Complete Main Story Vintergard (S4) Marked - Team Time EX

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

136 / 220

Status: Vulnerable
Ripper Damage: 24 damage (doubled; 48); 18 damage over time (doubled; 36)

An explosion. There was an explosion. The ringing still sounded in her ears, painfully piercing through her mind, causing her to repeat it over and over again. An explosion. They'd just been talking to the captive, getting information about the possible traitor, and the Dragonship when suddenly...

Rael! Oh gods Rael! She rolled to her side, pushing herself up and to her knees. Her head swayed, the impact of the explosion causing a spell of dizziness and unease in her head. Trying to push it aside, Kyra forced herself to her feet. Her hand reached outwards, trying to grasp the bars for support - only to find the air open, the bars that had once been there, holding her in, now gone.

Hey...I guess I'm free now? Such a weird thought to have, and it brought a fit of giggles that made her side ache. She glanced down, but saw no immediately obvious injuries. Broken ribs, maybe...can deal with that later. Need to help Rael. Move.

She crossed over to where the girl had been seated, finding her body strewn about the blood and chaos. Kyra dropped down to her knees, feeling something crunch underneath them - more pain shooting through her body, pain that she pushed out of her mind. There were far more important things to be concerned about.

"You're going to be okay, Rael...you're going to be okay...I...you're going to be okay...I've got you now...you're gonna be okay..."

She placed her left hand on Rael's torso, her right lowering on the girl's right thigh. Closing her eyes, she began, calling forth the Spirit Magic. The words flowed through her as she focused on the connection between herself and Rael, the flow between her own soul and Rael's.

"I give willingly to you...that which I no longer desire, that which I lose...so that you may return...may this gift, given with the care, the tenderness...may it return that which was taken...that which was forced...may it close over the wounds of old..."

Her words cut off as the scream erupted from her, her head snapping back and upwards as the magic tore into her again, the noise deafening even to Kyra's already damaged eardrums. All of it, lost in the pain that was her gifts to Rael, her sacrifice, so that the other may live.

She slumped, as the connection finished, flowing back into herself and leaving Kyra shaking in response. A single slur of words escaped her lips as she smiled suddenly, glancing down at the now closing over wounds.

"I told you...you're safe now..."

Rolls

Power Heal (Single)
1d100 (82) + 25 + 20 + 25 = 152
+152 HP to 1 target
Gain the Vulnerable state
Spirit Magic | Kyra Vashtana | 1250

@Rael | @Raid Boss

Play Sheet​

 

[Ash Vargold]

215 / 215

Marked: You have been seen (???)

"What... what happened?

Ash had heard the explosion. As their group moved, he tried to tell himself it was a coincidence that Rael's location was leading them in that direction. That he wouldn't find them amidst the rubble.

Unfortunately, that hope was burning away as Camp Hope was, and it wasn't long before Rael's marker left him standing before the smoking remains of the tent. He stared - and then Kyra's scream ripped through the air, and he growled in response.

"Rael! Kyra! Shit..."

Luthien, keep an eye on Meri, I'm going in.

Ash drew his sword and focus, ready to force his way into the tent, but whatever guard had been watching the group was gone. Probably off to join the fight, either with or against the Lions...

Problem for later. He pushed it aside and followed the smell of blood. It didn't take long to find the cell. Fuck, the bars were blown up from the inside!

They both were alive. He sheathed his sword and sped over, ears pinned as he bent down. Battered, but alive. Wounded, but that didn't look like it came from an explosion. That was a knife wound, and even with Kyra's healing he could see the ooze of blood and magic both as it continued.

"Kyra, what happened here? Who attacked you?"

He didn't have anything to heal with, but he could at least bring his runestone towards the wound, muttering plea as he let EN feed into it. Spectral energy began to leak from it like tears, flowing around Rael and gathering around her wounds. Not enough to heal, but perhaps enough to stem the bleeding...

"Everything's gone south. A bunch of people all simultaneously announced the Commander is a traitor. We've got camp security and Lions at each other's throats. It's way too damn convenient."

He shook his head, letting the runestone drift back around his head.

