2023-03-25: Old Intelligence, New Questions
- Log: Old Intelligence, New Questions
- Cast: Amaterasu, Hannah Curie, Timu Guado, Nina Chiyome
- Where: Kislev-Aveh Front
- Date: March 30, 2024
- Summary: Following some intel prised from the Kislevi camp, Hannah follows up on a map detailing an apparent Kislevi supply depot in use at some point... but is anyone or anything there anymore? What she does find might only demonstrate that the nature of the situation is more complicated than first anticipated.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
The Kislevi supply depot, as it happens, is located quite a ways to the northeast of the ruins of Lahan (and thus also from the rift) but still a considerable distance from Kislev's border. Technically speaking, this would put it within Aveh's territory. One would assume that that Aveh is well-aware of Kislev's push towards the rift; the relative silence -- even in the context of the years-long unofficial cessation in overt hostilities between the two nations -- may be more unnerving than reassuring.
High metal fencing surrounds the complex, itself stood up only fairly recently (and it looks the part). Vehicle treadmarks and Gear footprints suggest that there was some activity here in the last few days. But at the moment, the depot itself is quiet. There's no sign of any guards atop the watchtowers. Are they simply out of sight, or are they not here at all? Is there a chance this place was abandoned?
But that itself seems odd. One would expect Kislev to want to keep what appears to be a critical supply line between their base near the rift and their operations within their own borders well-guarded: again, Aveh is unlikely to be taking kindly to the incursion, and if they found this place they would certainly seek to level it.
Or is it perhaps possible that Kislev has already moved its supply line in anticipation of a strike?
There are no answers from this side of the fencing. To find out more, one will need to take risks and get closer.
<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.
Hannah liked to consider herself a responsible Drifter. A responsible person in general, really. And she would never endanger the lives of two children in her charge by taking them, willy nilly, into a military installation.
But she was also inquisitive and curious, and the news of a Kislevi supply depot, especially one located within Aveh's territory was too tantalizing of a lead to drop right away. Who knew how old that intel was, after all. She'd taken the detour, but had stopped a fair distance away from the base, instructing Timu and Nina to stay out of sight and also to keep an eye on her while she sent Zephyr ahead. Zephyr had taken off, Hannah had closed her eyes... and sometime later had declared that the base seems abandoned.
How she knew that, when the three of them couldn't even see the base from their current hiding spot...
But that mystery had enticed her to draw closer.
"Stick close to me," she reminded them as they approached the base. "Anythin' goes down, run. I'll cover you both. The base seemed abandoned but there could still be somethin' here Zephyr can't spot from the air."
Zephyr is circling high in the air as the trio approaches, Hannah in the lead.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Luckily, Timu already has some experience in avoiding Kislevi patrols courtesy of sticking around Rille for a short time before the general Drifter community touched base back with the Ignas continent of Filgaia, which is where she ended up after she left Spira.
Timu is lanky, but the Guado are adapted to both climbing and rapid movements. She nods along at Hannah's instructions as she stays low. Her Pokeballs stay in reach just in case, her healer's staff low to the ground as she moves in from close behind.
She closes her eyes, takes in a breath, and keeps moving. She's not sure she'll ever be fully used to a world where analogues of machina rifles aren't just commonplace, but actively deployed in far greater amounts than the admittedly hypocritical level of deployment and coverage seen about the former organization of Yevon.
"I hope Zephyr will be okay," she says. "I don't want to see him hurt."
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
The ninja known as Nina is far from a reasonable person more than she'd like to admit, but it's typical rebellion anyway, right?
Still, she's actually surprisingly serious as they scope the situation out. Covered in local dirt and mud with a few things to break up her profile. As goofy as she can be, she's once again showing her mettle! As she sees it at least.
Hannah's warning is given a faint, "Split up a little bit and slow down. This much movement this close together'll get us caught." It's not a whisper. It's an undertone. Quiet. Doesn't carry as far! (She thinks at least.)
The bird taking off is given a faint notice, she can't talk to it though and.. really none of her pokemon would be ideal here. Well, maybe Froslass, but that's risky for a few reasons. She'll worry about it if it comes up.
"He should be fine." She murmurs to Timu, still on the lookout. She.. might be trying to slow move away from the other two just in case though. Practicing what she preaches and all!
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
As Zephyr flies over the depot, the whole of the grounds become clear to him, and thus he can easily determine one thing:
It really does look like the depot has been abandoned. The tracks are deep and the ground torn up within the boundaries of the metal fencing, but it seems as if this had happened some days ago. There is no apparent sign of life near the depot itself; no one appears to be in the guard towers. If anyone is here, they would have to be inside. And yet, it seems unlikely that such a thing would be so.
This far close to the Kislev border, at this time of year, there is a particular chill in the air. Frost clings to the ground.
It means that when someone drops down behind the trio, the soil groans in protest.
Hannah might know best of all of the three of them, though...
...that the woman who stands there, her weapon ablaze with light, her face concealed behind an illuminated faceplate, is no Kislevi soldier. Even the Kislevi aren't quite so tall. Or bear such weapons or armor.
Amaterasu's bodysuit shines at points with its own light.
"Not Avehan soldiers... unless they have become so desperate," Amaterasu muses, her bladed polearm at the ready. "But that begs the question: why are you here?" She advances, the earth crunching underfoot. Minutely, her gaze takes in Timu... and Nina. "A Guado. Very far from home, at that. And..."
There is a long pause.
