[center][b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRf6NYHw7r0]Château de D'Aubigne Interior - Noble's Quarter[/url][/b][/center] [hr] Through sheer instinctual reflexes, the officer ducked as a shot rang out over his head from Lucius' direction. A moment later, a lifeless and bloodied body flew upon the officer, provoking his rage as he savagely hurled the heavy corpse upon the bloodied floors. The uniformed men formed ranks and prepared to assemble another firing line only to hear deafening roars elevate from nearby. The sounds that resembled shattered ceramics, groaning wood, and expansive whistles followed suit as large spherical objects burst through the walls and into the main lobbies and occupied hallways. Panic and hysteria filled the halls as various members of the guests and performers alike were ripped limb from limb. Panting, Lucius gaped as he watched the walls rattle with savage fervor and through the shouts and disarray, found his eyes stray towards a shudder along a particular segment of the ceiling. Moments later, the beams completely collapsed, bringing the timbers crashing down upon the floor. Dust and debris showered upon the collective parties as they scrambled for dear life and through the corner of his eyes, the Prince once again gaped as the Nezam Warriors calmly held position to form a static firing line. Their steel eyed expressions and unwavering discipline became a sight of awe as their firearms came ablaze in rippling salvos towards the sea of intruders advancing towards their location. Even as cannon balls whistled from above, the Nezam Warriors held formation as they raked the intruders with volley after volley of deadly, musket fire. His attention suddenly diverted further along the murderous hallway where the collapsed ceiling remains began to clear. Three, dust covered figures emerged from the debris and amidst the murderous fire pouring across the hallways, one dark haired man groaned as he dragged his companion forward before slowly flopping upon the carpeted floors. Another bald headed man emerged, ashen faced and bloodied, yet remarkably unharmed. Coughing, the balded man rushed towards the other two, only to trip upon a lifeless body and roll past their locations. The Prince's eyes widened in shock as he found himself staring upon two remarkably familiar faces he had not gazed upon since the Kingdom's final hours. The ceiling suddenly shuddered again as the dark haired man fumbled across the body strew hallway under immense musket balls, crossbow, and hand cannon fire. The fanatical intruders that swarmed across the hallways and over their companions' bodies, carried assorted banners hailing across various Sarifen noble houses. Their determined assaults across the hallways were met with relentlessly precise Nezam volleys and yet even as they fell into the droves, their unyielding onslaught continued at their household Azads' urging. "So [i]this[/i] is my final service to Lothair, the Kingdom, and the Delacroix family? So be it," the dark haired man grunted following repeated attempts to rise! His face became pale as his breaths grew more and more labored. His eyes suddenly darted towards a nearby deafening commotion and through pained motions, found himself staring upon a swarm of battle-frenzied Paighans charging towards his location. Wincing, the man glanced down to find several crossbow bolts riddling across his chest and legs. He managed to crawl several backward paces before the Chateau shook again. A moment later, the ceiling collapsed yet again, bringing heavy debris crashing upon his location. Shortly before the hallway littered in dust, wooden beams, and marble; the man somehow managed to push his companion away. "[b][i]Go Balthasar![/i][/b]" he loudly exclaimed as Paighan conscripts neared, "I will tell King Lothair, Athirat, and Yadin-Hamon of your deeds, however, one of us must live, [b][i]now please just go you imbecile!![/i][/b]" Through gritted teeth, Lucius crawled forwards and offered his companion a reassuring pat before hissing, “Ona, [i]stay here[/i]! I believe I recognize those men and they [i]need[/i] our assistance. Should I fall, you [i]must not[/i] come after me and do as Dae tells you. She will know what must be done and will remain as your only friend here in Voltas.” Ona struggled to look at Lucius. The other seer's pressing mental strength held less vigor, but Ona felt as if perhaps there was a small chance the woman might break first. She just had to be strong. Her eyes focused on Lucius for the briefest moment, green orbs turned to stare into his eyes. "[i]Be careful[/i]," he heard her remark. Frowning at Lucius' words Dae nonetheless moved slightly closer to Ona, pistol drawn as she crouched beside the other woman. Staying alert her eyes moved from Lucius to their surroundings. She was ready to fight any that came near. A weak smile escaped the Prince's lip before he quickly dove into a rolled crouch whilst unveiling his pistol. Crossbow bolts and musket rounds flew over head where several lucky shots managed to fell and wound a handful of Nezam Warriors. He managed to crawl several paces until he heard loud screams bellow from behind. Without thinking, the Prince fell flat and rolled upon his backside before unveiling his other pistol. He spun just in time to find a large porcelain carrying Valanian leap over and sprint past the trio with a pack of Valanians and a sparking rope trailing in his wake. As his Valanian companions dove for cover, the man burst across the hallway entrance, earning pause within the Nezams whilst redirecting the Paighan levies to redirect their fire upon him. Relentless arrow and musket fire continually raked the man, provoking screams of pain and agony, yet his legs impossibly continued onwards towards the charging Paighans in a catatonic, frenzied rage. The explosion that resulted, shrouded the Paighan lines with