Continuum: Adamant Citadel- War In The North

[GrievousKhan]

The battle waged on with a squad of Skorn making a stand around the last communication hub still active. However the situation was dire, cut off and slowly becoming overwhelmed, the Skorn defending held little hope of a rescue. However the attacking hoard slowed in it's advance as it's rear guard came under attack the Skorn soldiers realized their moment and poured in support fire, just as more Skorn popped out from cover on the hoards flank, hitting them form multiple sides. The attacking force fell apart on the unforeseen pincer maneuver, turning the tide of the skirmish quickly.

Meanwhile just a block southward a tall cloaked figure approached from the temple roofs above the fighting bellow. The Crypt Keeper, the Necroloth of of Thultanthar had finally reached his target. Leaping from a long hall temple roof fell heavily onto the roof of a lower positioned building beside the road that lead to the command hub. It's feet hissed from the pressure of the drop, it instantly sped recovering from the 15 foot drop quickly. Moving in a blur of motion it jumped form the edge of the buildings roof plummeting another two stories, it's cloak bellowing around it as it descended, landing with a heavy crash among a group of Skorn soldiers. Some were blown back from the recoil, others losing their balance. The folds of it's cloak blew back, and in it's left hand held horizontally, a long rod of steel one half ending with two long blades. One of the cyclops Skorn still somewhat blinding form the snow kicked up from the landing and yelled out and aimed his rifle in the Necroloth's direction. However before he could even pull the trigger, his up body falling back as a fountain of crimson shot skyward. It's staff still red with blood, begun to spark with violet colored electricity as nether energy serged through it.

Heaving it's staff over it's head it gave a mighty spin then sent out waves of bolt and cold, electrifying and partially freezing the soldiers around him. They fell back as corpses allowing the Destroyer to advance. Like a whirlwind it advanced through the melee cutting down any who apposed it. A few rounds recoiled off it's armor, forcing it to spin it's staff to deflect the oncoming fire. It did not take it long to spot the Dragon child fighting it's forces with ferocity. It was obvious this creature was more formidable then the average Skorn, and once more not a native of this Citadel. Still such a creature would prove a hindrance, from a tactical stand point, removing it now would better the hoards chances of over running the command hub before outside forces could detect their distance signal. With that in mind and the fact it was attacking from a weak flank made the creatures destruction imperative.

Bending it's legs and jumped 12 feet into the air while pulling more of it's nether energy into it's staff creating a powerful electric serge. It fell downward like a stirke of lightening seeking to finish the dragon child in a single blow, aiming it's staff like a lance.

[Alphakoka]

The assault went surprisingly well. The horde of automatons in front of them fell quickly under the pincer assault. A little too well and too fast, if she may add. She sighed in relief and stood up, ready to went over to the hub. Then, from the corner of her eyes, she saw a figure falling down from the roof and headed towards the Skorn barricade. She looked at the figure as it fell down and only reacted after what appears to be another automaton begun to slaughter the Skorn. She was surprised by the automaton's sheer ability difference from the ones they fought before. She fired the remaining bullets from her rifle to it and found them useless before it begun deflecting the bullets and looked at the winged girl.

She yelled a curse and then asked Tomkia the Skorn for a new magazine. She reloaded the rifle as fast as she could and looked back up, only to find the automaton airborne in the air, staff held up and begun glowing. Recette then yelled a warning to the girl, something that might not be needed if the girl were watching the whole thing.

"Watch out, above you!"

[ImportantNobody]

