2019-05-30: The Wave and the Weave
- Log: The Wave and the Weave
- Cast: Seraph Amaranth, Pearl, Layna Manydays
- Where: The Moonflow
- Date: May 30, 2019
- Summary: While walking through the Moonflow, Katherine Weaver is confronted by an assassin who is very interested in the artes she has displayed. Just as things are looking grim, someone intervenes...
==============================<* The Moonflow *>============================== The Moonflow is a large river that bisects Spira's largest island into southern and northern halves. Strange flowers called Moonlilies grow on the Moonflow's banks, attracting pyreflies that gather on its surface at night, making the water sparkle. Although a beautiful area, the weather tends to be overcast more often than not, the souls of the dead providing the most reliable source of illumination. The primary method of crossing the Moonflow is aboard a shoopuf - an elephantine creature that can swim across the expansive river. The crossing service is funded by the Temple of Yevon and is free of charge.
DC: Pearl switches forms to Shadow Dragon Assassin Pearl!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Amaranth has had quite the bundle of work to do ever since she found out about her sister Ragnell (and has subsequently not found out she's still alive); Mushroom Rock Road and Operation Mi'ihen has given her a lot to think about and do in Talia's coattails, and it's now at the end of an exhausting week that...
... she's decided to just spend some time in the Moonflow, as Katherine Weaver the seamstress, trying to unwind and try to push the thoughts of how she had to use the Shadow artes in public. Hopefully no one saw. No one would spread the word. The Guard was busy and distracted in Mi'ihen and Kilika.
She can only hope. She knows the Cult's reach is wide, but Spira is untested grounds...
But the purple-haired seamtress with the two ponytails and her penchant for extravagant dresses leaves quite a trail, amongst those that can see Resonance -- and there's plenty of those here in the lands who have eyewitness accounts.
How will this day end, for Katherine Weaver?
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Unfortunately for Katherine Weaver, a shadow stalks after her.
A figure moves silently between the trees. While the Guard may have been distracted, there were a crowd of onlookers in Luca. And some few of that crowd talked about something that happened. A Garuda, slain in a single movement. Interrogation of one of these onlookers revealed a description, if not a name.
Their body washed up on the docks later that evening.
Pearl sits in the shadows, waiting for her moment. She feels liberated, no longer having to wear the disguise that she had borne in Filgaia and much of Spira so far. Others in the cult had made it to Spira. That she knew. But this description was not a member of the cult she knew.
She didn't have the resonance to see Katherine Weaver what she was last time the two met. This time is different. Pearl can see, with difficulty, the trail that follows her.
There's a sudden shift, and then Pearl is right in front of Katherine, caring not for witnesses at this point. There was not likely to be any here who could stop her. Her cold grey eyes fix on Katherine's.
"You." The note of recognition for the woman she encountered in Meribia. "You will talk."
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna Manydays, newly mantled Seer of Water, just so happens to be in the area. She had her own reasons for being here. Nothing grand, of course - she was just here for a pleasant walk. In her case, this also involves keeping an eye out for any Fiends that she could clear out to make sure the pathway remained clear for travelers.
She doesn't look like much, at the moment. She's dressed in her typical Spiran attire - a red Blitzball uniform with the logo for her crew's team on the back. Her hat was presently missing.
She does not, as it happens, find a Fiend. What she does pick up is much more interesting - her spiritual senses are catching something, but she isn't sure yet.
She wanders in that direction and pauses, taking note of the seamstress...and, the ominous looking figure who just appeared in front of her.
Layna frowns. She doesn't intervene just yet, but her body is tensed and ready to intervene at the first sign of possible violence.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Katherine jolts up with her arms out as sheer survival instincts flare up to the surface and--
She twirls her finger around her ponytail cutely as she stammers and giggles, saying, "H-hellooo, who might you beee?" with a clear tone of anxiety and panic realised underneath the sweet tone she's laying on.
She's not fooling anyone, though, and she knows it. She remembers the woman from before. From Meribia, when she interfered with the orphan that wandered down the town's streets. She barely escaped with her trickery here, but could she pull off another escape?
