Scene #4904: A Dwarven Accident

Owner	Pose
Yari Takane	The lands of the Iron Holdings are a dim, wet place. Lit only at the best of times by crystals hanging high up in what passes for a ceiling in this subterranean place, Yari's made sure that those gathered here today have access to night vision equipment as necessary. Arriving at the dwarven spa hasn't been too terribly difficult either. Officially, the group of would-be assassins are all either multiversal traders with destinations near the spa, or diplomats set to meet with low-level political functionaries throughout the Holdings. Perfect excuses to be here, particularly when Rogo Ironboot has bribed the spa staff to be on the periphery when the group has gathered. The Dwarven Spa is built atop a high internal mountain where far-deep springs well up naturally. Like many facilities in the Holdings, it's build in a medieval fortress style: high walls, a front gate, and plate-armored Light Dwarves patrolling said walls. The Iron Holdings are a paranoid bunch. Yari Takane, dressed in simple black robes today, is crouched amidst a small 'hilltop' not all that far from the spa itself as she awaits her fellow operatives. She has a map of the complex: aside from the walls, the interior is laid out with a front-gate facing lobby, small staff rooms and other small side rooms such as the kitchen, then leads in a fairly straight manner down a hallway towards multiple guest rooms and eventually a shared spa at the back of the facility. The target, Balto Copperfingers, has rented out the entire building for himself and his staff during these unstable times. There's six guest rooms to check in total within the facility, and of course the spa area. A quick visual scan with assorted equipment or powers would show four dwarves walking the high walls, two at the front gates. As people arrive, Yari waves copies of maps towards them, should they be needed. "Welcome, everyone. I think all of you know me in some capacity, so I'll skip the introductions. Let's get down to business. Our target, Balto Copperfingers, is in the way of an ambitious dwarf meaning to sign with the Concord as well as end the Light and Dark dwarf class divide. Any questions?" The ninja doesn't bother to pause. She taps the maps a bit and flicks on a penlight helpfully. "I've done some scouting. Three viable entrances: there's an unguarded escape tunnel to the back of the facility. According to my sources it's been unused for centuries. Easy approach, no idea what might be in there. Second, there's the front gate. You should have your merchant or political covers as requested. I don't need to tell you all to not draw too much attention if you go that route. Finally, the rooftops are only lightly guarded, and there's plenty of pipes and catwalks if that's your preference. Rumor states Balto also has some kind of pet. Might be a red chocobo, but who can say?" Yari stands, and snaps a salute. "Good luck. Choose your entrance wisely, and don't die. Our client's only request was to not kill the staff and to not level the place. As long as Balto stops breathing, I don't care how you deal with his guards." Then, the ninja leaps down the hill, giving one more bit over the local radio. "I'm taking the roof."
N'Raha	N'raha... Actually has an easier time of things, than not. For one thing, he doesn't have to come in the bulky armor, though something lightly cermonial will do for his cover. He's also got his axe. What proper dwarf is going to besmirch a Catman his Axe? That'd be inhumane. And so, N'raha looks... vagely bored. It plays the part at least. One Mr. Simba Truemane. Like the dwarves here know a Miq from a catman. He's an offworlder anyways. Which is important of course, knowing that the offworld Catman was heir to the Truemane's vast cattle holdings. That's right, N'raha's a beef baron's son. And so, through the front doors he waltzes, showing off his credentials, and looking for the right people to be talking to.
Tesla Armadia	Undercover wasn't something that Tesla Armadia dabbled in a lot, but that doesn't mean the mastermind doesn't have wats of assisting her allies in such matters. In fact, while she may not be all that great for such an operation herself, she knows precisely who to send in her stead. After all, she has an experienced villainess and a seven inch tall 'toy' robot at her beck and call. "What do you mean the building is already rented out?" Said villainess was already at work on some of the guards out front. Stratos was clad in a multitude of appropriate robes, both to make her look the most like a travelling merchant baron, and to keep various things hidden underneath the many folds of luxurious fabric. "Why was I not informed of this debacle before departing on such a long journey here?" One of the guards tries to stammer out that they weren't informed of any more visitors, but the robed woman cuts him off sharply as she leans over a bit to get closer to eye-to-eye level with the dwarves. "I thought you wanted better trade arrangements to keep your isolated location well stocked for these trying times?!" The arguement is all a ruse, though. While the dwarves are busy trying to not ruin a potentially lucrative trade oppritunity, they're focus is on here. And likely never noticing the brief ruffling of the hem of the lengthy robes as a tiny robot girl slips out from under them to scamper past the guards and into the building.
Lin	The life of one person, to end a class divide of borderline slavery that once was full indisputable slavery? Karal Rei Lin has an excellent reason to be tromping in her usual attire today. That being... she is N'raha Tia's bodyguard. No heir to ENORMOUS SLABS OF BEEF can go anywhere alone, and so he is accompanied. Dressed in exotically foreign clothes (especially compared to the locals), the tall redhead who's adjusting her outfit and ponytail can't seem too odd. Sure her weapon's a simple, sleek, curved sword with a definite eastern aesthetic and that might be loked down upon as weak or flimsy.... Who's going to begrudge a handsome noble his bodyguard? "Anywhere you wish to go, sir?"
