Filler Post!
Smitty ship gets close enough to dro p the grappler and bring up Diyena and her soldiers in two trips. Once she was onboard she could see the look on the old mechanics face. Even Joey appeared troubled. "Whats wrong Smitty?"
Smitty looked haunted, shaken by something and merely pointed to the sky. When she turned to look her mouth fell open in utter disbelief...
The sky was burning...
Crosses - Long time no see!
By the time you make your way to wear the Syblade was pulling you to your powers fade. Leon reverts back to his regular Dhampir self. Livain loses the power of flight and returns to her normal self as well. Despite the loss of your strange powers the Skyblade continues to whirl and glow with a dim light. Livain could feel the tingling of excitement as they came in sight of a large building, it's once great windows were mostly shattered and on its very steps stood several undead that milled about aimlessly.
You both easily identify it as one of the greatest museums in the known world, a place that housed artifacts from nearly all the Era's of the Old World that you could recall. It was here that the Skyblade was pulling you. Why though was the mystery...
Cassian & Ael
As Ael makes her heartbreaking decision she feels the power once again tries to wrench itself free of her grasp. As she struggles with a cruel laugh echoes from all around and just as you btoh try to get your bearings you hear the dying Scavenger gasp.
You both turn and stare in disbelief as something made out of shadow stuff starts to emerge from the dying man's shadow. The laughter seemed to be coming from it and in a matter of a few seconds it takes the form of Aelessaer! Although, this one appeared older with silver streaks in her hair and much crueler smile on her lips.
"you failed to spoil my fun little one. You see your just too weak...!" She grips Scavenger shoulder, eliciting a gasps from him as his skin starts to visibly tighten, shriveling as he grew older rapidly. "... to take what is yours! Why waste your own time when you can just kill them and take their's. Take their very soul!"
Whatever she was doing to him was happening rapidly, it didn't seem apparent that it could be stopped either as she stared down her nose at you both. Her cruel smile mirrored by her laughter as she mocked you. "Cassian, ready to die again?"
Mir
The released females nod at your words, the one that had been crying is pulled to her feet as the first speaker. Apparently the most vocal or confident of the three, speaks to you.
"First we should exchange greetings Wanderer. I Am Ginla Faireyes, this emotional one is Shu'li the Flame and the quiet one is Gin The Caller." She gestures to those who remain in the stasis tubes. "I do not know who else succumbed, it may not be safe to release more of us... But tells us your name Wanderer and what you need us to do."
Tyrn
The first battle was won...
You had taken them by surprise, the battle had been fierce but you crushed the masters forces completely in this wing of the temple. Despite them gaining reinforcements midway through the battle they were too weak to take your force of exotic women and your machine priest companion. They failed to stop the juggernaut that was coming for the Master...
At the head of a force counting fifty or more strong you stood on what was once a station for overlooking work being performed by other technician's possibly. It was at the top of what appeared to be a network of assemblylines and stations for putting together some of the elven machinery this temple once produced. However this room became a testament to what you and your force of the chosen intended to do. All around you the bodies of strange quill throwing creatures, over muscled machine men, mutated hounds and the undead lay scattered where they fell.
Standing beside you was the quiet Machine priest, his face a symbol to what elven kind had achieved.
Aucturn was leaning over a rail nearby, wiggling her rear seductively while simultaneously appearing quite bored. However she had inflicted the most severe damage to the machine men, darting out of shadows and disabling them quickly.
The Serpent Twins were at your back, they had both unleashed their abilities on the enemy with savage abandon. Both proving that magic and brute force were sometimes equal in power.
Your forces were mopping up what remained of the enemies you faced, if it moved it was smashed into submission. The Chosen weren't taking any chances. It was Do or Die now...
And Tyrn was at the head of this exotic army, a story no one could or would believe back home...
The machine priest spoke, cutting off your thoughts, his voice a dull tone. "It will get tougher from here, we got the drop on them but many halls yet stand between us and the Master." He puts his foot against the body of one particular mutated elf hound thing. "The Master must die."
I reach out blindly and seize a brown bottle of medical ointment nearby, then I throw it at the apparition, "What are you?"
Ael
When you toss the bottle at the apparition she catches it, throws it aside and chuckles. "I'm the version of you thats going to kill you. Not yet though, the fun is just beginning..."
Scavenger's body begins to shrivel more, his eyes were white orbs as if he were hollow. His life was being sapped away by this dark version of Aelessaer who doesn't even show an ounce of remorse as she denies him a quiet death.
The power is growing more unstable now, as if any moment you'll lose it entirely.
"Just let it go~ Your too weak to use it anyway..." Your otherself mocks you as she runs a hand along Scavengers shriveled cheek. Where she touches his skin flakes off like dust...
Crosses - Long time no see!
