1109/Battle Of Prophets

Battle Of Prophets
Date of Scene:	09 December 2014
Location:	Caverns of Prophecy (CP)
Synopsis:	At this current moment in time, nearly all Resource points belong to the Confederacy. Gaius Van Baelsar, Legatus of the XIV Legion within the Garlean Empire, wants to be sure another is added to their belt. However Eryl Fairfax may have something to say about this...
Cast of Characters:	522, Eryl Fairfax

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Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Caverns of Prophecy is a place located up high up, where the air is thin and the extremely cold. Within the cavern itself vapors released there can play games with even the strongest of minds due to the nature of effects that remain here.

Yet this place is important to both factions for it is said to aid in understanding what is to come and perhaps what has been, but the Legatus of the Garlean Empire and Lieutenant of the Confederacy is not here to have his fortune told or seek answers to life mysteries. No, he is here to conqueror this location once more for the Confederacy.

The alert would have gone out over the Union comms that the Confederacy was attacking, including that of the Garlean Empire itself, yet the attacks were shift and carefully handled. Troops moved in with their magitek suits of armor on to protect themselves from the environment moving with stealth at first. When the alert launched it was only because they were at last spotted, but by then the Legatus was already moving inside and dispatching the patrols from within.

As he walked through the mist, his slow movements only caused a slight disturbance in the very fog. Those voidful eye lens hiding any sight of the man behind the full face helm and the gentle jingle of the orbs that hanged off the horns only echoed from time to time in the cave themselves.

For he knew an Elite would come soon enough, it was only the matter of when and if they could hold this area down long enough to call it the Confederacy's once more.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Indeed, an Elite does come. Heavy footsteps echo against the stone, accompanied by quiet, even breathing. There are times when they stop for a few moments, but they continue again, coming towards Gaius.

     Until finally, a shape appears in the fog. A rather slight one, considering how heavy the footsteps sound. Eryl spots the figure in imposing armour and moves towards him, smiling gently and offering a little wave.

     "Good evening. Rather cold, isn't it?" he says in a casual tone. He says that, but he's showing absolutely no sign of suffering due to the cold and altitude. He dusts off some snow from his shoulders and tilts his head.

     "Now, I realize that the Christmas truce has not come into effect yet, but you are violating the spirit of the season, don't you think? Union troops are already engaging yours, and now you have me to deal with. Could you perhaps call off the attack? Consider it a Christmas gift to myself and the Union?"

     He offers a sincere smile, not a trace of irony of mockery in his voice.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius stares at Eryl as the man shows up, though the look from he void lens lacks any detail of the world around him. The dark armor barely even catches any of the light and the crimson red leather-like cloth is the only thing that breaks up the armor.

The gunsword he holds gently in his right hand, not even aimed up, but with the tip of the blade pointed toward the ground. Even after Eryl had spoken, the continued silence remains, before Gaius gently tilts his head to the side, then his words at last break the silence. "No." Was all the armored Legatus had to say as he left hand raises up and a blue plasma shot breaks through the fog right for Eryl coming from the gauntlet bracer itself.

It would seem the Legatus was in no mood to negotiate or act in terms of peace this evening.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     "Ah... well, I am sorry you feel that wa-GRK!" Eryl is knocked back by the plasma shot, falling onto his back. He lays there, groaning for a moment before getting back to his feet. His coat, shirt and tie have been burnt away, revealing his chest, which is already bruising, along with what appear to be glimpses of extensive surgical scarring.

     "Ow... as you like sir. I guess I will be sending you a gift basket as well," he mutters, cracking his neck and pointing at Gaius. "Let it not be said, I didn't give you a chance." Original Face is scanning the man before him, trying to estimate how strong the armour he wears is. Figuring he should test it, he charges up 'One Hand Clapping' to fire a round at the power of a modern handgun. The tip of his pointed finger opens up, a metal slug being accelerated at the armoured Fed!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The original face probably would detect that the armor is a strange combination of cermet and other advance alloys. The crimson red cloth-like-leather is a form of some type of kevlar mesh of very tight binding. Which is only confirmed when the bullet strikes true, impacting the shoulder pauldron of the left arm and causing him to step back from the force.

