OwO

SPIRITUM

Justice

It was heavy. Even for a single deflection, it felt as though her blood vessels would shred and pop. Still, she was nowhere near as brutalized as Val, who was out of commission after fuelling their getaway. The worst that Justice had was a buzzing feeling on her arms, something that she could minimize by clenching her fists in response.

Morden was left to look after Val. "Good job." She flatly said to the two of them as she finished her cursory status check.

Meanwhile, Silje had immediately pulled out her phone the millisecond there wasn't something interesting happening and said a cursed phrase. She half expected the truck to immediately kick it and any cell service to die once again. But she was right. It could have gone worse. They could have had to actually fight the birthing of all of those robots, or she could have been forced to write eulogies in her report.

"Not a prisoner." Justice replied to Kalina. "That applies to enemy combatants, not diplomats. As fun as it sounds, I'd rather not deal with creating a diplomatic crisis just yet."

Justice ran her hands through her hair. Really, she just had to be the one to deal with a scenario where so many things went wrong, huh? Some vacation.

"That mess is one of three things. First is a third party that managed to sneak through our airspace undetected, but that doesn't explain why they stopped at a border. The second is seditious, so I'll skip that one. The third is that something kicked off an ancient civilization's security alarm centred directly on that preserve, but I'm just making shit up at that point."

She weighed her options and the probabilities of each scenario. Really, she just had to avoid an immediate court marshalling, didn't she? That would be more troublesome than anything else. And for that, she'd need to call in what just happened and who they were with now.

"Gerard, call it in. Attacked by unknown entity. Diplomatic vessel destroyed, diplomat found and secured."

Revue of Annihilation

🎕 Talia of Roses 🎕

//O11 - Communal Well

Well, conversations were easy. Talia certainly got a good amount of value from what she heard. The basics of the abyss and the current rumours and troubles of the city gave some insight. Though, how much Talia could be involved in them was the question.

However, today Talia was blessed with something she didn't have yesterday: a paltry amount of capital. With some guesstimates, she could presume that venturing into the abyss with her men would cost most of it. Knives and short spears would take a little over half. Supplies would take up the rest. But it was an intriguing option: one that would get her closer to filling the void in her heart.

On the other hand, she could have investigated why a precocious girl was fighting with gangsters. Though, that felt a little too similar to herself. The murders? Well, maybe if she had a little more power, she'd investigate those. As it stood, it would just be like a mouse pondering upon a corpse. And the drugs, she'd be getting way over her head immediately. Or more likely, she'd just find nothing but people who were strung out.

That settled it. She and her thieves would buy up some gear and dive into the abyss. The greed stemming from the mystery box called adventuring loot was too much to ignore.

SPIRITUM

Justice

"Robots." Justice had replied with the obvious to the princess without an ounce of further thought.

Their escape wouldn't be smooth. It never would be. Just her luck, huh? The princess, the robots, and now an unidentified enemy airship. An airship that haunted the air with shrieks and groans as if an otherworldly beast. As if an empty void of mist--a cold and brutal absence of feeling above them. Really, for a soldier who specialized in detection and melee, there wasn't much she could do besides firing a few rounds from her emergency gun. But that gun was for emergencies.

Instead, she just held on to both the truck and the princess. At the very least, she could prevent the princess from flying out of the truck or slamming her skull against the bed. Kalina's driving would do that to someone, especially a princess who was unprepared. Especially when the vehicle was being pushed even further by Val.

She didn't have much faith in Morden's shotgun, though. There were only so many rounds. He was already aiming at their eyes, so there wasn't much she could direct him to do instead. Silje's magic could do a little more, maybe. But she'd have to wait and see if it would really do more.

In an emergency, she'd try to deflect a round with one of her barriers. Though, the prospect of even deflecting a round from gunfire support wasn't something Justice had any faith in doing. The difference between small arms and a gunnery was like the difference between a squirrel and an elephant.

"So," Justice said in the middle of the blitz with little emotion, "would it be safe to assume that all of this shit is a third party to this war?"

