War of Dragons - Mac Anu II - Wave 11

The storms above have been brewing for quite some time now. An ominous blanket warning of a great evil. Red lightning burns through the skies. Most of the Palace Land army is stationed at the walls. Well arranged formations prepared to protect the city and the Landers within; Yamato-an or Palace Land.

Various ships are in the harbor, most of them blockading the harbor entrance. Because the clouds are everywhere, there's various troops patrolling the streets, and a good portion of the army at the harbor as well. Though according to the history, no Wave has so far entered a city directly -- leaving them to face outwards from the walls.

Thanks to Mikage, the Yamato hunters have been able to time the approach. They know when it will happen, just like the Palace Landers. And soon... soon, lightning casts down. As the sky seems to split open, it seems almost like hell has opened. Gargoyles cast down from the skies, blotting out the light above. Descending to the ground. Arrows and magic flies to the skies. Detonations ripping up at the air. Waves of sound deafening...

As a small group moves through the waters. Aided by the Undine of the Fourland Dukedom, using small little passageways only they know about, having lived here for their entire lives. Be it through physical or magical means, ensuring that the small strike team they carry can breathe. Getting closer and closer to the edge of the harbor. Some of the team able to get into the shadows, others being able to use their ability to dive to get deeper into the city.

Palace Land army moves through the region, patrolling. Watching the waters and the streets. This will take careful maneuvering.

In the best of circumstances, very few could claim that Rylen Corvus of the Ninetails Dominion is the sort of person you would want on a stealth mission. His greatest abilities involve being loud, charismatic, and drawing a crowd.

In this case, however, he is here to represent the Olympus Alliance, showing the Dukes of Fourland that the Alliance will stand up and fight for them. They need to keep those ties strong. So, suited or not, Rylen slips into the shadows.

Or, more accurately, he parkours off of some stones and into a bit of darkness. It's not the most quiet thing, but for him, it's remarkably so. The Beastmaster crouches, beastless at the moment due to his peko's even worse sense of stealth.

    Rizadoman had lamented both the paths before him at the start, the option to either try and be sneaky or try to hold his breath. Either case was trufully not Rizadoman's expertise, other lizardmen perhaps, some of the river lizards can sit underwater for hours and there are some distant cousins out there somewhere who evolved to blend in to their environment and have never been seen again. At the end of it Rizadoman takes the path of less risk, and decides to go for a swim. Normally this would be fine, a long leisurely swim where he can put his physical training to use but then they get to the part where they have to dive down to the bottom and pass through many under water challenges and Rizadoman's lungs begin to burn and his vision begins to fade. It's fine though really.

The water breathing spell Carbon is under doesn't have a long enough time to reach the inner workings of the sewers, but that's okay. He had been studying the map, and all the intel they had on patrol routes, along with his own scouting missions.

Watching the timer on the buff tick down, he lept at the last second and landed on the dock in the harbor, rolling and then sliding behind a stack of crates. A brief moment to steady himself, as he waits to see if he alerted anyone. The silence tells him he remains unseen.

He slips into stealth and begins to creep through the city, sticking to the shadows as best he can. It's impossible to remain in the shadows with the near constant lightning strikes causing flashes of light to turn night to day.

He creeps past a small patrol, heading for the overland rendezvous point, to meet with the group who had taken the water path. There are far too many close calls with Palace Lands soldiers for his liking, but with the Wave coming he expects the chaos to keep them out of the sewers.

Okay, so Kauchemar came into this expecting they would have to do the sneaky sneaky type things. Which is entirely true. However, she was expecting to lean more on her Dark powers sneaking than her other methods. But someone needs to brave the aquatic measures. She'll just have to adapt like any performer does. So she draws some of her aquamancy together and lobs herself into the water.

And quickly finds the current to be a bit more turbulent than she had anticipated. Well it's too late to turn back or anything, so she'll just have to push through it and keep on going. Show must go on and all that.

Haru is still in a Weird Mood state from the time prior. However the conditions of the status are not in their prime. Smell? He took a shower, not that it is going to matter much with a jaunt through a sewer. Sleep? Sure. He took a nap. Food? A fist full of cookies will have to do. It speaks to what Haru is all about: relentless pursuit of goals. If not in an eccentric, sweaty kind of way. Kid needs a solid week on a beach somewhere when he isn't going to think about how much glass all that sand could produce.

As a Wave Artes user, Haru stays towards the back of the formation. His traditional jacket is replaced with a fashionable hoodie style one from Gwen's shop that makes him look more like an Enchanter and less like he is going shopping for gems in the market district. Hood is up. Edginess plus two. What is more edgy than a hood? How about a black cat with two tails and red eyes. Done. Eve, Haru's Dark Sprite, pads along silently in the human's shadow. He lacks natural ninja skills and does what he does with all physical skills he is locked out of: Magic it! Specifically "Tenebris. Cadit. Lunae Lumen. Oriri. Occultare." he chants, causing the stealth party to be covered in a zone of darkness while they advance. Enchanter buff time. Bonus is the little moon that Eve floats on gives people vision through the darkness so the blessing isnt a double edged sword.

Goldenblade has known the situation would come to this, sneaking into Mac Anu to try and uncrown the Kunie, and when the call went out, she was quick to volunteer. She has no idea what we'll be getting into, but she knew it would be sneaking into the city, so she's prepared herself for that. Over her mail coat, a black tunic and breeches are worn, and a hood covers her head. Black makeup stains the visible parts of her face, and the combination of things make her quite hard to see as she infultrates the city.

Her friends would probably be surprised at what she's doing, this isn't the usual sort of activity for a seventy five year old bricklayer, but she's found an interesting new lease on life, so to speak, and she doesn't seem to be taking it easy.

    Merek pulls on the ambient magic about him to create a dark shield, taking his time to walk with the party, dark attire on with the hood up. He doesn't speak at the moment, and it's probably best that he doesn't given what he thinks about the Wave. With that in mind, he probably doesn't want to deal with the water with the way that the weather looks. That's probably because of the Wave. Either way, he does what he can to assist people.

The problem with having a crippling sense of responsibility is that you feel obliged to take part in massively risky operations that are only happening mostly, if not entirely, because of you. And Prophylaxis is nothing if not in possession of a crippling sense of personal responsibility.

Besides, having the opportunity to put a Kunie partially in his debt is pretty hard to ignore-- not even counting the fact that this is the kind of thing that would generate some tasty, tasty lore.

The water-breathing buff would wear off minutes before Prophylaxis would break the surface... assuming that he had jumped into the water when everyone else did. He didn't, actually! Instead, before he hopped in, the doctor ensconced himself in a globe of ice, providing him with a pocket of air to make use of before needing to brave the waters on his own. From there...

Well, from there he makes it the rest of the way by riding jets of steam, emerging from the water just moments before the waterbreathing buff expires. Incursion, successful...!

Slipping out of the waters, aided by the Undine, the largest group slips onto the sides of the harbors. Water sailing off of them, and quickly ducking into a nearby alley. The group is quiet, but they can also hear ahead of them, a group of Palace Landers are about to turn the corner.

Then, as Rylen steps just enough to the front, someone peeking through a window seems to recognize him. Or something about his presence. A door opens as a young Cait Sith Lander steps out for a moment, and quickly signals for them to come inside.

