Duty Session 416: A Dark and Stormy Night

Ayame had a book on her head again.

The reasons for this were probably perfectly practical, as she helped serve tea in the room with the large windows. It offered an excellent view of the storm, which may have been why Wake suggested it for the visit, of the howling winds and the driving rain. A beautiful sight, to one so inclined.

But while the Baroness and the Nightmare sat, and talked, the sylph serving them stepped smoothly, tea tray in hands and book on head that barely wobbled. It is, presumably, a sylph thing, to provide light entertainment as well as tea and cookies. The candles barely flickered, despite the battering and scratching outside, but the howling of the wind offered an eerie undercurrent to all concerned.

    Wake is at ease, settled in a chair. Which is to say she is taking a small drink of tea with flawless posture. She is untroubled by the howls of wind and occasional flash of lightning. Mountain storms come, though they are rarely so animated.

    "It is to be hoped that this spot of wind and rain will trouble our unwanted guest from afar," she says casually. "Maybe they will decide it is better to stay home, rather than face this manner of welcome."

    The Baroness divides her attention between Kauchemar and Ayame. She doesn't focus much on the book at this point. She watches her secretary's facial expression instead, seeking to find there how the exercise is truly going.

Eas was quieter these days, but it was far from completely abandoned. Too much work went into it to do such a thing. Moving out most of the non-combatants was mainly for their own safety.

But right now the only assault was that of mother nature's temperature tantrum.

Kauchemar sipped her own tea daintily, as it was proper to do. Then remarked, "I should of brought one of the phonographs, I could of made one of those 'nature's sounds to relax to' recordings or something."

"I'm not sure I'd count this as relaxing" Ayame smiled. She sat, carefully, picking up her own teacup and examining the liquid therein. She lets out a breath, waits, eyes demurely down, before she takes a careful little sip of the drink. "Invigorating, certainly. But not relaxing, for me"

She hasn't removed the book.

"Though even if it doesn't dissuade them - then the rocking and rolling from the storm will hopefully quite ruin their trip" She suggests to Wake with just the faintest of grins

    Wake smiles ever so slightly, amused that the little practice session has proved at least a little challenging. "A pity. My own was evacuated as well. It cannot be helped. We must keep safe what we can, after all."

    A steady gaze is settled on Ayame, "You can of course take a break when you need to. The journey is a marathon, not a sprint." Wake's attention lingers for a short while, then returns to Kauchemar.

    "This did rather interrupt my training, as well. I didn't realize that the winds were so great. I thought it was simply a lack of skill. On the bright side, I haven't the strength to break windows with my ranged attacks yet."

"It is a bit hard to practice aim with this much wind resistance, yes. When one doesn't have that elemental finess to diffuse it." The Nightmare smirked a bit. "Told you I wasn't summoning an air elemental to make it more challenging." Then Kauchemar shrugs a little. "But this is a nice break, anyways. Like you said, it's a journey, not a one night stand."

"I enjoy challenging myself" Ayame tells Wake with a little smile "Besides, if I only practice this when it's convenient, where will I be when difficulties arise?" She asks, taking another delicate little sip. She still wears the same shirt, skirt combination as when she'd duelled Kauchemar, as opposed to the every-mercurial Baroness. She nodded to the Nightmare, as well, thinking before speaking "I've used shielding spells before now" Conversationally, conspiratorially "A quick little barrier in the air to break the wind, just enough to let me get off a clear shot before the air carries it off course."

Then, with a gust of wind, there's a panicked knock, at a window. A man whose hooded cloak had hidden in among the driving, damp darkness pressed a hand to the window, before pulling back his hood, revealing him to be a Spriggan male of middle age with a worried expression. Then, on the tea tray, a little envelope appears - with a dainty knife beside it.

Ayame blinks, and shrugs, picking up the tray offering both to Wake before she moves to the window to assist the man - finally removing the book and setting it on the chair as she goes to open the side door for the Spriggan in Distress.

The envelope holds only a single sheet of paper. There are two lines.

<< A Dark and Stormy Night >>
<< Accept Quest: Yes / No >>

    Wake has found a way to make do. With an elegant flick of the wrist she sends a slender chunk of wood flying over towards a bowl. She's meant to land the makeshift 'card' in the bowl, of course, but this one simply bounces ineffectively nearby. "Well, if at first you don't succeed.."

