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Tomoe So once more Tomoe sets foot in the region and her appearance changes to the Dark Lady once more the cheese cake armour the altered figure the hair, there might be one person she'd be okay seeing her like this but they are not here so. The dark armour at least was shockingly comfortable in a way it shouldn't be, but she faulted that on being in her Avatar state.

She'd called up those willing to help even though not on the quest as her spies had brought word that a fairly sizable band of adventures had shown up in a near by town. It was winter on the west coast so it was often cold and wet, ergo Tomoe was not a happy lady at all. The party would be meeting at a camp just a ways from the town and she. She's there leaning on a tree as she waits for everyone to arrive, there's no monsters yet and she'll wait until the gathering is finished once everyone has arrived for the most part she speaks up.

"First up I'd like to thank you for the help as I think I might go insane if I was doing this. Just to keep it clear property damage as much as I hate to admit it is all right, I don't want to see any of the locals be the Cardinal Generated NPCs or otherwise. We'll do what we can with whatever CARDINAL throws at us and we'll have to ham it up."

By some miracle it's not raining yet and it's above freezing but it's a fairly overcast day as is it is wont to be on the west coast. Tomoe closes her eyes for a moment opens them.

"I'm ready, we need to get this started."
Karian Icefang     Answering Tomoe's call might be a surprising figure. While it bore the character name of the 'Jarl Icefang', it looked nothing quite like the Iron Wolf. Rather, this character bore long white hair, braids tied into it in the traditional viking sense. Beyond that, he wore chain armor and carried a MASSIVE double headed axe on his back, and on his cheeks were scrawled runic marks. "Dark Lady...I disapprove of the name, but I'll stand with you."
Kirito Kirito picked the green amulet earlier, and so he's decided to add some of that color to his motif for this strange quest. His new outfit is much more appropriate for the Dark Knight sort of look - he's wearing small bits of tactically positioned black metal armor over his black coat, the entire shebang displaying a sleek but minimal amount of green trim. His boyish face is hidden behind a black-and-green full helmet that bears a monstrously spiky aesthetic, with matching pauldrons.

    And as usual he's kind of lurking on the edge of the meeting site - a habit very akin to what Tomoe might remember he did a lot in SAO right before floor boss raids. -- in fact, he was frequently in Stealth rather than just lurking at the fringes, and Asuna usually dragged him out of the bushes or from behind a tree...

    Well, she's not here today, but he's not hiding in stealth mode...

    "The heroes. Are they NPCs or other Augma users?"
Yuuki Konno     A muffled voice comes from the upper branches of the tree. "You can count on your faithful ninja companion!" comes Yuuki's girlish voice. Yes, if she's going to do this she's going to do it right! If that means arriving early to the meeting point so she can ninja-servant Tomoe, so be it!

    Yuuki, other than her voice, isn't entirely recognizable. Once people see her in the tree - and it's winter, so it's not THAT hard to do - she's dressed in a loose-fitting ninja outfit with a long violet scarf that somehow sets off the bleakness of the rest of the uniform. The outfit manages to hide her girlishness at least. She's still tiny, but there's no hint of curves revealed and her hair's entirely covered by the face-wrapping ninja hood. For that matter her elfin ears are concealed just as well.

    "And Tomoe, Kirito's the one who's cornered the Dark Lady name!" Yuuki says cheerfully. "Er, well, more like Dark Lord. Or at least he's the one that always wears black. But it's okay, you can be the Dark Lady!" she grins behind the concealing scarf.
Iria How hard can it be to miss Iria? After all, it's her username and her real name. Why no surname? Because on Myce, they don't use surnames for some reason. Iria never wondered why and she never cared either.

Wearing what could easily be considered a virtual equivalent to her standard armored bodysuit, Iria swiftly arrives with the greatest of ease. Only this time, instead of a bodysuit, it's more like tight fitting clothing and boots with a bright silver color. She nods to the others as she arrives and says, "I came as quickly as I could. I don't know entirely about what's happening, but I am willing to help out in any way I can!"
Josuke Higashikata     That outfit Tomoe's stuck in while she's here in this territory... honestly it embarrasses Josuke a little. Tomoe is very pretty and it's showing off a lot of her skin. It's kind of distracting! But hey, he's got other things to concentrate on. Like trying to figure out how this doesn't look completely ridiculous. Himself, that is.

    He's playing the part of a 'dark priest' or 'dark cleric' of sorts, given his healing abilities -- it seems to fit. So he's gone with a mishmash of hammy-as-shit things that one might reasonably expect to find on a worshipper of an evil god. His shirt is almost a Chinese style long shirt, with the panels in the front and back, but the collar is reminiscent of a Catholic priest -- those are creepy. The front of the shirt is plain, but an ornate harness necklace of apparently 'arcane' design has been strapped over his chest. At the center of his chest is a fanged skull with ruby-colored transparent plastic 'gems' for eyes. It's clerly plastic, though.

