@Patches
@MercuryNH

Daud, in response to the attack, erects a massive stone wall from the floor, breaking through the floorboards, and curving up over the group. The light manages to penetrate it in only a few places, protecting the others. Instead of making it dissolve, however, he keeps it erected, as he turns the Mercury and Gregor.

"We need to pin him down, keep him immobile. If you try to kill him, he'll just come back." Daud said, panting between breaths. "If we can trap hims somehow, we'd be able to move on."

@Patches
@MercuryNH
@hefewy

Duff had hustled his way closer as the big knight had closed the gap, the result being that he was now able to hear and talk to his team mates. "I was never one fer parties," he said, scowling at the current events. To Daud, he nodded. "Might have somethin' that could help." Pulling a pair of Voidstone cuffs out of one of his coat's many many pockets, he spun them around a finger on his free hand. "Had these fer a few days... they were meant fer some Dweller. But y'know what? I reckon they'll fit that fuckin' wanker just fine, yeh think?" Taking cover behind Daud's stone slab, he slung the Calvary Special behind his back and drew his Type IX. The revolver would be bettter at these ranges anyways. "Bleedin' magic," the old soldier gruntly softly, barely audible, "Sometimes I wish it never fuckin' existed in th'first place."

---

@Patches
@Nashie
@Blizzardofoz123
Astrid spun away into Mist as both her opponent attacked and Kordan shouted and let loose his fire across the desert. We cannot be in a desert. she thought, It's an illusion or something. Nonetheless, the fireball would clear rapidly, and Astrid would take the opportunity her teammate had provided. Still mist, she swiftly coalesced into an ominous haze to her attacker's left before actually appearing to the woman's right, twin blades singing wickedly as they carved through the air and hopefully her as well. A feint. It was something she was good at; attacking from a flank. Hopefully the move had caught Astrid's opponent off guard enough that she'd be able to go Mistform again before the Child got her bearings back. A few more attacks like that and she should be able to outmanuever this bitch.

@MercuryNH
I've heard the Queen has a knack for finding strange people... Gregor said, switching his pistol for his rifle. Immortal perhaps, but Xenan wasn't invincible. He could be hurt, so Gregor planned to go all out in his attacks. Tipping over a piece of the broken table for cover, Gregor listened to Daud's suggestion before answering Mercury.
@hefewy
Find a way to get rid of him but not kill him? Gregor said, firing off a blast of light magic, hitting Xenan in the chest. The lake is outside, ain't it? You said you fought him before, knight, how did you get out that time? Gregor suggested

@Ember Storm
Or we can use that... Gregor said, The real problem is getting them on him. I'm fine with either plan. Lake or cuffs, we need to act now.

Enough of this, none of you are leaving this room. Xenan said, stomping his foot, causing a dome of hard light to surround the group, leaving them with little room to move What do you seek here? If it's killing the pig, then be my guest. It won't leave an impact on the Children. You can't stop our progress. Xenan, reached his arm out, sending a powerful magic blast at the stone wall, trying to break it down.


@Nashie
I've never seen magic light this. I've seen illusions by light magic, but never anything quite like this. Yoshimi said, trying to find off the illusions. More fakes. Could try even hurt her? She just couldn't risk it. If she can trick our eyes, then what about our ears? She said, looking around, concentrating on the area, trying to hear something that could give the Elite away.

@Ember Storm
As Astrid attacked the woman, she would fall down and fade away, just as the ones that Yoshimi attacked earlier. In retaliation, Galette fired off a lightning bolt in Astrid's direction. But from where, in the illusionary world, it was hard to tell. Nosey woman. You trust your eyes too much.

@Blizzardofoz123
Being a mere illusion, the world was left unharmed by the destructive wave of magic. Any heavy damage was quickly restored. But, the attack did have one effect on the woman. Standing near a stone in the desert was a floating patch of human shaped fire. Galette may have been able to hide herself, but she couldn't hide thing affecting her. There! Yoshimi shouted, rushing towards the patch of fire, swinging a fist at it.

She hit something. As her fist made impact, the illusion surrounding the group flickered, quickly turning back into the room from before, just for a second, before turning back to the desert. Before she could make further attacks, Galette had moved away from her. I got her, but I can't find her again! Yoshimi said, trying to find the woman once more.

@hefewy
@Ember Storm
@Patches

With everything that's happening, Mercury finds it a bit hard to focus, the dome of light now surrounding them blinding her for a brief moment. Once her head is clear, she takes a second to mull over the possible plans of attack. Getting Xenan outside may prove difficult, and more trouble than it's worth with the dome of light now encapsulating all of them. Of course, it may not be solid... The void stone cuffs may help, but getting them on him is easier said than done. Perhaps...