    She trails off into silence, then smirks, "I do prefer more than just a one night stand. A good romance burns slow and hot, just waiting for its chance to flare into an inferno."

    The interruption is met with a knowing smile. "You know, I have heard of this happening. I am surprised to see it occur here, though. Clearly Eas is rising in the eyes of quest-givers to merit such a visit. The poor thing must have been wandering for half a day just to find us. Or maybe he was just generated on the spot? Is that something that can happen?"

    She sees the quest prompt and considers it thoughtfully. "You know, I do rather love the current company. This might be fun."

    By fortune or foresight, The Right Clothes have shaped themselves into a pair of gray slacks with a white, loose blouse. The matter of greatest importance is the long black trenchcoat that Wake had draped over the back of her chair.

"You know what we call that?" Kauchemar raps her fingers on the tabletop in mimic of a drumroll and then points at Ayame. "Braking Wind." And then there's more rap tap tapping. She holds her hands up. "That part wasn't me!" Oh, it's someone at the window. "Strange. Usually I'm the one delivering messages around here, and even I wouldn't go out randomly in this weath--"

Then she notices its a scruffy old Spriggan. And remembers what 'season' it is right now.

"--Oh. Are we doing this again then?"

She picks her cup up, sips the end of her tea, then sets it aside. Gets to her feet. "Well, I can't leave you two lovely ladies to endure the elements alone."

Ayame shows the shaking figure in, removing his cloak and moving to drape it to let it dry, bringing him a cup of tea as he begins to talk, his voice low and urgent.

"Time is short." He begins. "I've been tracking a group of air elementals. They're drawn to the storms this time of year." He explains. "They're one of our only sources of wind shards. So I need your help." The Spriggan wipes dark hair out of his eyes. "We need to find them before the storm ends, dispatch them, then gather as many shards as we can." Then, with that hopeful expression, he asks, "I can lead you, but I can't fight them."

Ayame hasn't sat, having given up her chair, but she merely nods, looking to the others and then moving to retreive cloaks and coats from where they'd been rested. She had a simple coat that quite suited the skirt and shirt she wore, and she slid it on, buttoning it and then removing her shield from her inventory. "You're too kind" She tells Kauchemar with a small smile "I'm sure that the chance to see the two of us utterly drenched and - at least in my case - looking like a necro'd peko has nothing to do with it" She chuckles a touch, and nods to Wake, picking up the trenchcoat to help her on with it.

"I've no idea. The rain hid him from view - most effectively, I must say. If it wasn't urgent, I'd suggest checking the tracks"

She also steals a cookie. Sugar. Shh.

    "I believe we had best help this fine man. No doubt this is important. It's a seasonal matter, and I'd hate to trouble him in his commerce." Wake rises, then glides into a deep curtsey in front of the Spriggan.

    "My name is-" she begins, but the Spriggan interrupts her. "You are Baroness Wake! I've heard about you, devoted follower of The Beautiful One. Well, everyone has heard of you, that is." The Spriggan doesn't seem quite certain just how to act around her, but does a respectable bow after he scrambles to his feet.

    The Baroness rises smoothly from her curtsey and directs a brief glance to Kauchemar and then to Ayame. It is a first for her, but this is the first time she's spoken much with a Lander since the Dedication was completed.

    "Well, sir, we shall certainly do our very best to assist you."

    With a grateful smile, she slips arms into the trenchcoat. "And thank you, Ayame, my dear. That is greatly appreciated."

"Yes, best we make haste. Air elementals rarely stay put for long." Though before they go Kauchemar snaps her fingers and a whistle. A rattle can be heard from off to the side, as her Binder Shield leaps from where it was resting during the tea time break and zipping to Kauchemar's side. The jewel 'eye' set in the front seems to peer at Wake for a moment, until it's pulled aside with the Nightmare's arm. "No, we're not training this time. Actual action." The spirit seems to be releaved it's not going to just be target practice for annoying little learner attacks this time.

"My pleasure. After all, I'm here to assist" Ayame smiles to Wake, settling the trenchcoat onto the Baroness's shoulders properly, looking impressed at the Lander's recognition of Wake and musing, before moving to assist Kauchemar. "Would you say they're a little flighty?" She asks the Nightmare with a little innocence.