    There's a hooded cape thrown over the lot, and he's actually got the hood up. Though the hood is pretty open and deep, so it shouldn't mess his hair up too much otherwise. The pants are loose, straight-legged affairs -- nothing fancy there. But his shoes are black, with chitinous plates that form slightly upward-pointed tips (these to are plastic.

    The look is completed with a pair of large black feathered wings that are attached to the harness underneath the cape, a large black scary-looking book... and the fact that Crazy Diamond is actually holding him off the ground a handful of inches, by that harness around his chest. Sure, everybody who can see his Stand knows what's up... but for those who don't (hopefully the NPCs), this very well could look really scary.
Staren     A... group comes from the direction of the warpgate. Four large figures, ten or eleven feet tall. Three of them appear to be bulky, humanoid clockwork robots -- golems of wood or stone, painted to look bronze and with gears and bits stuck on for looks. Leading them is Staren controlling a sort of golem-mech. A bipedal construct made of wood painted to look like metal. Where one might expect an upper torso and head, however, has been replaced with something like the inside of a car -- places for a few people to sit, and a control panel in front of the driver -- the shape of this 'cockpit' exposes the upper bodies of the occupants, in this case Staren, who we'll get to in a moment. Two arms hang down from the 'body', one of which is holding an assault rifle. All in all it's maybe 9½ feet tall, 11 if you count the exposed part of its occupant.

    Staren himself is wearing... A howie-style labcoat with huge black buttons, instead of his usual open one, and has his goggles pushed up onto his forehead. His hair is deliberately uncombed to be extra-wild. Over the coat he wears some kind of chest harness with magic or tech-y looking discs on it. His usual messenger bag hangs at his side. Completing the outfit are military black slacks and matching shiny black boots and long gloves.

    When he arrives, he takes one look at Tomoe's get-up and comments, "That is unfortunate. Do you think you could like glue more fabric onto it?" Then he looks around at the others gathered. He smiles and gives Kirito a thumbs-up, then looks to ninja Yuuki. "Oh, nice!" And Dark Priest Josuke. "Ohhh, nice!" he grins looking at them all, then spreads his arms to indicate his ride and his minions. "So, what do you think?"
Silica     Swooping from overhead comes a mid-sized creature. Kirito would recognize it from the battle with Oberon. It's a Wyvern, being ridden by none other than Dark Silicon, the billowing, flowing robe-like dress fluttering in the wind as she comes in to land. The creature chirps shrilly as it settles in, and the rider dismounts. "Ooooo-ho-ho-ho-ho~. Hello there my darlings, sorry I'm late~."
Tomoe Tomoe was not entirely expecting Karian Icefang but she's very happy to have some backup as a hulking figure arrives. She smirks a bit at Icefang. She sizes him up and she grins a bit at the outfit Karian has got going for him.

"Good you will be quite useful but as I said blame the 'goddess' not me for the name, also the terrible fashion."

She looks to Kirito for a moment as he pops in. "So far as I know NPCs but given when Cardinal makes NPCs for a major purpose....well you know our friends back in Haven started out as that."

Referring to the NPCs they rescued from the death of SAO when they realized they had become aware also another comes to her mind and she wonders about it. Then comes the Yuuki Ninja who is doing a good job of falling into her role.

"I see your ready as well."

Iria was a long time Union Elite, Tomoe knew that much but had not interacted with her that much still good to have Veteran on the level of the long missing Ash, was very welcome.

"The short summary is we got stuck playing the bag guys due to a quest we broke and we need to ham it up property damage is ... allowed but no fatalities on the locals as NPCs are getting way too close to ... being people and can sometime be /people/."

Then comes Josuke who is playing the Dark Priest and she's really not trying to distract people with it, she's really not but she's stuck with it for now and she seems very impressed with Josukes costume at least it's a clever use of Halloween surplus and should fit the bill there.

Staren was not expect but disturbingly he could likely do some of the most crazy super villain sounding rants she'd know. She looks over his bit for a moment nodding and she tilts her head.

"I tried it didn't work, the universe seems to not want me to /have/ pants. For some god awful reason most of the time and that works pretty damn well Staren."

Then comes the laugh there is a chill that goes down Tomoe's spine it remains her of an anime her dad turned her on to when she was younger, that she still has an remaster of but oh god to hear that laugh in real life? There's an abject moment of terror in her heard.

"No trouble and ... you may be too good at that."

The ham was strong with Silica and it was time to head out.

It didn't take long to reach the town with Tomoe stalking ahead of the group, the first of the towns folk saw her and let out a cry of surprise screaming.

"THE DARK LADY SHE'S HERE! SHE HERE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Tomoe lets out a booming laugh not like Silica there's more menace too it more like a western super villain if anything else. It's also clear the towns folk are various ALO races one might see a towering ripped Sylph leaning over a smaller somehow Salamander woman who looks very put off and is in a bar maid.

"For the last time I won't go out with you I don't even know you and wait what's that! Oh goddess it's them!"

Though there's something odd about her if someone were to take a look, she looks a hell of a lot like Tomoe, not race wise but just like relation.

