3348/TGR: The Grimsangue

TGR: The Grimsangue
Date of Scene:	07 November 2015
Location:	Ylisse
Synopsis:	The Grimsangue's base of operations was discovered to be in an abandoned castle, and the Elites attacked with everything they had. Also, a LOT OF PEOPLE DIED.
Cast of Characters:	Kotone Yamakawa, Karian Icefang, 627, 673, 691, Sanary Rondel, 878
Tinyplot:	The Grimsangue's Rise

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Sanary Rondel has posed:
     After several days of investigations and interrogations, they had a lead! The Elites and the detachment of Grimleal soldiers found themselves on a hill overlooking an old castle, long abandoned by the nobles that had once lived there. That's not to say it is no longer in use, however, as the mountain it's built into provides quite a potent natural defense against both the weather and attackers, and it has since become a popular spot for bandits to hide out in despite lacking anything of value to salvage.

     Naturally, it'd be the perfect spot for the psychotic off-shoot of an already questionable death god cult to hide out in. There's nobody outside, but there's an ominous light surrounding the castle itself.

     "Heard this was a popular spot for their rituals that.. Uh. Don't involve villages." Sanary breathes in slowly as she looks over that castle from a distance, glancing downwards every now and then to check her gear: Heavy armor, gunaxe, shield, and a large bell attached to her hip. "Supposed to be in the middle of something now, so they might be distracted. Oooor it's a trap. Uh. Anyone got a plan on how to tackle this" She pauses again.

     "... Or do we just go in the and kill everything that moves?" She seems more than ready to go with that option.

Karian Icefang has posed:
    When did Karian get there? He somehow managed to track down the group, likely thanks to the tank-sized wolf next to him. "That does seem the best option...but then like you said, traps can be anywhere." He says. He checks his own gear, and nods. "REady when you are."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari's been looking at the castle for some time through some binoculars, frowning just a little.

"Taking a fortification like this, particularly if you don't have air support, is rarely a subtle job. At best you send in someone to scout out enemy troops or assassinate known leaders, then send in the heavy troops to crush the place."

The ninja then shrugs. She's dressed in a dark kimono with mesh armor beneath, her umbrella tied up in her wrap just behind her.

"I can try to get in and relay some information, but if they're particularly well defended, I can't guarantee I won't be discovered. But I'll do what you all think is best." Comes Yari, offering to the others.

A glance up and down on Karian and his wolf.

"Given who we have here with us, 'scout and smash' tactics might be our best bet. They have advantage with that castle."

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji is present, of course. Ever since he promised his support in gaining vengeance and resolving the issue of Sanary's hometown being decimated, he has been present.

He takes threats to his employees /seriously/.

The corporate heir looks over the approach, frowning as he considers the situation. "We are dealing with a death cult. They will not surrender. Do not expect quarter to be given or received, expect a large number of undead and Dark-elemental attacks. If you see anyone who is unusually garbed or decorated, attempt to disable them and capture them. We can still potentially gain useful intelligence from them."

He looks over at those present, considering who can do what. "Miss Takane, I would recommend you scale the walls and attempt to silence the outer guards and open us a way inside. Once that is done we will advance in force with you in front." He points to Karian. The hulking Space Wolf seems to give off the impression of 'tank' to Souji. "We will proceed through the area with standard clearing procedure at that point."

Vergil (878) has posed:
    Standing clad in the cloak that has become typical garb for him when traveling the mostly-desert lands, Vergil looks out at the mountainside castle with something akin to... admiration? It's slight, but there seems to be a tangible appreciation in his eyes at the castle's design.

     "I suppose that depends" the Son of Sparda remarks dryly, tilting his head to where Sanary is standing. "Did you intend on doing anything differently?" He glances back to the castle, a contemplative expression on his face

    "However... I'd daresay these people owe you quite a lot for what they've taken from you. If it were me... I would consider ownership of that castle and all inside to be an acceptable compensation for the loss of your home" Vergil remarks, not seeming the least bit perturbed by any discomfort Sanary might feel at making the death-cult's fortress a new homestead for her. "And try not to damage any of their documents or research material - you don't know how far this cult may go. For all you know, it may have roots across your culture."

     "Alternatively... you could try taking them over" Vergil also suggests, which may or may not draw skepticism or disapproval from the rest of the group. "They have considerable resources, which would be a shame to let go to waste. Plus you could turn them back on whoever or whatever other branches of this cult are still out there if you succeeded."

    This last part though is largely due to Vergil's own thirst for power, and what he could have access to if they could in fact take the cult over instead of wipe it out... though he won't overtly protest if Sanary professes to wanting the cult wiped out. In fact he would respect her more if she made the choice as clear as possible and showed her resolve was infallible.

    After all... he does not know her personally. And he would rather know her choice as unambiguously as possible if he were to consider her an ally in the future.

Rory White (673) has posed:
    "I would send some tiny drones that would likely go undetected and scout to verify any claims first, personally." Rory White exclaims. She's brought her gaggle of drones, the same as last time. The destroyed one has been repaired. They are dog-sized, six-legged constructions of metal and meta-material covered in sensors and personal-scale weaponry. a few Saucers float in the sky above, already using lidar to try and penetrate the walls of that castle. At this range though, that's not so easy.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
So they had information on what was going on it was an splinter of Grimleal and a fanatical one by even their standards. She was on edge working with them yet? The guys they were hunting were just rampaging across the countryside she'd comed armed and ready and a pair of of the cheap hover drone were tialing after her a she went.

"So this is it Sanary? All right then lets see what's going on they might have ritual victems behind held so we should be careful so far in that but other than that? Souji's correct I don't see them giving up. I can send my own drones ahead as well Rory."

It seems Rory had the same idea as Kotone and the drones moved ahead to map and scout out what they could find any bit of data they could.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     "Sounds risky, but..." Sanary looks from Yari to Karian, taking note of that giant wolf before turning to Souji. She blinks slowly for a few moments, then chuckles and turns back to the Au Ra. "Yeah.. I think scout and smash'll work. Don't take any unnecessary risks, though. We're just gonna kill 'em all anyway, so.."

