2018-08-03: Welcome Home

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==============================<* Taben's Peak *>==============================

Located a short distance from the city of Vane, Taben's Peak is a towering mountain jutting up from the otherwise featureless Plains of the Goddess. 

The Peak itself is populated by monsters, but it is the interior that is truly remarkable - the interior is honeycombed with strange passageways formed of a stone so hard it seems almost metallic in nature. Few who enter the depths return, but those who do speak of strange artefacts and other monstrosities.


<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
A portly bespectacled entrepeneur let them into the sewers through an opening in the back of his shop. "Look I think I'd know if there was a creepy cult down below but-"
 
His eyes dart to Lemina and he sweatdrops as he laughs awkwardly, "-whatever you say Lemina!"
 
Once in the sewers the following happens in no particular order:
 
*The party gets lost and runs around in circles for three hours.
*The party has to go through no less than six switch puzzles to lower bridges and open secret passages that require the exact right configuration.
*Endless random battles against slimes and rats and slime rats and metal slime rats.
*Despite the metal slime rat being nigh immune to the party's attacks. They finally triumph when Gwen's fist finally gets a critical hit!
*And get awarded 1 experience and 3 silver.
*Turns out we're hideously outlevelled for this place especially with this many people.
*More switch puzzles and random battles.
*Four treasure chests all nestled away in hiding that are all-!
*Empty - having been picked clean by some jerks.
*Also there's no sign of the kids or the cult. This is getting really demoralizing.
 
"Aghhh - was this their plan all along to wear us down? My fur is never going to get this stink out and there's still no sign of the-"
 
Hiro's boomerang thwaps against a partially protruding brick in the distance across a river of sewage. A section of the wall slides open to a crumbling staircase that's partially obscured by deep shadows.
 
"... Oh."
 
"Everyone gel up just in case. We don't have Lu-" Hiro stops, and reconsiders, "-we don't have Ronfar with us today and I've got a feeling they know we're here already."
 
It takes a certain kind of idiocy or determination or both to walk into a trap knowing fully well the odds are against them.
 
Luckily those are qualities most of the folks here have in spades.
 
He eyes Jean - and considers saying something - Riese and Noeline... but instead of saying any of what he wants to... he just says... "...Let's get those kids back."
 
And then they descend.
 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Riesenlied isn't exactly in shape to take a noxious environment like the Meribian sewers for a long amount of time -- by the time they arrive towards the end, at the end of what seems another hour, she looks deeply exhausted. And yet she continues, unnaturally quiet even for her usually meek demeanor...

        ...but at least, where Ronfar isn't here, she can at least provide healing in exchange. She spreads her arms out when Hiro advises people to gel up, surrounding everyone in a comforting light. After it fades, she's struggling a little as she steps after Hiro, whispering, "Janey... everyone, please... be okay..."

        If it's any consolation, the metal slime rat the group beat up is dozing ontop of her head, a giant snooze bubble coming out of its nose.

        She seems to have taken a bit of a liking to it, possibly because it kind of reminds her of Muni, with its eternal :D-like face. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline hasn't said a great deal since entering the complex, her hand slowly working into a fist every so often as she tries to deal with an unfamiliar pent-up energy. Rather than let that stop her or make her hesitate, though, she's instead given the party what might be a first glimpse of what she can actually do as someone who was quite literally built to be a spy - more than once she disappears into the darkness without warning, returning several minutes later to quietly report dead ends or ways forwards.

        Even here, standing in front of the staircase and completely stationary, she's remarkably easy to lose track of: an aura of gloom surrounds her in a very literal sense, the metal demon having called on Duras Drum's power almost as a matter of course to cover her in a shifting corona that obscures her position. Her gaze tracks down the stairs, and her jaw almost creaks as she grits her teeth together.

        ... still... she betrays her aloof appearance by sticking close to Riesenlied, and every so often a hand strays to her partner's back as she mumbles occasional words of support, and promises of the children's safety she sincerely hopes can be kept. 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina has been eating Apple Gels like they're candy already and sees no need to gel up further, because she is a Goddamn brat.

Beyond that, she's stayed close to Jean -- very close, in fact -- and seems to be perpetually juuuust a little more worried than one might expect from Lemina. Unlike many things, she actually seems to be taking this one quite seriously.

Or maybe she's just worn out after having literally any interaction with Ramus whatsoever. That could be it, too.

"They're going to be fine," Lemina says, softly. It's hard to tell who she's saying it for. 

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

'It's not your fault. You didn't do anything.'

'Janey--!' 'Lydie, Lydie...'

'Fighting for the future doesn't erase the past. The only thing that changes is yourself.'

'If that's the future that you want - then - fight for it.'

There are a lot of words echoing in Jean's mind as she walks, and fewer that she actually says--she's said almost nothing since the Cult appeared at Taben's Peak, has been quiet and withdrawn. But she didn't hide from going to seek them out. And now--

"...It might be," Jean says to Ruby about the plan. A glance to Hiro, as he mentions the trap. She knew, of course; she still knows. "From everything we've heard..." She looks to Fei, who told her his own findings, "They should be down here."

She descends with the group; her voice even is distant, lacking the raw joy and exuberance she tends to bring to the world. She's keeping herself ready. ...And with Lemina sticking close to her, she doesn't try to leave her behind. She can't quite answer what she says about how they'll be fine, though.

Even in the fights she's been quiet, businesslike, though her dancing betrays a sense of tight focus. Now, she walks quietly, almost silently, her fans at her sides, and a bag of presumably gear that she hasn't shown the group at all. 

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Throughout the entire endeavor, Ambrosius has not said a single word. Even as it begins to drag on and morale begins to decline. He meant it when he said they would have his hand in this, and he would see this through to whatever end it met.

He continues to walk behind them, the fury boiling beneath the surface evident only in those who have known him and been around him for some time.

They had harmed Lydia. If they'd harmed Janey as well...

He had every intention of reclaiming what had been stolen from them, even if it meant eliminating them to the last.

They had gone too far. 

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly, after some deep breathing exercises, has been travelling through these sewers with a surprisingly calm expression. There is, perhaps, nothing to be done, and faced with the simplicity of this, the urging burnency of the m oment, she can't have doubts or hesitations. She herself couldn't really explain the experience. It would be pleasant, almost, if not for the context.

She has not been gellin'. Partly because she has been reacting to most of the encounters with sudden, strategic bursts of fire or ice - quiet ones - and then drinking some kind of little blue fluid in what looks like... tapioca bubbles? She puts them in her mouth, bites down, and slurps out whatever is in them. The origin of this material is unclear.

Even so she is nearly out of them. 

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei is so pissed he doesn't even chastize Riesenlied for overdoing it or literally befriending a metal slime rat that JUST tried to murder them all. The fact that all these ninjas are ALSO kidnapped children is not helping matters all too much but it might keep him from punching someone repeatedly in the head until they die again which while kind of frustrating right now is probably something he'll appreciate later. You know, unless they did hurt the kids. Lydia doesn't count she's both an alt and like some horrible robot thing.

He downs an apple gel at Hiro's suggestion but maybe he just likes the taste. He owes a great deal to the people of Wayside and the Fiends. He has to protect these people, he can't let anything happen to them, and if the leader of this cult is literally just Grahf in a different mask he is going to bite his face off and no no no, that's what he wants you to do, yes, they want you to bite their faces off. Don't give them the satisfaction, Fei, just keep your friends and family safe.

He marvels at Elly's chillness but even though she is so chill, it's at this moment he gives Elly a small hand squoz.

"Yeah," He tells to Jean, calming. "They're tricky though and might spring a trap." He looks to Ruby and answers her complaining with a nod and a, "Most likely." 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        'You wanna be my 'super' courier today? Then deliver those kids back to me.'

        Nall's words have been ringing in Gwen's ears ever since coming down into this godforsaken watery maze pit, causing the normally talkative courier to be silent as the grave. She's definitely going to have to apologize to Nall when they get back. Tell him that he was in the right, that she was the one who chose poorly.

        But first, she has a delivery to make. Probably one of her toughest to date. She just needs to get herself, and by extension, her friends to the kids that need to be 'delivered' back. The other children will be safe with those who stayed behind to watch them.

        She'll use this ARM to keep everyone safe. She'll- wait is that the metal slime rat she just punched on top of Riesenlied's head

        Anyway.

        Hiro's timely boomerang throw elicits a whistle from Gwen. "Niiicceee." She looks to the rest of the group with an uneasy smile, then turns to the entrance. "Man... reminds me of when I was little, how'd me n' my friends'd dare each other to throw rocks at the kraken down the well. Of course, someone just made that up, but we all swore we could hear somethin' down there."

        It was just a tall tale, right?

         Gwen coughs, then joins the others in descending downwards, towards certain doom.

         "I'm sure we can figure out a way to make this all turn out right. Nall's countin' on us!" 

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly squeezes Fei's hand.

She looks at him.

"... Are you alright?" she asks softly. Elly doesn't look him quite in the eye as she asks. 

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        The stairs lead down to a spartan, hidden dock. The waterway isn't large, just enough to hold a small vessel. The kind that could come and go from a port city like Meribia without anyone any the wiser. There's no boat here, at least not yet though.

        There are two other things of note: the first is that the area is swarming with Shadow Dragon Cultists, clad in their black uniforms, standing guard. The second is that clustered together are the children of Taben's Peak, Janey and Heath included. They aren't too much worse for wear. Some bruising, perhaps, and they've been pushed around a bit, but training has yet to start in earnest. And for better or worse, no one has tried anything. Yet.

        Standing watch over them is the woman who lead the attack on Taben's Peak, arms folded as she waits for the transport to arrive. Her cold grey eyes pass over the children gathered. Surely one of them must have potential.

        The ones who haven't started crying yet, maybe. Then again, Pearl thinks, even she had cried when she was first inducted. It's something that the training can beat out of them if they're good enough to survive.

        Still, she briefly looks away from the children to survey another figure with the group. Someone she looks to with some deference, and, perhaps, a fine touch of hatred. "The vessel should arrive soon, Master." 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Janey's managed to adhere to the first law of mouse beastgirls who've lost their ears and tail: Keep a low profile. As they seat, nearer to the back of the crowd, the girl's eyes glint a little as she glances about and keeps watch over an opening, anything...

        "... it's okay. Gwen's comin' for you, and the others too. I know it," she whispers to Heath to keep his spirits afloat. Her cheeks are scuffed and she's a bit scraped up, but--

        Well, having survived Little Twister and the Badlands? She's used to this. She's a little scrapper, that Janey. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
Oh look it's Fei and Jean's favorite kind of guy.
 
He stands a head taller than the rest of the cultists - but that's in part due to his massive wicked mask that looks vaguely ogrish. Distant parts of Fei's psyche might recognize it as a cross between Aztec and Oni masks of Japanese tradition.
 
That's his most defining characteristic - perhaps what Jean remembers best of him. The rest of his body is shadowed in a black robe that leaves all of his features indistinguishable. He radiates power in that way that martial artists do - except on a different scale than most. His chi control is on another level. Even at rest.
 
And he seems utterly untroubled by the sounds of human suffering. Instead his eyes seek out what they always seek out. Strength. Potential.
 
As one of his best students speaks to him - he answers. "... Is that all you have to say?"
 
He says with a guarded tone that most members of the cult would pick up as meaning they've missed something. Something dangerous to their well-being. Something they've missed. As if punishment might be doled out for an oversight.
 
Which is when he is facing the staircase. Seemingly without any movement whatsoever. "Come out - Jean."
 
It's in that moment that it becomes clear they're not alone. The cultists all snap to attention. Several of them standing in a line in front of the children. Taking up a stance that's battle ready. The leader is patient. He waits for them all to come out. Waits until he can see her with his own eyes. And once he does. "Jean. I'm disappointed in you. When you were in peak form I never would have sensed you this soon. I suppose this is the result of your association with trash."
 
His eyes slide over to Pearl. "When she told me she defeated you so easily I considered tearing out her lying tongue. Now? Now that I know she was telling the truth I feel only embarrassment in your disgrace."
 
With a dark chuckle that seems to deepen the shadows of the room, he notes. "Your shame can only be purified with your blood. And once you are gone I'll begin overseeing the training of your replacement..."
 
The gaze of his mask falls upon Janey, "Tell me - child."
 
Lunn vanishes, to reappear behind Janey, as he scruffs her as easily as a kitten, holding her aloft. "Will it be you that has the strength to surpass her?"
 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        Heath's hazel eyes look to Janey, then down at the ground, pressing his stuffed toy to his face. "... I wanna go home," he says softly, his words nearly indecipherable against the already worn felt. "It's stinky here, and there's rats and spiders and snakes. They're all poisonous. Nobody wouldn't tell me if anyone died but I think a lot of people did. There's probably fish with teeth, too. Really sharp ones, that'll bite our toes off."

        No one has mentioned such things to Heath. He simply assumed. 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina flinches as she sees that the childen have been hurt at all. She knows it's not nearly as bad as it could be. Or nearly so far along as it could be. But seeing them hurt at *all* is the sort of thing that makes Lemina flinch.

She stays... guarded, quiet, as they continue in -- and flinches as Jean is addressed. She doesn't so much as twitch, once she hears those words, 'Come out - Jean.' She's practically paralyzed with... not fear, exactly. Concern?

... It's an odd feeling -- especially for Lemina 'For $8000 A Month I Will Stop' Ausa. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline skulks her way down the stairs as quietly as she can; she can sense the way it opens out into space ahead, and digs within herself for a little more of Duras Drum's power, knowing that the more she can mask her own presence, the better. The sight of Janey and the other children should by rights draw a gasp of concern from her lips, but she bites it back and concentrates on her hiding - even when Lunn calls for Jean to come out.

