The Wood immaculate is mesmerized. This time she actually listens to Third's speech in its entirety, raising not a hand to help her peers. Something about this dark-haired figure is incredibly attractive and commands the entirety of her attention. Not just in a physical way -- but through its demeanor, through the passion with which it delivered its words.

She frowns, creasing her brow, but does not immediately reject Third's ideas. "Your interpretation of Exaltation is... highly idealistic. And I think you misunderstand our motivations. Of course we wish to all leave this place in time. But it is only when we are ready for it. Weren't you taught why we are trapped here in the first place? It is not simply because we like the underground. It's because the..." She actually pauses, because her next word would have been 'Anathema'. "The world above was devastated by a terrible calamity. We have lost our home and hid here for hundreds of years in order to build up an army and develop weapons enough to take back the Blessed Isle."

"Only a few elders are left who remember what happened above. But it was you, Solars and Lunars. We have no proof that it could not happen again--that you wouldn't cause harm in the Third Age as well, if allowed a chance to seize power. That's why we keep you under control. Not all of us do so for sadistic reasons, or for selfish ones." That is as much an admittance that she believes some Dragon-blooded are out of line. But the Wood immaculate is starting to look reluctant to keep speaking. "We are taught that you embody a threat to society. And you often do not understand the danger you pose, but we must be vigilant. I can't... I can't just let myself stop believing, after all the warnings, all the tests of my integrity, that you aren't trying to trick me with this talk of ending hatred."

She raises her bow, her expression suddenly hardening as she steps slowly away from Third. "I'm sorry."

Dena dives towards the two remaining armed acolytes, and does a sudden midair spin that puts her between them as she lands on her hands and kicks backwards suddenly, taking each acolyte in the spine and attempting to take them down for the remainder of the battle.  Dena hardly pauses, using the momentum of the kicks to launch back into the air she quietly heads down the tunnel to dispatch the other fleeing acolyte at a speed so high it leaves a jetwash of dust rising off the ground and flowing after her.

[Private to GM: Flurrying 2 kicks.  Laughing Wounds Form adds my MA skill to any bashing attack, so my base damage before sux is 12B on kicks.

As of now Dena's speed is 6 dex +2 wounds x4 wings x2 anima for a total of 64 yards a tick.  I'll just use a normal move, not dash.

10:41, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 4 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,2,5,5,4,8,10,6,5,1,9,6. Kick 2. ]

Higura's blows come seemingly from nowhere. It does not seem the Fire immaculate notices him at all, as she does not so much as raise her daiklaves to defend. He strikes the Fire immaculate with his sheathed weapon, the impacts largely absorbed by her breastplate, but obviously felt by her as she staggers with a hiss of breath. (3B)

Nanaret's brute-force tackle doesn't quite manage to knock him down, but it nonetheless stuns him enough to slow his retreat. He doesn't stop to fight her, but struggles to keep on moving, stumbling along erratically as he attempts to keep up with his female counterpart. (Tackle gives no damage, but he's stunned, -2 to non-reflexive rolls)

The Earth immaculate, expecting a second attack with the sash, actually makes a grunt of surprise when Talia kicks up into his crotch. Though he grimaces slightly, the Earth Dragon Form gives him balls of steel -- or stone, in this case. (1B) [Private to Talia Zerith: A feint, I tend to think is just represented by doing a flurry, really. Since you are splitting your action anyway, you just do two attacks but have the first one purposefully not hit, or do only subdual damage (subtract 1 sux from the roll). Anyway, I gave you a +3 stunt because I was quite amused at the 'low blow', but the kick still only did ping damage.]

Dena's double kick takes down one of the armed acolytes, knocking him solidly unconscious. (5B) The second armed acolyte takes the impact without harm, but still falls down onto his face. (0B, but knockdown) Aided by her wings, the wasp-Lunar's incredible burst of speed brings her easily within range to stop the last running acolyte.

---

OOC: next post will give the immaculates' next actions and the tick count.

"Show yourself!!" The Fire Aspect's orange-red eyes scan her surroundings, this time paying sharp attention to any disturbance in the air that may betray Higura's presence. She unleashes a single, blindingly swift slash at the first sign of motion, her right-hand blade flaring with blistering tendrils of flame. [Private to Yaishin Higura: I rolled 11 but forgot about her wound penalty, so 9 successes - 4 from your Blinding the Boar, so 5 successes, and your DV is at -3.]