Rushing, the Sneaking group ducks inside just in time into the house, giving time for the Palace Lander patrol to get by. Inside, the young boy stares up and Rylen going; "Wooow. Look mommy. It's the real Rylen Corvus." As he lifts up this little wooden 'statuette' that looks quite a bit like Rylen.

"Are you going to save Mac Anu?" He asks. As his mother, a chunky looking bear Cait Sith approaches and puts her hand on his head, ruffling the small bear Cait Sith's hair. "Shh. Quiet now. And let the Hunters Guild handle this." She tells her boy, before looking to the wet gathered Adventurer group. "Thank you. Be careful out there." She remarks, waiting for them to slip out.

----

Rizadoman and Kauchemar are having a rougher time. Having tried to get deeper into the town without getting on land, the currents are a bit more than they'd like it to be. But far worse, just as their lungs start to strain and their magics leave, they come under a large 'frozen area' of water. It seems that the Palace Landers have been freezing the top layers of parts of the canals in order to combat any monsters that might get into the city.

It's only thanks to Prophylaxis, who ends up having to deal with some pain in his lungs for his trouble, that the two of them manage to get past the frozen region, and break out of the waters a bit further in. Gasping for air, they're left in the middle of town in a much worse situation than the other team. But they have a better view on the battle. They see the battle from the canals. They see arches on the roofs, firing large volleys into the approaching Gargoyle wave as they try to enter the town.

Prophylaxis, catching his breath before Rizadoman and Kauchemar do, spots something running on the roofs. A man bearing a Scythe, quickly moving over towards one of the group of gathered Palace Landers, and cuts his scythe in a swooping manner, cutting the Palace Landers down with a single sharp movement. It seems /that man/ has gotten even stronger since last Prophylaxis saw him. But before he can do something about it, that man disappears into the shadows once more.

----

The group reconverges as they start approaching the main plaza. It's almost impossible to clear that region without being seen. Someone is going to have to try and get their attention, while the other group RUNS inside and starts making their way through the maze.

Hopefully, the Distraction Group can make their way back down to the maze in time to join up.

Goldenblade looks aronud as we hide in the house for a moment, and she smirks as it turns out Rylen is famous here. Well, she'd almost certainly get the same reaction in Westelande. In any event, it's time for the next phase, sneaking across the plaza. /She/ might be able to make it by herself, but with a group this size, it's not as easy.

Still, she keeps to the shadows and as out of sight as che can, making her way across with, it seems, no one the wiser of her passage. Oh yes, she's silent but deadly! But this is not the time for fart jokes, even if her grandkids would snicker. Creeping along, she finally reaches her destination, and lurks in the shadow there.

As much as Prophylaxis would prefer to get by without suffering the effects of minor asphyxiation, /someone/ had to make sure that Kauchemar and the Lizardman didn't just straight up die. So why not him? Besides! Debt! It's on his mind for some reason.

As the doctor pauses to catch his breath in the center of town, his gaze finds its way up to the rooftops, finding there...

"Oh, great," he drawls breathlessly, "L'arc is here and he's stronger than ever. Well, on the bright side, I guess that means a lot of Palace Landers are going to end up kicked back across the seas today." And on the not so bright side... He's stronger than ever.

Wonderful.

"You two, go on ahead," Prophylaxis says, riding a pillar of frost high into the air, "I'll draw their attention."

And what better way than to conjure an entire goddamn blizzard around (but not /on top of) a set of Palace Land defenders, obscuring their vision just as an assault group of Wave Beasts descends upon their formation. "Behold, you invaders from afar. The spirit of this land denies you! O' spirit of ice and cold, descend upon this city of water and show them your wrath! Safely! So that the two of us do not also attract the wrath of some very angry Machina!"

And then Prophylaxis turns and runs, skating away on a bridge of ice. Awaaaay!

That moment when he is spotted, Rylen freezes in place, expecting some kind of alarm to go up in the city. However, there is a breath of relief when it seems that they have found an ally and a momentary safe-house. Moving inside with the others, he crouches down and pulls a peko feather out of his inventory, offering it to the child. "In the flesh, my friend. You need to stay quiet. We're here to help."

He gives a nod to the mother before rising, making sure they do not overstay their welcome. Soon enough, the group is on the move again, and he breaks off towards the Maze, once again not playing into his strengths and deferring that to others. Sometimes, a hero lets others shine.

At the edge of the Maze, Rylen puts one hand down to the ground, seeming to sense the Earth beneath him and read the subtle signs that are relayed back to him through his fingertips. "It's definitely going to be down a few floors, but we already knew that." His voice is kept low. "There's been a lot of movement through here, but I think I can get an idea of the right direction, but... I'll need someone with a keener mind to make sure we don't end up in a dead-end."

He looks towards Rizadoman.

Well that explains why, during her confirmation of the Dark Wave happening upon Mac Anu, Kauchemar picked up faint reference to 'The Scythe Hero' that sounded confused and paniced. But as long as they're harassing the Palace Landers it's all good, at least for right now, right?

Okay so the diving section did not go as good as one could hope, but once she's out of the water Kauchemar gives her hair a flip to dislodge some sewer dampness and just walks it off. Eyes ahead on the goal, hindsight is for people that took the Historic Sense aspect instead.

Things are getting to were they can keep sneaking about, but they can't -just- sneak past the enemy patrols. Fortunately this is a matter that the Nightmare had prepared for. She stays out of sight, and instead uses the power of her staff to project shadows moving on a far wall and cast the sound of indistinct muttering between people trying to avoid notice, intent in distracting some of the enemies' attention to some side passage and away from where the group needs to go to get into the maze. Combined with Prophylaxis' frost and mist, it'll help add to confusion, and even if the Palace Landers know there's enemies down here they're going to have little idea what direction to go in to pursue.

    Rizadoman gasps for air, cool crisp air, "What kind of crazy people would freeze the water..." Gasping some more he lies on the ice for a moment before gasping out to the doctor, " Thank you Prophylaxis. " Coughing up some more water he carefully gets up on his feet and moves while Prophylaxis begins to draw the attention of people. For a moment he had his own idea of helping but time was of the essence especially for someone who stands out.

     Getting to the edge of the Maze he gives a small hand wave of acknowledgement while he takes the pause at the top of the maze to try and gather his breath again. "I have committed what maps we had to memory and I will endevour to not lead you into a dead end. You lead the way and I will follow." Rizadoman motions towards the path allowing Rylen to enter, before he follows close behind.

Haru is keeping a low profile on his way through Mac Anu. He has his own reasons for being here. Months of research on how to remove Crowns with his trusty fellow accessory crafter. Months of keeping that information under veil of secrety until the Shibuya and Mac Anu assaults when the ability started to come to the attention of a scarce few. Not being seen is what he wants, so he slips past when the literal Legend attracts it. Benefit of not having fancy Power Paths yet is that you don't draw the spotlight until you are where it matters most: Pulling favor with the Kunies by removing their shackles.

