Scene #6218: Guardian Heroes

Owner	Pose
Sanary Rondel	The location given by the temple is a fairly regular-looking one: It's in the middle of a small town at a temple sandwiched between several other buildings. The streets are paved with cobblestone, barrels and fruit crates line the streets, and there's even a bit of graffiti to spice up the occasional wall here and there. This late at night, however, there's nobody wandering the streets. The townspeople have shut themselves in for the night, with the occasional window lit up by candlelight or electric lamps, depending on how crappy the outside of the building looks. The temple itself is fairly standard as well: Two long columns of multiple pews, an altar to some sort of angelic figures, stained glass windows that have been boarded up. A priest would greet those coming in and, after confirming that they're here following the call for assistance, would lead them upstairs to the even simpler (but still spacious) priests' quarters. "Thank you all for coming. I hope the Royal Knights didn't give you too much trouble on the way." He murmurs while scratching his old man beard. Indeed, the Royal Kngihts have... Actually not given anyone any trouble here. They haven't been wandering the streets at all tonight, even. A day off, perhaps? "Do any of you have somewhere safe to take this sword? It's right..." The priest grunts and strains as he opens a large box set to the side of the door, revealing an odd-looking sword embedded in a large rock. There's a golden handle on the weapon, and a red marking in the center of the blade. "... Here! Oh, thank the heavens someone brought this in for us..."
August Kohler	Among those entering the temple is a young man in a thick jacket-hoodie, hood over his head, gray colored. August Kohler is concealing his clear red hair (and also his exhaustion) with the hoodie, as he steps in and makes it clear he's here for the sword. "Royal Knights? Didn't see anyone matching that description." As they go up to see the sword, August would move to look at it, and stare at the fact that it's in a rock. "Is it stuck in there?" The redhead steps up to the stone to try and draw the sword and see, before speaking again whether he has it in his hands now or not. "So, why are swords outlawed? I can understand trying to get an artifact like this out of here, but I'm curious if the legal reason's at all justified."
Staren	If someone had told Staren how terrified the locals are, he'd probably be having a stern conversation with whoever's in charge... But all he's been told is that there's a strange sword somewhere they're illegal. He's... a little suspicious about outlawing weapons, coming from a world where to do so is to leave people powerless to defend themselves against monsters, but he understands some worlds are more peaceful so /maybe/ it's benign. Still, going to an unknown world, he wears his armor just in case. And they've found... a sword in a stone? "Huh. Are there any prophecies about someone pulling a sword from a stone here? Um... maybe we should check with one of the King Arthurs around to see if this matches an Excalibur...?"
Orchid	Orchid is one of those that responded to the call for help... but more out of boredom than anything else. She's rubbing her chin, looking at the sword. "The knights weren't an issue, but I think moving that sword might be," she says, musingly. "I can provide a safe place, far from here, where the sword could be kept safe, but I have two questions. Firstly, what makes this sword so important that it must be protected? And secondly, is it stuck in the rock? Because moving the rock looks like it would be hard?"
Krusty	The metal plating of Krusty's large armour quietly clinks together as he walks down the empty street. The sound is made all the more noticeable by the lack of activity this late at night. It's not what he's used to, but it's to be expected with a small town like this. He needed an excuse to get out of his office for a while and the potential acquisition of a unique sword naturally drew the knight's attention. Krusty enters into the temple at roughly the same times as others. Upon meeting the priest, Krusty gives a polite bow, before nodding in agreement with August's words, "The streets appear empty." The reveal of the sword in the stone also make Krusty think of the Arthurian legend. But he highly doubts it's applicable in this situation. Which begs the question of how the sword ended up this way and what the meaning behind it is. Krusty eyes the sword curiously, "Interesting... There are plenty of swords where I am from, many unique in their own ways. I doubt this one would be out of place there, nor easy to find amongst all the rest." However, as a question about the banning of swords is brought up, Krusty turns his focus to that, also curious about it.
Tomoe	So here comes Tomoe she hears something about a one of a kind Sword? That has her interest and it sounds like something akin to what happened in Japan in the past with swords and commoners. So here she was, she didn't vet troubled by the knights as she did not have any visible weapons out, nope she kept all her gear in her inventory after all. "I know several places it can be taken, my guild has a castle, not on this world we could go and if you wish to flee I can give you a room there if you like." She looks to the blade for a moment. with interest. "The long and the short of it is we can get it somewhere beyond their reach." She takes note of a number of people who arrives as August asks an important question the why of it. She nods once to him. "Yes is this something like the rulers don't wish the people to be armed in any fashion?" She looks to Krusty nodding a bit. "That's true too, Krusty." She doesn't seem to want to take the blade for herself just make sure it's spirited away somewhere safe. She also has Sorchid with her and she's glad that they have some support along as this could get dicey.
Stella	Stella has been wandering. A lot. Since joining the Concord and losing her home, she has before anything else seeked purpose. When she had stumbled into political matters regarding swords, she had been won over by the simple fact there were highly regarded knights involved. She'd made her intent known already - but hadn't received a response yet. She decided to stick around. It paid off when a call for help was capted by her earpiece. She made for the temple, entering without fanfare and looking ever slightly out of place amongst normal people - her skin and clothes shimmering like crystal, hitting that odd uncanny valley, and her expression entirely too blank to read. "Tell me more about the Royal Knights," she demands, almost entirely uninterested in the artifact itself when famed knights are involved.
Sarracenia	Swords aren't her usual fare, but a rare sword is worthy of at least some attention. The princess arrives in her personal wooden aircraft, the Dyna, then follows after the others as they head to the temple. The fact that there should have been knights and there wasn't is a bit unusual to Sarracenia, since she comes from royalty herself. "Do the Royal Knights usually trouble new visitors to the town?" the red-headed princess asks before the priest reveals the sword. Like the others her mind immediately goes to the sword in the stone myth. When asked about whether they can keep it safe, Sarracenia gives a confident smirk and a toss of her hair. "I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom. This sword would be safest as part of the Royal Sundew Treasury, where it would not only be merely another treasure among many, but also surrounded by dozens of guards at all times."
