[Plot] [Open] Week 145: The Counterattack

[swaswj]

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The Counterattack
Unto the Black Portal, Phase Two - Krevati Evimerias
​

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In the waters next to the port city Navale, the Hydrus once again floated above water. The battleship had been dragged below the surface by something massive, but remained mostly intact, and so the shipwright Finian enlisted the aid of some of the mysterious travelers to the city to bring the vessel back up.

Now, the deck crawled with dozens of people from the combined forces of the Arcanum, the Conexus, and the Fraternitas. Though intact, the ship hadn't been completely undamaged, and so they were trying to get the ship as close to one hundred percent as possible.

It was a small warship, originally made by demvir nearly a century ago and then adapted by velen and laicar. It had the main deck, three below decks, and a two-story superstructure over the rear half of the ship. The ship was made of steel, mostly unpainted. The bottom third of the ship, hidden beneath the water, was painted a dark red. Near the front and the rear, the number one hundred two was painted in white. The upper deck had been lined in wooden planks, treated to resist warping in the water. There were four doors off of the main deck, one at mid-ship below the navigator's perch, one at the front of the superstructure, and one more to each side of the superstructure.

Beneath the bow of the ship, just below the surface of the water, there was a large war room with many armored viewports. This secondary command room took up the front quarter of the ship, and utilized the first and second below decks. The main command room was in the superstructure. This was where the demvir design was most apparent, with great blue glass panels designed to deflect incoming attacks away. They were hooked into the ship's power source, and glowed brightly when in the ship was in use.

Near the front of the main deck, there was a three-barreled cannon that seemed out of place on the vessel. It had been salvaged from the Arma Bellica, a smaller ship that had been destroyed, but retained some of its weaponry. Even now, there was a velen man working on getting the device back into working order.

The ship could potentially carry all six hundred brave men and women, but realizing this was a point of no return, Laebuta had advised allowing any who wished it to remain behind to bolster the protection of Navale. The port city's guard forces had taken a hard hit, and they really could use the additional help. Most, however, remained committed to reaching the forgotten city of the Janu, Krevati Evimerias.

Darkness was falling, but the ship's power had been restored and so it glowed with bizarre light, the product of engineering rather than nature or magic.

They would hold off for the night, fending off any attacks that came to the small city, but in the morning they would depart.

Hopefully they would find the secret of the daemon invasions... and end them.

[500/500]

Notes

This thread is for anyone who wants to proceed to Krevati Evimerias. Anyone who was in the previous phase, but does not want to continue, does not have to. You may also bring in other characters from Terminus who volunteered to be part of the assault group, PC or NPC. At a later point, the plan is to meet up with another group of 400 from Excelsa, and characters can be brought in from there, also.

I will be doing turns in no particular order, so if two of you have characters interacting with each other, you do not need to wait for my reply.

The Hydrus is based on the below image. It does not have onboard weapons aside from a three-barreled cannon situated at the front of the ship. These cannons can be turned left, right, or forward, but cannot face backward.

 

[Valero]

Black stained the webbed fingers that worked on the first tier of the impressive cannon. Other gunsmiths had arrived on board the ship and had immediately moved to calibrate the weapons, ensuring that none of the essential firing components had been damaged. It was a vital task, but they knew what they were doing, so Deni let them be. He had decided to focus more on making sure the Hydrus’ sole means of destruction stayed with them. He tightened the locking mechanisms on the lowest tier. The journey would be for nothing if the whole thing collapsed as soon as they hit a big wave.

The velen twisted a small lever attached to the weapon. Immediately, he growled as he jerked his upper body. A curse under his breath and he glanced at his bandaged shoulder. He didn’t realise how much he had to use his shoulder until that nightmare had torn half of the skin off it. Remaining knelt down in front of the lever, Deni grew motionless. He hated giving himself time to rest and so he had jumped straight on the reparation of the cannons as soon as the ship was docked. And yet he couldn’t help but think that he had done enough. He hadn’t seen any members of the Conexus or Fraternitas out there saving the vessel when he and Aelflead were getting slashed at. Perhaps it was time to hand it all over to them. Let them sail to their doom and become heroes.