By the time you make your way to wear the Syblade was pulling you to your powers fade. Leon reverts back to his regular Dhampir self. Livain loses the power of flight and returns to her normal self as well. Despite the loss of your strange powers the Skyblade continues to whirl and glow with a dim light. Livain could feel the tingling of excitement as they came in sight of a large building, it's once great windows were mostly shattered and on its very steps stood several undead that milled about aimlessly.
You both easily identify it as one of the greatest museums in the known world, a place that housed artifacts from nearly all the Era's of the Old World that you could recall. It was here that the Skyblade was pulling you. Why though was the mystery...
" I am Mirianissa Death's Shadow.Well met Ginla Faireyes, well met Shu'li the Flame, well met Gin The Caller. If you do not believe the others safe to release then we need to go. These furless ones are with me, and we have other allies in this structure." she says guesturing to the soldiers waiting warily.
Crosses
From your vantage point it appears there are thirteen groups numbering two to four undead each.
Crosses
1d20+13
From your vantage point it appears there are thirteen groups numbering two to four undead each.
With bestial instict, Cassian's hand was at the hilt of his longsword. He unsheathed Selene with such pristine grace that the show it made of decapitating Scavenger seemed almost beautiful.
"We're all ready to die, Shadow. Are you?"
Ael and Cassian
Cassian was interrupted before he could give Scavenger an honorable death, most likely to mock the noble intent Cassian had. Scavenger is still dying althouh now the Other Ael is doing something far worse to him.
With his renewed vigor, Tyrn led his otherworldly herum through the temple, laying waste to the abominations that invaded it.
"Then our battle has only begun. Tell me, should we bring light to this Shadow, will its ranks flounder? Though we have proven formidable, it might be wiser to cut the head from the beast than sever its limbs."
Leon silently watches the milling mass of undead. ::So sneak around or cut straight through them?:: He signs.
Tyrn
The Machine Pirest looks to you, speaking without hesitation. "Your metaphorical speech doesn't apply to this creature. Its a shade. Far harder to kill and elusive, light sources are few since the power destabilized and most of our equipment that was not destroyed initially was not designed to fight something incorporeal. I hope we do not cross its path..."
Just another selfish torturer. Well, I'm used to them...
Deciding that containing this force is more important than anything else, I look in at myself and focus on the force.
Ael
The Other Ael appears as solid as you do having caught and tossed aside the bottle you threw at her.
Since her appearance she doesn't appear to be attached to Scavenger save for the fact she has her hands on him, other then that she has two feet firmly placed in the mudof the battlefield you are standing in...
The harder you try to maintain your hold on this unknown power the more it tries to escape your grasp as if it had a mind of its own...
The creatures the Grey Riders fought were the same zombie-like creatures you and Bera faced in the beginning, some of the creatures they faced you were unfamiliar with. However when they fought the shadow they were unable to harm it with normal weapons.
Cassian's actions and words bring the Other Ael's mocking laugh. "Oh you will die Cassian but I plan to live much much longer."
Your rolls will be answered in a bit sorry not at my normal computer. :(
Mir
Hallowway and his men are gathered outside and as things calm down he comes striding back in. Rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand he leaves the other resting on his pistol in a non-threatening way. "Looks like I owe you one there, you... Ladies are one tough bunch." He clear his throat as he realizes his pause was far too noticeable. "These three appear a little nicer then she does... So what do you need me to do? Are we releasing more of them?"
"They believe that the others' minds may have been to tainted to releas without danger. It pains me but we should head back to the others. There is much adjusting that needs be done and much to discuss I believe." Miri says to the soldier.
Leon silently watches the milling mass of undead. ::So sneak around or cut straight through them?:: He signs.
:: Definately go around my love. I am afraid there are too many, perhaps it would be too great of a risk.:: she signs back quickly without taking her eyes off the undead.
::As you wish my love. silent as death and just as deadly.::
Leon closes his eyes and breathes in slowly pulling in the surrounding shadows. They envelope his body like cloth obscuring his form from prying eyes.
She watches as her husband cloaks himself in shadow, mesmerized by his silent grace. She too begins to cloak herself. Shadows begin to slither like serpents from all around rolling her in a shroud of black. They gently cover her until she was completely conceiled, being one with shadow.
Temple group
Cassian feels the world drop away as Ael touches his shoulder, as he turns to look at her she gives him a sad look. "Goodbye Cassian..."
With him gone Ael smiled as she took hold of the power she now understood, leaning forward she grabbed the Other Ael's hand and pulled it away before placing her own on Scavengers head. Scavenger then disappears completely. The Other Ael shrieked in rage as she tore her hand away and summoned up a mass of shadows, so thick that they appeared almost oily as they washed over each other.
"YOU WILL DIE!"
Ael took on a fighting stance, her armor cycling up and activating her light spell as she roared back. "NO ITS YOU WHO FALLS TODAY!" The two came at each other, weapons drawn and fists raised in righteous wrath or murderous intention. Their time powers altering reality with each step as they engaged in what could only be the final confrontation.