The bright-eyed woman calls out to the Wood immaculate: "Jade Willow, you are the pride of Sextes Jylis. Remember who you are and what you represent! The words of the Anathema should not make you falter. They will lie, entice and mislead you for their own goals, for their freedom, for access to greater power. Do you understand? We cannot be distracted from our chance to expose their lair!"

Doubt flashes across the Wood Aspect's face only briefly before she steps away from Third and back into the battle. Her powerbow sprouts three shafts of warm green light, and with a prayer to Sextes Jylis, she fires them in quick succession to distract Dena her from her chase. Phantasmal emerald leaves swirl around her body and flourish with each shot, until the final arrow scatters the spiral of leaves in its wake, reducing them to fading pinpoints of verdant light. [Private to Tervila Dena: flurry of three arrows; 13 sux, 3 sux and 6 sux. You have -2 DV from actions, but +2 from your form. Still going to soak?]

The Earth Immaculate looks down wordlessly at Talia, then turns abruptly away from her. He thrusts out one hand as if to grab something directly in front of him, while the other cups the air with his palm. Both hands yank backward, together, and Third feels two sensations at once: a crushing force grasping at its neck, threatening to drag it off its feet, and an invisible pressure shoving against its nose and mouth. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: A two part clinch attempt... 7 and 3 successes. (The first attempt is the grab to hold you still, the second is to shut your mouth.) You are at -2 DV. If either clinch connects you are forced back into battle on the Earth Aspect's tick; otherwise, if you want to enter combat again at this point you need to reroll Join Battle.]

The acolytes Nanaret ravaged and Dena kicked to the ground start painfully clambering up to their feet, only one of them still holding onto his bow.

---

OOC: Defenses if appropriate, then next actions! 2 acolytes are running, chased by Dena and Nanaret respectively. 1 is dead, 1 is unconscious, 2 are still in the fight (if barely). [Private to Alus Tycho: if you want you can enter at tick 20.]

Apologies on my dice rolls, I screwed them up a lot from forgetting penalties and etc.

tick 17 - Fire immac (wounded 2L+3B)
tick 18 - Higura
tick 19 - Wood immac (attack Dena)
tick 20 - acolyte (unarmed, wounded 5L)
tick 21 - Nanaret
tick 23 - Talia, Earth immac (wounded 6L+1B), acolyte (armed, wounded 5L)
tick 24 - Dena
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

Third's eyes flicker as the other immaculate speaks. " Why would Eye need to lie? The truth is far more effective." The Solar looks up as the Earth Immaculate motions in the air, and its eyes lock with the Earth Immaculate. " You would silence the truth." it says, and as the invisible force reaches out, the Solar moves in a blur. It knows that it's body is not able to survive the crushing fists of that Earth Immaculate, and it refuses to let itself be taken out of this fight. Golden motes rise from it's body, illuminating the grasping hands that reach out for the Solar, and like a shadow, it moves, its entire body dropping, knees bending as it lets itself sink back out of the crushing grip, it's throat sliding away smoothly, as it moves its body forward, almost bonelessly, its body moving more like a pool of water than a living thing, as it reverses the curve of it's body, bringing itself into a low crouch. It's hands move to catch itself, crouched down low, legs bent, a small cloud of dust rising around it from the burst of earth. Sparkling rays of golden light lift out of it's body, becoming trapped in the force that rises from the gauntlet, making the two fists look like they're being attacked by a thousand enraged fireflies. It looks towards the Wood Immaculate. " Eye hope we can take you alive. There is a heroic soul in you yet." Then it is silent once more, as it leaps into battle again, towards the Earth Immaculate, this time. It trusts in Dena to be capable of fighting the Wood Immaculate- And it hopes, not killing her. The woman, Jade Willow, has at least shown herself to be willing to listen.

[Private to GM: Well, going for stunting out here. Also going to spend a Willpower Point, to try to make sure that I can avoid- I THINK I can do that, if I'm wrong, well, at least it's two less hands he has, and also is it just me or have I actually managed to avoid any injury thus far? And if I avoid him, 18:26, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 4 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,9,4,5,9. Join Battle. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Sat 21 Mar 2009.

Dena ducks down as the first arrow crosses over her back, alerting her to the attack.  Without slowing at all she spins in midair and catches the second, turning it's momentum around and throwing it like a giant dart to hit the the third incoming shot in a midair explosion of green sparkles that smashes her backwards, ironically speeding her after he quarry even more quickly.

[Private to GM: Yeah, I'll go ahead and soak + sensuous torment to recover essence again this time.]

