Wave Of Calamity: 10

The City's Lights are bright in the background. Even in the midst of the dark light cast by the swirling and ominous clouds above them, the Lumina Cloth lights are piercing through. Massive lasershows still at play.

This is the first Wave of Calamity for the Palace Lands. This is the first time they should have heard of it. What's more, people have not found any Sands at all at any of the churches. The New World Alliance, while present in the region, is there in an exploratory function, and the same goes for the lements of Olympus that roam these lands. To say nothing of Scale Emblem Alliance. By all means, they are too small a group to adequately annihilate a raid as massive as one might expect the tenth floor defeat to bring.

Then why...

Why are they surrounded by an army that is so thoroughly ready? If it were not for the lack that there's no massive Undine navy presence, surely all of the Palace Lands should be considered being here. Grinning boisterous, and some even somewhat drunk, Adventurers. Musclebound Landers. Wispy mages from Thor Kingdom, and a small army worth of straight out Pooka archers and mages on the backlines.

----

The New World and Olympus Alliance had some of their members reaching out, doing a bit of payment work on Mercenaries within Lumina Cloth, but they most certainly did not pay them enough for this. Parts of the Yamato groups arrived by boat, and there's even a support ship belonging to a naval guild of the NWA partway into the waters at the coast.

Having deployed into the field, they all await amidst their Palace Lands allies. Some tents have been deployed, suggesting a longer duration of stay for some of these forces. But there's clearly communication going on.

"Alright people, ready up! It'll arrive in ten seconds!" A young woman, Filimøs Harrifenas, announces at the forefront of it all. "Take aiiiim!"

The clouds begin to widen a bit, as they usually do. Almost like they were opening up to something. And it would not be long before there's a sudden violent series of thunderclaps. One after another, Undead begin to be brought to the ground! Each bolt of lightning sending the creatures into the middle of this open field so close to Lumina Cloth! Followed by the various Palace Lands armies to rush forward, shouting and laughing; "Let's farm some more XP!" With some of the Landers calling out; "I'm going to make so much arena winnings! Raaaah!"

Skeletons, ghouls, every kind of Undead one can thing of is landing into the field. Yet nothing feels... nothing feels dangerous. Nothing has that sense of those Soul Devourers they once met. There is no Lich...

The Waves. The /Tenth/ Wave. The raid came and went without Proteus even knowing it was happening. "I'm losing a grip on things." Proteus mutters to herself as she looks up at the sky. "This shouldn't be happening. This shouldn't be happening at all... And especially not here." She looks over the forces assembled... And how few of the Yamato Adventurers are present. Assuredly not the massive response forces that they had fielded beforehand.

"... So why are they so prepared?" Proteus says, muttering to herself as she considers the Landers and Adventurers present. It's good that they're able to do so, but... "There wasn't adequate warning..." She looks out over the field once more, listening. "They even have it timed properly. These people... have depths they have yet to reveal." Proteus frowns to herself.

Paradox in hand and already unfolded into bow form, the Imp is already activating an Ability as the Undead begins landing... But they lack the punch that the Imp is used to. ( U Arcane Shots rain out from the cloaked Archaeologist, but Proteus is looking over her shoulder. "This can't be all. This is just the vanguard..." Paranoid? Or prediction?

    Rizadoman had been rushing like mad to get here from seeker's landing, even ran Bird to exhaustion before he had to leave the poor Peko at a farm to be watched then run the rest of the way, hop boats, whatever he needed and he only made it early that morning. So here he was out in the field as he wathes the fight and doesn't understand, " This ...this isn't normal." Due to the lack of threat he makes his way towards Filimos on the field, figuring such a princess probably should have an extra shield for now. " I was concerned when I heard you were not at the Landing, I assume my stories helped you and othersfigure out what was coming? " He says to Filimos as he watches the battle unfold,waiting for now.

Yeowang has come out for the event, at the head of a small group of mercenaries that she put the coin out for, herself, but she's wildly pleased to see that the Palace Lands natives are here in such force. Some of it may be her doing, but not all of it by a longshot. She will have seen to it that they become part of whever overarching command structure is in place, rather than going on their own, which is of course the Adventurers' prerogative.

As the undead drop, that familiar background tension she'd felt before is absent, but she won't complain about /that/. Maybe it's what you get when you Wave in an area farther from your tower? But that's all idle speculation, and right now, fresh from some special high-intensity training and a bit tired, she nevertheless throws herself into the waves of enemies like the MMA champion that she is, fists and kicks going out all around, laying out damage, pummeling any undead that get too close with savage blows and expertly times strikes.