In that moment, on a long forgotten and distant battlefield, the forces of darkness and light clashed. It was a moment those that could have witnessed it would never forget as darkness washed over the flagging light of goodness and consumed it in an instant...
In essence please break down what you plan to do in 5-10 steps. Like what steps do you take before the fight or do you flee. We will simplify this and get on with the game.
Crosses
You enter the museum, the dead were no the wiser to your passing and surprisingly the Skyblade seemed to silence itself the moment you began to sneak past the wandering horde. Fighting is still occuring throughoout the city but Leon's skin crawls as the city seems to be bleeding positive energy from somewhere. Its a feeling unlike any he has ever felt and it is slowly worsening, from a skin crawling sensation to a full body itch and most likely it will only get worse.
However Aurora doesnt feel the growing sensations like her husband, in fact its the opposite, a sense of calm fills her being. LIke everything would work out for the better. Despite the terrible tragedies, they would pull through and come out on top...
Inside the museum you find display cases have been smashed wide open, sacred artifacts and relics have been stolen and part of the museum is completely destroyed. The entire inside appears as if a massive battle was waged within, walls are burnt. Necrotite flames dance across burning tapestries that were once hundreds of years old and now lay in ruins or smolder along the edges of the ceiling.
As the horrible sensations begin to sting like fire ant bites, Aurora feels the Skyblade come alive. Tugging much more fiercely in a direction leading to the central part of the massive Museum. With little choice you followed its overwhelming will, stumbling past wrecked cases and charred corpses as you made your way to your unknown destination.
Leon tried to remain stealthy and was successful up until he saw what his wife was about to stumble into. He narrowly pulled her back before she was noticed by two hulking Cryxian Warjacks. Simply known as Axemen. They were like a walking meat grinder, chains covered their thin arms, lined with terrible blades that rotated so fast they let off a screaming roar akin to the wails of a dying horse. It was somthing they both feared as it used its enemies as fuel in its internal furnace. Which led to its other more terrifying weapon, a burning harpon that was mounted inside its soul furnace, which it used with deadly efficiency to capture prey and pull them in before slamming the door shut and burning them alive.
The two warmachines were feasting on the dead within the Museum and despite their heavy damage they were more then enough to wipe out the pair of Dhampirs because the Axmen were known for being frighteningly quick when at full burn and these monstrosities were so full that they smelled of corpse ash.
However the longing to reach its destination drove the Skyblade into a frenzy, its internal gears burned hotter and hotter as if it were being driven made. Aurora could feel it all and her empathic connection filled her with such sadness it felt as if her own heart would break soon if it didn't end. It was the same feeling she had if Leon ever died... Yet it was so much more then that, it was genuinely suffering now...
Temple Group
She charged at the Other Ael, intent to destroy her and realized too late that it was a trap. Seeing the smirk on the other's face as she grabbed her goodly twins hand and dragged her into what could only be described as a swirling miasma of time energy. She kicked Ael hard in the stomach as she cast her into the void that was this time stream and laughed as she tumbled into the swirling energy. She saw the past, the present, the future, the lives of those who lived and those who were never born. The tragedies that befell the innocent and the hunger and terribleness of evil allowed to run rampant.
She fell forever before she finally crashed into a cobblestone street, she laid there gasping before pausing at the loud rap of a tapping cane nearby. Ael pressed herself shakily to her feet where she came face to face with an old man. The man watched her from underneath his cap as he leaned against the only source of light in the entire area, which seemed to disappear into darkness.
"Where... Where am I?" She stammered out.
The old man responded with a deep bass of a voice, with an almost sagely wisdom chiming in it. "Its not a matter of where you are but when. Its been ages since I met a Time Lord, so let me welcome you to the End of time."
"Time Lord? What are you talking about?! I need to get back!"
"Back? That time came and went ages ago, they failed. The temple was destroyed and the shining sea became nothing more than another dead world in the sea of stars. Elves became extinct and the Old World fell into ruin as well. Why would you go back? You've tried and failed. What will be different?"
The news was too much and she fell to her knees. "I have to... To try..."
"You did and you failed. What will you do now that will be any different?"
"I don't know! I have to try!"
"Try? Next time she will kill you, her control of time is brazen but immensely powerful. But where she toys with it like a child who plays with her toys too much not realising she holds a viper waiting to strike. But you are a babe, barely able to walk let alone face such a horror. Your death would give her the final thing she needs, she'd be the last." His voice carried a dark tone as he adjusted his bowler cap to shadow his aged face.
"The last? What do you mean?"
The old man sighed as if telling a story he's said more than once already. "She crossed the time streams and killed the other versions of herself across the dimensions. She is you from your time but twisted and she intends to erase you completely and as she killed the others she grew stronger. You were too weak to realize you two have grown stronger..."
