[color=#636775][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iYrG5Zw.jpg[/img][/center] [sub][b]Present:[/b] Ashon’amar’loiyang [@Ti], Cal’tuuro’jaros [@Suicharte], Casii’fyret’alan [@Pirouette], Dorothea Hohnstein [@Jasbraq], “Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora” [@Force and Fury], Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft [@Wolfieh], Edyta Łaska, Manfred Hohenfelter, Qasem Laghmani, Ymiico’luun’yoru [@Salsa Verde], Lycans, Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Viktor Strauss, Cristophe Wiliken, Margot, the Highwaymen[/sub] [hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjYwLmUxZjM2ZS5SbUYwYUdWeUlFUjFZbTl6Y1hWbC41/vinque.rg-regular.webp[/img][/center] [color=36AE36]“I did not want to interrupt.”[/color] Viktor was sitting on one of the few remaining pews that hadn’t been destroyed during the battle. He had been fully concealed through expert use of his magusjaeger skills and had no trouble duping an otherwise quite observant Baudile. [color=36AE36]“And I was of the mind that all were welcome in the house of the Pentad, Herr Dubosque.”[/color] he said with a smug tone as he pushed himself up to his feet. [color=#E1F36E]“Not willing carriers of bad omens, Viktor.”[/color] dryly replied the priest as he found support on the still intact tabernacle. [color=36AE36]“Words hurt, Jacques.”[/color] continued Viktor as he began to pace before the altar, arms crossed. [color=36AE36]“And you know I’m here to help. So far, things have been under control, haven’t th-”[/color] [color=#E1F36E]“Stop it. Just, stop it.”[/color] Dubosque desperately searched for a place to sit, but he could only stand with growing discomfort. [color=#E1F36E]“All these deaths, Viktor. I’m not going to continue with this farce. I’ve kept my end of the deal, but where is your promise? A few kids are too much for you, Strauss?”[/color] the injured man, still wearing his loose nightly outfit, glared daggers at the blonde soldier. [color=#E1F36E]“I should do what I should’ve done months ago with you.”[/color] [color=36AE36]“Kill me?”[/color] asked Viktor, halting his pace and staring up at the man that had threatened him. [color=36AE36]“You know how that ends, Jacques. Your people won’t care - they never did. And those kids? Neither you nor I can wrangle them away from this.”[/color] he took a couple of steps to the altar, and were mere feet away from the older man of similar stature. [color=36AE36]“If you and the people of this town are to survive this storm, something must be done.”[/color] he shot a knowing look at the priest, and the implication was thoroughly understood. Jacques scowled. [color=#E1F36E]“How long will this continue, Viktor? How many have to die for … This?”[/color] Dubosque exhaled from his nose and continued before an answer could be provided. [color=#E1F36E]“No. No more. I will not take more innocent lives. By Oraff, I will no longer stand for this impossible choice that leads only to death. I’m done!”[/color] the man shoved the tabernacle with enough might to tip it over. It didn’t break. Viktor arched an eyebrow. [color=36AE36]“You’re not done.”[/color] he dismissed Dubosque as if his resolve was a mere temper tantrum. [color=36AE36]“You’ve got nobody, Jacques. Your Church doesn’t care. Your country doesn’t care. Your own GODS do not care.”[/color] he stated as he reached down for the fallen golden edifice and set it back on its pedestal and wiped some accumulated dust. [color=36AE36]“Because you, as is this whole town, are meaningless to grander schemes. You’re nothing. Just as I am. What are you next to a whole civilization that they’ve gradually burned down?”[/color] Dubosque went silent, again pained and seeking the comfort of sitting down, but the closest pew was so far … [color=36AE36]“I promise you this, however.”[/color] Viktor pushed his forearm over one of the wooden beams and leaned close to the tired Dubosque with his back against the wall. [color=36AE36]“Get through these final nights. Take care of these kids. And Mandelein will fade to obscurity as it has for fifty years.”[/color] he reached out to the priest’s shoulder and squeezed. [color=36AE36]“That is your reward for what your people had to endure. It’s almost over, Jacques.”[/color] Jacques Dubosque looked at the hand that touched him. He wanted to react - to lash out. But he lacked the strength to even raise his voice. And for the sake of those he protected, he did not utter a single truthful word in his mind. He merely shot a scornful glare at Viktor, to which the latter scoffed and backed up. [color=36AE36]“Tomorrow night, do it.”[/color] he ordered as half his body began to fade. [color=36AE36]“I will be reclaiming some goods. Wrangle the rest to make this clean. I’ll be sure to clean up on my end too.”