Psyker Landshark

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

Forcibly placed into bed rest after barely managing to limp her way into the clinic, Iraleth could barely muster the energy to protest. Otis's damnable drug didn't help. Oh, it certainly did what he'd claimed it would, that was for certain. But she could barely feel herself think after taking it.

Iraleth laid in stony silence on the bed she was placed in, her armor stripped from her body by one of the attending staff. Irony of ironies, she hadn't suffered much in the way of real physical injury all day today. No, her hurts were all internal. Healing potions wouldn't do much for her. She stared up at the clinic's ceiling, trying to force her mind to focus through the opioid.

She hadn't let Ciara fall because the girl had been lugging Davil with her. Else, it would have been tempting to simply let the...second Umbralist? ...Actual Umbralist? Do away with her. But now what? She wasn't any closer to discovering what Ciara actually was, aside from capable of devouring Essence. And wasn't that a can of worms on its own?

It didn't matter that it was Iraleth's Essence specifically that was devoured. As far as she could tell, the vast majority of her power remained. The rest could be compensated for. But such an ability may as well have been Umbralism by default. There were no exceptions. They had to die. Every last one of them.

But the question still remained: was Ciara one? Evidently, she gave a damn about Davil enough to rescue him. And to go against that other, shadowy figure. Cultists of ruin didn't do that. Just then, the delusional ravings of a madwoman could start to be heard from the next curtain over. Ciara.

Iraleth grit her teeth, forcing herself out of bed. Clad only in her shirt and breeches, she limped one bed over, brushing the curtain aside to stare down at Ciara's babbling form. The paladin simply stood there, observing. Her half-lidded, exhausted expression resembling a sullen glare. This was the best chance she had to glean any unwilling answers from Ciara's ravings while she was still drugged.

Iris Ascendis

Oop, yeah, I'll have something up tonight

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"But of course, child!" Cid chortled, affording Robin a brief nod. "As I told the young lady here," A gesture towards Miina. "I am bound to all of the Goddess's holy ground, the price being that I cannot leave its bounds. 'Tis a simple matter for me to go between holy site to holy site. As for the undead monstrosity, well..." The priest trailed off, offering a shrug.

"It took no small amount of effort, but we did manage to fend it off. But that tale would take too long. For now, you all ought to continue on your quest as best you're able. Consult with me when you can via any holy grounds you find. I tend to know before long."

Before those gathered could leave, Cid called out once more.

"Oh and, Eve, my child: a moment, if you would please? We have some matters to discuss regarding your progenitor."

___

The next morning, Eve regarded the party with a solemn stare, having never gone to the inn with the party in favor of whatever long conversation she'd had with Cid.

"I'm sorry, but I won't be joining you from here on. Cid has...many answers regarding me. He can summon Eidolons, after all." She left the matter at that and bowed her head before taking her leave, though not without an apologetic glance back.

___

The boat ride upriver to Brightlam took three more days. During that time, the surrounding scenery changed from coastal town, to jungle, and then finally to a slightly more temperate forest as they approached the forest nation's capital. As soon as the Kirins disembarked from their transport, they were hurriedly ushered by stone-faced guardsmen towards the largest tree-building in the city, where the Grovemasters held council.

In comparison to the size of the tree that held it, the meeting chambers that Drana Asnaeu's three Grovemasters met them in was far more constrained, the three hooded figures sitting on carved stools overlooking the entrance.

"Miss Shadesbough and company." One of the Grovemasters, a female voice, spoke. "Please. Have a seat." A wave of her hand, and wood shot up from the floor in the form of stools, one for each Kirin. "We thank you for bringing Neve back, though she ought never to have left in the first place."

This brought a derisive scoff from Izayoi.

"At least she is trying to do something about both the Blight and the occupiers to the north. Tell me, do you intend to simply bury your heads in the sand and pray all of this blows over? Are you even aware of the truth behind this crisis?"

"Silence, warmonger!" A second Grovemaster, this one having the voice of an aged male, rasped angrily. "If you have something you believe we should know, you will say it with appropriate respect or be ejected from this chamber." Izayoi narrowed her eyes at this, her seated self keeping one hand close to her sword.