"No your wrong..."
"Little lady, I am anything but..." He raises his hand and from the tips of his fingers poured forth the purest of time motes and aevum that Ael had ever seen. It overwhelmed her senses and she screamed in ecstasy as it washed over her. But as quickly as it started it stopped and when she came to her senses she felt... Stronger and her head was clearer than before. Ael rose to her feet as the old man spoke again. "So Time Lord, what do you plan to do differently?"
"Please... Teach me how to control time."
The old man's aged smile appeared by the dim light as he spoke again. "Finally, the right answer..."
A voice crackled into her helm and she remembered Carson's holo-gram and when he spoke she stood stunned for a moment. "This was what I couldn't tell you before. WE found you Ael, alone on a dead world. Nothing more than ash and bare rock. Standing by the very gate that brought my men and I to the Shining Sea, we promised to stop her and created that armor for you. However, you begged us not to go and when I didn't listen, you followed us and died. It was all my fault and..."
Ael laid her face into her hands and sobbed as memories came to the surface, memories of an Ael that wasn't her. Children playing, Carson's home, his soldiers the Grey Riders. Their mission. Everything rushed back, overwhelming her with the grief she felt when she couldn't sway them.
The Grey Riders ride willing to their death, to stop genocide, to kill a tyrant, to the last, never fearing, never wavering, til the last shot was fired. There could only be... .
"Your our last trump card Ael, you are the Last Grey Rider and you have to win this! And if you can find the forgiveness to forgive this foolish soldier, if not I understand..."
"Enough! We don't have all the time in the world! Wait... Heh I guess we do... But atone later and lets get started." The old man lifted his cane and pressed his bowler cap up and revealed his golden eyes.
Ael couldn't stop her tears as she looked towards the golden eyed old man. [smalle]"Yes..."[/smaller]
V's hands slipped from the emergency generators as what little life was finally stripped from him. He slumped into the shadow as it finally overwhelmed him...
Without him the temple would fall back into shutdown and eventual detonation...
He had failed...
Everyone is thrown to the ground as the temple lurches , the lights flash, several walls crack and the machine parts that had been whirling quietly pour out. Shattered and scattering like blood from an open wound.
When the shaking subsides you find several of the tubes are now damaged and their occupants will soon die if the temple is not restored. It seems that the fate of an entire race lays in your hands now...
The damage injured those within the tubes as well. Releasing them now would surely kill them...
In one section the floor split wide open, impeding the advance of Capt Carroll's men and Tyrn's forces. As the violence settled down, everyone rose to their feet and gasped as the lights went out once more. Plunging the entire temple into darkness. It was then all hell broke loose, Carroll and his men were besieged by a new wave of monstrosities that nearly overwhelmed their lines in a matter of minutes, had it not been for Tyrn's otherworldly warrioresses they never had stood a chance.
The fighting was brutal and without mercy, before his eyes Tyrn watched as a young riflemen bravely defended his wounded companions. Only to be overwhelmed by the hulking musclebound drudges and get pummeled to the floor. The boy resisted though, drawing a boot knife and jamming it into the drudges knee, his efforts were rewarded by the musclebound brute taking hold of his hand in its on and crushing it so hard that the sounds of each bone in his hand and wrist breaking echoed through the dark halls. It rolled him over and then, in full view, pulled his head back and sawed through his throat with a wicked looking cleaver in the most barbaric fashion. The riflemen couldn't have been older than nineteen...
Capt. Carroll had fought valiantly to reach him and when he failed the Captain lost his reason and engaged the monsters alone. After several long moments of struggle he brought the last of that pack down, severing their hoses and denying them the dark liquid that supplied their terrible strength. The one that had killed the boy though he finished off without mercy, drawing his pistol and hammering through its glass face with a high caliber round at point blank range. He had fully intended to never see it rise again.
Carroll was putting away his pistol as something materialized out of the darkness behind him. Tyrn shouted a warning and Aucturn disappeared in a puff of shadows to try and intercept what was coming...
But she arrived too late, Carroll gave a strangled gasp as the black blade slammed through his midsection and broke through his chest. As his lung filled with blood he twirled his blade and disarmed that which had attacked him. He stumbled, blade still ran through him and his own sparking off something with incredibly hard skin...
What stood in the dim light as the british soldiers turned their torches (flashlights) on it was a creature unlike any Tyrn had seen. It was very insectoid in shape and size and had a chitinous armor strong enough to deflect bullets. The soldiers unleashed a withering volley that did little more than make it cross two of its arms protectively over its head and advance with the remaining two arms wielding blades the color and seemingly the consistency of shadow. It was, for a lack of a better term, a giant ant...
