War of Dragons: Carmina Gadelica Port

With so much of the Fourland Dukedom Navy occupied in patrols, it is a wonder that the Palace Lands has managed to find an opening. Yet find it, they have. A twosome of large ships approaching side by side, coming towards the Carmina Gadelica Port. The Palace Land flags being flown, to make clear who they are. There is stealth or underhanded tactics to be seen this day, it would appear.

They moment they get close enough to the harbor, the various towers of the Port come to life as the warriors stationed there by Gilgamesh and some of the Adventurers begin their bombardments. Fierce fireballs seeking to reach out to the ships, as other mages counter the spells with shields! From the waters, sea-creatures attempt to pester the Palace Land ships, only to be held off by a group of Undine warriors near the boat.

Before the Palace Land launch-boats even get to the harbor, the battle is already in full engagement. Four, eight, sixteen launch ships manage to get into the port, led by some of the Palace Landers' fiercest warriors.

A Catape by the name of Kolderim leads the assault on the northern side of the port, where-as the southern region is being pushed by Middray; a Salamander Monk. Joining them is a veritable onslaught of Palace Land Adventurers! Some spells launch from the towers, but a back row of mages is keeping a shield overhead that is both shielding their warriors, as well as some of the buildings of Carmina Gadelica!

The Adventurers have been waiting for exactly this kind of occurrence...

    It is the beginning of the next fight with the Palace Landers, and it looks like they are coming in with their ships. Merek stands amid the people that are prepared to defend, his dark attire on along with the scarf which he wears, watching them. The beard along his features seems to be a bit thick, and it's clear he doesn't really get a lot of time to relax these days. "I am going for the Salamander, along with his troops."
    The man steps forward while he takes both hands up to begin chanting, then he casts a firebolt that strikes along into the enemies, double striking while he begins to charge along and into the fight with the party.

Carmina Gadelica Marina had become somewhat of a home for Rylen. Not only is it the home base of Crescent Moon, the guild which had taken him in after the Apocalypse, but it is also the place where he had built the Peko Ranch. Even if the place had been largely emptied so it couldn't be used against them, he still seems intent on making sure that this place is protected.

"We knew this was coming. We've had time to prepare. Let's drive them back." He claps a hand on one of the Lander guard's shoulders, offering what support he could to Gilgamesh's forces here at the Marina. Speaking in a lower voice, he asks, "Make sure the non-combatants have cover to retreat, and let's try to minimize the collateral damage if we can." Lives matter more than buildings, but... it wouldn't be good to trash the place.

Charging forward, Rylen takes point in the South, since... in his non-tactical mind, that is the direction that gives the best access to the rest of the island. Facing off against the Salamander and their forces, he stomps the ground with one booted foot, drawing up a huge paving stone which is then whipped towards one of the Palace Land Adventurers near the front of the charge.

Yeowang has recently arrived in Carmina Gadelica after a rough time on Eastal and recent business in Ninetails, taking a pause to check up on a few things before rejoining the war. But it seems the war has come to her here. Well, if it has, she will meet it, without fear and certainly without mercy.

As the Palace Landers debark and pour into the Marina, Yeowang will await them, facing the group with the fierce-looking Salamander. She will meet the attackers with a steady gaze, and when they close, she will spring into action. Her recent training notwithstanding, she opts for fairly standard tactics. No sneak attacks, no archery, just meeting them in the middle and having at them in grand melee. Piercing physical strikes, hard punches to vital areas: throat, eyes, solar plexus, and the good old groin strike are all fair game to her in this fight, she wants the Palace Landers to go down fast, and she's not hesitating a bit in making that happen.

Kotono and Miyako are here too.

Kotono's going directly on the offensive for the time being. She goes after the Salamander, using her speed to her advantage. Now you see her, now you don't!

She slashes a few times in between her movements to try to apply a 'hit-and-run' strategy.

A Palace Land Navy? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of Yamato? Localized entirely within Carmina Gadelica's port!?

Yes!!

"First the tower, now this. Honestly, I figured that they would have gone for the port /first./ But I suppose they wanted to test us," Prophylaxis huffs, staring at the carnage moments away from unfolding. Using Adventurers as sacrificial troops, ever able to recover, until they cannot... Is a vile, awful thing. Something which much be punished relentlessly until it stops.

The fact is that these are human lives that they are grinding away at. Every death pushes them closer to total oblivion, and then-- what? Well, not that they give the doctor much choice. If the only alternative is forced servitude, then this will simply have to be done.

The doctor strikes his staff against the ground, a wave of rippling shadow roiling across the marina and slamming into each of the Palace Landers in turn. Not an offensive spell, but a debuff targeting their defenses, tilting the scales ever so slightly in Yamato's favor.

Things have been heating up, Gwen has thusly been very concerned and taking a more active role with her guild's day to day affiers. IT's a good thing too as she is in town when the Palace Landers launch their attack upon the city. She's not a happy woman the normal bundle of energy and joy that is Gwen? Is not here right now. It's a very unhappy Amazon today. She will be working weith the guard for the moment dropping tank buffs and doing her best to aid them keeping them at least somewhat safer foer the moment.

    The chaos was all happening to the west of the harbor, which meant that the distraction was in place for a flanking manuever as a small rowboat filled with a squad of crowned adventurers being led by the Sherrif of Rosenheim. Shirin steps out of the row boat and declares to the other, "Ok men. The queen has ordered us to take the main gate while those idiots are distracted. So we get there, we raise hell and we do this FOR THE QUEEN!" Out of the row boat everyone scrambles and heads east ready to take down the main gate of Carmina Gardelica and have appeared to run right into the Peko Ranch and the closed Slime lab. As they pass by one of the mooks ask, "Should we burn this down?" The question hangs in the air waiting for the answer...

Another attack. Somehow they managed to slip through the net, but it seems all the steps being taken by the Adventurers of Yamato are not making it easy for them. Kaydon is still pissed that Shibuya fell so quickly and they still haven't taken it back. So he's going to take it out on these invaders.

He marches through the combat, taking aim at one of the commanders, slashing down a couple of lower leveled opponents who dare to get between him and Kolderim.

Putting all his power behind a downward slash as he approaches the were fang from the Palace Lands, trying to cleave him in two with one single swing. He doubts he'll get that lucky though.

    Miyako glares out across the harbor at the incoming boats. "I had my hopes," she murmurs, "But it's clear now. This is..." She shakes her head. "This is a farce," she eventually adds. "These people have been sold a pack of lies and they're going so eagerly to their deaths for it."

