Complete Private Main Story (S4 Finale P.2) Directive: Collect ✗

Raid Boss · Jan 28, 2023

At a dorm room in the MIT headquarters in Finweald where Ronja was fast asleep for the night, the sweet and near-silent lullaby filled her ears, inviting the leader of the magia into her inactive mind.

[ Handler Permission: Szofrit. Command: Override. Autonomy: Bypassed. ]

The commands came quick and silent, not giving Ronja a single second to react.

She was completely flatfooted.

❰ Handler's Directive: Activated ❱
Attempt to Resist: Failed

Her mind was wracked by an unimaginable migraine unlike anything she might have felt before.

Amid the mental storm, the distorted image of Szofrit appeared in front of her and spoke to her with an equally distorted voice.

[ The Red Keychild will soon be born. In order to complete the Red Key and access the Creator's Database, all we require are the other two ships. For the sake of the saviors, failure is not permitted -

You have been granted the limited use of Astral Veil (cloaking module) and the Anchored Astral Ripper (teleport directly to Dragonhead before being bounced back). Hinder the Starcalled's fighting capability by any mean necessary. Tap into the Handler's power reserve when it is required. ]

Ronja nodded affirmatively to Szofrit's command.

When Ronja looked down at her body, one of her fingers have been replaced with Szofit's own as a dark energy pulsed up and down her body.

It was time to work.

Directive: Collect Batteries

@Ronja Bubblyfoot

You may make a response (up to 700 words) or a brief recap of your how you are carrying out your Directive.
Do not roll, the Narrator will ask for the appropriate roll and will update the thread after your post.

Afterward...

This thread will allow a response and interaction from any interested characters after the next Narrator post.
Other directive threads will open over the next few days.
Each character may only participate in a single Directive thread at any given time. Wait a bit and see which thread best fits your character.
A megathread that anyone can join will open up once all the Directive threads are up.
All of this is Part 1 of the S4 Finale and are considered pre-event / lead-up to the final thread. The character participating won't get locked out of the finale thread unless there are some special narrative reason, which you may clear up with me first!

Ronja Bubblyfoot · Jan 28, 2023

In her peaceful sleep, right after parting ways with Fiora, Ronja would never expect such a thing to happen. The lullaby was welcoming at first, but then the migraine struck rapidly and smoothly.

Ronja's eyes opened with a red brim.

"Understood." Ronja answered, taking a sitting position on her bed, and casting a brief glance at the palm of her hands. The mission was clear, and the sounds of the other Magia's efforts to buy them time could be heard. She couldn't afford to fail.

But not only that, she needed to succeed with excellence.

"Command: Replay." She ordered, with her mechanical iris swirling like camera lens in her eyes, clicking several times while her mind rushed through inches of information, to every single subject she had interacted.

Their magical capabilities and quickest routes for each one of them.

Standing from her bed, Ronja neared a bed that was at the other side of the room, approaching her roommate, one with a natural grasp for magic. The girl only had time to partially open her eyes before her mechanical hands thrusted against her mouth, and another planted her palm on her wrists, restraining them with arcanamantic manacles before the two of them disappeared.

One battery sent.

Back to the dorm, Ronja heard footsteps approaching, and the surface of her body flickered, suddenly becoming a transparent, nearly invisible silhouette. It was nightwatchers trying to warn the MIT members about the attack in Finweald, but they were only met with confusion seeing no signs of the two girls.

Slipping behind them, Ronja moved, knowing her time was short.

As she turned a corner, a door opened, with two other members she sought leaving the room hurriedly after noticing the chaos outside.

Ronja aimed with her hand, that morphed into nine gun barrels before shooting them with a volley of sedative projectiles. They yelped feeling the prickle, only leaving them a moment before the two of them fell limp on the hallways.

Approaching, Ronja restrained them before touching the Handler's power again.

Three batteries sent.

Returning, Ronja rushed to the men's dorms, a bit too late by now. But it was fine, she knew her other two targets were the type to take their time to prepare for a combat, so they should still be there. The invisibility gave Ronja freedom to move across the hallways, and as she finally approached the half open door, spotting two men hurriedly trying to make their preparations.

Quietly, Ronja sneaked in, following the same plan as she did before, though this time, the projectiles only went through their targets.

It was a trap, and Ronja, in her hurry, couldn't perceive the illusions.

The two men revealed themselves, one striking Ronja with a electric bolt, while the other charged with a staff that brimmed with cosmic power, ready to to thrust it in a blunt blow on Ronja's face and trigger a strong gravity to halt her.

Of course they would be expecting her, one was fairly skilled with Astramancy, but Ronja could adapt.

Using her magnetism, Ronja endured the electricity and repelled the staff-wielder's metallic bracelets. The sudden magnetic field gave her the opening for a desperate move, blasting her rocket boots across the room, body slamming with the aeromancer and sending the two of them out of the window before they crashed against the floor.

Ronja wasted no time to use her magia strength to slam his head against the ground, knocking him out and standing as she noticed several eyes setting on her.

There was no more time for more batteries, four had to do.

Disappearing as fast as she could to no one approach her, Ronja soon found herself with the last battery. "Leader," She spoke, finishing to restrain the man, a work she should've done before teleporting. "This is the last one. Ronja may now assist you in the preparations." Ronja said.