Note	If the temple staff were hoping for subtlety, they're not getting it today. THankfully, very few people tend to LOOK UPWARDS, so they may miss the young teen who's swooping through the skies, wreathed in blazing white energies, up until her final descent to the given coordinates. She drops in for a landing on the steps, braking just a foot before impact and then floating gently the last few inches to a stop on the ground. Dusting herself off, the youth looks this way, and that, all around at the various decorations and finally at the priest. Her tail is quick to swing into view when she starts walking though. Yep, this youth has a fuzzy monkey-tail. How weird! She does follow along, but upon the reveal... "What the...?!" With everyone else crowding around, Note is forced to FLOAT up and hover over shoulders to look down at the weird embedded sword. Her tail brushes along August's shoulders in the cramped quarters! "I was gonna donate it to my village for the swordsmen dojo if that's okay, but... it's STUCK in that rock. Should we try 'n free it? I'm stronger than I look!"
Zerrawn	There's something to be said about being fashionably late. Such is the case with Zerrawn, clad in his black armor and hooded cloak. "It's an impressive sword, but a bit...'old school' for my taste. Still...might look good in an imperial Museum on Dromund Kaas." He says, looking over the gathering of heroes. "I am Zerrawn, otherwise referred to as Lord Wrath, of the Sith Empire."
Sanary Rondel	Not far behind the others is a black-haired woman in a white coat and bearing a white axe on her back. Judging from the gray sweatpants and yellow t-shirt under said coat, she also probably isn't one of the knights. "I saw a clown on the way here. Does that count?" Sanary gets no answer from the priest beyond a raised eyebrow. August, however, gets a nod from the priest as he watches August reach for the sword with an amused chuckle. "It was when I tried it. I used to be quite the strong man back in my d-" And the sword comes right out. It doesn't come out easily, of course, but it's not so stuck in there that it's impossible to remove. The priest stares at the now-freed sword blankly, and August (thanks to holding the weapon) along with anyone else with a sense for magic would notice that there's something distinctly magical about it. It isn't manifesting in any visible way, though, but it does feel lighter than it would appear for its size as a two-handed weapon. "To be frank, I don't know. There have been legends of a holy sword with the power to banish darkness, but as to why the king would order that all swords be seized..." The priest lets out a weary sigh and a shrug. "If the king says it's illegal, then it is. I've heard whispers about the king's advisor playing a part in this, but who knows how credible rumors can be." "Very." Sanary pipes up, moving closer to take a look at the sword as well. After the priest clears his throat, he turns to Orchid. "The person that brought this here said he sensed something great within it, and offered us a generous donation to hold onto it until brave souls like yourself could take it off our hands." He laughs softly as several offers are made to house the sword between Orchid, Tomoe, Sarracenia, Note, and Zerrawn. The more armored of their group get more suspicious looks, but only slightly. Maybe these Royal Knights have a distinct enough look that he's not worried about these other sorts of knights. "As long as it goes somewhere someone can look into it, then-" Stella gets a more curious look behind the priest's old man eyebrows. "The Royal Knights? Why, they're the king's army, of course. The Blue, the Red, the Black, and the Pink..." He pauses, then looks towards Sanary with a more alarmed look on his face rather suddenly. "Did you say clown?" Before the healer can answer, a green-haired woman clad in red armor bursts through the window with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. "The Royal Knights are coming! Get ready!" Glancing back once, a helmeted soldier in blue comes diving in through that same window, sword drawn to plunge it into the red swordswoman's back. She swings around his weapon, then pierces it through the soldier's back before turning to face the group with the startled priest and confused healer. "Don't use that sword!" The red warrior warns, then rushes towards the door as it gets battered down by yet more soldiers clad in the same blue armor. To make things worse, smoke is starting to rise from the stairwell while soldiers pour in from the same direction!
Zerrawn	"And here I thought this was going to be a boring day." Zerrawn says, actually trying to crack a joke. But from his belt he draws a....cylander. But from it emerges a single crimson beam of light. The nearest knight would then find a sith juggernaut bearing down on him, striking without a single shred of the concept of mercy in his actions, or along the quick glimpses of his feline face or eyes.
Stella	"I see." Stella considers her options. She would like to do well by her new allies. She would like to meet and be on good terms with these new knights. And she's familiar enough with the whole idea of serving a king without question. If these people defy the king, then... "I will take it." Crystals burst out of Stella's right arm, forming into a slender, thrusting blade in her hand. With a single, calculated step she moves towards August, and attempts to ram the blade into his side. There's no easier way to win your way into someone's court. Prove your allegiance through deed and battle. Simplicy at its finest. A chance to fight and have purpose. She seizes it immediatly.
Krusty	Some answers are provided. They also create more questions. But the time for questions has passed. Krusty turns his head as the swordlady bursts in, followed by a knight who is quickly dispatched. An ally, apparently. As more knights begin to pile into the temple, Krusty raises his hand and sweeps his finger through the air several times in obviously practiced movements. After a few moments, a large two-handed sword appears on his back. Krusty reaches up to retrieve the sword, before moving his heavily armoured self between the arriving knights and the artefact sword. And probably the person holding it, to whom he says, "This is not an ideal place for a fight. We should leave." Krusty holds his ground, acting as a barrier against any of the knights that might try to approach.
