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[h2][b]Velles 5th[/b][/h2]

[b]Location:[/b] The Proving Grounds - Ersand’Enise
[b]Day of the week:[/b] Taldes
[b]Time:[/b] 1:00 HD
[b]Characters:[/b] Abdel Saqqaf Aziz [@Force and Fury], Evander [@RezonanceV], Khaliun, Leander [@Creative Chaos], Leon [@Animus], Ymiico [@Salsa Verde], Yuliya [@Suicharte]

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Muffled sounds of metal clashing could be heard progressively better as the scouting team roamed near the colosseum. Evander and Ymiico, having opted to climb for a better vantage point, would notice the conspicuous lack of lighting - not only in the arena but also the entirety of the streets surrounding the Proving Grounds. If the gluttonous nature of the Sanguinaire’s recent drinking spree wasn’t enough of a giveaway, the premeditated nature of this whole set up was a powerful red flag to those with any sense. Right over an awning, the two with the highground could witness two shadows going at it over the sands. The sounds remained unnaturally distorted and muffled.

Yuliya, Khaliun and Abdel remained at ground level, the former two out of caution while the latter was quickly convincing himself to barge through the opened gate. [color=78CBE8]”Wait.”[/color] ordered Khaliun to the fired up Abdel. The hooded Vossoriyan sentry turned her head to the left, down the road that circled the grand arena. With a snap of her fingers, she revealed three armoured bodies hidden in the darkness by a statue with a fleeting light ball. They were alive and without any sort of neck wound. [color=78CBE8]”It is trap.”[/color] Khaliun warned, [color=78CBE8][i]But why all this?[/i][/color] the brief silence was broken by Abdel, [color=EE9817]”No more waiting, this fiend has hurt enough people!”[/color] he rushed into the tunnel. [color=78CBE8]”Do not follow him.”[/color] Khaliun ordered Yuliya as she slowly slipped on a pair of white fur gloves. She didn’t move from her spot.

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ7W2H4ou44[/youtube][/center]

The Two shadows that stood in the battleground were going at it with speeds that would be hard to follow even with perfect visibility. One was a cloaked figure whose features were hardly distinguishable. If anything, the air around that being appeared almost distorted and straining to the eyes of those that focused too long upon it. The other was an armoured and well-built man with a weapon that could easily be identified as a Langxian. The way he moved and the shape of his armour resembled the elite warriors from Engyu. His stance suggested a strong defence, but he never hesitated to seize the initiative against the being that danced with him. And such brazen offence awarded the Century a direct hit onto the shadowy figure. As visceral as the strike seemed, however, it only appeared to stagger it for a mere second before it moved as if nothing had happened.

With enough attention given to the entirety of the field, those with the vantage point or great reading skills such as Khaliun could pick up on the body left on the sand a good twenty metres away from the two fighters. The clash continued with the century’s armour saving him more than once from the speedy strikes of the alleged Sanguinaire, and in turn another strike was dealt. The mysterious being was repulsed a few feet back and brushed his cheek. Then, the Engyan warrior stomped onto the sand and bellowed a furious roar to blast his foe away. It was loud, but not loud enough for how powerful the blast was - strong enough to make the stone under Evander’s and Ymiico’s feet rumble. And then suddenly the figure was gone. As if they had never existed. There was no echo from the roar, only the crackling of dust and sand settling after the blast.

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Behind the immovable warrior was a blurry mass of darkness that had merely tapped his shoulder. He became immovable even toward his own will, helpless to the inevitable drinking that was about to occur. Meanwhile, an exceptionally cold breeze of air brushed right behind Evander. It was as if he could feel a presence behind him the same way the Engyan warrior had just before succumbing to the Sanguinaire’s teeth. And yet the being they were staking out was down there, indulging. The Revidian High Noble would feel the lightest of taps onto his shoulder blade, and he was propelled right toward the arena where the fight had just taken place. Simultaneously to the fight’s unfortunate conclusion, Abdel, who had been keeping back with the bit of restraint he had left, snapped. [color=EE9817]”أزله أنت الوحش!” (Unhand him you MONSTER!)[/color] the young, fiery paladin dashed forward with flames bursting from the soles of his feet and aimed to tackle the feasting creature.

