To The Mist And Back

To The Mist And Back
Date of Scene:	02 July 2013
Location:	Mist Plains
Synopsis:	Alexandria is setting up a fort in the Mist Plains. Rebellion forces have something to say about this...
Cast of Characters:	Faruja Senra, Avira, Minerva, Souji Murasame, Serah Farron, Shadow, Leon, Kuja, Karth Mason

---

Leon has posed:

Palamecia has joined force with Alexandria and has been so for some time. Yet they have been quiet until recently in their alliance and in some ways, they still are. The Soldiers are unmarked as they move across the Mist Plains with the materials needed to build the Garrison Fort, which is already under construction.

The fact that the Garrison is being built near the roads that head for Lindblum is perhaps the most concerning factors. Hammers hit the nails. Strong chains raise up the massive stones and lumber. Construction equals through the plains and men walk the area keeping an eye on the activity.

Yet perhaps the most noticeable figure among them, almost tainting; or seems to be tainting; the very mist is the Dark Knight himself. The dark armored figure walks among all the Palamecians and Alexandrians working. His red glowing eyes scanning over the area in his precise, calm steps.

He was waiting for resistance, he knew it would come and he wanted to see to it personally that it would not halt their progress

Kuja has posed:
Alexandria had joined forces with Palamecia. Why? Now that would be telling.

Kuja hated spoilers.

Today, he was visiting the construction of the Garrison with a detail of black mages. Floating beside them were three models that hadn't been seen before. Winged ones, which not only spoke, but commented with a sentience which bespoke of an artistry beyond any of the other dolls that were with him. Each of them hovered off the ground, behind the flamboyant Alexandrian Ambassador, while the Black Mage dolls marched in a line. He'd considered having them carry a palanquin, but they weren't known for their strength.

Upon sighting the Dark Knight general, Kuja actually bade his detail to remain behind within the depths of the construction site. He wanted the appearance of strength, not weakness, and so he went to stand alone alongside the Palamecian General.

He twisted the wrist of his right hand, opening his palm to gesture out to the foggy atmosphere of the Mist Plains. "Worry not, General, if any drama is to occur, they will be abiding by our script. The Mist is our strength, here."

Karth Mason has posed:
A figure stands near Leon, waiting at attention.

He listens to the talk from Kuja...it was all a little new to him, having just been enlisted, and now he's here witht the general of the entire forces of Palamecia...

He's not sure rather to be terrified or honored. He's still debating that, probably a little both, but the figure isn't one to complain about his lot in life.

Oddly, he is holding a shovel.

He doesn't speak up, he doesn't look funny at the man...well that Kuja could tell. He is staring at the effeminite man, holding back saying something...funny. Still, he'd be making a fool of himself infront of someone important so right now he's just...holding a shovel. Though he does have a blade on his side, in a scalbard, and a strange pinion hanging on the outside of his armor.

Faruja Senra has posed:
With Alexandria's recent actions, it didn't take long for Faruja Senra to gather a few volunteers. Angry, war-like nezumi are nothing to be trifled with, and the small squad of newly-re-trained soldiers fully intend to show that much; courtesy of the help of Murasame Zaibatsu. Within the concealing fog of the mist, small clusters of Burmecians huddle, rifles and modern body armor clad forms sticking low to the ground in what little natural cover aside from the mist actually exists.

Faruja is there as well, beside the white form of his wyvern. Atop her body is a strange contraption, the gun strapped to her nothing less than a Magitek Laser! The group stays quiet for the moment, as forward scouts scan the battlefield, several others loading rocket launchers as they await the perfect time to strike.

Serah Farron has posed:
There's an expression that says 'wrong place wrong time'. This might be one of those cases here. Serah, in her wanderings around the world, and away from heartless pursuers, ended up here while checking out more of the wide open areas for those pieces of gummy that fell from the sky a while back. She apparently has found a good amount too, as she has a bag full of them in her back. The bag at her arm only started to fill up.

But Mist Plains was probably not a good place to get into, given the situation. She just innocently ended up there though. Led there gummy to gummy, like Hansel's breadcrumbs. She wasn't even looking up all that much, just looking at the ground.

Its then she realized that 1- there's mist all over the place. She heard bad things about the mist. 2- There's some army constructions nearby. 3- There's also some army guards around it. She's probably going to look very suspicious there...

Souji Murasame has posed:
Thunder rolls across the Mist Plains. Alexandria and Palamecia are not the only ones setting up on the Mist Plains. Elsewhere, signs have been erected upon the plains, proclaiming the area to be the property of the Murasame Zaibatsu (tresspassers will be prosecuted), and machines are being inset into the ground. Strange machines. New machines. Better than those on Richese.

Their presence on the plains themselves gives reason why Souji Murasame observes the military construction in the distance through his Moogle Glasses. He frowns for a moment, tapping the side of the glasses and considering the ramifications of what is about to occur. His gaze moves over the flamboyant Kuja, and his frown grows deeper.

The situation has become... complicated.

Minerva has posed:
Minerva had been talked into this job by Faruja fairly easily all things considered. Also given the problem with expanding powers was coming towards a city that was partially populated by people from her world. Or perhaps she was just seeking a good fight it can be hard to tell at this point. She had no modern weapons she had not need as far as she saw it as she formed up with Faruja and those other he's talked into coming the mist is still something that's new to her,. She's go the general idea of what they are her to do, she really intend to engage any enemy elites or commanders. Alternatively she could just rampage through whatever passed for these people's rank and file. Her inexperience may cost her however, but for now she makes ready.

Shadow has posed:
The mists are a great place for a ninja-- you can hide in plain sight most of the time. Shadow has been skulking about the area-- a wanderer with questionable intentions at the best of times. He keeps quiet for the most part-- until he runs into Serah on his way out of the construction area. "You should leave this place," says a shadowy figure as it approaches Serah.
For once-- Shadow's dog interceptor is not with him. It would have eased the tension just slightly. "It is not safe," he follows up to the young woman-- nodding faintly as he continues onward to let her decide her own path in this crossroad of fate.

Avira has posed:
Avira is here, but she has come seperately of the Burmecian army and her fellow VALKYRI. While she is vaguely aware that a meeting was going down on these plains, it's less the exchange she was interested in and moreso in an individual that might be present. She's done her research about this particular area, in fact.

It is not easy to spot Avira. She has elected to come in darker, more disrete clothing that covered her arms and legs. She has masked the presence of her unique-looking weapon. Her hair has been bound up into a tightly coiled bun. Her goggles are drawn over her eyes and heavy stage makeup has been applied to her face to minimize the appearance of her scars.

Avira is not an easy woman to spot as she slips between lumber or blends into crowds of migrating construction workers. She's clearly been trained in these evasive techniques and concealment methods, right up to being able to pull off some impressively acrobatic manuvers to get out of the line of sight. All the while as she moves, she seems to be seeking someone.

One man. She's sure he's here by the way the hair on the back of her neck stands.

Leon has posed:

The Dark Knight glances over to Kuja as he walks up. "I have no concerns, Ambassador. If they do attack. It will make a perfect time to see what we may be facing when time comes." The Palamecian General then looks over to the new recruit with a shovel.

He then speaks to him with a crisp, precise words. "Go on patrol with the others. Report if you find anything amiss." The Dark Knight then slowly looks away, before he starts to walk himself.

"Construction of the Garrison should be done within five days. So long as we are not hit with interruptions to the construction."

As for the soldiers who are also on Patrol. So far they do not notice the gathering in the Mist, as it is hides them, as well as it hides the Patrol. However the officers are the hard ones to avoid, as they, like Leon, can see the hearts of men and women and their own red eyes peer around, scanning the area.

Thankfully the officers stay in close, versus the soldiers who are more further out.

Kuja has posed:
Kuja might have made an idle remark about Karth's shovel. Perhaps even offered him some sort of terrible nickname. Hayseed with a Trowel sprang to mind, as a parody of a movie he'd heard about in Manhatten. Except for two things. One, he was actually trying to make an /effort/ in front of his Palamecian allies to keep himself restrained, and less insulting. It was difficult for one of his supremely egotistical nature. He did no such thing in front of the delegations from Baron. And two, he sensed some measure of power in the young man's sheathed weapon. And he knew there was more to him than met the eye.

Kuja scans the mist-covered plains then raises a hand. A swirling globe of darkness, crackling with small bolts of energy playing over the surface appears within it. A moment later, it implodes upon itself, becoming a purple pulse of energy, which travels throughout the Mist, giving it a sickly color as it continues outward like a dark halo. It gives those advancing a singular feeling of dread, but nothing else. But to Kuja, it offered him information. Like a radar, it located those advancing upon them, as he offered a wide smile, complete with teeth to the Palamecian General. "You should belay that order, and return the patrols, General. They advance from the West by Southwest. I imagine that the Sand Rats will be here to play their bit part in this drama and spout off their righteous indignation. Expect war machines.. they've been well supplied as of late by my.. competitor."

In this case, he means someone other than Souji, entirely unaware of what the Murasame corp has been selling to the Cleyran forces. Kuja snapped his fingers, and suddenly all three of the Black Waltzes appeared atop the half-constructed battlements of the Garrison via corridors of darkness that each had created on their own. The column of black mages started to situate themselves around the half-constructed Garrison.

