Date sent: Wed, 09 Jan 2002 22:07:00 -0600 From: Travis Butler Subject: [UnS] Serpent's Horn 9/23 To: Ranma al'Thor (*VERY* rough log...) Windir> Moriya-chan asks, "Oh, John, we got our heads scrubbed at the Keep, right?" Windir> John says, "Yep" Windir> Moriya-chan nods. Windir> John says, "I asume people have gone and had a good brain scrubbing and everything." Windir> Beowulf says, "A very good idea, yup. :)" Windir> Motoko says, "Probably would have walked the Pattern, if there was time." Windir> Moriya-chan nods. Windir> Moriya-chan says, "Though I would have waited until after the sippin' Logrus was gone from my body, just to be sure." Windir> Kanna OOCly can now say that he is "ready", for some value of "Ready". Windir> Kanna OOCly also says that he is Bailing At 12 EST. Period. Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Let's go. o.o" Windir> Jacqueline says, "GO Go Go go! o.o;" Windir> John says, "OOC Righto. " Windir> Beowulf OOCly NODS. Windir> Your team assembles, and heads out into shadow, going to Dylath-Leen again, then slipping up the river, through the woods, shifting into insects again, crossing the canyon, and cruising through the woods (not to Grandmother's House), then getting into position to watch the castle. This goes by without serious trouble. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "are we still in Insect Form right now?" Windir> You are still bugs at the moment. Windir> Motoko hangs out, being a bug. Windir> Kanna is one with her buggyness. Man, the view is wacked when one's eyes are faceted. Windir> Beowulf buzzes, waiting for folks to be pulled away... Windir> Moriya-chan waits patiently. Windir> After a while, a large force moves out towards teh gate house back at the canyon. And you all see a huge trump gate open over the castle, into which hundreds of demon form Chaosians fly. Windir> Beowulf whistles. How big a trump gate, compared to what Aeris can do? Windir> Aeris could duplicate this. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Gabrielle could too, I imagine? I take it these are reinforcements?" Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: They're flying into the gate, not out." Windir> John says, "OOC They're leaving the vicinity of the Castle to go elsewhere." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Ahhhh." Windir> Kanna would arch an eyebrow, if she had one. Instead, she flicks an antennae. Windir> Loewen-Fly announces in buzzy insect language, "Alright. That's our cue to go in." Windir> Motoko buzzes, softly, "Good luck, Jacqui-chan." Windir> Thoric-wasp says, "Unicorn bless us. PLEASE." Windir> Beowulf buzzes in acknowledgement... "Hope everyone's going to be all right at the diversions." Windir> Kanna says, "Serpent, Unicorn, Pattern, Logrus, and Yig. Guide us to our Goal." Windir> And then, off you go across the fields. Windir> As you fly up towards the walls, Yumi-bee buzzes, "Stop. They've put up a spell rigged to fry anyone who can use Pattern. Makoto, Thoric, I need you to help me pick a big enough hole in it to get us all through." Windir> Kanna keeps her buggy eyes peeled for incoming threats all along this. She hovers, and mutter-buzzes. Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Makoto -> Motoko?" Windir> John says, "OOC YEs, Motoko. ^^;;;" Windir> Motoko assuming Yumi means her and not her Uncle Makoto, Motoko does as directed by Yumi. Windir> Yumi, Motoko, and Thoric slowly pick a hole in the wards. Not that any of the rest of you can see what they're doing. Windir> Motoko murmurs, "I wasn't even able to see it... whoever hid it was good. Looks as though Yumi-san is going to have to be the eyes for all of us." Windir> Yumi buzzes nervously. "Delightful. Did you see it at first, Thoric?" He buzzes, "No." Windir> Kanna mmm-buzzes quietly, and glances at the others. Windir> Motoko says, "If we adjust the Lens spells--tune them, as such--we should be able to detect this particular caster in the future." Windir> Loewen-fly takes point again once you're through the wards. Windir> Thoric buzzes, "Good idea." Windir> Motoko says, "And I sincerely hope they don't have two different mages powerful enough to hide from Thoric and myself." Windir> Beowulf buzzes, "Good thing we've got you with us. May you always see true." Windir> While there are lots of patrols and people, there aren't a lot of traps on the inside of the fortress, in part so they don't set them off on themselves. Windir> You slip into the building, then into cracks in the walls, turning into crawling insects and scuttling through the walls. Windir> As you scuttle along, you start to hear movements, as if, perhaps, something was stalking you. Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Outside the walls, or through the cracks?" Windir> It sounds like other insects, inside the walls with you, perhaps spiders. Windir> Kanna makes mental estimates of frequencies and locations of patrols, as well as numbles. She crawls along with the rest as Kanna-Ant, still on alert... oh dear. How big are the cracks/openings along the walls? Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(ie, how big can we shift to, comfortably?)" Windir> John says, "OOC You can't shift to anything bigger than an insect unless you flee out the cracks. There are plenty of cracks to escape through if you want to run." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "how far along are we, as far as we can tell, towards our destination?" Windir> Beowulf buzzes, "Sounds more like normal vermin in the walls, not something we set off alarms on." Windir> Moriya-chan clacks, "Or it could be other shapeshifters chasing us." Windir> Loewen-spider curses. "Blood and ashes. Fucking dogs! You people think you're up to fighting in insect form, or are we going to have to bail out and move outside the walls?" Windir> Thoric-centipede says, "I can barely manage to move my legs correctly, let alone fight, and if I use my racked spells, I'll blow the walls open." Windir> Kanna considers, and taps one foot against the wall to see how much damage she does with a -minor- tap, if she's still got her strength in this size. Think fingertip-touch, trying to judge. Windir> You put a little tiny dent in the wall, as if you were a very strong ant, but not even up to human baby strength. Windir> Motoko says, "Yumi-san... your spell ought to be able to turn aside the attentions of mere insects." Windir> Moriya-chan clacks, "Could someone with Logrus yank in some friendly preying mantises who are primed to attack those following us?" Windir> Kanna curses in ant. "Given that our natural advantages are hampered, save for those of the mind, and -those- would give off too much of our presence if destructive..." Windir> Motoko says, "The closer we can get to the prisoners in these insect forms, the better." Windir> Yumi says, "I fear they'll sense the use of Logrus, but there's enough spells that I think I can use the one Motoko suggested without too much trouble." Windir> Moriya-chan clacks, "All right." Windir> Motoko says, "I could also turn us all invisible, but I'm not sure that would foil the senses of insects as well as it does humans." Windir> She quikly casts a 'Somebody Else's Problem' spell over you all. Windir> For the remainder of your trip through the walls, you're repeatedly almost attacked by hundreds of insects, whcih then get confused when they get close enough for the spell to fry their puny minds. Windir> Finally, you reach the area of walls just outside the cellblocks. You slip out of the walls, and resume your human forms. Loewen says to Usui, "Jam all use of trumps in this area. We don't want them alerting anyone. Mages, be ready to dispel any magical communications. Everyone, up against the walls, be ready to jump the guards. Moriya, you ready to be bait?" Windir> Moriya-chan clacks, "Yes, I am." Windir> Kanna OOCly pauses for a moment. Bathroom. :P Windir> Motoko is wearing all black, looking very ninjalike, and has her tied up with a red ribbon. "Shall I turn us all invisible?" she hisses softly. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: her hair." Windir> Beowulf presses up against the wall and limbers up the whip and Morkeleb, ready for action. Windir> Loewen nods. "Excellent, Motoko." Windir> Motoko uses Contagious Invisibility to turn the entire group invisible. Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Except Moriya, yes? :)" Windir> John says, "OOC Well, yes." Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Have the mages scanned here for wards?" Windir> There are wards up. Windir> Trying to pick them is likely, however, to alert the guards inside if the people arranging this place had any sense at all. Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Ones that we will set off in dealing with the guards, or ones that we can deal with after we deal with the guards?" Windir> John says, "OOC You have the impression that if the guards open the door to come out and get her, the door can then be passed through without triggering the wards." Windir> Beowulf OOCly nods. Windir> Kanna is silent, breifly visible in humanform before Motoko's spell takes effect... a slimmer, shorter tight fencer's build, her hair raspberry colored and wavey, eyes a purple shade and skill light. She still wears her eating-light-blackly jumpsuit, and holds her staff at the ready, her sword slung on hip. Windir> Kanna OOCly finally returns. Windir> Beowulf whispers, "Morkeleb could cut through the wards, with some chance of setting them off; it could also rip through the door, but that would definitely attract attention." Windir> The door has a window with bars in it, enough for Moriya to get their attention if you want to try to lure them out. Windir> Moriya-chan stands poised to carry out her bait-role. Windir> Loewen says, "Go forward, Moriya." Windir> Motoko whispers, "Try to lure them out for now, but if something goes wrong, we'll have to move quickly and powerfully to avoid alerting the entire castle." Windir> Moriya-chan does what they planned, since they have much higher warfare than Andrew, and we never discussed this. :) Windir> Moriya goes forward, then basically starts making faces at them through the window until they notice. Windir> Beowulf OOCly heh's. Windir> Kanna moves to one of the corners for ambushing of guards, hopefully quietly, etc. Windir> Motoko clutches her bokken tightly in one hand and waits, tensed and ready for action. Windir> Beowulf also prepares to ambush guards. Windir> One of the guards pulls a trump. Two others run deeper into the cellblock. The other five run over to the door and throw it open. Moriya falls back, drawing them after him, right into the hallway where the ambush is. One of them cracks a whip at him, but misses. Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Is the trump guard close enough for Bey to knock it out of his hands with the whip?" Windir> John says, "OOC The trump guard is back in the guard room. You'll need to move up to the door of the room to be able to use your whip on him successfully." Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Is there a clear enough shot for the knockout paintballs?" Windir> John says, "OOC Yes, you can do that if you like, Beowulf." Windir> Beowulf shifts Morkeleb to crossbow form and shoots the trump out of the guard's hand. Windir> Okay, here's what happens: Windir> Kanna OOCly prays. Windir> Motoko OOCly joins in. Windir> Beowulf moves and fires a bolt at the one trying to use a trump, knocking it out of his hand, as Usui jams the trump. Kanna brings her staff around and breaks the hand of the one holding a whip, then reverses the staff to smash him in the face, then whacks him again as he staggers back. Meanwhile, Motoko shouts out power words, and the two guards running deeper in shout in pain and stagger as Loewen sprints after them, a sword in each hand. Yumi gestures and walls of ice form, sealing off the hallways that lead into the cellblock to prevent reinforcements arriving. Thoric draws Frostrazor and shoves it into the gut of an unfortunate Chaosian, then brings it up, slicing the front of the man's chest open. He staggers spurting blood as icicles form in the wound. And Moriya sprints for the fleeing guards as well. One of the guards gets lucky and manages to slice Yumi in the arm; she yelps in pain. Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Aren't we all invisible?" Windir> Three guards remain in the hallway. The guard who had a trump tries to dive for it. The two running guards start to recover from the power words. Windir> John says, "OOC Yes." Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Ahh, okay, just random stabbing at the invisible foes, then. :)" Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Who's left from the team in the hallway?" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Yup. We're sufficently badass to keep from hurting it each other, it seems, at least." Windir> John says, "OOC Yumi's warfare sucks." Windir> At the moment, Motoko, Beowulf, Kanna, Usui (Concentrating on Trump Jamming), Yumi, and Thoric remain in the hallway withthe three guards. Loewen and Moriya seem likely to run down the two guards who ran deeper into the place pretty soon. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Kanna's going to start working on the other remaining 3 guards, to get them out of the way. The one who had the whip is now out cold, I take?" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "What's the guard placement? One of them I take was near yumi with the sword slash?" Windir> John says, "OOC One's near Yumi, one's near Thoric, one is near Beowulf." Windir> Motoko shouts a Power Word at the man diving for the trump, then moves to defend Yumi from further attacks. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Take out the one near Yumi as the yelp will have alerted the other three in there that Yumi was there." Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Argh. Bathroom break." Windir> The one diving for the trump somehow trips (Perhaps due to a power word from Motoko) and rolls on the ground away from his trump. Loewen catches one of the running guards, shoves him face first into a cell door, then impales him from behind with his sword. Moriya is rather more gentle, striking to knock the man down, then battering him in the head and upper torso once he falls. Kanna charges the guard by Yumi, and nearly gets hit when Beowulf cracks his whip at the man, knocking him down. She manages to roll out of the way. Beowulf also takes Morkeleb to the head and torso of the guard nearest him with his other hand, sending the man sprawling, as blood runs from his nose. Yumi dives behind Thoric, beginning a spell. Thoric slices with Frost razor at the man's legs. The man leaps out of the way of the clumsy blow...which proves to be clumsy because Thoric is unleashing a Taser at the man, who now falls to the ground twitching. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "So, who guardwise is still standing -now-? :)" Windir> At the moment, the guard who tried unsuccessfully to dive for the trump is starting to get back up. All the other guards are basically dead, dying, or unconscious. Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Okay." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "The guard who tried for the trump is still within the cellblock? Which would be the province of Moriya/Lowen and Bey who had the open shot, I think." Windir> Moriya-chan sprints over to beat down the last guard. Windir> Kanna makes sure to confirm the guards who are dead are dead, and that the ones who are unconcious stay that way for a good long while in case anybody wants to do brainmunching. Windir> You all pretty much swarm over the last poor fool and beat him into the ground before he can do much except cry. Windir> Yumi leans against a wall and shifts her wound shut. Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Any of these men obviously the guard commander?" Windir> Moriya-chan looks around. "Make sure that these are the real prisoners, in here, and not some sort of decoy group." Windir> John says, "OOC Trump guy was the commander, you think." Windir> Beowulf says, "Time to find out what the commander knows." Windir> Motoko casts a spell quickly, then swears. "We have people approaching the sealed hallway. We need to move know." Windir> Yumi nods. "Thoric, Motoko, come with me. We need to disarm any locks and wards on the prison cells. Windir> She hustles down the hallway. Windir> Kanna nods. Not that she can be seen right now, of course. "Gotcha. Numbers?" (are we de-invisibled now?) Windir> Loewen says, "Usui, eat the guard commander's brain." Windir> Motoko asks, "Lord Loewen, Professor Tomoe provided us with Logrus Keys, yes?" Windir> Moriya-chan takes up a guard position. Windir> Beowulf asks, "Yumi, if we're already discovered, does it matter if I cut through the wards and doors with Morkeleb?" Windir> Motoko says, "They may not be on high alert yet." Windir> Loewen continues, "Everyone else take up guard positions. Yes, he did, Motoko. That should get the locks open." Windir> Motoko says, "There is only five of them." Windir> Motoko nods and goes with Yumi and Thoric. Windir> Kanna takes a guard position as well. "If you're not careful, it could go off in your face, Beowulf. And -that- would alert." Windir> Yumi says to Beowulf, "The wards may be rigged to make a mess if they're simply sliced apart. We're not that desperate yet." Windir> Beowulf nods. "Right." He takes up a guard position. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "So, what is the shape of the hallway that's been sealed?" Windir> Motoko says, "If things become desperate, I can summon Daffyl's Eye to me, which will draw Daffyl's attention, but likely allowed us to cut through the wards quickly, then escape." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(ie, did we seal an intersection or just a side corridor, etc?)" Windir> John says, "OOC You sealed off a long hallway that turns near the cell block." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "So one 'normal' way in/out." Windir> John says, "OOC Yumi sealed off the hallway both ways." Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC And right in a traffic route, it seems like. o.o Have they already noticed the seals, or could we dissolve 'em so they won't be immediately alerted?" Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Dissolving the seals is probably much less a guarantee of our safety than leaving them up." Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: As Yumi made them, backed by her mega-Psyche and Water Spikard, and I assume it will take them considerable time to bring them down." Windir> Kanna OOCly nods. AS they'd have to hammer-down/dispell/etc it. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "which would take time." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC True, but leaving 'em intact shouts out 'intruders', when they could also come in another way; dissolving 'em, we might get the guys before they send out an alarm." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC Assuming they haven't seen them already, of course." Windir> The cellblock is full of miscellaneous prisoners, many of whom are passed out unconscious. You find the four people you're looking for. Davros is basically hanging crucified upside down tied in place inside his cell with logrus tendrils. Saionji, Michelle, and Atsuko are all strapped to devices which I won't describe for decencies' sake, but which woldn't be out of place in a snuff porn film witha high budget. All three of them have interesting scars on their bodies now. Windir> Kanna OOCly is so glad she's not seeing this right now. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: I would assume that Yumi knows what she's doing." Windir> Motoko stares in horror. Windir> Motoko whispers, "Let's get them out." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Hm, has Usui finished brainmunching the guard?" Windir> Thoric just stands there, staring in horror, his fists clenching and unclenching. Windir> Motoko puts her hand on Thoric's shoulder and squeezes tightly. "Later," she hisses. "Anger later. We get them out." Windir> Beowulf is OOCly glad he can't see it either. :( Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Oh, everyone will get a chance to see the hideous scars, I'm sure." Windir> Beowulf OOCly nods grimly. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Well, I'm saying the entire overall situation WRT prisoners, etc." Windir> Yumi takes a deep breath and scans the wards. "Nasty. If we bumble this, it'll kill them." Windir> Motoko asks, "Should I bring the Eye?" Windir> Yumi frowns. "Dammnit..." Windir> Motoko says, "It will draw Daffyl instantly, but... if it is the best way..." Windir> Yumi says, "Not quite yet." Windir> Motoko nods. "Who first?" she asks grimly. Windir> She says, "We will have to mindlink together, to share our strength." She holds a hand out to each of you. Windir> Motoko takes Yumi's hand, then takes Thoric's as well, even though it isn't necessary, joining the three of them into a circle. "We can do this," she says tightly. Windir> Loewen looks thoughtful. "Kanna. Go to insect, crawl through the wall past the barrier, and see what sort of folk have come up to the barrier." Windir> The three of you close your eyes and feed your strength to Yumi. You can feel the power of her spikard, tapping the element of water to flow through the cracks in the mesh of wards, slowly poking and prying into it, insinuating slowly. Tiny Logrus tendrils creep into the cracks, and slowly insinuate themselves through the gaps, wrapping around the mesh of wards, and beginning to freeze it. Windir> Kanna nods (invisibly), moves close to the wall and the barrier, shrinks down to ant, and crawls as fast as her little buggy legs can carry her, through the wall crevices, around the barrier, and peering out through cracks to try and see who may be approaching from the other side. Windir> Motoko gives her strength to Yumi and silently prays. Windir> It's a guard patrol. They Windir> They're poking the wall of ice with the tips of their swords, obviously confused as to what exactly has happened. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "apparent strength and number? About comparable as to what we saw before in the guard-area in front of the cellblock?" Windir> John says, "OOC There's five of them." Windir> The wards on Atsuko's cell crack open and fall apart. Yumi unlocks the door with the Logrus Key, then says, "Moriya, cut your grandmother loose." Windir> She moves on to the next door. Windir> Motoko moves with Yumi to break the next ward. Windir> Kanna ant-sprints back around to the sealed off portion, shifts back to the fencer-build body, and reports quietly. "Five men, Lord Lowen. Likely a guard patrol, and confused as all hell to what made the ice, poking with their swords." Windir> The next one is Michelle. Windir> Moriya-chan silently moves over toward the cell, stares blankly at what is within, and then very coldly and mechanically cuts Atsuko out of the machine. She picks her grandmother up quietly, wrapping her in the greatcoat. Windir> Motoko squeezes Thoric's hand and focuses. Windir> Thoric sweats profusely. Windir> Kanna OOCly asks, for the umpteenth time... are we still Contagious Invisibled? Windir> Beowulf stands in guard position, clenching and unclenching his hands, obviously feeling helpless because he isn't able to do anything. Windir> John says, "OOC Still inviso." Windir> Kanna OOCly nods, and awaits orders from Lord Lowen. Windir> Loewen frowns. "Do you think you can take them out, Kanna?" Windir> He says, "If not, I'll send both youand Beowulf. Windir> Slowly, the second set of wards go down. Thoric gives a huge sigh of relief. Yumi unlocks the door, running in and getting his mother, then starting to cry as he cuts her loose from the machine. Windir> Motoko enters the cell and helps Thoric get Michelle loose. Windir> Kanna considers for a second. "Backup from Beowulf would be appreciated, sir. We can probably box them in against the ice wall and take them down that way." Windir> Motoko says, "Two more left, Thoric... let's hurry." Windir> Loewen nods. "Take them out. We can't let them report in." Windir> Beowulf nods, coldly, after seeing Lady Atsuko for himself. Windir> Beowulf says, "We'll do it." He shifts to insect form and follows Kanna. Windir> Kanna sucks in a quiet, hard breath as she sees Lady Atsuko, before heading into the stonework rapidly. Windir> Beowulf clicks to Kanna, "How much room will we have to get out at the other end?" Windir> Saionji is next; his wards seem to be even more complex than the others. Windir> There are plenty of wall cracks to exit through. Windir> Kanna clicks back, "we've got plenty of exits, and there's enough space for us to move past and trap them between us and the walls. Winnow them down up against the Icewall, take out any reportees who might try trump, higher priority?" Windir> Yumi begins to breathe heavily, sweat running down her brow. She keeps glancing through the cell door at Saionji. Windir> Beowulf clicks in return, "Trap them between us and the walls, then I'll go after them with Morkeleb and the whip." Windir> Thoric rocks back and forth everyslowly, like a human metronome as he holds his mother and tries to support Yumi with his mind as best he can concentrate. Windir> Kanna nods, breifly. "Gotcha. I'll take straglers and attempted escapees?" Windir> Motoko concentrates, gritting her teeth. Windir> Beowulf clacks back, "Works for me. Get folks with commo first, though, don't wait for me." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC IOW, there's five, if I can't get all communicators, get the ones I don't go after. o.o" Windir> Kanna ndos again, and ant-runs the rest of the way out to go out the the cracks to quickly check the situation and placement for folks as she runs down the wall for the ground. Windir> Kanna OOCly nods. Beowulf Senses Tingling! Windir> The wards start to activate. Yumi manages desperately, to finesse them into standing down. She sweats more. You can hear Thoric's teeth grind. Windir> Kanna and Beowulf leap out even as the guard leader pulls out a trump. It gets whipped out of his hand, then Kanna and Beowulf are on the guards. It's a sharp fight, but the guards really don't have much of a prayer. They go down. Windir> Motoko prays and tries to focus her mind down to a fine point, a razor's edge, whatever is needed. "Serpent and Unicorn, help us save your children," she whispers. Windir> Motoko murmurs, "Watch over us... watch over them... deliver us from out of the hands of our enemies..." Windir> Kanna peers at the trump, NOT touching it, oh no, as she moves the guards to the shadows so they won't be QUITE so noticed. Windir> You haul them into what little concealment is available. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Stuff them in the bag. :)" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "I don't think bey brought the bag for this little outing." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC Didn't bring it with me, since there was a chance it'd be detected." Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Ah so." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Same reason he didn't for the initial scout." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC If things were nasty enough to need 'em, it wouldn't hurt to turn on the manif. and have Aeris trump it to me." Windir> Beowulf conjures some chameleon netting and covers them with it. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: We pull out Constructs and Eyes when things start going to hell, not before. :)" Windir> Kanna murmurs to Bewoulf. "Trump of the Yellow-eyed redhead... Kenshin. Best report back again." Windir> The wards collapse. Yumi sags. She takes Michelle and brings her out, passing her to Usui to hold, while Thoric goes in and cuts loose Saionji. Windir> Beowulf murmurs quietly in acknowledgement. "You think you can bring that trump with us safely?" Windir> Motoko supports Yumi, asking softly, "Are you up for one more? He may be the most difficult of all..." Windir> Yumi licks her lips. "I must be up to it." She rubs a finger across her spikard. "There is no one else who can do this." Windir> Motoko says, "Unless I bring the Eye." She takes a deep breath. "I trust you, Yumi-san. If you say you can do it, I know you can; I will give you all my strength." Windir> She pauses and slaps her forehead. "Loewen, we need you." Windir> Loewen blinks. "Eh?" Windir> Moriya-chan softly murmurs, "Hide of the Dragon. Another spikard." Windir> She points to the Spikard he is wearing. He frowns, nods, and comes over, then joins his mind to yours. Windir> Motoko pauses, thinks, then slaps her forehead as well. "Hide of the Dragon, Spikard of barriers and shields. Colour us stupid." Windir> Kanna murmurs quickly. "I think I can. If it was a trap-trump, it would've activated immediately as soon as the guard pulled it." Windir> Kanna takes all necessary precautions anyway, using a pair of thin metal tongs to pick it up to slide it into a plastic ziplock baggie. Windir> Loewen comes. He and Yumi stare at each other for long moments, then he gently puts a hand on her shoulder and closes his eyes. The spikard he wears begins to glow. Windir> Motoko watches Yumi and Loewen, not really understanding the tension between them, but able to make some guesses. Windir> Beowulf murmurs, "Right, then. Let's go." He shifts back to insect form and crawls back in to the prison block. Windir> Kanna picks up the trump. Nothing bad happens. She and Beowulf return to where Loewen was, although now he's gone to help the break in. Windir> Tybalt falls asleep. Windir> Saionji begins to stir ever so slightly. "Fuuuuuuuck," he mumbles. Windir> Beowulf blinks at the situation back in the block, though his eyes grow colder as he sees what condition cousin Michelle and uncle Saionji are in. Windir> Motoko glances at Moriya, then Saionji. Windir> Kanna says, "...I am starting to gain a better appreciation for the shapeshifting lifestyle, Bey," as they change back to fencer-build human. "How stands things her----?" She asks whoever might still be in the outer hallway area?"" Windir> Moriya-chan moves over to Saionji. "Please stay quiet, Uncle Saionji," she says. "We haven't finished quite yet." Windir> Then Yumi reaches out with renewed strength. Quickly, logrus and magic insinuates itself through the wards, ripping them to little bits. then she takes another breath, and four logrus tendrils form to drift towards the ones holding Davros. Windir> Kanna's hands tighten around her staff, the slight creak of her knuckles audible through even the invisiblity. Windir> Usui says to Kanna, "Three out of four are rescued. I can feel some mighty trump working nearby." Windir> Tybalt wakes up. Windir> Beowulf looks sharply at Usui. "Mighty trump working? Should I turn on my trump construct's manifestation?" Windir> Motoko concentrates and lends her strength to Yumi. Windir> The tendrils creep towards the ones holding Davros, slowly sliding around them, twining like ivy slowly growing up walls. Windir> Kanna frowns. "They might be trying another troop deployment, or pulling back the original group. They've probably gained Daffyl's assistance in makign the gates that large -- only sis or Aeris could work something that large." She shakes her head. "Not yet, I should think." Windir> Usui says, "Not yet. IT's not directed at us. But it involves a LOT of power." Windir> Beowulf nods grimly. "Right. Let me know when it's time; she could open a trump gate as wide as the one we saw people leaving through." Windir> Very, very faintly, through the walls, you can hear the sound of Morgenstern shouting, "SHIIIIITTTT!!!!!" Windir> Kanna says, "Or, for all I know, Morgenstern... he would have been assisting Jacqui actively, I think, and she too is Attuned to the Eye.... ah." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Wow. Called it." Windir> Moriya-chan tenses slightly. Windir> "YOU DAMN FREAK, THAT WAS MY BEATLES COLLECTION!!!!" Windir> Kanna says, "..." Windir> The tendrils now extend to touch Davros gently, poking at him. He mumbles somethingsoftly. Then the tendrils begin to meld with the one's holding him. Windir> Usui sweats. Windir> Kuonji Ukyou wakes up. Windir> And then the tendrils lower Davros gently to the ground. Windir> Motoko whispers, "Is he free?" Windir> Kanna murmurs, "Bey, I'm going to check the hall again. Back in a second." Windir> Beowulf says, "Wait, if we just got everyone out --" Windir> And then they dissolve. Yumi sags, nearly following, but Loewen holds her up. "Get him, Motoko," she says. Windir> Motoko runs in and gathers Davros up in her arms, looking near tears. "Davros, Davros, Davros..." Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Has Kanna left?" Windir> Kanna considers, and nods, waiting for the call. "understood." Windir> Kanna OOCly has not left yet. Windir> You hear a massive explosion, and the castle rocks. Windir> Davros lies limply against your body, breathing very softly. Windir> Kanna purses her lips. "Were there other prisoners in there?" She looks up at the castle-rocking. Direction-yeild of the explosion, by estimation? Windir> Moriya-chan watches Motoko run into Davros' cell, and then looks around. "Well, at least they're distracted from us," she murmurs. Windir> Motoko hurries out of the cell, cradling Davros in her arms. "We have them. Let's go. I think Morgenstern is--" She nods to Kanna. "Yes, there are; I don't know if we have time to free them, though." Windir> Beowulf asks, "Are the other doors warded?" Windir> Moriya-chan says, "If the doors aren't warded, we should try to get them out. If they are, we can't afford the time to unlock them." Windir> There are about two dozen other prisoners. Most of them are not familiar to you. One of them looks rather like the Mayor of Amber City, though... Windir> which is odd, given you didn't know he was missing... Windir> Moriya-chan says, "...it would seem they have inserted an agent into Amber. The mayor, no less." Windir> Beowulf says, "Damn. One more thing to take care of when we get back." Windir> There are some wards, but not nearly so powerful as the ones on the main doors. Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Weak enough that I can cut thorugh them with Morkeleb?" Windir> Kanna sucks in a breath, and frowns. "If necessary, everybody fix their minds on the place and people to get a good mental impression... once we're out with the primaries, the constructs.... the -hell- is Robert Wapole doing here??" Windir> Loewen says, "We are getting out of here. We can't afford to slow ourselves down hauling a bunch of people who can't even walk." Windir> John says, "OOC Yes, you think you could, Beowulf." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC Right." Windir> Moriya-chan says, "Let's go. We haven't got time." Windir> Motoko licks her lips and nods tightly. "We have no more time and we have what we came for--I..." She hangs her head, resting it against Davros's shoulder as she holds him. Windir> Kanna says, "C'mon, bey, we know where this place is, Sis or Aeris or Morgy can punch through later." Windir> Moriya-chan gently picks up her grandmother. "How do we leave?" Windir> Motoko says, "If I brought the Eye through, I could take them all down quickly, and get us and the prisoners out, I think... and Daffyl is distracted with Morgenstern, it seems..." Windir> Loewen says, "Hmm. Alright. Hopefully, Daffyl will be kept busy. Windir> He says, "As I fear we might have to leave THROUGH the fight." Windir> Beowulf nods. "Right." Windir> Kuonji Ukyou falls asleep. Windir> Kanna says, "Do it, Motoko. The rest of Serpent's Horn should be distracted with the Daffyl/Morgy throwdown." Windir> Beowulf says, "I think I can cut through the wards and doors without alerting anyone." Windir> Beowulf waits a moment for objections from the magi, then goes over to the first door and gets ready to cut. Windir> Motoko says, "All right. I am bringing the Eye. Everyone on their guard." She begins to concentrate. Windir> Moriya-chan puts his grandmother back down and draws her sword. Windir> Moriya-chan OOCly says, "Actually, no." Windir> Moriya-chan draws her sword in one hand, while cradling her grandmother in her other arm. Windir> Beowulf stops and goes on guard. Windir> Motoko says, "Once I have it, I will use it to bring down the wards. You will have to get the prisoners _quickly_ and get them nearby, so I can use the Eye to teleport us all out." Windir> Beowulf nods. Windir> Beowulf says, "Let me know when the wards go down, and I'll cut the doors open." Windir> Thoric nods and gets ready to run in and get people Windir> Moriya-chan now puts her grandmother down near Motoko, and prepares to free prisoners. Windir> Motoko lays Davros gently down at her feet and raises her hands over head, closing her eyes. Windir> Kanna nods. "You've got it, Motoko." She slings staff on back, and shifts to her normal body, ready to grab people. Windir> Sana_Kurata wakes up. Windir> Beowulf tenses, ready to cut. Windir> The air around Motoko begins to turn Red. Windir> You can feel the pulsation of building power. Windir> Kanna gives Motoko a respectful distance, thankyee. Windir> Motoko takes a deep breath and begins to bring her upstretched hands closer together. Windir> Beowulf looks over at Yumi to see if it's something he should be worried about. Windir> And then the light collapses in on itself and becomes a red gem that falls into Motoko's hands. Windir> Beowulf waits for the sign that the wards are down. Windir> Kanna tenses again, ready to react and grab folks once the bars and such go down... or to help rescue the group that's there if things go even -more- fubar. Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Lord Loewen, Yumi-san, help me bring the wards down. Hurry!" Windir> They both put hands on Motoko's shoulders and link with her. Red light pulses from the gem, and the wards are all blasted to bits. Windir> Kanna . o O (Spiffy) Windir> Beowulf slices open the doors with Morkeleb. Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Get them! Now! Hurry!" Windir> Moriya-chan rushes in to grab prisoners. Windir> You quickly all begin hauling out the guards. Windir> Beowulf rushes in to grab prisoners. Windir> Kanna goes in and moving as fast but as careful as she can to grab prisoners and arrange them around Motoko. Windir> Beowulf carries them over to Motoko as quickly as he can. Windir> Kanna carries them two or three at a time, if need be. Windir> Walpole rasps out something that sounds like the word 'bomb'. Windir> Kanna -blinks-. "Shit! Scan for Bombs, Yumi, Motoko!" Windir> Yumi frowns and calls on her spikard. A web of water spreads out everywhere, over everything. Then she curses. Windir> Kanna exclaims, "Check the prisoners and environs!" Windir> Motoko grits her teeth. "It may be that he means in Amber. If they replaced him, they may have set up a bomb there as well. By the Serpent..." Windir> Yumi says, "They've all got little primal chaos bombs in them. If we take them out of the cellblock, they'll explode." Windir> Kanna -winces-. "Even the four primaries?" Windir> Beowulf curses. "Best way to disarm them?" Windir> Yumi says, "They have stronger bombs." Windir> Kanna -winces- again. Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Yumi, Loewen! Again! We will disarm them with the Eye!" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(Thank the Pyricorn we thought to check out the remaining prisoners.)" Windir> Kanna mutters under her breath, "beowulf, I am getting tired of my enemies leaving primal chaos bombs over the place." Windir> Yumi and Loewen nod. Thoric links with you as well to give you his strength as well. Windir> Beowulf nods grimly. "What did you say Aeris did with that primal chaos bomb back in Akasha?" Windir> The walls begin to shake and waver like water. Windir> Kanna says, "She and Mutsumi tried to contain it -after- our attempt to trump it out caused it to -go off-... Morgy then joined in with Justice to contain and shunt the detonation to orbit." Windir> Motoko tilts back her head and screams soundlessly, Eye lifted overhead. Windir> Beowulf tenses, ready to turn on Aeris' connection and have her help if things go fubar. Windir> Kanna looks warily at the wavering waterlike walls. Windir> Beowulf says, "Water... Lady Yumi. I hope." Windir> The Gem pulses brightly,and then red light washes over everything in sight. The walls turn solid again. All of the prisoners scream in agony, especially Davros, who twitches and convulses like he's having an epileptic seizure. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "I take it we're all relatively close together to Motoko as we were hoping to bail out as one group?" Windir> John says, "OOC Yes." Windir> You hear a voice through the walls. MY EYE! MY EEEEYYYEEE!!!! Windir> Kanna says, "Damn! Healing, somebody, for Davros, QUICK --- ooooohhhhhpoooopie." Windir> Beowulf dumps his racked healing spell on Davros. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(as I figure he'll need SOME help dealing with having the Eye going all flawed-order on the environs....)" Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: Okay, are all the prisoners around and ready to teleport out, with no more Primal Chaos bombs?" Windir> And then the glow fades, and Davros stops screaming, and the prisoners relax, though they're all twitching and moaning. Windir> Beowulf looks grim. "At this point, he knows we're here... may be better to have Aeris or Gaby trump us out instead." He looks inquiringly at the magi. Windir> Motoko's eyes widen. "Jacqui! Kenshin is after them!" Windir> Moriya-chan exclaims, "Go! Send us to them!" Windir> Motoko exclaims, "We've got to help them!" Windir> Kanna exclaims, "... I do believe Mr. Daffy's going to be coming for his missing left eyeball reaaaaaallly soon now... Oh Fuck!" Windir> Beowulf says, "...SHIT. Kanna, grab your Kenshin Trump." Windir> In the hallway, you hear, "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!!!!" Windir> You hear the ice shatter Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Gather in!" Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Tight, tight, tight--I have to get us all!" Windir> Kanna yanks out the Kenshin trump and unbags it. "Get the prisoners out and us, move!!!" Windir> Beowulf moves in tightly, gathering in as many as he can. Windir> Moriya-chan moves in. Windir> Kanna plays human barrier, holding the Kenshin trump in one hand and drawing her caine dagger and changing it to pistol crossbow. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(ie, on the edge fo the group of prisoners, hopefully within radius." Windir> Beowulf exclaims, "Kanna, if we're going directly to Kenshin, be ready to have Gaby get the Knife to Moriya!" Windir> Kanna hrks, and nods. "Gotcha, Bey!" She quickly pulls out her Gabrielle trump as well, making sure it's on the forefront of the cards. Windir> Motoko says, "I'm going to teleport us all to safety, leave the prisoners, and take us to help Jacqui. Let's GO!" Windir> Thoric carries his mother with one arm and his grandfather with the other, and just cries and cries and cries. Windir> Kanna exclaims, "DO IT!" Windir> Motoko closes her eyes and shouts two quick words, as the Eye blazes between her hands. Windir> Kanna says, "I'll trump sis as soon as we make the transition to drop off the prisioners... if I can't manage it, bey, contact Aeris to relay message to sis to reactivate my manifestation." Windir> Beowulf waits, ready to set the prisoners down and teleport back out to help Jacqui. He looks over at Kanna. "Right." Windir> The Red Glow surrounds you all, and there is a flash of light. And then you feel something liek a wall, a wall of willpower, flashing and flaring all around you. For a moment, you all fear you will discorporate. Agony racks through your bodies. Something is trying to block the teleport. But then you hear a "HAH! SNAKE TASTES JUST LIKE FRIED CHICKEN!" and then the barrier breaks, and Bang, you're in the briefing room in House Gainax. Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Gather round! Everyone able! We have to help Jacqueline!" Windir> You all feel like shit. Extremely. Windir> Beowulf sets down the prisoners. Windir> Kanna says, "-Aghhhh!" Windir> Motoko staggers and shouts a Power Word. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "I take it feeling like shit means we're not -exactly- in form to go help rather fresh? :)" Windir> Moriya-chan exclaims, "Go! Motoko! Send us!" Windir> John says, "OOC You're going to be pretty tired. But there's no one else." Windir> Kanna sags against the nearest table or chair, trying to recouperate while focussing on her trump of her sister. Windir> Beowulf OOCly nods grimly. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "thought so. Seventh Inning Stretch, wheee!" Windir> Beowulf goes over to Motoko. "Ready." Windir> Gabrielle does not answer the Trump. Windir> Yumi staggers, about collapse. Thoric stands by Motoko. "Go, go, go!" he shouts desperately. Windir> Loewen snaps his fingers and now is holding a Logrusfoil. He smiles grimly. "Time for round 2." Windir> Motoko says, "Yumi-sama, stay here and take care of them! You're barely able to walk." Windir> Kanna frowns. "Must be too far." She pockets the trumps. "Bey, get Aeris on the pfone quickly!" Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: I assume there are servants and guards and such who were ready to receive prisoners?" Windir> Yumi says, "Can't just...leave Jacqueline..." She staggers again. Windir> Moriya-chan bellows, "STOP IT, KANNA! GO! GO!" Windir> Beowulf turns on the Aeris manifestation. "Aeris! Contact Gaby and see if she can get the Knife to us, we're going to help Jacqui!" Windir> Beowulf exclaims, "Get us going, Motoko!" Windir> Kanna nods to Loewen. "Once more unto the breach, Lord Loewen. Let's show these assholes what it's like to mess with Chaos and Amber." Windir> Kanna OOCly already stopped using the trump and has moved to joined the group. Windir> Aeris says, "Yes, Daddy!" Windir> John says, "OOC Yes, there are, Alan." Windir> Motoko teleports herself, Moriya, Kanna, Beowulf, Loewen, Thoric and Usui to help Jacqueline. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "this should be interesting, yepyep." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(and hey, first objective accomplished.)" Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC What's the situation we see when we arrive?" Windir> Kanna OOCly suspects that the GM is currently typing it and about to bring the other char in. *wg* Windir> Rod has arrived. Windir> camera-2 has left. Windir> Jacqueline OOCly sighs. Windir> Kanna OOCly hm? Windir> Jacqueline says, "OOCly you'll know it when you see it :P" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Agh. :P" Windir> Jacqueline says, "OOCly a little speed was appreciated." Windir> As you appear, there is a huge battle off in the distance. Many Serpent's Horn people are being overwhelmed by a huge force of Nurgal and Helgram people. Windir> Some of the Nurgal forces have broken off and are trying to charge in your direction, but are having to fight a large force of garbage-can shaped golems. More of the Golems are scattered about the area where you are. Windir> Jacqui lies on the ground, bleeding burning blood, and trying to drink from a cup. A fair ways back, with about six of the golems now moved into the way, is a one-armed Moonshade, who is spurting burning blood from the stump of her left arm. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(oh hell. Yes, I see.)" Windir> A red-haired woman who looks like pictures you've seen of Princess Eowyn of Amber is nearby as well, and off across the field is a grey-skinned freak in a chair directing the golems. Windir> There's a cloud of mist hovering near the ground which some of you would recognize as Mitsune's mist form. It isn't doing much. Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Is it burning?" Windir> It's not burning, but it looks smaller than usual. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "agggggg." Windir> Jacqui is bleeding from the vicinity of her left lung, btw. Windir> Kenshin is carrying Justice in his left hand, Merehallow in his right. Windir> Motoko asks, "OOC: What about Kenshin?" Windir> And is pressing Moonshade back. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Ahh, there he is, the happy fellow." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "... that answers THAT...." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC ...damn." Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC We'd have to go through the golems to get to Kenshin?" Windir> John says, "OOC Yes, although they wouldn't block missile weapons. But Missile weapons risk shooting Moonshade." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Leave -THAT_ to me." Windir> Kanna says, "Bey, Lowen, Moriya, ready to charge past the golems to assist Moonshade...." And with that, she calls on the power of the Pattern, praying to Unicorn and Serpent to let her do this, rolling back for the necessary motion to pull out Beryllina from a convenient rock.... Windir> Okay, here's what happens... Windir> Kanna OOCly prays again. Windir> Beowulf OOCly joins in. Windir> Jacqueline OOCly sits back, sighs, and waits for the shoe to drop. Windir> Jacqueline pours liquid from the cup on herself. The flames die down somewhat, but then start to burn again. Moonshade takes a nasty cut across her chest from Kenshin, which starts burning. Eowyn draws a pistol and tries to shoot Motoko, but gets power worded and staggers andher shot goes wild. Motoko starts casting a spell. Thoric sees Jacqui on the ground,a nd for a moment, just stares in horror, then screams and charges towards Kenshin and the line of golems. Kanna begins blasting golems with Beryllina. Beowulf dumps a racked healing spell onto Jacqui. It heals her injuries mostly, but is not strong enough to put out burning Chaos Blood. Moriya and Loewen both charge towards Kenshin, but a lot less berserkly than Thoric is. Windir> Usui turns and charges towards Eowyn. Windir> John says, "OOC Beo, I need your new action; everyone else is currently in the middle of something or has given me a more detailed plan." Windir> The rest of the golems get hosed down by Kanna, clearing space for Thoric, Moriya, and Loewen to move through. Usui continues to close on Eowyn, only to have Eowyn suddenly ROCKET INTO THE AIR, then come crashing down on the unfortunate Davros, knocking him over. Beowulf fires at Kenshin, who successfully manuevers Moonshade into the path of the bolts. She takes two, screams, and collapses bleeding more. Windir> You can see patches of Kenshin's skin starting to take on a grey sheen. Windir> The color starts to bleach out of his hair. Windir> Lian wakes up. Windir> Motoko begins to concentrate. Kanna runs over to Jacqui, hosing downmore golems, then kneels by her, and tries to use Pattern Defense to put out the flames in Jacqui. Beowulf begins moving in to go after Kenshin. Davros and Eowyn try to get disentangled from each other, while the Golems roam, firing randomly. And then several things happen at once... Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Oh Dear." Windir> Thoric charges Kenshin dead ahead at him, Frost Razor raised high and to his right. Loewen circles left of Thoric. Moriya comes in on the right. It looks like Kenshin is screwed. And then... Windir> There is a blur, and suddenly Loewen is under attack by a grinning man with a shining silvery blade, who drives him back away from Kenshin, forcing him to give ground before a series of lightning assaults. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Oh Look. The Smiling Slayer?" Windir> Jacqueline says, "OOCLy Soujiro :P" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(are we still in the waiting for GM to finish posing stage? *wl* )" Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: I assume so." Windir> Kanna OOCly nods. Windir> Merehallow comes up and cuts a massive slash across most of Thoric's chest. Thoric screams and gets knocked back. Moriya comes in and tries to power word Kenshin, who basically ignores him. Justice swings around at Moriya and breaks Moriya's blade. Then it stabs into Moriya's chest. Moriya's blood ignites and the most intense agony of his life ensues. He pulls a bag out of his pocket, and lets Merehallow slice as he holds the blade in place. Then, as Kenshin manages to wrench the blade out of Moriya, who falls to the ground, you see an odd, lumpy brown object affixing itself to Kenshin's word hand. Windir> Moriya falls to the ground, spurting blood and stunned for a few seconds. Windir> You notice that for what it is worth, Thoric is the only injured person onthe field whose blood ain't burning. Windir> Jacqueline says, "Th..... Thoric...." Windir> Loewen gives more ground, and begins to parry harder aginst Soujiro's blows. The rate at which he is driven back slows down. Windir> Jacqui casts a spell. Black tendrils erupt out of her body and into the ground. Windir> Kanna curses, but keeps her hands on Jacqui as she keeps trying to douse the flames within her. Windir> Motoko reaches a hand up to the sky and tilts her head back. She seems, suddenly, off in her own little world. "Serpent of Chaos," she says almost gently. "Thy Bride calls to thee. As husband to wife, lover to loved, heart to heart, I call to thee." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(within Jacqui, that is.)" Windir> Motoko says, "These murderers blaspheme your name and your truth. They have done horrors unto those I love." Windir> Motoko says, "It can no longer be allowed." Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(Kanna's free hand, that is.)" Windir> Beowulf reaches Moonshade and casts a spell on her. Her non-flaming wounds clopse up. Windir> Motoko points across the field at Davros and Eorann. "BELOVED, _COME_!" Windir> Davros looks down at his hand,and then flames begin to erupt from it. Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: Eowynn, not Eorann." Windir> Eowyn begins to backpedal desperately. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(oh boy.)" Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "(THIS is gonna be impressive.)" Windir> While he is stunned, Kenshin takes both Patternblades and drives them into Moriya even as Moriya is getting up. Windir> While MORIYA is stunned. Windir> Moriya-chan screams. Windir> He is about to kill Moriya, when suddenly, the ground erupts around Kenshin, and Black Tendrils erupt out of it, all over him. Windir> Kanna watches, eyes wide, but still doing the Pattern Defense On Jacqui Thing. Windir> Kenshin whips the blades out of Moriya, and starts slicing the tendrils. But they manage to pin his legs, making it hard to turn. And then Thoric sits up, and screams "DIE! DIE!!! DIEEE!!!!!" One of the P-blades comes around and stabs his leg, whichgoes mostly limp. But then Thoric grabs both of Kenshin's arms, howling something about Jacqui, and begins to fold Kenshin backwards at the waist as Jacqui's tendrils hold his legs. Windir> Huge flames erupt up around Davros, who begins to burn. They form into a giant flaming serpent, which coils around him as he goes up in a torch. Windir> Moriya-chan says, "Kafuin...the...the flames...my blood...." Windir> Kanna narrows her eyes. "....damn you to the -abyss- and beyond, Davros of Fomorian," she mutters under her breath. "Let the flames of the True Serpent burn your taint from this land." Windir> Kafuin says, "Right, Lad." He snuffs the flames on Moriya and begins trying to heal his wounds. Windir> Motoko says, softly, "Beloved." Then she raises her voice until it is almost a scream. "Look upon this, you murders, you blasphemers! You _pervert_ His great name! You raise arms against those He loves! Look upon my love in his truth and _reap what you have sewn_!" Windir> The armies fighting nearby stop and stare in awe as the Serpent hangs in the sky. Golems run about, completely out of control, randomly shooting things. Windir> Eowyn is pulling a trump and running. Windir> Kanna exclaims, "Bey, get Aeris to Jam Little Miss Redhead if you can! I want her to ANSWER for this!" Windir> Jacqui's blood finally stops burning. Windir> Beowulf exclaims, "Aeris! Block Eowyn's Trump!" Windir> In the skies above, you can now see a giant blue scaled Serpent battling with Morgenstern and Gabrielle. The Serpent moves towards them. Windir> Motoko raises up the Eye of Daffyl high. Windir> Kanna . o O (Ah -hah-... that's where sis was.) Windir> Gabrielle ,grown to about ten times normal size, puts both her fists together and smashes Daffyl on top of the head. Windir> Motoko looks up at the battle in the sky, then takes a deep breath and changes to her phoenix form. Windir> With a single beat of her wings, she takes to the air, heading like an arrow for Daffyl. Windir> Motoko says, "Daffyl, I come." Windir> Motoko says, "As a mother to her child, I come; as a healer to one sick, I come." Windir> Motoko says, "I am the Bride of the Dragon." Windir> Motoko says, "I come." Windir> Morgenstern is flailing away with flaming fists. If you look closely, youcan s ee little Judas Priest flame creatures attacking Daffyl neary Morgenstern. Eowyn runs for her life, but then startshaving to dodge the ground as it blows apart from the Beryllina bolts slamming into it around her. She tries to trump, but Aeris blocks the trump, and then Beowulf breaks her legs into tattered bone and flesh as he shoots her in the back of both knees. Kenshin screams as Jacqui and Thoric break his spine. Then the black tendrils wrap around his neck. Windir> Motoko exclaims, "Morgenstern, Gabrielle, back! Beloved, attend me! I bring your _EYE_, Daffyl!" Windir> Soujiro, not being a fool, breaks away desperately from Loewen. He takes a nasty arm wound, but sprints towards Thoric. Windir> Loewen runs after him, but Soujiro seems to run at incredible speeds. Windir> Gabrielle spares an apprehensive glance at the Real Thing, then grabs Daffyl around the neck and starts wrestling his head towards Motoko. "Can't... disengage... easily..." she grunts. Windir> Moriya-chan feebly reaches an arm toward Thoric and Kenshin. "Thoric...get away...." Windir> Motoko looks down at the battlefield at Soujiro and an expression of great sadness passes across her face, avian though it is. Windir> High above the field, the Serpent moves in. Daffyl snaps and hisses at him. He simply looks sad as Motoko rises up to meet them high above. Windir> Motoko beats her wings and spirals up towards Daffyl, higher and higher, the Jewel blazing round her black-feathered neck. Windir> Soujiro charges. Kanna begins shooting up the ground ahead of him, forcing him to dodge and weave. Beowulf charges to try to intercept, his whip lashing at Soujiro, who only barely can parry the blows. This slows him down more. Thoric lets go of Kenshin. The tendrils pick up both Patternblades and carve Kenshin into giblets. Moriya's hands weave and magic begins to glow as she casts some sort of spell. Thoric says, "What the hell?" And suddenly, he's teleported twenty feet to the left. Souijiro's charge goes right through where Thoric WAs, and in fact tramples right over the dying Kenshin. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Whoohoo! Go, Moriya!" Windir> And high above you, Motoko reaches Daffyl, who now stares obssesively at the gem which pulses from a chain around her neck. Windir> The tendrils sink into the ground with the blades. Windir> Moriya-chan hisses, "Jacqui...give Merehallow...to...Aunt Kanna...her right...to give it...to Aunt Juri." Windir> Motoko does a rather complicated maneuver of her neck, and then the Eye dangles by its chain from the end of her beak. Slowly, carefully, almost reverently, she places it within Daffyl's empty eye socket. "I give this of my own free will," she says gently. "Accept it of your own free will, and be healed, and come back from the darkness." Windir> Soujiro skids to a halt and stares up into the sky. Loewen stops and stares into the sky as well. Windir> Kanna looks up as well, fear and awe in her expression as she watches what HAS to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Windir> The eye fuses into Daffyl, and a red glow flows down his body. His scales turn purple,and a light shines from him, so bright it is almost impossible to see. Windir> Moriya-chan closes her eyes against the light. Windir> Beowulf looks up in awe. Windir> Thoric squints, shielding his eyes with his hands. Windir> Jacqueline stares at nothing in particular with glassy eyes. Windir> Gabrielle lets go of Daffyl and spirals away, hauling a still-flailing Morgenstern ("I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU, BITCH!") with her once it becomes clear that Motoko has got things under control. The energy surge pushes them both back. Windir> Kanna . o O (....wow....) Windir> And then tears begin to fall from Daffyl's eyes. Where they strike the ground, the devastion done to this field fades away as if it had never been. Windir> The Serpent coils round Daffyl in what is probably the Serpent equivalent to an embrace. Windir> Beowulf . o O (...all right, maybe it was all worth it.) Windir> Motoko, flying at the dead centre of the light, seems disappears completely as it engulfs her. And then she is lying atop Daffyl's head, wings spread limply, a tiny black spot against the huge purple scales. Windir> Jacqueline says, "hnnngk." Windir> Kanna . o O (... Pyricorn and Serpent, let healing come to this land...) "...agh?" Windir> It begins to rain down on everyone with Daffyl's tears. The heavens open up, and the rain comes down on everyone. You still feel like shit, but various burning wounds finally go out, and wounds close up, and you feel a great and intense sorrow. Windir> Kanna slumps to the ground where she's near to Jacqui. "... and after winter comes spring... and after spring comes summer... and so the cycle goes," she murmursunder her breath. Windir> Motoko lies unmoving, almost impossible to see from the ground. Windir> Moriya-chan sighs softly, and her body relaxes. Windir> Jacqueline's tendrils re-emerge, patternblades in its coils. Justice is brought to her only good hand, Merehollow laid before Kanna. Windir> And then Daffyl speaks. It would appear that only the Serpent's Horn people can hear what he is saying, for the rest of you feel like you're hearing something, but you can't understand it. They all stare in utter shock. Some of them begin to scream, others look terrified, some look angry, others look horribly sad and repentant. Soujiro falls to his knees and stares. Windir> Beowulf stands unmoving for a moment, his tears joining those falling from the sky, before starting and looking around to see who needs help. Windir> Thoric staggers through the rain over to Moonshade, then picks her up and drags her over to where Moriya is on the ground. He mutters words of magic, and then he, Moonshade, and Moriya are transported over to Jacqui and Kanna. Windir> Usui stares up at the sky, looking confusedly at the Serpent. Windir> Moriya-chan asks, "Mitsune...Mitsune? Where are you?" Windir> Kanna tries to place the words, then shakes her head, her tears falling, as she bows before Jacqui. *q* "... I am not worthy of my Aunt's blade... but I shall carry it in honor of what you've done today, Jacqueline Tenjou, to deliver it up to her as needs be." Windir> A cloud drifts over to Moriya, then forms into Mitsune, who looks to be about a ten year old child. She slumps over onto Moriya and falls asleep. Windir> Kanna says, "Be with those you love, and rest now, Jacqueline." Windir> Jacqueline, still flat on the ground, just stares at the sky. Windir> Moriya-chan blinks owlishly at Mitsune, wraps her arms around her, and slumps on the ground. Windir> Beowulf looks over at Moriya and Mitsune, and thanks whoever he can think of that Lily wasn't caught up in the carnage. Windir> Kanna reaches forward for Merhallow, and grimly sheathes it in the scabbard usually held for Beryllina. She shifts Beryllina down to Ring form for the nonce. Windir> Loewen quietly sheathes his sword. Windir> And then he quietly falls down. Windir> Beowulf hangs the whip and Morkeleb on his belt. Windir> Jacqueline says, "th.....*wheeze*... thoric....." Windir> Thoric kneels by Jacqui, kissing her forehead. "I'm here. I'm here." Windir> Kanna says, "he's here, Jacqui... he's here with moonshade, and Moriya, and Mitsune... they're all still alive..." Windir> Kanna finally slumps down again, and just cries. Windir> One of Jacqui's tendrils patpats Kanna on the shoulder, though Jaqui herself is stilll looking fairly immobile. Windir> Kanna pats the tendril, absently. Windir> Jacqueline smiles and closes her eyes. Windir> Motoko drops from Daffyl and spirals down, weakly, to Loewen's side. Windir> Motoko spreads the shadow of her wings over him, and begins to glow. Windir> Kanna just does the kneeling and watching and being nicely mostly mentally blitzed, trying to take in everything at once. Windir> Beowulf sways on his feet, trying to figure out if anyone needs help and if he's capable of delivering it. Windir> And then Daffyl speaks in a voice the Amberites can understand. I HAVE DONE GREAT ILL IN MY MADNESS. I RENOUNCE MY CURSE, MY VENGEANCE, MY RAGE. I GO NOW TO JOIN THE PHOENIX, TO GUARD THE WALLS OF THE WORLD, TO HOLD THE LINE UNTIL THE DAY WHICH IS COMING. I WILL DEFEND THIS WORLD, AS I WAS BORN TO DO, OR PERISH IN THE ATTEMPT. LET THIS WAR BE OVER. THOSE WHO VIOLATE THIS PEACE, WILL FACE ALL OUR WRATH. Windir> Beowulf slumps to his knees and sighs, sadly. Windir> Moriya-chan simply lies there, quiescent. Windir> Motoko raises her head up as she attends to Loewen, and looks upon Daffyl as he speaks; two shining tears fall from the black beads of her eyes and break upon Loewen. Windir> Beowulf then smiles slightly, as the end of the feud cuts through the sorrow of those who died bringing it about. Windir> The rain ceases. Thoric sits by Jacqui and holds her gently. Eowyn lies mangled across the field. Windir> Kanna nods, staring up at Daffyl. "let those who live this day remember this and bear service and witness to this pledge," she again murmurs, quietly. "let forgiveness and understanding reign." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC The rain didn't heal her? o.o" Windir> Kanna looks over at Eowyn, and slowly works herself to her feet with her staff. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Well, even with wounds healed, bodyparts are another question." Windir> Motoko says, "OOC: You blew her legs of at the knees, dude." Windir> John says, "OOC Quite. " Windir> Beowulf asks, "OOC Ahhh. Is she going to need more healing to survive?" Windir> A Trump Gate spirals open under Eowyn. There's a brief vision of a jail cell in Ember, and then she drops through it. Windir> Kanna OOCly says, "Be very glad I didn't shoot her, but shot the ground. *wl*" Windir> Kanna lets out a deep breath. Windir> John says, "OOC No, she'll live, but she needs tohave her legs fixed properly." Windir> Kanna says, "... and another puzzle waits to be solved." Windir> Beowulf says, "OOC ...well, that answers that. I'm glad I only did a disabling shot, though." Windir> Loewen mumbles faintly. Windir> Kanna looks over at Beowulf. "... did... did we do good, bey?" Windir> Soujiro stares up at the sky, and then jams his sword into the ground, and stumbles over towards Loewen. Windir> Motoko cranes her head back and utters a single piercing cry. A crackling ball of fire rises from the ashes that were Davros the Artificer and shoots towards her, and then Breath of the Dragon is in the palm of her hand, and she is human again, kneeling down by Loewen. "Lord Loewen... what is it?" Windir> Beowulf looks around, at the battlefield healed of damage, at the people slumped over and wounded... "I hope so, Kanna. I really hope so." Windir> Motoko looks up at Soujiro approaches, very calm, but also very ready. Windir> Loewen mumbles, "The Serpent of Fire. the Fires of the Serpent, burn within me." Windir> Motoko strokes his brow, gently. "So they do," she murmurs soothingly. "Strong and bright they blaze within you, a scourge to burn away the coming darkness." Windir> Thoric says, "We did good. We did good." Windir> Moriya-chan whispers, to no one in particular, "We rescued our family...recovered Merehallows...stopped the Serpent's Horn." Windir> Soujiro comes and kneels before Loewen. "I have seen, and I understand my mistake. My life is in your hands, Lord Loewen." Windir> Kanna nods, slowly. "... i hope so... so many hurt... so many.... at least some healing's begun..." She reaches up with her free hand, leaning on her staff with the other, to brush away her tears. "Thoric? Let no man EVER say you're not brave. Otherwise I'll clock him one." Windir> Kanna manages a very slight, but heartfelt smile. Windir> Thoric says, "Thank you, Kanna." Windir> Motoko does her best to help Loewen sit up if it won't do him any harm, in order that he can speak to Soujiro. Windir> Beowulf conjures up padded stretchers to carry off the wounded. Windir> Moriya-chan opens her eyes and looks toward Kanna. "And you...now you have your chance to find your aunt. It was one of your dreams, wasn't it?" Windir> Loewen says, "I should kill you." Windir> Soujiro says, "I know." Windir> Motoko waits, saying nothing. Windir> Loewen says, "You betrayed me. I raised you from childhood, and you betrayed me to follow a false Serpent. You betrayed everything House Helgram stands for. By right, I could hang you from Vengeance until your entire body was utterly destroyed." Windir> Soujiro says, "I know." Windir> Loewen says, "Or throw you into the Sacred Fire, to burn away your sins, that perhaps in your next life, you might..." Windir> Motoko bites her lip, but is obviously restraining herself from speaking. Windir> Soujiro says, "I can think of many, many ways you can kill me, Lord Loewen. And I would deserve it." Windir> Kanna nods, and rests her free hand on the hilt of Merehallow, looking over at Moriya. "... yes... yes it is. And Pyricorn and Serpent willing, I will," she says quietly. "But your dream's just as worthwhile. We must have full peace between Alars and Harad... and to that, their Logrusfoil needs to be found, to be returned to them in exchanged for Withywindle, which is yours. Which I intend to do. In time, it shall be returned, Moriya." Windir> Moriya-chan laughs softly. "Think nothing of that, Aunt Kanna. You have more important things to do. I will seek the swords. Not only Memory, but...other Logrusfoils. To give back. To strengthen the bonds between Amber and Chaos." Windir> Kanna quirks a slight smile. "Very well, then." Windir> Kanna sinks back down, supporting herself on her staff, looking... tired, but alive. Windir> Loewen says, "But I'm not going to kill you. Not because I feel merciful. Not because you in any way are deserving of not dying. Not even because I can tell you want to die so you don't have to feel guilty." Windir> Loewen's teeth grind. "But because, the Serpent and his _child_ want there to be peace. And unlike you, I AM the Hand of the Serpent. I do his will. And his will is for you to live. To live with what you have done, and how many people have been killed because you were stupid and weak, and how you will be forever alone until you have atoned for every mistake you have made. And I charge you to go, and pick up your sword, and walk to wherever the Serpent commands you to go, to