[IC] The Three Realms War [A DMC, Bayonetta and Darksiders RP]

[Sho Minazuki]

Ancient Library

Mission Complete

@EnterTheHero Silas
Sleuth: 3/5 (+1, riddle) (+1, Diplomat)
Style: 2/3

@Kafka Komedy Mary
Sleuth: 4/5 (+1, Diplomat)
Style: 2/3 (+1, damaged Abyssal first)

@liferusher Midori
Sleuth: 3/5 (+1, Diplomat)
Style: 2/3

@ProPro Akoni
Sleuth: 5/5 (+1, Diplomat)
Style: 3/3

@Lugubrious Souta
Sleuth: 4/5 (+2, riddle 1st try) (+1, Diplomat)
Style: 3/3

Note: Remember that Style will go directly to your Styles. Your "Kills" scores will be assignable where you please. Add them to the spreadsheets.

Citadel

The Charred Council's newest agents returned with valueable information... According to the information gathered, the angels and demons were already converging onto the Third Seal, so some members may be dispatched to take care of that, but it was decided already, they would move a main force to try and secure the Fifth Seal.

For now though, they should get around to relaxation and mission preparations. The library was a little fuller than it was earlier. It seems a new character has also joined the Citadel. Everyone was informed this man can be found in the Outrealms room, where beings from other dimensions may show up... It was likely he was not of this world.

Backwoods

The demons Gideon and Blair reached the assigned rendezvous by the morphs. It seems both were rather successful in their missions, with Gideon successfully recruiting Gorgon, who offered her services, as well as herself. She turns into the Devil Arm of the same name. Her two snakes were strange company though, they seemed to be understandably protective of her... Were they demons too? Or just oversized wildlife...?

"Generals of Mundus, it is good to finally meet you all, I have joined with the desire to find out my own heritage as a demon... If you have need of my strength, do not hesitate to call on me, even in my weakest state, I can offer you my form as a Devil Arm", she stated. So she was able to turn into a Devil Arm too...? This seemed to be a norm for a lot of demons. Still, this was perhaps a good chance to decide what role she should play...

Abandoned Church

Kushiel had caught the trail of demons, but soon lost them... But according to other sources of information, he was confident this was the way to the Third Seal. Perhaps now he should consider his next move as he engages in prayer and self-reflection. By all accounts, he failed today... But he should strive to succeed next time. Perhaps he should attempt to enlist help from the Lumen Sages...? They seemed to be quite efficient in some of their work.

Still, for now, he waited for messenger angels to come down with new information of this area.

[Lazo]

It had been some time since Fenn and Lily had returned to the Citadel and reported the results of their outing to the Charred Council. Once they had explained themselves to the Council’s satisfaction, the two had been given leave to rest until the next mission, and Lily had given him permission to leave her side.

Eventually, Fenn had found his way to the Citadel’s core, the heart of glass that spread heat and light throughout the entire structure. The dog had settled against one of the room’s walls, his eyes closed and his ponderous breaths matching the beating of the giant heart. The blood and gore he had collected in the battle against the angels was absent, the only hints of their previous presence a multitude of scabbing cuts, the taste of blood in his mouth, and the scent of burnt meat that clung to him. Still, the small, swaying motions of his tail and the perked ear twitching in rhythm with the core’s pulsing betrayed the beast’s wakefulness.

Lacking foes to combat, and left to his own devices by his current Warleader, there was little more for Fenn to do than to rest and think. Indeed, ever since the Imp had thrown her – and by extension his – lot in with the Council, he had found himself something to puzzle over. There was a kind of uneasiness that climbed up his spine whenever his thoughts turned to the faces on the stone.

The role they professed to play, the idea of preserving a balance, mystified him. Just what did ‘balance’ mean? Why bother preserving it? What did the Charred Council get out of it?

A thought that flitted through his mind the moment he learned of the Council’s involvement was that the breaking of the Seals might come as an opportunity to them. Certainly, their attitudes to the Seals of the Apocalypse felt strange to Fenn. Up until he learned that one of the objectives given to their group was to locate the Seals, the dog had been certain the Council itself had been responsible for their creation. The fact that their location was unknown to them casted doubt on the idea. Moreover, the fact that their location had not been recorded by them prior to the breaking of the first Seal indicated a certain… indifference. As though the Endwar was not quite as inimical to their balance as he had believed, or as though the Council had purposefully turned a blind eye to those seeking their destruction. The alternatives were that the council was arrogant to the point of stupidity, or humble enough to believe their knowledge of the Seal’s locations could be abused by another party.

A rumbling chuckle escaped him. Both thoughts were absurd.

He paused to consider the mission he had just returned from. While he welcomed the chance to exert himself, he had to wonder what was the point of disrupting the operations of angels or demons. By eliminating angel leaders, they had merely succeeded in throwing Heaven’s operation in Vigrid into disarray. Angel foot soldiers remained in the city with minimal direction, left to weather the hordes of demons that came for the city. Both sides were bound to suffer greatly. Perhaps that was the point. Yet the continued fighting was bound to take its toll on the settlers of such cities. It seemed a stalemate between the realms was of larger importance to the Council’s balance than the survival of the Third Realm’s inhabitants.

Or perhaps he was reading too much into things, and this had merely been a test of his and the Imp’s ability.

He already suspected that the Council held ulterior motives aiming beyond the quelling of the Apocalypse for recruiting them. It had already been mentioned before, that the greatest warriors the Council could field would not take to Earth unless they aimed to raze it. The recruitment of independent parties was convenient and justified in that it enabled them to act at a time of crisis by bypassing any laws they had wrought to limit outsider’s interaction with the human realm. That said, even beyond the prevention of the Apocalypse, it would ensure the Council counted with agents that could act with impunity on their behalf on each of the three realms. The Halfling pup brought before the Council seemed like the most obvious candidate for such a role. She had not been among the group inside the cavern – he would have recognized her scent had that been the case – meaning she must have been sought out independently. She held enough potential to catch the Council’s eyes, held the parentage to exist in two realms, and was young enough to be molded to another’s needs. An excellent tool, if handled correctly.

A familiar scent brought him out of his musings. “Who let the dog inside?” asked a snide, reedy voice. “You’ll track dirt all over the carpets. Shoo, mutt!”

From his prone position, Fenn lashed out with one of his arms, swinging it towards the source of the irksome chatter, but the limb found no resistance. He opened his eyes and began to rise, glaring at the Watcher that had first brought him to this Citadel. The skeletal creature floated up as Fenn stood on four legs, keeping itself hovering in such a way that Fenn needed to crane his neck upwards to regard it.