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron jumps a bit as the ninja just comes out of the mist like that, and talks to her. Ooookay. Yeah, she already had the feeling she wasn't in the right place... so she scurries after Shadow. No, the giant ramparts and machines are not attracting her at all. She doesn't want to get close to those. The other side looks intimidating too, but she hopes she won't be taken for some kind of spy or anything...

Moments later she gets into the 'rebel camp', blinking as she recognize a few of the faces. The humanoid rat templar is easy to recognize at least. "Mister Faruja, what's going on here?"

Karth Mason has posed:
The normal looking recruit salutes the general, and moves to go patrol.

He shivers once he gets far enough away...these guys, seriously...there was something up, but...maybe he was just being crazy.

Holding the shovel over one shoulder, he starts to fan out, deciding to make some rounds on foot while trying to get the lay of the land...he doesn't wana get lost, but he also wants to know just where things are...the Mist makes things weird. He wonders if this ever goes away?

He doesn't take his helmet off, as h-a voice.

He frowns, slowly walking towards the sounds of a lady's voice...

Shadow has posed:
The ninja has to do a dozen mysterious things every week or they revoke his ninja card. Shadow's message to Serah counts and he expects to have the deed validated on his ninja card later.

The shrouded one navigates as far as the giant ramparts and war machines. By the time Serah sees some familiar faces-- he is gone. This time around he is taking his dog with him. There is a scouting report to be delivered. The nearest officer for that works-- and he is off to go back into the mists. It is oddly more appealing for him to be in a place that obstructs vision. Sure, its not good for his health, but what is?

Souji Murasame has posed:
An update comes in over Souji's Moogle Glasses. He reads the information feed, and smiles.

Business is good.

Infrastructure is in place and rapidly growing. Business is good.

While he is not taking action to enter the compound, he is observing the goings-on there. He will have to make a note to get in touch with his Palamecian contacts in order to get an update on what's going on there.

He pauses. Wait. Why /didn't/ he have an update already?

His eyes narrow. Someone is playing a treacherous game, here. Souji's gaze moves upwards, and he seems to be distracted for the moment, caught up in revelations. Those who might mean the heir harm won't get a better time to strike than now if they are going to...

Faruja Senra has posed:
The Burmecians, and others, gathered here today are hardly a massive, marching army. They've opted towards stealth and a good, core group of competents who know a thing or two about picking apart buildings, that nevertheless aren't the utter veterans that the ragged country can't afford to spend in this relatively small effort. They're here to do damage, not act like conquering warlords.

Even for a group this size, it needs officers; Faruja glances to Minerva, having placed her into his own squad for both protection, and to assist in relaying orders throughout the small linkshell that's been set up for the operation. Besides, he knows how useful a monk's powers can be! He crosses himself, nodding to the woman, before quietly relaying orders as Shadow's company of scouts make their report.

Faruja's head pops up from the grand, peering at Serah. One can almost see the '<GOOSEHONK>ing civvies' written all over his face. Grabbing her, he pulls her to the ground to her belly. "Down! /Stay/, M'Lady Farron. This is about to become a warzone. These Palamecians and Alexandrians seek to claim a stronghold upon these plains, no doubt to threaten the nearby nations, and bring others under their dark whims. This is no place for a civilian! And no time to flee...just...stay with me, and stay out of harm's way. I shall do what I can to protect thee."

Faruja shivers, scouts calling attention to the mages in the battlements, and the change in the Mist being more than obvious. Yet, the Mist's normal effects linger upon a people filled with rage, none of those present breaking despite the wave of dread floating through the ranks. Have they been spotted? No more time!

Faruja keys up his linkshell, all those present in his small force able to hear it. "Lord guide thy weapons. Unleash thy cleansing fury upon these Witches, whom stole home, family, friends, and enemies alike! For King, Faram, and country, strike down these wretches and fill these plains with their BLOOD!"

Arista grins, lowering her back, teeth clenching upon what looks like a bit. The Magitek cannon glows, before spitting out a ray of hot death, aimed primarily for the building; but also aimed to cut through any soldiers in the way. In perfect unison, those wielding rockets aim their weapons at the support structures of the building, hoping to tear it down to its foundations, or at least start on the job.

Rifles, and the occasional sniper's bullet, soon volley towards vulnerable soldiers, attempting to induce as much panick as possible. So too does Faruja flick his weapon, ice swords lashing out at several Alexandrians.

Minerva has posed:
Minerva she eyes the troops those will be her targets she thinks. There are others who can take the more important people and she's not had a large brawl against non heartless in a long time then as she moves to get ready to strike she knows what she's going to do. Faruja is doing his thing. She?s going to move upon troops from either nation bellowing out a war cry as she moves to close with them.

"COME HOW AND FACE ME! WHELPS!"

Minerva then continues with her run and her fists are already charging with elemental power as she does so.

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron follows along with Faruja. She doesn't really like fighting, but she doesn't like letting people in trouble either... "Why would they want to invade? There's no reason to disturb the peace..." She sighs, pulling out the dagger that she was given a while ago. If only for protection if need is, because she can use her magic to help protect her teammates right now. She extends a hand, blanketing Faruja in several layers of benefic spell effects.

Avira has posed:
One of the most important aspects of evasion is awareness. 'Pay attention to your surroundings.' her teacher had epoused. Everyone of note, every person that is definitely of importance, is taken notice of. She knows Kuja is here. She can practically feel the Dark Knight's familiar darkness. Klarth is a familiar face. A Burmecian army is approaching. Souji Murasame observes the half-built compound.

Avira's detour through the construction site is a swift one. Just as soon as she had entered, she leaves, leaving nothing disturbed in her wake, nothing stolen except for snatches of conversation she picked up in her passing. Though in all likeliness, Kuja's magical means picked up on her. Avira has yet to learn anything about /magical/ concealment.

From a new vantage point, Avira watches the Murasame heir, noting the distant look in his body language. He seems deep in thought. Perfect. Ice crawls over her right hand, which she curls into a fist. From her knuckles, a single, katar-like spire of ice extends with a faint crackle.

Wordlessly, she moves in, jabbing her makeshift ice blade into Souji's back.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth is waiting...

He starts to report ba-THEN SUDDENLY EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL!

Karth stands up, suddenly swinging at a Burmeccian that is shooting a rifle.

BAM!

The Masked Soldier who is not Karth despite me calling him Karth stands over the dazed Nazumi and moves to disarm him by SMASHING HIS ADVANCED WEAPON IN WITH A SHOVEL.

Repeatedly.

The Shovel is the superior weapon.

Shadow has posed:
The ninja leaves quite a trail for Karth to follow. He seems just out of sight-- but can barely be heard. Then things go to hell. Shadow ends up close to Minerva-- and identifies himself as an ally in a very simple fashion.

Holding out what looks like a small paper talisman, the ninja evokes an old technique. As Minerva is running, her physical body would blur. As does Shadow's. Then a cold aura comes around both of them. It has been some time since he tried the technique with a partner outside of Interceptor. Finally, the shrouded one points towards where Karth is fighting off the minions. Shadow breaks off-- disappearing into the mist to flank. He'll leave front line fighting to front line people.

Kuja has posed:
"Act II, scene two: Base Retribution." A corridor of darkness opens up and Kuja takes the field, striding towards the Burmecian lines with a nonchalance which might have been surprising.

This is what was he was bred for in endless iterations of genomes through Garland's twisted arcane science. This is what he was /made/ for. The Angel of Death may look effeminate, but he did not shirk combat. He revelled in it. He raised both his hands, in each came a globe of darkness, crackling with sickening chaotic energy. And then he crushes it with a gesture. This time, when both orbs pulse, the Burmecian forces certainly feel something. A sickness within the Mists, a lethargy which threatens to overtake their bodies. A fog, which threatens to dull their minds.

A corridor of darkness appears, and Mistodons barrel out of them, twisted, misshapen Heartless with squat, angular heads. They barrel into the Burmecian forces, sucking in the Mist... and then exhaling. It spreads over them, with an alluring call to madness.. to give in to the Mist, to it's seductive call.

Wait, what was a Magitek laser doing here?

Even in the middle of the battlefield, he puts a hand to his chin. His partner in this little con game hadn't supplied them with that so whom...

It could be Archades but he would have likely picked up on an alliance with them earlier, so whom...? Ah, he actually smiles. Murasame was actually becoming a player in this worldwide war. This actually amused him. Good. He was worried the Murasame heir was going to disappoint him.

Souji Murasame has posed:
Souji fails his perception check. Avira gains sneak attack bonus damage as she shanks him in the back, and he emits an unpleasant 'gurk' as she strikes straight and true.

Except he doesn't fall down. The Mist churns around Souji as with a yell of anger, the air explodes outwards, hurling Avira away from him. He turns, staggering for a moment as he feels the wound in his back, and he clenches his jaw. "Well then." He says, looking upon Avira. "I see that you've learned your lessons well. Good." He brings his hand to the hilt of the Murasame Blade. "Since you seem to desire pain so much, I will oblige. Murasame Blade, it is time to feed."

