[Plot] TEP - Under the Sea

Deni Perfide · Feb 28, 2020

Deni sipped at the amber-green drink and released a content sigh. The short smile never left his lips, even as Ignis meandered off around the dancefloor towards one of the statues. His blue eyes followed her for just a second before flitting around the room. If his gaze never rested on a person for more than a few seconds, he shouldn't draw any unwanted attention.

The velen leaned and whispered into Aeria's ear for a few minutes before lurching away from the table and over to the dancefloor. He turned towards Ignis and motioned her over as he began to sway to the beat of the music.

[1,308]

swaswj · Mar 4, 2020

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Ignis stiffened, startled to find that in her distraction the Emperor himself had approached her. How could a man wearing such brash colors come up unnoticed? The enlil felt compelled to nod, hoping that would be the end of it.

Thadal smiled, looking at the statue more than at Ignis. "Did you know that the velen once had many kingdoms? This was before the Cataclysm, when we had all the world's oceans to call home. All of the territory you know on the surface and more, much more." The Emperor stepped forward and brushed a hand over the statue in front of them.

"There were four kingdoms that stood above the rest: Thalass, Natatoria, Littoril, and Pel. The Lady Arbiter bestowed her blessings upon a great stone in each of these four. White marble, red granite, black onyx, and yellow quartzite. From these stones, each kingdom carved a statue in Her honor.

"Now, all of the kingdoms have gone, but all of the velen are now united into one common empire. Pel's statue became the foundation around which Pelagia was anchored. This statue," Thadal explained, caressing the white marble fondly and proudly, "was once found in the Kingdom of Thalass, in the frosty waters far to the northwest. Once thought lost, I brought it, and its sisters, home."

There was something otherworldly about the statue, and it was easy to believe that it had been blessed by the Vis. It was different in a way that she couldn't define, but visions of Natum flashed through Ignis' mind.

Thadal was clearly proud of the statues, proud that he had returned the velen artifacts to the empire. Or perhaps, just proud to have them in his possession?

"Too many eyes," Keydis agreed after following Red's gaze and watching for a moment. She didn't like the body language of the unknown dignitaries that were watching the gaggle of kids surrounding Aelflead. "There's no way anyone would do something stupid here and now, right? They just think the kids are brats."

Despite her assurances, Keydis started weaving through the crowd of fellow 'heroes' and the local nobility, closing the gap. The hair on the back of her arm was prickled and she felt like things were brewing that were over her head. Making sure to keep close to Red, Keydis finally caught Aelflead's eyes through the crowd.

The knowing look told her that the firebrand was also feeling uneasy.

"No need to stress," Keydis muttered to Red, trying to convince herself. "Nothing's going to happen. Not with this many people around." Is this why we're here? she wondered to herself. Thadal's little speech made a little more sense in that light. Instead of welcoming them, was he actually warning nasty elements that they were there?

Keydis grabbed a bottle of wine from one of the tables, hesitated, and then grabbed a bottle of liquor instead, along with two wine glasses. She poured both glasses full and handed one to Red. They were no more than twenty feet from Aelflead and the imperial younglings. If anything happened, they were in position.

But nothing would happen.

The glass lifted to her lips and Keydis' eyes lit up. "Woo. This Neptune guy knows the good shit," she remarked to Red, picking the bottle back up to read the label.

[555/4215]

Aeria Luxus · Mar 4, 2020

The spurii looked thoughtful as Deni whispered, nodding on occasion and pursing her lips. Afterwards, she glanced at the emperor and to his children, slowly assessing them. They all looked quite different and now her understanding of how they connected had increased. Ignis approached and made her own concerns known too. The atmosphere was generating more unease in this little party than it had any right to do.

Each of the two women joined Deni, swaying to the music and sliding around the dance floor, looking easy and relaxed as they moved within earshot of the velen. Aeria leaned in, her voice pitched within the tighter circle. “It’s weird. This whole place has a weird atmosphere. I don’t like how no one is acknowledging what’s happening. What do you guys think? Deni, you know your own people, are you getting any weird vibes?”

The pace of the music picked up and so everyone started to move. The little trio were having to adjust their speed, avoiding the chance of accidentally causing some sort of collision. It was challenging their conversational skills, but it was also increase the cone of silence around the group. Keeping up wasn’t any problem, as they were all fit and energetic, but if anyone outside of their group knew about their conversation, there might have been ironic laughter.

[222/1055]

Ignis of Animi · Mar 9, 2020

Rather than setting her sights on her closest friends, Ignis instead saw the emperor himself standing behind her. Though she didn't jump, the slight rising of the down feathers coating her neck gave away her surprise. She smiled and nodded where appropriate while Thadal began to give her a brief history lecture. Though his stealth was unnerving, the enlil didn't immediately seek to escape the emperor's attention.

After her dealings with fae, Ignis had learned to listen carefully whenever someone offered up information. Though the meaning behind this story might not be straightforward, it could become useful later. Briefly, Ignis glanced over Thadal's shoulder and saw Aeria beckon her. Still, the avian woman stayed where she was until the emperor finished his narrative.

"These don't seem to be mere works of art, though," the enlil ventured carefully. "They have a... draw to them that simpler artifacts lack." The words were chosen carefully to appeal to Thadal's pride in these items in hopes of encouraging him to share more information.

She sipped at her drink, but otherwise remained mostly still. The lack of extra movements or fidgeting was almost unnatural. Ignis' patience was borne of dealing with things that were more than natural and it showed in brief moments like this.