The big burly Sylphy grins and speaks in a booming voice.
Tomoe "FOUL WENCH YOU AND YOUR MINIONS SHALL MEET YOUR ENDS AT THE HANDS OF THE ARMY OF LIGHT OUR JUSTICE IS WITHOUT MERCY FOR THE LIKES OF YOU!"

He whistles and others pop out, there's a woman in flowing robes her race is hard to tell but some light blue hair hints to she's some sort of Undine a pair of Sprigans appear one a woman in leather armour and looking all the part of a rogue and a man with sword across his back.

"Looks like we got em here you heard the bounty on these one's head we'll be up to our gills in gold and all the dates we want brother."

Notes the female of the pair and a hulking Gnome male has appear with very mean looking wolf of some sort stalks in.

"So these are them eh? Looks like they won't be much fun."

The Pirest sighs. "Must you take this much enjoyment int his? We should not take enjoyment in such violence but is ust be done they will be /purged/.

The big guy up front smirks a bit.

"So Dark Lady do you have any last words before we rid the world of you?!"
Silica     "Oooh-ho-ho-ho~, looks like the fools have arrived~" chirps Dark Silicon as the Heros show up. "My my, I was expecting something more impressive, a blowhard, a girl with some toothpicks, a big man with a small weapon, and what's this, don't you know you shouldn't bring puppies to a battlefield?" she goads and cajoules, before flicking her right arm away, as if dismissing a servant. "Begone from my sight, you are not worth even the effort of my lowliest of pets. DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM!?" she bellows after.

    She mounts back onto her Wyvern, crossing one leg over the other and reclining regally. "I am the Lady of Lamentation, the Duchess of Devastation, the Mistress of Mayhem, Dark Silicon, and you are not worthy."
Karian Icefang     If it was Ham they wanted, it would be ham they would get! "That is all that was sent? This will be far too easy. Hardly worth unsheathing my axe for!" Karian calls out, letting his accent fully complete his look. He unslings his axe from his back and rests it on his shoulder. Though then he spots the wolf and smirks. But he casts a quick look to Tomoe, waiting for her command.
Iria Hamming it up? At a time like this?

Normally Iria would be scoffing or scowling at this, but the way this has happened, the brunette has to turn her head for a moment to avoid laughing and showing it. When the urge to laugh finally passes, she stares again and tries to give a fierce look, waiting to see what happens. But if you look closely, you'll see she's trying not to crack up.
Yuuki Konno     Unfortunately Yuuki can't ninja-lurk all day since they're walking to town. That's okay though, she's not THAT much into her role. As the group advances she seems pretty much her normal self, zooming around to 'scout' and generally moving at least twice as far while covering the same ground as the slower, more stoic party members. Even if she's supposed to be evil, she's still Yuuki.

    Upon seeing the heroes, Yuuki grins. It's hidden by her shawl so she doesn't have to worry too much about showing her enjoyment. They do look like PCs, really. A solid adventuring party, and the sort she'd happily PVP with. But she has a role to maintain. She looks down on the adventurers. This of course is difficult given she's probably the shortest person present, but looking down is more a matter of attitude than anything else. "My dark lady, I'm reluctant to fight these... heroes." she says, her voice shifted down an octave in the hopes of making her seem more menacing. It might make her sound like a teenage boy in fact, but that's not her goal. "This hardly seems a fair fight. Perhaps I should... take care of the Mission." she adds darkly, speaking the capital letter plainly. Not that she actually HAS a mission, or a Mission as the case may be. She's getting a rise out of the heroes, that's all.
Kirito Seeing the effort other people went into hamming it up for the role has Kirito a little gobsmacked. It's a very good thing that his face isn't visible behind that full helmet because seeing his almost femininely soft-featured face, especially jawdroppy, would just RUIN the ominous, imposing, broody Dark Knight aura he's trying to cultivate.

    Especially Silica. His helmeted gaze lingers on her performance a bit longer than even JOsuke's...

    "... Man we make a weird crew." He mumbles. But from his tone? He's impressed.

    Walking into town, he feels utterly ridiculous. Seeing what's happening over by the bar though, he feels utterly infuriated. Still... the Black Swordsman remains pretty quiet. He even remains so with Tomoe and Silica bursting into the FREAKIEST laughs he's ever heard them manage... ones that sound straight out of drama playbooks, to be sure. But yeah, he's quiet...

    Aaaaaall the way up until the so-called Heroes decide to burst out into the streets... and the big burly Sylph says some things that just deeply piss him off.

    The others may be acting, but The Black Swordsman is genuinely pissed. Behind that unexpressive helmet... he's glaring daggers at the gang.

    And with it, one can all but FEEL the pressuring waves of violent intent pouring from him.

    "As if you know what justice is." He all but hisses out, voice seething accusingly and sharp as his undrawn blades.

