Complete Private Main Story (S4 Finale P.2) Directive: Propagate ✓

[Raid Boss]

Propagate
Season 4 Finale - Part 1

MAI has been feeling off for the past few weeks. On the occasion when she slept in-game she would have found herself coming out of hibernation in a completely different location.

With the DEAD.naught's salvage parts mixed in with her own, MAI also found her body responding to strange stimuli of late. It increasingly felt like she was gradually losing control of her body.

That was until one night when she managed to stop herself from blacking out during a charge when she saw a tiny spatial rupture before her eyes as her UI began to glitch and malform as a subtle song flooded her ears, followed by a distorted message sent directly to her brain.

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

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

Her mind was wracked by a migraine unlike anything she had felt before, it was a miracle that she was able to keep herself conscious through it all.

Amid the mental storm, she saw Szofrit and heard her voice, this time a lot more clearly.

[ 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 given the Handler's Lullaby. Go and spread the directives to the others. Tap into the Handler's power reserve when it is required. ]

"Affirmative. For the sake of the saviors, we will complete the Red Key." MAI heard her voice coming out of her own mouth, but the words were not her own.

MAI opened the door and left the cozy Finweald inn she was staying in. It might have felt as though the DEAD.naught parts were responding to some kind of stimuli in the air, leading her to the nearest unsuspecting magia.

Spread the Directive​

@MAI

• You may make a response (up to 700 words) or a brief recap of your action.
• At the end of your post, make 5 contribution rolls that each uses a unique mastery or expertise, which represents how well your character is carrying out their directive through them. Whenever you are using a mastery for this check, you may add 5 per MR to your roll from a second mastery.

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!

 

[MAI]

‎

Follow the directive
‎

Pain, confusion, disassociation, darkness, loneliness​

MAI had no idea what was going on. She did not know the individual before her, nor her voice. And the voice that spoke back was not her own. The pain was unbearable, as if there was not enough room in her own mind, her own self being squeezed and crushed by its tiny confines. Would she be crushed if this continued on? What even was going on? Through her distorted vision, she saw nothing more than a path ahead... through the fields, through the meadows. As if aimless, yet in search of something... in search of Magia.

❰ Lullaby of Subjugation ❱

The mouth that would normally never dare to open and start singing did so without a moment of hesitation. The Handler's Lullaby would echo, different yet just as effective. Perhaps the shell, the perfect doll that was MAI, resonated with the song and empowered it further. Not only something that would hijack the minds of nearby Magia, but something that would lure them toward the walking storm, almost no matter how far away they were.

How many would join, be drawn in like moths to a flame of a guiding lantern? How many would be cut down, trying to stop the small figure, causing chaos all around her?​

The girl's voice was not the only one spreading the lullaby, either. Countless magitech drones surrounded her and spread into smaller swarms, the girl's voice resonating through them. But, perhaps, there was some hope. In that small moment, the one inside, the player... she found a small window of opportunity. A direct link that offered the much-needed room for breathing. And a single synthetic eye to look at her own form from the outside.

"This is... me. What am I doing? Why..."

There was a brief pause in the song.

"Suggestion - Eye of Beholder should halt all logical functions and speech until the Red Key is completed. For the sake of the saviors."

"..."

The small drone that now held part of the girl's consciousness could only silently follow behind her humanoid form, observe her actions with disdain, still unable to process what had truly happened. She was no longer herself, yet she could not grasp how any of this happened. To be oneself for a moment, only to be lost the other... was this... the end?

The end?

The... end...?

Notice

Am I going to die?

Notice

Someone, please help me! Anyone!

Notice

I don't want to die!

Notice

Have you forsaken me..?