Orchid	"Look into the sword?" Orchid asks, under her breath, just before chaos breaks loose. "And of course the soldiers have face covering masks," she mutters. The local government hasn't made arrangements with the Commonwealth, so Orchid has no official authority here. Time to move laterally. This means first jumping up, then rocketing with her dashboots, to cling on the wall near the ceiling. A dozen spiders radiate outward from her position... As is her style, she's looking for more information. Of course, this means she gets a very good view of Stella attacking August. "August! On your right!" she calls out.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia blinks as August just pulls the sword out, then hmphs softly and turns her nose up. "I could have done that." she says, and pouting a bit that she didn't get the chance. Then, fighting! Sarracenia yelps and jumps back as people crash in through the windows, fighting with the blue knights breaks out, and...August gets attacked by Stella?! "What are you doing?!" Sarracenia exclaims, rushing Stella in defense of both the sword and August. In one swift, fluid, graceful motion the princess reaches into her purse and pulls out a hammer bigger than she is, goes into a twirl, and brings it swinging in a diagonal downward strike on the shorter woman. "August, either get out of here with that sword or put it in my purse!" she strongly advises after her strike.
August Kohler	August draws the sword. He tries a little bit when he's told it won't work, and it comes right out. He actually smiles a bit, and then feels it in his hands, noticing how light it is. He'd probably have handed it over to Krusty, being an allied warrior... If after he was done with it, soldiers hadn't have been coming. As the door starts getting battered after the woman comes in, August looks up to the window. "Priest, come on!" And then, Stella lunges at August. As Krusty moves to defend him, and Orchid calls out, August dashes forward. If Stella gets past Krusty's defense, she'll still manage to cut through his side, but it won't be crippling or fatal, but will definitely draw blood and hurt like hell. But he has a burning will to survive. And so, whether he's bleeding or not, August moves towards the window, trying to find the closest thing, like a chair or something, to jump onto and then jump through. He angles the sword in his hands carefully, trying not to impale himself when he drops to street level, likely into a fruit cart. The redhead glances into the blade's reflection, inhales, and speaks. "Persona!" In a flash of blue energy, the Tin Soldier appears...and August climbs onto its back, it using its strength to support him on its shoulders. Hopefully, that'll be enough to get the sword forward down the streets.
Staren	Staren stares at August a moment, but the priest's words put a thought in his head: "Do you think... the king might have ordered all swords seized because he's /looking/ for a /specific/ one?" And then, soldiers! And enigmatic orders! "Hey! Hey, stop this! Explain what all this is about or... I mean, do I really have to say it?" He starts with throwing riot foam grenades and instant-tanglevine splash potions at the incoming knights. He'd prefer to hear their side of the story before he starts killing.
Note	With August drawing the sword that easily, Note floats a few feet away from him, scratching her cheek. "It came out pretty easily! Weird. Looked stuck tight to me!" But she cutely flashes August a V for Victory, feeling congratulations might be in order! Not that there's any time to cheer for things. Because ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. The window shattering has Note, on reflex, flying away from it and landing on one of the pews, leaning against a column and glancing this way and that. She reaches out with her senses... and upon getting a fairly good idea of what they're up against... The youth hurls herself into the air, clenches her fists at her sides, and focuses her energy... "HYAH!!" With a CRACK-WHOOOSH golden Ki springs up around her, igniting into a constant aura and hoisting her previously-smooth hair into an array of spikey locks. Even her ponytail's floating out behind her, breaking out into a spiky arrangement. Strangely enough, her eyes have also changed to a greenish tint! It's easy enough to tell, because she GLARES down at the door. "Feels like they're just a bunch of thugs to me! I'll handle them. They must REALLY want that sword!" The moment soldiers come into sight, Note is just GONE in a flicker of faster-than-vision motion, reappearing briefly with her ELBOW buried in a knight's armored gut. Not that ordinary metal plating's going to be of ANY use against her. She transitions into a series of carefully restrained strikes, aiming to down a bunch of warriors, snap their weapons, and might end up breaking a few bones at worst... short of accidents making it worse.
Tomoe	Tomoe does seem to be wearing partial plate armour over vital with heavy cloth coving the rest of it. She thankfully doesn't seem to line up with the other knights. She seems to be paying close attention about the story of the blade and nods she can get the fist of it and understand the king has made this order curious she wonders if they fear some sort of uprising? There will be things to look into as a woman with green hears and red armour bursts in. The woman in Red warns to not use the blade and she'll heed it as August gets the blade, and she knows they need to get out of the weapon. Then an unknown sword wielder goes after August and Krusty moves to defend him, the Knights are coming in. Tomoe moves to engage the Royal knight as many seemed moving to aid August. She may be on Stella shortly and she'll use the flat of the blade trying to blunt her stirkes just enough to use her mass and force of impact to keep the knights from being able to do too much. "August! GO! " Tomoe has a way out so long as she gets to a window she can fly the heck out of here, right? She can wait for most everyone else to get out.
Sanary Rondel	As adept as the soldiers are at launching themselves to upper floors decked out in armor as they are, they're still foot soldiers compared to Elites. Zerrawn's lightsaber cleaves right through the soldier as he makes a last ditch effort to swing his much more normal sword into the juggernaut's wrist. A trio of soldiers clash their blades against Krusty's, unable to pierce through his defenses despite their repeated swings against his newly formed weapon. Yet more coming from the stairs are unlucky enough to get caught by Staren's foam and tangling vines, struggling to pull themselves out of it. Luckily, others do stop to try and free their brothers, not entirely due in part to the fact that the fire is rising through the temple quickly. The less lucky ones run straight into Note and are promptly launched back down the stairs, and the Blue Soldiers clash with Tomoe while failing to even get past her. It doesn't take long for the soldiers to quickly realize that they might be a little outmatched here. A little. At least Stella appears to be on their side. Sensing the change in the tides and just how outmatched they are, some of the soldiers coming up those stairs take one look at the carnage unfolding and are already starting to book it towards the window while panicking (complete with a few even running with their hands flailing overhead). Should they get there without being stopped first, they're fully aiming to fling themselves out to safety. From the ceiling, Orchid can see that there doesn't seem to be an end to the soldiers. As he goes outside with the sword, the red swordswoman and Sanary both dive out after him, the former landing gracefully and the latter knocking a bigger chunk out of the window frame on her way out with the priest in tow. -OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE- More Blue Soldiers can be seen preparing to attack those coming out of the temple. Blue Knights have joined them now, leading the charge with massive halberds from which they're even launching blasts of lightning towards the Elites. "Sure are a lot of these bastards... Let's kick their asses!" Sanary shouts, but is stopped by an outstretched shield-holding hand from the red swordswoman. "Not here. The fires will go out of control if we keep fighting here. Let's regroup at the outskirts of town!" The red knight(?) shouts and gestures in one direction, then charges the other way at another pile of Blue Knights in an attempt to buy the Elites some time. "Who the hell made her...? Whatever." Sanary lets out an irritated grunt, then channels some healing magic towards August to help ease some of that pain from Stella's attack. "You've got better heads than me, so lead the way!" Meanwhile, the priest hightails it out of there. He's old. He doesn't want to get hit by flying bodies!
