Crusader Lord

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

Nylah

---

Whilst the hug from her friend was more than appreciated after having tried to save her from the local "Butt Bandit", though the Mothraki would soon be cut off by 's face turned beet red as Vammy put her arms around her and nibbled on her ear. Her arms squirmed underneath to try to break the grip of the impish demonette, but ultimately to no avail. Only after being released did the utterly awkward embarrassment of the situation start to fade, her attention turning away from the elf who had threatened further lewd treatment of the moth-like girl herself and now shifting back to the curious girl. As the other girl made her demand of staying safe, the female mothraki felt a wide but soft smile come to her face as she waved goodbye to the ever-moving Lazhira.

"Be safe too!" Nylah shouted after the other girl, albeit not long after letting out a tired sigh as Vammy ran after her. Was almost tempting to send another light hammer that direction for safety's sake...but the chance for collateral damage was a bit too much. She would need to find out how to make a homing light hammer for this sort of occasion, once the chance came to figure out such a thing...if it was possible using her magic.

But for now, there was work to do! Calra needed some herbs and such to help, and she by now the Chiralta's apprentice in more than one subject by this point anyway. Still, the priestess did bring her some somewhat comforting words.

"...Thank you, Miss Akala."

Mother was still stable. Good. Far better than some of the alternatives, but far from out of the woods by any means. Still, the Mothraki girl's tone of voice took a notable drop into a more serious and distinctively anxious form as she responded to the priestess. Like she was trying to keep up a strong face despite the matter.

Yet as she was asked to escort Lissa to also help Calra, the Mothraki gave a nod and seemed to brighten up some.

"No problem!" the Mothraki said to the rather sleepy-looking priestess, almost wondering for a second if Akala had any idea of what the goddess has affected on her, before turning to look at the other newcomer who had seemingly stopped by to help the village.

The other girl's clothing was indeed nice-looking, but she seemed more well-grounded and charitable than some to stop by and want to help like this. It made Nylah herself feel a bit of relief to have more help in what needed to be done, though her mother's usual warnings about strangers did keep some small part of her mind alert and on-guard despite it all, "...and thankfully no, Vammy doesn't seem to be joining us. But it's good to meet you, Lissa! Sorry you had to, ah, see some of that...but I'm hoping we can make good use of the daylight to find some useful herbs, at least after getting you and what herbs I have left to Miss Calra first."

She then motioned in a friendly manner for the secretly-a-Raam girl to follow, before beginning to walk off at an oddly but somewhat brisk pace. Still, she would try to talk a little along the way if the other girl was willing and following along with her.

"We'll have to head into the forest to find any herbs around the area. I'm Miss Calra's apprentice, so she's been teaching me more about herbs and nonmagical medicine and such...but I've got a long ways to go yet. I know a couple of areas she's brought me to for practice at the start of the winter, though, so I'm hoping we can find something there."

@Pyromania99@Click This@Rune_Alchemist

Symphony of Espers

@BrokenPromise@ERode

Upgrade Submission For Wukong:

Upgraded Genre

GENRE:

Samsara - The use of one’s own spiritual energy, or “qi”, to bring one’s self closer towards oneness with the world. Round and round again all is born and then reborn anew, a path with no beginning and yet no end for those caught in the great wheel of the Samsara. To become one with the world, then, one must then come to a true understanding of their very self. Only through facing the flow of suffering and pain can one come to find who and what they truly are.

Grade: Silver

Element: Wind

Notes: [Flight (6), Storm (4)], Push (2), Restrain (4), Blink (4), Damage X (6), Mana Burn (6), Full Enhance (4), If Foe (0), Heal (6), Zone (4)

Special: Concealment - [Beam] Cast notes no longer have any “tell”/telegraph. Can still be perceived by Magic Sense, and it is obvious specifically to those who are directly confronting/attacking the caster.

Just imagine the very expensive combo with both Full Enhance and then Damage X plus Mana Burn or Push or something. XD

Well, if that even works. Please let me know if it does or doesn't.

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

Nylah

---

A figure silently came up from behind, ever so quiet and yet stealthy. A silent as the grave. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, from behind the demon-possessed elf's head came a blow as mighty as the thunder, a strike as swift as the winds, an attack as mighty as a great bonfi-

'BONK'

If she did't notice Nylah walk up, or didn't care otherwise amidst all the people around them, Vammy would get bonked hard on the head with a small hand-sized hammer made of solid light via magic. Hard. Not hitting with intent to brutally harm, and far from kill, but enough intent to make it hurt a nice bit and throb for a few minutes...or couple hours. Enough to hopefully get the lewd elf to let go of Lazhira! Hopefully. Lazhira, on the other hand, was in no danger of the almighty friend-saving bonk. In fact, the moth was more than a little pleased to see her...but not the situation she was in upon walking in. More than that, she seemed to be lightly fuming at the treatment of her good friend at the hands of the lewd newcomer.