such tremendous force that the entire Château rattled in most violent vigor. Further down the hallway, the Paighan advance completed halted as body parts, blood, and debris scouring their lines left the survivors reeling with shock and disbelief towards the deaths of so many of comrades. The Valanians spared no pleasantries in fulfilling their intended goal to wreck the Sarifens; inspiring the men and women to assemble and offer blistering pistol fire upon the Paighans whilst several members pulled and pried the trio away from the rubble. Their efforts delivered a malicious blow upon the Paighans, forcing a hasty retreat. Sometime later, the Valanians retreated back towards the staircase as the reformed Nezam lines advanced to offer their own deadly volleys upon the fleeing Paighan rabble. One particular man trailing some ways behind his Valanian companions halted short of the staircase before his gaze fell upon Ona. A peculiar expression engulfed his face and following a short gape, a smile reached his lips. The man's pupilless eyes took upon the kindest, most sincere gaze before a strange dialect escaped his lips, "[i]And to think that I was one of the last Al Mayrin left in this beautiful, yet tragic continent.[/i]" The words hit Ona's ears and she turned, finding energy she did not know she had left in her to find the source. She found the man her own pupilless eyes finding his. "[i]Could it be?[/i]" She felt the other seer push against her mental barriers and Ona had to focus once more. She took a deep breath in and braced herself. She had lost track of Lucius but there was not time to try and find him in the chaos. There was too much she needed to do already. Dae eyed the other man suspiciously, disliking this strange language with which Ona and him conversed. However she made no moves to kill him as he did not seem to have the intent to attack them. The Château walls rattled once again as cannon balls smashed through the walls and through the interior rooms. His eyes suddenly glanced towards the staircase where groans, sobs, and wails from the surviving guests instigated a furious expression that quickly transcended to sadness. A moment later, his hand gently fell upon the seer's forehead where a sigh escaped his lips. "[i]There aren't many of us left and I wonder if my Valanian brethren were right to have chosen me over their own to lead one of their many men.[/i]" As the world shook around her and in her mind the barriers were pushed against Ona forgot about it all as the man's hand went to her forehead. She wished she had the strength, wished she had the time to speak to him more. It was not to be. The man suddenly gasped upon witnessing the Château rattle yet again and before he could rise any further, a large wall section smashed away into a downward spiral upon their location. Cries of warning escaped the surviving guests as wood, marble, stone, and glass collapsed upon Ona and the Mayrin man's location, however, the man managed to thrust the girl away before sharpened debris buried upon him. Ona fell to the ground, shoved away as the wall collapsed. Her mind gave for a moment as fear and anguish set in. "No!" She turned, crawling to the spot where the man had once stood, where they had both once stood before the wall fell. How could this be? How was he here? Why? And now, to be gone? Ona tried to pry up the debris with her hands in an attempt to find him when pain ripped through her body. The other seer was breaking through. Ona's hands went to her head and she curled up in a ball, a scream on her lips that was drowned out by the noise around her. "No!" All her energy was put back into keeping the other out. Every last ounce of herself was thrust forward to keep the seer out. She felt the woman waiver on the other side. If they would break she could be free. The world was crumbling around her as she lay on the ground but it had no effect on her. She felt a loss for a man she did not know. In her mind, she remained locked in a battle of mental wills that continually forced her into a fight for her life. "Ona!" Lucius screamed, "Are you alr..." In mid-sentence, his words became drowned out as his attention diverted yet again. The Chateau suddenly shuddered again as the interior walls splintered apart in a sea of debris. Another explosion rocked the hallways as loud battlecries echoed from down the riddled hallway ruins. Orders flew down the Nezam lines and in short order, they quickly reformed to meet yet another determined thrust by another swarm of screaming Paighan conscripts. Dae turned slightly at Ona's scream, glancing over the seer who seemed to be locked in a mental battle of sorts. She barely understood what was going on there. However, she would do what she could to keep Ona alive. If only that idiot Lucius had not ran off to save whoever those people were! What they needed to do right now was get out of here. The battle cries grew louder as Paighans swarmed into the Nezam lines with incredible ferocity. In their wake stood men much more properly clad in heavily plated armor coated in ornate decorations. Alongside the plated shock, colorful banners flew into the ceiling, announcing the arrival of various Household Zhayedans and their Azads aristocrats. Without thinking, Lucius leaped into a crouched roll as his eyes strayed towards the bodies of several fallen Paighans and retainers littering the floor. His hands found a bloodied snaplock musket and without thinking further, hurled the weapon towards Dae's direction. "Oy Dae," he shouted, "[i]Catch![/i]" Raising an eyebrow slightly, Dae quickly put away the pistol she had drawn in time to catch the musket thrown at her. Inspecting the weapon she gave a slight nod in Lucius' direction. Well, their chances of survival had just increased somewhat. A good gun was always useful. Moving position she raised the musket, prepared to shoot any the came near ...