[/color] and then he was gone. [hr] [center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjgwLmIwMzA1Ni5SbTkxY2lCTmIyOXVjdy41/vinque.rg-regular.webp[/img][/center] [hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/XFH2llKgFog]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr] It took a few hours to gather supplies, heal the wounded and gather their bearings for the group to finally opt to just leave the smuggler camp. Qasem, much to his dismay, could not find an opening without being surrounded by confused but defensive allies of the crown-wearing witch. He would have to find another way, but time was running short for him as he felt his arm pulsate even more and hiding it was becoming impossible, even for a seasoned chemical mage like him. With Hunds awake, they could begin their trek through the forest again. Tranquil and without disturbance, there was little chance of a wild animal attack. Although … [color=BD316F]”Sqwaaaak! It is time! Time of the night!”[/color] rang a red bird perched on a branch with a demonic copy of itself by its side. [color=BD316F]”Time to die! No more precious!”[/color] the demonic one mocked the group. There was no overt hostility, not even an ounce of energy drawn nor its massive flock nearby. [color=BD316F]”But if you don’t die.”[/color] said one. [color=BD316F]”Then mayhaps one precious can be found before the big one eats you!”[/color] uttered the other. [color=BD316F]”The prison key! Super precious! Very old! Key, key!”[/color] they both bobbed their heads in excitement. [color=BD316F]”Precious keys, for a precious reward!”[/color] then they began to groom one-another, and eventually faded through the stream of time and space. By the late hours of Dami, they would reach Mandelein. [hr] Taleja saw it before anyone else: Four Moons were full, shining bright through the crevices of the dark clouds. It was all coming together, from her role in all of this to the small piece of information Cal had blurted out. And the worst case scenario was confirmed when her drawing range flared with massive heat signatures all of a sudden. For the first time, the Kressian scholar felt backed into a corner. Then came the moans of pain. They were everywhere! The group returning from the raid had entered the town from the East, and until then nothing had been too suspicious beyond things being a little too quiet. That was until Hunds started to cough incessantly, and so did two of the highwaymen. Some squirmed on the ground, while one held his throat as if he was choking on something. Then came the bone cracking, followed by the sound of skin and ligaments tearing. [color=96374E]“Erin!”[/color] yelled Cristophe right before the woman smacked him away with immense might, further into the forest. All three had turned relatively quickly into the same beasts they had fought the day prior. All with the same, feral eyes that only saw humans as enemies and meals. Qasem, too, felt an intense pain within. But he did not turn. He began breathing rapidly, his skin stretching and his bones swelling in an attempt to take a new form. A clenched fist would break the miniscule flask of plushtail oil that had been recently emptied. Such a small amount was only going to briefly delay the inevitable, but that was all he needed. In the midst of the thrashing from the other three beasts, Qasem seized the opportunity: A still weakened Dory had her thigh slashed with a dagger, exposing her to a toxin that acted very quickly and made her go numb. With his increased strength, the Darhannic envoy caught her before she could fall and made good use of his superhuman strength to jump out of the way. [color=DDA0DD]“I’m sorry.”[/color] he said as he performed his treason, with Manfred not too far and capable of hearing his shame. The kidnapper pushed to go deeper into the forest, where a Hunting Lodge was said to be. As others sought to pursue, the grim reality of what was truly happening became apparent. Converging toward them, from every direction including the forest itself, were burning hot masses that were unmistakably wildbloods. It wasn’t just two dozens scattered around, however, but [b]hundreds[/b]. They almost looked coordinated in their attack, quickly blocking off an easy passage to tail Qasem with only a couple capable of closing the gap before becoming easily flanked meals. From the Forest (East), West and South they were getting boxed in. Almost like they were coordinated. This left only Northbound, through the streets that led to the Square. They had to be quick, these creatures were everywhere, but mostly concentrated toward the middle of town, slightly South of the actual Square (that wasn’t the genuine centre). If one were to sense, they could detect massive energy flares, but walls of transformed townsfolk were going to be a problem. They had to keep moving, lest they get swarmed from all sides. [hr] Ymiico only caught the vaguest glimpse of her attacker. A man that hadn’t even touched her and yet put her out like she was nothing. She was, after all, at her most vulnerable. But that face, she recognized it. She had seen it many times, way back at her first year in Ersand’Enise. The betrayer, Viktor. She awoke