In her mind's eye, Ignis could see flames dancing, licking at her hands and curling around her. Her own eyes seemed to warm in their color, the dark brown taking on a more reddish hue. The not-quite-mortal tilted her head curiously, her expression seeking to compel Thadal to speak.

swaswj · Mar 17, 2020

"They were blessed by one of the Five," Thadal reiterated, smiling. "Of course they are more than simple art. They are part of the legacy of the velen people." He leaned in a little closer and whispered, "Touch it." His tone was disturbingly seductive, but also authoritative. The emperor didn't wait for an answer, either, and gently took Ignis by the wrist, pulling her hand toward the statue.

Immediately, Ignis recoiled. The statue felt like it was burning, like the flames in her mind were bottled up inside it, together with the verdant forests and even roiling waves.

Thadal nodded as if her reaction had been expected. "No threat, then, are you?" he murmured, smile broadening. "Perhaps Eximium has some discernment, after all."

Five... seven... Keydis sipped at her liquor while she and Red walked alongside the banquet table. There were at least eight people in the crowd paying too much attention to Aelflead and the younglings surrounding her. Four of them had been guests on the ship with the rest, and four were new faces she assumed were from Pelagia.

The emperor was across the room with Ignis, looking at one of the statues. Grace was near the throne, speaking with a pair of important-looking nobles. Venus was dancing with a grayscale old enough to be her grandfather, hopefully out of propriety and nothing more. By her count, there were only a dozen imperial guards in the room. Arrogant and careless, Keydis thought, shaking her head. They'd even been allowed in with their weapons. This emperor really did live a cushy life without a care.

Keydis had been in more than her share of brawls and she had developed a sixth sense for the sort of mounting tension that signaled a fight coming on. Of course, after the uneventful trip, it could have been wishful thinking. The hair on the back of her arms was prickling, though. Tense though she was, Keydis couldn't help the genuine smile that welled up as the young princeling led Aelflead into a dance. Mitis took the twins by the hands and danced with both of them at once, a sight so sweet it made the brunette's teeth ache.

But then some of the suspicious figures began closing in toward the dancers. "I'll go left, you go right," Keydis said quietly, setting her glass down.

A velen with fine, black clothes and vibrant red scales moved in rapidly, bypassing oblivious guests and closing in on the three youngest children. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his eyes darted around. Then he lurched forward, palm outstretched toward the dancing princess.

Keydis reached out and snatched his wrist. Her grip was like a vice. "Don't be rude," she warned. "Looks like they're having fun, right?"

Instead of backing off, the velen's other arm swung around with a knife, his eyes desperate. Keydis buried her fist in the assailant's face while his knife skated off her armor. His eyes rolled back and he crumpled.

All at once, the throne room erupted into chaos. A guard shouted at Keydis and began rushing over just as others rushed for the children. Aelflead threw Cordatus behind herself before a wild-eyed enlil could snatch him up, but a demvir barreled in to tackle her and a velen tried to dodge past her. A pair of laicar came in from the right, the man drawing a rapier while the woman had only a buckler. Red was there to meet them. Three velen converged on Keydis at once.

The women were outnumbered more than two to one.

At the throne, the two dignitaries speaking to Grace had suddenly pulled out swords, pointing them at the eldest princess. She was shaking, but stood tall and proud in the face of the threat, maintaining an absolute regal composure. The old man dancing with Venus had also pulled a knife, holding it to the girl's throat. Other traitors took up defensive positions around the princess and her captor.

"Don't touch them!" Cordatus shouted, drawing a fine stiletto and stabbing at one of the velen traitors who reached for his younger siblings. Mitis had two knives, a stiletto held underhand on the left, and a leaf-shaped blade in the right. The two took up positions with their backs to Puella and Puer, who were trembling and holding each other, poking and slashing at anyone getting too close.

"Neptunem! Blood for blood! Only your children's blood will satisfy!" the elder velen shouted in an otherworldly voice, a fierce dialect of Himai completely lost on most of the non-velen in the room. "Undo what you've wrought!"

Thadal was stiff, eyes watching as each of his children were threatened. "This is not how negotiation works. Unhand my children else see your bodies strung up on hooks, serpent tails ripped from your body, flayed open to dry in the sun while you watch!" he shouted back viciously. In common, he ordered his guards, "Take them alive, if you can, but don't allow a single scratch to my family!"

A curved blade burst from Thadal's stomach, red and dripping. He gasped, clutching at the blade. An echoing, modulated voice mimicked the Himai speech to whisper, "The time for negotiation has passed, emperor." The demvir assassin stood up to its full height; one of the passengers from the ship, the machina was tall and clad in dark metal plates. The half-cape declaring it one of the 'heroes' remained over one shoulder, mocking the whole affair.

Emperor Thadal stared wordlessly at the blade, mouth moving but no words coming out. The demvir ripped the blade back out, allowing the emperor to fall to the ground.

"Emperor!" The shout came from all across the room, guards and dignitaries alike.

"Father!" The heart-wrenching chorus of children's cries.

From the floor, Thadal gasped and whispered out, "Caput... hurry..."

The demvir turned its eyes on Ignis. Its mask was shaped in the mock-up of a skull, with glowing white eyes. The bloody saber lifted toward her.

[1000/5215]

Notes

Aelflead Kirastes · Mar 27, 2020

After what seemed like an eternity, a shriek of surprise split the air.

With the sound of a soft tinkling of bells; a plume of flame erupted and peeled away from Aelflead's form to reveal a tri-horned daemon with a long black tail standing in her place.

The shriek was a garbled tinny mess that came from the demvir who'd found themselves seized in the daemon's black teeth by the shoulder the moment it'd burst into existence, and then promptly flung through the air, engulfed in angry violet flames, for the crime of assaulting the crown's children in the daemon's presence.