The hooded Artificer flicks his blue eyes to the crowd when the need for a distraction. "We will RZ with you shortly," the man with the monocle says as he extends a hand out to draw his Wave Arte focus from their hiding spot. Four orbs the size of golf balls float around him. They fly out, finding those that are not distracted by the large scale (tm) distraction events and surgically pacifying them with an Arte to its namesake, the Halcyon Circuit. Be so calm you do not care, mesmer time. The Enchanter continues to walk towards the Maze entrance in an unhurried, Assassin's Creed style gait while he keeps his debuff work going. It is iike flicking off a switch in people with a little Hymm.

Carbon slips inside the house, letting the locals assist them in their time of need in that moment. Once safely inside, he slips to one of the windows in order to briefly scout ahead, "Thank you." He says in response to the Lander, before he slips back out into the dark. When the need for a distraction is given, he gets a faint idea, as he breaks out several of the small smoke pellets that he uses for escapes.

Quickly tying them to a few arrows, once the group sets out to set the distraction, he quickly fires each arrow on high arcs, aiming to create clouds of smoke in three random areas around the area. Should force the guards to split up and go on a wild goose chase, and let Carbon slip back into the maze once they're able to regroup.

    Merek will make a distraction, and it probably is likely that he's going to take a strike for that, waving, "Hey, you!" He points, well it works, the only thing is that it probably does not work for him. He then tries to make his way away! It's going to take a lot of running to get away from that.

"What the?!" There's a group of Palace Landers on guard duty to the main entrance into the maze below - the large Sewer Region.

Prophylaxis leading the proper distraction - managing to avoid Goldenblade getting caught due to his actions.

"Get him!" A few of the guards remain, telling others to follow Prophylaxis as he begins to skate away. Some of them using Wave Artes to keep up!

The distraction needs to grow before others can get through. And Kauchemar is soon serving that very purpose. The wash of shadows rushing to the far wall draws more guards, and it isn't long before the rest start to break off from the entrance.

This permits Rylen to lead the way inside. The group luckily has a map, but it's still a three-dimensional maze. And it is never easy to navigate the mess that is the Mac Anu Sewers. Even now, experienced Adventurers get lost down there sometimes!

Leading them to the first floor downwards. Others are ensuring that tracks are being left behind for the Distraction Team to follow back down later.

From there, Rizadoman has his map in his head. Starting to lead the group from there. Haru joining the group after some running - having distracted the Guards upstairs.

In the meantime, up above, Merek tries to draw more guards. And when he makes his way away, he joins Prophylaxis, Carbon and Kauchemar as they continue to create a distraction. Leading the guards on a wild goose chase. They look like they are about to get pushed in a certain direction when Kauchemar gets a flash...

She sees a moment, in a dead end. A trap, placed by the Palace Landers. Her comrades laying dead around her, as they are approached by the Guardians. Prophylaxis body shattering before her as the doll like Machina's weapon passes through towards her...

And redirects the team to another route! They may never know the future that was ahead of them...

Instead, the team manages to ellude the trap set by the Palace Landers, and find a hidden entrance to the Sewers - ducking in and soon pick up on the path left behind by the Maze Team.

----

The team regroups down in the Maze. Down through the channel, until they reach that place. That chapel-like region where they fought to keep the horde from getting to that Mirror. Where they ensured the mirror could not be used...

That mirror no longer stands here. Instead, they find the empty chamber. Just as empty as it was last time...

Except, they are welcomed by an old man. Bushy eyebrows, with a young woman next to him. "It took you long enough, I suppose." He looks at something on his wrist. An actual digital looking watch. "According to our Miko, you are fourtyfive seconds later." Ino Hatsuse declares, facing the group.

"I hope you are ready to face what lies beneath. You will be facing a Kunie who is quite capable at using his gifts to... command people. And with that Crown on, he will be quite Cruel, I fear." He warns them, as he steps to the side and touches gems along the wall, forcing the door to open.

"Do be quick. When you return up here, I will be gone. But... I take this moment to make a plea. Please - return to the Palace Lands. Help my people, and those that were influenced by... an unknown force."

    Rizadoman stops as they enter the chamber drawing his shield, assuming an enemy but the words are enoguh to make him ease up. Looking from the old man to the young lady then back to the old man the inspections is enough to give him a brief understanding. There are a lot of questions but no time, so Rizadoman makes use of the time that they have, "If we are succeessful and make it to the palace land, how do we meet you again?" It was a simple question, though perhaps a bit arrogant. One did not have to be an oracle to know that there was no guaranteee of victory.

As they reach the mirror chamber, Rylen skids to a stop and raises his hands in a defensive posture, ready for a fight if there is one brought to them. His focus has been around Eas and Ninetails, so he does not immediately recognize either individual. However, he isn't the sort to charge into battle without knowing something about his enemy first.

There is a glance towards the others, then back at the pair standing before them. "Friends of ours, I assume?" He asks, though his voice remains somewhat wary. The words of warning have him lowering his hands ever so slightly.

"If you have any suggestions on how we can defend ourselves, I'm open to hearing them." The Pooka may have renown amongst the Landers, but he doesn't have any of the more 'supernatural' abilities that some others seem to have developed. "It sounds like he may have some sort of capabilities similar to the lady Baroness and I."

    Merek eventually walks along into the chamber with the party, taking his time to inhale and consider. He does remember the place, though he doesn't comment upon it. He pulls on a mask along with the hood, while he speaks to the old man, "I only have one question. Does he have protection that will shield him from the powers that we wield?" he asks.

The combination of distractions do their job... And then Kauchemar teeters for a moment. She had grown accustomed to her powers... when she was intentionally using them. When the random foresights like that came they still tended to catch her offguard. Especially when the vision was... distubring. To say the least. We won't go into the graphic details, in part because it was really unpleasant, and the mind tends to make it's own horrors much worse when the details aren't there.

Fortunately this is one of those times where seeing the Future is a chance to avoid it rather than fulfil it. Kauchemar recovers and moves quickly, still quite fast on her hooves thankfully, to catch the others before they take that cataclysmic wrong turn, pointing out an alternate pathway with her staff. "We need to go this way. That route is a Dead End." Dramatic pause. "Emphasis on the -DEAD-."

Crisis adverted, for now.

And eventually, they come to the old man, and the moonfish launcher girl. She makes a face as he calls them slightly late. "Yes, well, we had to take a slightly longer path to avoid a quick and melodramatic end to the mission," she again doesn't elaborate more than that. Especially when the old man is mentioning another 'unknown force' behind how the Palace Land leaders have been driving this invasion. "There's so many puppet strings being pulled these days it's hard to image they don't get more tangled."

Goldenblade slips past thanks to Prophylaxis's distraction, slinking darkly ahead until we can all meet back up. When we regroup, and meet up with the Hatsuses, she will pause, remembering the girl from the holiday party and the poor goldfish. As to whether she's ready to meet what lies beneaath, she's almost certainly not. But that won'r keep her from forging ahead and trying to make this happen. She nods about being quick, she's not one to dawdle, but she pauses long enough to promise, "We will do our best."

The group manages to work their way through, evading the Palace Lands ambush and finding their way down into the mirror room.

"If the Palace Lands were able to get the crown onto him, we should be able to get it off of him." He looks back to the way they came in, "Do we know how the battle fares on the surface? How long do we have to get the crown off before things turn?"

