Tales of Alidaire: The Abyss

Maybe the typical day for a mercenary wasn't as predictable as Desare had thought. 'Then again, it's not like the town is attacked by conniving Fishmen every day. What provoked them to do this?' The woman cast her gaze out to the lake. It was becoming somewhat of a beautiful sight as the creeping sun slowly illuminated more of it's surface, some of the fog seeming to be diminished. 'It doesn't look like a horrible place to live-- then again, why would they be looking for another home? They must be retaliating... Another story of revenge,' Desare mused cynically. She turned, spotting the young fox-child who had appeared spontaneously and delivered news of the catastrophe. Desare gazed at the youth for a moment, wondering how terrible it really was in the city. He certainly made it sound as if he was lucky to have escaped.

"Seems we've been conned after all, m'lady. Good call o' yer's, that," India said, clearly talking to Desare. The fair woman put on a faintly quizzical look and acknowledged his remark with a nod. "This isn't what I was talking about, though," she muttered to herself. 'I could've never guessed this would happen... I underestimated the enemy too quickly. If I'm going to be a successful mercenary-- or a surviving one, at least, I have to think more strategically...' Combat and all it's complexities were new to the woman, though. She hoped only that she could pick up knowledge on it quickly; otherwise she was an easier target.

The trip back to the city was hushed and hurried. Faint noises-- shouts and screams-- could be heard far ahead, lending the air a heavy, foreboding feeling. The clamor of a massacre. Obvious signs of distant, ensuing carnage were plentiful-- the smoke made Desare most uneasy. Fires were just... atrocious things. They fed only destruction. She had never liked fire; even with her sleights in magic, Desare avoided flame elementals.

A hand of dread threatened to clutch at Desare's heart as the city drew close enough to observe properly; it truly was chaos. She probably would have succumbed to the despair, too, if she weren't so indiscriminate and detached. Even so, hopeless pessimism kept a hold on her. Biting back fear, Desare shouted to the party-- almost more to Nox than anyone, though-- "And you're sure we have even the slightest chance against all this?"

{Desare starts at J4}

 

Desare scoffed at Nox's response, amused by his sureness. It was reassuring to have such a determined, powerful fighter on the ally side, though-- especially one who likely had handled situations like the one the group of mercenaries had just entered. In a tone of voice suggesting she was satisfied, Desare shrugged and responded, "Well, if our leader is that confident..." The black-haired woman turned skeptically towards the battle laid out before them. 'Just focus on this one,' she lectured herself. Despite her will, she couldn't stop worrying about everything else-- the town that was being expedited towards ruination; all the people she could hear yet couldn't see, being massacred; and any sort of death that could be waiting for anybody in their present group. Most likely herself.

Attempting to fuel her concentration with the anxiety, Desare raised her hand and felt the breeze, as she had not too long ago while facing another Fishman. Focusing on, catching, and then channeling the wind over and over itself until it had built up to a sufficiently powerful miniature-gale, Desare spied her target and prepared to loose the piercing wind magic. In an almost apathetic motion, she repositioned her hand squarely in front of her body and slipped the Tornado Pike forward.

{Desare attacks Caval using Tornado Pike. 7 Int. Wind Damage.
MP: 24/ 30}

Vaguely watching her attack lunge towards the Fishman, Desare heaved a sigh. 'And this is only one small step, in one small battle. How much opposition in all will we encounter while trying to save this wreck?' Glancing sideways and giving slight thought to her position, Desare stepped sideways, a little more out of the way from the close-combat fighters of the group.

{Desare moves to J3}

 

Kyte Waits

Kyte didn't like the look of the Fishmen Their strange white eyes, and emotionless features. What he wouldn't give to just... punch one in the face. What am I thinking?! I don't want to go near those guys... Kyte looked at the other members of the group, seeing as they slowly filed in, the strange man simply waiting there, as if he were anticipating something.

Just then, Kyte's gaze moved to the black haired woman, he didn't know why, but he felt as if he caught a glimpse of energy from her as she silently contemplated her next move, something he had not felt once in his lifetime. The boy watched as she lifted her hand, channeling energy. She's pretty. Kyte though as he watched her move her hand smoothly down to her body, only to release the energy, emotionless as the whirling air thrust forward. "Whoa..." Kyte said with a wide eyed look of amazement.