Hisoka	The Concord as a whole seemed like an interesting idea. And while Hisoka himself has little interest in common goals, he supposes it's important to at least seem interested in such pursuits. Besides, Yari Takane is one of the few people to have some idea what he can do... and still be interested in him joining in on a mission. For some reason that last part is rather rare. He shows up for the meeting looking rather out of place. While he has face-paint it's not exactly camo patterned. And his clothes, while suitable for easy movement, aren't really the sort of thing most people would wear for stealth. He looks somewhat bored too, when the meeting comes together. He smirks at Yari, then nods. "There's no point killing anyone who isn't worth killing." he agrees. Of course his own definitions of who's worth killing may differ from most. But he has his instructions, and no particular intent to violate them. When he slips away from the group however he undergoes a subtle change. The shimmery quality of his clothes dull, and the flapping fabric goes still. Once away from the rest of the infiltrators and assassins he discards his semblance of an out-of-place incompetent. It's useful, appearing completely unsuitable for the job one's there to do. It makes one's inevitable success that much more astounding after all. He'd have worn bells if it would've made him seem any less stealthy than he had. If he could pull it off with panache, at least. Hisoka makes his way to the supposedly-unguarded back entrance, drifting through the shadows. His senses should let him spot anything or anyone before they can spot him, even in the dark. Especially in the dark. And it's unlikely there'll be any obstacles he can't overcome.
Yari Takane	FRONT GATE The trio out front cause quite the commotion! Stratos' harsh words have even the stoic dwarf serving as gatekeeper stuttering! Doubly so as Simba Truemane of all people flash his credentials! Beef is a rare and exotic commodity this deep within the subterraen, and the spa itself suffering like much of the Holdings in trade thanks to the war efforts of the dark elves. The two dwarves walking the walls stop high above, peering down at the group at front. One of them points at Karal's blade. "That looks like a darkie's blade! Mebbe they're darkie spies!" The other dwarf whacks his fellow on the back of the helmet with a gauntlet. "Tha' look like a darkie to ya, wood-fer-brains? They're those topside traders! 'Course they'd have darkie blades, and weirder still! Now keep yer eyes and feet movin'!" It's loud enough for the Exalt to hear. The small robot manages to slip through unnoticed! And soon enough so does the group at large. A small garden of carved mushrooms and stone statues with gemstones within leads to the front of the spa proper. Here, six different dwarven guards stands milling about, glaring at those entering rather rudely.But a tunic-wearing female dwarf runs up with a gap-toothed smile. "Ah, our tradesmen guests! So sorry about the mixup, the servant responsible has been fired. Here. Your keys." The keys handed over to the group are numbers two through six. The servant gives a little wink before swiftly shuffling off towards the attach servant's building. Inside is just as described: a well appointed lobby, leading to six rather large rooms, and eventually a steam-spewing door at the end. The sounds of raucous dwarven merrymaking can be heard in the rooms beyond, though it's difficult to tell just /which/ room it's coming from.
N'Raha	N'rah- I MEAN... Simba bows and seems rather all nonplussed by the Guards rather tasteless remarks. He literally could not care less so long as they aren't looking too closely at those papers or asking around or anything. Besides. Yari's a ninja, she's good at cover stories. He's just got to look the part. And so, the Lion-Lord sniffs at all the rudeness and waves it off as the nice lady dwarf comes forward with their keys. "Oh, it's quite fine, don't worry. I get plenty of that from the hired help back home, too. Ain't a lot of proper folk who like to handle steers and cows all day, every day." He gives the dwarf a knowing and winning wink, the rugged features of the Miq honed to a razor's edge tonight. Something's got him hopped up. Though as they're lead forward, he looks to his 'bodyguard'. No words, but those crystal eyes flick to the steam room. Go check it out, they say. The catman, for his part, makes a show of gladhanding the servants, and making his way into his own room. Gotta get the gear out.
Yari Takane	ESCAPE TUNNEL Yari doesn't vocally respond to Hisoka. Her tail /does/ flick in approval though. Whether she realizes Hisoka's particular brand of 'worth' or not? Hard to say. The ninja does head off with a particularly excited sway to that scaley appendage though. With all the distractions in place, both rooftop and Escape Tunnel approaches are easy enough. Yari's info is correct: nothing can be sensed in the immediate tunnel entrance, nor a good ways into it. Just pitch darkness and light drain and drip from the upwell of volcanic spring water. It does make for a distinctly sweltering area, but nothing Hisoka can't handle. The terrain is first straight, then starts to move up sharply. Still, nothing on the approach, until one finally comes at a long tunnel leading to a ladder. Just before that ascention upwards, twin beady red eyes peers out hungrily. A loud roar issues forth from the creature: a giant rat with two heads, it's tail twin scorpion's stingers. It's fur is matted, flesh covered in pus-sacks looking ready to explode at any second. Only instinct has it riled, it hasn't seen hisoka yet. But it feels that it's not alone, heads whipping about in confusion and snapping rotten teeth. Up top, a shadow leaps from mostly vacant walls. A guard turns his head, and finds himself dragged into a window near the rooftop. A light 'gurk!', and all is quiet.
Tesla Armadia	"Finally, someone that knows properly what is going on here." Yeah, Stratos is hamming it up a bit. It's part of being a supervillain. That and she's found that people tend to think in exaggerated ways about foreigners so she's just playing true to the role. She snatchs an offered key. Then looks back at the guards dourly a moment, then to the lady. Then sniffs slightly in disdain. "I suppose I cannot blame you for doing your job. You aren't paid to think, after all." A shrug like she no longer cares as she walks in. As she is a bit ahead of the group thanks to her stealthy entrance, Saiga hunches down behind one of the stone statues. One that gives her a good view of the main spa room, using the tactical visor Tesla build into a tiny helmet for her. They don't know if their target is in the steam bath or one of the other rooms, so she's staking it out while the other's search. Stratos checks the keys she grabbed for number, and heads towards the corrisponding room. Let's get this little snoop show on with...