     Her concern is rather evident on her face, even if she doesn't bother finishing that sentence. She raises an eyebrow at Vergil's suggestion, then strokes her chin (or at least the chinplate of her helmet). "That might not be so bad, actually... Well, if I had enough stuff to put in there and staff to... Staff it. Still, definitely wanna keep any of their stuff we find if it's there, though."

     She does raise an eyebrow at that second suggestion. "You mean.. Er. wait, like becoming their leader or something?" The thought hadn't even occurred to her, and it doesn't linger in her mind for too long. ".. . Screw that. I want these assholes dead. Or... Imprisoned. For.. Interrogations." She's not even trying to hide how much she wants to hurt them, is she?

     "Alright.. Yari, Rory, Kotone. We're counting on ya. We'll move in once you give us the signal."

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji glances over to Vergil at the suggestion, and then arches an eyebrow at the response. He nods slightly. Interesting. "Very well. We will make sure to save a few for you to interrogate as much as you feel is necessary." Souji doesn't even do the ominous pause. He knows EXACTLY what Sanary is going to do, regardless, and he doesn't seem to have any problems with it.

Hail Grima.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari does give Sanary one quick look for acceptance of the plan, but then the ninja tosses Souji a salute. It's more than reasonable. And Sanary seems to support it!

"Alright, I'll take care of the sentries then. Miss White, Miss Yamakawa? I'll be relying on your support. Some extra eyes in the sky while I get to work would be useful." She agrees, adjusting some of her equipment and looking upon the mountain-top castle as she considers methods of approach. A quick smoke, and it seems the ninja has a plan in mind. Putting on some handy night-vision goggles, she takes a deep breath, and then starts off towards the castle.

There's one backward glance to Vergil. She doesn't exactly seem /approving/ of the idea, but neither does she raise objections. She can see why Sanary might find them useful, and yet, they /are/ the people who took out her village. Vengeance or opportunity? And does Sanary even /want/ that kind of power?

Sanary's answer has her smiling. Still, she has a job to do. She's a slinking shadow as aether-fueled speed eats up the distance between the hill and the castle, ending flat against the lowest wall. She uses her armlet to try to detect any sentries high above, waiting on Rory's and Kotone's scouting before she clings to the wall like a spider, running up it before just hanging down at the lip of the wall in whatever pool of darkness she can find.

The old reach up, stab, toss to the valley below trick is readied!

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian glances his good eye over to vergil. He narrows it softly, already sensing the lust for power in his words. He made a mental note to watch him, as he's seen too many people walk down that path before. Still, he gives a nod towards Yari and watcher her go.

Vergil (878) has posed:
    Vergil seems pleased by the fact that Sanary is willing to take her adversary's resources for her own. The spoils of war were useless if left unclaimed, and they could do so much more in the hands of others as opposed to rotting with the corpses of their former owners.

    In turn, he raises a brow at seeing Sanary's reaction to trying to become the cult's leader herself... though he doesn't seem entirely disapproving. In fact, he gives a nod of acknowledgment - "Then that makes our objective clear, right? Take no prisoners aside from those you find useful... or wish to question for information on others. The leaders in turn... well, given your connection to this, I'll assume you want to judge their fates yourself?"

    It's more a question of clarification then anything else - he already feels he knows what the answer is. He simply wants conformation.

    Between vengeance and opportunity, both are perfectly acceptable gold in Vergil's mind.

     ...

     Still, should he find anything that would fulfill the latter for Vergil himself, he wouldn't be opposed to looking into it. After all, Sanary's vengeance wasn't his own.

     And while he could respect her fulfilling it, it didn't mean everything he'd do would be in full agreement of it if he thought a better outcome was possible. At least in regards to his own quest for power.

    Thus, he stands and watches Yari's departure, musing on the cautious glances from Karian and the nod of approval from Souji, taking note of how he's certainly found himself interesting company to match the interesting opportunities nowadays.

Rory White (673) has posed:
    "Let's do that then." And this time Rory's brought more than her Saucers. The Saucers were visible. The Saucers got SHOT DOWN. So instead she deploys a tinier drone that looks - and flies - exactly like a Dragonfly. The little insect-drone zooooooooms over the distance while Rory deploys her drones in a careful pattern nearer to expand her wireless range through relays.

    The Dragonfly has only optical and audio sensors, but it should be able to sneak into the castle easily and find if anyone's hiding around...

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is just keeping a move on things as her drones scout ahead for the moment. She'll open up a tac net with Rory the moment she'll she'll see what she can find and she'll make sure to find whom she can but Sanary's reaction is a cause for concern. Not for the cultists but for Sanary herself and Kotone hopes they can end this as well as they can.. She watches Yari do her hting and marvels she's not agumted at all yet she's acting like some spec ops cyborg.

"Let's see what we can find here."

<<Rory your patched in so see if you can make a map of this?>>

Sanary Rondel has posed:
-= SCOUT TEAM =-

     Outside the castle, there aren't many sentries to speak of both on the ground and in the sky. Quite strange considering the eerie glow and ominous chanting coming from inside. The few unlucky guards that have just come out in Yari's path are dispatched rather easily, barely even managing to make a noise before they're removed and sent into the abyss.

     From that higher viewpoint, it's easier to see what's going on in the courtyard: A massive number of Grimsangue cultists, all facing the inside of a large hexagon. Not a circle, not a square, and definitely not a pentagram. In the center is what looks like a pile of bloodied bodies. Some of them are still moving, but any sounds coming from them are drowned out by the constant drone of the chanting cultists.