The she-daemon's kept moving, and in the same motion her left foot came down in a vicious arc onto the head of the velen trying to duck past her, stomping him into the stone floor with such force it exploded. The sheer heat rolling off of the daemon as she struck turned the shrapnel and dust into globs of molten stone and leaving a viscous red puddle in the small crater the daemon had planted her victim in.

Her tail finished the flurry of action; turning into a wrecking ball as it whipped around in a wide arc to slam into the face of the enlil that had first lunged after Cordatus. The resulting crack of the strike was reminiscent of a rifle going off, and it launched it's victim like a bat out of hell, sending them streaking across the ground and through the crowd like a violet star.

When she righted herself, the she-daemon's head whipped around to lock eyes with each of the former heroes engaging on the children with a wild look that was too hateful to be properly called just a scowl and drew two of her daggers from their sheaths with a flourish that made them and the necklace at her throat flash fuchsia for a second before they stopped moving.

Then a horrific, commanding screech ripped itself from her throat that didn't quite sound human:
"̙̝̲́E̡̻͎̖̺x͇ṕ̖̺͕̻l̺̳̥͢a̱i̤͓͕͙͈̮͞ņ̭̤ ̢͙͙̣̩̣̜̖y̞̦͓͜ou͉̣͞ͅr̘͡ś̜̠̻̠ͅe҉̮̻̜͙̝̻̳ḷ͚͍̺̱v̲̮̻̦͘e͏͖͓͕̟̻̤s̬̝̼̱͖ ̵͎͙̯̠̳̙̯̀then ͎̥͍̗͚̀d͓͓̮̱͈̫̠i̮̭̦̥̞̫̦e͎̹͞ ̛̲͖w͕̘̼͔͟i̲̺ͅt̩̯̥h̰̠̥͕̟ ̲̞̖̩͝ͅmy͏͚ ̙͈̥k̢n̮͚̞̞̙̫̰ḭvḙ̶̺͉͍̫̩͖s̩̻̝ ̩͉̪͕s͓͔̰̥̩ͅͅt̖̻u̮͍̺̕c̼̳̗̠̪̱̠k̭̫̫͙͎̲͢ͅ ̹̘̪̦̣̫͖͟i͈͓̬n͇̲̩̣̠͠ y͠o̧̟̗̱͍̖ų̻̲̫̦̫r͏̫ ̨ṭ̛͉̟̩h̩r̶͙͉o̼̰̭̟a̭̳̼̩t̖̼͎͉͇͎s͙͈̱̰̜̻.͕̝̳̘"̣̦͓͎͕̜̖

Chomp

Aeria Luxus · Mar 30, 2020

Aeria’s body reacted, the years of training making her move without thought. The chaotic bedlam faded into the background. Her sharp violet eyes were gazing toward the three attackers, the one who held Venus in his grasp, focused intently on the scene. Her free hand tracing a broken symbol of universal balance in the air in front of her, A moment later a reflected echo of her form still stood in place. Her real body, on the other hand, was now behind the three captors.

First she struck the man who held Venus, her halberd lashing out with deadly force and hitting him right at the base of his neck, punching into his skull at an upwards angle, HIs lifeless body slumped and already the spurii was moving as she shouted at Venus to stay behind her. Aeria had already struck the second of the three men in the throat with her halberd, sending him to the ground, grasping at his throat. Aeria kept herself between the princess and the third assailant who roared and charged her. She planted the butt of her halberd firmly and as he struck with his sword, causing it to jerk and fall from his grasp.

[201/1256]

Ignis of Animi · Mar 30, 2020

Ignis frowned as the emperor murmured that she wasn't a threat. His grasp on her wrist had taken the avian by surprise, but she hadn't been able to resist his commands. It was of no surprise --velen were known for their ability to convince, bargain, manipulate, and coerce. That didn't mean something within her didn't itch to set him on fire for testing her. The motives for that test made themselves clear within seconds, though.

Traitors. They had been infiltrated.

Dark brown eyes flickered around the room, taking note of several "heroes" threatening the rest of the royal family. Thadal said something in velen tongue, a series of guttural sounds, harsh clicks, and hisses that she couldn't interpret. The threat in his tone was easy enough to interpret and Ignis could guess that he was ordering them to unhand his family -- that's what rulers did. They weren't used to people not respecting their command.

His demands were met with a fatal attack. The curved blade protruding from the now slumping emperor gleamed in the soft lighting with dark red blood. Flecks of the fluid spattered against her cloak, a few small droplets even hitting her face. The engineer's frown deepened. That wound looked to be beyond what Amicus might be able to heal. Perhaps he could have stopped some of the bleeding, but each second pints of that precious life giving fluid gushed out. If his intestines had been ruptured, then their contents would poison him from within.

Ignis had dismissed him as a lost cause by the time the emperor's body hit the ground, distantly aware of the screams of his children.

She watched the demvir lifted that bloodied blade against her.

The enlil's expression was impassive as if she too were made of metal. Her arm raised, pointing a pistol at her mechanical foe's face. She fired a bullet directly at that eerie skull mask, a dangerous red hue threatening to overtake her irises. The half mortal silently cursed her lack of firepower; she'd brought Cora on the airship expecting a fight, but left the drone in the carriage that transported her to this underwater palace not expecting to need it. If she was going to be able to do anything, she needed to get back towards the carriage to be close enough to call the drone to her.

With that in mind, flames licked at the young woman's feet before bursting upwards like a pyre and consuming her whole. The flaming column stood for a few moments before dissipating, leaving a large pile of ashes behind.