    But speaking of that, he reaches up with both hands and smoothly, soundly draws his twin blades... this time, it's Elucidator, and Vox Unitas - two blades of enchanted obsidian, almost twins.
Josuke Higashikata     Josuke looks up -- WAAAAY up! -- at Staren's robot companions and the contraption Staren himself is getting around in. "...Whoa. That's some really impressive building." Though he's embarrassed at Staren's comment about his attire. "Eh. I just hope it works. I don't think I look very convincingly evil," he notes. Then again, maybe he just can't THINK of himself as evil? "...Well, I guess I look like a Saturday morning cartoon villain?" Even Crazy Diamon appears to be rolling its eyes at this.

    The group heads out, and Josuke has to suppress the wince that happens when the townsfolk start running. But hey, he's supposed to be the bad guy. So... villain it up! Start chillin' like a villain! ...OK maybe that last one doesn't work so well, but whatever. Point is still made.

    Geez, what is he supposed to do?! Think fast, Josuke!

    Crazy Diamond lifts Josuke higher then -- to those without the ability to see Crazy Diamond, it will just look like Josuke's floating up into the air a little further. He DOES look like he has wings; flight might be expected. Loudly he declares, "If you stand against us, we will CRUSH YOUR WORTHLESS SOULS!" He raises a hand and clenches it into a fist, as if... well, crushing something in that hand. "But we are not without mercy!" Extending a hand towards the heroes, as if in supplication. "JOIN US! Join us and be spared! Join us in the worship of the Dark Lady and YOU WILL BE REWARDED!"
Staren     THE UNIVERSE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO HAVE PANTS. "Ah, that sucks." Staren comments eympathetically. He grins and gives her a thumbs-up at the compliment though.

    And then, it's time to move! "Oh, we're not waiting for them to come to us?" Good thing he brought transport and doesn't have to walk like some /pedestrian/. He holds onto that thought a bit harder than he normally would, it'll help with the mood.

    They arrive at a town where everyone panics. Staren focuses on the idea of it as a game and not as, you know, a fear of how people will treat him. He's past that. PAST IT!

    "Wench? Wench?! That's the best you can come up with? And what army?! You're the squad of light, at best!"

    At this point he remembers to pull down his goggles. They're not the pair Ainsley gave him -- they're tinted so that each eye is covered by a large round black lens. "Gills?!" He pounds a gloved fist on the console. "You don't HAVE gills! You're fairies, not experiment #127! And what good is a date if they only care about your money?! Seriously, what kind of heroes are you?? Picking on barmaids..." He points at the priest. "At least SHE's got the right idea!" He pulls his hand back towards himself and clenches a fist. "Cold conviction. Knowing you have to do what you must to protect everyone. Not desiring violence, but accepting it when necessary. There's a hero!" He points at the sylph man. "You could learn a lot from her! Also, no means no dude, get with... whatever century it's supposed to be!"

    Staren turns to the group, and slams both hands palm-down on his control console. "I demand to know by what acts we are charged of as deserving death! If you're honorable heroes, you can at least tell us WHY you've got to kill us! What plot have I" he holds a hand to his chest "done, that deserves your ire?"

    He leans towards them. "Tell me is it my eeeeevil plan to build these constructs and use them to construct homes for the homeless?" He sits up straighter. "Perhaps my nefarious scheme to put fluorine in the water supply and" he holds a fist up again "strike a blow against tooth decay? Or MAYBE..." He leans forward again, hands on the console, "You heard about my cunning plan to build a clinic with medical nanomachines and cure people's diseases... FOR FREE!" There's a sound of thunder from the machine as he sits up straight and milks the giant cow while cackling. "AAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!" He leans forward, hands on console again. "Because when everyone has free health care..." He grins and lowers his voice. "Noone will be.." Beat. "...Sick, I mean."

    He sits back up. "So, what is it, heroes?" he folds his arms. "What have we done, to justify a band of warriors looking for a fight, roaming the countryside and terrorizing innocent barmaids?"
Tomoe Tomoe says "Oh my what a boisterous little man we have here, you'll be singing another tune when I have you in my dungeon mm mm? You all will be such fun!"

Okay she's getting into it, she's going to have some sort of stress valve there or she will go freaking off her rocker over this whole mess.

The Big Gnome shoots Karian a look for a moment and snorts.

"We don't need anymore to deal with the likes of you."
% He seems t be getting ready for a fight, but Tomoe has given no command just yet she's listening to them trying to size them up even as Iria gets into it laughing and she seems to have got some annoyance from the female rogue.

"Tch."

Tomoe looks to Yukki for a moment.

"Not worth your time and the cost of cleaning your blade I would presume. Very well carry the mission out."

She turns to face the 'heroes' once more and the Big Guy is now moving to reach for his blade while people scatter, they don't seem to care much about the bystanders caught in the way here, he looks to Kirito.

"Your one to talk with what you have done knave. You should be thankful I will give you a clean death."

He notes as his blade is now drawn and it looks like the sort of stuff any ALO player would go gaga to get their hands on high tir raid gear from the looks of it there. It's very much a shiny , also oddly the blade has faint glow about it bright white and the blade itself dark silver in colour.

The priestess grits her teeth and start canting a prayer of some sort and golden runes dance about her but it seems to be some sort of warding.