Most decisions in the rogue’s life had been difficult, but he had always stood by his own choices. Doubt was an unfamiliar sensation to him. Despite his lifestyle, Deni tried to do the right thing when he could, but he wouldn’t have survived as long as he had if he didn’t know when to give up a fight. The pale velen loosed a grunt as he lifted himself off his knees and wiped his blackened hands on his dark trousers. With bloodshot eyes and somber expression, he meandered ponderously towards the ramp leading off the ship.

[346/346]

 

[Dysney]

After the rather exhausting endeavor against the River Tiger and the demonic hounds, Ignis rode her trusty platform of vines and bark back towards Navale. Amicus perched on her shoulder, part of the hood of her cloak gripped between his twiggy fingers. They had dropped Dante off in the city, restocked supplies as best as they could, and then went off in search of Deni (and adventure).

Ignis drifted towards the docks with Amicus on her shoulder. She had heard about the forces from the Conexus and Arcanum gathering to track down the source of the demonic invasion. Perhaps they would run into the group Deni had gone off with like those guards who had found her search party.

By chance, or perhaps through sheer dumb luck, the enlil made her way up the ramp onto the battleship quietly just as Deni approached. Adjusting her new scarf, which she was using to cover the lower half of her face, the avian picked up her pace.

[165]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

Navale was a strange town these days for Aeria. After the fiasco with Zoroastres, she had contemplated several potential courses of action, but concluded that staying out of Terminus was all to the good. She had remained cloaked and hooded, moving around the city and enjoying the feeling of not being known but something kept nagging at her. Fighting the daemons was something she had wanted to do but had never really had much chance to engage in it until she heard talk about the Hydrus and the fact that they were looking for fighters to crew her.

Although water wasn't the natural habitat of a half-enlil spurii, being on a battleship would give her a chance to contribute. It had seemed that they weren't being too picky about who they let on board because no one gave the halberd-carrying girl more than a quick glance before they'd agreed to take her on. The fact that she had engineering skills was probably helpful as well.

Now she was wandering the decks rather aimlessly until her sharp eyesight spotted a familiar velen walking towards the ramp that led off of the ship. She ran quickly across the deck and when he was close enough for him to hear her without shouting, she addressed him.

"Deni? Deni! It is you. How strange that we should run into each other here!"

[228]

 

[Mystydjinn]

Aelflead was sitting in the shade near the ship's lower deck entrance, reading what looked like a engine manual intently. She wasn't one of the ship's actual engineers, but if it went down, she at the very least wanted to know what was wrong before the ship blew up.

Not that I'll be able to do anything abut it if it did. The woman groaned and slapped the book closed in frustration. The ship had been tidied up pretty well by other engineers who'd helped get it afloat, and though she stuck around to assist in the repairs, the redhead felt she hadn't done more than heavy lifting the rest of the group couldn't do themselves.

In a word she was felt inadequate, like a pair of safety scissors lost in an armory; and the itching gashes across her arm that throbbed every odd movement weren't helping.

But sitting in a stew of inadequacy wasn't helping her get anything done, and as she'd decided as much when she suddenly sprang up from her seat. She dusted off her pants and turned to head towards the engine room, if she couldn't help she at the very least could learn something from the ship before they set off.

However, as she turned she caught sight of the rogue, and the two women quickly approaching him. One of the women, a velen carrying a halberd that looked like it'd seen some wear, a stranger to her; and the other familiar, but not necessarily a positive memory in the spurii's head. In fact, it was at that moment the odd-eyed woman remembered she owed something to two of the passengers standing near the boat entrance.

She cracked her knuckles and started toward the trio with something of a sneer on her lips, and coin purse in her hand.