"...How very interesting. I had hoped for sport with wandering Avehan soldiers, but you have me interested, child of Energy Nede! Very well! Let me test your mettle!"
Without warning, shadow and ghostlike forms rise to swirl about the feet of all three of them: it would seem that the shadow of plate armor settles around them to sink into their very flesh.
"Now! Face me!" Amaterasu commands, standing ready with her weapon in hand.
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuCllAMZZqo
GS: Amaterasu has attacked Hannah Curie with Ghostdark Purge! GS: Amaterasu has attacked Timu Guado with Ghostdark Purge! GS: Amaterasu has attacked Nina Chiyome with Ghostdark Purge! GS: Amaterasu has gained 2 Combo! GS: Amaterasu's stances have changed from Counter to Counter and Hero! GS: Amaterasu heals Timu Guado! She gains 90 temporary hit points! GS: Hyper applied to Amaterasu! GS: Amaterasu heals Hannah Curie! She gains 89 temporary hit points! GS: Hyper applied to Amaterasu!
DC: Nina Chiyome switches forms to Kunoichi in Training!
<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.
Hannah offers Timu a warm smile for her friend Zephyr. "Don't worry hun, Zephyr's as scrappy as I am. When we get away from here, I'll tell ya about the time he took on a bear. 'Sides, nobody pays birds much mind most of the time."
Nina talks about spreading out and moving slowly. "Normally I'd agree, but Zephyr ain't able to see any guards. If they got any kinda electronic surveillance though that ain't gonna help us that much in this case. I wouldn't be gettin' this close at all if the place didn't seem abandoned."
Zephyr is keeping an eye on the group, including Nina when she tries to spread out a little bit more.
The tracks on the ground do draw her notice, though. "These're fresh... couldn't be more'n a few days old. So people were here..."
Zephyr is keeping his eye on multiple things for Hannah, and he happens to be sweeping through the base at the moment that Amaterasu drops behind the group. (He will very quickly pull up with a startled squawk and double back, however, circling high overhead.)
Hannah herself whirls around, eyes widening at the sight of Amaterasu, whom she had last seen under some very... trying circumstances, to put it mildly. She immediately rushes to the back of the group, crest graph drawn and blazing with power. "Girls, behind me." Her tone makes it clear this is not a suggestion.
"Amaterasu," she says, coldly. "We ain't with Aveh, and we ain't got no quarrel with you. If you're lookin' for sport, I'll give you plenty, but leave the kids outta this." Hannah is the shortest of this little group, at 5' even, but despite that is the oldest and most sesoned adventurer here. She's dressed in a short green dress and a black hooded robe, with leggings and a pair of hiking boots. She still has the same pink curly hair and serious green eyes from their last encounter on that lonely, forsaken island.
Quietly, she says, under her breath. "Timu, Nina, change of plans. Throw everythin' you've got at her. Don't let up, an' when the moment comes, Zephyr'll lead you clear from here."
And with that, she whips out a crest graph, one blazing a bright blue in fractal whisps. With a shout of "Winter's Grasp!" she slams it into the ground. A wave of sharp, jagged ice bursts out, full of sharp edges and surging for Amaterasu to try and encase her in ever-expanding ice.
GS: Hannah Curie has attacked Amaterasu with Winter's Grasp! GS: Hannah Curie has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
She listens to Hannah's reassurance and the read from what Zephyr's seeing - although there's always curiosity in how Hannah could know about some of the details she'd convey from time to time.
Timu's composure falters as she leaps from the sudden seismic force of someone's presence, whirling about-face to see the intimidating figure looking none worse for the wear.
"Hannah, Nina," Timu says the names as if they couldn't have noticed, her posture in a low skulking crouch - an instinctual Guado thing under duress - taking a few steps away as Amaterasu gives her read of the lot. She goes behind Hannah, as instructed.
'A Guado. Very far from home, at that. And...'
"Spira's no longer my home," those words are the first sign, however fleeting, of a backbone in the young woman as Amaterasu speaks of interest in testing mettle. Timu flinches again as shadowy forces swirl from the bottom up, ensnaring - no, reinforcing - them. Small aches and pains from incidental scrapes and other marks common in Drifter travel seem to fade, or at least... not really affect her.
There is no running from this battlefield, as if a promise of scarlet rain in this leg of the odyssey.
Throw everything - ahem, everythin' - they got.
Timu has to take a few steps to the side from the immense bursts of jagged ice - it's something that feels beyond she's seen even by the best Blizzard spellcasters of the Guado, and considering Seymour that's saying a lot - as she straightens her healer's staff upright.
One of her Pokeballs start to rattle as she sucks in a breath. Amaterasu would be aware that the Guado are known for their ability to weave Fiends out of pyreflies to their defense. There aren't any pyreflies around here. And yet...
"All right," Timu nods, as she takes the Pokeball, holds it aloft, and throws it. "Moteray!"
In a flash of light from when the ball hits the ground, a small stingray-like creature flits into the air, and in a weird direction that seems irrelevant to the starting of hostilities, but that's just her Moteray's style.
"Moooote~" But they are narrowing their eyes at Amaterasu. He knows. He just goes where he wants.
Timu clutches her staff for another moment of composure, looks up with eyes open, and gestures with her left hand. "Open with Thunder Shock!"
"Ray!" Moteray calls, as he opens his mouth and fires off a little spark of electricity that jumps forth towards the battle-hardened, battle-ready, battle-everyapplicableadjective warrior of the Veruni before them.
