[center][h1][i]Honor & Revenge[/i][/h1] [h3] Part I [/h3][/center] [hr] She had no idea how long it had been since they arrived in that cavernous place. It could have been weeks or months, time seemed to blur together in the infinite gloom of Garle's dark kingdom. Every twisting passage, crook and cranny was like a vein to a beating heart. A heart that flowed continuously without the need for sleep. It was so very easy to get lost and the thought of being so crossed her mind on the occasion but bit by bit they were learning. Zima was more concerned… No, concerned wasn't the right word. She was, she made sure Vale was cautious and sticking close to her at all times. Her companion still had to feed her parasite and they very discreetly freed life from its prison. They could not overstep a great deal. If the honor champions were coming, they needed all the fodder they had to throw their way. She and Vale trained and sparred, growing her further into a weapon. It was necessary Zima said, for they would try to overpower and defeat. Taking Vale from Zima. After so much time and effort put into her innocent companion, she couldn't bear the thought of losing her. If only because Vale now belonged to her. So time went on as it always did and they prepared, for there was really nothing else to do. That she wanted or thought prudent enough to try. No, let Garle and the others be slaughtered, let them soften up those foolish homurans and then they could snuff them out for good. Then they wouldn't have to run, they could be free to do whatever they wished without reprise. Perhaps she would make her own kingdom. An amusing thought but… It struck her like a slap across the face. She clutched the fabric of her chest and stumbled to the side, using her free arm to support herself on the cave wall. She lost sight of where she was for a moment. When her eyes refocused she remembered, she and Vale were at their place of quiet. An almost home, away from the clamor of the deep dwellers. The pain lingered yet, like an overwhelming sense of dread. It was inexplicable and made her mind jump to conclusions. She turned to Vale and said in a shaky voice, "Did you feel that…? Something has happened… I can't explain what but I feel it, Vale. We must prepare. Yes, they could be coming." “We’ll win.” Vale replied, hastily collecting crystals from closeby for the fight that would inevitably find them. She moved swiftly, but she could not conceal her accumulating apprehension, as she frequently averted her frightened gaze from her companion. A stygian aura surrounded Vale as she summoned her black flames, and spoke softly. “We have to win because they won’t stop hunting us, will they?” Zima shook her head, gaze lingering upon Vale. “No. They will never stop as long as they draw breath. As long as their infernal flames keep them alive to corrupt and destroy all that they touch.” She walked over to Vale and grasped her shoulders. Paranoia struck Zima, she felt… No she did not feel. She did not want them to take Vale from her, to awaken what was lost, what she stole from her feeble companion. She did not wish to be alone again. “We shall… We shall stick together and they will be powerless to stop us. Remember, Vale. They will say things that you will not understand and you must not try to give them thought. They will twist us apart if they could, do you understand?” Vale nodded and held up a few orange and yellow gemstones. “Confuse and blind them before they can speak, or should we wait?” Her hand dropped to her side, lowering the magical topazes and citrines. “Are we going to let Garle fight them first?” She asked, stepping in closer - always in need of close comfort because of her anxiety. Zima remained firm but her grip relaxed upon Vale. She truly was an anxious being, a carry over from Fear’s persona. Funny how that worked. “When the time comes we must strike fast before they are able to fight back. Garle will do what Garle will do, I doubt even if he engaged them we would be left all alone. A fight will come to us… Just stick beside me and remember your training.” “I will burn them to ashes.” Vale murmured in response. Zima caressed Vale’s cheek and whispered, “Good girl.” Soon enough they would find out who was to be the victor and who, the loser. Soon. [hr] Skydancer slowly drifted down from the sky, alighting upon a section of the land close to the massive mountain range that they knew as the Bones of Fortitude. Though their sister, Pride, was far away from them now, the members of the Sacred Septet that had embarked on this quest still had access to all of her shared knowledge and memories. None amongst their number had ever actually visited this region, but their smaller sister had seen it many times through the Incantation of Seeing, and their surroundings felt familiar at least. The sacred flying vessel hovered beside an outcropping of rocks while its passengers leapt from it and onto the ground. Four sets of feet became seven as Kindness, Curiosity, and Wanderer split from their Reflections and stood with Fear II - all of them waiting for Courage to come to a decision regarding Skydancer and their sudden predicament: Their means of transportation was not meant to travel underground. Kindness had repeatedly told her brash sister that it seemed like Fear and Zima would only be found beneath the earth. In the last vision they received of their lost sister and her accursed companion, the two had delved into a cave and have yet to come out since. Afterwards, further efforts at following their journey became futile. Pride provided an explanation at the time, describing the difficulty of attempting to perceive in the deepest parts of the earth where magical and malignant forces reside and obscured the subterranean world with their shroud. The simplest way of seeing the two would be to seek them out. Dread filled all those that stood on the ground as they watched Courage stubbornly steer Skydancer into the nearby cave, crashing against the stone walls and ceiling multiple times yet refusing to surrender, no matter how often she collided with a stalagmite or trapped herself. Her argument was just valid enough to persuade her sisters to let her be this reckless, as they needed Skydancer to provide them with sustenance and power for the fight and journey home. Fortunately the mouth of the cave and the tunnel that descended into the depths was accommodating enough to allow for Skydancer to haphazardly come along. Their vessel proved an invaluable