[304]

 

[Dysney]

Absent-minded with his internal conflict, Deni didn’t even notice Ignis until he started heading down the ramp. She was disguised and though he recognised her posture and the way she carried herself, he couldn’t have been certain that it was her. He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to figure out if it was truly her. Then that familiar voice sounded from behind him.

Still a little anxious after the underwater skirmish, Deni spun at the mention of his name. The sight of the spurii caused him to relax a little. A surprised smirk lifted itself onto his face.

“Aeria?”

The velen pushed past the few people standing between him and his friend. When he reached Aeria, he stretched his left arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a brief embrace.

“Not that I’m not happy to see a familiar face, but what are you doing here?”

Aeria shrugged a little after the embrace, but the way that her eyes crinkled around the edges showed that she was smiling.

“Oh you know, this and that. I thought maybe it was time I did something besides skulking around Terminus. The daemons are a threat to all of us and I’m no exception.” She took a slow breath in and sighed it out before adding, “Besides certain groups might change their opinion of me if I were to render a service to them.”

She looked the velen up and down before speaking in a querying tone.

“What about you? What brings you onto the Hydrus?”

The answer to that question had an awkward answer, so Deni deepened his smirk and deflected as best he could. He motioned to his bandaged shoulder.

“How do you think this happened? I was part of the team that raised this vessel, and that gorgeous set of cannons over there.”

The slender spurii furrowed her brow. She noticed that the velen hadn’t really answered her question, but she knew enough not to pry into things. Her past, after all, wasn’t something that she wanted everyone to know about either. A brief smile flashed across her face.

“Well that’s pretty nifty! Raising the ship sounds like quite a task. Anyways I guess we’re going to be crewmates. I’ll be glad to have you on board with me! I wonder if we’ll run into anyone else from the Societas?”


The last part of her statement was spoken in a lower tone. It likely wouldn’t do to mention an organization like the Societas too loudly at the moment.

As if on cue, Ignis reached the duo. “Well hello, there,” the avian greeted them quietly, but still cheerfully.

“We keep running into each other in the strangest places.”

Amicus waved from his place on her shoulder before climbing down. The mons infans waddled over to Deni and tugged on his pant leg, wanting to be picked up.

Ignis had noticed his injury, but the scarf hid whatever expression she made in response to it.

Deni’s smile became more natural at the sound of Ignis’ voice. He leaned down and picked up Amicus, wincing a little at the motion. He held the small familiar comfortably in his bandaged arm, then embraced his enlil companion, as he had done with Aeria.

Amicus’ hands began to glow as soon as the mons infans was nestled in Deni's hold.

Ignis hugged Deni tightly, careful to avoid his injured arm.

“I’m glad you’re all okay,” the velen stated. Then he arched his eyebrows as he glanced between the pair of them.

“Wait, this isn’t an intervention is it? The pair of you just turning up here, appearing minutes apart...”

The slender spurii laughed and shook her head at Deni.

“Do you think we’re that good at planning? I guess it’s just fate or something that we were all drawn together here.”

She grinned more broadly.

“We did say that one day they’d be singing songs about us. Maybe this is our chance to make ourselves worthy of those songs! The Band of Three and their heroic exploits can come to life!”

Of course, this was just wishful thinking but a part of Aeria secretly yearned for it to be true.

Ignis tugged the scarf on her face a little lower and grinned. “Unlikely heroes brought together by fate,” the enlil agreed. “It’s like a fantasy: Demons, dragons, and battles, it's as if we're a legend in the making.”

Amicus rustled in agreement.

“After this next adventure, they'll have to hire a bard to sing of our adventures.” Her eyes twinkled in merriment. The avian craved to be part of something fantastic as much as her spurii counterpart, though for Ignis wishful thinking was a way of life. What she sought was as real and possible to her as any mundane thing. Who could doubt after the strange things she had been through? Anyone who thought to tell Ignis differently would be refuted with one word: dragons.

Deni twisted his neck and stared longingly at the ramp that led off the ship. It was an unusual feeling that despite his heritage, he would have been more comfortable on land after the struggle with that daemon. Just when he was about to make a getaway and choose to live, those two had to appear, in all of their enthusiasm. While he was known for going with the flow, he felt after the last fight that it was time to put his foot down.