GS: Timu Guado has attacked Amaterasu with Thunder Shock! GS: Timu Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Timu Guado has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Amaterasu mostly guards Hannah Curie's Winter's Grasp for 24 hit points! GS: Slow applied to Amaterasu! GS: Entangle blocked! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Amaterasu critically fails to evade Timu Guado's Thunder Shock for 106 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Amaterasu gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Infect! Debuff durations extended!! GS: Disrupt applied to Amaterasu!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina adds wryly, "Whoever's wathcing cameras still watches for movement unless they only have like.. one monitor." She shrugs, probably shouldn't get into why she knows how to break into places. Or why her personal kit has a prybar and so on.
The fact that the base is empty though, that gets hesitation from the girl. Sure she's brazen, sure she's aggressive. Sure she's definitely going to need to learn some hesitation eventually, but even then this is too far gone.
She comes to a stop, glances over to the other two and starts to question if they shouldn't bounce now since, well, empty base means something entirely different. Like finding an empty police station right?
The game is up though and there's no getting around that. She looks to Amaterasu, frowning. That's more advanced than she'd expected on this side of things. Also tall. Way too tall. "Wait who is that?" She asks, tearing her eyes away.
She's not about to throw her friends to the fire though and her pokeballs stay in place until she gets a feel for the situation. Rolling back and to her feet, she's gotten her favorite ninja toys out! Not that they're particularly lethal, but it's what she's comfortable with and at this point, she doesn't want to put anyone else at risk.
The direct challenge finally pings past her thoughts and she tightens her grip on the sickle, "If I have to prove we can stand alongside, fine."
There is a moment of hesitation. A thought of relying on her friends in their pokeballs, but she did just say something else and- "I'll kekep your Moteray safe too-" not that it's as impressive, but she's concerned about the pokemon! Oddly.
Also of course Timu, but she's already declared she'll protect the two prior. Because that's the kind of person she is!
She's let the weight loose, spinning it in a wider arc. Less control, but more power in the swings in a way. She might be going all out after all.
GS: Nina Chiyome has attacked Nina Chiyome with Summer Twilight! GS: Nina Chiyome has gained 3 Combo! GS: Nina Chiyome's stances have changed to Avenger! GS: Nina Chiyome gains 10 FP from her Daredevil! GS: Nina Chiyome has completed her action. GS: Nina Chiyome accepts Nina Chiyome's Summer Twilight for 0 hit points! GS: Mighty applied to Nina Chiyome!
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
Amaterasu, to a casual observer, is simply there, dropping from cover above to land and face the trio. It's a hard guess as to whether Zephyr, away to scout out the depot, would have seen her had he been back with the lot of them -- or if her presence still might have gone unnoticed until the moment she chose to reveal herself.
The bigger, more relevant question might be what a Veruni operative is doing out here near a Kislevi supply depot -- abandoned or not.
Or, arguably, the question of the moment might arguably be 'how far is Amaterasu willing to push this, of all things'. Past evidence, as Hannah is aware, suggests that--
"Ah. We are not acquainted. I am Amaterasu, blade of the Veruni. And I shall test your mettle this day, child of Energy Nede." Thus does Amaterasu make her introduction to Nina. "I have heard of your lands and your people, but never once have I traversed the boundary for myself. I must admit... I am curious.
Her gaze turns towards Timu. "I see... your kin do not travel far from their lands. It should be expected, then, that a wandering Guado has cast free her ties! But enough. I had expected Avehan soldiers," Amaterasu remarks, her weapon hissing as its light pulses, "And perhaps they will be around before long. But they would not be particularly interesting," she says, shifting her weight subtly from one leg to the other. "You three, on the other hand... I would be interested in knowing your worth as warriors." Hannah tells her that the other two are just kids and Amaterasu makes a sound rather kin to scoffing. "Is that so? I laid adults low when I was about their age. Age is no measure of martial skill," she says, shifting that one step closer.
"Besides... your magic is rather unlike that of the other humans I've fought. I should care to see it again."
Hannah is quick to indulge her. Amaterasu slams the butt of her polearm down into advancing tide of frost, sending it scattering in twain about her. Seemingly careless of the way it nips and bites to seek purchase through her body armor, Amaterasu surges over the spray, dealing unto Hannah a swing of her weapon.
Hannah had said not to hold back.
And Amaterasu is familiar with techniques of the Guado from her time in Spira. "--There are no Pyreflies here, Guado--"
No Pyreflies, but Pokemon can make do just fine. "...An unfamiliar beast," Amaterasu remarks, gazing intently at the Moteray. "Let us see of what you are capable!"
And she does, after a fashion, get her answer. It hits her dead-on with Thunder Shock, and it's anyone's guess as to whether Amaterasu welcomed the attack to see its effect for herself or... didn't do that.
"Most... effective," she remarks, her fingers spasming where she still maintains a grip on her Valkyrja. "But, let me see how you respond in kind! Haaa--!"
Her polearm's blade traces a path of light through the air as she swings for the Moteray. But she does not linger in fighting this strange 'monster'; sighting Nina's actions even from here, she is a bolt as she flies across the field for her. "Show me! Show me of what you are capable!"
And there is light as her Valkyrja's blade cleaves in an arc.