“You think to harm me? A loyal servant of the Charred Council?” The thing let out one of its high pitched giggles. “You should be punished! Hanged, drawn and quartered, then have what remains sent to the cooks!” it proclaimed, spindly fingers clutching and loosening in a spider’s dance, before it glanced away, brow furrowing. “Is Hellhound meat edible for humans? Bah, such trifling concerns should not stand in the way of culinary experimentation.”

The dog grunted at the babbling specter. “I suspect the day I can crush the life from your bones I will be doing your masters a service.”

“Ah, the pup is eager to please,” it crooned, “but where was this zeal in your outing? News spread quickly among servants. An Archangel and a ranking demon, both utterly ignored, left to their own devices! What good are you, if you won’t throw your life away to bleed the enemies of the Council?”

Fenn let out a low growl. How he ached for a chance to grind the goading specter into dust, but he knew well enough, that his blows would only pass through it. ‘Protected’ they claimed to be. “Your masters are fortunate,” he spat acidly, “to have a servant who knows their will better than them.”

The thing’s eyes narrowed, and Fenn had the distinct impression that the glowing orbs were glancing left to right as though to confirm there were no prying ears. “I would never make such a bold claim,” it retorted quickly, in a louder voice than strictly necessary. “I am a but a humble servant, ever ready to serve my Master,” it hissed venomously, beginning to lower itself to the ground. “Something an oversized pet must understand well.”

With that final insult, the Watcher sank into the ground, leaving the scowling Hellhound to glare at an empty room. After a moment, Fenn turned and began to walk towards the closest door, intent on leaving the barest hint of the vile creature’s scent behind.

[Kafka Komedy]

As the group finally made it to the Citadel, Mary's mind began clearing, and the pain in her probably broken ribs began subsiding. The light, soothing heat of the Council's home made her at ease, even though she had just gotten back from trying to tear an eldritch beast's carapace off. She decided to check on Midori, who she had callously forgotten about. She hoped, more than anything, that the little girl was alright. If she was, then their retreat was worth it.

Quickly making her way over to the unconscious body, Mary checked her pulse. Alive, thank god. With a sigh of relief, Mary rolled up the young girl's left sleeve to reveal the bruised and bloodied left arm. It hurt to look at such an injury inflicted on someone so young, and it hurt Mary even more to be unable to help. Though originally she was going to major in biology, she had decided to become an engineer instead. She had no idea how to do anything but replace said arm with a prosthetic. It'd be best if the girl was just allowed rest.

As Mary picked Midori up, Souta caught her attention. He was full of such energy, Mary couldn't help but pause at his command. Apparently, the monster revealed to him the location of a seal! With a smile, the Order Knight congratulated her friend. "That's great! It seems we succeeded, even if we didn't kill Nichts." She said. Frankly, she was glad the Abyssal hadn't been murdered, it was a sentient being with a ton of knowledge. She and Akoni would definitely be paying it a visit, someday.

"I will be taking Midori to my room, but could you walk with me? My Falling Leaf Blade was destroyed, and I need a replacement." She explained, beginning to walk to her room to place Midori on an actual bed. "Could you help me with that? I assume you have knowledge in the field, being part of Regalia."

Mentions

@Lugubrious @liferusher

[ProPro]

Once they had arrived back to the Charred Citadel, Akoni felt instant relief from Nichts' pressing mental assault, which meant that the others should be recovering as well. He let Souta down while Mary rushed to Midori's aid, and the old man felt a pang of regret. How foolish, you proud old bastard. He knew there was a chance that the little girl could get injured, demon-blood be damned. He made a conscious decision to grab only the nearest ally he knew to be suffering, believing the rest of the team could fend for themselves or hold each other up. He was at least correct that the group supported one another, but grossly underestimated how strong the demonic girl could be. How could you forget so much in a mere twenty years? Sitting on your ass and drinking, all while the world moved on the path of destruction. Idiot.

Souta had thankfully kept enough presence of mind to latch onto Midori's unconscious form while Akoni dragged him out, so all three had escaped via his Surge technique. The old mage would have been impressed with one of their youngest and most inexperienced, had he not been wrapped up in his own self-loathing. But then Souta revealed to them that Nichts gave him a parting gift: the location of the 5th Seal. Akoni felt no elation, no relief, but was overwhelmed by a sense of purpose and duty. "We will have to pass on our thanks to the old librarian sometime, then."

Everyone had something to do at that point. Mary approached Souta for a new weapon, and Midori needed her rest. Silas certainly would be up to something as well, but Akoni couldn't concern himself with whatever the Lumen was tasking himself with. The old mage called for a Watcher to look after Midori, and to expedite her healing process, while he attended to the Citadel's library. While they were away he had little doubts that buffoonish bird creature had made a muck of things.

---

The elderly mage stood within the library of the Citadel, sorting out the books everyone had recovered from Nichts' library. The thought that since it had not been abandoned, they had actually stolen from the abyssal passed through his mind rather casually, and just as casually he dismissed the idea. It was nothing to dwell on, and they had need of knowledge. He had need of knowledge. And training. Akoni felt horrible over his performance at the library. Despite having the drop on Sevrin, despite being capable of bending the laws of space at a thought, the Fallen creature that had taken over Sevrin's body was still faster than he, one step ahead. It reacted with greater speed than Akoni could manage even in a surprise assault. Then came the battle with Nichts. The old mage was thankful that they had not killed the sagely creature, but the others took a more active role in assaulting their host, while he could barely hold his own in a support role. Akoni, the Gatewalker. The mage that had slain demon and angel alike for decades. The man that survived ten years in Hell itself. He shook his head, closed the book he perused, and shelved it. The experience was not a total failure. While their enemies would be focused on the next seal in line, his team would be busy setting up security at the fifth seal. Not only that, but in the end he tapped into knowledge and power eh hadn't used in over twenty years, but was it enough? No.

"Watcher." The old man spoke the word evenly, as though making an observation. One of the creatures emerged from the shadow of a bookcase.

"Na' as focus'd as ye look, eh?" it replied. Akoni didn't even turn his head to face it.

"Hand me the scroll two shelves up on the far left." Akoni held his left hand out, palm open, waiting for the paper to touch his skin. As he spoke, another book levitated from a far shelf and opened in front of his face, held aloft by his magic. The watcher scowled, but did as asked.

"'ere!" it borderline shouted, slapping the scroll into Akoni's hand with more force than was necessary. "Wot's a great majah like 'ou need wit any 'elp in grabbin' scrolls anyway? Waste o' my talents." The watcher crossed its arms and scowled at Akoni, who still never looked upward.

"I don't like being spied on," he replied nonchalantly, unraveling the scroll and allowing it to float just like the book so he could compare what was written in both. "And I hate useless things. So I'm making you useful while you're here."

