat intelligent. Orchid would continue talking, asking for a guaranteed safety for her, her client and her friends. Mim stared at her for a moment quietly, " I can't guarantee safety for your 'friends' if they are gang members as that is what I am concluding from this conversation so far. But I can guarantee yours and your client's. I will act like I saw nothing with your 'friends' but if the knights see them, they will most likely attack. From what I hear, they were given a chance to leave but they did not take it. " Mim shook Orchid's hand gently, she would notice it had a... Strange feel to it. Like it was all muscle but was somewhat soft, it didn't feel right honestly. He would release her hand and pulled his arm all the way to where he was as he then lifted his weapons. " Let us continue on our way, Miss Orchid. We will find this client of yours. " Mim then began moving forward towards Orchid as he ventured off into the green mist, his cape flapping like it was in the wind, he swung his scythe and sword, cutting through undead.

As the two made their way through, they would hear gunshots getting louder, getting closer to the loud bangs, they would see Arthur had built his own mound of bodies with Auregnog and Victorique still next to him with a mountain of bodies around the two stuck individuals. Arthur was covered head to toe in blood, holding a shotgun in his hand as he wore a smile on his face, loving the violence he was inflicting, blowing men's limbs off and destroying bodies. He had an Eagle mercenary on one knee as their other had been blown off. Arthur pointed the barrel of his shotgun at the man, " Open up. " Arthur commanded, the Eagle merc did as he was told as Arthur stuck the barrel into his mouth and fired the gun, causing the head to no longer exist. Arthur grimaced at the dead man as he took a deep breath, he looked tired and exhausted, had wounds on his body but he looked like he could keep going. Arthur stared at his ghastly weapon that was in his cursed arm. Arthur spat on the ground seeing Mim before he aimed at him quickly but realizing it was the Mimic Knight, Arthur relented. " Mim? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in the main city defending the civilians. What brings you here? " Arthur asked, he would see Orchid then sighed of relief, " About time you came back, I thought that explosion killed you. Victorique still has not came back, I don't know what's going on but help me defend her. " Arthur wiped blood and gore off his face.

Arthur Verg, Divees Leader


Griffin Warden, 3rd Captain

​

With Wirejaw now on the ground with his shoulder ripped into, the captain walked towards the downed lizard, " A shame, I wanted to kill you on your feet like a real warrior. Nothing but a worn body of foolishness and folly. " The captain raised his claw up ready to bring it down on the lizard's head when a small body flew through the mist, swinging a sword and hitting the talon that caused the captain to step backwards. He growled and took a few steps backwards seeing Xix, the Goblin Gladiator, landing in front of Wirejaw while holding his small khopesh and a small steel buckler that was a shield to him with a goblin's head as an emblem for it. " Another one to kill. You damn mercs fighting for the wrong side. Not that it matters to me, I just want to leave this place now. " He still had grief in his eyes for what happened to Sticker, but he was still determined to fight. The captain scoffed as the two warriors walked towards each other ready to fight, they clashed as steel met steel, the sounds of clangs were loud, Xix jumped over attacks while blocking or parrying attacks with his buckler, swinging his small weapon at the captain who was blocking with his talon and swinging with his short sword. The two were evenly matched, quick in their movements and strikes. Determined and stubborn like bulls.

Xix, Goblin Gladiator


Zeke, Indoctrinated Cur

​

" Dayle is nothing but a coward. He would allow us to die repeatedly, live and die in pain. To become puppets. We were for the Red Stars, forced to do everything for nothing. We had nothing. Dayle 'helped' us and look where it got me. Look at what swearing my loyalty got me. Pain. Death. Despair. " Zeke growled deeply as he held his spear in both hands. " I was WRONG. " Zeke admitted, " The Red Stars do not care for us. We are expendable to them and Dayle. " Zeke looked at Roy, " Roy. Join me. Join a group that will give us purpose. We could become the Honor Guard for the True Rulers. Don't make me kill you and force me to make you join. " Zeke's dead eyes had disdain for Dayle but for Roy, they were sad and determined. Almost desperate. " You will see what staying with Dayle will do. You will see soon. " The undead Zeke spoke.

