[color=#636775][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FAGaPRi.jpg[/img][/center]

[sub][b]Present:[/b] Ashon’amar’loiyang [@Ti], Cal’tuuro’jaros [@Suicharte], Casii’fyret’alan, Dorothea Hohnstein [@Jasbraq], 
Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft [@Wolfieh], Edyta Łaska [@Force and Fury], Ymiico’luun’yoru [@CaliforniaState], Taleja Drakenknecht, 
Father Jacques Dubosque, Brother Baudile Dubosque, Viktor Strauss, Laura, Cristophe Wiliken, Margot, Denis, Juan, Ricardo, Juulet[/sub]

[hr][hr]

[center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/mTK7If5AT4w]♫[/url][/h2][/center]

Dory’s arrival turned out to be a bad omen, as soon after the melancholy spread throughout the group. The jolly Ashon had turned glum and Casii froze and reverted into a deep silence. The poor girl had lost her arm, seen so much death and was hated by most in her group for the tragedy she had caused. And now her only friend, only ally, only Isii was now gone. The emotional shock did not elicit an immediate breakdown. Instead she kept to her corner, eyes fixed on the shattered pavement before her feet.

Juan abstained from adding anything else. He had said enough and any more information could only lead to more danger to these youths. The merciful dragon slapped his tail onto the ground, signalling his pet Froabas to wind up its wings a couple of times before taking flight. [color=#DAD001]“I am sorry for all that you have gone through.”[/color] he lamented, head lowered as he addressed the group. [color=#DAD001]“I promise you, had I been here earlier, I would have intervened.”[/color] the avian circled the ruins, awaiting further orders. [color=#DAD001]“Now, I can only try to salvage what remains.”[/color] he let the lightest of chuckles escape him when Ashon brought up Tyrel and her fallen cousin. [color=#DAD001]“You will likely see those adventurous girls before I do, young Monkey.”[/color] he shot a knowing grin at Ashon. [color=#DAD001]“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to see their Constantian friends again.”[/color]

[color=#6EF2F3]“I will stay, at least until you do what you need to do.”[/color] Baudile stood before the dragon. [color=#6EF2F3]“My place is with my brother, at least until I know he and his people are safe.”[/color] the Conde canted his head and scratched his chin. [color=#DAD001]“Once again, how can I deny a Stresian with my record?”[/color] he shrugged. [color=#DAD001]“Very well. Maybe a familiar face would make this work far better than some Tarlonese envoys. You are not with them?”[/color] Baudile shook his head. [color=#6EF2F3]“I came here to do my own investigation. I’m … Not done yet, but I have more important things to handle right now.”[/color] to which the wildblood nodded in understanding.

[color=#6e9839]“Is very nicemuch but-”[/color] Margot wanted to add her piece. [color=#6e9839]“Magot got her fill.”[/color] she shook the sack of gold she had gotten from the recent ransack of the boat, or whatever remained of it. [color=#6e9839]“Get gooden stuffs in there, can always usemany to hire Margot, yes?”[/color] she then shot finger guns at the group, Schleim on her shoulder and Tock flying overhead, at a lower altitude than the imposing Ricardo. [colour=0B4E57]“Ah, Danke Schon! Danke!”[/colour] the grateful highwaymen bowed his head to the roguish little creature. She turned her back on him and gestured in dismissal. [color=#6e9839]“Yeah yeah. Favour Margot and live, okay?”[/color] and then, with her hood on as dawn grew strong, she darted into the forest with a light blush on her face.

The student group was privy to a final discovery, with Cristophe and Denis joining them on the occasion, under the family cemetery adjacent to the ruined courtyard. Juan stayed behind and so did Baudile, at first, but he eventually caught up after exchanging a few private words with the Conde. The crypt was easy to find: A singular stone edifice with mermaid-like carvings gave way to stairs that led to the tomb. At the bottom was a door with a large keyhole rattling open. Inside was a small, stone room with multiple stone sarcophagi that held the heads of the Kapperstel family dating back since the times before the Oriflamme - before the legend of the Beast of Mandelein ever came to be. Back when they were but a minuscule nobility in Dudgunze.

