Psyker Landshark

Falling Skies

CMDR SAGAN "VULTURE" KODOS

"That's cute." Sagan murmured derisively under his breath as the dumb fuck half-slagged Coalie MAS tried to duel him of all things. God in vacuum, this was the kind of dumb stunt Commie would pull. Or maybe the rook. Okay, definitely the rook. Kid probably still thought it worked like the movies. Sagan didn't oblige, of course. This was a goddamn battlefield. He had shit to do.

<< Bless your heart, you stupid bastard. >> Vulture drawled over open channels, boosting away with thrusters on full burn as he brought the Watchdog's HPK up, lining up center mass and aiming to core the poor, dumb buffoon that had just left themselves open with a frontal charge. One three-round burst later, the Fenrir was down and he was back to work cleaning up the rest of the IFVs while keeping an eye on battlefield telemetry.

The front was holding, Commie was engaging their mystery sniper, and...well, Sabine was combat-capable at least. A crippled bird, but at least she could still shoot. Right, that settled it. He wasn't catching up to the Shrike's top speed any time soon, so Sabine it was.

<< Rhino, Vulture. Moving to cover Rabbit, you have command of your little fireteam at the front. Activating temporary squad leader identification, it'll let the Helldogs know you're in charge. >>

With that said, the Watchdog tore full burn towards Sabine's position, HPK and point defense lasers blasting at anything moving near the Sparrowhawk.

<< Rabbit, making an attack run, danger close! >>

After Era Mythos [Corpo-Heroes Powered by Fame]

Sure, let's go

Iris Ascendis

Can Iraleth hear Fianchetto from the carriage, or is someone gonna have to relay that?

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

Izayoi gasped for breath as an armored dragoon was hurled at her, barely managing to catch Galahad before the impact sent both of them tumbling. She rose with a grumble, barely managing to nod in return to Esben before surging forward to follow his plan. No time or breath available to waste on a verbal confirmation.

As Esben moved to pin one of Adrammelech's arms down, Izayoi joined him as was bid, though taking it a step further. Taking inspiration from Galahad, she leapt up, landing on the Capricorn's forearm before jumping again, landing on the lesser Eidolon's shoulder and plunging her blade into it. Howling in rage and pain as he crashed straight into Miina's ice block while having his arms and head restrained, Adrammelech was easy meat for the assault that followed.

A collection of bombs from two sources hurled into the gash left in Adrammelech's chest, and his howls were amplified as they detonated, the combined explosion knocking away everyone who had been grappling onto him. When the dust cleared, the Eidolon was an utter mess: chest ruined, limbs punctured, and an icicle still sticking out of its gut. Adrammelech strugged to rise, only to falter as Ramuh's voice rang out across the clearing once more.

"That will do. I have seen enough. Warriors of Light, victory is yours. Revel in it."

Ramuh descended from his skyward perch, one hand stroking his beard as the other continued to clutch his staff. Adrammelech bowed to his lord, his defeated form dissipating into the aether from whence it had came.

"And to the victor, the spoils."

A nod towards Esben.

"The mark of your contract, if you would, young man."

It would take a moment to realize Ramuh meant the same journal that held Selene and Eos's contract. Once it was produced, Ramuh raised his staff. A bolt of lightning descended upon an open page, leaving a small mark bearing the same symbol of levin that was etched upon the stone in the clearing.

"So that you may call upon me when your need is great. Be warned that the aether required to maintain mine summoning is no small matter. Use your best judgment when mine or any other Eidolon's aid will be necessary. I believe Leviathan may have more than words for you when next you should meet."

The sage spirit said, a twinkle in his eye.

"Well fought! Well fought, indeed!" Cid chose this moment to step forward, leaning upon his staff. "You have more than earned Ramuh's aid, though I would echo his warning regarding his summonings. Regardless, the hour grows late, and this clearing will be safe enough once Ramuh and I finish repairing the wards around this sacred site. Is there anything you would require of me aught you retire for the night?"

"Directions to Brightlam would be of use." Izayoi stated, sighing. "We have been blundering through the wood for some days now."

Cid blinked, his surprise evident.

"Brightlam? You're but two hours west of the city." He pointed towards what was presumably west, and certainly not the direction the Kirins had been planning on continuing in before this encounter had begun. To this, Izayoi could only groan in exasperation, palming her face.

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

Damn it! Iraleth grit her teeth and turned the blows of the risen bandits aside with more difficulty than she had previously, her retaliatory punch simply sliding off the Personal Barrier granted by the Ethos bearer reanimating these men. A disgusting Ethos, used by a repulsive, slaving bandit. It fit, of course. She just wished it wasn't quite so effective at creating abominations far removed from the light of Astra.