"Maybe I could pull off what I did with that guard? Think a good shock would shake him at all?"

@Patches
@Ember Storm
@Blizzardofoz123

The icy barriers that Kordan had made gave Johnny a much needed opportunity to reload, as well as highlighting which sandbitch was the real sandbitch. It seemed Johnny owed their cacophonous ally a drink.

Watching Yoshimi land one of her world ending punches on Galette, Johnny was about to join in with a shot off of his revolver, but she went out of sight again. Rrrrrgh...

"Kordan! Keep lightin' em' up!" Johnny shouted, eyes peeled for any other sand clones that wanted to claw him.

@Patches
@Ember Storm
@MercuryNH

At Gregor's question about his previous encounter with Xenan, Daud smirked underneath his helmet, struggling to keep the massive stone slab erect and sturdy.

"I kept on killing him until he stopped coming back!" He said, before shaking his head. "Alas, doesn't seem that quite worked out like I expected. But the cuffs, hmm..."

Daud began to think, struggling against the onslaught of magic against his stone shield. The massive blast causing it to crumble, piece by piece, forced Daud to quickly decide on a strategy... before nodding, and shouting out. "Alright, the cuffs then! No time to waste!"

Suddenly, he raised his foot and kicked into the stone wall, causing it to explode towards Xenan in a shower of shrapnel. It was partially an attack, but mostly a distraction. Within the cloud of stone shards, Daud leaped through, swinging his halberd at Xenan's neck. As he did so, he shouted to Mercury as well.

"LASS! LIGHT HIM UP!"

@Patches
@MercuryNH
@hefewy
"Yeh folks knock 'im down, an' I can get 'em on 'im." Duff had already tucked the cuffs away again, drawing his sabre to cut through the back of the hard light dome. It would easily yield to the Voidstone infused sword, the magic-hating material opening up a small exit just in case they needed it. As he cut, though, he kept the revolver in his left hand up and ready. The double action design meant he didn't have to manage the hammer, but he still had to keep half an eye out for any attacks. And so he did as he sliced through the makeshift prison their opponent threw up. Hopefully his colleagues would keep the arse off him; but you could never be so sure...

And as a non-Caster... Duff didn't want to think about what that bastard might want to do to him.

---

@Patches
@Nashie
@Blizzardofoz123
Astrid spun her blades in her hands, thinking, watching. Now why would she say something like that. Why would she bother giving away hints. Sure, Kordan's inferno didn't do anything to the desert, but it did lit the bitch up, even if only for a moment, and that's when it hit her. The bitch was hiding with light, but she was still a solid object. And this place was well and truly an illusion. She was one powerful Light Caster.

Astrid put her plan in motion. Kordan's fire may have worked for an instant, but it didn't last long enough to reveal her for good. "Rocketman," she smirked, pointing her arms out to her sides, "you need more stamina." With that, she began to fill the room with mist. They couldn't see the bitch directly, no, but they could see where she was by where the mist wasn't. "Watch for movement dhrough dhe mist, Yoshimi! Sse cannot hide when dhere is nowhere to hide! Cowboy? A little help, please."

(I'm out. Good luck guys. Kordan's on autopilot)

@MercuryNH
Alright, kid, I'm counting on you. I'm going to try and keep him from running away. He said, tapping his rifle. He was ready to teach Xenan he wasn't the only one skilled in this type of magic.

@Ember Storm
As Duff would cut away at the forcefield with his voidstone knife, he'd find it was starting to become thinning, due to another source. The light from the source field began to be drawn toward's Gregor's rifle. It wasn't easy to exert his own will over someone else's magic, but with the opening provided by Daud and the field weakened by Duff, Xenan's own will began to dwindle on it.

Now! Daud! He said as he fired a blast from his fire at Xenan's legs. This attack not damaging, but instead created a thick, layered forcefield around his legs, rooting him to the ground. You're not running away! Queen worshipping trash!

These Children... An insult to those who actually have faith in Kodo'Yim.

@hefewy
Unable to run away or dodge, Xenan was caught off guard. The attack piercing his neck, would normally be fatal for even the strongest of Casters, yet was a mere inconvenience for the Elite.

Those who make enemies of the Children make enemies of our Queen! Xenan shouted, more shards of light began to rain down on the field. While Gregor was doing his best to minimize the amount, it wasn't easy. Those who make enemies of the Queen are not welcomed in our world!

---

@Nashie@Ember Storm
Keep your eyes peeled, guys. Yoshimi said, I'm changing the mode on my gauntlets. Don't stay in my path. She said, the metal of her gloves began to shift. Her right glove was practically glowing, mist beginning to extrude from it.

As Yoshimi readied, there was a slight shift in the mist directly behind her.