As the Earth Aspect shrugs off her attack and turns away, Talia's eyebrow quirks slightly. "What are you, a eunuch?" she snaps.  As his attention is occupied with the particualrly-strange stranger, she attacks from behind, wtrapping her sash around his neck and hanging on for dear life.  A simple piece of cloth won't be able to do any real damage, but the pressure required to induce unconciousness is suprisingly small.

[Private to GM: Spending 1 wp for a success...
15:38, Today: Talia Zerith failed (no successes) using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,5,6,4,4,3,4. DEX+MA 1wp spent.
Well, crud again...]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Sun 22 Mar 2009.

Seeing her 'prey' struggling to retain his balance, Ranavalona's heart pounds in anticipation for the kill. One hand thrusts out to latch her claws onto the shoulder of the ineffectually running acolyte, then makes a violent, wrenching motion to drag her claws through the shoulder and down the back. Another burst of silver and dark-blue Essence ripples from her, the iconic aye-aye manifesting as a ghostly afterimage of shifting blue-violet shadow, as her second hand lunges snake-like to grasp firmly at the man's neck.

If he does not die immediately, she keeps holding onto him until she does, exerting all her strength in crushing his throat. "Struggling makes it harder for you, but more exciting for me," Ranavalona purrs into his ear, ignoring the distant complaints of Nanaret. That's enough, the other personality is saying, and Rana grimaces at the nuisance. No more!

"Feh..." As soon as the man dies, the Bitch Queen tosses the acolyte's body aside without so much as a flicker of remorse on her face. She crouches, licking at the blood on her claws, ready to run down the other fleeing man if Dena cannot catch him. Otherwise she returns to pick out her next prey among the remaining figures.

Perhaps one of the bald noisy ones. She licks her lips, a streak of blood wiped boldly on her cheek. [Private to GM: Well... I'll go with another 5 motes spent on the clinch attempt, to bring my total expenditure to 17m, 2wp, 2 valor channel so far.]

The first arrow that strikes Dena doesn't pierce her flesh, but absorbs into her body, making her feel suddenly lethargic. She manages to deflect the second and third arrows, but after that her forward motion is purely momentum. The only thing Dena feels like doing is remaining utterly still. [Private to Tervila Dena: The first attack that you soak doesn't do damage but instead is an enthralling attack. (Enthralling Blow Attack, DB book p. 211) Rather than a physical attack it's now a mental attack, with the number of successes she got (13) + her perma ess. So 16 successes against your MDV of 6. You are inactive for 16-6=10 actions and have to roll over 10 successes on Willpower+Integrity to resist.

I gave you +2 stunt for your defenses, but since you were parrying physical attacks I didn't apply it to MDV. On the other hand I will let you stunt to reduce the # of actions you lose, if you want.]

Nanaret/Ranavalona's claw attack shreds the acolyte's shoulder and gouges his back. He is already gravely wounded by the time she grips his neck and snaps it cruelly, tossing the body away. Nanaret is the next closest to pursue the last fleeing acolyte (currently 27 yards away) but if she runs past the area the builder bugs brought offline, she will have to contend with automaton sentries patrolling the area. [Private to Saina Nanaret: +3 stunt! I'll rule you can use the rest of your normal move to catch up to her before starting to dash. In 6 ticks (the Speed of your slowest attack, your clinch) you will move 30 yards (5 yards/tick) and the acolyte will move 48 (8 yards/tick). At that point, you can start running at 11 yards/tick, catching up 3 yards per tick to her. So it will take you another 15 ticks (18+27/3) to catch up to her. I'll also allow you to use Dex excellency, WP or virtues to bump your speed every 6 ticks at normal speed, or 3 ticks at dashing speed.]

Third smoothly evades the Earth Immaculate's force attacks, illuminating them with pure golden light, and prepares itself to retaliate against its attacker. There is a certain irony in accusing the stoic martial artist of silencing truth, as he has already been silenced himself by whatever malady or accident stole away his voice. If it was an accident. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: +3 stunt again, your defense was awesome! Also, a couple things I forgot to address. Yes, you can use WP to add to DV. Also, stunt dice affects your dice pool *before* splitting so effectively applies to all split actions.]

Rather than bothering to fend off Talia's attack, the Earth Aspect simply strides forward to meet Third, dragging her along with him unless she relinquishes her sash.

---

OOC: Dena is effectively out of the battle due to the Wood aspect's combo stopping her. On the flip side, Jade Willow spent all her essence + over half her WP for that.

Still need Higura and Fire Aspect to act!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

There is no way for him to avoid notice on the attack - the Fire Aspect's rage and focus pierce through his subterfuge, at least momentarily. Unless he does something, the strike is going to pierce him through the heart, with or without the concealing cloak he now wears.