Notice

I̴̬͐ ̸͇͐h̷̙̚a̶̮̎v̸̪̊ē̶̩ṋ̵̽'̸̺͆t̵͖́ ̷̪͂e̷̹͊v̵̪̀ë̶̜n̵̩͝.̵̬̈.̸̦̀.̴͎̊ ̴̇͜ȧ̴̟c̷͔̓c̷̺͊ȍ̷͍m̸̈͜p̷̡̈l̸̲̈́i̸̳͝s̸̰͝h̵̼͠e̶̬͠d̶̙̆ ̵̼͌a̸͙͊ṉ̴̇ŷ̸͍t̴̪͠h̷̗͊i̵̥̓n̴̫̂g̸̳̽ ̷͖̏y̶̌͜e̵͙͝t̸̜͛.̶̣̊.̴̣̆.̶̈́͜

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎

Spoiler: Lullaby

Okay, it's not really a lullaby, but whatever

Rolls

Mastery Check
1d100 (66) + 25 + 15 = 106
Magitech | MAI | Propagate

Mastery Check
1d100 (76) + 10 + 15 = 101
Aeromancy | MAI | Propagate

Expertise Check
1d100 (90) + 0 = 90
Fitness | MAI | Propagate

Expertise Check
1d100 (50) + 25 = 75
Knowledge | MAI | Propagate

Expertise Check
1d100 (28) + 15 = 43
Presence | MAI | Propagate

Propagation: 415

 

[Raid Boss]

Pitiful little bird who could do nothing as the Directive drove her body while her mind was fully conscious of her heinous action. MAI sent her drones in search of magia. Whenever they located a target, turning them was as easy as flipping a switch.

While the others are spreading chaos at Camp Hope and Finweald, MAI was able to gain a considerable number of allies at camp, who discretely went off to perform their own directive. Everything was in preparation for the birth of the Red Keychild.

During a recall, MAI was pulled to Dragonhead with a few of her converts, where the Handler's Power Reserve refreshed their energy.

There, she saw the Red Egg and the massive leylines connecting to it in full view and was able to overhear the conversation between Szofrit and @Ronja Bubblyfoot.

"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."

MAI got to see the perplexed expression on the magia's leader stoic face for a brief moment before she was departed from Dragonhead to continue her mission.

To be continued in Part 2

• @MAI is continuing her directive, albeit staying out of sight and being helped by some of her converted allies. She has left a trail for those who might try to pursue her.
• This team's primary objective is to capture magia players who have been converted and contain them somewhere secure for the time being.
• By scoring high on your rolls collectively, you will be given a chance to confront MAI and snap her out of her state. Otherwise, she will continue to carry out her mission.
• Wait for an update post in the Event Tracker for when this thread opens up to the rest of the forum. In the meantime, MAI may make an optional response to wrap up Part 1 (max 500 words).

 

[MAI]

‎

‎

Sing. Sing, little bird. Sing until your throat gives, your voice disappears, and your desperation runs dry. The Handler's Lullaby was the trumpet of hell, signaling the end for the Saviors, for the Starcalled. And those who were foolish enough to embrace the nature of Magia? They, too, would have the pleasure of witnessing the finality brought along with the Red Keychild, soon to be born from the efforts of Szofrit and those she commanded. The gears were set in motion, and nothing could stop them anymore.

Surrounded by a swarm of not only defensive drones, but also newly converted Magia, MAI continued her mission just as was required of her. She would not stop until every single Starcalled powered by gears of madness was at her side, ready to face their fellow Starcalled in defense of the Red Egg. Could anyone or anything pierce through such a wall and stop her? And would it even matter after she had already gathered so many new allies, bringing many directly to the Dragonhead?

"Benevolence - All who had the foresight of choosing to be of machinery and oil... the pleasure of joining us. Hear the lullaby and be true to your purpose."

"..."

The Eye of Beholder remained quiet, still anchored to the Magia's main body. It had witnessed the Dragonhead during the warp, the conversation, and the enemy's leader. It knew, it processed, it remembered. But would it ever be free to tell anyone of these discoveries?

MAI stood in front of Finweald again. She had converted many Magia outside of the city, but now that the chaos was spreading with the help of other chosen ones? Many more were bound to arrive here with the sole hope of lending their hand, aiding in the enemy's suppression... only to be taken by that sweet melody emanating from the girl and her drones, the song that no one could escape, no matter how hard they tried.

"Come - We will all dance atop this stage. This is our very own Theather of Darkness... our very own Grand Guignol!"