    She considers it, but her own offensive spells... well. She's told more than one of them that she believes in the People of the Land. That she wants them to be free and safe. So... That's what she'll do.

    Runes glow black in the air where her fingertip passes, and then the spell ripples out, strenthgening the stones of the walls, and lending that same strength to the soldiers behind them.

    "Have no fear," she calls out to those same soldiers. "Stand and fight, and our strength is yours to call upon."

The area was meant to be relatively safe with all of the patrols. Nothing is truly safe in a large scale conflict and Haru knows this to be true when the ships are spotted off of the shore. He steps talking to a local merchant Lander over the price of wax for candles and motions them to evacuate the area. The Enchanter makes good on quick speed to focus on moving people to guards and the evacuation routes. Fast footsteps through the Port of Beginnings against a sea breeze against his white hair. He would have better wanted to watch a sunrise instead of the magical fire lighting up the area.

Not enough time. Never enough time. Haru puts an arm out and carefully walks backwards with a Lander as the other holds his Wave Arte focus orb. It grows a green color as the Artificer chants "Venenum. Somnum. Creatura." Rings of words circle around his orb like scales of a snake that uncoil to the ground and slither towards the Palace Lander forces, raising like asps in a hiss and bite. "Run!" he tells the last Port Lander before being fully engaged into the conflict.

"It doesn't feel like it has strategic value," Haru says to Proph, his stance widening to prepare for evasive moves as he has squishy cloth armor. "But maybe thats the point. Psychological warfare. Or a distraction." All the same, lives are at risk.

The Palace Land has finally stormed another port. A point that's been waiting precariously on edge has finally been tipped. Several of the invading troops march past buildings. Fighting breaks out. The Sheriff and his unit break off from the main assault though, heading for the facilities outside of the Marina. The defenders don't seem to notice them.

Except for the narrow heliotropic eyes that fade back into the shadows.

No one visibly follows the group. But as they reach the Ranch, an important question is asked... And never answered as the first to open his mouth is gagged by a dark hand grabbing him and yanking the mook into the shadows.
A moment later a clang is heard, and a bucket full of peko... filth clatters over another's head. The third gets a similar treatment as a pitchfork leaps from a stack of hay and lunges after him, only to collide with the first as he's dropped unceremoniously out of the darkness, looking quite pale and wide-eyed.

"Well, if it isn't the Chinese knockoff of McGruff the Crime Dog." The voice, and the haunting leimotif accompanying it, speaks up from the other side of the ranch. No one was there a moment ago, but that's where the Nightmare Bard stands against the wall of the Slime Lab. "I hear you have a thing against slimes. And people utilizing monsters."

Spectral flames ignite from the corners of her eyes as she smirks, and stomps a hoof to the ground. Dust and pebbles kick up, as several skeletal forms rise up, mostly armed with other farm impliments as weapons. "I bet you're going to just -love- me then."

The summoned undead march in, but perhaps in a surprise to people dealing with the usual backline summoners Kauchemar herself charges Shirin herself with shield in ramming position, even as the tempo of her accompiment picks up sharply.

Flames erupt over the Fire-using Monk, Middray, and the man bulldozes through the flames. His arms slamming into the fierce blazing fire, erupting them upon contact, and pushing through. Fumes and embers covering the scales of the Salamander and his armor, but it seems it almost didn't affect him! The man then slams his foot down, causing an eruption of stone to rush towards Merek, ending in fierce spearing stone-spikes!

This appears to be a maneuver shared by Rylen, kicking up the pavement, except it's more big-brick rather than big-spike. The Salamander turns his whole body with the incoming attack, shifting and turning to elbow the plate of stone apart, and using the backhand to catch some of the stone and flings it like a discus back at Rylen! Some of the stones pierce across his body, leaving red lines.

This momentarily change in direction allows Yeowang to duck in, catching him right in the kidneys with the first punch, sending the Monk reeling. But a second punch for his eyes suddenly has his hand caught by the wrist, and the Monk suddenly turns, pulling Yeowang off of the floor and then flinging him straight for Rylen, right after that Discus of Stone, seeking to throw their ranks into disarray.

Kotono gets in there moments later, but a few of the Salamander's members quickly move in to proteect. She finds blade blocking her blades, only for her to slice right on past and cutting at their legs and throws, getting out of the way again. Coming in and out in a difficult-to-hit cadence. The back line mages try to slow her down, throwing Freezing spells at Kotono!

A wave of darkness comes soon there-after, flooding across the Palace Land troops, and is retaliated against as a group of mages in the back get their shields up just in time to prevent the debuff, and then turn Prophylaxis' own magic upon him. Focusing the darkness into a ball of nightmares above them, and thrusting it back towards him! Luckily, Gwen steps in front, protecting Prophylaxis and some of the fleeing Landers. There is a lot of order to the evacuation, and it is clear that someone has been training them in how to get out of dodge fast!

Kaydon marches forward on the north side. A few weaker warriors meet him on the battlefield, but he cuts them down. Though it is not with ease! The Palace Land Adventurers have been no slouches by any means of the imagination. Many of them trying to cut right for the throat, or other weak spots as Adventurers normally might attempt. By the time he gets to Kolderim, the Catape is already waiting for him with a big grin, charging his blade with a fierce pulse of lightning. The blade ripples with piercing light as he kneels forward a bit, and then meets him on the battlefield in a single swoop of movement. The downward slash catches his blade, as Kolderim keeps his body low to the ground, only to push Kaydon's blade up and carry through on the attack, turning and slicing straight towards his chest!

Behind the Palace Land lines, Miyako enhances the Yamato Landers' stoneworks. Allowing a few less shielding mages to focus on defense, and instead turn to assaulting the troops from above. Through it's clear that they're having trouble. The Yamato Landers are doing well, but they are up against complex tactics they are not as well equiped to deal with!

Kolderim then ducks low again, and rushes right for Haru. "The girl isn't here to protect you this time." He remarks with bemusement, as his blade slices in an arc upwards, trying to take off Haru's poor head! The man then brings his blade to the skies and catches a bolt of lightning, which he hews towards the ground, and spreads out like waves of electricity. Trying to devour Haru's spell as they weaken his soldiers. At the same time, on the south side, the flame Monk has taken an offensive stance and declares; "Ragnarok's Wisdom!" As his fists come to glow with a fiercesome power, which he soon uses to charge after his opponents. Slam after thrust, chasing his opponents in the attempt to collide his fists with their bodies!