"If this keeps going and there's an attack in the morning, we'll have more than one UI-lock by the end of this. The Lions are extra, but they aren't stupid There's gotta be someone who'll listen to reason..."

Maybe there was even someone he knew amongst them. He opened his palm menu, taking the time to type out a properly written message this time. Appearance was everything.

Ash Vargold @ Area chat

Something stinks in camp, but I don't think it's the Commander. We think the rot goes deeper than that.

Hanno, if you're out there, let's parley. The sooner this fighting stops, the better.

Rolls

Protecting Rael

Play Sheet

 

[Luthien]

160 / 160

...Explorer's League - Gold Whistle

< Marked: You have been seen (Observed - Expires in 00:141:08) >
Location: Prison Tents
Voucher Count: 1

At first Lúthien had thought it was just the lack of sleep that had her head acting up, her thoughts muddled and clouded as if a heavy fog had been brewing inside her mind. Little by little the elf had managed to shake off her initial grogginess as the seriousness of their situation had begun to settle in, but no matter how hard Lúthien seemed to try there was still an odd sensation that simply refused to go away.

At some point the fog inside her mind had shifted into a thunderous storm cloud, fueled by her own conflicted feelings when more details began to rise into the light. Already the whereabouts of Sven were unknown at best, a darker reality momentarily forced into the very recesses of her mind as the blonde refused to entertain the thought for more than a second.

Outside of the tent the blonde could hear the familiar voice of @Ash Vargold as he conversed with the stationed guards, the elf straining her attention to try and catch as much of the conversation as she could. He’d been granted entrance then his hand already pushing the flap open, before the urgent cries of another had caught everyone’s attention. Taking advantage of the commotion Luthien had carefully disarmed her bow back into its violin form, the instrument returned back to her UI inventory before she looked at the small Faerin besides her. A soft nod was given to Meriam (@Raid Boss) before she’d walked towards the entrance of the tent, pretending to just be a curious party whose attention had been caught by the ongoing conversation.

”The Lions… hhhah… they are arresting the Commander on the suspicion of treason against Astorea...”

The words caused the elf to freeze in her spot for a few moments, the uncanny timing of this development causing an unsettling feeling in her gut. Lúthien had never been one to believe in coincidences, things didn’t just happen without a reason the majority of the time, and her suspicions towards the matter only continued to grow as the guards spoke among themselves. The two posted outside of their tent had been more than willing to go with the arriving guard, while a third that Lúthien hadn’t noticed until she had stepped out to meet Ash seemed hesitant to follow them.

”... Hey, Travelers, between enemies looking for you and uh, camp conflicts, you should probably disappear for your own sake…”

Suddenly, just like that, three of the four guards had disappeared with the intent to offer their aid to the Commander. A questioning glance was sent in Vargold’s direction, before the remaining steps of the patrolling woman caused Lúthien to glance over as she disappeared off into the opposite direction without so much as a word to any of them.

“What is going on…?”
"I dunno, Meri… but I feel we’re gonna find out soon."

She felt the grip that the Faerin had on her hand strengthened, returned in kind by the elf as they each attempted to keep the other grounded. A question had barely made it out of Vargold’s lips for the retreating figures, the response earned carrying a name that the blonde found vaguely familiar… almost as if she should know the importance behind it—

BOOOOOOOM!!!​

The sudden explosion had caused Lúthien to crouch low as the ground shook in response, the arm that wasn’t holding Meriam’s hand instinctively coming closer to try and shield the elven girl and the smaller Faerin against an unknown assailant. It took a few moments before the elf realized nothing seemed to be coming for them, the ringing inside her ears slowly subsiding, before an unexpected wave of fear threatened to drown out the elve’s mind. Had the blonde managed to eat something when she had awoken she would’ve undoubtedly hurled out the contents then, the sensation causing her to take shaky breaths as Lúthien tried to compose herself.

It felt like her own thoughts were suddenly being swallowed up, wave after wave of feelings that weren’t her own crashing heavily against the shores of her mind. Her eyes turned towards Meriam then, the small Faerin shaking like a leaf as she looked in the direction of the explosion, before the last missing piece of the puzzle clicked into place. These are… they’re Meri’s feelings. The small alert at a corner of her UI was entirely missed, Lúthien’s focus instead on the woman that had gotten dragged along for their ride throughout the entire day.