His eyes moved to Dayle who called Zeke a pawn, the undead almost laughed, " You can't be serious, Dayle. You are a pawn in of yourself. " Zeke growled, " You want us to die for you, but you wouldn't do the same. You're a tyrant in a position where you can only rule over the small gang you were given and told to command over. You are literally the Bastard Dog. " Although Dayle's next words would anger the undead, his eyes widen at being called convenient. Even being called that he wasn't Zeke, he gritted his teeth. " I am Zeke! I am! I have opened my eyes now! I do have value, I was loyal and look what it got me, death! Look where it brought me to, The Blue Viscera Occult! " Zeke was angry now, " I am no thrall, but I see you now only see us as puppets, you don't see value. You see only loyalty. You want us to die for you so you can get through the hell that the Red Stars are putting you through. " Zeke had hurt in his eyes at the realization, " You have shown who you are. You have indoctrinated these bastards. Even me, until I died. I may be their second choice. But I will prove that I should have their first when I offer your head to the Orcus. " Zeke glared.

With Dayle leaping into the air to attack Zeke, he spun his double tipped spear with a look of hate on his face, seeing Dayle do his usual attack, Zeke narrowed his eyes, he knew Dayle and how you would attack, Zeke moved to the left of Dayle's oncoming punch as fire lit up Zeke's face, he was no longer decayed, he still looked human, his face was paler and his eyes were glowing that dreadful red. Zeke then looked to attack Dayle with his quick speed, slamming the tip of his spear into Dayle's side twice as Dayle's aura saved him from being cut into. Although this wasn't an actual attack, this was a representation of what Zeke could do. His speed and his power. Dayle would take no damage, but he would feel the attack of Zeke's spear and where it landed. He had attempted to attack Dayle's liver and his neck. Two places that would have ended the fight. Zeke's eyes staring at Dayle as the fire flashed. He was no longer going to hold back. " I'm no disgrace. You're a terrible leader who would let all of his own men die before he saves them. I've opened my eyes. " Zeke commented just his head turned to see Roy charging at him. " You poor fool. But you've brough this upon yourself. " Zeke spun his spear striking Roy's claymore to stop it mid-swing, Roy would then strike again in which Zeke met his attack again with the spear. Although with Roy's relentless attacks, he was pushing Zeke back who remained calm, blocking each attack the Red Star Loyalist gave. Zeke then would see an opportunity and charged through Roy's defenses. Shouldering the Red Star backwards, despite his armor, Roy would feel the hit like a punch which caused Roy to slide backwards. Zeke stood up straight holding the spear. " Roy. I'm giving you a final chance to really think this over. Join me. Join something greater than just a gang where we are meant to die. Meant to die for an organization that cares nothing for us and a leader who conveys his appreciation of us for the appreciation of our sacrifices. Our lives. Don't make me kill you. " Zeke held his spear in both hands, ready to attack if he needed to.

Within the Heirloom


Ryke Bulvark, First Tyrant


Lykra, Bloodwraith Double Agent
​

" He did it to manipulate you to allow him to go free. And when that happened, I panicked. Your speed was too much for me to keep up, Even having him disappear I thought you had freed him. " Lykra growled through the pain she was still going through as she was close to melting away now, Ryke still held Lykra immobile and slowly drained her of her life essence, blood was the richest of it so she would most likely be fully devoured, soul and everything. Ryke stared at Victorique as this entire thing was going down, with Lykra dying and Aaron freaking out, Ryke still remained calm. So, calm it was freaky, this was his opportunity to leave yet he wasn't trying to convince Victorique to let him free. He must have known that Victorique already figured it out. Or there was an even deeper and darker plan. He had a smirk on his face as he stared at Victorique, a bit taunting it was. Maybe he was trying to throw her off her game and it had no meaning or there were more secrets she was not aware of. With Victorique asking if Lykra could use Aaron's blood, this got a reaction from everyone, Aaron looked shocked. Lykra was confused despite her melting and almost dead appearance. Ryke looked almost impressed. " I-I don't know! I can try! " Lykra was barely making any sense, she was almost unable to be understood as she was so close to death thanks to Ryke's still draining attack that Victorique has allowed to go on.