 

[Raid Boss]

Propagate
Season 4 Finale - Part 2

You and your team have been sent out to detain the magia MAI has put under her Lullaby of Subjugation. Although it is a weaker version of the Handler's Lullaby, it is still extremely difficult to snap them out of it. For the time being, capture and bring them back to the Rally Point: Finweald, where they will be put into holding cells and watched over by the Adventurers Guild.

This is a fast-paced, almost frantic scene with this group rushing through the hell zone to wrestle with fleeing magia all the while dealing with both the victims of the assault and, at the same time avoiding being ambushed by the turned magia and the fire sweeping across the city from @Ayna Nietzsche leylightning and @Tick Tock's explosion.

Rules

• Max participants: 5
• Max word count: 700
• Make a Contribution roll (Mastery or Expertise)
• Then, make a post and contribute to the scene

Objective: Detain the turned-magia players

• Minimum Contribution: 350
• Minimum Contribution to find MAI: 375
• Perfect Victory: 450
• Advantage: Any defensive mastery
• Extra bonus: +5 per MR of a secondary mastery (up to +15)
• Passives: All
• Bonus Actions: All
• Armor Ability: None

Spoiler: Post Template

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

[/status]

Post here

[action]

[/action]
[b]Directive:[/b] Propagate
▪ Contribution: 000/375
▪ Player Count: 0/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Kyanna Wynne]

190 / 190

Worried, but determined

Kyanna held on the giant dire wolf she was riding, a lovely courtesy of @Ueno Mizuki, a lady she had just met.

She wished she could afford to not believe what she had seen her beloved friend doing, but there was no mistake. Kyanna was naive, but she wasn't dumb, the magia girl was causing other magias to help in the chaos that was formed in Finweald.

Something was wrong with her, and Kyanna would only rest after finding out an answer.

In her rush, and in her search, she sought an answer through the nature. The eyes of the birds, the touch of the grass, the hearing of a scared cat and the breeze that brushed against the trees.

The nature slipped hints to the fungi witch, with an owl approaching as it hooted. Kyanna glanced at the bird, holding her breath and emotions as she realized the answer was uncertain.

Her gaze averted from the bird, closing her eyes as she pleaded, to anyone... Or anything...

"Please... Please, I must find her..."

For a moment, the face of @MAI appeared in her mind, lacking even more expression than the usual. The mental flash startled the girl, and she opened her eyes surprised, only to see a glowing, scarled thread flowing to a specific direction.

"Wolf Lady! I think it is this way, they... They are telling me! I- They are almost certain." She said, pursing her lips and feeling an evergrowing anxiety in her chest.

"Please, be safe!"

Rolls

(P) Corruption
(2 + 8) = 10
+5 to checks.
Corruption suppressed.
Corrupt | Kyanna Wynne

(BA) Fate Thread
1d20 (6) = 6
+6 to checks.
Fate Thread | Kyanna Wynne | Directive: Propagate

Mastery Check
2d100 (Advantage) (87, 77) + 15 + 15 + 6 + 5 = 128
Beast Arts + Nature Magic | Kyanna Wynne | Directive: Propagate

Directive: Propagate
▪ Contribution: 128/375
▪ Player Count: 1/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

225 / 225

Dire Wolf Form

In response to Hanno's warning Mizuki was travelling to Finweald with all haste, her packmates following closely behind her. The guardian might have wished for everyone to stay away, but the huntress wasn't one to just flee and wait for the trouble to die away if she felt she could make a difference. She wasn't sure what she would encounter upon arrival, only that she had to be prepared.

Therefore it was a pleasant surprise for her to encounter @Cleo Looker along the way. While a part of her would have preferred for her partner to remain out of harm's way she couldn't deny that there were few people she would have trusted more to watch her back in the face of the crisis that was looming before them. Their greeting had to remain short, however, as they didn't have time to discuss the situation at length.

Climb on my back love.

Her features had quickly shifted, skin fully replaced by a thick coat of fur as she adopted the shape of a large form, the most comfortable shape for her aside from her natural form. Large enough for someone to ride, a suggestion she repeated with her Primal Aura before continuing to run across the plains towards the city.