Among those who had gathered along with the New World Alliance's forces, is Mikage Yurei. She had already been on her way back to the Palace Lands after the tournament, intending on continuing her explorations in search of the strange island she had been given a vision of...

However, that would have to wait. With the clouds swirling and the impending Wave coming their way, the Ranger does what she always does, rise to the occasion.

The thing is... something didn't feel right to her, even from the beginning. Honestly, something hasn't felt right about the Palace Lands for a long time. This, just seems to be the cherry on the sundae of weirdness surrounding this place and its people. So, where she might normally be up close and personal with the enemy, Miki has held back closer to the shore.

Crouching, she places a hand onto Rama, speaking to her Lynx as she sends a bit of her power his way. She taps her chimlink, murmuring, "You remember that weird feeling I've been having? Yeah, it's gotten worse. Be Careful." She's obviously talking to someone on the other side, taking the opportunity before the start of battle cuts off that line of communication.

"They seem way too comfortable with this, and too well prepared." Mikage states, standing up at her full height. "I don't like any of it." Looking to her cat, she gives a hand signal, "Rama, check it out for me, and chomp a few of those undead while you're at it."

It took a trek across the Palace Lands as fast as she could muster, but Shiruba managed to make it towards Lumina Cloth in just the barest of time. She even managed to round up a few other Silver Sword members from the expedition operations along the way. Not many, but it would be something, right? Every little bit would help, right?

Needless to say, seeing an entire army at the wait was as surprising as finding out the Wave hit in the Palace Lands was. This was supposedly a first for the locals to deal with, this was more of a response to the danger than she would of imagined. At least this was a welcome surprise.

There was no sounds to count down, but to those familiar to the situation the clouds starting to open like a dark massive maw in the sky was a familiar cue. By the time the thunderclaps split the silence and the undead start to appear, they have their weapons at the ready. The Palace Land forces charge into battle with tremendous vigor. "High formation, mind the frontline units!" Shiruba calls over her shoulder even as she raises her own longbow up, nocks an arrow in it, and fires. The arrow arcs high to clear the frontal charge, then bursts in flames that rain down into the enemy lines. Doesn't seem to be like much....

Until the almost literal hail of arrows follows, hunters using the glow of Shiruba's flare shots to aim their own barrage with precision while keeping their distance from the melee.

"It won't be the first time the first wave conceals a greater threat..." Shiruba mutters solemnly.

    Merek looks along to the prepared armies, while he takes the time to nod to Proteus, "I will admit, I asked Uta to prepare the people in advance, though I think that this isn't the work of people that only had a few days warning," he will admit. He wears dark attire along with the hood up while he takes the time to check along the equipment which he keeps with him. "Anyway. We will deal with things as they come."

Miho had not been in the Land of Dragon's for very long. She had just finished unloading things from her ship before she was dragged to the City of Lights. The wave was comming and she sought to do her best best to support the defenders of this city. She would be linlinmg up with Shiruba to act as ranged support, also in close defence. She would draw her bow take aim and starts letting the arrows fly.

"Great things are just going to get worse and worse with this ain't it?!"

"Father made contact with someone who explained everything." Filimøs Harrifenas answers Rizadoman as he takes up position at her side, as she fires earthy arrows from enemy to enemy, letting them turn blunt just before impact to crush their skeleton bones. She glances aside at the Lizardman for a moment, then refocuses on the battle.

For much of it, it looks like the Palace Lands basically has this in the bag, even as the lightning-strikes start getting faster. And each time people cut down a good ten enemies, the lightning ripples down again, pulling those ten together into a larger, more high level skeleton, which then begins to attack the forefronts!

Yeowang moves in, pummeling apart some of the Skeletons. Their bones breaking easily beneath her high level blows. They had all leveled significantly since the last encounter. Since the last wave. These enemies would perhaps have been a bit more trouble a few months back. But now, they're keeping pace! Even as the reforming undead grow more powerful - but lower in numbers after that resurrected growth in power - they are still faring well.

Arcane blasts tear apart another group of them, Proteus providing some support for Yeowang, ripping a group of Zombies apart with her blasts, before their white light combines into another lightning strike, and a larger zombie begins to lumber forward. Only for Mikage's pet, Rama, to bite into its hand and tear it off, before its body begins to freeze in place!

Flames come down upon the heads of their enemies, thanks to Shiruba's flare. And amidst the dark shadows cast by those ominous clouds, it grants people the vision they need. The Palace Land warriors seem to move through their own opponents with similar ease. Many of them at slightly-lower-to-similar levels to the ones fighting.