With a swift motion, he draws the dark blade, the crimson runes of hunger glowing with anticipation. The Mist boils away from him, the air around him swirling in a blast of controlled air as he focuses his power.

A moment later, he cleaves upwards, a crackling surge of lightning washing out to vault Avira further into the air, attempting to air juggle her as he lashes out repeatedly with his blade. He slashes with incredible speed, unleashing crackling bursts of lightning with each strike that cling to her in spheres of St. Elmos' Fire.

Leon has posed:

Several of the Palamecian knights suddenly hit the deck as The Dark Knight states the warning. However as the cannon smacks some of their hard work. The Dark Knight looks at the damage and his head slowly turns to look at the one who created such damage.

There was a low rumble for the Dark Knight before he starts to walk toward the Balmecian. Their rifle shots impact his armor, but he only flinches under the impacts, but he keeps walks. The Darkness under his feet extends out as the bullets now start to tear off dark mists shreds from his armor.

Then suddenly tentacles of darkness latch out for Faruja and go to toss him aside, before his red eyes focus over on the healer in the area of this little group. So many bright hearts here. He places out his hand as the sword suddenly appears from darkness itself.

Then suddenly he charges at them both. He moves toward Serah first. His swords tip takes on a ghostly essence to it, as he slashes it for her, then as he finishes the swing, he suddenly 'blinks' and appears next to Faruja, then brings the ghostly image of the sword down to do the same to him.

As for the Palamecian Forces, they quickly move out to take on the rest of the Balmecian rebels. The normals far more easier to take down, while the officers with their red eyes almost seem just about as tough as their very General. Go Go NPC battle.

Avira has posed:
Though it doesn't hurt her physically, Avira can feel the wind magic suddenly lift her from the ground. This is actually a little disconcerting since she found it pretty hard to manuver with nothing to gain traction against. Most of her parkour practice had relied upon that fact. "Hello again /Murasame/. I want to finish what we started. I hope this isn't /too/ much of an inconvenience!" Avira grins at him a little too cheerfully, starting to twist downwards, eager to get in control of her own motions again.

Her plans change suddenly as Souji makes that crackling cleave. Eyes widening, she twists sideways with the help of her own limited air magic. While she's dodged the initial strike, the follow-up flurry is not, forcing Avira to parry each one away with her ice-encumbered fist. With each crackling blow deflected, ice chips away until she is left with bloodied knuckles. With one final grunt, she pushes herself sideways, unleashing an arrow-like shard of ice at Souji as soon as she lands.

It is only a second spent landing. She pushes off soon afterwards, artfully airborne again as she closes the distance between her and the Murasame heir. The slight spin of her body is the only hint Souji receives before he finds Avira's foot launched at his head in a roundhouse kick.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Several Burmecians are taken by the effects of the Mist, rage and fogged minds mingling, even as lethargy slows their thoughts slightly. Kill, destroy, blood! It's what their commander had asked for, and even as those twisted beasts arise, a few more effected Burmecians are already either firing upon them, or quite simply taking sword or bayonet to the great creatures with all of the ferocity the Mist has been known to give to mortals.

The one fighting Karth has their weapon busted, earning the man a scowl! "Filthy Palamecian, you're no better than the Alexandrians! You'll die with them too!" Like all good officers, this one carries a side arm, raising it and falling back, a few shots fired that veer wildly amidst the sudden chaos; more warning shots as she makes off to better ground from where she can try to calm her fellows.

"Stand /FAST/! Slay these beasts, and kill the mage, they are his doing! Do /NOT/ retreat now, lest we shame our fallen bretheren!" Yells Faruja into his linkshell, stealth abandoned now that they've been discovered.

"They are imperialists, Lady Farron. They seek the lands of others for their own greed...and worse in this case, to devote to the debased creatures that consume worlds, the Heartless. Peace shall be a fleeting thing, so long as those whom act as they yet stand." The protection will be needed.

Then, the General himself engages them. Some part of the knight inwardly salutes the man, especially knowing something of his past. Still, he's an enemy right now, and if he has to kill Leon, so be it. Tentacles of darkness flick him aside, the Burmecian at least managing to land on his feet. He can hardly help the healer, as the General blinks his way to the rat, the Templar reacting with all of the speed and grace his kind are known for. Raising the butt of his weapon, he catches Leon's pommel, letting the larger man's greater strength shove him aside even as he redirects it. Spinning, he plants his foot, halting his body as he levels his tri-pointed weapon, only to charge in once more as his burning, Light-filled zealous soul and weapon like shines in the Mist.

"My apologies, but I cannot spare thee this day! May the Lord forgive us both!"

Between the opposing soldiers, and Mistodons, the attacks upon the building proper lessen. One or two smart sappers have started to move their way towards less occupied parts of the building, though for now they wait for covering fire from their comrades. One or two rpg's are shot, with varying degrees of accuracy. For now, it's mostly a battle of infantry, rifles, and swords; a few light losses taken, the Burmecians yelling bloody murder at their foes.

There's no mercy for the Alexandrians amongst them, and little for the Palamecians.

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron listens to Faruja's explanations, even as she follows him through the mist-filled battlefield. What a bad place to be at... She doesn't like it at all. "Imperialists... I don't want that kind of thing to happen, why aren't things good enough as they are for them..." She sighs. Its like the wars between Cocoon and Pulse, only seeking to eliminate the other without rhyme or reason. Well from Cocoon's point of view, Pulse was seeking to destroy them constantly, so they were defending themselves. But she saw other things in her dreams that made her doubt even that.

Then, suddenly, its like a dark whip appears through the mist, lashing at her. She eeps, and ducks it, luckily avoiding the blow somehow. She recognizes the general though. She fought him before, but she can't remember what was the name of the village. Kuja though is also very familiar, once she spots him on the field nearby. He tried to capture that girl before. He had really strong magic, they had to escape him. "I don't like these odds..." She offers mroe magical coverage for Faruja, a red clock appearing under his feet, and then a white veil covering him like a cloak.

Minerva has posed:
Minerva is fighting along side Shadow at this point she does not know the ninja but she knows what a ninja can actually do. The aura does not fully surprise her but it seems to help well enough giving her some chance to better evade Karth as he attacks the unknown solider who is armed with a shove she just evades his strike. In a shocking twist this soldier proves is quite adept at fighting, as her punches do not even connect with him.

He's clearly not a normal grunt at all if he's that quick. She launches herself her fists becoming covered over with ice and she strikes him, then the element shifts to lighting as she starts to continue her assault.

Souji Murasame has posed:
"Such venom for someone who saved your life." Souji replies. "You were not prepared to fight the Iron Nightmare." Souji is not cheerful. "But if you wish to die so quickly, I will be happy to serve." Ice magic clashes with thunder, the gleaming ice arrow skidding past him and glancing him with another thin wound. "It's a pity, you're actually reasonably competent." Souji replies, moments before she comes sweeping in to try to roundhouse kick him in the head. Souji responds with an explosion of light as a coruscating rainbow sends her flying backwards. It's almost like he has a basic tactic.

Crescent waves of gleaming light and thunder continue to arc outwards, Souji's reach proving to be far, far greater than the length of his weapon as he sends blasts flying outwards with each crimson-accented swing. The clinging spheres return, attempting to strike out around Avira with shocking arcs of electricity, moments before he simply hurls his weapon, sending it spinning towards her!

Leon has posed:

The Dark Knight is tripped up by the nimble rat man and is impacted rather well by his weapon expertise with the very weapon he wields. Something that was curious for the Dark Knight that he will need to jot down about this individual.

Ah. Even while fighting in a war. He is forever evaluating.

The Dark Knight suddenly 'blinks' from where he was trapped to standing once more, only thing Faruja will find himself surrounded by his the after image of dark mist before that too fades away. The Dark Knight stands there, looking at Faruja calmly.

Though his red eyes peer over to Serah. "Ambassador, if you do not mind. Dispatch of her. She is a nuisance to this battle. The general of the rebel army is mine and mine alone." His darkness seems to further gather around him as he narrows his eyes at Faruja. Seeming to now be waiting to see what the rat does.

Shadow has posed:
Shadow stays in the 'shadows' only long enough to line up his advance without slicing into Minvera. His body crouches low to the ground-- and when the oppertunity presents itself he launches a small grey orb at the great shovel wielder's face. A small vial of thick smoke is contained in the fragile shell-- aiming to sting his senses further than this fog is already doing.
His position is revealed by an enemy soldier. 'Over he--' he gets out before the assassin's blade slits his throat (that'll be one nickle, please). With a sharp whistle, Interceptor launches into the fray. Woof woof! Much like Minerva, the beastly dog aims to do a drive by gnawing-- giving enough time for Shadow to step up and face the man he is attacking. Not so much 'face to face' so much as attempt to garrote with some steel wire. Similar, right?