"No not heed his dark words he only seeks to enslave her soul on to her and the fallen one Oberon!" She seems a bit nervous though and she makes ready.

The lead man looks to Staren for a moment.

"I was being polite but Whore of the World Tree would be so much more suiting to her."

He has the blade ready and seem ready to deal with Staren as well none of them seem scared about being out numbered either maybe save the Priestess. Who also pauses at Staren's words for half a second.

The male Sprigan just deadpans.

"Is that guy drunk and he's speaking in ... babble mostly."

the high tech terms just going over the heads of all of them there it seems they are full on fantasy sorts till he ranting does. The Gnome counters and seems to be maybe smarter than Blondie.

"Yes, play nice for a time before you can enact your real plans I see how that works a bait and switch. I seen necromancers try that sort of thing I'm no fool boy, I'll have your creations be chew toys for my beasts."

Silica keeps going full out and seems to have the annoyance of all the party that's before them and.

"So you feeling like Wyvern burgers?"

"Totally."

"God she's like my EX!"

Comments the male rogue.

The female ones just sighs "You have no taste in women. You'd chase the Dark Lady's tail if you thought you could get away with it."

The Lead man narrows his eyes.

"Enough they seek to confuse and delay us for the sake of whatever their true mission is! ARMY OF LIGHT ATTACK!"

With that the lead man charges right for Tomoe blade ready followed by the rogues springing into action, along with the beast master letting his beast lose and making ready with his hammer.

"FOR QUEEN TITANA!!!!"

Bellows the entire group as they attack save the healer whose hanging back for sensible reasons.
Tomoe Also the Bar Maid seems to be peeking out a window and watching all of this going on.
Karian Icefang     Karian grins as he hears the gnome's words. "We shall see then, shall we?" He asks. He raises up his axe to the skies and calls out. "Allfather, grant me your thunderous roar, your cutting wind, your almighty storm to strike down all foes in my path, so thy valkyries may carry me to your great halls!!!" With a mighty crack of thunder screaming out from the skies, his axe's edges leap to life, crackling with lightning. "COME THEN! PROVE YOUR STRENGTH, SEND ME TO VALHALLA!"
Iria The fight is on! Good thing Iria came prepared!

Iria's scowl turns into an evil smirk as she draws her sword and brandishes it with efficiency. "You think you're gonna take ME down?" She scoffs and shakes her head. "Please, my simulations are more intimidating than you jokers are!" When they do charge, Iria stands her ground and grins evilly. "Come on, take me on! Whoever wants a piece of me is gonna go in pieces!"
Silica     Silica casually kicks her mount, making it crow shrilly as it leaps into the air. "Pathetic Fools!" she summons a group of small creatures, they look like large wasps, but all track as a single 'monster', one of those weird gestalt monsters from the World Tree area. "Deal with them my pets." she adds dismissively, but is also starting to back away from town, so the civilians don't get caught in the crossfire.
Staren     Staren points at the lead man. "Okay, points for alliteration," then he opens his palm downward and tilts his hand back and forth a little. "Eeeh, no originality though. And it doesn't fit since she hasn't been sleeping around. Are you sure you're not just projecting your own proclivities?"

    The spriggan calls him drunk. Staren pounds his fists on the console. "No one understands my VISION!"

    He looks to the gnome. "Ah yes, my REAL plan. To save the world. You could only hope for such a noble outcome if you beat us!" Chew toys, eh? "I'm not so sure that's a good idea though, teeth against metal? Have they at least been drinking fluoridated water?" At the comment about chasing the dark lady's tail, he points at the rogue. "See? See?? Projecting!"

    "For the last time, you're not an ARMY! You're not even a PLATOON of light! Minions, ATTACK!"

    One of the constructs goes for the wolf, although it doesn't fight seriously until the wolf manages to harm it somehow -- then it starts punching with electrified fists, trying to shock it unconscious. The other two constructs behave similarly -- acting as extra defense where the heroes try to concentrate fire, and attempting to stun-punch (Not that fists of solid stone or wood are exactly weak as far as punches go) the heroes.

    Staren, for his part, tries to look menacing, but as soon as he or an ally seems threatened, he opens up with zap rounds -- gel bullets that discharge a taser-like shock. For melee, the 'mech' can also use its rifle like a shocking club, as well.

    Attacks against the golem may reveal its true nature as wood though, and it takes damage accordingly. Shots directed at Staren himself are blocked by a personal forcefield. Seems that chest harness actually does something.
Josuke Higashikata     Josuke's eye twitches a bit at the banter between the 'heroes'. This lot sounds like the typical 'murder hobos' the NPCs in that western tabletop RPG complain about. "...Suddenly I totally understand the phrase 'lawful stupid'..." he mutters, just loud enough for his radio to pick up. And now he feels a lot less bad about knocking these losers into next week. No killing though. Stupid is one thing, but no killing.