"Fuhahaha! Catch me if you can, fools from across the sea! As long as I don't punch any of you, I'm untouchable! Nyahahahaha!" Prophylaxis is perhaps tempting fate more than he's taunting any of the local Palace Landers, but that's kind of his job right now. He's got to keep hate!! But even he can tell that it feels as though their means of escape are being... cut off.

Kauchemar spots a safe means of egress. Prophylaxis doesn't know exactly how close he came to being obliterated.

In good time, they catch up with the rest of the team, following after them into the depths of the labyrinth. They emerge in a familiar place, though the mirror is (perhaps worryingly absent), and in its place...

"...Ah! Your Highness. I wasn't expecting to see you here, of all places," Prophylaxis inclines his head, noticing the little foxgirl next to Ino before the old man himself-- though he soon focuses his gaze on the wizened cait sith. "Ino Hatsuse. I don't know what games you're playing, but nevertheless, I thank you for what you have done on the behalf of our mutual friends," Who shall not be spoken of at the moment. "This force that has taken hold of your people, can you inform us of those who haven't yet been influenced? Your mistress, Miko, for example...?"

"...Regardless, it is best if you provide us with some way to remain in contact after this point," the doctor cants his head again, "Regrettably, I am not an Oracle, myself, or the problem would have resolved itself. Still..."

Time is short. They don't have... the convenience to continue this conversation too far now. Still, he can at least... ask one more thing before they go forth into the depths: "...This unknown force, I don't suppose it likes to erect altars of bone and teeth...?"

Haru makes his contributions to the distraction team. He makes his way onward to contribute to the investigation team. "Conspiracy and plot happens in layers," he asides to Kau's commentary. It is not without a nod, "So deeper down into Moria we go, no?" He looks to moonfish launcher and Senior moonfish launcher. "All part of the plan to return free will to everyone, including the people ensnared in the Palace Lands," he tells Ino as he draws the hood on his jacket back. "So all I need to know is how to get in touch after we seize victory here," he says. Sure, there are questions like sound offensive and defensive strategies, but those are already coming into the forum.

He looks to Carbon and notes, "When a Crown is removed, the effects are rather immediate. Though the thoughts and feelings that flood back can be," he taps his foot, "overwhelming for some."

As Rizadoman asks of the Palace Lands, Ino Hatsuse patiently answers; "The Rebels in your midst will aid you in finding me if you absolutely must. But I request that you do not contact me or make my involvement with you known in any way shape or form. Even revealing myself to you here like this is dangerous to me and my people." The man presses home to Rizadoman.

"You may be well aware that Were Fangs and Cait Sith, and even Spriggans are rare within the Palace Lands. Similar to here, in a ways. Though our story is different. These - my people - are already in a bad situation. I do not want to chance that getting worse."

Ino Hatsuse puts his hand on Izuna's head to keep her quiet for the time being, as it looks like she wants to say something. Probably 'I can take him'. The Kunie, that is.

"Take him quick. The only defenses you might have, are those few of you who might bear a gift similar to that of the Beautiful Goddess'. The one that protects your Cosmosphere." He points out, touching his chest near where his heart is. "Other wise... no. Just shield your mind best you can."

He then looks towards Merek. "I do not believe so. He was affected by the Crown. But the crown itself can make it more difficult to influence someone." He points out to him, before grimly nodding at Kauchemar.

"I did not expect the Nightmare, the Doctor, the Dark Knight and the Thief to make it." He admits - referring to herself, as well as Merek, Prophylaxis and Carbon. "A pleasant surprise."

To Carbon, Ino Hatsuse notes; "The battle up above is favoring the Palace Landers. I cannot estimate time. But take care when you make it down below. For your actions will assuredly have consequences."

Then, to Prophylaxis, he explains; "It has been too subtle to sus out within Kallamore. A more... social corruption, it almost seems, amidst the most wealthy amongst my people. It seems the Miko and I were spared from its influence, perhaps even avoided for some reason."

"In Thor, a plot most foul. And I suspect Harrifenas will not be able to be negotiated down. As for the Undine City... I suspect lies and deceit, and an influence coming from a close ally." Is all Ino Hatsuse truly can give in what he's sussed out.

"As for contact, you already know of the one who Does Not Speak - Tian. The Shark of Cards, Gao, and the... ahem... 'Entertainer', Shenmi." He's being polite.

"As for an Altar of Bones. No. Those did not start appearing in our land until around the time that the Wave of Calamity touched our lands."

----

Answers given, Ino Hatsuse lets the group pass on by. The 'gate' opens in the same way all previous gates to the Kunie have opened. Fading, as if it were never there. Yet physically very much having once been there.

They start heading down a long winding spiral case. Deeper. Further down.

Until they arrive on the footstep of an... office. Beyond the 'doorway', it's multiple desks. Modern computers lining the various desks. Though none of them are on.

Large windows show the massive Tokyo Skyline. Though it's doubtful anyone would recognize this particular office's exact location.

At the very end of that office, stands a man that is... well... he looks like a Japanese Businessman. He's got greasy slicked back hair that's been combed along. There's a bald spot near the front. It's clear he's got a bit of an aging look to him. A grey suit, glasses, hands behind his back. Wearing what looks like a literal 'laurel crown'.

And a great deal of distance between the team and him. They will not be able to get 'the jump' on him. As such, the first challenge will be to reach him before things go terribly awry!

There is a great deal that Rylen simply doesn't know, because his involvement with the Palace Landers has been limited up until recently. It is enough to have the normally charismatic man falling silent, taking in everything with a keen, thoughtful expression.

His features seem to fall stoic, lips hardening into a line as he cracks his knuckles before nodding to the others before joining them in the journey below.

The Pooka seems to steel himself for what is to come. He may not have any specific abilities that would protect himself against outside influence, but he does have a strength of will borne from promises made to many. Promises made to the Dukedom and its people. Promises made to Xander to come back without losing major parts of himself. Promises to the boy they had met to help free Mac Anu.

What has always become part of Rylen's role as a Legend, is that determination to help people. That is what drives and protects him... if nothing else.

    Rizadoman takes a breath as the gate opens and the lizardman stares into the abyss of where they must go. Those near to the warrior may hear him whispers words to himself, "Today is a good day to die." Stepping past the gate's entrance he begins to descend. In his ears he swears he could hear his own heart beat while traversing down.

     "Don't hesitate, we have to subdue the Kunie before we can get to the crown. Shield Haru if needed, and make sure to protect him to the best of everyone else's ability." From his back Rizadoman draws forth an Umbrella in one hand and shield strapped to the other arm.

    The office building is a surprise and gets a look of disgust from Rizadoman, it's not the first time he was in the Kunie world but still this is just a new level of hell. Then he spots the old man and lets out a roar as he charges towards the Kunie, umbrella open to protect him from any opening salvo as he closes the distant.

Powers similar to that of the Beautiful Goddess', is it? Prophylaxis' eyes tighten in recognition, and he inclines his head in understanding. "I see. Good to know. Thank you for the information," he answers with a nod. "That would also explain why we encountered so much resistance from the wealthiest in Lumina Cloth. I'd assumed it was entirely because of the Adventurer War, but... perhaps not entirely, hmn."