“Actually, I was just about to leave,” he admitted.

Ignis’ eyes locked on Deni. She recalled the short argument they'd left unfinished after the dragon. Her shoulders dropped and the slight shuffling of her feet revealed the enlil’s discomfort.

Amicus, who was a far simpler creature and more straightforward, pinched the velen.

“Ow, hey!”

Aeria looked at him in disbelief.

“You’re telling me that you don’t want to deal with the biggest threat that Araevis has faced in a long, long time? You aren’t the sort of person who runs away, Deni. I’m sorry but I don’t buy it. There’s got to be something else that’s getting in the way. Now that we’re here, you can’t seriously tell me you’re going to back out and let us fight without your support?”

Her tone was a mixture of emotions that came out in quite a sharp fashion, although strictly speaking that wasn’t what she was trying to convey.

Deni took a step back from the two women that tried to stare holes through him.

Emboldened by Aeria’s words, Ignis spoke up. “We don't want to do this without you. We’re a trio. I know the last few things we got into were... well, dangerous. But this isn't just rushing in head first without a plan. We'll be careful.”

The enlil hoped her choice of words got through to Deni. Ignis wouldn't --couldn’t-- promise to avoid danger, but promising to be careful while risking her life was something even the thrill seeking woman could do.

“It looks like this is an intervention after all!” Deni bellowed. He didn’t realise how much he was raising his voice. “You weren’t there when that thing nearly tore my damned arm off!”

The velen’s blue eyes suddenly noticed Aelflead, sitting across the deck. She was there during the attack and if not for their team effort, both of them might have been consumed by that monster. Yet she was staying? Deni let loose an exasperated sigh and held his head in his hands. It wasn’t like he was going to leave them to venture off to an island full of daemons on their own anyway. They weren’t going to be convinced, so he reluctantly receded his objection.

“Fine,” he said, lowering his hands and his voice. “I always found it difficult to say ‘no’ to either of you. If you want to be damned heroes, I’ll bring the party with me.”

Ignis winced at Deni’s short outburst, but was distracted by the appearance of a familiar figure in the distance.

“I think we have coany...” the enlil said, pulling her scarf up so it rested higher on the bridge of her nose.

“Angry company from the looks of it.”

[546/892]
[415/643]
[398/563]

 

[Apeiron]

Something snarled off to the group’s right, just over the edge of the ship. A moment later, and a massive head crept into view, as a vorax pulled itself up onto the deck of this ship -- forcing everyone close by to move out of the way. The vistra-hound was old, with a multitude of scars that ran the length of its body and made a patchwork of its fur, where whole parts refused to grow anymore. It’s once brilliant gold pelt was now greying. At some point in its past, one of its eyes had been wounded, and was now forever closed. “Palamedes!” Someone yelled out, “Palamedes you can’t just climb up the ship!” Up the gangway came a laicar dressed in simple clothes. Two bags were slung over his shoulders -- one a simple traveling bag, while the other was a treated case that housed his rifle from the elements. Outside of the obvious muscle under his fitted cotton shirt, and the single pockmark on his right cheek, he was a fairly plain man with dark brown hair cropped close, and smokey blue-grey colored eyes. The young man crossed the distance to the vorax, as it took up a spot not too far from where it had made its entrance, and promptly began to laze on the deck under the Excelsus sun. “Palamedes, you’re going to get us in trouble…,” Ioannes sighed, but made no effort to prod or coax the beast from its new found place. Instead he took a single look around, wondering when someone would approach and yell at him for his companion, before taking a seat right next to the vorax between one set of its three sets of feet. “Guess we’re not staying with the village,” the wanderer muttered to himself with a small amount of resignation. ​

 

[MoonlitRain014]

This sudden disturbance caused Aeria to whirl, her halberd swinging into a ready position as the incredibly ugly, scarred and massive creature climbed up the side of the ship. A demon attack? So soon? Her mind was already whirling but when the man who’d walked onto the deck addressed the creature and it began acting more like a small pet than a gigantic monster, Aeria relaxed slightly. Aelflead looked like a coming storm and the spurii wasn’t in the mood for a fight, so she ambled over to where Ioannes was sitting and looked across at Palamedes. Her face was still covered but she projected as much warmth in her voice as possible.