Once again the strategy was appearing to work wonders against these idiotic skeletons, which was good because she didn't have any other plans besides keep attacking until they were all smashed to pieces. Many of her opponents fell to the future weapons held by the Skorn, leaving only scattered resistance around her, which she was able to easily pick off one at a time now that they couldn't form a wall of blades against her. The metal ones appeared to have become exasperated by their failures and took maters into their own hands, sending their mysterious violet beams her way, only for her to dodge it so that the beams were sent flying into their comrades instead. The skeletons caught in the blast had their bones rotted away almost instantaneously, scattered about the field as dust in the wind. A final cremations to but them at peace, or maybe not.
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She stuck her tongue out at them and wagged her tail around playfully in an effort to keep their attention on her rather then the Skorn giving her covering fire. Also because she felt like it, but that was beside the point. Indeed she did appear to be the primary target of the attacking machines, at least for now, almost to the point of single minded determination to take her down. She couldn't afford to let them hit her even once, weaving in between enemies and watching as beam after beam disintegrated nearby skeletons while many others fell to a hail of gunfire sent by the Skorn. Fighting her way to the nearest machine, she grasped onto the underside of it's weapon and forced it up so that the barrel was jammed up against the underside of it's metal face. With the her other hand she quickly pulled trigger before it could react, obliterating it's head as the beam flew upwards into the darkening sky before vanishing out of sight. She used her right foot to kick the headless machine backwards so that it crashed on top of some of the skeletons that had been rushing in to support it.
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"Try more hard!" She taunted the other machine, but before she could engage it she heard a voice call out, "Watch out, above you!" Evvie had to admit that she had been far too focused on her battle at hand and had not have been on the lookout for reinforcements, but with her increased reactions and senses she could now determine that a very large machine was closing in on her, and fast too. She lunged forward and flapped her wings to help her accelerate, using the downed machines as a springboard to launch over some of the other enemies and land on the other side just as new enemy crashed down on the location that she had just escaped from. Her hair stood on end from the static powerful enough to effect her even from her "safe" distance away. A skeleton charged at her with it's weapon raised, but she nonchalantly kicked it's head off while spinning around on her other heel in order to face this new mechanical monstrosity. The other remaining enemies appeared to halt their attack momentarily, as if waiting for some new order or believing that this thing could win without their help.
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She let out another battle roar, charging forward to deliver a punch with her left first, but all the while being cautious of his weapon. If it became too dangerous then she'd leap backwards again and try to formulate an actual plan this time around, should she be able to.

[GrievousKhan]

The Steel Jackal and The Fiery Dragon

Theme

As the Necroloth plummeted, it's sharp optical abilities picked up the dragon winged creature as it avoided the attack with clever last minute footwork. Unable to alter it's trajectory mid-flight the Crypt Keeper crashed into the stone ground, sending up snow around it as well as sending out a short shockwave that shattered the stone under it's feet and causing a ripple of spider cracks to expand from where the Staff had pierced the earth. The Necroloth stooped in a half crouch upon it's heavy landing, a single blazing green optic staring back at the dragon kin from under it's dark lime green hood.

"Not bad..." came a corked and cold sounding voice, hardly more then a whisper in the winds themselves.

With a roar the dragon kin charged forward in a mad rush at the seemingly compromised Destroyer, however it was already quickly calculating the distance and time it would take for her to hit him, as the dragon kin was just five feet away The Destroyer quickly focused the electric energy left in it's staff into a powerful blast of cold air into the bottom of the staff. The cracks along the ground blow upward violently from the shear pent up force, rocks and stone blow outward in a ring around the Necroloth possibly causing the dragon kin to become temporarily blinding or distracted in her attack. The degree of power was further amplified by the strange energies of the Citadel. Now with the stone left broken from the assault, using it's considerable strength, flicked the staffs end upward at a slight angle aimed at the right side and up to under her chin for a quick debilitating strike that would knock her head back with enough force to shatter the jaw of a normal human. Pulling it from the broken earth also kicked up more snow and stone so should she somehow manage to avoid being hit by the end of the staff, it would obscure her sight should she jump back. Calculating her forward momentum combined with the likely unexpected blind and strike combination, the chances the Keeper predicted for the Dragon kin to avoid it's attack were low, still it was prepared for any unforeseen flaws in it's maneuver.

[Alphakoka]

As the new automaton landed, Recette and Tomkia had a quick argument about helping Evvie to fight it or not as it seemed different from the other. Recette argued that they should since without the dragon kid, they would have easy time picking the two of them, so they should help. The Skorn argued that while the dragon kid stall for time, they should try to make for the communication hub and contact for help. For the time being, it looks like Evvie's on her own.