As she arrived she came across @Kyanna Wynne, who gave them a better idea of what was going on: @MAI apparently was going around singing some strange song that made all magia who listened it turn hostile. The city was already in chaos by this point, and even though Mizuki's ears twitched as she heard MAI's haunting lullaby in the distance she wasn't able to make out where it came from amidst all the mayhem the magia were wreaking. The three of them weren't alone, but even so they'd need many more allies if they were to stand a chance at getting the situation under control.

Standing tall the transformed huntress lifted her head towards the skies, filling her lungs with air and howling, producing a clear sound that travelled far and wide, for a moment at least overriding the cacophany rising up from the city before them. Mizuki's packmates, the two wolves that had followed her obediently, joined the call, and within seconds the three of them were answered by howling in the distance, the canines that roamed the countryside responding to the alpha's summons.

Wolves were not the fastest hunters, but they weren't slow either. The three of them wouldn't have to wait long before many figures began to show up, converging around Mizuki as her howl finally trailed off into silence. Turning her head she sent a silent command to one of her packmates, the large wolf walking over to Kyanna so the girl could use him as a mount. If they were to track down MAI they'd have to move fast.

Disable non-flesh two-legs, do not harm. We hunt singer.

Sending this Primal Aura message to both the wolves and the two human females Mizuki initiated the hunt, running into the city with the many wolves following behind her. The improvised pack would quickly split up as individuals and pairs targeted any controlled magia they encountered, cornering them and pinning them down. While they weren't so zealous as to ignore their own well-being they at least bolstered the number of defenders the city had available.

As Mizuki herself ran across the city with Cleo astride her back she sniffed the air, sending a flurry of Primal Aura commands to the wolves to keep them active. She only came to a halt once she caught a scent she was familiar with: MAI's scent. Even if she wasn't flesh and blood, Mizuki could still tell it was her. Turning her head towards Kyanna she answered the witch's words with a message of her own.

Follow me!

And with that, she dashed after the scent trail.

Spoiler: Mood

Rolls

Roll Result
1d20 (19) = 19
+19 to Contribution Roll
Amplified Sense (Smell) | Ueno Mizuki | Directive: Propagate

Mastery Check
2d100 (Advantage) (36, 55) + 25 + 19 + 15 = 114
Beast Arts + Metamorph | Ueno Mizuki | Directive: Propagate

Directive: Propagate
▪ Contribution: 242/375
▪ Player Count: 2/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Cleo Looker]

200 / 200

Alive

It was far from a normal thing, being approached by a wild girlfriend and being told to climb on her back, but well, after receiving a warning from said girlfriend in a glitchy UI and utilizing her Chronomancy to double-time it to this location, she was't about to turn down the offer of any kind of rest. Not when she particularly needed her energy for whatever inevitable mess came next.

Still, wasting no time, she hopped up onto the back of @Ueno Mizuki as a Dire Wolf, hands gripping into thick fur to hold herself in place, her thighs clenching, just like she would on a motorbike or on one of those bull rodeo machines, clinging to her transformed girlfriend as they rushed in the direction of chaos and strife.

Along the way, they ran into some kind of stranger that Mizuki apparently knew? Cleo had never met @Kyanna Wynne before, but really there wasn't a whole lot of time to be spent dealing with things such as that, when they had some kind of horde that were causing mayhem. Magia, so many of them, though Mizuki seemed intent to increase their own numbers, letting loose a howl that had Cleo clamping her hands around her ears, grimacing, though it did the intended job, as many wolves began to approach them.

To be honest, she was pretty useless when it came to actually tracking down @MAI the Magia responsible for the whole mess, but at the very least, she was capable of restraining the hostile Magia. She gave Mizuki a pat on the side of her neck, closing her eyes to gather some focus, before she took a look around, her hands beginning to crackle with crimson arcane energy.

And then she lashed out, etherial chains snaking and coiling their way through the air, seeking out and ensnaring any Magia that they could find. Small spearlike blades in the chains allowed them to bury themselves in the ground, to pin the mechanical people in place, preventing them from moving and chaining them to the earth, or to any structure that could support them.

With a flicker of energy, Mizuki's wolves, and Mizuki herself, would all find themselves covered by sets of ethereal armor, floating just above their skin, which would hopefully help them remain largely unharmed in their efforts to contain the Magia.