asset again as the light from outside the cave was left behind, and the shadows surrounded them. Only the luminous hull of their boat provided them with illumination in the dark shaft they descended, though they observed that a small circle of light could be seen at the bottom. As they continued their quest to find their lost sister and defeat Zima, the Sacred Septet wondered what awaited them. [hr] Zima and Vale had been summoned by Garle at long last. Now they arrived in the most sacred of places, the tomb of Voligan, the same place where all entrances led. They were surrounded by the gargoyle’s subjects, a vast sea of silent statues. Born of rock and stone, molded for few other purposes but one- Battle. They awaited in the grand chamber, high upon a jutting outcrop, waiting for the inevitable. “The Red Devil has come.” He proclaimed, and his voice reverberated throughout the vast cavern, as the stone rumbled with anticipation. His attention turned to the duo, and he gestured for them to approach. They did so with little apprehension on Zima’s part. When they arrived before the King, Zima fell to one knee and dipped her head before the stone giant, Vale seamlessly imitating her. “You have no need to join me in battle, if you do not wish for such. Your enemies will haunt you no further after I have vanquished them as well. The choice is yours.” Garle said, glancing at the two of them before turning his solemn gaze to the immense tomb of his father. Zima raised her head to look up at him. “We shall join you, if only to make sure this task is done. Though you are a great and mighty king, we should not underestimate this foe. We will not know what they have in store for us. If they are smart, they will have learned from our past encounters and adapted to it. However, you shall be the surprise they could not have anticipated. Our success is almost assured I think.” “The Traitor herself has yet to reveal herself… but her servants shall prove a fitting lure, lest I accidentally break all of them. I will force them to surrender to justice, or be eradicated, for I cannot stand aside and let the wicked ravage the world freely.” The gargoyle shifted as he spoke and stepped past Zima and Vale towards a tunnel that was expanding along one of the edges of the cavern. He raised his golden axe, and began leading the horde of earth elementals from atop a rising bejeweled pillar that traveled towards the now immense tunnel. “Our foes await us!” He called out. Zima began to walk after Garle but stopped when the same dreadful feeling caught in her chest and overwhelmed her senses. She stumbled, supported quickly by Vale. “That feeling…” She almost whimpered, “It’s back.” She growled, hating the weakness in her voice. Her eyes frantically searched around as the marching stone and Vale’s voice became drowned out by a ringing in her ears. She clutched her chest, scrunching up the fabric until it was wrung tight. What was it? Where was it coming from? Where… She saw it out of the corner of her eye, something flaming hot coming right towards them. As the ringing faded, Zima acted quickly by shoving Vale back and summoning a shield of smoke from her fabric. The explosion was deafening as the fire screamed around them, hot as it was ferocious. When it ended, Zima dropped the shield and stood, eye pinned on the spot where it had come from. In the dark reaches of that chamber, an intruder had come. Upon the tomb of Voligan, near the top. Of course… No one would tread there! Before she got a better look at them, another torrent of fire was hurled at them, this time at the side. A different spot! She summoned her smoky shield as the fire licked at them but then it was joined by the first flame and Zima was alarmed at just how strong of a flame it was. Had her foes sneaked past them all? Garle was nowhere in sight, how long had she been out of it? “Vale…” She gazed at her companion from the corner of her eyes still holding the shield up, “Now begins the end.” She turned back and waited, sitting still was useless now. When the flame at last died, Zima bolted forth. With uncanny agility she ran and lept from stone to stone as the barrage of fire came forth down upon her. With each leap of her powerful bounds, she was quickly nearing her adversaries and soon realized that they were no champions of Homura. The closest one was a very pale woman with fierce eyes. Her hair was long, tied in a braid and she wore nothing but tattered black cloth around her waist and chest, with ripped bands around her wrists and ankles. She did not flee from Zima’s approach but shot forth with the same tenacity. Why did she look so familiar? The other assailant was obscured by the rocks and was focusing on Vale. Another blast of fire came at her and Zima threw herself over it, the temperature change only a reminder of what she had left behind. Now she was free and capable of lashing out. From her hands came a long shaft, curved down at the head with a large blade of darkness. She had forged from her power a fitting weapon, a scythe, for she would reap death as those Eidolons had reaped crops. And it would claim its first victim. Before she landed upon her feet, she swung the scythe in an arc, and from the blade came a long line of black flame that shot towards the pale one. The woman summoned her own fire as a shield and for a moment it looked as if she would fail but it was not to be. As Zima pounced towards another rock, the girl used her fire shield as a weapon, sending it forth in a wave. Zima cut a whole through the fire and it felt the fire as it passed before firing more projectiles at her opponent. Three went for the girl as Zima leaped into the air, avoiding her latest attack. The first black flame arc missed, while the second and third were nullified and she summoned forth three snake-like projectiles to hunt Zima down. She spun her scythe in front of her as the first hit like a boulder, almost toppling her down but Zima was resilient. She grabbed the second snake and corrupted it to her own, sending it back as the third intercepted, causing a giant explosion between them. Zima used the mayhem to leap at her opponent but where Zima thought she would be confused, the revenant found her waiting. She dodged out of the way as Zima’s scythe cut air and then the woman landed a blow into Zima’s stomach. Or at least she tried. The minute her flesh touched the revenant, Zima’s body began to eat at her and she could only smirk. Zima then backhanded the woman, making her