Then there's a sudden bolt of fire that lands a bit too close for comfort right near Proteus. As Miho was mentioning just earlier, things were about to get worse... and worse.

The Another series of lightning, as the undead continue to fall. And with each group of ten, the enemy's numbers fall, but their power grows. Larger Skeletons begin to rise. Zombies form into some kind of fat Super Zombies. Skeletons seem to combine into larger skeletons. Stomping towards the various folk. A few Palace Landers, lower level, get squashed while laughing, clearly not taking their death /that/ seriously. It feels like they're just having fun.

Then suddenly...

Rizadoman experiences as sharp pain. There's a red light. And as his eyes gaze up, there's an arrow poking out between his eyes. It shattes, as it loses integrity. But there's still something disturbing about having a piece of metal arrowhead just... sticking out like that. As he turns, he sees Filo in an attack stance, her bow still aimed at him, already drawing her next arrow.

Not a moment later, two large brutes try to grab at Proteus' hair, in an attempt to pull the mage to the ground and lock her to the ground, right at the same time as another team of Adventurers jump right for Mikage - piling onto her with five of them coming from all directions. One throwing a net at her while the other four try to get her with javelins!

A team of mages focus on Merek and Miho with a violent burst of Lightning in an attempt to paralyze them, right as rocks raise up from the ground and try to grab hold of the two. Yeowang, surrounded by skeletons, suddenly has a series of siege-level fireballs coming right her way. And Shiruba has to deal with a foursome of archers suddenly aiming for her and firing right for her legs, trying to disable her from getting away!

Yeowang is doing just fine against the skeletons and zombies, they're clearly intended for lower level players. Or something. But then there's siege fireballs coming down, and she's got to dash out of the way, body-checking skeletons to get clear, which she does, but just barely. And when she looks to see what's going on, she grimaces. "Betrayed."

She looks to see the disposition of her own forces, but, after a quick scan, she can't find them at all. She's in the middle of the attacking Wave in any event, and the Landers have come at us, and she's still looking for the troops who took her coin. If she can rejoin them, maybe they can help us.

She's fighting off the enemies immediately surrounding her, and finally spies their colors flying from a banner, but it looks like they've gone over as well. This will have to be something she takes care of on another day.

    Rizadoman watches the battle getting antsy as things go so well. Then at that moment he tastes keylime pie, or is that just how the system tells you that you were shot in the head. He reaches up and feels the arrow and then turns to look at the shooter and see Filimos, " Why ? Why would you ?" Over his chimlink he can hear it all as he swivels his head taking everything in as time slows down for that moment. The lizardman is shocked, but he raises his shield and shakes his head once more before, " Call this off please Filimos, there is still time. We can talk about this." There is a desperate plea in his voice but he wasn't going to stand and give out free hits any more either.

    Merek looks to the mages that stand in his way when the whole army begins to turn on them. The man takes the time to step back while he lifts up a hand, energy circling about the wrist while he blasts a fireball into the Palace Land mages even while he takes a strike from their magic. Red shimmers along with that, and it looks like he's watching to see if people need any assistance, "RETREAT!" Then a look to the mages, "Why are you doing this?"

There is a moment of clarity as Rama comes running back towards her out of the battle with the undead. His eyes look to her, then flick away in such a subtle fashion that many wouldn't catch that unspoken communication. It's enough of a signal to Mikage that there is trouble incoming, and it's closer at hand than she might have expected.

The net comes barreling towards her, along with the five Palace Lands Adventurers also moving in around her. Then, the Were Fang seems to flicker before blinking out of sight. Rama weaves around them, rejoining her as she emerges nearby, the silvery threads of her cloak showing trailing hints of magic.

"What the fuck?!" It's less of a question and more of an exclaimation of outrage. Something hadn't seemed right, but this? For someone who doesn't normally engage in PvP outside of friendly tournament matches or the duelist league, this is enough to spike anger in her, causing her eyes to flash white briefly, her hands trembling in advance to what would normally be a Were Fang shift.

Instead, she starts to let out a string of curses that is largely just repeating the words: "Fuck you." Over and over again while backing further up the beach, making towards the ship. She doesn't even bother questioning them, or trying to make any kind of logic in their actions.

"Out of my way, assholes." Apparently, the angrier you get Mikage, the more of a potty mouth she develops. Also, the more of her Were Fang self shows through. With a snarl, she lashes out with one hand, a large image of a claw appearing in the air as it swipes sideways, slashing at enemy Adventurers and shoving them out of her way in the process.

The battle seems simple enough. The Undead begin merging, upgrading their own power, but that doesn't seem to be all that unusual.