"Please do keep your hands to yourself!" the Mothraki girl said to Vammy, pouting a bit with her hands on her own hips before letting out a small 'hmpfh' and turning to her friend and giving a small but happy wave.

However, she hadn't arrived too late to not hear Enli's words. That and the little screen with the tiny sleeping moon goddess on it was at lease informational, even if it seemed to just be something she saw. Yet in terms of her arrival? She'd been just a bit too far back to not get to Lazhira in time to try to 'save her' more quickly. Or at least try to save her. Perhaps it was a tad too silly of a moment...but she needed something to focus on. Someone to help in any way she could, anyone. Anyone that was left. Anyone that was alive.

She could even now almost still hear the roar of the winds, feel the deep freeze of the cold, and imagine the scene she had eventually walked out to after it all.

Then the desperation and panic had kicked in. Dug in the snow for hours with her hands until they felt like they were nearly frozen. Saw some of them. Faces, left in the last look of horror that had grasped them in those final moments. So much in such a little time, so many...the bodies. She'd seen them keep digging out bodies. So many bodies, and yet so many that were not there which should have been.

Tackle-hugging Lazhira and Akando and Atzi the first moment she could after all of that was the most she could do to try to let it out without losing her mind. She didn't care at that point how silly or childish it could seem. They were alive. Mother, for what condition she was in, was still alive. So many were still alive, at least, and it was one of the few things outside of her loved ones she latched onto after it all.

But the images of the dead were something she wasn't sure would ever leave her mind, at least for a long time. Mother had told her the honest truth of that. She'd also been told much more of another matter despite her mother's sickness at this time, and all of this right before tragedy had hit the village only six hours later. Yet her mother nor anyone else could be helped if she sat still. If she'd been taught one thing in her childhood, it was that she had to do her best to take action during serious times.

Beyond that, she couldn't imagine how Enli was feeling at the moment. She'd even gone and hugged him the first chance she got, happy to see him alive as well. Man was perhaps the father she'd never had growing up, and at the age of 21 she had not the slightest that things would get as bad as they had. Yet for now, she simply looked to Enli and gave a serious nod to the elder before speaking up to him and aloud where the others could hear.

"I can also try to help Miss Calra! I have only what herbs are left in my pouch, though once I hand them off to her I'll go look for some more! Anything that survived the weather at least."

She'd been learning under Calra for some time now, especially in magic, but not yet long enough to not be a novice in regards to her own herbalism capabilities. However, she felt she'd learned enough to at least try to pick out the generally good healing herbs. Enough of the basics to make some simple stuff to try to help the work somehow, even if it meant patching up people how little she could and continuing to learn from Calra along the way. Maybe even find something to help her mother. She had to find something to help her mother eventually as well.

@Click This@Pyromania99@Rune_Alchemist

Symphony of Espers

Wukong

-Statue Room-

"...The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same"

Even with the spectral crowd fleeing out of the blue, it was no less surprise to see Binky and Billy Black both come out torn to shreds. Justin, it seemed, had proven too strong or at least to have too many good underlings to get caught. Only then did the 'good doctor' show up in person to lambast the room with news of Justin's escape. Escape. Had anyone planned for that potentiality, or at least given it some thought? Hell, if Fritzi's explanation was all the information then it seemed the other party had royally screwed up in all of this. Spreading news without regarding the impact it could have, bringing attention to things, drumming it up, ultimately giving time for the big bad to prepare outside of the announcement that had been made to try to settle people down.

They'd ultimately chased him out of one hidey-hole and into whichever one he set up in next, and that was all. Lives wasted and damage done, but nothing more than that. Essentially a zero-sum game where Justin did not gain and yet he did not lose what seemed to be most important to him. It was infuriating at the mere prospect, and a mere look over the faces of her allies spoke volumes to the agent. Yet at the same time, she...couldn't hate the Freelancers entirely. As much as she did not want to admit it, what would she have done if she'd found such information and not been a part of G.E.M.I.N.I? What if she was wanting to save people who had been kidnapped, girls who had no chance, but didn't have the resources alone to get things moving? She truly didn't know. Would she have gone to G.E.M.I.N.I and tried to go through proper channels, or would she have seen the organization akin to how someone like Viper seemed to? Again, she had no idea on the spot.

