[center][h1][color=Lightblue]Cold Comfort: A Race Against Time[/color][/h1][/center][hr][hr] Character: Roslyn Location: Small Island Fort [hr] After surviving the last attack, Roslyn screamed. Another attack slipped past her defense. Her eyes widened as a dizziness hit her head. She fought the weakness surging into her fragile form. Her heart echoed in her head when suddenly another Volti appeared beside her. His hand reached out and touched her shoulder. From his fingertips, a frozen sensation spread down to her skin. Her flesh curled from it and blackened on the spot. She slapped it away, but the damage stayed. Her foot stepped back, knees buckling and her vision darkening. Her vision slowly faded as she was able to see the one armed illusionist take notice of her and then disappear. [i]Did I even make a difference?[/i] The question echoed in her head, over and over. She laid there helpless while the scene raged on. Heavy wheezes poured from her chest, liquid collecting in the depths.The wetness of her own blood began to tingle at the back of her throat and choke her. Her dress had been torn and burned in place, the wounds stinging at the air exposure. Lost in the darkness of a failing body, her mind reflected on her role in all of this. The one that stuck out the strongest was during the route to the island fort. Esmii's keen eyesight saved them some trouble as she spotted a small group of Volti heading their way. With a deep breath and prayer, Roslyn ducked down the shadows of the alley. She peeked around the corner with the hand canon tightly in her hands. None of the Volti notice her… yet. She thought about the ethanol and how it stung. Applying her thoughts, she ignited her gifted weapon just when one of the men turned. As a thick smoke billowed out, she bolted back to the others. She didn't dare stick around to admire the results of her work. A tingling stretched across her skin. Wounds started to stitch together and mend, sealing the blood back. Her eyes fluttered open, but the exhaustion still pinned her down. A familiar voice spoke to her. Sven. [color=385403]"Hang in there, Roshie one."[/color] Roslyn inhaled, crusted blood at her lips. A weak smile crossed her lips as her form shivered. Words finally came to her mind, "I-I'm t-trying,[color=ebe7a3] but-t thi-thinking I should've stayed... fuck, at the academy..."[/color] Sven struggled to hear her amid the crazed clash and the act of defending his life, but he can't help but agree. From somewhere near him, another voice shouted out. [color=b08cc9]“You hang in there, you hear me!”[/color] Esmii. [color=ebe7a3] "I'm t-trying, but-t..."[/color]Roslyn inhaled, her lungs seemed to inhale glass rather than air. She pulled herself half way upright, but no more, [color=ebe7a3] "I'm not much of a fighter. I'm sorry I let you down-"[/color] Another thunderous explosion occurred, this time it had even shook the earth underneath them, yet what was worse was what stepped from it. A massive fireball had occurred, one that had consumed an entire building, and what stepped through was a single man holding up both of his hands. Hard to ignore an entrance like that as Roslyn weakly turned in that direction. The Volti's arms snapped out picking two targets: Yuliya and Sven. Dread filled Roslyn as she watched Sven's neck wrenched around. There was a great deal of pain on his face, his muscles and ligaments snapped, but his vertebrae held. He slumped to the ground, close to unconsciousness. She couldn't hear his words through the battle, but her eyes widened at what happened next. Sven rose, his hulking figure incandescent. Heat boiled off of him in colossal waves. His neck twisted back around, steam erupted from his nostrils. The very ground beneath him began to melt. Like a mad beast, the once gentle Sven rushed forward. His arms reached for any nearby Volti to rend limb from limb. Things seemed to turn until something else arrived. A wild blood. Upon its claw was a small, one legged woman. Penny. She wasn't moving as her attacker tossed the body aside. Her limp form somersaulted lazily through the air on its way towards the ground. Then the wildblood hurtled towards Sven. Sven dropped the mortally wounded Soldato to meet the wildblood in charge. Roslyn could barely register all the chaos around her. Allies rushed to help Penny, counter Volti, and Sven clashed with the new threat. Marz joined into the fray, the stocky man raising his hammer then connecting with the woman. He seemed to drive her back for the moment. However, Roslyn lingered on Penny, now caught by Oksana. Guilt rolled into her heart at the sight. This was the second time she left her friend behind, but the last time she didn't go back. Why didn’t she go back? She did the first time and everything turned out right. Her breath held in her throat as she watched in fear. Oksana began to heal Penny, drawing energy and pouring into the body with binding. Suddenly Penny pulled in a deep breath and then let out a cough. She rolled onto her side, sniffing. She looked up to see Yvain and Oksana. The woman’s lips moved before she reached up and kissed Oksana on the cheek in thanks. All the tension in Roslyn’s form was released, thankful for her friend’s life. She made a weary note to apologize if they all managed to survive this. Right now, that didn’t look too good. Roslyn forced herself upright and mustered the strength to reach for her med kit. She managed to slip her hand into the bag, pulling the rest of her bandages out. Tugging out the worst of the shrapnel, she pressed her hand to her mouth and muffled a scream. Her fingers then stuffed the cloth into the holes left behind. Using the adrenaline of her panic to her advantage, she continued to patch herself up. Meanwhile the wildblood's voice rang out with fresh venom briefly catching her attention. [color=C8A2C8]"For too long, we have run and hid from these monsters!"[/color] The thresher-beast proclaimed. [color=C8A2C8]"For too long, they have stepped on the common people, fed upon them, and bled this land dry."[/color] Roslyn had just finished when something caught her attention. A rapid movement as the Volti magusjaeger levitated at full speed across the river. Just when it seemed he might hit a small object... The scene changed. It was like she blinked and now a dark-haired Vossoriyan held the Volti by the throat, the head at an unnatural angle. The claw like fingers released the limp form causing it to fall and splash into the water below. Still floating in the air, his cold eyes sized up the fallen man's allies. He took out a pair of knives. [color=red]"You have five seconds to get out of my city."[/color] Roslyn's skin crawled. Her breath held in her chest and her form froze in place. Something was off about this man. She couldn't explain it, but some instinctive part of her wanted to bolt. She fought the slight tremor surfacing on her form. [i][color=ebe7a3]What now?!?[/color][/i] She asked herself, frustrated with the reality of the worsen situation. [hider] Item list Active Effects Stormin' Strawberry: just eating this will raise your mood. All weakening that you apply to enemies will be increased by two. Heavenly Chocolate: just eating this will raise your mood. All strengthening in a scenario will be increased by two. Glaring Vulture Jerky: Roll a d4 after each defense. If 4, gain a free counter if the defense was successful or damage reduced by two tiers if it was not. Mana shot (given by Esmii)- Stayed down. [hr] On person for the fight and between round care: Makeshift first aid kit including [s]Binding bandages- x5: immediately seal and heal any wounds of minor tier or below. Are used up in the process.[/s] Skinglue x2: from the Bleeding Pine, will instantly seal wounds if applied within one turn, reducing their tier by one. Snowpepper sniffing powder x2: will instantly wake up any sleeping or unconscious character or beast.[/hider]