"USELESS?!" the watcher bellowed, rattling some of the shelves. It closed the gap between itself and Akoni, getting within an inch of the old man's face. "Aye'll 'ave you know tha' ahm the bes' damn watcha' in dis 'ole bleedin' place, an' ahm jus' for you, ya twat!"

"Hm. Never much cared for familiars," Akoni muttered, closing the book and rolling the scroll back up, then telekinetically handing them to the watcher. "Be sure these get put away. I've developed a highly specific sorting system, which I've notated on the frame of my bed I setup in here. Don't let the bird creature touch anything."

Akoni turned to leave. He had just discovered something very interesting in the books that he had studied. Something that revealed to him the nature of the Horsemen. More specifically, the origin of their species, the same species that his teammate Wrath happened to be part of. A very interesting name came in in those readings. Lilith.

"Oy!" called the watcher, which had reappeared in front of Akoni, a single hand outstretched to stop him in his tracks. "I was-n't 'ere ta spy on yew, y'know. I ave some news."

Akoni began to grow impatient, but it was best not to let it show, so he merely raised an eyebrow in mock fascination. "Well? What is it then, Watcher?"

"'eve got a guest. Outworlds Room. Well g'on den, get goin'!" With that, the watcher faded away into the shadows and Akoni was, once again, left without anybody to keep watch over the library in his absence. Well, nobody apart from the massively irritating bird creature, the self-proclaimed master of knowledge. With a sigh, the old mage ascended the steps and began making his way toward the Outworlds Room to meet this new guest of theirs. Perhaps this individual could assist them on their mission to stop Armageddon.

[Lugubrious]

The initial excitement of Souta could only be dulled upon interaction with the first Watcher he found. The ephemeral being's toxic attitude confused and angered him, especially considering that the information he possessed -which he thought to be of extreme importance- was being so trivialized. By the time that the Watcher condescendingly agreed to relay the smith's revelations about the Fifth Seal to the proper authorities, Souta felt as if he'd just gotten off a three-hour tech support call with a not-so-passive aggressive I.T. guy who constantly looked down on him for not always understanding his accent. The mental overload and physical stain gained from the encounter in the library still needled him acutely. Nevertheless, like a weight had been taken off his chest, his spirits rose once he vacated the place where he met the troublesome Watcher behind. Thinking of taking a load off in the room he'd claimed for his own, he left the World Tree chamber and strode through the neglected, empty bizarre marked on the map as the Outworld Market. While on this route, he spotted Mary, and was surprised to find that she wanted to talk to him.

Given the monstrous, demonic form he'd witnessed about twenty minutes ago, he had to admit that he felt a little more wary of his ally. Could it be that he, Hyobanshi Souta, was the only normal person in the whole Charred Citadel? Yet he did not allow his misgivings to affect his demeanor. When she asked, he told all about the visions he'd received, and appreciated her attentive ear. At the mention of Midori, he glanced at the unconscious little demon girl. She did seem to be in a bad shape, and he wondered whether or not he ought to offer his help. Then again, Mary did seem capable, and Souta anticipated that there might be more than a few prideful egos in this place that he didn't want to prick with questions that could be interpreted as roundabout degradations. Ultimately, though, Mary did ask for his help—though on an entirely different matter. Souta permitted himself a wide smile now that he'd been confronted with a problem that he could actually, properly solve. ”Yeah, I can help. I don't know what kind of tools they have here, but if you need a weapon made, I'm the guy. I could even do a Devil or Angel Arm if you've got any souls lying around.” He chuckled at the preposterous suggestion. "So, whaddya got in mind?"

[EnterTheHero]

Silas stumbled to his knees as he practically fell out of the portal, back into the Citadel. He never thought he could be happy to return to the hellish location, but it was better than being in that goddamn Library, staring his failures in the face. He cursed to himself, looking at his allies, all similarly out of sorts after the assault on their minds by that Abyssal, Nichts. He grit his teeth.

What a pitiful showing. By all of us. No information about the Seals. We didn't catch that monster, Sevrin, or whatever his name was. We lost to the Abyssal. What, in actuality, did we accomplish, aside from an armful of musty tomes and scrolls?

Such an answer then came as Souta stopped all of them, sounding somewhat urgent. Silas turned toward him, swaying slightly on his feet, eager to find something to do that involved sitting or lying down. His exhaustion evaporated somewhat as he heard what Souta was saying- he knew where another Seal was. Somehow, some of the information Nichts had assaulted him with contained the information all of them were looking for. Silas' eyebrows raised, shock evident on his face.

"You... you mean to tell me... that we got exactly what we were looking for, completely by accident?" He swayed again, now in shock. He started laughing- he couldn't help it, it was just... too funny. Everything they'd done, everything they'd gone through in that Library, and the very thing they were searching for just fell into their laps. He nodded, smiling, as he patted Souta on his shoulder in as companionable a way as he could.

"Great... great work, Souta. I guess. I mean, I'm not really sure what any of us actually did, but we got what we needed. So... thank you." He grinned as he walked off, any tiredness or delirium forgotten. In fact... Silas looked over his injuries, the ones inflicted by the Abyssal, after it had assaulted him with those energy... fragments, or whatever. The energy flechettes. That was an idea. Maybe he could do something with that. He walked off, buzzing with ideas, his mind putting together schematics and designs.

It looks like I have some work to do.

[Zarkun]

Charred Citadel-Time for Reflection

Wrath strode through the portal back to the Charred Citadel, his anger still smoldering from the fact that Gorgon had gotten away and he headed for his room. As he reached it, having ignored a pair of watchers who were immediately intent on belittling him by mocking him for not killing the Gorgon. Tuning them out was becoming easy, though there was one who could always break his concentration when it wanted, and that was the one who originally retrieved himself and Akoni.

I need to get another weapon, something with range, but can still double for melee if needed. I'll have to ask around, see what the others think. It'll take time to figure out too, but maybe after the next mission something will come to me. Reaching his room, he started to open the door and then stopped, looking around before sighing and walking in, sitting on the bed. He needed to talk to Uriel, but he was entirely uncertain if he would be allowed to, so he instead opted to seeing how he could improve on his stances unless someone required his attention.

[Lmpkio]

@Sho Minazuki@I-Am-X

Gideon Al Ghul

After their quick getaway, Gideon and Inferno's new ally Gorgon, quickly went to the rendezvous points calculated by the morphs. As soon as he arrived, he sees his rival Blair come around as well. Her face seemed as if she was successful in her mission as well, while also having deep gashes within her body. He hoped that the mission she did wasn't as important as his, being unaware of her fight with Kushiel as well as help regarding those of other "allied" forces. Regardless, he keeps his cool as he steps down from his chariot, while also helping the Gorgon down himself. He then faces Blair with his almost soulless eyes.