wander Shadow, until you have atoned for every sin. And if I hear but once you have turned aside from your path, I will find you, and I will make you wish you were a _dog_." Windir> Kanna . o O (Man. Harsh.) Windir> Soujiro nods, and rises. "I will do as you command, Lord Loewen. Until every blow has been healed, until every wound has been closed, until the Serpent no longer needs me, I will go forth and do as you command." He bows. "Until we meet again." He then walks towards his sword, calling forth Logrus Tendrils as he does so. Windir> Beowulf . o O (I can't say he doesn't deserve it, but... this isn't the spirit of reconciliation I'd been hoping for.) Windir> Motoko says, "Soujiro." Windir> Kanna just watches, quietly. Windir> And high above, Daffyl becomes a streak of purple light that erupts up into the sky. And the Serpent bites his own tail, and begins to shrink. Windir> Motoko lowers Loewen gently to the ground and moves towards Soujiro. Windir> Soujiro turns, tendrils dancing about him. He bows to Motoko. "Bride of the Dragon." Windir> Motoko gestures. "Come to me." Windir> He walks over to Motoko. Windir> Kanna watches Daffyl and the Serpent start to vanish, eyes wide. Windir> Beowulf looks up as the Serpent and his son leave, almost too numb to feel anything by this point. Windir> The Serpent pauses, and drifts over to Gabrielle, releasing his tail from his mouth. He then kisses her forehead, then turns to Morgenstern, and pats him on the shoulder with his tail. And then he resumes being circular, and gradually shrinks in on himself and fades away. Windir> Kanna's jaw drops open at that. Windir> Kanna. o O (...hlgrk.) Windir> Motoko takes Soujiro's head between her hands, gently, and leans down to trace the Great Spiral on his forehead with her lips. "Serpent's blessing upon you," she says quietly. "May his light attend you forevermore, guiding you in the right path, and drawing you onwards when all around you is dark." Windir> Beowulf finds out that yes, he still isn't quite numb enough not to boggle at that. Windir> Moriya-chan stares at that sight, and then, very weakly, starts to laugh and laugh and laugh. Windir> Thoric says, "Damn, never thought I'd see the Serpent kiss Gabrielle." Windir> Usui quietly walks over to Loewen. Windir> Gabrielle blushes and talks quietly with Morgenstern. Windir> Kanna starts to giggle softly, the adrenalin and tension flushing out at Thoric's words. Windir> Soujiro says, "I will do my best, Bride of the Dragon." Windir> Beowulf manages to chuckle at Thoric's comments. "You and I both, Thoric. You and I." Windir> Motoko turns away from Soujiro as though he is no longer there, and moves back to Loewen's side. Windir> Moriya-chan says, "Heh...eheheh...heheheheh...ugh." Windir> Kuonji Ukyou wakes up. Windir> Soujiro turns again, draws his sword, and walks away. Windir> Kanna says, ".... maaaaan, whatta day. night. whateverthehell time it is." Windir> Motoko asks, "Lord Loewen... can you stand?" Windir> Loewen says, "Barely." Windir> He staggers to his feet. Windir> Motoko says, "I have to... I have to make sure my family is all right. Here, lean on me." She offers him her arm. Windir> Loewen takes the arm and staggers over to the Amberite brigade. He looks down at Jacqui. "You look as bad as I feel, Princess Jacqueline," he says weakly. "I have some very nice bandages, if you'd like some." He wobbles again. Windir> Motoko says, softly, "Sit down, Lord Loewen. Rest. It's done." Windir> Thoric says, "No bandages, I think. She just needs rest." He points out she's fallen asleep. Windir> Rod has connected. Windir> Motoko says, "Does anyone need more healing? I have a few spells still racked." Windir> Kanna quirks a smile, and giggles at that. Then she looks abashed and apologetic at Loewen. "... sir? Lord Loewen? It was an honor to serve under you on this mission." Windir> Beowulf staggers over towards the group. "Aeris can open us up a trump gate back to Gainax; probably best if we head back there." Windir> Loewen says to Kanna. "You did everything asked of you and did it well. Be proud." Windir> Beowulf smiles tiredly "Indeed it was, Lord Lowen. Thank you." Windir> Motoko looks down at Thoric. "Thoric, you were magnificent," she says sincerely. "You were also insane to try and grapple with that maniac when he had two Patternblades, but... magnificent all the same." Windir> Beowulf nods to Thoric. "I'm with Kanna. If *anyone* ever insults your courage again..." Windir> Kanna thinks on this. "... start healing, at least... Though the more worse-off will need fast time..." She bows from where she sits towards Lowen. "Thank you, Lord Lowen." Windir> Moriya-chan murmurs, "Thank you, Lord Loewen. This is what happens when Amber and Chaos fight alongside each other, not against each other." Windir> Loewen says to Beowulf. "Nice shooting against the red head." Windir> Beowulf shrugs. "I would have been happier if I'd been able to hit Kenshin... but I suppose all's well that ends well." Windir> Moriya-chan says, "And Thoric...you did well." Windir> Motoko glances at Beowulf. "Speaking of that, does anyone know how Uncle Miki and Aunt Shinobu did?" Windir> Jacqueline blinks and opens her eyes. Windir> Kanna blinks. "DAmned if I know...." Windir> Beowulf asks, "I haven't heard anything." He taps Aeris' badge. "Aeris? Have you heard anything from the third group yet?" Windir> Jacqueline says, "Hnn... Thoric...." Windir> Thoric looks up at Motoko and smiles. "Thank you, Motoko. I just...I was in that place, where you just act without thinking. Moriya was down, and Loewen had vanished, and there was only me, and I just did the only thing I could think to do." Windir> Beowulf smiles at Thoric. "That's what true courage is, I think." Windir> Aeris says, "They're still locked in battle, Daddy. Should I tell Mutsumi to tell Uncle Miki it's all over now?" Windir> Jacqueline says, "Mutsumi... check... on...." Windir> Motoko sits down beside Thoric and Jacqueline. "Hello, Jacqui-chan," she says softly. "I'm glad you're all right." Windir> Thoric kisses Jacqui's forehead. "It's all over." Windir> Beowulf says, "Yes. Quckly." Windir> Beowulf says, "...did Daffyl not speak to the people there?" He shakes his head. Windir> Jacqueline says, "sis. where's.... where's sis." Windir> Kanna quirks an eyebrow. "I'd go and send help, but I don't know if my body particularly wants to move from this spot anymore without trump." Windir> Motoko says, "She's all right, Jacqui-chan. She's sleeping." Windir> Beowulf says, "Moonshade's down, but alive, Jacqui." Windir> Kanna says, "She's alive, Jacqui... held the line long enough for us to get here, I wager." Windir> Jacqueline says, "sis... her arm..." Windir> Moriya-chan mutters, "Three Patternblade stabs...never want to do that again." Windir> Gabrielle ambles up with an incredibly beat-up Morgenstern in tow. "I told you she's fine, you overeager flameslinger." She nods at Jacqueline. "Yo, Jacqui." Windir> Motoko closes her eyes. "I want a drink and I want a long bath and I want to hold Davros and have him hold me back." Windir> Beowulf says, "We'll get her to Lian, Jacqui. Lian survived having *both* arms ripped off, she'll be able to take care of Moonshade." Windir> Kanna says, "Arms can be regrown, given fast-time. Or hell, she can go see Lian and get one fast-grown and reattached..." Windir> Jacqueline, hearing Moriya, manages a wheezing snort. Windir> Morgenstern kneels by Jacqui in his human appearance. "Hi, Jacqui. Sorry I got kinda busy and couldn't help you." Windir> Beowulf asks, "Aeris? Uncle Miki and the rest managing to shut things down up there all right?" Windir> Kanna waves to sis. "Yo, sis. Sorry 'bout trying to call you when you were busy, should've realzied it was hitting the fan at that point." Windir> Motoko glances over at the female Moriya holding the ten-year-old Mitsune and just shakes her head, mumbling something about, "Their turn." Windir> Jacqueline smiles at Morgenstern. "S..... soky." Windir> Kanna says, "She's alive, Morgy." Windir> Aeris says, "Our forces are pulling back from the fortressnow." Windir> Gabrielle says, "It's cool." She sits down on a rock and stares off into space. "I met your boyfriend, Motoko." Windir> Beowulf nods. "Good... hopefully someone will show up there and tell them the war's over." Windir> Gabrielle says, "He seems cool." She rubs her forehead. Windir> Kanna says, "All over but for the dustbunnies of war." Windir> Kanna quirks a smile at Gaby and Motoko. "He's cute. I can see what you see in him, Motoko." Windir> Jacqueline's eyes roam over the crowd.... Windir> Moonshade mumbles, "Dad, you mofo...." Windir> Beowulf asks, "Everyone ready to move back to someplace where we can get healed up a little quicker?" He looks down at the badge. "Aeris? Can you get ready to make a trump gate to Gainax?" Windir> Jacqueline says, "Mo..... gift... dog...... Lowen...." Windir> Kanna mrfles at that. Windir> Beowulf asks, "Also, could you trump someone there and let them know what's coming and have them ready for us?" Windir> The air rips open in a rainbow shiny to the gardens of Gainax. Aeris appears in a conductor's uniform. "All aboard for points in House Gainax!" she says. Windir> Kanna asks, "This... is gonna be one helluva interesting after action report, y'know?" Windir> Motoko nods to Gabrielle. "Good kisser, isn't he?" Windir> Morgy says, "I'll give him the version of ABBA I found in a shadow of Dog people." Windir> Beowulf shakes his head at Kanna, smiling tiredly. "You said it, sis. You said it." Windir> Jacqueline nods weakly. Windir> Gabrielle blushes and mumbles something about Nagisa not being jealous. Windir> Beowulf picks up a stretcher and starts to the gate. Windir> Motoko gets up, helping anyone who needs it to stand (probably Loewen). Windir> Jacqueline . o O (Another adventure, another mauling.) Windir> Kanna groans, and lifts herself off the ground with her temp staff. Windir> Thoric picks up Jacqui and Moonshade, and carries them both through. Windir> Jacqueline says, "s.... showoff." Windir> Kanna . o O (And I didn't lose my clothes this time. Hot damn.) Windir> Beowulf smiles at Aeris as he passes her. "Thanks, honey." Windir> Loewen staggers through with Usui in his trail. Windir> Thoric says, "Now I'm glad Grandpa made me do thirty years of weight training." Windir> Moriya-chan struggles feebly again, trying to stand up while still holding chibi-Mitsune. Windir> Gabrielle waves good-bye to everybody. "I'll see at the fight!" Windir> Jacqueline . o O (I was glad last night.) Windir> Kanna considers, and scoops up Moriya and Mitsune. Windir> Fortunately, Chibi-Mitsune is light weight. Windir> Motoko sighs at Gabrielle. "Daffyl not enough for you?" she mutters. Windir> Kanna kisses both their forehead. "Rest, the two of you." Windir> Moriya-chan says, "Urgh." Windir> Kanna sighs wryly at Motoko. Windir> Kanna says, "Talk later with you 'bout it, Motoko." Windir> Kanna says, "You need to get back to your Davros Snugglebunny." Windir> Motoko coughs. "Err, yes." Windir> Kanna starts carrying Moriya and Mitsune to the gate and Gainax. Windir> Moriya-chan just sort of deflates in Kanna's arms. Windir> Motoko walks through the gate, supporting Loewen, looking exhausted but happy. Windir> Kanna cradles her nephew/neice in her arms, and -his- snugglebunny as well. Windir> Kanna walks on through. Windir> Beowulf finds somewhere to set down the stretcher he's carrying, almost staggering to the ground with it, then looks up to see where help is coming. Windir> Jacqueline asks, "mmm, Thoric?" Windir> Thoric says, "Yes, beautiful lady?" Windir> Kanna finds a place to sit with her willingly-carried burden, patiently waiting for other folks to come and help with the healing and resting thing.. Windir> Swarms of servants now come to help carry people off for resting, healing, eating, etc. Windir> Motoko looks around for Davros, or someone who can tell her where Davros is, after getting Loewen