He'd never seen magic before, and was inspired to say the least Could I do that stuff? He thought. No, It probably takes a long time to practice... His ears drooped noticeably as he conflicted with himself, slightly jealous he wasn't awesome like them - in fact, he felt pretty useless, he was just a vulnerable meat-sack with fur, practically no use at all, just a messenger with no sense of direction... "I'm staying back here..." He said glumly to no-one in particular.

 

{India moves to G6 [I6 - H6 - G6]}
{India uses Stonecleaver on Duag (F6)! 8 Earth ATK Damage! 10% DEF Reduction!}

The peculiar little fox-meets-boy humanoid seemed rather fidgety in the face of the many fishmen that stood in formation, preparing to slow down the band of mercenaries... he stood away from the group, muttering things to himself over and over; things that India could not hear from the distance between them. He snapped his head back to the loosely-organized opposition splayed out before them, Nox leading their 'team,' - if it could even be called such - just as he had in the last battle. The strange woman who had almost foreseen the misdirection ahead of its occurrence shot a backhanded remark at Nox himself. "I like yer moxie, m'lady," India commented in a brusque voice, chuckling in spite of how horrendously outnumbered they were. He was not entirely sure just how well they would fare... obviously it was morally right to defend the small humanoid fox child, but he seemed like he would weight the whole operation down... If it can even be called such, India mentally added with an audible grunt. The truth was, they were disorganized. The first battle had been deceptively easy... and though the sheer killing power of Nox and the maid girl - who had muttered her name briefly to Nox in correction... Fry Six-something? India couldn't be assed to remember at this point. All that really mattered was that she was competent with the dual blades she wielded.

However, most interestingly to the rugged man was the fact that nobody had deigned to make a move, aside from the magic-wielding woman. "Tha's the way, girlie," he complimented her, though she did not seem to be looking for the attention. She seemed the most relatable of the bundle, save for the child, but at the same time... invariably callous and distant. The mercenary business attracted all sorts... but it had India wondering - what exactly drew this crowd together? He had the brief mental revelation to ask about it once all was said and done; once this fishman epidemic was over and done with. "Guess I won't be eatin' fish again for a while..." he grimaced. Seafood was never near the top of his 'to-consume' list, but now seeing the strange amalgamations of animals and people, he knew he wouldn't want to touch the stuff for a very, very long while. While I'm at it, best not be eatin' fox again, either. Another grim chuckle. However, as though he had heard his thoughts, the fox-kid looked rather put out, glumly pouting and saying that he would stay back in the rear. "Don't worry kiddo, we'll have ya back in the city in a jiff."

In spite of their disadvantage numbers, the weird maid-girl spoke again, "Such confidence is justified. They are nothing." Her haunting, almost mechanical and unfeeling remark, punctuated by a chilling 'SHINK' of metal exuded from the now-glowing blades that she had been wielding, left India a little bit puzzled. He knew of the lack of resistance shown by the last bundle, but that didn't mean they could get cocky now. "'Such confidence' is rarely justified, especially when yer as outnumbered as we are," he growled, dryly. She was certainly a killing machine in her own right, but if she planned to eliminate an entire siege force by herself, well... then she had another thing coming. "Wha'ever. We'd best be taking back the city soon. I've got my work cut out for me with these walls..." he stepped forward, lifting his pickaxe high above his head, and slammed it down into the nearest fishman, aiming to cleave clean through its armour.

 

Hearing a faint mutter of "I'm staying back here..." from the nearby fox-boy, Desare glanced at the sullen-looking vulpine anthropomorph. She felt a sort of pity for him; so far, he'd clearly expressed contempt for the Fishmen, but it's not like he could do anything against them. Despite her pessimism, Desare knew she at least could help combat the menace they imposed, thanks to the magic lessons she had taken earlier in life. Deprived of a medium to attack with, the only--logical-- thing Kyte could do was stay away from the appalling invaders while they were ravaging the city in which he lived.