What /is/ unusual is how the Landers seem to not care at all when they are crushed. They're Landers. Why don't they care? "They're laughing... At death? Why?" Proteus' eyes squint. "Something's wrong here."

Almost on cue, the attack comes. Proteus whirls, trying to activate an Ability to escape but is caught before she can do so. With a yelp, she is smashed to the ground by the brutes. "... Betrayal!?" She hisses, her eyes widening. "What madness is this?" The Imp, wounded and disheveled by the manhandling, grits her sharklike teeth. "So be it." There is an unearthly twist of the Imp's body as she begins wriggling to get out of the grip, one hand tracing shapes.

V S M

A moment later, there is a thunderous crash as an Earth Pillar smashes upwards, hopefully knocking away her assailants to give her the ability to rise up and go full evasion, seeking out the quickest path out of the sudden horde of combatants. "Do these people have nothing /better/ to do?" She grates as latches reset on the bow, popping open as the weapon collapses down. "Second Alignment." She mutters, the bow shape being twisted and locked back into place as a sturdy handle, a heavy flanged weight on the end.

As skeletons start to algamate into larger abominations and zombies bloating to more threatening sizes, Shiruba decides it's a strategic point to switch to a defensive stance. She focues, and slams a foot into the ground as if bracing herself. Winds kick up around her, cyclonic streams flitting through her long wild hair and the loose edges of clothing as it does so.

It's by a stroke of luck she chose that moment to use that technique, as the winds whirling also scatter the arrows that are suddenly turned on her. "What the hell?!" she barks. Which is punctured by a gargled yowl as one of the other hunters that came with her takes an arrow through the throat. The rest of the small group don't need an order, as soon as 'get out' is heard they drop their attacks to grab wounded allies to draw back... even though there is an enemy army in the way.

Shiruba is hurt.

Not physically, as she deflected the arrows. But emotionally. She felt bad for indirectly allowing this by helping the expedtions to lower the quarentine and to makes contact with the new region. They came to help, to try and correct the matter. Only for the locals to turn on them for some reason.

Shiruba is hurt, deeper than any arrow or sword could strike. Deep in a way few others have manange.

It shows, not in outrage, but in her brow knitting tight, and solemn yet flat toned. "Fine." Friends and allies are being struck at by the people they wanted to help. Their trust and willingness betrayed. That hurts her more. Though her demeanor remains in stoic 'leader' mode, the inner turmoil can be seen flickering bits in her eyes.

Tranquil fury.

No arrow is drawn. Shiruba just pulls back on the line of her bow as she tilts it upward, a shaft of electricity forming in Thundersnow Howl as she does so. Which is fired into the air, to disappear.

A peal of thunder rivaling those heralding the Undead spawns can be heard.

In contrast Shiruba's voice is low, barely above a whisper. "Cross the Storm and earn her scorn."

"Lord. Of. Vermillion."

The rumbles turn into a literally THUNDEROUS ROAR as a Massive Bolt of Lightning splits from it, crashing down into the ranks of the Palace Land forces, releasing a shockwave of pressurized, ionized air not unlike an explosion as it does so.

And then it does again. And again, providing some considerable area coverage despite the now-enemies' numbers.

History repeats or at least it Rhymes. For centuries Miho's family had been smiths and some of their arms had been used against the people of China. Once again this is about to happen but not in a way Miho would have ever guessed. She'd come to help protect the people of this land and they had attacked in the middle of the fighting. She's caught off guard by the assault, the magic does catch Miho it's pretty bad she screams she's taken a good deal of injuries but the small smith and Samuari endures it and can keep moving. The liminal rings in her eyes glow.

She draws her Katana and will bolt at the mages there is no mercy in her actions she aims to take them down as swiftly as brutally as possible. Her Katana is on fire.

There are no words her eyes say it all there is one thing on her mind the deaths of these two mages. She leaps for the first one, one slash aiming for their throat, then the next for the stomach followed up by an upward cut then and a final one down.

She turns and will try to kick off the first mage going for the second intending to behead them with a powerful strike and if that fails she's going to breathe fire in their face and follow that up with more attacks.

In the middle of it all, Yeowang is in a very vulnerable position. Though she's managing to get hit in a manner that is severe enough that she'd drop in health, the constant parade of Skeletons and Zombies towards her is making it hard to deal with the enemy Adventurers and Landers. She sees red indicators of PvP around her as they move at the fringes of her sight. Each time she tries to punch or retaliate, they seem to duck behind enemies. Pressing upon her in the midst of her retreat.