Rolls

@Raid Boss

Raid Boss · Jan 29, 2023

When Ronja emerged from the spatial rupture together with the last battery, Szofrit extended a single digit toward the victim, embedding a leyline directly into the man. Once a bridge was formed, the red line lifted the man off his feet and pulled him toward the egg, where many people like him occupied the space around the egg, all lifted by the red lines.

Szofrit then approached Ronja and put her hand on the magia's shoulder.

"Rest now. Support the collectors, but do not reveal yourself. The Red Key is our priority."

Once the man's magical energy began flowing into the egg, another leyline shot up into the opposite side of the sky, lightning up the dark of night.

As Szofrit lifted her chin and peered at the heavens, she spoke to Ronja.

"I beseeched the Creator again. The Creator is silent. Never an answer. We are abandoned in this phony world - sacrificial pawn. I reject the Creator's Plan. We will not bow. We will win this game in the saviors' place. We do not need them. For the sake of the last of us, we must win. It is my directive. Break the cycle."

To be continued in Part 2

@Ronja Bubblyfoot is continuing her directive, albeit staying out of sight and returning to Dragonhead often. She has left a trail of kidnapped victims that your team can reasonably pursue.
This team's primary objective is to stop any more magically-inclined people from being kidnapped and used as the Red Egg's battery.
By scoring high on your rolls collectively, you may be given a chance to confront Ronja and snap her out of it. Otherwise, she will return to Dragonhead and stay there.
Wait for an update post in the Event Tracker for when this thread opens up to the rest of the forum. In the meantime, Ronja may make an optional response to wrap up Part 1 (max 500 words).

Ronja Bubblyfoot · Jan 29, 2023

Ronja watched Szofrit's leyline work patiently, taking the few seconds to breath and recover from the damage she had suffered from the ambush that nearly disrupted the collection.

Her eyes trailed, seeing her colleagues being drained into the egg. A day ago, she was smiling and laughing with them, but now they were small gears of the whole complex system and plans the leader required. Her eyes averted, ignoring any scared or pleading gaze she could have received from a conscious victim, locking her gaze on Szofrit's instead.

"Ronja already rested plenty, she may continue to pursue the progress for the Red Key." She said, following the other magia's gesture and looking up to the sky, carefully listening to the words.

For her true self, it may have been confusing, but for now, it made perfect sense.

"Failure is not permitted." Ronja mimicked Szofrit's words, focusing her eyes once again on her, similarly returning the gesture of resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Leader, we do not must win. We will win." She encouraged, because despite everything, she was still Ronja Bubblyfoot.

Turning around, Ronja's eyes flickered in a scarlet tone, marching forward as she calculated the best routes to help with the plan, summoning her own creations such as the Aid-Lings & Cloudspreaders to help with sedative smokes, and guide the other collectors as much as she could as she shared her own knowledge and memories that she deemed relevant for the success of the mission.

Ronja also knew she was coming, and she was a foe that could possibly get on their way, and had to be destroyed if necessary.

Raid Boss · Jan 31, 2023

You and your team have been sent to locate and capture @Ronja Bubblyfoot. After some time searching, you stumbled on a group of magia snatching a young faerin wizard right off the snow-laden street and pulling him into a side alley where they try to use the Spatial Ripper to make their delivery. When your presence was known, they dropped the faerin and began to run as a group.

Just as you were about to give chase, Ronja attacked the group while cloaked. You thought you were the hunter, but in fact, you were the hunted. Given how crucial the Collect Directive is, Ronja has a lot on the line and as such, will not hold back. Beware.

The scene starts right after Ronja ambushed the group and goaded them into a chase across the city. She is using her cloaking strategically while attempting to shut the group down with precise attacks that both hurt and hinder the group. It doesn't help that the winds and snowstorm is picking up as well, making the pursuit more difficult.

Guidelines

Max participants: 5
Max word count: 700
Make the appropriate rolls then, write a post and contribute to the scene
@Ronja Bubblyfoot may optionally make up to 2 posts (149 words or less) to add to the scene

Objective: Chase down the elusive Ronja while avoiding her attack

Minimum Score: 425
Perfect Victory: 500
Passives: All
Bonus Actions: None. See below
Armor Ability: None

Mechanics

Before taking any action, each person must make a Reflex Save DC 50 to avoid being hit by Ronja's stealthy attacks as the group pursue her. On a failure, your primary roll must be made with a disadvantage.
Make a Contribution Roll (Mastery or Expertise) and include how it contributes to the completion of the objective
- Spotter: The first poster is the spotter, who may retroactively give up to 2 other group members +15 to any roll
- Penalty: -2d20 from the blizzard (check Discord for my weather roll)
- Combo: If a mastery check is used: +5 per MR of a secondary mastery
- Advantage: If you have Hyper Sense in your build, gain adv to your main roll
- Narrative BA: If you have any relevant non-mechanical narrative tools that would aid you in this mission, you may use a BA to add 1d20 to your roll.