One could call it carelessness. Despite the extra shield his concealment provides, he still let himself be uncovered by his opponent, enough that she manages to pull in a strong, almost fatal strike. Higura, however, knows full well that those who wish to triumph need to never give up, even when the odds seem against them. He knows that those who triumph end up changing their weaknesses into strengths.

For a second, he lets the Fire Aspect woman think she has him. He lets her think she has caught him, and that her attack will surely wound him grievously. The moment lasts for not even a second - but he knows she will catch it. She is a warrior, after all, bred and raised to read the tides of combat and the condition of her opponent. And so, for less than a breath, Higura lets the woman believe her blow will connect.

Of course, in reality, things are much different. The doctor has already pivoted his body so as to make difficult for her to strike from any angle but from the one he most desires - a subtle change in posture that will force the physiognomy of the attack to change. This change is almost imperceptible, almost too minute to notice. But for someone possibly between life and death, these changes are as deep as a chasm.

The strike comes, and he lifts his sheathed sword to meet it. Hopefully, forcing the fiery woman to strike him from a particular angle would rob her of some force... The rest, he would have to do with a block. Using a sideways blocking technique, Higura puts forth a principle he learned a long time ago - to put down a strong force, let it know that you possess an even stronger force at your disposal. With this in mind, he forcefully strikes the Fire Aspect's weapon with his own, using much more power than one would normally for a simple block.

He may not have a voice, but the message the strong parrying motion tells is clear.
You do not have the strength to defeat me.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:32, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

The Fire immaculate's daiklave impacts hard with Higura's ordinary sword, spraying hot flame-sparks. The blades slide together, the friction heating up his sword almost intolerably, until the daiklave locks with the guard at the pommel. The woman's ember-hot eyes bore into the blurred space that cloaks Higura's form, as if she could reveal him simply by the heat of her gaze. But he eludes her, eludes the incredible heat she attempts to force upon him, and he slips again into the incomprehensible intervals in space and time that fate opens up to him.

---

OOC: just resolving the defense first for the sake of continuity :)

From the sidelines, Higura watches once more as the Fire Aspect tries to undo what Third is so carefully trying to build. Obviously, there will be no reasoning with the leader... At least, not now. With that in mind, he immediately decides to take advantage of the woman's momentary distraction. His last strike had not been as effective as he had hoped... He must now put all of his efforts into this one, to end this strife early.

Still seemingly caught between realities, Higura sidesteps and approaches the woman from the side, his sheathed sword in hand. Caught in a world of silence, outside of the boundaries of the usual plane of existence, he watches his target intently, paying particular attention to the weaves of fate that surround him. He watches the way the Fire Aspect's Fate strands spread outwards, and how some of them mingle with his own. He lowers his stance, every muscle tense with anticipation as his eyes scan the realm of possibilities...

And then, the moment comes. The precise second where the woman's threads touches none of his own. The moment where she is the most blind and unaware of him. In the infinite web of possible futures, this is the one he seizes. The one he puts everything into fulfilling. At this precise instant, he leaps forward, shifting his sword to his left side...

In a muted, almost invisible deep green crescent, he draws the elegant blade, angling the arc so that his victim will be hit by the flat side of the weapon rather than its cutting edge. The threads of fate seem to part as he executes his motion, as if allowing him to pick his chosen destiny from the myriad of options available. Still unseen, Higura strikes true...

In a way only one who has seen the Realm of Possibilities can.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Once again, reestablishing surprise, and then putting everything into a single blow (putting 7 motes to cancel the penalties/increasing the pool by 3.)]

Dena drifts down to the floor and settles into a cross-legged pose, watching, bemused, as the terrified acolyte runs around her and continues down the hallway.

[Private to GM: 10:35,
Ouch.  Serves me right for getting overconfident.
Today: Tervila Dena rolled 8 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,4,9,10,7,9,1,10,4,9,3,3. Integrity + Willpower. ]

The flat of Higura's blade strikes the Fire Aspect hard between the neck and shoulder, driving into and crushing her collarbone. The ember-eyed woman lets out an involuntary gasp, and sways on her feet, barely keeping from dropping into a crouch. (3B) She breathes laboriously, but does not give into the reflex to clutch at the wound, holding both of her daiklaves in a steady stance as flame tendrils cascade in a spiraling lattice around her acrobatic form.