Aucturn engaged it then and the two battle so ferociously that the very walls shuddered with the titanic strength they unleashed on one another. Her blades lone eye darted and bulged and appeared bloodshot from the strain it was under.
However that wasn't the only beast that attacked, mutated elves, goat-like humanoids, mutated cat-folk and undead lurched out of the dark like an unstoppable wave. THe machine priest was nearly overwhelmed. The cephalad woman couldn't contain all of them with her tentacles and trident. Even the serpent sisters were pushed back by the mad creatures that came screaming out of the darkness. The master had unleashed all of his mad minions to stop those that had come to liberate the temple and he intended to crush them completely...
V had surrendered completely when all of a sudden the lights in the room flared once more, as if the temple had new life but this light was different. More potent, more refined...
The shadow's bunched together, shrieking in pain as it tried to escape the light. But there was no part of the room that wasn't covered, it was literally trapped in the center of the room and left screaming in agony. V watched as it took shape momentarily, humanoid and made up of a negative energy type...
It reached down and made him scream as it drained his body once more. However it was unable to finish the job as something burst through the mass of shadow surrounding him. It's metallic fist punched through the shadow creature and in an instant dispersed it nearly completely. However as the shadows broke apart they stilled and then rushed towards the armored figure that stood over V now. The shadows turned into motes of light that merged with her form and her figure blazed like a newborn sun, blinding his dead eyes and inflicting immense pain momentarily before the pain suddenly ceased. He could tell then that she wore armor that appeared to be made up of gears, its intricacy was so far advance it would have stilled the breath in his chest if he had needtobreathe.
"It was about time someone saved you V..." He remembered her voice, and as she turned towards him he stared in wonder at the lights that danced around her shoulders. It was as if a halo sat upon her brow now...
"It can't be..." His voice was cracking, his life was fading as his vision blurred.
Then a resurgence of strength and energy infused his being, he jerked his body convulsing as the power hammered through him. He reached out and grabbed onto the womans powerful arm as she pressed her hand down hard on his chest. The pain was more of a burning sensation as each tendon, each muscle, every organ suddenly started to regenerate. His eyes glossed over as new ones grew into his tired sockets, he coughed dust as his lungs flexed unnaturally in his chest and inflated like new again...
Her voice was like silk, like light chimes in a breeze. So musical it resounded within his soul. "You can't rest yet, not yet. Your needed V..."
He couldn't breath straight yet, overwhelmed by the sensations running through his new growing skin. But he nodded and dried lips he smiled...
Aurora was being led through the ruins of the library like a child by her hand. Even with the pungent scent of ash and corpse, she felt as though she were looking at the world through a pair of rose colored glasses. The chaos and destruction was not sinking in as it normally would have. She felt optimistic despite the horror unfolding before her. She knew that there were war jacks that could mindlessly consume her at any moment, yet she felt strangely placid. Suddenly the once serene feelings she had felt began to erode and the ceilings of her mind began to give way and buckle. An uninvited guest was coming and his name was despair. This dark visitor in her mind began assaulting her senses and rotting her thoughts like a bad disease. She could feel sadness, devastation and panic bubbling up through her. The pain she felt was as if someone took her future away and replaced it with an emptiness, then proceeded to tell her she would never grow old with her beloved husband. She could feel the sorrow pulsing from the sword, a low mournful vibration one would feel from a slow dirge. She turns to Leon with her eyes wild with panic. Cold tears took to her eyes and slithered down her face. Agony writhed within her. Her hands searched for Leon's frantically.
Leon gripes his wife's hand and gives it a squeeze. "It's ok we'll find a way around them." He says as he pulls Aurora in close and holds her. His voice strained with worry for her. He'd never seen her so distraught even when he lost his arm she was in control. He feels lost the despair Aurora's facing is beyond what his blades can reach. He begins looking for an alternative way around the jacks.
If the battle continued this way, Tyrn's army would be overrun. There needs to be more strategy.
Tyrn calls to the priest, "How close to the core?!? I will see it restored before we are overrun! We need more advantageous terrain if we are to hold them!"
Cassian will give Talmerren a summary of what's happened around the temple and their status in the oncoming battle. He won't hold a single detail and his speech will be as concise as possible. Among the things he'd talk about would be the "heart" and it's whereabouts, the core, Aurora, MOG, Sil, mindmeld, Ael, dark Ael, the Master, the thoon destroyer, celaphax*, planar travel, Carroll & Co's homeland, and whatever other important tid bits that I can't seem to remember at the moment.
He'll ask about weaponized sunlight sources, tech that could be used for advantage, strategic placement around the compound, paths to reach the core, and if there are nearby supplies that could be used. Basically anything that could better equip/prepare them for the big showdown.
I hope this is what you're looking for. Can't wait to see everything play out!