Taking stock of the battle around her-- slightly uncomfortable with the proximity of the Fishman she had assaulted just recently-- Desare turned to the adolescent reynard and tried her best at an inspiriting tone. "Hey," she greeted Kyte from where she stood, one arm wrapped around her abdomen and the other at her side. She was rotating her hand softly, and in an absent manner; wind energy shifted across her palm almost visibly. "I know it's tough to see this happening. Just don't do anything brash, and let us handle the Fishmen."

The wind picked up in her grasp. Desare lifted her arm and stretched her fingers, allowing the full force of a gale to reign in her hand. "Excuse me for a second," she commented to Kyte, turning around and centering the mistral energy in front of her. With a push outward from her chest, the compressed tempest shot towards the same Fishman she had already attacked.

{Desare attacks Caval using Tornado Pike. 7 Int. Wind Damage
MP: 18/30}

Looking around the battlefield, observing Nox's attack and how the Fishman he had assailed was now trembling and evidently terror-stricken, Desare again thought to retreat a meager distance from the main of the fight... although, weren't there more Fishmen just a minute ago? 'There were two on the edges of the battlefield... they either ran, or--' and the black-haired woman shivered, feeling as if her coat suddenly wasn't thick enough. On the periphery of her perception, lingering and lurking, she could feel they were still there. They had somehow turned undetectable, but there was that feeling that they were still around...

{Desare moves to I2 (J2, I2)}

Feeling somewhat more vulnerable with her suspicion that some of the Fishmen were invisible, Desare turned around to look at the vulpine boy. "Just watch yourself on a battlefield, okay? It's not a place to let your guard down." She glanced around in an urge of paranoia at the end of the sentence. Finishing her string of sentiments in a more morose tone, she let her brown eyes observe Kyte indiscriminately. "Physical strength helps in a fight, but the mind can still be distinctly useful, and dangerous. I'm not versed in combat, but I know a smart enemy is as harmful as a savage one."

'A duel of the minds can sometimes even be more dynamic than a contest of strength...' Physical torment most certainly wasn't the worst thing one could face on a battleground.

 

Kyte Waits!

Kyte watched fearfully as the night specter assaulted the fishmen without hesitation, even through the obvious fear the fishmen exerted of him. These weren't like any of the monsters he had read about. They didn't seem all that evil, nor were they very smart. The most disturbing fact was the emotion they exhibited. It was clear and made Kyte feel slightly sorry, after all, he hadn't been /overly/ eager to get back into the town. He looked behind him, giving a time of consideration to just turn tail and run, get his furry hide top the next town over, maybe it was better there; wherever 'there' was.

In a slight twitching manner, Kyte noticed something in his peripheral. Stumbling he turned to face the woman who had made the magical spear. Kyte's eyes adjusted as he listened to her speak about how intellect is more powerful than-- His attention span expired and he found himself looking at the front of her trench coat, more specifically he found himself looking at a fairly decent pair of 'knockers.'

He pretended to listen as best he could, attempting to time his empty nods when she seemed to give a pause. Slowly, his mind beckoned him back to reality – luckily before anything to embarrassing happened, he didn't want to pitch a tent in the middle of a crumbling city. ”Shit, I – Oh, s-sorry, I didn't mean to swear – sorry, sorry...” He stammered as he looked around the battlefield, unsure of how long he was staring.

With an upraised brow, he noticed a small string of drool was hinging off his chin. Cross-eyed, he wiped it off as he tried his best no to get distracted again, eventually coming to the conclusion that he'd have to avoid looking entirely. Instead he moved his eyes on the battlefield, taking the only bit of advice he'd actually heard as to keep his guard up and pay attention – then again, those were no-brainers in this place.

 

{India uses Stonecleaver on Duag (F6)! 8 Earth ATK Damage! 10% DEF Reduction!}
<MP: 4/20>
{India moves to G5 [G6 - G5]}

India's eyes opened wide as he saw just moments too late the fishman he had been targeting sidestep his attack. Considering how easily they had succumbed to the combined efforts of the mercenaries in the last battle, the dodge caught the stonemason off-guard. He grit his teeth for the blow that would inevitably follow; a quick slash to his back. The strike stung not with pain, but with his own residual bewilderment that he had missed. In the armour that the fishman was wearing, it was a wonder that he was nimble enough to even sidestep India's blow in time... but perhaps even he was underestimating the demihuman forces. Which meant that the rest of his new company was vastly underestimating them.