Lin	Playing - rather genuinely in a way - the part of a concerned bodyguard, Lin is on full alert as 'Simba' goes about securing their place of stay. Of course this after a few cheektwitches and a bit of forehead furrowing. Not that she's bothered enough by the yammering to even look at the Dwarves so brzenly criticizing her weapon. Not while on the job! The barest of nods is used to answer Simba, and as soon as he shuffles off to settle in Lin makes her way down the hallway, sharpening her senses with spirit and focus as she nears the steaming roo...
Hisoka	Hisoka makes his way through the escape tunnel with some care. Darkness he can handle with ease. Pitch blackness is another matter entirely. He gives in, deciding to use a light. It's far from bright. The sort of glow one might get by wrapping one's fist around a lit candle, if such were tenable. It's enough for him, and might be enough to alert critters that see in darkness, but it's not enough to carry past a bend or curve, or be noticed at any range. He also pushes his shirt back, letting it fold back over his waist. Bare-chested, he's better prepared to deal with the heat. It's not like there's anyone there to see... or that he'd care if anyone did. The rapionon causes some pause for him. Not that he's threatened by such a beast. No, it's a laughable threat. But he has to take care of it QUIETLY. Well, at least making no noise that'd need to be investigated. The creature's roar is presumably something they've heard before. Its death squeal... well, that'd tell any guards for sure that something nasty's coming. Quietly Hisoka lays his traps. He takes no joy in this. There's no fun whatsoever, killing a dumb beast that's too dumb to understand what's about to happen. So really, why bother? He just spins his little web, weaving invisible strands of elastic love through the corridor. Then, trap set, he advances, making himself obvious to the beast. Of course when it strikes at him, by biting or by striking with tails, it'll encounter bungee gum rather than Hisoka's flesh. And he'll take that moment of impact and confusion to slingshot himself up to the top of the ladder. If it can't climb, then that's that. Neat, elegant, and no more noisy than it needs to be.
Yari Takane	FRONT GATE Smooth sailing thus far. N'raha and his 'bodyguard' would easily slip to their room, as would Stratos. N'raha and Karal would end up with rooms three and four, while five and six end up in Stratos' hands rather unnecessarily. Is this some ruse? Stratos' robot servant might be able to shed some light on that: it's visor would find heavy heat signatures in the rooms where the group at large has been given keys. Rooms one and two seem empty aside from ambient heat. Stratos opens her door, and comes face to face to a small party. A big, burly dwarf has a helmet and robes on, his axe set aside on a wall. He's chomping down on grapes and picking up a keg one handed to suck down it's contents. HIs beard is rather short for a dwarf, only chest-long and blonde. Not the target, but one of the guards most likely. Spying the woman, he stumbles up. "Heh heh heh. So /there's/ the serving girl! Ya took yer time! Didn't think they had upworlders here! I'm the Captain of the Lawmaker's guard! C'mere, drink with me lass!" He's already hefting the keg, and stumbling towards Stratos! N'raha gets a smile from the dwarfess. "Then I hope this place pleases you! Come back any time..." When N'raha enters his room, he'd find it pretty full. Dwarves. Lots of dwarves. Twelve of them in all passed out on the floor clutching mugs. Kegs lay toppled in a corner. This seems to be the temporary barracks for the Lawmaker's guard. N'raha could get out his kit if he avoids the jumble of bodies, or he could eliminate the potential reinforcements! The nearest dwarf mumbles in his sleep, and reaches out with a large, meaty hand for N'raha's leg! "Mmmggggmmph. Fluffy kitty....come to Gorgo...snuggle kitty." Poor cat might end up dwarf-hugged at this rate if he doesn't act quickly! Karal chooses the more direct route, and as she opens the steamy door, it rushes into the hallway in giant plumes of smoke. A dark-bearded dwarf, larger than the rest, is clad in a towel as he lays back on a steamy stone bench. An axe lays right beside him. On his fingers, are ornate copper rings. The big dwarf slowly turns, and scowls. "Who dares intrude? I told the servants none should interrupt me! Who are you...upworlder?" His hand is already on the axe. In the water of this steamy area, something massive shifts and moves and blows bubbles that makes the water boil all the harder.
Yari Takane	ESCAPE TUNNEL Dumb beast indeed! Hisoka's trap works perfectly: rapionon teeth snap out, and chew on that bungee gum like no tomorrow. Then it's flung back a good foot, the stupid thing letting out a confused churr-hiss. This gives Hisoka plenty of time to spring upwards while two sharp tails poke gingerly at the stuff. Eventually, instincts finally pick up on what this stuff is. And what it could do. Waddling back to the ladder, curling up to make itself as small as possible, it waits with drooling, ravenous maws open. Almost immediately, however, Hisoka would find opposition. The ladder leads to a small gatehouse. Filled with steam as it is, it seems like it might just connect to the steam bath area. A dwarf only three heads or so smaller than Hisoka himself, and three times as broad, rounds in a very awful bit of luck. He grips twin axes, his ash-grey skin bulging with muscles. "'ey, you! Yous not supposed to be heres! Ya got past the Dark Thing? Heh heh heh, then ya gotta deal with me, Stoneface!" Twin axes lash out for Hisoka, one aimed for the legs, and the other for the neck. For all his size, he's fast with those two hunks of iron. In the small confines, he's tearing into the walls in an effort to take Hisoka's head and legs! There's little room to maneuver with such a hulking dwarf! Elsewhere, Yari crawls along the catwalks, leading to the steam room. She spies both the target and Karal, and immediately pipes up.