The bullet has dent the armor, but has not broken it. Instead the Garlean only gives a 'hmph' to Eryl, before suddenly moving into melee range with greater speed then someone in heavy armor should be able to move. A gentle glow could almost be picked up from the armor itself as he moves.

As Gaius nears in, he does a quick step and brings the sword around with a circular cleaving swing to strike up close to Eryl with the edge of his gunblade.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl does indeed manage to estimate the alloy of the armour based on colour. When it buckles under the force of his shot, 'Original Face' make estimates on durability based on the sound of metal on metal. But then he begins moving in, and though it shames Eryl, he had underestimated how fast Gaius might be able to move.

     He tries to step back, but his chest is slashed, further savaging his suit and cutting a nasty gash open, blood starting to leak. Eryl winces, hands curling into fists as he begins to estimate distances. One of the nicest things about having metal limbs is that it opens up a lot of avenues for attacks. Most people wouldn't dream of punching an armoured man in the face.

     Eryl isn't most people, as he moves back foward, throwing a quick jab right into Gaius's helmeted face!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Eryl swings that metal fist and Gaius swiftly raises up his left arm to black. The Metal fist strikes the armor of the left arm with enough force that it dents the metal and causes the metal boots that the Legatus wears to slide back a bit.

The Legatus stares at him. "Interesting." Gaius says with a calmness to his voice, before he attempts to then swing that same left arm around to take a hold of Eryl's robotic arm that just striked him. If his grip should hold, he attempts then to swing his knee in and strike Eryl from the side, at which he does not keep hold once the attack connects or misses.

But rather the Legatus moves with the form and attempts to get himself back into a defensive position. Waiting for what the cyborg may do next.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl is a little amazed when Gaius is able to deflect his punch, even if it did still land with enough force to knock him back. Was he augmented too? Or is it magic? Either way, he grins in response to Gaius's mild compliment.

    A grin that falters when his armed is grabbed, and a knee is driven into his side! Thankfully, his arm is released, so Eryl practices a safe fall, rolling on the ground before springing back to his feet.

     Still, he is wincing, glaring daggers at Gaius. He points again, this time with his other hand and fires another round from 'One Hand Clapping' but this time at full power, aimed right at Gaius's sternum!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The blast impacts Gaius dead in the chest and staggers the Garlean Legatus back. The impact dents and rips a bit of the armor up, but doesn't dive in to deeply as maybe one would hope. The Legatus only tilts his head slightly as a soft 'click' is heard from his left gauntlet, only audible by the echoing off the cave walls around them.

"It is unwise to face me unprepared for I shalt not let the Confederacy down." He then starts to do a slow step around the man, those void-lens of the full face helm staring him down. His voice reverbing from the helm, but echoing from the cave walls themselves. "Though I expect you are ever as eager."

The Garlean then steps around, but goes to step backwards and brings up his blade, as he does so he pulls the trigger at the hilt and fires off several shells. Instead of the flicker of red as one would expect from a gun, it is the spark of blue and on impact, the shells themselves are made of the same alloy as his armor and they explode on impact with a blue flame.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     When Gaius begins to circle him, Eryl does the same, green eyes looking right back at Gaius's. He starts to strip off his ruined clothes, tattered jacket hitting the ground, followed by an equally tattered shirt and the remains of his tie.

     Eryl's torso is a mess of scars. They go around his biceps, with one over every major organ. He nods to Gaius and responds. "Correct. I have made friends in the Union, and I will not let them down. Besides, you did not listen to my advice to retreat, why should I listen to yours?"

     But then, gunblade fire! Eryl raises his arms to block, to protect his face and upper torso, but he still takes rounds, the false skin on his arms being torn open to reveal the dull gleam of metal. But, more importantly, more wounds are opened in his lower torso, causing him to grunt in pain.

     But, he maintains his block... when suddenly, the false skin around his right elbow opens up, exposing a barrel that launches a thick, heavy slug at Gaius!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius gives a very mild nod to Eryl's response. He could not disagree with the man's logic and in some ways, it earns the man some respect from the Legatus. However when the elbow suddenly becomes a weapon, this catches the Garlean a bit flat footed.