     The inside of the castle itself, meanwhile, is significantly less active. The sight of the (not just a plain) dragonfly barely registers to the guards stationed inside, seemingly more concerned with watching the ritual than actually watching the entrance. They seem quite focused, too, as if whatever's going on is the most interesting thing in the world. Should the drones trying to map the place out, there won't be much resistance technologically. It's a castle covered with magic-users, after all! The outer wall is fairly well secured as far as actual architecture goes, although the bulk of the movement is in the courtyard. It's probably not quite as easy for those drones to detect the magic in the area, but the heat signatures are! Several of them, even, within that pile of bodies.

-= OUTSIDE =-

     "More or less. I mean, I won't complain if you kill 'em or anything, so don't feel like you need to hold back or anything." Sanary taps her gunaxe against the side of her helmet, an impatient smirk crossing her face. "I know I won't. Ah, this shouldn't take too much longer, I hope."

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian nods softly. He remaind quiet for the moment, but watches them all. Ygdril, the wolf, looks over and finally sniffs at Vergil. He then QUICKLY bares his teeth and growls at him. This causes Karian to put a hand on the wolf. "Not now, old friend."

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji waits patiently for the scout team to accomplish their mission. This is always the worst part of an incipient battle. The heir glances over as the dog growls, and he comments offhandedly, "I have often heard that unruly dogs who do not obey their masters and attack people without cause are put down."

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa Does not like what she sees a lot of cultists a pile of bodies, some of them seemto be alive still. She knows they need to act ot one stop this ritual and two to have any chance of saving any of the victems of this horrible ritual. She knows it's time to move once once they have the information from the recon drones nad Yari's first hand reports. With Yari being thier wya in she cloaks and makes ready to move there shouldn't be much time wasted now.

Vergil (878) has posed:
    Vergil doesn't offer any protest to Sanary's remark to kill the cultists, offering a simple nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

     Vergil in turn seems content to be patient in their progression toward the attack in contrast to Sanary's anxiety.

    At the same time, when the wolf snarls at him, Vergil gives half an inquisitive gaze, wondering if the creature is capable of discerning the fact that Vergil himself probably shares some similarity to the dark aura of the ritual from the castle.

    Considering Vergil's demonic bloodline, there may not be an immense difference... but then again, Vergil didn't know for sure if the aura of these rituals were vastly different from his own demonic nature. When Souji comments on the dog, he adds his own comment - "Especially if it's a fight they can't win."

    Listening on the radio, Vergil moves out when everyone else does, though his is decidedly more relaxed then the others.

    Not that his pace is lesser then theirs, that is.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
That chanting and ambient magic feels awful to the ninja's magical senses, and the readings on her armlet only confirm it. She'd suspect Eikon trickery, if she hadn't been involved so much in this world.

It's easy enough to descend a minerette, brutally cutting a guard's throat as she does so that was too busy watching the cultists, and into the gatehouse she goes. Cracking open the door with a hand, she peeks in after a quick peek at her armlet. She shuts it off, then enters. One distracted guard down, then another just as they react belatedly, and suddenly she has keys to where she assumes is the gate controls.

A few minutes, and a trio of dead guards later, and Yari makes several handseals.

The front gates move upwards with much grunting and general effort as the one-armed ninja employs arm, tail, and lots of speed-increasing magic to get the thing up swiftly, if jerkily. Slamming down the wooden rod that keeps it in place, she radios the others.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     -= OUTSIDE =-

     Raising at eyebrow at Karian's wolf's growl, Sanary chuckles and holds an armored hand up to it gently. "Easy. We're all on the same side here." It's an uneasy chuckle, but at least she's not moving away or anything! She maintains a straight face even after Souji and Vergil speak, chuckling a little more nervously after a moment.

     Thankfully, she doesn't have to try and step in further when the the gates open up, and she wastes little time in rushing down that hill. "Show time!" Subtlety definitely isn't in her mind this time, and by the time the Elites make it to the gates, things are going to be rather chaotic, to say the least.

     And yet, most of the cultists seem so intensely focused on that pile of bodies. Limbs writhe, sigils glow, and the heat signatures only seem to be growing stronger...

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian pats Ygdril to break his attention from Vergil, and directs him forward. "Except I trust him more then most humans." He warns. Still, as the gate is openned and the order given, the space wolf and thunderwolf take off like shots. Any poor soul in their path will get a power sword implanted in their body, or be pounced and maulled by fangs of a wolf.

Rory White (673) has posed:
    When, oh when did Rory White turn from a venturing scientist to a crusader? It would be wrong to NOT respond to this. She's sure it would be wrong to let this stand. But if once, just once, one of these situations could be solved with diplomacy and peaceful discourse...

    "Any chance of that ended when they put bodies on an altar, I suppose."

    Her six drones scuttle across the grounds towards the castle in no time at all. Anything that shoots at them is met with a flurry of LASERS TO THE EYES.

    Whatever makes it through heads for the walls and begins CLIMBING UP THEM at almost the same speed as earlier. Rory herself doesn't seem to be interested in entering the castle. Instead she tails behind her drones. Once one of them has reached the battlements...

    It angles one of its extendable arms down over the edge, digs its feet in, and deploys a grappling line that Rory grabs, only to get reeled up onto the walls.

    This is how you get around being bad at climbing. Copious amounts of technology.

    The six drones waste no time scattering across the battlements. Crumbling though some of them may be. Rory is not as lethal as the others. She seeks justice, not slaughter.

    And so opposition is met with LASERS TO THE EYES, inflicting blindness on anyone who doesn't flinch away or tries to rush or target a drone with magic.

    She has watched these mages. They love to stare at their targets. This is her countermeasure.

    And it's mechanically precise and ruthless.

    So anyone on the battlements is in for trouble.

    But once some of the drones are in place, Rory directs the weaponry differently. Instead of trying to blind people who might be in her way...

    Instead, the lasers aim at robes. Specifically the dangling hems of robes. Lasers are invisible, but damn they transfer lots of heat.

    In other words, cultist are going to be in for a shock when several of them find themselves ON FIRE for no apparent reason.

    This is sure to break up the ritual, she thinks.