She was mostly glad when the two familiar 'voices of reason' from earlier chose to leave, silent but trying to hold back the genuine relief that washed down her spine. Two more lives maybe not wasted on this whole affair. Yet even the kid's demeanor as he walked past her to the exit was nearly heartbreaking. She wanted to reach out, do something-...but no. By the time Apollo walked past, the simian esper held her tongue. To strike out with some attempt, after her vey boss had arrived and given this ultimatum, it would look as shallow as a parking lot puddle. Perhaps even mocking, now that she thought about it. Derisive.

If Billy had one point, it was that not all of them on both sides were wanting to fight to the death. At the same time, however, he was just as Ms. Moller has pointed out: A monster. One who would do anything to get his aims, just like any other group bent on power or influence in Pax Septimus. Yet some would perhaps point to G.E.M.I.N.I as a similar, would they not? Simultaneously, though, the path to peace and safety was not an easy or simple one. Simply surviving was a path paved and steeped in blood, this she felt she at least was a simple sort of truth perhaps. One she'd lived personally so far.

But this was no time to philosophize. She sent her little distraction of a summon to at least make sure the two Freelancers and any others who were peacefully leaving would make it out safely. Not stalking them, not tracking them, just following behind from a respectful distance. Then it could return to her in here. Nothing more.

Then the room exploded with action again, including a giant ice-...ah. One of those. Very rood, but of course it was as big as the icy woman's own ego.

As Jacqueline, who had moved in front of her and Valkyrie, rushed ahead, the monkey-like esper rushed ahead as well. She moved to try to to cut off Klava from the side, striking out with her staff with a melody cast to try to stop her. She did not place Jacqueline in the striking zone of the attack she made, but aimed for the nearest part of Klava's body that she could strike without getting deflected into her ally. Maybe the restraining spell would work? Maybe.

Banner Sheet

19 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | Wisdom At Journey's End
Cherrywood Sage’s Staff | Quarterstaff | Physical | "Thrums With Power" (Aesthetic)
Blooming Crimson Peach | Unhindered Mobility
Tao | Wind | Oneness
[Flight (6), Storm (4)] | Push (2), Pull (2), Restrain (4), Summon (4), Trap (0), Damage X (6)

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: D | 500

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | 64

[Bronze Beam][Damage X][Push] = 112

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Summon] = 32

[Bronze Touch][Summon] = 32

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Restrain] = 100

@Izurich@BrokenPromise@Ponn@FamishedPants@SilverPaw@ERode

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

A Cute Moth Girl With a Cat Mom

Name: Nylah

Gender: Female

Race: Mothraki

Appearance: https://i.imgur.com/ytby5aO.png

Bio

Nylah was born into the world to Mothraki parents, likely even given a Mothraki-esque name, but would never come to learn the ways of her people all the same. Orphaned a few days after her birth due to a Bastelian raid, it was only the actions of the same veteran Bastelian warrior who slew her biological parents that she managed to frankly even survive the event. After this event, she was taken far, far away and eventually settled down in the human village of Dawn alongside her new caretaker and parental figure. Quite the story to behold, though to her things have been far simpler than that. To her, she has always known the Bastelian who raised her as her ‘mother’ and that was ultimately that.

It was a strange childhood where she never knew a single individual of her own species, a strange roadside attraction to locals who happened to live among them with a member of another species who initially made them nervous. At times her mother would be out to get something simple from within the village, or bring something to someone, or simple little tasks that were usually kept brief. They earned their fair share of stares, among other minute issues or situations that arose from time to time in those first years in Dawn, but her mother always pushed her to not lash out. In her mother’s words at the time: “We cannot afford to.” At the same time, however, her mother would seek to drill skills into her in the long-run that would be of use to her in the future. How to fight using a spear, watching as she practiced magic and giving her what tips she could, and teaching her other general tips and tricks and techniques for survival. She was not allowed too far away from home at first, especially after one a small number of incidents where a small group of the local human children bullied her, though as a small child she did try to sneak away sometimes to see more of the world around her. It began as a simple thing, both a challenge as well as a time to be punished for breaking the house rules, but almost became a game for herself and her mother by the time she grew up somewhat.