There was nothing. [color=#6EF2F3]“Not even the boxes hold anything other than withered skeletons.”[/color] the monk remarked thanks to his keen use of blood magic. [color=#6EF2F3]“So why did …”[/color] Baudile speed walked out of the room to look at the only metal door. It was open, but they had a key that had been safeguarded for what seemed like a long time by Juan. [color=#6EF2F3]“The secret is not here.”[/color] he concluded, greasy and wet hair pulled back as he gestured for the others to come. [color=#6EF2F3]“Everyone out. I think I know what this is.”[/color] once the rest had complied, he closed the door. [color=#6EF2F3]“Mister Ashon, to you goes the honour.”[/color] his flat hand pointed to the keyhole. [color=#6EF2F3]“Whatever they have hidden, it's not nothing if they’re using something so big.”[/color]

When Jamboi turned the lock, he could sense before all the others a shift in the flow of time and space. A ripple that fit the frame of the door so perfectly, it was as satisfying as seeing the right block put in the square hole. Then, he opened it again, and inside was an entirely different room. One that looked more like an armoury than a crypt. [color=#6EF2F3]“Well I’ll be damned …”[/color]

Two sets of armour stared right at the group that dared to enter the premises. The one to the right was  rusted with the toll of time overly apparent, the other in fine condition as if it had been maintained. Both wielded a large Zweihander sword, with the one to the left being a good bit larger with the armour proportionally bigger to accommodate. The other blade was darker in colouring, about as big as one would expect a such a greatsword to be, but there was a peculiar aura to it. Baudile recognized it immediately.

[color=#6EF2F3]“That-”[/color] he stuttered, eyes wide and his knees weak. The Stresian walked an unsteady gait toward the ancient armour and reached out, his fingers just an inch away from the sword. [color=#6EF2F3]“That’s the War God’s arsenal! Eshiran-Zept’s Sword!”[/color]

Somewhere, maybe far, maybe close, was this small collection of goods gathered by Hübert Kapperstel, second renown Graf of Mandelein. With the blessing of Conde Juan, the students were permitted to claim their share of spoils. It was entirely up to them, of course, to decide who got what and whether they should even take these things to begin with. There were weapons, accessories and riches, all of which could be identified by Baudile. 

[hider=White Scar]
A giant 10 foot tall blade of Trivalium base is far too large to be wielded by anything other than the otherworldly. With a large blade thicker than the head of a hammer, this sword weighs over 300 pounds. Yet even in its gargantuan size, the blade still has a strange regal aura to it as the blade has a gorgeous lustrous white that has shimmering with gold.

Once wielded by Graf Hübert Kapperstel, Protector of Mandelein, it was the blade that delivered a decisive blow in the defeat of the Huntress, one of the ten Elder Sanguinaires. Hübert was an Original and an exceptional duelist, recognized by many magical covenants in the Twin Continents.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/L7dWNB2.png[/img][/center]

[b]Requirements:[/b] Mages that can hit a 24 or greater with their max Kinetic or Magnetic roll. Wildbloods in 3+ Moons. Sanguinaires experience severe burns to their hands by touching it.

[b]Manas:[/b] 24 - Maladyshield

[b]Effects:[/b]

When the blade is wielded, it will begin to warp the area around it, nearly creating an optical illusion around the blade. 

[indent]❖ Anything struck by the blade will be warped and incinerated. Making any wounds done by the blade unable to be healed or regenerated without massive additional damage being done to the target. (To heal damage the target done by this blade, the target will take 1/2 the damage again before they can be healed)[/indent]

The blade's natural sheen that is often known as its regal aura seems to grow brighter when in the presence of the great evil known as Sanguinaires and will outright attack them.

[indent]❖ The manas within the blade, a strangely aggressive form of maladyshield that was bred to target Sanguinaires, begin to attack and draw from a Sanguinaire being within 5 feet of the blade, dealing 2 damage to the Sanguinaire until they leave the area.

❖ Anytime a Sanguinaire is dealt damage by the blade, the manas within the blade will draw from the manas within the Sanguinaire, anytime this happens, the Sanguinaire will roll a d6 and gain one of these debuffs:

1- Lose 1 RAS tier until the end of the Scenario.
2- Lose the use of 1 manatype until the end of the Scenario.
3- -2 to all actions until the end of the Scenario
4- -2 to the Sanguinaire's next attack and defense
5- -2 to the Sanguinaire's next attack
6- Nothing [/indent][/hider]

[hider=The Beast’s Pistol]
A particularly large crossbow that, in theory, qualifies as a ballista. With the punch that it carries and its weight, very few are actually capable of effectively wielding it. It is made of wood and bark of the Divine Tree of Kerremand with a consistent banana-odour to it. The metal parts are of the same Trivalium used for the White Scar. 

Graf Hübert Kapperstel was an avid hunter and made use of his inhuman strength to bring the tools appropriate for big game. This habit served him well in his grand duels against his kind’s archenemies. 