    But with their answer gotten, Josuke plays it up. "Then you've chosen death! SUFFER AND PERISH, FOOLS!" No, he's not actually gonna kill anybody. but what he does next might be weird for these NPCs, especially if they're experienced in dealing with healer-types. The 'Dark Priest'...

    FLIES RIGHT AT THEM!

    More specifically, Josuke has been thrown by Crazy Diamond. He's aiming for whoever happens to be wearing dark blue, since he doesn't really know which one he's supposed to be going after at the moment. They're supposed to defeat color-matching heroes, right?

    It'll only be one flying kick at the nearest 'hero' before he re-manifests his Stand -- having flown out of its range when thrown, it would have disappeared; but physics still apply to a body in motion, particularly when thrown at high speeds!). The Stand lifts Josuke again, tossing him back over its head -- to those who can't see the Stand it should look like Josuke is flying back on those wings.

    "PITIFUL! PATHETIC!" he spits at the heroes. He's... kind of not just acting here, because these guys are kind of pathetic, and the sexually-charged banter against the girl really is pathetic. He's counting on the insults getting them angry enough at him to follow him out of the town proper.
Kirito ".... you guys call yourselves heroes?" Kirito isn't buying it. Not on multiple levels. But he's definitely gotten into this "story" of sorts, just bein his usual self. No need to act. Then again, he did don the role of 'public villain #1' back in SAO for the longest time...

    "You're not worthy of a blade like that. Didn't you know? Holy swords are just tarnished by toxic attitudes." Kirito twirls his obsidian blade about testingly.

    "Come on! Let's see if you can even gain five steps on any of us!" Injecting a bit mroe arrogance than he feels comfortable with among his friends, he may be, but Kirito's body language does not lie.

    The demonically-armored dark knight deepens his stance... and prepares for his enemy with a simple guard!
Yuuki Konno     Yuuki panics for a moment. She'd been expecting to be 'ordered' to fight, or to be assigned some other evil underlord type thing. She had expected to rattle the 'heroes', not to be completely ignored and left to her thing! So... she improvises.

    Yuuki ninja-runs around a corner, then ninja-vanishes. Lacking more than basic stealth skills, that mostly means jumping into an alleyway or behind a barrel. She takes a moment to consider, then looks back to the inn. A hostage, huh? Well that seems like a villainly thing to do.

    The ninja girl, having successfully ninja-vanished, now does a dynamic ninja-entry. With a crash, either of door or of cinematically-breakable windows, she leaps into the room to take care of something the heroes have forgotten about. The minimum-slider Salamander barmaid who, for some reason, seems to resemble Tomoe.

    Given Yuuki's speed, her trained grappling ability from Asuka Online, and her general high stats as an avatar, it should be easy for her to take the girl hostage. Unless, of course, a 'hero' responds to the sound of Yuuki breaking in, the barmaid screaming, the scuffle, that sort of thing. "MUAHAHAHAHA!" she cackles wildly. "The objective is MINE!"
Tomoe Things are just going wild now the 'hero's' are moving to engage' The Priestess seems intent on trying to mintage things and the Beast Master at least moves to avoid some things he could have mashed right through but he's coming right at the party. Karian now moves to strike.

"YOUR CHALLENGE IS MET NORTH MAN!"

The huge Gnome is crashing towards Karian intended to slam him with the hammer. The big guy does hear the thundercrack though and now tense expecting foul magics. By this mane who is nearly as large as he is. 5R
Iria is now rebuffing them and the words simulations go right over their hears they look confused but get they were insulted the female rogue poofs in a cloud of smoke and attempt to come up behind Iria and get her from behind.

Silcia meanwhile get a response from her quoting of an infamous but long missing Confederate Officer.

The attacks come and the heroes press on the male rouge is coming right for her and he's totally being kited along here.

"You are not getting away wench!"

"Do you think we would be so foolish as to show our full number?!"

Notes the blond guy and serious he's got a lantern jaw of the sort that you'd not really see these days in character design he might have fallen out of a pulp fantasy novel from the 1930s.

The wolves is stronger than one might think as it move to start trying to rip the machine apart and it's strong enough to do it the fists strike it but the thing clearly is not just a trash mob, it's got to be an Add and dangerous one at that. The priestess however is chanting now runes dance about her and she moves to focus a spell upon not Staren but Josuke.

"BURN WITH THE LIGHT SERVANT OF OBERON!"

The leader of the group is however quick and powerful enough to keep up with Kirito. He will move to strike while saying. "So says you knave. I shall cut your down and the day will be saved!"

It's clear he's heard Kirito but is brushing off most of what he said, as he does hit with the force of an very angry Angil, he's no light weight that much is clear.

Meanwhile Josuke has dodged the spell with his manoeuvre and slams right into the priestess full force knocking her off her feet with a loud try as she attempt to get back up and flails a bit at him with her staff.

The Missions? Yes there was a mission wasn't there? Yukki is on a mission Yuuki crashes into the bar, the glass goes flying and the bar maid looks terrified and starts to lob several bottles of beer at Yuuki as she shouts.

"HELP! SOMEONEONE GET HER AWAY FROM ME!"

