Psyker Landshark

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Oh, Renar could see where this was going a mile away. As alien as the fae were in mindset, genuine emotional reactions were still a tell. And this was just blatant. Still, that just meant it was possible to accomplish what they set out here to begin with. All they had to do was indulge her nonsense and gently string her along to the conclusion that returning the Duke's wits was the only way to even have a chance of getting what she wanted. Which wasn't untrue, of course.

As for the question...well, it wasn't something Renar would have preferred to answer with the whole truth. After all, admitting to being a manipulative bastard (figurative in this case) was rather unpalatable. That, and it would likely be answered with the demand to do so at this very moment. And for obvious reasons, that wasn't exactly something that could simply be accomplished on the fly. Still, with the right phrasing, he could likely spin this in a way where he likely wouldn't have to. And in a way that could get this whole ordeal back on track.

"What can I do?" Renar folded his arms, giving off the impression of only considering this now. "To begin with, everyone within our party is skilled in their own right when it comes to battle. They wouldn't be knights of the Iron Rose, otherwise. As for what would differentiate me..." He let the question hang for a moment before continuing on.

"I'd say I have something of a small talent in getting human nobility to act in my benefit. Little nudges here, some pointed reminders there, that sort of thing."

What? He wasn't going to admit to outright bribery and blackmail in front of the bloody Court Mage, thank you very much.

Iris Ascendis

probably ETA Monday I think, got another post to do and the super bowl's tomorrow

Falling Skies

CMDR SAGAN "VULTURE" KODOS

The captain wasn't wrong. In their current situation, three hours worked better than one. All the more time to get Hex and the Blackout back in fighting shape. Still, at least they all made it out of that one alive and relatively unharmed. One banged-up soldier was better than six. At least it left enough time to get some food down his pie hole and maybe some shuteye, if he was lucky.

"Right, dismissed." Sagan grunted, folding his arms. "Reconvene here in three hours, and I'll give you your briefing. Oh, and Rook? He fixed his eyes on the new meat. "I ain't gonna stop you from drinking. Could probably use it, after that first fight of yours. But go overboard, and I'll make damn sure you throw it all back up. Am I understood? Since there ain't no chaplain on board, come to me if you got any internal problems of that sort that need sorting out. Anyways, all of you, go catch some rack time."

__

Three hours later, Sagan convened the 7th in the hangar once more, a projection glaring off the wall behind him as he clapsed his hands behind his back, pacing as he gave the briefing.

"Right, 7th. Here's our mission: we're participating in the mass drop and planetfall, if only to maintain cover for our actual assignment. We're to break off from the main force and rendevous with our supply convoy before we set up a FOB for our own secret squirrel shit."

A wave of Sagan's hand moved the presentation along, little dots representing the 7th moving forward.

"We'll be deploying near landing point Delta. Rocky craglands and forests near the equator, so crank up the AC. Our landing site'll be outside the city of Gelcastre: heavily defended, and intel suggests the nanoforge we're after is inside. Help the 5th in taking the city as best you can, but securing the nanoforge takes priority over any allied unit, this one's straight from the top brass. Questions at this time?"

The Elder Scrolls VI: Sentinel

Rela Arel

What a miserable little man-hovel. The locals' suspicion of outsiders would have been laudable if their accusations weren't so absurd. Borderline Nordic, really. The Altmer traveling with a Dunmer, a Thalmor?? Perish the thought.

"Don't be ridiculous." Rela couldn't help but snap at the one guard in particular that made that accusation. "Dunmer do not kneel and scrape before the Thalmor wretches like those ridiculous, savage Bosmer do. Obviously, he isn't one."

Another suggested they were eloping, and she damn near lit that one on fire. Really, she should have. The next generation of Redguards would be smarter without that particular guard muddying the waters. Still, Rela could already hear the insufferable mewling from everyone involved should she go about that. So, with enough restraint that she deserved an award for her mercy, Rela settled for a sneer and a glare that suggested the other person was utterly braindead.

And so they entered the market. The available magical services were identified rather quickly, and Rela practically shoved her Altmer companion in the Argonian's direction.

"You go deal with the lizard." She hissed towards Keirthanil, before turning in the opposite direction. "I cannot be bothered to muster up the will necessary to treat that thing like an equal."