"Though my body be broken, though my senses deceived, my heart is resolute," she speaks in a low voice trembling with pain and fervor. "Against the blasphemies of the Unclean, against the savagery of the Frenzied, I am ablaze in the fires of Hesiesh, granted the power to chastize those who defy their place in the Immaculate Philosophy. May your sins be cleansed in holy flame, and your body made a pyre for resisting just punishment! May you find peace in the next life, with the stain of Anathema stricken from your soul!"

As she utters what may well be her final prayer, her daiklaves ignite in a defiant surge of heat and sparks. Searing flames channel along their length with such intensity that they appear nearly half again as long, and as thick as a dire lance's head -- instruments of concentrated destruction. With a wordless cry she brings both blades down upon the blurred shape of Higura, to reveal his trickery once and for all! [Private to Yaishin Higura: Flurry attack, 6 and 10 successes! You're pretty sure she just burned a lot of Essence on this, too, so getting hit by that would be... regrettable.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:11, Mon 23 Mar 2009.

Compared to her Fire counterpart, Jade Willow looks visibly spent. Her bow is fed by Hearthstone, though; thus it takes no effort for her to generate another of her verdant arrows. She does not immediately act, but takes aim at Nanaret as she prepares to take off after her next chosen prey.

"I wish you would all just come quietly," Willow says -- a touch of sorrow in her voice, that was not there before. "I wish you understood the danger you represent. But no one likes to know that their fate is one they cannot avoid. I understand why you would fight it. But we must stop you. We must."

A few yards away, the acolyte Nanaret maimed attempts to retrieve a fallen bow, his breathing coming in sharp, hissing gasps as he uses his other hand to hold his torn cheek together. The only remaining armed acolyte, though significantly wounded from Dena's essence lash, draws back her bowstring and aims another Essence arrow at Talia.

The Earth immaculate, strong as he may be, moves too slowly to harm Third again before it has a chance to strike him.

---

OOC: figured it makes more sense to post wound levels...

tick 25 - Third, Higura (after defending)
tick 26 - Fire immac (-4 wound level... assuming she's still standing at this point)
tick 27 - Nanaret, Wood immac (after aim)
tick 28 - Talia
tick 29 - Earth immac (-2 wound level)
Acolytes won't get to attack until tick 30+.

Gone is the peacemaker from just a moment before. Third lunges down, down low, both hands sweeping back, one leg far back, the other bent against it's chest. There's a rushing sensation as its hands start to arc forward- The feeling one gets when one stands in the ocean, as the sea rushes out, dragging you with it, and a wave builds before you. The sensation of helplessness as the very motion of the attack sweeps in towards the Earth Immaculate. Golden motes of light start dancing outwards from Third's body, as it's suffused with the golden light, its anima coalescing out of the gold as it moves forwards, mirroring the movements of the Solar. Then, the moment vanishes, and like the wave, the attack stops gathering, and strikes forward with shocking speed. Both hands collide with the Earth Immaculate's chest, open-palmed slashes that stab forward, striking the Immaculate with brutal force.

But even as they strike, Third is travelling upwards, kicking itself up with the lunged forward leg, time slowing down again, earth travelling upwards with it, caught in the updraft of the solar Essence, ground showing a spiderweb of cracks as the Solar moves upwards, it's off leg lifting forward, moving at a terrifying speed, to slam, toes first, straight into the Earth Immaculate's chin. As the blow connects, time seems to speed up, dirt showering the two of them as Third uses the backspring from the kick to flip backwards, the seemingly peaceful golden anima following. Golden pages flutter around the places where Third struck, words yet to be written on the defeat of the Earth Immaculate, as thoguh caught against his body in a tempest.
[Private to GM: Willpower: 5/7, Essence: Personal 0/19, Peripheral 42/45
16:45, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 9 successes using 14d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,5,5,10,6,1,10,1,7,9,5,3,4,9. Punch.

16:45, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 7 successes using 13d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,1,5,8,1,1,6,4,10,8,8,6,10. Punch.

16:46, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 9 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,1,10,10,9,1,9,7,4,10,6. Kick, It's all in the rythym!.
8 Essence being spent on each attack, daring me, so I'm down to 18/45 Peripheral Essence. Here's hoping this lays him out flat.
]

It takes time. Time for his awkward body to move away from the encounter. Time too for it to move back. Tycho hears the clash of battle breaking out as he runs towards the tunnels and realizes that it is already too late for such complicated plans. Back, he orders the pair refugees accompanying him, and struggles to pull his own heavy frame back to the settlement.

By the time he returns, there has been blood. He can see the outlines of bodies in the sparking glow of discharging Charms and burning anima, glowing in splendid hues from the cavern walls. At least those made it easy to tell from a distance who was who and the number of elemental lights that flickered gave some pause to gauge the situation. If the time they had spent watching from the distance has done anything though, it has made the Immaculate forget their presence. Forced to focus on battling the other Exalts, the refugees who had never been anything more than figures in the dark fade to even less in the Immaculates minds.