stumble but she quickly recovered and lept back with a powerful explosion of fire. The fire washed over the revenant and she was unscathed. It was just fire, there was nothing special about it, in the end. Her smirk widened, how foolish she had been, trying to block it. She had thought this life before her was special, when she wasn’t. Now Zima walked forth undaunted as the woman’s stoic complexion began to falter. She threw fireball after fireball at Zima, backing up to the cliff edge all while Zima dodged them or simply let them wash over her. There was nowhere left to go and so the woman took an offensive stance, arms raised. “You were a fool to think you could harm me.” Zima mocked. “Fire works upon the living and the dead but I am neither. Now you will die.” “You’re a monster!” The woman snapped back. “And you will pay for what you’ve done to me and my people. I swear it!” She lunged forth but Zima sidestepped her, almost catching her with the scythe but the woman was nimble and narrowly avoided the blade “Your people?” Zima spoke, taking a good long look at her, as the girl blasted her with fire. Where was it she had seen such pale features? With blue eyes and… White hair… Her own eyes widened and then they grew full of malice. “Ah, I remember your kind. Those foolish Voirans, born of a cruel god. I did them a favor but it seems I left another alive.” Zima’s scythe cut into the ground. The woman’s eyebrow raised as she landed away from the strike. “Oh? Did you believe you were the last?” Zima chided. “No, I’m afraid not. But that child will be. After you join the rest of your people.” “No…” She whispered. “You can’t. I won’t let you!” The woman attacked again, her fists coming rapidly. Even Zima couldn’t dodge them all but it didn’t matter, all she had to do was wait for her assailant to tire and soon enough she did. The woman took a defensive stance, arms raised to protect herself as she panted. ‘Can’t I?” Zima asked, before lunging forth. She swung her scythe at the woman, feinted at the last possible moment as the pale girl went to move out of the way and then brought the scythe up, catching the woman across her chest and head. Or, it should have. Before her eyes, the girl transformed into a bird and escaped the attack, much to the annoyance of Zima. She glowered as the bird flew quickly out of reach, becoming two legged once more. The pale girl wasted no time and from the distance that now separated them, their battle resumed. Fire rained down on Zima who battered it aside, now walking towards her foe. She grew tired of such pointless engagement. It was time to end this, for they were coming, after all. “Shall I tell you how your people died?” She began, thrusting herself forward with unnatural power before striking the air of where the girl had been moments before. She was fast that one and unrelenting. “I played a trick you see… Upon a girl, they almost believed me but my ruse was had. I thought he would stop me, that voiran man but he was a coward. He ran as I extinguished the light from their eyes.” The woman’s left eye twitched and she went in with a right hook. It was slow now and Zima moved aside, letting her momentum carry her forward. She then tripped the woman but before she could fall she shifted into the white raven and re-steaded herself out of reach. At least for the moment. Zima turned to her and smirked. “I tried not to spare any of them. I wanted it to be perfect, something for your cruel god to remember for all time. If you had been there… Perhaps you could have saved them?” This seemed to unhinge the woman who gritted her teeth and let out a battle cry. She ran forward, fists alight with fire, swinging madly at Zima. The flames hit Zima, once, twice but then it was her turn. Her darkness flowed forth and grabbed the woman just long enough for her to land the blow. She swung her scythe upwards, catching the woman in the chest and over her left head, penetrating deep. The girl gasped, the darkness retreating back to Zima. “I told you. The child would be the last.” Zima said as the woman crumbled upon the dark stone. There would be no blood, just dark smoke as the black flame corrupted her flesh. Zima stared at the fresh corpse for a time before distant explosions echoed above, causing the tomb to shake. Her gaze caught the battle between Vale and her own opponent. It was time to go see if her companion needed aid. She hadn’t gotten very far when an explosion of fire rocked her off her feet. She fell to her knees, dropping the scythe. She looked back to see something unexpected, something that had never happened before; Her opponent was alive and she was on fire. A growl escaped Zima’s throat as she watched the wound she had inflicted vanish into a pink scar. The woman snapped her now blazing eyes open and spoke with an all too familiar fury. “You will never again harm my people or anyone of these lands! I will make sure of it, for all those you have murdered. For my name is Mair and this is our vengeance!” She thrust her arms forth and a wave of fire washed over Zima. Unlike before, this time the fire burned her and she yelped, not in pain but of shock. She quickly summoned a shield to protect herself and grabbed her scythe. The flames were stronger now. Far too strong. Her shield almost gave out before the torrent subsided. The very rock had turned molten and it all began to make sense to Zima. A Revenger had come, born of Mish-Cheechel and the girl would not leave until her vengeance was had or she was dead. And Zima would only allow one to pass. [hr] The Sacred Septet descended down the dark shaft until they reached an opening at the bottom wherein they slowly passed through. They found themselves entering an immense cavern filled with glittering gems and shimmering metal; an endless realm of riches that illuminated the subterranean space, though the sound of shifting stone above alerted them. The opening in the ceiling they came through had closed, and the ominous change concerned all of them, but they focused their attention back upon their destination. Meanwhile Courage commented sardonically that it seemed they were getting closer and closer towards trouble. “You have come now.” They came to a halt as the powerful baritone voice reached them from afar, and with their keen sight they were able to see its source. A very large hunched and winged figure wielding a golden axe and with a glowing crown atop its head, it seemed like an angelic king of statues, or something to their eyes. It