Not too far away from him, Rizadoman turns and sees Filimos, grimacing at him as he asks her 'why'. She doesn't lower her bow. "To prevent another tragedy. It is clear that Adventurers cannot be trusted to leave us well enough alone. This Wave alone proves it." She answers him. "This is too late now." She notes, right before firing a twin set of arrows right for his feet, trying to pin the large Lizard and halt him from moving! Followed by two Werefang Tigerbears bearing large Lances, roaring out loud and trying to stab him from two sides at an angle where they would not harm eachother if Rizadoman avoided the blow.

Merek's body continues to be assaulted by the mages, even as the team starts to retaliate. Moving towards the ship near hte beach, the team is doing their best to get through. A twosome of Pooka get in the way, suddenly trying to use ropes to flip Merek and keep him in places, hoping to literally tie his feet together, while another pair of Pooka try to grab at his hands to stop him from casting any more Fireballs.

A violent claw attack bursts apart sands towards the beach, as Mikage engages with the Palace Lands. Tearing one of them apart, shattering their vision, there's a burst of light as one of the Adventurers is torn apart by her magic. Sand grappling at her feet, trying to raise up and hold onto Mikage, and drag her back! A set of mages using earth magic near her!

There's a sudden rattling into the air, as two long metal chains reach out towards Proteus, trying to grab her by the legs, then drag her down! A series of spikes being born beneath her from earth, as a set of warriors and mages work together, hoping to capture her - while the men who'd tried to hold her are being flung around like ragdolls!

Around them all, furious lightning rips through the sky. Shattering a few Adventurers here and there. Shiruba sees at least one or two Landers perish by her large scale assault upon the enemy. She's defending herself, she has to protect herself... but in this battlefield, there is no way she can avoid those kinds of deaths.

A bit further along the beach, Miho's blade tears apart two mages, only for them to get reinforced by another group running towards her. A set of people riding Pekos with lances, lunging Javelins at her one after another! The constant assault doesn't halt. And while they are almost though, they still have to get to that boat! And there's now large stone walls being erected in the way! Earth Magic being used to block their path!

Sand may grip at her feet, slowing her down, but there is something relentless about a Were Fang who is pissed off and just wants to get the hell out of here. That, and her own connections to Earth and Stone push back against what is being done to her.

"Oh fuck you guys in particular..." She mutters. Mikage manages to avoid being captured, yet a second time, as her form bursts into mist briefly. It is likely a technique they haven't seen before, since it is something she learned from the undead in the Ninetails Dominion.

However, seeing those walls start to loom up to block their way, she curses, then seems to feel a pulse of heat against her hand from where The Pale Blue sits within her bow. "Right... that might work."

Drawing it out, she channels magical power into it, holding it outwards. Formed out of light, a bridge, complete with stairs forms over the erected wall. "Go, go, go! I don't know how long this will hold up if they decide to attack it, but it should hold long enough to get most people across!"

As much as Shiruba dislikes the idea of having to harm Landers, she accepts that there is no other option. They made themselves enemies when they joined in the fight that turned against those who had come to help. This is an all-out war to survive now. They have no other choice.

Shiruba draws her storm magic back to herself, causing frost to freeze in layers over her body and mists to whisp into the air. It's not going to fend off all the attacks coming her way, but she accepts that, taking a protective position as Mikage makes her escape route. "When we won't give them the chance to." She growls in a very canine fashion as she draws a cluster of arrows from her quiver. "I won't give them the chance to." She can feel hits getting through her defense. She doesn't let it stop her.

An arrow is drawn back in her bow, obsidian arrowhead gleaming as she does. Shiruba aims. "Good thinking Mikage. Everyone up the stairs!"

Shiruba fires. Crystal Skewer arrows living up to their name with each one she fires, puncturing through armor and digging deep aggrivating wounds into flesh. She can't shoot enough to stop every attacker. But she won't stop shooting.

Shiruba won't start up the steps until everyone else is on the way. She's Guild Leader, it's her job to protect everyone else.

    Rizadoman watches the arrows and instantly slings his shield at them as the shield hits it and bounces forward to attack Filimos's bow directly, any further damage caused by richochets are incidental. Meanwhile the two tiger fang and there lances seem to be defective against dragon scale skin as Rizadoman catches his shield, " This is not over Filimos." Turning he begins to run towards the retreat signal that looks like a glowing bridge and begins to speak into the chimlink," As it has been said we have been betrayed, someone has put us to blame for this all. Someone must make it out here to warn our people around this land, otherwise more deaths then just ours may occur today. " Another pause as he runs avoiding attacks before adding over chim, " Also Mikage, language."