Tyrn
The Machinepriest fell back to you and appeared to be ignoring his damaged shoulder. The rotor cuff appears to have been crushed by one of the musclebound brutes with a hammer for a hand. As he reaches you he looks back grimly on the battle between Aucturn and the insectoid creature. "We're still a ways away. These creatures are blocking the direct path..."
Captain Carrol stumbles over, blood running down the right side of his mouth as a sword protrudes from his chest. His soldiers were just as entrenched in the fight now and it appeared the Masters forces would soon overwhelm the front lines. Seeing the grim situation Captain Carroll turned to Tyrn and spoke hurriedly. "Pull your forces back, find another route. We will hold them here." As he spoke british officers brought their machine gun core to bear. The three machine guns were quickly erected, appearing to be far more advanced versions of the Chain Gun from Rennor in the Old World. Carrol gave a hand signal to one of his officers and the officer relayed the order to a group of men being held in reserve.
These men drew their short curved blades and advanced forward into the fight. Their effectiveness became quickly apparent as they fought in teams and they primarily engaged any opponent that was a serious threat. Often engaging them in pairs so that one could distract and the other could attack.
Aucturn and the Insectoid were still fighting each other, much to Tyrn's surprise she was slowly reverting to her true form. A towering black scaled creature with bat like wings and a long sinuous tail. The Insectoids movements were smooth and powerful as he used his twin blades to try and batter Aucturn back, while simultaneously trying to grapple her with his free hands. His attempts at grappling weren't completely useless as Aucturn had to jerk her arm or wing or tail free every once and awhile which threw her off balance for his next sword swing.
"There was a large door with a pull chain to work it further inside. I believe opening it would be important. If we worked together we might be able to get it open." Miri says to Halloway, waiting for the soldier's opinion before relaying her words to the other Tabaxi
Mir
Halloway and his men seem a bit off kilter after the incident and unsure of abandoning their posts.
Ginla Faireyes perks up and tilts her head curiously at you. <"You mean the hive? The doors are sealed? Why would they do this...">
Shu'li the Flame looked at her companions before looking back at Mir <They hive wouldn't have turned coul...>
Gin The Caller shook her head as she cut off her sister. <"Never! The Hive's queen was part of the temple after all, they'd never turn on her. They adored her. I agree with Mirrianissa, we must go to the doors and see them opened once more."
Ginla and Shu'li both nodded in agreement and once their decision was relayed to Halloway he rubbed his head in an unsure fashion before turning to his men. [b][smaller]"Need four volunteers, the rest of you return to your duties and make sure nothing disturbs these chambers further. Anything comes up you will refer to Scavengers expertise." It didn't take long for the volunteers to step forward, burly men, broad shouldered with the look of veteran fighters to them.
It was the work of a little over an hour before you arrived at the doors once more, slogging through the water that now flooded the lower level and trickled down the tunnel you had found before. The chamber where you had you vision now stood in about an inch of water and it was rising slowly as water trickled in from above.
The Ancient Tabaxian's explained that an underground spring was discovered and eventually the High Ones made an aquaduct for it to reach the Tranquil Ley, which allowed them to keep the temple supplied and cooled off during heavy transitions. Some of what they spoke of was beyond your understanding, merely reinforcing that the High Ones were far, far more advanced than any other tribe in this part of the vast world you thought you knew.
Shu'Li noticed the remains of the Immortal first, floating on the water and for a moment she looked like she were going to cry again. This time though the tears were bitter and filled with anger. The human men and Halloway appeared confused by so many statues crafted with such expertise but your Tabaxian brethren appeared to know in an instant what had happened here. When they saw the statues of the twist monstrosities Shu'Li growled in anger and would have crushed them into dust if Ginla and Gin both hadn't stopped her.
<"We cannot assume Sister, we must focus on the task at hand. Open the hive and see what remains before pressing forward. We are all that is left to save the Tranquil Ley, if we fail...">
Shu'Li's jaw stiffened. <"I will burn to ash before we fail. The Shining Sea will not die while I draw breath.">
Halloway and his men start getting to work on the chains, using some type of strong smelling oily material to lubricate the chains and mechanism before attempting to life one side of the door. The Ancient Tabaxian's hung back and Gin alone stepped forward, it was then that Mirianissa noticed something strange about Gin making the hairs on her neck and back rise up as her instincts flared. Then, in the dim light, she saw it.
A massive form stood over the top of Gin, enveloping her in its presence and yet she moved freely. Ever movement of her body was the same as that of what stood over her. A hulking creature appearing to be made of translucent scales and powerful bulging muscles. She took hold of the now lubricated chains and with ease started to wheel her side open. As Halloway and his men strained hand over hand, Gin was calm and collected the beast that stood over her appeared to be growling and angry with every shift and pull on the mechanism. Gradual, peg by peg the gate moved upward, the locking hook clicked with ever passing notch.
Clack, Clack, Clack, Clack, Clack, Click, Clack.