One of the Heroes does try to move to act, the female rogue but she'll leave her self open in her attempt to disengage from Iria and there's time of Yuuki to get the woman, she's not ... powerful but she's certainly not trying to play helpless at least.

Tomoe meanwhile stands back and just laughs.

"Is that the best your Army of Light can do here?! Don't make me laugh I alone could crush you like nothing and I will break you when my Generals are done with you!"
Silica     Silica smirks at the male Spriggan. "Buzz off." she says flippantly, gesturing almost dismissively. The swarm Mob changes vector to harrass the Spriggan with annoying stings and bites. They're... really weak attacks. It's almost like it's a low level monster or something (Which it really is.) "Try and catch me, Ooooh-ho-ho-ho-ho!" She directs her mount to fly off, turning to give the Spriggan a merry little chase if he wants to try to catch her.
Josuke Higashikata     Oh hey, there's hostage-taking! Josuke pauses in his own assault/retreat, and directs Crazy Diamond to toss him Yuuki's way. He's planning to block any of the heroes from getting to where Yuuki's doing... whatever it is that she's doing. Grabbing the barmaid to make off with her, from the looks of things. Hopefully one 'hostage' is enough. But really... these poor townspeople are safer with the 'Dark Lady' and her 'Dark Generals' than here, where these so-called heroes don't give a toss about people getting caught in the crossfire.

    As for the kidnapping? "Consider this payment for your refusal to join us!" he all but hisses at the 'heroes'. "And let this stand as a reminder of your FAILURE against the Dark Lady's forces!" His laugh is just a little too light for a full-fledged cackle, but it should do the job well enough.
Karian Icefang     Karian howls out, a mix of his normal wolfish howl and one of a man who found joy in combat. He bring his axe down towards the gnome, aiming to hook and throw him off balance, and away from the village. "UNWORTHY!" He screams out, axe swinging with inhuman speed and strength. "This northman will be your end...as you will never best me...Again I walk from the battlefield, robbed of a worthy end!"
Iria Think you're gonna get the best of Iria by popping up behind her with that smoke screen trick? Think again!

As soon as the rogue appears behind Iria, she spins around with an evil grin. "Nice try but no cigars!" Iria says with a look that says she's not afraid in the least bit. "Take THIS!" With that, Iria attempts to drive back the rogue with some of her swordplay skills.
Kirito Kirito's pretty good at keeping a cool head in the middle of a fight! And now that the burly Sylph's taking a swing at him... behind the helm, the Spriggan grins. The taunt worked - he got the guy to charge!

    In comes that heavy sword... but Kirito's ready. As little sense as the manuever might make in human swordsmanship, he crosses his blades into an 'X' shape and they flash subtly to denote the activation of his special Parry skill, 'Cross Block!'

    CLAAAAAAAAAAANG! The ground under him cracks a bit, but Kirito seems to absorb that heavy blow like a champ.

    That ONE blow, anyways. Enough of those and his knees will DEFINITELY give out!

    "'The day will be saved?'" Kirito echoes under his breath, disdainful at the idea.

    "Try a bit HARDER THAN THAT!" Unleashing a ferocious war cry, Kirito dives forward and slips through the blow, zigging to the side and attempting to spin around and SLAM his blades into the man with plenty of force. Spriggan wings erupt from his back with precision timing and thrum to full power instantly at an insane twist of speeds... he's aiming to knock the guy off his feet and send them both slamming into the ground outside town!
Staren     The wolf is even stronger than Staren expected! Once it tears a couple of limbs off, the construct becomes normal stone and collapses. Staren's expression of annoyed surprise reads even through the goggles.

    Staren, meanwhile, directs his golem-mech's taser rounds at the female rogue, while his remaining two constructs start to fall back. He clearly misjudged the severity of weaponry needed, but he doesn't feel confident enough to start bringing out the really lethal stuff. "Hmph. This is only a fraction of my TRUE power!" After shooting at the rogue, he retreats too, trying to draw the heroes away from the civilians. Using his mech's gun and the constructs to try and get heroes' attention and then kite them around to get the others openings.
Yuuki Konno     Beer? Okay so, Yuuki likes drinks in VRMMOs. She doesn't particularly like them thrown at her though! She dodges fiercely, bringing up a shortblade from out of nowhere to parry one particularly lucky throw. The glass shatters, coating the ninja with the pungent contents.

    It's to no avail however. Yuuki keeps charging in. One hero might have a chance to interfere, but Josuke's intervention will keep it from happening. A short, nasty struggle ensues, but Yuuki comes out on top. Or behind as the case may be, as she has the barmaid in some kind of arm lock with one hand while her other hand brings the blade up before the barmaid's face, quieting her struggles through intimidation.