        Though she has to admit it's going to be a long shot either way, it's best to try to keep their options open. Maybe, just maybe, the notes of anger and grandstanding she can hear from their enemies will cause the Assassin's sights to be set solely on the dancer - whether or not that's true she hangs back anyway, sticking to the perimeter of the docks, ready to dart forwards if there's an opportunity to capitalize on surprise, or a need to intervene in an attack.

        For a moment, her gaze settles on Janey, checking the girl's condition; the fact that there's still fight there is a relief. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Riesenlied's breath is hitching as she tries to keep herself quiet; when she realises they've caught up to the children and the Shadow Dragon Cult, it takes a whole lot more effort to not give up the entire game. Her hands tremble around that walking staff as she tightens so much that her knuckles have lost colour where her gloves don't reach.

        But then the game is up anyway--

        Come out, Jean.

        She looks towards Jean... and then quietly nods as she steps out along with the others, feeling her heart pound as hard as it ever has. Janey looks towards her mother, towards Noeline--

        --and peers towards Lunn, having less of an extant look of shock as she stares towards that oni-like mask. There's a wild grin on her face, the kind of grin that can only have been tempered through weeks out in the Gunsmoke Desert.

        "... in case you don't know, let me tell you what's up," Janey remarks, full of that bullshitting bravado she's incredibly known for. It's something she's learnt from Noeline, perhaps -- fill the air with words and keep them distracted, as long as she can, however she can. Keep their attention away from Heath.

        "I'm Janey, the Lord of Calamity and I'm -better- than you. You think your cult's got something to offer me? Entertain me, 'cause if you come shootin' at me, you better aim straight, busta."

        She's silently -kinda glad- (but not really) her tail got cut off long ago because she knows that it'd be swinging wildly left and right in panic at how far she's taking this bluff.

        Riesenlied feels like her little heart could jump out of her mouth at any point now. 

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

It can always get worse. Jean remembers it; how can she help but feel the realities of her training flooding back in, after all these years away? Maybe it's true that she ran away. Maybe? Maybe that's just a way of running away, too.

Jean goes down, down, down the stairs, steps silent even as she looks to the dock, the waterway--what's behind. No boat, no, but Jean recognizes the uniform of the Shadow Dragon immediately. ...She recognizes the condition of the children, and recognizes that the training has not yet started--but it wouldn't. Not here, not until they're away from everything they'd known.

Pearl's voice echoes in Jean's ears--but her Master's words ring above all. She stops in place immediately when she hears his tone--knows that she's been spotted before he even faces her, before he tells her to come out. ...A part of her considers doing the opposite. But it would be foolish, now.

As the cultists snap to attention, Jean steps forward. She is not in the black of the Cult; she is in ordinary clothes, a soft yellow dress with a white-and-black overlayer, her hair held back with a bandana at her head. Her boots are soft, not instruments of violence. ...But she doesn't show what she's carrying, beyond her fans.

"I'm not trying to hide from you, Master." The term is ingrained into her deeper than blood, carved in her bones. "...The people I'm with aren't trash. They just understand that there's more to life than the power to kill."

Her blood is chilled in her veins. She freezes, when the man in the mask mentions her replacement--grabs Janey.

"That won't happen," Jean answers, taking a step forward--but only one. Her hands hover over her weapons. "The only disgrace is that you pawn off brutality as strength! Death as power!"

She freezes when Janey starts popping off, can't entirely conceal the sour note.

"Let her go," Jean demands. "...And you and I can finish this." 

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"Yeah," Fei tells Elly. "I mean, I will be. We just have to rescue them right?" If only every problem had such easy answers. "You?"

The Elly Existence as usual has an almost supernatural effect of keeping Fei chill. At first he wasn't entirely sure why he fell so hard for Elly. He just knew he was hers from the moment he set eyes on her (even if he had to pull his head out his ass first). Now he knows why he feels the way he does. A little bit of certainy in his life reminds him he doesn't have to charge ahead and start punching desperately to end this as soon as possible. At least, he holds off long enough that Jean throws out a taunt and Fei sees what she's doing--appealing to might equals right. That's what these people believe so...

"That's right!" Fei says in an attempt to support her. "If you're so powerful, then let's let 'power' decide it--" Fei has to let go of Elly's hand to assume his martial arts stance but even then it's reluctant.

"We'll prove our path isn't trash!" He is only a bit worried about Janey. He is starting to believe her claims of being a Lord of Calamity.

He swings his palm forward and stares at the man in in the mask. Not Grahf but frankly similar enough in personality and belief system that he wouldn't exactly feel bad about slogging this guy in the face.

"So far all I've seen from your people is how to run away." 

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Eventually, they find what they seek...and, perhaps, more than they counted on finding. The Shadow Dragon Cult is here...and so is the man who appears to be their master.

The aura of power radiating from him... Ambrosius can feel it. This man...he is someone that even he, one of the superior Veruni, should be wary of.

He steps out alongside the others, just in time for Janey to give her boast. ...Ambrosius just looks at her. He's not sure if he should be proud of her bravery or sighing at her foolishness.

...Or both.

Even so, he does not speak. Let the others have their heroic boasts. He merely scans the cultists arrayed before them, assessing potential strengths and weaknesses.

As well as potential advantages for him. 

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly smiles at Fei. It is weak. But it's there. Then, of course, matters accelerate.

Elly looks up to meet the tall man in the mask. The powerful man. She cannot perceive him exactly. But his voice tells her everything she needs to know. She takes a deep breath, raises her baton - and hurls it into the water.

sploosh

what was that for Elly

Stepping forwards, Elly spreads her hands.

"... All of you sound terrified," she says, though her eyes stay on Lunn, perhaps because he is the largest and is also in a mask and full of muscles.

"Why are you doing this?"

Yes, she actually said 'terrified.' 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        Spilling in from behind the group, Gwen blanches at the layout. "Feels like we just stumbled into a hornets' nest here.... not that I was expectin' any different, but man, they look really eager to come fight us."

        Even if, as Lunn says, they're trash, dragging Jean's potential down with their very presence, their friendships.

        Trash. Well, it wouldn't be the first time Gwen's heard that.
        
        Well, if they're trash? Might as well take a page for Janus's book. Or what Gwen imagines is Janus's book, which probably is far too tame to be mistaken for the real deal.

        Using her spot in the back of the group to her advantage, Gwen turns her ARM away from the Shadow Dragon clan present, quietly attempting to charge her weapon under the cover of the other's bravery. The goons assembled may know that she can shoot bullets, but did they know she could shoot without them?

        It just... takes a second to gather energy. Could she... really get a good aim on that masked man, without possibly hurting Janey? This won't be like that orphanage. Gwen can't fall back on lies and a cheery persona. Just her ARM- a trick, really.

        "Just a little more..." she breathes.

        Heath, meanwhile, quickly quiets as he hears the masked Lunn, huddling himself next to Janey for protection. It's short-lived, as Janey is taken from him, lifted up by the man whose very voice Heath fears. "..." He steps backwards, his toy held up as a sort of shield.

        "... Janey's the scariest one of all..." 

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        Pearl tenses as she hears that tone. It's clear instantly that something's wrong. Something she's going to pay for later, almost certainly. The only reason she isn't now is that her Master is making a point. Pearl turns suddenly, as do the cultists standing guard. I mean, none of them noticed Jean either, but they're not the designated officer. They're only at risk of a sudden promotion when the cult leader decides to punish incompetence.

        She doesn't speak a word as her master speaks. Instead, she glares at the group, assessing the threat before her. Last time she had advantages. Surprise. Hostages. The Master being elsewhere. Technically, she still has the first, but that's not the way this is going to play out. This is no longer a retrieval operation, this is an extermination mission. Extermination she can do.

        "Kill them." The command is giving in a calm manner, the signal having been wordlessly given. As Pearl starts walking towards the group, the other assassins move with much more speed. For one thing, the cultists strike out uniformly, their training coming through. They lash out with sharp elbows, sudden punches, and swift knees, the adventurers earning one a piece at least, with the exception of Jean and Fei, who have earned a second opponent by dint of previous experience. The strikes are swift, brutal and efficient, all striking to kill, without a shred of mercy behind them.

        The whole time, Pearl continues to advance slowly towards her new targets, waiting to see how they deal with the initial attack. 

GS: Pearl has attacked Hiro with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Lemina Ausa with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Noeline with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Riesenlied with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Jean with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Riesenlied takes a solid hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 88 hit points!
GS: Pearl has attacked Fei Fong Wong with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Ambrosius with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has attacked Elhaym van Houten with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Noeline takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 54 hit points!
GS: Pearl has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Shadow Dragon Cultist!
GS: Pearl has completed her action.
GS: Fei Fong Wong guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 61 hit points!
GS: Hiro critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 20 hit points!
GS: Ambrosius critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 21 hit points!
GS: Lemina Ausa critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 22 hit points!
GS: Fei Fong Wong used the Force Action Protect! He takes Pearl's attack on Elhaym van Houten on himself!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has activated a Force Action!
GS: Fei Fong Wong guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 58 hit points!
GS: Jean takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 110 hit points!
GS: Gwen Whitlock takes a solid hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Cultist for 104 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei is from Xenogears so he is always able to make bad decisions. Fei ends up getting several strikes against his arms because he's moving them in the way of the attacks but the concerted effort of the two ninjas is going to wear him down quick if he doesn't do something. He only has to make a mistake once as all of their moves are attempts to kill him. Still, he reasons, that cuts off options for them. Sometimes the best move is not to immediately go for the killshot.

Fei sees Elly throw away his weapon and he, uh, he says, "Huh?" to that because he's seen a lot of sacrifice from Elly but this is a level beyond by his perception. Of course, maybe it's a calculated risk--one that doesn't seem to be immediately paying off as she is ALSO about to be murdered and that baton would have been real nice in deflecting attacks.

Fei jumps into the air onto a cultist's head (this does no damage it's just a movement option for Fei) and drops down near Elly, taking a slicing strike across his chest on its path towards its target but he seizes up the arm along the elbow with his own, the knife hand strike being arrested so close to Elly's neck.

"No." Fei says, holding him still even as he slams his foot down into the ground, sending a wave of ice that threatens to surround, freeze, and slam into his own cultists even as they try to murder him.

"Jean just went easy on her because she doesn't like beating up child soldiers like you do!" Fei shouts in Lunn's direction. 

GS: Fei Fong Wong has attacked Pearl with Suikei!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has completed his action.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
"What makes you think I should indulge you Jean?" The Cult Leader professes, "You've fallen so low that now you profess weakness as strength. If you wish to face your old master. Then prove that you remember the strength you wielded before."
 
Janey's struggling causes no response from her captive for a while. However then he turns his attention onto her. "Your insolence disguises weakness child. Do you think you are the first brat that was unable to recognize who their new master is? Whether they come to me shy - fearful - tearful - precocious or especially - insolent. Pain erodes away all weakness."
 
His grip increases subtly, "Are you ready to be reborn within the Shadow Dragon Fist child?"
 
The only correct answer is that no. Noone is.
 
But he will punish a no far more harshly than a yes.
 
-=-=-
 
"Wow talk about a toxic environment for kids to grow up in." Ruby says as she flies as high as she possibly can - knowing when she's outmatched. "It's going to be different this time." Hiro says with this tone of certainty to Pearl. A cultist is on him in a heartbeat, and he matches a knee strike with a knee block. An elbow with the shield on his arm. The ringing blow staggers him back a step - and he lashes out with his sword hand - a silverine strike that cleaves the air.
 
It's a feint though. Because his other arm just cocked back a boomerang. It flits through the air in a smooth curve - and that's before it breaks apart into two that curve around through the crowd of the Shadow Dragon fist's best in an attempt to take two of them by surprise.
 
"Is this what you really want!?" Hiro calls out to her in particular, "If what you really wanted was her to take down your master then all you have to do right now - is step aside!"
 

GS: Hiro has attacked Pearl with Cross Boomerang!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Riesenlied takes an elbow in her gut and exhales a lot of air out of her lungs at once; she's not-- exactly-- a martial artist, even back when she was much healthier and capable of fighting. Siegfried's instruction with her has more been one of shaping her energy and also utilising her sword, and at such a close quarter--

        "J-Janey--"

        --well, she kind of pitches and rolls to one side with an agonised wince; there's a strike from a knuckle and a knee as well, which she rolls with and lets brush against her scales rather than softer flesh as she continues coughing.

        Janey's eyes are deeply manic as they gleam with the kind of adrenaline high of someone who's once more walking the tight-rope of life and death.

        "You think I don't know pain?"

        She hisses louder as Lunn's grip intensifies on her.

        "You see her? Writhin' on the floor? Mama's weak. I'm not like her. You're looking at someone who's ate sand and spat glass out from the Blue Star. You're looking at someone who got their ears and tail cut out just 'cause someone thought they're limbs o' the Devil."

        She snarls louder, sounding like the breath is out of her lungs. "You think you can do worse? Huh?" She grits her teeth. "Then fine -- show me what you got. Cause the Lord of Calamity don't do halfsies."

        There's a small glint in Janey's eyes that's like 'oh my god i'm so sorry mom i'll take being grounded for like a billion weeks', but right now she's gotta double-double down on her super-bluff.

        Hearing that from Janey while she's reeling in pain just causes her to "Janey, no-- no--" she coughs again. "You don't know what they'll do to you... please..."

        The assassin seizes her up again, and she clenches her teeth as she holds her hands up.... 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina's fists clench as she listens to the Shadow Dragon Cult a little more. She can't even imagine this kind of worldview -- the kind of thinking that leads to this. It's unimaginable... and more than that, it's upsetting.

The signal to kill them comes, however, and Lemina... surprising even herself, she's ready to respond. She roots and draws her staff, expression scrunching up a little as she has to use that staff to parry and keep herself safe. "This... this is *unforgivable!*" she shouts, bringing her staff forward with a bright red glow.