"I'm Katherine Weaver. I'm a seamstress. M-may I interest you in a nice new blouse for yourself, miss?"
She actually winks and a cartoon star flies out of the corner of her eye as she makes another put-uponly-cute expression. Her eye flits to Layna's for a moment and they scream 'HELP'.
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
The attempt to disarm the situation with cute expressions and an attempt at a new outfit fall on deaf ears. Pearl's eyes shoot over toward Layna, making note of a potential threat. It is not enough to dissuade her. "I do not have time for this. We will do this the hard way."
Layna doesn't have to wait long for the first sign of violence from the black clad woman, as Pearl's hand shoots out at Katherine, aiming to drive into her chest with an open palm strike. Purple ki flows through her hand, something that should be familiar to Katherine- the Shadow Dragon Palm, one of the staple killing moves of the Shadow Dragon Cult.
"This will answer my question either way." Her voice remains cold, as she moves to see how Katherine will react? Will she die? Or is she familiar enough with the style to dodge?
She continues to ignore Layna, leaving herself seemingly open for an attack.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Katherine stammers with a very genteel wink to say, "T-the hard way? Oh dear, ma'am, I'll have you know I'm already spoken foooorrrr--??"
And then it happens before she can even really consciously think about it as the garb-clad woman's hand shoots forward; she senses the purple ki's emergence before her eyes can follow it...
And Pearl senses a sudden shift in her cutesy movement to something deeply instinctual -- her wrist flicks forward in flow with Pearl's outstretched palm in what she can tell is a similar technique to one of the Shadow Dragon's many hand-to-hand reversals. It buys her enough time to distort the twisted, purple ki--
Before she bounces away with a squeal and a yelp, going back to outwardsly cutesy as the Palm narrowly misses claiming her life to devour air instead.
There's no mistaking it. There is familiarity there. That's not a counter someone with no knowledge of the style would choose to do. But it feels... slightly different. Older, perhaps.
"Aah, aiee, aiee...! Help, someone, anyone!" Katherine screams with beads of tears in her eyes as she, also, opportunely sneaks somewhat to the left and behind of Layna.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It's hard to ignore eyes like that. Layna hoped it wouldn't come to this, but...well, if she was being honest with herself, the way it was looking, she didn't have much choice.
Layna charges in as Pearl drives her hand toward Katherine. That purple ki...there's something familiar about it, but she can't quite place where she saw it last. But she doesn't have to be familiar with it to see how dangerous the technique is.
Red energy surrounds Layna's right hand as she rushes forward before she thrusts it in Pearl's direction, as if seizing something. That something is her own physical strength, seeking to level the playing field a bit.
Layna can tell she isn't dealing with the average bandit here - she can tell by the way the woman in the dark clothes carries herself that she is not an opponent to be trifled with. She'll have to take this seriously for once.
Fortunately, though, Katherine manages to - at least from Layna's point of view - just barely avoid her ambusher's attack. Layna can't recognize that it was a practiced motion - there's something to it, but she can't quite tell what.
"So, I take it this isn't just your average highway robbery situation. What exactly's goin' on here?" Layna asks. Katherine moves to stand to the left and behind her and Layna looks back briefly out of the corner of her eyes.
"Just stay behind me, aye? But if you see an opening, get outta here." She whispers.
GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Pearl with Plunder Power! GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action. GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Plunder Power for 0 hit points! GS: Weaken! applied to Pearl! GS: Mighty! applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
It's not a perfect match; there are variances that are not how she was taught. But it's enough. Enough to give her the information she needs. "Who are you, really?" She asks, intending to continue her pursuit of Katherine.
It is then that a pirate intercedes. Pearl tries to move out of the way, but she left herself too open to Layna. The blow connects, and while no damage has been done, Pearl can feel the sapping of her strength. Well, this is a problem.