"Hey, Meri, shhh... come on Meri, look at me. Focus on me." She squeeze the Faerin’s hand, her other resting on the girl’s shoulder as the elf shook it gently to try and snap Meriam out of her current stupor. "Meri, what do you want to do?"

“Let's go figure all of this out. I'm with you guys.”

A nod as given in response as the blonde straightened up, having watched the little Faerin slap her own cheeks hard to snap back into focus. "Together, then." Her gaze moved to Ash then, allowing the Caenis to lead the way as they rushed off.

Meriam was kept in between them, the Comm Operator hard at work as her hands flew about the space in front of her while they moved, while Lúthien brought up the rear as they rushed towards the pinged location that Rael had sent into their party chat. It wasn’t lost to the elf that they were heading in the very direction of the explosion, the scent of gunpowder and burning materials only heightening as they got closer. "Isn’t that the prison tent…?!" Just what in the Heavens had brought Kyra and Rael to this particular place—and more importantly how had someone managed to detonate anything inside of it?!

A nod was given as Vargold asked the elf to keep an eye on Meri before he rushed into the space, the elf quick to draw her bow out of the inventory and prepare it once more as she stood guard. One hand rested against the fletchings of the arrows in her quiver, subconsciously counting off each one, before something in her HUD caused Lúthien to pause. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she read over and over the same line, for the first time realizing more information had appeared on the < Marked > status that had been present since before she’d dozed off for the night.

"¿Cuándo carajos...? Observer?"

She was vaguely aware of Ash's words as the man tried to think of a plan, the message alert that appeared moments after on her screen ignored as the elf focused on another piece of information. Luthien stopped sifting through the arrows then, the hand slowly raised towards the screen area that showed the status, before her index finger clicked on it…

---

▣ Action: Guarding Meriam as she's doing her Comms thing. Listening to the conversation between Ash and the Lion members. Also checking out the changed status in her UI screen...

 

[Rael]

.

140 / 140

Location: Remnants of the Prison
-84HP from Nemesis Ripper
-21HP from Nemesis Ripper's DoT
+152HP from Kyra Vashtana
Protected by Ash Vargold
Marked: You have been seen (Teleported - Expires in 00:379:11)

Trigger Warning: Blood and Depiction of Injuries

Unsteady hands trembled in the captivity of another's grasp, pulled tightly against metal bars, barred from deflecting the accusations thrown her way. Rael's lips parted, struggling to produce sounds beyond the softest gasp or groan from when the effort became too unbearable a notion. She pulled her hand, unable to free herself, and quickly grew afraid of the unnamed Lander, shaking her head to either side in denial of the trick both she and Kyra had supposedly played against her.

A fighter, a hero, knew a threat from the moment it was spoken into being, but those left to write the stories of their deeds, to study them, had little choice but to dwell in each spoken word, attempting to unravel every single one of fate's threads for hidden meanings. Hidden feelings. Hidden truths.

It wasn't a threat to Rael, never a threat to either her or Kyra. No, it was a confirmation of—

Rael halted her struggles against the woman, for she no longer was the source of her fears. The elven storyteller retreated a step, the movement itself done out of reflex as a blade pierced through her middle and the taste of metal spilled from her lips onto her garb. Frozen in place, her grimoire fell first, scattering into pixels as it dissipated into the void of her player's inventory.

Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, and the raspy sound of her breathing soon made itself heard as she inhaled and exhaled both through her mouth, hands shaking uncontrollably. Again, her world became little else than the pain delivered through...

She lifted her gaze from the weapon that had struck through her torso, and there saw the object of her deliverance. A man covered in too many bandages to count, the visage of his eyes changed by the magic he commanded, but not wholly unfamiliar.

And almost as if Vern had sensed the recognition in her eyes, he struck again, coating the walls of the tent with her life essence, and she fell backwards to the floor.