The rasping voice of the outspoken Tellerin cast over him like the twisted shadows that he appeared to deal in. His mocking, condescending tone caused a simple grimace to make its presence known upon the stonecarver's face. A bit more confidence? The man was powerful, India could not disagree, but it would take a few lashings before he would be able to keep his ego in check. Choosing not to respond immediately to Nox, the mason stood to his feet, again preparing his pickaxe for a mighty swing. Before he could, however, the girl dressed as a maid darted forward, attempting to carve up the fishmen dressed as healers - the outfit made their position in this invasion quite obvious. India took a moment to mutter to himself, "If yer gonna talk about confidence, why not go after th' targets o' consequence?" His voice was nary more than a low growl, and unless Nox's strange powers amplified his hearing, he didn't expect the man to hear it.

This time opting for a lower smash, India brandished his pickaxe and aimed for the monster's leg with a Mana-enfused smash that would - theoretically, if the attack were to connect this time - be enough to reduce the defenses of the opposing invader. Retreating to his thoughts, he wondered where the other two fishmen had gone? Had they chosen to dart behind the rubble outside of the city? I'll smash each rock t'bits before they get away, the mason thought, grimly. It was not in his nature to be excessively violent, but his irritation towards Nox's outspoken nature was threatening to leak through.

Now prepared, he released his pickaxe in a horizontal arc, aimed right for the monsters lower half. The armour he wore would be no match for the sharpened and sheer power of India's craft tools... no match, indeed..

 

{India moves to G3 [G5 - G4 - G3}
{India basic attacks Gunj (G2)! 7 ATK Damage!}

As he finally felt the cold steel of his pickaxe sink into the flesh of his opponent's armour, a short-lived wave of satisfaction washed over him, as though the tides of battle were churning him about. Finally, he thought, Maybe that son-o'-a-bitch will take him o'er, now that his defenses are smashed through. The son of a bitch in question, obviously, was much too amused by the slow, methodical approach that India himself was taking. In fact, as India wheeled around to keep an eye on Tellerin, - more to make sure that he was not about to receive a pair of cleaving daggers in the back than anything else - much to his chagrin, he saw the man smirking. Smirking. A puzzled look passed over the craftsman's face for naught but a moment, before he realized what was so funny.

Nox spoke in a hollow voice; one filled with contempt and condescension. He echoed the words that India had spoken in what was merely a disgruntled effort to get the strange mercenary to buzz off of his mark. At that point, Nox had been little more than an off-kilt man with a severe attitude problem. Now, however, India could tell by the rumble in the ground that things were about to get serious. His innate element never lied to him; when the stones felt danger, it was trouble brewing.

Trouble certainly did brew. The skies seemed to shatter, as something within Nox seemed to radiate outwards. Perhaps, as India was realizing firsthand in averting his gaze with the crook of his arm, the rumours speaking of the otherworldly Nox Tellerin and his strange power were not so exaggerated as once he thought. The shrieks of the very shadows themselves filled the air, as a phantasm of a bird - a nightmarish phoenix - descended upon the fishmen, shrieking to claim its domain. The world seemed to shudder, and India struggled to maintain his footing. But as quickly as it began, it was also over. Nox barely whispered the simple fact to the band of mercenaries, that now they would understand. India felt a burgeoning, yet begrudging respect for the man in all of his arrogance. The supports had been taken out, but what of the main structure? Inevitably, India knew that it would come crashing down, as would the rest of the plans that this strange group of fishmen had. But still, something of this plan reeked to India. Something he could not yet place...

Regardless of the garish spectacle that Tellerin had put on, his target and he had exchanged blows, and the woman and child stood separate from the group. The two fishpeople from earlier had reappeared. So they di'nt go back to th' town after all, eh? He thought to himself, mild anger still brewing within him. "'Ey! Fishbone!" he yelled. A poor remark and poorer effort to gain their attention as he rushed towards the nearest the duo. Without further ceremony, he heaved his pickaxe above his head to let it crash down, in an effort to demolish the skeletal structure of the halfling. He turned his head to look at the woman and her childlike charge. "Not the best time to get surrounded, eh m'lady," he managed to force from his mouth through gritted teeth. With any luck, the battle would soon be over, and he could return to his daily work... if there was still any city to return to.