Zerrawn	The normal sword manages to catch his wrist, but instead of making the sith cry out it pain, it only fuels the firey rage he was currently in. With a glare towards Stella, he starts to run at her, only to leap into the air and utilize Force Charge to close the distance and hopefully barge her into a wall to further allow August to escape.
Orchid	Alas, Orchid is still refilling her stocks of drones, and the dozen she has deployed so far will have to do. "Not much reason to stay here," she decides, before jumping from the wall into the opposite window, crashing out to fall to the street below. Thank Light for reploid legs being good for absorbing long-fall shocks. "Miss Scarlet here is right," she says. "We need to break contact and move."
Stella	A massive hammer. Stella swerves to avoid it - allowing her blade to be shattered in lieu of her arm or body, shortly after it, barely, manages to nick August. August leaps out of the window. Threats against her multiply. Yet, she feels at peace. The burden of decisions is past. All that's left now is to take the optimal path through the scenario before her. That, she can do. Crystal blades burst out of the ground underneath Stella, forming a ramp out of the window. As Zerrawn comes charging straight for her, he sees the reflection of his lightsaber on Stella's body, alien and tainted by the coloration of her skin and clothes, as though she were a mirror. Several crystal blades burst out of her skin like jagged spikes, glowing with the same deep crimson light of his blade. Laser blasts launch out of them in every direction inside the temple, a distraction to force people to get defensive, and to keep the Sith from bodyslamming her through the wall. Stella leaps out of the window, and the remaining crystals in the temple shatter explosively like grenades behind her. She glances at the knights, especially those who strike heroic poses. She begins running after August, prismatic crystals forming longswords in both of her hands.
Krusty	Krusty is caught off guard by Stella's sudden betrayal. Though calling it a betrayal is probably not appropriate, seeing as how she was never really in a position to be trusted, being an unknown to the knight. But regardless, the result is unfortunate in that August is injured by the assault. Thankfully he is able to escape, and more importantly, prevent the sword from being taken. As the royal knights swings their weapons at Krusty he does nothing to stop them. They impact his armour and simply bounce off harmlessly. Krusty smirks at them for a moment, before raising his large two-handed sword and swings the flat side at them, leveraging his Adventurer strength to smash it into all three and sending them tumbling. Krusty turns and dashes out through the growing hole that was likely once a window, falling down to the street just as the room explodes with crystal shards. Standing once more, Krusty glances around at the situation. There are numerous knights on the street, some of them even throwing around magic. Krusty winces as several blasts crackle across his armour, his HP dropping slightly. The suggestion of regrouping outside the city seems like a smart enough move for the moment. So Krusty spares the attacking knights for now. Reaching beneath his tunic he pulls out a whistle, quickly blowing on it. The shrill sound is soon quickly followed by the sound of hooves on the cobblestone street. From around a corner a horse comes barging out, decked out in barding with colours matching Krusty's. The horse barrels through a group of the royal knights, knocking them over before stopping by its master. Climbing onto the horse, Krusty takes the reigns before galloping off, taking yet another route to the one the sword lady indicated in an attempt to split off and hopefully lose more of the hostile knights.
Sarracenia	Sarra's hammer smashes through that blade and continues on to the floor, smashing a hole in it as well. She pulls it free quickly, then has to twirl away to keep from taking a laser to the face. She leaps through a window as well, just barely managing to avoid an explosive crystal. "Ooooh~ Pretty and percussive! I will have to aquire some of these crystals!" the princess says as she follows after August and the others. "Maybe she will like my explosives, too~" Sarra doesn't seem to be taking the fighting all that seriously. Or she's just crazy. Either way, she reaches into her purse as she runs after Stella and pulls out a Bob-omb. She gives the cute little explosive creature a little kiss on the forehead, then grins before throwing it with all her might. Then another, and another. A steady rhythem of powerful explosions follows Stella down the street. And the princess has pretty good aim.
Tomoe	There seems to always be more knights coming in and August is out the window now she also sees Stella is backing them now at his point, Tomoe has left a large number of knights down and out of it with her attacks and they are lucky she's been holding back, she knows there's no more time to waste with Staren's help she's able to get out. She notices they move to help their allies. Good, she makes note of that it's a non-lethal tactic she can use against them. She will be pulling back now she takes sight of Stella and she's rapidly finding fewer and fewer allies are in the temple, it's time to get out. she'll shield slam one Knight who got too close then make a break for the window vaulting out it in a full run. Leaving a small mountain of groaning, beat up, but alive knights in her work. As she reaches the apex of her leap she'll summon her wings the red see-through wings flare out brightly as Tomoe takes to the sky to join the others outside. She sees Sanary and will fall in with the others as she needs to get out of here like everyone else. "How many of these guys do they have! Even the Death Game's dungeons were not /this/ packed!" Her timing ot getting the hell out was the only thing saving her from Stella? She make to dive bomb her between the blasts from Sarracenia's barrage of bob-ombs! As for what she does when she dive bombs she'll try to hit Stella with her shield on the way by. Though she's likely to get a whole lot of crystal for her trouble.