"I see you must've been successful with your mission," he mentions as he eyes her wounds and cuts briefly, "Despite taking a few... blows as well."

Gideon has only received minor cuts and possible bruises from the foe he faced, which wasn't that hard to begin with, but regardless he'll be dealing with Kosara another time. Just then, the Gorgon begins to speak.

"Generals of Mundus, it is good to finally meet you all, I have joined with the desire to find out my own heritage as a demon... If you have need of my strength, do not hesitate to call on me, even in my weakest state, I can offer you my form as a Devil Arm", she stats.

So even she can transform into a devil arm? Interesting. Gideon still needed his true devil arm form in due time, but he can wait a little longer.

"Your services will be extremely helpful and reliable to Mundas' cause," Gideon states with a nod, "I'll be sure to call you in times of need."

Just then, another demon imp began to crawl towards the half-demon general. He stands guard and salutes to him, with the general taking notice.

"Lord Al Ghul..." it growls animalistically, "Master Nabal will like to see you when you have some time on your hand. He hassssssss something for you.."

So it's finally finished... about time.

"Thank you for letting me know," Gideon thanks him with a simple nod, "I will be visiting him soon."

And with that, the imp simply crawls away back into the shadows.

---

---

@Sho Minazuki@Enterthehero

Kushiel

After he was healed up by his fellow angels via a special holy water, Kushiel was back in action, this time searching for the Third Seal. He was following a trail of demons, in which he tried to run after them, but soon found himself to loose sight of them. Despite it, he feels that the seal would be close by, or a little farther away, as he approaches an abandoned church. It was a rather pretty church to begin with, with large arches, rows and rows of seats, with even a dusty organ near the back of it. It almost would feel like home, minus all the dust and cobwebs of course.

But regardless, he failed during the Battle of Vigrid. He fought valiantly against the oncoming forces, especially when against the demon general Blair, but even then he was almost slain on the spot. In fact, he thinks that if he acted quicker, he could've won the battle. But that's not the only thing he lost however... the Champion was also dead, simply because he didn't protect him. What's worse was simply that for Inferno, he happened to be their goal for the entire mission...

But why kill the champion? Why only him? Shouldn't they have killed him, an Archangel of balance, the wielder of a Spear of Longinus?

It didn't matter though. What matters is that he's, Kushiel, still alive. Zeruel wasn't happy for his failure, but regardless he sent him on this mission to retrieve the Third Seal, a task that's also quite risky. Perhaps he can redeem himself in this mission. And maybe he can find and recruit some Lumen Sages to help him with his cause. That should help right?

Regardless, Zeruel has been overlooking him for awhile now, having already sent out several messengers to scout out the environment around him, this being the last piece help he can provide Kushiel with for the time being. Hopefully they'd be able to locate the area where the Seal is hidden...

[I-Am-X]

@Lmpkio

Blair

Having finished mission successfully, she reached the designated rendezvous point, arriving soon after Gideon himself returned from his mission. Blair also noticed that he wasn't alone and brought another demon with him in his chariot. A new ally? Wasting little time upon getting out of his chariot, he makes another one of his pointed comments while glancing at the visible wounds she sustained during her fight with Kushiel.

Given the newcomer and his attitude, it was clear he was trying to show off again. A part of her considered telling him of her mission, but as she recounted her fight with the Archangel, a wicked grin appeared on her face. "You can say that. Lord Mundus will be quite pleased in the very least." She finished, not saying another word, deciding to keep him in the dark about for a little longer, at least when it came time to give a full report, for max effect.

Gideon's new companion then introduced herself, offering herself and her powers towards their 'cause'. Personally, Blair had no intention in calling on her services but kept her in mind in case a situation arises in which she can be 'used'. Heh

[kapuchu]

It had been a few hours since the angelic champion had been killed, and Lily and Fenn had parted ways. While the hellhound had returned to their supposed Master's lair, in whatever realm the Council called their own.

Lily had chosen to remain in the human realm, though she didn't remain in Vigrid. Instead she made her way towards a nearby town that was controlled by neither angels nor demons, in search of a clothing store. The downside of her Draconic Form was how much larger she became, resulting in her clothes becoming too small, tearing apart.

It was an hour or two later when she touched down in an alley of some small city. People were bustling about, no one seeming to take notice of the naked woman strolling through the streets. Those who did, however, seemed to either hurry along their way or stopped and stared. Not that it mattered what they did, Lily had a goal in mind and stares were of no consequence to her. The town itself was nice, colourful. It was an old one, too, as evident by the vast amount of buildings made out of a mix of wood and stone, rather than brick. The air smelled of fish, and salt could be tasted in the air. Even had Lily not seen the ocean from when she flew here, it wouldn't be hard to guess that it was a seaside city.

No clothing store was in sight, the street lined with bars, restaurants, a candy shop, and a single shop for various knick-knacks and cheap items that no one would ever use, but still thought was entertaining to buy. That left her two options: Ask for directions or walk around looking for it herself. In the interest of time, she grabbed hold of a boy midway through his adolescence, turning him to face her from where he his back had been turned to her.

His eyes met her only briefly before they immediately darted down, widening, as his mouth fell open. Lily had to fight not to laugh. The boy's innocence obviously having been intact up until his meeting with her. This wasn't the time for him to gawk, however. She grabbed hold of his chin and lifted his head up to meet her eyes. She smiled at him sweetly. In the way a predator might smile sweetly at its prey, that is.

"Hello, Boy. As you can see, I'm in the need of some new clothes. The old ones broke. Can you point me in the direction of a clothing store?"

The boy nodded and pointed down the street, towards an intersection. "Down there. Clothes for boys and—" his gaze flitted down once again, before being forced to meet Lily's gaze again "—girls... Women."

The demoness' smile grew ever so slightly, kissing him on the forehead before heading in the direction he had pointed her towards.

The shops came into view within a few minutes, with vast arrays of clothes on display: From heels to dress shirts, skirts to dresses. Everything was here, and Lily waited no time in entering the first.

The hour hour was a blur. Where some racks were cleaned, others were left alone. The end result was Lily walking out of the fifth shop with eight bags filled with everything that caught her eye, and a dozen unconscious employees who didn't want her to leave without paying. They'd wake up in a few hours, most likely. Currently adorned in a pair of plain pants and shirt, the Demoness took to the street once more, intent on finding some way to return to the Council's realm. Luckily, the search was a short one. Upon entering an alley a presence made itself known to her almost immediately. Turning around, Lily came face to face with one of the Watchers.

"So this is where you've been?" It asked, scoffing as it glanced about, and then at the bags in Lily's hands. "Really?" Its voice was that of someone caught between amusement and disbelief and, had it had eyebrows, she was sure they would've been up under its non-existent hairline.