Only once she's ensured each are ready does she fuss over the guest, advising him quietly to finish his tea; the weather, after all. She returns his slightly drier cloak, as well.

The Cloaked And Soaked Spriggan is quick to lead them back out into the howling rain. The problem is... no matter how bad the storm looked from inside, it is far worse when you're faced with it.

Winds come at them from all sides, rain pelts down against them, and there is a fair share of debris that is being whipped about by the storm's winds. It will be a difficult task to even get out of the city without taking some damage from the forces being thrown at them by nature.

    The considerable press of the elements is unpleasant. Wake loves the feel of wind through her hair, but prefers the hair not be removed in the process. Still, the Baroness has an image to uphold. She walks into the wind and through it, while maintaining her excellent posture. Oh, certainly the random bit of this and that tries to take her head off, but the ready supply of water gives the Baroness the means to protect herself. And her decency. Why did The Right Clothes give her white today? Perhaps she's had immodest thoughts.

    "You know this isn't so bad!" she calls out into the wind. She's not sure if anyone hears her. She knows she can't even hear herself.

Kauchemar grunts as they step outside. "Is it me or has the storm gotten even stronger?" she murmurs, her mane and tail both whipping freely behind her from the strong winds. "You'd think being near the mountains would break this up, festival event or not."

She pulls up the hood of her cloak to get her mane under control, then holds the Binder Shield up like an umbrella over herself, which works. At least for a short time. Until the sheer amount of rain coming down starts to dribble along the curve and over the edge, splattering upon the Nightmare underneath. Well, it's still less wet than she would be otherwise.

She's also not the one wearing white.

Ayame steps outside, holding up her shield as s barrier against the rain. She only takes a few steps before, having presented a large, flat surface to the driving wind, a driving gust nearly spins it in her hands. Gasping, she reached out to keep hold of it - managing to pull the shield in before it fully broke free - but this only meant her coat opened enough to get the Sylph get soaked to the bone by the storm.

She tugged the shield in a lot closer, after that. And lower, too. Maybe it's the weather and the rain making her nose, cheeks and ears start to pink up. Maybe. Maybe it's the fact ... she was wearing white.

She hurried along in the Wake of the baroness, moving in closer to call back "Speak for yourself!" She practically yells "I should have brought a longer coat" Ayame. Tut. You don't use what you have! "And I think it gets stronger the longer it goes!" She calls to Kauchemar, the rain soaking her hair and plastering that prim bun in even further. "And maybe the elementals make it worse, not just a symptom of it!"

The Spriggan hunches over, moving ahead of them, beckoning the trio and glancing around nervously. He dodges around gusts that carry leaves, detritus - paper, and is that a small slime sailing merrily through the air, twisting and turning with a little 'weeeeee'?

    Wake turns back to see how her friends are doing. It appears not well. The Baroness shows not the slightest sign of distress, though. She's rather enjoying this. At this point, anyway. She has to very carefully avert her eyes from her secretary's... predicament.

    "I'm sure we're making excellence progress," she declares confidently. She is perhaps crazy, but she truly means it.

    "This reminds me of one of my first missions. Not here, but you know, in the other world. I was to meet one of my assets just beyond the Korean DMZ."

"Could be worse." Kauchemar, with her naturally powerful voice, has little difficulty being heard over the howling winds. "At least it's just rain, and not freezing cold. Then more than upper lips would be stiff."

Yes, she is smirking as she says that. Because yes, she is hinting at what sort of, ah, awkward appearance issues that could also cause in these conditions.

What? She's the Dark one, and the Bard besides. If anyone is going to risk being a little more risque it's probably her.

Once beyond the edge of the town, the true pressing force of the storm becomes obvious. There are no lights here to guide their path into the wilderness beyond the town walls. The wind throws blasts of water at them which would easily extinguish even the most sturdy of torches.

"You went through the DMZ?" Ayame asks, sounding surprised; amazed, even, looking at Wake with new eyes "I had no idea about that. That must make this seem a walk in the park"

Before Kauchemar speaks. And the Sylph's face colors even further, before she grins back weakly "Yes, I suppose there's nothing like a storm to rain on your parade" She manages, pushing on. And keeping that shield firmly tucked against her soaked shirt.