Layna doesn't get a direct response, the masked woman not deigning to answer her question. "I see I have to kill two people today." Grey eyes glare at Layna, but perhaps, underneath that mask, is a hint of a smile.
This is the first time since being stranded in Filgaia that she has had the opportunity to cut loose. To not handicap herself with the other style. To finally have a proper fight. "I can do that."
Pearl suddenly charges in with her hand curled in a claw like fashion, and purple ki flares from her hand, slicing out at Layna with a razor's edge. The goal is to cut at her neck, but without the accuracy needed for an instant kill. Almost as if she's more interested in causing pain than quickly finishing the fight.
GS: Pearl has attacked Layna Manydays with Inverse Claw! GS: Pearl has gained 3 Combo! GS: Pearl has completed her action. GS: Layna Manydays takes a glancing hit from Pearl's Inverse Claw for 80 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Katherine doesn't know Layna personally, but she has enough training to know who's a bystander (like her??) and who's trained in a fight; and by the way the pirate rushes forward with a red glow of power in her hand, she's glad she didn't pick wrongly.
"O-okay! Thank you for saving me, Miss...?" Katherine's got her hands cupped to her cheeks as she lays the act on thick.
Pearl asks her who she is, and she-- stammers and lets out an extra-bright, nervous laugh to say, "No one in particular! Just Katherine Weaver, a seamstress out to make people's dreams come true!"
why are you giving her more leads to follow up on?? thinks Ammy to Katherine.
Even her eyes are grey, she notes. She gasps as the purple ki flares out again and she shouts out a, "Watch out!"
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Layna - Layna Manydays." Layna replies. But her eyes are on Pearl.
"We'll see about that." She replies. Her body tenses as Pearl charges in, and Katherine's cry alerts her to the true danger of the attack at the last second. Layna dodges to the side - though making sure not to leave Katherine open to attack - wincing as the ki slices into her.
Wincing...but at the same time, a slight grin crosses her face. That hurt - but she had been looking for a proper fight, after all. It was a good sign.
"You're getting a kick outta this, huh...?" Layna remarks. The attack's true intention wasn't lost on her.
She lunges forward then with a quick, aggressive body blow accompanied by the stirrings of wind.
GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Pearl with Dread Momentum! GS: Layna Manydays has gained 1 Combo! GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action. GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Dread Momentum for 139 hit points! GS: Layna Manydays assumes the Avenger stance!
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
The warning comes out just early enough, and Pearl growls slightly. But she doesn't have time to retort, as the combination of fist and wind magic and driven into her stomach. Pearl is knocked backwards and airborne, but recovers into a flip that leaves her landing on her feet. She drops back into a fighting stance, and starts to move toward Layna. Once again, she doesn't grace the Pirate with a reply.
As Pearl advances, shadowy forms emerge behind her, three to be precise. Each is a match for Pearl, only discolouration around the face giving away which is real and which is fake. Another of the Shadow Dragon's brutal techniques.
AThe four leap as one, and launch into kicks at Layna from four directions, aiming to surround her and give her no room to escape. It doesn't matter which of them connects, the shadow clones have power behind their kicks.
GS: Pearl has attacked Layna Manydays with Needle Kick! GS: Pearl has gained 1 Combo! GS: Pearl has completed her action. GS: Layna Manydays takes a solid hit from Pearl's Needle Kick for 101 hit points! GS: Break! applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
That Layna woman's good, Ammy thinks. Her posture, the way in which she strikes without leaving openings that're easily exploited... she's been through a number of battlefields, she can tell. But her opponent is a member of the Shadow Dragon--
And a facet of the Shadow Dragons involves the use of shadow-clones to take the advantage over one's opponents. A simple warning won't dissuade this attack; there's a wince as her heart starts beating harder and harder.
She should run, she has the opening. Layna warned her as much. But leaving her alone like this--
There's not enough time to think. "Your flank, Miss Layna!" she calls, at the same time a little shadow magic erupts; it's nothing as intricate or realised as one of Pearl's shadow clones -- little more than a wall of ambient darkness -- but just like that reversal before, it's well-founded in the roots of disrupting ki with ki to soften the blow of that particular clone should it pass through and connect with Layna.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna observes the way Pearl recovers and reacts to her move with interest, though the lack of a response it's get a slight frown out of her.