She sweeps it around in a circle, bringing up a ring of flames around some of the cultists -- that technique's getting faster than it used to. Lemina seems a little invigorated by the chance to fight back against this, too... 

GS: Lemina Ausa has attacked Pearl with Fire Ring!
GS: Lemina Ausa has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Bravado, arguments against the leader--Jean does not join much. She keeps her eyes on her old master, only dividing enough attention to consider the other Cultists--any of them could matter in a moment. They could strike--and not only at them. So it is when Pearl gives her orders. So it is when her Master gives his answer.

"...If that's what it takes, Master, then I'll show you." Jean's voice is frigid, the ice of the Shadow Dragon beginning to settle over her. It's so clear to remember.

...All those years ago, how did she come to the Cult? Was she shy? Fearful? Crying? Jean remembers.

But she does not let go, does not adopt the Shadow Dragon stance. 'Kill them', they demand, and Jean draws her fans in the same heartbeat. She sets them out to either side of herself, and sees the two assassins meant for her easily among the group, reading their body language. She probably knew both of them. And now, they are set to kill her. She expects no mercy.

...But Jean has not entirely forgotten her lessons. Rather than dodging out of the way, rather than blocking their strikes, she moves as soon as they approach--the first lashes out with a sharp elbow strike and Jean pushes into it, slamming the elbow straight with her arm, taking the impact outright and taking the punch straight on the shoulderblade in a spinning motion. "...Is that all?" the former student of the Shadow Dragon asks, gaze set. She seems unperturbed by the new bruises, by the harsh impacts. She just--moves.

The first cultist gets a vicious kick from standing position, she twists her torso to bury heel in the Cultist's stomach. He's hit first--then Jean whirls, switching legs briefly mid-air and hammers down her fan-holding hand to the other Cultist's shoulder, letting the impact shove her backwards.

She starts to move, then--quickly, erratically, sinuous and graceful both. It is a dance, and hazy smoke begins to boil off of her as she calls upon the Blessing of Althena. From her movements erupts a swarm of spectral stinging insects, rushing out towards each foe around her as she whirls in place to adopt a ready stance, one foot down, one forward, both hands up.

And prepares to charge past them. 

GS: Jean has attacked Pearl with Swarm Dance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"Wait what," Fei says mid kung fu as he learns Janey's backstory. "That's the worst thing I've ever heard!!!"

Yeah that's actually pretty awful

I know right?? 

DC: MISS! Pearl completely evades Suikei from Fei Fong Wong!
DC: MISS! Pearl completely evades Cross Boomerang from Hiro!
DC: MISS! Pearl completely evades Fire Ring from Lemina Ausa!

GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Jean's Swarm Dance for 121 hit points!
GS: Disrupt! Statuses applied to Pearl!

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

The command is given. One of the cultists, perhaps one that has been eager to prove themselves, lunges for Ambrosius. They close in for a deadly punch aimed to pierce a vital organ...but find themselves suddenly caught by the throat before it can reach him.

"Inadequate." He states, breaking his silence. Before his attack can scramble out of his grip he throws them toward the nearest wall - as if simply discarding them, rather than actively hurling them.

This will not make it any less of a painful experience.

His eyes return to Janey...and they narrow slightly. ...What is she planning? For now, he will trust her - but if she comes to the slightest bit of harm, the life expectancy of these cultists will drop drastically. 

GS: Ambrosius has attacked Pearl with Scything Swing!
GS: Ambrosius has completed his action.
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Ambrosius's Scything Swing for 61 hit points!
GS: Mighty! Statuses applied to Ambrosius!

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        The metal demon - ostensibly hidden - swears under her breath as one of the Cultists comes straight for her. She really should have known better than to try stealth here, she thinks ruefully to herself; she could be justified in saying that her particular brand of subterfuge is made more for slipping through and charming the midst of crowds these days, relying on surprises and diversion rather than facing other stealthy sorts head on. Still, it's galling, and there's a bitter taste in her mouth as she watches Lunn growl back to Janey's taunts.

        She trusts their daughter to be tougher than anyone gives her credit for, but she's also a realist, and her gut twists at the sight.

        On the other hand, it's fine, if only because she's been itching to do something, anything at all, to release the pent-up energy she's been feeling ever since the children got kidnapped. Rather than bother summoning her weapon to her, the metal demon goes for the unexpected instead, and simply rises up and forwards towards the incoming initiate. She doesn't look like someone who should be able to throw a punch - five-foot-middling and slim - but she's a metal demon, with a metal demon's strength behind her. The strike to the gut winds the poor assassin; Noeline uses the impact from it to twist into a twirl, and thrust a heel forwards into her would-be assailant's side, sending the poor girl pitching into the water off the dock.

        Completing the spin, she plucks at her living metal, summoning it to her hand; there's a familiar weight there for a moment, a satisfying sort of heft, before she uses the last of her movement to heave it forwards in an enormous throw. The massive sword - easily the size of Noeline herself - abruptly embeds itself halfway in the wall of the dock, a bare few inches away from the head of cultist dragging Riesenlied up to her feet. The black flames of Duras Drum race around Noeline, as she steps forward, making a game attempt to out-intimidate Lunn. "--leave your hands off of her," she adds solemnly. "For I will not let you touch another hair on her head."

        "Janey!" she yells afterwards, at the same time as another launched kick pushes the cultist back; she tears her sword from the wall as if it were a toothpick. 

GS: Noeline has spent 1 Combo on Reload!
GS: Noeline has attacked Riesenlied with When I'm With You...!
GS: Noeline has completed her action.
GS: CRITICAL! Riesenlied guards a hit from Noeline's When I'm With You... for 0 hit points!
GS: Quick! Statuses applied to Noeline!
GS: Reload! Riesenlied gains 15 extra FP from Noeline!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Noeline with ...I'm still Afraid...!
GS: Riesenlied has completed her action.
GS: Riesenlied heals Noeline! She gains 100 temporary hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly feels terror seize as the world narrows down around her. She is so close to death, she knows. This was stupid. The sensible thing to do would have been to have waited for their boat and snuck on. With her powers - leaving aside for a moment the considerable talents of Gwen or Jean, or the strength of Hiro or Fei, or the talents of Riesenlied or Ruby.

But...

The children.

Many of them, Elly knows, are in a position now - without guardians, or with fewer, or worse - because of her. She stares almost glassily ahead even as the Shadow Dragon whips into action, startling as the man's knife-hand strike is intercepted. She breathes out "fei!" in surprise, in relief, in thanks.

Then she clasps the hand of the cultist with her own. Both.

Flame erupts from her hands and up and around the entire body of the cultist, flashing some of the ice Fei's chi has created into steam as the fire spreads. It roars red hot and then briefly and horribly raises up into the blue shade of spectrum, a good three seconds of abject horror, the displaced heated air keeping the man aloft. Then the flames wink out -

And let's be fair here, his hand is real messed up. The rest of him, though: first degree burns, yes, but the spots of second degree injury are relatively rare. His outfit is ruined, though, and

"Thermal shock," Elly mumbles, as if half-remembering something. She shoves the man aside, if without the force needed to throw him into the water, as she looks past them. Towards Janey and -

-

Elly's lips form useless words for a moment, in horror and anguish, before she resumes her focus. Raising her voice, she shouts to him - to Lunn - "If this is your 'Strength,' I'd rather be 'weak'!" 

GS: Elhaym van Houten has attacked Pearl with Thermo Misericordia!
GS: Elhaym van Houten has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Elhaym van Houten's Thermo Misericordia for 56 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        Sure, you can shoot from the shadows, but that doesn't really work when there's more of them than of you and your friends. "-damn it!" Gwen lets loose a lone curse as a cultist narrows in on her, forcing the courier to throw the very ARM she was secretly charging right in front of her. "Gh!" The cultist's sharp strikes hit against the shielding arm, Gwen grimacing in pain as each strike releases a small cloud of sparks from the very force of each impact. Someone, a human being, with no weapons, could do this?!

        .... wait of course they can, Fei's right there showing his own moves, and Jean's no pushover either. She's just never really had to deal with someone attacking her with such deadly force.

        Who wasn't, well, some superhuman being, or just some shmoe from an alleyway, all brawn, no brains, and certainly no skill.

        The menacing glow of fire definitely catches Gwen's gaze, the outline of Elly against the temporary blaze of ether on that poor cultist's hand. "....!"

        But what's more worrisome is Janey. Janey, deploying the very same sorts of tactics Gwen would've used herself, when she was as small and short and full of ignorance of the outer world's ills as Janey.

        Damn, and here Gwen was, lambasting Nall for doing the exact opposite, when that silent show of sacrifice might've helped Janey. But those sorts of acts weren't something that a child would think of. They shouldn't even have to.

        A fist comes for Gwen's face just then, and the courier moves, moving to the side, letting that cultist carry their momentum forward. It's a rough, graceless move, one the cultist is able to easily recover from, but it allows Gwen one moment to shout something to the brave Janey. Specifically:

        "Janey, I didn't go into that hellhole of an orphanage to later see you get your butt handed to you by some sewer cult leader!!"

        The cultist comes rushing at Gwen, but the courier is ready, delivering a violent, gruff punch to the face. "Damn it!" 

GS: Gwen Whitlock has attacked Pearl with Special Delivery!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has entered a Reflect stance!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Gwen Whitlock's Special Delivery for 132 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        Fei easily intercepts the attack meant for Elly, but that overextension allows his attackers to flip backwards away from his icy wrath, dropping into another attack pose. This time, however, the one attackers foot glows with a black purple ki, launching an axe kick at the martial artist, while the other comes at Fei from the other direction with a knife hand chop, glowing with the same energy.

tHiro's attacker is blocked handily by the shield, but again they fall back, not allowing his sword to find home. Perhaps worse is their preparation for Hiro's boomerang, the assassin hitting the ground and rolling under the splitting projectile. They respond with a projectile of their own, shadow magic flying towards the young man.

        The shadow dragon cultists aren't the sort to let to stop just because their opponent hits the ground. Instead, the cultist follows up with a brutal kick to the prone Riesenlied's midsection, aiming to stop the metal demon from getting back up again.

        Lemina's attacker sees the magic coming, and as fast as Lemina responds, the cultist leaps up into the air over the ring of fire, continuing forward towards Lemina. The airborne cultist lashes out with an open hand claw slash at Lemina's body, the corrosive ki of the Shadow Dragon cult scoring towards her.

        Jean's attackers are not so lucky, receiving the blows from the fans and feet dead onb, before being surrounded and swarmed by the insects, unable to fend off the attack. Ultimately, they hit the ground, out for now.

        Even the glancing hit from Ambrosius is enough to send the cultist flying, if not as hard as the Veruni had hoped. The cultist responds by firing back at the man with black magic, deciding that getting in close against that is maybe not the best plan.

        Noeline's attacker doesn't relent, even as the metal demon flings her into the water. She pulls herelf out with a yell, and rushes at Noeline with a series of swift elbows and knees, each one punctuated with a burst of shadow dragon ki.

        Elly's assailant is caught in the flames, and it clearly hurts, the man letting out a yelp of pain- something he'll be punished for if he survives. But somehow, he stands, burnt and in pain, at lets loose a surprisingly reckless charge at Elhaym.

        Gwen's attacker is the unfortunate recipient of a brutal face punch, collapsing to the ground with ease. Still, she doesn't have much time to celebrate, as another comes for her, slashing out with black purple ki with the intent of cutting at that massive metal arm.

        Pearl shoots a glare at Hiro. "You clearly don't understand. If you can't get past me, what business do you have with the Master?" I mean, he's not wrong, she wants the man dead. But she's not going to get her hopes up on someone she has already handily defeated doing the deed she cannot. Instead, Pearl starts running towards Jean, shadows emerging from behind her with every step, until a full four launch themselves in a kick at the dancer, striking from all directions. 

GS: Pearl has attacked Fei Fong Wong with Inverse Crush!
GS: Pearl has attacked Hiro with Darkness Bolt!
GS: Pearl has attacked Riesenlied with Kicking While You're Down!
GS: Riesenlied guards a hit from Pearl's Kicking While You're Down for 92 hit points!
GS: Riesenlied enters CONDITION GREEN!!
GS: Pearl has attacked Lemina Ausa with Inverse Claw!
GS: Hiro guards a hit from Pearl's Darkness Bolt for 53 hit points!
GS: Fei Fong Wong takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Inverse Crush for 29 hit points!
GS: Shieldbreak! Statuses applied to Fei Fong Wong!
GS: Pearl has attacked Ambrosius with Darkness Bolt!
GS: Pearl has attacked Noeline with Umbral Blitz!
GS: CRITICAL! Ambrosius critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Darkness Bolt for 28 hit points!
GS: Cripple! Statuses applied to Ambrosius!
GS: Hyper! Statuses applied to Pearl!
GS: Pearl has attacked Elhaym van Houten with Shadow Strike!
GS: CRITICAL! Noeline takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Umbral Blitz for 86 hit points!
GS: Cripple! Statuses applied to Noeline!
GS: Hyper and Riposte! Statuses applied to Pearl!
GS: Pearl has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Inverse Claw!
GS: Pearl has attacked Jean with Needle Kick!
GS: Pearl has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Pearl's Needle Kick for 91 hit points!
GS: Break! Statuses applied to Jean!
GS: Gwen Whitlock guards a hit from Pearl's Inverse Claw for 91 hit points!
GS: Lemina Ausa guards a hit from Pearl's Inverse Claw for 90 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
Jean receives no comment from her master. It's like he's done with her and given up all hope on her. And yet his eyes follow her without fail.
 