Their guide has a raised lantern, which seems to sputter as he tries to continue forward through the gale. "They really are putting up a fight." He has to shout to be heard over the storm. Then, during another gust of wind, his lantern dies, leaving the group in darkness.

"Could... use some of that Adventurer magic right about now." He laughs, water dripping down his face. "Should be able to stand up against this storm, right?"

    "Unofficially, but yes," replies the Baroness. "And that was a cold night. Korean winters are merciless, and I wound up having to huddle close with the asset in an old cave just to stay alive. It was her first time meeting me, which made it far more awkward." The thought, oddly, brings something of a color to her cheeks. Or perhaps it is just the glow of the flames that she brings into being to light the way.

    She looks ahead, pausing by the guide. "Adventurer magic will hopefully continue to suffice, my friend. We need to get you those wind shards, after all." Having a reputation simply adds more pressure to succeed. It is something she had expected, yet the weight takes some getting used to.

Out goes the light. Darkness descends with the depths of the storm front.

Kauchemar doesn't seem at all bothered, as she keeps just trudging right along like nothing had happened. Which to an extent is true.

Nightmares are nighttime predators, creatures of darkness after all. So she's got exceptional, supernatural even, nocturnal vision.... And the heliotropic glow of her eyes also helps keep track of where she is.

"Careful." Her stomping a piece of debris out of the way with a hoof can be heard more than it is seen. "There's a lot of clutter out here."

Ayame is not a night time predator. She's barely even a nighttime person. She's certainly not a fairweather friend, though, sticking close to the two despite the heavy rain, and slowly working a hand free from the shield to slide her wand from behind it. Debris and detritus clink from her shield, before a weak, lilac glow spreads from the wand, half-hidden behind the shield and illuminating the soaked Sylph and a little of the surrounding storm.

"Not a fan of the clutter? Or is it the clatter you like?" She asks Kauchemar with a little verbal jab and a weak grin, as rain drips from her face, illuminated by the wandlight.

"I haven't really had a bad winter" She says after a moment's thought "I spent most of them looking after family, and the cities never really got that cold, you know? The worst was having to hunker in place for a few days, but that wasn't too bad as long as we had supplies. That was the main thing those taught me"

The Cloaked Spriggan nods, the wind only picking up as they leave the village proper, out into the wilds. Less detritus, yes, but the winds begin to truly howl

    The flame in Wake's hand flickers feebly. Rain and wind will inevitably overmaster her wave artes, but for now, she doesn't fall on her face. Hopefully everyone else can also make their way.

    The Baroness pauses in the midst of the storm, a rather dissastisfied expression on her face. She is meddling with her inventory and suddenly she's plucked a scarf out of it. She moves to Ayame's side and without question or comment, winds it around the girl's neck. With ease and grace, she leans into the wind without falling. She also ensures that the finely-made garment is arranged in such a way as to conceal that which, while quite lovely, should remain concealed. When this is completed, Wake steps back and appreciates her handiwork.

    "Apologies, Ayame, my dear. I had forgotten I had something that might help you stay covered." It's also warm.

Kauchemar is the least hindered in this situation thanks to her night vision, so for the moment she's fine with taking the lead as they make their way past the outskirts of town and farther into the surrounding wilderness.

Her hearing is pretty exceptional too, an ear twitching back to listen the exchange going on behind her.

"If you're getting warm with her, does that mean I get to borrow Tae for the night?"

With what light they manage, the Adventurers continue to be lead away from the town and into the long expanses of plains that surround it. Some of the surrounding farmland seems to be taking quite a beating from the rain, but many of the plants grown in Yamato seem to be sturdy stock that can survive such things.

"Thank you" Ayame says to Wake, with no little relief even through her embarrassment "I'll be sure to pay more attention to the weather in future when the storms get this bad. It really is howling! I don't think I've seen one like it" As she chatters away, arranging the tails of the scarf just so in turn.