not in a cell, but in the abandoned tavern that the Pentad and Hexaic collaboration took place, right under the bar and both pairs of limbs bound by rope. It was already late at night and she still felt numb from the dose of magic she had been shot with. Wiggling out of the bindings was no issue for a shinobi, even less one that felt her power swell considerably with every passing moment. There were constant shuffling noises behind the walls. Once on her feet, the Nikanese Yasoi could begin to focus on her surroundings and sense more accurately. She met quite the sensory overload. Massive balls of heat surrounded her. The noises persisted. No, they got louder and they came from all over just like the heat signatures. Feeling boxed in, she opened the door leading out of the tavern, only to witness what can only be described as Hell on Sipenta. Wildbloods much like the ones she had fought the other day, were running rampant. Structures were severely damaged, beasts hopped onto roofs and some began to develop the ability to unleash flames, although they were considerate of their environment in that regard, strangely enough. Before long, they caught her scent, with the tavern’s roof giving in to the weight of three hirsute creatures eager for Yasoi flesh. But they were ignorant to the power she shared with them - a power given by the moons. Ymiico wasn’t trapped with them, they were trapped with Ymiico. Thus began Ymiico’s stand, surrounded by over three hundred beasts. [hr] [color=#6e9839]“Heh, easy. E - Z, easy.”[/color] Margot stared at her winnings for a good ten minutes in one of her cave-like hideouts. She really was just looking at the pile and just triumphantly stood before it. [color=#6e9839]“Turin, you dumbest bitch.”[/color] she spat by the pile. [color=#6e9839]“Should having not fucked with them like Margot said.”[/color] she scoffed. Schleim was equally obsessed over the pristine Magi that had been acquired. Then, it looked at Margot. [color=#6e9839]“What? No regrets.”[/color] she answered with a narrowed gaze. [color=#6e9839]“Don’t care no more.”[/color] but Schliem continued to stare, while Tock arrived at the hideout to demand food. [color=#6e9839]“No yums, only cashish.”[/color] she then shot the same look toward the Echobird. [color=#6e9839]“Stop. Not Margot’s problem herein again.”[/color] Both Schleim and Tock just stared with their heads tilting in synch. [color=#6e9839]“Margot tried! And we nearly unalived! Ownselves can be helped alone.”[/color] she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. [color=#6e9839]“Margot’s fault? What debt?! Tch!”[/color] the pile of money was wrapped back into the leather bag and stashed deep into her hideout. [color=#6e9839]“Magot did not gift the poison to water hole …”[/color] she grumbled. [color=#6e9839]“But Margot did helpmuch Turin the bitch, and the fucking Ghost.”[/color] she recalled that last one in particular, the only reason she was caught and locked up. [color=#6e9839]“You’re right, Schleim. It is a littlelike Margot’s fault it’s herein happen.”[/color] she scratched her neck and looked toward the town from outside her cliffside hideout. [color=#6e9839]“And that asshole need to get what’s comin’ to him.”[/color] [hr] [color=006633]“Move.”[/color] ordered Taleja to Cal as she seized one of her concoctions from her bag. The two had been spared the worst of the beasts as they retreated back into the Trade Guild, however the young researcher found her opportunity when her group of peers was nearing their position. They were intercepted by a row of beasts that had emerged from the various businesses and homes nearby, with quite a few bursting out of the inn, and were going to block off the group with sheer numbers. The concoction, upon impact, unleashed a discombobulating explosion and a foul gas that struck the enhanced olfactory sense of the beasts. [color=006633]“We need to get to higher ground! They’re everywhere and too many. We need somewhere defensible.”[/color] Indeed, the whole town had seemingly turned and were aggressively seeking out humans while having formed an unusually sophisticated perimeter in the forest. Escape wasn’t going to be easy. Bursting from the Tapisserie business were two beasts, one particularly keen on mauling Kaspar with minimal regard for its safety, while the other acting more like the fold and sought to trail and surround the group. And as they continued North, the elevated Church that wasn’t too far from the Square. They were losing distance between themselves and the beasts, with many stalking the group from the roofs, and strays standing in their paths. There weren’t that many at the Church, however, with the gate open and swinging as if it had been used very recently. [color=#6EF2F3]“Hey!”[/color] the doors of the Holy edifice opened to show a single, Stresian monk waving at them. [color=#6EF2F3]“Over here!”[/color] [hr] [center][b][h2]The First Hour of Assani 21st[/h2][/b] [sub]0 Days Remain[/sub][/center][/color] [hr]