continued to watch them from where it was perched atop a massive pillar, exuding an aura of vehemence that surprised them as well. It had spoken firmly, without the need to shout in order to be heard even from such a great distance. The Sacred Septet also observed that the figure was not alone, as surrounding the single massive pillar that the intense figure stood upon was a horde of animated stone resembling an army of soldiers and artillery. All of them remembered the recent training session with their maker, and found themselves less than enthused at the sight of such a similar force. Courage couldn’t help herself, and quipped whether it was a just ongoing joke among the divine to torment them using the same methods again and again. Kindness remarked that their Maker had likely foreseen this encounter… They all sensed their lost sister beyond this obstacle, and knew that they had to bypass it if they were to reach her. They flew closer, cautiously approaching as they sensed the tension all around them. The figure and the horde seemed poised to attack, and the Heralds of Honor clung onto the hope that they could avoid a hostile confrontation now. They did not wish to risk Zima and Fear fleeing, nor did they wish to be weakened before that confrontation either, but the primary reason that they sought a nonviolent interaction was the difference in their strength. With their sacred sight, they could sense that this creature was frighteningly powerful, and that they would not be able to defeat it in battle. “Sorry about the surprise visit!” Courage called out, though it didn’t seem like their presence had been a surprise. “We’re just looking for our lost sister and another with her. We don’t want to cause any turmoil, ya. I’m Courage, and this Kindness, Fear II, Curiosity, Wanderer, and our Reflections. What’s your name?” Skydancer had reached an appropriate distance for conversation between the two sides, which did little to alleviate the apprehension among the Sacred Septet. The dark gaze of the dangerous creature never left them, and they could detect the anger that seemed to seeth as they approached. “I am Garle, the King of Erudaine. Son of Voligan. You will not reach Zima and Vale. Instead, I shall use you as a lure for the Red Devil. She will answer for her crimes.” Garle replied, radiating a barely contained rage. “We didn’t come to fight! We just want to save our sister!” Courage said, holding up her hands in a manner that she prayed suggested her peaceful intent. Curiosity chimed in as well: “Our mother wouldn’t commit any crimes! Please tell us what happened so we don’t hurt each other!” “Then do not resist and surrender.” “We will not be your captives either.” Kindness answered with defiance, causing the rest of her sisters to stare at her with a mixture of chagrin and camaraderie. “Like she said.” Courage reaffirmed with a casual shrug, as she prepared for the unfortunate fight that would surely come after they had refused to surrender. The Sacred Septet were so much fewer in number, and Garle alone was enough of a foe by himself, but they were dedicated to finally reuniting with Fear, regardless of whatever they would have to face along the way. There was no command issued; only the sudden surging of thousands of earth elementals seeking to overwhelm them. Courage II steered Skydancer to the side, crashing through a wall of numerous stone bodies both big and small, with Curiosity assisting in preventing any damage to themselves or the boat by using her Shield of Faith to create barriers of ice and light. They had already flown far away in a nigh instant, and quickly telepathically devised a strategy. The great distance only afforded them a brief respite, as earth elementals emerged from the floor of the cavern and began hurling stones at them. Courage shook her head, and chuckled as most of the projectiles missed their target, and those that struck them were simply harmless. “You’re going to have to hit us with something harder than that!” She taunted, then immediately regretted issuing the challenge as their enemies began utilizing explosives. There was no significant damage to Skydancer itself, but none among the Sacred Septet wanted to risk being blown overboard and falling into the horde of hostile statues. They had come to the conclusion that they needed to split their strength, and accomplish two goals to attain victory: defeat Garle, and find a way to get to Fear. Courage brought her fist into her palm and grinned. The plan was for her to take on the biggest opponent with Kindness, Kindness II, Fear II, Wanderer, and Wanderer II, while the rest searched throughout the tunnels for a safe route to their missing sister. They set their plan into action, changing the direction of their flight - soaring right towards Garle where he still stood atop the lone pillar. As they came close, he raised his empty hand and unleashed a thunderous pulse of power. He did not throw things at them with his limbs like his soldiers; he gestured and the earth rapidly shot thousands of magical explosive stones faster than sonic speed at them. The unexpected and relentless assault had caught them, and multiple bursts of eldritch fire and shrapnel struck the prow and hull of Skydancer, but the flying vessel endured. Six of the champions leapt from above and descended upon Garle while the others remained onboard Skydancer and flew around where the number of earth elementals was most concentrated. The entire cavern shook and rumbled with tumultuous bright blasts as stone detonated everywhere - the destructive clamor was deafening, and the Sacred Septet could barely communicate to each other even through their telepathic bond, but they adhered to their strategy. Garle was assailed by those that had disembarked Skydancer, as they slammed their fists into his stony skin, attacking from every angle so that he could defend himself. Courage, Fear II, Wanderer, and Wanderer II focused on overwhelming their foe, while Kindness and her Reflection prevented more earth elementals from encircling them. The close combat was much more fierce than the previous skirmish, as there was no avoiding the erupting earth and debris that was scattered whenever Garle would fire upon them at such a short range. Everything was eradicated by heedless bombardment. He did not seem even fazed as he was hit by the explosions he caused, as if he were indestructible. Their opponent stood, surrounded by the smoke and fragments of the pillar they had been