Sutoratosu

Stellio says nothing at the mention of 'blackguards' and the cat's violent reaction. At this point nothing really surprised him when it came to how common folk reacted, it was just more of the same old same old. Didn't mean it wasn't tiring at times though. Sighing, he clipped his helm to the back of his belt and put his gauntlets back on, before heading through the gate with the others. There is little in any of the smithies to draw his attention, the swords on display far too rough, and the one at his side more than honed enough to do it's job perfectly fine. Nor did any of the other wares being waved about fetch his interest. No, instead Stellio headed for one of the least likely buildings in the city- the newly errected temple with the same flower emblems as the gate emblazoned on it He knew little of these cultist, but they couldn't be any more isidous than what he'd dealt with in the past. If this god of flowers has been responsible for repelling them thus far, then his priest should know precisely whats going on. Stellio visits the Temple of the Hot Pink Flower and asks about the recent Cultist attacks

"Very well then..." Lucille says, before hearing the mention of a particular spider, and the horde of beastmasters and their accompanying ogres. A faint smirk appears, for reasons very obvious to all who were on that expedition, "Funny you should mention the frost strider, I'm sure it's presence during the siege will be nasty surprise for the goblins. Exactly how big are these 'Ogres' of theirs, and do you know of any other creatures they're commanding?"

"Petting a kitten. That's it? That is the whole of your security screening?" Stellio asked with an obvious hint of skepticism. Upon seeing the Golem-woman do it and that these people were apparently quite serious, he simply shrugged, sighed, and removed one of his gauntlets. A moment later he was gently patting the kitten's head, giving him a little scratch behind the ears before drawing away. "Now that it's done... who are these cultist you spoke of? Is this god Hextor and his disciples truly so bloodthirsty that they cannot even keep up the appearances of civil men and women? Even for such a simple act as this?" He almost cringed at the thought. Not even the followers of Diablo himself, scattered and secretive as all seven hells though they were, were so possessed by carnage that they couldn't control themselves. Whoever the dark god of this realm was, he seemed to represent death and destruction for death and destruction's sake alone. Ironic, that he may have just found a fell power who'd make the old Mage Wyrm seem actually decent by comparison.

A strange, crustacean-like creature followed Lucille, in addition to her usual cabal of creations. The silver-plated beast took stock of each individual there, snapping it's claws periodically as it sized up any potential threat. A quiet 'Woop' could occasionally be heard coming from it... "Yes, I've been waiting all day to discuss a few things with you..." Lucille responded to the Dryad. She heard the new voice, noted it, and would have pegged the girl for some sort of machine pretending to be human, if not for both her beasts and her own sense of smell telling her she certainly smelled human enough. Sweat could be a particular potent scent, one hard to replicate by the mechanical pretending to be flesh. She makes no effort to acknowledge the newcomer beyond that analysis however, "I've many questions as to the history of this Island," she continues, "The guide helped me as best he was able, but I was informed if I wanted to know anything further about the country that once resided here and anything useful it might've left behind, I would have to ask you."

Stellio climbed through the portal, his blade once more drawn and prepared to meet any threat they might encounter on the other side. Hesitantly however, he took one sweeping look around the place, sheathed his blade, and relocated his helm to the crook of his arm. "Well this is most certainly... unexpected," he muttered, "Far closer to my homeland than that forsaken wasteland at least. I've little reason to complain." With that said, he immediately began marching towards the town, having little difficulty fording through the snow. One might almost think he had some intimate experience with the stuff, with how decisively he moved. Bloodied snow was once not all that uncommon, in the galgastani-occupied northwestern regions of Valeria... "Follow in my steps if you have difficulty," he announced, "Hopefully unlike the last natives we encountered, these ones won't feel the need to immediately kill us..."

"Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" an ungodly sound emanates from the outraged wyvern as his prey flees. Tsidin grits her teeth as she clings to his side, the same indignation flowing through her as they grow smaller in the distance. She notices however, that the Pegasi are having trouble staying the course, having to readjust every few moments, their speed nowhere near what it should've been. "Axtsha atshag naa ax ta..." She turns to the commander, a glint in her eyes. The burns she sustained only minutes ago are almost gone. "Cowards over-encumbered. Can't maneuver at peak speed anymore. We strike now, before get too far; they done for if we do!" Tsidin to I8, Skewer Peg Rider B Winston to J9, Autokill Peg Rider A (the one at K8) with Hatchet

"Well, whatever it is, might as well nip it in the bud while we still can..." She idly gripped the rapier at her belt, a familiar sensation coming over her. Similiar to the gut feeling she had the last time they blindly followed a hooded man, but... off somehow. And she prayed off it truly was, because that was a load of bullshit she was far from keen on going through again. "Well, enough talking, let's go then. You coming, Myrd?"