"Drachma! Send five to to sweep in and check the bodies. If any of them are ours and still breathing, pull them out. Take command of the gladiators and swarm the archer. Pull that bastard down!" Tycho casts about a moment until his gaze falls upon an overturned ore cart. One of the heavy iron ones they had been using for practice, discarded when a wheel snapped off. The Solar stomps over to the heavy cart. It took two men just to push it. It takes Tycho magitech hand to heft it off the ground. He waves it over his head, the most ungainly and yet somehow fitting battle banner ever devised. "Raise your voices! Make noise enough to wake the bastards six floors above! Remember, these boot-licking imperialist lackeys would take everything you have left from you, even your lives! DEATH TO THE FASCIST DOGS!"

They charge. Spilling out like a swarm of angry ants from the once-quiet settlement, a wave of spear-points and pickaxes brandishing through the darkness. Tycho, white-eyed demon of alloy and electrical currents, ran in front, letting the ore cart drag behind him on it's two good wheels. His eyes set for largest of the standing targets, the Earth Immaculate...

And as the iridescent blades strike at the distortion, a sudden surge of Deep Green Essence suddenly surges through the air, like tendrils flailing into open space. For a moment, it showers like sparks, fizzling into the cavernous air with a dull glow, before taking on a more precise shape with a flash. For a second, the light is almost too bright to look at, but it leaves a strong imprint on the mind of those who who gazed directly at it - a ghostly picture, that of an ornate set of scales, perfectly even and still.

Among the disturbance, Higura reemerges, his form now clear and distance, almost triumphant among the surging light. With another shower of sparks, he unsheathes and strikes along with the desperate Fire Immaculate, almost a mirror image of herself. Her strikes are his strikes, and where she would seek to bite into flesh, she can only meet the cold steel of the doctor's sword matching her movements perfectly. Embers flare and fall to the ground as their weapons meet, but the cold green flame surrounding the doctor cannot be ignited by even the most powerful blaze the woman can conjure.

"Full circle." The doctor says, eyes firmly affixed into those of his opponent, the first words he spoke audibly since his disappearance. "The first thing I told you is that some things are better left undisturbed. You prod the darkness, but do not know what might lie in its depths." He raises his word slightly, and maintains the stalemate between them, a battle of strength as their weapons remain stuck together... Or perhaps it is more of a battle of wills.

"You heart is resolute, but it is resolute with the Conviction of others." He says, eyes planted into hers, refusing to waver, refusing to let go. "For all your certainty, you still are ignorant to the truth. All of the things you cling to are the things you have been told, convictions handed to you by others. You believe because you have been told, because you have been taught. You know the story of demons, the story of monsters, and you have spent a lifetime hunting them down. But now, in this very moment, you stare at one of the very things you have been trained to hunt down... And you realize, deep down, that for all you know of demons, you do now know me.

"Conviction is not learned through imitation, nor is it passed down by others. Through conviction is forged in the blazes of one's own vision and experience. It is tempered through one's own observation of the world, and of one's place in it. It comes through understanding of life's secrets and the balance between them, not from hatred. Strength can enslave the world, but it can never replace justice or freedom." The man's strength is a quiet one, not overwhelming her, but letting her know that she cannot overpower him. The true blaze come from his eyes, which refuse to leave her.

"We wore collars to show our status as prisoners, but the fate you share is the same as ours. It is not Essence nor chains that enslave you, but your very dogma. You are enslaved in fear and ignorance, but you are a prisoner nonetheless. But listen to my words, Chosen of the Earth. As much as you see me as a demon out to destroy this world, and as much as you would not hesitate to kill me... I will not kill you. I will offer you a chance you never had in your lifetime. A chance to see truth, and taste freedom yourself. Freedom to think as you wish, and see the world for what it truly is, with your own eyes."

He releases the lock between their weapons suddenly, letting he strength push forward, towards him. In one swift motion, almost as if it were part of a grand choreography, he holds his sword to one side before striking her full force in the ribs with the blade's flat, his body passing by her side as he does so. As the strike comes, and his face passes hers from the side, she can hear his words, whispered to her.

"In truth, you too shall be freed."