The half-elf redoubled her efforts, placing yet more force into each swing of her sword as she met the increased aggression from the fallen bandits with greater fervor of her own. Once more, her thoughts unknowingly ran parallel to Otis's: if she couldn't slay the bandits outright, she could at least target their weaponry.

A smashing strike from the flat of her blade split a club open. A second bandit had his dagger disarmed with a quick flick of the paladin's sword, the light blade kicked away into the distance. She outright ripped an axe out of the hands of its wielder, smashing it against a Personal Barrier over and over with such force that it was possible she might actually shatter it.

Iris Ascendis

Post within the next day or two, tired as shit this week

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

"This reward of Ramuh's had best be worth it!" Izayoi snarled as she leapt between Thundagas, any residual sparks harmlessly dissipating across the NulShock that Miina had so helpfully given the group. "Why would a trial be necessary when we are Cid's only choice?!" She groused, making sure to yell loudly enough above the din of battle that Ramuh could hear her.

Nevertheless, she followed Esben's command, moving to support Rudolf. Izayoi had to admit it: Esben was her superior in battlefield tactics. While she had a head for grand strategy and troop movements, most of her own movements in the field had been to maneuver herself into as large of a concentration of enemies as possible before slaughtering them, leaving the remainder of the front to her subordinates. So she'd didn't mind listening to the Skaelan, considering he'd proven competent at matters thus far.

As Adrammelech roared in frustration watching the gnat before him not fall even as it roasted him, Galahad's halberd crashed down into his wing joint before Chisato's heat blade slammed into its side. One shot from Eliane's barrage caught the Wroth straight in the eye, causing the lesser Eidolon to howl and writhe even as it conjured up another Thundaga to bring down around himself with Rudolf in the epicenter, hoping to catch several of the Kirins with him.

Just then, Izayoi leapt up into the air, catching the falling thunderbolt on her blade and redirecting it downwards into a falling slash right back towards the levin's original caster.

"Raijingeki!" She bellowed, dropping down and carving a gash straight through Adrammelech's metallic chest, leaving a clear opening to exploit. Ramuh's attendant howled further, but seemed to finally focus his rage, reaching up to grab Galahad off of his shoulder and hurl him straight into Izayoi, the halberd ripping out of the Eidolon's wing in the process. As both of them tumbled back, Adrammelech disappeared in a flash of lightning, reappearing directly above Miina with a baleful glare in his eyes. Unable to sustain flight thanks to the wound Galahad dealt, the summoned spirit proceeded to drop down from the air directly towards Miina, aiming to pin the Mystrel beneath its clawed feet.

Even as the beast hurtled down from the sky, he raised both index fingers, one aimed for Selene, the other for Eos. Individual bolts of lightning shot out from the tips of his claws, clearly trying to take the fairies out of the fight before they could cause yet more annoyances for himself.

As the battle raged on, Ramuh observed from the skies, stroking his beard in contemplation.

"Yes...good. But thou needth more. Show us that thine hast yet the strength to persevere, warriors!"

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Renar Hagen

There went the rope knife. Irritating, but expected. While it was Renar's only one, the trapper's ability to simply burn anything in contact with itself meant it wouldn't have been of much use anyway. And now Renar had one more insight into his foe's tricks.

Clearly, the fire wasn't an autonomous defense. That was good. It meant he could still take the trapper by surprise. But it remained to be seen just how often and how much the lasso-wielder could push that ability. Either way, prolonged melee was inadvisable until he could find an opening to exploit. Probing attacks, then. See what could get through the armor and how much of its anatomy was like a man's.

As Renar settled on his plan of attack, the trapper chose to make its move, pulling a branch out of literally nowhere with its lasso. Renar grunted with exertion as he brought his poleaxe down to counter, smashing through the branch with his weapon's axe head before it could make impact with his knee. He didn't stop there, whirling the poleaxe around vertically so that the counterweight on the other end of the weapon was facing the trapper, and slammed it towards the flaming fae's helm. A twist of his wrist around the haft released the mechanism in the counterweight, and suddenly what hurtled towards the Wild Hunter's visor was not just a metal end, but also a full brace of blinding powder.

Falling Skies

CMDR SAGAN "VULTURE" KODOS

The good news was that they had backup. The Helldogs weren't special ops, but they were as damn good as one could get for an ordinary unit of soldiers. Even better, they were familiar with how the 7th operated. Wouldn't need as much babysitting as most regular units, although it'd be an idiotic idea to just leave them to their own devices.

Sagan touched the Watchdog down on a nearby building, crouching the MAS down into a sniper position as he provided overwatch for the disembarking marines and Sentries, taking potshots at anything stupid enough to approach.