"Enough, the both of you." The final lord of Drana, this one a comparatively younger-sounding man, raised a hand. "If you know something we do not about the Blight, please. Speak."

The floor was theirs.

Wardens of the Glade: Interest Check

Possibly interested.

SPIRITUM

Kalina Kovalic

Somehow, they made it all the way to Dunbarton intact. And when Kalina was referring to 'they', it was mostly in reference to the truck. She hadn't trusted that the ad-hoc repairs made would've lasted all the way to the city, but somehow it held together. Which would have made it incredibly awkward if the vehicle had broken down waiting to pass through security.

Kalina couldn't help but tense slightly as the checkpoint guard approached, making note of how many of them there were. What, wasn't this supposed to be normal? Gerard had gone on and on forever about having this road trip experience like the movies. Why the hell was this guard surprised at all?

...This was probably Gerard's fault. Those movies weren't representative of anything at all, were they?

Nevertheless, Kalina's brain locked up slightly on trying to lie while keeping Veld's directives of not revealing anything in mind. Above all, the guard had to not notice the princess. Problem was, she was terrible at lying. Keeping a straight face, sure. But somehow, people just knew when Kalina tried to fib about anything. So she went with the first truth that came to her mind.

"...Seeing my dad. I got told he's stationed here in town." Kalina said tersely, hand reaching back towards Justice for the squad's papers, which she knew the latter had. "Oh, and here's my open carry permit." She gestured towards the pistol holstered at her side before passing the aforementioned permit to the officer as well. Better safe than sorry.

Warhammer 40K: His Angels of Death

Strike Cruiser Tenacity of Sigismund

One First Founding Chapter, and two relative unknowns. Acceptable enough. Perhaps their faith and zeal wouldn't measure up to the Templars', but they were all the Emperor's Space Marines, and that would be enough as a baseline. Of course, the Salamanders' famed compassion may lead to issues down the road, to say nothing of whatever idiosyncrasies the other two Chapters possessed, but those could be worked around later. The Marshal's mind whirred with formulating void tactics while planning the logistics of a mass landing.

"Charadon, acknowledged. Templar ships will move to assist." Marshal Hartmut entered a series of orders into his command console, his voice radiating across the vox as he changed channels.

"Reinhardt, take command of the situation on the ground. I want fully half our Crusader and Assault Squads ready to deploy in Drop Pods, along with our venerable brother Dreadnought for support. Have our vehicles loaded onto the Thunderhawks and ready to launch once we have confirmation of a possible landing. Make ready to cleanse Tergatus Magna of abomination."

"Heard and obeyed, my lord. In the Emperor's name!"

"Helm, comms, relay these orders to the rest of the Crusade's ships: we are to join the Gulf Marchers in flanking the leviathan. Ready all guns for broadside." They may not have had a proper Battle Barge, but their Strike Cruiser still possessed a Nova Cannon and its escorts more than functional weapons batteries. By the Emperor's will, this thing would be cleansed from the void on this day.

Iris Ascendis

I think in the interest of speeding up the round, skip me this time. Iraleth is pretty conked out and winded.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Cid

The old priest gave an amused huff as he politely turned away as Miina began to change clothes.

"Really now," He chided in jest, setting his broom aside. "Youth these days." Cid chortled, waiting patiently for Miina to give any indication of being done before turning around.

"At least you won't catch cold now, being out of those waterlogged robes. The hat was an inspired touch, though. In any case," He glanced to the side, where Izayoi and Rudolf had entered, conversing. "It seems your companions have caught up with you. How have you all fared since leaving the temple? I admit, it was touch-and-go on my end for a moment. Ifrit remains...rather unhappy about the whole affair. I admit, neither of us anticipated that armored monstrosity to be able to give him such a sound thrashing."

"And what did cause all this wetness to begin with? Took a dip in the harbor, did we?" He gave an indulgent smile, like a teasing grandfather.

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

That's a good question, ask Rodey.

Iris Ascendis