     Shirin turns back as he hears the muffled sounds of all his men being wiped out in a single go. In fact he is just in timme to watch the last two fly into each other before a voice from the shadows appears. A spin on his heels and crossbows in hands, locked and loaded and ready to fire. "Well howdy miss. Don't you know its rude to just ambush people without even a howdy do." As the summon skeletons form up and march toward their target Shirin shakes his head, "I know many people who use monster to fight with. So I fear you must have me confused with someone else. " That is when the lawman leaps into the air and seems to run across midair avoiding the skeletons, it is only as he lands does it allow Kauchemar an opening for him to be attacked and he gets rammed into tumbling backwards. "That's not very lady like you know." Raising his crossbow he pulls the trigger as a beam of light fires at the shadow user.

    Merek comes around with his shield of magic to protect him from the swings of the monk, managing to deflect it all away. That said he tries to follw that with thorn bind hostage, the thorns wrapping up towards the salamander. It doesn't look like it will be that effective, all the same it looks like he is still prepared to fight. He doesn't talk to the man, he knows that will not really do a lot at the moment, all the same he keeps with the party.

Seeing someone else using similar earth techniques isn't met with as much surprise as one might expect from Rylen. In fact, he sort of smirks, the corner of his mouth lifting up as he seems amused by the fact. That is, until he has Yeowang being thrown right at him. Bracing himself, Rylen tries to absorb as much of the impact as he can, trying to keep the human woman on her feet.

"Be careful." He offers, stepping back in order to focus on the fight. Of course, that is only just before waves of fire sweep through the area, causing Rylen to have to crackle a bit of electrical energy, using his natural acrobatics to launch himself off of a building and up onto a nearby roof in order to avoid most, though not all of the damage.

"The one time I wish I was better at water magic." With an attack like that, there is bound to be more than a couple of buildings damaged by the flames. However, that would have to be dealt with once the immediate danger is past. "Unless..." Rylen hops down again from the roof, landing in a completely unrealistic 'hero' pose, and then keeps his hand touching the ground.

There is a rumble from the environment, as sand and silt seems to plume up from the nearby beach, heeding Rylen's call. It falls down onto any nearby burning buildings, and then neatly deposits a huge clod of the stuff right towards Middray and his Adventurer comrades. It's likely not enough to do huge amounts of damage, but sand in your eyes hurts like hell and makes it a bit harder to move.

Yeowang is hurled bodily into Kaydon, and it's lucky he takes a step to the side or she'd have slammed into him. As it is, she's still picking her bruised backside up off the ground when the lightning comes down, and one bolt comes close enough to burn her badly. She's not sure if she was hit or if it was a near miss, but she's down a large chunk of HP and not happy about it. She shakes her head to clear the cobwebs, and mutters, "You lose today." He probably can't hear her, that's fine. It's a promise to herself.

Of course, whether she can make that happen is an entirely different prospect, but she's going to do her damnedest.

She wades into the melee with her senses alert, looking for an opening or a weakness, some vulnerable point, she's got to find a way to bleed off his HP as fast as possible. Edging around to a flank, she waits until he's concentrating in the other direction, and then strikes a series of blows at a gap in his armor, each left and right fist hitting the exact same spot, pounding the same point to try and amplify the damage before the enemy shifts to avoid the strikes.

Swoosh! There she goes!

The swift Spriggan makes herself appear to be like an illusion as she avoids getting caught. "You have to be faster than that!" Kotono says as she effortlessly avoids being hit. She then turns her attention to Kolderim and says, "You're looking a little dark. Why don't we brighten things up?"

Her spellrunes come out and Kotono attempts to conjure up a spell of light...

Only to have it look like a small lightbulb before fizzling out.

"That wasn't supposed to happen."

Kauchemar watchs him leap into the air and bolt past the mob. "Well that's a pretty neat trick." The method was a surprise, but that he'd try to avoid getting surrounded is apparently something she planned on because it's right where he lands that she slams into him. Quickly skips back a few steps again. "Oh of course, where are my manners." The equine leans into a low bow. "Kauchemar Tenebrae, Nightmare Bard of Eas."

It looks like it'd be a vulnerable stance, but as soon as Shirin fires the wily Were Fang spins aside, kicking up a wash of water from her hooves in the wake of her moments. "And so with great pride and deep displeasure I welcome you here tonight, as I proudly present," she points one finger at Shirin and winks "Your demise~"

The shield leaps into the path of the second shot to intercept it, of it's own accord no less. And then with it's Binder nature revealed, hurtles itself like a big blunt object at Shirin.

The gnoll were fang is pissed off, that much is evident by the way he's acting. He's not bantering, not trying to make any witty comments or fun remarks. No he's mad, and part of that is evidenced in the way he just steps aside when Yeowang comes flying towards him instead of catching her.

Kaydon's defense is able to keep Kolderim's blade from finding his chest, as the gnoll shifts around and drops his stance into a defensive one for a moment. This guy is good, better than the others. But Kaydon won't give him the satisfaction of letting him know he thinks that. Instead he drives forward, this time moving to use the power of his Damascus steel blade to try to shatter through Kolderim's defense and get to the catape behind it.

It is everything Haru can do to avoid an upward strike from Kolderim that would rend his hit point bar asunder. The svelte Enchanter's body arches backwards in a bullet time motion. It is an imitation Rolling Thunder, body going full back until his hands plant behind him and legs whip up in a kick. Time resumes in kung-fu levels of fast when the kick whips through the air in a crackling 'wiff' until his feet land behind him. Sparks cracking against the stonework. Not all of them are his and then the skies part for the lightning that cracks down on him with the lightshow flash of his skeleton and sizzling hair. He coughs up smoke that has an audible crackle like static in a phone line.

"You couldn't be more wrong," the young Artificer says as he points to Kolderim and their taunt that there is no one here to protect him. "When you work together, the bonds become sword and shield, regardless of where they are." A finger wipes away soot from his purple monocle. "Allow me to demonstrate, compliments of Shiruba!" He holds his hand back, full hamehameha style as he chants. "Crystallo. Serratus. Lacrima. Assula. Inimicus." The advanced Wave Art adapted from a Hunter's Shards. The Arte words form around him in jagged lettering. He straightens his stance up instead of releasing it in a straight stream. They float up like inverted snow, becoming like shards of glass in the sky. "Crystal Skewer, Haru style," finger snap as it begins to rain jagged crystals.

Gwen is able to give the Doc some cover along with a a number of People of the land. She looks down at the attacker and see Haru is coming under attack. Then comes the heavy attack spells and more and Gwen's able ot intercept the blast deflecting it away from her up into the air.

"Not enoughn, and you bastards are wrecking this city and terrorizing the people who live here."