What little water that had accumulated flushed away the moment the door cleared the trench it had settled in. Leaving you standing in mud as the water trickling in from above stirred up the muddy floor further. However when the water level fell low enough a great blast of stagnant air blasted into the chamber. Filling the entire room with such thick dust and stale air that it caused everyone to cough and stagger as it settled down.
Gin though never stopped, her power was so potent that even the foul air seemed to swirl around her never touching her and instead the translucent shadow that stood over her seemed to snap angrily at the distraction. Halloway and his men did their best to keep up but there were times their line slacked off as Gin rose the door seemingly on her own.
When it was finally open the hackles on your back rose unconsciously; like staring into a deep, dark void that looked like it was going to swallow you whole. What really spooked you was that you felt like you were being watched...
Crosses
Aurora was too distracted to notice much as the Skyblades emotional state overwhelmed her.
Leon however noticed something else coming there way and that someone was clad in thick robes and radiating magic like he had never seen before. The Axemen didn't take notice at first, as they were focused on destroying a particular display and devouring the mummified remains of some important figure from ages past.
This androgynous figure sweeps right past where you both were, there eyes never fall on you despite appearing to sweep the inside of the Museum. As they reach the Axemen they frown and raise their hand, magical runes suddenly appear encircling the raised hand and forming what appeared to be like a cannon in runic form. They spoke a single word in a cryptic tongue that neither of you understood. "Exscidium." At the mere utterance of the word a beam of light fired outward from the runic cannon they created, the runes spun around at such a blurring speed that they couldn't be made out any longer. Hammering into the closest Axemen and instantaneously burning a hole in the abomination's soul furnace. Tearing it open and allowing some of the trapped souls to flood outward, greatly weakening the Cryxian Warjack...
The Axemen reacted to the strange figure and moved to engage it but just as they were reaching they shot off the floor and hung in the air floating above the Jacks. They're robes flared outward as the figure spoke in a cold and uncaring voice which barely sounded feminine. "Face my wrath abominations. You'll defile my sanctum no longer..."
The Axemen were now mere feet away from the Crosses and could possibly at anytime notice them...
Upon seeing the mystery figure approach also has a spike of fear run through him that only intensifies as it attacks one of the axemen. The blast of energy tearing into its armor. He takes a step back as he enters shadow's embrace. :My love time to go while they are distracted: He signs to Aurora.
Ael
The old man watched you, his eyes shined merrily as he tipped his hat in an almost comical fashion. He had a swaying gait as he approached. He twirled his cane expertly, not actually needing it to aid in walking and doing out of style and absurd things with it which confused Ael. Despite the seriousness of their conversation he was completely at ease.
"A lot rides on your shoulders Ael, the Master. Hogwash, powerful but mortal. The Thoon, powerful undeniably but foolishly outmatched but the enemies he created in his wake. So. Admittedly he... Hmm. Curious I don't know if it was actually a he or a she... Well the point is it too is mortal." He pauses and taps you on the forehead lightly. His golden eyes sparkle as he continues to muse in an amused tone. "But... What did Cassian call you... Other. Shade. Shadow. Oh yes! Dark Ael! Dark Ael abuses the greatest power of all. Manipulation. More specifically, Time Manipulation. The soldiers she promised to return their lives. Trap. And you all walked right In To IT. Quite ingenious. But twisted forcing them to choose loyalty over their families and previous lives. Tsk tsk tsk tsk." He clicks his tongue in a disapproving way as he circles you.
"However you, or shall we say Ancient Ael joined the Grey Riders. Esteemed order of soldiers, lasted some forty millennium before the Last War and were remember for all time as the heroes they were. Tough lot, determined and damn near unstoppable when their sights are set on something~" He circles again rubbing his chin as he thinks and, without warning, he lays the hooked end of his cane on your shoulder and spins you around with shocking ease. He twirls it again and slaps the tip end into the cobblestone as he rests his hands on the hooked part once more. He smiles as he directs his attention to you...
"But you Ael, the one caught in the center of this paradox, I'm curious what do you remember of your childhood? Your Parents?" His eyes were piercing and the golden irises seemed to move like molten gold as he looked down on her curiously. "Tell me how you survived the misery of Cryxian servitude?"
Crosses
The Axemen look upward and launch their harpoons in an attempt to spear the flying figure and drag it down. However the harpoons slam into what could only be described as an invisible protective field. One Harpoon disintegrates on contact, along with a massive length of its chain while the other harmlessly glances off and ricochets into a nearby display.
The flying figures eyes narrowed as she spotted the pair of Dhampir's on the move. She aimed her runic cannon once more. The strange language echoed in the crosses ears just before its destructive beam rained down on the undamaged Axeman. "Exscidium."
The Axeman vanished in a spray of choking dust and the figure merely continued to aim the runic cannon at the next opponent then...
"Exscidium."
