[hr][hr][center][img]https://imgur.com/f3JegWe.png[/img][/center][hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCR7ovEwtCA]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr][center][color=808080][i][b]Present:[/b] Rikard Ambrus, Yalen Castel [@pantothenic], Valerian Remi Leclere [@yoshua171], Maura Mercador [@Ti], Salomé Xiuyang Solari [@Emeth], Trypano Somia [@A Lowly Wretch], Ingrid Penderson [@dragonpiece], Niallus Saberhagen [@McKennaJ71], Abdel Varga [@YummyYummy], and Neki Kaureerah Wenhan[/i][/color][/center][hr][hr]
[color=A9A9A9]Eleven students returned from their journeys one by one, some on their own and some with members of the Black Guard. Perhaps it was telling. Not all were the same either. Some appeared changed, either in demeanour or in some other subtle way that hinted at something deeper...

The first one was Yalen. He did not appear particularly disturbed by his meeting with Smoking Bandit, and as far as anyone could tell he had managed to leave unharmed for the time being. Yalen did not say anything, looking straight ahead with a neutral expression, but watching closely one might notice that his eyes were fixated in Jocasta's direction. 

[b]1. Yalen has indicated that his allegiance shall be tied to Jocasta's.[/b]

Next came Trypano. She entered the room, her face no less cold than a marble statue as always. She returned to her seat, keeping her eyes and her senses about her, but said nothing about how poorly her meeting had gone. 

[b]2. Trypano has decided to decline the offer.[/b]

Niallus arrived next.He was strangely nonchalant about it on the surface, but his eyes shifted back and forth with a sort of surreptitious anxiety that gave voice to the racing of his mind. He had held a sword but now it was not on his person. Cold Soup followed him in like a great hulking ghost, ice crystals forming where she walked. He cast about at the others and his eyes met Trypano's briefly. He managed a quick smile, but there was little joy in it. 

[b]3. Niallus has provisionally accepted the offer, but stands ready to betray the Black Guard's trust.[/b]

Ingrid was the next to emerge from the vast garden, chatting happily with Evil Eye, and she seemed somehow changed. Her makeup was a little disorderly but overall she appeared fine. She took her seat and smiled at Trypano and Niallus.

[b]4. Ingrid has accepted the offer.[/b]

She was followed, soon after, by an anxious looking Kaureerah. The eeaiko's body language was stiff and uncertain. She cast about at her friends. Would some now be enemies? Would they try to kill her now? Would they really go so far? Would she have to fight back. She swallowed. [color=#DEB887]"My woord es my baund,"[/color] she said simply. [color=#DEB887]"Eye em saurry."[/color]

[b]5. Kaureerah has declined the offer.[/b]

Valerian arrived next. Emerging from the hedge maze, his attention seemed turned inward. He seemed pale and there was a strange disorder to his typically well-regulated aura. Something was off about his manas, yet there were no bruises on his skin and a strange [i]exactness[/i] had invaded his movements. Occasionally the Perrenchman would glance up, peering at those who had returned, there was a slight frown on his face and a strange sort of disappointment. He seemed…conflicted. Yet.... 

[b]6. Valerian has accepted the offer.[/b]

Rikard appeared next. He stalked in, glancing about. He swallowed and opened his mouth to speak before closing it again. Others looked his way expectantly. [color=#a187be]"Well, I figured we should wait for what, you know... our Zeno says, right?"[/color]

[b]7. Rikard has indicated that his allegiance shall be tied to Jocasta's.[/b]

Abdel walked in, eyes wide and looking shaken but, paradoxically, there was some assurance in his step as well. He assiduously avoided eye contact, aside from brief, evaluative glances stolen at Wu Long and what appeared to be a search for Maura, who had yet to arrive. However...

[b]8. Abdel has accepted the offer.[/b]

Xiuyáng was the third last to make her way in, bounding over from the direction of the island, thoughtful or otherwise. It was hard to tell from behind the mask. She seemed to be in good spirits, tossing a sacred plum up in the air and catching it, but she sobered some as she approached the others, trying to gauge where they stood. At the end of the day, however...

[b]9. Xiuyáng has accepted the offer, with a non-violence caveat.[/b]

Maura came rolling back with Yawen in tow. Her eyes searched the others' and there was... a rather large chicken on her lap. She pulled up to the table and there was no doubt when she spoke that she did not want open conflict between those whom she considered friends or at least counterparts. Nonetheless...

[b]10. Maura has accepted the offer.[/b]

Finally, all eyes turned to Jocasta, on whose answer could rest the fate of the entire affair.

The phenomenally powerful young Zeno seemed more like the former self that virtually nobody here had met: nervous. She drummed the tabletop momentarily, eyes darting about. Perhaps instinctively, her hands went to her wheels, a fight or flight response chewing at her insides. For, unlike many of the others, who'd been genuinely convinced, she had resolved to make her decision based on what Yalen had decided.

[b]11. Jocasta has indicated that her allegiance shall be tied to Yalen's.[/b]

Yalen met her eyes and slightly inclined his head towards one of the Black Guards.