Yeowang is trapped in the midst of the melee and between the Wave and the now-enemy Landers. Well, this is complcated," she thinks as her health bar drops, and she gets a very determined expression. She bounces a couple times on her feet, then dashes through the melee, bodychecking anyone that doesn't get out of her way.

Choosing her moment, she leaps into the air, getting an impressive hang time, as far as that goes, her legs extended and twirling until they impact one of the enemies with a sicking chrunch, propelling him back the way she came, or what remains of him, and catapuling Yeowang up the stairs provided for our convenience. That's good, at least!

    Merek takes another of the strikes from the Landers and Adventurers, while he takes the time to begin to draw his weapon, then he takes a potion from the belt which he throws along into the people. That explodes, probably taking a few lives, memories, who knows what it takes. The man tries to think about things that aren't that. It's clear he does not want to do it, all the same he will. "Everyone! You can make it, if I need to hold them back... Well, I don't have a lot of energy. I'm about down!" He is glowing with that shimmer, while he takes the time to motion to the people, "Alright, take me on!" He steps up the stairs, "You know, we are not the only Adventurers! SEA is the one making the Waves!" Perhaps part of him wants to stay here and... He can't think that what he is doing is right. "I don't think I'm going to make it guys, you all get away!"

Proteus might have a lot to say if she heard what was said to Rizadoman. But right now, she has other things to attend to. The unified assault of the mages and warriors means she has endless incoming attacks and precious little room to dodge.

But if you can't dodge, there's other options. Proteus hisses and flicks her hand: ^ S O

A roaring wave of air springs into existence around her, the manacle chains being caught up and spinning around her as she contests the earth magery with air-based defense. "Elemental opposition, heh." She grins, and then reaches out. "I've got just the solution for this one." Her hands snap through the air, rearranging the chains and... with a CLACK, they snap closed... over the spikes that are being shot up from below. With a turn, Proteus uses that moment to turn and rush forward, seeing the massive wall being erected before her. "D... Damn, Lightningstep is on cooldown..." She mutters... But then Mikage is right there, creating a path through. "Where /do/ they get those wonderful toys?" Proteus marvels for a moment... Before she runs for the brilliant stairs.

As she rushes the path out, the flail smashes back and forth, crushing with swift, accurate strikes to try to bring down whatever might be in her path... Until she activates another Ability. "Get... out of the /way/." > U A sphere of water manifests around the flanged flail-head and she hammers it down into the ground... The blast of water smashing outwards and delivering high knockback around the impact point so she can get to that exit! "Come on people! Think on your feet! We're not out yet!"

Miho is fighting for her life and showing she has zero care for her foes at all. She hit again and again but she does not go down, a legend of an old Samurai comes to mind of how much it took to kill him. She turns to them. There is a laugh from Miho and it's not a nice one as they tear her up. Her HP is red and she can hear the warning. She hears Proteus's words and an idea forms in her head. She'll draw her bow and will start shooting not the mounts but the Riders. Hoping to cause some confusion by riderless mounts panic of being without control.

She's going to be pushing for the bridge with everyone else it's Time to go.

Steps of light create a path for the Yamato Adventurers during their retreat. And the moment they crest above, they see a few other Palace Lands Adventurers and Landers blocking their path! The ship behind them all is moving small boats out, ready to pick them up and get them to safety. But they also see a sudden set of large BURSTS in the water near the ship. A large Navy ship from the Rosenheim Kingdom is approaching, and its mages are using some kind of canon at its port to fire Fireballs across a larger distance, trying to catch their only way to safety!

Crystal arrows puncture through armor, and lance enemies to the ground as they pierce through. Some of the higher level Adventurers snap the arrows from their bodies as they try to intercept. Some of them running up along the steps along with them. But the moment that the Yamato Adventurers are up, the hardlight steps begin to fade, cutting off the path behind them. With Yeowang head-stomping anyone who gets too close to following them along, slamming them into the ground like some kind of Down B Spike.

After a jump, the ground land in the sands, and the massive earth wall begins to lower behind them. But it's taking some time to sink the magic away, and return the lands back to normal. Behind them, the war against the Skeletons continue, and it looks like there's an absolutely /enormous/ Skeleton and Ghoul forming that is raking large swaths through their army. The Palace Lands clearly can't put their all into getting to them!

"We cannot allow that tragedy to repeat itself." Filimos answers Rizadoman, almost in a repeat of last time, and fires another arrow right for his head. The enemy keeps following them, firing arrow after arrow. Magic blast after magic blast after them!