Still. The Beast only arrived after the first Wave did-- /that/ is both new and interesting, given that the White Spider was aware of it even before then. "We'll be in touch, Ino. Until next time as well, Your Highness. Please feel free to visit again once the political situation is... Less tense?" Though he's pretty sure nothing could stop the younger Hatsuse from getting where she wants to go if she wanted to go there.

Now. Back down into the depths of the world. Again, the feeling of traversing into another world. Again, a familiar sight-- Tokyo's beautiful skyline, glittering in the dark. 'A remnant of the Old World' they were told. But what does that mean, really...?

"There he is," Prophylaxis grunts. "Move quickly. Keep focused!" Already, he can feel the Old Man trying to work on his mind. But the Doctor is more well protected than most here. "Prophylaxis_Hagalaz_Dragon_Opal," he sing-songs quietly, the gem around his chest glimmering as it activates. The doctor breaks into a sprint, racing towards the Kunie in defiance of his psychic assault...!

If he can get close to distract the Old Man, that might give them the opportunity they'll need...!

    Merek looks forward when they come into the place with the Kunie. He doesn't talk at the moment, instead he puts a hand around a spike in his equipment to make sure that it's still there. Then he walks along forward. It needs to be power of will to protect them, right? When someone's will is already broken, when all that's left is his own power. He has something to fight for to protect, and in addition to that the Blind Goddess. That beltcape which he wears adjusts to his hips with a swing along the wind.

Carbon nods in response to the mention about the battle. It'll be tight, but they can make it work. He moves into position as the door opens, and follows the group in quickly.

There's no time for stealth, it's unlikely that it'd even work. For a moment, however, he is taken back a bit by the man's appearance.

It was like looking at his father.

He re-focuses quickly, eyes focusing on the man as he rushes forward, keeping his mind on the task at hand. This can't go wrong, too many people are depending on it.

Now that we're under Mac Anu and close to our objective, Goldenblade is less sure of how to proceed. There's not really a role for sneaking at this point, it looks like a dead sprint. So, rush to the far end of the office, maybe ... well, we can't really fight them at this point? We're supposed to cure them? Maybe there's a way to restrain this Kunie?

But maybe she should have gone with the stealth approach? No sooner has she begun her dash than she is huung up. She's not sure what's holding her up, or even what's going on at this point, but she's not making progress and she would like very much to make progress. "We're just here to sell Amway!" she cries out in protest, but does anyone even know what that is anymore? They certainly don't sell it door to door.

The gate is opened and thats all the pragmatist in Haru needs to carry on. Time is not on their side. The stakes are that of Mac Anu. The decision is as plain as the monocle on his face. Onward. Well. Downward! Down the spiral case. Deeper. He is immediately hit with a sense of nostalgia on his way through the office. The tall high rises in the offices where the Himekawa Technologies buildings were held. Where generations of businessmen have led it to steril and apathetic business practices wrapped him a mask of community relations. It gives him a headache just thinking about it, causing his visible blue eye to squint against the dull blues of the monitor lights. The offices all look the same, them. Even the Old Man looks like his father. How fitting that this is the face of the opposition.

"Get me a clean shot," Haru tells Rizadoman, "restrain, calm, subdue. It can take more than one strike and the slightest deviation can be highly adverse," like having a chisel stuck in your dome. Kunie labotomy is not the goal here. "I'd say don't get yourself killed, but," he starts rushing in, "we all know what is at stake right now. Lets get to it." And so he is resolved, one way or another, to see it through. That resolve is going to be tested in short order as he rushes in while it feels like razor blades made of air raid sirens klaxon through his head. That is one way to distract you from a Weird Mood.

Kauchemar manages not to scoff, because that would be rude. "I have a knack for exceeding expectations." Or just doing something else entirely. Depends on the day.

"Well, we won't accomplish anything just standing here. No risk, no reward, and all that." She does give a dramatic point with her staff towards the entrance. "For Yamato, the non-corrupted part of the Palace Land, and beyond. Onward into the breech."

The dramatic attempt is somewhat spoiled by the entrance leading to stairs. Lots of stairs. LOTS of stairs. And then into what looks like an office, abiet one with a hell of a view of a skyline that it really shouldn't have at all.

But there is their target. Way over there. In a way that feels like it's much much farther than it appears to be. Kauchemar takes a few steps, but then her attempt at a purposeful stride faulters, and even the Nightmare takes pause. Puts a hand to her temple. All the Kunie is doing so far is standing there, yet it's like there's some great opposition in his presence just by being there....

As the group begins to approach, they maneuver quickly. Diving over desks, running in between rolling chairs. Trying not to trip over the occassional computer mouse, travel bag or keyboard left on the ground.

The Old Man stares them all down from the back of the office, standing next to a watercooler.

"Order in the office." He demands, as the group comes closer and closer. Lifting his hand to bring up his pair of glasses, making them gleam for a moment. A blinding white light hitting all of them.

Then, the man suddenly demands; <"GET BACK TO WORK, you fools!"> And as his voice speaks, there's this sudden intense pressure against their minds. Kauchemar, just as she is about to take another step, suddenly feels an intense heaviness in her legs. And before she knows it, she slams to the ground. She can feel her jaw painfully hit the ground. This heavy emotion in her heart. This demand for INTENSE REVERANCE. To WORSHIP this man. IMMEDIATELY. TO PERFORM WORK. To get to that nearest desk and start typing on those keyboards!

Rizadoman gets through, not moments before he watches Goldenblade at his side go down, tripping over. Much like Kauchemar, emotions fall over Goldenblade. Goldenblade ends up literally stumbling into one of the desk chairs, and feels overwhelmed. Rapidly forced to type on the keyboards with enough pressure that her fingers immediately begin to glow.

Everyone with Law can sense the intense power of this technique - the way it breaks the Law of Alba is enough to create a splitting headache even in those that resist! A pain that almost seems to surpass even the pain filters! The Legend System Arte of the Old Man pushes right through standard levels of System Protection!

Prophylaxis, for a moment, can feel that he is being aided. This subtle 'hand' on his shoulder as an icy woman tries to shield his mind!

Worst of all however, their secret weapon goes down! Haru collapses and slams with their body against one of the desks. Pulling one of the drawers open! HARU HAS TO WORK HARD! Withdrawing blank papers and a pen. To write, even as papercuts get into his hands.

But some pass through and get close. "What's this?!" The Old Man demands to know. Grabbing one of the desks with both hands, and literally flipping the desk over, straight towards the remaining people approaching him! Computer and Keyboard and all. He then grabs a filing cabinet and throws that in for good measure.

<"If you are not going to finish, you may as well just throw yourselves off the roof! If you are not ready to give your lives to the company, then what value do you even have!?">

    Rizadoman makes it to the old man, watching those around him fall. This battle was truly different and he could feel the level of difference between himself and others. The power of law in his head is causing a splitting headache and his hand reaches to a piece of scaling that is strapped to the front of his tunic but before he can manage to grab it the umbrella's power fails and he suddenly knows he has disappointed the old man. So he does what he is told he turns and charges toward the glass window. It is only by the benefits of the system that he is protected and stumbles back to floor. It hurt.

The commands are familiar to him, as Carbon forces his way forward. He can feel everything trying to force him to follow those orders, but he soldiers forward. It's not about him, it's about everyone else. They have to forge forward.