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/8jWyZYc.png[/img][/center]

[b]Requirements:[/b] The ability to hit 24 with Kinetic or Magnetic magics. 20 with Binding or Blood magic. 3+ Moon Wildbloods. An enchantment to the weapon causes the ammunition to grow out of Sanguinaire flesh if wielded by one.

[b]Manas:[/b] 12 - Juggernaut

[b]Effects:[/b]

A specific category of bolt can be fired each time it is loaded. The Ballista requires one turn to reload once a shot is fine, however one can still act during that turn as the reloading is automatic. Binding can be used OFFENSIVELY with this weapon (Used to create a stabiliser to reduce recoil to compensate for strength).

The type of bolt inserted is determined by the wielder. Either by manually inserting it or letting the automatic enchantment do its thing.

[indent]❖ Regular Bolts - They are used with a normal dice level with a skill value of d8, and can be combo’d with ONE extra skill. They can be shot without a magic school to add to unpredictability.
❖ Acid Bolts - Roll a 4d10, any hit cannot do more than minor damage. A dot will apply by rolling a 2d3 for four turns. Can be cured by sacrificing an action.
❖ Scatter Bolts - A bolt shot in the air that splits into a rain of normal-sized bolts. Roll a d4 for how many targets it can hit. Uses Magnetic, Kinetic or Blood to use as primary school.[/indent][/hider]

[hider=Die Mauer (The Wall)]
A large set of light whiteish grey Full plate armor with no luster or shine, much like stone. Each piece of this armor is incredibly heavy, making even the gauntlets of this armor weigh in upwards of nearly 20 pounds. However once one dawns the nearly 400 pounds of armor the manas within will begin to attune to the user, filling the user with untold amounts of power and lightness. Yet any one piece being missing will take away all benefits (to an extent.)

Graf Hübert was an exceptionally talented Duelist, and nearly unbeatable when becoming one with Die Mauer. Some say, had he not fallen to the beast many years ago, he had the potential to even surpass Sleeping Carp, and maybe even the Progenitor himself.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/h2zqfbY.png[/img][/center]

[b]Requirements:[/b] ‘Agile’ fighting styles are not viable, but there are no innate requirements. The armour adapts to the size of the wielder. Yes, even in sudden shifts.

The size and weight of the armor provides the user with greater defenses, providing them these benefits:

[indent]❖ Reduces damage received by 1 tier.
❖ +12 additional hp
❖ Minimum defense modifier is 3d.[/indent]

The armor is made of the ever powerful and dense metal known as Tungsten, providing the user these benefits:

[indent]❖ +4 to hp
❖ +4 to defense[/indent]

The manas within this hulking armor are numerous, providing the one they attune to an additional 56 manas and numerous additional features. Such as, when attuned the armor will reshape and size itself to fit the wearer, no matter the size or shape of the wearer. If a single piece is missing/severely damaged, all effects (including Tungsten bonus) are negated and the armour will only provide 28 Manas.

This kinetic energy can then be channeled throughout the armor, as when an attack hits the user, the energy can instead be directed to the attacker.

[indent]❖ When the user successfully defends by themselves, the armor will shoot the kinetic energy at the attacker and give them the 'Shaken' effect. The next action taken by the attacker will be done at a disadvantage.[/indent]

Finally, when the user focuses all their energy into the armor, the armor will draw in all energies around it and reflect it back out to make the user nearly impervious.

[indent]❖ Once per scenario, the user can sacrifice all actions in a turn to be completely invincible. (Not always applicable, GM discretion)[/indent][/hider]

[hider=Original’s Ruby]
A beautiful Ruby worn by Hübert Kapperstel in his endeavour to destroy all Sanguinaires serving the Huntress. An insurance of sorts should he fall or end up in a position of vulnerability. He always wore it on his person.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w9OHqwG.png[/img][/center]

[b]Manas:[/b] 4 - Maladyshield

[b]Requirements:[/b] Don’t be a Sanguinaire.

[b]Effects:[/b]
A jewel that takes a long time to attune to a wielder, but once it down, it ‘instructs’ the manas of the holder to absorb at capacity when they’ve left the body for more than a minute, causing them to violently explode. This is used as a countermeasure against Sanguinaires that would drink from the user.