Karth Mason has posed:
Minerva's fist comes out him like something fierce. It even IGNITES, but the SHOVEL deflects the blow, aiming to try and manuver around her before rolling back. He grabs a rock, aiming to throw it right at her...but she manages to defect it or roll out of the way herself. he grabs the Shovel again, only before a wire is found around his neck. Thank god for the metal helmet, as he struggles against the attempt to cut his throat as Interceptor takes a bite out of his leg. This is becoming inconvient, as he uses the handle of the shovel to slide underneath the wire just long enough to duck out of the fatal blow.

Karth launches a rock out of instinct towards Shadow, more to keep him away than actually hurt him.

Karth rolls, picking up another pair of Rocks and Launches them BOTH towards Minerva and Shadow, before rolling to engage them both at the same time.

He swings the shovel, aiming to try and brain Minerval while taking the butt of the sword into the chest of the Ninja, before rolling underneath them, aiming to drive the shovel into the ground and give them both a FACE full of dirt.

That Shovel man..

Kuja has posed:
As Faruja makes his voice known, by rallying his soldiers, Kuja advances menacingly towards him. "Ah, so the Gilded Rodent takes the head of the column. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised..." A corridor of darkness, before he appears at the Palamecian General's side.

He sweeps an arm around towards Faruja. "Out of two entire nations of you filthy creatures, you are the /only/ one I've deemed worthy of survival... depending on your performance today. Show me your heart. Show me your power! Show me you're worthy of surviving in my world, as I cull the chaff away!"

He sweeps a hand through his hair, using his own magic to bring inspiration to himself... and regrettably also the Palamecian General.

Avira has posed:
"You misunderstand. Garland was not there to kill me. He was there to play his game." Maddeningly, Avira seems to keep that cheer, contrasting strangely with Souji's serious tone. "He's not going to kill me anytime soon." Though Souji may get the distinct feeling that such a suriety was not a /good/ thing. For now, Avira appears to find it beneficial. "Pain goes away. Eventually."

Her kick goes bouncing off that wave of force that prevents her from making the full rotation in the air. In a way, it's beneficial since it gives her full view of the attack that follows afterwards. She slams her hands together, ice magic pulled between the two, and with each blast of thunder, she hurls a glob of ice magic that immediately turns into crescent-shaped shields in the air that collide with each blast.

The clinging spheres meet the same fate, in a sense, as Avira first manipulates a burst of air to evade them, then shoots them down with several rapid-fire freeze arrows. But as far as actual steel goes...

The hurled blade finally forces Avira to draw her own, which she swings in such a way to deflect the Murasame away from both of them.

Recognizing the teenager's tactics, Avira forcefully puts herself on the ground, but before charging, she jabs the Spine into the earth and channels ice magic through it. All around Souji, massive icicles erupt from the ground and curl inwards, attempting to cage him. With the hope that this would buy her time, Avira tries to close in again. Once close enough, she strikes with several rapid-fire blows of her own.

Faruja Senra has posed:
"Their forces are greater than anticipated...yet, even if 'tis but a delay, we shall score them and show that we shan't lay about while they take the homes and land of others!"

A brow rises. "Mmm. Do you even recognize me, 'General'? No, mayhap not. A pity." Mutters the rat. This isn't Leon at all. At least that man seemed interesting, and not ice-cold neutral.

Faruja's eye narrows as the mage appears before him. The wretch who almost killed his king. That's /his/ job, you blue-blooded jerk! "Whom be thee to decide wo shall live, and who shall die. This worlds belongs to the righteous and pure, not tainted Witches whom think of naught but death, and the stealing of others homes! By all means, foul heathen, I shall give of myself gladly to see thee writhe in AGONY!"

Faruja simply thrusts his blade, amidst the sounds of clashing armies. White light forms above the heads of the pair, crashing down upon mage and General alike.

~Holy Explosion~

Minerva has posed:
Minerva has the thing Shovels are seemingly becoming a common weapon in the world of Ruin. Whoever this guy is he's really doing she also caught with the rock. Also it seems throw stone is spreading then again that guy threw it like a pro. She's staggered and trying to recover from that hit, she starts to focus inwardly as she attempts to shake things lose. Damn it that guy hits hard as her master!

Shadow has posed:
Dirt. What does it always have to be dirt? Shadow raises a hand to deflect some of it-- but with the mist and all-- he gets caught up in the torrent of unhappiness. Interceptor barks as the ninja shakes it off. When his hand descends down, a shuriken is produced that rips through the air towards ShovelMan(tm).
Shadow takes the offensive while Minerva takes her pause. A blade whips out quickly-- a seeking strike of some degree. The real danger comes from the follow-through-- which is a much more precise slash towards vitals.

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron hides just a bit behind Faruja as she keeps layering protections and others beneficial effects on him. He is facing two of their generals all alone after all. Well, at least physically, since she's unable to attack very well in this attack pattern. Its weird, its like she can't use her offensive magic when she's healing, and can't heal when she's in offensive mode. She has troubles controlling the changes too. She can use some attacks like this, but it lacks the power and precision.

Since Faruja is faring well, she decides to attempt to attack as well. Aimed at Kuaj, who she knows from before, she holds her hands together, sending a salvo of magical energies, small balls of holy power in his direction. It doesn't have much precision or power, but it allows her to discharge some of the magical energies she seems to accumulate.

Leon has posed:

The Holy magic suddenly comes slamming down and The Dark Knight's darkness is for a moment missing. When the brilliant light vanishes, he is down on his knee. However soon the Darkness reforms around him as he slowly rises up as smoke slowly starts to evaporate off his armor and then starts to vanish.

Those red eyes are missing within the darkness of the helm as he fully stands up to his height once more. Then the darkness explodes out from around him as his eyes snap open. He stares at the Church Rat before he points his Blade at Faruja. Then suddenly its blazes in blue dark flames. He then swings his blade around in the air before he slams it into the ground.

Suddenly a Blue massive crystal blade slams out from under the ground under Faruja. If the rat doesn't act fast enough the ghostly blue blade will encase the him and then start to drain him off his life essence to replenish Leon's own.

Then Leon will swing his blade around and unleash two dark waves to not only shatter the crystal, but to infect the Paladin with poison of darkness.

Souji Murasame has posed:
"If that makes you feel better." Is all Souji's response to that. He grimaces as Avira manages to counter his attacks once more. Could this be the effects of Garland's 'training'? He considers this for a moment, moments before he lashes his hand into the air, using a Thunder spell to shatter the incoming ice arrows in a single blade. Avira parries the Murasame Blade. Even on contact with it, Avira feels the unearthly weight of the weapon... It has a much greater mass than it looks. The blade spins back through the air, magically returning to his hand. He spins it acround, stepping foward... But he gets caught by the incoming ice wave, pierced by the spikes. He twists, breaking out of them with another blade of air moments before Avira is upon him, and the battle is joined. The Spine and the Blade move quickly, clashing against each other and sending hissing gouts of sparks into the air. However, the frigid blasts have slowed him, and Avira manages to put several cuts into his body with her serrated weapon. "Tch..." He hisses, as he falls back into a defensive position. He stares there at Avira, his eyes intense he inhales... And then resets himself, bringing his weapon into a combat posture once more with a short yell. His motions smooth out as he seems to simply power through the debilitating effects on sheer willpower.

Avira has posed:
"Tch!" Avira scowls for a brief second as her honesty about the situation is dismissed. Clearly, she would have to continue to /show/ him the effects of Garland's ministrations.

The strange 'weight' of the Murasame Blade is not unnoticed. In fact, it almost causes her to fail in her parry as she's suddenly forced to put that much more weight behind deflecting it. Though she attempts to part him from her weapon, to her further dismay, she sees that it boomerangs itself right back to Souji's hand.

Meeting his intense gaze with one of her own, she stares him down with eyes that betray the fact that she's /seen/ things through Chaos that nobody ever should. "...haste." she murmurs, a red sheen suddenly permeating her skin, the word spoke in direct challenge of Souji's demonstrated considerable skill thus far.

Kuja has posed:
Faruja spouts off his usual self-righteous tripe at Kuja, and he gives him a dismissing look, even as the holy sword technique staggers him, bringing him back a step, "Obviously you have none of the qualities I thought you had. Cower in fear rodent, as the greatest champion of Palamecia dispatches you."

He then turns towards Serah, at Leon's request, and the girl fires off her holy spells in quick succession. Small shields of dark energy appear, absorbing the impact, but some of them bring him to his knees. Growling in frustration, he opens a corridor of darkness, and one of his Black Mages enters into the fray, stating a single word, "DESTROY!" Before lifting her into the air with a sphere of gravity magic, offering him a reprieve.

He grins with a predatory smile, "I remember you. You tried to aid the Canary in escaping. Good, good. This will be..." Waves of dark energy exude off him, becoming palpable to all the Burmecians in the area... "...invigorating."

Clapping his hands together, he makes a gesture, which causes a plume of Mist to rise upwards, before diving straight into her lungs, in an attempt to suffocate her. A moment later as part of the Plume of Mist enters into her body, it reaches into her mind, picking out her worst fears... and shapes the remainder of the Mist into a representation of that. Which moves forward, and lashes out at her soul, attempting to drain her of her life's blood.

And then he snaps his fingers, and a small pinpoint star appears right beside her, which he then brings to critical mass, exploding outward into a giant mass of flare energy.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth grunts as Minerva focues on herself...but Shadow takes the fight to him. He grunts...