With that Gwen's going to charge them and start chanting as she does so as she gets in closer.

"DIVINE WIND!"

After that comes a savage series of wind elemental sword strikes.

    Shirin watches the annoying shield intercept his shot, "Poor pony girl. You appear to have come here tonight hoping for revenge for some reason that I just don't understand." This is all said while he is charging toward the shield and uses the shield as a stepping stone to get himself into the air. The slight damage he takes from touch an aggressor's attack is nothing more then a scratch at his hp. Releasing a pair of crossbow bolts at Kauchemare, the nightmare would soon learn that those bolts carry more weight to them then they would appear. As he lands though he is already preparing the follow up, "Obey the command. Wind Vortex come forth!" His spell called out as a vortex spins up around Kauchemar, literally trying to suck her breath away.

    Miyako starts to cast another shielding spell to support the Landers, firm in her commitment to their defense, when some of the attackers focus on her! An arrow catches her in the shoulder, twisting her around, the spell spoiled!

    "If you want my attention so badly, then have it!" she shouts, leaving her first spell to hold as well as it can while she casts her own spell out at the enemy troops and their leader.

    The blast lances out from her hand, barely visible, to explode in the air above the gathered soldiers. It does not do visible harm, but it casts darkness about them, clouding their vision, and an infrasonic sound to disorient and dismay them. Hopefully to drive them back from the assault.

An attempted nightmare sphere, using his own magic as a catalyst. Impressive, but also infuriating. "Thanks for the block," he says to Gwen, as a vast onslaught of electricity pours down across the battlefield. Prophylaxis clicks his teeth in displeasure before sweeping his staff wide. A gleaming wall of crystalline flame rises to absorb the incoming bolts, but it's a near thing. The barrier splinters and cracks, barely holding on, before exploding...

...As Prophylaxis thrusts his staff forward, directing a massive gale of wind to take the shards of his broken barrier and hurl them at ludicrously fast speeds into the Palace Landers, with the largest chunk heading towards Middray himself. It's a technique he picked up from... a far more existentially terrifying foe.

How apt, that he's testing its use against other adventurers first.

The barrier shards act like enormous glass blades, cleaving into bodies and tearing into defensive spells alike. The stuff is... strange, as if forged from something integral to the world itself. "Whatever you seek to do here, you won't have it. The Isle of Beginnings, all of Yamato, is under our protection. Go and grovel back to your masters, thralls of the Palace Lands."

With his hand still pressed to the ground, there is a feeling that tugs at the edge of Rylen's consciousness. It is the feeling of Merek's own attempts to pull up the familiar spell: Thorn Bind Hostage. Yet, something doens't seem quite as strong as it should be. "Merek! Focus." He calls out.

Then, the Beastmaster reaches within his jacket and pulls on a chain dangling from his neck, from which hangs a peko feather. As he touches it, the feather seems to grow in response. In his mind, he can hear the phrase needed. He focuses on the words, though they are not spoken aloud...

RYLEN_HAGALAZ_PEKO_ARMY_FEHU_AURA_ARTONELICO

Something seems to almost bolster Merek's own abilities, driving the tendrils of the Thorn Bind Hostage further than their previous reach.

"If telling yourself that is what allows you to sleep at night as the slime spriggan mourns, so be it."

That Binder Shield though, it continues to be a bother, even igniting itself in ghostly flames that snap and lick at the combo critter cait sith. While Kauchemar unsheaths the sword that pairs with it, ready to strike.

But oh no, it's another rouse, as at the same time the sound of roiling waves can be heard, and out of the sky drops a gush of surging water upon Shirin with it's payload of tiny but very toxic jellyfish. As Kauchemar uses the sword to deflect the second shot, grazing over her shoulder instead of digging in somewhere more unaccomidating.

That's when she finally sends the sword hurtling after him as well, even as the whirling vortex starts to whip up around her, scattering the remainders of the undead she had previously utilized.

The flames of Ragnarok's Wisdom are bound around the Salamander Monk's fists. Their blaze licking at the air around him, making the entire region look like it's trembling. The constant heat super-heating the air around him. The moment Merek's Thorn Bind Hostage triggers, the flames practically seem to eradicate and clear off the spell before it can even reach him! Only for something to suddenly spring within Merek. This sense of... strength. Of skill. He can't quite tell the source immediately, but he manages to gather his strength and make the Thorn Bind Hostage stick!

From Rylen's new vantage point, he should be expecting a lot more flames. A lot more damage. Especially with such powerful techniques as Ragnarok's Wisdom being thrown around. And most certainly, there are flames for him to douse. But it's notable that the Palace Land troops are almost... holding back? No, no they are not holding back. They're being careful not do damage the infrastructure. The sand pulls from the beach douses some of the fires, and slams into the Salamander's body - the sand spreading and getting all over him, making it hard for him to keep up his practiced breathing and keep his eyes clear. His arm going up to defend himself.

This gives Yeowang exactly that moment she needed. Her fist punching clean into his ribs at the side, one hit, then the other fist comes in! She punches the breath out of him, causing the spell to falter and wane and force him to try and gasp for breath. And with the sand around him, that quickly turns into a sickly coughing fit that brings tears to the Salamander's eyes.

Blades carve through his allies behind him. Tearing some of them apart. As the balance of the battle begins to shift, there's the shattering of lives behind the Monk. Prophylaxis can tell as his cutting 'glass' tears apart Adventurer lives. "Not... so fast." The Monk slowly begins to rise, his body starting to burn again. Flames coming off of his body almost like the flames of a Phoenix. Until suddenly, there's this terrifying flame that tears apart the sand and seems to momentarily be side-by-side with a Blazing Bird, which glances aside for a moment - the two making eye-contact, before image of the bird disappears and the man raises his hand. The bird almost seemed sad for something.

"FENG HUANG HOOOOO!" The blazing wings spreading as the Monk steps back with one arm, almost as if he were charging something, and then suddenly punches forth with a fierce power. The man then turns, firing at Prophylaxis. Each thrust brings a shockwave of extreme heat so harsh that it bends light around each blow. Wherever it impacts, it doesn't leave flame. Instead, it melts the material with such extreme heat that it destroys!

Up on the north side, Haru's Rolling Thunder connects, catching the Catape right in the chin and sending him back - though notably the lightning pours into the Catape, seeming to empower him! Kotono attempts to light the way for her allies. But a group of mages in the backlines are causing interference with her spell. A constant barrage of fire spells coming down towards her position making matters worse constantly! This allows the Catape to recover and concentrate on Kaydon as he commits to his assault! The Damascus blade comes down, and the moment it makes contact with Kolderim's blade, sparks fly. Shimmering lightning tears across both of their bodies, with many more arcs lancing across the ground between and around them.

