tushanshu_logs | SIEGE TO THE PALACE

Entry tags:

SIEGE TO THE PALACE

Characters: Everyone involved in the player missions
Date: 18th May
Location: The Palace
Situation: It's been too long since Malicant took over the palace, and it's time the foreigners did whatever they could to take it back. They might find out more than they had expected to find in the process.
Warnings/Rating: Fighting and shit? Please poke me if this needs to be changed.

Maybe you heard Superman suggesting they met up on the radio, trying to get as many people possible together for an attack that might prove unsuccessful, but would at least distract Malicant enough to get some information. Maybe you agreed to meet up and were talked into an open attack. Maybe you were talked into it by someone, dragged into a fight you wouldn't normally be part of otherwise Maybe your friends and you decided to take matters into your own hands, get together to try to attack the palace yourself and get something out of it.

Whichever the reason, there is no going back now. There's a yell, and suddenly... the attack begins.

[OOC: An open thread for the initial attack and threads for each mission will be added to this log. The idea is for a big battle to start with, and the teams to be divided naturally. Like I said, everyone gets a chance to fight! I added a questions thread just in case, if you aren't sure about something one of us will do our best to answer.]

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[The 'begins swearing' turns into blistering the air with curses--he's a soldier--including at himself for distracting her. While he's not fast enough to get there before the guard in question can unleash whatever sorcery--magic, whatever the term may be--that is, he does opt for not bothering to secure the guards he'd been dealing with.

Instead he just leaves them knocked off their feet and hopes it slows them down enough (or leaves them concussed or otherwise injured enough to be out of action). The request not to kill them seems even more stifling than before, as he can't just stop that happening again with firecrafting. The guard was using it on them; why can't he retaliate with equal force?

But slamming him into the nearest wall to pin him there with rather more force than the others have gotten is still within the constraints Septimus has agreed to. (If perhaps more forceful than Superman would have liked....) Not knowing how the sorcery works, Septimus opts for knocking the man unconscious. He has to work hard not to pull on his earthcrafting and to use only a blow to the side of the head for it--not killing apparently takes quite a bit of work.

He spares a brief glance for Superman and Aya, then snaps:]

Aya, make sure he's stable first--Superman, do not fight if that injury will leave you at a disadvantage. I'll handle these.

[The last comes out in something of a snarl. For the first time in a little while, memories of Calderon Valley rise closer to the surface than he would like. Not again. I am not leaving those at my back without protection again. Never again.

Even he can get overwhelmed, but-- does he have any choice, here? So he tries to take stock, switching from those ensorcelled weapons to looking for any other guards without them, who might be casting as well.]

['It's always magic' it's all he has time to think before he's hit with enough force to be slammed against a wall. But at least he was able to deviate the hit enough that he doesn't end hurting Aya- even if he does end up taking a second or two to get his brain back online and get notice of his surroundings. His whole body burns, and his sweet is peeling back- but only on his chest or shoulders.

Aya seems to be fine, and part of him now wonders if she wouldn't have been able to take the hit better than he had. Green energy always has a way to shield them, after all.]

I'm fine. [He finally hisses out even if he isn't, hovering himself up to avoid touching the ground. But again those thoughts catch up with him- 'You refused to touch the ground, when you were possessed. You thought yourself above it'. So he lets his feet down, even if his whole body still hurts.]

Septimus should deal with the ones with no weapons, the ones likely to use magic on us.

[Her first instinct was to fly to Superman's side, eyes scanning over the wound on his chest.]

You should not have done that. [She was hardly angry, or even annoyed. Her voice was soft. Regretful.] I have sustained far worse damage than surface wounds, and would be incapable of feeling the pain you do at this moment.

[She kept one eye on the attacker, trusting that Septimus had taken care of him but wanting to be certain. All too many times in the past, she had been surprised by the unexpected.]

I had gathered they were the primary threat, yes. [Forgive the testy edge to his voice; he's trying to concentrate.] Just watch my back.

[It's more than a little unnerving, honestly; in some ways it's been a long time since he felt distinctly overwhelmed--well over a year--but at the same time... at the same time, it was what brought him here. It's taking serious concentration not to get lost in that memory; reliving it will help no one.

(And, if what happened with Kyle is any indication, he would probably just hurt his allies--not a consideration he's used to, and it almost frightens him--but he has a job to do.)