What happened next in the tent, not even she could tell. She was fading in and out of consciousness after the initial attack, resting her hand above the bleeding mess that had become her chest, only for the blood to continue pouring from between her fingers. Breathing, or the mere attempt to do so, hurt. Her limbs hurt, her head spun in circles, her body weighed much, much more than she had ever felt it to...

Her vision faded into nothingness as he dug the blade into her for a third time.

...

A high-pitched scream welcomed her back into the waking world, just in time to observe someone far less threatening than Vern now hovering over her, a steady flow of magic sealing the wounds caused by their attacker. She, too, was wounded, but more than that... It was the rising plumes of smoke and the sight of the starlit sky high above which surprised her most.

For lack of words, she touched her fingers to Kyra's forearm, tapping once to indicate that she was awake and slowly regaining use of her faculties. The curve of her lips was indicative enough of her gratitude for the special care, even if there was an underlying sense of something wrong tugging at the back of her mind.

Unwilling - or rather, unable - to move from her position, she raised a hand and pulled her palm menu.

Rael
To: Team Time EX

Help...

With their coordinates attached to the message, all that remained was to wait for someone to decide the flaming tent that had been blown up to be worthy of attention.

Heavy footfalls alerted her to the presence of another, the beastfolk of their group whom she hadn't seen in quite a while. As Ash also lowered himself beside Rael, working an energy of his own making into her wounds, she regained enough strength to slowly pull herself up to a sitting position.

Why wasn't the bleeding stopping, though?

She tugged on Ash's sleeve, calling his attention to her as he began speaking of the camp's current status, her eyebrows furrowing at the mention of the revolt that had started against Norn. She tried, first, to express what had happened by pressing her palms to her eyes once, twice and even thrice. Each time, she regarded him for any sort of indication that he understood, and if none ever came, then she'd just resort to her only tool available.

Rael
To: Team Time EX

We are being used. All of us. My eyes, our eyes... He came out of my eye! He... He... Vern!

He was seeing through my eyes!

The Commander isn't a traitor. It was all Vern's plan and he... He... He tried to kill us for finding out about his plan. The prisoner here confirmed the Commander's innocence but...

Rael
To: Team Time EX

Where is she?

Rael
To: Team Time EX

Kyra? Where is she?

---

• Action: Updating everyone on what happened via the UI menu.

 

[Raid Boss]

Marked
Day 2: Morning (Cycle 7)

Guidelines

• @Rael @Ash Vargold @Kyra Vashtana @Luthien
• Max word count of 500 words, no minimum.
• Marked's Comms

After the holding cell exploded, it seemed as though everything went to hell with Lions thinking that the camp's security had declared war on them when they issued an arrest warrant for the Camp Commander, Norn. On the opposite end, it seemed to the camp's personnel that the Lions were the ones detonating a bomb to make an example of those who resisted them.

After @Ash Vargold @Rael @Kyra Vashtana reached out to @Hanno Futaba, who was their direct hotline to the leader of the Lions (see side-thread: Attempted Parley). They managed to sway the faerin to convince Levi to make peace with the Camp Commander. Levi fortunately obliged. Together with his most-skilled knights, the Lions leader suppressed any fighting they came across without hurting the opposition until they arrived at the center of the camp where the rest of their opposition had fortified themselves behind makeshift barricades around the Camp Commander's tent.

"Commander Norn, my subordinate and his unnamed sources are vouching for your innocence despite the hard evidence that had been submitted to us. We're here to negotiate your unconditional surrender. Stand your troop down immediately. There will be no imprisonment - all we ask is that you are escorted by my knights at all times for the next 48 hours. We can sort out the truth behind the matters later, just in case an attack on the camp happens, do you agree?" Levi shouted his terms from a good distance away.

"Do keep in mind before you answer that if you refused and my knights are injured any more than they already are, I'm going to crush each and every person who is abetting you in treason, Commander," Levi's eyes glowed with great intensity as magical swords manifested in the air, spinning menacingly over the nervous security personnels obstructing the Lions Commander's path. Chad was beside him in a defensive stance on the left, and Hanno (presumably) had his shield readied on the right.