Vergil (878) has posed:
    Regarding Karian, Vergil wondered how he would have responded had Vergil affirmed himself as not being human. It was a lack of subtly that his brother would likely not have hesitated to capitalize on as a joke... though in Vergil's case he didn't feel any need to volunteer that information.

    A simple, half-knowing smirk was his only response instead.

    As the gates open and Vergil follows the group in, the cloak is tugged an arm emerging from beneath it-

     -and when it is pulled away, a streak of blue darts forward, the echo of a blade being drawn from it's sheath piercing the air as any creatures in the Son of Sparda's immediate path is bisected, vivisected or decapitated in an instant through a series of strikes that, for most people, would be blindingly fast.

    Vergil is already replacing Yamato into it's sheath by the time his strikes are complete. Notable is that he does't attack anyone blinded by Rory, seeming to focus on targets that either can see him or are facing him directly.

    However, Vergil sees the ritual and , remembering the blind devotion from the cultists that came before, he clicks his tongue. "Don't bother just trying to discourage them - they think death is like a prayer to their god. The only way that ritual is getting stopped is if they're killed."

    Of course, the delay lets him observe the ritual out of the corner of his eye, noting that it seems almost like... an artifice-summoing.

    Any other creatures that approach are quickly slain as Yamato is once again drawn from it's sheath and slices through their skulls, while the scabbard smashes into the heads of others.

    Swift and concise, always going for a kill-stroke instead of leaving anything to writhe and bleed out.

    They don't need more then a few alive anyway it seems... though Vergil seems more focused on keeping the spell books intact rather then destroying them if any of his attacks hit one of the cultists.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari's compatriots seem to have the frontal assault angle covered more than adequately, with people going blind and ON FIRE, Karian charging forth upon a wolf of death, and Vergil making pretty much everything near him dead as soon as he draws his sword. The ninja uses it all as cover, taking an extra moment or two to recover her strength, before exiting the gatehouse and striding into battle through the chaos the others create. She doesn't bother with the mere cultists so entralled with the ritual. Instead, she's going for anyone who seems more ornately dressed, or otherwise seems to be leading the ritual.

Her strikes are precise: poisoned kunai to the neck, a quick decapitation on another, and amongst the line she weaves like a ghost. Never at the same place for more than a moment, lest she either be discovered or otherwise caught up in the casualties created by her allies. Should she encounter the seeming ringleader of this little ritual? She'll leap up into the air, blade drawn, and simply drive it down into his or her spine right at the neck if she can manage it! Swift, quiet, and professional.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is cloekad now and heading in along with everyone else she doesn't attack just yet, no she's got her plans to go agfter the cultist who are making the ritual work those will be the ones she goes after. She knows enough disrupt the casters and you make a mess of the magic, but that could be a bad thing. Then again they don't /want/ these guys to finish theuir ritual.. While everyone else takes the time to go in loud? She'll use that to try and move in on the casters.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     As much power as the Grimleal and the Grimsangue have in this world, the latter are still in for a shock when the Elites come bearing down on them all at once. The natural defenses of the castle and the mountain mean little with attacks from land, sky, and within. Even the largest of soldiers rarely reach the size of Karian and his partner, and the guards go down easily between the full frontal charge from their and Sanary's full frontal charge through their ranks.

     Rory's drones blind the spellcasters and make them appear to spontaneously combust amongst their comrades while Yari's and Vergil's precision strikes leave them dropping left and right, eliminating many would-be threats from even managing to get a single blast of dark magic in. from yet another unseen assailant. Kotone slips in easily enough through the roar of battle, and there's still quite a large number of casters focused on the ritual itself. Strangely enough, the ones actually focusing on the ritual rather than fighting don't even seem to notice nor care about the fighting going on outside.

     At least, not until the ringleader is targeted. Standing upon the top of the pile of bodies is a sorceror draped in an overly ornate cloak, wearing the same sort of bodysuit and headdress indicative of the highest ranking officials in the Grima cultists, both Grimleal and Grimsangue.

     As Yari comes down from her midair thrust, the sorceror turns around and flashes the ninja a broad smile as a crackling barrier stops the blade inches away from her face. "Elites. You'll be the perfect addition to our little gathering here." As she laughs, the bodies beneath her start to move, and what looks like an unending chain of arms emerges, lashing out at the ninja to try and smash right into her from below!

     "So glad you've come. We could use the little boost to our offering here, so why don't you be good and lay down your arms?"

Karian Icefang has posed:
    KArian looks over as he kicks one of the soldiers off of his sword. "Save your breath. IT's you who dies today." He says to the sorceror. He chucks some grenades towards the bodies, and his pistol fires for the sorceror herself.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
It's almost too easy. Bodies fall thanks to the Elites gathered, and Yari gets her way up to the most ornate of sorceresses!

Just in time for her to slam her blade down, the metal cracking and then shattering upon the energy-shield that the woman throws up. The ninja's eyes widen as her attack proves useless, and then horrid arms reach up! Even her ninja speed is useless against the pummeling of fists, slamming into her body, breaking her ribs audibly before the deftest of dodges ends with three of her fingers broken, and the ninja landing in a most ungraceful of heaps! She rolls back to her feet, pushed back by the pure force of her enemy, keeping low to the ground as she slides to a stop.

Yari coughs, and hacks up blood from the strike, on wobbly feet from the abuse. Her umbrella-sword is shattered, and falls useless to the ground. Pulling up her hand close, she manages to crack her fingers back into position, and bandage them tight with strips of her kimono. Still, her single arm is useless.

All she has is her tail left, drawing a trio of kunai.

"What a generous offer. But I'm afraid I have to refuse!" Anything less would insult Sanary and her village! She tosses the trio of bladed weapons at the sorceress, laden with paralytic poison at the woman!

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji seems to almost vanish in the chaos of the initial assault. People die. Screams echo through the air and blood soaks the ground. Death rises through the air, endless praises to Grima perhaps.