That blush returns with a vengeance, however, at Kauchemar's comment, and she forces a little laugh "If you're staying at the Castle, I'll be sure to make sure there's a fire in your room." With just a hint of mischieviousness as her wings buzz, scattering water briefly "But I don't think a Nightmare would want to be involved with a stable relationship"

Out in the fields, now, without any tall trees, it means that their journey has just gotten that much more dangerous. A bolt of lightning crackles out of the sky and nearly hits their guide, who stumbles backwards, landing in the mud. "Ha...haha, that was close." He seems to be laughing as a coping mechanism for the fear that just shot through him at being quite that close to death.

    Kauchemar's jest is enough to inspire Wake to join in wicked fashion. "You know, I hadn't quite considered it a present option, but if Ayame would like to have more than my scarf wrapped about her, I am certainly open to it."

    The Baroness knows this quest Lander isn't paying any heed to /this/ part of her reputation, anyway. And so she adds, "Tae would likely ignite your sheets. Certainly you needn't fear being fit for a saddle, though. She favors riding bare back."

    Of course, the Lander has to go and get himself nearly killed. Wake looks at him with sympathy and moves over to offer him a hand up. "Careful, dear. This storm doesn't seem to know which of us is okay to throw lightning at."

Kauchemar doesn't blush like the bun does. But she does stop and turn her head just enough to give Wake a look over her shoulder that's trying to gauge how much of that was just getting in on the equestrian wordplay and what was an actual declaration of intent to--

--And the old Spriggan has to go ruin the mood by nearly ending up like a toad in a thunderstorm. Kauchemar sighs, and shakes her head. "Well, if there's anyone that's going to be able to rein me in... but I think we have another matter to attend to." So instead, she laces her fingers together and stretches her arms out in front of herself as a warm-up. "Guess it's time to put some of my own training to test." Her eyes flicker as several arcane gestures follow, and then clenching her hands into curled fingers as if grabbing onto something. "But if you want wrapping more than scarves around, do hold still a moment... ~Twist and wind, round and bind, from earth born, Summon Pythorn~"

Cue several of what appear to be snakes composed of thorns and vines emerging from the ground, slithering up to coil themselves upon the women. "Plant fiber is non-conductive, these should make lightning less likely to be drawn to you." A shrug follows. "Nature stuff counts as Earth element, I've been finding out."

Well. Ayame isn't going to stop blushing for a while, as her jaw works a little after Wake suddenly descends to the gutter to tease along. She manages, as she frees her shield, to mutter a few words and charge it with electricity in turn - a weak dome forming over the group that make the strikes jerk and deflect. Weakly. A little. Something seems to be quite distracting the soaked, shielding sylph!

"I'll consider that, ma'am, only if I open my case to find you staring back at me. I'd hate to find myself wearing someone inappropriate" She says, with just a little nervous fluster in return

Wake's comments to Kauchemar leave her actually gaping, mouth moving silently a moment as she stares at them both in shock. Shock! Shock only broken when lightning strikes that dome directly, shattering the ward and sending the sylph scurrying on after the two flirts. "I'll keep it in mind" She tells Kauchemar, fighting a nervous laugh "I've not seen people get ready to -" Because pausing. As plants start to squirm up her, and she huffs, hurrying even more "I didn't even ask for the scarf" She laughs "Are you both just pressing this now?" Before a flicker of realisation in a flash of lightning and she shuts. Right. Up.

Leaving the lightning behind, their guide pants from the effort of physically fighting the storm with every step in order to continue forward. The Lander seems to be pretty tough, as he has made it side by side with them, at least thus far. "Just, a little further." He calls out.

    Kauchemar's look is met with an innocent smile. For just the space of a heartbeat, the Baroness lifts her left eyebrow. The slight motion is all the answer that Kauchemar will get. The lightning just has to ruin the moment before any elaboration can be offered. Not that it would have been!

    The Baroness somehow gains confidence and grace from the flirting. When a bolt of lightning hurls itself her way, she bends backwards, Matrix-style, her coat falling open as she does. The same trick is done again, then again. Wake is just showing off, and considering her garments, it works on many levels.

    Rising again, she gets her focus on the game again. "I don't think I've seen you use Earth that way before. It's very creative." There it is, the space of two full sentences without anything indecent. Surely that's out of her system.