Team Time EX might have regrouped to see this unfold in real time considering that keeping things lowkey was the least of Levi's priorities amid the Lions' march.

After a good minute or so, Norn finally left his tent and gestured his men and women to lower their weapons as he approached Levi of his own volition. "Hmrph," Norn huffed. "If you were going to offer something like that then maybe don't go blowing up stuff in my jurisdiction, you armored thugs. You can stick your entire entourage on me and it still won't disprove my loyalty to Astorea and to the King."

Before Levi had his turn to reply, a scout ran toward them screaming, "T-the Dragonship enemies, they're setting up a siege in the distance!!!"

Levi immediately switched gear, "So they've come. Chad, stay on the Camp Commander, Hanno, reorganize the troop and get them ready for sortie. Go."

Norn didn't waste a single second as he began issuing orders to his personnel, "Bandage the wounded and reinforce the wall. Mobilize all the fighting-able people."

Decision Time
Decide as a group what you would like to do from here so I can set up Cycle 8.

• Defend the Camp. This is the most obvious choice, you will be given defense mechanics to wrestle with next cycle.
• Something Else. If there is something else the group thinks is more important to do, you guys can leave the defense to Hanno and his compatriots while you do that. Be sure to let me know what your plan is OOCly.

Spoiler: Posting Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]
Damage recorded here
[/status]

Post here

[action]
▪ Summary here
[/action]
Play Sheet Link

 

[Siondhe]

150 / 220

100/100

Status: Vulnerable
Ripper Damage: 18 damage over time (doubled; 36)

Kyra's ears twitched as they all spoke, planning things out in a combination of ways. The blood continued to flow from Kyra and Rael's wounds, not stopping no matter what Kyra did. She'd spent time fawning over Rael, trying to figure out the cause of the wound, trying to find something that would give her insight into how to fix it.

"Alright...Rael and I should - Rael stop moving damn it I'm trying to - I think we should head over to the medical tent...it's the...the best idea, I think."

She laid her hand on Rael's torso, just below the wound before closing her eyes. Once more, she pulled herself inwards, looking for that connection between herself and Rael. The smaller tether was there, a soft violet light that seemed to connect the two of them.

"I give to you that which I cannot take...may it provide you with that which was taken...may it cleanse...anything that comes between your health..."

The slight squeal that escaped her as the magic took hold, signifying the success as it flowed between the two of them.

"That should...ooohhhh spinnny....uh...that should hold us over...until we get to the medical tents...is the world spinning for anyone else?"

She laid a hand on Ash's arm for support, fighting against the feeling of nausea that had overcome her suddenly. The magic had helped slightly, the wound closing over ever so slightly. It still bled, clearly not healed away, but likely giving the two of them a bit more time before they needed to be worried.

Rolls

Power Heal (AoE)
1d100 (78) + 25 + 20 + 25 = 50 (Total divided by 3; @Kyra Vashtana | @Rael)
+50 HP to 3 targets
Gain the Vulnerable state
Spirit Magic | Kyra Vashtana | 1250.C7

@Rael | @Raid Boss

Play Sheet​

 

[Luthien]

160 / 160

...Explorer's League - Gold Whistle

< Marked: You have been seen (Observed - Expires in 00:141:08) >
Voucher Count: 1

Her hands reach over to the sides of Meri's face, thumbs carefully wiping away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of the faerin's eyes. "You’ll do great, Meri, you’re the best Comm around—and I’ll be back before you know it." Hopefully with Sven in tow, though the blonde was smart enough to not make a promise that wasn’t under her control to keep.

　

Rael
To: Team Time EX

Why... Why are the two of you leaving?
I don't... I don't think that is a good idea, like Kyra said. It'd be easier for all of us to care for one another, prepare and keep each other safe, if we stuck together.

The message arrives, and the elf can't help but raise an eyebrow in the pinkett's direction, straightening back up as Rael pulls Meri closer to herself and rests a chin on the faerin’s head. "There's no two of us leaving, Rael. I'm the only one leaving." Meri needed to stay since the faerin had a duty to complete, not to mention her Marked status was still a liability just like Vargold's in case Vern decided to get jumpy once more.