Until the request to lay down arms is made. There is a low, seething hum as Souji places his hand upon his blade, his eyes flashing for a moment. He pulls himself back into what Vergil immediately recognizes as a variant iaijutsu stance. Magic Particles begin to boil up around him, a faint wave of wind and power growing around him as he says simply, "You first."

He is not the first strike. but he may be the last.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is moving in and Rory's actions are more than a little scary in the brutality of them, coming from her of all people. She doesn't wnat ot think about it and hse's now going for the casters, she looks to see the ones who are focusing on the ritual and she wonders will the kills they make fuel it? She hopes not and that's when she now starts to work as she moes to start going after casters and she tries to not think about it, just move, just act as she moces to come on the caster form behind putting the heavy stock of her rifle to use as amleel eapon as she does't have time to go for her knife, she's cloaked so it shoudl cause some confusiuon and she's now. She's too focused on disrupting the ritual while her allies fight to end this insanity.

Rory White (673) has posed:
    Thanks to having drones everywhere, Rory's comprehension of what's going on is in full 3D. Sensors from above and six different angles scan the courtyard and compile their imaging and data. Telemetry for every possible weapon and firing solutions for every mage in the courtyard is calculated in moments, linked in with Souji and Kotone.

    She's unable to hide on the battlements, but that's completely okay. down there seems to be TOO chaotic for anyone to open fire on her seriously.

    The opposite is not the case at all.

    With the same ruthless precision as before, Rory sends a few instructions to her drones. They move as one in eerie synchronicity. Laser arms withdraw. A different armature snaps into place. Tiny barrels.

    AWFUL NOISES come from those barrels periodically, and no wonder. They're sending tiny metal shards at hypersonic velocities down at the horrible undead monstrosity. Though the physical impact isn't much for something so small, the shockwave of their passage, transferred into flesh and bone, is enough to rupture and destroy quite a lot.

    And her voice comes in reply from six different locations on the walls...

    "Never! This is the last atrocity any of you will be comitting. I currently struggle to quantify any of the Grimsangue followers as HUMAN."

Vergil (878) has posed:
     Vergil tilts his head in curiosity when seeing the head sorcerer - or sorceress, rather - deflect Yari's attack. If anything, he seems rather bemused when the woman requests them to stand down. "I could say the same for you, considering you're outnumbered."

     He takes note of the downed form of Yari, wondering whether or not a Green Orb would help heal her. For all he knew, it might kill her... but then again, she wasn't human as the tail evidenced. Perhaps she would endure it?

    If not, she really wouldn't have been much use, at least in his eyes.

    Reaching into his pocket, the Son of Sparda fishes out a Green Orb and tossing it over to the fallen ninja; "Eat this. You're not a being I'm familiar with so I don't know any other way for you to absorb it. Bottom line is that it should restore you to fighting form."

    That done... when the arms prove to be an obstacle, Vergil simply draws his blade, draws a leg back-

     "Summoned swords."

     -and is surrounded by a small array of glowing, phantasmal blue blades, eight in total, which shoot out from beside him toward the arms to clear a path for him to dash straight for the cultist, slicing at her arms with Yamato to try and quickly disarm her.

    He doesn't expect it to be quite that easy, but he doesn't intend to pull his punches either.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     "So short on words. Well, there's all types, I suppose." The sorceror sighs as she holds a hand out towards Karian, the bodies starting to writhe about even more. That barrier shimmers again as the brunt of the grenade blast and pistol shots are absorbed into it, although some of the blast does pierce through to damage the bodies themselves.

     Some of those bodies even manage to scream. Whoever's in there, it appears that some of them are still alive!

     "I do so hope you'll reconsider, though. Especially since you won't be needing that other arm of yours soon, anyway." Another wave of her hand, and the body-barrier shifts to take the poisoned kunai! Unlike with the explosives, however, it doesn't appear as if the barrier actually did anything that time around. Thankfully, there's no screams from the kunai sinking into flesh.

     Unfortunately, there /are/ more screams when those metal shards from Rory's drones and the phantasmal blades launched by Vergil rip through several of the bodies. By the time they do get through most of those bodies, however, the barrier shimmers again as the sorceror herself remains unscathed. There's a subtle glow coming from some of the other cultists in the courtyard itself (twelve in all), all standing in a hexagon shape around the pile of bodies. Although they're focused on that ritual, a few of them actually look surprised when a few them are taken down by Kotone's rifle strikes.

     "But if you insist on doing it the hard way, then... Well, you don't need me to elaborate, hm?" The bodies continue to shift about until they practically surround the sorceror, forming something akin to a massive fleshy golem made of people. That's what it is, in fact, with limbs and torsos and faces all pushed together into a 12-foot high giant!

     One arm forms into a massive sledgehammer-like appendage as it's swung down directly at Yari. It's stopped, however, by a loud crunching noise as Sanary just barely manages to get herself in there with her shield raised! She even goes as far as bracing the shield with both arms, however, with bones crunching and blood seeping out from her armor while her armored boots crack the ground beneath her. At least nobody's been turned to paste yet!

     Another arm forms into something resembling a spiked mace, bones visible in jagged spikes and jutting out of those still-moving bodies. It sweeps across the ground at Karian and Souji, moving with surprising agility for something its size to try and pulverize them where they stand!

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
It should restore you to fighting form. That alone gives Yari resolve, and she takes in a breath as Vergil's orb slams into her body!

The sledge-hammer arm falls upon her, but is caught by Sanary! Yari screams from the interception, rage in her heart, slid along the ground and ends up in a jumble!

The ninja then ducks down, and launches herself upon the leader of the cult! Her hand reaches for her umbrella, and slices at her body, before pausing at her back with all of her strength, and pushing the end of her umbrella behind the cult leader!

She pulls the trigger, and a shotgun blast calls out!