Tesla Armadia	For a brief moment there's a faint twitch of one eye and knuckles clenching with the robes' deep sleeves.. but then fades when Stratos realizes she can use this to her advantage. "Oh, I'm rather new." She gives an exaggerated sway of her hips to bump the door shut, and then saunters in the dwarf's direction. "For visiting dignitaries with more... exotic tastes~" The guard captain, and already drunk off his bearded ass? Perfect. Stratos stops as the Captain staggers towards her, grabbing the bottom of the keg with her hands. There is a faint, though maybe not audible due to his state, mechanical click within her robes. "Let me help you with that, sir." Stratos tilts the keg up as if to help pour it down his throat... But then -shoves- it down, intended to push him to the floor with the keg smothering his face. At the same time the thermal manipulators hidding up her sleeves are active now, a bit of frost forming over the exterior as Stratos rapidly cools the liquor within. Hopefully if the Captain doesn't drown outright it will freeze in his throat, choking him. Either way the cold will melt quickly once she stops chilling it, and look like he simply drunk the death of himself finally. Surely for dwarves that is a noble of death as in battle. Out in the lobby, Saiga sees Karal moving for the steam doors, and sneaks closer herself to hide behind a different decorative ornament, and summons the rest of her rig out of Slipway storage. She might have to Karal a helping hand if things start to go bad.
N'Raha	The Fluffy Kitty dwarf is abut to have a real bad time of it. No one took N'raha's 'ceremonial' axe. The Steel Buhj whips around a bit, and N'raha clonks the dwarf in the forehead, backed by a swift burst of Aether. "Ow. No hands." Well that lady already sussed them out, this plan is busted as it is. A growl, and the catman tries to back out of the room, looking... gotta put the Simba-face back on. "What's the meaning of this, this room is already being used!" Puff bluster puff. N'raha's tail is fluffed out, but his mental energies are already reaching into the Aether, ready to yank out his full Warrior kit.
Hisoka	Stoneface is almost a surprise. Hisoka's rarely surprised though, and he eyenarrows as the massive dwarf wades in at him. Not a scowl, but a squint of... actual pleasure. The dwarf no doubt outmasses him and outmuscles him. The nen master is powerfully-built, but he's built more for speed than for bulk. He shows that speed now, running his legs up one wall and tilting his body over horizontal, letting axes pass high and low as he spins in an unnatural ballet. He doesn't NEED room to maneuver. The dwarf may be powerful, but Hisoka dodges bullets. No, the tricky part of this is doing things in relative silence. That, and not giving in to his killing intent. Hisoka spins, dodges, his body moving in unnatural ways until he gets an opening. Meanwhile the dwarf is making all kinds of noise no doubt, grunting and smacking the walls and whatever, but that probably just sounds like dwarven celebrations. There's no screaming, no agony... no sound that guarantees this is battle. When he gets his opening, Hisoka steps in, redirecting the axedwarf's arm with a bare hand, squeezing past, and settling in behind him. He clamps one hand across the startled dwarf's mouth just as he's preparing to yell, while the other keeps those axes from flailing too much. Oh yes, Hisoka is STRONG. This dwarf may have three times Hisoka's muscle, but the Magician is many many times stronger than he looks. He could rip the dwarf's head off as easy as opening a bottle's cap. Slowly the jester increases the strength of his grip, smirking at the flailing struggles of his victim. Making it obvious he has the dwarf in his power, and that he could trivially kill him with one wrench of his arms. After a few moments he pushes the dwarf, pinning his axes between the massive body and the wall. That frees up Hisoka's defensive arm, and he closes THAT arm across the dwarf's throat. Then he begins to squeeze. As he cuts off blood flow to the dwarf's brain, Hisoka smiles. "Wouldn't it be a shame to kill you." he croons. "You know exactly what you are, and you fill your place as well as you fill a room. Just because you had no chance, doesn't mean you were getting ... above yourself..." After another few moments, Hisoka releases the pressure. He doesn't need to kill. In this case, he doesn't particularly want to kill. The dwarf wasn't in a situation to make a drawn-out fight to the death particularly enjoyable, nor was he trash enough to make Hisoka kill out of hand. No, best if the dwarf sleeps for a while. He'll wake up with a headache eventually, but at least he'll wake up.
Lin	"Uhhhhhhhhh---" Lin finds herself at a loss for words. What under the heavens possessed her to open the door? She knows herself to be rather impulsive, but it's rare that she finds herself derping THIS much. Her whole face flushes brilliantly in embarassment and a bit of shame that has NOTHING to do with the fact that Copperfingers over there wears only a towel. That doesn't impress or embarass someone from a society like hers, that's for sure. If anything, she srews her face up, because Dwarven looks aren't her thing. She swiftly starts to stammer apologetically in a rather genuine fashion. "S-so that's what this room is, my apologies! I beg your forgiveness!" Lin stiffly executes a deep bow, body practically at a ninety-degree angle and eyes aimed straight at the ground. Even with the dwarf holding his axe, that's not enough to get her panicking. "Merely a bodyguard, sir. Enjoy your... whatever this is!" Clumsy. Ever so clumsy. But no matter how helpless she looks like this... she totally isn't.