GS: Amaterasu has attacked Hannah Curie with Sine Qua Non! GS: Amaterasu has attacked Timu Guado with Animus Nocendi! GS: Amaterasu has gained 1 Combo! GS: Amaterasu's stances have changed from Counter and Hero to Counter and Hero! GS: Amaterasu gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Amaterasu has completed her action. GS: Amaterasu has attacked Nina Chiyome with Casus Belli! GS: Amaterasu has gained 1 Combo! GS: Amaterasu's stances have changed from Counter and Hero to Counter and Hero! GS: Amaterasu gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Amaterasu has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Nina Chiyome critically fails to evade Amaterasu's Casus Belli for 195 hit points! GS: Blind applied to Nina Chiyome! GS: Hyper applied to Amaterasu! GS: Timu Guado has activated Force Action: Accelerate! GS: Timu Guado critically fails to evade Amaterasu's Animus Nocendi for 148 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Timu Guado gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Mighty applied to Amaterasu! GS: Hannah Curie critically fails to charge Amaterasu's Sine Qua Non for 190 hit points! GS: Blind blocked!
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
"They... don't, usually," Timu admits that much, but she doesn't get to have much extra word in before Amaterasu decides 'but enough,' as the now introduced Veruni warrior makes plain what she wants out of them - and how she laid adults low when she was about their age.
Timu's one advantage is the novelty of who she has made friends - not servants - out of, eyes lighting up as Moteray's Thunder Shock hits the mark.
"You did it!" She says to Moteray, whom in turn does another idle drift in some other direction with a trailing 'mooooooote~'
As Amaterasu regains her strength in the wake of the shock, Timu recognizes this is the part where it is her duty to call out and protect her friend. She taps the healing staff on the ground to a noise that carries further beyond the soft dirt that should dampen it. "Moteray, l--"
Amaeterasu is too fast. Moteray flinches, squirms, and squeals as the polearm blade passes by, flinching and drifting towards the ground as consciousness starts to fade.
* Moteray has fainted!
Timu rushes forth to catch them in her arms, rather than call them back to the ball, letting her staff on the ground as she observes the struck Moteray. (They're just fainted! But such a keen blow is a harsh wake-up call.)
"Moteray, it's-- you'll be all right," Timu reassures him, but then...
One of her Pokeballs rattles free of its own volition, like a particularly unruly beast that objects to being inside the ball they're in right now, because... they are, popping off the belt to bounce on the ground and reveal...
"HOOLIGRRRRREEEE!!" A large, humanoid, green-skinned brute with gnashing teeth. He takes the greatest of offense to this, running forward and bringing those jaws down into Amaterasu's armor.
"Hooligre," Timu's taken aback by this - she hasn't had to deal with that as a Trainer yet, "be careful, she's strong!"
GS: Timu Guado has attacked Amaterasu with Crunch! GS: Timu Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Timu Guado has completed her action. GS: Amaterasu perfectly guards Timu Guado's Crunch for 26 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Amaterasu gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Shieldbreak blocked! GS: Hyper applied to Timu Guado!
<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.
Hannah might've forgotten to explain again. She'll probably remember to... at some point. (But not right now, because she's not letting Amaterasu in on that little tidbit.)
"Probably," Hannah agrees with Nina, regarding the cameras. "But they wouldn't be usin' only monitors. Not much good watchin' for people unless they can do somethin' about it." As for bouncing, Hannah would say the empty base is exactly why they should investigate. There are major things happening between Aveh and Kislev, and something this sudden could have grave consequences for the region.
She spares a glance for Timu, who says that Spira is no longer her home. It's a powerful thing, to be able to declare where your home is. She'll have to ask her where she considers her home to be now.
(The explanation about the ice, however, Hannah might be less forthcoming about.)
Amaterasu introduces herself, and Hannah has some extra tidbits to add on. "Very strong, very fast. Don't underestimate her or her spear." For Nina she adds, softly, "I know it's scary, but I'll look out for you both."
Hannah might have to answer some questions about the Veruni for Nina and Timu later; now is hardly the time, but her comments may well provide some idea. "You can't go around expectin' everyone to do things the way Veruni do," she points out. But her magic... Hannah scowls. "Careful what you ask for," she says darkly.
The ice is diverted, and Hannah tries to charge in, already drawing out another crest graph to try and stunt the blow--to keep Amaterasu's focus on her, away from the kids--but she's too slow and takes the full brunt of that blow, staggering back and clutching at her arm. "Dangit--"
"You out huntin' Aveh for sport--you got anythin' to do the base bein' cleared out?" Might as well try to get some answers. And maybe, while Amaterasu considers that... Hannah pulls out another crest graph. She points it, and a large, fraying ball of lightning forms, tongues of electricity lashing out wildly in every direction. With a snap of her fingers she sends it flying directly at Amaterasu.
GS: Hannah Curie has attacked Amaterasu with Ball Lightning! GS: Hannah Curie has gained 3 Combo! GS: Hannah Curie has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
There's a scowl from little miss ninja, "Veruni?" giving Hannah a confused look. "Thought this place wasn't-" she trails off, she'll worry about that later, she needs to keep her eyes on the strange tall lady for the time being.
"There's a lot better ways to ask about the tourist traps you know." She replies to the idea of Amaterasu being curious, "No reason to pick a fight with us yeah?" Hey, she has that authority figure vibe going. Trying to talk her way out of a grafitti, soliciting and breaking and entering charge come naturally.
She nods to Hannah, "R-right." Yes, it is scary, but she's trying to bury it for now. "We got eachother's back right?" There's certainly going to be some questions about the magic and it's oddness later too.
She tries to move forward, both to help Timu and her pokemon! Quiet, no callouts at this point as she tries to focus.
She had been too slow to help the Moteray.