Rolls

Mastery Check
2d100 (Advantage) (96, 85) + 25 + 15 = 136
Arcanamancy | +15 from Ranged Weapons | Cleo Looker | 24024C1

Directive: Propagate
▪ Contribution: 378/375
▪ Player Count: 3/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Langley]

115 / 115

When the veritable army of wolves came racing into the city, led by an absolutely massive one with a woman on its back, Langley wanted to ask questions. Unfortunately, as he was currently trying to fend off a blank-eyed magia who seemed to want to take his head off, that was not in the cards.

Narrowly dodging away from a rocket fist to the temple, Langley cast his gaze wildly around. He could see the wolves pinning rogue magia players down, someone using some kind of magic to conjure chains to restrain others with, and more. Others were going about the task of detaining the attackers by physically knocking them out and grappling them to the ground.

Well. Langley sidestepped another attack, sizing up the magia who was attacking him. He was taller than the magia, but did he fancy his face's chances against a hunk of magical metal...? Only one way to find out.

Taking his cue from some others nearby who had nothing to resort to but cruder methods of restraint, Langley readied himself until he spotted a break in the magia's flurry of attacks. Then he full on tackled his attacker to the dirt.

Rolls

(BA) Auto Assist
+15 to attacks, heals, buffs, checks, contributions, and saves.
Langley

Mastery Check
2d100 (Advantage) (23, 87) + 0 = 87
Guard Arts | Langley | Directive: Propagate (1679)

Total: 87 + 15 = 102

Directive: Propagate
▪ Contribution: 480/375 (Perfect Victory achieved)
▪ Player Count: 4/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Hanasakura Okami]

120 / 120

Okami had no idea what was going on. She had just logged in after the holidays and work. It was going to be a nice relaxing session of Terrasphere and she was going to enjoy herself maybe camping in the woods or exploring the city and see what she could find. Perhaps save a cat from a tree or kill bothersome goblins. Whatever plans she had were however, dashed as she spawns right into Camp Hope and found herself amidst something horrific.

She recognized panicked screams, she was all too familiar with the sound of fear. Everything was devolving into chaos. However as she reached out to help, they pushed her aside and screamed murder. Okami was stunned and confused. As the magia looked around, she spots people of her player race, attacking innocents. At least her sense of justice was still intact. Pulling out her blade, she rushes towards a rogue magia only to find it pinned down by a large grey wolf, and it did not look happy to see her.

"H-hey buddy... I'm... not one of them... really," Okami backs away as she slowly sheathes her blade, before running, running as fast as she could. Thankfully her Dynamism mastery lets her sprint like the wind, dodging incoming wolves who think she was one of those... rogue bots? Okami swear she saw this scenario in a movie once. But she knew one thing, wolves have an alpha. She finds the alpha, she should be able to harbor safety.

At least that was the plan, Okami had to strike away a chain of energy, watching it pin into the ground with a clang. The magia had to weave herself between wolf and chains now. Her speed at least her kept alive and able to stop any attack that comes her way with a deflective strike. She runs past @Langley's foe, stepping on the magia as he gets tackled down, using him as a stepping stone to redirect the chains towards the magia with a swift blade sweep.

Okami can't help but feel these chains were, strangely familiar. Soon she found herself in a clear open field where everyone could see her, trying to fend back not just wolves and chains, but rogue magias who seem to be dead set on telling her to "give in". Speed was giving her an advantage, but it wasn't going to be enough.

Rolls

Mastery Check
1d100 (29) + 10 = 39

Slash Weapons | Hanasakura Okami | 1679

Directive: Propagate
▪ Contribution: 519/375 (Perfect Victory achieved!)
▪ Player Count: 5/5
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Raid Boss]

With the group efficiently working together to subjugate the attacking magia, they managed to round up the majority of the enemies to take them back to the holding cells at the emergency rally point. Before anyone from the group could, however, @MAI appeared at the end of the snowy streets, appearing to be short-circuiting as her internal psyche vied to regain control of her faculty.

Resolution Phase

The perfect victory has been achieved. You may help MAI regain control of herself through freeform posts. She is guaranteed to snap out of her state by the end of this optional posting round.