    The Baroness directs her attention back at her struggling, blushing secretary. "So you want me to fold myself into your suitcase," she muses, stepping swiftly aside as a sudden gust throws a branch at her. She tilts her head, looking intently at Ayame, "And what exactly would you like me to be wearing when I crawl out?"

Sure enough as Kauchemar starts to trot across the lightning field some of the bolts crash down nearby, but not upon the vine bound Nightmare directly. Natural lightning seeks the path of least resistance, and would rather discharging directly at the ground instead of trying to force through the covering of non-conductive elements.

"A little study goes a long way, my dear Wake, even in this world. All the tools are already here," she turns back to the others, holding out her arms wide, "we just need to learn how to innovate with them."

One last lightning strike hits behind her, illumination her shilouette briefly but dramatically.

And then we're back to the previous banter like it was nothing. "She never said you'd come out wearing anything."

Ayame just stares at Wake. Stares. Stares! She tries to speak, before responding, with a ghost of a smirk as she tries to return that serve "Why, whatever's appropriate. That's the whole point of the relic" She grins weakly, trying to rub the rain from her face and her blushes away! "Or is this what you meant when you asked if I wanted to work under you?" A tart little comment

Kauchemar catches her by surprise. She'd been so restrained - briefly. And Ayame throws up a hand in exasperation "And now you're double-teaming me!" She exclaims. Then pauses. Then hurries on ahead to try to catch up with the Spriggan

Another flash of light from the sky reveals that their path forward may not be quite so simple. Swirling up high into the sky seems to be a wall of wind, water, and debris. Going over it seems impossible.

"I've seen this before." The Spriggan guide explains, apparently oblivious to the nature of the discussion from the three women as they flip, flirt, and flounce their way after him "They're in there. When enough of them group together like this, they can create massive walls around the eye of the storm. There has to be a way through."

At the 'double teaming' remark Kauchemar just grins slyly. That should be enough to get the impression of 'think of what you just said' across without actually saying anything.

Besides, there's another obstacle to deal with.

"Let's try something a little more traditional." Kauchemar channels some of that elemental conjuring into a stomp on the ground. This makes two rows of stone burst out of it, splitting through the cyclonic wall to form a passage. "Sometimes practical is just the way to go." The Nightmare trots off through her ingress point, protected from the winds.

Unfortunately it doesn't stop the winds, or the stuff being blown by the winds. Enough debris slams into the stone formations that the tops start to bust off while the earthen material cracks. Part of an old house structure topples over the edge and comes crashing down atop her.

Then the cockeye door in the wall bursts open as Kauchemar stumbles out of the wreck. "Now I know what the Wicked Witch feels like. Just less dead."

    Sure, the way forward may be difficult, and Wake did promise this man to do her very best, but is there any reason for her to divert her attention away from what /really/ matters right now?

    "You know, my sweet secretary, fine functionary, and amazing amanuensis, I rather like that idea. A mistress should know all the hidden talents of those in her employ.."

    With barely any attention on it at all, Wake flicks a bit of earth wave artes forward, hardly shaping it all, and yet despite her not really caring, it simply works, creating a tunnel to make the way forward easier.

    The Baroness arches an eyebrow imperiously at her work, then turns to Kauchemar. Without a comment, she bends over to inspect her equine friend's feet. "Well, that's odd.. with all the luck I'm having I figured one of your shoes would be quite lodged up my arse about now." With a positively impish smile, she wiggles and adds, "I'm keeping it tight to ensure this good fortune continues."

"You two are absolutely impossible!" Ayame complains. A little stomp of a rain-shone boot as the two continue to tease and flirt. She continues to hurry after, not letting the two get too far ahead, before she lends her own assistance to the tunnels and walls; though it seems she's not quite above a flicker of fingers that makes them crumble and drop mud on the two as she hurries through "I mean, you're already being filthy" She huffs "And when did I agree to call you mistress? I never agreed to call you mistress!"

Then part of the wall drops on her as well. And her shoulders just sink. And she continues to hurry through, shaking her head in amused disbelief at this whole thing.

Beyond the wall is what must be the heart of the storm. It is eerily quiet here, other than the rustle of the wind through the grasses. All of the chaos that these wind elementals seem to be bringing with them has been pushed outward into the swirling mass of storm that still rages around them.