Indeed, in time things would generally get better. Things would become progressively better as they became normal to see around the village, as her mother took part in the hunting of food for and helping in the guarding of the village, and their presences became less and less of a standout thing and more just a simple fact of life. Nylah would seek to prepare herself as well for the road of adulthood ahead, starting to learn skills underneath the mundane healer of the village, alongside all her mother did to try to prepare her and teach her about the world and living within it. But as part of this…her mother would eventually pull her aside and tell her the truth of their situation. A cruel truth of the world that, in reality, the one who had raised and loved her and still did was the one who had made her an orphan and stripped her from her people and land of birth. In response, however, she simply hugged her mother.

…Six hours later, after this revelation had been given to her, The Elder Beast of Rime would pass through Dawn. And once more, though now far older and more aware, she would almost lose everything once again.

Goals: To become a powerful magic user and healer, a heroine capable of protecting what and whom she values most as well as helping those in need. Naive? A bit. But her goal is basically to become a great heroine.

Skills

-{Enthralling Dust} (Racial): Mothraki produce a potent pollen like dust upon their wings. Merely by existing they spread this where they go, though it's mostly harmless if not inhaled in large quantities. Causes hallucinations and dulls one's senses. As one may expect, people tend to frown upon this sort of thing.

-{Journeyman Light Magic}: A magic encompassing pure light and illumination, ranging from harmless orbs to light up one’s path all the way up to rays/beams of light as attacks to even light barriers and other light constructs such as swords and spears and shields and so forth. A versatile magic that does not call upon the fire of the sun, but does have its myriad uses and capabilities.

-{Novice Herbalist}: Non-magical practices of a healer, ranging from identifying or figuring out the use of new herbs and recognizing familiar ones, to making things like certain poultices and healing-based alchemy/potion-making, to how to handle wounds/injuries and such using these things.

Inventory

-{Herbalist's Bag}: A simple leather bag with a well-built shoulder strap, that is filled with a good number of many types of herbs, a good amount of bandages, and finally tools to make tonics, poultices, and potions alongside a scare few pre-prepared ones that are within the bag itself. She usually wears it around most of the time.

-{Small Knife}: A gift from her mother, made with a smoothed-out bone handle and treated with certain oils, mainly used to help cut things like vines and plants when out collecting herbs and so forth. Also a very niche emergency self-defense tool.

-{Food}: A small pouch sitting on her opposite hip that contains a few strips of preserved game meat and a few dried edible herbs from the local area. Not much in amount, since it was meant to be snacks for heading into the woods to gather herbs before 'that' happened.

-{Wristband}: A simple little bracelet made of pretty stones dyed in various colors, carefully having had a hole made through each, sitting on a band made of twisted and treated leather strips. Worn on her left wrist and given as a gift to her by her mother. How long it took to acquire or even make is unknown.

-{Cuteness}: She is a definitely cute moth girl. This is inherent to her existence. Yes.

Notes/Etc

-{Wings}: Useful for slowing falls and gliding/hovering briefly in the air. (Ala the GM: "Mothraki can't fly, per say, but they could slow their own falls/hover a bit though not for long. You could learn to fly later.") Could she learn to fly? Eventually, yes and hopefully.

-{Scaling for Skills}: "Novice ->Apprentice->Journeyman->Expert->Master"

-

Symphony of Espers

Wukong

-Statue Room-

"Ghosts...Why'd It Have To Be Ghosts?"

A flash of light from around the corner, the sound of her summon being cut down with ease, people running, people shouting, and the statue getting blasted as something popped its head into the room. Something not exactly on a 'side' outside of its own. At least she wasn't the only one to see the stupidity in this situation...

"The kid and the other guy have some solid points you know!"

...which would have almost given her some relief to know, but then out of the walls and everywhere ghosts and angry balls of dead spirits looking like fire swarmed into the room and animated the various things around the room like it was a children's movie. Then last but far from least was the now-attacking possessed suits of armor now trying to get at her! It was enough to make the esper react by launching herself away with a great leap to try to get some good distance. The intent was to push herself away from the suits of armor ASAP, landing near Silmeria in a roll and getting back up on her own two feet and facing toward the direction of the suits of armor that had tried going at her.

If this succeeded, she intended to touch her staff on the floor a bit in front of herself to create another summon. Something to try to protect her and her ally defensively and keep the suits of armor busy if or when they approached. At least if it could even hold up to that beyond a mere distraction. Depended on how tough these armors suddenly were after being possessed by a ghost, at least compared to an esper. From that point she brandished her staff in a ready position, turning partly to the side to get a glimpse on where Gunther was but keeping low and her back mostly to Silmeria (if her ally made it to where she was moved to on the map OOC) and readying herself for what would come next.

Still, she did hear what Klava had to say at the very least. It was better than no information at all about this particular enemy at the very least.