fighting on, the structure had been reduced to a shattered pile of stone early in the fight. Their advantage was his inability to match their agility, as he began slashing at them whenever they stepped into his reach, but he could not hit them before they had struck and retreated. As the smoke and debris was dispersed with further exchanged blows, it became evident that their fight had become a battle of attrition that the grounded members of the Sacred Septet were losing. None of their punches or kicks caused any damage to Garle, and they were still suffering from the minor injuries they sustained as the devastating barrage of explosions continued. With reluctance, they began to retreat in an attempt to regroup with their sisters on Skydancer. As they fell back, bounding farther and farther, they heard Garle call out to them. “There will be no fleeing in this fight.” The considerable distance they had put between them and him gave them no respite as he was enveloped in blue light which suddenly disappeared before it then coalesced beside them and revealed the gargoyle ready to resume relentlessly attacking them. The swift arrival of their opponent had surprised them, but they quickly recovered and dodged the renewed assault, internally shouting for their sisters to come and provide them with an escape. When Courage suggested that they enact a prolonged temporary retreat, she shook her head with tired mirth as she noted much less resistance to the idea now. Skydancer blurred by the erupting earth and thunder, halting for an ephemeral moment next to the fight against Garle for a long enough period of time for all of the Sacred Septet to be onboard once again and soaring away. As they flew, their minds came together to formulate a new strategy. They concluded that flying back to the surface would not be helpful since it did not get them any closer to their actual destination, and they determined that flying directly to Fear by passing through the stone would be a foolish idea as well. There was little doubt that Garle would pursue them, and that was a situation none of them wanted to encounter. “We’re not here to fight you!” Curiosity continued pleading, though whether or not her voice could be heard was difficult to discern. They lost sight of Garle when he vanished in a flash of blue light, and then attempted an evasive maneuver when he appeared in front of them. Skydancer crashed into the creature that was twice its size, the prow thrusting into the gargoyle’s stomach as he grasped one side of the boat upon being battered. “Why is it; I am not surprised by your cowardice.” He said, as he raised his other hand and hewed the center of the boat with his golden axe, nealy chopping the vessel in half. Through their connection, all of the Sacred Septet heard Courage II cry out that they were about to collide with a wall. Garle did not receive such a warning, preoccupied with swinging his axe at Courage and Kindness as they endeavored to push him off the boat. All of them slammed into one of the farthest edges of the cavern, causing an immense crater to form as stone and metal ruptured upon impact. Though their arms and legs were cracked, the Sacred Septet had held onto Skydancer, which was still in the grasp of Garle. With a great bellow, he hurled the boat and its passengers away and called forth more earth elementals, as he examined the large gash in his chest from which molten gold and silver poured forth from. He pointed at where he threw them, and prepared to unleash another bombardment as he saw them recovering from the crash. He could not hear them bolster themselves for another bout, reassuring themselves that they could win. “Summon your Maker. Pray to the Red Devil, so that she may come and face justice.” He said, as his wound sealed itself and he slowly approached with his soldiers and artillery at the ready. The sight that greeted him as he came near the site of the fallen Skydancer left him very bemused. Garle did not expect to see the servants of his enemy begin dancing and singing when they were on the verge of defeat. He wondered whether they were attempting to deceive him, or if this was simply the ridiculous way they communed with their maker, but since he would rather they lived long enough to serve as bait for his true foe, he decided to wait and watch instead of prematurely slaying them. Curiosity and her Reflection hummed a sorrowful melody as her sisters danced together. They did not seek to summon Homura, and they were uncertain whether their mother would even appear considering the last words she had spoken before her departure. They could not allow themselves to be defeated here, so as Curiosity sang and the rest danced, they called upon their combined power and knowledge of the Gnosis to perform a ritual. Fond memories of a time long ago when they had all been clumsy with their movement and communication were shared amongst them through their connection. They recalled the lessons their mother had imparted upon them regarding the nature of sorcery and the Sacred Path, realizing that every experienced struggle granted them newfound strength. Now they fought against a foe that seemed invulnerable, and were forced to tap into the deepest depths of the power within them once again. “An amusing performance, but I will no longer tolerate this mockery. Call out to the traitor, or suffer the consequences.” Garle declared. Their ritual came to a conclusion, and they composed themselves for the fight ahead, adopting firm stances. “We’re not giving up, ya. We’re going to save our sister after we overcome you! Let us show you our true power!” Courage rebuked, as she and all of her sisters dashed towards Garle and his horde of earth elementals. Before they could reach him, hundreds upon hundreds of stone spears and explosive boulders were launched at them, but the barrier of light and ice created by the Shield of Faith protected them from the brunt of it. The champions proceeded to merge with their Reflections, restoring some of their expended energy by fusing together, and Curiosity and Wanderer both moved to the front of their formation. They both held up their forged relics, and chanted together. “Connect!” The Shield of Faith and the Bow of Light merged into a single armament; a large bejeweled ballista that the champions wielded together. It shimmered with an otherworldly aura as they aimed it directly at Garle and fired a luminous projectile that was followed by a wall of glittering golden chains and