Yari Takane	Really, this guard captain seems like a nice guy perhaps. There's no real ill intent in his eyes other than an appreciation for what to him is indeed an exotic sight. Stratos gets to take the keg easily, the dwarf even makes a show of holding it for her! Eyes flash with legitimate surprise and delight as Stratos bears that weight. "Yer a strong upworlder too! Hah hah hah, gems ashine, glad I made the Lawgiver's side! Pour me, lass, and save some fer yerself! Two gemshines away from retirement, yer wanna get away from this pla..." Glurk. Glug glug glug! Even as Stratos shoves him down, his throat bobs as he drinks and he's grinning like a naieve fool that he is. Surely this is just a upworld woman's way! Only as the drink freezes in his throat does he finally realize he isn't leaving here alive. Pathetic sounds come,a nd eventually, he falls still. Drinks melts fast, and he's pretty much covered in it. A true dwarven death, and few will question the look of confusion on his face. N'raha whacks the dwarf unconscious easily enough. One or two heads look up, bleary eyes narrowing. To see...a vaguely fluffy form with an axe. An axe. Must be old Big Beard, they reason. Doubly so as there's yelling about 'meanings' and 'rooms'. And a dozen other things they rationalize away before falling to sleep. One of them mutters. "G ta zleep, Biggs. Ain't time fer guardchange in a gemshine." Seems that N'raha has come off suficciently dwarf-like. This leaves him free to get ready, and join the others. This handful of moments as Hisoka battles Stoneface are ones that will likely go lost in the Magician's mind. But to Stoneface, it's formative. Hisoka uses his full strength to fly in and keep his arms still. Stupid, to be sure, but Stoneface has a warrior's spirit. And a sense of self preservation. His struggles even as axes are paused, then dropped out of uselessness. Eyes widen. There's fear for his life. Genuine. But so too is there pride. He gave his all, what little use it was, and he knows it. As Hisoka finally chokes him out, both fly out the window. Realization dawns at just how weak he is. And just how far it's possible for someone to go. Stoneface falls in a weighty lump on the floor, eyes dazzled. A painted face. Such agility and strength. Years later after this, Stoneface would become a dwarven legend, painting his face and honing his skills to perfection as a warrior. Giving up axes and armor, he'd beat back dark elven armies with his bare fists and speed. But most of all, his choking grip, inspired by the nameless magician that would defeat him this day. Endlessly driven by that barely contained bloodlust that both frightened and inspired him so.
Yari Takane	Karal flusters and acts the bodyguard, turning away! The copper-ringed dwarf instead just rises. Things were quiet. /Too/ quiet, as far as he's concerned. He'd expected his enemy to try to kill him here. But to his senses, nothing. The party here may have done their job too well. "Give me yer papers, lass. Ya got papers from yer merchant, right? But you don't have them I bet!" He menaces. Karal might notice that feeling of growing bloodlust in the dwarf's demeanor just as his hand goes for the axe. A big grin fills his face. Then, suddenly, he's rushing for the bodyguard. "...I always knew that dark dwarf scum would send someone! Die!" A whistle, and the entire compound would hear a hissing screech as a giant red-scaled serpent rises from the hot baths. Karal would find the dwarf rushing at her, his skin hardening, gems sliding out of his skin. This dwarf hits like a truck as he swings with stone arms, utterly unforgiving. The giant serpent, easily ten feet when rising up on it's coils like it is, sucks in a fiery breath. Up above, something small is chucked into its mouth. Yellow clouds mix with fire, and for now the thing simply howls and thrashes, destroying much of the catwalks above. Amidst the confusion, Yari is left hanging on to the single remaining upper roof support with her tail, robes smoking as she surveys the battlefield.
N'Raha	Right. Well, /they/ aren't the ones who brought a dragon, so now all's fair, right? Right. N'raha hears the snarling and the BREATHING of the serpent and snarls. "Sod this, plough it all." There's a glaring flash of light, and the fancy merchant armor vanishes is a swirl of Aether, leaving the catman head to toe in gleaming red and black armor, a visor covering his face. The axe lifts up, the head gleaming, and he /charges/ into the chamber, aiming to get right in front of Karal. "OY! AHOY AND WELL MET." The voice /thunders/ from the armor, a battle challenge. "YE BE FACIN' SIMBA OF THE DEPTHS BEYOND, SCOURGE OF THE TWELVE SEAS." Oh god, he's got a cover for a cover? Yari certainly didn't give the Pirate Cat that. The massive axe whirls around, and lashes out at the Dwarf and the Serpent with a wave of aggravating energy.
Tesla Armadia	With this whole Concord arrangement she's not suppose to be -entirely- evil anymore, but that doesn't mean Stratos doesn't savor that shocked look on the Captain's face, leaving on the top of the keg to watch his final squirming moments. "And for all the world knows you took drowning your sorrows too literally." But it sounds like the real ruckus is starting outside, and with one last pat to the keg Stratos turns and walks back to the door to see how the rest of the crew is doing. "LOOK OUT!" One would expect Karal doesn't really need to be told to avoid that axe, but Saiga's nature as a Shinki is to be helpful. Which would also be why grabs one of the lobby ornaments with her manipulator arms, hefts it over her head, and then flings it Head Dwarf's.. well, head! Or it might look like it started flying, if no one notices the small robot that threw it.