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian grimmaces and moves to roll under the mace. As he does, that blade flashes out and aims to cut into the mass. But thats when it's surprise is revealed. As it cuts, the mass would be subjected to the blades power field. "Sorry, but I plan on keeping my limbs. Die, Warp spawned filth!" He shouts back. The pistol roars again, the massive bolts flying out. Meanwhile, Ygdril had managed to sneak away, and could be seen poised to strike on the sorceror.

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
The rise of the massive, animated golem is a problem. Souji expected as much: The usual solution of necromancers who cannot solve a problem with zombies is to throw /bigger/ zombies at it. And this is a big zombie indeed. Souji tenses, and with intense, murderous focus, bends his body backwards, defying physics as he stays in place, weaving with the wind of the massive spiked mace's passage. One spike tears his body, ripping a long cut across his body, causing him to grimace as he straigthens, resuming his stance. He seems to be searching for something... Waiting for something... But what? As he grits his teeth against the pain, he states, "Silence and sorrow comes... Beyond the end."

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is doing her best to take out the cultists before they can finish the spell they are chanting, yet she uis not quick enough. They are all not quick enough as the corposes fuse into a nightmareish golem for lack of a better tem, she stops hiding she brings up her sub machine gun and opens fire on the hulking thing, for what good it will do they'd have to get to the cultist filling inside.

<<Rory we need to get past all those corpses!>>

She's still cloaked but now that she's attacking and moving fast? One could make her out eaisly enough but the cloak might still make targeting her a bit harder than it would otherwise be. Vergil and souji seem quite suited to close combat whie she's going to dance about and give them covering fire.

Vergil (878) has posed:
    Vergil's gaze narrows when he hears the screams, wondering why they needed live victims to begin with if they were meant to be necromancers.

     Then again, most rituals seem to require sacrifices or the like. It seemed to be an underlining aspect of dark rituals.

    As the mace-like appendage comes toward Souji and Karian, Vergil takes he opportunity to dash past the creature's attacking limbs for it's lower body, drawing his hand back-

    -and with a flash of light, the Son of Sparda's limbs become clad in a set of gauntlets and greaves, his strikes imbued with light-element energy to try and smash through it's legs to off-balance her.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     "You're only making this harder for yourselves, you know!" The sorceror laughs from within the people-golem even as more and more of her flesh-based armor is ripped apart, Yari's slashes and shots tearing off swathes of limbs while Karian's own massive blade and bolts remove huge chunks of it at a time! The mass doesn't appear to getting any smaller, however, while the screams coming from the people making it are just getting louder and louder.

     Fallen cultists, Grimsangue and Grimleal alike, are drawn into the mass to add to its bulk! The arms do appear to shorten somewhat, however, some of those bodies returning to the central mass before being redirected to bulk up the stricken spots. Is the flesh golem being worn down?

     There's only so many bodies for it to draw from, however, and the mages surrounding it seem to be slouching a bit themselves. Ten still remain after Kotone refocuses her efforts to firing at the sorceress' flesh armor, blood soaking just about every visible surface in the courtyard.

     "Ah, but this struggle.. Your pain, your hopes... Once you're all sacrificed here, Lord Grima's return will be that much closer." Even as Vergil's strikes impact and turns chunks of the flesh abomination into bloody smears, yet more bodies seem to get in the way! One of the arms shrinks back completely into the main mass, the bodies being redirected to reinforce that leg before it can topple over completely.

     "If you want to keep going, then fine. The Grimsangue, the people of Plegia, even the Grimleal... All of our own hopes and dreams for Lord Grima's resurrection are riding on this battle!" Both arms have all but disappeared, withdrawing into the main body as it starts to grow even more. With another sickening gurgling noise and yet more screams from the people forming it, bone shards start to fire out in all directions, threatening to rip right through anything in their way!

     Sanary can barely even manage to keep herself covered behind that shield, focusing on just healing herself from those earlier wounds while weathering the storm of bones crashing against metal.

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian growls as the beast refuses to fall. He turns his attention and shouts out the order of 'KILL' to Ygdril. The wolf leaps out from behind the sorceror, and in conjunction with the wolf lord, both charge for the sorceror.

Rory White (673) has posed:
    <<I detect warmth within it, but how do you propose we reach them? The undead homonculus is too dangerous to approach!>>

    Which is why she's currently trying to bring it down with careful, surgical shots to its many appendages whenever they're extended to avoid shots that might penetrate too deeply and strike survivors, as apparently happened once. If you can call whatever's stuck in the middle of that 'survivors.'

    This means a lower rate of fire.

    "Sorceress. Release your magic and free whoever is in there. Or I will turn everything I have on YOU instead!"

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
The bulk of bodies are drawn into the mass, and Yari ends up on one limb and the rest of herself all but useless. Only once the Priestess offers her plan to Grima does Yari drawn in her focus and power, teeth grinding!

"...So we're all riding on this battle!?" Yari huffs for the power of the cultists who dare think this dragon could result in the end of the world!

"Useless! Only pure desire and power could end up changing this world's fate! Only the desire to change the fate of a world could truly change this world's fate!"

She leaps up upon the highest part of the castle, and calls forth her magic, and the light of the moon lays down upon those gathered! In her place, a twin pair of the ninja is left, the two relieved upon an illusionary moon.

The illusion magic won't touch her allies at all, but a pair of body-doubles of Yari bear down upon the sorceress that stands before them all, blades ready to kill!

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is one very much to fight aginast her own death, cvery much so. She's trying to focus on blowing off the flesh armour but it's a horribley grizzly venture but it has to be done. She keeps attacking she listens as the horrible cult leader rants about what ever his goals are she listens about bringing back lord Grima and she wonders the offical church while worshiping their god doesn't seem intent to bring them back? Is it too soon or they just feel it's best to keep their deity off the mortal plane?

She is not sure but she does however pull back as she sees what Rory's doing.

<<There's live ones still in there...still Rory!???>>

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji looks up at the bone shards. The cackling of the necromancer grates, but he hears none of it. He sees none of it.