He spots Kauchemar begining to work on one of the keyboards, and quickly sidesteps to her, pulling her away from the keyboard with one hand, an smashing it with his sword in the other hand, "No time to work, there's too much at stake!" He pushes Kauchemar forward, and then slips away to try to get to the old man and land a take down.

The words seem to slice into Rylen's consciousness, causing him to grit his teeth slightly as he tries to maintain some kind of control and resist the influence. His feet slow, seeming to struggle to take steps forward towards the man.

He's close now, close enough that he might be able to lunge for the man. Of course, that's when he notices how low Kauchemar's health has gotten. The Beastmaster pivots, taking a moment to pull the Nightmare back away from the computer and away from the window. "Stay with me. You're important, no matter what that asshole says."

Rylen, is not one to swear under most circumstances. Yet, in this case, those words remind him a bit too much of his father. A bit too much of words that were said in the past before he cut the man from his life. "<Stay here, don't hurt yourself.>" The feather that dangles from one of his ears seems to light up as he speaks. It's a similar power that flows over Kauchemar, but this one seems to be bolstering her defenses rather than working against them.

Then, he is charging towards the Old Man, working along side the others in an attempt to restrain him in whatever way possible. Rylen, being a martial artist, goes for a straight-forward grapple, using his strength to try to hold the man in place and give a chance for the others to take advantage of the opening.

The only reason Kauchemar doesn't end up on the floor is the butt end of her staff catching against it, inadvertently keeping her from collapsing to her knees. Then someone grabs her, she's not really sure who, and push her away from the desks. Back into the matter at hand. Someone else protecting her from the Old Man flipping tables and throwing office decor around. She's trying to pull herself back together, but the man's presence is just so... off-putting.

Rylen grabbing and pulling her away starts to shake some sense back into her. This time the staff is purposely put to the ground, to give herself some more stability as she nods, and lets Rylen go ahead to do his thing. Maybe the reassurance will be enough to get her back on proper footing.

    Merek of course can't keep protecting himself, and it looks like the power is getting to him. The man swings along at the window which he slams against, though he does his best not to. Instead, he does it willing, he throws himself along into it. If he does it before the man can force him to do it... It might not matter to anyone else, but he refuses to let his actions be controlled. Instead he begins to slam his fists along that window, red glow coming from him with each strike he does. The HP of his draws away, he doesn't care.

Haru has thrown his life in with the company since birth. There was never really an option given to him at first. Nor his father or his father before him. The Himekawas have been in business before the Wars. Technology, be it water wheels to guidance systems. Be it microwaves to monitors. They have had to endure wars of innovation and technology with foreign powers. With local, like CC, that applies pressure to profit earnings, market penetration, and endangered generations of tradition. He writes the reports with ferocity.

Earnings are down in the domestic electronics division.
I hate to report this, but Genji Minami has tendered his resignation. They are going to a competitor.
I hate to report this, but the Angelic Layer technology is too proprietary for our engineers to reverse engineer, let alone bypass trademark law.
I hate. I hate. I hate. I HATE. I HATE.
YOU

Someone pushed on Haru's trauma center, causing the young man to claw from the desk to break free once again. Only this time there is not a VRMMO world to escape to. Its fight, not flight, that handles this stress. His hands are cut and raw as if he was scraping at the noose that kept him tethered to the corporate world. It is no wonder why removing the Crowns are so important to him. He understands what it means to be brainwashed and have your will broken by the people you are supposed to trust the most.

And he will see this through. Its personal. The relic over Haru's one eye lights up brighter than it has before. An amethyst lens encased in silver awakens to thin white semicircles that appear to etch along the surface. They rotate slowly like a key, a maze, locking in place as the analysis progresses on the Kunie's Crown. He puts all of his hate-filled focus into this, trusting in his companions to subdue, to endure, and to give him the opening he needs to end this tyranny.

Goldenblade manages to wrench herself away from the keyboard, the shackle of the working zombies. They don't get out in the fresh air enough to even know how awful what they do is! At least as a bricklayer, she worked outside. This is not her place! But rise she does, tearing herself out of her chair and lurching forward to engage the Kunie. She draws one katana, but reverses the grip, so that she's jabbing with the pommel rather than the blade.

It's still solid, but rather than a killing blow, she's attemping to knock the wind out of this Kunie by slamming him in the gut. And what's her strongest attack? ..... Where'd she even go? There's a moment of uncertainty as to where Goldenblade was standing, and then she's driving the heel of her sword's handle into the Kunie's gut. Hard. She's not making friends with that strike as it is, but she's very definitely trying to ... make his life difficult.

There are few things in the world that genuinely rile Doctor Prophylaxis. Few things indeed. Wanton destruction of life, torture, not washing your hands after using the bathroom. That kind of thing. But for someone who has before been on the brink of the true and absolute depths of despair-- for someone like that, to hear /these/ wounds out of /this/ man...

It incites fury like very, very little else.

A wave of cold washes against the flash of hot rage. Prophylaxis' eye darts to a phantom touch on his shoulder and slowly nods. He exhales, extending a hand toward the Kunie. "I know this isn't you. That this isn't how you /really/ are. But nevertheless."

A glittering globe of crystalline fire erupts all around him for the briefest of moments. In that instant, there's no pressure on his mind. Nothing but the hot rage and the chill calm, "The use of such words must needs be /punished./"

A wave of cold washes out from the good doctor, coalescing into a whirling cage of wind, ice and snow. A blizzard is localized directly on top of the controlled Kunie-- and it doesn't leave him, it just... hangs there, transforming the air around him into a cage of screaming, frigid torment.

Rylen makes the distance, clothes-lining the man and grabbing him by the throat, before pulling his arms around the back of the business man's suit, and holding him at bay. Pulling on him!

Carbon then jumps up on top of him and tries to hold the squirming Kunie down as he struggles and tries to demand from Carbon and Rylen to <"Let g~UUUUH!">

Let go. That's what he attempted to demand, right before Goldenblade's pomel sinks into his gut with such force that the man crumples up... and pukes. A wash of transparent glow rushes from his mouth.

One that freezes up immediately as Prophylaxis' wind starts to cage the man. Keeping him in one place. Halting him as he grits his teeth.

<"All of you should be fired!"> He demands. <"Just go home! And think about what you've done! Your families must be so ashamed of you! Your father may as well disown all of you!"> The shame. This overwhelming shame and depression tries to grab at peoples' hearts! To steal their lives away from sheer depression and terror. Hearts quivering, as the Law of Alba is being broken.

Yet amongst it all, they see tears rolling down from the man's eyes. Frozen teardrops shattering and falling down to the ground as the man's face writhes and seems almost tortured as he speaks those words.

While Rylen might be able to excuse the behavior of the Kunie do to the fact that they are under someone else's control, it doesn't mean that each of his words doesn't stab at him like a knife. Tensing his muscles to hold on to the man, Rylen mutters. "That would be all well and good if he hadn't already done that ages ago." Apparently, Rylen did not have a good relationship with his father, or so it seems.