The sound like a Tesla Coil being struck sounding before Kolderim suddenly manages to front-kick straight into Kaydon's chest! Making a bit of distance, it allows him to fall that foot down and step into another lightning-fast strike! Only for Gwen to interfere! His blade catches upon her shield, followed by a fierce series of wind-borne attacks that cut into the man. Each wind-strike seeming to empower him further, but his health most certainly is dropping! The healers behind him unable to keep up, as Miyako's darkness descends upon them, blinding them from their focus on supporting their various fellow soldiers. It seems the Yamatoans are getting the upper hand!

At that moment, Kollarim puts his blade to his shoulder and brings one hand forward. "I shall have to be enough then!" Then throws his blade to the skies once more. "Lord of Vermillion, heed my call!" Before lightning begins to cascade down upon his foes with intense speed. Yet amidst the lightningstorm, as his cast goes off, the man quickly veers for Haru again. And just when it looks like he'll focus him, he suddenly turns upon Haru's undoubted defenders, and seeks to pierce THROUGH Gwen's shield and cut into her body!

    Shirin blinks as he tries to gather and understand what Kauchemar is talking about, then it clicks. " Oh you mean that girl who had the slime cart. Is that what ..." The sherrif never finishes as he is hit with the surging water and knocked across the ground. As he gets up the damn sword comes flying in and knocks him back to the ground again as his crossbows are knocked away and the lawman is unarmed. Shirin places his hands on the ground as the rocks gather around his hands and arms creating what look like a pair of stone boxing gloves. Then he charges right in and again leaps up and tries to bring both the stone encased arms down upon the Nightmare, intending to quite literally ring her bell.

He finally puts two and two together, though in the end Kauchemar just gives it a casual dismissive wave, even with the whirlwind wailing about. "That and you decided to try and reize one of the two places I consider home around here. That was mistake number two." She pauses. "Or is it three by now. I've lost track with most of you by this point."

The exchange of witty banter doesn't stop the Sheriff of Rosenhiem to decide to take a more physical approach, taking a leaping charge at her stone clad fists... But split-seconds before the Nightmare's visage seems to waver, and it's only an afterimage that his fists slam into the ground through.

And then she's leaning over his shoulder, letting out a soft whistle. "Oh that looks like it would of hurt somebody." But swiftly shifts positions again before he can turn around to try and slug her again.

Now she's over on the other side, and the musical accompaniment she's conjured up is coming back into swing. "o/~ You can't outrun this Nightmare, twisting your mind with musical flare.
With rising fears, in ringing ears
Melt your face as I DROP THE BASS! o/~"

Somehow that whriling vortex wasn't enough yet to keep her from unleashing one of her, abiet lesser, ear piercing shrieks.

There is almost a feeling of exhaustion that washes over Rylen after those words ring out in his mind. It isn't an ability that he has spent much time training, and so... it takes quite a bit out of him even for such a short demonstration. Tucking the peko feather back into his shirt, the Beastmaster gets to his feet, just in time to see a wave of fire being thrown in the direction of himself and the other defending Adenturers.

He does try to avoid it, but there is something inevitable about such a powerful attack. Enough so that the heat washes over him, leaving burns in patches across his form that pulse red as some of his clothing catches fire. Patting it out, Rylen gets another one of those almost devious smirks on his features. Why?

Well, because while everyone was dealing with the incoming attack, he had thrown a number of boulders up in the air, which now hover over Middray and his Adventurers. One by one, they start to fall, igniting with fire as they plunge towards the ground, threatening to do massive AoE damage to the attacking Palace Landers.

The good news? Kotono manages to avoid being hit again. Meaning that the attack hit nothing but air.

The not-so-good news? Kotono failed to hit again.

By the time she's stopped moving, she's shaking her head and looking at her blades with a frown. "Do I need a new pair of blades? Maybe I need an upgrade?"

    Merek doesn't know what that power is that made him know that he could make it, that he could be empowered. If he knew, he would thank them. He does nod to Rylen at his words though, those he does notice. And it seems that the words take meaning for the man, he will lift up the magic shield to repeal away the next of the strikes that come to the party, as powerful that it is. With that away he takes up both hands while he begins to chant then brings the flame to them. "RAGNAROK'S WISDOM!" He swings up by Yeowang noticing the amount of damage she's taking, swinging his fists then feet into the salamander. Giving the man a taste of his own power.
    With the stance that he takes martial, he will speak, "I would suggest that you take your people and flee. I don't want to kill anyone," he will offer.

    Shirin looks at the ground where his fists impacted as Kauchemar comments over his shoulders, "Yeah it would have really knocked her out cold. Definately would have rocked her world. I wonder where she . . ." Spinning around as all the gears click he looks at Kauchemar as she begins to sing a song. The confusion on his face means that he isn't really ready for what is about to happen but the screaming, the screaming actually gives a sign as he tries to outrun sound it self. Which the only thing quicker then the thunder that Kauchemar is bringing is lightning as he dashes away and then continues to keep up the speed as he begins to run towards Kauchemar at full speed attempting to slug her, then turning around at full speed and repeating this process for a total of four hits moving at very quick speeds. Finally though he has to slow down out of breath and not sure if he even hit her.

To end lives-- for how many of these people will this be their last battle? How many have spent too many memories already, who will be pushed over the fatal precipice by his actions. Prophylaxis' gaze is keen and full of regret, but he pushes on regardless. How many will he save with his actions today? How much life will all this death spare? Once again, life and death hang in the balance. Once again his hand is on the scale.

The Salamander rages into him. For good reason, Prophylaxis thinks. The doctor casts open his arms as if to receive the blasts of incomparable heat. He strides forward, even as his skin cracks and falls away like terracotta, the hidden layer of stone shattering as the body underneath is scorched and burnt. "'Not so fast...' you say," Prophylaxis mutters, there is no joy to his voice. There is only cold, only anger, only the hollowness of a man who has seen beyond his own death and crawled back from the edge of oblivion handgrip by bloody handgrip. "You say... As if this was carnage was brought by anyone but yourselves. As if this! All this! Couldn't have been prevented!!"