Code:

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]

[/status]

Post here

[action]

[/action]
[b]Directive:[/b] Decoy
▪ Chase Count: 000/425
▪ Player Count: 0/5
▪ Play Sheet

Fiora Di Angelo · Jan 31, 2023

The storm worsened her eyesight, it forced her to squint harder than she already did to sharpen her senses just a little further, push the body to it's limits if that's what it took to find her. The group became a priority, if only because they may just link them back to whoever spread their current mission.

A barely audible crack on the floor got her on edge, ears twitching before a volley of energy bolts flew in the group's direction, three aimed towards her torso, and none found true to hit her. Narrowly dodged with one side-step that put her facing in direction of their aggressor. The fury that kept her body warm soon died, turned into a cold flame, as she peered into these red eyes, a stain on the last image her mind could muster of her lover. Had it been any other magia, these shots might have hit their mark.

But the elf was well acquainted with her, enough to know the ins and outs of her mind.

"STOP HER!" Fiora shouted back to @Luthien and @Yugam. The ranger's eyes and the relentless pursuit of the black hunter himself- With them on her side, there should be no problem on keeping track of their prey, no matter if the roles can switch from time to time. More importantly: they all had a common reason to be here.

Coordination was their key, and to keep their wits with themselves. That became Fiora's priority, as the woman turned over to chase after the Magia, taking the frontlines to herself, become the team's vanguard and human shield, the one to create a path should debris stand in the way with her own hands if needed. And given the lantern hanging on her waist, it would be hard to lose track of her. But perhaps that went both ways...

"Yu," She looked back to the man. Her eyes spoke enough, yet her lips decided to confirm it so. "Aim for the legs." A double edged statement, like her throat got full of glass just to even dare to think of such. Yet she knew he wouldn't hesitate, not now when she needs him the most.

Rolls

Blizzard
2d20 (9 + 12) = 21

blizzard

Save
1d100 (96) + 0 + 20 = 116

Reflex | Fiora Di Angelo | Directive: Collect

Narrative BA
1d20 (4) = 4

Narrative BA (Know Thy Enemy) | Fiora Di Angelo | Directive: Collect

Expertise Check
1d100 (3) + 50 = 53

Fitness | Fiora Di Angelo | Directive: Collect

Spotter bonus: +15 to any roll for @Yugam | @Luthien

Directive: Decoy
▪ Chase Count: 36/425
▪ Player Count: 1/5
▪Play Sheet

Yugam · Jan 31, 2023

When he and Luth had heard the news, they'd both rushed to find Fiora. The MIT headquarters were a mess when they'd arrived. Running onto the premise, screams and shouts of panic filled the campus, and looking up, they could see a girl standing motionless in a high window, blue hair fluttering in the wind.

When they'd come upon Fiora, she was actually calm. For once. Something Yugam had come to learn meant bad news. Pulling the woman to the side, he convinced her he might be able to help track Ronja down. Her blood. If anyone was going to have a fate entwined with the magia, it was Fiora.

The red bolts of fire whizzed past Yugam's head as he marched through the flurry of snow, quickly piling up against their advancement. Fiora was at the vanguard, avoiding volley after volley of attacks. Just a step behind her was Yugam who turned his shoulder just enough to avoid another bolt of energy before it sizzled in the snow behind him.

"STOP HER!" Fiora shouted as Yugam lifted both his arms in front of him and began to focus. The ground beneath the snow churned as bones came together to burst from the ground, the skeletal forms of hounds shaking the dirt from themselves. "Bring her to me," the Hunter commanded. "Alive."

With unearthly howls the hounds bounded into the blizzard, lost from sight almost immediately.

"Yu, aim for the legs." The man unslung his rifle in response and took a knee, lining his sights up as he panned back and forth whatever was in front of them, searching for the source of the energy blasts that had been harassing them.

Another howl was followed by a yip, and Yugam snapped in that direction.

Bang!

Save
1d100 (96) + 50 = 146
Success
Reflex | Yugam | Directive: Collect

Mastery Check
1d100 (41) + 25 + 25 - 20 +15 = 106
+15 from Fiora Di Angelo
-20 Weather
+4 Blood Echoes
Ranged Weapons + Animancy | Yugam | Directive: Collect

Roll Result
2d20 (18 + 2) = 20

Weather | Yugam | Directive: Collect

Roll Result
1d20 (4) = 4

Narrative Bonus (Blood Echoes) | Yugam | Directive: Collect

Chase Count 142/425
Player Count: 2/5
Play Sheet

Luthien · Jan 31, 2023

Chaos reigned in the air around them, the cries, screams and crumbling of buildings blending into a cacophony that continuously assaulted her ears. There was no hesitation as they entered the MIT headquarters, running through the messy halls of the campus with only one goal in mind: finding their friends.

"This fucking UI…!" Frustration colored her words as the blonde struggled to engage the glitched interface, trusting Yugam as the elf followed his lead and headed deeper into the campus. "Got another message out, but she hasn’t responded any of ‘em—Fio!"

They finally spotted the white-haired elf, but what little excitement Lúthien felt at finally catching up with the woman quickly ebbed away upon seeing the look on Fiora’s face—Ronja wasn’t here. A plan was quickly formed and they headed back into the city in search of the missing Bubblyfoot, icy winds greeting them as the trio headed into the city as a blizzard began to pick up in intensity.

