Psyker Landshark

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

Her companions' responses weren't surprising. Each of them had expressed similar sentiments either at Balmung Castle or on the road from it thus far. Galahad's relationship with his father was more unexpected, really. Izayoi's memories of her own parents had all but faded away even in her adolescence, but she did remember warmth. It would be a cold day in the hells before she acknowledged her master as any sort of parental figure, but their bond had been violence without hate. He'd nurtured her into someone strong enough to survive, after all. And Lord Kaien paternal kinship with the young master Hien had been nothing but positive. Disappointed lectures at the most when the boy sought out too much trouble for his own good. So the utter hostility going back and forth across the table right now was foreign to her.

And then Artorias had the temerity to bring her into this. For what it was worth, Izayoi did think long and hard for a moment if she'd ever knowingly killed a Caradoc before. Any man or boy that ever resembled the two noblemen at the table right now. And...she couldn't. There was the very real possiblity that Lord Caradoc was telling the truth, of course. She'd slaughtered so many Edrenians over the course of the war, directly or otherwise, that they had all started to blend together in her eyes after the first few months. Denying the charge outright was impossible. But once she was finished thinking about her own actions, something in the man's words did rankle at Izayoi until she finally realized what it was after some deliberation.

"I will not deny the possibility that I did kill your son. It was war, and I assume he was a legitimate member of your people's armies." Izayoi said after a long moment, after which her expression hardened. "But assuming that to be the case, why do you insist on sending one son to avenge the other, rather than making the attempt yourself? I lost my own child not half a year ago, and I would move heaven and earth to see every man of Valheim butchered at my feet until I find the killer." She really, truly, did not want to discuss this with a former mortal enemy. Even mentioning Suzume to him felt like an admission of defeat. But what he was doing was reprehensible.

"Moreover, you wait until now to bring this up? Do you actually care about your other son's death, or were you hoping that holding this in reserve would shock Galahad into doing your bidding? By all means, I will accept challenge from you, out of respect for another parent outliving their child. I would be a hypocrite otherwise. But face me yourself, rather than sending another son to die. If you will not, then I believe I've had my fill of Edrenian nobility for the evening."

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

If someone had told Iraleth the previous night that she would have gotten herself in a duel against a suspected Umbralist within mere hours of arriving at Wingram, she wouldn't have believed them. If they had told her she wasn't particularly looking forward to this fight, she would have laughed in their face. But it was true. As much as Iraleth despised every Umbralist that continued to practice their black arts, Ciara's showing in the auditorium didn't convince her that she was one among them.

And yet. She would have the truth from her one way or another. If Ciara was so desperate to have something to hide in relation to Umbralism to begin with, that was suspicious in itself. The tragedy that befell the world, befell her as a child, could not be allowed to be repeated. Especially not where the High Bishop's dream had only just begun to flower.

Iraleth sat cross-legged on her bed, continuing to alternate between meditation and prayer as the evening went on. In her state, anything more strenuous was ill-advised, even with the healing potion the Head Advisor had so generously handed out. So when Ciara returned to the room, the paladin opened her eyes, inclining her head towards the other girl.

"Good. I was hoping you wouldn't do something foolish like sleeping outside tonight. No sense in not getting as much rest as you can if you're so set on this course of action." Iraleth said simply, before attempting to return to her meditation, closing her eyes. Attempt being the operative term here. There was...plenty she wanted to say to Ciara, especially in the wake of her leaving earlier. And now that she was here? Well. Better now than right before they crossed swords with each other tomorrow.

"I was hoping you wouldn't agree to the duel, you know." She gave a frustrated sigh, one hand rising up to pinch her brow. "That you'd hesitate before agreeing to fight someone you were going to live with just to avoid answering. It was a simple yes or no question: do you have anything to do with Umbralism? That was it. Umbralists destroyed the orphanage I lived in and the village with it. Killed everyone but one silly girl who was lucky enough to survive until help came. I have to know, Ciara. Just say you aren't an Umbralist in truth, and we can call this off."

One last tether thrown to her. Would Ciara take it, or drown?

@Estylwen @Sifr

Iris Ascendis

Prob won't get my post up until tomorrow, not feeling so hot today, sorry.

Iris Ascendis

Sure, why not. Was trying to figure what I was gonna post anyways.

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

In all honesty, she hadn't expected the Undermage to acquiesce so easily. While Iraleth had entirely intended to go through with the duel right here and now, the objective had never been to seize victory in the first place. Rather, it was to see if Ciara would stop and give in faced with guilt and common decency. That had evidently fallen through.

Iraleth turned and gave the Head Advisor a resigned sigh, doing as she was told and releasing her hold upon her power. The healing potion was uncorked, and it went down the hatch in short order, some measure of blessed relief coming to her aching body at last. She started to open her mouth, but Ciara beat her to the punch, accepting the duel and leaving in short order. After everything, it seemed her worst fears had been right all along. Ciara had something to hide. Something bad enough that she'd try to conceal it despite the multiple outs she'd been given.