Pearl advances and Layna takes a moment to crack her knuckles, carefully studying the images that fan out behind her opponent. She lowers herself into a defensive stance...but in the end, she spots the real one a moment too late.
Not that it matters in the end, as the four images surround her, blocking off her escape route, and each one of them delivers a kick that's as real as any other. Katherine's warning buys her some time, however, softening an otherwise painful blow.
Layna lets out a grunt of pain, but at the same time, the bracer on her right hand ignites. The wind picks up, fanning the flames. They begin to dance angrily
"Get back!" She warns Katherine. As she does so, the gale erupts into a whirlwind of flame localized around her, seeking to consume Pearl's shadow clones - and her along with them, if she isn't careful.
GS: Layna Manydays has spent 1 Combo on Poison! GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Pearl with Searing Tempest! GS: Layna Manydays has gained 1 Combo! GS: Mighty expired! GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action. GS: Pearl takes a glancing hit from Layna Manydays's Searing Tempest for 68 hit points! GS: Pearl suffers an additional 20 from Poison's Combo effect! GS: Poison! applied to Pearl!
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Pearl isn't quite quick enough to avoid the flames entirely, catching a burst of flame as she once again launches herself into the air to get distance. The shadow clones are not so lucky, destroyed and dispersed by the fires. When Pearl lands, she does nothing to put out the flames. It's obviously painful, but she's showing no hint of distress.
Her eyes turn towards Katherine again. "Interfering, while being too much of a coward to fight." There is a strong note of derision in her voice. "To think one such as you knows our arts."
Her focus returns to Layna, and Pearl moves with the speed she has been showing, closing the distance between her and Layna near instantly. There is no ki with this attack, no special power behind it. Just Pearl's own raw strength, as she moves to drive an elbow into Layna's throat. It's simple, but no less brutal for it. Even without the Shadow Dragon's corrosive ki, Pearl can throw power behind her blows. Power, and anger.
GS: Pearl has attacked Layna Manydays with Fury Charge! GS: Pearl takes 24 damage from Poison! GS: Weaken expired! GS: Pearl has completed her action. GS: Layna Manydays completely evades a hit from Pearl's Fury Charge! GS: Pearl assumes the Avenger stance!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Katherine lets out an alarmed yelp as Layna summons her flame tornado, looking around and rather hurriedly ushering anything that could be flammable out of the way. She's panicky and yelpy, but the way she moves any would-be bystanders and idle objects has a purposeful gait behind it.
A consummate actress, this one.
"T-that's mean," Katherine whines to Pearl as she calls her a coward.
To think one such as you knows our arts.
"E-ehee... I don't knoooow what you mean--" there's a jolt as she realises too late she's honing her senses on Ki and Pearl's taken advantage of it to simply do a brutal, physical attack. "Ah--!"
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
As the flames disperse, Layna's bracer dims, returning itself back to its normal state. She watches with a raised eyebrow as Pearl lands, aflame but not doing anything about it.
"...Damn." She remarks, a little impressed despite herself. But at the same time, also a little disturbed.
"Hey now, nothin' cowardly 'bout not wantin' to fight. Some people's talents lie elsewhere. But I guess that don't mean much, comin' from me." Layna remarks.
Katherine might have been focusing on ki, but Layna's eyes were still on Pearl's movement. Pearl moves with blinding speed with an elbow aimed toward her throat.
It's a dangerous attack - if it hit her square on, Layna's sure she wouldn't be able to recover. And Pearl's approaching too quickly for her to dodge under her own power. She recites a quick incantation and a gust of wind shifts her diagonally out of the way. And then Layna turns, using the momentum to send another powerful bodyblow toward Pearl...
...but this is a feint, as another whispered incantation stirs up the wind as her fist moves through it, causing it to sweep out toward Pearl, sharp and cutting like a pirate's cutlass.
GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Pearl with Cutlass Gale! GS: Layna Manydays has gained 3 Combo! GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Pearl takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Cutlass Gale for 189 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
Layna's burst of wind magic gets her clear, but Pearl is not quick enough to do the same. The scything winds slice into her, and there is a spurt of blood in the air. For a second it looks like Layna might have her. But she doesn't, not yet. Blood drips down from her chest, and flames continue to burn. She underestimated this opponent, that much is clear. "Layna Manydays. How interesting." Pearl's stance changes, planting her feet on the ground.
Her eyes shift to Katherine, and she starts channeling ki. "I wonder how much you have learnt."
The technique is one of the advanced skills of the Shadow Dragon Cult. One not taught to every student. It required a certain level of seniority. But she may still have seen it. Pearl's eyes return to Layna, and suddenly she thrusts her hands forward.
A beam of dark purple energy flies from her hands, streaking through the air at speed. But it's target is not Layna this time.
This time, it is heading squarely for 'Katherine'.
GS: Pearl has spent 3 Combo on Gatling, including 3 on Gatling! GS: Pearl has attacked Seraph Amaranth with Shadow Dragon Wave! GS: Pearl has gained 2 Combo! GS: Pearl takes 20 damage from Poison! GS: Pearl has completed her action. GS: Layna Manydays used Defend! She takes Pearl's attack on Seraph Amaranth on herself! GS: Layna Manydays takes a solid hit from Pearl's Shadow Dragon Wave for 191 hit points! GS: Seraph Amaranth has adjusted their boss level for 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"...Still goin', even after all that. You're a tough one, I'll give you that." Layna remarks, eying Pearl carefully. This confirms her earlier assessment - the woman before her was dangerous. If was in that kind of strength, but still had the determination to fight...
Layna continues watching Pearl carefully as she prepares another attack...and then thrusts her hand forward. She realises at the last second, however, that Pearl's target is not her, but Katherine.
Layna curses under her breath and recites another incantation. Like before, the wind shifts her aside, this time putting her in front of Katherine. There's no time to dodge it - she hunkers down into a defensive stance but the beam of dark purple energy sears right through.
Layna lets out a choked gasp before stumbling back and falling to one knee, one hand clutching her torso where it struck her.
That awful power...it was intense. With a sharp intake of breath Layna forces herself back into a standing position.
Her eyes are defiant, but her stance is shakier than before - it's impressive she even survived, but it took a lot out of her.
The situation is precarious.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Layna gives reassuring words, but perhaps it's not the cowardice that bothers Katherine as much; being identified, exposed out into the open now, having her worst fears realised... she's still struggling with the 'Ammy' yelling at her to make herself scarce. And her inability to just book it and leave Layna and the other bystanders to deal with a problem she caused.
But that hesitation costs her, and Pearl knows that much; that wavering flicker of ki erupts once more as she challenges her and asks how much she's learnt.
The Shadow Dragon Wave. "So you've attained that level of seniority...?" Katherine sounds like she's in enough shock to break character for a moment, swallowing as the beam fires at her at high speeds. Her eyes widen as her pupils shrink. That's not good-- she was expecting it to come Layna's way-- she can't dodge--
But then Layna charges forward and shifts by her side, protecting her.
"M-Miss Layna? Why?" She hears her choked gasp, as she stumbles to one knee. The damage is intense, but still she rises...
That she'd do that for me...
Katherine's lips firm for a moment. "Disciple. I do not know your name, but..."
She steps forward. The cutesyness is gone again; she gently places her hands over her vibrant violet eyes and 'wipes' through them--
--and what is in place is much like Pearl's. Gray eyes; but in her place, there are heavy, filmy cataracts.
The ki gathers about her -- and Pearl can see that the technique she's utilising is indeed one of the Shadow Dragon Wave. Yet it moves, mutably; she doesn't gather it into a single lancing beam like Pearl just did. No; where Pearl struck with devastating, awful force...