Utterly unperturbed by Janey - Lunn allows what he views as a childish tantrum. It's only once she's finished that he answers, "Why do you think I singled you out child?"
 
He says as he turns her around to have her face that ogrish mask. "All that you've told me only confirms what I already knew."
 
His tone is dark and menacing. "You. Have. Potential."
 
The leader does not seem to care about Pearl's desire to kill him. After all - if she is strong enough. Then he expects it.
 
He simply knows that she is not.
 
After a moment his mask impassively falls upon Elly as if dismissing her. "Then be trampled underfoot by the strong girl."
 
Hiro catches his boomerang in time to quickly put up his shield. The bolt of magic colliding and shrouding the youth in darkness.
 
"Girl you are messed up! Wanting the guy dead and still thinking his way is right!? Why put your life on the line for someone you hate?"
 
Ruby seems like she's talking sense - but she's doing it at what she hopes is a safe distance.
 
"Because she doesn't know any other way yet." Hiro finally says a touch breathlessly, before asking, "Right Jean?" It's almost like he's asking her to show whoever is behind a mask another way.
 
Taking off into a dash, his a powerful gust of wind sends him aloft. Holding his sword high, he descends on one of the cultists with a cry of - "Dodge this!" As he brings his sword down in a powerful two-handed slash.
 

GS: Hiro has attacked Pearl with Poe Sword!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Janey scowls just a little bit more as she starts sputtering and coughing. "Y-yeah? You'll let the others go, now that you found the one you want, then?" She doesn't need subterfuge at all -- she's just outright asking her terms of condition at present.

        Riesenlied lets out a deep, aggrieved cough from the brutal kick that strikes against her midsection; it's only fortunate at that moment that Noeline's sword comes flying, mere inches away to give her some measure of cover against her attacker. Her head is stirring as she darts away, stumbling onto one knee as she flees in the direction of Noeline, black flame wrapped around her.

        "Elly is right. If this is what 'strength' is...
 Then I would rather be a 'weak person'.
 Weakness was what allowed us Tainted to band together...
 A way of living that someone blinded by glory cannot see.
 A bond stronger than can be found through trial alone..."

        She cups her hands together, adopting a kneeling position. A very familiar posture, as she closes her eyes and lets the wings spread aloft to either side of her. As she opens her mouth in aural chant, the reverberation spreads--

        The song of the giants is heard.

        It spreads, throughout the docks, illuminating every inch of the waters, every inch of the depths of the sewers... a way for her to shine the light against the shadow of the dragon. To aid, even a little, Jean in her struggle against her former master and disciples... 

GS: Riesenlied has spent 1 Combo on Reload!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Ambrosius with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Elhaym van Houten with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Fei Fong Wong with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Hiro with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Jean with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Lemina Ausa with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has attacked Noeline with Empathic Prayer - Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied has completed her action.
GS: Sneak! The true nature of Pearl's attack becomes clear!
GS: Elhaym van Houten guards a hit from Pearl's Umbral Ambush for 99 hit points!
GS: Riesenlied heals Hiro! He gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Hiro gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Fei Fong Wong gains Restore, shortening negative statuses by 3 turns each!
GS: Riesenlied heals Fei Fong Wong! He gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Fei Fong Wong gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Ambrosius gains Restore, shortening negative statuses by 3 turns each!
GS: Riesenlied heals Ambrosius! He gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Ambrosius gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Jean gains Restore, shortening negative statuses by 3 turns each!
GS: Riesenlied heals Jean! She gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Jean gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Noeline gains Restore, shortening negative statuses by 3 turns each!
GS: Riesenlied heals Noeline! She gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Noeline gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied heals Lemina Ausa! She gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Lemina Ausa gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!
GS: Riesenlied heals Elhaym van Houten! She gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Elhaym van Houten gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        The flaming attacker is but a diversion. As are the number of shadows that rush Jean. Four, not three. Instead, Pearl is somewhere else. Her fist thrust through the stomach of the cultist attacking Elly, dark purple ki that would have struck a vital organ had she not been able to guard in time. Still, Fei. Where is your protection now?

        Did she deliberately target Elly just to piss him off? 

GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Hiro's Poe Sword for 115 hit points!
GS: Riesenlied heals Gwen Whitlock! She gains 200 temporary hit points!
GS: Reload! Gwen Whitlock gains 15 extra FP from Riesenlied!

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean's opponents fall before her strikes and her dance; she moves as if she expected nothing less, surging forward even as they hit the ground. As she starts to pass, she flicks her wrists, her fans slamming down to impact the temples of each Cultist blunt-side first. It might seem cruel, as her weapons bounce back into her hands and she doesn't even slow.

But she could have gone for their throats. Her training demands it.

...She does not offer her master the satisfaction of an answer to his silence; she blocks out her feelings towards him, fear and hate alike... in favor of Pearl. Pearl, as Ruby asks about her nature, and Jean can only recall: 'You didn't do anything.'

Her training plays in flashes as Pearl approaches. Shadows emerge around her, and Jean, rather than trying to get out of the way, closes her eyes. It is not by sight but--

She goes by intuition, whirls to defend, but just too slowly--the kicks all impact her, sending the dancer stumbling back, step step as she feels the impact crack something.

"He doesn't have to understand," Jean answers Pearl, too calmly, even as she feels Riesenlied's light. The struggle goes on--

"Hiro..." She sets her stance. "There's only one way I can do that--"

Jean shifts direction, blurring violet-black as she ducks down and launches herself--not at Pearl, but beside her, hacking out with a slash of her fan while she's recovering her punch, beginning to spin around her with a flurry of strikes, half of them feints--

And the rest turn out to be a half dozen tiny cuts, as Jean builds a rhythm. "You don't have time to go after her," Jean announces in the midst of a strike for Pearl's cheek with her elbow. 

GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean has attacked Pearl with Feather Step!
GS: Jean has entered a Reflect stance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Jean's Feather Step for 109 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

The cultist turns their black magic upon him. For a moment, it seems to make him flinch and stagger backwards. ...This might give them some amount of confidence, which might suddenly fade when Ambrosius straightens up, with only a black burn on his cloak to show for it.

Unfortunately, however, attacking Ambrosius from a distance also comes with its difficulties. He holds his hand out, and water begins to converge and swirl in front of him to form a dangerous, whirling blade which is sent flying toward the individual in question.

He then, briefly, glances toward Riesenlied. He can only imagine how she must be feeling now...but she seems to gain some amount of confidence, as he feels that reverberation of power.

Riesenlied's power - that soft, soothing, encouraging light. Not the power touted by these cultists.

"We must trust her." He says quietly. It's hard to tell who he's referring to, exactly, but the feeling is enough. 

GS: Ambrosius has spent 2 Combo on Gatling!
GS: Ambrosius has attacked Pearl with Aqua Cutter!
GS: Ambrosius has completed his action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Ambrosius's Aqua Cutter for 201 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly is shocked when the man stands and leaps at her. Naturally enough, given everything. She knows if SHE was in a blast furnace and thrown aside before she got cremated, she would feel something more along the lines of 'perhaps I should reconsider my career' rather than, like, 'I should go hit her.' She hops back a step, raising her arms in a cross block - she is not, of course, on Fei's level, but she is able to handle herself.

She blocks the strike.

Something's wrong. She turns a little more - and so it is that the fist that slams through the stomach of the cultist hit her in the abdomen, the place she seems to catch the most shots, but without the force that would have ruptured her spleen and left her bloody and hemorrhaging. Instead she is knocked back due to being off poise - which may be just as lethal, in a moment. "uff-"

"-- You -"

From the ground, Elly must look up at the woman standing before her, more or less.

"You killed him - wasn't he your comrade!? Why --"

A song rings through the waters and through her heart.

Elly rises. She shifts forwards, reclaiming her feet with a little surging hop.

"-- Is there no point in saying anything now?" she says to Pearl. Her voice is pleading. "I don't want to hurt any of you. I want these children back - they've suffered enough!! There's no reason for any of them to suffer further, and you don't have the right -"

She twists her hand in a peculiar gesture. That peculiar gesture makes the dockside ground stab upwards in a short shrubby forest of stalagmites, potentially launching Pearl backwards - hopefully, Elly hopes at least, into the water, where she would do no harm.

"To inflict suffering!" 

GS: Elhaym van Houten has attacked Pearl with Terra Lance!
GS: Elhaym van Houten has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina can slow the advance of her attacker, but only slow it -- she's still scored by that forceful, dark chi, and staggers back in pain. "Nnngh..." It's -- hard, somewhat, for Lemina to protect herself here. She sees Jean in every Shadow Dragon Cultist. For that matter, she sees *Janey* in every Shadow Dragon Cultist. It makes it difficult for her to do what, really, she ought to be doing. Even Riesenlied's song doesn't make it much easier, even if it does make it easier to weather the storm, as it were.

As she sees Jean set her stance, though, she decides she doesn't *have* to hurt them. There's one person she trusts to make this situation turn out as well as it can -- and rather than aggress, she decides to help that person.

"Jean!" Lemina calls, managing a quick chant in one rapid, rushing breath, pointing her staff. Power surges through Jean, white-hot flame rolling off of the martial artist.

She then turns back to the cultist attacking her, but doesn't have the time to aggress -- only to defend herself. Her staff stays up in a purely defensive position -- waiting. 

GS: Lemina Ausa has spent 1 Combo on Reload!
GS: Lemina Ausa has attacked Jean with Power Flame!
GS: Lemina Ausa has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Lemina Ausa's Power Flame for 0 hit points!
GS: Hyper! Statuses applied to Jean!
GS: Reload! Jean gains 15 extra FP from Lemina Ausa!
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Elhaym van Houten's Terra Lance for 65 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline wrenches her sword out of the wall just in time to turn it to one side, letting the momentum of the blade spin her around as she brings it up to block. She's dimly aware that her first opponent isn't going to be turned aside by her diversion for long - it isn't as if people simply leave the fight once they're tossed into a shallow body of water, at least not in any world that makes sense - but the heaviness of the imposing weapon works against her, and she's forced several steps backwards as the cultist rains blows upon her.

        "--Riese--" she mutters as she feels the golden light wash over her; there's a moment's pride that she's at least bought her partner time for that much, even if it doesn't look like it'll be touching the hearts of the assassins they're set against any time soon.

        She can feel bleeding at her side; thankfully, it only takes a brief effort to staunch it with Riesenlied's light bolstering her, and a slightly longer one to pull her living metal back together into shape. Maybe there were poisons or toxins in their blades - she'd put good money on it - but there's a grim satisfaction at the fact that she and Riese are very much unalike anything they'll have fought before.

        "You're an idiot," she growls at the cultist in front of her, feeling that anger raise under her skin as she hears Lunn boast and grandstand further. "A child who knows nothing. I've seen plenty of humans throw their lives away, but none so frivolously, or in the service of someone so uncaring." Her kick is swifter this time, aimed to drive a heel of her boot into the cultist's kneecap and drive them to the ground; when she strikes it's with another spinning blow, this time bringing the entire weight of her sword around with a dangerously low thrum.

        It isn't a lethal strike; while it certainly could have the potential to be, she's saving some of her strength - and instead using the wide flat of the blade rather than it's edge. Instead, it's meant as a battering blow to fling the cultist backwards again, aiming to make space and carve someone a path towards Lunn. 

GS: Noeline has attacked Pearl with Black Velvet!
GS: Noeline has entered a Reflect stance!
GS: Noeline has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
As Janey asks if he is going to let them go... "Your gambit is transparent child. You think if you put on a tough face that I will give you what you want. In that you show your true ignorance. Pain is not one defining life-altering event - but many. It is a work in progress."
 
And some his masterpieces. He is a twisted artist working upon many canvases. "Losing pieces of yourself was only the beginning. Now you will observe as my disciples slaughter the people you are trying to protect."
 
As one of his students attacks Elly - he turns Janey to watch, "Do you wish to be disposable - or one of the strong? Choose wisely child. After this is over you won't have long to make your decision - on whether you will train hard to one day surpass me..."
 
And as Pearl thrusts a fist through his student's stomach - it's like he predicted it. "... or perish - and be swept aside."
 

GS: CRITICAL! Pearl takes a solid hit from Noeline's Black Velvet for 240 hit points!
GS: Quick! Statuses applied to Noeline!

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong blinks in surprise as Elly flash fries a dude's hands. Naturally, he lets go afterwards because he doesn't want HIS hands to be burned even if he can likely take it far better than that dude. Besides, he has other problems. The knife strike catches Fei's shoulder and he grits his teeth, sinking to one knee. If it keeps up like this, he's not sure they can save the kids--they may not even be able to save themselves! They have to win BETTER than this. There's still one enemy left to fight.

He hears Riesenlied's words, and hears her song. It feels familiar, but the words oh the words.

I believe that if you have light in your heart, you can overcome any hardship. What I've been doing is simply showing people that such light exists in the hearts of everyone.

Elly. She's always been like that. Why was he cursed with his power, why couldn't he be blessed with her strength? When he looks at her sometimes he feels so empty, like he's just as hollow as the people he's fighting today.

Fei wipes at his eyes with his hand. The light, he thinks, there's light within everybody she said. If that's the case, then could there be light within him?

Light, it doesn't beat back the darkness. It subsumes the darkness. It replaces it. What was once empty becomes filled and one can never be too empty.

Of course, some might take that more literally and shove a fist through someone's guts just to hurt you. No shortage of blood splatters on Fei and he flinches.

Fei's briefly incredulous. That isn't even tactically sound! There's a million ways to sneak attack murder Elly without killing one of your friends! Golly!

Then he's angry. He sees the strike hit Elly's stomach. That's all he has to see.