He stands within the eye of the storm. "You have chosen your path. My tolerance for your foolishness has ended. Look upon true power, and despair."

The power blossoms around Souji into a terrible crimson light.

SAMURAI MYSTIC KNIGHT
BUSHIDO SPELLBLADE
> 8: OBLIVION FLARE SWORD <

"Murasame Sword Arts..." He hisses. "Winds of Sorrow."

A tiny sun blossoms in the courtyard of the castle as Souji unsheathes the Murasame Blade, a terrible, consuming flame-wind ripping outwards. The black blade is visible within the inferno, tracing a long crescent wave through the air as he swings the blade a single time. His allies are protected from the effects.

His enemies are not. The bone splinters blacken and explode, burning to ash in moments as the wave rolls outwards. Blackened forms strike against the back wall, burned into shadowy imprints upon the masonry even as the overwhelming force crushes into the barrier protecting the ritual leader and the massive golem.

The flame and destruction ends when the weapon is sheathed once more, Souji standing before a smouldering, cracked groundswell.

Vergil (878) has posed:
     "Big talk... but you don't even know what it means if you're that willing to sacrifice your hopes and dreams - your ambitions - so carelessly."

     This scene was familiar. The last time he'd fought something like this, it had been against Arkham when he took his father's blade. Something else who tried to take power he wasn't meant to have.

     But at the very least, he'd done so for his own sake. Not because of wanting to cast his life away as fodder for some deity but rather because of his own ambition. In that, Vergil had some modicum of respect for him, even if his arrogance as a human made him unsuited to handle the power he craved.

     But for that difference, there was another similarity - namely that this wasn't something they would be killing very quickly. Or easily for that matter.

     ...

    At least, not conventionally.

     ... In that... the Son of Sparda perhaps wonders if he ought to cut loose just this once? Granted, he'd be showing off what was arguably his trump card.

     ...

     But then again, it may also help show the 'Grimsangue' just what it meant to actually face a demon in reality. And show them just what the price was of reaching for power they couldn't hold on to for themselves.

    "You can't even fight your own battles without using the corpses of others. You don't know what real power is... and you don't even have the ambition of self needed to reach for it."

    When he lands back on the ground a few paces back... Vergil's expression changes, to one that few of those here will have likely imagined he could have... and many will likely be unsettled by, as Beowulf is replaced by Yamato.

     It's a wide smile, almost excited-looking, as Yamato is clasped by Vergil's hand... and, almost painstakingly slow, is pulled free-

     "You can't even fight your own battles without using the corpses of others. You don't know what real power is."

    -and upon being fully drawn,what seems almost like blue flame envelops him as Vergil simply /changes/.

    In a split-second, the flare of blue mirroring Souji's 'sun' comes and goes as the shift takes place; his smile - his mouth - widens far beyond human proportions as his skin turns pitch black, teeth sharpening until they look like small knives. His hair seems to lengthen and harden until it is more like a bony, crested helm, eyes consumed by feint, glowing blue light. Hard carapaces form around his limbs and torso while his back and arms become cloaked in a literal 'coat' of scales. Hands and feed become clawed as the sheath of Yamato seems to /fuse/ into his left arm and is covered in scales, almost forming a scythe-blade merged into his limb. Sheets of scales flatten down around his waist, the pseudo-'wings' becoming like the vestiges of coattails.

    It all happens in a split-second... but at the end, what remains is nothing even close to applicable for the term 'human'.

    And unlike Yari's power, this isn't illusion magic. This is /real/.

     This... is Vergil.

    "There's a price to pay for claiming power you don't deserve. A punishment to be meted out for such arrogance."

     And then... he's gone.

    Those with the eyes to perceive it will see the blinding movements - the hailstorm of death as a thousand strokes are delivered in the breadth of mere moments. But for those who lack such sight, all they will see is the sapphire form of the demon, crouched down on one knee and slowly rising up as Yamato's silver blade - the only thing unchanged about the entity before them - is slid back into the sheath-

     "JUDGEMENT CUT."

    -and is synonymous with a thousand cuts splitting open across the form of the flesh golem, any remaining barriers and anything else in it's path, leaving only the demon standing amid the utter destruction it and the others have invited.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     "You ask me to give up on the people of Plegia themselves. What makes you think you have any right?!" Rory's and Kotone's precisionshots are on the mark and, as expected, fewer screams ring out as those shots rip apart corpses rather than the still-living victims making up the sorceress' protective shell. Without the dying flesh to add power to that barrier, the mages chanting for the ritual are dropping dead themselves as their very life force goes into augmenting that barrier!

     "Fate? Your only fate is death! To restore the Fell Dragon to his rightful place!" Yari's illusionary double don't draw the sorceress' attention right away, her focus remaining on those Elites on the ground. By the time the ninja bears down upon her, swathes of flesh are cleaved off, sending more limbs and even a few heads flying.

     The dogged persistence of Karian and his wolf are making headway as well, and there's simply not enough bodies nor power remaining to keep the main body from reforming at this point, especially not with parts of being ripped off at such a rapid clip. Sword and fang, pistol and... More fangs tear leave massive gaps in the sorceress' armor, leaving her open to further attacks!

     And as some of those heads hit the ground around Sanary, something inside her suddenly snaps. There's an eerie purple energy surrounding the cleric as she rushes forward suddenly, blood flying off the joints of her armor in her haste to get through sorceror's flesh armor. She practically screams out in a mad rage as she drives her gunaxe forward into it, living and dead be damned as she forces the rage-powered blade through slowly to clash against that crackling barrier that acts as the only remaining barrier protecting sorceress herself.

     Inside, the sorceress cracks a determined smile. "Going that far already, hmm? Maybe you can carry on with-"

     Without the barrier to shield the sorceress and the flesh golem from harm, there's little to protect her from Souji's and Vergil's combined assault. Not that the barrier would have stood up against such power, but still. Souji's single decisive slash and Vergil's barrage of literally inhuman power burn what's left of the flesh armor to a crisp, and the sorceress is faring little better than the scattering dust that used to be the abomination.