Meanwhile Kyra and Rael were clearly in no condition to keep adventuring about the place, even if their statuses had already been triggered by the man. "I’ll be back before y’all know it, so be sure to save some fun for me~" After all, she had made a promise to Meriam and, with the matter of the camp infighting finally dealt with, the ranger was determined to follow through it to the best of her ability.

A last check was given to her equipment (throwing knives in place, violin bow slung onto her back, all the arrows in her quiver ready to roll), taking the last few precious moments she'd have within the safety of her group to ensure everything was ready and in their proper place.

---

▣ Action: Getting some last info from Meri (over in Comms thread) before heading off to find Sven. Going to try the hideout the man blurted out to her upon first meeting (with the provided password too).

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno rushed to Levi as soon as he heard the call, as fast as a tiny man with piles of armor layers and a gargantuan shield could manage. The news were expected thanks to his friends relying the info, but that still made the faerin flutter his mana wings, squeezing his fist tight. "Yes, Lord Commander!" He said, turning to rush for the troops.

"Come on, Lions! We have enemies incoming. Get on your positions, Vanguard especially, hurry up!" Hanno exclaimed, using his Aura and his Spirit Magic to raise the confidence of his fellow Knights and the Squires for the fight.

"Long range attackers and disrupters get ready to try and slowdown the advancement of the enemies, if you can force them to disperse, even better!" He said, raising his shield and hurrying to get himself ready for the fight, slapping Ghast awake, and equipping his gauntlets and his armored headress.

 

[Raid Boss]

Cycle 8.1

@Luthien - Meri had a lot she wanted to say, but ended up pairing it down to a single "Mm..." before she stepped forward and pulled you into a tight hug.

"My heart aside, you have to come back safely, please?" Meriam's eyes were quivering. She knew that she couldn't stop you.

~ ✦ ~​

Just as you were about to head off, Chad made his way toward you and the group, nearly out of breath from having to sprint back through the camp. After being sent away by Levi.

"Heeeey! Wait! Hhaa..." the blonde called out. "You're heading out to find Sven Mortimer, right? The MIT had put in a personal request for me to bring him back so, let's head out together. I was supposed to be on the Camp Commander's tail, but the ask is from the head of the MIT himself... I hope Levi will be sending another captain to watch the Shady McShaderson in my place. Yeah."

[ Chad has joined your team. ]​

OOC: You may make an exit post here or once the side thread gets made.

 

[Luthien]

160 / 160

...Explorer's League - Gold Whistle

< Marked: You have been seen (Observed - Expires in 00:141:08) >
Voucher Count: 1

Emotions and tensions ran high as the sun began to crest over the horizon. A satisfied nod was given as Lúthien finished inspecting her arrows, before the mumbled noise by the faerin caused her to look at Meriam. Before she knew it Meri had stepped closer, shorter arms reaching out for the blonde elf before pulling her into a tight hug.

"... of course, I’ll do my very best Meri."

Once the initial shock ebbed away Lúthien’s arms would also wrap around the smaller faerin, returning the hug with as much intensity as Meri. Her words were barely above a whisper, careful to not make another promise that she might be unable to keep. As they slowly pulled back Lúthien would give Meriam a wide grin—masking the nervous jitteriness she felt within her chest—before a hand patted the top of her head fondly.

"Make sure to give ‘em extra hell while I’m gone, okay~?"

~ ~​

She retraced her steps back into the mess tent, to the very spot where she had first met Sven and seen the man for the last time. Again and again the blonde replayed their conversation in her head, trying to commit every single detail to memory, before heading south just like the researcher had muttered then. By the time she reached the edge of the camp an unknown voice called out in her direction, causing the ranger to pause before raising an inquisitive eyebrow as she watched the armored knight heading in her direction.

"Yeah, I’m gonna go track Sven… why?" She had taken a step back as the man caught up with her, uncertain about the blond, before listening to Chad’s explanation. Surprise colored her face for a moment upon realizing that they weren’t the only ones aware of Sven’s disappearance, and when Chad suggested partying up the blonde nodded in response. "Alright, sure, that sounds like a good idea to me."