The blade cuts through his body, the thrown blades strike their target, while the real strike...the dreaded assassination hits it's mark.

Karth goes down, hurting serverely, but he grabs something...a bottle of liquid and downs it quickly. The nearly fatal wound closes up, and Karth stands again, and throws the Shovel down.

Apparently, it was time to be serious.

Karth draws his blade, the wavey sword ignites into flames as he runs right towards Shadow first.

He rises up, suddenly and then DIVES back down towards him, aiming to catch him in a quick serious of kicks and weapon strikes before aiming to toss him right down towards Minerva...

And then he dives at them both, aiming to strike them both with the sword before he hits the ground...

"SURRENDER!" he demands as he comes back across, another slash...and a trail of fire burns behind him, as explosions of flame flare up aiming to ignite them both on fire!

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja leaps back from the spike of darkness about Leon, the Templar leaping nicely into that shard of crystal. The Templar /glares/ at Kuja, incensed at his taunts. "Fah! You know nothing of my people, and know nothing of myse..."

Cue encasement. Go team Alex-Pal-mecia. The rat's hand is even frozen in a vaguely rude gesture towards Kuja. Down the blade comes, seeking out flesh and life alike. It strikes, digging through crystal and into his body.

Where flaming darkness touches, burning light erupts, the two powers playing over the Burmecian's body. The smell of cauterizing flesh fills the air as the very stuff of Faruja's soul burns him, keeping out the darkness that would infect him so. Unfortunately, it seems to hurt the zealot as much as it saves him, flesh smoldering and the rat staggering back.

Within, the power that Faruja had barely grasped while fighting for his King eludes him. Despite the foe he faces, he doesn't yet have enough command, enough strength to reach through the blazing flames of his own soul to touch the power hidden within. For now, it remains dorment, not yet roused out of its sleep.

"Are you alright, Lady Farron?" Calls out the Burmecian as she's slammed by Kuja's powers. Yet, he can't heal her at the moment, too busy dealing with Palamecia's general. Faruja's blade again thrusts, blades of lightning striking at Leon even as the Templar attempts to regain his breath.

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron seems glad that her salvo did have some effect. But the following attack comes as a surprise, striking at her hard, as if she was exploding from the inside for a brief moment. She lets out a painful cry too, slumping to her knees for a moment.

She has a moment that she wonders why she's here, fighting. But its only a moment. She remembers that this pain is the reason why she's fighting after all. Because too many people feel it, and she doesn't want that. She stands up slowly, a bit shakily, but not giving up either "I don't know who you're talking your 'canary', but you're noone's owner, noone's your possession, you don't deserve any of those!" She lets out toward Kuja in reply, and lays out recuperative spells over herself and Faruja, keeping up the fight. Dispelling the poison primarly, but helping with their wounds from the combined attacks.

Souji Murasame has posed:
Souji simply smiles as Avira begins to apply healing and augmentation magics to herself. "If you think that's going to help you, you're going to be disappointed." Souji says. He brings up his hand, running it along the side of the blade. "Murasame Sword Art..." He says, as a ghostly aura surrounds the weapon. The ephemeral force is brought around, and he pulls his blade back. "Consume and shatter!" He calls, as he strikes with a terrible single blow. There is an explosion of light as Souji strikes outwards, hurling Avira back with another thunderous blast.

Kuja has posed:
From her suspended state in the air, Kuja laughed, he laughed maniacally, there was even a hint of insanity in his laughter. He acted as if he were just toying with her. Allowing her to savor every moment of suffering, and sadistically enjoying it. "On the contrary my dear. You. You are mine. And if you /sing/ just sweetly enough I may offer you life just long enough..." He steeples his fingers upon his chin, "...maybe I'll send you to the capricious kitten, or the Black Lily. I would /love/ to see what they have in mind. It could be a cooperative effort. Breaking you. Seeing if they're worthy of my attentions. That reminds me. I need to check in on the latter. See if the Fetid Breeze hasn't thoroughly bored her yet. He is such a dull, lifeless individual."

He idly causes another sphere of dark energy to appear crushing it and allowing that sickening lethargy, that twisted dulling of the mind to spread through the Mists through her once again. One of the Mistodons begins to spray darkened Mist upwards at Serah. "...it wouldn't surprise me if she needed to find other means of entertainment."

Avira has posed:
"Oh yeah?" Avira shifts her own stance, adopting a two-handed grip on the Spine. Is she mocking him? It could be taken that way but it's not quite the truth. Adjusting the grip on her weapon was pretty commonplace for Avira. The blade is lifted, prepared for defense.

But this time, the strength of Souji's blow simply plows through the defense, sending the short-statured huntress flying backwards. She flies /so/ far backwards that she plows through a pile of wooden beams and finally stops when she slams against a partially finished wall. A set of scaffolding is broken in the process.

Groaning, she pushes herself out of the mess of mortar and shattered wood, quickly regaining her footing, a look of annoyance on her face as she can tell her magic had been dispelled. "Let's see you try that a second time. Secret Kickassian technique!!"

Yeah, she just said that.

She brings her blade down, not closing, but striking from afar as her ice magic fills the air, dispatched at Souji with her swing. The blast is enourmous and, if looked at the right angle, appears shaped as a massive, charing wolf.

"ICEWOLF BITE!!!"

Leon has posed:

Faruja's strikes down Blades of Lightning which attempts to throw the Dark Knight into the air, however the Dark Knight corrects himself and uses his darkness to blast him right back down to the ground, avoiding making impact with Faruja.

Once more the tip becomes ghostly with the blade as he attempts to make rapid strikes at the Rat-man. Hoping to catch him and taint part of his soul with infliction of a curse.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Serah's spells settle over Faruja, renewing his protections and finally ending the fire his own soul had laid upon him in response to Leon's skills. Down goes the ghastly blade once more, Faruja shoved back by the mere impact, landing on his back. The man's strength is great even with those light strikes, his breastplate now missing a section as the Templar's parries fail, blood spilled on the rat's chest. Only Serah's magics have it sealing up, the Regen spell sapping much of the poison.

It /does/ however feel remarkably breezy to the Templar.

Faruja glances to his ally, as a Mistodon rises up. The Burmecian leaps back, practically floating in the air, spear sheathed upon his back once more. Swirls of white magic have javelins in his hands now as he warps the weapons in, only to start throwing a barrage of them at both Leon and the beast threatening Serah; hoping to buy her some space.

Serah Farron has posed:
Even under the flay of Kuja's words and attacks, Serah this time doesn't flynch. Even with the poison spread around her, she's standing. "Your words are hollow. They are pretty, but they mean nothing. You think you have power, but you're just in an illusion of your own making." She decided that she wouldn't buckle down to someone like Kuja. Faruja gave her encouraging words too. She's not a simple civilian though she's a l'Cie with a mission, even if she's not entirely sure of it yet. She expands more of her magic, protective measures wrapping around herself and Faruja, two layers of magical shielding, one pale blue, formed of hexagons, the other light green, glowing faintly.

Minerva has posed:
Minerva is powerful but whoever this guy is pretty damn strong. He has the advantage of knowing whom she is, she has no clue as to who Karth is at this moment. This is the strange way fate goes sometimes. She's assaulted but she does not go down the powerful strike she parries them with her arm guards but the force of the impact. The sounds of the impact is brutal the shock from the impact hurts her anyway and Minerva just says in reply to his demand.

"Ser, I will not, behold..."

"SEARING LIGHT!"

Her hand starts glow bright holy energies an then she slams her fists into the ground sending a shock wave at Karth before she lunges in at him to just whomp with with it and on the last strike there?s an explosion.

Shadow has posed:
Shadow is a still figure in the fog. The lack of motion until necessary makes him a fuzzy target for Karth. The sword is out. Oh shaz, its about to get real. Shadow squints his squinty ninja eyes. He is ready.
In true epic fashion, the ninja waits as the Shovel-Man goes up into the air. The tension is enough to cut through with a flaming sword. When the descent occurs, he moves quickly out of every blow. Some come close-- singing his clothing along his torso and thighs. The grip for the toss works, however, causing the man to go towards Minerva as a human projectile. Although Shadow is able to react by getting onto his feet and evading the final blow-- his partner suffers for it.

To balance the scales a touch more, he stands slowly-- taking out another paper talisman that blurs both the ninja and the icy monk. Shadow replies with a fierce, "..." to Karth's request to surrender. The two swap offense and defense again.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth cuts through the shadow...of Shadow...

Yeah.

He, however, sears right through to Minerva who he hurts deeply. The blade comes back around again, and he holds it level as he stares at the two...this is becoming increasingly a difficult position for him, but he does not run. Once more, he goes on the offensive, refusing to back down...and if they will not...

Also he has no idea who Minerva is, he has only seen her once and only in passing. With the light being what it is...

The punch from Minerva, and the searing light that follows causing the recruit to be thrown from the strike and grunting in pain...

"Nnng.." he mutters...and then he comes back in, the blade burning as he aims a series of quick strikes towards Shadow first, trying to find the man beneath it instead of the mist that he keeps hitting...