“That’s..um..quite the pet you have there. Are you joining us on this journey? We could probably use the kind of back up that...Palamedes...looks like he can provide us. He seems kinda formidable if you ask me.”

She wasn’t letting her guard down in front of the beast but it seemed more interested in sunbathing than tearing her head off and wolfing it down in one gulp.

[826]

 

[Dysney]

The appearance of the vorax temporarily distracted Ignis from the fuming spurii approaching her. Her first impulse was to follow Aeria to go talk to the beast’s companion and perhaps see if the vorax would allow her to pet it. Though large and clearly capable of being a threat, Ignis had never been one to focus overly much on potential danger except when she had to. Besides, Palamedes was fluffy --in the places where he actually had fur-- and acted like an oversized felos.

Then, Ignis realized that Aelflead might not let her just walk away. The enlil mourned the fact that she’d left her enchanted cloak home; it would’ve solved quite a few problems. She dug a bag from one of the numerous pockets of her cloak and started pouring x shaped coins into one hand.

“D’ya think she’ll be less angry if we just give it back? I didn’t mean any harm, it just seemed like a bit of light hearted fun at the time.” She looked at Deni questioningly.

Amicus sighed, but continued to heal the gunslinger’s shoulder. His companion was quite daft.

“Oh come on, Amicus. You know I can hear your sass y’know!” Ignis glared at her familiar, stashing the pouch within the folds of her cloak once more.

The mons infans rustled, sounding quite a bit like a “hmph” and turned his attention back to Deni.

Cora warbled from its place hovering near the engineer’s feet.

“Oh, Cora, not you, too,” Ignis moaned.

[249/812]

 

[Apeiron]

Ioannes said nothing for a moment. An obvious mixture of confusion and something else warring across his face. Hesitance. He was still unaccustomed to the attention Palamedes brought, and he shifted uncomfortably against the vorax -- as if hoping he could somehow hide under the beast’s fur. Hard to believe that this was the same man who had dared to challenge waves of imps in an attempt to save lives. “T-thanks,” he offered quietly. It was a weak reply, and he knew it. Mentally he chastised himself and dug for a little bit of his courage. He’d spoken with strangers before, why should this person be any different? Clearing his throat, Ioannes restated, “Thanks.” Looking over his shoulder, and up at his partner, a small embarrassed smile pulled at the edge of the laicar’s lips. He went on to add, “Though I don’t know how much help the old man will be. He sort of does what he wants. More than likely you’ll just get me as help -- that is, if you’ll have it.” The wander pulled his attention away from the ornery bear-dog, and offered the stranger his hand, “The names Ioannes Furvus, of Paludis. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.” [502]

 

[Valero]

“Aquila’s arse!” Deni exclaimed at the sudden appearance of the creature. His heart raced at the shock, but he began to relax again once he realised what it was. He was still a little jittery after the attack. Fortunately, Aeria and the vorax’ owner seemed to have it under control. The velen sighed to regulate his breathing and then turned back to Ignis. When he did, she was producing exa from one of her bags. It took him a few moments to realise what his enlil companion had said after the appearance of the vorax, but when his mind finally processed it, he grasped her hand.

“Let’s not be hasty now,” he said to her. At the height of Amicus’ healing, Deni began to experience a wave of euphoria washing over him as the pain dissipated. Perhaps it was that sensation that gifted him with his next idea, or maybe the disappearing pain allowed him to focus. Regardless, a devilish light appeared in his eyes and that cocky smile returned.

“If you really want to give Red her money back, we can do that, but not here.”

Those blue eyes fixed on his temporary ally as she stormed towards him. The smile deepened.