She's not even quite fast enough to get out of the way of the beam of light slashing through and it catches her wholly off guard. Some of that bravado's completely gone, but adrenaline and some dose of moxxie doesn't let her just curl up and hide.
She pulls her pack free, one of the smaller ones she's prone to using. Then she fights with what looks like.. fireworks? Homemade. Probably not entirely legal back home. That gets lit, stuffed into the bag, then she just unceremoniously lobs the bag at the woman. She begins chanting, a spell Hannah and TImu might have seen her using. Deep Mist, but with a twist this time! Using the interim to pull her kusarigama weight back and reposition, holding closer to the weight this time, clearly wanting to be ready for the next.. if she can at least.
What she was actually doing with that bag becomes pretty obvious though. When the fireworks detonate with a loud clap, all the cans of paint she'd been carrying rupture as well! It's a party colored smoke bomb and hinderence. One of her specialities!
GS: Nina Chiyome has attacked Amaterasu with Painted Veil! GS: Nina Chiyome gains 10 FP from her Daredevil! GS: Nina Chiyome has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Amaterasu critically fails to guard Hannah Curie's Ball Lightning for 120 hit points! GS: Mighty applied to Hannah Curie! GS: CRITICAL! Amaterasu mostly evades Nina Chiyome's Painted Veil for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Amaterasu gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Infect! Debuff durations extended!! GS: Blind and Shieldbreak applied to Amaterasu!
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
This prompts Amaterasu to hesitate of all things, as Nina speaks of 'tourist traps'. "Tourist traps... I see," she says somberly. "I shall keep an watchful eye out for these 'tourist traps' when I travel forth to Energy Nede." Does she think that 'tourist traps' are actually a sort of--
But perhaps this isn't the sort of thing that can be delved into right now.
She's fast, and the Pokemon falls -- faints -- before her onslaught. "Hm," Amaterasu muses, dropping back in those few moments following her attack on Nina; she does not chain her strike to one on Timu as the young Guado goes to the aid of her fallen Moteray. But what Amaterasu has done has not gone unnoticed.
One of those strange spheres falls to the earth. One might well argue that it has done so of its own volition.
And here, Amaterasu is met with wrath from Hooligre, who comes jaws agape for Amaterasu. Amaterasu steps in to meet him, but it is not her armor but Valkyrja's pole that the Pokemon's attack meets. She twists it about in her grip, seeking to knock the avenging Pokemon aside.
"That is true," Amaterasu answers Hannah, turning her head towards the younger woman. "And yet, I have met non-Veruni possessed of a frightful strength. I believe many are up to the challenge. Indeed, your magic..." She reaches out a hand, as if to invite Hannah to strike her.
Hannah trades graphs, swapping ice for a different spell altogether. And lightning does strike twice, in a manner of speaking.
It strikes with enough force to elicit a gasp from the Veruni commando. "--Wonderful," Amaterasu utters at last as the rigor induced by the point-blank shot strikes home. "Well done! If you should stand against all who oppose you in such a manner... then there is no telling what you might accomplish in a fight."
But was she here just to hunt Avehan soldiers? Was she behind the depot being cleared out. "Hardly," Amaterasu states. "Strong words from an intruder--"
Nina has been busy in those few moments since.
Fireworks erupt with a loud crack, immediately shifting Amaterasu's attention back the trainee ninja's way. It's just in time for her receive a sloshing of (very colorful) paint across her armored torso and right forearm. "...Hm," Amaterasu says, regarding herself. "I do not suppose you have met my sister?"
It feels to her like something Kaguya would have done.
Her hands shift on the haft of her weapon. Valkyrja's blade of light vanishes as if it had never been. "An entertaining display," she tells them. "But now we begin in earnest! Prepare yourselves!"
And she is a blur as she moves across the field, Valkyrja in her hands effectively a metallic quarterstaff of surprising flexibility and strength. She moves to strike at the back of knees, to sweep ankles out from under their owners. She launches bruising blows for limbs and batters down all who she has deemed 'opponents' in her trial.
She does not break bones, though. She does not strike at heads. Her aim is to lay the lot of them out... but not kill them.
GS: Amaterasu has attacked Nina Chiyome with Debellatio! GS: Amaterasu has attacked Timu Guado with Debellatio! GS: Amaterasu has attacked Hannah Curie with Debellatio! GS: Amaterasu gains 5 FP from Gleam! GS: Amaterasu has completed her action. GS: Timu Guado mostly guards Amaterasu's Debellatio for 0 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Timu Guado gains 1 additional Combo! GS: Delay and Slow applied to Timu Guado! GS: Break blocked! GS: CRITICAL! Nina Chiyome mostly evades Amaterasu's Debellatio for 0 hit points! GS: Nina Chiyome's Slow Ward may block the effect! GS: Break and Delay applied to Nina Chiyome! GS: Slow blocked! GS: FP up! Power Burst! GS: Nina Chiyome enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: CRITICAL! Hannah Curie critically fails to charge Amaterasu's Debellatio for 0 hit points! GS: Break, Delay, and Slow applied to Hannah Curie! GS: Hannah Curie enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.
There is a soft wince of sympathy for Timu's Moteray as it is cleanly felled--but luckily, it seems like she's got backup ready and rearing to go to avenge his fallen team member. She knows Timu can handle the healing once they get free of this fight--but getting out of the fight is the tricky bit.