Hands on her hips, Lily stared right back. "Yes, really. Now, get me back to the Council's realm, castle, or whatever it is."

"You don't have the authority to order me around! You're just a—"

Lily, her tone casual, yet carrying an almost comprehensible weight, said, "A what?" The smile on her lips was almost sickeningly sweet, so much so that even the Watcher paused in its attempted tirade. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're the slaves are you not? Created for the sole purpose of serving the Council and whomever they assign you to."

The watcher stood still, and while it didn't move, it did speak. "You don't know who you're messing with, youngling! I am a Watcher of the Charred Council! I am four hundred years ol—" Once again he was interrupted, this time not by Lily's words, but her eyes. Her gaze caught his, forcing him to silence.

"You are a slave, Watcher. A speck of dust, an inconsequential existence. You call me young? Boasting your own four centuries? I was old when Mundus launched his first invasion on this Earth." Her eyes widened, as if drawing the Watcher in. This time the watcher caught a glimpse of Her. There was pain, there was pride. Power and intellect in equal measures, and an overpowering will to live. "You see me," she said, blinking and taking a step back.

The easy smile on her lips returning. "Now perhaps you realise just how little you matter. Now, please be a dear and get me back to the Charred Council?" She lifted her bags, "I have something I need to put away, after all."

Silence reigned as the Watcher did as he was bid, returning them to the Council's castle, and more specifically the room Lily and Fenn had taken for their own. The Watcher was nowhere to be seen, which suited the Demoness just fine. "Now to pack out and get into something comfortable."

---

A short while later and Lily emerged from her room, vastly different from how she looked before. Where before she had been of medium height, lean and pale, she was now tall enough to approach the two metre mark, sans a few inches, long slender legs, slim of build, and bronze skinned. Luscious, raven hair tumbled down past her shoulders and to her waist, held in a high tail. Kind, amber eyes shone almost with their own light underneath light brows, and red-painted lips set in an easy smile. Thigh high stockings, a grey knee-length skirt, and a loose, black shirt covered her.

Her new look in order, she was ready to set out on a small exploration trip. She'd seen some of the castle, but not all. There were areas she had yet to see, including the library. Maybe she would meet Fenn or Mary along the way, either might prove entertaining. One to banter with, another to torment.

Whatever happened, time would tell. As it was, the clicking of her heels on the stone floor was the only thing accompanying her.

[Kafka Komedy]

Mary giggled, as the young man chuckled. It seemed he didn't particularly care about her outburst a tiny bit ago, or was being nice about it. She knew it was probably the latter, so she'd try and be as lax and happy as possible around him. "Well, actually, I do. Or, the order does. We were studying the soul of a demon named Orpheus, but, we're done with the experiments. I'd like to see if you could make him into an armament." She explained, hefting Midori up ever so slightly as she threatened to fall out of the half-blood's hands. Though a Watcher had patched the demon girl up, it would be best to put her in an actual bed, and let her sleep.

"As soon as I put Midori to bed I can pick it up. Or, should I just have them send it to Regalia?" She asked. As much as she hated to admit it, she did not know much about how demons were compressed into weaponry. She did want to know more, as they were generally more powerful than blessed weaponry due to the divine abilities they possessed. Maybe Souta could teach her? But that was a question for another time.

[rivaan]

@ProPro

Citadel

Kosara walked down the corridors of the Citadel, thinking about books. From time to time an idea about a weapon or attack move would pop up in her mind, making her all happy about it for a moment or two before she dismisses it as useless. She had just about reached the library where that bird person was. She wondered if they had something new to read there. It was going to be a fun experience… at least that’s what she thought before the watcher who pulled her here in the first place showed up.

Interestingly enough she showed up from the floor and like that planted himself straight at Kosara’s boot. Since she sped up her pace just so he can step on him.” Ahmm… watcherman what are you doing under my boot?” The girl asked him with pure curiosity, taking a step back so she’s not on his face anymore.

The watcher was visibly angered by her act, a thing that made up her mood somewhat after the fail to take down the gorgon… and to let that chains for brains escape. She needed something new, a new way of fighting or a new weapon to make up for the power and experience gap.

After being ignored throughout his rambling for a good while, Kosara finally turned her attention back to the watcher just as he informed her that someone new had showed up in the Citadel. The Outrealms room was it… with that being done, the watcher vanished, probably from not wanting to hold his desire to strangle her or something. With an amused grin, she dashed through the corridors.

On her way there, she saw a familiar back! It was Akoni!!! Without as much as warning, she dashed at him, grabbing his arm and pressing it at herself as if she was holding at a family member. Naturally she was still wet from head to toes.” Akoni-gramps, are you heading to the outrealms room too~? Wana go together?”

[ProPro]

Akoni gradually made his way through the Citadel, lost in thought. He wondered who this mysterious individual could have been, but didn't think too deeply on the subject. There was no point when he would be finding out soon enough, and it's not like his hypothesis could make any real difference. Instead he found his brain contemplating the scripture he had been reading through, on the name he had found. That woman was someone that he had been familiar with. His cultist "family" had ensured it, but she was a constant figure in demonology. The first of mankind to fall to the corruption posed by profane forces, a leader in the hierarchy of Hell. So it was fascinating that she was at the source of his studies on the origins of-

Akoni's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps rushing toward him from just out of sight. The way those feet fell upon the stone floor, the particular speed, echo, and weight behind them, it could only have been one person. "Oh fuck me." In a whirlwind of energy, Akoni felt his hand gripped tightly and pressed against the woman that had accosted him, jubilant and full of excitement. For all of her joy, Akoni felt an equal measure of dread.

” Akoni-gramps, are you heading to the outrealms room too~? Wana go together?”

Akoni's response was to pull his hand away and throw himself backward into a newly generated gate. Upon passing through it, he emerged on the other side of Kosara, then continued his walk toward the Outrealms room. The only sound he made during the entire exchange was a single, simple grunt.

@rivaan

[Lugubrious]

The image of a demonic monster gently tucking a pooped-out child into bed flashed into Souta's mind, prompting him to snicker quietly, but he managed to stay focused on the task at hand. Orpheus, huh? Partially from his line of work and partially from his own interests, he held a passing familiarity with names from mythology. As best he could remember, 'Orpheus' was either a two-headed dog from the underworld, or some kind of early bard. For certain, he knew that the story of Orpheus was a tragic one. He liked the idea of a sophisticated, elegant weapon, like a naginata.