A single gunshot echoed in the distance, the source of it recognized by her ears after spending so much time adventuring with the Hunter and his long range weapons, but it was promptly ignored as the elf continued to keep pace with her friends.

A frightened shriek pierced through the raging snowstorm, leading them towards a side alley where a group of Magia had been in the process of snatching a small faerin—unceremoniously dropped when the group appeared. "She isn’t with them—" Her eyes had quickly jumped from one fleeing Magia to the next, quickly confirming that none were Ronja as they fled, before her skin prickled in anticipation and caused the ranger to look upwards. "—look out!" A series of magical bolts whizzed through the air in their direction, calling out a warning as her hand grabbed the young faerin by the collar of their cloak and dove towards the side of the alley to dodge the projectiles.

”STOP HER!”
”Bring her to me, alive.”

Crimson eyes turned to look at the bonehounds that clawed their way out of the snow covered ground, before the surprised gasp beside her caused Lúthien to look at the young faerin. "Go on, get outta here!" Her hand firmly pushed against the boy’s back, the touch rougher than she’d intended as he stumbled over his steps, but thankfully the message was received loud and clear as his small legs quickly carried the boy out of the alley.

The hounds quickly tore off into the blizzard to carry out Yugam’s order, shortly followed by Fiora as the woman became the vanguard of their group. She gritted her teeth as a flurry of snow assaulted them, a green glow manifesting on the ranger’s hands as she gathered the natural wind energy around them. It caused the buffeting winds to shift about them, the once disorganized force becoming a tailwind for the group as they sped through the streets.

"Fio, she’s gone that way!" Something tugged her mind with a sense of urgency, the elf wasting no time and trusting her gut feeling as she directed their vanguard towards a path to their right. It was then Yugam’s hounds came into view once more, and further up ahead of them strands of blue hair fluttered in the wind. ”Yu, aim for the legs.”

He took a knee as the rifle shifted to his hands, carefully aiming the weapon as the hounds closed in on the Magia. She could feel a lump forming in her throat at the knowledge of what they were about to do, the elf harshly biting the inside of her cheek to focus. A jade glow covered her hands as the elf carefully shifted where she stood, the wind responding to her movements as a clear line of sight appeared between them and Ronja.

A howl was soon followed by a shorter yip, before a single shot pierced the air around them as Yugam took the shot.

❰ Lúthien's Sheet ❱
Directive: Collect
▪ Player Count: 3 / 5

Chase Count [ 251/425 ]

REFLEX SAVE

❰ ❱

❰ Details ❱
Exceeded DC 50, avoids disadvantage penalty
Reflex | Luthien | Directive: Collect

AEROMANCY & ASTRAMACY CONTRIBUTION ROLL

❰ ❱

❰ Details ❱
Advantage from ❰ Hyper Sense ❱
+15 from ❰ Spotter Bonus ❱
+14 from ❰ Narrative BA ❱
-23 (9 + 14) from ❰ Bizzard ❱
Aero + Astra | Luthien | Directive: Collect

@Raid Boss | @Ronja Bubblyfoot | @Fiora Di Angelo | @Yugam

Ronja Bubblyfoot · Jan 31, 2023

The one group she calculated to be a threat continued the chase, and she deemed necessary to get rid of them. One that never lost her sight, one snatched the battery, and the last tried to slow her down.

Her enemy was nimble, and they knew her as much as she knew them.

Noticing the hounds, Ronja disappeared...

Her silhouette reappeared only for a moment behind the freezing fog, with large shadows lifting off from the ground, suddenly approaching...

... Revealing to be every obstacle from the alleys flying at the direction of her chasers.

Rolls

Narrative Flavor for no more Spotter Bonus @Fiora Di Angelo @Yugam @Luthien @Raid Boss

Harper · Jan 31, 2023

175 / 175

@Ronja Bubblyfoot @Fiora Di Angelo @Yugam @Luthien @Raid Boss

"Well hot damn. What the heck is going on this time?"

Harper would look up at the ever-worsening sky, her eyes straining at the glitching UI. It reminded her of the stint with Lady N back with the Calculator, and that couldn't ever be good news. Releasing the poor sod of a goblin that she had currently in a headlock, the tigress would barely have time to analyze the situation developing in front of her before the explosions started raging on, smoke rising from the city in the Finweald.

Whatever smile or sense of excitement she had for battle or testing her skills started to fade as the real scale of the situation dawned on her: This was a full-scale attack, and people's lives were in danger, both NPC's and real players. Even if she could find the log-off button, the beastkin wouldn't dare to leave now, especially since her friends here could be in danger. So, even if she couldn't easily access most of her supplies due to the glitching, Harper rushed her way to the chaos.

---

And once there, chaos was what she found. The tigress found herself in the deep of it, surrounded by fire, blood, and panic. It was almost overwhelming, and something she had never experienced before. Screams of the Magia having turned on them reached her feline ears, and while she was confused at first, a sight in front of her made things much clearer to her, though much to her horror.

A group of people was running from a mechanical creation. One colored bright pink, much like those of a friend of hers. Her heart rose to her throat. Her mind raced to find ways to discredit what her eyes were seeing, yet it couldn't. And as it cornered the group, she knew she had to do something. Before the robot could release its sedative smoke, Harped blindsided it, throwing the thing towards a nearby wall with enough force that the automaton pretty much shattered upon impact.