There is a slight rumble around the Earthbending Beastmaster. His feet seem to sink slightly into the floor of the office, stone lashing up around his legs to hold him in place. A few cracks snake out from where the two are standing, the very earth holding the two still. "If you're going to do something, I think now is the time." He calls out.

    Rizadoman's heart feels grabbed and in the end his human side, that side he pushes down over and over again will not stop trying to the listen to the old man. The words hit him and he feels the pain behind the words but that is the pain of the old world. In this world he is Rizadoman, no longer a man of the office but a lizardman of the land. Stepping forward toward the old man the scales shift to a blood red color of the dragon emperor and staring at the old man. "Being fired are words for the past, not words one that follows the Naga would understand. As one who wishes to protect the law of Alba, you are hereby detained. Stand down NOW!" The shield of his arm splits in to the two twin blades, connected by a enchanted chain. Rizadoman would normally now move into a dance like pattern of attacks but instead he begins to spin the blades like a bollo before launching the improvised capture device at the old man, with the hope the chain will wrap around and pin him down.

Goldenblade has, on the good side, firmly grasped the aggro from the Kunie and now enjoying his undivided attention. On the negative side, he's not nearly as stunned as she would have liked, and she has his undivided attention. She cringes as she feels her will to live being drawn out as she moves back to the keyboard again, but is luckily saved and broken free, though it takes Carbon and Merek both to pull her back from the brink. She's panting hard with exertion when she's finally pulled away, and nods a weak Thanks to both men for bailing her out. Picking up her blade from where she dropped it, she looks around, finally clearing her senses again just for the moment

Shame. Depression. The cheek-searing embarassment of being berated by the man who holds your fate in his hands. Prophylaxis exhales slowly, his gaze locking with the Kunie's through the blinding wind. "You're not my boss, AND I have a goddamn MD. I /outrank/ you," Prophylaxis snarls, his will only intensifying as it squeezes the whirlwind tighter.

The doctor turns, his amulet blazing with brilliant light. It shines like a spotlight upon the Artificer, filling his soul with warmth-- and the blazing inferno of REBELLION. A bubble of crystalline flame surrounds him as well, and suddenly the psychic onslaught seems... muted, somehow. "Haru, do it now! Release this Kunie from his prison!"

Thanks to the support from Rylen, and taking a moment to focus upon her own work on defending herself, Kauchemar manages to finally wretch herself free of the Old Man's dominating presence. She frowns as she does. "I never did care for the corperate rat race. Why do you think I became a DJ..." she grumbles, even as she now finds the strength to walk closer. There's already plenty of people wresting the man physically. So instead she gets close enough to be within reach, raising one arm to hold Grindcore Staff up and out. To put the skull's face right in the Old Man's...

"This is for your own good."

And then triggers one of it's psychedelica light bursts, to blind and disorient the Kunie in hopes that he'll stop struggling so much, and maybe not see the actual attempt at Decrowning him coming to resist it. She's holding her staff so close more to keep the flashing focused, and not blind half her allies as well.

Carbon hears the words washing over him, wanting to shame him. It's the same things he's heard before, time and time again. He provided for his family and they hated him for it. He struggles against the Kunie, "Shut the hell up old man! What do you know?!" He roars out, as he hauls back and drives his elbow across the old man's collar bone, trying to knock the wind out of him.

He spots Goldenblade nearby, remembering when she had saved him from the attack where he had hesitated. He releases his hold on the old man and pushes off, diving and tackling Goldenblade away from the kunie for a moment, "Stay with us, we're not done yet!"

He quickly releases her, and gets back into the brawl with the old man, slipping behind him and hauling back with another elbow strike. In his mind, for another moment, he sees and hears his father. This doesn't deter him from finishing the strike. This time he's aiming for the same spot, trying to once again drive the wind out of him, before locking in that choke hold, "Get it off him, now!" He hopes the hold can keep him from speaking any more commands.

    Merek will move along from the wall window and takes his time to assist Goldenblade, stepping in front of whatever way she will hurt herself with the man's assistance, then he grunts while he takes it instead along with Carbon. Then he takes the time to lift up a hand, while green circles begin to appear along his wrist where he keeps part of the strap which he placed beneath the Enigma Piece bracelet which he wears as well as adjusting to the glove. MEREK_TEIWAZ_BANDIT_KING. It's become like nature to him to think on the phrase. The green light will begin to extend to try and seal the old man's power!

There it is, the opening. The four floating stones around the Artificer begin to hum. Each takes on a different color. The Red of a raging fire. The Green of a bountiful forest. The Blue of a deep ocean. The Purple of a lightning storm. They begin to swirl around in a circle above Haru's head as the metallic hymn eminates from them "Was ki ra chs arhou merra" The rotations increase until the ioun stones themselves can't be picked out individually. A halo appears above the Artificer's head in their place. A different kind of crown. A symbol of hope against despair. An aegis against the fires of war. Everything else could just melt away in the chaos of the battle. There is only Haru and that Crown right now. The beating of his heart with every step that launches him face to face with the businessman. Close enough to look into the Kunie's eyes by the time his lapidary hammer and chisel have appeared in Haru's hands.

Rylen has the right of it. Proph and Carbon as well. It needs to happen now. Right now. In one fell motion. The chisel comes out and slides right over the point that his relic has pointed out. Hand is winded back like that of a blacksmith's as the chisel is wrapped in the self-came colors of the crown. Like a bolt of lightning it comes down. Ka-krack. "It is never too late to find forgiveness," he tells him, "no debt that can't be repayed. You have to earn it, old man. No one is going to hand it to you. You'll have to fight for it." His hand remains on the chisel, on the hammer. For all his rebellion and all of his hatred, it is not the message, just the carrier. "Fight with us again. For the lives of the people of this world." Ka-Krack goes the second strike.

The Old Man grimaces as he's held down and back by Rylen. Trying to struggle and pull away. The Ice holding him down. Pain sharp through his head, forced to speak by some other part of him.

Rizadoman's Bolo ends up swinging right around his neck, wringing it and silencing the old man. He ends up gasping for air, his voice hoarse as he tries to continue to command them to let go!

Ice continues to remain upon him. But it begins to crack. To shatter around him. Rylen starts having trouble holding the Old Man down! Psyches are being worn down!

Only for him to suddenly turn his head, blinded by the sudden shock of light coming from Kauchemar's staff. Stopping him from getting a good look at anything anymore. Disoriented.

A slam to his collarbone, the man cries out in pain. His health dropping a minute bit. Another slam, the wind literally being knocked out of him. He puffs outwards, his mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land. Trying to catch air!

Merek's Data Drain rushes across the man, and in that moment... the Crown shines for just a moment, trying to resist. Only for the Data Drain to rip the Power off of the crown instead. The man's eyes widening in that moment. Hoarsely, he begs; "Please, release me."

The Chisel comes, and the man doesn't look away. Staring at Haru with hope in his eyes. Freed from the influence of that crown by Merek for just long enough to remain still...

The Chisel comes... and with that...

Ka-KRACK!

A crack shows in the Laurels, a rapidly rush of red overcoming the man, about to damage him when...

KRACK!

SHATTER!

The crown tears off of the man!

And wheezing, in pain, trembling, the man reaches his hands to his eyes and grabs with his fingers at his face as he begins to ugly-cry like the old man he is...