As the slug fires, Gaius quickly raises up his left hand and a blue hexagon like field suddenly forms. The Slug impacts the magitek created barrier which disperses some of the force, but the bullet shatters through all the same. Scattering blue shards of light across the area and impact Gaius dead in the right shoulder.

The sheer force causing the Garlean to spin with the impact, that same gauntlet leaves a trail of blue in the air, as if he has cut the very air with the plasma. Only for the sword to come around and blast a bullet in the center of it as he goes to face Eryl once more.

Once the bullet strikes the floating plasmatic energy, it suddenly rockets forward in a blue streak of energy moving it with explosive force and acting like a blade itself on impact.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl winces, Original Face acting up when a wall of light seems to stop his shot, even if only for a moment. Damnable magic and its impossibilities. He does smirk with a little bit of satisfaction when the slug hits through, making the figure spin.

     Only for him to do something bizarre, leaving a trail of blue that is suddenly propelled at him via bullet! Again, Original Face says this is impossible, causing enough pain to catch Eryl off-guard.

     He raises his arms and lowers his head, the ethereal blade crashing against him. Again, his false skin is shredded, but the blade actually sinks in through the metal some! His head is also gashed by it, blood pouring down his face.

     He lowers his arms, and suddenly breaks into a charge towards Gaius, raising his arm and pulling it back, like he's going to punch again! But when he swings, there's a hiss as a segment of his lower arm rises up, a thin, rectangular blade erupting out as Eryl stabs at Gaius's chest!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius takes note of how Eryl seems to have issues when the magitek is engaged. It causes him to tilt his head slightly in mild interest to this fact. Though whatever thoughts Gaius was having on the matter is interrupted as Eryl comes charging in.

The Garlean attempts to shove the strike away with his open hand. The force knocking Eryl's attack direction slightly off path by the knife does nail Gaius in the bicep as it passes by, cutting a part of the fabric as twines of it shred apart and a bit of blood itself is caught on the edge of the blade.

The Legatus though moves back with the strike, keeping it from driving in to deeply and spins himself around in such a means to level his wrist gauntlet at the man's backside. Then with a flicker of blue from the gauntlet a blue plasma blast erupts from it probably about the time Eryl turns around-- or not.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl frowns as Gaius manages to pull back to avoid the worst of his stab. This man was quite the impressive combatant. Thoughts of his clash with Odin begin to rise to the surface, the shame of failure. Was he going to fall here too?

     And then he takes a blast right in the back, skin blistering and bleeding. He sinks to his knees, breathing becoming ragged and effortful.

     He stays down for a moment... before pounding the rock with his fist, springing up and unsheathing the other 'Ungraspable.' "Not again..." He begins a rapid sequence of slashes, twisting and turning as he swings, trying to push Gaius back!

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Eryl does not seem to let up, which was good to see. Gaius was concerned that a man who came as a negotiator would be not one so willing to stand his ground, so the fact the man was willing and willing to not give in. Pleased the Garlean Legatus, even if in silence.

As each strike came in, Gaius attempting to parry the strikes, a few attempts were met, but several more were not. For the strikes that did not get parried away cut into the armor, at Gaius' own side, and even across the armor protecting the collar bone area.

The final strike was met by his own blade to block the attack with left hand added in with support. Sparks flew as metal met metal and the force enough to knock the Legatus back and almost to his knee with an obvious grunt. "Impressive." Gaius says with some compliment in his voice, though how warn down the fifty-four year old was behind all the armor was hard to say.

Though as soon has Eryl let up, the Black Wolf moved right in with his own form of Ferocity, he swept the blade up with an extreme amount of force, while lifting himself off the ground. A glow emitted from the lines in his armor as the magitek infused him with continued inhuman strength, and with the blade and perhaps Eryl in the air...

...Legatus brings them both back down with a hard slamming cleave of his own blade. For when the blade makes impact with the ground, it nearly shatters the stone floor around it.

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl feels a shameful amount of pride as he forces Gaius back, cutting away at his armour and flesh, making his blood flow. He always preached violence as a last resort, and something to take no pleasure in. He supposes that even with all his augments that primal part of him that seeks to dominate others still exists.