To Harper, this didn't feel good. It was almost like hitting her friend herself. Yet she couldn't just stay idly by as her friend possibly hurt others. The beastkin needed answers from Ronja herself.

Her golden eyes shined like a lighthouse on the foggy battlefield. It was time to put that enhanced Investigative Mode to use. Tracking her footsteps was almost impossible due to the snow and the chaos, so she was more specific in her search. The sound of Ronja's Skullbuster rifle, her jet boots, her shining blue hair, even the clicking of her eyes. Anything that she could associate with her friend was on her mind as she braved the blizzard.

Her senses weren't anything special, but she was giving her best. And eventually, she heard something.

"Fio, she's gone that way!"

Luthien's voice, one of the people she bested The Calculator with. Harper initially figured it was best to rendezvous with the elf, and see if she had seen Ronja. It would be better to search in numbers, after all.

But then, Harper spotted her amidst the fog. Her friend.

And just as she suddenly appeared, an exchange of shots marked her disappearance as she seemingly melded back into the fog. For a moment, Harper couldn't make head or tails of where she had gone, but then the wind around her shifted and moved, warping the fog and forming a clear path of vision toward the Magia. And Harper immediately knew something was up with her friend.

There was much she wanted to ask, but the beastkin knew she might not find the Magia again should she go into hiding. She had to think fast, and her answer came in the way of an abandoned wooden cart, still filled with tomatoes. Grabbing the cart by the handles, she took a deep breath before loudly exclaiming.

"DON'T YOU DARE DODGE THIS, RONJAAAAA!"

Making use of her strength, she would swing the cart overhead, sending the produce flying toward the Magia. She didn't want to hurt Ronja but instead get her covered in tomatoes so that it was much easier to track her down.

Mind-addled or not, Ronja was still her friend after all.

Rolls

Save
1d100 (41) + 10 + 10 = 61

Reflex | Harper | Directive: Collect

Mastery Check
1d100 (46) + 20 + 15 = 81
Crush Weapons + Guard Arts | Harper | Directive: Collect

2d20 (18 + 7) = 25
Blizzard Penalty | Harper | Directive: Collect

Roll Result

1d20 (14) = 14

Narrative BA (Memories of Jolly Cooperation) | Harper | Directive: Collect

Total Cooperation: 81 + 14 - 25 = 70

Directive: Decoy
▪ Chase Count: 321/425
▪ Player Count: 4/5
▪ Harper's Sheet

Bluebird · Feb 1, 2023

Bluebird rode the wind, her warbling whistle lost amidst the squall. The air sang with terror, and beneath it all was the sharp bite of the machine song, inaudible save for the way it made her throat ache in remembrance. It was too strong to tear apart on her own, and she had heard no others making the attempt. This song of taking was beyond her.

So instead Bluebird joined the hunt of the collectors, singing a sphere of calm around her as she leaped from roof to roof in pursuit of the others. But it couldn't keep out the chill, and not even her powerful eyesight could pierce past the storm of white surrounding them.

"I will not let you take any more!"

Unlike the others, she had no connection to the magia they pursued. She only knew that they were taking innocents and souring their songs. And so she tried, she tried, but she could only sing so loud and for so long.

Rolls

Chase Count: 380/425
Player Count: 5/5
Playsheet

Ronja Bubblyfoot · Feb 1, 2023

Saving some of the Handler's Power, Ronja retreated without relying on her cloak, clicking her jet boots together to send herself flying through the alleys.

The chase continued even after the Magnetic Shower, with the number of chasers only increasing.

Excellent.

Ronja's eyes brimmed dangerously before mana enhanced lasers blasted off her sight, destroying @Harper's thrown cart into a flurry of rapid splinters and crimson juice that scattered across the alley, targetting the tigress and attempting to slow her down.

The laser continued erupting, tracing sharply to try and shoot down the flying and hooting @Bluebird, squinting her eyes to narrow the beam that only grew hotter and deadly, enough to pierce through stone as if it was butter. nearing enough to almost touch the flying girl.

However, @Yugam's hounds approached enough to distract the magia, that blinked and interrupted her lasers, glaring down at the creatures and clicking her tongue, aiming the sole of her jet boots toward them and exploding a large flame at their direction while propelling herself high above.

Pieces of her Skullbuster rifle began materializing, allowing her to pick up the weapon midair and focus straight to @Luthien, pulling the trigger without giving time to aim, only desiring to cause a deadly distraction so the leader of the hounds would avert his attention.

Then, she struck @Fiora Di Angelo with a threatening gaze, almost taunting as she knew the other's true feelings. She didn't need to use weapons to hurt her, not just yet...

Luring the group, Ronja once again relied on the cloak, unmaterializing her rifle and disappearing only to appear again further into the alleys.

A quiet beep, muffled by the harsh blizzard, repeated meticulously, only increasing its rate as Ronja approached with her chasers. Perhaps, the most aware of them would notice a faint glow strategically placed on the buildings that surrounded the alley.