With that, Jocasta swallowed and nodded. [color=#ffdead]"Then we shall accept your offer."[/color] She turned to the others. [color=#ffdead]"If any are against, I urge you to reconsider now. There is more at play here than we were led to believe and, even if occasionally graceless, our hosts may not be entirely in the wrong."[/color]

[color=8882be][i]Oh thank fucking Dami![/i][/color] Ingrid screamed out in her head when Yalen and Jocasta went with the Black Guard. She did her best to hide the relief.

It was at this junction that Trypano decided to speak. [color=crimson]"I wish to propose that we might have been led into a false dichotomy. At this rate the forces coming to clash here stand much to gain but also much to lose. If any would agree I would like to suggest to the many acting parties here that we cease fire and open diplomatic discussions instead."[/color] She then cast her gaze over to Yalen. [color=crimson]"Violence will benefit no one, least of all the general populace of Retan."[/color]

She then turned to the remainder of the students present. [color=crimson]"Without need for conflict we'd be free to return to Ersand'Enise and resume our own endeavors."[/color]

Yalen shook his head apologetically. Inside his conscience he could feel himself agreeing wholeheartedly with Trypano, but the circumstances facing him crushed whatever idealistic notions he'd had upon coming here.

Hearing Trypano, Valerian glanced up, but much like Yalen it seemed his idea of a 'better' world had been somewhat shaken by the sheer complexity of the forces at play in Retan. [color=#FD5E53]"I wish it were that simple,"[/color] he said somewhat quietly.

It was Ingrid who gave voice to what more than one was thinking. [color=#86608E]"Violence is going to happen regardless of our involvement and I don't plan on sitting down as the world shifts."[/color]

[hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LffSZfRSwTI]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr]
The mysterious guest at the table rose, then. Even the twins turned to regard him. Abdel's eyes, meanwhile, went wide and his face whitened. He leaned over and whispered urgently to Maura.
[color=000000]"So, it seems you have made a decision,"[/color] the stranger said. [color=000000]"How disappointing."[/color]

At that, Wu Long slammed the table. [color=red]"Disappointing!?"[/color] he roared, casting about angrily. [color=red]"We fought together! We nearly [i]died[/i] together. We saved lives. We were going to save this place from the tyrants, not hand it to them on a silver platter!"[/color] He shook his head, turning red. [color=red]"All of you."[/color] He balled his fists. [color=red]"Won over by trinkets and disingenuous stories meant to pull at your heartstrings."[/color]

All around the table and all at once, immense powers began to build. The air went deadly still and silent, the temperature plunged, and even the very light of the dying sun seemed to dim. Wu Long glared at Valerian and Jocasta in particular. He said nothing more. His eyes spoke of his reproach for these... traitors and the incredible violence soon to follow.

[color=FireBrick]"Oh do shut up, old man."[/color] It was Ten-Jiu. He giggled. [color=FireBrick]"I'm going to enjoy putting you down. This has been a thousand years coming."[/color]

Evil Eye stepped between Wu Long and the Wei family protectively. [color=de5400]"Get back!"[/color] she shouted. [color=de5400]"Get back now! Carp, please! Get them out of here!"[/color] Sleeping Carp stepped between Wu Long, the family, and Xiulan.

[color=red]"Do you really think me some monster who would murder innocents!?"[/color] the exemplar snarled. Maura, in the meantime, was busy speaking to Kaureerah rapidly and in low tones.

Lady Matsuhara rose. [color=000000]"For now, our interests align,"[/color] she said to the dragon avatar, and he scowled, but he nodded.

On the opposite side, the VOID tore open, empowering the select few that could commune with it.

Ingrid’s hand shook as she tried to hold tight to her sash, clasping the dagger. [color=8882be][i] What would come out of it if I opened the door right now?[/i][/color] she wondered, but then Yalen tossed the Sceptre of Ahn-Shune towards her. He wouldn't need it anymore.

Trypano heaved a long sigh. Some things never truly changed. Perhaps she’d just needed more insight in the end. She gestured broadly to everyone else in the room as she addressed Wu Long. [color=crimson]"Behold: humanity."[/color] She spoke with rich sarcasm before letting her arms sink back to her sides. In her mind, it was time to keep these criminally suicidal youths from the consequences of their own choices once more.

[color=#ffdead]"I sympathize, Trypano,"[/color] Jocasta announced, [color=#ffdead]"I truly do, but the die is cast now."[/color] Indeed, it appeared to be. Sleeping Carp had disappeared and, with him, the family. Ingrid had caught the sceptre and seemed poised to do something characteristically reckless. Jocasta had - with a flicker of time magic to turn ten seconds into a tenth of a second - imbibed and held down a prime shot. There was a great deal of powerful drawing from many parties, but even among these giants, she was not unequalled for sheer raw power. 

The air hummed with energy and eyes flicking back and forth in paranoia. Something had to give. Someone had to break, and it was Lady Matsuhara. She chose that moment to make her move. She dashed straight for Yalen, a half-dozen arcane lances converging on his position from various directions.