"Even the spirit you summoned... Even it knows that this is wrong." Prophylaxis is within spitting distance now. To get so close to a monk of this calibur, as a mage, is suicide. But he has to, because there's something that he must do. "Chosen of the Vermilion Bird of the South," Prophylaxis growls, his voice thundering even as his torso is pulverised and burnt. "If there is still any part of you that remembers who you are. Remembers that these things you seek to destroy are real, living people... Then leave now. Leave this battlefield behind. Remember the bond you forged, the promise to defend the lands of the spirit with whom you have connected, remember, and think-- what good does this do for the Palace Lands!?"

"As one Chosen to another," the heat... Shatters. Scattered, as a spirit that could be called the Vermilion Bird's polar opposite manifests, the doctor's lips turning blue with the cold, a pallor consuming his flesh. The land underneath him freezes, ice crystals dance as diamond dust in the air. The power of the Yuki-Onna is called upon, as Prophylaxis strikes the frigid ground with his staff...

And calls a howling blizzard down upon the raging monk.

"I call you to lay down your arms!"

Yeowang has, it seems, woefully miscalculated the Palace Landers' skills. She's dishing out the damage, but she's taking much more than she feels she ought to. Well, more than she'd like to, anyhow, hanging tough when the smart players get the hell out of dodge. She'll need to work on her tactics. Luckily, Merek shows up and will take the heat off her for a few moments while she withdraws to try and recenter herself. "Thanks," she says to him as she withdraws a bit out of the area under attack. The problem of overwheming power is not something she can deal with, she'll need to find a new way to fight these Palace Landers.

Right now, though, with a bit of a mental refresh, she centers herself mentally and takes a flying leap at the salamander, executing a roundhouse kick right at his head. If this is a fight, she's going to fight as hard as she abslutely can, and no holds barred. That's her all out move, and she knocks off a sizable chunk of his HP. That might be why he's hitting her so fervently, but she can't not attack, in this situation, so it's damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. Her martial arts skills will have to catch up to her RL skills soon, though, it's frustrating. Then again, she never had to dodge fire and lightning in RL.

Kaydon brings his blade up to try to defend himself from the kick, getting knocked backwards and clearing some space from him and the other were fang he's fighting. He growls heavily, and starts to move in again, only to get blasted backwards by the force of the Lord of Vermillion, the bolts of lightning striking through Kaydon's blade and leaving him stunned for a moment.

He has to take a moment or two in order to clear his head and figure out what to do. Health is dropping rapidly, but they have to keep pushing back and force these invaders back into the ocean.

Blade still glowing bright from channeling the lightning strike, he uses that heated metal to his advantage as he launches himself against the Palace Lands invader once again, aiming to strike him with the superheated metal.

"Gwen!" Haru says as he assumed he was the target of this and was wrong. A series of crystal shards are summoned up in a humming, artificed matrix of colors. Against the lightning storm they look like a stained glass window. One such window that is misplaced and shattered by the thunderstorm as he is pushed back by the blasts. It is when the chunk of his health is rolled off that the Artificer is stuck on the ground like he took an artillery shell to the ground before him. Ears are ringing. Eyes lazy as if hooked. He isn't even sure he is seeing it right.

The Phoenix Rising on the other side of the port. And it seems sad. Fingers scrape against the stone as he pushes himself to his feet. "Terra. Vocare. Terebro. Numerus. Terebrare. Hostis." he says with steps backwards. Blue eyes laze from the mythical bird over to Gwen. If his friends are his sword and shield, then he needs to do better than being their dead weight. The broken shards of the stained glass magic rattle on the stone ground as the lightning and thunder strikes, causing the shards to raise off of the ground and float there. "Terra," he says the cobblestone begins to snap to a gravitational center and form a large Earth Sprite. He doesn't need to finish the statement, the monster stepping in front of the Enchanter-Summoner as their arms are given the tools for the job: two humming, stained glass drills, charging in selflessly into the thick of combat like a really angry gnome in a supercharged stone-mech.

Things are heating up as Kolderim is able to breach the stormwind Shield, not destroy it but he does damage it and Gwen's hurt prety badly. She doesn't fall over though she does seem angry.

"Not done yet! GALE OF SWORDS!"

The injured Gwen will launch into a sudden counter attack with more wind elemental themed sword strikes. She will also try to use her own size against the enemy as she makes her attacks. 5R
"I'm fine Haru. This is what my job is!"

Remember the Binder Shield wreathed in ghostly flames? Kauchemar certainly is keeping track of her companion summon, reaching out to 'grab' it where it is and pull it towards her. A sweeping arm motion in front of herself brings the shield in just as Shirin strikes, slamming into the shield with his blow! Flames hiss at him, but the force is enough to send the ghostly shield flying across the ranch (fortunately Kauchemar ducked!) until it wedges in the side of the barn. She glances back a moment, and snorts. "That's usually what happens to the sword...."

An eye shifts to notice Shirin quickly winding up for more blows at the corner of her vision. She turns back to him in kind, catching the second punch in her own hand. Being an equine monster has some perks, like being stronger than your average spellcaster. Though it's only one hand, and Shirin is able to punch her rapidly twice more with the opposite fist before she can stop him, and ends up staggering back.

Kauchemar huffs, holding one arm to her stomach a moment, eyes flaring brightly as she scowls. "You've hurt my friends, both physically and emotionally. You may act as if you don't care.. but that doesn't really matter. Because I do," but true to form she quickly recovers, standing back upright and flicking her hand in a rapid archaic gesture. "And nightmares are quite the dark and spiteful creatures."

Her hand is thrust forward, unleashing a surge of negative energy drawn on those afformentioned dark and spiteful feelings! "Enervation Burst!"

    Miyako spits curses as her shelter is peppered by further attack spells from the invaders, forcing her to duck behind the stone shelter of the wall's crenelations. "Take cover!" she shouts to the Landers near her, "Give me space, I'll hold their attention!"

    And the Spriggan has something *special* to hold attention with, that she does.

        "From the depths of hell in silence
        Cast their spells, explosive violence
        Russian night-time flight perfected
        Flawless vision, undetected..."

    The song echoes over the battlefield, a loud and pounding rhythm backing it as she pounds it out on the stone with a pair of sticks. Shadows form around her, roiling into the vague shape of biplanes, that roar out over the assembled Palace Lander soldiers. Objects fall from their wings like bombs, blasting spheres of darkness across the Cat-ape and his troops, seizing their wits with icy terror.

        Canvas wings of death
        Prepare to meet your fate
        Night bomber regiment
        Five hundred eighty-eight....

    And as quickly as they appear, the shadowy 'planes' are gone, vanished into the darkness of her earlier spell.