Afterward, a horseback messenger would stop by to request for the group to rally at the frontline, where the rest of the Starcalled are preparing to raid Szofrit.

@Hanasakura Okami @Langley @Cleo Looker @Ueno Mizuki @Kyanna Wynne

 

[Kyanna Wynne]

At no point Kyanna considered turning back, not without MAI being found first. She followed Mizuki's lead, seeing the red thread shortening, weavering gently as the group became closer. Kyanna's focus was only for her friend, and as soon as she could spot @MAI, Kyanna's eyes widened, jumping out of the @Ueno Mizuki's wolf's back and nearly stumbling as she rushed forward.

"MAI!" She called, sinking her knees into thin layer of snow as she desperately neared the magia girl.

"Mai... Mai, it is me. Can you listen to me?" Kyanna asked, almost pleading as she held her friend close. She knew something was acting up, and as she held the magia on her arms, she could feel a prickle of corruption lingering, thanks to her Magic Receptacle tact.

She paused, with her eyes trailing down to her and carefully resting a hand on the source of the corruption, frowning as Kyanna began fighting fire with fire, using her own Corrupt magic to eat away the mind controlling error.

Slowly, she could feel the corruption fading away, sighing relieved as she embraced her friend, even as she was still recovering, then slowly gazing between @Ueno Mizuki and @Cleo Looker. "Thank you, thank you so much... If it weren't for you..." She said, smiling faintly as she turned to @Langley and @Hanasakura Okami gratefully as relieved tears escaped her eyes, which she wiped as she glanced at the incoming messager.

As her worries toned down, the memories of Tick, Tock and Eva crossed her mind... And while she trusted Eva would be able to handle them, she couldn't rest just yet.

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

Dire Wolf Form

As she ran through the snowy streets MAI's scent became more prominent in Mizuki's nostrils, the transformed caenis leading the way towards the converted magia who was at the centre of the chaos. Other magia were also wreaking havoc throughout the city, but she was convinced that as long as they got to MAI they could avert the worst of it.

Fortunately her wolves managed to cooperate with the adventurers and inhabitants of Finweald, and as they kept running more and more brainwashed magia were restrained and gathered so an eye could be kept on them. As the amount of magia still running wild dwindled Mizuki began to send out Primal Aura commands for them to disperse and leave the city: they might have been helpful during the crisis, but she doubted the citizens would be as happy to have them around afterwards.

Once @MAI's location had been locked down Mizuki sped up, sprinting towards the short female synth at the centre of it all. To her surprise @Kyanna Wynne was still faster, reaching her friend before anyone else. At first Mizuki had been planning to pin MAI down like the other magia, but with the witch already having grabbed hold of the dronemaster the dire wolf slowed down, circling around the human and the magia to nudge MAI from behind, pressing her muzzle against the back of MAI's head.

Time to wake up. Spirit is stronger than song.

Glancing back and up at @Cleo Looker she sent another mental message.

Once MAI is healed, let's head to old capital.

The wolves which had been bothering @Hanasakura Okami because of her magia nature seemed to quickly lose interest as they realised that she wasn't in conflict with the biological inhabitants of Finweald, turning their attention to the few magia left that still needed restraining before slinking away, disappearing from the city as if they'd never been.

After @Langley physically restrained magia with his own body one of Mizuki's packmates would help him get back up by grabbing the back of his coat between his jaws and pulling the bullman upright. After sniffing his hands and face the wolf licked him, then turned around and returned to his leader, his thick-furred tail brushing against Langley's arm in the process.

 

[MAI]

❰‎ ‎ A‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ L U L L A B Y‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ S I L E N C E‎ D ‎ ❱

A witch, a wolf, a crimson lancer, a bull, and a magia who woke too late to give in to the sweet lullaby. What an unlikely band of heroes who have challenged the ever-growing group of brainwashed magia. And yet, through cooperation and determination, they managed to reach the source of that enthralling melody.

As they did, the invisible battle raged on. It might have just been the visage of friendly faces willing to save- not destroy- that revitalized MAI's own determination not to be controlled by this power. The Eye of Beholder screeched as Kyanna approached, moving down and repeatedly hitting itself against the shell that was MAI. For the violet magia started raising her hand, winds and lightning gathering to strike the pitiful witch down as she foolishly embraced the enemy.

