[center][color=8F9779][h3]Cormorant Sanders – Road from Ruin[/h3][/color]
[@The Wild West][@Lunarlors34][@raijinslayer][@caits][@hatakekuro][@oblivion666][/center]

To call the night that settled over Belka peaceable would be to make a bad joke indeed, but even still, nothing nightmarish remained after the dark swarms vanished into the black sky and the corpse of the curse's carrier turned to ash.  Most of Frenzy Plant, particularly those needled by the noxious flesh spears, made next to no response.  General Sanders couldn't really blame them, either.  An experience as rotten as this would rattle just about everyone.  The end of the furious fight against the Flesh Giant also marked the end of the conqueror's aura that surrounded the war guild's master, and in the fitful light of torches and magical fires he seemed as old and withered as ever.

One voice stood out to him among the rest, for it belonged to a stranger.  Curious despite his fatigue, Sanders made his way over to the newcomer and examined him as well he could.  This man, he concluded, was a tough customer.  His response to the situation was entirely reasonable; he treated it maturely, incredulously, and with a dry sense of humor that Sanders found quite appropriate.  Additionally, judging by his garb and air of mystique, he wasn't from around here. [color=8F9779]”Not every day, mister.  We get our fair share of monsters, though admittedly something like this is unprecedented.  Other days its bandits, rogue mercenaries, marauding invaders, or even the armies of other nations.  There's always another war, but Frenzy Plant and its branches are always ready to fight, and always growing stronger.  If that kind of thing suits you, please, visit our camp at the other end of Belka.  We've got a long way to go tomorrow, and it's been a long night.”[/color]

Meanwhile, Tsubano, stooped over the figure of Argus and devoid of both sound and movement, listened to what he had to say.  When he quieted himself to let her continue her work, the witch resumed her healing with head bowed.  [color=29AB87]”That is good.  It is noble.  We will work to earn your trust.  If one day you decide to open up, we will be there.  If you are one of us, you are never too far gone.”[/color]  She observed his every motion, particularly his attention to the place on his body where the Seal of Denial had been affixed.  Expectant, she waited for him to speak, and when he did, she absorbed all he had to say before unconsciousness claimed him.  Then, a company of animated dolls hoisted him gently up, and across the town the ferried him.

Ten minutes later, the exhausted entirety of Frenzy Plant was reunited at the makeshift camp at Belka's other end.  The scene was, at first, one of complete pandemonium.  Villagers, be they full of gratitude or fear, swarmed the place, fit to burst with questions, concerns, and even condemnations.  Jane Putcher, Bytan Brass, and Joakim Fortinbras were assigned to deal with them.  Other soldiers righted tents that had been knocked down in the storm, gather strewn supplies, and try to fall asleep.  The revelation that Harper Saxum had somehow become a zombie caused quite a bit of confusion, but the guild did not act hastily.  After listening to her story and having Tsubano perform a cursory examination, the General declared his profound joy that the young ninja had not perished, and welcomed her as Frenzy Plant's second undead soldier.  Though initially ecstatic, Harper took the opportunity to reveal that some of the swarm bugs -quite a few, actually- lived inside her as the collective magical force keeping her 'alive'.  These seemed bound to her, however, and the notion of studying a few of her bugs was put on the docket for later.

After method had been coaxed from the madness, the camp put to order, and the villagers dealt with, a calm settled over Frenzy Plant.  One by one, the soldiers nodded off.  Ashlyn Johnson and the newcomer Flint, however, were not allowed to rest just yet.  [color=8F9779]”I kept my eye on both of you during the battle, and I consider myself highly impressed by your combat capabilities.  In your own ways, I think, you are rough around the edges, but if I say this because I do not know you well enough, it is because I wish to know you better.  Your abilities in the service of Frenzy Plant would be highly valued, and you would find lifelong comrades among my troops, if you were so inclined to join us.  This may seem sudden, but I have a knack for reading people, and I feel like this might be just the opportunity one or both of you were waiting for.  You need not reply immediately.  I urge you to sleep on it, and present me your answer as we depart from Belka back to Crocus in the morning, but I do sincerely hope that you join us.”[/color]

[center]Mission Complete!
Fatalities: 1?
Spoils: New comrades?
Time taken: 29 hours
Frenzy Plant moves back to Crocus
Arrival Time: Around noon[/center]

[center][color=DA70D6][h3]Hyun Sasithom – Grand Magic Games' Arena[/h3][/color][/center]

With some satisfaction, Hyun peered down at the symbols on the ground.  Rather than sand, the flooring of the arena appeared to be earth today, which suited her well.  Anything, from a good house to a good fight, required a solid foundation, and Hyun detested the barbarity of a sandy colosseum.  All it truly accomplished was to make the bloodshed more visible.  Another new detail of today's event became known to her as a member of that boisterous, unpleasant guild Phoenix Wing made her way into the arena, standing on top of her organization's symbol before sending a matching flare into the air.

Her various comrades noticed it too, though nobody said a word.  None had to, really; a smile was enough.  So, today would be a team event.  [i]All six representatives of each competing guild will take part, ehm?[/i]  Nothing in the world could have been better for Fiore's finest war guild.  Cooperation was the lifeblood that flowed through the veins of Frenzy Plant, making it not just a collection of talented and powerful individuals, but a single organism united by one will and one cause.  Teamwork won Hyun's friends the victory in the tag-team match, but today their victory would be overwhelming.  The word 'support' was a simple one, but in such a setting, it represented a whole new dynamic that would make winning a cinch.  

So far, the crowds had seen what Frenzy Plant's soldiers could do, but they had yet to catch the slightest glimpse of what they could really do together.

A few more moments passed while Zander rummaged through the great bag he'd brought with him.  In the end, he selected three: his ruby-bladed arming sword, which he sheathed at his waist, a large Gothic flail with a ball that resembled a flanged mace, and a huge two-handed claymore with a heavy pommel.  After that, he set the bag aside.  Then, as one, the six vaulted over the arena railing.  They put on no magical display whatsoever as they strode to the spot on the field marked as their own.  Once there, they stood in a circle, talking in low tones.  Among them the plans were laid for something utterly spectacular.