'Veruni?' "Later!" insists Hannah. "Eyes on Amaterasu!" A makeshift paint can and fireworks bomb is leveled towards Amaterasu--an unusual attack, but maybe blinding your opponent with paint could be a legitimate strategy. "Ain't even gonna ask why you might be carryin' fireworks 'round with ya."
If she fights like this against all her opponents... "I ain't goin' around pickin' fights. Why would you be huntin' Aveh soldiers anyhow? What's your interest in 'em?"
'Entertaining' she says. And now they can really begin--Hannah is distracted trying to see to the safety of her young charges, and her normal means of mounting a defense--summoning ethereal fields of energy to block or divert blows--is too slow in this case, and she is knocked around senseless by the rain of blows falling on her, the last of which sends her flying.
She rolls over in a heap, groaning as she pushes herself back up to her feet. She's staggering, a little, holding a bruised shoulder. She's hunched over, unable to fully stand up for a moment as she levels a flat glare at Amaterasu. "My sis tought me not to go startin' fights--but if I had to, end 'em." (Okay, it's not the same, her sister is older, Amaterasu's is younger, but still.)
She straightens up fully reaching into her pouch to pull out two crest graphs--one swirls with a yellow energy, and the other blazes a bright red. Something wrong twists in the air as she pulls deep, drawing power from the Ley--and elsewhere. She lifts the first crest graph, making a slicing motion with it--in an instant an angry, swirling tornado springs to life. It is all cutting, biting blades of wind lashing furiously outwards while a strange, ghostly wail rises up from the furious speeds of the wind.
With the other, she raises it to her mouth. She inhales deeply, filling her lungs with air... and then she belches a torrent of flame. It is bright, angry flame, almost possessed of a mind of its own in the way it wants to spread outwards without restraint. Hannah visibly struggles to contain it, her muscles trembling from the effort.
Fire meets wind, and the cyclone instantly erupts into a whirling, burning calamity, ghostly wails joined by a ferocious roar as she sends that entire mess spiraling at Amaterasu.
GS: Hannah Curie has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: Hannah Curie has activated Force Action: Lock On! GS: Hannah Curie spends 3 Combo on Gatling, loading 3 into Gatling! GS: MYSTIC ARTE! Hannah Curie has attacked Amaterasu with Elemental Conjunction! GS: Hannah Curie has gained 1 Combo! GS: Delay expired! GS: Hannah Curie has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
Hooligre clenches his teeth on Valkyrja with all the expectation that he's going to snap it into two and enjoy chewing on a splintered shaft of wood, which has always been a very fun pastime among his wild peers. (The same wild peers that tried to ditch him when they all got shown up by a small group of Trainers.)
"Hoo." He stops, because he isn't just failing to splinter the weapon - it's giving him an awful toothache, with only a split second of a muted pained reaction to find amusement in before he's flung aside like he were a quarter of his size. "liiii~"
Timu flinches as Amaterasu stands strong against lightning and colorful explosives, along with seeing her newest friend go to bat only to be, well, pushed aside.
"Hooligre! Come back!"
Hooligre disobeys, as he rights up and snarls at the mention of beginning in earnest, and there is a blur of speed and precision that he thinks he can tough out, covering himself as he gets taken out by the back of the knees, ankles swept, bruised everything...
"Hoo!" He snorts, as if to say 'that didn't hurt,' and then... promptly falls over, flinching, the very moment he thinks of moving a single muscle in a pile of cramps and numbness. "...Hoooooligre..."
Laid out on the ground, Timu gasps... and finds her composure to recall both Moteray into his ball at last, and then Hooligre's ball to once again ask--
"Return... please. Now!" A sharpness rising, and Hooligre's body envelops in light - slowly - before complying, because he doesn't have the strength to resist that. Timu might have had some early success as a Trainer, but these are signs she has a long, long way to go.
"...You talk about those being strong for 'non-Veruni," Timu starts as she picks up her staff. "It wasn't long ago my people - the Guado - chose to do terrible things because it was 'our way.' All they did is hurt everyone around them through Yevon..."
She'd rather not risk her other two friends, but one of her remaining two Pokemon are already raring to go. She grabs that ball with her off-hand - her right, holding it close to her heart as she watches the likes of Hannah struggle to create an immense, frightening maelstrom of wind and flame with wailing that almost reminds her of pyreflies. Tranquility doesn't come easy, when the flames remind her both of Mauri's deception at Bevelle and Michael's attack on Pewter City.
"If the Veruni are like you... what do you think will happen the day they find 'their way' won't see themselves out of trouble?" Timu asks through that maelstrom that's not hers. Fuecoco's ball continues to shake. She holds him up, nods her head, and... accepts what he wants to do.
"All right... Fuecoco!" She lets the Pokeball produce its short, round fiery crocodile-like creature, whose little fiery tuft atop its head glows a little brighter.
"...Leave us alone!" Timu calls. "Fuecoco! Feed the flames with your Incinerate!"
"...Fue... fue! Fuecoco!" Fuecoco nods vigorously. He hesitates only because that elemental morass is frightening, but he unleashes that fiery breath into there to compound the issue.
"Nina!" Timu calls to the teenage Nedian ninja - as if she has an inkling of an idea of what she wants to say to her, what to suggest, but instead saying the name is more of a sense of trust in one of her newer Nedian friends that maybe they have a way past Amaterasu.