(Winston) Winston heads to F7, ride-by hatchets the Shaman, Canto to F6

As the mage is readjusting from just narrowly missing the cleric, there is subtle quake to the ground beneath him. It picks up it's pace, faster, faster, until there are no detectable breaks. Something roars from nearby, ear splitting in it's volume. "HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARHG" The wyvern charges like a runaway carriage-- he is the size of a runaway carriage --fangs bared, every footfall resonating through the man's bones like thunder. For a moment it seems like the beast is going to bowl right over him, but just at the last moment Kayut shifts his weight with a sharp turn to the side, lifts one of his wings... "..." and reveals a polished bronze spear driving forward like an uncoiled viper. An almost eerie focus permeates the rider's being, one hand clutching the weapon as it comes ever closer to the mage's flesh, the other clinging to the outer scales of the wyvern's flank-- hand and foot holds that she alone knows how to find, how to use. G6, Skewer the Mage

"Belros...!" She approaches the scene too late, just as the captain and the rogue clash. She doesn't even get more than a few paces from Myrd before the man... quite surprisingly seems to tap into a power he'd been hiding all this time. One moment, the guildmaster is trying to readjust after his miss, the next... he was gone, engulfed in a flash of divine light that pierced the very heavens. She sighed, drawing the knives back into her sleeves. There was no way even that fucker would survive an attack like this. For once the Captain had pulled not just his own weight, but everyone elses too. She stood there for a while, debating whether to go any closer. Before her mind settled though, a certain quarter master appeared, silent as always. To her chagrin, with the adrenaline wearing off and the fires of her wrath cooling, she jumped, just a bit "Geez! Almost gave me a heart attack... how the hell does the guy move like that all the time?" She briefly looks to Myrdywn, shrugging, then back to Voy Con. "Um, sure... I guess. What is it though? More trouble?"

"This... much more than few..." The rider muttered to herself as she actually got a head count. Kayut snorted at the sight of all the red and orange. Oh how the colors of their armor blended together like a muddy eye sore. "Must sent more since we scout. Not this many banners either... already too close, 'specially bowmen. Kayut-" "Whrhrhrhrhrrrrrrrrr..." The wyvern shook his head, already knowing where this was going. Damn it all. With what almost seemed like a sigh, he lowered himself and let her hop off, folding his wings and following behind her. Oh well, at least this time, he'd not be restricted to the dull, glacial pace they'd set during the march. Plenty of prey to charge here, plenty of flesh to tear into... Winston heads to F5, Hatchets swordsman B Tsidin heads to G5, Dismounts

"...no one? No one come? Messenger get lost, or they really have much faith in baldie?" Something wasn't right. That much was an understatement. While it wasn't unusual that a conquering army would congregate around the living quarters of a city's lord, to do so at the cost of neglecting nearly every other district of the city...? "Kayut, a bit further. Towards mansion-" "HARRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" he instead continues to circle, giving the girl a chiding look. The type she got whenever she proferred a particularly bad idea. They were already risking enough just by getting this close- and she wants to head into the very heart of the conflict, just the two of them? Just to get a peek at some soldiers gathered 'round a mansion? And after all the trouble he'd went to not even a full hour ago to keep her from death; bringing up that clearing and distracting her long enough for her injuries to mend themselves? "Kahrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssss...wrwrwrwrwrwrwrwrwrwr." "I...that not what I meant..." She sighed though, maybe he was right. Just a little closer so that they could get a better idea what they were so occupied with below. But... perhaps closer really was the worst thing to do now. But on the other hand, there was practically no one there up to a certain point; they could fly in, make a single visual sweep from above the unoccupied zones, get out again- "....fine," she sighed heavily. Her asi's words rung true even now, and well... the last time she'd gone directly against Kayut's advice... she shivered at the mere thought of that day. "fine, Kayut, you right. we head back then. This just have to be enough." "Ghrrrrrrrrrr." Well that was easy. She usually persisted just a bit longer before she saw reason. Not that Kayut was complaining, of course. Without another word about it then, he wheeled them about, heading back up the road. ********************************* Before long they found the squad again, the mighty beast touching down for the second time in what had only been minutes. "Good news, and bad news," The rider addressed Winston almost the moment they were aground "Good news first- most districts look neglected. Should be clear enough path from gates to harbor, though harbor have few Paxi milling 'bout. Seem they think Baldie hot stuff, make no effort to send people, from what we see. Bad news now- many Paxi seem gathered in living districts and near noble's mansion. Almost all, from counting banners."

"Nax, la nax," she says almost gleefully at the order, "Come, Kayut!" "Ghrrr...." shooting one last look at the horseman, the wyvern finally puts the earlier commentary aside and takes off, the girl in tow. The two quickly become smaller and smaller in the distance, as he flies them just high enough to avoid the range of any lurking bowman. Wasn't too keen on having a thorn launched in his side today. Which he fully expected, given the buggers had seen them a good while ago, plenty of time to prepare... "Haghrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" "Bah, Kayut worry too much. We be fine. Just... minor....'hiccup'? Yes, yes. Hiccup. That all. We get out just fine though, you see." "Rhagrrrrrr..." "It worth it, I promise. But 'nough talking, town just ahead... we stay just beyond boundary, cruise little higher. Only need to get numbers, see how bad it get."