"No. Comment. Wake." Mostly because Kauchemar doesn't want to spoil the moment by pointing out she doesn't have horseshoes. And can't think of anything to say that wouldn't just leave the rating in a smoldering pile of ash.

Well, the stone walls aren't holding up forever. This is turning into one of those times where Kauchemar is fortunate to not be the 'glass cannon' sort of spellcaster. She'll just tough it the rest of the way out with her monsterous stamina and tenacity. And dark leather clothing that doesn't get awkward when wet.

"Come, ladies. We still have some blowhards to knock the wind out of."

    Mud? Mud! Wake is.. indignant! Sure, she never has to wash these clothes, but still! She rushes ahead, eager to not have her spontanous tunnel collapse on her. It seems to have decided to avenge her wounds by giving Ayame a dose of her own medicine. Which is a bit amusing, though Wake is happier that Ayame isn't knocked down by her failing earthworks

    When they finally get into the eye of the storm, the ladies are all muddied, but at least there is no lightning or wind or blinding rain. It's enough to inspire Wake to cast off her mudcaked trenchcoat. Getting back to Ayame's comment, she points out, "Whoever implied I was asking for permission?" Another playful grin is directed at Ayame.

    She looks up at the enemies, trying to get her game face on. It doesn't really work. She's having too much fun.

    "So here we are, down to the last challenge. As a Lady, though, I'm not allowed to break the wind like this."

Ayame picks up the discarded coat almost absently, brushing it down as she tries to distract herself, and she rests it over her arm, behind the shield, listening to Wake, before she just gives a little smirk back "We'll need to negotiate any contract if you want that" She tells the Baroness with a notable little huff.

"Would that be the air elementals, or you two?" Ayame asks Kauchemar with a harried and harassed little look. She pointedly adjusts the scarf a little, trying to maintain some dignity as she emerges from the makeshift tunnels, brushing mud and dirt from herself as best she can - and then staring up with a look of horror. It's easy to see why.

The elementals, themselves, look as if they were made from the essence of wind magic. Their forms shift, roiling winds, crackling lightning, a haze of cloud formations, each flashing against the darkness of the night. They seem to be distracted by the storm, likely drawn by the strong natural forces.

However, that makes them that much more dangerous. It is hard to tell just when they begin to notice the Adventurers, but one does start to shift in their direction, followed by a flash of lightning that shoots out towards their location. After that, they all shift into battle, turning their storm-forces against the Adventurers.

"There they are." The Spriggan gasps, seeming almost manic in his glee at finally beiing able to find them. "I can't help you here, but I'm sure you can handle it." As he ducks back out of sight!

"No, but you can still cut it and blow them away," Kauchemar retorts. Then hmms. "Almost wish Syx was here. It'd be amusing to see him try to hurricanrana an actual hurricane."

The elementals take full notice of the intrusion. The winds howl. The lightning strikes follow.

And Kauchemar is gone.

Unlike their Spriggan guide though she hasn't actually retreated from the battle. Just using her technique to move outside the visual spectrums to circle around behind the hurricane hooligans. See, there she is, behind them.

Except with there being several elements they've got attention to spread, possibly even sensing through the surrounding storm itself, and the flanking maneuver isn't as unnoticed as it would be normally. Just as Kauchemar is unleashing one of her banshee-like enervating screams, an elemental turns and blasts back with it's own wailing winds! The two supernatural forces collide, driving back and forth against each other in a frantic and furious Beam-O-War!

On the upside, she was one so focused on her that there's less for Wake and Ayame to have to contend with.

    You know how you are hanging out with your friends at a bar, having a great time, everyone looks and feels beautiful and enjoying themselves... and then some guy walks up and tries to put his hands on everyone.

    Wake hates that guy....
            even when that guy is a bunch of elementals.

    Her response seems so innocent at first, a little bounce forward, back, a tentative bat of her hands, and then she sweeps in with fists positively smashing the poor elementals again and again.

    "You... will... not... touch... my... girlfriends!" she shouts, punctuating each word with another blow. She's really worked-up.

Ayame, meanwhile, has shifted her focus. It's not until after she's leapt forward, flashing barriers like knives through the whirling winds, shunting and slowing them until they can be picked off with blasts from her wand, that she really takes in what Wake said.