The is an out, and that is by remaining at close proximity to the jewel, however when it exercises its second effect to nullify the order to explode, it also aggressively targets the vulnerable manas of the Sanguinaire, causing them to burn up as if they were exposed to the sun. [/hider]

[hider=The Sword of Eshiran-Zept]
[center][i]Here Rests the Will of the War God.
May one baptised by the battlefield raise its edge and smite in the name of Eshiran-Zept.[/i][/center]

A pristine Zweihander of relatively normal size held pointed down by a hollow and rusted armour that has long since passed its use, let alone its prime. Nothing can be remarked about this blade beyond the perfect craftsmanship that’s gone to the hilt, metal and edge. 

It awaits its next wielder, silently. Patiently.[/hider]

[hider=Various Treasures]
Other valuables that can be sold and/or appraised are the following:

[indent]❖ The Rusted Armour - Can be appraised, maybe there’s more to it than one thinks?
❖ Old Cutlery - Can be worth a pretty penny, or used for home making.
❖ Gold - Easily 3000 Magi worth, Cristophe and Denis are laying claim on a portion of it, if not all.
❖ The Portrait of Graf Hübert Kapperstel - Faded with no signature.[/indent][/hider]

[hr]

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[center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/XSXtTDbvS40]♫[/url][/h2][/center]

Jocasta reached out and sensed a heart in that being: a moving, beating thing. Breath entered and left lungs. Blood flowed. A mind pulsed and burned with the chemical signatures of thought.

Yet, she drew to her full capacity, so much so that she could feel the pressure building within the half of her body that functioned. The purgatory of her waistline tingled and her eyes grew bloodshot. Then, she squeezed. 

The enemy reeled and staggered, but then it fought back. Jocasta poured more into her spell, wrestling with that living heart, [i]hammering[/i] that living mind. Drawing and casting in a neverending loop, channeling, [i]straining[/i].

Then, there was a split second. She lost her lock on the target and she knew what was about to happen, but she was emptied and there was nothing that the tethered could do.

It hit her with unfathomable force, snapping Jocasta like a toy. Her insides disintegrated and the broken thing that was her body hurtled and crashed through saplings and undergrowth before splattering against a great old tree trunk.

Then, she was back, and quicker this time. The monster materialized beside her and Jocasta was already rocketing out of the way. A thicket of trees evaporated where she had been and the sheer heat from it singed her and set her dress alight. [color=8B008B]“Using temporal, I see,”[/color] laughed a mocking voice. [color=8B008B]“That’s cheating.”[/color]

But then Jocasta was turning the forest around her assailant into a thousand splinters and hurling them at her in endless waves. She grabbed the bitch in a kinetic fist and [i]hammered[/i] her into the ground. She called forth the fires of all five hells and melted the entire vicinity until the ground was glass.

Then, she was ripped through time and inside an inferno not of her own making. It took all of her power to counter the flames and there was still more: trees writhing and snaking as if they were the tentacles of some great beasts, the tips of branches turning to steel, wrapping and stabbing and… she had to fight them all. [color=ffdead][i]Anchors.[/i][/color] She laid down anchors. Then, she made the trees melt from the inside. Time stopped. She reached for and grabbed the enemy in its grasp and turned its wheels.

 [color=ffdead]“Wither, you [i]cunt![/i]”[/color] she snarled, and she could feel the power of this one. Never had she been forced to strain so hard, not even with Augusto. Volto Certosa [i]glared[/i] into the eyes of another person and pulled still more. For a moment, there was uncertainty - even fear. Youth began to face. Lines appeared on a face and grey hairs took root. Skin grew sallow and the enemy let out a scream. [color=FF8C00][b]“WHY DON’T YOU!?!?”[/b][/color]

The crackling in Jocasta’s waist flared and began to creep up. 

The visage before her passed middle age.

Her midsection grew numb and indistinct.

The hair was now near-completely grey.

The tethered struggled to feel her chest.

The enemy entered old age.

Jocasta’s fingers curled and withered and it crept up her arms. She fought back the rising panic. Strong! How could anyone be this strong!? There wasn’t supposed to be! She released her deathgrip and hammered the bitch with a flattening wave of gravity, but then she could feel that they were not alone.  [color=DDA0DD]“Suurax,”[/color] purred a venomously sweet voice, [color=DDA0DD]“Qiithoi.”[/color]

Back. Jocasta pulled it all back. She was gripping the monster again, in space and time, but she knew what was to come and she released. Instead, she let loose with an internal chemical assault, powerful enough to erase everything in the bitch’s brain - enough to melt it from the inside. But then her time was up. Two other massive energies were there, closing in on her, and one let rip with a bloodcurdling howl that made her weak and numb. Lightning leapt from the other’s mouth and it was all that Jocasta could do to ground herself. 