Sanary Rondel	Orchid's drones spot fewer soldiers coming up as the waves and waves of bodies finally seems to die down in lieu of them hurling themselves out the window the moment they get up there. They're seeing what's happening to their allies upstairs, so some aren't even bothering to draw their weapons at this point! Not all of them make it out whether because of luck or being struck down, of course, but there's no longer any resistance within the temple proper. Outside the temple, however, the soldiers and knights are emboldened by both the fact that they're not trapped with Elites and that Stella's leading the charge for them. They chase after the crystal warrior and her quarry, seeking to aid her in whatever way they can in harassing August's flanks and those aiding him. The red swordswoman, however, seems to have quite a bit more skill than the Blue Knights as well. Between parrying and countering their strikes with an expertly wielded blade, battering their helmets in with a mighty shield, or even turning against their lightning magic with blasts of ice of her own? The scene in the streets is becoming quite chaotic on her side of the street. Sanary, too, is holding her own as she swings her axe around more like a berserker than a healer, cleaving through and sending bodies flying with each swing while shouting madly to draw attention down another street. All the better, then, that things are actually moving away from the temple. With the red swordswoman going one way, Sanary going another, Krusty taking off on his horse in another direction, and August and Stella going off in yet another direction, the Blue Knights are going to have some trouble actually keeping up with any of them at this rate!
Note	Note... really doesn't know what's going on here. But since AUGUST seems keen on leaping out a window with the sword they're all fighting over... as soon as the Knights back away from her, Note scowls at them with contempt! They aren't worthy opponents at all! So she turns her back on them, and then... SOMERSAULT LEAPS out the window after August, fearless despite any concept of heights, flames, and flying projectiles. The priest has taken cover, so everything's fine inside, right? "HEY! Don't just run off without telling the rest of us! That sword's gotta be important somehow!" A child she might be - easily five years August's junior, maybe more - but she's not an idiot. And so the girl with the tail seems keen on sticking with him!
August Kohler	August is outside bleeding, but Sanary's healing magic helps mend his wounds, stopping it from being as dangerous. On the Tin Soldier's shoulders, he prepares to run once the red knight points them in a direction, and dashes in that way! But Stella pursues, with twin crystal longswords. "Goddamn, you're crazy!" He shouts at her, as she would be able to slice at August's back if not intercepted by others, though he leans forward, avoiding getting carved open but cutting through the hoodie and drawing more blood (and putting him in even more pain, causing the Tin Soldier to lapse in speed briefly). To avoid that meaning his death, the Tin Soldier suddenly spins sideways and raises one of its legs, which is a rifle. The rifle-leg is pointed at Stella and blasts a big plume of fire, before moving to focus on remaining running. He shouts over to Note, speaking up to the Saiyan. "Yeah, I know! We need to get it out of here. Try and keep her off me, if she gets more hits in, I'm not sure I'll be able to run!"
Staren	Staren's AI points out that people who should be allies here -- both on the side of 'stop and talk this out' are fighting and it's all going to hell. Staren whirls on Stella and Krusty. "Oh COME ON!" Staren chases after the fleeing fight. "Guys, this is not the time!" He looks around, and flies over the guys with pikes. "Hey you! Who's in charge here? Why do you want the sword? I want to talk to whoever's in charge here!" Oh right. Staren's voice booms out of his suit speakers: "I, STAREN WIREMU, HAND OF THE CONCORD, WANT TO TALK TO YOUR LEADER!"
Stella	Bombs. Stella brakes, mid-stride, and suddenly spins a full 180. Crystal shards fly towards August, narrowly missing thanks to his sudden ducking! It looks like the distraction is helping keep her aim off him, and she's starting to recognize she needs to handle that problem. She lobs both of her swords towards Sarracenia like deadly projectiles - one meant to try piercing into her chest, but the other very clearly intending to skewer the ground to her left and remain planted there. Then the bombs detonate, as Tomoe smashes into Stella. The knight of crystal is sent flying by the impact and the explosions, her body cracked and battered. But she seemed to be counting on it. The explosions send her sailing past August, and crashing into the ground ahead not with a thump of flesh but a sound like stepping on glass, parts of her body breaking off into fine dust. But something else happens, as the bombs go off. The vivid orange flames reflect on the surfaces of the swords Stella lobbed at the princess. The swords detonate, just like the bombs had moments earlier, endangering both Tomoe and the princess! Especially if she allowed the projectile to pierce her. Stella, meanwhile, rises. She looks like a being of broken glass for a few moments, but crystals burst out of her, filling the gaps and repairing the cracks until she's pristine and shimmering once again. A new pair of crystal swords appears in her hands.
Orchid	Such madness. Orchid isn't going to stay around unless she has to. But she's not going in any old direction, no. She's going to follow the priest, making sure he gets to safety, and then will try and get an in-depth idea of what, actually, is going on in this kingdom.
Krusty	Galloping along the street, Krusty takes a moment to look back. He can see his pursuers falling behind, unlikely to be able to keep up on foot. And they seemed to lack horses or other forms of fast travel. Now with a bit more time to think, Krusty re-evaluates the situation and comes up with a new plan. With a quick pull on the reigns, his horse turns down a new street and speeds up. August is being carried down the street by his persona, injured and somewhat slowed by Stella's assault. The crystal woman herself is being persued, Note, Tomoe and Sarracenia all trying to delay her and keep her from the sword. The chase approaches an intersection ahead... ... And from the joining street ahead, Krusty comes barreling out on his horse, turning to charge towards the chase, quickly closing the distance. His hand is outstretched in August's direction, clearly indicating to the man to hand over the weapon that is causing this mess. Krusty calls out, "AUGUST!"