"You..." Fei begins. He runs THROUGH the two cultists on him, knocking them over in the process. A red aura crackles around Fei. Ruby knows what's about to come, and if this keeps up it might happen--but so far, at least, it's still Fei. Still Fei. When Elly is harmed, it's hard to hear Elly because Elly's pain hurts so much it's hard to think beyond it.

"So proud...of that tiny sliver of power you've obtained...!" Fei screams. His own hand glows with dark ki. His style may not be that of the Shadow Dragon but he does seem to be able to use some of their moves all the same.

But it's not exactly the same move because crackling bright energy coalesces in Fei's OTHER hand as he attempts to bring both hands to bear against the sides of Pearl's head, chasing after her even if she's knocked away.

"She's done nothing but try to help her, yet you murdered your friend to hurt her! I won't forgive this... I can't!!"

That energy is only intensifying. Pearl is lucky it hasn't erupted in full force just yet. 

GS: Fei Fong Wong has attacked Pearl with Yin Yang Strike!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has completed his action.

DC: MISS! Pearl completely evades Yin Yang Strike from Fei Fong Wong!

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        "Janey, for Guardians' sake, listen t' Jean n' the others! I know *exactly* what you're doin', n' it's gonna land you a bigger price than you can pa-" Gwen is interrupted by yet another cultist, barely having a moment to hold up her ARM against the cutting edge of that black purple ki, aimed uncomfortably close to the bend of her shoulder. Close enough to draw blood from the covered area that marks the border of her flesh, drawing a spray of blood. Not enough to cut off her ARM, thankfully, but enough to temporarily force her to stop using it as she leaps back at the same time the cultist does, hunching down into a half-crouch.

        "Damn!" Gwen grimaces, anticipating the next attempt to sever that ARM of hers. She instead charges forward to meet her opponent, drawing her knife from the inside of her boot in one smooth movement, the small blade held at an opportune angle to take advantage of some weak spot on the cultist as they charge towards her. "I can hurt you plenty with this arm too, y'know!"

        The brief bravado is ruined as she glances back towards the group, to see Hiro disappearing in a collusion of that same dark magic, to Jean's grand struggle, to Noeline's blood as she proudly makes her stand, to Elly-

        To Pearl.

        "Wait, what...?" ... She shouldn't find it such a surprise, to see a nest of vipers be so eager to eat their own to reach the top.

        She is thankful that she doesn't- .... okay yeah, besides Janus and maybe a few others, but that's just fun and games there-

        Then Gwen feels the quiet strength of Riesenlied's chant redirect her, focus her. Fill her with hope.

        "That masked guy's full of bunk, Janey. You need t'be a kid, with big dreams, not settlin' for anythin' less!" Gwen cries.
 
        'We must trust her.' Ambrosius's vague words give Gwen pause. She glances towards him, nervously. '... I don't wanna risk it..." she murmurs quietly. "She's a kid. She shouldn't have to deal with things like this. She's been through enough already. Not only her, but Heath, n' the others..." 

GS: Gwen Whitlock has attacked Pearl with Comet Clip!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action.
DC: MISS! Pearl completely evades Comet Clip from Gwen Whitlock!

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        This time, Hiro's sword strikes true, the cultist being sent flying by the sword slash, only being saved the brutality of being cut in twain because Hiro is a good guy and is explicitly not about killing people, otherwise it would defeat the whole point. Still, his opponent hits the floor.

        The cultist facing Ambrosius had gotten cocky. Too cocky. He's not fast enough to escape the sudden slicing high pressure water. The assassin falls to the ground in multiple pieces, blood oozing on the ground.

        Just because Lemina's holding back, it doesn't mean that the cultist will do the same. Instead, their hand glows again with black ki, but the posture is all too similar to some of the fighters here. They drive an open palm towards Lemina's chest, the signature move of the shadow dragon fist: The Shadow Dragon Palm.

        The cultist that attacked Noeline receives the full force of Noeline's kicks, being driven to the ground. The summary strike to the head with the flat of the blade is enough to take her out of the fight completely.

        Riesenlied's attack er does not relent, looking somewhat bewildered briefly by the light. "Just die, will you!?" He yells, drawing back his leg to drive it into Riese again and again and again.

        Gwen's knife is evading with a swift sidestep, dartinng out of the way, before retaliating with a driving elbow, glowing with black-purple ki, into Gwen's knife arm.

        Jean's rush strikes true, the thousand cuts approach slicing up Pearl's arms even as she tries to evade, pulling her free from the corpse of her fellow cultist. Not fast enough. That was always the problem in training, wasn't it. She's not fast enough to escape the spears of earth bursting up from the ground for Elly, driving into her leg but ultimately escaping their wrath. It gives her just enough time as Fei comes at her to pull one of his cast aside opponents up in front of her, using him as a shield against the wrath of the strike of light and darkness, as the cultist collapses limply in her grip.

        She doesn't respond to the pleas or words of her opponents as she flips backward again, before launching herself in a flying kick towards Fei, Noeline, Ambrosius and Elly all at once, black ki flaring from her as she blurs across the battlefield, before landing face to face with Jean again. This time, she gathers the ki in her hand, and thrusts out, an energy beam flying from her hand to drive clean through Jean, with the full intent of finishing her off. 

GS: Pearl has attacked Riesenlied with Umbral Blitz!
GS: Pearl has spent 1 Combo on Poison!
GS: Riesenlied guards a hit from Pearl's Umbral Blitz for 85 hit points!
GS: Riposte! Statuses applied to Pearl!
GS: Pearl has spent 1 Combo on Poison!
GS: Pearl has attacked Noeline with Shadow Dragon Kick!
GS: Pearl has attacked Hiro with Shadow Dragon Kick!
GS: Pearl has attacked Fei Fong Wong with Shadow Dragon Kick!
GS: Pearl has attacked Ambrosius with Shadow Dragon Kick!
GS: Pearl has attacked Elhaym van Houten with Shadow Dragon Kick!
GS: Ambrosius guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Kick for 88 hit points!
GS: Toxin! Statuses applied to Ambrosius!
GS: Hiro takes a solid hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Kick for 142 hit points!
GS: Toxin! Statuses applied to Hiro!
GS: Noeline enters CONDITION GREEN!!

DC: MISS! Noeline completely evades Shadow Dragon Kick from Pearl!

GS: Pearl has spent 7 Combo on Headshot and Gatling!
GS: Pearl has attacked Lemina Ausa with Shadow Dragon Palm!
GS: Pearl has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Inverse Crush!
GS: Pearl has spent 4 Combo on Gatling!
GS: Pearl has attacked Jean with Shadow Dragon Wave!
GS: CRITICAL! Lemina Ausa critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Palm for 98 hit points!
GS: Cripple! Statuses applied to Lemina Ausa!
GS: Hyper! Statuses applied to Pearl!
GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Gwen Whitlock takes a solid hit from Pearl's Inverse Crush for 66 hit points!
GS: Shieldbreak! Statuses applied to Gwen Whitlock!

DC: MISS! Jean completely evades Shadow Dragon Wave from Pearl!

GS: CRITICAL! Fei Fong Wong takes a solid hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Kick for 249 hit points!
GS: Cripple and Toxin! Statuses applied to Fei Fong Wong!
GS: Hyper! Statuses applied to Pearl!
GS: Elhaym van Houten critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Kick for 29 hit points!
GS: Pearl has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean should stop, say something for the fallen Cultist sacrificed for an attack. She should feel something, let herself process it. But if she stops, if she does anything but keeps moving, then it's others who will suffer for it more than she could now. ...Hearing her Master talk to Janey is something like nails dragging across her mind. How many pieces of herself did she lose, even if she didn't have ears, or a tail?

How long did she believe it was strength?

Her former companions fight her current, and as Elly pleads, Jean simply moves. She moves, and feels the heat, hears Lemina's voice and feels her power. One difference, from before--one--

She is not alone. White-hot flame rolls off of her, coating her fists and fans, her feet, casting about her body, playing strange tricks of light with the shadows about her person. "Don't let them surround you!" Jean shouts to the others, even as she strikes and strikes and strikes at Pearl. She was always fast, in train--too fast, impossibly fast, sometimes striking before she could even be seen. There was a reason that Jean was considered the best.

Fei moves beside her, and once again, Pearl moves one of her allies into the path. Jean's teeth sets--

The anger is finally starting to come back, and her life energy burns with it, the shadows intensifying.

Pearl flips backwards, kicks, and Jean starts to move--but she feels the black ki flaring, and her long-burned instincts tell her what's happening. "You--"

The energy beam crashes forward, and indeed, it could cut Jean in half, training or no training; it's large enough, strong enough. But Jean is still whirling, still shifting in her rhythm, and she dances to the side, twirling with one fan up, one down at the last instant, the blast of deathly ki burning away the air where she was.

"Haah--!"

Her kiai is the only warning she gives, letting her momentum take her to a stack of crates that she kicks off of, somersaulting forward--

Jean's fans arrive first, hurled at Pearl one after the other, but they're just a cover; she drops down to sweep her foe's leg, and starts whirling, too-strong kicks blazing with flame and shadow spinning out one after another as she tries to force the other Cultist back. "You won't have them," she hisses between motions.

"I WON'T ALLOW IT!" 

GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean enters a Counter stance!
GS: Jean has attacked Pearl with Endless Whirl!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Jean's Endless Whirl for 155 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Janey's listening to Gwen, believe her; she knows that the cult's full of it and that she's gonna pay a price higher than she can pay. Janey lets out a harder breath still as she crunches her face for a moment in the words of the terrible beast facing her down.

        ".... all right. Yeah, you know how transparent I'm bein'. No real point mincin' words anymore, yeah?"

        Janey scowls for a moment as she says, "Truth is, someone's waitin' for me. Been with her ever since we ran off together. Promised her I'd show her the world an' that there's lots of sparklin' little and big things to see together."

        She thumbs her nose for a moment, gasping for more air.

        "So yeah. Sorry, can't come witcha. She'd never forgive me..." she cracks a grin. "Gwen, c'mon, you know that's a load of bull. I know how you feel, and that's--"

        Her grin goes even wider. "Who wants to stop being a kid?! We all should be kids, with big dreams, not settlin' for anything less! That's the Wayside way, right, mom?"

        Riesenlied would respond, but she's too busy being assaulted by her assailant; even still, she trusts that Noeline has her back, as she fights to stem off more attackers. This time, however, she's just a little bit more ready, bracing herself with a quiet whimper as she holds her crooked, misshapen Dragon arm as a makeshift shield.

        "... I shall not. There are too many waiting for me... there are--"

        She looks up to Janey as she holds onto that knee gently, and the fringes of her hair flutter upward as she holds onto the Dragon's Tear. Her eyes are filled with light, as she whispers--

        "There is a world that I must seek. A world where such pain and suffering does not have to exist. A world where people can gird one another, suffused with the strength to carry on with their lives, boldly, full of the meaning they give it...!"

        Even as her body strains, as her arms threaten to give way, she pushes back as she endures the punishment being rained upon her.

        "To that end... I shall hold the blade that will carve the future wide open. A blade of indefatigable light, against the shadow of your hatred..."

        A familiar light is in her fingertips, as she coalesces it into the shimmering shape of a blade that ebbs forward.

        "Its name is....."

        The light shines through, seeking to stem the aggression and hatred of the cultists in her stead. It isn't a harmful weapon -- rather, it seeks to pacify, to sap her enemies of their willingness to fight. 

GS: Riesenlied has attacked Pearl with Empathic Prayer - Laevateinn!
GS: Riesenlied has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Riesenlied's Empathic Prayer - Laevateinn for 0 hit points!
GS: Entangle and Shieldbreak! Statuses applied to Pearl!

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
Sweet Althena girl have you gone mental!?"
 
Hiro's momentary triumph over striking home is dimmed by Pearl putting her fist through one of her cultists, "You-!" He at least believed perhaps that some things are sacred, like comraderie. That even the Shadow Dragon Cult would not sink so low. Perhaps it was because he wanted to not believe Jean might have done such things in the past.
 
Now he can't.
 
Riese's prayer of healing - of song washes over him. And right now he needs that.
 
"That's not what strength it is at all." Hiro's breath shudders in his chest, "I refuse to believe that."
 
And red power erupts through Fei - and Ruby recoils then darts down as she starts clinging to his back. Fei! Fei! Calm down! She's just some kid twisted up by this jerk! Just like Jean was!"
 
Ruby clenches her teeth together and - "Don't let her get to you - just stop her! Stop her and prove her wrong! Don't give Siegfried the benefit of the doubt then go off on her!"
 
The kick - feels like it's coming in all directions. And it smashes against Hiro's ribs with all the force of a charging bull. "Guh-!" That's the sound he makes before he's impacted into the sewer wall a moment later.
 
He feels like he'd like to swoon - and yet he's still running on the high of Riesenlied's aural light.
 
"... We're not gonna lay down and die just because you tell us to." He gives Riese a grateful look, "Because our strength - is in lending each other a hand when we need one."
 
Jean is drawing their attention, and- "Hey Lemina. I'm gonna break wind and back Jean up - you ready to do the thing?"So as Jean starts her whirl, the winds sweep in towards Hiro's sword twisting around it in a vacuum spiral.
 
Drawing his blade back, he slashes it forward and sends that seething air mass into the mass of cultists Jean's fans are twisting around - Pearl included.
 
Upon hitting the ground - it goes off like a bomb of wind. Detonating outwards with terrifying force.
 

GS: Hiro has activated a Force Action!
GS: Hiro has attacked Pearl with Sybillium Sword!
GS: Hiro takes 10 damage from Toxin!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina knows enough about how Jean fights to recognize the threat in that move instantly. She doesn't freeze, though, even if the Lemina of a year or so ago might have; instead, she slams her staff straight down into the ground in front of her, creating a massive wall of ice between herself and the Cultist.