ribbons of cold light that materialized in its wake. The shot protected the Sacred Septet from further bombardment while hindering much of the horde and striking its target. An interlocking network of glowing ice and golden chains fell upon Garle and restrained him. Courage, Kindness, and Fear II surged forward, and held their relics as they chanted. “Connect!” The Golden Gauntlets, The Blade of Mourning, and the Staff of the Wanderer all merged into a single armament; a giant glaive that manifested above where they were, with the three champions now standing on the center of the large blade as it soared towards Garle. Fear remained where she stood, directing the glaive, as Courage leapt down and descended upon the gargoyle’s leg with a kick, while Kindness jumped and alighted upon his head. The three of them struck simultaneously, shoving him backwards and forcing him to kneel on one leg as he resisted their combined assault. The glaive continued its push as Fear II drove it forward, yet it had not pierced his stony flesh. Courage continued to unleash a flurry of blows against his leg, intent on breaking the sturdy limb, but it endured her fierce onslaught. Kindness began attempting to pry the Peculiar Crown from his head, desperate to weaken him, except her strength was not enough to remove it. Then the restraints shattered, and Fear II found herself flung from the glaive as Garle retaliated with his axe. Courage dodged when he stomped where she had just been, but Kindness stumbled and fell from his head into his hand. “This farce ends now!” He roared, before slamming her into the stone. The middle section of her body was crushed, as her stomach shattered beneath the weight of his hand and her innards began to spill out. Courage let out an enraged cry as she rushed to enact retribution upon the one that had hurt Kindness. Garle threw his golden axe at her, which she easily dodged, but before she could lash out, more simulacrums of his weapon suddenly appeared and swarmed her. Deprived of her golden gauntlet, she had yet to adjust to her decrease in strength and speed, so she was not swift enough to dodge attacks that she had thought she could avoid. It was a punishing mistake as a glancing blow caused her to stagger and stumble, before Garle slashed her into two halves with his axe. She was hewn from her shoulder to her hip, and bleeding profusely like her mutilated sister. Through their bond, her other sisters could feel her excruciating pain, as the agony of being cut or broken into pieces was shared with them. Garle lurched forward in pain as well, as he clutched his head with one hand. The Peculiar Crown continually rang akin to a tolling bell as it ruthlessly seared his scalp. Garle groaned as he violently shook his head in a frantic effort to rid himself of the burning relic, before he held onto it tightly and tore it free from its molten seat. With a tormented bellow, he threw the artifact he was no longer attuned with away from him, but struggled just to remain standing. “How did this happen?” He gasped, glancing towards the Sacred Septet with growing fury while steam erupted from numerous lacerations that appeared across his body, as though he were ventilating the excess heat from his inner rage. Fear II nodded to herself, choosing to act as a distraction while Curiosity and Wanderer retrieved their critically injured sisters. She did not have time to react as Garle launched himself at her, his wings expanding and he flew faster than he had moved before. A multitude of magical gemstones levitated around him, activated, and now enhancing his abilities further. They shone like stars in the night sky with the contrasting darkness of his black wings behind them. Fear II felt her mind become slowed by the presence of the gems, their influence causing her to fail at avoiding his grapple. He held her aloft with one hand as he shouted at her sisters. “Surrender or I shall sunder her as well! You cannot win.” The gargoyle tightened his grip to emphasize his point, and Fear II cried in pain. Curiosity and Wanderer came to a halt, faltering at the sight of their apprehended sister, as it seemed the battle had been lost. Courage and Kindness clung onto consciousness, invigorated by the presence of Skydancer and its radiant aura empowering their Phoenix blessing, but they were not capable of healing themselves in time to free Fear II before Garle would break her. They needed more time. Curiosity slowly stepped forward with trepidation, while Wanderer inclined her head in affirmation. “We’re at your mercy… Please, stop this. We surrender.” She said before she clasped her hands together and bowed to the gargoyle, with Wanderer imitating the gesture as well. The earth finally lessened in its rumbling, as Garle considered their words and the fighting came to an end for a moment. He glanced towards where he tossed the Peculiar Crown, then back towards Sacred Septet. “Do not resist, or you will all die.” He intoned, as he thrust Fear into the hollow chest of an arisen earth elemental, then ordered more to restrain Curiosity and Wanderer. He examined the cleaved Courage and crushed Kindness, observing the small traces of pale light that were reattaching the damaged pieces. Earth elementals collected them and the damaged Skydancer as well, while Garle peered at the feverish Peculiar Crown that burned his hand when he touched it. He let out a grunt as he lifted it, and paced it back atop his head, despite the fiery pain it caused him. Then he led his procession back to the tomb of his father where he would heal and await the coming of the Red Devil. [hr] Zima’s cloak was tattered. It had numerous holes now, some still orange where the fire smoldered but she wore it all the same. Her battle with Mair was one of attrition at this point but no matter how much she weaved through the fire and danced between its waves, her opponents' ferocity did not subside. She needed a different approach to the situation. Something to turn the tide. They battled still on the chest of Voligan's tomb, at least she thought so, and now pitted across his surface was slag and molten craters and in some places- crystalline structures and glass. So hot was the heat of Mair's fire, it burned like she was the embodiment of heat itself, only amplified by the vengeance within her. It was almost a stalemate but Zima still had several tricks she could try. Her own frustrations were mounting, she couldn't even get a hit upon Mair and so she knew what to do. As