"I'm not going to talk with him, Telvanni girl. I'm going to talk at him with veiled insults as to the quality of his education and his work until he gets angry, and then you can subdue him to your heart's content. Assuming you still have one of those."

"...A fair point. Very well, then. And don't be absurd. My heart exists. It simply isn't doing much of anything."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"So be it." Isolde sighed in response to the Kirins' various retorts, seemingly uncaring of any counterargument or furious screed presented to her at this point. "Templars, take them. Alive." Esben's words had at least two or three of the two dozen knights hesitate, looking warily around at their comrades for any confirmation or reinforcement. When they saw that the remainder buckled down in either stoic devotion or furious zeal, they fell in line, remaining with their fellows.

The paladins advanced slowly and in formation as both Eliane and Robin made attempts on Isolde, both of which were rebuffed by barriers conjured with a wave of her staff. Izayoi bared her fangs at the oncoming wall of shields, swords, halberds, and maces as a few archers in the back moved to stand with the Grovemaster. The samurai ran the odds in her head: A platoon of church templars strengthened to high heaven by a master white mage would have been a more than arduous foe even if they had been fresh. Exhausted as they all were after taking Leviathan to the brink?

Izayoi took a step closer to Galahad, incidentally coming within earshot of Miina's murmurings to him. She joined in.

"If we give it our all in this condition, defeat is nearly assured. I suggest we gather our strength and push through their line in one fell swoop. Dispel and slay the Grovemaster if we can. Flee if we cannot." The knights were nearly upon them, and there was no room left for words. Only steel.

___

Enhanced as they were, Isolde's templars were a virtually-unbreakable force against the drained and fatigued Kirins. Even ostensibly lethal wounds were healed within moments by Isolde's combination of Regen and Reraise, as evidenced by the slashed throat that Izayoi had just ripped open with her sword mending itself. She barely had time to react before the knight's Hasted form slammed a shield into her midsection, sending her tumbling back along the ruin's floor.

"Haah...haah..." She struggled for breath, one hand maintaining her grip on her sword as the other clutched where she had been slammed. What few glimpses she had of the other Kirins at the moment suggested they were faring little better, though the details were growing fuzzy as her vision blurred.

"Just...one opening!" Izayoi grit her teeth, sheathing her sword once more. Even as tired as she was, her draw was still near-blindingly fast, a shockwave of wind surging from her sword as she slashed the air. Four shieldbearers stepped forward, taking the attack on their bulwarks, but that left them out of position with the rest of the formation for but a moment. Long enough for any of the Kirins to capitalize and push forward.

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Grandmaster Safina

She didn't need magic to disguise herself. A different application of makeup, lenses to change the color of her eyes, and a combination of silver hair dye with her hair tied up in a tight ponytail served to differentiate Safina Haliel from Elora Elarel, elven ranger-lieutenant and baron's daughter. The long-term glamour only served to reinforce the illusion she was selling, changing her facial structure to no longer resemble her true form and giving visual truth to her analog changes, but having a backup in case of the worst happening was never a bad idea.

Clad in leathers and stringing a bow in her lap, """Elora""" looked to her traveling companion, the Countessa Vernon. Or rather, Evelyn. This sort of job took her back. All the way to when the current Queen was but a court advisor in now-foreign lands.

"You haven't been out in the field in some time, Countessa." Elora said, her voice raised to a higher lilt than her usual tone. "Have you missed it at all, cooped up in Hathforth as you were?" A double-layered question, of course. It applied to both the Queen and her puppeted servant.

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Tonight, sorry for the delay

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

Somehow, Gerard and Rolan had blundered their way into making more progress than the rest of them in the same span of time. It would have been galling, if Renar had any cause to dislike either of them. As it stood, he was just relieved that they were finally getting somewhere with this entire sordid mess.

Regardless, as Fanilly's hair grew and spun out of control, Renar decided he hated the fae unequivocally. Their motives were inscrutable and insane. Anyone he didn't understand was someone he couldn't work around. To try to wrap his head around their mentality was the equivalent of putting up a barricade against a tidal wave: there was little point in standing in the path of nature and impulse. The rules weren't just arbitrary, they were nonsensical.