     But he is snapped out of his musings by a sudden rush of unexplainable power from his opponent, one that makes his armour glow. Original Face begins to ache again, but manages to maintain enough processing power to estimate the arc of the blade.

     As such, when the upward swing begins, Eryl steps back, leaning his upper body back to avoid it. The tip lightly scratches his chest, but he manages to keep his footing. Then, when it comes back down, he flips backwards, landing on the palms of his hand, dodging this swing entirely.

     In this state, when Eryl bend his legs, the flat of his feet are pointing right at Gaius. Just what he needs. His shoes are suddenly shredded, a massive slug erupting from the heel of his foot, flying at Gaius! Upon impact, it explodes powerfully!

     Eryl then finishes the backflip, landing on his feet, watching for the effects of his attack.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Garlean Legatus does not have time to react accordingly. As Gaius can do is witness as the man he fights proves his body is nothing more then a weapon. What flesh is left is little and how many rifles and who knows what Eryl's body can form is becoming a rather high possibility of zero limits.

Gaius. Is very impressed.

The Slug slams into the Black wolf, the sheer force knocks Gaius back. Slamming his body into a part of the cave wall and about directly armor. A good deal of the armor shatters from the massive impact and blue droplets from the armor itself find its way onto the very ground. Though light they are, they glow softly.

Gaius staggers up to his feet. Aware that part of his armor has been jeopardized and could possibly at any point lose power to the Ceruleum powered magitek as the lines have been broken that allow for the power to shift to where it is needed.

With that, this was perhaps the last stand. Last chance to win this resource in the name of the Confederacy, for he had a mission and he would not accept failure from retreat. No. He was going to stick this fight out until he found himself laying on the ground.

In those few precious moments, he got back up and widened his stance. The crimson leather cloth along his side a deeper hue from the blood that was still escaping from the cut, the armor displaying the magitek circuits and slow dripping of the blue liquid.

Gaius had no words for Eryl, only action and action he displayed. For with a heavy flow straight to his left bracer, he went to overcharge it. The Gauntlet raising up slightly, before he swung his arm around. With a roar of his voice he braced himself the best he could before the heavy blue plasma shot was fired. The sheer size of it nearly touched ceiling to floor. All that energy, all the destructive power his own Magitek could provide. All of it, heading right for Eryl..

Eryl Fairfax has posed:
     Eryl stares hard at Gaius, certain that this would have taken him down. But no. Armour shredded, leaking fluids Eryl literally doesn't have a name for, he still stands. Still presses on.

     Eryl is very impressed himself.

     But then he seems to be doing something, lights and unexplainable energies wafting off his form. Original Face can't take it, buzzing angrily in his head, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut and pinch the bridge of his nose.

     That opening was all it took.

     Eryl takes the blast full on, being launched backwards to slam hard against the wall, leaving a faint imprint of himself on it before slumping limply to the floor. His false flesh has burnt away entirely, revealing his mechanical limbs, arms and legs.

     He lays there, unmoving. This is Gaius's victory.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius signals for the drop ships to move in as he raises up his hand to the side of his helm. Then with slow, staggering steps he makes his way over to where his Gunblade has fallen. Picking it up, but he continues to walk forward and directly over to where Eryl now lays.

He stares down at the fallen Unionite. It is in these times that he would, perhaps, take the man prisoner. Perhaps even for study. However-- the man has also proven to be a worthy and dangerous foe. One which could endanger the Garlean Empire if he was to find the means to get free.

The rules have changed slightly with the Multiverse and the Confederacy had their own rules at which they played by, for he was not here as a conqueror for the Garlean Empire, but that of the Confederacy. When a few of his man walk in, Gaius looks up at them, before moving to walk by them with unsteady steps. Though he tries to mask over them. "Deposit him some place the Union can pick him up and activate his locator beacon if he should have one on his person. See no harm comes to him until then."

The two salute Gaius, "Yes My Lord!" Then they both walk over to Eryl to pick up the man and go to carry him out to follow those exact orders, even as others start to move in order to secure the area fully. As for Gaius, he steps onto one of the Dropships and slumps down on the chair within.

That only leaved two more now.. two more before the Truce..
Was it even possible that they could capture them all before the Truce? It would be hard to see, but a good chance to see just what the Confederates military was truly made of.