Still, right now he's trusting these two to watch his back as he keeps holding off more immediate attacks.] Damage assessment, please? [Once he knows what's wrong with Superman, he can probably try to fix at least some of it--assuming he has the time and space...]

You never know, with magic. [He tells Aya, pursing his lips and doing his best to stand straight even if his whole body hurts. It's actually not as bad as it could have been, really- it felt like a blast of energy, like being smashed by Doomsday or Atlas against the wall.]

For all we know these particular weapons could be able to hurt you as well, and you're a valuable asset to the team right now. Probability dictates I risk myself and not you, my weaknesses are specific. [They just happen to have a hang of magic. At least it isn't Kryptonite...]

I don't have any broken bones or substantial injuries. I mean it, Septimus- I am fine. [He hopes.]

Incorrect.

[Aya's eyes were glowing as she spoke this aloud, her systems scan having reached Kal's artificial leg.]

There is a minor fracture located in your lower, inorganic extremity. At this time, I can not adequately determine whether or not such an injury will seriously impede your mobility.

[Her head tilted slightly downward as she spoke, as if apologizing. As if this were all her fault, even though it had been Kal's decision alone to shield her.]

[Her eyes turned away just in time for Aya to miss the briefest of flickering to her construct form. As if the green material were nothing more than a hologram that was losing power.]

[Crows.

Something's wrong. Something's wrong with Aya--he can't quite tell what, but it's bothering him--and he does not believe Superman's estimation for an instant. He knows too many metalcrafters (himself included) who push through pain and injury to believe it. And all Septimus can think is that he doesn't have the time for this, the attention span for it, the attention to spare-- There's too much to do, I have to do all this at once and I can't--

Calderon.

No. Focus. He quickly takes stock of who's even left standing. Superman's five are still unconscious--good. Of the first two who went for Aya, one is recovering--but disarmed and moving relatively slowly, not much threat--though the other seems to be staying down. The third, the ~~crafter~~caster is down. The first three he'd taken on were restrained, and one other still somewhat stunned; twelve.

Or, rather, thirteen, as he shatters another weapon; the guard is still moving, but another of the magic-users gets slammed into a wall and knocked out the moment after.] You two, there are two moving but almost out of action--handle it. Aya, can you do anything about that leg?

[Keeping everyone focused will help, right? Only three more, this is not a problem. His attention turns to the last remaining caster of the original sixteen. More have to be coming--but one wave at a time.]

I

[He moves to knock one of them out, adding it to the pile.]

am

[Two]

Fine. [And there goes the third. He isn't sure what's going on- too many guards, for starters, when they had barely found a few defending the other parts of the palace. It's like they had gathered here, or like this particular place had to be defended at all times, at all costs. Was it only because it was the throne room? He'd been there before, he had never felt like the room was any particular center of power.

But first, he has to focus on defending Aya and Septimus- or, rather, helping them out in this situation. And maybe make sure Septimus doesn't end up actually killing the brainwashed guards.]

Aya, did they- did they hit you as well?

My systems are undamaged. I...think.

[Although the last part came out far more hesitantly than one who possessed her own reliable internal scans. She flickered again, this time more noticeably than before, as she stepped forward.]

[A hand rose...then hesitated. Just long enough for a nearby guard to get a shot in. A physical blow that made contact with her helmet, although not strong enough to do anymore than momentarily throw her off-balance. She recovered a moment later, rose her hand again, and--although her beam flickered at first--shot out a strong wave of Green Energy that sent her assailant flying back towards the far wall.]

[Septimus gives Aya a considering glance, and when her enemy slams into the wall he jerks the hand not holding his sword, and the stone of the wall literally grow built-in manacles to pin Aya's last enemy like the others in a similar condition.

Taking a long breath, for a moment his sword flickers with fire--though, considering it immediately goes out as he sheathes it, it doesn't seem to have been much of a threat. However, Septimus straightens a little subtly as he closes his eyes. He opens them a moment later, jaw a little tight. Despite that his voice remains calm.] We have a small window. Aya. Can you keep anything that might come along soon off us for just a few minutes.

[The words might be a question; the tone is not entirely. It's not intended to sound like an order, but Septimus has turned his attention to Kal. He's trusting Aya to get it done.] I should have enough time. I need to check you--healer's orders.