August Kohler	As Stella approaches and August ducks the crystals, he sighs in relief. But then, Stella gets blasted forward, and is blocking his way. August is going to run straight into her at this rate, and get killed. What to do, what to do...Krusty comes riding by, stretching out his hand. August understands quickly, and looks forward. "Go!" The Tin Soldier charges Stella. Is it...going to stab her with the sword?! Nope. Right as August gets close, he takes the light sword and tosses it in Krusty's direction over the barricade, moving to let his ally grab it. August leaps off the Tin Soldier, rolling to the side of the street, as the Tin Soldier moves to slam-punch straight into Stella and distract her. It's kinda sacrificial...but that means they'll be able to get the sword ahead!
Sarracenia	Sarracenia's eyes widen as those two swords come flying toward her. She quickly swings her hammer around, and with a resounding CLANG the sword that was going to hit Sarra is bounced right back toward Stella, saving Sarra from grevious injury. But not from all injury as the other sword detonates and sends Sarracenia flying forward, crystal shards embedded in her back and arms. "Aaaaaah!!" She bounces off the ground before managing to catch herself, then uses her momentum to keep moving forward at a high speed. "You won't stop me that easily!" she exclaims as she comes twirling in once again, this time in an upward diagonal much like a baseball homerun swing. "Even with your awesome regeneration!" The longer she can keep Stella focused on her, the more time her allies have to get the sword out of here. She blinks as she hears Staren, then laughs. "Talk after the fight! It's kind of too late to talk during!"
Krusty	Krusty stretches from the back of his horse, just managing to snatch the spinning sword from the air. Weapon in hand, Krusty pulls on the reins once more, coaxing his steed to turn and start galloping away once more. He's trying to put as much distance between him and Stella while she's occupied by August's Tin Soldier.
Tomoe	August has to get away with the blade. This was going to be one of those days. There isn't much Tomoe has to say for Stella, she's not the sort who would banter she suspects and be distracted by it. So she doesn't even try, the effect of her hits? That is not what she expects to happen. "What the?!" That'sd all she gets time to say as Stella shatters. The crystal shards come a moment later and Tomoe is caught in them there's a shotgun blast of what appears to be red wireframe like injuries all over her form, her HP bat tells the tale as she's taking off again now hurt trying to get to her before she can get to August. The then does something she doesn't do much she'll launch her shield like a boomerang at Stella, maybe this will catch her off guard? She can't get to melee right now.
Note	"Wish I had a half idea what's going on!" Note grumps, shifting to FLYING BACKWARDS to keep up with August. Which isn't that hard. This way she can keep her eyes on Stella - who is quite busy with the girls here, it seems - and interpose herself, so Stella will have to go through her to reach August. She's wearing a scowl towards the crystal golem, arms folded over her chest as she floats backwards matching time with August. "I've got him covered!" She calls out to Krusty!
Stella	Stella's own blade pierces through her chest, drawing not a drop of blood but spreading cracks from the 'wound'. This is followed by Tomoe's boomerang smashing into her, which she tries to mitigate with her blades, at the expense of losing the both of them and still taking the shield to the face. And it's with a cracked face that she sees August pass the blade on to Krusty, and then land a punch square into her chest. Cracks spread like a spiderweb along her body, but she remains just aware enough of the situation to interpose several large chunks of crystals, fresh out of the ground, between herself and the incoming hammer. It's a testament to whatever material her body and crystals is made of that, this time, Sarracenia's hammer doesn't reduce it to dust, but is halted by the several large spikes of crystal. Sadly, Stella has no way to keep up with Krusty. The sword is lost. But from the corner of her eyes she spots Staren striking a conversation with the guards, far back towards the temple. Stella, half-shattered, lowers her defenses and... walks past her aggressors, unless they want to keep the fight going. "That is enough. Our audience has been secured. Loyalty has been proven." That's how it works, in her limited mind. She makes no further efforts to attack, instead headed back towards the temple, Staren, and the knights.
Sanary Rondel	Staren's attempt to talk with the knights is met with FIRE AND-actually, the knights that have stopped giving chase do indeed pause to speak with him. They keep their helmets on, of course, as one of the knight Knights (the ones with the halberds) holds a hand up to halt his men and begin THE TALKING. "We have orders from the King to secure the sword. Sir Gash is not here now, so state your business, hand... Er. Hand!" As the Knight speaks, he gestures at his men still standing at that second story, and they begin the process of tossing their dead and wounded out the window. The fire still rages, but they seem to have a system for getting their people out! MEANWHILE The soldiers still giving chase after the sword are quickly realizing that they're not going to catch up with someone on a horse, especially after their fastest runners are battered aside, exploded, or cleaved apart by all these crazy outsiders. They're giving up rather quickly, even. Stella's their only hope of getting that sword now, but they're not going to even chase after her at the rate it's going. The strange magic of the sword is revealed briefly when August goes for his maneuver to get the sword to Krusty. As it draws close to Stella, it lights up briefly as sparks ignite around it. As it doesn't strike her, however, that's all that happens while the transfer is underway. Should Krusty or Stella catch it, the weapon will feel considerably lighter in their hands just as it did for August, and August too would feel that whatever extra strength he had in holding the blade has left him. FURTHER MEANWHILE With the chase for the sword leading to the outskirts of town, the Elites would find themselves approaching a graveyard. The red swordswoman meets up with them from around a corner, and the healer in white shows up as well, albeit both of them covered in scuff marks and blood. They're panting with exertion, but seem relieved as the group is (mostly) together with the sword in tow. Another figure appears in the distance, approaching them with a pair of sheathed swords at his side and clad in black upper-body armor and... Jeans. The red swordswoman stares him down coldly. "Valgar." The black swordsman (with dirty blonde hair and small anime spikes, for anyone who's wondering) smirks, placing a hand on one of his swords. "You betrayed the khans. You were the leader of the Royal Knights and gave that up. What are you up to, Serena?" Serena glances back at the sword in Krusty's possession, then towards Valgar. "I won't let you have the sword." "Then suffer!" Valgar raises his hand and signals, then leaps backwards several times further than would be sensible as Serena and the axe-healer give chase. Before either of them can catch up with him, however, however, gunshots echo from around the graveyard. A massive red and gray bipedal robot is the source of the bullets, firing wildly into the group of Elites with reckless abandon. The red knight charges forward and brandishes her shield to offer a safe haven behind her from the bullets while Sanary drops in behind her to shower her and whoever comes by in healing magic.