[color=DA70D6]“Oooh, you’re a feisty little bitch, yanii,”[/color] the yasoi laughed. A trickle of blood traced a deep red line from her nose, pooling at the corner of her mouth. [color=DA70D6]“‘specially for a cripple. I’ve gotta hand it to you.”[/color] She licked it up and an unsettling grin split the lower half of her face. [color=8B008B]“But you are fucking with a literal God.”[/color]

There were no Gods: only people who called themselves such. Jocasta reached out for one of the monstrous bodyguards who had arrived - [color=ffdead][i]bodyguards,[/i][/color] she knew - and squeezed its wrist with bonecrushing force. It howled and she grew faint again until she pulled on sonic magic once again to counter whatever it was doing. Then, she ripped the arm clean off. [color=6495ED]“Oooowww!”[/color] screamed the beast. [color=6495ED]“Oww oww oooowww! It hurts!”[/color]

Then, the yasoi had a hand on her and it went right through Jocasta’s shoulder as if she were made of pudding. The tethered hurtled away, healing herself as she went and she could see or at least sense all three of them giving chase, the injured one’s arm growing back even as he moved. This was insanity. The school needed to know! A mad - 

There was an opening. The bitch was slow in closing. Jocasta stretched time and held herself back in it. Her full-draw arcane lance took the yasoi clean in the chest, shoulders, and face, and she howled and dropped, flesh cooked, steam rising from her broken form. It hadn’t killed her, though. How? Jocasta couldn’t say. Had she really absorbed nearly [i]all[/i] of it? [color=ffdead][i]A nine?[/i][/color] the tethered wondered, but she knew the answer. [color=ffdead][i]nine-two-five!?[/i][/color] This [i]animal[/i] was more than that, however. Not as strong as her in pure capacity - [i]nobody[/i] was - but closer than any she’d ever seen and… She stood, face half-melted away and, already, she was healing. [color=ffdead][i]Batshit crazy[/i][/color] Jocasta realized. A [url=https://youtu.be/OBRwa0w2hIs]laugh - a maniacal laugh[/url] - erupted from her throat and she began stalking forward. [color=FF8C00]“Hurt me!?”[/color] she hissed, [color=FF8C00]“Why do you wanna hurt me, you monster?”[/color] Her eyes widened to unnatural size, even for a yasoi. [color=FF8C00]“Don’t you know you can’t!?”[/color]

She was shaken, though. Jocasta knew it because she felt it too. This… [i]creep[/i] had never faced something as strong as [i]her[/i] either. There was a tremble in the yasoi’s voice - both of fear and of rage. 

[color=8B008B]“I’ve been hurt enough already,”[/color] she growled, but there was a weak, whiny note behind it. [color=8B008B]“I’m fucking immune to more!”[/color] she roared. The draw was immense and sudden and their casts more or less canceled each other out. 

Jocasta came to, staring up at the trees. Her ears rang with tinnitus. Her body felt like it had been tenderized, and she struggled just to move. [color=ffdead][i]Binding[/i][/color] She reached out with her senses but there was nobody close by, and nobody like the threat she had just faced, wherever it had gone. The others were fighting in Mandelein, but they would win and she… She gathered matter from her surroundings, healed her wounds, and returned to Ersand’Enise, her world a bit colder and more uncertain than it had been just five minutes earlier.

[hr]

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[center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/k3B5gE0m0yE]♫[/url][/h2][/center]

It was early in the morning in Hyparii, although many of the dregs that lived in the area could hardly keep up a normal diurnal schedule. The smell of Virangish coffee permeated the air of the isolated, rectangle-shaped room with no windows or greenery. An entire breakfast meal was served on an old oak desk, likely imported, consisting of two croissants from Perrence, a mug of coffee from the Palapari exploitations, jam from Miatto and butter from Kerremand. A delectable combination that was hard to come by even for the elites of this world.

Through a wide and flickering portal came out Viktor Strauss and his accomplice, Laura. Their filth-covered boots stained the clean rug patterned in a distinctly Tettari style as they made their way to the desk. The armchair behind it was empty. Viktor, before doing anything else, merely raised a brow at the vacant spot and spoke up. [color=36AE36]“Games again, Juulet?”[/color] and in a snap appeared a Yasoi. The same, wicked Yasoi that Jocasta will have lasting memories of. [color=8B008B]“gAmEs AgAiN jUuLeT?!?!”[/color] grimaced the girl with the violet and crazy eyes. [color=8B008B]“Why the fuck are you here, shady Vik? Little DikVik.”[/color] Juulet leaned forward, arms crossed over the desk and stretched her neck to keep closing the gap between her and Viktor. Her hanging, black hair came dangerously close to the coffee mug.