And then he spins, aiming to try and drive the blade right towards Minerva, trying to put her down quickly. "I dun wana hurt a lady-folk, but yer leavin' me little choice."

Kuja has posed:
Faruja throws javelins at him. One impales him in the shoulder. Kuja briefly looks abstracted, as he pulls it out. He makes a slapping gesture in the air, and it's like Faruja just got backhanded, by the Darkness. "REALLY? Rodent. Really? Where is the power I saw you call upon in Alexandria Castle? This is a meaningless struggle."

Kuja looks at Serah. He gives her a predatory grin. "You don't believe I have power, girl? Would you like to see, power?"

He snaps his fingers, and the three Black Waltz all appear around him, through corridors of darkness. Tethers of purplish energy lash out, joining against him. And Kuja's smile fades, becoming instead, a flat look, "Be careful what you wish for!"

A moment later, the Waltzes begin to dance around him, each in chaotically, in no discernible pattern. Kuja focuses...

And the world around Serah Farron /shatters/. She enters into a dimension of Chaos. One in which the laws of physical reality have no meaning. Kuja laughs maniacally in the center of it all, the piece of ground that he stands upon, the black waltzs, and himself the only thing that remains intact within this dimension. First her body expands a hundred fold, to become so gigantic that she feels her heart might burst. Then contracts, crushing her into smaller dimensions of herself. Then her atoms literally scatter, with each retaining a piece of her mind, of her sentience.

It wasn't the soul of Chaos. The sort where he could scour her mind, her soul, her body permanently. It was just a realm where Chaos could warp her physical reality. But it was enough.

Reaching up with a hand, he continues to laugh, as he causes the minute speck of darkness within her to expand so abruptly it threatened to overwhelm her, and transform her into a heartless... but that was not the intent of the spell. It was over in a fraction of a second, as he feeds off the darkness within her heart.. Then it contracts all of a sudden. Her body conjoins all of a sudden, then the dimension of Chaos just implodes upon itself, leaving Serah back in this physical reality. And soon the memories of this dread realm would fade within her, becoming the memories of a memory, then the echoes of an echo.. Then nothing. Kuja offers a dismissing gesture, and another pinpoint star bursts into a cascade of flare energy beside her.

Kuja looks, diminished.. somehow. He looks.. momentarily weak, as his shoulders sink down, and his breathing becomes ragged. The Black Waltzes all bow as one, then vanish through corridors of darkness.

Serah Farron has posed:
There's no words to describe it. But yet, its like it happened before. Maybe it was when she was in the crystal sleep. Like when your entire conciousness leaves you, and you can see from outside your body, even for an instant. Her body trapped in a dark void, crushed, burned, and then spit back round. When the bubble of darkness releases her, leaving her body there, its inert, unmoving. That's because her spirit hadn't returned yet. As if she could avoid most of the physical pain, a defensive measure, her brain and soul shut out entirely.

For the people watching, she'd be like dead. But yet, a small light grows over her, spreading over her skin... and then she moves, peeling herself off the ground painfully, grunting as the pain she had managed to escape comes back to her senses. Not as strong as it would have been during it, but still there. She's concious at least.

"... But your power is lonely. Its dark, solitary..." She felt it through the attack too. "... longing. Trying to fill a void you have with any means... taking the wrong path because it seems like the shortest..." Where is she getting that from? Kuja will have to analyze it maybe. But she stands up nonetheless... and channeling the healing back, she preps herself back up, staring directly at Kuja.

Leon has posed:

The Dark Knight raises up his sword trying to create a dark field in front of him. The lances slam across the darkness, their light trying to tear it away, until the last one tears through and slashes across the darkness that protects the Dark Knight's own armor.

Now a gash is in the darkness. His eyes glance over as he notices Serah getting back up and he peers at Faruja once more. "Call off your battle. Leave this place or you will perish." There was no hint of how tired he was in his voice. No sound of pain. Not much of any emotion in those words at all. Instead of just the hint of cold, precision of his own thoughts.

He then summons a rune that appears under his feet. Like the very blade that gets summoned from before, this too is another crystalline ghostly blade seeking to imprison and weaken the will however of whom it contains. Before it then shatters under its own power, jabbing those who fall victim with shards of dark magic. Yet instead of just Faruja, he also attempts to capture Serah in it as well.

Minerva has posed:
Shadow support is quick and ther's no denying what he can do. He has proven himself to be a powerful, ally. Minerva is wounded but there's still quite a lot of fight left in her.. She prepare her fists again but this time the darkness and there's a screech as she channels it once more. Again she throws herself at Karth aiming to strike him down with everything she has. She just punches over and over again.

"WAILING DARKNESS!"

Shadow has posed:
The ninja nods his head as Minerva goes off into Wailing Darkness mode. Shadow launches into his own attack-- but it is more direct brief in comparison. The shrouded ninja launches out another grey orb-- aiming to distort and disturb the man's vision even further. The setup is quite familiar. Only this time the strikes are revsersed-- the heavy slash comes out first to rip into the vitals. The followup-- that one is the distraction.

Faruja Senra has posed:
The Backhand of Darkness is nothing, even the mage's taunts bouncing off of Faruja as nothing. It's the sight of the wonderful, caring, so very /naieve/ Serah Farron being engulfed in the realm of Chaos that truly touches Faruja. He'd seen that realm, laden in Garland's eyes, and it had brought him to his knees. Staring as the woman's body is twisted, broken apart, and reformed, there is no horror this time. Only rage. Pure, unending, unquenchable rage. Slowly, it builds. Faruja glows brighter, fueled by his own feelings of hate, self-righteous anger, and fury at the debasement of the poor, brave girl.

The Templar's soul is a curious thing; a Cathedral of Light all its own. Little darkness dwells in him. Or more accurately, something just as terrifying, the power of men, good and evil, who believe themselves right despite all other evidence. Truly, Faruja Senra possesses the soul of a true zealot, mirroring the darkness in everything but midnight, just as hungry and destructive.

A hand clenches. Faruja gazes upon Kuja, upon the man who caused Serah so much pain...the girl still standing. If only he were stronger, if he could but grasp the power within...maybe he could keep people like her from harm. Power. He needed it. For a moment, clarity unending fills his gaze. He was weak. Only by grasping power, his own power, could he truly stand against such evils.

The Templar doesn't even feel the ghostly blade striking though his side, blood falling to the ground. The other General's advice is sound. They don't have the forces to take the place. But they've struck a blow. Stepping back, just as crystal engulfs where he stood, the Burmecian's eye takes in the building and Leon.

That strength, the same that he felt while fighting for is King, is grasped. Barely, for but a moment, but it's enough. Even as he feels the agony of what lies within, the rat glares at the man before him.

There are no words. Letting go, glorious white flames erupt around man and building both, white phosphorous filling the air. Unquenchable and hungry, as greedy as any dark-infused pyre, the merest touch of the inner most power of Trance sets the all-consuming flames grasping for the living and inanimate alike in their desire to purge, destroy, and /cleanse/ all that offends its owners gaze.

"All units, fire and retreat. Take the dead and wounded. We finish these knaves another day, this is enough for now."

The Magitek laser roars, rockets fire against the building, and the Burmecian units take their dead and wounded. Breathing heavily, Faruja leaps towards Serah, ushering her away from the sight of battle.

"Until we meet again, Leon, Alexandrian Witch."

Kuja has posed:
Kuja growls at her dialogue, "I've had enough of you and your moralizing tripe, girl. You are nothing. You are not even a bit player in this drama. You are an /extra/. You are an /understudy/ of an extra. Someone who is here only because there is /nobody else/. How /dare/ you speak to me in this manner! Lonely? I am /KUJA/ and I need /NOONE/!" He raises a hand her way, the waves of darkness and anger radiating off him... "If you won't read from my script, then I'll bring down the curtains..."

The Mist shapes once again, manifesting before her as her greatest fear, before lashing out at her soul and draining her. Then another pinpoint of flare energy cascades her way, imploding beside her. "DIE! You are garbage not even worth allowing the Black Lily to animate. Noone will mourn your passing!"

The Genome growls at Faruja as he threatens to take the girl away from him. "We are not finished rodent. I will /hunt you/ I will /bleed/ you. If you will not show me your strength, then I will /break/ you and your people in your weakness until I find even an iota of that which I saw on that day!"

He takes several menacing steps towards Faruja as the Magitek laser fires, and Kuja is forced to momentarily take cover as the siege weapons rain down fire on the structures behind him.

Souji Murasame has posed:
Souji doesn't consider Avira shifting stances to be a mockery. She doesn't appear to be making it obvious, and he has bigger things to worry about. Like winning. Winning is important.

He does, however, smirk again as she prepares her assault. "I don't normally do requests, but if you insist." With a smooth motion, Souji brings his blade up and hammers into the ice blast, cleaving into and through it, sending the ice exploding to both sides in twin shearing columns that tear up the ground to both side. Frigid, Misty air swirls around him as he sweeps the blade to one side, turning it slowly. "So what is a Kickassian? Is it your race? You appear to be Hume to me. Or is it your homeland?" It's hard to tell if he's taking her seriously or not, his tone is rather dry at the moment. With a swift series of motions, Souji traces something in the air, and then flicks a hand. There is a red, runic flash. "Murasame hungers, woman. You are running out of time."