Sanary Rondel	ALSO ALSO MEANWHILE The priest is safe! Since the fight's started and he got brought outside, he's been hobbling his bearded face towards a nondescript apartment complex several blocks down. There's soldiers and knights still loitering around, but they're largely just watching the area instead of actively pursuing anyone. More eyes on the ground, most likely.
Staren	Staren blinks. That actually worked? That actually worked. That actually worked! "My business is investigating this... whatever's going on, why your men are fighting and dying to get the sword for your king. Is there something we need to know, does it carry some horrible curse that's going to destroy the land, and are we inadvertantly releasing it by taking it? Or is it powerful and useful, and we need to discuss how to stop there from being more deaths..." He waves a hand at the pile of bodies the soldiers are setting up. "Look." Staren gestures vaguely. "The normal way elites would handle this is to take the stuff and kill anyone who gets in their way. I'd like to try something different. So, who knows why the sword is important, and how do they know, and how soon can I talk to them?"
August Kohler	The sword is transferred. August expects to be counter-attacked by Stella. He...isn't, and he blinks when Stella moves to surpass him, but he doesn't move to stop her. "Come on, everyone, catch up with Krusty!" He shouts to his allies. As they approach the graveyard, though, the red knight, apparently Serena, is confronted by a...black knight in /jeans/? Either way, when they get up there, August is about to charge at Valgus with the Tin Soldier... When a giant robot attacks. "Ah, shit." Ducking behind Serena's shield, August has the Tin Soldier raise its gun at the robot, blasting it with magical bullets and trying to pierce through its armor. "Rondel! Keep up the healing! Everyone, try to push it back. Where's the nearest warpgate?" That's a call to Serena, who he's going to need to talk to after all this. She must have some information, right? And she'd probably make a pretty good Watch ally if she's apparently a traitor to the crown. August still doesn't know what's going on with the sword...but he doesn't trust the government when they're bringing giant robots to bear, for sure.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia blinks in surprise when her hammer is stopped like that. "What the..." She pulls it back quickly and is preparing for another swing when Stella announces a cease of hostilities. "...loyalty has been proven?" she asks quizzically before looking back toward the town then back at Stella. "What are you, a robot?" she asks sarcastically. But, since Stella stopped attacking Sarracenia does as well. She lets Stella go and heads after August and the others. "Thanks for the help, whoever you are!" she says to Tomoe as she goes though she doesn't wait for Tomoe. She arrives just in time to hear Serena and Valgar, and to start having to dodge bullets! "What is that thing?!" she exclaims before taking cover behind Serena. She uses the time to pull a bullet of her own out of her purse. It's a Bullet Bill! A shell likely as heavy as Sarracenia herself. She tosses it up as if it weighs very little, then as it comes back down she hops up and twirls around, hitting the Bullet Bill right on the flat side. With a resounding KABOOM it gets fired much like it had been fired from an appropriately sized cannon. It screeches its way through the air, the shark-like face grinning with delight as it flies toward the robot, impacting hard before exploding violently. Unfortunately, Sarracenia takes a few bullets for her trouble before she can drop back down behind Serena, and drops to a knee almost as soon as she lands. "Nnng...what does it look like we are doing!" she exclaims grumpily toward August.
Krusty	Krusty feels the power swell within him as he holds the sword... But not for very long. Recalling the words of the sword lady to not use the weapon, Krusty decides to heed the warning for now, sliding the blade beneath the belt at his armour's waist. He then continues galloping out of the city, heading towards the rendeavous point. Bringing his steed to a stop near the swordswoman and healer, Krusty gives them a simple nod in greeting, expecting they have further plans to deal with the sword. Or an explanation. Unfortunately none are forthcoming as a new, oddly-dressed-for-what-they've-seen-of-this-world-so-far, foe approaches. Krusty observes intently as the locals exchange words. The reveal of the swordswoman being the former leader of the Royal Knights does cause Krusty to glance in her direction for a moment. But his attention returns to Valgar as he simply retreats. Krusty realizes the implications of this just moments before the hail of gunfire. It's not enough time to react, a number of the bullets aimed his way impacting his armour with sparks. More, unfortunately, dig into the horse he rides, the creature crying out in pain as it rises onto its rear legs, before collapsing to the ground with its rider. The body of the poor horse bursts into a collection of prismatic bubbles that rise into the air. Amidst them, Krusty stands, reaching up to grab the large two-handed sword on his back again. He looks excited at the prospect of fighting something a bit tougher than the soldiers sent at them, a smirk on his face. Krusty unleashes a battle cry as he charges straight into the sweeping bullet fire from the robot, sword raised high.
Orchid	The big red robot would be quite the threat! Except something, rather someone, jumps at it from behind. Equipped with a laser welding torch, it is Orchid, having made sure the Priest had gotten safely away from the main chaos at the temple. Her goal? Well, she's trying to either cut the narrow section, or weld it into one mess, so that the robot can't move any more.
Tomoe	Tomoe Sees that Stella ahs been delayed enough by eveyrone's efforts. She will not stick about there isn't any time for any furhter fighting, more Knights will likely show up. She'll even find that she doe snot want to see what else Stella can do, she'll take back to the skies the momnenbt she has the mourning wall again and move to catch up with everyon else whose been running. She'll be hopefully able to catch up toi the meet up which she doe sand now. She calls back to Sarracenia. "No problem!" She'll ahve to find her later to talk to her and now there's a big damn robot? Oh this is one ofd those days, this time she hangs back and starts casting spells, bolts of light lanch from her body as golden runes finish dancing about her form. Robots don't like big old laser swarms right?