 

Kyte uses Psionic Shell on Desare! Phy Def +10% {MP: 17/25}
Kyte Waits!

Kyte held his side after being hit. Not once in his life had he ever sustained such injuries, or felt such fear for his own life. He watched as the other around him were also assaulted by the fishmen – and Kyte's contempt for them grew – he wanted them to die for what they had done, but Kyte couldn't bear the thought of killing them himself.

After the fishmen attacked himself and Desare they took immediate action to step away. Were they afraid? Kyte thought it was unfair of them to strike him, only to step away and prevent Kyte from getting even – if he could. Instead, Kyte looked upon Desare – who among the others, had taken away precious concentration away from herself to help better his own survival. Like himself, she too had been wounded by the fishmen. 'Not again... Kyte thought to himself.

With a strange sense of power at the sympathy he had for the woman, he imagined a glimmering wall – an impenetrable force that would shield her from further harm. Eyes closed, he thought hard, wanting to will spiritual protection into existence – wishing that he could help in some way to the group that had so selflessly protected him thus far. Strangely, Desare would feel naught but a wave of magical energy surround her as a glistening wall of whites and blues surrounded her, seeking to impede the attacks that would surely follow.

Eyes still closed, Kyte could only feel a distortion in the environment, follow shortly thereafter by a shriek that shook Kyte off his feet. Opening his bright green eyes, the vulpine's short fur was on end as he bore witness to the aftermath of the scream, the light attempting to restore it's balance as the fishmen carried a blank, deathlike stare as the others seemed shaken. ”Did... Did I do that?” Kyte said astonished – feeling an air of confidence as he stood, dusting his fur off and repositioning his hair.

 

It approached her despite the hard look of reproach directed at it's repugnant form. "Back off," Desare ordered the Fishman, one arm hugging her torso protectively and the other by her side, channeling wind energy in preparation for the confrontation. It struck with a gurgle, making Desare recoil, and then raise her arm, ready to retaliate with magic. She stopped dead as a sudden, deep pinprick was felt in her arm, and a moment later she made sense of the dart which had pierced her skin. Another moment and she descried the source-- one of the Fishmen who had disappeared. A sense of confinement welling up, she spied the other reappeared Fishman from the corner of her eye as it seemed to attack the reynard behind her. 'We got ourselves cornered,' Desare mentally despaired, taking a step back in trepidation. Another change to the environment overwhelmed her focus, and the wind tumbling between her fingers dispersed uselessly; all of light and darkness in the area fluxed, radiant luminescence overtaking the shadows and a primal fear stirring in the surrounding Fishmen, causing them to quake in the very core of their being.

It emerged a moment later-- an entity so acerbic and lurid that it made all natural shadows abscond from its presence. Desare observed its advent with a sense of dread, and then cynicism as she discerned the origin of the disaster: their very own Nox Tellerin. As the atramentous phoenix let out a shriek and harkened oblivion, she studied the smug man with a mix of wariness and curiosity. 'Where could he have gotten this power... and how will he use it in the future?' Desare suddenly surged with alarm as she felt a magical aura wash over her-- it took a moment to realize it was friendly. The nightmarish phoenix dissipating in the background, the black-haired woman glanced over her shoulder. The young fox stood there, eyes closed tightly and an expression of concentration on his face. 'He has powers too...' Desare wondered, noting the coincidence of two very different persons displaying unexpected power. 'I guess the mercenary life draws in all the unusual ones,' she mused grimly, wondering briefly if it was mere coincidence this particular boy was the one to escape the initial disaster and stumble upon their prepared group.

"Not the best time to get surrounded, eh m'lady." Desare faced forward and saw India trying to draw the attention of the Fishmen, his sturdy gaze taking in her situation. "No, it's not," she agreed. "We need to finish here and move on." Giving the Fishman who had brutalized her a minute ago a distrustful look, she took another step back and once again allowed the wind to flow about in her palm. Quickly harnessing the power of a vortex, she guided her aim and then launched the magic projectile at the Fishman.


Desare moves to I-1.

Desare attacks Caval using Tornado Pike; 7 Int. Wind Damage!