“If she wants it back that badly, she’s going to have to earn it.”

[217/1,109]

 

[swaswj]

Exiting from below-deck, a small group made their way through the crowd. Six of the highest-ranking members of the Conexus formed a small circle around the robed demvir in their midst. Although they looked askance at the beast and its owner, they were in a poor position to turn people away. They moved to the railed platform in the center of the main deck, spreading and allowing the demvir to speak.

The demvir placed his hands on the railing in front of him. He was adorned in soft blue robes, and he appeared to have a pointed metal beard, as well as wireframe glasses. "To all of the brave men and women who join together here today, I give thanks and offer my sincerest respect!" His voice was louder than his small stature might have suggested, wizened but tinny, and it carried to everyone on the deck. "My name is Laebuta, and though I am but a mere acolyte of Omnevis in the service of the Arcanum, I am here to carry the prayers from the Magister and the three Saints, blessing this most courageous mission and all those who are part of it."

He looked around at the crew for a moment. "While Terminus, and Hiemis as a whole, does not have its own standing military, we have always been secure in the strength of our citizenry. In the face of the encroaching darkness that threatens us, we have formed an incredible force, an alliance of the esteemed Conexus, with three hundred committed guardsmen; the formidable Fraternitas, another one hundred twenty-eight fierce warriors; my own devout Arcanum, accounting for an additional seventy-eight acolytes; and many more of the citizens of Terminus, Elata Spiritus, and Navale. I will not speak for long, but before we depart, I want to be certain that everyone here knows what you are committing to.

"One week ago, the sky turned dark in a rarely seen solar eclipse. Shortly after, the daemon legions appeared. The two events are not separate: a malicious force has used the solar eclipse to open a black portal. Normally such a rift in the planes will not stay open for long, but the Magister believes that this one is different. This one is stronger, self-sustaining. Unless we can disrupt the ritual that holds it open, the daemons will never stop coming. Each one we slay will be sent back to Infernalis to lick its wounds before coming right back for revenge." The demvir paused. So far, everything he said was either known or easily assumed. There was nothing shocking about any of it.

What he was going to say next, however, might be. "Our destination is called Krevati Evimirias. It is three days travel by sea, to the southeast. You will not have heard that name before, it has been forgotten to time. What's important to know is that this ancient city... is likely a city of the Janu people.

"You might know them better as Revenants." All cultures had horror stories of the revenants. "Yes, they are real. Some of the stories you know may be made up or embellished, but the Janu are real, and they are known to be frighteningly skilled in the arcane arts and daemonology."

Laebuta leaned back and then stepped back from the railing. "We absolutely must destroy the black portal, or the daemons will continue to whittle away at our defenses and attack our innocents. Make no mistake, however: this battle will be hard. We will be facing daemons at their source as well as the ones who summoned them. We need every strong arm and strong mind that we can get, but if any of you have second thoughts, or want to return to your loved ones, now is the time to do so.

"For those who stay, Colonel Exarch will act as the leader for this alliance. We depart at dawn. That is all." The colonel -- an aging laicar man with ruddy skin and a deep scar on the right side of his face -- stepped forward and nodded, but said nothing. There was nothing to say, yet.

Laebuta would provide as many details as he could about the city, but Exarch, with former military experience, was responsible for determining a plan of attack and coordinating the many different factions of volunteers. The entire thing felt overwhelming and it was all he could do to keep a brave face on it.

First they had to get through the night, and any new swarms of daemons that came with it.

[750/1250]

 

[Mystydjinn]

The redhead did not break her charge immediately to listen to the speaking demvir. Though when he mentioned the Janu city, she stopped and mouthed the words thoughtfully as he spoke.

The name was somewhat familiar to her, she'd seen it mentioned in huge tomes her mentor had study from once or twice, and what little information it had was always unnerving to the little girl. Even Velden herself never said more about the Janu city than, "It's not a good place for smart people to go, and I consider myself intelligent."