Details

Deni Perfide · Mar 31, 2020

Deni was as alarmed at the exchange in his native tongue as he was at the events that unravelled so swiftly before him. What had the Emperor done that warranted spilling his children’s blood? Perhaps all of the ‘heroes’ of the Black Portal campaign had not been brought before the Emperor for his pleasure alone.

Before Deni had time to ponder the words and ask questions, the fighting began. Yet for a few seconds, he didn’t budge a muscle. There were too many delicate intricacies in the wild chaos erupting in the hall, too many possible victims and too few willing to save them. Somebody needed to take a moment to think - not that it was easy with what could only be described as a demonic Aelflead thrashing around! - to realise what it was that needed to be done before committing to it.

Blue eyes raced as fast as his mind, assessing every situation within the hall before determining the best course of action. Aeria leapt forth, halberd in hand, with the swiftness her slim frame allowed. Deni trusted her with that polearm. She was a formidable opponent when she needed to be.

The pale velen’s teeth grated together. He very nearly succumbed to the itch and pulled his pistol to save Ignis, but she had proven time and again just how tough she was. The assassin wouldn’t stand a chance.

Then, he saw it. Amidst the turmoil on the floor, none had looked to the throne! Princess Grace remained with her back straight as the two guards unsheathed their blades.

Deni swung the auritium rifle off his back and dropped to one knee. Praematurum Excidiis. Premature eradication. That name had come from a joke. He wasn’t smiling now.

With a great thud, a steel bolt was loosed. The force of the impact driven through the assassin’s skull sent him hurtling a distance away from the flinching Princess. Deni emptied the bolt and loaded another as fast as he could. Was he going to be too late? No. That wasn’t an option. He would kill that man and save the Princess. Now was his chance, his true chance to be a hero.

The rogue looked down the sights. The second assaillant had positioned himself behind Princess Grace. The shot was going to be difficult. She closed her eyes. Even with the blade to her throat she stood, back straight, pure defiance, the very epitome of her namesake. Deni hoped his rifle lived up to its own namesake.

A steady inhale. Had the blade already breached her skin? He couldn’t tell at this distance, not with all of the other people fighting around the floor and that great Aelflead daemon causing mayhem. Breathe. Out.

The metal bolt flew as Deni pulled the trigger. The dignitary coughed a horrible gurgling sound as they fell away from the Princess and were pinned to the arm of the throne. A splash of crimson from where the bolt pierced the base of his neck stained Princess Grace’s dress. Deni’s heart skipped a beat as she put her hand to her own throat as if to stop some kind of bleeding. When she brought her hand away, she saw only a trickle of red. Just a nick. With a relieved grin, Deni let his rifle fall to his side and drew his auritium pistol, an amalgamation of gold and dark steel, to kill anybody else to threaten the royal family.

[1,882]

Keydis Lysistrata · Apr 4, 2020

Ruin. Just beneath the surface, something woke, summoned up by the demonic shriek, the myriad shouts and screams and the crying children. Demolish. Three enemies: gray, epee; green, flanged mace; leopard-spotted, katars. Kill.

Keydis ripped her sword from the sheath buried under her Aridusian silks. Promoveo's auritium edge caught the light, a brilliantly-honed schiavona already coursing with the violent gales Annora had imbued into the weapon. Once her hand slipped into the basket hilt, the voice quieted, and Keydis exhaled. Her eyes came up, steely and composed, lip curling into a grin.

The lithe grayscale reached her first, lunging with the epee. He was dressed in a fine suit, some high-born velen with the money to hire proper teachers, and it showed in the refinement of his form, the perfectly executed fleche. Keydis twisted and stepped in as the razor-sharp blade came for her, letting it skate across the spiraling basket of her hilt, and in the same motion, she buried her left fist into the velen's jaw, grunting viciously.

Then she ducked back as the green-scaled velen swung his mace down, deftly twisting her sword to slice across his ribs as she retreated. Green was wearing a leather doublet under his jacket, preventing her from cutting too deeply, but Promoveo's tip came away red.

Green pulled one hand back to his shoulder and flicked it forward. Ropes of energy burst from the floor, wrapping around her left leg and arm just as Spot rushed in with a flurry of vicious attacks. "Damn!" The third velen was a warrior, the purple half-cloak on his shoulder marking him as one of the elites from her group. He was small, for a velen, but fast and clad in a sleeveless cuirass. His scalp looked like it was covered in eels.

Keydis ripped free of the ropes with a sudden burst of effort and lifted Promoveo up high, launching herself into the air in a blast of wind, up and over the slashing claw-blades. The brunette twisted in the air, bringing her left palm up against the flat of her blade; she swept her hand down the blade as she turned, and suddenly she was holding a red-hot brand, blade glowing red-orange, pulsing with the searing heat of a stoked forge.

Promoveo chopped through the air, leaving a red blur in its wake and slicing Spot's shoulder. The half-cloak caught fire. As her boots touched the ground, Keydis rushed forward, slicing Spot across the opposite hip and then running up to Green with a broad rising chop. The velen blocked the attack with the haft of his mace, but not before the red-hot metal ripped through his leather doublet and into his belly. As he fell, screaming in agony, Keydis whirled back to the grayscale, who was shaking but back on his feet, a pistol leveled her way.

A crack of gunfire sounded. For an instant, Keydis saw a white skull, felt the bite of dry sands on her skin, felt hot blood running down her collarbone.

Then she was back in the palace, underwater, now face-to-face with the grayscale. Kill. The sleeve over her left arm was shredded, revealing violet steel blended into angry red skin, with glowing veins like lightning bolts. A blade extended from her wrist, straight into the velen's chest. He let out a watery gasp and dropped his pistol, still cocked and loaded.