There is a sudden pooling of blackness around Avira as crimson streaks slash upwards, sweeping around Avira and attempting to bind her to invisible points in the air.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth is barely on his feet...

The Fist strikes him, tearing into him as he goes flying. He manages to catch himself, dragging along the ground as he digs the sword into the earth, his eyes narrowing as he starts breathing heavily. He can not lose...he /will not lose/ he thinks to himself. He swings blindly, feeling the darkness creep through his body, and then feels the pain of the slash, trying to swing at the already disappearing Shadow. Blood starts trickling down his arms and legs...he's feeling it...

However, he smashes another potion, feeling the healing energies revitalize him.

The sword flares again, fire rolls across his form as he runs right towards Shadow, aiming to catch him in the blade's arch...and then cut and slice repeatedly, aiming to end the dash with a kick to the side, aiming to launch him towards Minerva...

He comes in, viciously, aiming to drive the sword through them both, and then swings down in a massive strike...

Fire errupts all around him, aiming to consume the pair in their all consuming reach, aiming to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.

"GO DOWN!"

Leon has posed:

The Dark Knight has to duck down as suddenly another explosion rocks the building. He then glances up as suddenly one of the lines lets go. One of the structures of the building starts to crumble down and he gets caught in the crash of the structure.

There was a long moment of Silence as Faruja and his forces start to pull back. The Palamecian army was crippled, many were pulling back. Some even casting magic in trying ti complete, others using potions in attempt to help their fallen brethren.

Some of Palamecians own try to help pull back those of Alexandria that had fallen.

However soon the rubble starts to rumble as the Dark Knight breaks out with an explosion of darkness. The Black mist blasts across the ground and attempts to surround Faruja and some of his forces. Then the Dark Knight's voice echoes in the black mist. "You faught bravely. I commend you for this, but I give you something to remember this battle by. As you have stained our blood on this ground, I now stain yours with ours."

"You will remember our name."

Then suddenly the sky turns crimson red, as the Dark Knight drops from the sky and slams his blade into the ground. It erupts with blood light which blasts into the sky. Then blood red crystal blades starts to fall from the sky, attempting to impale the retreating troops and capture them in red crystals, one by one. Even for Faruja himself.

Then the Dark Knight raises up his blade as dark electricity starts to circulate around the red crystal blades, before it all fires for the Dark Knight's Soulblade. Healing his wounds and replenishing his darkness a bit. He then snaps his sword out of the connection and some of the blades shatter. While some red crystal blades remain as a reminder of this battle.

Avira has posed:
"..well /that/ was disappointing.." Avira mutters, suddenly moving once her strike is turned aside. She's not the biggest fan of hitting from afar like that since it seemed to be easily dodged. Case in point, this right instance. "Yeah! It's a race!" she calls back.

No idea if he's mocking her or not. He hasn't seemed to change his tone this entire fight. Very confusing. "And a philosophy! Those that aspire to be awesome, to break through all limitations, and keep growing, are Kickassian!" While she speaks and he carves runes into the air, Avira charges. One fist is pulled back, ready to lay into him when Souji's magic strikes. She is halted, mere inches from him, stuck in a strange transition from what was to be airborne to the ground. Confusion remains upon her face as she struggles against the unusual magic. "W..what the hell is this..?!"

Seconds pass and, without warning, a corona of silvery energy lashes across Avira with a faint chiming noise, dispelling the binding magic. Not another word escapes her as she quite suddenly bares down on him in a flurry of precise and numerous blows from the Spine. They aren't just head-on strikes either and all too soon she weaves around him.

In the final strike, she manages to drop from the air without warning, a localized burst of the silvery energy following that leaves a small blast crater in the ground around the pair.

Kuja has posed:
Kuja looks at the retreating Burmecians with a dismissive look. "Miserable rodents..." He mutters.

Lost in thought, he brings up another hand, and a globe of darkness appears, which he then proceeds to crush, allowing it to spread over the battlefield like the radar it was before.

Two lone figures.. Interesting. It may be worth investigating.

A corridor of darkness appears.. "I leave the rest to you General. A resounding victory. As expected."

He steps through the corridor, and reappears to see..

"Oh this is too rich. The Murasame Scion fighting the Barren Princess." He opens a corridor of darkness, and suddenly four black mage dolls all appear, toddling out of the portal. One gets down on it's hands and knees, the others bend over slightly, and the last stands up straight with it's back to the others. Kuja then actually sits down upon them like a throne. "Do you mind terribly if I record this? I didn't think so."

A swirling tear of darkness that represents a scrying portal appears in front of him, and Kuja literally starts to magically DVR the fight. "Now don't disappoint me, you two. I have high hopes for you both."

Serah Farron has posed:
Serah Farron was already on the way to retreat, but it looks like her word hit Kuja harder than even he expected. His lash back was rather severe too, proof of that. But she's in no state to think about that, as the last explosive attack drains the last of her resistance away, and she falls down in the grass of the mist plains, passing out. Let's out Faruja picks her up, because she's done for.

Faruja Senra has posed:
Faruja /smirks/, glancing back at Kuja as he takes cover. "By all means, come for me, Witch. I invite thy trials, thy very worst! However, harm my people and I promise thee a death most agonizing and cruel! I have had quite enough of humes making mockery of my kind. It shall be a pleasant day when I see all of Alexandria's armies upon the gallows, their Heretical corpses picked clean by carrion birds!"

The sky grows red, and crystal rains. Soldiers fall, impaled, bleeding and dying. Many small acts of valor by the retreating Burmecians save lives, but not all return. Faruja himself is lanced in the shoulder, the ratling spitting up blood. "Remember thee I shall, and break thee from this horrid curse. Faram preserve thy soul, Leon." With that, he'll grab Serah, and make off with the poor woman.

Leon has posed:

The Dark Knight then moves away after his attack, allowing his Soulblade to vanish as he then whispers soft words. Though the statement of his 'true' name causes him to pause in his steps. His red eyes narrow before he continues to walk on. Evaluating the damage that he can see and how much time they have lost.

Soon out in the distance a horn could be heard being blown, before another reply with the same sound. Soon the sounds of marching could be heard, but something was off about the sound.

However when it comes over the heal it could be seen what it is. A replenishing of some of the men and women lost over the battlefield, but these individuals were up on horseback. Steeds of war, with black to dark brown fur, with tufts of fur over their hooves, and black manes kept well groomed. Soon many of them ready their lances, as a female voice Karth would know yells loudly, "Take down the stragglers! For the might of our Emperor!!"

Soon the horses going roaring down the hillside and racing for the battlefield. They would be upon those who remain behind soon enough.

Minerva has posed:
Minerva has to admit Karth is a worthy foe, but the call for Faruja's people to pull back. She looks to Karth for a moment as she braces from his latest attack the Monk however seems to be finished now. She calls to Shadow as she starts to fall back.

"TIS TIME TO withdraw."

She looks to Karth for a moment as she's pulling back.

"You were a worthy foe."

With that she flees.

Shadow has posed:
Shadow hears the call of general retreat. If it were just him and Interceptor-- it would be simple. However, it is not the case when they are already engaged in combat-- with a partner as well. Given how honorably received the fall back has been given so far-- the assassin gives those that would strike their backs something to think about. Every few steps is graced with a salvo of shurikens back-- until the two (plus the megamutt) have enough distance to not worry about a backstabbing blow.

Souji Murasame has posed:
"Interesting. Will this 'Kickassian' creed serve you so well in the times to come, I wonder?" Souji replies. "Because your limitations appear to be quite strict to me." The flash of silver, however, catches him off guard. What force is this? Souji brings up his blade and engages in an epic sword duel with Avira. The pair strike back and forth, blades clashing high and low. It takes a fractional mistake, leaving himself slightly open, which allows Avira to lunge, diving to the ground and sending Souji flying with her detonation of energy.

The smoke clears in the crater, and Souji is left staggered, wavering on his feet as his suit is burned and scorched. Tendrils of energy waft off of him, dissipating...

The voice of Kuja startles him, and he grits his teeth, forcing himself steady once more. Never let them see you bleed. "I don't think you intend to stop even if we objected, Kuja." Souji replies without looking towards him, before he focuses upon Avira. This is going on far too long. He needs to end this.

He brings up his weapon, focusing his will upon the blade and drawing it against his palm. The crimson runes flare as the dark spirit of the blade awakens. The sky swirls, and thunder rolls across the plains as the Mist is caught up in a localized tornado, a column connecting ground to sky as it sweeps out towards Avira to suspend her between heaven and earth. Amidst the howling, Souji's voice cracks. "Blade of eternal hunger, awaken and consume! MURASAME, COME FORTH!"

And then the tornado becomes crimson, howling spirits screaming as blackness splits the air, claws reaching out to shred and tear, seeking Avira's powerful life force and drawing it away in a cascade of bloody light.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth holds the line... he is breathing heavily, bloodied, and forced to fight harder than he ever has before. The flameberage flares, continuing to light the battlefield...