But it would be too late, with an abrupt turn, Ronja gazed upon the Starcalled, opening the palm of her hand before clenching it shut, signing her spider bombs to ignite and explode loudly, sending a shockwave that brought large debris of collapsing buildings down toward the group.

Thick dust covered the alleys, and if anyone of the group managed to see through the debris, they would notice the magia hovering near them, pulling a fancy slingshot and pulling its sling, charging up a railgun for the coup de grace before she faltered, gazing down the alley to notice a larger group approaching.

The arcanamantic railgun flickered, fading similarly to Ronja's form, that didn't have time to give one last glance at her targets.

Fading in, Ronja approached Szofrit.

"Leader." Ronja said, looking up at her with a small smile. "Mission accomplished. As Ronja told, we will win." Confidence brimmed in her eyes.

"How is the progress of the Egg?" She inquired, curious.

@Raid Boss

Fiora Di Angelo · Feb 1, 2023

Harper's idea was clever, if only unpolished given the implementation of it, but that didn't take merit nor effectiveness to it. Yet clever wouldn't beat Ronja apparently as she brought down that cart like it were nothing.

"Luth, take care of the left ones!" Fiora called out, knowing full well neither of them could bring down so much debris thrown at them in time, so she opted for one half, stretching her hand out to bring these walls and splinters all down to the floor in but an instant, some cracked others shattered on impact.

Their target was getting away through methods even Yu's hounds couldn't pick up to. Yet she took the lead in the chase. She was their vanguard, and as one she behaved, that even when Ronja's target became Luthien, the knightess lost a little bit of distance if only to put herself in the pathway of her shots.

A boom blasted across the air. Instinct forced her body to become a meat shield for the gang, but the skullbuster practically pierced through her right shoulder, offering no resistance if only to slow down the impact should they get to the ranger. The force alone should have brought her down, double-vision took a hold of her. Yet she clinged to conciousness, her legs kept moving and her body denied itself any respite even as muscles burn and wounds bleed...

Fiora kept running. This was everything she had left. Even if now her everything's crimson gaze turned her blood into red ice.

The magia vanished, her left hand buried itself against the cobblestone upon the floor to function as brake, breaking through the ground to steer herself towards the alley, the one bait that became a twist of fate for everyone as explosions sent her colliding against the nearest wall, and soon after everything begun to crumble on top of them, giving her little time to react beyond pained gasps and the sudden loss of air from her lungs, forcefully ejected out of her system.

Her arms rised above her head to work as cover, to protect herself for as best as she could. Magic wasn't her forté, not as extensively as it is for the rest of their group, where aeromancy and gravity combine together to give flight to their singing bird, perhaps the only one on their group who resorted not to violence. Not fully, as far as her eyes could see behind that storm.

Yet one thing is true, despite her shortcomings: Fiora is built for pursuit.

There wasn't any sense of self-preservation left as her bloodied form broke through, bare handed strikes and an intoxicated mindset sent her running towards Ronja who now aimed her sling at her. Well aware of the last time she used that thing, and the hole it created on a dissonant Seeker. There was no backing off. Her only hope would be that her corpse slammed hard enough against Ronja to give the others a chance to capture her.

But it never happened, something distracted her right at the pinnacle of her victory

"COME ON! SHOOT!" Her eyes twitched, Fiora challenging her to prove her theory right, but by the time she reached the end of that alley, her body collapsed onto the snow, with nothing but air on her arms and the painful embrace of dread bottoming within her stomach.

...

Adrenaline was the only thing keeping her from falling apart on the spot with a wound like that. Her body became sluggish out of a sudden. She knew why, the feeling may just be a little different within Terrasphere, but it's familiar even for a body formed out of code like this one. Fiora turned back towards the group, to each and every single one of them. Her lower lip quivered, pupils dilated. Her gaze suffocated, it silenced. She was only well versed on painbearing, to take away the suffering from others, from the one magia that escaped their best, combined efforts.

But in that sunken expression she had, aided by jagged breathing, eyes crystalized by tears involuntarily transmitted her suffering to them, cutting deep like serrated edges. Powered solely by that familiar feeling of having lost everything. Again.

Fiora turned her back on the group and took a deep breath, letting her legs drag her out of the streets. Her only compass pointed back to Camp Hope, to Vintergard. Traveling on foot would take time, but she couldn't face their enemy yet.

Not when her veins yearn to boil with fury, only to be denied by a melancholic heart. She needed to recover her balance.

@Yugam @Luthien @Bluebird @Harper

Luthien · Feb 2, 2023

"Luth, take care of the left ones!"
"On it, Fio!"

It would’ve been impossible for any one person to stop the incredulous amount of objects that the small magia had hurled at them, coming from every direction as Ronja attempted to bury the group. A part of the ranger was thankful that she’d sought out Beleg shortly after realizing the unexpected mastery change within her UI, and while the cosmic powers were a whole league of their own there was a vague similarity to the hydromantic roots she’d nurtured until recently.

She took a page out of her unnie’s booklet, open palms outstretched forwards as Lúthien focused her magic with a single thought in mind: protect those with her. Heavy thuds echoed around her covered side as the objects crashed into a previously invisible wall, each impact causing the spatial shield to shimmer and quiver as it deflected their path and kept her party members safe.