No.

[Like a petulant child refusing to go to the doctor. He isn't sure if it's his usual stubbornness, the fact that what Septimus seems to be doing hits a little too close to magic he's never seen, or simple worry about the AI but but he refuses to make simple injuries he can easily repair later a priority.

Kal purses his lips, lifting himself from the ground and ignoring the irrational voice in the back of his head that's getting louder and louder as they walk into the hall (are you above them? can't touch the ground, does it dirty up your boots?).]energy, aren't you Aya? [He turns his attention to her, part worry and part hoping to put her on his side.] Whatever's happening to you can't be good. Maybe whatever magic they used hit you indirectly...

[His eyes are already turning dark blue, ready to x-ray her and scan her with every spectrum of vision he has.]

[Having none of those particular thoughts herself, Aya took to the air once more--unsteady, but still flying--and used one hand to construct a shield while the other continued on the offensive. But her shots were noticeably weaker than before, and it took multiple attempts to knock the next guard back.]

I will make the best attempt I am capable of at this moment.

[Defense. Offensive. Windows. Processing. Time. Processing]

My scanners indicate there are...more coming.

[Her response was vague. Unusually vague.]

[Get it done, Septimus.

The thought comes in his father's voice--internally, he can admit he's over-trained. After another moment of watching Aya, his green eyes getting more serious with every moment, Septimus reaches out, hand stretched--and his short, sharp gesture up slams a section of the floor into a wall. Hopefully now she will have an easier time, with a significant barrier to build upon. He turns to give Aya a small smile, voice warm and encouraging.] Just keep that wall strong as long as you can. I know you can.

[With that, he stalks over to Kal to lay a hand on his shoulder and all but snarls at him.] Crows and bloody carrion, didn't anyone ever teach you to listen to the person patching you up? [Then his voice drops to nearly inaudible, only for Kal, and while he no longer sounds more than mildly irritated, the words are far more rapid and urgent. As he does, he's already feeling out the damage with his watercrafting.] She needs you in the best shape possible if we're to protect her. I can't help the leg, but I can give you the rest.

[Beat.]

And I swear by all the great furies, if you let her get hurt through your own pride, when we are out of here I will end you.

[And he'd been doing so well, too.]

Edited (slightly better) 2014-06-10 06:14 (UTC)

[He lets out a pained growl, but he isn't stupid enough to argue- the man is right, anyway, and any second lost to convince him he's fine will be a second lost they could have used to figure out what's going on with Aya.

(He had already seen her die once, his father destroying the body as he crushed her legs to make sure she wouldn't be able to reattach them. The light in her eyes had vanished and yet he kept on crushing her.)]

Check, then, but be quick about it.

[The longer Aya remained in the air, pushed back slightly from the oncoming attack...she actually felt a little better. Stronger. Not much, but certainly enough to stand her ground (ironically enough) and nod her reassurance down towards the others.]

He is not responsible for me. I am.

And I will be fine. Go.

[From where he's mostly focused on feeling out Kal's injuries, Septimus looks up at Aya. His voice all but rings with conviction.] We're fighting together. We're all responsible for each other.

[Turning his attention back to Kal, his eyebrow go up.] The actual damage isn't as bad as I was worried about, but furies, man, you're as bad as any metalcrafter ignoring pain. [He says completely hypocritically.

At least, with the problem being less of a major injury and more of easing the pain, it barely takes any effort at all for Septimus to soothe he nerves and close up the bruises and other organic problems.]

[He doesn't reply to his quip because he doesn't feel like arguing when he knows he'd have said the same had he being in Sep's situation, and because he has no idea what a metalcrafter is apart from some vague idea of what he's seen of the man's own powers.

He has to admit that even though he could have kept on fighting with the pain, it will just be easier not to.]

Thank you. [He forces himself to keep an even tone, so the man knows he actually means it. His nerves had been on fire, he was pretty sure the magic used had been thought to cause more pain than damage, but luckily for them that meant there wasn't much more to heal except for the biomechanical leg.]

Can we focus on the teammate that's flickering out of existence now?

I am not flickering out of existence. [Point of clarification] I am simply experiencing a series of microfailures. It is not the first time this has happened.

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SIEGE TO THE PALACE

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