It's not enough. The palm slams into it instead of her, which is great; it also creates a massive backblast of ice shards that shred Lemina's arms. Less great. Her whole body sags -- but she keeps herself focused, her body tight.

In spite of the pain, she starts chanting -- a wordless agreement to Hiro's plan. No sooner has Hiro started to summon that mass of air than Lemina slams her staff into the ground head-first this time, rather than butt-first.

Rocky spires of ice rise from the ground, ready to intercept any cultists sent flying outward. This is *big* magic from Lemina, and she looks much the worse for wear for the attempt -- to say nothing of the earlier strike 

GS: Lemina Ausa has activated a Force Action!
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Hiro's Sybillium Sword for 184 hit points!
GS: Lemina Ausa has attacked Pearl with Final Embrace!
GS: Lemina Ausa has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Lemina Ausa's Final Embrace for 191 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

Ambrosius doesn't even look back at the cultist that was on the receiving end of his Aqua Cutter. The fact that no further attacks come from them was more than telling as to whether or not it was successful.

"She should not have to. But she will. We do not live in a world with such kindnesses, Miss Whitlock. Suffering, and...disease...they spare no one." Ambrosius replies to Gwen, his voice quiet. The fact that people like this existed in the first place was evidence enough of that. "...It is simply our duty to do what we can for them."

But while he is talking, the woman he recognizes as the one who abducted the children in the first place is on the move. She launches a kick at them and Ambrosius braces himself quickly.

The impact of it gets a grunt and forces him back a short ways. Unlike the other one he faced, she manages to get through his defenses. This woman is not someone he can simply disregard - that much he can tell from the way she moves. He will have to take her seriously.

To this extent, he reaches into his cloak. One might be able to catch the glimpse of red metal briefly befort a faint green bolt of energy launches out, flying right toward Pearl.

He also overhears Janey's retort. ...Despite his earlier words there's a small hint of pride on his face, though it disappears quickly. 

GS: Ambrosius has attacked Pearl with VV-VIS!
GS: Ambrosius takes 11 damage from Toxin!
GS: Ambrosius has completed his action.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline feels a stab of satisfaction as the cultist falls away unconscious; her mouth is set in a grim line, so it's not as if she grins, but there's a flicker there at least that she's extracted a little something for the pain they've already put Janey and the other children through. Violence begets violence, she's learnt that well enough from Riesenlied - but she knows all too well how easy and how good a little payback can feel.

        It's not enough to distract her from the fight, thankfully; she grits her teeth as she senses the incoming impact wave of the martial artist's attack - more than she senses the attack itself, in fact, as some practiced instinct blares at the back of her mind. Twisting on the spot, the darkened corona around her flares as she stares down the martial artist head-on--

        --only to suddenly burst into a silent gout of sorcerous flame, Pearl's kick passing straight through the metal demon as if she were no more than mist.

        That might actually be the case; her form twists and dwindles when she turns to follow the cultist's movements, wisps of her image melting away into the air around her. Her voice sounds oddly faint, obscured by whatever part of Duras Drum's magic she's tapped into in order to phase herself out, but anger is laced through its tinny and discordant tone nonetheless.

        "--how many more idiots can there be? Why is it so goddamn hard for any of you to let people live in peace?" she growls, spitting the last word out. "Impressing your will on others without a care in the world - you are no more than demons, and if you even begin to think that a compliment then you have never met one. If dog must eat dog, then devour yourselves - and leave the rest of us alone."

        Her sword has shifted mid-speech into a crimson scythe, too fanciful to be effective were it not made from otherworldly materials and truly part of her, grown straight out of her hands. She pulls it back as Laevateinn's light washes through the underground dock, and waits for her chance.

        That moment comes in the midst of Jean's combo; as the martial artist begins to press Pearl backwards with repeated attacks, as the light washes over them both to illuminate the shadows, Noeline suddenly lunges forwards - only to reappear from a bizarrely odd angle behind Pearl, shifting through the intervening space as if it weren't there to try to blindside the cultist. The line cut by her scythe looks for a moment, shrouded in illusion, like a tear in the world. "Most of all," she growls as the last of her umbra falls away. "We're taking our children back." 

GS: Noeline has activated a Force Action!
GS: Noeline has spent 3 Combo on Headshot!
GS: Noeline has attacked Pearl with The Errant Blade!
GS: Noeline has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Ambrosius's VV-VIS for 146 hit points!
GS: CRITICAL! Pearl takes a solid hit from Noeline's The Errant Blade for 307 hit points!
GS: Quick! Statuses applied to Noeline!

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Pearl bifuricates. Elly breathes out even as Fei screams -

"Enough," she says, quietly, even as she then says much less quietly, "Fei, be careful!!!" She doesn't move to cover him. Perhaps she's helpless. That or the weird bubbling in the nearby water is something she's focusing on but that's ridiculous.

"If the only thing," Elly says with her tense, almost gasping voice, "that any of you will ever listen to is - power -"

I wonder what you'd think of this, Major, Elly thinks as she sees Pearl bifuricate again. Jean is coming forwards. She knows Fei will strike soon. This person is a swift and agile martial artist, all of Elly's own military training meaning she mostly will die more slowly if she can't get a clean hit.

So what would you do? Elly thinks. Major...

Tea-hot water floods out and slops over the docks, rising in an improbable wave to wash over Pearl's ankles, feet, legs - it's not exactly comfortable but compared to the swirling gorgeous dance Jean is unleashing it's probably easy to neglect. Hot water - not even boiling.

Elly watches closely even as a kick comes towards her too, making her wince and recoil - the channeled chi rebounding perhaps off the weaving of Ether she's gathering together - but it doesn't knock her down. She can see Lemina struggling, hear Riesenlied's will. But she's waiting for a moment when the surging swells of water aren't touching Jean to --

FUN FACT: Hot water, for reasons uncertain, freezes faster than cool water!

-- invert the polarity. The water, almost as one, flashes to ice, aiming to encompass Pearl from the waist down. She'll no doubt be able to lever or flash-step her way out, Elly knows, but: "Then now listen for a moment," she breathes.

Then she struggles to take in a breath. It may have all been for naught. At least if they focus their weapons on me, Elly thinks in a flashing nonlinguistic moment, then Janey could -- 

GS: Elhaym van Houten has spent 2 Combo on Smite!
GS: Elhaym van Houten has attacked Pearl with Aqua Thermo Alloy!
GS: Elhaym van Houten has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Elhaym van Houten's Aqua Thermo Alloy for 92 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

A lot is going on that is, in fact, triggering Fei Fong Wong. Evil Martial Arts Masters in Masks that want POWER? Check. Kidnapped and mutilated children? Look that's actually beyond Fei's typical experience but yes Check Much Check. The fact Janey's so awesome about it only makes it worse. Personal injuries? Check. Brainwashed assassin children? Check. Cruelty and murder? Check. Elly being hurt? Check.

He's not like them. He can't be like them. He knows this because it happened already. Flashes of images of plummeting corpses, puppets with their strings cut, tumbling all around him. It's so much. It's too much.

Pearl sends a flying kick towards Fei. He doesn't dodge it and the kick sends Fei slamming through a few sewer pipes and a wall.

Huh. For all that talk, that was pretty eas--

--Fei surrounded by chi is suddenly throwing himself forward at Pearl in full on psycho crusher mode. He is bleeding and bruised all over but he's still moving like he's unhurt. Infinite ether can do a lot.

It's actually difficult for Ruby to latch onto Fei's back. Luckily, she's a fire dragon so her paws aren't even burnt though even in this case, they feel WARMER than usual. "Siegfried was a hero! Humans did this to him!" Fei shouts in this strange mental space of his. It probably shouldn't be taken as canonical confirmation, he looks a little delirious here. "Even if she was pushed this far, I can't...I can't hold back in this situation! It's too dangerous!"

He looks toward towards Elly and in a softer, trembling voice. "It hurts every time. So much. I can't again... I can't..."

But he sees what Elly is aiming for, and Elly is still alive, and Elly is still keeping her cool, and Elly's light, Riesenlied's song--still fills him. And maybe, with Ruby's words, that is enough as he sends another wave of ice forward, intending to seize hold of Pearl's arms with his own ice ether technique. It's not even coming from his hands.

It's just happening. 

GS: Fei Fong Wong has attacked Pearl with The Endless Circle Karma Slave!
GS: Fei Fong Wong takes 10 damage from Toxin!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has completed his action.
GS: Sneak! The true nature of Fei Fong Wong's attack becomes clear!
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Fei Fong Wong's Ultra Idstinct for 126 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"I can't..." Fei whispers again to Ruby.

Regardless of whether or not that ice is holding Pearl in place, Fei suddenly smiles ever so faintly--and it's gone just as quickly--as he twists his body into a flying kick, aiming to collide precisely into Pearl's gut. If her arms and legs are seized up, it's not enough to shatter those bonds.

Instead the temperature in the ice chains along Pearl's arms are just going to freeze more and more. Fei springs back once more and throws himself feet first for that spot once again.

Ruby might have to take direct action lest Fei shatter Pearl's arms. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        Heath, huddling back in the fragile safety of the other orphans, looks up at Janey as she speaks, his eyes growing wide with awe, with a small, slight sliver of hope. "... Janey..."

        Meanwhile, Gwen curses as her knife hits open air, the cultist proving too quick for her, and even quicker than that as they land a hit on Gwen's left arm as she flinches away, blood staining the white cotton of her blouse. Gwen bites back a cry of pain, switching back to her right ARM.

        Still, it doesn't matter how much pain she's in- Gwenheard that, Hiro. "Phrasing, Hiro!" Gwen yells from across the room. "Phrasing!"

        It's in Gwen's rush to try to fend back the cultist dealing with her that she begins to realize one crucial bit of information she missed. Well, not information, more -a person-, namely, Fei. Who is... acting a little less like the friendly neighborhood bum artist who happens to also be a martial artist and more like... someone... dangerous...

        ".... Fei...?" Can she even approach him right now and... be safe? Nono, this is *Fei*, not some powerful psycho like that Grahf guy or Id, for goodness's sake. It's Fei. He'll be fine... right?

        Yes, she needs to keep herself focused! Listen to those words of Janey, realize there was hope. Ambrosius has a point, but Gwen doesn't want to even give it the benefit of acknowledgment, Riesenlied's words driving her to keep holding up that right ARM, despite the pain.

        The cultist keeps dogging her, but if she can just knock them out.... or even, knock out all of them? .... No. Too risky, with so many allies nearby.

        She'll just go for the tried and true, latching onto that previous amount of energy built up. Just the right angle, and maybe, she could hit more than one that way. Yeah. That'll do. Trying her best to evade her cultist attacker, Gwen raises her ARM, palm held facing her pursuer. "I recommend duckin' real soon, I don't wanna kill you if I can help it!" The words are drowned out by the whine of her ARM.

        It releases its charge, a billiant beam of crackling energy shooting across a distance before it's stopped, mostly due to Gwen getting thrown into the waters beyond the dock by the recoil. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
"And she was a kid - and people did this to her! Fei! You can! You can- don't-
 
'I think when your 'power' is just hurting people, it becomes tempting to solve every problem that way.'
 
"-don't let your power be hurting her!"
 
Ruby is nearly frantic - and as she flies off - darting ahead at Pearl as fast as she can fly...
 
'Ruby--don't doubt your instincts. You've got amazing instincts. It's one of the reasons I like you so much.'
 
And taking a deep breath. She starts to breathe fire. It's a pathetic effort - to try to keep the ice chains from freezing so fast and hard that Fei can maim her.
 
'And hey, if all else fails, you can breathe fire. That's something!'
 

GS: Gwen Whitlock has activated a Force Action!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has spent 2 Combo on Headshot and Gatling!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has attacked Pearl with Corona Discharge!
GS: Gwen Whitlock has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Gwen Whitlock's Corona Discharge for 203 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.


        The cultist pacified by Riese just stops. For a moment they stop moving, with the will to fight taken there seems to be nothing left. And then something else occurs to them. Fear. They start to run.

        The cultist attacking Lemina is somewhat surprised that she's even still alive, and rears back for another attack. An attack that doesn't land, as they are blasted away, sent into the wall and knocked unconscious. They will not be getting back up.

        Gwen's opponent receives the entirity of the blast, and with that whole opposite and equal reaction thing in play, they are sent spiraling into a wall, before falling into the water. Luckily, they won't drown without intervention.

        Pearl falls for the feint, and her leg comes out from under her, only to be sent flying from the kicks and sent flying, parts of her uniform burning away, revealing scarred flesh and fresh wounds. The burst of wind proceeds to catch her further, rebounding Pearl off the wall. There is an unpleasant crack sound. The green bolt of energy from Ambrosius slams into her, and she coughs up blood, but doesn't even have the chance to hit the ground as she is caught be the scythe, tearing open the back of her uniform, revealing a large round scar next to her spine, even as Noeline ensures a new one will be forming. As she lands, her leg is encased in flash frozen ice. It's not as on point as maybe Elly had hoped, but it's enough. It's enough for Fei's charge to grab her as she is further frozen by his ether. Kick after kick hammers into her gut, as Fei risks ruining her arms permanently. Yet throughout the assault, she doesn't let out so much as a gasp of pain. Her eyes flash with anger. Not here. Not like this. No.

        She'd kill all of them first.

        The fire cast upon her arm prevents herself from being crippled. The ice on her legs starts to crack Shadow wraps around her, and suddenly dark clones burst forward from her body, four of them launching a kick at Fei from all directions to drive him away. Pearl's grey eyes flash around the battlefield, looking at the dead around her. Another shadow clone bursts out as Pearl starts to break free, aura surging around her body. This clone goes straight for Riesenlied, aiming to rob from the group their support.