GS: Timu Guado has activated Force Action: Full Clip! GS: Shield added to Timu Guado! GS: Timu Guado has activated Force Action: Boost! GS: Timu Guado has attacked Amaterasu with Incinerate! GS: Timu Guado has gained 1 Combo! GS: Timu Guado has completed her action. GS: Amaterasu mostly evades Hannah Curie's Elemental Conjunction for 75 hit points! GS: FP up! Reaction bonus! GS: Amaterasu enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: CRITICAL! Amaterasu critically fails to evade Timu Guado's Incinerate for 142 hit points! GS: Dispel! Hyper and Mighty removed! GS: Weaken applied to Amaterasu! GS: Hyper applied to Timu Guado!
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Unsurprisingly, Nina's fairly quick! Not quick enough not to have her knees knocked out from under her, landing with a sound somewhere approaching 'Whoof'. She's already trying to move though, landing in a way that allows her to keep some momentum and spring back to her feet. Kind of. There's a stumble there. The initial rush starting to wear off. "I-" she starts. She didn't think tourist trap was that rare a turn of phrase. "Yes, absolutely be careful. Safer to stay out here." That works right? She might be looking for an exit strategy.
Hannah's warning is already on point! "That's good, I wasn't intending on telling you why I had them!" Though.. there's a good guess why if Hannah was more familiar with vandalism.
Still, wooden weapon or not, outclassed or not, she wanted them to go all in and maybe this will give them some breathing space? Or.. she's not sure. Just straight running away doesn't really seem ideal here, especially if they bump into a patrol instead.
"Your sister?" She asks, confused. "I have two of my own, but I don't think I've met yours." Why'd she admit that? Oh well.
With a quick, hard twirl, the weight loosed enough to give it momentum, she slings it hard towards the armored woman, continuing with the momentum, she hooks her free hand and sickle down, changing the direction of the weight and rope, instead looping the hooked 'blade' around in a wide, savage sweep towards Amaterasu. Waiting until the last minute to try and yank, tugging the part that would be a blade towards her.
Why she's always covered in bandaids is probably becoming abundantly clear.
It's the most technical move she knows and she's actually pretty proud that she's stopped hurting herself trying to do it! So.. far.
She's ignoring the brusing, cuts and overall just... well. Misery. She'll be whining later surely. Or maybe even soon. She hasn't actually had a lot of 'real' fights.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina glances briefly to Timu, "Don't worry, we're fine right?" She sounds less confident than she wants to pretend. She has to put on a brave face though, it's what's expected after all of her grandstanding.
GS: Nina Chiyome spends 2 Combo on Headshot! GS: Nina Chiyome has attacked Amaterasu with Waxing Crescent! GS: Nina Chiyome has gained 1 Combo! GS: Nina Chiyome gains 10 FP from her Daredevil! GS: Nina Chiyome enters CONDITION GREEN!! GS: Blind and Delay expired! GS: Nina Chiyome has completed her action. GS: CRITICAL! Amaterasu critically fails to guard Nina Chiyome's Waxing Crescent for 232 hit points! GS: Reaction switch bonus! Amaterasu gains 1 additional Combo!
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
"Excellent advise... to another. I am adept," Amaterasu tells Nina, "in disarming traps."
"A wise sentiment," Amaterasu speaks to Hannah, gazing down upon the younger woman as she slowly gathers herself together and rises to her feet again. "And yet, I must remind you: you are the ones who trespass. You must be prepared for the consequences."
Unto Amaterasu, Hannah calls down a veritable storm of the elements: flame meets wind and rises higher, higher--
And yet it is from the firestorm that Amaterasu emerges, seemingly unscathed. Her body is whole, her armor untarnished. "Most impressive," she remarks, those six slitted and glowing eyes of her facemask settling on Hannah.
But can Veruni battle armor, let alone the battle armor of someone as storied as Amaterasu, really stand up to such a conflagration with little to show for it? Timu puts it to the test.
Here comes forth Fuecoco.
"I have heard the story of the Guado," Amaterasu says to her. Valkyrja's blade flickers again to life; she readies herself, as if preparing for a decisive strike against this latest ally of Timu.
"...But we are not the same," she says to Timu. "Our struggles are not the struggles of the Guado. You cannot understand--"
And there is fire. It burns ruby-red.
And in its aftermath, her armor scorched in countless different places, Amaterasu drops to one knee. "Ah... so there was damage..." she breathes, touching her right hand to the top of her chestplate. "A pity..."
Rising to her feet in one long shuddering motion, she says unto Nina just the one thing. "Hmm. I should think you would remember her if you had."
She may get a retort in the form of the bladeless sickle slung her way. Amaterasu makes not a motion to evade it and it cracks against the plating along her back. There is a rather deeper crack there now.
"An... interesting weapon. Do your people often fight without blades?" Amaterasu wonders aloud in spite of her damaged equipment, as if this were yet another novelty to her. Hefting Valkyrja, it would seem that she intends to continue this to the bitter end--
But it is not to be.
There's a shout on the wind -- Kislevi soldiers, a full squadron of them!
Amaterasu doesn't so much as turn her head to regard them, let alone lift her weapon to turn on them. Neither do the soldiers open fire on her: they surge ahead towards Timu, Hannah, and Nina, yelling at them to stand down and surrender.
Yet, they're still far enough away that it might be possible to bleed into the trees and evade them there. Amaterasu, for her part, doesn't move to hinder their escape, should they choose to take the opportunity available to them, standing like a stone in a stream as the soldiers flow past her.
She only watches.
<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.
Hooligre goes down. Hannah grits her teeth at that. Pokemon are used to battling but... certainly not like this. But at the same time... she knows Timu's Blessing doesn't really give her any offensive capabilities of her own.