    "I have her, my dark lady!" Yuuki cries out, marching her captive forward and through the doorway. "These so-called heroes had better CLEAR OUT if they know what's good for them!" she adds. Wait, aren't they supposed to defeat the heroes? Hmmm. Well, this is more villainous. Besides she doesn't much like the idea of solving this questline with a simple brawl anyways. Oh well!
Tomoe Silica has got the male Spriggan coming right at her but the mob swarm is now just turning things into bullet hell. Sure the attacks are weak but it's enough to hurt and do some damage and to distract him as he tries to chase after Silica his wings flare out. "Get back here you half pint!" She's clearly got his aggro for the moment and now there's going to be some hostage taking yes, Tomoe doesn't like it but well they are stuck in the role of the villains might as well go all out and she's very glad she gave the Paladins a heads up about this state of affairs or it could be very bad.

Josuke meanwhile has waylaid the Priestess for the moment and she ties to get up to chase after him but she's not really a vit build it seems. While Josuke is running very good interference here to give Yuuki to keep the heroes at bay.

Karian meanwhile locks home with Gnome Beast Master, he's matching KArian well enough but the axe connects with the war hammer he uses and connect forcing him to break off his attack and try to figure out how best to counter attack but the shear force of the impact did damage.

Iria has the rogue is just having a bad day she move to parry a bit and otherwise try to evade but under Irira's flurry of blows it's forcing her back and she's calling out.

"They are after someone in the bar!"

this one seems to actually /cares/ about the bystanders.

Kirito meanwhile is locked in combat, with the big guy and it keeps going the blade lock its' clear Kirito is proving his reputation her a he foes force the other one back an he's looking confused for a moment as he end sup air borne flying out of the way from down.

The Priestess does not seem happy at this.

"BRICK!!!"

She calls out as she moves to try and help the rogue who is coming under fire and is being blocked by Josuke.

"BOLT Stop playing with the North man!"

THe wolvf breaks off as his master calls him back and Bolt doesn't seem to be but the fire from Staren is forcing him back for the moment.

The Bar Maid is just out classed here as she stops when he has tbe blade to her face she whimpers a little bit.

With Brick out of the way the Priestss takes command of the party.

"You Witch...."

She growls for a moment then says "Bolt, Patrick, Nacey stand stop .... they have a hotage."

SHe glares at Tomeo who now has the Dark Lady chuckling. 5R
"You forced my hand little one and now she's coming with us."

She pulls a teleport stone out of her inventory and moves grab te Badmaid by the shoulder her grip is like iron as she calls out the name of the catle and a portal opens.

"My minions with draw we have what we came for, ta ta heroes."

With that the Bar Maid and the Dark Lady are gone....

Tomoe seemed very pleased with Yuuki's quick thinking, things have just got more complicated...
Karian Icefang     Karian grins as he hears that the mission was successful. Breaking off from Bolt, he simply shakes his head. "Not worthy..." He muses, managing to get away from the engagement.
Iria Iria smiles as the rogue is driven back. "Too bad for you," She says with a chuckle. "But I was just warming up." She frowns a little as she realizes that things aren't going as well as she hoped though. "Oh boy, looks like this is just the tip of the iceberg."
Josuke Higashikata     It's worthy to note that, if the Priestess decided to try to muscle her way past Josuke, she'd have been on the receiving end of a short flurry attack from his Stand. Only for a moment, and he would have directed Crazy Diamond to go for pushing away rather than actual damage. Probably still would have hurt, though, particularly if the Priestess isn't a Defense build either.

    He hears Tomoe's call to retreat and almost breathes a sigh of relief. Good, Josuke thinks. 'Hostage' secured, Tomoe's got the portal open, and now it's time to get the hell out of here. But Josuke can't just leave it at that, no. He's pretty disappointed with the behavior of most of the 'heroes'.

    So he lingers a moment or two more, still supported off the ground by Crazy Diamond, in that way that makes it look like he's either flying or floating. Still with that hammy villain tone, he poses a question to the 'heroes' -- "Ask yourself, then, if this would have happened if you hadn't started a battle in the middle of a populated city. It is difficult to take hostages when there ARE none! Yes, HEROES!" He bows (Crazy Diamond has to take hold of his leg at the calf to make this possible and still support him in the air). "Thank you, 'heroes'. I'm certain she will make a fine sacrifice to the Dark Lady."

    And then Crazy Diamond tosses Josuke up, over its shoulder, and into the portal. The whole way, Josuke laughs. He still hasn't quite got the hang of that cackle, though.
Yuuki Konno     Yuuki's not exactly sure she was thinking at all when it came to doing this. Of course she'd never have hurt an innocent girl, but she had to maintain the right presentation! It kind of worked out at least, though she's not sure what they're going to do with the smaller version of Tomoe. Oh well, they can figure that one out later maybe!

    "Heroes. Standing too long in the light that they can't handle the dark.... on no!" she pauses, shakes her head. "Er, they don't notice the shadows... the shadows are deepest in the strongest of lights! YES!" she grins, pirouetting, and flashes a victory sign. Then she swings her blade abruptly downwards, channeling mana into it, causing a small explosion of thick smoke to cover her. "Ninja vanish!" she calls out, using the moment's concealment to open her menu and summon wings, then flying off to safety like a bat out of ... er, hell.