        Her legs free, she launches into the air, swinging down with an axe kick at Lemina, letting out a growl as she does so. The ice shatters on her arms as she frees herself, firing a blast of shadow magic towards Gwen, before spiraling out with an open hand claw attack to slice at Noeline and cut away even the flesh of a metal demon.

        Next, she charges at Ambrosius, trying to use speed to get past the veruni's guard with sheer speed, a flurry of knees and elbows aiming for vital organs, before again kicking away. She goes flying for a swift roundhouse at Elhaym's head, and spinning round to follow up with a leg sweep.

        Her eyes turn to Hiro, and again she opens her palms and drives them forward, the wave of dark energy forming into a beam that threatens to engulf Hiro whole, if he can't get away fast enough.

        But she saves the most personal for Jean, dropping into a low stance, then charging forward, palm outthrust, to drive it towards her heart with the ki that drives the victims own energy insane. 

GS: Pearl has attacked Fei Fong Wong with Needle Kick!
GS: Pearl has attacked Riesenlied with Senseless Brutality!
GS: Pearl has attacked Lemina Ausa with Inverse Crush!
GS: Pearl has attacked Gwen Whitlock with Darkness Bolt!
GS: Pearl has attacked Noeline with Inverse Claw!
GS: Pearl has attacked Ambrosius with Umbral Blitz!
GS: Sneak! The true nature of Pearl's attack becomes clear!
GS: Riesenlied takes a solid hit from Pearl's Umbral Ambush for 187 hit points!
GS: Pearl has attacked Elhaym van Houten with Shadow Assault!
GS: Pearl has attacked Hiro with Shadow Dragon Wave!
GS: Pearl has attacked Jean with Shadow Dragon Palm!
GS: Pearl has completed her action.
GS: Ambrosius critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Umbral Blitz for 25 hit points!
GS: Riposte! Statuses applied to Pearl!

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
"... Is that so?" The Cult Leader says of Janey's promise. "Then perhaps I will reunite you - once your training is complete."
 
It sounds like an incentive. A carrot to the stick. Pearl and Jean would know that while he draws mostly from orphans - to those who still had living family - friends - it is sometimes a final test of loyalty to find them and kill them in cold blood.
 
And then - the one Riese pacified makes this horrified noise mid-flight. It is the sound of bones popping and cracking. It might not immediately be apparent why.
 
Until one realizes the Shadow Dragon Cult Leader is lifting that one off the ground with his free hand.
 
"Worthless. That their fear of me was not enough to overcome your magic sapping their will to fight is proof enough of their failure."
 
And then - he quite simply casts that one's corpse into the sewage waters.
 

GS: Noeline takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Inverse Claw for 79 hit points!
GS: Noeline enters CONDITION GREEN!!
GS: Fei Fong Wong guards a hit from Pearl's Needle Kick for 49 hit points!
GS: Break! Statuses applied to Fei Fong Wong!
GS: Hiro critically Guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Wave for 54 hit points!
GS: COUNTER! Jean strikes at Pearl with a counter attack!
GS: Jean takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Palm for 190 hit points!
GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Jean's Counter Attack for 111 hit points!
GS: Fei Fong Wong used the Force Action Protect! He takes Pearl's attack on Elhaym van Houten on himself!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has activated a Force Action!
GS: Fei Fong Wong guards a hit from Pearl's Shadow Assault for 57 hit points!
GS: Fei Fong Wong has Fallen! He is no longer able to fight!
GS: Gwen Whitlock takes a solid hit from Pearl's Darkness Bolt for 104 hit points!
GS: Lemina Ausa guards a hit from Pearl's Inverse Crush for 43 hit points!
GS: Shieldbreak! Statuses applied to Lemina Ausa!

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Once the anger takes root, it's so, so hard to stop. Jean can feel it starting to suffuse her, to twist pain in her shoulderblade and arm and chest into fire as sure as Lemina's magic around her. Noeline's attack in the midst of her own, her resolve to take the children back; Lemina, struck by the very same technique that once so disturbed hr when she saw Jean use it. Ambrosius's ruthlessness. ...Hiro's talking of their strength. Lending each other a hand--

Can she lend a hand to the dead of the Cult at her feet? Even Riesenlied's light does not illuminate the darkening moment for the former assassin.

So as Elly freezes the battlefield down and speaks of power, as Fei cannot hold back, cannot deny his pain--

It all moves around her, as surely as her hair slips free of the bandana with another spin. The cloth flutters away, blown in the wind. She can't break away to defend Lemina. But the mass of magic--

Fei crashes in. Even seeing Pearl struck stokes her anger. All around, they're falling, and she left them to it. And Janey--

As Pearl is slammed backwards, Jean starts to finally come to a stop, and she hears her Master's offer to the girl. She knows in an instant what it means, and her blood finishes turning to ice in an instant. It means she has a perfect vantage of the Cult Leader murdering one who runs.

"You--"

Her hand shakes with it. Her eyes are almost pinpricks for an instant. ...Just long enough. Long enough for Pearl to flash back, and Jean's brown eyes set on her gray as she sees that charge coming for her. A deep shout of sick anger escapes her, from the pit of her stomach, and she reacts on instinct. Pearl's hand is thrust out, her palm ready, but Jean's energy starts gathering already. Her hand, too, starts to turn purple and then black. Pearl makes it to her, thrusts her palm out--

The older Shadow Dragon doesn't even try to dodge. She opens her arms for an instant, taking the attack full-on--but it does not only do what it is meant. Jean's ki starts to surge inside her, starts to burn through her, but she throws her hand straight back at Pearl, the same bent fingers, the same anger--as she, too, delivers the Shadow Dragon Palm, channeling her own seething life energy back as if gripping someone during an electrocution.

The space between them explodes in shadow, as Jean--her fans lost to the ground--seethes forward. Her breathing is stopped for an instant as, with her hand still pressed out--she contracts her fingers into claws, and shoves forward to rake with her free hand aglow with deathly energy.

She doesn't notice the scream as she strikes. 

GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean has spent 2 Combo on Gatling!
GS: Jean has attacked Pearl with Razor Step!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Jean's Razor Step for 202 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        "Don't be afraid. I know you're afraid right now, but... we can make it right-- you can still--"

        Riesenlied lets out a shocked gasp as a bifurcated clone of Pearl emerges out of nowhere, past where her senses can follow. She twists to try to hold that arm of hers out, but is too late, as she's struck vitally on her side, prompting her to collapse to her side again.

        Her eyes pop wide open as she stares towards the cultist she'd managed to pacify, as the cult leader lifts him up with his free hand.

        Janey flinches and looks away, hissing, "Heath, it'll be okay, it'll be okay...." as she utters that like a mantra for herself, over and over.

        "No, no--"

        His bones pop and crack. She covers her hand with her mouth, watching helplessly as he's thrown aside. "How could you...?!"

        The battle is beginning to draw to a horrible climax, one that she's not sure if she likes. Jean is fighting harder and harder... Lemina is hanging on with that wall of hers. Noeline is continuing to press the advantage to protect her... Elly creates that ice and Fei--

        "Fei!"

        She bites her lip, faltering again as she wills herself to do something. Anything. But the bleeding is quite severe.

        She casts her eyes to Gwen and Ambrosius as her vision begins to swim-- and then Jean... Jean utilises that deathly energy of hers. She flinches...

        "Hang in there, Janey...." 

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

It's true. He's empty isn't he? Because of his sin, power is all he ever had.

And in spite of all that power, he always felt so helpless. He couldn't make them hear the truth when he was young. He couldn't save Sophia. He couldn't save the Zeboim. He couldn't make a new future for Filgaia.

He had so much power, but he wished he was weak. If he was weak, he'd have an excuse. He'd have a reason for why he'd keep failing. But he wasn't weak. He had so much power it was so hard not to use it.

Surely, Ruby, you knew he was speaking from personal experience when he said it is tempting to solve every problem with power when you have power.

Fei stops short in between one kick and another, dropping to the ground as he blinks in confusion. "Don't...let my power be hurting her?" He lowers his head. "What else is it good for...?"

Doc and Bart says he can help people with it. He believes that, he always believes that like an idiot and then there's only more corpses. It hurts so much, Ruby. It hurts every time.

But perhaps those flames are pathetic.

But they are the pathetic flames of a dragon and ice chains take weakness damage from it. The chains shatter much more readily to Pearl's own power as Fei just...stops.

Four shadow clones slam into Fei's body. He isn't so down to avoid blocking where he can, but Fei's arms strain and bruise from each repeated strike from the clones. Perhaps his arms will be the first to shatter.

'That's why we need good listeners'.

Fei looks towards Ruby. Has she been listening all this time? Has she been seeing in him what few see? That darkness within him but...not just that darkness.

"Ruby..." Fei says, closing his eyes for a moment. "...Thank you. I almost...haha..." He stands up and a flare of chi aura dispels the shadows--though the damage is in many ways done.

"If I seek any power..." Fei says. "Then the power I seek...is the one that you have!"

But putting whatever that means into practice is going to have to wait. She's going for Elly again and Fei darts into the way, taking the roundhouse to the face. He doesn't fall or go flying, not immediately.

He hears Gwen and Riese's calls. He can fall apart later, but right now he has to say just a little bit to Elly before oblivion takes him.

"Elly," Fei manages, sinking to one knee as oblivion is taking him. Is he about to tell Elly to live?

No. She already lives so perfectly.

"Kick her ass." Fei says before he tumbles forward in a slump. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
Pearl comes at him - and Hiro is charging forward right into his attack. He looks like he's doing so fecklessly. However the moment he sees her palms - the silver blade slashes down.
 
The Killing Wave explodes against the silver blade. Smashing into his shield which he'd raised as his second layer of defense. Then into him.
 
It sends him backwards a good six meters. The blade tinted decidedly black. Shield sizzling.
 
All around him the world is descending into chaos. Another cultist dies at their master's hands. Fei hits the ground protecting Elly.
 
"Fei!"
 
Whereas Ruby flies frantically back towards Fei as four shadow clones slam into him. "Fei..." She shakes him with her little pawsies "Fei! You idiot..." She says with tearfilled eyes. "... I wish you'd remembered sooner before you got yourself hurt."
 
She checks his breathing - his wounds and... then Ruby looks up at Elly with tearfilled eyes. "Don't worry Elly I got your guy now kick her butt!"
 
"Jean! Don't-"
 
And he realizes however she's nearly in the same place she is when she fought Corwynt. His head is swimming. And he remembers - what he said he'd say the day he met her master. "My name is Hiro - and I'm Jean's best student." Holding up his sword in a high guard.
 
The winds swirl raising his orange cape - as his blade erupts into flame. "What she teaches me every day when we train together-"
 
Charging forward - the wind propels him faster and faster.
 
He uses the flat of his blade, his first slash a wave of fire into the cultist's ranks. "-ISN'T ANY-" Another slash detonates in a larger wave of fire. "-KIND OF STRENGTH-"
 
And then his final causing a raging backdraft that washes over Pearl from the frictional heat of his rampaging warpath, "-YOU COULD KNOW!"
 
In one simple summation he vows in a whisper, "This ends."
 
Whether he means the battle - or the cult - or the madness that they inspire isn't clear.
 

GS: Hiro has spent 3 Combo on Gatling!
GS: Hiro has attacked Pearl with Battalion Sword!!
GS: Hiro takes 13 damage from Toxin!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Hiro's Battalion Sword! for 257 hit points!
GS: Pearl has Fallen! She is no longer able to fight!

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina brings her staff up to defend herself against that axe kick -- and it promptly breaks under the strain. Her eyes widen in momentary terror, and she starts backpedaling toward Jean; she... doesn't have a lot of options. She can cast without her staff, certainly -- indeed, its value is fairly marginal -- but...

... the simple fact is that Lemina doesn't want to fight. Instead, as she moves slowly back toward her friends, she starts throwing up wall after wall of ice in front of herself. It's a purely defensive strategy, one which keeps her safe for the moment but not much else... 

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

That single shot wasn't enough. The weapon is stowed away once more as Pearl charges toward him. Her speed is difficult to follow but he manages to intercept the blows, with some effort - it is not at all the idle dismissal from before. He does not seem to be slowed in the least by it, but it does give her room to maneuver away from him without retaliation.

And then he turns to assess the man responsible for all this. He doesn't react at all as he murders one of his own underlings. What, to him, was the death of a human that had wronged him? To the orchestrator, he has but a few words.

"Relinquish the children." He states, clearly and concisely. 

<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.

        Even Pearl has her limits. As her palm strikes home, so too does Jean's, turning the shadow dragon palm against her. She can barely stand. She certainly can't bring her arms up to guard against the fiery winds coming off of Hiro's sword strikes. Each one carves into her and she falters again.

        Jean's claws tear into Pearl's chest, and for a second she just stands there. Her eyes look straight at Jean. But they aren't seeing anything. Her mouth briefly moves, but nothing comes out. And then she drops to her knees, then landing face first on the ground. Her eyes remain open, but there's no consciousness in them.

        It takes a few moments but, finally, she breathes. Raggedly, bloodily, but she breathes.

        At least Jean doesn't have that death on her hands today. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline is breathing hard when Pearl hits the ground, temporarily winded from the force she put into her last blow - but she's still standing, and she knows from long experience that that's what counts the most. Her brow furrows; she looks towards Riesenlied, checks that the other metal demon is alright for certain very specific definitions of 'alright'.

        She doesn't watch as Lunn exacts revenge on his own underling, only grits her teeth and bites back whatever it is she almost feels the need to say, leaving herself to furrow her brow in silence - because what else is there to say, at this point or any other? Instead, she just swallows, and sucks in a breath as she brings her gaze back up towards Lunn. Next comes Janey, she thinks to herself bitterly. 

<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.