@Patches
@Ember Storm

"Roger that" was all Johnny managed as he kept his eyes peeled for a gap in the mist. Once he spotted it, he nearly raised his six shooter at it before realizing how likely it was that he could hit Yoshimi.

Instead, Johnny just closed the gap with a quick combat roll and stabbed at the gap in the mist.

@hefewy
@Ember Storm
@Patches

Damn, this bastard's persistent... At least they're slowing him down, which makes it just a bit easier for Mercury to prepare her technique to stun him.

>"Those who make enemies of the Queen are not welcomed in our world!"

Oh... Oh, fuck you!

"It's not your world, asshole!"

Now sufficiently furious at their adversary, she draws out a bolt of electricity, as though readying a staff for combat. It takes her a few short seconds to narrow her focus down among the rain of light bolts before hurling her lightning like a bolt from Zeus. It won't have great destructive power, that much she knows, but if this guy's anatomy is any sort of normal, it'll put him out of commission for a while. She's a good shot, but where her partners' efforts enough to keep him still?

@Patches
@hefewy
@MercuryNH
Duff finished cutting the hole through Xenan's attempt at a prison. Now his colleagues could get out. It was then that he noticed the prison weakening itself, as Gregor executed control over their opponent's magic. Nice, the old soldier thought, turning to engage Xenan at a range most might not expect him. Moving faster than his limp might suggest, Duff closed the distance between him and Xenan, flanking with the big warrior Daud. He wasn't ignorant of the shards of light raining down; even with the resistance he had built up against magic, they'd hurt. The thick steel chestplate and vambraces he wore would stop most of the shards from hitting him, but the one or two that got through seared and stung as they cut into his arm and shoulder.

It wouldn't be enough to stop him; and he suddenly popped up behind Xenan. "Nice trick," he grunted, bringing his Voidstone sabre up and going for one of the injuries Xenan was having difficultly healing. "Got a few of my own, though, eh?"

---

@Patches
@Nashie
As if she had formed straight from the Mist, Astrid was already flanking the movement with Johnny. "Good eyes, cowboy," she said, spinning her blades into the hole in the Mist. "Let us see how well sse hides when sse is bleeding!" Her blades were sharp and willing to cut. There was very little that would be able to stop them if their target wasn't armoured. Hopefully a bleeding bitch was easier to track, as they had to let Yoshimi get herself set up or this would end up in a shambles.

Astrid didn't do shambles.

@Nashie@Ember Storm
With the melee strikes from both Astrid, the elite was revealed. Steadily the illusion began to fade, crumbling around them. Bastards... The masked woman fell down, heavily wounded. You think you've won here? You can't stop our progress... Kill me or not, my death will not change our future victory.

Yoshimi, still charging up an attack, stepped forward, Get away from her, she might have an explosive on her! If she tries to run I'll blast her. What did she mean by progress? Just what were they planning here, Yoshimi wondered. Astrid, you have that file don't you? What are the specific contents of it? Read it out. She said, still holding Galette up in case she tried anything cleaver.

Gotthard... Is that why you came here? To find him? He's too far gone for any of you... Galette said with a quiet laugh, Poor man... Poor Old Path... Spent so long after the "traitor knight" they didn't expect the greater one right in front of their eyes.

What are you talking about? I don't care about the Old Path!

---

@MercuryNH
The bolt hit dead on, electrocuting the supposed immortal. Going down on his knees, he acted as anyone would after taking such a powerful shock. Commenting on it, Gregor smirked Maybe immortal, but not invincible. We should hurry before Gustrag comes here as well. Get to his quarters.

@Ember Storm
On contact, the Voidstone blade would slice through Xenan's body like a knife through butter. His wound didn't even bleed like his previous ones. Rather his sound resembled crumbling stone, as if Xenan was a walking stature. While his wound was healing, it looked like it'd take far longer than the others. Steadily, the stony craggy appearance began to appear over the rest of his body. He had pushed himself too far as he did with his fight with Daud. Heh... So you got me. Crumbling away, Xenan shook his head, You're not getting out of here alive. In a few minutes, more of the Elite of the Children will be arriving here. Call it a bit of clean up. If you call this a victory, you have your head up your ass. Get whatever you're after here, very well, but how will you last against a whole squad of the Children's Elite? Xenan said, smirking, not once did his tone or expression convey one of defeat.

As Gregor slowly began to realize the situation... He gasped, looking to the door to Gustrag's quarters. Guys we need to go! Bluffing or not!

@Patches
@Ember Storm
At Yoshimi's instruction, Johnny backed away from their wounded foe, keeping his six shooter trained in case Galette tried anything funny. Just what in sam hell was she talking about, anyway? Was she one of these artificial amalgams?

"Ah've got some of th' papers, Yosh. Astrid might too."