she had done to the one named Fear so long ago. She pretended to trip, scythe escaping her hands and clambering across the sacred stone at Mair's latest blast. The pale warrior didn't waste a second and was over her, burning hotter than anything she had yet seen in her lifetime. There were no words between them. Mair simply held up at her hand, palm facing her and Zima saw the flame begin to grow. However, before either could enact their powers on the other, a scream echoed from above. This broke Mair's intense concentration and her eyes grew wide. In an instant she was running up the tomb, using her fire to propel her further. Though Zima was left behind, she could still get there around the same time as Mair, perhaps even faster. So she jumped up, grabbed her scythe and ran after the pale girl. [Center]—[/center] They both arrived to a rather gruesome sight. It seemed Vale had won her bout, her own assailant was a giant of a woman who towered over them all. Except she was not standing, instead she was clutching the stump of her left arm, cut off at the elbow… Or bit off and she was madly defending herself from Vale, whose face was coated in fresh blood, at the foot of a large rock. Mair roared in anger, "You monster!" Flaming armor growing brighter. Zima reacted quickly and flung herself at the wounded woman as Mair attacked Vale. It was the distraction she needed. For even the giantess flailed and missed her strike upon Zima. In seconds she had swooped to the side of her and placed the scythe around the woman's neck, poised for the killing blow. The giantess froze, cursing under her breath. "That's enough!" Zima commanded. "Cease your flailing about or your partner dies." Mair's eyes narrowed at Zima as she looked at her, guard still up as Vale circled like a vulture "If you dare harm her…" She growled. "Loose your flames or her pretty throat gets cut." Zima stated. Mair's face contorted into anger but she begrudgingly did as told. "Mair." The giantess spoke, through a gasp of pain. "I'm sorry." "Quiet!" Zima hissed, eyes darting to her own companion. "Vale, bring her here." She said in a more normal voice. Vale languidly strolled towards Mair, peering at the pale Revenger with a cruel curiosity before grabbing her arm and pulling her towards Zima. Multiple mouths manifested along Vale’s limb and her face, opening and revealing rows of jagged teeth as they grinned, the parasite hungering for further pain. The pale warrior recoiled at the sight but kept walking. "Sit down, Mair." Zima beckoned and Vale shoved her to the floor beside the giantess. It was almost comical the difference in size but Zima didn't laugh anymore. Her scythe never left the woman's neck. She beckoned for Vale. "Are you hurt? Hungry?" She asked. “The parasite is stirring. It won’t quiet itself.” Vale answered, closing her eyes as her arm twitched and quivered in anticipation. “I’m not hurt, but she is stronger than she seems.” She continued, gesturing at the giantess. Zima touched the blood upon her face and looked her over. "Fret not, we shall feed the parasite soon enough. Perhaps the King will permit you to slay these ones but we shall wait for him. He will want to see the ones who defaced his father's tomb I think." Zima narrowed her eyes as she glanced at the two. Mair was trying in vain to help the giantess who was growing paler by the second. "That is… If she makes it." Mair stared at her with daggers but before she could speak a rumbling beckoned their attention away. "Back so soon…" Zima muttered with a sly smirk. The wall of the vast cavern opened like a yawning maw, and revealed the horde of earth elementals led by their lord as they marched through the tunnel into the tomb. The stone shifted beneath their feet, carrying them along so that they swiftly traversed the great distance and stood before the revenant and her companion, and the two trespassers. “I did not expect to find more unwelcome visitors when I returned.” Garle said, as he loomed over the scene and swept his gaze over the injured and the ones that had defeated them. He looked at Zima, and tilted his head. “Are these also servants of the Traitor?” He asked. She shook her head. "No, just would be assassins come to kill me. They've even defaced your father's tomb. I thought it most suitable that you would utter their punishment." She looked past him and at the flying vessel. "I see you have met our hunters… Did you…?" She asked. “They have been defeated and imprisoned. However, I must regain my full strength if I am to fight and win against their sinful Maker.” He replied, as he scratched his chest where numerous metallic scars had formed. However the majority of the damage was located at his head, where his horns and skull had been melted in multiple sections giving him a more disfigured visage. He slammed the pommel of his golden axe into the ground. “You have committed grievous crimes in my realm. What will your last words be?” Garle asked as he turned to the small pale one and bleeding bigger one - his voice reverberated throughout the stone and his anger was both heard and felt in the tremors all around. "Vengeance knows no realms or authority. She slew my entire people and thus she owes her life a thousand times over. I…" The giantess nodded after they shared a look, "We would do it all over but I shall also say this. My condolences to your father. I know such pain." Mair dipped her head, both hands clutching the giant's remaining one. Zima began to say something but the giantess cut her off, her voice rich and sweet. "Mair speaks true but know this, great chieftain, wherever the demon goes, only sorrow follows." Zima glowered at them. “Now wa-” She began. But Garle glanced back at the revenant and she was cut off. “They now claim you committed genocide. Do you deny this?” He questioned, before Vale suddenly fell to the ground and began rapidly convulsing. The contorting of her body brought his attention to her, then she let out a scream as she summoned her black flames. Zima likewise looked to Vale and took a step towards her. This allowed the giantess to sweep her leg out and trip Zima who fell, her scythe once again clattering across the stone. In moments, Mair had constructed a flaming orb around the two but Zima went to Vale all the same. "Vale, relax. You'll be alright. Calm. Calm!" She grabbed her by the shoulders. Vale desperately grasped Zima, and held onto her. The Revenant looked uncomfortable for a split second but quickly pushed that aside. “They’re