Keydis ripped her blade free, vicious barbs tearing at flesh. Her blood was boiling, chest heaving. Promoveo's blade continued to burn and blood dripped from the tip of Caeancora. The velen fell to his knees, clutching the wound, and then fell over on his side, joining her other two opponents on the ground.

"Who's next?!" Keydis shouted, eyes wild. Her grin turned feral, fist tightening on her burning sword, knuckles white. She looked around, hungry for more action, eager to carve and batter and rip and tear. "Just try to lay a hand on one of these kids, you gutless fucks!"

[666/5881]

GM turn a bit later, I wanted to write some Keydis.

Notes

Dante · Apr 4, 2020

In amidst the chaos, there was a laicar, utterly unremarkable and insignificant compared to the stakes at hand. How had he even ended up here? As a bodyguard of a much more significant person, and he was not even doing that job right. His eyes were closed, Dante focused within himself to find a valve, reached out and turned it open.

The athlete moved extremely quickly as the world around him seemed to slow down, closing the gap to the princess and Aeria. Engaging the assailant from the left, Dante ducked down low and swept the man's legs from under him and while he was falling down punched the man in his chest with a firm straight utilsing the momentum of his sweeping. He exhaled as he stood ready, signaling to Aeria that he would cover the princess from the other side and stepped over.

Notes

Red · Apr 10, 2020

Of course, Red thought. Of course everything’s going to hell!

In a single, smooth motion born of practice, she drew Dextera from its holster and fired. The revolver’s report echoed across the crowded room. The shot struck home, and blood blossomed from a ragged wound in the rapier-wielding laicar’s shoulder. He staggered back a step, eyes wide and wild, and then Red’s second shot found him, punching him square in the chest this time.

The rapier fell from loose fingers, and the man sank weakly to the floor in a sprawl.

Red didn’t get a chance to aim at the woman with the buckler before the dark-eyed brunette was on her. She moved fast, closing the distance between them in a rush and smashing the rounded face of her buckler into Red’s gun arm. Pain arced up her forearm and Red’s third shot went wild, ricocheting off the ballroom’s impossibly-high vaulted ceiling.

Before Red had a chance to recover, the laicar whipped her buckler up; it crunched into the underside of Red’s jaw. She struck again as Red staggered back, whipping Dextera from her hand and sending it spinning off across the polished floor.

Red hit the ground a moment later, her vision dotted with ugly splotches of color. Her ears were ringing. Her jawbone throbbed in-tune with her heartbeat - distantly, she was shocked the blow hadn’t knocked her unconscious outright. The buckler-carrying laicar stepped over her prone form, eyes locked on the youngest of the emperor’s progeny.

“Oh no you don’t, you bitch!" Red snarled. She rolled off her back and lunged, hooking her legs around the woman’s waist and hooking the crook of her elbow across the front of the woman’s throat. She braced the assailant’s head with her other arm, locking her into a chokehold. The laicar stumbled but remained standing, Red latched to her back. The buckler slammed down into Red’s thigh, once and then again, but Red clung on, teeth grit.

After a second of struggling, the woman’s other arm came up, instead, and Red had a moment of confusion until she saw the metallic circle forming in the air. “Shit--!” Red hissed, and reached out, catching the woman’s arm and redirecting it up before it could strike the portal she’d aimed at the children. “Are you serious--?”

The woman’s buckler slammed into Red’s thigh one more time, and then she threw herself forward, nearly unseating Red. Red clung to her neck with one arm, and the other whipped down to her holster. She drew Sinistra and slammed the butt of it down on the base of the woman’s skull - hard.

The woman crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut, spilling both herself and Red to the floor.

Red staggered back to her feet and whipped around, scanning the crowd for the next threat. Her eyes landed on Aeflead - on whatever the flying fuck Aeflead had turned into - and she stared, bewildered for a moment, before refocusing.

“What the fuck?” she hissed to herself. “What the fuck?”

[503 / 1169]

Aeria Luxus · Apr 10, 2020

Somehow Dante had gotten lost in all the shuffle until now, but Aeria was thankful for his presence. With him standing guard on one side and her on the other, the princess was likely to have some chance at coming through this intact and not cut to ribbons. The contigeri was now running her eyes rapidly over the situation, trying to see what move she might make with either magic or her weapon. She turned to Dante. "We need to get the princess somewhere safe or at least somewhere protected. Any thoughts?"

[92/1348]

swaswj · Apr 11, 2020

Amid all the shouting and chaos, two brave guards raised their spears, charging in at the rampaging demon in the center of the room while its back was turned. The young prince rushed in between them and Aelflead, holding his arms out wide. "Stop! I command you!" Cordatus shouted.

The first guard came to a halt, although sweat rolled down his skin as he regarded the woman fearfully. The second, however, shouted, "Get back, my prince!" His feet shifted rapidly, and in a deft motion, he hooked his spear's haft under the prince's arm, shoving him back and into the arms of his fellow guard and coming around in a high thrust.

Mitis rushed in from the side, slamming her shoulder into the guard. Tiny as she was, he barely felt it, but the confused guard hesitated, holding his strike. "Elfeed, don't!" she cried out. The guard looked up and met Aelflead's eyes, and he froze, arms locked tight in sudden fear for his life. Mitis gave the guard another shove. "Go! Get dad, we're fine!"

Across the room, the demvir who had stabbed the emperor reeled back, head blown open and exposing esoteric machinery, wires, and tubes aglow with blue blood. The light in one eye died and the demvir let out a garbled, wordless shout. The machina sliced wildly and blindly at the air.