The already damaged one exploded in a spray of dust as well. However the keen eyes of the Curator were blinded to the movements of the Dhampirs as the dust obscured its vision like a smoke cloud. However their keens ears alerted them to something else moving within their Sanctum. "More pests in need of meeting annihilation?" Her voice was devoid of warmth and most likely mercy as well. It was as cold as a glacier, unfeeling and strictly to the point. "Surrender and death will come swiftly. Don't and I will send my hounds after you..."
Mir
The open door was like a yawning void, the stale air made it somewhat difficult to breath and it was hard to imagine anything could still live in such conditions. Halloway and his men were ready to fight, weapons out and loaded as they took aim. However your ancient sisters looked less ill-at-ease granted the look of concern on their faces was obvious. At least to you as Halloway looked more concerned that his pistol was ready to fire and was already in his hand...
Tyrn
Your hesitation was costly...
Aucturn cries out as the insectoid grabs hold of her tail and yanks her off balance. Spinning her around and jamming a black blade through her side as its other arm sends her blade flying. Her sword lands hard, sliding to where you stand as she gasps in pain. The insectoid raises her off to ground and she screams in agony as she grips the blade stuck through her backside. It visibly burns her hands and the mechanical priest starts to move forward as blood splatters on the floor. Meanwhile it was raising its other blade to strike her down.
As if on cue. A soldier charges towards the insectoid shouting. "NOW!"
Men you hadn't even seen surge out from readied positions with drawn swords and with rifles that had bayonets affixed. A young soldier crosses his rifle between the front of the insectoids shoulder and the back of its neck. Stopping it from being able to raise its blade. Before it can react another soldier moves in and runs their gun betwixt its legs followed by another and another. The swordsmen work to pin its arms and in the fraction of a second it took them to surround and begin their multi-front grapple. They disarm one of its remaining swords, allowing Aucturn to crash to the floor. However their efforts are taxing, the creature appears far stronger then them but they have numbers on their side and they use that numerical advantage to drive it into a corner and pin it there.
Your forces continue to do poorly while the British soldiers suffer lesser losses. Carroll coughs and wipes away the blood that tumbles from the side of his mouth. The mechanical priest pulls the blade from his back and attempts to cast some sort of spell but stands in shock as the injury remains. Carroll gasps for breath as he speaks. "We can hold them here. You need to take your people and go... While you still can." Soldiers armed with what could only be a grenade similar to what you've seen on your home world. Stand and lob them into the incoming terrors, the blasts knock back the on-rushers and leave them open to the withering machine gun fire.
Carroll steadies himself as he sheaths his blade and draws his pistol once more. He aims and drops one. Two. Even three quilled creatures that had been standing off to the side and attacking his men. He pulls one young soldier back and shoves him towards you. As they run into you, nearly knocking you off balance you realizes its a girl. "Take him with you, they can show you where we are encamped. Theres some people there you should meet..."
Cassian
Scavenger shrugs off any attempt to talk to him, looking at you in a confused way as you try to explain things to him. He looks to the brown bottle and dumps it out, making a light hearted comment
Talmerren and you are shooed out of the hospital by scavenger and his attendants as a wave of wounded arrive, some otherworldly in appearance and most almost all female among the male British forces. Talmerren staggers, only restored to half-function as he was and looks on bewildered as the other worldly show up. "The Chosen... Who rallies them now?"
He shakes his head and puts a hand on your shoulder. "To rely on that mad man is foolish, the Son of Eox will kill you as soon as he would think to join you. He has no moral compass only a fascination with dissecting creatures and killing his hated foe. We should try and find Aurora and bring her back before she is lost to us. MOG needs to be rescued as well, she is our greatest mind and she is alone and exposed right now. Who knows what horror could have reached her..."
Cassian
"The temple is a weapon, however when all hell broke loose we didn't have time to activate any defensive measures. It was a wholesale slaughter... Without Sil we can't activate the systems... Without Mogs mind we don't have much to make a stand. Direct assault is the only option we got..."
"Theres another way to reach the core. But its not accesible to you..." Talmerren hesitates which is clearly not his strong suit, the set of his jaw seems to reflect more frustration that hesitation.
I gasp at the audacity of goldeneyes, and the depth of his knowing.
"I... I was always a slave, I don't remember my father and my mother: nothing, but, only a smell I half-remember, something unbearably light, like it is always drifting away from me."
My thoughts are so distant, so boxed away, that I'm detatched: like someone searching through a box of trinkets found under the bed.
The memories of Cryx are altogether clearer. My face tightens and I tense, even here, in anticipation of a blow, "I survived by doing exactly what I was told, exactly. And then I learnt how to keep out of the way, to not be present for the fiercest tasks. And, as you know, I had my little trick. It's amazing what people can do when they need to survive... terrifying, sickening... I was lucky to find an amazing solution."