[ImportantNobody]

"Aaaaaeeeiiiieeeee!" Evvie screamed as the blast of cold air rushed across her body, a voice so loud and high pitched that you wouldn't doubt everyone in the entire city could hear it. Her wings inflated like a parachute catching the wind so her body was jerked roughly backed with the flow. The membranes on her wings quivered from the cold, trying to shrivel up close to her body but forcefully being held open as she continued to be flung backwards. Almost as an afterthought, she felt the stinging pain of something glancing off of the bottom of her jaw and some small things dinging off her skin, but she was far too disorganized to have seen what it was that was hitting her. It felt like rocks, which clearly didn't have enough force to penetrate her skin or cause any real damage to her. At last the wind died down and the snow began to settle. For what seemed to her like ages she was able to force her wings closed, shivering from head to toe and holding onto her aching jaw. It wasn't enough to fracture it, but she needed it healthy so that she could eat lots of meat after a hard days work. Hopefully it wouldn't cause her any pain by then. As for the cold...she'd survive, but she certainly was in a fowl mood. Usually she wouldn't be bothered by taking damage in a fight, but the cold and this guy cowardly attacking her rather then fighting fairly made it not nearly as fun.
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She shook her body like a dog to knock off any snow that had fallen on her during the confrontation, and then whimpered, "Owie." Meanwhile, she could hear the gunfire from the Skorn taking down the enemies moving in too closer to her. They weren't attacking this bully directly, but that was fine. She kind of was wanting to settle this one on one anyways. She could see that her "friends" from before weren't helping her, but were probably instead planning on going to that...commimition...comunation bub thing. She couldn't entirely blame normal people for not being and as brave as her. After all, she knew that was one of the things that made her more awesome then most.
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"Big meanie," she said to the machine after getting her wits back about her, or at least the amount of wits that she normally had. She was jogging lightly in place to help warm her muscles back up. After only a moments hesitation she let out another roar and then and then circled around her opponent, looking for any weak spots that this giant mechanical monstrosity might have. She couldn't see anything in particular, so would have to just keep pounding it into submission until it stopped moving. She had destroyed the joints of a lot of the skeletons in that past battle, so maybe the same principle would hold true here. Given how much smaller she was them him, it would be best to try and aim for the things that she could easily reach, such as his knees. Once again weary of that weapon of his, she rushed toward him in a zigzag motion as to confuse him on what direction she'd be coming from. As she drew within his range she'd duck down low and rush in towards his right knee to try and deliver a powerful punch with her left fist while keeping her right hand ready to grab onto the staff portion of his weapon so he couldn't use it against her. If he was able to fend her off before she could get in range of the knee then she'd either try to grab onto his weapon with both hands to fall back once again.

[GrievousKhan]

As the Necroloth's war staffs blunt end flew upward, it managed to connect a solid blow as the dragon kin flew backward from the force of cold air. It landed some 15 feet away from the Destroyer. As it recovered, the creature visibly shook from the cold - something the Necroloth took notice of instantly. It's vision shifted into the nether as it entered a sharp infrared vision allowing it to read body heat. The creatures body heat was in slow decline yet even so there seemed an unnaturally warm core at her center. This should have came as no surprise to the Crypt Keeper, after all it's profile and physical aspects matched features of a half dragon. Thus it was safe to assume this creature was capable in some form of fire uses and perhaps even fire manipulation. In the distant memories of it's past life among the living it hesitantly recalled a single encounter with a true dragon. However little more then fragments of that event long ago remained, a small part of the Destroyer felt a ping of regret at the shallow husk it had become if only momentarily, before it shoved aside such thoughts and focused at the situation at hand.

The creature yelled some insult at it as it jogged in place, the Necroloth came to the obvious conclusion the best way to incapacitate this one was simply bring it down by means of hyperthermia. If that was accomplished the rest of the objective should be simple drawing from the multitude of scenarios it had run through mentally. The creature was soon on the move again attempting to circle it as it likely looked for an opening it could exploit. Another fierce wind blow tossing the edges of it's cloak and blowing snow off the ground, visibility at least might be impaired for those to far off from their target greater then twelve feet. Making use of it's optical sensors using infrared vision to cut through the sleet and snow being blown around it kept an eye on both Evvie as well as the women and Skorn arguing some distance from the Dragon kins and the Destroyers position. Meanwhile it shifted its guard so that it's staffs bladed end was angled down to it's right while the end pointed upward at shoulder height, allowing a quick and wide swing.