to sit down somewhere. Windir> Beowulf sighs, and asks Aeris if Team 3 is ready to come back... he wants to see Lily and make sure she's all right, *badly*. Windir> Loewen sits down. Windir> Moriya-chan calls out, as she is carried away, "Motoko...remember...control yourself...." Windir> Jacqueline says, "sorry.... no...... action... tonight. I'm... beat." Windir> Aeris says, "Daffyl's giving a big talk. They should be done soon, I think." Windir> Motoko calls after Moriya, "I will!" She mumbles, "Though I wish I didn't have to." Windir> Beowulf ahhs. "Thanks, honey." Windir> "Just...hugs...okay...good." Windir> Thoric laughs and laughs and laughs. "That's fine, Jacqui. I don't think I'd be much good." Windir> A servant soon directs Motoko off the way she needs to go. Windir> Jacqueline asks, "your mom? davros?" Windir> Motoko moves over to Jacqueline and Thoric. She coughs. "Ahem." Windir> Jacqueline says, "...... hi." Windir> Thoric says, "Damnation. I don't want to leave you by yourself, but I really need to go see Mom and Grandpa. You wanna come withme? I can carry you, Jacqui." Windir> Jacqueline shakes her head. "Go.... I'm okay." Windir> Kanna whoooos, flopping back where she's sitting as Moriya and Mitsune get carried off. Windir> Motoko says, "I'm going to go cling to Davros and try not to think naughty thoughts for the next little while, but before I go..." She leans down and kisses Thoric on the cheek, quickly. "Again, that was magnficent. You saved Moriya's life. Say hello to your mother and grandfather for me." Windir> Beowulf sort of hovers in the room, waiting for the other team to report back and feeling responsible for watching over folks until the last ones get carried off. Windir> Beowulf smiles tiredly at Thoric. "Give 'em hell, Thoric." Windir> Thoric blushes. "Thank you, Motoko. Thank you very much." Windir> Jacqueline says weakly, "one bad stud.... yeah....." Windir> Kanna says, "I... could use a coke. Two liters, chilled, ready to drink." She waves. "Give our regards to Uncle Saionji 'n Michelle, Thoric." Windir> Motoko coughs again, looking embarassed. She kisses Jacqui on the forehead, quickly, mumbles something unintelligible, then runs off to see Davros. Windir> Beowulf wiggles his fingers and tries to see if he's got enough left in him to make a coke. "Jacqui? You want anything?" Windir> Thoric says, "I will, Kanna." He bends down and kisses Jacqui on the forehead after Motoko finishes, then says, "Be back soon, Jacqui." And then he takes off. Windir> Jacqueline's eyes follow Motoko. "..... tease." Windir> Motoko calls back, faintly, "I am _not_ a tease!" Windir> And then another trump gate opens and Lily and Naru and Miki all come through. Mutsumi runs through a few seconds later. Windir> Jacqueline smiles weakly, still flat on her back. "Nnn.... Mutsumi-chan... hihi." Windir> Beowulf stumbles over to Lily and hugs her, HARD. "Oh my ghu dear Unicorn thank goodness you're all right..." Windir> Kanna gives Motoko and Thoric thumbs up as they depart, and unzips her jumpsuit slightly so that she isn't to tightly constricted by things. "Heyhey, the gang's all here, Thoric just went to see his grandpa and mom, and Moriya and Mitsune went infirmary ward, still dunno the rest." Windir> Motoko comes running back in suddenly, looking panicked. Windir> Mutsumi runs over to Jacqui. Lily runs over to Beowulf. Naru staggesrs over to sit down by Kanna. And Miki scratches his head, clicks his stopwatch, and walks over to all of you. "Mission accomplished." Windir> Motoko says, "Uncle Miki, you need to tell Grandmother that Serpent's Horn replaced the Mayor of Amber." Windir> Motoko then runs back out, almost as quickly. Windir> Beowulf says, "...damn. Forgot all about that." Windir> Kanna nods. "Was 'bout to, really." Windir> Kanna exclaims, "Honest!" Windir> Jacqueline says to Mutsumi. "Hi. Mission accomlished. Almost died. The usual." She tries to give a winning smile. The ragged state of her clothes kind of kills the humor. Windir> Beowulf says, "Though it may not mean that much... dunno if Daffyl has some way of giving all his folks the news, or not." Windir> Miki nods. "Right. I'll call Nanami." He pulls out a trump and vanishes. Windir> Kanna says, "It's on my list of Things Need Doing Before Fast-timed Vacation -- ah. Well, we'll get things sorted somehow." Windir> Shizumaru has left. Windir> Moriya has arrived. Windir> Kanna slumps back, slightly. "Whooof." Windir> Naru asks Kanna, "So how did it go for you guys?" Windir> Beowulf says, "The rescue went very smoothly, overall." Windir> Lily hugs Beowulf tightly. "You don't look so good honey," she says. Windir> Motoko has left. Windir> Damasq has arrived. Windir> Kanna says, "How'd things go on your end, Naru?" She blinks, and hehs. "Infiltration was actually pretty smooth, all things considered. Good team assembled." Windir> Mutsumi sits by Jacqui and kisses her forehead. "You gonna be okay, honey?" Windir> Beowulf says, "Then we got word that Kenshin had come after Jacqui on her mission, and we scrambled after to help." Windir> Kanna nods. "-That-... was nasty." Windir> Beowulf says, "And had almost everyone killed... but we pulled it through, somehow." Windir> Jacqueline says, "feel better.... you're here. Thoric... s'with his mom." Windir> Beowulf smiles tiredly at Lily. "I'm just happier than you can realize to see you all fine." Windir> Jacqueline says, "glad... glad you're okay." Windir> Kanna says, "She hung in there, Mutsumi... Be proud of her." She smiles slightly. "Just long enough." Windir> Beowulf asks, "How did your end go? Any real trouble?" Windir> Mutsumi says, "I most stood back and blocked Trump stuff. You look so hurt, Jacqui." She sounds very sad. "And Moonshade...her arm!" She stares in shock. Windir> Jacqueline, with clumsy hands, pulls out the Cup once more. "Lungs... still kinda.... burnt." She sits up as best as she can and gulps down the Healing Waters. Windir> Kanna says, "She also held the line." Windir> Kanna shudders slightly, "Thank Pyricorn and Serpent we got there JUST as we did..." Windir> Mutsumi helps you out as best she can. Windir> Lily says, "I just hung back and threw spells and tried not to get zapped." Windir> Beowulf says, "Moonshade was fighting Kenshin when we got there..." He just shakes his head. "And yah, holding the line just long enough." Windir> Kanna says, "Lucky." She quirks a smile. Windir> Sana_Kurata falls asleep. Windir> Kanna considers the fact that she has a borrowed sword from Ember, borrowed staff from Ember, Merehallow AND Beryllina on her. She also considers the fact she's not really up to thinking MORE about such implications. "But... well, we're here, everything acommplished, and I give myself an hour or so before I decide to shut down my brain nicely to sleep." Windir> Kanna says, "As I think I still have some adrenalin in the system." Windir> Jacqueline coughs for a moment and spits out something crunchy and black. She stares at it. "Ew. Lung." Windir> Beowulf settles back against a wall, leaning on Lily. "Vacation after this... definitely vacation. Rest. Recuperate. Zone out. Whatever." Windir> Jacqueline's tendrils try to discretely wipe that away.... Windir> Beowulf says, "Want another healing spell, Jacqui? I think Morkeleb should have it re-racked by now." Windir> Kanna says, "...." Windir> Kanna says, "that's... yugh." Windir> Kanna shakes her head. Windir> Mutsumi frowns. "Jacqui, I think you need some more healing. And lots of sleep." Windir> Kanna says, "Hafta see what Lian and Ruka are doing, Bey, then I'll see what I can do." Windir> Jacqueline takes a few deep breaths. "I'm... I'm better. Really tired, but better." She takes Mutsumi's hand and squeezes. Windir> Lilys says, "AMEN to that." Windir> Jacqueline asks, "don'leave me... 'kay?" Windir> Beowulf leans his head against Lily. "...love you, dear," he says tiredly. Windir> Mutsumi says, "I'll never leave you, Jacqui." Windir> Jacqueline closes her eyes. "Love you." Windir> Kanna lets out a loooong sigh. Windir> Lily snuggles against Beowulf. "Mmmmmm." Windir> Kanna says, "I want a Ruka plushie." Windir> Mutsumi says, "I could give you a plushie of your mother, but I don't have any trumps of Ruka plushies. Sorry, Kanna-chan." Windir> Kanna says, "Mom will work." Windir> Kanna smiles slightly. Windir> Beowulf raises a grinning eyebrow. "I'm sure we can get you to the real thing shortly." Windir> Kanna blushes at that, fetchingly. "All things in good time, brother, all things in good time..." Windir> Kanna considers. Windir> Kanna, with some creaking, manages to extract her most recent, fresh sketchbook from her pack. She flips it open, and starts sketching, imagery of the past hours, of Daffyl and the Serpent, so as to get the images down for later elaboration... though it'd debatable she'll ever forget them... Windir> Beowulf turns to Lily. "Probably ought to check on your mother... she was pretty exhausted by breaking through the wards on the cells." Windir> Beowulf tries to pry himself away from the wall. Windir> Lily nods and rises. "Yes, we'd best check on her." She says to Kanna, "What are you drawling, Kanna?" Windir> Kanna says, "... a miracle, Lily... a miracle forged in blood and fire and sorrow and wonder..." He tone sounds... rather awed. Windir> Beowulf looks at the sketchbook, then at Lily. "You'll have to see 'em when they're finished. It was... well, just about that, in a way, yes." Windir> Kuonji Ukyou falls asleep. Windir> Lily says, "Alright. I'd love to. Kanna is a very good artist." Windir> Kanna blushes at the compliment, but mumbles that she isn't as good as mom or Uncle Miki. But continues to sketch, all the same. Windir> Beowulf asks, "You all gonna be all right?" Windir> Kanna asks, "mmm?" Windir> Beowulf says, "Need to check up on Lily's mother, but don't want to just leave you here." Windir> Jacqueline blinks. "Auntie Yumi? Wha? Whaswrong?" Windir> Kanna says, "eh... 'll be 'kay. Lemme get this all out," she taps her sketchbook, "then I think I'll go crash in th'room. I'll be able to think and reflect clearer come the morn, and figure out what comes next on the docket." Windir> Beowulf says, "She exhausted herself taking down the wards on the cells... she's gonna be fine, but I'd like to see how she's doing." Windir> Kanna quirks a smile. "Nothing serious at all, Jacqui. Just loads of fatigue, if I'm measuring things right." Windir> Jacqueline sighs and closes her eyes again. Windir> Beowulf nods. "Right..." He makes a final tired gesture, and pulls up a cold bottle of coke. "Here ya go. Seeya in a little." Windir> Beowulf staggers off with Lily. Windir> Kanna smiles, and accepts. "Thanks, Bey." Windir> Kanna sets it next to her, uncaps it, and chugs some coca-cola. "You want?" She asks, offering to Mutsumi and Jacqui. Windir> Jacqueline asks, "mrr?" Windir> Mutsumi takes one. "Yes, thank you. Do you want some, Jacqui?" Windir> A tendril pops up and grabs a bottle. "Thanks," says Jacqueline. Windir> Kanna hehs softly. "Neat trick that, Jacqui." Windir> Jacqueline says, "nn. Pattern." Windir> Kanna drinks some more coke, sketching what shall eventually be titled "Earned Rest", with Jacqui in Mutsumi's arms, almost Pieta-like. Windir> Damasq asks, "OOC: John, should we send you wish lists for this?" Windir> John exclaims, "OOC No, you all just get a kick in the head. :) Yes, send me wish lists!" Windir> Damasq says, "OOC: Awwww, I wanted the kick in the head." Windir> Another tendril pops the top, and a third one forms itself into a straw. Jacqueline sips lazily. Windir> Jacqueline says, "OOCLy pieta-like? O.o" Windir> Damasq says, "OOC: As in the various pietas, which are the statues of Mary holding the dead Jesus." Windir> Jacqueline says, "OOCly ahsoooo." Windir> Kanna OOCly hehs. :) Windir> Damasq says, "OOC: You've likely seen lots of them, you just didn't know what they were called. :)" Travis Butler tbutler@birch.net ...Cats are the proof of a higher purpose to the universe.