Katherine's fingers move in a graceful, effortless mudra. The ki manifests around the ninja-garbed assassin in patterns similar to that of threads manifesting into a weave-like pattern.
Where the Wave strikes with force...
"Please leave us."
The Weave binds with grace.
GS: Seraph Amaranth has attacked Pearl with Shadow Dragon Weave! GS: Seraph Amaranth has completed her action. GS: Pearl takes a solid hit from Seraph Amaranth's Shadow Dragon Weave for 0 hit points! GS: Pearl enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Poison expired!
<Pose Tracker> Pearl has posed.
The fact that Layna's still standing after taking the full effect of the Shadow Dragon Wave is impressive. It means Pearl will have to try that much harder to kill her. Something she is looking fully prepared to do. The reaction from Katherine gets a response. "You admit it." There looks to be more, to be said, but Pearl notices Katherine preparing a move of her own. "...Finally. You are prepared to fight." She watches as the mask is dropped, grey eyes meeting grey eyes. She drops into a combat stance, waiting to see what Katherine has up her sleeve
The technique is... different from anything she has learned. This is not a secret that has been imparted to her. It may not even be in the annals of the current incarnation of the Shadow Dragon Cult. The threads wrap around her, and her arms and legs are bound by the ki. It is not painful, but it is effective. She tries to pull free of the bindings upon her, but struggle as she might, she can't. As she continues to try and bring brute force to break free, she cannot. For the moment, Pearl is halted.
For the moment.
Suddenly, the telltale darkness of shadow magic surrounds Pearl, suddenly engulfing her. A voice echoes out from the darkness. "I will find you again, 'Katherine Weaver'."
When the shadow fades, Pearl is gone, the only sign of her presence being the blood on the banks of the Moonflow River.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Katherine asks her 'why'. Layna grins back at her - pained, but confident.
"I'm just...not the type to let someone else get hurt if I can help it, y'know?" She replies with some effort.
The change in Katherine's demeanor is quickly noticeable. She watches as Katherine does...something. It's another ki manipulation technique, Layna can tell that much - similar to Pearl's but different - instead of striking with overwhelming power, it binds Pearl in place with threads of energy.
Temporarily, at least - until the shadows engulf Pearl, and when they clear...she's gone.
Layna frowns, still tense as she eyes the position where Pearl used to be.
But, when it's clear she's not coming back Layna sighs as she relaxes, though winces as she does so. Now that the adrenaline was fading, she could really feel the impact - she'd probably still be hurting for a while.
She looks toward Katherine, then, with a question in her eyes. She's curious about what all that was, of course, and how they were connected. She wants to ask, but, rather than asking that...
"...You alright?" She asks, deciding to instead focus on Katherine's well-being. "Where were you headed, lass? You okay headin' there on your own, or would you be more comfortable if I walked with you?"
Either way, Layna figures she's going to have to take some time to recover...
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Amaranth has posed.
Katherine's blood is all but frozen as Pearl breaks free of the Weave; she didn't expect it to hold an assassin of her calibre for long, but it was enough for her to decide that retreat was the better course of action. Her voice is chilling. Chilling to her core. She will find her again...
"... ... ..."
She 'wipes' her fingers over her eyes again, and that violet gleam is back. Like a glamour.
"... I'm... in a lot of trouble now," Katherine answers very honestly, deflated. "So I'm afraid I'm not all right..."
She sucks in a deep breath to try to calm herself. Tell Talia. It's your prerogative.
She looks to Layna again. "I run a shop just nearby... the Festina Lente. Would-- would you like to come by? I--"
She bites her lip.
"Let me at least treat your wounds there, for what you've done for me."
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"...Aye, that's fair." Layna agrees with a nod, as Katherine remarks that she's in a lot of trouble. That made sense - this was no random attack. That woman was after her for a reason.
Katherine offers to treat her wounds and, after a moment, Layna nods.
"...Aye. Thanks, lass, that'd be appreciated." She agrees with a nod, then gestures out. "Lead the way?"