Ember Storm

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@Nashie

Astrid pulled back alongside the cowboy as her Mist faded from the air around them, spinning her blades impatiently, just waiting for her opponent to reveal a bluff. "What do you mean about dhis 'greater one?' What purpose does it serve to break dhe Old Padh from within? Dhey are nearly obsolete."

As Johnny replied about the papers, she nodded. "I have some, yes."

Here was hoping there were answers somewhere... if not here, then with the other group, should they have survived their own fight.

---

@Patches
@MercuryNH
"Mercury, you an' Daud go grab the journal in Gustrag's room. Gregor, you an' me should cover 'em. We've got range on pretty much anythin' that might come through here." Duff said as he stowed his sabre and revolver and began reloading his rifle. "Hurry now, eh? We can be outta here before anyone else arrives." He grimaced in pain. His shoulder was probably bleeding something fierce. Once they were out, some bandages and painkillers would suffice until he could heal naturally. Hopefully this didn't fuck his shoulder up like that one Amalgamate did his leg all those years ago. "Go!"

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@hefewy
@MercuryNH
Duff finished cutting the hole through Xenan's attempt at a prison. Now his colleagues could get out. It was then that he noticed the prison weakening itself, as Gregor executed control over their opponent's magic. Nice, the old soldier thought, turning to engage Xenan at a range most might not expect him. Moving faster than his limp might suggest, Duff closed the distance between him and Xenan, flanking with the big warrior Daud. He wasn't ignorant of the shards of light raining down; even with the resistance he had built up against magic, they'd hurt. The thick steel chestplate and vambraces he wore would stop most of the shards from hitting him, but the one or two that got through seared and stung as they cut into his arm and shoulder.

It wouldn't be enough to stop him; and he suddenly popped up behind Xenan. "Nice trick," he grunted, bringing his Voidstone sabre up and going for one of the injuries Xenan was having difficultly healing. "Got a few of my own, though, eh?"

---

@Patches
@Nashie
As if she had formed straight from the Mist, Astrid was already flanking the movement with Johnny. "Good eyes, cowboy," she said, spinning her blades into the hole in the Mist. "Let us see how well sse hides when sse is bleeding!" Her blades were sharp and willing to cut. There was very little that would be able to stop them if their target wasn't armoured. Hopefully a bleeding bitch was easier to track, as they had to let Yoshimi get herself set up or this would end up in a shambles.

Astrid didn't do shambles.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@MercuryNH
@hefewy
"Yeh folks knock 'im down, an' I can get 'em on 'im." Duff had already tucked the cuffs away again, drawing his sabre to cut through the back of the hard light dome. It would easily yield to the Voidstone infused sword, the magic-hating material opening up a small exit just in case they needed it. As he cut, though, he kept the revolver in his left hand up and ready. The double action design meant he didn't have to manage the hammer, but he still had to keep half an eye out for any attacks. And so he did as he sliced through the makeshift prison their opponent threw up. Hopefully his colleagues would keep the arse off him; but you could never be so sure...

And as a non-Caster... Duff didn't want to think about what that bastard might want to do to him.

---

@Patches
@Nashie
@Blizzardofoz123
Astrid spun her blades in her hands, thinking, watching. Now why would she say something like that. Why would she bother giving away hints. Sure, Kordan's inferno didn't do anything to the desert, but it did lit the bitch up, even if only for a moment, and that's when it hit her. The bitch was hiding with light, but she was still a solid object. And this place was well and truly an illusion. She was one powerful Light Caster.

Astrid put her plan in motion. Kordan's fire may have worked for an instant, but it didn't last long enough to reveal her for good. "Rocketman," she smirked, pointing her arms out to her sides, "you need more stamina." With that, she began to fill the room with mist. They couldn't see the bitch directly, no, but they could see where she was by where the mist wasn't. "Watch for movement dhrough dhe mist, Yoshimi! Sse cannot hide when dhere is nowhere to hide! Cowboy? A little help, please."

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@MercuryNH
@hefewy

Duff had hustled his way closer as the big knight had closed the gap, the result being that he was now able to hear and talk to his team mates. "I was never one fer parties," he said, scowling at the current events. To Daud, he nodded. "Might have somethin' that could help." Pulling a pair of Voidstone cuffs out of one of his coat's many many pockets, he spun them around a finger on his free hand. "Had these fer a few days... they were meant fer some Dweller. But y'know what? I reckon they'll fit that fuckin' wanker just fine, yeh think?" Taking cover behind Daud's stone slab, he slung the Calvary Special behind his back and drew his Type IX. The revolver would be bettter at these ranges anyways. "Bleedin' magic," the old soldier gruntly softly, barely audible, "Sometimes I wish it never fuckin' existed in th'first place."