"Guess that makes me stupid then." Aelflead mumbled under her breath, and ran her fingers through her hair. Then, as the demvir left the deck of volunteers to their own devices, her original intents rushed back to her mind. She picked up her coin purse that she'd dropped when she stopped to listen, and turned back to the direction of the wizened bear-thing that'd climbed up the ship. When she did, she saw the rouge leaning over the enlil and saying something to her, though the bustle of conversation on the deck kept their words from her.

Regardless, she stomped into the group recklessly, stepping over the vorax, it's master, the spurii who'd moved close beside him, and reached out to snatch up the couple by their throats. Or at least the coin bag, whichever she touched first.

[232]

 

[Dysney]

Before Ignis could truly appreciate the mischief in Deni's expression or question what he had in mind, the Conexus guards and Laebuta emerged from the lower decks. Ignis resisted the urge to make herself smaller or flee. They paid her no mind, and the avian relaxed once other volunteers moved forward to ask questions.

The enlil's attention returned to Aelflead, who was getting far too close for comfort. Deftly, Ignis sidestepped the spurii's lunge, hands disappearing into her cloak to stow the exa in a pocket.

“Is that a new type of greeting?” she asked innocently, squashing the impulse to slip her guns into her hands.

Amicus rustled his disapproval and glared from his place on Deni's shoulder.

“Usually you say something before you… were you trying to shake my hand? I hear laicar do that as a sort of hello thing.”

Ignis hummed thoughtfully, subtly readying herself to respond to another lunge. “What do you think, Dear?” The enlil turned her head to gauge Deni’s reaction and bait Aelflead a bit.

[172/984]

 

[Valero]

Deni was taken aback when Aelflead’s hand grasped for him and his companion. He had been listening to the demvir’s announcement keenly. After all, if he was staying for the show, he needed to know when it was going to be his time to shine. Any thoughts he had regarding the information he had just been given were forcefully shoved to the back of his mind when the angry spurii’s hand grasped his collar.

The velen instinctively wrapped his webbed fingers around her wrist to stop her from choking him. Before he could do anything else, however, his enlil partner began with her mocking. Pleasantly surprised, it caused Deni to grin despite the situation.

“Oh, I’ve had much worse greetings, Lovey,” he responded to Ignis, though his gaze never left Aelflead’s infuriated expression. Refraining from further mockery was a challenge, but he was determined to succeed. It wouldn't do if she remained agitated with him for the whole mission.

“You’ve surprised me, Red,” Deni admitted in a low tone. Despite the crowd, he didn’t need to raise his voice since they were practically in breathing distance. “After what the pair of us just went through, you’re still willing to go straight for my throat. I saved your life out there, and you saved mine. I find it hard to believe that you still only feel contempt after that.”

Still smiling, the rogue clenched a fist around the spurii’s hand and forced her away from his neck.

“You want the money we stole from you? Make sure my compatriots and I survive this damned fight and we can figure something out. Sound good”

[272/1,381]

 

[MoonlitRain014]

The speech had given everyone pause and Aeria was no exception. Laebuta was keen to hammer home the danger which they faced and mentioned of the Janu didn’t help matters any. The tales told of those half-mythical beings were truly the stuff of nightmares. On top of the demonic attacks of late, the spurii wondered if she was really smart to continue on this path, but it was too late to back out now. She had promised aid to her friends and she genuinely did want to defend the world from this threat.

There were more pressing things, however, at the moment. The angular spurii decided that she really didn’t want to get involved with whatever Aelflead was doing in confronting her companions so she turned her attention to Ioannes and stuck her own hand out.

“Sorry about that! I was going to shake when his nibs up there starting talking. My name’s Liria. I just go by the one name for now. It’s nice to meet you, Ioannes. What’s brought you here? Spoiling for a fight or just wanting to do your bit?”

The scarf stayed across her face and the alias would continue to be used. Aeria was taking no risks in being identified.