Her fingers fluttered to the air in front of her, clicking a few unseen buttons, before a frown crossed her face as Lúthien was unable to send a party invite to the man in front of her. Crimson eyes flickered back to the man’s face, trying to discern if he might be a Person of the Land or just a player unfortunate enough to become UI Locked into this universe, before a soft sigh escaped her lips. No use looking at a gifted horse in the mouth, right?

"Name’s Lúthien," A hand was outstretched to shake with the blond. "Sven mentioned having a… researching spot of sorts not too far out from here, two miles south apparently. We can start looking for him there, and see if we can find any tracks or clues?"

< Lúthien has exited the thread. >​

 

[Rael]

.

157 / 140

Location: Remnants of the Prison
-8HP from Nemesis Ripper's DoT
+152HP from Kyra Vashtana
Overhealed [ 17 / 25 HP ]
Normal
Marked: You have been seen (Teleported - Expires in 00:379:11)

The elf squinted at the ranger, the source of her confusion unknown to Rael as she pointed to Luthien and Ash, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them. Was he not..? His messages said the complete opposite, but perhaps it was his desire to keep them from bleeding out that bound him to the two bleeding women.

"[ I understand. Do take care, we will need all willing to take up arms. ]" Once Luthien had read the note, she folded it and walked over to her, tucking it into a pocket of the woman's attire with a tiny smile.

And she was off.

Rael was mostly unaware of her own movements up until the point when Kyra pointed them out, the necessity to move her arms around to type on her UI something that had increased as their conversation unfolded. Everyone talked so fast, some uttering concerning words and ideas that she had to refuse, had to get her own piece in before they all scrambled to follow after their own plans.

"[ Sorry, Kyra... Thank you for taking care of me. ]" She wrote, and then mouthed the words even though no sound came from them as she could all but stay still as the beastfolk worked her ministrations.

Rael sidestepped around the two beastfolk, pushing through her own pain for the sake of supporting the one who so carefully and rapidly always tended to her, coming to the other side of Kyra where she promptly took one of her hands, and laid her palm flat against the back of the smaller healer.

Together they would face the rising sun.

---

• Action: Leaning on Kyra as the three who remain look for medical attention to prepare for the upcoming fight.

 

[Raid Boss]

Cycle EX

@Kyra Vashtana @Luthien @Rael

Just as the group members convened one last time, Meriam failed to notice that her Marked condition flashed momentarily before she waved goodbye to Luthien. And just like a dandelion on a windy day, the group dispersed, letting the momentum carry them forward.

Meanwhile...

Vern saw the entire exchange through Miriam's eyes from a tent within the camp. After she said goodbye to the Elf, Vern took his dagger and rammed it into the table next to him.

"You've got to be kidding me. Sven Mortimer wasn't UI-locked?" he growled.

"UI chat is dead too, the Dragonship army must be here already..." Vern commented as he fiddled around with his UI.

"Grr... Vern, you dummy. How did you manage to butcher such an easy job?" a feminine voice could be heard across from him. It belonged to a caenis with fiery long twin tails with annoyance written all over her face.

"It would have been fine did they didn't feed me false information. Now I've got to spend time salvaging this mess. If you don't want to get crushed with the rest of the camp, you should get out now," he said as he got ready to depart.

"Dummy idiot! We were supposed to work together, see what happens when you go solo!" she stomped the ground angrily. Though, her mood immediate shifted as an idea popped into her head. "Mmrgh... So the thing coming has a lot of firepowers, right?"

"What of it?" Vern replied dismissively as he shoved his long dagger into the sheath hanging from his waistband behind his back.

"Mrghuhu... just thought of something fun and explosive to pass the time while you're cleaning up your own mess," she giggled as she looked down at her palm, from which a ball of fire had flared up within it.

"Suit yourself," Vern replied coldly as he disappeared the moment he left the tent, leaving the caenis to stew in her flaming creativity.

Once she was alone, the girl twirled around within the tent as sparks kindled around her. In the span of a few seconds, the tent was set ablaze as she laughed to herself.

[ Thread Ends ]​

Continuation:

• (Megathread) Hope in Danger!
• Finding Sven