---

@Patches
@Nashie
@Blizzardofoz123
Astrid spun away into Mist as both her opponent attacked and Kordan shouted and let loose his fire across the desert. We cannot be in a desert. she thought, It's an illusion or something. Nonetheless, the fireball would clear rapidly, and Astrid would take the opportunity her teammate had provided. Still mist, she swiftly coalesced into an ominous haze to her attacker's left before actually appearing to the woman's right, twin blades singing wickedly as they carved through the air and hopefully her as well. A feint. It was something she was good at; attacking from a flank. Hopefully the move had caught Astrid's opponent off guard enough that she'd be able to go Mistform again before the Child got her bearings back. A few more attacks like that and she should be able to outmanuever this bitch.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@Nashie
Astrid flung her throwing knives, more as a distraction than anything else, before drawing her bow and nocking a light arrow. As she fired the arrow, it would turn into a beam of light, unaffected by gravity.

Whatever skills this Child had, she was still susceptible to death.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Bloody Casters, Duff thought, watching the man Gregor shot instantly begin healing. Bloody Children! The old soldier took aim and fired off a few rounds quick as a flash. "Let's see how yeh like the Void, yeh fuckin' nutjob. Try healin' through this, eh?" A trio of Voidtipped rounds shattered the window and would impact the man before he even heard the retort of Duff's old Cavalry Special.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Duff fired his tenth round as his colleagues disappeared into the back of Gustrag's mansion and the flow of children ceased, at least for a moment. He took the time to reload his rifle before hurrying after the rest of the team.

The old soldier took a moment to find a good line over the area his teammates were in as they stood just inside the room. Through the windows, Duff could see their adversary, some suited fellow. Though he couldn't hear what was being said, if anything, this fellow positively radiated bad news.

---

@Patches
@Nashie
Astrid scowled. She was supposed to be the stealthy one, so how'd this stupid vittu get the drop on them? Mist curled around her as she prepared to act, but Johnny had asked a question; it wouldn't be fair to him to interrupt a possible answer. Once the shooting started, however, she would have her chance. Putting away her wicked blades, the scout surreptitiously readied her throwing knives. "I am listening," she said softly, waiting for the moment.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@Nashie
Astrid had her hands full of swords. "I believe so, Yoshimi," she said softly, creeping down the hall. "It might have enough sense of self left dhat it wants to help. Dhis would be good." She peeked through the door, making sure there was no one else down the hall before skirting through. It was empty, as far as she could tell. Still, her senses prickled. On alert, she whispered back to the other three. "I will not stop you if you want to take point. I have a bad feeling about dhis place..."

If one of them did take point, her bow was a plenty decent weapon, and she was good with it. Otherwise, she would continue slowly down the hall, eyes and ears trained and alert for the slightest sign of an enemy... still didn't help if any had camouflage.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
Duff looked through down the iron sights of his prized rifle, regulating his breathing. Shot at was still better than shot, he figured, and began his work. With the rounds he had loaded, no magical armour would stand a chance, and it would take heavier gear than even the Old Path wore to stop his bullets normally. They were hot.

Duff spied a member of the Children trying to sneak her way through the ferns to the left of the main skirmish. He exhaled, and with it came the retort of his rifle. His aim good, he didn't even wait to watch her fall. The Voidtip would pierce any magical defenses she employed and drain her of further abilities, even if it wasn't fatal. She'd be out of the fight either way.

Duff would work to keep his teammates out of danger, stopping only to reload and move a bit to keep his cover-fire relevant. This had always been his best work: keeping his friends safe and his enemies dead, and he did it well.

Kokotha: Old Magic, New World

@Patches
@Blizzardofoz123
@Nashie

Astrid turned to the newcomers and nodded her affirmation of Johnny's explanation. "We find dhe rune... and also dhis forced Amalgamate. We kill all in our padh. Dhe Amalgamate... if it wants to help, it can. Odherwise, we should end its misery..." She turned to Kordan. "Rocketman?" she ventured, "Be as loud as you need to now. Dhey know we are here. Dhe time for stealth is over." She raised a wickedly curved blade clenched in her left fist. "Let dhem burn." she finished through gritted teeth.