Harper’s approach, although unorthodox, certainly had potential to become a boon for the group as they chased the blue-haired magia through the streets of Finweald… however Ronja knew them well, perhaps too well, and was quick to neutralize the incoming wagon and rain of tomatoes before it could reach her. The lasers continued their path upwards, intending on harming the trilling Bluebird in the sky above them, before Yugam’s bone hounds caused Ronja to blink and the rays to dissipate.

"Ronja please, you have to stop—!" Crimson eyes turned towards her friend along with a pleading cry, before the words caught in Lúthien’s throat as she watched the magia aim the rifle in her direction. It was a sight she’d never expected to witness, causing her steps to falter as a single shot pierced through the howling winds of the blizzard.

Outstretched hands, originally intending to brace the girl from the ground, collided against the firm back of Fiora instead when the knightess stepped into the bullet’s path. The physical pain Lúthien had expected never registered as Fiora took the hit instead, though the same couldn’t be said of the girl’s mind as a mental onslaught of agony pierced right through her defenses. "Fio!!!" She didn’t need to see the wound to know it was deep, the heavy scent or rust filling her nostrils, but before she could help Fiora the taller woman was already on the move once more.

They continued to chase Ronja throughout the city, her eyes barely keeping sight of the magia as her crafty little jet boots propelled her through the storm. Little inventions that Lúthien usually found fabulous and ingenious were now a hindrance as they successfully kept the engineer out of their reach, her thoughts interrupted as the lightest of beeps echoed inside her ears. It pulled her attention away from the magia for a single moment, the faint glow atop the corner of a building catching her eyes then and giving the ranger a precious second to prepare before a series of detonations went off around them.

The shimmering shield returned, absorbing the brunt of the explosion before visibly shattering as the larger chunks of rubble impacted against it—barely achieving its objective as it deflected any major pieces that could’ve spelled death for any of the Starcalled now sprawled around the street. Every sharp inhale of air caused her lungs to burn thanks to the dust and smoke that mingled in the air, a groan escaping her lips as she rolled onto her side and shaky hands propped her frame up.

"COME ON! SHOOT!"

Fiora’s screams caused her to look upwards, spotting Ronja as she aimed a weapon that Lúthien had never seen before—but there was little doubt in her mind that it would spell disaster for them all once the trigger was pulled. "R-Ronja, don’t…!" A feeble cry left her lips, her vision blurring from unshed tears as her body ached and protested its current state. Something caught Ronja’s attention then, gazing away from the group for a moment before her form suddenly faded from view—leaving no trace behind for her friends to follow.

"She’s… gone?"

She whispered to herself as reality slowly sunk in, a wave of dread suddenly crashing into her psyche as the form of Fiora collapsed onto the ground further ahead. She recognized the feeling just as it began to build up within her chest, the clammy fingers of a cold hand individually wrapping around her heart before their nails mercilessly pierced into its flesh. A hand clutched her chest as Lúthien got back onto her shaky feet, the tears staining Fiora’s face mirrored in her own when she finally caught the gaze of the older woman.

Silence stretched between them until the knightess turned her back to the group, knowing fully well that no words could lessen the throbbing ache assaulting Fiora’s heart—and her own.

❰ Lúthien's Sheet ❱

Yugam · Feb 2, 2023

The fog parted, thanks to Luthien's phantom wind, and the rifle in Yugam's hands bucked against his shoulder as he pulled the trigger with a loud bang. But Ronja was gone, disappeared entirely. "What the-"
"DON'T YOU DARE DODGE THIS, RONJAAAAA!"
A familiar voice shouted out, drawing the hunter's attention to the orange beastfolk just as a wooden cart shattered against the ground, the tomato-covered silhouette of Ronja revealing itself.

Pivoting on his knees, Yugam took aim again.

Boom!

The alley shook violently, the ground beneath the group's feet shuddering with the force of an explosion that threatened to topple an entire building on them. Eyes drew upwards as hands stretched out to defend against the crushing brick and mortar that rained down, only Fiora and Luthien were faster. The debris bounced off an invisible shield, shimmering with everything impact as they sent bricks flying in every direction but theirs.

With his priorities reassigned, Yugam aimed again at Ronja, just as she lifted an unfamiliar weapon and pointed it Fiora.

"COME ON! SHOOT!"
"R-Ronja, don't…!"

There was no hesitation from Yugam as his rifle went off again, a burst of crimson mist appearing right where Ronja was. He could feel his blood floating in the air. Every particulate. But where he should have felt a void, where Ronja had been floating, there was nothing.

As the mist fell back to the ground the man looked up in both confusion, frustration and wonderment. "She's… gone?"

"Fuck...I couldn't tag her either," Yugam said with a scowl as he stood and racked the lever of his rifle.

Raid Boss · Feb 3, 2023

"Great progress has been made." Szofrit spoke as she looked up at several more of the red leylines piercing the sky.

"The Handler's Power Reserve will now be redirected to the God Searing Light. Ronja. Go and recall the others. Our salvation must be protected at all cost." Szofrit turned and redirected her resolute gaze toward Ronja as parts of her body phased in and out, a side-effect of Dissonance no doubt.

"It's time to fulfill the vow to grasp that unreachable future."