Banner Sheet

19 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | Wisdom At Journey's End
Cherrywood Sage’s Staff | Quarterstaff | Physical | "Thrums With Power" (Aesthetic)
Blooming Crimson Peach | Unhindered Mobility
Tao | Wind | Oneness
[Flight (6), Storm (4)] | Push (2), Pull (2), Restrain (4), Summon (4), Trap (0), Damage X (6)

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: D | 500

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | 164

[Bronze Beam][Damage X][Push] = 112

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Summon] = 32

[Bronze Touch][Summon] = 32

@Izurich@BrokenPromise@Ponn@FamishedPants@SilverPaw@ERode

Epic of Beginnings - Dawns Cradle

@Rune_Alchemist

A Cute Moth Girl With a Cat Mom

Name: Nylah

Gender: Female

Race: Mothraki

Appearance: https://i.imgur.com/ytby5aO.png

Bio

Nylah was born into the world to Mothraki parents, likely even given a Mothraki-esque name, but would never come to learn the ways of her people all the same. Orphaned a few days after her birth due to a Bastelian raid, it was only the actions of the same veteran Bastelian warrior who slew her biological parents that she managed to frankly even survive the event. After this event, she was taken far, far away and eventually settled down in the human village of Dawn alongside her new caretaker and parental figure. Quite the story to behold, though to her things have been far simpler than that. To her, she has always known the Bastelian who raised her as her ‘mother’ and that was ultimately that.

It was a strange childhood where she never knew a single individual of her own species, a strange roadside attraction to locals who happened to live among them with a member of another species who initially made them nervous. At times her mother would be out to get something simple from within the village, or bring something to someone, or simple little tasks that were usually kept brief. They earned their fair share of stares, among other minute issues or situations that arose from time to time in those first years in Dawn, but her mother always pushed her to not lash out. In her mother’s words at the time: “We cannot afford to.” At the same time, however, her mother would seek to drill skills into her in the long-run that would be of use to her in the future. How to fight using a spear, watching as she practiced magic and giving her what tips she could, and teaching her other general tips and tricks and techniques for survival. She was not allowed too far away from home at first, especially after one a small number of incidents where a small group of the local human children bullied her, though as a small child she did try to sneak away sometimes to see more of the world around her. It began as a simple thing, both a challenge as well as a time to be punished for breaking the house rules, but almost became a game for herself and her mother by the time she grew up somewhat.

Indeed, in time things would generally get better. Things would become progressively better as they became normal to see around the village, as her mother took part in the hunting of food for and helping in the guarding of the village, and their presences became less and less of a standout thing and more just a simple fact of life. Nylah would seek to prepare herself as well for the road of adulthood ahead, starting to learn skills underneath the mundane healer of the village, alongside all her mother did to try to prepare her and teach her about the world and living within it. But as part of this…her mother would eventually pull her aside and tell her the truth of their situation. A cruel truth of the world that, in reality, the one who had raised and loved her and still did was the one who had made her an orphan and stripped her from her people and land of birth. In response, however, she simply hugged her mother.

…Six hours later, after this revelation had been given to her, The Elder Beast of Rime would pass through Dawn. And once more, though now far older and more aware, she would almost lose everything once again.

Goals: To become a powerful magic user and healer, a heroine capable of protecting what and whom she values most as well as helping those in need. Naive? A bit. But her goal is basically to become a great heroine.

Skills

-{Enthralling Dust} (Racial): Mothraki produce a potent pollen like dust upon their wings. Merely by existing they spread this where they go, though it's mostly harmless if not inhaled in large quantities. Causes hallucinations and dulls one's senses. As one may expect, people tend to frown upon this sort of thing.

-{Journeyman Light Magic}: A magic encompassing pure light and illumination, ranging from harmless orbs to light up one’s path all the way up to rays/beams of light as attacks to even light barriers and other light constructs such as swords and spears and shields and so forth. A versatile magic that does not call upon the fire of the sun, but does have its myriad uses and capabilities.

-{Novice Herbalist}: Non-magical practices of a healer, ranging from identifying or figuring out the use of new herbs and recognizing familiar ones, to making things like certain poultices and healing-based alchemy/potion-making, to how to handle wounds/injuries and such using these things.

Inventory

-{Herbalist's Bag}: A simple leather bag with a well-built shoulder strap, that is filled with a good number of many types of herbs, a good amount of bandages, and finally tools to make tonics, poultices, and potions alongside a scare few pre-prepared ones that are within the bag itself. She usually wears it around most of the time.

