[center][h3]Sanjo Beach[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Riffus Maximus], [@AzureKnight] (KIR & LAV) ~[/center]

"[color=slateblue]Argh![/color]" Saarvel screamed when his hands were crushed by [u]Kirei[/u] who then stabbed him in the throat with two materialized daggers. He choked on his blood, but was far from dead. The legionnaire had one last trick up his sleeve, a backup knife from his boot, to try and take [u]Kirei[/u] with him once and for all.

Alas, the waters that [u]Kirei[/u] was under parted and lunged at Saarvel. The dying Shadow Master stumbled back, right into the readied blade of [u]Stella[/u]. The Leviathan's weapon pierced through Saarvel's armor, running the legionnaire through, and was coated in blood. This was the end for Saarvel the Seafarer. He did not even see who finally killed him.

[u]Lavinia's[/u] ice bolts and Janus' lightning strikes made short work of the Varjan Brigands throwing javelins. For the moment, no Varjan had their attention. The invaders were focused on ascending the hill and battling the last of the defenders. The final line of the Shizuyamans had been broken, watchtowers burned and wooden walls were coming down. The futile defense was reaching its inevitable end.

Releasing a quick sigh, Janus looked to the taskforce. "[color=red]We must flee back to the campsite, taskforce. While no one's onto us.[/color]" He then did a fast headcount and noticed [u]Nyla[/u] wasn't exactly with them.

With haste, he looked and found the Shoggoth among some rocks...

[center]~ [@Rune_Alchemist] ~[/center]

[quote=N'ylaatothk][color=a187be] "Just rest and maybe...have a little bite? Its packed full of nutrients and will make you feel much better quite soon."[/color][/quote]

With the samurai on her lap, [u]Nyla[/u] could finally make out his features. [url=https://s1.zerochan.net/Doudanuki.Masakuni.600.1836004.jpg]The samurai was young, likely somewhere in his early twenties. Black of hair, his face was dirty with a mixture of blood and sand. His dark yellow eyes[/url] were half-lidded, but he noticed the Shoggoth's offer of pastry.

He reached out a hand in his delirium, but it never touched [u]Nyla's[/u] cake. Instead, the hand caressed the eldritch woman's cheek and smudged it a bit with bloody sand. "You have... beautiful eyes..." He said to the Shoggoth before his eyes closed, his last strength slipping, his consciousness leaving him and the pastry going uneaten.

Janus suddenly appeared, apparently looking for [u]Nyla[/u]. "[color=red]Miss Shoggoth, we must-- Gods above...[/color]" The caster immediately kneeled down and took a good look at the samurai's face. "[color=red]Do you have a deity of luck watching over you, Shoggoth? This man right here is Takeshi Oja, son and heir of Hideo Oja. How have you found him? What are the chances-- It doesn't matter now. We must flee, back to the campsite where I received you.[/color]"

"[color=red]Hold onto him, Shoggoth, and never let go.[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Sanjo Town[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Xaltwind] (GWN) ~[/center]

After dealing with the Varjan group by blowing a gust of wind so powerful that it created a hole in the house from whence the Varjans were ejected, the familiar blue-armored Sidonus appeared and stood in front of the space that [u]Gwen[/u] made with her magic. "[color=wheat]Bloody hell, Baphomet. I understand that collateral damage is inevitable in this kind of fight, but try not to knock down people's homes, yeah? They hate you enough already.[/color]"

"[color=wheat]Anyway, we've done what we can. There are still villagers here, but the Varjans are getting too many for us. We've got to retreat back to Janus' campsite.[/color]" Sidonus explained. "[color=wheat]Make your way there now. I'll look for the others.[/color]" And with that, the blue warrior left for his objective.

The order was given, but [u]Gwen[/u] can either obey it... or follow Sidonus to continue helping.

[center]~ [@Xaltwind] (COCO) ~[/center]

Returning to the rendezvous point after helping evacuate more villagers rather than help [u]Vară[/u], [u]Coco[/u] would find a Sidonus who also recently arrived. "[color=wheat]Nice to see you still kickin', cat.[/color]"

"[color=wheat]Listen, there's still people to help but the Varjans are getting too many. I fear the battle on the beach is lost and it's time for us to haul outta here too.[/color]" Sidonus told the Werecat. "[color=wheat]Make your way to Janus' campsite. I've already told the Baphomet so the last one should be the Succubus. I'll go find her.[/color]" And with that, the blue warrior left for his objective.

The order was given, but [u]Coco[/u] can either follow it... or follow Sidonus instead to try and keep him out of trouble, perhaps.

[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (VRA) ~[/center]

Na'kratz took a readied stance when [u]Vară[/u] summoned a draconic familiar as well as transform her appearance. When Camael came at him with fiery claws and sharp teeth, the Amethyst Prince evaded them all with surprising swiftness. Until Na'kratz parried a claw swipe and seized the familiar, dragging Camael around and letting him receive the fireballs from [u]Vară[/u].

Regardless if Camael was hurt by the fire or not, Na'kratz then shoved the familiar and followed it with a thrust of his claws. The attack was cancelled, however, by a downward swing of a sword from Sidonus. Before Na'kratz could react, he was kicked away by the blue warrior. "[color=wheat]We need to flee, Succubus! Head back to Janus' campsite! I'll follow you once I destroy this fool![/color]"

Sidonus then attacked Na'kratz. Despite his words, the Amethyst Prince was simply too fast for the blue warrior. After dodging a sword thrust, Na'kratz found an opening and slammed his claws into Sidonus' chest, piercing the armor. "[color=wheat]Aggghhh![/color]" The warrior howled in pain. "[color=wheat]Go! Don't worry about me![/color]"

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]
[center][h3]Janus' Campsite[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Riffus Maximus], [@AzureKnight] (KIR & LAV), [@Rune_Alchemist] ~[/center]

After escaping Sanjo Beach and reaching his camp without complication, Janus let out a deep sigh. Things have developed faster than he anticipated. Perhaps, even faster than what Lady Kyouko anticipated. He should send word to her soon. The situation in Shizuyama was completely different now. In hindsight, however, they should have seen this coming. Maybe that was why Lady Kyouko was so eager to send a capable taskforce here.

"[color=red]Is everyone alright?[/color]" Janus asked of the taskforce. "[color=red]...'Twas a fool's hope. That defense on the beach could never be won.[/color]" He remarked. "[color=red]But we did not emerge empty-handed. Fortune smiled upon us in that dark hour.[/color]" The caster then looked to [u]Nyla[/u].

"[color=red]Lady Shoggoth, how fares Lord Takeshi Oja, heir of Shizuyama?[/color]"