Truly, Fionn was a damned hero for somehow being capable of sorting even a portion of this out. Nonetheless, Renar stayed out of the conversation for the time being, leaving the matter to the aforementioned as he quietly observed, just waiting for yet another thing to go wrong.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

Isolde gave an amused, wan smile at Miina before looking to Rudolf and Esben, not even bothering to dignify the former's insults.

"In order, then. My responsibility, as you put it, is to Drana Asnaeu and her people. Whatever path we must chart in order to ensure our prosperity, then so be it. From our perspective, you are the only ones standing against Valheim at the moment. Osprey is shattered. Leonhart cowers on his throne while sending cutthroats across the land. And Skael is as inscrutably silent as usual."

Her smile turned sad, as if legitimately regretful of the situation.

"Perhaps you could manage it. Rally the continent to resist. Or perhaps you fail and invite greater reprisal upon all those involved. If I am to take that risk upon you, it is only fair that you take the same risk on I and hand over the Heretic."

"Child, I assure you, I am-" Cid began, only to be cut off by a suddenly-furious Isolde.

"You are a charlatan and a fraud! You wear the face and name of hallowed Cidolfus, founder of our Cathedral and first of Etro's Caretakers! Whom passed away centuries ago! Reveal your true face, daemon!"

Cid clicked his tongue at that, as if suddenly understanding.

"...Ah. Then no amount of reasoning shall work." He sighed, reluctantly raising his staff. "Kirins, I would beg your assistance in this confrontation. Were I alone, I would simply...leave. But then that would leave you with her displeasure. Her words are true, from a certain point of view, but I have been naught but honest with you regarding my goals. I can only tell you that my covenant with the Mothercrystal binds me to this path."

Behind him, Leviathan and Ifrit roared as Eve assumed her Dreadwyrm Trance, mantling Bahamut's might as she stared down the Grovemaster and her templar knights.

Izayoi had stayed silent throughout the entire affair, having understood Esben's intent and taken the opportunity to catch as much of her breath as she could. Considering the battle against Leviathan, it wasn't much and wouldn't be for any of the Kirins, but even the slightest recuperation was better than none. At this, though...her hand fell down to the hilt of her sword.

"I tire of Dranan obfucscation and condescension." She snapped, an inch of steel cracking out of its scabbard. "You will either let us pass and fall in line, or you will be accessory to betraying all life on this continent. Make your choice."

"Dispelja."

Isolde's staff slammed into the ground, and a wave of cleansing magic spread out across the entire ruin near-instantly. It hardly affected the Kirins, but as for Cid's entourage...

Leviathan and Ifrit managed brief roars of pain before they simply dispersed into aether, covering the area in motes of deep blue and crimson. But Eve howled as her Trance was forcibily ripped away, Bahamut's power stripped entirely as she fell to the ground, convulsing. Cid fared little better, the seeming backlash of his summons ripped away from him causing the old man to clutch his chest, falling to his knees as his staff clattered against the ground.

"I...I..." The cleric hyperventilated, eyes wide as he fought for breath, staring up towards the Kirins. "I'm...sorry...you must...live on..." A last, desperate wave of his hand summoned just enough aether to teleport both Eve and himself away to parts unknown, leaving the field just to the Kirins and Isolde's knights.

"Protect. Shell. Haste." Isolde hadn't stopped, firing off spell after spell on her own contingent of soldiers, her boons washing over them with all the potency of a master of white magic. "Regen. Reraise." She finally stopped, taking a moment to catch her breath before straightening up, glasses glinting as she looked towards the party.

"This is your final chance. Tell me where he has fled to, or face the might of a fully-realized White Mage and the church's finest."

"Make your choice."

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

Morning came. Ciara had went on ahead, being escorted by the mannekins first. Iraleth still had to don her armor, after all. The half-elf followed her own mannekin escort ten minutes after Ciara had left, trudging along dutifully. Once she'd arrived, the paladin offered Chunji, Rio, and Chloe curt nods before briefly looking over Davil, inspecting his condition. Even temporarily crippled as he was, the fact that the boy was even conscious at all was a medical miracle.

On to business, then. The janitor's presence had Iraleth giving him a brief sideeye, but little further than that for the moment. After last night, he would bear watching. Otis was..himself. And Ciara, well.

"Hildegunde never returned, then." Iraleth noted as she stayed behind Ciara, within a sword's pace. She glanced over towards Alto at that, wondering.

"Does anyone among the staff know where she is? Anyone at all?"