[1032]

 

[Mystydjinn]

The tan skinned woman yanked her hand away with finality from the velen's grasp and maintained her scowl while the enlil put her pouch away, but didn't reach again, remembering the pistols the both of them carried.

"How about you return my property before I fling you both off this ship? I don't trust you for after, you bastards ran from me last time." At the rogue's words though, she wavered somewhat. For the moment it lasted, it was nice knowing someone was watching her back. But, she knew better than to think that moment could actually extend.

Besides, outside of hairy situations the spurii didn't know them, and the little that she did said that these two looked out for themselves. The first time they robbed her they almost died, killing the fanged horror she'd fought with Deni was just mutual survival. She'd be a fol to fall for the same thing again.

"Besides combo meal, you two have got each other, I doubt you need my help to keep your buddies safe from some over-tanned assholes."

[178]

 

[Dysney]

“Couldn’t we just talk this over?” Ignis inquired, raising a brow. “Trying to throw us overboard is going to draw too much attention and cause too much trouble. We could just head below deck, away from the Conexus guards who might actually notice you’re here if you start causing problems. I’m sure we can make it worth your while to wait.”

Amicus hissed, glaring poisonously at the woman threatening his partner.

Ignis tried to ignore rising irritation and anxiety. Deni wanted to negotiate, so that’s what they would do. He was a smooth talker and could get things settled down. If not, the engineer would have to convince Aelflead to leave them alone. She was confident that the spurii would be easier to petrify than a basilisk. Ignis wouldn’t even have to say a word.

That, or a swift kick to the stomach.

The engineer took a breath to steady herself and looked the spurii in the eye, stepping forward. Negotiation, Ignis reminded herself.

“So, what’s it going to be?” she asked quietly. “Are we going to put up with each other on this adventure and settle our differences after or do we need to put this to rest now?” Shoulders squared, half her face obscured, feet planted, the enlil looked unusually grave.

[213/1197]

 

[Apeiron]

His hand falling back onto his lap, Ioannes pursed his lips together as a bit of color drained from the his face. He hesitated to answer immediately. Instead the wanderer’s dropped his eyes for a second, looking directly at the bracers on his arms, contemplating how to answer. He didn’t want to lie, but at the same time he couldn’t answer truthfully. No one would believe him. “Ah…,” he started, shifting uncomfortably again, “I, uh, guess the latter. I was in Terminus when the first wave hit almost a week ago. There were a lot of people who got hurt that day, and I wanted to do something.” He paused to look up at Liria, another embarrassed smile pulling at the corners of his lips, “I can’t do a whole lot, though. I’m a gunsmith by trade, you see, and Terminus has a number of those. “But,” he hurried before anything else could be said, “I am a decent hand with my rifle.” Reaching up with his left hand, Ioannes patted the case over his right shoulder, directing the woman’s attention to it. He added, “And then there’s Palamedes who Fate saw fit to give me. If I can’t make the stuff to help people protect themselves, then the very least I can do is help protect them.” [720]

 

[Valero]

Deni let loose a sharp, scandalised laugh.

“You really think I’d just carry that amount of exa around with me?” he said with a snarky grin. Perhaps he had misjudged her. If her actions were anything to go on, it seemed as though she wanted to die and was just failing at it. The velen glanced towards the amalgamation of guards from Conexus and Fraternitas across the deck. They hadn’t noticed the confrontation through the crowds. Yet.

“No chance I’m bringing all that money to some daemon-blasted city for it to get hacked off me by some fell creature. You’re just going to have to wait.”

The hackles on the back of Deni’s neck stood on end. He was trying to be reasonable at least until after they had saved the damned world, but if Aelflead drew too much attention towards them, she would become a big problem.

The rogue didn’t remember shifting closer to her, staring down into her eyes with his own, but he almost invaded the redhead’s personal space. He was tired, aching and about to head out on a mission where returning was unlikely. Agitated didn’t even begin to describe how he felt. His smile turned unpleasant and his tone grew low through sharp, gritted teeth.

“So I suggest you relax and enjoy the journey.”

[219/1,600]