Suddenly the winged beast made it's move dashing back and forth attempting to throw the Destroyer off. However calculating the distance as well as her speed, and thanks furthermore to it's opponents lack of clothing- reading the direction of muscle contraction was a simple task. It's legs hissed as she drew near and just as she was within range of the crypt keepers much longer reaching weapon it activated it's hover-lifts combined with its limbs which were each powered by axial drive motors and clavicular trailing links, it shot forward with the burst of speed of 22 mph. Just as it swing it's stave in a long sweep aimed to sever her head from her shoulders. However if she ducked to avoid it, the Necroloth's raising knee was aimed to intercept her head to deliver a fatal blow to the head, 210 ibs of arcane forged hyper-alloy propelled at 22 mph behind a raising knee was certain to be devastating should it make contact. Even should both attacks be avoided, the Destroyers speed and weight assured that a direct conflict was well within it's favor. Where it aimed to tackle her all the way into the temple building across the street just 20 feet behind her.

[ImportantNobody]

Evvie was already going into a ducking maneuver as she drew closer, so the wide arching sweep of it's weapon was easily avoided. The two combatants size difference made this all the easier for her. What she didn't expect was such a large acceleration from it, going from standing still to rushing towards her within the second. Luckily the machine had started this movement while there was still some room for her to instinctively react, even if ever so slightly. She had originally been going in for a left punch, but she quickly withdrew that hand inward as she flinched off to the right to the only opening that she saw; in between the legs. The knee shot past her and scrapped her knuckles before she had managed to complete the maneuver, splattering her blood on the snow as the side of the metal cut into her flesh. She gritted her teeth from the pain, but would just have to bear with it for the time being. The robot shot past her, which she tried to give a parting gift of a slashing tail before she spun around to face it again, her feet already on the move. She hoped to catch up to it while it still had it's back turned and was possibly taken off guard by her last second dodge. It was fast, but so was she; her legs pushed off the ground and her wings gave a powerful flap to help propel her forward. The snow behind her was tossed upwards with this maneuver to show the strength she was able to put into this move. Her left hand was wounded, so she'd make an effort to hit him square in the back with her right fist this time, should she manage to catch up with it before it turned around. If not then she'd back off a bit to give her time to lick her wounds and see what it would do next. Should the machine try that quick acceleration again, she'd want to maintain a proper distance so that she could have more time to react. Last time had been far too close for comfort.

[Alphakoka]

In the end, the Skorn and Human came to a deal. Tomkia would leave the rifle magazines with her and try to go around the fight while Recette provided cover for him and the dragon. She put the magazines, three of them, into her pockets and belt, she wouldn't be able to run as she might drop them but if she time it right, she wouldn't have to. She stood against the low wall they were hiding behind and aimed the rifle towards the automaton. She held herself from firing as she saw the girl charging in and she had no confidence of firing at the automaton without hitting the other. Her fingers tensed as she waited for the automaton react and made a gap between it and Evvie. When that happen, she would spray bullets at its feet and torso.

[GrievousKhan]

As the Necroloth's swing was avoided as anticipated, it's opponent had managed to narrowly escape a direct hit by diving under its legs. The Destroyer's knee strike had still made partial contact along with it's sensor "sphere" confirmed it's path. The powerful swing of it's stave did not stop even as the dragon kin ducked however t continued as the path was altered mid swing. Using the momentum of the swing combined with clever use of it's activated hover-lift in it's legs allowed it to complete it's 180 degree spin, as it came about it brought the heavy bladed end in a downward arch. At that moment the dragon kin was trying a slashing tail strike, which would likely result in severing the tail in twine with the scythe like blade at the staves head.

If the Necroloth attack managed to connect, it would slow to a halt just 10 feet away from its first burst of speed with it's body now facing the Dragon kin's direction just hovering off the snow covered ground with the temple wall 10 feet behind it. Depending on if the the half dragon was hit or avoided, The Destroyer would act accordingly.