Everyone, please remain calm. This chaos shall pass, the violence shall pass. There is no need to fear and run. The words pierced through the fog of shouting, the actual words lost but their meaning crystal clear. Near the throne, Grace stood tall, lips moving as she spoke, trying to calm the many guests who were panicking. Despite the vicious fighting and even the blood on her own dress, Grace spoke with an absolute certainty. Her eyes met with Deni's across the room, and she offered him a grateful smile: his heroism had not gone unnoticed.

Do not give in to panic. We will ensure the safety of everyone here who harbors no ill will in their heart.

Three young women in extravagant dresses surrounded Venus, Aeria, and Dante. "The first princess is full of it," one of the velen snapped. She was holding an elegant, gold-plated blunderbuss, much too large for her delicate hand. Imperial guards rushed up, spears aimed uncertainly at the women. With her aiming a gun at Venus, they hesitated to make their move. The lead woman glared at Venus, but spoke to Aeria and Dante. "If you don't get out of the way, then no one is going to protect you. You've got three seconds and then we shoot the distinguished second brat. Three…."

"You didn't seriously think you could cram the entire imperial family into one room without something happening, did you?" The speaker was a blue-plated demvir with one of the half-cloaks. He was holding a knife from within stabbing distance of Grace. On her opposite side, another traitorous 'hero,' this one a laicar with short brunette hair, slipped between the princess and Deni with a tower shield.

Behind Deni, an enlil with a purple half-cloak lifted a falchion. Two bulkier avians, with matching raven feathers, squared up against Keydis. They were also sporting the cloaks. Keydis lifted the burning blade of Promoveo, and off to her side, she could see Red taking a bead with one of her pistols. Two more half-cloaked traitors set their sights on Aelflead, one waving their fingers in the air and the other calling up a shimmering metallic portal.

"Two…"

Grace ignored the demvir and continued. To those driven by hatred, you need only lay down your weapons. Surrender your animosity and we may find common ground. Do not throw away your lives needlessly.

"O grand protector," came the weak voice of the emperor on the ground. "Grant me time to ensure my family's safety. Bind this wound, please, if only for a few moments!" Thadal was clutching at the wound in his belly. The pool of blood beneath him was already frighteningly deep and wide.

The wounded demvir ceased its wild swings and looked down at Thadal. It took up its saber in both hands.

"One!" The woman shouted and started to tighten her finger on the trigger.

Before she could shoot, she was engulfed in flames, a pillar of fire erupting from floor to ceiling, together with both of the other women, as well as the demvir and shield-bearer threatening Grace. The five pillars of flame were joined by a rolling wave of flames that washed over the two enlil facing Keydis, breaking around her like water around a rock, passing around Aelflead and the younger children, and finally converging back together to incinerate the two spellcasters.

"No mercy," Prince Caput shouted as he snuffed the smoking portals he had conjured. The firelight danced along the blade of his sword, which was held up to intercept the falchion. It bought Deni the few seconds to twist and bring his pistol up, blasting the enlil from point-blank.

From doorways all around the throne room, dozens more guards rushed in. Caput ran over to where Thadal was collapsed on the ground. "Father! We need a healer over here!"

The would-be assassin was run through with two spears, clicking and whirring as blue blood poured out to join with the blue-blood's in a dark pool.

[893/6774]

Notes

MoonlitRain014 · Apr 17, 2020

The chaos and shouting were a wall around Aeria. Events happened so quickly that reaction was not even an option. Her attack had left death in its wake, but what the young prince had done was utterly terrifying. All of these smoking corpses strewn around, so much blood spilled. The contigeri’s body was still in a pose hat spoke of suddenly and explosive action that could erupt at any moment. The situation felt calmer, but it had felt calm before all of this broke out. Her sharp violet eyes scanned back and forth, rapidly seeking any danger.

After scanning the scene, that intense gaze moved from Dante to Deni and from Deni to Ignis. As she did so, a nod was given to each of them, as if to acknowledge that they’d all made it through again. She seemed to briefly reach for the kinner but then, as if thinking better of it, withdrew her hand and let it rest at her side. Her focus went back to Thadal and her expression was grim and set as she scanned over the blood that pooled around him.

However thinking time was cut short as she and her companions were ushered from the room. They were being escorted by phalanxes of guards toward the throne room. As for the Emperor, only time would tell.

[222/1570]

Deni Perfide · Apr 20, 2020

A grim smile rested on Deni's face as he watched the body of the man he had just killed drop to the ground. The adrenaline pouring through him brought a strange elation. Fighting for survival was one thing, but saving the lives of the Pelagian royal family? It was the sort of tale a bard would sing in a tavern. The velen wondered if the heroes in those stories felt the same as he did then.

Deni forced his smile down. It wasn't the time to look jolly. He returned his auritium pistol back to its holster on his belt, though webbed fingers still caressed the grip. He fixed his gaze on the Prince for a moment.

Show-off, he thought to himself, but he couldn't deny that his magic had been a devastating and impressive display. Then, for the first time since the fighting started, the pelagian managed to get a real look at the room.

He blinked. Ignis' spontaneous combustion had startled Deni the first time he had witnessed it. The daemon in the room, however, was something he had not seen before.

That's certainly new, Deni thought. When did she get that? The Black Portal campaign?

Before he could speculate further, the velen was being escorted towards the throne. He caught eye contact with Aeria for a moment and passed her a relieved glance. Dante could see it as being extended to him as well, if he wished to.