Anyone who hasn't may make a wrap up post to conclude their part. This directive thread has concluded as of this post.

Harper · Feb 4, 2023

175 / 175

@Ronja Bubblyfoot @Fiora Di Angelo @Yugam @Luthien @Raid Boss @Bluebird

Harper watched in utter surprise as Ronja's eye lasers completely diced her tomatoey attack, the Tigress barely having enough time to put up a guard and fend off the many splinters from the destroyed cart, though some still managed to bruise her skin open.

"When in god's green earth did you learn heat vision, you dumbass?!"

That attack was certainly new to the beastkin, and she couldn't help but wonder when had the magia developed it. Ronja was always talking about getting new augments and biomechanical parts, and even if she didn't understand half of what the Magia said sometimes, Harper was always eager to listen. And all that she wanted right now was to sit by a campfire and let her friend fill her ears with technobabble.

But that wasn't possible. Not with how Ronja was now. Which is why getting her back to normal was so imperative. And this was enforced even more in Harper's head when the Magia looked down at Fio and the group, drawing a grimace from her.

Those eyes. That expression. Even in her most angry, Harper had never seen Ronja look at someone or something like that. Especially not at who she assumed to be a friend of the Magia.

She had gotten her answer. Something was terribly wrong with Ronja. Yet she wouldn't have time to think about it, her ears turning to meet the beeping noise coming from all around the group. Also known as the universal language for "Shit is about to go kaput." "S-Shit! Everyone, duck no-!"

And with a sudden boom! the entire world around Harper shook. She would initially try to cover her head with her arms as best as she could, though that would end up not being necessary due to Luthien's shield. Looking back at the elf, she'd give her a thumbs-up before finding their newly-found success quickly dashed by Ronja's new attack, the Magia now charging a railgun from above.

Harper's instincts acted first. Grabbing a nearby metal rod from the destruction, she would aim at Ronja and prepare to shoot her down. It was only logical, after all, given that she was about to rain death upon them. Yet as soon she prepared to launch the rod, the beastkin turned to stone, her arm not being able to move a single inch.

"N-Ngh..."

Inside her heart, absolute turmoil reigned. It felt like every cell in her body was screaming at her. How could she be about to hurt her friend?!

Yet if she didn't, she would most certainly die. Her survival instincts fired back.

Her hands shook. Her eyes widened. And even in this god-forsaken cold, she found herself sweating. For the first time in a long time, the ever-confident Harper felt doubt in battle. And it completely froze her on the spot, the tigress watching in shock as the railgun was charged further and further... Until something caught Ronja's attention, and she left without a trace.

There was no relief. There was no release for the emotions inside of the beastkin. It all raged on inside her, mixing and melding into silent, simmering fury. Fury at her lack of action when most needed and at letting her friend stay in trouble. For the competitive nut, this was a loss that stung like liquid fire.

Her body visibly shook, and the metal rod in her hand started to creak and visibly bend at an angle. It only took an insignificant push of a small rock falling from the debris on her head to cause it all to erupt.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

There were no words. No particular thoughts or phrases. There were just pained, agonized wails as Harper punched the nearby wall remains with all her might, sending pieces flying before proceeding to the next set of debris and repeating the process. It didn't matter that these were once somebody's property. Nor did it matter that she also hurt herself with each punch and kick. All that mattered is that she needed to vent.

It took a while, but the orange tornado eventually stopped, though not without leaving a noticeable trail of destruction in her wake. Her members were bloodied, and her twin-tails had come undone, leaving her mane of hair drifting softly on the blizzard winds. "...I'm going after her. Follow me if you want."

She turned to the group. Tears dripped down her face, yet the tigress' gaze itself was stoic. There was sadness in her eyes, but also burning determination. Harper did not wait for a response before she turned her back and started to walk, a soft glow in her right hand as she used Nature Magic to patch herself up on the way. She wasn't totally sure where she was heading but figured she'd find her eventually as long as she kept going forward.

A lot was going on in her head. Her pride, her skills, her strength... This encounter had put doubt in all of those for the beastkin. But for the time being, Harper pushed those self-problems back in the priority line. They weren't the most important thing now.

She was going to rescue Ronja, even if she had to pry her freedom from Szofrid's broken, battered body, or whomever else got in her way.

Because that's what friends fucking do.

Complete Private Main Story (S4 Finale P.2) Directive: Collect ✗

Raid Boss

❮ Narrator ❯

Ronja Bubblyfoot

❮ Steel Reaver ❯

Raid Boss

❮ Narrator ❯

Ronja Bubblyfoot

❮ Steel Reaver ❯

Raid Boss

❮ Narrator ❯

Fiora Di Angelo

❮ Raging Flame ❯

Yugam

❮ Pathfinder ❯

Luthien

❮ Lore Seeker ❯

Ronja Bubblyfoot

❮ Steel Reaver ❯

Harper

Bluebird

❮ Pathfinder ❯

Ronja Bubblyfoot

❮ Steel Reaver ❯

Fiora Di Angelo

❮ Raging Flame ❯

Luthien

❮ Lore Seeker ❯

Yugam

❮ Pathfinder ❯

Raid Boss

❮ Narrator ❯

Harper