Lin	"Wha--" Papers?! Lin blinks a few times and raises her head, sensing the sudden bloodlust. It gets her IMMEDIATELY on edge. There's a flash of movement in the instants he's moving in and-- CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSS-CRACKLE!! That hefty axe slams hard into the flat of a blade that cannot exist. A blade of pure sunlight, burning bright as a torch. Lin supports it with BOTH hands, needing her entire body to abosrb the shock of that single swing. It's enough to buckle her knees and drive the breath from her lungs! "Damn, what I wouldn't give for a sparring partner with... so much strength!" Lin can't help but crack a smile. Even though this VERY QUICKLY went to hell in ways she couldn't see coming, the onset of battle's getting her heart soaring and singing. Adrenaline screaming in her veins and sunlight searing forth through her soul, she knows a challenge when she sees it! "Let's see it, then! Put how much you hate them behind that thing and come at me! If you wanna start a fight over nothing more than a DOOR opening, don't expect mercy!" Her trembling arms struggle to contain his Dwarven strength... and when she DOES get away it's like a human spring flying through the air after being compressed between a strongman's fingers. She goes skidding over the slick stone floors. Others are busting in now though, and so instead of recklessly charging in to meet Copperfingers' strength with her own Lin raises her blazing sword into a guard and takes stock of the thrashing serpent, her appearing allies... and her target's freakish transfiguration. Gems and stoneskin? That's a new one. It gets her brow furrowing. "... your road ends here, Copperfingers. May your next life be better."
Hisoka	Hisoka isn't gentle as he sets the big dwarf aside. He drops him, letting the massive head bounce off the rocky ground. Hopefully the dwarf is as tough as he seems... the future has something in store for him. Then again, maybe some of that future comes about because of the dwarf suffering brain damage. The murderclown strides out, his outfit once again glossy and unstealthy. Stealth has served whatever purpose it can, now, and there's little point in approaching the others while still remaining stealthy. Hisoka strides out, arms swinging in a slightly-unnatural rhythm, just a little bit off from the pace set by his legs and hips. He stops only when he gets to the fight with Copperfingers. THIS... this ought to be amusing. He stops to watch, not at all interested in helping out. Besides, he doesn't honestly know enough about Copperfingers yet to be safe in trying to snuff the man out. Better if someone else does it, so his Vow isn't compromised.
Metal Man	R E A D Y Blinks on Metal Man's HUD and then he's in dropping in seemingly from nowhere? Okay he's been following the main group as back for a while and now has just landing he drops in a crouch as his weapons fully power up. "DRWno. 009 Metal Man, at your service. That which does not adapt, dies. Your going to choke on your hate today." With out another word Metal Man springs into action and flips into the air, the blades start singing through the air as he launches them towards the serpent and some to the old dwarf who is their target." Metal Man also keeps bounding about the room like he's a ping pong ball or the sort of way Lin might expect some of the exalted and how they fight, his balance is /perfect/ as he moves about.
Yari Takane	KLIIIING. Goes the sound of metal on metal, as Copperfingers' axe meets Karal's blade. There's a still moment as strength meets skill, and eventually skill wins out. But still, the dwarf lets out a pained noise as her light echoes onto her blade. Dwarven eyes aren't meant for that, and it gives him pause. He stumbles backwards. Beneath his feet, the stone has cracked. Karal has given as good as she's gotten, and only immense dwarven strength has kept him here. Copperfingers shrugs a single arm, gems cracking and stone breaking just a little. There's a slash through his arm, but he hardly seems to notice. "Upworlder. You're strong for your kind. I'd take your service to me, the Lawgi...AAAGH!" Flick. The only thing that hasn't become gem or stone are the dwarves eyes, and Yari takes advantage. A single kunai spears right into his left eye, leaving him screaming in agony. The ninja is nothing if not opportunistic. N'raha rushes in! He screams out his True (!?!) Name and offers a true lash of his huge axe at the serpent still hampered by Yari's cloud of toxins. The strike lashes through iron-hard scale and flesh. Only deep muscle causes that axe to dig half-way through. It's less like trying to cut through a ship's hull or a tree. More like trying to rake through metal itself. But N'raha manages it, and with a spurt of blood the fire serpent rears back in pain. Unfortunately for N'raha, the thing's very blood is lava-hot as it sprays for him, enough to turn metal to slag and offer awful burns to the flesh! Seigra hefts a small statue. Made out of a rather heavy metal, so the poor robot migh tjust struggle to lift it! And chuck it the robot does! Crashing into his face, it only drives Yari's kunai deeper into the poor Dwarf's brain. Welling up blood despite it's gemstone skin, his strikes towards Karal are half-blind and vaguely searching for the woman. Hisoka...watches. And there's much to watch. The fire serpent is being fought bravely. The combination of robot, ninja, and Exalt have the target slashing his axe about wildly despite his formidable coverage. Slowly, the Dwarf is stumbling towards that gatehouse. That ladder, leading so deep down to a hungry creature in the dark. And then, the reinforcements. Metal Man leaps in, and blades fling out. Several stick to the Fire Serpent's body, causing it to bleed horrifically. The Dwarf eats another one to the leg. So close he is to the trap long laid out. But he's a strong dwarf, and finally, his bloody gaze falls on Karal once more. Pulling in a breath and flexing his arms, he uses his entire body to fling that axe towards Karal! Flecks of razor-sharp gems fly out for the tiny robot, Hisoka, Metal, N'raha, and even Yari all at once as the dwarf gasps out his last attack! Yari leaps to the side of the wall, eating two gem-spines into her left side. Spitting up blood, she makes desperate handseals. A burst of powerful water falls upon the fire serpent, struck through with black oil. One can practically smell the accelerant, just ready for someone to light it all up, or cut down the now blinded serpent.