Revue of Annihilation

🎕 Talia of Roses 🎕

//O11 - Communal Well

While it wasn't drinkable, the water was--at the very least--not completely foul. It let her wash away the lingering smell of the city and the oil that clung to her skin, at least.

Of course, Talia hadn't merely come to the well to wash up (though it was a large component). Information was as good as gold. Well, it wasn't--it was about as good as the gold you could make off of it. When it came to information, prostitutes were often a core source. While the workers didn't serve a high class clientele, both rich and poor often had loose lips when it came to alcohol.

So she made conversation with those who would listen.

To the adventurers, she spoke about the labyrinth. She had quite a talent for both showing interest in a conversation and playing dumb. In fact, it was quite difficult to tell whether she was playing dumb or actually airheaded. Her bubbly words would disarm any adventurer. Though, perhaps they just took pity on her.

To the prostitutes, she was much more familiar. She spoke more generally about the happenings around the city and the outskirts. What the prostitutes could have heard. It was friendly small talk that was much less dopey--as if to reassure them that she did not wish to encroach on their clientele.

SPIRITUM

Justice

"Then keep firing," Justice unceremoniously replied to the princess. "I'm steering clear of any pockets of mist."

Of course, she didn't fear the bolts that were fired at her. They kicked up dirt and dust as they barely missed, but Justice was confident that she could block any shock that would otherwise strike her. However, it was apparent that the princess' talents were not sufficient to fully stop it; the shocks still came, despite the audible crack of two arrows meeting metal.

So she ran even faster. Really, the princess was nothing. Out of all of the Barghests, she probably put in the most effort into the basics. And a sprint while carrying extra weight? That was the most basic of basics. Justice had always carried extra weight during boot--even when she'd get punished for it. Though, those punishments usually were more weight and longer runs. They could hardly be called punishments.

Fortunately, her companions had listened to her advice to retreat. As she crested the craters and hills, she saw the rest of the Barghests running back to the truck. Though, she could infer that they were probably overwhelmed. Thankfully, Kalina had already started preparing their escape. With a great leap, she hopped onto the back of the truck with the princess. Of course, she unceremoniously rolled the princess onto the rough floor bed before turning around. What she saw was lightning. But that didn't mean that it was the only trick that the robots had. If their truck was damaged, then that would complicate things. Even though she wasn't a defensive specialist like a mage who specialized in barriers, she was confident in being able to divert any shot the robots could take.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Hollyhock

---

^{@Hero@Obscene Symphony@Abstract Proxy@Stern Algorithm}

And so the peanut gallery of choices fell upon Hollyhock. Though, the look on her face was all everyone needed to know.

Her expression was easy to understand. 'I'm not dealing with this woman.' Though, how someone interpreted that was up to them--whether it was about her taking some responsibility in how to deal with her, or how she thought of the idea of Renata tagging along. In truth, if she weren't undergoing official duties, Hollyhock would have easily chosen to goof up the town alongside Renata. But there was a time and place for shirking responsibilities. Public outings under an ancient prophecy which the fate of the world may in fact depend on definitely wasn't the time or place.

What was on her mind, however, was more about the past. Specifically, about how she spoke. She wanted to ask Jannick if she always spoke that way--in couched metaphors, poetry, and rambling insults. Unfortunately, Jannick was still gripping onto a Renata who would definitely begin accosting her if she approached. Such questions would have to wait until they entered the forest.

Revue of Annihilation

🎕 Talia of Roses 🎕

//O11 - Deserted Backstreets

The renovations had went well. Rather, as well as they could go for a group with no capital. The room was rearranged to be more suitable as a hideaway. The merry men were all given enough room to sleep. Talia had performed a blessing to guard the room. It was a strange miracle: one of perverse slight of hand and illusion meant to deceive. If someone had approached from the outside, then they simply wouldn't notice the door. It wouldn't be of mind. The inside of the room was coated in the same illusion. Unless someone overturned everything and happened upon the valuables (though they didn't have many), they wouldn't notice the obvious hiding spaces.