But the stalling was enough, and her corruptive power got to work, fighting off the lingering influence of Handler's Lullaby. As if she had sudden room to stretch, room to breathe, all of the girl's consciousness slipped back into her artificial vessel, the bot falling into the snow that adorned the ground. And along with it, all of MAI's network was disabled. The Lullaby of Subjugation was silenced, leaving behind a droning quiet that temporarily even drowned out the sound of chaos and destruction happening all around them.

"Kyanna... no need for tears. Still... alive."

Her throat was nothing short of ragged from the song she spread across Finweald. And as strength temporarily left her body, she would slump down right into the warm embrace of a wolf's fur, Mizuki serving as a fine cushion.

Cleo, Langley, and Okami did their part as well. Even if they were not directly looking for the magia responsible for this mess, they held off the horde of those controlled by the lullaby, ensuring that Kyanna and Mizuki were not interrupted as they broke the Handler's hold.

Alas, the girl still needed some time to fully recover and ensure that her body was her own again. Not to mention much explaining was in order. She wasn't the only one who needed help, either. And she could tell that at least Kyanna's mind was plenty occupied with others as well.

@Raid Boss @Kyanna Wynne @Ueno Mizuki @Cleo Looker @Langley @Hanasakura Okami

 

[Raid Boss]

Those who haven't may still make a wrap up post to conclude their involvement with this thread. However, this directive thread is concluded as of this post.

 

[Langley]

@Hanasakura Okami using the magia that Langley had been tussling with as a springboard had slammed his foe's head into the dirt with such force that the magia had been knocked out. But even as he was struggling to process the blur of pink that had so helpfully took care of Langley's opponent for him, it appeared that everything was dying down now. The sound of fighting, slowly but surely, began to fade away--at least from the immediate vicinity. There were still the roar of flames and occasional explosions in the distance, but for the time being, the people nearby could stop to catch their breaths.

Langley heaved a sigh of relief, which quickly transformed into a startled yelp as he felt something drag him back and up off his unconscious opponent. A quick glance backwards told him it was one of @Ueno Mizuki's wolf allies, helping him to his feet. He cracked a smile as the wolf sniffed at him and licked him, and tried for a pat between the wolf's ears with a quick, "Thanks, buddy."

Many of the wolves in the area nearby were streaming out of town, but a few (including his helper) seemed to be heading further in. Curious, Langley followed. As he walked, he gingerly poked at a tender part of his cheek and temple; when he had brought the magia down to the earth, he'd not been able to avoid slamming his face into the magia's armor, and he was pretty sure he was going to have a huge bruise later on. He fiddled with his menu, trying to access his inventory in order to pull out his first aid kit, but only succeeded in straining his eyes as he failed to find the right buttons amidst all the glitching.

Soon enough, he arrived at where the wolf that helped him was running off to. He saw an enormous wolf, @Cleo Looker, and @Kyanna Wynne and @MAI who seemed to be wrapping up some kind of moment in the middle of the ruined street.

Well, he didn't want to interrupt. He'd hang back a little and keep an eye on the surroundings.

 

[Hanasakura Okami]

Okami had shifted her position towards the snowy street, where she saw a convergence of players. Her whirling of blades had thankfully come to a halt once the magia who controlled them all had stopped, seemingly tired from her struggle. She heard cries and cheers, as well as a howl of wolves as she saw them return back to the wilds.

She collapse onto her bum, panting as she begun to cool down in the snow. The energy to pick up her blade was lost as it clutters to the ground. If Magia could sweat, Okami would be. Exhaustion from exerting herself had finally set in. She then spots a familiar face riding upon a large wolf. An old training partner and someone she had visited a cat cafe with.

"@Cleo Looker! What in the world is going on?" The bladeswoman stumbled to her feet while sheathing her katana. While tone and expression were lost due to her traits, there was something about her eyes that provide a window into her true feelings. "I-I log in and everything is going to... I dunno." Okami takes a squat, running her fingers through her hair as she tried to shake the panic out of her system.