N'Raha	If you're looking for N'raha, he's the one slightly covered in Lava. Though, this isn't the worst thing for the Warrior, mainly because he can still scream. And use Aether. Which he does. In fact that lava on his armor is only going to make things worse, really. It's the pain, you see, that fuels his Wrath, that makes the furnace of the Warrior chug chug chug. And now the Pain Train Hasn't Brakes. The Warrior Catte howls, a lion-like noise shuddering in his helmet and armor, and there's a flashover in the head of that axe he's wielding. A massive backsurge of energy pours down the handle, and the Lion's Roar turns thunderous. He brings the whole thing crashing down, sending a shockwave through the tidepool and the spring and the serpent and the Gem-dwarf and really the whole building's probably going to hear it. It is not subtle.
Hisoka	The Magician simply holds out his hands, an invisible lacework of power between his fingers catching the gems flying for his face and chest. To those unable to see hidden energies, the gems slow and stop in midair, mere inches from Hisoka's body. Another gem tears into the flesh of his thigh but he barely flinches. Instead he watches the gems suspended before his face, seemingly in fascination. After a moment he spins them, setting them up to whirl about one of his fingers, whirling round and round like a sling. Then he releases it, sending the gemstone streaking out at the fire serpent. Not that Hisoka cares anything for the catman. Not that he cares about anyone here really. But they ARE supposed to be working together, and he has to at least show some effort now that they're in the final stage of their mission, right? And besides, the fire serpent is nothing his Vow need be concerned with. He can kill it without the slightest qualm.
Tesla Armadia	"Eep!" Saiga reflexively shields her face with her arms, which her rig mimics by folding the large manipulator arms in front of her entire body. It's actually a fairly effective shield, as far as damage goes, as the shards stick into the larger mechanical limbs. On the other hand the shinki is still small and light, in comparison to the shards of gem that hits her, and the force of impact is enough to send the small girl-bot hurtling backwards across the lobby. But at this point Stratos has actually stepped out of the Captain's room, and in one well-practice Villain Costume Discard yanks off the robes in one hand, revealing her usual weather-themed super-suit beneath. "Hey, stone for brains!" Stratos grins a smug smirk as the gadgetry on her arms shifts, interfacing the thermal manipulators with air cannons. "You know what frost does to stone? Allow me to demonstrate!" The weather mistress fires off several blasts of freezing air at Copperfingers. And what does frost do to stone, you may ask? Anyone who remembers science class may recall that water is a weird thing that expands when frozen instead of contracting like most liquids do. Meaning it's going to get into the cracks in his stone skin and break them farther, hopefully making him more brittle for the other's attacks to finish him off.
Metal Man	Metal Man is not the strongest elite, but he is old he knows how to use every bit of what he has. His movments are quick, and he never stumbles, neve slips even as he keeps up his assault with his blades flying when he gets the chance. Metal Man takes no joy in this, but the needs of his kind? The needs of his his world and the hope for a better world that drives him? He knows deeds such as this my need to be done. The Axe comes, and Metal Man has long known the price of his balance and agility, he has very light armour for a combat robot and something like that could rip right into him. Then the long absent N'Rah Tia shows his full fury it's a sight to behold. The axe almost catcheshim but Metal Man weaves out of the way as it passe with in a few centmeters of his face, he can see the weapon move past and he picks up his attack. He won't get that lucky agin in a melee this and he knows it. Data passes rapidly through his mind faster than a normal human or like being could handle. Even with how human he was in personality, emotion and behaviour? He was still a creature of steel and circuits and this is where it gave him his edge, he readies another blade which he throws before flipping away again.
Lin	"High praise, but I think not, 'Lawgiver.' It'd be the shortest service in history." Because the poor Dwarf's about to be dead, as far as she can see. She can't help but WINCE, both from her poor tingling limbs and seeing a dagger take the politician's eye. Brutal. Efficient, fitting, bur brutal. Lin doesn't like this. She'd far prefer to fight someone this capable in a one-on-one with his undivided attention, and a scenario where she can afford to go all-out without any concerns! Alas. The axe approaches her, and Lin just SLAMS the glowing blade into the floor, releasing it. She flexes her fingers, braces her body into a deeper stance... No longer able to constrain her soul's glow, Lin becomes the nexus for a rapidly expanding glow of divine light. The purest white-gold sunlight pours from her flesh. IT IS HER SOUL, burning spirit made manifest. The divine light of heaven and justice incarnate! The blaze seems to focus around her fists as she braces both hands forward and... CATCHES the axe! Or at least.. she absorbs the impact. For several seconds she's driven back, back, and still further back across the grounds. Sparks fly from where the spinning axe-blade tries to dig into her flesh but is repelled but spirit-strengthened skin, iron-like palms halting its progress! After skidding for several meters Lin comes to a halt. Blood drips down the axe's steel, but her hands remain intact. Those hands slide around and clamber for the hilt. Lin testingly spins the weapon, swings it left and right with just a single hand to get a feel for its balance... Then she thinks better of it and shifts to two-handed. "This turn of events doesn't agree with me, but it can't be helped... may we meet again in your next life for a proper match!" With a mighty HEAVE Lin hurls the thing up towarsd the ceiling... but not so hard that it gets stuck. In the next instants between seconds she vaults up to plant her feet on the rocky ceiling... and SPRINGS DOWNWARDS with her full might. The axe is grasped at the height of its arc and brought down with all of Lin's strength and weight behind it. A simple vertical wood-splitting cut towards Balto's noggin'! * CHOP *