Aaron Vengron, Cowardly Duke
​

Although Aaron hated this idea, his eyes were wide with anger, " You stupid halfling! I will not be a sacrifice so my uncle cannot leave! " The man growled; he was unsure if what she proposed would even work but he didn't want to bet it would. " I would let you die and take charge of what happens next! " Aaron's eyes were full of intention. Bloodlust intention. He wanted Victorique dead. The old man ran towards Victorique, kicking her down onto the ground, a foot into her chest had her tumbling down onto the ground as Aaron moved to quickly get on top of Victorique, large hands grabbed her neck as he began to squeeze, thanks to her wound she wasn't able to act quickly. " Well look at you go, Aaron. Actually, growing a spine now that your life is potentially threatened. Now it's getting interesting. " Ryke spoke with an evil chuckle on the end. She would see that Aaron's eyes full of fear and anger, fear that he could die and anger that she would think of killing him. Victorique's childlike body was under siege by Aaron, she wouldn't be able to escape his grasp by herself, especially with her wound in her side, she would feel his knee laying on her wound, causing a new layer of screams full of pain from her.

 

[Elvario]

Victorique Sopheana
​

“Let her go and stop Aaron from attacking me, but don't kill him!” Her command was quick, as she was kicked down and she realised the danger she was in. She'd been hoping to put some pressure on Lykra, but she'd clearly underestimated just how much the necrotic magic was hurting the blood-wraith. The blood-loss was far from ideal, both for the halfling and the blood-wraith, for that matter. She wanted to just ask them to heal her, but she knew she had to try to stay sharp through these last parts. Especially as she felt like Ryke had a lot more tricks up his sleeves to catch her off guard the moment she'd say or do something careless. For one, it was very clear that he was hoping for Aaron to kill her so that his chains would be off and so that he could kill Aaron and Lykra to be free again. Only the old fool himself didn't realise that.

“He's just waiting for you to kill me so that he's free and can kill us both, you old fool!” She snapped back, although she wasn't even trying to convince him at this point. Hopefully her command had already taken care of those things. However, she still didn't know what to do right now... Part of her said to put Lykra in control, another part made her worry about the dangers of her betraying them. This thing sucked, but that wasn't something new. She wished she had someone with her. Rachael, perhaps. Or Orchid. Or even the sour Arthur at this point. Wait!

That's when she suddenly figured there was a better candidate. Arthur. With pain, she grimaced. “Here's my deal.” She told Lykra. “Go get Arthur. We're going to see if he can be put in control here. If it works, we'll have someone that can clean up the Underbelly. It won't be as thorough as the Duke might want it to be, but it's the best he'll get from me. I can't risk having my allies be stabbed in the back as a result of my actions, but I'm sure that he's equally fed up with this place and willing to disband, just through different means. If you refuse, I'll command Ryke to kill you both and heal me and I'll attempt to take control of the Champion myself to clean things up. I know that's a stupid idea, but I'm sick and tired, literally, so that's all that I'm offering you. Get Arthur in here soon or I'll start on my back-up plan. If he doesn't believe it's my word, tell him that ignoring me in the library was rude enough and that he shouldn't also ignore me whilst I'm dying in some alternate dimension.” That wasn't a thread. The blood-loss had really gotten to her and being kicked on top of it made things even worse. Even so, with her last wit, she formed an [Ultimate Argument] out of it. There's just be an extra flavour of despair to it.

She felt her vision fade a bit. She realised that if she didn't keep talking, she'd soon lose conscious. With gritted teeth, hoping that Lyrka would be on the job, she spoke up. “Say, Ryke, if you were to be free, would there be any chance you'd abstain from taking vengeance on the descendants and trying to reclaim the country? Call it the ramblings of a dying halfling, but part of me likes to imagine a world where we could just have a few drinks and be done with all this bullshit, without death and undead cults and blood flowing through the streets like water...”

B-Grade CD's

• B Grade CD's: (0/4)
• Ultimate Argument – Appraisal D, Heightened Senses [Hearing/Sight/Smell/Taste/Balance] B, Insight D, Perception D, Persuasion E – Character takes in any information they can from someone and uses it when carefully picking their tone of voice and mannerisms to convey their argument in the most persuasive manner, tailored to whatever might suit the person they're trying to convince. - Grade B – 4 Post Cooldown.