Nina wasn't going to tell her anyway. "Hey, as long as you know how to use 'em responsibly I ain't fussin' about it." (Hannah, you probably should fuss at least a little bit, but then again--Filgaia's a lot different from Nede, where firearms and other strange weapons (and magic) of immense strength are a lot more common.)
"You talk of tresspassin', but we ain't in Elru. So ain't you tresspassin' too?" challenges Hannah. (If she is, in fact, not trespassing, this might be concerning news she needs to share.)
But they all let loose with their attacks. Amaterasu emerges from Hannah's maelstrom of flames seemingly unscathed, and Hannah scowls. Very impressive, sure, but she's not used to people walking away from her magic unscathed. But maybe she just softened it up for her charges? Fuecoco unleashes a torrent of flame that leaves burn marks, and Nina manages to damage the armor still further.
Hannah hates fighting, but she's glad to see her allies giving as good as they got.
But Hannah might have an indirect answer to her question. Kislevi soldiers arrive, and they seem to ignore Amaterasu entirely.
Hannah puts away her crest graphs and glances up to Zephyr for a moment. She nods in response to some silent communication and then looks to Timu and Nina. "Okay girls. Now is the time for runnin'. Go! I'll cover our exit."
Zephyr swoops down to lead them to the tree line, and Hannah gives chase. She'll let the others get into the trees, and then stop just inside the treeline. With another large, powerful manifestation of magic, she stomps on the ground. The ground rumbles worringly for a moment, before a spiked, stone wall just erupts from the ground along the treeline.
Getting over or around that will buy them some precious time to escape.
<Pose Tracker> Timu Guado has posed.
'Our struggles are not the struggles of the Guado.'
How would Timu even know what they are? There's an enormity in Amaterasu's confidence in speaking of familiarity of the Guado story that's a little chilling, even in the face of a great inferno.
"...Good work, Fuecoco," Timu makes sure to say that with all sincerity, as working off of Hannah's frighteningly potent canvas of sorcerous power pays off dividends. Fuecoco, looking for any excuse not to look ahead, just turns around, nods, and opens their mouth in a smile. Even if Amataerasu is far stronger... friends rise to the challenge together.
"Look ahead," Timu warns as Valkyrja is hefted, but it turns out there's another threat ahead - an impending squadron of Kislevi soldiers. All Timu has to do is hold out her Pokeball and Fuecoco gets the idea immediately - they can't stick around, back into the ball he goes.
Hannah offers to cover, and there's an aside for Nina.
"Nina, from what Rille told me... you don't want to get caught by them." Timu had been subject, a few times, to Beastfolk-related discrimination owing to her own appearance, as that's a very easy label to apply to her. The Guado turns over and, on Hannah's advice it's time to run, she runs.
The land speed of a Guado outstrips almost all others on Spira, and that may well be true for most of the worlds beyond that single isolated continent. She's hoping Nina will follow suit, and that Hannah won't be sacrificing herself in the process - she's going to have to trust this, because the need to flee before they're captured, shot, or both prevents her from looking over her shoulder to be sure.
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome doesn't look too thrilled that the hooligre went down too. It's reaffirming her decision in her head that she relied on her own strength. They could have helped, but then what would that mean if they got hurt for her?
"I don't think what I used is necessarily responsible, but it worked a bit right?" Hey, as long as it works.
She doesn't know how to address Amaterasu's comment. "Same." She finally settles on. She's good at breaking and entering and bypassing security at least! Mostly.. most of the time.
The chain of attacks seem to be having an effect, which does help Nina's morale a bit.
"It's.. no not usually." She's working on changing that. She'll probably need to practice some more too, but that's a later problem!
The shout gets a scowl. Now they're in a worse spot.
"I have no idea who that is!" She replies to Timu, though she adds a thumbs up, "I don't like getting caught by the cops in general so it's a good idea to get going." She offers her hand out, "Let's go. Worry about the details later." Clearly intending to try and actually help out. There wasn't much she could have actually done to protect Timu or Hannah (Not that they particularly needed it, but exuberance), but she'll try now.
On the way by she adds, "The party colored armor should stay, looks good." and then she's gone. Had to get that last one in. Hard to tell if she was sincere (She probably was.)
<Pose Tracker> Nina Chiyome has posed.
Nina Chiyome doesn't look too thrilled that the hooligre went down too. It's reaffirming her decision in her head that she relied on her own strength. They could have helped, but then what would that mean if they got hurt for her?
"I don't think what I used is necessarily responsible, but it worked a bit right?" Hey, as long as it works.
She doesn't know how to address Amaterasu's comment. "Same." She finally settles on. She's good at breaking and entering and bypassing security at least! Mostly.. most of the time.
The chain of attacks seem to be having an effect, which does help Nina's morale a bit.
"It's.. no not usually." She's working on changing that. She'll probably need to practice some more too, but that's a later problem!
The shout gets a scowl. Now they're in a worse spot.
"I have no idea who that is!" She replies to Timu, though she adds a thumbs up, "I don't like getting caught by the cops in general so it's a good idea to get going." She offers her hand out, "Let's go. Worry about the details later." Clearly intending to try and actually help out. There wasn't much she could have actually done to protect Timu or Hannah (Not that they particularly needed it, but exuberance), but she'll try now.
On the way by she adds, "The party colored armor should stay, looks good." and then she's gone. Had to get that last one in. Hard to tell if she was sincere (She probably was.)