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lZwy_yGVeM[/youtube][/center]

There was one that wasn’t duped by the many veils that complimented the darkness of the night. Ymiico could see the world for what it was, whether by her own skills as a shinobi or by the will of the being that imposed this warping of perception she could not tell. However, while Evander and Abdel witnessed the Sanguinaire begin to syphon the fluid of life from the Century, she saw the cloaked being already dropping the body and looking straight at her. She could almost swear he was smirking. And then, with speed that greatly outshined even her’s, he was behind her high ground partner and simply shoved him into the arena. The entity, clearly male from his physique now that she could get a good look, stared her down, motionless with his arm still extended after the push.

The illusion had shattered the moment Evander was hurled and Abdel was at range to seize his enemy. It felt like reality itself literally shattered before them with only empty space meeting Abdel’s ire. The Revidian would end up crashing into the Firrazene boy, leaving both of them in the open, right by the unconscious body of the fallen Engyan fighter. [color=EE9817]”اللعنة عليك! وحش قذر ...” (Blast it! Foul Beast …)[/color] Abdel groaned as he got back up, although Evander could hear none of it. He suffered a terrible case of tinnitus with his head ringing to a near-migraine. He was otherwise fine with Abdel and the sand softening his landing.

Wait, sand? There was no sand. There was no Abdel either. The armoured bodies of the fallen Century no longer appeared rugged and bloodied. No, they were dressed finely with an air of familiarity to them. His vision was still blurry from the landing as well as the incessant buzzing in his head. But as he slowly focused, he came to recognize the Duke Foscari, his own father, lying in a pool of blood with a Langxian planted in his back. Further away was another body, one wearing a traditional wedding dress that was tainted by a fresh layer of crimson. Staring right at him were the hollow eyes of Celestina, recently dead on a velvet carpet. The air around him felt stagnant - he was no longer outdoors. Evander was inside a home, not too different from his, although some of the architecture reeked of Perrench influence. There was also a conspicuous lack of furniture and the ceiling was abnormally high. There was a balcony right at the top with two figures, both looking down at him. One second the one to the left looked like his ally, Ymiico, and then the next it looked exactly like the other one: A hooded, black figure. 

The fireplace was crackling and the heat, dull as it may be, could be felt by the young fireblood. It almost felt like a dream - It didn’t feel right, and yet the lucidity was lacking enough to make one willing to accept this as reality. A hand reached out to him, sliding over his shoulder. It was not the same touch as the illusionary foe that had hurled him. No, it was much more tender, [color=815989]”Sebastian.”[/color] it whispered with a feminine voice.

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The woman tilted her head as gazes met, and then flashed her hungry, white fangs at him. She was so close, he could feel her hot breath just ready to indulge in his coveted, fiery blood.

[color=EE9817]”Hey, you alright?!”[/color] Abdel had reached out for Evander’s shoulder, checking up on him after that rough landing.

[color=78CBE8]”Sensemaster.”[/color] Khaliun kept herself in the shadows and looked up at Ymiico’s direction. Both the Sanguinaire and the Yasoi were up there, while both the Tethered and the Princess could keep discreet for the time being, [color=78CBE8]”Much stronger than yours.”[/color] she concluded, [color=78CBE8]”We should leave.”[/color]

[hider=Summary & Action Opportunities]
The Sanguinaire has defeated at least one Century and is jacked up on power from the overeating. Using a supremely powerful illusion, he managed to get the jump on those that hoped to have the art of surprise on their side.
-Khaliun and Yuliya remain undiscovered just outside the gate.
-Abdel rushed in and was easily made.
-Ymiico and Evander were sniffed out by the Sanguinaire and ambushed.
-Evander was pushed into the centre of the arena and forced to experience a potent illusion from a Sensemaster (identified by Khaliun) and a master illusionist.
-The whole time Ymiico could see what was going on, seemingly unaffected by the illusion, yet very much outmatched in terms of speed and power to really do anything before her colleague got smacked. She is facing down the enemy at the top of the colosseum over an awning.

[b]Opportunities:[/b]
The Sanguinaire is clearly feeling confident right now and has essentially trapped Abdel and Evander in the arena. The rest remain concealed.
-There is still a chance to strategize for those that are unseen: Yuliya, Khaliun, Leander and Leon. The latter two are considered not present just yet. They have a stealth advantage for now.
-Retreat is a possibility, guaranteed for those hidden and a gamble for those that were made.
-You are the many, and while the Century got defeated, he held his ground for a while all by himself. Hope might still be there.
-Viktor will arrive soon. He was exploring another area of the city but has since been informed of the accumulating bodies. Maybe he can help!
-Sanguinaires have specific weaknesses, and Khaliun seems to know a lot about them.[/hider]