Then suddenly, a person jumps from within the crowds amongst the Adventurers. All that Merek sees is dark hair and the golden eyes of a wolf, before he gets dragged along the wall. Their hands move quickly in front of them and Merek understands as clear as if it were spoken: "Don't die." That's all he gets from the person before he is unceremoniously /LOBBED/. Before he can get his bearings and look back, the person is gone. There is nobody there but a large crowd of Angry Palace Landers coming for him.

Merek lands right next to Proteus with an akward skid, while she's in the midst of setting up her next strike. The enormous waterblast sailing across the beach, tearing apart a large group of her opponents and sending them falling to the ground, scrambling to get back up! Miho catches up seconds later! Having shot two of the riders, she's managed to steal one of their Pekos and is using it to go faster down the beach. The small boats having arrived. The team just needs to get onto them and prevent them from being fireballed before they can reach the ship...

And hope they can get away. As a rain of Fireballs follow towards their position, amidst a hail of unceasing arrows!

Yeowang is now over the wall and bolting headlong for the boats, to get out of here. It's hardly how she imagined things going, with the betrayal of the Palace Landers being completely unexpected. Apparently they have some idea of what causes waves. If not how bad they can be, because this was probably the easiest actual wave she'd faced.

Her HP is dropping, there's nothing she can do about it now, she leaps into one of the boats, and immediately concentrates on the wind. She's had issues with magic in game, or the semi-magical elemental system; she doesn't understand it very well. But luckily she's got an affinity for air and her hunters' insight for identifying a critical path for getting things done, and wind springs up quickly, filling the sails as she ducks behind a gunwhale to avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

    Merek looks to the wolf who saw him at the back of the group ready to take on the people until everyone else escaped. Only for it to tell him in its own way for him not to be killed, and launch him right next to Proteus. Even as the man lands a hand will lift up to draw a shield about him, taking it off of the strap along his back. It manages to protect him. He seems about to begin singing when he notices that someone else is assisting Miho.
    Then he nods a bit to Proteus, "Well, looks like we have different plans today. Everyone, let's get ready to go!" He draws up the magic wind wall and will begin to call that to the sails. Then he notices that Rizadoman will be working the ship. He moves to the man to offer him a hand up when he finishes, "Come on! We're all getting away!" The man calls.

Shiruba leaps down to the other side of the wall and starts making across the beach. There's the boats. They're almost there, but there is still the rabid mob behind them. "GET ON THE BOATS!"

Fireballs rain down on the shore. Even not directly hitting their blasts burn hot and painfully. Shiruba grits her teeth even as she feels the scorching energy, and pushes through. This was not time for doubting, for giving up.

Exhausted and beaten up, she starts channeling as much remaining elemental magic into her bow.

This time not firing on the crowd, but firing blasts of wind into the sails of the boats. "Get the wounded on first! If you can't cast or defend, keep your head down so you're not a target!"

Up until now, Mikage had managed to avoid taking much in the way of damage from the Palace Lands forces, but building that bridge for them to escape seems to have been enough that it has drained her mana and left her slower than she'd otherwise want to be.

Breathing hard, she ends up taking a fireball to the back, knocking her prone in the sands. Cursing, despite any reprimands from Rizadoman, she scrambles to her feet, "Rama, get to the boats!" As always, she is more concerned with her companion than with herself.

Something that extends further to those others around her. Spotting one of the fireballs coming at Miho, she shouts, "Look out!" Giving a warning as she tosses herself in the way, trying to throw up a shield at the last moment, but it sends her skidding towards the boats.

Burnt and battered, Miki just about crawls onto the boat, Rama worriedly pawing at her. "We need to get out of here." She gasps, and then focuses what magic of hers remains in trying to help them get the boat moving.

    Rizadoman takes another arrow to the head , as he runs , raising his shield just to slow and feeling it sink in. This causes him to stumble and roll down from the bridge to the otherside hitting the ground with a thud. Scrambling towards the boat as people begin to climb on he moves through the water and towards the back of the boat. "Naga ancestors please bless me with the strength of the Brontosaurus." He grips a pin woven into his shirt and he bulks up a bit as he begins to push at the back of the boat like everyones life depends on it. Slowly he can feel it starting to move.

Over the wall and to the boat! Proteus is rushing as fast as her feet can carry her... And when Merek craters into the ground next to her, the Imp looks down only for a moment before she's pulling him up and helping to drag him along. "This time... everyone lives." She says, her eyes narrow as he says his piece. "Come on, Merek! We go! Together!"