[Private to Gatekeeper: Activating combo, two Impeding the Flow for her attacks, and one more fully powered strike aimed to either knock her out or, in conjunction with the little speech, rob her of the will to fight any longer.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:08, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

Higura's words transfix the Fire Immaculate as he holds her locked in a parry that bewilders her as he suddenly changes her tactics. She pulls back, her fiery anima flickering like a candle wavering in a strong wind, but her reflexes refuse to obey her will. The Immaculate all but stumbles into the flat of Higura's sword, hitting her body with enough force to collapse several of her ribs and knock her down hard onto her side.

Her burning eyes meet Higura's bright green ones, attempting in her last moments of consciousness to comprehend who he is, and the implications of what he is saying. "How... do you know... your truth is more real... than ours? That your freedom... is worth seeking...? You are... arrogant... every one of you..." Finally spent, the Fire Aspect's anima extinguishes, and she passes out cold.

Third's double palm strike slams into the Earth Immaculate's rock-hard torso, the damage manifesting not as bruises as much as visible cracks, as if the man were made of stone and not flesh. He lifts his fists, crossing at the forearms to protect himself from the high-velocity kick Third sends toward his chin. It connects with enough impact to push his arms upward and follow through, knocking his head back with an audible crack!

This time he does stagger, falling back... one step... another step... struggling with all of his Earth-given might against the tide of unconsciousness. His dark eyes focus boldly on the golden demon, the Anathema who with silent determination poured all of its power into toppling him. Golden motes fill his vision, and the apparition of the iconic, scholarly figure of Third's anima banner is branded into his mind.

The Earth Aspect collapses, crashing onto his back just as Tycho arrives on his 'chariot', bringing with him the main force of refugees. At Tycho's rousing call, the rebels charge, their chorus of yells contributing to the impression of an overpowering force. Drachma's group surrounds Jade Willow, who manages to fire a pair of glittering shots toward Nanaret before she finds herself forced to contend with five gleaming spearpoints at close range. Willow lets her weapon fall from her hands, either realizing the futility of her situation, or unwilling to fight the refugees.

The other armed laborers overwhelm the two closer acolytes, taking them down in a flurry of axe slashes and spear thrusts. Another group moves toward Dena to make sure she is all right, leaving Nanaret to pursue the last acolyte alone. [Private to Saina Nanaret: You also have a two arrow flurry coming for you, 6 sux and 2 sux.] [Private to Tervila Dena: I'll let you know when it wears off, but for now you're still blissed out.]

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OOC: Wow, well, Third and Higura dealt with their targets handily, and with Tycho coming in I decided it'd make more sense to just plain end the combat here, as the Immaculates are now grossly outnumbered. Nanaret still has actions left to do, but since it's only her the rest of you can move out of combat time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:56, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

By now Ranavalona has already taken off running, having decided the combat near the settlement is unworthy of her time. The others and their noisy peons could just take care of themselves. The thrill of the chase, on the other hand, holds an undeniable attraction for her. And her desire to tear that last vital, fearful and fleeing body to shreds overpowers any other consideration but her immediate survival.

Her anima pulses again, another burst of silver light interposed with dark blue shadows, increasing her speed and augmenting her flexibility. The shifting light and shadow only serves to further distract the Wood Immaculate as Nanaret's possessed body twists, leaps and tumbles instinctively, denying the offending arrows any opportunity to hinder the progress of her hunt. She rolls onto her feet and continues without losing momentum, her feet pounding on hard packed earth, pouring her remaining stores of internal Essence to keep up as relentless a pace as possible. [Private to GM: OK... on my next turn, tick 27, I start dashing. To defend the arrows coming for me I'll use that action to combo a reflexive defense with Survival Instinct, using Peripheral essence. I'll use Serpentine Evasion, then if necessary 3m of First Dex Excellency. Then I'll put 5m more Dex Excellency into speeding myself up until tick 30. After that I'll keep using Personal essence to speed myself up, 3m per dash action to add yards per tick to my advance. That should last me up to 5 turns, since I've been using my stunts to gain back Personal.]

As soon as Rana approaches within leaping distance to her prey, she springs off the ground into a long jump turned flying tackle, wrapping her limbs around the acolyte's body to bring her down upon collision. "Leaving so soon?" The laughter that follows is throaty and savage. [Private to GM: I'll put whatever Personal essence I have left at this point into that final tackle/clinch!]

