[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img]
[hider]Age: 22/15 | Gender: Female/Female | Light 
Ranged/Melee | Barrage/Third Eye | Beacon
Enhanced Outfit/Sorcery/Get Out of Jail/Blood Magic/Wings/Dual Weapon | Shine Spark/Perfect Life/Gifted Item | Vow of Patience/Excommunication
10/9/11/15/7[/hider][/center]

Though she felt power rush through her from Dina’s Reinforcement spell, Alicia did not place too much reliance in it. It would only be a temporary thing, so assuming that she would always have it was likely to end with them in a pinch. At least they were able to move on without a further fight. Dan might be sad about it, but he’d survive. Probably. 

For now they headed up the stairs to the second floor as she resumed looking around with her Third Eye. FanFan immediately went to follow Dina’s entry point into the foyer, on the assumption that it would lead them back to Mariette. Yet Alicia was not so hasty to follow, wanting to make sure they did not miss anything or walk into an ambush. Hence, the use of her Third Eye. Personally she suspected that Mariette was not directly back that way, but it was as good an option as any.

Yet as she moved on, something caught her eye. Or Third Eye, rather. There was a room beneath the stairs, possibly a closet but with what Ronin had said and the tricks Mariette had up her sleeve, it was best not to leave things to chance. 

Before entering the library, she paused and looked to their companions. As had been said before, they needed to stick together. Plus it might just be nothing so she didn’t want to spend too much effort on it. But there was a way they could make sure, without needing to go and fight. 

That in mind, she looked to the person who could make it happen. [color=aba000]“Connie, there’s a room beneath those stairs,”[/color] she told the girl, gesturing to the left side stairwell. [color=aba000]”It might be nothing but Ronin did say to look for ‘small, secluded places’. Could you use the fear trick you used on that patrol on anyone inside of that room? With how clever she is, I don’t want to leave things to chance.”[/color] 

She would wait for Connie to confirm or reject her suggestion, before moving on to join the others in either eventuality. [color=aba000]’What are the odds there’s something of value in here?”[/color] she wondered aloud. Not that Alicia intended to find out just yet. There would be time for reclamation when this was over. For now they continued through the library, the Paladin alert for danger as they continued searching for Mariette and wherever she was operating from.

[sub][@Ariamis][@Ponn][@PlatinumSkink][@Crusader Lord][@Majoras End][@AtomicNut][@MadManMoon][/sub]
[hr]
[center]
[hider]Age: 26/13 | Gender: Female/Female | Metal/Psychic
Melee | Killing Blow | Hephaestus (Deity)/Mint
Enhanced Outfit/Sorcery/Defender/Training (Arcane Blacksmith)/Lure | Divine Competence/Paragon/Magical Overload/Mana Font/Non Exclusivity | Debt/Betrayal/.Monstrous Form/Rites/arrogance/Hidebound/Loud | Thick Skin/Hoarder/Second Specialization/Broken Reincarnation
13/6/17/14/7[/hider][/center]

It only took four cameras for Penny to show up, which was a bit more than Seppa had been expecting but she wasn’t about to complain. After all, the Queen had come to face them. Reaver wasted little time in his antagonism, throwing a magic spear at the mechanical warrior and proclaiming his defiance. In turn Penny was all but dismissive, so certain and confident that they were not a threat.

Perhaps this was true. But there was only one way they would find out.

“They said you were pretty tough,” Seppa observed with a grin as she readied herself to fight. Weapons rose, hovering in the air with the aid of her powers. A spear, an axe, a sword, a cudgel, plus her own fists, all menacing and glittering in the light. Perhaps they were not as ominous as Penny could be, but she was confident in the works of her craft nonetheless. 

Settling into a fighting stance, she nodded to Reaver. “Well, I’m not one to miss an opportunity to put my tools of the trade to the test against the best out there. I hope you won’t disappoint me.” There had never been a chance of avoiding this fight, and she was eager to get to it as she launched the sword and spear forwards for a pincer attack.

[sub][@AtomicNut][@Shifter_Master][/sub]
[hr]

Varjo nodded along as Viva explained what had brought her here. Each word was listened to eagerly, her controlling nature wanting to understand what aspects of Viva she could. That way they would be able to have more fun together. At least while they wee on Mint business. 

“No matter how winding our paths are, we always end up where we are meant to be,” Ilmarinen noted as they moved along, slipping past Penny’s cameras without drawing attention to themselves the way that Seppa and Reaver had done. There was no need to give up the game this early. 

Varjo rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him, he’s always like this,” she assured Viva. “Something about how ‘chaos is nature’s natural state’ and ‘destiny’ and all that nonsense. Personally I think he took one too many hits to the head while practicing his flight.” 

“The universe has its own plan. We are all merely players in it,” Ilmarinen observed, fingering the coin that Viva had seen him so fond of before. This was an argument they had had more than once.

Still, Varjo wasn’t about to get into it. Not when she had more fun close at hand. And not just because they were nearing the Sanctuary itself. “That’s why I’ve got to be the fun one here. Alma is all super serious and focused on the mission. But at least Seppa has some fun toys.”

That caused Alma to glance back. “Didn’t she threaten to rip your arms off and toss them in a volcano in another dimension if you touched her stuff again?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t mean it,” Varjo replied happily. “Who could stay mad at me?”

After a moment Alma cocked her head as she shifted the topic. “Seppa says they’ve started fighting Penny,” she noted. “Get ready to release the monster.” They just needed her to be in the Overcity, then this part of the plan could commence. 

Grinning, Varjo skipped over to a nearby manhole cover. Alma joined her, hefting open the access point. Vajro then waved her arm, and a diamond shaped being with a large eye in the center appeared. “Go on, let’s go find our new toy,” she told the familiar, dispatching it into the sewers. It would be her eyes down there, as they got in place for the next step.

[sub][@Shifter_Master][/sub]