Then the sounds of reenforcements, the familar sound of a certain warrior, and he smiles. He might just hold it...he just has to hold out a little longer...

But the retreat order comes for the mysterious attackers, they start to fall back and he sighs, he refuses to collapse, but...he's hurt pretty bad, the blade slides into the sheath and he picks up the shovel, leaning on it heavily. He looks up at the reenforcements as they come... "Don't worry about me...is the General alright?"

Leon has posed:

The Horses charge only for a bit. They don't pursue past the line that they have mentally darked down upon themselves. A few of the horses rear up in protest, before a few of the riders make soft clicking sounds and a few whistles.

A few Knights have to duck on their steeds to avoid a few tossed weapons of ninja love.

The Riders then move around the area looking for any stragglers that may be trying to hide out in the area to wreck more stuff. As for Karth, a female knight in mostly studded leather and light plate mail, comes riding up to him, before tossing him a vial to drink from. "I am. Now drink it and Need a ride?" The female says, before giving him, her hand. "And he is fine. He may be-- angery.. or upset.. or.. I am not sure really." It was hard to tell she was kinda frowning due to her helm. "...he doesn't really display much emotion."

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth takes the potion, and takes a drink...he looks MUCH better from that, taking the hand of the female knight. He isn't too proud to take a ride.

"Thanks, ma'am." he says, hoisting the shovel to his back because he seriously uses it as a real weapon...to scary effectivness.

"I don't reckon I really understand it myself, but I git what yer sayin' ma'am...it's intense but not...emotional?" He says, shrugging.

"Thanks." he says.

Kuja has posed:
"No, I don't intend to stop. And that battle against the refuse and the rodent was hardly even a challenge." He states in a distracted manner. "...so I don't think you intend to make me either, Murasame."

He tsks, as the Blade calls forth it's hunger, and Murasame creates a localized Tornado. Kuja's hair certainly looks mussed up from the experience as it billows in the winds, and one of his black mage dolls, the back rest, flies away, dragged within it, before it's flung at high speeds in a way that certainly spelled its doom. Kuja creates two small anchors of gravity spheres at his feet. "Admittedly that was rather impressive. But you still have a long way to go before you're on my level."

He then looks to Avira, giving her a predatory grin, "Surely you will offer some worthy riposte?"

Avira has posed:
When the smoke clears, Avira has her back facing Souji and her breathing is heavy. It takes her a moment before she starts speaking again, "With each trial by fire I grow stronger." she breathes, "I will never accept a time when I've stopped growing."

Looking over her shoulder, she spies Kuja seated upon a throne of Black Mages, watching on in amusement. She fights back a scowl and instead whips around to face Souji, weapon in one hand, the second curling into a fist. She takes a step, ready to attack, only to be violently pulled upwards.

Squirming, Avira tries to free herself from the tornado, even calling upon her own magic to do so, but the gale force winds are far too strong to break free. There is also a bit of a 'holy <goosehonk> i am in a tornado' factor going on right now. This is the first time that Avira has been inside a soul-eating tornado. A soulnado, if you would.

As spirits tear into her, peeling away the considerable life force they find bound up in this tiny woman, Avira screams-but even then, her screams are lost to the tornado's howl. After what may be an eternity for Avira, she crashes to the ground, limp.

Yet after a few moments, that body begins to move, pushing herself back up to her feet. "Go on..." she drawls, lifting her blade high. When she brings it down, her strike extends far beyond the physical reach of her weapon, flashing, for a second, into a mammoth-sized ice blade that seems a little too much like the same size as that gigantic sword that Garland carries. When it crashes down, shards of ice fly everywhere.

"TRY THAT AGAIN!"

Souji Murasame has posed:
The massive ice blade comes down upon Souji, exploding into a thousand shards. He staggers under the hit, but he seems to be running on pure willpower by now. Despite his wounds, he just isn't falling over. He responds, however, by suddenly moving past Avira in a blur, ending with his blade outstretched. "I don't need to." is his response to Avira.

A moment later, there is a whipping noise through the air as the cuts made suddenly manifest in flashes of black and crimson.

Leon has posed:
%r The female knight drops Karth off at a safe location, or well, at least a better place then where they were. Though her plan is to regroup with the others.

Several of the Knights come around where their hear combat going on, they pull up on the reigns, before they stare in the direction of the fight. There was some glances between one another, as if they were unsure what to do. However one of them readies up one of their lances, before having his steed run up a ramp. Then he throws the lance right at Avira, before continuing up the ramp to get a bit higher up. Soon another knight then charges around before suddenly their horse runs at full speed and attempt to strike Avira on passing.

She may be after Souji, but Palamecia was getting a bit annoyed by the straggler when they were already denied their blood.

Kuja has posed:
Kuja holds up a hand as the Female Knight and the other Knights come from the distance, his voice magically amplified, "Hold. I want to see this to it's denouement. If the woman intends to kill the Murasame Scion.. then you may stop her. He's of use to me. And.. her.. if the Murasame Scion tries to cut her down, then I'll weather the fallout by bringing her out of the fray."

After all Garland wouldn't want his current favorite chewtoy killed. But he'd offer an explanation for that later. Perhaps say she's a former lover or something that'd wouldn't annoy the Palamecians too terribly.

Avira has posed:
Pure willpower. This is a state that Avira has reached many times before where her skill and endurance meant she didn't last as long as regular opponents that had years of training and experience. She can see him attaining the same status right now and, in a way, it's admirable. "You're getting worn down, I can tell." Avira notes between breaths.

In a blink of an eye he seems to move. Reflexes take over and she strikes out with her own blade, again hitting beyond its reach, chasing him down with the magic. For a moment she thinks that he didn't hit her until she feels sharp pains all over her body, blood seeping through ultrafine cuts in her clothing and skin. "Gghhh.."

She turns on Souji and charges at him, the silvery sheen from before taking over, though in this case her strikes are interspersed with the last few bits of her ice magic.

The momentum builds until she's struck in the back with a lance. A surprised expression of pain flashes across her face and she turns to see a knight on horseback charging at her. Barely, she parries the second blow. "<GOOSEHONK!> I'm not getting stuck here!"

Though it pains her to do so, Avira bolts for the treeline.

Leon has posed:

The Knights peer at Kuja's announcement, "But--" The female Knight joins them and shakes her head. A few them snarl, before they pull back. So much for their fun. Oh well, time to go find the living fallen, bring them back to camp, and patch things up.

Souji Murasame has posed:
What is that power? Souji cannot identify it immediately, which makes it difficult for him to counter it. He does not interfere with the assault from the Palamecian Dark Knights, letting them do their thing. Souji shakes his head, falling back and grimacing at his wounds...

But he can keep going. He will /not/ allow this to end here. Avira begins retreating, but... "You waited too long, Avira. Now you will pay the price for your insolence." Souji rises into the air, borne upwards by his power over air magic. "Murasame! Come forth!" He blurs downwards, that strange red light lashing upwards to grapple for Avira for a critical moment once more as he slashes through and past Avira, coming to a stop on the opposite side. This time, there is another explosion of red light as the sword's spirit tries to rend Avira once more. "This is over." Souji declares.

Karth Mason has posed:
Karth is dropped off.

He gets some time at the MEDICAL tent tonight.

Yaaaay?

Leon has posed:

Well, Ryven will probably check on him and give him some ham. Cause everyone loves ham! Don't you like Ham too, Karth?

Kuja has posed:
Kuja slow claps for Souji. And then he corridors of Darkness over to Avira. He very nearly contemplates kissing her, mostly as a troll, but he knows better.

You don't touch Garland's things, unless you want to fight a near-death battle atop a Sky Fortress. Oh wait, only he did that. The rest of them fought him in a tower. Or upon a city street.. Either way, he opens up a corridor to Traverse Town underneath her, which unceremoniously deposits her in front of the TDA building.

How does he know where the TDA building is? That's a story for another time.

Avira has posed:
Normally she'd make some comment towards the effect of 'I don't get it, what's he mean waited too long?' but at this point, between her wounds and her own exhaustion, the time for talking and asking questions while fighting is over. For now she tries to flee, keeping an eye out on the mounted knights. She couldn't outrun a horse but she could command it to halt unnaturally with the Voice.

But Souji pursues and her forward motion is suddenly arrested by that strange binding spirit energy he's capable of summoning. The spirit of the Murasame Blade maybe? He strikes her again and normally, she'd pitch forward from that blow, her back and flank torn open. Still held still, the red light gripping her splits those wounds open even further and Avira collapses to the ground in a splatter of her own blood.

She still seems vaguely conscious before she disappears into a corridor of darkness.

Souji Murasame has posed:
It should be obvious at this point what he meant.

If Avira had begun running earlier, she would have gotten away. Now, she is going to have to deal with... Wherever she went.

Murasame sheathes his blade. It has fed well this day. It will be satiated for some time. He gives Kuja a leery eye. He knows who was responsible for that corridor... But he chooses not to press the issue at this point. He turns and makes his way from the camp. He has no reason to stay, the issue is complicated enough.

One thing is clear though: He will have to speak with the Emperor. Soon.