The use of such a Power such as which Rylen has just used, tends to come with a sense of exhaustion. It's like a muscle he's not trained to ever use. But what's more, it makes his voice just a tiny bit hoarse. Almost as if he were shouting something at the top of his lungs to express. But, it's a successful expression, and as such, the stress to bring forth this expression is mild.

Wise to Rylen's technique, thanks to a previous encounter with it -- and the warning of his team mates -- Middray is at least aware of the incoming attack. The Salamander is forced to turn his blazing attacks towards the skies, tearing apart rock by rock. But many of them shatter with all that weight and velocity already gathered, turning into shotgun-pebbles that tear across the forces supporting him from behind.

The man starts to step back, even before Merek suggesting they ought to retreat. "I am not so foolish as to believe you would allow us to escape unharmed." Middray answers the Alchemist, before the fierce flaming fists slams into his chest and sends the man flying a few feet back - before those feet reach the ground once more and he braces!

Frost tears against the man's burning wings. And for a moment, the blazing avian can be seem above him, as Yuki-Onna's visage almost seems to show above Prophylaxis. And for a moment... there's a calm.

For a moment, just for Prophylaxis: there's a moment. A moment where time almost seems to stand still, as a connection is momentarily made. As he hears a voice demanding; 'Help him'. There's the image of a young man amidst a fisherman's village in China, right across the visage of Prophylaxis' younger self in a hospital on his first day. Right before time seems to return and the frost of the blizzard finally pushes back Middray the Salamander, and the wings of flame are blown off of him! A few Palace Landers behind him catch his fall, stopping it from being catastrophic. For a moment, the man looks confused. Allowing Yeowang to follow up, springing into the mass of Palace Landers and stomping the Salamander right in his bald face, and knocking over the Palace Landers behind him like a row of pins!

On the northside, Kaydon rushes Kolderim with his searing blade, clashing in a quick series of blows, until finally, Kaydon's blade shows why it's superior. Why the Damascan blade is not to be underestimated, as he cuts through Kolderim's blade with a fierce hew, tearing the metal apart - slicing through it and destroying the lightning wielder Catape's weapon!

This allows Gwen to get in there, tearing with her blade at his body, even as he tries to grab hold of her weapon. Eventually stopping her, but not before she's done significant damage to him. The healers behind him unable to keep up. The man glancing towards something in the air - no doubt his UI - to get a measure of the situation, only to look back as bombs of darkness befall his allies, disrupting various spells.

It's quickly becoming clear that the Marina was not a good target for them with their current tactics. And as such, Middray raises his hand and throws a series of glowing fire magic to the air, creating a group of flares! Not seconds later, the entire Palace Land crew begins to retreat, with Middray and Koldarim protecting the fleeing members as they try to get back to their ships!

    Shirin doesn't stay in the negative energy for longer then a moment as he runs across the field retrieving his crossbows. " Look lets stop beating the dead horse. I hurt your friends, you made my queen cry by your simple existence. At the end of the day we hate each other." Leveling his crossbows at her he fires a single shot as he rushes in. As he gets in to close range he fires another shot before rolling off to the side. " I will tell you this though, due to crimes against the crowned. It has been deemed that unless you all surrender soon, execution is inevitable. To put it simply, give up or I am going to kill you , the slime girl, and every other adventurer who would raise a hand against us."

There is a moment when the Palace Landers begin their retreat, that Rylen really, really wants to go after them. However, as he takes one step forward, there is a pain at the corner of his eyes like a headache trying to form. He rubs at his temple, and then seems to think better of trying to give chase. Afterall, there are fires to put out and a Marina in shambles.

"Someone get word to Lord Gilgamesh!" He calls out, "Everyone else, to search and rescue. Put those fires out, look for anyone caught in damaged buildings, triage the injured." He looks over to Prophylaxis, likely depending on the good doctor for that kind of service.

Rylen has lots of experience with crisis after the situation in Ninetails, and this is little different. "Let's take care of our own first."

For a moment, just a moment, Prophylaxis connects to another person on a level that he didn't think was possible. But... But in that moment, he knows-- that this is a person, this is a human being with a life and a history and that this war is killing them both. 'Save him' the voice commands. Prophylaxis nods firmly, his hand clutching so tight around his staff that the wood creaks from the force. "Yes," he says, "I will do my utmost."

The blizzard wind blasts the doctor himself away, sliding back along the frozen ground. He's silent for a moment, his eyes burning with purpose, even as the Salamander's are filled with confusion. "...Leave," Prophylaxis says, his promise burning like a coal in his heart. 'Save him.' He will find a way. He /will/ find a way.

Life and death once again are in the balance. Once again, his hand must be on the scales.

Which of all things gets a resounding laugh out of Kauchemar. Which sounds a fair bit demonic, even for a nightmare.

"Oh yes, the Queen. Her royal fishiness." She clasps her hands together as she tilts her head against them, voice changing to a mockingly sweet tone. "I wonder if she even acknowledges her little pawns are all scurrying about, trying to pick fights with much bigger pieces. Oh, unrequited love, how beautiful yet so tragic."

Then Shirin opens fire. Kauchemar's demenear abruptly shifts as she chants something infernal sounding, causing a plume of flames to rise up and intercept his shot. When he moves to try and shoot around it she sweeps her arm grandiously to move the flames as well, sending tongues of hot embers back at the Sheriff in the process. Before pulling the elemental fire back into her hand to keep it from getting out of control.

"I bet her snatch smells like tuna," Kauchemar snarks. Then lunges at Shirin, mouth opening wider than it should be able to. Very snake-like, especially with the sharp venomous fangs it reveals to chomp down with.

Yeowang gets her footing back under her as she steps back from kicking Middray in the face. Apparently he's had his limit of facekicks today and with them sounding the retreat, Yeowang will breathe a sigh of relief. That could have gone much worse. She will unlimber her bow and see the retreating Palace Landers off with a few arrows, just to make sure they're not planning some sort of tactical reposition. It's not much without the volume of allied fire, but hopefully it will discourage them from coming back soon.

But when Rylen calls for a switch to post-fight triage and damage control, she will quickly stash her bow, and begin, searching out the wounded. She's got a bit of experience with the Red Chain, and she knows a fair amount of trauma care from both here and her previous experience with sports medicine. Sometimes those MMA injuries can be pretty bad.

    Merek looks then to Middray, while he begins to flee from the place. He nods to the man, then he motions, "No one follow them, we will let them retreat!" Then he takes the time to look to the party and everyone else that are in range. He will lift up a hand with the gauntlet glove which he uses to focus his power, with a shift. "Bith, I call upon your healing power. Guide all of the Lost to you."
    With the field he summons, that will extend along the entire battle field, beginning to heal an entire small town's worth of area. "Healing Force Field!" A lot of people will still need tending to, although anyone in the fight itself and within range will be healed by that magic.