Yari Takane	The Lion Cat howls, and every window in the building shatters. Even the most drunk of dwarves is awakened. Only the dead, and a certain Warrior-Clown-Legend to be remains slept. Rather than reinforcements, they flee like some dark creature has been unleashed. Perhaps they're right. Down comes the energy that the angry Miq draws upon, slicing into the Fire Serpent upon it's coils. Twenty different wounds open from it's body, carving out stone-like scales and tight muscle into veins. The spa waters boil as fast as it's replenished, leaving a hell of sweltering steam. And yet, the Fire Serpent lives. It tries to draw in another breath. Fire draws, more swiftly than even Yari can prevent. But Hisoka is there, flinging the Light Dwarf Lawgiver's gem-spines back into the creature's great maw! It chokes, and inwardly, it spills out both the internal fire, and the less eruptive blood-lava it's made of. Truly a creature of great rarity in these subterreans. Copperfingers pauses in his wild flailing, turning to Stratos' words. Even bereft of an armament, he sucks in a breath. This dwarf is as tough as legend, and even as frost is pushed towards him, he exhales. Wild spines lash out. Her frost greets him. He pauses, barely before the now ruined internal guardhouse. Stone becomes brittle. And expands. On one part, he's stumbling closer to the latter, one arm erupting in gem, stone, and ice. He clings to his axe. Spitting curses, the dwarf lingers. There's a flash of a shadow before Stratos, and sharp metal billows forth. Gem shards and shuriken each meet one another, falling limp. Yari's left shoulder eats two more gem shards, but the majority of the violence aimed at the villainess falls harmlessly away as Yari meets shard with sharp metal objects. The lizard is drawing in sharp breaths, both due to her injuries and the effort of saving her ally, but she shoots Stratos a polite nod. Multiple blades impact the lingering Fire Serpent. Metal Man peppers the creature with his namesake, making it a lava-leaking creature of pure pain. Clad in oil and water, slashed asunder, and utterly awash in various poisons and projectiles, this poor Serpent's death would be a mercy right now.
Yari Takane	It's something Yari is happy to supply. Bereft of her robes, she has a tattered kimono and tactical wetsuit beneath. She has no more weapons, really, aside from one as the big serpent writhes around. A small metal bit. Flick. Schnicht. The vaguest sense of flame. Yari lights her black and red pipe, just before hucking it towards the serpent. Between oil, lava blood, impact and now fire, it's a giant conflagration that lights up the Iron Holdings for miles. The Fire Serpent screams, and finally, falls back into the water lifelessly. Karal pours her very soul into the impact of that dwarven axe! And through the sunlit hands, she manages to catch it, surviving! Blind, already internally bleeding, Copperfingers pauses. It's a long enough pause for a veteran warrior like Karal to lunge forward. That axe gets heaved, breaking much of the ceiling. And down she comes, aiming that arcing axe for Balto's very face! It's a close thing. But he's just fast enough to avoid instant death. Instead of cleaving his noggin in half, Balto meets a third of his very head being cleaved off. It runs down his left shoulder, and through his arm. Hardened flesh is cut through like butter, and he offers a horrible howl. Teetering on the edge of the escape tunnel, his remaining single eye looks at the group. "Curse...you...all!" He mutters. A wobble, and then he falls howling. CRUNCH. What is left of Balto Copperfingers is a mere husk of a dwarf. And yet, he lives. Slowly, over the course of minutes, he drags himself forward in the deepest of dark. His hardened skin stops him from bleeding to death. HIs pure instinct and toughness keeps him from death, even after part of his brain is bereft. He crawls in that dank tunnel, barely avoiding passing out right there. Something stretches. An elastic sensation covers Balto's remaining bits of face. And snaps back, pushing him into a helpless heap. He can barely make a sound of terror as the Bungee Gum forces him back into the slowly stalking jaws of the looming Rapionon. Teeth snap. Flesh is torn, and the sound of animalistic hunger can be heard all the way up into Steam Room. Yari kneels, judging those sounds, and then walks away. As she exits towards the rest of the Dwarven Spa, she plucks out the last bits of gem-shards with a pained hiss. A vague salute. "...I think our target is now eliminated. Extract as you wish, everyone. I have loose ends to tie up." And then, Yari's gone with only the slightest flicks of blood to tell the tale. Somewhere else, a traitorous dwarven spa-keeper gasps, and dies.
Tesla Armadia	The tech retracts back into it's standby position as Stratos walks over to pick Saiga up. "You okay there l'il clamper?" Saiga grabs one of the shards with the smaller actuators from her shoulders and yanks it out of the larger loader arm. "Not anything the Master can't patch up." "Good." Stratos sets the shinki on her shoulder. "Now, before we go." She hehehes softly as she pulls a tool designed to look like an icicle to match her theme, and use it to pry one of the jewels out of a gem-studded lobby ornament. "Mission success aside, I do so hate going home empty handed." Some villanous habits die hard. Saiga tilts her head to one side a little. "Is that really necessary?" "Yes!" Stratos pauses a moment, then shrugs. "Okay, maybe not. But hey, between the drunk guards, the dead captain, and a little theft? Makes it look more like this was a raid for wealth, and he was here at the wrong time and... got axed." Saiga groans at Stratos' tendancy for villainous wordplay, but can't really argue the logic, as thinly veiled of an excuse as it is. Any evidence to make this look less like political motivations is probably a good thing.