All things considered, it was an unfortunate state of affairs. The capital they had wasn't much. She didn't have any plans to call upon Lastor and his goons. Worst of all, Talia smelled like the city. Her past clawed at her. She had to remove every ounce of smell. Back at the bordello, she would ensure that the salt breeze never lingered on her skin. Flowers, tallow, and ash were all used generously--one of the few pleasantries she had. But now there was only the scent of muck and waste, trademarks of the city.

That meant that she needed to find a place to wash. Of course, her men could fend for themselves. She wasn't their mother. But she needed to get the smell of the city off of her. It was a futile effort sure to be replaced the next day, but it was something ingrained into her. A bathhouse or even a well would suffice.

And then there was the deep call that her heart longed for. The thieves lacked the equipment to brave the abyss, nor did they have the skill and aptitude to steal her desires from others. But that would come later. First, a bath.

SPIRITUM

Justice

Before Justice had a chance to respond, a bolt had struck beside her. Lightning was always gross. The mist would stretch and groan as a pathway would form. Suddenly, crack--it would rebound and leave nothing but a bolt of electricity. Perhaps it was for the best that a robot had come to intrude. Justice wouldn't have to spend any time immediately.

"We're running." Justice said without an ounce of hesitation. While Justice was confident she could fight it on her own, she didn't want to fight alongside the princess. She knew of the strength of the Barghests. She could, at least in her own belligerent way, trust in them enough to fight alongside them. The princess? She'd not only have to watch the robot, but her own back. Not to mention, she didn't know what the princess could even do.

Well, it was no time to think about the reasons. Justice immediately hauled the princess onto her shoulder and began to sprint away. Such a measure was only temporary. But she'd only fight if she had to. Until then, she'd either regroup with the Barghests after they hopefully finished their fight. If not? She'd put the princess somewhere for safekeeping and then deal with the robot on her own.

"Got any violent talents?" She asked in her sprint.

SPIRITUM

Justice

The princess was found, so it would seem. Though, the sounds coming over the communication spell seemed to indicate that she didn't have time for pleasantries. Morden requesting a status update was easily arranged.

Probably found the princess stuck inside an escape pod. Going to try to get her out. Reconvene back at the truck when it's safe.

She had a brief thought.

Don't feel like you have to fight the bots there. Withdrawing to a safer location is valid.

Now came the hard part: dealing with a civilian she couldn't (or rather, shouldn't) muscle.

"Albreich sent me." Justice lied without a hint of hesitation. Actually, was it a lie? Coincidences were a powerful thing as she had come to learn today. If that dying honorguard that Kali heard was Albreich, then it was technically the truth. Either way.

"I'm going to say this one time, so listen closely." Her tone was loud and harsh, but she didn't have enough leeway to pretend to be comforting. "Your ship crashed. It made a minefield of mist. Do not cast spells or everything will explode. There are automatons who will make this area explode. We need to leave. Now. Then we have a proper conversation. Now either slip through the door or I'll pry it open and carry you out, princess."

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Hollyhock

---

^{@Hero@Obscene Symphony@Abstract Proxy@Stern Algorithm}

Though, Hollyhock was astute enough to notice Jannick's blush at the mention of a Dahlia. Perhaps she'd tease him about it on the way home. Or maybe she'd head on over to the capital and do a little romantic matchmaking without telling him. It sounded pretty entertaining to do so.

"The good officer is my caretaker," Hollyhock joked.

Throughout the prodding, Hollyhock didn't really speak much. If anything, she frozen in bewilderment. Sure, Hollyhock was a bit of an asynchronous person herself. But this person in front of them was a few fruit short of a fruitcake. Hollyhock had at least a few in her bowl.

She did appreciate it when Jannick stopped Renata before she grabbed her clothes. While she certainly wasn't a misanthrope, she also didn't enjoy the touch of someone she had never met. Though, if Jannick didn't step in, then Hollyhock would have sprinted around Jannick in a circle to act as a physical barrier.