in my head; like the parasite. I can barely keep them out.” She said, as she winced from the throbbing pressure she felt in her mind. “You must fight Vale. You must while I…” She looked up to Garle. “Where are they? They must be dealt with if Vale is to overcome them.” The gargoyle scowled, turning his gaze back to the horde of earth elementals as he spoke. “I should have suspected such trickery from them. I shall break their bones then.” His words were accompanied by his soldiers assembling into several heaps of stone that emitted a slow grinding noise as each shifted and churned. Suddenly emerging from the multiple mouds, the Sacred Septet flew from their prisons and alighted a short distance away from Zima and the others. The hands of the Heralds of Honor were ablaze with celestial light, and the familiar visage of Courage pointed at Garle before she dashed at him. Wanderer stepped through the stone, passing the wall of earth elementals with ease before disappearing among their number. Kindness, Fear II, and Curiosity surged towards the two revenants. Zima stood with blinding speed and from her hands came claws of blackflame. “So you’ve finally come!” she said, “But you will find no victory here. That I assure you.” Zima then sprang forth, still close to Vale as she assaulted the three. Shadows and light bled all around as black and white fire clashed with each other, Kindness and Curiosity retaliating with shimmering barriers from the latter’s Shield of Faith and the bright burning Blade of Mourning against Zima’s attack as the weapon flew from the horde of earth elementals into the grasp of Kindness. However the last in their trio merely watched them in battle, but did not fight alongside them as the only one amongst them without radiant flames exuding from her hands. “Neither will you.” Kindness rebuked, as she tapped her dagger against Curiosity’s shield, and both champions shouted. “Connect!” The Shield of Faith and the Blade of Mourning melded into a large upside down vaguely cone-shaped object, with a wheel of blue blades attached to the ring around the flat top upon which Kindness and Curiosity stood. The blades began spinning in a blur of motion, and the strange creation that the two champions rode upon came racing towards Zima as the duo shot flames from its non rotating top. The revenant danced out of the way of the top and instead focused upon the third member of their party. “I see they made a copy of you, Fear. Do they still call you that?” She said, using the waves of darkness as a barrier around them. It enveloped Vale as well, in some sort of twisted display of fate. ‘Tell me, do you have her memories? Could you fight me? Or would you join me, like she did?” Fear II shook her head. “I have always fought against you. No, I’ve also always fought for you. I said I would be there with you, and I meant it, but I won't let this sorrow continue to spread.” She stared with defiance at the revenant, refusing to repeat the choices she made in the past. “Then you, along with all the others, will die.” Zima stated. “I only need one of you anyway.” She then thrust herself at Fear II, swinging her hands with blinding speed at the false Fear. There was a clamorous sundering as darkness peeled back behind the two to reveal Kindness and Curiosity crashing through the barrier. The disruption didn’t distract Fear II as she swiftly moved to defend herself against Zima’s assault, though she lacked the light to protect herself against the entropic powers. Instead of assisting their sister, the two champions upon their spinning relic slashed into the umbral shield surrounding Vale, ripping it apart with the numerous blades and their white fire. Vale fought back, pushing them away with tenebrous tendrils and her physical strength, but she found herself suddenly surrounded in golden chains as an arrow of light struck from above, shot from Wanderer II who leapt above the conflict. Fear II, Kindness, and Curiosity all spoke at once. “We’re all in this together, and we will not leave one of us behind!” Their resonating voices echoed before the large spinning blade dispersed in a flash of blinding light and Kindness and Curiosity reappeared as they held onto the restrained Vale, their gaze set upon Zima. Zima’s eyes grew with malice as she stopped to view them. “That’s rich… Coming from the ones who abandoned precious Vale. She doesn’t want you anymore. She doesn’t even know you.” She reached inside her cloak and smirked at them as she found what she was looking for. “I made sure of it.” The Revenant then vanished. And a cold laugh echoed all around them. [hider=Summary]Zima and Vale are in their cavern when the former senses something dreadful coming, and informs her companion that the fateful encounter they had been waiting for will soon arrive. The Sacred Septet has arrived at the Mountains of Fortitude, and they begin their descent into the subterranean realm upon Skydancer. Zima and Vale speak with Garle, and he sets out to defeat the Sacred Septet. Before Zima and Vale depart, they are ambushed by those seeking revenge against them. There are many battles as the Sacred Septet fight against Garle, Zima and Vale fight against their assassins from afar, and all of them come together for one great battle in the tomb of a dead god.[/hider] [hider=Vigor] None [/hider] [hider=Spirit] Zima =21 -12 to create a baneful weapon, a scythe, capable of emitting black flame projectiles. +4 Fear/Vale’s =41 +4 Garle’s =7 +4 Mair =15 -8 to learn a new spell, fire armor. Let’s Mair wrap herself in protective armor of flame. +4 [b]HOMURA CHAMPS[/b] Courage =21 +4 Courage II =19 +4 Kindness =6 +4 Kindness II =15 +4 Fear II =7 +4 Curiosity =6 +4 Curiosity II =16 +4 Wanderer =16 +4 Wanderer =7 +4 [/hider] [hider=Prestige] The Revengers 7 Prestige -5 Prestige to Upgrade the Revenger’s power, letting them harness their vengeance within to strike at any foe, whether they can be struck or not. For vengeance has no paths blocked forever. +2 The Flamekeepers 8 Prestige -5 Prestige to Upgrade the Flamekeeper’s power, letting their fire reach new untold limits and heat. For their God is the Goddess of Heat and from her, no limit is too great. +2 The Revenant’s Veil 6 Prestige +2 The Warforged/Battle-Born. 2 Prestige Sextuplet 21 Prestige -5 Prestige to upgrade the Septet’s ability to wield the artifacts that they forged, allowing them to fuse/connect these artifacts into new and more powerful artifacts temporarily. +2 Phoenix 4 Prestige +2 [/hider]