Then the thought struck him: how could he go about making a soil into a Devil Arm without the proper tools? A smith, after all, was only as good as his equipment allowed him to be. Given a soul right now, all he could do would be to stare at it and think. Now that he considered it, Souta hadn't gone to see the Charred Citadel's forge yet. While he wanted to think that the workshop of an authority allegedly greater than Heaven or Hell might be filled to the brim with every kind of material and device he could want, Souta dryly expected that it would be as ramshackle as the rest of the Citadel's furnishings. After all, what did Watchers want with weapons or armor? Considering the alternatives filled him with even more dread. Even if he was allowed to, how would be go about contacting Regalia on Earth? He seemed up a creek without a paddle.

”...Well, if you're in contact with your people or something, yeah, have them send the soul to Regalia.” He didn't mention a cost, figuring that it would be both obvious and unhealthy for the proposal. ”I dunno how I might get in touch with Gilgamesh or anyone. I can check the forge in this place, but I don't know how much it might have going for it.”

He started toward the area of the Citadel in question, only for a Watcher to abruptly phase through a wall and block his way. Souta narrowed his eyes, trying to tell whether or not it had been the one from before. Without waiting for him to make sure, the Watcher addressed both him and Mary, “Nipping off for some fun, huh? Well, don't get too comfortable. The stuff that Abyssal stuck inside your noggin's useful after all, human. The Council's found the place: an inverted world called the Undersky. The World Tree there is defunct, but as luck would have it, the Council's found a refugee who can get you there. Oh, didn't you know? Since you're such an expert, you're taking one for the team and heading to the Undersky along with Bloody Mary here, the demon bitch, yours truly, and the big, angry pupper. In a few hours. Have fun!” Cackling, the Watcher disappeared again, presumably to tell Fenn and Lily about their next assignment.

Souta heaved a sigh. There went any chance of rest and recuperation. Of course, merely being in the presence of the lava-filled glass veins that infested the Citadel seemed to speed up healing and rejuvenation in general, but to him magical restoration would never be as good as old-fashioned sleep and medicine. Still, a couple of hours left a little time to take a look at the forge and see if he couldn't get into workable order. ”Uh, well, that's that I guess. I'm gonna find the forge. Come along if you like. I mean, another pair of hands would be great for any lifting or tinkering I've gotta do to get the place working, if there's even anything there. But if you've got something else to do, don't worry about helping me.” He did his best to seem indifferent.

[Kafka Komedy]

Souta seemed deep in thought for a moment, seemingly unsure of the plan of action as well. He then finally decided she ought to send the soul over to Regalia. He also mentioned a forge, which Mary seemed to remember passing through at some point. In all honesty though she hadn't the foggiest recollection of what it looked like or if it was working. She was about to tell Souta how she contacted The Order, but, speak of the devil and he shall appear; a watcher showed up.

She, Souta, Lily, and Fenn would be traveling to a place called the Undersky. Though it couldn't be reached through the Life Tree, a local would be guiding them to it. She was about to ask it to deliver a message for her, but he, or she, or maybe even it, slipped through the floor. Both she and Souta sighed. It seemed Midori wouldn't get to rest for long. Souta reasoned he still might as well check out the forge, and that she could come along. Mary nodded and smiled, replying "I'll meet you there soon. I should put her to bed." And with that, they split.

Once Midori was safe and sound and a Watcher was commanded to contact The Order and send the soul over to the nearest Regalia branch, Mary joined Souta in the Forge. As she walked, it seemed her wounds had almost entirely healed. Her broken ribs seemed all but good as the day she was born, and she no longer ached. Still, after a mission so intense, one would like to sleep. But taking a nap didn't take precedent over making sure you were prepared when walking into battle. As she came up to Souta, she described to him how she got messages to The Order. "Hello again. Earlier you said you didn't know how to get in contact with your employers. The Watchers can do so for you, though most would want some sort of 'safe word'. I use my birthday."

[DELETED7282737]

Midori

All of them got back to Citadel where they could rest from the vigorous fight the past few hours. They took heavy damage with certainly some broken bones on the case. Some have definitly made it out better then others but that was clearly from the distance of the skill level between some of the group members. Midori was definitly one of the lower skill levels. She took some brute damage were under scrapes and a few broken bones. Her brain couldn't take it when her senses became to sensitive and that's why she collapsed barely making it out. Still she was safe and sound back at the Citadel now so everything was gonna be alright again despites the damage.

The aura inside the Citadel instantly kicked in by all of them lightly healing them overtime. Midori's scrapes slowly closed down again leaving no scars or anything. Still for her bones to heal again might take some time but the aura was definitly soothing to her mind making the girl a little calmer again from the inside.

Mary had gotten by her side to make sure the girl was okay and to take a look at her arm despites having any knowledge of healing or the likes. Still it was safe to say her arm didn't look okay and needed treatment right away. Mary asked Souta for help with the small girl and so he did. They had gotten a watcher to help them since they were likely to have more medical knowledge leaving Midori in better hands. Midori quickly got patched up, her broken arm had been placed in a cast and her medium to large sized wounds were treated and plastered. She was given some medicine and left to Mary again to take her to some safe place where she could rest.

Midori was taken to Mary her room but when Mary put her to bed she quietly work up from her slumber. The girl looked around her to see where she was and sat right up. Mary explained her what had happened but Midori still looked a little dazzled from everything that happened. Midori thanked her a milion times for taking such good care of her and Mary kindly accepted. Mary tried a few times to let her sleep again but to no avail she didn't go to sleep. Eventually she got out of bed still looking a little worn out but a lot more color to her face then when she just passed out.

Midori changed her clothes in her own room needing some help from Mary since her arm wasn't so fun to move. She wore a sleeveless shirt with a skirt and some sandals. This girl was alway in the summer mood. Her horns and wings were on full display right now but she didn't really mind it here since everyone had abnormalities. She didn't get to do something like this a lot so she felt a little embarrassed but happy. Her hunger was indescribable, All that healing was taking a lot of energy making her definitly feel drowsy. Perhaps it was a good idea for her to find some food around but she truly had no clue on where to get that. Perhaps she should ask Mary if they stay in the same room for more than a few minutes. Then she could take a quick walk and get some food no problem.

Midori happily followed Mary to the forge room where Souta was at. They would be constructing a weapon for Mary of some kind. It made her curious. Once in the room she entered close after Mary not leaving the back of the girl. The little girl was blushing a ton showing that she was definitly up to something. Midori stepped from behind Mary her back and was standing in front of Souta. She placed her one useful hand on her skirt and lightly lifted it as she bowed her head and placed one feet behind the other to bow towards Souta.

"Thank you kindly for helping when I was unconscious."

Until Souta was done giving his reply towards she kept the same posture and waited for him to finish before acting normal again.