Any hesitation Iraleth had left faded from her mind. If the other girl was this desperate, then there was a better than not chance that Ciara actually was a danger to those around her. In which case, not revealing her secrets was unconscionable. If Ciara wouldn't give up her secrets willingly, then there wasn't any choice left, was there?

"I accept, Head Advisor." Iraleth would have been resolute, if she didn't fix both Nicole and Hildegunde with a regretful stare after. "Though I would have preferred it not come to this. I genuinely hoped that Ciara would have backed down." Zeal blazed back into her eyes, screams and fire echoing across her senses for a moment. "But if she is an Umbralist, I can not, will not allow that. No more villages, no more innocents will be lost in shadow and chaos."

She started to stride out of the office with purpose, but stopped at the doorframe, turning back.

"And, please: Despite our...disagreements, I would hope you still give Hildegunde a key. After all, neither I nor Ciara are opposed to her presence." With that said, Iraleth made for the dorm room, intent on doing what she was told and getting some rest. Tomorrow, she would spend the day in fervent prayer and meditation in order to prepare for the battle ahead.

Iraleth had started this whole mess to begin with. But she would be the one to finish it. One way or another, Ciara would reveal what she really was.

@Estylwen @Sifr

Iris Ascendis

Will post tomorrow I think

Iris Ascendis

For clarification, Iraleth isn't Goku, she actually has jack shit left in the tank. This is just the result of decisions made on high CON, high CHA, and low INT.

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

Iraleth stared at Ciara for a long moment, her expression incredulous. A brief sideways glance at Hildegunde. Then she spoke.

"What are you doing?" The half-elf forced herself out of her chair, barely able to stand at this point. A limping step. Then another. She interspersed herself between Ciara and Nicole, facing the former.

"You come all this way to Wingram, make it through the trials with us, only to throw it away at the last moment? Whatever secrets you want to conceal, do you honestly believe that they will be worse than being labeled an Umbralist?"

One hand fell down to the hilt of her sheathed sword, resting on it.

"Head Advisor, as the challenged party in this duel, you do have the right to name a champion."

This was her fault for bringing the subject up in the first place. Iraleth still wasn't sorry she'd done so, but allowing the Undermage to fight her battles for her had never been the plan.

"Allow me to stand in your place." A sudden cut rent itself onto Iraleth's face out of nowhere, Rebound already affecting her as she struggled to eke out yet more power. "By all means, if you want to keep your secrets, either strike me down, or force me to burn my Essence out. I do not quit."

No, Nicole's presence was just hedging Iraleth's bets should she prove to be wrong. If Ciara was just going to hang herself with the lifeline offered to her.

"Or, take the third, sane, option. Retract your challenge, stand down, and speak truthfully. The fact that you go to these lengths suggests you fear judgement. Prove yourself above your fears and answer the question, or prove my best-case hopes about you wrong. What will it be?"

@Estylwen @Sifr

Iris Ascendis

Probably won't be posting until around this time tomorrow, irl tabletop during the day.

Augmented Machine Mobile Armor: A Gundam and Armored Core-inspired Mecha RP

Banshee

On the bright side, the mystery fourth man on their team seemed to have finally materialized on the commnet. JAMMER's readouts flashed across her HUD briefly before Ariela shoved the display off into a corner, keeping half an eye on it as the rest of her attention focused on firing on the remaining MAs. Fortunate that this Script was running some good EW.

<<"Alright, good to see your ass is online, Script.">> Banshee said over comms as she delivered two three-round bursts into the head of another MA, sending it crashing to the ground. <<"Goddamn AI could at least let us know about problems if it's gonna play babysitter.">> She groused, switching her attention briefly to the tactical readout. They'd done a good deal of damage so far, but there were still kinetic batteries online, and the rest of the garrison had to be waking up any second now. Watcher damn well knew what he was going, and Fallen Angel was more competent than she'd been expecting. Seemed she wasn't being totally carried by her machine after all. She was wasting time and exposing herself unnecessarily by trying to avoid fatalities, but that was a conversation for later.

Before LINEBREAKER could start another attack run on the cannons, a different problem showed its face: an Arthropod. Great. A big gun on legs with point defense. Not something she hadn't dealt with before, but combined with the remaining turrets on-site, it could prove to be a problem. Watcher showed good initiative and awareness in his immediate response, and Banshee nodded to herself as she started the charging sequence on her shoulder cannon.

<<"Good copy, Watcher, initiating! All units, go for the other batteries, then we finish off the Arthropod! Make these maggots bleed!">> She pushed the sticks forward, and LINEBREAKER hopped over its cover, locking onto another heavy kinetic cannon and firing a fully charged laser cannon at it. With that done, Ariela had her AUG leap into the air and fire its boosters, starting to rise above the smokescreen and prepare for an attack run on the Arthropod from straight above it.