Third stands straight, the essence wafting around it's body slowly dying down to a bonfire, rather than the raging tempest that it was before, as it approaches Jade Willow, and quietly looks towards the woman. The slight, androgynous figure, whose fists just sent the towering Earth Immaculate to the ground, looks down towards her, face blank once more. "In time, this will be seen as a turning point." it says, voice soft. It looks towards Tycho. "We need to search them for the Essence collars. We'll need to make sure they can stay restrained while Third talks to them." It looks towards Jade Willow. "Third did not lie. You will be a hero again." it says softly. The fire that raged so wildly within it has died down now, returned to a low spark. It looks up towards Tycho. " It appears that we will soon be forced to move on. After the Hive makes contact with us, and we are able to discuss, we will need to find a new place to move to." it says. The Solar looks... comprehensively different from the way it has before, to Tycho's eye. The fires of pulchritude burn within it. It looks towards Jade Willow. "It appears we will have a chance to continue our conversation, at least." it says softly, the barest hints of a smile quirking at the edge of its lips.

Talia jumps away as her "opponent" falls.  "Well, don't I feel inadaquate," she mumbles under her breath.  She unwinds her sash from his throat, ties it around her waist, and looks around her.  She is surrounded by strangers, fellow "Anathema" and their apparent followers.  Her position her is, as so may times before, uncertain.  A part of her considers simply leaving fading away in the confusion; she is tired and it is not clear what purpose she would serve by staying.  But no, the Immaculates came her because of her, people are injured because of her.  She sighs, and looks around again, this time to determine where she can best give aid.

Nanaret's flying leap knocks down the running acolyte hard on the ground, stunning her on impact, making it a simple matter to restrain her. Fortunately for the acolyte, perhaps, the effects of Ranavalona's fury have receded by the time Nanaret catches up with her. Unfortunately for Nanaret, the Lunar finds herself disoriented as to why she needed to capture the woman, though she remembers enough of the situation before her fury to realize that she ought not to let her go. Recognizing the acolyte's Immaculate outfit helps, too.

The Lunar will notice, though, that the woman she holds restrained is sweating and trembling in her grip. She needs no special ability to realize that the acolyte is dumbstruck with terror and clearly expects Nanaret to eviscerate her and eat her flesh. At least, Nanaret can pick up that much from the prayers to Sextes Jylis the young woman keeps whispering under her breath.

The more important problem at the moment is how far out Nana had to run just to capture the girl. She is about 170 yards from the entrance of the settlement, placing her beyond the sensor-blind area that Hive Irix Chilomena created. Now that she is there, she must ensure that she can either kill or bring back the acolyte without alerting any of the automaton sentries that may routinely sweep the area. [Private to Saina Nanaret: First decide what you'll do with the acolyte (you have control of the clinch so you could do damage or just hold her). Then manage to sneak your way out. If you try a social attack (to calm her) you will be at a -3 because you need to maintain clinch at the same time, and you only have one shot at it. After that, Dex+Stealth to get back to the others.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:53, Wed 25 Mar 2009.

Back at the site of the recently concluded battle, Jade Willow looks guardedly at Third. "It would be better if you killed all of us. Even if I were to be convinced to stay peacefully, I do not think Bastion and Jilava will give in. And I'd rather die than watch you and your people force them to." She shakes her head, and starts to draw her belt knife, inviting the spear-wielding refugees watching her to press in closer. "I won't hurt you. But my death is the best way. I will not be your tool... or an instrument to end the lives of my comrades. How could that possibly be heroic?"

While Third and Willow talk, the refugees continue to comb the battle area, picking up discarded weapons and pulling off armor from corpses. A pair of them watch Dena uncertainly, and glance at each other, as if silently daring one another to poke a Lunar in her warform. [Private to Tervila Dena: You're coming out of the induced calmness now.]

---

OOC: I'll post in a moment the equipment you can get from this battle, in case you decide to keep any of it.

Third looks Jade in the eye. " Is that how you wish to end your story? Suicide, instead of falling into the hands of Anathema? That is not a story for a hero to write." It approaches Jade. " Meditate on wood. It's intrinsic nature is to take that which is greater than it, harder than it, and to insinuate itself into that greater thing, all of Creation, to nourish itself, and so, to change the nature of the earth itself. The noble Immaculate sacrificing herself to prevent demons the use of her may be a good parable for an Immaculate dogma. But if you wish to be a hero, then work with us, and by that way, make sure that we do not make the mistakes that our ancestors did. And if you think you are not up to that... then Third does not believe you." It looks towards the two others. " Bastion. Silent as the earth he emulates. Jilava. Violent and reactive as the flames she emulates. But if Third's cause is just, Third will not have to force them. The truth of the sun burns through all lies, and if Thirds words hold the truth, then no amount of fanaticism will dissuade them." it says softly to her, looking over the battlefield. "Would you mind telling Third what you did to Dena? She seems quite peaceful." it says conversationally.