Haru calls back Terra, the large Earth Elemental with drills of stained glass going after Kolderim in the thick of melee. If they are pulling a retreat, then it is kept at a safe distance between them. "Well," the Artificer says towards Gwen, "you did your job splendidly." His voice is a bit punch drunk, but he does mean it sincerely. There is a bit of healthy self preservation going on here with the cloth-wearer not over-extending himself in his current condition.

    Perhaps fortunately for some, Miyako's 'bomber flight' is as persistent as the shadows it's made of - which is to say, not at all. With the spell finished and the foe in flight, she slumps against the battlements, taking a long breath, letting the adrenaline rush fade.

    Moments pass, and finally she pulls herself back to her feet. "Good work, all," she says, and starts down the line of soldiers on the wall, checking for wounds, congratulating each on their victory. "Stay vigilant," she tells them, "They might well be back. But be proud. You held the line."

Kotono wasn't on top of her game today, but at least things have worked out in the end. She goes to join Miyako with helping the soldiers. Things may have ended for now, but they'll be back. And Kotono wants the soldiers to be ready. For Kotono (and Miyako) are most likely ready!

Gwen knows the defenders are taking a beating and she does not know how much more the defender can take. She's making ready for the next assault but it does not come, she seems shocked. She lower he blade as she goes to aid defenders of the city. Be they landers or Adventurers and she'll call out.

"Haru? You okay?"

    Shiring lets out a low growl as his canine side shows at that last comment. "Better then it being glued shut!" Anger and fury turns into arcane magic as it wraps around his arm and winds up buried in Kauchemar's mouth The poison burning as he looks past to see a signal in the sky above Carmina Gadelica port. " Seems like the mission today is finished. Glad to see all the distractions paid off. " Then without another moment Shirin raises his crossbow and fires off a shot at point blank. The bolt explodes in a blinding light before he tugs hard sacrificing his arm to Kauchemars mouth. In truth if Kauchemar could see he is giving time for his men to scurry off into the forest and get away. Even if it sacrifices his arm. Still he isn't done as he fires off another crossbow bolt directly at Kauchemar's head.

Haru taps the side of his head a few times with his index finger as he addresses Gwen, "All memories accounted for. Most of my health bar accounted for." The later is exaggeration. It is as red as tomatos in summer. He tch's at it during a quick check, "its there, at least. He got a few lucky strikes in, no more." It may be the over confident bravado but it reminds him of someone that would probably have something to say about being nearly murderlated. Again. "A ring of protection is on the to-do list, but so is," he glances over to where Middray was before leaving, "the fire bird. Everything about this pisses me of." A pause, "Except that we all did a good job keeping each other, the Landers, and the port together. Shouldn't trivialize that. But what did they seek to gain here?" He dusts off his blue jacket.

Getting the Palace Lands folks to retreat was the goal the whole time, as Kaydon finally strikes hard enough to shatter the other were fang's blade. That sends him running, but Kaydon does not give chase, at least not full on. He does press forward, after getting healed by Merek, to ensure that they get back in their boats and return to their ships. He stops at the shore though, standing watch to make sure they don't plan anything else.

There's a hiss around the mouthful as the flash bolt goes off point blank. Being a nocturnal predator monster, her eyes are sensative to sudden bright lights like that, when she has no time to douse her presence in darkness to counter it. The arm comes with her as she stumbles back though, spitting it into one hand. "Ugh. Never did care much for chinese food."

The second bolt is fired. Shadows rippled around Kauchemar, adding a certain eerie grace to her movement as she catchs it, the bolt piercing through her palm instead of the middle of her forehead.

Heliotropic eyes lock on Shirin. "Yes. This is the part where you run."

The shadows rise up behind her, congealing into semi-corporeal forms that wibble and bob in the air, with little spooky yet cute faces...

... Wait...

... Are those -slime- ghosts?

Indeed they are, or at the very least look the part, as they lob themselves past Kauchemar towards Shirin. Fortunately in this state their ectoplasmic slime isn't poisonous... but the touch causes feelings of unnearving dread, as they seek some vengeance for the slimes lost to Shirin's cart destruction.

Not that Kauchemar is done herself, as she lunges forward and swings Shirin's severed arm at him, even as it's in the process of dematerializing. "QUIT HITTING YOURSELF!"

Gwen looks back to Haru. "Good and I wish I knew, maybe they just wanted a burger that badly..."

    Shirin feels thepain of the missing arm but the important thing is that he won't have to look the Queen in the eyes again after dying. As his men scatter into the woods he looks at Kauchemar as he grins, " My pappy use to say, he who runs away lives to kill one of your friends another day." A magical aura protects him from the ghost slimes and he even shoots a few of them so they pop. At the same time a few took revenge and left him damaged. However when Kauchemar comes in with the arm Shirin has already taken pappy's advice and ran away.

    Miyako looks over at Gwen briefly, and adds, "I could use a burger myself. Or six." She makes a note to have meals sent to the soldiers she'd fought with.

"Huh." Kauchemar pulls the bolt out of her hand, then discards it and dusts herself off. "Someone actually ran when told to run." She seems... unsurprised that Shirin is being confident and cocky to the end, even after getting a good thumping. "I don't like the way he said 'distraction', though..."

Something to muse on, as she trots back to barn to unwedge the Binder Shield from it, and retrieve the sword as well.

"Its a port," Haru says to Gwen, starting to think of burgers, "and having access to ports when you ship troops over seas is a good thing. It could have value there." He also adds in, "Could be food, too. Whats the saying? An army marches on its stomach." The white haired man motions to the seaside view, "Could be the vista. Or! Deep beneath the ground here is the entrance to a secret labrynth wherein the demon king Zork resides." Look, cast a wide enough net and you'll catch something.

    Miyako shakes her head. "So long as it's the only port they hold, Shibuya's a bottleneck. A second port would give them multiple axes to advance on. Especially if they can take the Tower entrance." She looks out, down at the beach and the docks. "But we held, this time."

    Merek meets up with Haru and Miyako, "I think you are right," he notes to the man, then he thinks about it. "Alright, I need to really check on a few things, you all be well." Then he's going to make a way to people.

    Miyako nods, and turns to go herself... then pauses, turns, and taps Merek's shoulder. "I just had a horrible thought. How much do they really -know- about the Tower? About Scale Emblem's goals?"