-{Small Knife}: A gift from her mother, made with a smoothed-out bone handle and treated with certain oils, mainly used to help cut things like vines and plants when out collecting herbs and so forth. Also a very niche emergency self-defense tool.

-{Food}: A small pouch sitting on her opposite hip that contains a few strips of preserved game meat and a few dried edible herbs from the local area. Not much in amount, since it was meant to be snacks for heading into the woods to gather herbs before 'that' happened.

-{Wristband}: A simple little bracelet made of pretty stones dyed in various colors, carefully having had a hole made through each, sitting on a band made of twisted and treated leather strips. Worn on her left wrist and given as a gift to her by her mother. How long it took to acquire or even make is unknown.

-{Cuteness}: She is a definitely cute moth girl. This is inherent to her existence. Yes.

Notes/Etc

-{Wings}: Useful for slowing falls and gliding/hovering briefly in the air. (Ala the GM: "Mothraki can't fly, per say, but they could slow their own falls/hover a bit though not for long. You could learn to fly later.") Could she learn to fly? Eventually, yes and hopefully.

-{Scaling for Skills}: "Novice ->Apprentice->Journeyman->Expert->Master"

-

Symphony of Espers

Wukong

-Statue Room-

"Pain Is An Old Friend Of Mine...As Is Nearly Getting Shot For That Matter"

Lilliah could barely eek out a sound as Ashley healed her, trying to make it sound as 'uh huh' as possible to confirm. The sides of her mouth barely could move, not even enough to make a smile at first, though Jacquieline's request about blood magic did draw her gaze over as she turned her crispy neck to look over. She didn't even bat an eye at Binky's seemingly unaffected attitude, however, as she was right. Justin needed to be stopped, and grieving and stopping would not make anything better. It would not bring back lives, it would not make things better, and it would certainly not revive the dead in any sort of favorable fashion. She didn't even need to respond to Merry's speech either for that matter. She would simply pull herself up and try to dust off some of the ash and debris, though the patch of charred, seared, and blackened flesh on her back that remained was a painful reminder of what had happened.

Even so, she had to admit that Su had ultimately voiced a similar train of thoughts to her own to Jacqueline about the matter of blood magic. Bravery was great, but not greater than the risk it could take to do something that work on an 'exchange' basis like Blood Magic on the fly. Then again it wasn't like she was rather brave herself...but she was alive. She was alive and had managed to get her way out of it somehow. And she planned to keep it that way if she could.

Yet speaking of life and death, her mind was wanting to race about once more as she fell into formation and walked along with the others. All those memories returning so vividly wasn't something comfortable, and more than anything she was forcing them back at the point of her staff as best she could. She couldn't let her mind wander. Not now, not in the next room, and not on the job. It was the determined will to see the mission through still that kept Lilliah focused on the path and task ahead well enough, though a chill ran down her mostly-healed back as flickers from 'then' popped in and out along the way. Wukong hung out near the back of the pack, and admittedly feeling glad about it by the time they got into the new room and people working for the Maverick-...oh.

Yeah, it made sense someone else had a grudge against Justin here, but seeing the opposition approach was not so fun. Especially when recognizing a few familiar faces from the police station mission out of the crowd. However, this was simply part of the job as well. Freelancers were Freelancers. It was not what stopped her in her tracks for a moment...

...rather, it was the statue itself that gave her that brief moment of pause. Seemed blood drinking was a sexual fetish thing for vampires, and her mind would never get used to the concept whether it was classical literature or not. Gross. So very gross. Forever gross even.

Listening to Binky and Billy speak to each other before blitzing off down the hall, however, the simian esper began to move the closest armoire for cover as quickly as she could. By the time Su made her hand gestures, Lilliah had her head poked back around the corner just enough to be looking back at her allies. Did she want a battle? Not really, it would be nicer to gang up on the vampire first in case things went sideways for the two leaders somehow. Still, 'Breacher' proved her codename apt as she kicked things off with a literal bang of her gun toward the enemies and Wukong dove as fast as possible behind the nearest armoire to hide as she began to cast a melody.

As she landed in a roll, Lilliah's staff touched the ground to cast her summon spell just outside of her hiding spot to bring forth a wind-element summon to try to assist her allies by having it attack the nearest enemy. At the same time, however, the room erupted into a flurry from all the shots and movement and mere seconds it took for the meeting to become a firefight. Cards flying, shots fired, a flashbang potentially being thrown if that ended up happening, and Klava charging in to try to get to them. All whilst two leaders ran for Justin themselves...idiots. Didn't matter how strong they were, it felt stupid to ignore the main threat whose home turf they were on before anything else. At the same time, however, it was frankly inevitable for this to happen between their groups after meeting here. Like how people talked about dogs and cats being around each other. It was natural.