Note	Oh geeze! With the group nearing a graveyard, Note gets a shiver down her spine. This place is dreary and depressing! Or... it would be, except... she can feel someone nearby. As she arrives, she locks her gaze on the one identified as Valgar and puts both hands on her hips. Of course, she's still blazing with golden energy, which still has her golden, spiky hair perpetually raising and waving about in the winds of her own power. Power simply radiates from the girl. Boundless, unchained power. Something that even those with no spiritual senses might feel, if only as a faint wind. The radiant aura's pulsing also crackles at the aura, making a thrumming noise that's probably been plaguing August's ears since the girl started tagging along with him. Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh. The Super Saiyan clenches her teeth and raises a hand towards Valgar, about to teach him a lesson with some suppressing fire! But before she can launch a single bolt-- "Eyaaaagkh?!!" Wildfire bullets spang against her from the side, sending her toppling over end over end. A few drops of blood splash the ground where it penetrated skin despite her tightly circulating Ki! "Ow ow...!" Gathering herself up, she LEAPS straight up into the air to distance herself from the crowd and centers her attention on the distance robot. "Don't think you're safe just because you're huge!" The youth boldly exclaims, extending both her hands. Blue-white light gathers like a storm... and then.... FWOOOOOOOOOSH! A downpour of bulbous-headed blue-white ki beams storm from the charged energy. Dozens of them. They all swoop in from different directions, aiming to bombard the distant robot!
Sanary Rondel	IN TOWN Some of the Blue Knights that had been tailing the group actually follow tella on the way back, offering her a wide berth just in case... Something. They don't know what, exactly, but they've seen enough to know not to crowd around outsiders. The knight speaking with Staren, meanwhile, looks between him and Stella while weighing his options. "That sword is dangerous, yes. I don't know the specifics, but the King has ordered that the Royal Knights secure the weapon to ensure that it is destroyed before it can fall into the wrong hands." The knight explains, holding a hand up to halt one of the more trigger-happy soldiers from approaching with a sword drawn when that potential threat is issued. "As for who knows... That sort of information is on a need to know basis. None of us know that information. Even Sir Gash may not be privy to that." "Especially not him." "Shut up, private." Clearly, the knights here are not going to be of much help. AT THE CEMETARY The fight with the robot continues! Sanary sticks to healing duty for the Elites as Serena continues advancing with her shield, providing ample opportunities for the group to strike at the robot. "Warp...? Past the graveyard! We'll need to bring the machine down first." As if detecting that the Elites are plotting against it, it too changes strategies to adjust. Instead of continuing to simply fire at them, it charges forward, swinging forwards with its giant hand cannons as if they were oversized maces. One impacts against Serena's shield and sends her skidding backwards, but its second swing is stopped by the Bullet Bill striking against its side along with the Tin Soldier's bullets ripping through that same arm. The robot staggers from the explosion with its surface charred and the left arm unable to fire, but the machine continues to stand! It brings its good arm up to swing downwards at Sarracenia as it draws closer, but it's intercepted by Krusty's blade next, trying to force its arm down against the swordsman with all its weight as if challenging his strength with its own robotic might. That gives Orchid the opportunity she needs to start attacking its thinner midsection, melting part of it and hampering its ability to turn itself properly without having to step around in lieu of simply rotating. That delay in its reaction time is what Tomoe needs, then, to start blasting it with magic lasers at roughly the same time Note does with her barrage of ki beams. As with the Tin Soldier's bullets, the pair's lasers meet some resistance from the robot's armor, but it seems as though the armor was built more with physical weapons in mind than magic, mind, and ki bullets. One leg buckles, and the robot is soon propping itself up with both guns against the ground and its head facing the group. And then its head starts glowing. "Wait... It's going to fire towards the town?!" Serena calls out suddenly, rushing towards the imminent path of the robots head as it begins gathering energy visibly within that head. Before it can fire, however, a curious thing happens. The sword on Krusty's waist that had been placed there specifically to avoid being used per Serana's warning launches itself out and away from him. It hovers above one of the many graves as a pillar of light surrounds it, and a skeletal hand bursts out of the ground to grasp it. From that grave emerges a skeleton clad in golden armor, and the skeleton leaps out from its grave in front of the robot! Right when the robot fires a searing laser blast. The gold skeleton warrior swings upwards with its sword, absorbing the laser outright, then slams it down against the ground as pillars of flame rise towards the robot. (Orchid may want to get out of there.) Lacking two functioning legs with which to avoid anything, the robot is engulfed in flames, and it crackles with electricity for several seconds before exploding in a large dome of fire as the skeletal warrior screams to the heavens.
Staren	At least they're talking rather than insisting it's none of his business. Is this what it's like to be important? "Right, well. I will advise whoever ends up with the sword to be careful, but I can't allocate Concord resources to keeping it safe until I know more. Alright, let's see who ended up with--" Staren turns to see how the battle's going. "Oh for fuck's sake. Is that EXACTLY what you were trying to stop from happening? Right, yes, of course, you don't know." Staren flies over that way. "HEY! You, with the sword! Who are you and what is your deal?"
Orchid	Well, here's the thing about Orchid. There are some things she flat out refuses to let happen. On seeing the robot charge up... She dives into the predicted path. Oh, she's got her energy shields out, so it wouldn't be pointless suicide. Thankfully, using the squishy hacker as a beam-catcher for the town doesn't have to happen, thanks to the skeleton dude. Orchid backs away as he does his thing. "Sorry about that," Orchid says to the dying robot, and turns to the skeleton with the sword. "And thank you." Yeah, she knows what bones look like. She doesn't have the same level of fear of them that humans do. "Any chance you can explain things?"