All he can utter is; "What have I done!?"

It is done.

But there's still very little time.

A wash of red light floods across the Kunie as the crown shatters. Prophylaxis moves quickly, his defenses falling away, allowing him to deliver a life-saving injection of medicine to the old businessman. "More terrible things than any of us could imagine, I'd wager," Prophylaxis says, gently. "But none by your own volition. Still, this is not the time to cry."

He kneels, then rises, trying to lift the old man to his feet. Prophylaxis squeezes the old man's wrists, trying to bring him back to the here and now. "You are able to adjust the Rules of Mac Anu. You need to do that now, before the Palace Landers cotton on to what we're doing here and send someone after you again. Please, this is something only you can do."

    Merek will lower that hand of his once he finishes with the Data Drain, noticing that it seems to have sealed the Power that it had upon the Old Man. He then offers a little sigh. He does not like to be mind controlled, and part of him is really angry at that man, but he can't really say that it was because of him. The Crown made him do it, and he watches the man with what looks like empathy. He frowns and takes off the mask, while he speaks, "We need you to save the city."

    Rizadoman watches the crown shatter and that is enough for Rizadoman to run towards the old man. By the time the old man is uttering his only words he has a large Lizardman in his face trying to get him up on his feet, by force if needed. Even as the doctor is trying to do things easily Rizadoman is the other half of the force even gripping the shoulders of the old man and trying to shake him into a more cognitive state. Then the lizardman speaks with a growl in his voice, "What ever you have done you have done, sort it out later. Right now we need you to fix it. Make Mac Anu belong to those it should before things up there get worse. We have the Palace landers, your captors, we have a wave and if those things are not resolved soon things will get worse. Now do your job!"

Haru is spent. Between the ravages of the Weird Mood and the trials of breaking a Crown, the Artificer is more than a bit fatigued. "The question is 'What are you going to do now?'" the silver haired man says as he puts his hammer and chisel away. "Order must be restored to Mac Anu to repel the Palace Landers that are present within it. It flipped before, it must flip back." With that he takes a step back in the office. Still, its a view that you only get to see when visiting the Kunies. Seems a waste not to look out the windows again. Every light down there is somebody, after all.

There is a point where Rylen has to force his eyes shut, his attempts to block out the power starting to wear at his mental defenses. Then, there is a blessed feeling of relief. He peeks open his gray eyes as the crown shatters, allowing Rylen to release the magical energy that was holding him in place and allowing the man to drop to his knees.

With a grunt, the Beastmaster steps back, pulling his feet free and then rolling his shoulders and tilting his neck to try to ease the tension. "You've heard them. This is no time for tears. The people of Mac Anu are in trouble and need the protection that has been denied to them."

Folding his arms across his chest, Rylen's expression is severe, which is something rare for the normally jovial performer. Apparently, this man's words hit a bit too close to home for him and forgiveness does not come quickly.

And there it goes. What remains of the Crown falls off the Old Man thanks to Haru's effort.

Kauchemar takes a step back, letting the Doctor and people who can help the Kunie in the weakened state he's been left in.

"Hindsight later, fix the mess now," she agrees with the others. "We can't send our people in to help until the Guardians won't turn on them."

The old man is shivering, his voice difficult to understand. "Y-yes, I will return control to the rightful Rulers. But..." He shakes. "How many will this kill again? How many will die, the moment I turn this city over?"

Especially as Kauchemar speaks of peopel ciming in, in a way where the Guardians would be relevant.

Yet, he knows what he must do. Bringing up a holographic console and motioning his hands. Symbols and letters that are unreadable to others, but which look a lot like Alven Runes.

Though they can read it when four names - the rulers of the Fourland Dukedom come up - and he presses a symbol to return rulership to them.

And with that... things soon change up above.

Goldenblade sinks to one knee as the Kunie is decrowned, and she pants in exhaustion as the aftermaath plays out. After a couple moments, she takes a small flask from her belt, twists the top, and sucks deeply from air that's apparently been trapped inside. Her own HP start to recover as she takes in the scene. "The Palace Landers will be down here soon, if they've survived the Wave," she notes.

As to how many will die, she says, "It's OK, they're all bad people."

As soon as the crown breaks, Carbon releases the man and rolls away from him, before getting back to his feet, "We'll have to take stock of the damage later." He wants to get back to the surface as soon as they can, "Driving the invaders out of this city is the only way to keep the citizens safe."

    Rizadoman shakes his head, "War is a cost and they asked for that cost, they paid for that cost. Either way they brought this on themselves. " The answer is to everyone but over all it is Rizadoman's way of acknowledging what is about to happen. "At this point in the war we have done nothing they haven't which only makes us almost as bad as them." There is a gesture to the broken crown bits that implies they haven't gone to the extreme, yet. "Anyone who can do any healing please do so before we leave as this fight is only getting started." Rizadoman looks at the old man with pity, "Sorry to just leave, we have things to do now. I ask that if you need us you contact us and people will come. Your Kunie allies will be happy that you are free too." Rizadoman gathers his weapons and returns them to their shield state as he begins to walk towards the door. Some people may like it here but it makes his scales crawl. There is a pause though as he walks by Kauchemar, "When you can give Mikage the best update you can."

"I don't know," Prophylaxis answers, quietly. How many have died by his hands? He's lost count, now. How many lives have the weapons he's created slain? Too many. "But in the balance, how many lives will be saved by what you do...? We can't say for certain what will happen, but with the way Guardians work, anything that happens from here is up to the people of the Palace Lands."

Though, that said, it's highly likely that they will flee...

...And when they do...

...How many lives have Prophylaxis' machinations taken...?

'First, do no harm,' he thinks to himself. After all this is done, will he even be able to look at himself...? "Of course," Prophylaxis says to the Lizardman, throwing open his labcoat to reveal a full arsenal of HP and MP potions, as well as sets of strange, blue crystals. "I've come prepared. Anyone who needs a mental refresher, let me know. I can also top off your bars."

Death isn't something that Rylen takes lightly, but he also knows just how much destruction the Palace Landers have brought, not only to their own lands but to Yamato. "Their fate is sealed by their own actions." Is all that the Pooka says before he starts heading towards the exit.

"We've still got a fight going on topside." He trusts that Kauchemar can pass along information to the rest of the armies in wait outside the city, but that doesn't mean that Rylen isn't going to head up and try to make sure that the damage is kept to whatever minimum they can manage.

    Merek looks between the people there. "There was no alternative. Keep that in mind. Our only decisions were that people will be killed. The enemy here, the one upon who all these lives will be laid at, is the Queen." Then he walks along with the party.

"Never try to do that math," Haru explains as he looks at the window. "Do the best you can and never give that up," he offers as he wonders how much of his family's debt he wiped clean tonight. Not doing the math works both ways. There is something that is missing here, as he turns back to the Old Man, "If you need someone to talk to, I'll be here for a while longer. You did good." Everyone needs recognition and encouragement, even Kunies.

Kauchemar nods. They did what needed to be done. The Kunie was probably going to be a mental mess, but there was little they could do about that. "Once we get clear of this place I'll let our outside forces know of our success." As she'll be able to Oracle someone before anyone else gets into normal Chimlink range climbing out of the depths of this bizarre other space.