Really, it's only a blessing Kauchemar and Wake were there, or the Sylph might not have seen the elemental sweeping at her, as she stared, slack jawed, at the Baroness

Kauchemar skids back a bit from the constant exchange, then digs in her hooves to brace herself... and finally gets the elemental by surprise when she opens her mouth -fully-, cranks the volume up to 11 and snaps off the proverbial knob.

Sound waves vibrate through the air... which means once she's finally able to push past the wind blasts her voice is going to vibrate -through- the elemental, shaking it apart as well.

    Baroness Wake shakes her hands after the work is done, a slight crackle of electricity coming from the action. "Well, there's that then. Let that be a lesson to anyone who dares disrupt a fun evening."

    Quite oblivious to what might have caused a stir, she turns to Ayame to see the woman gaping at her. "Dear, don't stay like that too long. You'll catch flies."

    She reaches up to adjust her hair, though with the vanquishing of the elementals, the eye of the storm seems to collapse rather suddenly and moments later, the rains are coming down. Wake realizes, with some chagrin, that perhaps she ought to have kept the muddy trenchcoat on after all. She's far too proud go scrambling for cover, however.

The storm ... fades. It still rages, higher, but here, the winds have died. Not so much the rains, however, and Ayame is quick to return the trenchcoat to Wake, draping it around the Baroness's shoulders to keep the rain from her. Her breathing is quick, and heavy, as she recovers and calms down "I'm sure you had fun enough" She tells Wake with a little huff.

Kauchemer gets a little smile, an admiring look "Quite the vibrato on that" She notes with a little lift of her nose and a subdued, partially hidden grin.

"Aha! You did it!" The Spriggan steps out, grinning ear to ear. Where the elementals had fallen, there lies a series of small shards which he begins to collect. "These will be very useful to the Mage's Tower." One he has gathered them up, he makes his way over, offering one out to each of the Adventurers. "Thank you all for your help. I couldn't have done this without you, Baroness, your friends"

He seems to avoid any questions on what the shards might be used for, simply offering them all a grin before he heads off into the night with his bounty of shards.

Kauchemar makes a melodramatic exaggeration of grabbing a long length of her mane and wringing water out of it. "Well, that was a fun girls' night out... But I think I'm ready to go back indoors for a warm fire and some hot food." Gives a waggle of her brows to the other two. "Maybe other warm things."

It just doesn't end tonight.

Then after a pause she snorts. "But seriously, we need to get out of this weather and dry off. I'm not part kelpie."

    The Baroness makes wide, innocent eyes at Ayame. "Fun enough? Is that.. even a thing that can be achieved?" A pause, a shift into proper posture, and Wake says, more gently, "This was very fun. I hope you know that this was all affectionate and meant to be enjoyed. If anything goes too far, tell me."

    The Baroness is temporarily distracted by the spriggan. She seems almost confused as she looks at the air elemental shard. Then she smiles, "Be well, my friend. I hope you are able to provide for yourself very well with the proceeds!"

    There's this subtle change when Wake is speaking to 'her public'. Only a close study can figure out just how she does it. A shift here, a change in her shoulders, her smile grows more reserved, eyes less relaxed. It's not exactly fair to call it an act, but it's also clearly not her most private self.

    When he is gone, her more casual self returns. For now, at least. "And of course, if I'm not going far enough, please.. be patient."

    She laughs softly and moves to take hold of both her friends by the arm. It's no easy task, considering how tall Kauchemar is, but she manages it somehow.

    "Warm sounds great! You know, at the top of the tower we have a hot bath and the view is amazing! Or we can go back to the inn, if a more homey destination is attractive."

Ayame grins just a little, through her blushes, slinging her shield to her back and letting Wake take her arm "A hot bath sounds wonderful" She admits "I might even need to use the Right Clothes once I'm out. I've a feeling even a menu clean won't leave these feeling right for a while. And ... don't worry. I know the spirit this is intended in. If I do get uncomfortable, I'll say" She chuckles a little, the rain still falling on the the three as they begin to walk through the mud.

At least the wind has died down.

"Did you mean heated cider?" She asks Kauchemar with an innocent look "I mean, apples and all. And I admit it would be nice. Something tasty and leaving a lovely warm glow"