There's a roar of indignation and the brief flap of wings, as a familiar wyvern lands. The beast seems to stare at the commander rather pointedly, though his rider pays no mind to the comment on their speed. Why would they run away when it was just getting interesting anyway, subject themselves to yet more boredom after that dreadful walk? Besides, the captain was probably right (even if Kayut didn't want to accept he wasn't quite as fast as he once was.). "Bald man send one of his lackeys towards town, we see him run from air." The rider turned to Winston "Let us scout forward, yes? Get numbers, distance? They know we coming already. No point playing at stealth now, going to be rough fight one way or 'nother."

Remi, Colony 6 "Let big grimm keep talking," The nopon proclaims, as a light brighter than the midday sun gathers in her barrel "Give him pleasure of wagging tongue one last time, before we cut it out his skull!" Basic Attack on talking grimm.

Q8

"wrwrwrwrrrrrrrrr...." The wyvern stared at the tree in bewilderment, edging closer and sniffing the air. He turned back to Tsidin after apparently not even finding that. "I... I not sure either, Kayut." Tsidin answered, turning the ring over in her hand. She'd just thought it was some girl, up until she'd up and vanished. Certainly not a technique she'd ever seen the Augur, or indeed, any mage since they'd left home, employ. Had.... she been a spirit? Or... something else entirely? ...Who she mean though, about fighting because told to, because of gold? Us, or Paxi men? Or both? "Baaaaah, enough. I no like this feeling; Come, we fly back now. Leave this place to the zuna." Canto to S5

Remi, Colony 6 "Maybe no one bother to stop and ask if Grimm can talk because Grimm seem to have no problem murdering anything that move and isn't Grimm," The Nopon snarled, cocking Helios One as if it were a shotgun. "but big Beowulf right. Silent Monster, talking monster, it don't matter..." With no small amount of force, she spun the blasting rod before slamming it into the ruined ground, cracking the earth as a massive torrent of fire erupted from it's barrel and flew into the heavens where it soon overtook the midday sun. Fire and brimstone began to rain shortly thereafter, as the Nopon leveled the weapon at the talking abomination. "REMI WILL ENJOY PURGING YOU IN HOT FIYA, RELISHING YOUR DYING SCREAMS LIKE YOU DID WITH COLONY 6 HOM-HOMS!!!" Activate Helios One weapon art, Corona Mass Ejection, on all enemies

S2, Investigate the clearing, Canto to S5

Arya "Go insa-" Her eyes widened as the earlier implications actually dawned on her, "Oooooooh...understood." Well that would've been a right shit show, had Natalie not have walked out when she did earlier. Fought off a damn assassin (well more like got her ass kicked by her), only to end up almost doing the bitch's job herself just a half hour later. Irony really did need to go die in a hole, sometimes. Hell, it could even share a ditch with the Church Cronies who'd sicced that psychopath on them to begin with. "Yes, we'll be quite careful. Is that all, Mother Opium?"

As the thieve slumped and she pulled the knife from his back, she looked to the north. Just in time to watch the spy be put down not once, but twice within the span of mere minutes, Rushing at the guildmaster and managing to land a clean and evade counter, only to be blasted off his feet moments later. Then surprisingly, he'd gotten back and rushed the man again, this time only for him to step out of the way and clock him right back into submission. And then he fucking wasted just about everyone else who moved in to, hell the nun had been given a dirt bath for the second time in five minutes. Even the horse mounted archer and Rayne had both failed to take the whoreson down. The asshole was toying with him, toying with all of them. And Cade was fairly certain it was obvious to everyone but Belros himself. "You big idiot..." she sighed, already moving north. She stowed the dagger in her sleeve, letting several throwing knives drop into her hand with a flick of her wrists. They gleamed with the venom coating them, as the familiar snap and crackle of wildly conjured thunder began to dance along their edges. She had a sneaking feeling the risk was going to prove necessary here, and she had no intentions of holding anyway... "Enough of this mess, I'll kill the fucker myself!" D17, Equip Poison Knives

Q2

Remi, Vale 6-26, Exploring due north The nopon kept her weapon at the ready, sweeping it's sight across the craggy landscape in several second intervals. She'd fallen unusually silent ever since the last battle, but this... It was more than just silence now. Her eyes had hardened much like the namesake of their color- Amber. Her plumage ruffled, bristling almost. The occasional ember could be seen fluttering through the air. It was a sight few saw, and those who ever had before would know the significance immediately. Something here was incredibly wrong. She occasionally gazed up at the colony ramparts, as if expecting the unnatural calm of the area to break any moment... "Friends," she called out, her tone matching the mask of nigh-paranoid focus that was now her face "keep weapons out, guards up. Remi think... this about to get very, very bad."

Remi, Vale 7-26. Exploring North towards Colony 6

Tsidin to M3