She rushes towards the boats, but the hail of fireballs and arrows are just too much for her to just keep abusing Dodge Rolls to escape. Eventually, one of them will tag you when you're not in iframes (not that she actually gets iframes but it's fun to make the reference), and Proteus is sent skidding along the sand before the boat.

With a groan, she drags herself onto the ship, trying to keep her head down. She tries to do /something/ to help, but maybe the suppressive fire is just too much for her to get anything useful done. "Hurry. We have to go!" She hisses.

Miho has stolen a Peko She let out a hip as she'll ride down to the boat the's no time to worry about it she'll leap off the bird kicking it in the butt to get going. She didn't want to be cruel to the bird even if it's rider had deserved to be blended. She was making for the boat but she doesn't see anything then come the warning form Mikage.

"Mikage!" She's saved from the fireball and she does not speak she acts as she moves to attempt to opt aid Mikage into getting into the boat. There is a debt owed to Mikage now she attempt to use what little water arts she has to help get the boat moving as soon as possible.

Getting the wounded on first seems to mean getting everyone on first, as everyone's health is critically in the red. The attacks keep coming, but luckily, with the help of everyone, the boats practically /launch/ towards the ship. A wake of water blasting upwards behind them creates a defensive curtain that is halting further fireballs from reaching them...

And thanks to their speed, they avoid one of the massive Shipborne fireballs coming from the Rosenheim navy from hitting their little crew of small boats.

They don't have time to pull the longboats back onto the ship however. They're forced to abandon them in favor of quick acrobatics and other such effects. Getting on board, they find multiple Adventurers, much of them mages, already exhausted. They've been using shield magics to protect the ship and their retreat as much as possible.

Many of them are starting to show signs of Mana Exhaustion, while others are managing by taking an exorbanant amount of Mana Potions and keeping it up. Another blast BLARES across a large erected shield. And a quick usage of water magic douses the flame, before the ship begins to take off, its anchor already having been releasing as the Yamato folk got on board. But the Navy is chasing them, trying to catch up! There's a constant rain of attacks coming from behind them, that is forcing them to remain 'In Combat', preventing them from reaching out!

As they are being chased on their retreat back to the Seeker's Landing.

    Rizadoman climbs out of the water and gets himself onto deck before to much speed is acquired and watches the arrows continue to keep up with them forcing them into combat. Taking a breath he looks at Proteus as he heard th emention over the chimlink. " We have a few hours at the very least we should heal up and if we can't chim back to anyone at the half way point we will discuss those heart shards. Also we should start rotating sleep and ration any food, no need to go in fully exhausted." It is the best advice he can think of in his current state.

There is a look of appreciation offered to Miho, when she aids Mikage into the boats. As soon as the act of self-sacrifice was given, it is seemingly forgotten about. The Ranger isn't one to hold debts over anyone, except maybe Cyrus...

Getting onto the boat is a bit of a harder task, but she manages, eventually needing the help of one of the boat's mages to haul her half-charred arse up the side of the ship. There, she collapses against the railing, out of Mana, low on Health, and too exhausted at the moment to help defend or move the ship.

"Just... give me a few. Then I'll be right as rain." A few may mean... a few hours. Or more. Probably more. Definitely more.

    Merek looks between the party, and nods a bit to Proteus. "Thank you," then he notices that Riz will board with them. He does take the time to lift up a hand, "I call upon the power of the one who guides the Lost Ones. May you bring the power of healing to the people," he offers, then the magic will begin to shimmer along the entire boat. It heals people while he takes the time to walk to the mast and settle next to it, "We will probably be chased all the way to Seeker's. The defenses there... I wonder if they were taken. I know all of them in and out, I'll come with ya. If anyone wants to get word to people, I will offer ya a dungeon piece with me."

Miho feel she owes Mikage one, however she's worn out and just sprawls out on the deck face first. Her tail is right up in the air and she looks to Merke for a moment. "I have an Dungeon piece that might be of use in my inventory."

While sprawled out on the deck Shiruba tries the chimlink... but of course with the pursuing ships attacking they're still counted as in combat and it doesn't work.
"This is... too orchestrated to be a recent occurance." She sighs, which turns into a slight groan of weary soreness. "I... don't think the Wave was a cause. It was an... oppritunity they took advantage of, knowing some of us would show up."

Yeowang is grateful for the heals, she's currently staring out over the stern looking for signs of pursuit, but it's not visible now. But we're still showing as in-combat, so they must be pursuiing. She's not sure how this works, this is, ironically, her first experience at PVP. Unusual given her RL hobby, but there you go. "This was a setup," she agrees with Shiruba. "But the question is, what do we do?"