Viktor placed the set of miniature canisters onto the wooden surface.

Juulet didn’t flinch, and instead canted her hair as she scrutinised the offering. [color=DA70D6]“What is?”[/color] one of the metal vials was tugged out of the holder to be inspected, sniffed and glared at by the Mad Avatar. It got her to lean closer, and consequently some of her hair dipped into the coffee. [color=6495ED]“Oh shit! Crap dung! RAH!”[/color] the side-shaved girl, no older than eighteen, let the vial drop and roll out of the desk in favour of her now caffeinated hair.

[color=36AE36]“Job’s done. The formula’s a success. Where is she, Juulet?”[/color] Viktor kinetically drew a chair right behind him for a seat.

[color=8B008B]“Who?”[/color]

[color=36AE36]“The Boss.”[/color]

Juulet’s eye twitched. [color=8B008B]“I am the boss. Who’s above THE Avatar of Fortune?!”[/color] she threw her arms in the air and let them fall onto the arms of her chair in a relatively loud thud. Viktor opened his mouth for an answer, but. [color=8B008B]“Huh?”[/color] she cut him off in the most obnoxious manner. [color=FF8C00]“HUH?!”[/color] the arms raised again, this time like they were lifting something up. Her whole demeanour was challenging. [color=8B008B]“That’s right, no one.”[/color]

Laura, standing like an awkward tree in the background, scooted ever so slowly toward one of the couches nearby. Unlike Viktor, she was visibly anxious in the presence of this girl. And for good reason. [b][color=FF8C00]“DON’T TOUCH THAT! THAT IS MINE, FUCKO!”[/color][/b] Juulet stood up with her own, good leg, to hurl the bottle of jam right at Laura, who luckily ducked just in time. The corner it was, then.

Viktor sighed. [color=36AE36]“The higher ups want this handled by her. The faster we do this, the faster you can enjoy …”[/color] he gestured at the general direction of the lavish breakfast. The sentence wasn’t finished.

Reminded that the food existed, Juulet, without even looking at it, seized a croissant as she descended back down to [i]aggressively[/i] eat it. [color=8B008B]“How can you Yaniis like this? It’s like bread, but softer. Fatter. No wonder you’re all so soft.”[/color] still, she quickly wolfed down the second one after chomping the first. [color=6495ED]“BLEUGH! Piss water!”[/color] she tried to down her food with the coffee. [color=FF8C00]“You willingly drink this?!”[/color]

[color=36AE36]“To help you wake up, and it grows on you.”[/color]

[color=DA70D6]“Yeah, well, sleep’s for the weak.”[/color] the mug was dropped, not hurled like most things in her hands, and nearly tipped over. But, with Viktor’s intervention, it kept itself upright.

[color=8B008B]“She’s not here.”[/color] admitted Juulet after an awkward minute of her examining a second vial and dipping her fingers into another bottle of peach jam to suck on them. [color=8B008B]“Something about an arrival from Tarlon. She trusts me to handle things.”[/color]

Viktor pursed his lips. [color=36AE36]“Is Kaumo here, then?”[/color] the muscular hunter stood up with one of the six canisters taken for himself. 

Juulet shrugged. [color=DA70D6]“Prolly.”[/color] then she gestured in dismissal. [color=8B008B]“We done, I guess? Alright, nice seein’ ya’ Diktor.”[/color] then, something hit her. [color=8B008B]“Wait. What the shits happened to that pisshole yanii town? Where’d the big, loud prize dog go?”[/color] she leaned back into her seat, chin supported by her palm.

Viktor didn’t stop his trajectory to the door, but he answered accordingly. Laura awaited him at the door. [color=36AE36]“If the Church or the Kerremans don’t wipe the place out, the higher ups will. We don’t need the Priest when the formula proved its worth.”[/color] and with that he was about ready to open the door, only for it to be stuck. Exasperated, he turned to face the young tyrant.

[color=8B008B]“And the brats? The ones with that- That …”[/color] her jaw shifted and her fist slammed into the wood before her. [color=FF8C00]“BLONDE CUNT?! I’m gonna fuck her up. Oh yes I will. NOBODY fucks with a GOD. Oh yeah, tots, you’re mine. Ain’t NO WAY!”[/color] luckily, most worldly things were spared from this tantrum.