        It takes a moment for Gwen to get out of the water, due to the lack of, well, swimming skills. But the water proves to not be so deep that it's a challenge for her to finally haul herself onto the dock, sputtering and coughing. With a side glance to see where her opponent landed, as well as their condition, Gwen mumbles, "that'll teach me to not ignore Auntie's warnings 'bout the recoil..." Her shoulders still bleed from their previous injuries, blood-tinged water beginning to stain the dock as she rests there, just for a moment.

        She's amazed, proud even, of Hiro as he makes his demands clear, Ruby proudly carrying on Fei's not-so-dying (hopefully) wish. ".... Hiro..." Gwen watches in awe, then laughs, pride swelling up in her chest. These are her friends. All of them, to the point that she'd feel crazy enough to go into a cult leader's den with them, to deal with people far out of her league.

        But it still comes at a price. For all of Gwen's pain, she's gotten off easy, possibly needing some care with her wounds to ensure they aren't infected. The others and their wounds? Not so much.

        She sits there, quietly, letting her panting slowly return to normal. She directs her gaze to the masked Lunn, her frown making her position clear.

        Right now, it's all his move. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
"Only one of them." Is the Shadow Dragon Master's evaluation of his students performance - his gaze towards battered and bloodied Pearl is cold and unfeeling. "Pathetic."
 
And yet he does not move to execute his current best student. He doesn't - because she met his expectations despite what he said. Now at least - after assessing the strength of all she was up against.
 
She'll be punished later anyhow of course... but not executed.
 
"I never doubted you for a moment Jean. You make me proud to know that you still remember everything that I taught you. But now you must face me...and we both know that I will use the Shadow Dragon Fist to rip out your beating heart."
 
It's in that moment that he finally puts Janey down - it might be a moment of relief for Ambrosius. Except that he does it roughly, without any care whatsoever for her health.
 
It's a terrible realization to everyone that perhaps he doesn't care if she runs to them. Or to anyone.
 
That he is simply that confident in his power - or arrogant.
 
And then an aura of fighting spirit erupts around him. It's one of intensely negative emotion. A terrible swell of energy as he takes up a fighting stance - and faces Jean.
 
"Welcome home - my best and brightest pupil. If you somehow manage to survive - perhaps I won't need that girl after all."
 

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
All he ever had - until now.

"Fei!" Elly cries out as he lurches forwards, as he intercepts another eruption of those damnable illusions from Pearl. No, they're not illusions. If only they were illusions. He stumbles - he lunges - there is a sick meaty noise that Elly remembers and will probably flinch at in a butcher's shop sometime in the future.

He falls.

Ruby is there, closer than she is. She braces him and Elly sags. She too sinks to her knees, Pearl almost fading out of her awareness for an instance, but Fei speaks to her. Ruby echoes it and she says with a frustration rooted in something deep, "I can't!"

She reaches over to take one of Fei's hands in her own, her eyes flicking up in time to see Lunn's brutality repeated, reified, spoken again. "Ruby I can't beat them," she says softly, as if the miniature dragon is needing her justification. "I - I could kill them, but I can't beat them - I can't just throw a denser -weave- at, at, at at what all of them THINK! What all of them proclaim."

Her eyes brim over.

It keeps coming out as a torrent. "They all tell me to destroy and to break and to lay waste and to kill but it's like the same song coming out of a different speaker and I *HATE* it -" Her eyes turn towards Pearl then.

Lunn keeps speaking. She looks to him, to Janey, to Riesenlied. She seems to have run out of words, or had her words clog up, for the moment. 

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Her best student. ...Hiro, and the strength he claims that Jean has taught him. But has she?

She hears his 'don't', too late, the same way that she can't shield Fei. Every fallen Cultist here feeds that feeling in the pit of her stomach, feeds the chill in her limbs.

No, Hiro's words come too late; as they reach her, Jean stares straight back at Pearl, seeing the way her eyes move sightless, the way she starts to fall. For an instant, she isn't sure--

But no, she can feel it. The other woman is alive. She breathes. Jean looks down at her fallen foe, and remembers: she remembers in great detail what her next task should be, what the path of the Shadow Dragon demands of her.

...Instead, she lets her eyes track towards the Shadow Dragon leader. The bruises on her body are starting to show now; blood at her lip, her hair unbound, her fingertips light at her sides. She hears his words--and when he addresses her--

The hate in Jean's expression is unmistakable; for an instant she is not so different from her master, deathly ki still wreathing her almost invisbily. Her stance is one of hardened spirit, of power in her muscles. She sees Janey fall.

'Welcome home', he says, and her jaw sets. He has taken his stance. ...There is only one thing left for her to do.

"..."

Jean turns fully towards him, lifting her hands in a familiar stance--one known to the elite of the Shadow Dragon, beyond most of those fallen here today. "...No, Master."

"Haaah--!" Jean charges abrubtly, arms pumping, feet slamming silently against the wood of the dock before she leaps, power exuding from her limbs. She swings just as she gets close, extending a flying kick straight for her master's face almost too fast for the eye to follow.

She is not unaware this time of her scream as her foot twists for her teacher. 

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei is out.

But he sleeps restful within a nice bittersweet dream.

You are someone who cannot bear to see others hurt by your own actions.

So you hold everything in and bear all the burden. If you get hurt in the end, you think that's fine. That's...what I like about you.

And perhaps that is the only thing that keeps him from being another ancient song. The one thing that prevents him from becoming truly what he hates most.

What stops Jean from doing the same? 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
Ruby looks up at Elly expectantly for a while. Even as the Shadow Dragon Master faces off against Jean. "... Maybe you don't need to do that then. If you hate that kind of power... then maybe... you can use another... like... like listening to them. Even when other people have quit. Just keep listening to what- what's there... beneath the surface. What's beneath what they're proclaiming... those things they're really feeling behind those words."
 
Ruby's head drops and she starts to mumble, whisper thin - like she's embarrassed and thinks she's being a little silly,. Fei tells me that's what he likes about you... that you're good at listening."
 
-=-=-
 
Jean says No, and her Master starts to laugh - and laugh. It's this horrifying sound like glass and razor blades grating against the ears. When he moves to intercept Jean - he is poetry in motion - he is power incarnate...
 
... and he is a tenth of a second too slow. His block that should have been effortless is just a moment too late.
 
Jean's leg grazes the top of it. And impacts with his mask - sending it flying off his face. "My... my mask!"
 
The arm which was raised as a block obfuscates his face with his ridiculous robe - as he instantly flees towards the little dinghy tied to the docks. With a slice of his arms, the rope is cut - and the current begins to carry him away. The shadows gathering to obscure his boat's position immediately. And there's that terrible laughter again.
 
"I never expected that! If you really believe you stand a chance then come find me again Jean. Come find me and prove the strength of the Shadow Dragon Fist to the world!"
 
The darkness deepens over the docks.
 
And when it clears every cultist that had not perished has disappeared.
 

<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.

As soon as Janey is set down, Ambrosius moves quickly. He can tell by his nonchalant motions that that man no longer cares - indeed, if she were to be caught in the crossfire...

Ambrosius moves to interpose himself between that man and Janey, as well as the rest of the children.

"Stay behind me." He orders. He reaches into his cloak and draws out his revolver, Conversator...but doesn't fire. No, he simply keeps it at the ready - just in case.

There is no telling what may happen from here.

Jean and the Shadow Dragon Master collide...and the former is faster. The man is unmasked, but none of them get an opportunity to see what was behind it as he flees and the Shadow Dragon Cultists disappear.

...Ambrosius returns Conversator to its holster and stands up straight, looking back at the children.

"...Are you alright? I have some healing capability, if anyone needs it." He says. ...This might be a startling contrast to some of them, who very well may have witnessed him murdering a man today. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.

 
And Hiro just watches. He watches as the mask is kicked off. He watches - as Jean comes out of it alive. And he almost asks the first thing that comes to mind. "Everyone o..."
 
There's at least two people dead here. Fei is down on the ground. And he saw the look in Jean's eyes. A question like that sounds really stupid doesn't it?
 
Once upon a time there was a dumb kid who said dumb things. 'I know who you are right now.' 'The past doesn't matter. It's not where you live.'
 
'You can be both things, many things.'
 
'I can't discard my past Hiro. Whether you believe it or not I am those things. It isn't right to the people I killed to pretend otherwise.'
 
After a moment he walks up to Jean, and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Jean you did it. I'm real proud of you. And... I wish that was all I had to say."
 
Hiro takes a deep breath and sighs, "I've sure said a lot of dumb things in the past about who I think you are." Looking off sheepishly to the side, "And I guess this is... part of who you are too."
 
And his smile falters a little, "I just get scared sometimes. I don't want to lose you to this. That's all."
 
Closing his eyes for a moment as if to steady himself, he takes a moment before opening them, "We've got some kids to get back to Taben's Peak - and you've got a tournament to fight - and... because of that you may need to do this again soon. Too soon. And..."
 
Rubbing the nape of his neck he looks embarrassed, "... Ah heck. I'm terrible at this. What I'm really trying to say is I was scared but now I've got confidence we won't lose you."
 
He tries to manage this smile, "Because me and Lemina and Ruby and Lucia... we're all gonna be there to make sure you've got a place to come back to."
 
And also to bring her back - before she goes too far. Every time.
 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        Janey tumbles down to the ground -- but it's all right that Lunn isn't rough with her, because if there's something Janey's great at doing, it's bouncing. Her knee's badly scuffed, and there's a hoarse, haggard breath as she slips away and stares towards the man with a phenomenal presence of negativity--

        --and scurries on over, looking to each of her saviours. To Ambrosius, who she's personally really glad to see; she whispers, "Thanks, Uncle... I--it means a lot that you were here. Really." Her heart wrenches a little when she looks up at Elly and her lament, biting her lip, as she tugs Heath a little closer behind her. "It's okay, Heath, it'll all be all right..."

        She casts a pitiable look at Noeline, lowering her head. "Sorry... mom. Riesemama's-- in a bad way again, isn't she? I said some nasty things just to keep a fib up. Thanks..." as she hunkers down next to the fallen Riesenlied, who-- instinctively still twitches to reach and curl her fingers around the mouse beastgirl's.

        She lifts up her head to Hiro, then nods to Jean too. "... yeah. It's like Hiro said earlier, right? We're strong 'cause we can lend a hand to each other when we need it. 'm not thinkin' any less of you, Jean!" 


<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        With a relieved sigh of air, Noeline tilts her head in an answering nod to Janey - and automatically slips just in front of the beastgirl, as if to protect her from-- from-- to be honest, Noeline isn't able to pin down anything specific, she just knows she wants to cover both Riesenlied and her daughter right at this moment.

        "... you did, and rest assured I'm going to tease Riese about every single thing you said later, especially if you're in earshot," she replies with a huff of air; as much as she teases, the bravado is belied by the obvious tension in her voice, which only abates when she kneels down to place a hand on the girl's shoulder and tug her in for a very rare hug. "You did very well. ... you faced him down, and you're still standing along with everyone else. Well done," she mutters with feeling.

        After dipping her head for a Janey recharge she will never admit to needing, Noeline lets out a breath as she looks up to where Jean awaits. "... I cannot speak to your personal experiences - I cannot begin to tell if the Photosphere is at all similar to the Shadow Dragon Cult. But... it would be very hypocritical of me to suggest that an assassin can never shed their role and find another way. Just as it would be very hypocritical of me to suggest you never use those skills, so long as it's to protect those you give a damn about." 

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

The laughter seems to Jean to rattle in her bones, push at old aches from years and years ago. She knows that he is powerful, but it does not stop her this time. She remembers the last time she faced him, but it does not flood her mind yet. Instead?

Impact. Not with a blocking arm, not with her leg grabbed, but impact, and Jean feels her kick strike home. The mask flies off, and Jean lands in place before her master, in a half-crouch fighting position. ...But already he's moving, already he's farther back even as she sits.

His laughter, his awful certainty. Is that what finding him will mean?

"Master!" she calls out like an accusation, like a curse at his leaving. But the darkness deepens, and she knows they are gone before it lifts. She stares after for a moment--before a glint of light draws her attention to the mask.

...Jean walks to it, kneeling down and picking up the monstrous countenance of metal. She picks it up, and turns to look at Ambrosius, starting to protect the others. ...Maybe she could use some healing, but she doesn't ask for it now.

"..." She says nothing, as she stares down into the mask that dominated her nightmares for so long. Now, now she can recall the ache, the wounds that nearly killed her on the day she escaped--but thinking of the caravan that took her in just makes her close her eyes, shake her head, try to put it aside.

She remembers. Hiro tried to stop her. As she stops where she is, turns to see Hiro walking up to her, there's a deep gulf between them--it's in her eyes, a distant, deep sadness that's almost numb. That's the gaze he gets when he puts his hand on her shoulder; she doesn't flinch, doesn't freeze. Once upon a time, there was a dumb kid who said dumb things. ...Even so...

"It is," Jean agrees, part of who she is. "...It's a part I hoped I could bury. One I hoped I never had to see again." Her voice is quiet, almost mournful but too restrained for that.

Hiro says he has faith, and she watches him for a long few moments... and manages a small smile.

"I hope you're right," she says to Hiro. "I want to come back. But..."

Jean looks out to where the dock leads, to where the boat must have gone, well out of sight.

Noeline looks to her, speaks to her, and Jean turns her head her way. "...Maybe there are similarities," she answers, not really knowing for sure herself. "I hope you're right, too. ...But more and more, it doesn't look like I can. That I'll have to use what I've learned."

She steps closer, and kneels down to get on Janey's level, managing a smile at her. "...Thank you," she says. "Let's get you, the others, and your mothers out of here, all right? A sewer isn't the right setting for someone that well-dressed," she says with a glance up to Noeline--and a more serious look.

"...All I know is that I can't run away any longer."

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