When he turned to face the throne, he found a young woman that he had recognised earlier. His blue eyes observed the mutated violet substance protruding out of her arm.

"Keddis, was it? Kiyis?" He said quietly. "Sorry, I don't remember, I was quite drunk when we first met. Didn't expect to see you here."

[296]

Aelflead Kirastes · Apr 24, 2020

Mitis and Cordatus had easily saved two lives of their own that day, since the look in Aelflead's eye seemed murderous even now that the conflict had ended and the half daemon had turned to a statue while she tried to make sense of the situation.

So assassins managed to sneak in among our number somehow and we've got turncoats for... Reasons? She thought; one part of her laughing at the idea of the Emperor's court being so weakly guarded and another infuriated that an oversight like that could be allowed to stand in a situation where children of all things were involved. White smoke curled out of her ears as though the spurii's thoughts were overflowing while an alternate turn of the past few moments played out in her head with a more unfortunate ending.

As this movie played though, the words traded between Emperor Thadal and the demvir assassin stuck out to the cynical sellsword. Pwuml wruwurthu pwuml, eua prote lo a've flwaea...? What are they retaliating for? It can't be something as simple as a few conflict losses, they would have just come for that neon dipshit or military heads if that was the case... "And they certainly wouldn't have gone out of their way to get assassins from across continents, they'd have sent their own."

Aelflead let out a sharp exhale of frustration, shooting tiny jets of smoke from her nose, and turned her head to watch the Emperor be rushed away. Just what the hell did you do Showboat?

After a moment the phalanxes began trying to herd her out of the room with the others, clearly and reasonably still concerned with the apparent daemon that she seemed to be, they kept just half a meter away from her tail as it slid along the ground while she walked. The feartu and tiae had been shuffled away from her long before the guards worked up the nerve to try and get her to follow, so the spurii left her cloak to dangle off her arms rather than turn it on again.

Surely a this lot has enough steel to keep from pissing themselves. She decided.

swaswj · Apr 25, 2020

"It's Keydis fucking Lysistrata," the brunette replied, smirking. "We just spent five days together, you schmuck, but I think you were drunk for most of that, too." Her adrenaline rush was gradually dying down, and she found herself clenching and unclenching her fist, eyes darting around. The heat of Promoveo, now sheathed at her hip, was starting to fade. It didn't feel like it was over, though. Unconsciously, she shifted closer to Red, standing on her opposite side from the velen. "At least your aim is steady."

Bodies were carried away while medics rushed in to check up on everyone remaining. None of the guests were allowed to leave, instead being herded over to one side of the throne room. "I demand an explanation for all this! How dare you treat us like common criminals!" The speaker was a velen woman dressed in finery.

Others yelled out, "Cage the demon, you fools! It looks like its about to lose control!"

"It's going to kill us all! Kill it, hurry!"

Earlier, few would have said that Prince Caput struck an imposing figure. He was thin and overly tall, the pink stars covering his head almost comical. Now, though, with the heat of his magic still lingering in the air and after the cold certainty in his voice when he ordered no mercy, all it took was a look to shut the nobles up. They weren't speaking to Thadal's baby boy, they were speaking to the Fleet Admiral and General over Pelagia's military forces.

"You didn't have to kill them," Grace protested, walking over to her brother while making a wide berth around Aelflead. Venus didn't share Grace's fears; she paid the spurii no mind as she rushed over to her younger siblings, hugging Puer and Puella under each arm. Mitis and Cordatus stood nearby, visibly trembling but still holding their knives and looking around; when they talked about wanting to be great warriors and soldiers, they clearly had the heart for it. They were shocked at the sight of their hero, but stood by her nonetheless. The eldest prince seemed to have judged her as soon as he made his entrance; while his entourage eyed the demonic woman with uncertainty, Caput accepted her actions as more vital than her appearance. Grace looked around at the blood and the burn scars and the shattered floor. "We could have…"

"Not now. Go look after Father." Caput gave his sister a hug with one arm, at least briefly settling her trembling shoulders.

She hesitated, but then nodded. Tears threatening in her eyes, she turned to a nearby guard. "Take me to him." The guard saluted and hurried out of the room, Grace easily keeping pace. Venus looked like she wanted to follow, but instead stayed with the little ones, whispering assurances in their ears to calm them down. If Thadal was wounded as badly as it had appeared, she didn't want them to see their father like that.

"Venus, you and the little ones go wait in the dining hall. I'll come see you soon, okay squirts?" Even while speaking comfortingly to his family, Caput exuded an air of control. At only twenty-years old, his maturity and confidence were astonishing. He signaled to his men, not guards but military elites. Six of them formed a circle around the kids.

Cordatus stood up straight and sheathed his stiletto. "I'm staying," he declared.

Although he hesitated, Caput nodded. "That's fine." Mitis started to open her mouth, obviously going to insist on staying as well. "No," Caput said, cutting her off. "Stay with Venus. Don't let your guard down." The girl bit back her argument and shared a look with Cordatus. The two fiery youths held their fists out toward each other, a personal salute of their own, and then Mitis headed off with Venus, Puer, and Puella.

"Those of you who drew blood in defense of my family," Caput said, addressing the ones gathered around the throne, "you have my sincerest thanks. You will be rewarded in due time, but I need you to stay here for the moment. Trust, as you can see, is in short supply. I need as many people I can count on as possible."

There was a groan behind him and the prince turned to the captured assailants. His men had managed to rouse the red-skinned velen who Keydis had sucker-punched to kick off the melee. "Gedra Rime," Caput spat out distastefully. With a look, two of his men lifted the noble to his feet, dragging him over to the same statue that Thadal and Ignis had been talking around. The emperor's blood still spread over the marble flooring. The two soldiers slammed Gedra back against the statue.