Jocasta drew them to nothing. She raised three fingers, twisted them about, and snapped Lady Matsuhara's neck. [color=#ffdead]"Anyone else?"[/color] she offered, with frosty sweetness. She glared at the Progenitor.

Nobody had the chance to test her offer. There were portals, out of nowhere: dozens of them. Ogauraq poured through. Dragon Smirk caught Vel's and Niallus' eyes and grinned, happy to see his erstwhile allies. Elly followed him out, utterly unaware of the coming betrayal.

This was it, then. Ten-Re, eyes wide, snorted anxiously and snapped his fingers. The entire pavilion disappeared. [color=PaleGreen]"So it has come to this. I suggest we find a suitable place."[/color]

With that as her cue, Jocasta disappeared, gone to long range like any tethered worth their salt might.

Someone else appeared: More than one. More than ten. More than a hundred. The air filled with a scathing, mirthful, maniacal laugh. The Laughing Knight - Brother Ash - The man of a thousand names and faces had returned, and he'd brought help. [color=696969]"HOOO HOOO HOOO, YOU'RE ALL FUCKING DEAD, KIDDOS!!"[/color] The hundred Laughing Knights pointed. [color=696969]"Except for you, Trypano."[/color] He made a little heart with his hands... a hundred times over.

Then came the demon. From within the VOID instance already conjured by one of the Black Guard emerged a towering figure in the likeness of King Horik himself. He carried a colossal burning War Hammer over his shoulder. His eyes blazed with orange flame. His armour of chains jangled and rattled as he walked. He opened his massive mouth in a cruel grin. [color=orange]"YOU ARE ALL FOOD!"[/color]

Then came the ronin. A high pitched frequency filled the air as his sandals touched the ground, and he turned to face it, that despicable creature from hell, though his eyes were closed. He softly shook his head, resting his hand on one of the two swords in his belt. A second passed, the distance was closed, and 5 swift slashes filled the air, as the ivory white blade split the colossal demon into 5 equal parts, the sword being gently placed into the sheath before the clock had another chance to tick. [color=red]"And you are already dead."[/color]

He moved to stand behind Ash. Well, one of the many Ashes. [color=696969]"Our interests align,"[/color] said the high sanguinaire to the Progenitor. The Progenitor nodded. People spread out. 

[color=FF8C00]"Does it really have to come to this?"[/color] asked Lucky Dragon.

[color=red]"SILENCE, traitorous girl!"[/color] snarled Wu Long.

The other two exemplars had not left. Their alignment, if any, was not yet clear.

Then, the air hummed. It... shook. It grew heavy and oppressive and all three exemplars collapsed. [color=FF8C00]"Father, [i]no![/i]"[/color] Lucky Dragon screamed. Three colossal dragons writhed and snaked across the sky.

As they drew near, the sheer force of their energy was simply too much for the feeble mammals below. They collapsed, writhing and retching on the ground, holding heads that felt like they were going to explode, bleeding from the nose, the ears, and even the eyes. The Old Order had arrived and they did not waste time in attacking.

[hr][hr][center][h2]Action Opportunities[/h2][/center][hr][hr]
[hider=The Final Chapter][h2][center]Welcome to the Final Chapter of Metropolis[/center][/h2]
It's been a long ride. Shune knows it has, but thanks for those of you who've stuck it out from start to finish and those who joined along the way. Now, after a plethora of twists, turns, acrimony, betrayal, and even a few genuine friendships, laughs, and character-building moments, we've reached the end. Below, you'll find a description of this final set piece and some action opportunities. The actual fights will be played out on discord, of course. I'm going to ask you to help me schedule that!
[center][h3]The Situation[/h3][/center]
[indent]1. The gardens are about to become a battleground. The Twins have literally drawn the pavilion away to nothing with Blood Magic. The forest, lake, stream, hedge maze, two smaller pavillions, and island with the Luminous Plum Tree remain.
2. This will be a fast-paced fight divided into groups to keep things moving quickly. At a few points during it, you will end up switching targets and NPC allies. The 'teams' and battles are as follows:
[indent]a) Sleeping Carp & Laughing Squid vs The Progenitor
b) Maura, Kaureerah, & Chicken vs Lady Matsuhara
c) Cold Soup, Mountain Spring & Xiuyang vs Seki (the Ronin) & his summon
d) The Twin Emperors vs Wu Long
e) Stormcloud, Smoking Bandit, Jocasta, & Yalen vs Brother Ash &  his summons
f) Golden Monkey, Vel, Ingrid, and Niallus vs the Golden Dragon of Fortune and his Ogauraq allies, including Dragon Smirk
g) Evil Eye, Rikard, Abdel, and Trypano vs the White Dragon of Frost and his Ogauraq allies, including Elly[/indent]3. While the Black Guard members fighting the dragons will remain tied to them, the players may rotate as dynamic battle conditions require. Remember that Trypano is unaligned, and may choose not to take part in the fighting or even flip sides. Kaureerah will only fight against Lady Matsuhara and, when she figures it out, the Progenitor. Xiuyang has declared that she will not directly assist in violence.[/indent]
With that said, good luck! Let the final chapter begin.[/hider]
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