[color=36AE36]“A few are dead. Most are alive.”[/color] he said as flatly as he could. [color=36AE36]“The School’s Pet lives too, I believe. Orders were to leave them be.”[/color] a stern look was shot at Juulet. [color=36AE36]“This applies to you too. Off-limits until new order.”[/color]

Juulet blinked, sunk into her chair again and exhaled. [color=DA70D6]“‘Kay.”[/color] and then she flicked her idle wrist. [color=8B008B]“Now kindly leave. You’ve distressed my Godly routine enough as it is.”[/color] the door was opened and a gust of wind [i]encouraged[/i] the two humans to leave. Outside, they were greeted with endless animalistic noises that would make Zarina’s menagerie sound like nothing.

They were underground, with many massive tree roots seen above. The two were on a large, stone balcony overlooking a large portion of rocky surface illuminated by copious amounts of lanterns. At the bottom of the big hole were rows of metal containers. From inside came the myriad of animal screeches, except they never sounded quite normal. They were all distorted in some manner, like the pitch was never quite right. And there were just [i]so many[/i], thousands perhaps in this singular sector, with a few attendants wearing odd, white coats tending to them. Viktor and Laura overlooked it all on the stone railing that connected Juulet’s lofty ‘office’ to the system of tunnels that led to different parts of the grandiose operation that was being run here. Viktor appeared unphased by it all, but Laura’s nerves were getting her to sweat more and more. 

[color=757163]“Viktor, VIKTOR!”[/color] a woman called out for him with a Kerreman pronunciation. The hunter stopped to grace the caged beckoner with an indifferent look.

[color=757163]“You Pig fucker! I will fuck you and all your monkey friends!”[/color]

It was Annette. Except she didn’t look like the bandit leader our heroes had met. Fully naked and [i]changed[/i]

[color=757163]“I’LL FUCK YOU I’LL KILL YOU HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME YOU’VE RUINED ME!”[/color] her hands were not human anymore, replaced with wood-like growths. Some were piercing the unchanged flesh.

[color=757163]“DAMN YOU ALL! I TRUSTED YOU! I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING! AND YOU GIVE ME TO THE MONKEYS! THE SAME THAT TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! FUCK YOU!”[/color] whatever she was turning into, it was slow and extremely painful. Maybe some would believe this to be justice, she was, after all, a nasty woman. But did she really deserve this?

[color=757163]“VIKTOR! VIKTOR! Please, Viktor … AHHHH!”[/color] she gurgled and screamed in agony. Her right eye had been sprouting something, preventing her from blinking. [color=757163]“Please help me! No more! NO MORE! Kill me!”[/color] she pleaded from deep below.

Viktor turned to face forward and walked away.

Odd, woody roots constricted her sides and poked deeper in her the more she [i]writhed[/i].

[color=757163]“Viktor please! I need you …!”[/color]

[color=757163]“Cristophe! Denis! Ralph!”[/color]

[color=757163]“Papa! … Viktor … Papa …”[/color]

[sub][color=757163]“Save me … Please …”[/color][/sub]

Annette’s screams continued for another five minutes before they claimed her voice. 

Three days later, she had reached full maturity. Subject T-104 had shown promise, but didn’t survive. Hopefully the new batch would show as much promise.[/color]

[h2][b]FIN.[/b][/h2]

[hider=Final Tally]
The lone and remote town of Mandelein would not survive the night of Assani 21st. Many of its people were killed in the mass rampage that occurred and most homes were left desolate from the carnage. Still, the community endured under the leadership of the surviving Fr. Jacques Dubosque, accompanied by his brother, Baudile Dubosque. Their ultimate fate remains a mystery, for now, but the Conde Juan has given you his word and promised to send an update to those involved.

❖ [u][b]The Town of Mandelein[/b][/u]
[indent][b]Initial Population:[/b] 673
[b]Deaths in the Span of the Week:[/b] 92
[b]Child Deaths:[/b] 6
[b]Property Destruction:[/b] 49% of the town is destroyed, including the castle.
[b]Remaining Population:[/b] 581
[b]Notable Deaths:[/b] Constable Franz Leonhardt, Hermann Bauer, Inès Baum, Lark Weber,  Manfred Hohenfelter Von Mickelin-Thaudau, Ismet'ych'lahiin'dichora, Qasem Laghmani.
[b]Missing:[/b] Annette Huber, Viktor Strauss, Laura.[/indent]