[Sho Minazuki]

Fortuna City - Ifrit

@rivaan@Zorogami

A message was given to Kosara from the DHO, and it piqued an interest with some of the watchers, though the Council had already sent a team off to pursue the recently discovered seal that Souta has the knowledge to, it was decided they would quell the chaos being wreaked by this rogue DHO agent that Kosara was given orders to hunt down. It suited her perfectly. Meanwhile Mary after discovering the area that this disturbance took place, she took interest in returning there. Perhaps she could help out the Order of the Sword's efforts there.

Upon arrival to Fortuna the two would find themselves amidst the scene of a riot, or the aftermath of it. Vehicles upturned and abandoned, shops broken into, the otherwise Italian-esque and scenic city of Fortuna looked not much different to what it looked a few years prior. Nero would know the nitty gritty of it.

Speaking of Nero, there he was out on the streets, slaying some demons at a crossroads. It was a huge crossroad and led to the large cathedral that was also the headquarters of the Order. After a stunning display of swordsmanship, skill, speed, and pure power from his Devil Bringer, Mary and Kosara were able to step into the clearing.

"Mary? I didn't see you after the catastrophe in Barlour city... I thought you might have... Nevermind. It's a good thing you've come. The city had been evacuated already, and those who were late took refuge in the church. I'm here to make sure no one gets to them. The Order can't stave off the demons and defend the city... It'd be a lot easier if there wasn't some idiotic gang running everywhere and making this more difficult. They seem to be opening up the gates to the city to let the demons in too, so if we can stop them, the rest should be easy", he said. A status report so to speak... So there seemed to be two objectives this time around. Find and close the gates to the city, and find the leader of the gang... According to the information Kosara had gotten from the DHO, that leader of the gang is very likely her mark. It all now came down to who to do what... It seems Kosara being the brash half demon she was, was very eager to go after the gang leader.

@BCTheEntity

The Heirarchy of Laguna's angels descend upon Fortuna City. Led by Iscah and Iacobos, their mission here was to gain as much information on the state of both humans and demons, in order to see what verdict this land deserves, and to quell any demonic threat whatsoever with extreme prejudice, something these particular angels were very good at. They were a small unit though, and the demons that were already in the city were numerous, and swarming many of the positions within. There were still some open gates that the demons were using, so it may be simple to just use one of them to enter, while slaying some demons in the process. First, they needed to enter the city. Iscah and Iacobos though, will enter alone first.

@Lmpkio

The morph's information was right. There was indeed a powerful Devil Arm here, he saw it on the gang leader while he was reconning from a high position. Next was to enter, and retrieve that Devil Arm for himself. The Morph also mentioned demonic research within the Order of the Sword's headquarters... With it, the Morphs might be able to construct something, or new demons can be made back home. It was all synthetic and demonic technology, but given past encounters with this technology according to the Morphs, they were quite powerful, and could slay lesser demons on their own unless they were swarmed.

Still, that was merely an extra objective, his main one for now, was that Devil Arm.

---

Backwoods Cathedral - Soul Sacrifice

@EnterTheHero@Lmpkio

The two met up at the Abandoned Church before heading over to the Backwoods Cathedral. Their mission, to investigate the incident happening here, this "worship" and "ascension". In short, their objective was to kill heretics and demons, while helping those who were truly pious. As they approached the cathedral, an unsettling fog began to set in. It didn't feel natural, thick, yet thin, like an illusion, along with a slowly increasing stench of blood, and pretty soon there was a slight burn to it, charred like ash. They came upon a graveyard, with a long path leading up to a cathedral they can make out in the silhouette. It also seemed to be night time, even though when they set out, it was broad daylight... Something was definitely not right here. As they entered the gates, they could see flashes of fire in the distance, dancing flames, and as they drew closer, it was a lady fighting what looked like monstrosities. Before either of them could rush to her aid, the battle was over, charred black and brittle. This was likely the source of the charred smell they began to pick up.

She turned quickly towards Silas and Kushiel, and after a tense moment she made an exhale of relief.

"Oh man, I thought you two were more of them", she said, her flames put out as she began to speak.

"I know because you two look very out of place here. That fancy white-gold garb and... And you just look really pretty not gonna lie. I'm Fiametta. So who're you two? I don't think you're here for this strange cult going on here... I know I'm not", she was very chipper, for someone who just fought eldricht monstrosities. They looked unlike any demons these two in their careers, both long and moderately experienced, had ever seen.

Fiametta de Santis

@I-Am-X

According to the Morph's information, this strange area and it's weather and time cycle was warped by a demon... Definitely someone they wanted on their side. Still, the problem now was getting into the area. When she stepped near the demons earlier, they didn't behave anything like demons towards her, they seemed to be maddened, without thought, and attacked her rather than recognizing her strength, lesser demons often cowered from her unless in large numbers, but even singular, these eldricht beasts attacked her. It was no problem fighting through all of them, but there just seemed to be too many, and they didn't look like any demons she'd ever seen before... So who knows what tricks they may have. She was inserting into the area from the back, there seemed to be a garden here for her to traverse through, that led to the backdoor of the cathedral. There might be some side paths to avoid fighting some of these enemies too, or even to get the jump on the more threatening ones, because as it stands, she can't just easily waltz right in.

@ProPro

His orders were strictly to investigate this strange area... What was going on here? Like nothing that had seen before, no records of similar events fully matched up. With his ancient knowledge, the DHO hoped he might find out what was happening. The Charred Council had recommended he go on this, they didn't want any nasty surprises in the future after all. Still... Upon entering this area, it was unsettling, unnerving, he was glad to run into Silas and... And an angel? Regardless, he approached them as they spoke with the girl, who identified herself as Fiametta. He was sent specifically because the few agents they had sent here were found not a few miles away from this area, ranting unintelligible things, and had basically gone insane... Akoni had in his experience, powerful mental resistance, so he was the best to send.

[Lugubrious]

Mad World

@liferusher@zarkun@lazo@kapuchu

Several hours slipped by. Barebones as the Citadel was, many things still existed that needed to be put in order. The rooms claimed by the various agents of the Council needed at least some furnishing and renovation. Some spent more time in specific chambers that interested them more. Souta, for instance, spent some time in the forge in an arduous attempt to get things organized in a satisfactory manner and capable of functioning. Heat he had aplenty, but creating weapons and gear with a hammer and anvil alone was a thing of fantasy. The modern smith needed a lathe, a hydraulic press, and a host of other devices. Plus, no weapon could take on the mantle of a Devil or Angel Arm without a phylactery containing the being's soul. Following a weapon's completion, the insertion of a soul-filled phylactery would fuse the two together to make the finished product. Souta couldn't find a smidgen of modern technology, nor the raw materials from which to make phylacteries, so it was with no small amount of frustration that he arranged what little he did have to the best of his ability.