If Apollo threw the flash, however, Lilliah would barely miss it going off as her vision was outside of the blinding light. At the same time, however, it did limit her ability to help outside of the melody she'd cast reflexively to try to provide a distraction or some kind of helpful boon to her team initially. By the time Klava came over to try to rush them, Lilliah would be out of reach and frankly sight. The summon? Who knew what would happen. It had its orders.

Banner Sheet

9 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | Wisdom At Journey's End
Cherrywood Sage’s Staff | Quarterstaff | Physical | "Thrums With Power" (Aesthetic)
Blooming Crimson Peach | Unhindered Mobility
Tao | Wind | Oneness
[Flight (6), Storm (4)] | Push (2), Pull (2), Restrain (4), Summon (4), Trap (0), Damage X (6)

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: D | 500

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | 196

[Bronze Beam][Damage X][Push] = 112

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Summon] = 32

@Izurich@BrokenPromise@Ponn@FamishedPants@SilverPaw@ERode

Symphony of Espers

Wukong

-Carmine Hall-

"I WAS WRONG! IT HIT THE FIRE, NOT THE FAN!!!"

Time seemed to slow down to a crawl before her eyes, almost stopping as events played out around her in near stop-motion as perception and mind raced faster and faster.

The sheer pain of being cooked alive in the deepening flames she'd been sent flying into, the body of the bony monstrosity she'd tried to hurt prior crushing down on her chest, her respiratory system convulsing terribly as the smoke flowed in and the blood-curdling screams of raw pain and terror came out of her mouth, and even the searing stones and broken fragments cutting into and burning her back was all simply unimaginable. Unimaginable to live through this far at the very least. Any less luck on her end, or the lack of her grimoire's activation, and she'd have been outright dead and left as food or worse.

This all frankly was going on as her staff was already, since the beast had pounced on her and she'd reflexively raised that staff, pushing as hard as possible back against the beast's body in a rather desperate and reflexive reaction to try to keep its away from her head. Her hands likewise gripped the staff as tightly as possible, the one thing seemingly keeping its maw away from herself for all she knew.

Yet to ever say this whole situation was foreign to her was something of a lie if she had to be honest...because this sort of thing was not something she thought she'd ever feel again. She still saw it all in her nightmares now and then. Just as vivid as is she was still there those many years ago.

She could virtually feel the contrast of the piercing, deep cold of that day as it had crept into her very bones like specter.

She could hear the crunching of the dense northern forest debris underneath her feet with each hurried and panicked step.

She could remember the feeling of the tremendous foot of that beast crushing down on her chest, and feel the claws starting to gently sink into her flesh as it didn't even bother to go for the kill. Toying with her, even as her last real sibling tried to get the thing's attention.

Hell...oh hell. She could hear the crunch of Lyria's bones in its maw after it has tossed her around for fun. The images of that thing as the crimson blood dripped from its face, and as its eyes stared into her very soul, would forever stain her memories and nightmares alike. It was carved deep into her, etched in like a deep wound that would never fully fade away. Or had it ever fully healed in the first place?

What had they done to deserve this? Why? Why? Why were things like this??? WHY WERE THEY JUST WATCHING THEM DIE LIKE THIS WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE?!?!

She wanted to run, flee, be anywhere and anything else than there. Her basest instincts screamed at the top of their lungs, and her heart felt like it was racing faster than any car could comprehend. She could see the almost-darkness starting to encroach on the farthest edges of her peripheral vision. The pain began to deeper. The panic began to settle in even more.

It had to stop.

'I-I...'

There had to be some way to make it stop.

'I...'

Please, anything, anyone, please make the pain stop!

'I...!'

MAKE IT STOP!!!

The adrenaline surged through her body, and Wukong forced her body to eek out a melody with all of her remaining strength. It was a desperate plea for survival eeked out in reality as soon as she could force it to as soon and quickly as possible. This desperate melody, this attack cast out as her staff was pressed against the general body of this monster, was her way of screaming the words she had taken most to heart 'that' day.

Yet right now, her very soul silently shouted these words out far louder than any sound vocal chords could have ever made. Louder than any siren or bell, louder than anything she could imagine on the face of the planet.

'I WANT TO LIVE!!!'

She would fight to her truest and most final dying breath. She would struggle until the most bitter of ends came. She would defy death until every bit of life in her was spent.