<< Helldogs, Vulture. Got your back! Soon as you're ready, let's form ranks and- >>

Annnnd there was the kicker. Sagan cut comms, cursing sulfurously under his breath as he watched the Sparrowhawk down, its systems temporarily fried by ECM. Even worse was that radar was showing four Fenrirs and half a dozen IFVs closing in on his location, on top of the full battlegroup advancing towards their main line. Artillery and snipers in the back, and one of the 7th's best methods of dealing with them neutralized for the time being by whatever supermech the Coalies had cooked up, fucking somewhere in the field.

At least Sabine was alive, and if the readout was any indication, the Sparrowhawk was rebooting.

<< 7th, Vulture. New marching orders, coming through: Hex, Rhino, Rook, hold the line, I'm rerouting the Helldogs to assist. Y'all play nice with them kids, y'hear? Rabbit, holler slightly less if you're combat-capable. Yell louder if ya need someone to evac your sorry ass off the field. Commie, we need that artillery and sniper team in the Coalie rear guard deader than that Boeing stooge's soul. Full burn, do what you have to without killing yourself. Get your asses moving, we don't got all day! >> He swapped channels, returning to general Imperial comms next.

<< Helldogs, Vulture. Sending tac data, requesting reinforcements up front. I'll let you have this one as bailing us out, so enjoy it while it lasts. >>

Orders given, Sagan shot the Watchdog's afterburners to maximum and sprinted it straight off the roof, taking off from a jump in a very Commie-esque move. Suicidal hotshot was rubbing off on him. The Watchdog boosted full speed towards the interceptors trying to flank the 7th, already locking on to the quartet of Fenrirs playing escort. It'd knock out a full quarter of his special munitions, but there wasn't time to save ammo right now. Every second he was tied up here was one not spent backing up the others.

<< Got tone, Fox 3, Fox 3! >> The SPAMRAAMs took flight, crashing into the medium MAS squad and coreing them near instantly, their countermeasures and evasive manuvers defeated by the missiles' vertical flight path. With that done, Sagan swapped the Watchdog's HPK out for the beam saber and landed straight into the pack of IFVs, crushing one beneath his mech's feet as he proceeded to rip through them at melee range. Without an escort, disrupting their formation and making sure they couldn't break into evasive manuevers versus gunfire would be far faster, to say nothing of ensuring he was well through minimum arming range of any heavy weapons they were packing.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

Izayoi was a blur across the battlefield, her blade scything through Blightbeasts. Razor wind and battojutsu strikes littered the field before she grit her teeth, stopping in place as she was forced to raise her blade to block a massive canid Blightbeast's fangs. An errant bolt of light magic from Cid eliminated the great beast she was straining against, the samurai giving the sage a brief nod of thanks before diving back into the fray.

Soon enough, the efforts of the Kirins cleared the field of Blightbeasts, leaving sage and Eidolon in the middle of the sacred grove. At its center was a single stone, a lightning bolt engraved on the rock.

"My thanks." Cid exhaled, looking less winded from battle and more simply stressed in general. "Full glad am I to see you still live-"

"Isolde deceived us out of the belief you are some sort of heretic." Blightbeast blood was scarcely flicked off of Izayoi's blade as its owner stared Cid down, out of patience. "Explain."

"Ah." Cid winced. "Her observations are true. Her conclusion is not. My life is extended far beyond its natural limit, yes. This, however, does not make me an imposter or a demon. The grace of the Mother sustains me." A rueful smile. "Why else do you believe that I cannot leave holy ground? Honestly, I expected better of that child."

Izayoi simply nodded at this, accepting the explanation. Above everyone, however, Ramuh chose this moment to speak.

"The Dominant speaks truly."

The Eidolon of Thunder's voice rumbled.

"No unholy mischief is involved with extending his life past its limit. Only Etro's blessing."

His gaze swept over the Kirins for several moments before turning back to Cid.

"I should like to test their worth."

"Do try not to overdo it." Cid sighed, walking off to the edge of the clearing where he proceeded to sit. "Warriors, fear not. Ramuh will not kill you. And I will heal your ills once the battle ends. Who knows? Impress him enough, and he may just reward you." A significant glance was sent Esben's way.

"Indeed."

Ramuh remained where he was in the air as lightning crashed into the clearing. When the flash cleared, a different figure could be seen on the ground: a mighty, draconic being clad in steel roared, two stories tall, lightning crackling across its figure.

"You face mine attendant: Adrammelech, the Wroth."

At Adrammelech's cry, Thundagas began to litter the field, bolts of judgment crashing down without rhyme or reason.

"Show us whether you have the strength to save this land, Warriors of Light!"