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian narrows his eye at vergil, growling intesnely. "Ygdril was right about you. Deamonspawn...He could smell the taint of the warp on you. Your time will come." He hisses. More bolt pistol fire and fangs fly at the sorceror, as he was currently BEYOND pissed off at the situation.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari huffs. "...Fate!? The only Fate I consider is Sanary's desires!"

Yari huffs, and her illusions subside, bits of flesh cleaved off! The pure power of the front-line troops are more than enough! Yari sighs in relife!

As it stands, Yari's tail flicks out, and offers one last barrage of kunai and shuriken upon the cult leader!

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa is bring very careful with her shots, she doesn't likke she has to do this but they have to stop this. Whatever they are doing would be bad news for the people of this nation regardless of it.

"All things die in the end, that is true. Yet this is not how we're going to go out and not how this nation will go out!"

Sanary and even the offical chruch of the nation has shown far more sanity in this matter.

Sanary just snaps and that is even more worrysome, then Vergil's form, she's ended up way in over her head just about everyone here could crush her like an insect and she knows it.

The words the Sorceress utters however are troublesome as mucha s Sanary snapping. It will have to wait however as she gets on the tac net.

<<Rory your going to have to treat people on your ship is it in postion for beam outs??>>

Souji's also left an impresison again and again the young man has proven he's no idle sort to sit behind a desk and bark orders.

She's however now lookin in the vain hope for any one who might be savable in all this mess and not part of the cult.

Souji Murasame (627) has posed:
Souji just stands there. It's far too late to do anything about the Space Marine's 'shoot first and ask questions never' policy.

Besides, that took a /lot/ of MP. He is listing to one side slightly, showing that it is taking significant effort to maintain his bearing at the moment in the face of the massive expenditure. "Try not to rob Miss rondel of her desire to have vengeance, all right?"

Vergil (878) has posed:
    As the combination of one overpowering black stroke and a thousand pinpoint white strokes tear much of the flesh-golem apart, the demonic entity that has replaced Yamato into the sheath on it's arm.

     Moments later... the demon is gone. And standing there is the white-haired man in the blue coat who originally entered this castle. Perhaps slightly breathless, but no less impassive as he looks behind him at the carnage that has been wrought.

    He also catches sight of Karian's reaction to him, returning the glare with something of a bemused chuckle. "Not today."

     This is followed up by Yamato quickly being drawn again - and cutting into Karian's shots and deflecting them, the hybrid-demon now standing between the Space Marine and the fallen Sorceress. "This is her battle"- he gestures to Sanary. "-and her debt of vengeance to pay back. It would be... impolite to interfere."

    When the assassin Yari lands, Vergil takes note of her claims to only care about Sanary's desires, seeming slightly disapproving about the lack of personal ambition. Though he does seem to, at least, take note of her dedication.

Sanary Rondel has posed:
     By the time all the bolts, fangs, kunai, and bullets are finished flying all at that singular target (and deflected to some degree), the sorceress is... Well, she's not in the best shape. She's bleeding, gurgling, and left in a heap while somehow barely managing to remain alive.

     And then a green light surrounds her. She looks rather confused from what's left of her eye, the light coming from the healer who's no longer surrounded in that dark purple aura. "Heh... Yeah, I got a.. Personal stake with this one." Sanary chuckles wearily as she trudges up to the sorceress, grabbing her by the neck digging those armored gauntlets in while still keeping the healing going to ensure it doesn't actually heal properly. That's going to do quite a number on the ringleader's ability to breathe without pain, isn't it?

     "Thanks for the help, everyone. Couldn't a.. Of.. Have.. Have done this without you. As for this one... I think I'm gonna take my time with her. Really... Get some practice in." She lets out a hoarse noise vaguely resembling a laugh and gives the gathered Elites an appreciative (if exhausted) grin before glancing around at all the destruction, the blood, the body parts scattered everywhere that haven't been burnt up or pulverized somehow. "Someone else can clean this up, right? Er... Right. Not it."

     As she starts for the exit of the destroyed castle, her gaze lingers on a pair of heads. Although her gaze wavers and the color drains from the little of her face that's still visible, she doesn't stare for too long. Instead, that sorceress' still twitching body is slung over her shoulder and carried right past those Grimleal soldiers mopping up the remnants of the Grimsangue soldiers outside.

     There would be time for mourning later.

Karian Icefang has posed:
    Karian watches and simply turns as the sorceror is defeated, and his bolts deflected. "Ygdril, we're done here." He says simply. But then, he points to Vergil. "This isn't over...Deamonspawn." And with that, he mounts onto the wolf, and the two ride off.

Vergil (878) has posed:
     "I don't doubt it" Vergil replies as Karian takes his leave, sheathing Yamato as he does.

    Observing Sanary, Vergil gives an inquisitive glance as she leaves, pondering her actions. While he finds her promise to draw out the suffering of those that wronged her intelligent and inefficient... he can hardly begrudge her for wanting to take it out of their hides. Thus, he simply gives a nod of acknowledgement.

    As he turns to take his own leave, he gives glances of acknowledgment to Kotone, Rory and Yari for their roles in the battle.

    With Souji in particular, he gives out something more rare - an actual look of respect. It isn't often he meets someone he could consider a rival and perhaps even an equal in the art of the blade, let alone master a weapon so powerful.

    And with that, Vergil - after taking some of the charms dropped by the cultists, or whichever ones are intact at least - exits from the gates and steps out across the deserts, reclaiming his abandoned cloak and draping it over him as he begins the long trek back. In time, he vanishes into the twilight entirely.

Kotone Yamakawa has posed:
Kotone Yamakawa gives the others a nod she knows they couldn't save everyone but she's still got a few signatures from the bodies that were cast lose while it was flailing. She will worry about Sanary tommrow right now there's pressing things going on here. There's work for her to still do here and she's just glad it seems to be over, well for the moment.