Her journey was not yet over, not if she had anything to say and do about it!

Banner Sheet

9 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | Wisdom At Journey's End
Cherrywood Sage’s Staff | Quarterstaff | Physical | "Thrums With Power" (Aesthetic)
Blooming Crimson Peach | Unhindered Mobility
Tao | Wind | Oneness
[Flight (6), Storm (4)] | Push (2), Pull (2), Restrain (4), Summon (4), Trap (0), Damage X (6)

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: D | 500

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | 228

[Bronze Beam][Damage X][Push] = 112

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

@Izurich@BrokenPromise@Ponn@FamishedPants@SilverPaw@ERode

Symphony of Espers

Wukong and the Horrible, Terrible, No-Good Nun

-Carmine Hall-

"It Has Hit The Fan"

As the blood-knight nun’s instrument swung toward Wukong, empowered into a full-on threat beyond what the nun already had been, the simian esper reacted the only way she and her grimoire knew how to do on the fly…adapt!

Despite the instincts telling her to jump back from the attack, Lilliah’s body refused to do so. Or rather, it did not refuse to do so…but couldn’t?! Like something held her back from moving farther away. In her panic the siminan esper ultimately rolled to her own left, dodging as the nun’s attack came crashing mightily vertically down where she once stood. At the same time, as she came back up to her feet and primed to make another move, Wukong struck out with her staff, aiming to use her reach to poke out/at one of the blood knight-nun’s own eyes.

“For a nun, you really do stick around like a bad habit!”

The matter of reach, however, no longer mattered. Her mobility options sealed by the nun’s cursed eye, the two dueling espers were now both within reach of each other’s weapons, and any step forward they took would further decrease the amount of space they had to maneuver. Which, of course, was fine with Lenore.

As Wukong’s staff thrust out, the armored nun took another step forward, tilting her head to one side. The bludgeoning weapon clipped the side of her helmet instead, the damage minimal, and with a twist of her hips, she swung her falchion diagonally towards Wukong, the blood-graced blade aiming to carve into the soft flesh beneath her ribs.

As the bloody blade sliced through the air toward her midsection, Wukong was casting a melody of her own as she pulled her staff to block the attack. With how little time she had to react, however, the most her staff would do is intercept the enemy’s blade closer toward the handle. And yet…

Bronze Touch

Damage X

Push

…she hoped this would work. She really hoped this would work.

“Finally!”

Moments before sword would meet staff, Wukong noticed it. The shifting of Lenore’s posture, her knees dropping and her back straightening out, her exposed eye glimmering with an arcane light. She was expecting something. She understood something. She sensed something.

With the echoing of a great gong, one that resonated from the very depths of Wukong’s soul, her crimson battlestaff unleashed a rippling force against the incoming falchion, repelling it with magical force. Yet the nature of Instruments was indestructibility, and though the simian esper could hear the fractures racing up her opponent’s arm, she saw too, the reason for the change in posture. The falchion was pushed away at a tremendous speed, but the person wielding it had steadied herself against the incoming force.

So what had happened?

Spinning around, even faster than her first strike, Lenore delivered another horizontal slash, this one propelled by her opponent’s spell, to bisect the wind-blessed martial artist.

Noticing something was wrong in those moments before contact, the shift of her opponent’s posture and so forth, Lilliah’s eyes widened as the gong-like echo of the blow rang out into the air and through her very self. She yanked her staff to the other side of herself as the blow pushed off of her staff, both hands and her body barely moved to the ‘safe’ side of her staff and holding onto it for dear life as she tried to block the blow with the midsection of her instrument where her hands were now not holding it. Her body also twisted as she moved to do this, lining up to brace in full behind the staff itself whilst taking a knee.

Banner Sheet

9 | Female | G.E.M.I.N.I. | Wisdom At Journey's End
Cherrywood Sage’s Staff | Quarterstaff | Physical | "Thrums With Power" (Aesthetic)
Blooming Crimson Peach | Unhindered Mobility
Tao | Wind | Oneness
[Flight (6), Storm (4)] | Push (2), Pull (2), Restrain (4), Summon (4), Trap (0), Damage X (6)

DAMAGE: D | SPEED: D | SENTINEL: D | 500

PHYSICAL: D | ARCANE: E | CHAOS: D | 308

[Bronze Beam][Damage X][Push] = 112

[Bronze Touch][Damage X][Push] = 80

@Izurich@BrokenPromise@Ponn@FamishedPants@SilverPaw@ERode