With that, he searched around for where he'd stashed them away. As he searched around, it occurred to him to ask a question.

"What d'you even mean by 'progress'? Progress towards what?"

@Patches

>"...a whole squad of the Children's Elites?"

"Shit..."

While Xenan himself went down against the four combatants with relative ease, a larger group of people with his magical prowess would prove a much more significant issue. She pumps magic through her legs, muscles tightening, spring-loaded to send her across the room as quickly as possible.

With a powerful kick she closes the distance between herself and Gustrag's private quarters in a split second, her upper arm and shoulder turning black with her hardening technique to smash through the door. Key card be damned, they need to get in there now.

@Patches
@Nashie

Astrid pulled back alongside the cowboy as her Mist faded from the air around them, spinning her blades impatiently, just waiting for her opponent to reveal a bluff. "What do you mean about dhis 'greater one?' What purpose does it serve to break dhe Old Padh from within? Dhey are nearly obsolete."

As Johnny replied about the papers, she nodded. "I have some, yes."

Here was hoping there were answers somewhere... if not here, then with the other group, should they have survived their own fight.

---

@Patches
@MercuryNH
"Mercury, you an' Daud go grab the journal in Gustrag's room. Gregor, you an' me should cover 'em. We've got range on pretty much anythin' that might come through here." Duff said as he stowed his sabre and revolver and began reloading his rifle. "Hurry now, eh? We can be outta here before anyone else arrives." He grimaced in pain. His shoulder was probably bleeding something fierce. Once they were out, some bandages and painkillers would suffice until he could heal naturally. Hopefully this didn't fuck his shoulder up like that one Amalgamate did his leg all those years ago. "Go!"

@Nashie@Ember Storm
You would like to know, wouldn't you? She said, chuckling I have no reason to tell you anything. I have failed here, it's either die by your hand or die by the Queen's. I choose to withheld information, best I die with my honor and loyalty intact.

As Galette bluffed, Yoshimi however, went through the files, reading them. Detailed processes of just what the making of an artificial amalgamate was. Injection of certain magic components, exposure to magic boosting properties to unstable levels... Yoshimi's eyes widened. They're... Turning people into Amalgamates through scientific means, but at the same time they're planning on keeping the person human. "The mind and sanity of a caster, but the power and capabilities of an Amalgamate. With neither of the weaknesses."

Gripping at the floor, Galette was silent, behind her mask, she was seething in anger.

Guys... The Old Path was a cover up for their operations. They wanted the Old Path to get flak and be the center of attention. So they could take the blame instead.

So that the rest of the factions in Kokotha could could weaken themselves fighting against "Gotthard's Path" Galette said, speaking up.

---

@MercuryNH
Gregor, now sprinting, looked at a device to the side of the door. A magic based key system... Just the right size for the keycard from earlier. There is a handle, dear! Gregor said, slightly sarcastic, but at the same time this wasn't quite the time for jokes. I just wanted to come here to gain undeserved profit! Why am I getting myself wrapped up in this mess?! Holy shit!
@Ember Storm
We fought an elite, sure, but can we take on 2 or 3 at once? What about a whole squad of them? They'll tear this place up if they have to! Gregor said, now standing at the doorway Mercury had broken down, pistol in hand. Hurry and work those fast hands, Kid! The Children travel through Yim, they could be here any moment.

Through Yim...

I think I got an escape route. Can't say the same for the others, but they should be safe! Just cover me because I've never done this under stress!

@Patches

Before Gregor even steps into the room, Mercury is in the process of searching for anything that looks important. Documents, journals, anything she can fit into the small pack strapped to her waist.

"Whatever your escape plan is, it better be good. Fighting our way out is basically guaranteed death at this point."

She retrieves a book from a desk drawer, rather ornate and sporting a small lock. She snaps the lock off with ease, and begins flipping through the pages, looking more for Gustrag's handwriting than any actual evidence of anything. At this point she's just taking whatever might be important.

"So they were a red herring this whole time..."

Johnny said, smirking to himself as Galette gave them information even after saying she wouldn't.

"But why would they agree t'do that to begin with? Juss' what is it that they stand to gain outta all this nonsense?"

@Patches
@Nashie
"Discord. Hatred. War. All dhings dhat would strengdhen dheir ability to move in dhe shadows. Dhen, when we are all weak from dhe infighting, dhey swoop in and destroy all who remain. It is a classic technique in warfare." Astrid bristled, her voice cold and full of spite. "We need to leave, I dhink. Dhey know we are here; it is only a matter of time before more of dhese elites -" she spat at that word, continuing, "- show up and outnumber us. Dhen we can go to dhe Old Padh and clear dhis nonsense up. It will require a united front to fight dhese... assholes."