Nothing happened.

Caput hardly looked surprised. "A common traitor."

"Wait, you're making a mistake," Gedra protested, slowly realizing the situation he was in. "Caput, you know me! I could never--!"

"Save it. Take him to Iemety," he instructed. A phalanx of six more soldiers joined the first two.

"What? But I didn't--!"

"You're standing in my father's blood. Be thankful I'm not executing you here and now."

Gedra wilted, looking down in horror. He had been unconscious throughout the battle. "Caput… I never meant…."

The prince turned away, looking at the remaining two captives. "Viticia Dessicus," one of the palace guards answered to the unspoken question, lifting the head of the laicar woman taken down by Red. "She and her husband distinguished themselves years ago by assisting in the capture of a company of Astra Non Obligant militants. Prophet Adria recommended them both, citing their moral standing and bravery under duress."

"And her husband?" Caput asked. A look at one of the bloodstains answered that question. "Bring her over." As before, two men lifted her up. Viticia had not regained consciousness, yet, but they pressed her back up against the statue. Again, nothing happened. Caput grabbed the purple half-cloak and ripped it from the woman's shoulders. "To Freih-Iemety." Again, eight elites took formation and carried the woman away. The prince was taking no chances.

"Garrman Arcadia," the palace guard continued once they had gone. This was the velen who had been taken out by Dante, with yellow skin and black scales. "A personal recommendation from Auspex Zephyrus, he's had a distinguished career in the Conexus in Terminus. Over twenty years on the force."

As before, the velen was hauled over and pressed up against the statue. This time, though, the statue reacted. There was a hum of power, the sound of swirling waters and crashing waves. The elites holding Garrman up startled and jumped back, pulling swords out: with the touch of the statue, the shimmering form of an ophidian had appeared, ghostly pale but towering over all of the velen in the room. A shaman.

Only Caput seemed unsurprised. He made no move for his weapon. "It seems the Auspex may be a better judge of character. Don't cower, she holds no more power here. Isn't that right, Lady Uloopi?"

The image of the shaman straightened, seeming to swim in the open air of the throne room. "Tiae Caput et Neptunem," the shaman spat out distastefully. "Address me properly, as Drars Ulupi, shaman to his lordship, Hawluod Shwenabay of Lissteril!"

Here, Caput ground his teeth before ultimately offering a deep bow. "I meant no disrespect, my lady." He stood up straight again. "But you realize this act of aggression hardly places you in a position to be demanding anything. We will speak more. Take him to Freih-Suthe. I want a dozen men around his cell at all times. Do not harm Arcadia, if possible. He is a thrall, not a traitor."

After Arcadia was taken away, the guests were rounded up to be taken elsewhere for questioning, leaving only the military, the palace guards, Cordatus, and those who had fought for the royal family. "I'm sure you must have questions…" Caput began.

[1326/8100]

Notes

Ignis of Animi · Apr 26, 2020

A bonfire erupted just as Caput conjured fire to consume the traitorous combatants threatening his family. Rather than scorching another poor soul, it deposited an unscathed one back into the large room. Ignis landed, stumbling a bit. She wasn't used to controlling her inter-dimensional travels and making her way back to Mortalis had taken longer than she anticipated. The enlil sneezed, emitting a cloud of ashes.

It looked as though the fighting had finished during her teleportation. A wild glance around the room revealed that none of her allies were in immediate danger. Alflead looked irritable as usual and unusually... demonic, but unharmed. Deni and Aeria also appeared to be in good shape. Keydis and her companion seemed to be a bit roughed up. That wouldn't do. Even if she didn't have the best of personal relationships with everyone here, she counted those that she knew among the few she could trust.

Cora whirred to her aid, the beach ball sized drone bobbing up and down above her head.

Ignis looked toward the king who was alive after all. He lay in a pool of blood while his children fussed over him looking quite ill. Fortunately medics rushed to his aid. She could turn her attention to those whom she'd travelled here with instead. The skills of trained medics were likely more of use than even Amicus' abilities. While useful in a bind, neither she nor her familiar had studied healing. After today's bloodshed, however, the avian might need to spend some time studying Castus' work.

After a few long moments of observing all the hustle and bustle, once the known traitors were being dragged away to be put in holding, Ignis finally took action. She strode towards Keydis and Red, having identified them as the most injured after Thadal.

She held up her mons infans and said, "I can offer Amicus' healing abilities. It isn't the same as a medic, but they appear to be quite preoccupied."

Amicus rustled in his contractor's grasp, holding up two branch-like arms and waving them emphatically. Then he placed one leafy hand over his forehead and the other over his chest. The forest spirit's eyes took on a strange reflective quality.

"He is checking your injuries," Ignis explained her familiar's actions. "It is the most noninvasive way to identify what should be healed first."

The enlil turned her head to face the prince, piqued by his announcement. "Was the purpose of this gathering to root out traitors, then?" she asked.

swaswj · Apr 26, 2020

“No,” the prince answered firmly. “The purpose was as you saw, frivolous revelry. Father wished to impress upon you, and by proxy, impress upon Magister Eximium, that the Empire remains strong.” He sighed and looked around the room. “I warned him that it was dangerous, but he would only allow me to remain on watch nearby and not cancel the whole affair. I expected an assassin might use the chaos to slip in, but something this outrageous is… unprecedented.

“I could not have responded to the threat in time if not for your aid. Whether Father admits it or not, the Magister was wise to send you. Although… perhaps not that wise considering how many wore the purple cloaks.”

[120/8220]

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