❖ [u][b]NPC Survivors[/b][/u]
[indent][b]Cristophe Wiliken:[/b] Lost an eye. Jaded. Alive. Left Mandelein with the student group. Has an idea of gathering old friends to reform a group.
[b]Denis Borman:[/b] Unscathed. Hopeful. Alive. Left Mandelein with the student group.
[b]Margot:[/b] Overall fine. Alive. Left Mandelein before the rest of the group. Intent on finding work elsewhere.
[b]Baudile Dubosque:[/b] In good shape. Alive. Remained in Mandelein until the people could be moved and to protect them until then. Will return to Ersand’Enise to inform the students in the future.
[b]Jacques Dubosque:[/b] Alive and fully healed. What happens after he awakens is unknown.[/indent]

❖ [u][b]The Students[/b][/u]
[indent]❖ [b]Ashon’amar’loiyang[/b]
[indent]-Used Kinetic Magic as his primary tool to fight off threats: +1 Kinetic.
-Consistently was in the forefront of battle, taking hits to help his teammates. A relentless warrior: +4 Max HP.
-Asserted dominance over the Alpha Cannoneer Gorilla and established himself as the near leader of the pack: Can command that specific legion + Double advantage to all Monkey-related interactions. This includes great apes.[/indent]

❖ [b]Dorothea Hohnstein[/b]
[indent]-Made extensive use of kinetic magic to enhance her rifle shots, successfully taking down many wolves in the process: +1 Kinetic
-Ate a ton of damage as Vedil’s puppet, surviving Manfred’s attack and practically returning from the dead. She’s near unkillable: +4 Max HP.
-Has a good eye for gun: Obtained the Koppelman 211, it can now hit any large target guaranteed, and only requires above 1 in a d5 to hit normal sized targets.[/indent]

❖ [b]Alaric Weber[/b]
[indent]-Had an advance in his points due to an error, but his proficiency with blood has given him a symbolic point: +1 Blood magic.
-Ate shit while being a pivotal member in the big fights. Would have been far harder without him: +4 Max HP.
-Extensive use of dark summon as a demoncaller has given him the ability to guarantee the summon of ONE of the demons he called upon during the mission (no rolls required).[/indent]

❖ [b]Sister Edyta Laska[/b]
[indent]-Conjured up frigid blizzards by combining her deadly arcane with an increasingly proficient Kinetic magic use: +1 Kinetic.
-Sacrificed a lot of her health to ensure her flock survived, leaving her extremely vulnerable: +4 Max HP.
-Got away with the time manas.[/indent]

❖ [b]Taleja Drakenknecht[/b]
[indent]-Made excellent use of atomic magic to dispatch her enemies before more casualties occurred: +1 Atomic
-Took a lot of damage while doing daring plays: +4 Max HP.
-Because of her rigorous research in the archives and eye for details despite a late arrival, she’s gained in scientific intuition: +1 to all perception rolls.[/indent]

❖ [b]Cal’tuuro’jaros[/b]
[indent]-Clever use of chemical magic to take down one of the biggest threats to the group’s wellbeing: +1 Chemical.
-Stayed behind most of the fights, keeping it safe despite a few scratches: +2 Max HP.[/indent]

❖ [b]Ymiico’luun’yoru[/b]
[indent]-Died and came back from the dead: Can now respec as she wishes with 12 points to distribute.
-At a crap ton of damage, to the point of nearly dying twice. Such extensive and repetitive damage have left scars that can’t be fully healed: +2 Max HP.
-Schizo-mode go.[/indent]

❖ [b]Casii’fyret’alan[/b]
[indent]-Became an avatar of destruction through uncontrolled user of blood magic: +1 Blood.
-Lost her arm in the final fight and nearly lost her life, however her staff of life merged with her to create a new arm: +5 Max HP, permanent advantage in plant magic.
-Lost her lover without saying goodbye: -1 Max HP.[/indent]

❖ [b]Manfred Hohenfelter[/b]
[indent]-Fought bravely for what he believed in and for his lover.
-Was already dead many months ago.[/indent]

❖ [b]Ismette / Leluun[/b]
[indent]-Entered Mandelein as the all too familiar Ismette, died as the cold stranger Leluun.
-And yet it doesn’t quite feel like she’s completely gone.[/indent]

❖ [b]Qasem Laghmani[/b]
[indent]-Killed by Manfred the moment he conspired against Dorothea.
-Fought to the very end for a cause greater than himself, hoping to take down an evil keen on destroying [i]everything[/i]. He failed.[/indent][/indent][/hider]