Still, to him, time flew by, and he had no idea how long he spent in the forge before a familiar, despicable shape rose from the floor nearby, startling him. At the same time, other Watchers were appearing for Midori, Wrath, Fenn, and Lily, sharing the same message this slave brought to Souta: “Had a good rest? Well, it's time for a new mission. Our big brother waits for you at the World Tree.” Hearing this, Souta could only curb his distaste for the Watcher, let his tools fall, and make his way through the Citadel to the room in question.

Upon arrival, the young man spotted a Watcher larger than the rest, one with nine emerald eyes—Panoptos. Those leering lights slid around on his face like fireflies fluttering at dusk, and like them they blinked out from time to time. Nevertheless, Souta felt sure that this most esteemed of Council servants was always watching. After a moment, Souta's attention wandered, and he discovered to his surprise a second figure. This one he didn't recognize at all. At a glance, it appeared to be a person in a robotic exosuit, but when the smith examined it further he grew doubtful. Elements of its physiology, particularly around the arms and head, made it seem impossible that a human could be housed within. Souta's logical conclusion that it might be a robot, however, could not be reached because this thing did look to be breathing. It also look around, focusing the light within its eyes on him, in an extremely aware fashion. All in all, Souta didn't know what to make of it.

The others arrived shortly and Panoptos wasted no time in doling out the task. ”Because of the information planted in the toymaker's head, we've found our next Seal. And wouldn't know know! It's in a Forbidden Realm called the Undersky. The World Tree there was tampered with to prevent entry or exit. Luckily, we've got a guide. Say hello, Uhelei!”

Though the unknown being's features were difficult to discern, the dimming of its glowing eyes around the edges suggested glowering. Panoptos tittered softly. ”Poor guy's got a shy streak. Evidently all living things in the Undersky are techno-organic, just like him. And there aren't just tribesmen, either. I think you're all going to have a lot of fun finding the Seal. Once you find it, it's your job to protect me while I whip up a Greater Dimensional Rift to save it. Capiche?” He folded his fingers together, waiting for the inevitable questions.

[Zarkun]

On the Road again

Wrath had looked at the Watcher when it had appeared, though only after it had tapped his shoulder to get his attention. Upon the relaying of the message, Wrath stood with a grunt and thanked the Watcher, who disappeared again into a wall. Panoptos was perhaps the only Watcher that the nephilim went out of his way to hate. It was clear it both thought itself better than everyone because of it's age, and thought itself untouchable because of it's position. Reaching the World Tree before he could really put some thought into the elder servant, he listens to the Watcher and acknowledges their guide when he's introduced. Once he was done, Wrath chuckled. "Just one question. How long do you take to summon the rift?"

There had been about a dozen seething remarks that Wrath could have made in the question, but in the interest of time, the nephilim had opted to save them for a later date. Upon getting an answer, he'd approach the guide and wait, ready to be on his way.

[ProPro]

Akoni had never reached the guest in the Citadel, much to his irritation. A telepathic message had found its way into his head, a little magic trick he had taught to many hunters in the DHO before his retirement. A specific command that would deliver information to him, no matter where he was, in case the organization ever had need of him in the future. The message came from one of the higher ups, stating that they had an important mission for Akoni that couldn't be trusted to anybody else. The old mage sighed, weary, but changed course to be transported back to earth.

Upon his return, the details were given. There was some strange goings-on in an old church that they felt a strong desire to investigate. His eldritch knowledge, combined with his strong mental resistances, made him the ideal candidate to go on such an excursion, and unlike all the previous missions they had tried to pass off on him he no longer had the excuse of "I'm retired." The impending apocalypse had a way of wiping clean such concerns. Begrudgingly, the old mage accepted, and the Charred Council even gave their blessing (or what passed as such, at any rate) so long as be brought the information back to them. When every major faction was attempting to play Armageddon to their benefit, it was best not to be caught off guard, to know all the pieces of the puzzle as it were. With their permission, Akoni was off to investigate.

Apparently there had been reports of some sort of order or cult claiming to ascend to angelhood. Most would probably laugh off these reports, but Akoni knew better. There was precedent, after all. It wasn't so long ago that the Son of Sparda had taken on the misguided Order of the Sword and their evil patriarch. The reports showed that the members believed they were ascending, when the reality of the situation was that they were being turned into demons. Judging by what he had seen of Mary, they hadn't quite stopped, but the Order was in a much better state with the new leadership.

Then of course was the Lumen Sages, a group entirely built around the worship and ascension of angelhood. Ok, so it worked out a little differently from that, but the idea was there. Blessed with holy powers and the ability to summon angels for assistance, they are under contract to battle demons until they die, upon which their souls ascend to the Laguna, who feed on said souls to strengthen the Hierarchy and create new angels. The devil was in the details, but the general idea of "ascension" was still there, though Akoni considered it more of a curse.

Upon his arrival, the location did not immediately give itself away as a bastion for the Order of the Sword nor the Sages, but the old mage knew not to discount the possibility right off. More likely something else entirely was going on here, so he had to keep an open mind, but to discard known precedent could prove lethal. The cathedral did not immediately jump out as special to him, but a great deal of research may yet be required. Rather than focus on one location immediately, he decided to get the lay of the land, explore the surrounding area, to make sure that it was safe and secured. Plus sometimes the best way to get answers was simply to ask. Akoni could see through most lies, the benefits of being such an experience wizard even if most of his powers were out of practice. He set about exploring the grounds.

Within minutes the old man felt a chill in his bones, a different kind than the usual aching of his arthritis. The day had been bright, but darkness loomed overhead. A thick fog smelling of ash and flame now surrounded him. A bit agitated, he cast a minor spell to fashion a small bubble of oxygen around his nose and mouth with the purpose of keeping the fog from entering his respiratory system. A small precaution against an unknown force.

A few minutes later Akoni spotted three figures in the distance, hidden amidst the fog. He approached, slowly and cautiously, so as not to give any indication that he was dangerous. Once he had gotten close enough, the old man couldn't help but groan aloud. "Silas." The Sage was in the presence of two others. One appeared to be young boy of white hair and a calm, serene attitude. Akoni could feel the aura of this boy's presence to know he was not a boy at all. With a small blue glow of his eyes Akoni took in the not-child's name: Kushiel. He turned his attention to the other, a woman in a white dress with long red hair. Another flash of blue and he knew her identity as well.

"Greetings Fiametta. Archangel Kushiel." Akoni ignored Silas in favor of introducing himself to the two strangers. "My name is Akoni. I'm here under the authority of the DHO to investigate..." He glanced down at the charred, blackened bodies of the creatures that had been recently slain. "Probably those things."