That's the square right in front of the dark portal- the 'teleporter pad', for lack of a better word.

Lyla vaguely recalls that another prisoner was said to be held on the Pyongyang, but since Living command has no clue who he was, she wasn't very well informed about what to do with him.  Guess that's up to her discretion!

There don't seem to be any keys or anything else around the area.  Maybe the Warden keeps some on him?  Which means either pickpocketing the Warden or else just breaking the chains herself.

If she'd have a chance, she could spare a word or two with the mysterious prisoner. Even better she could ask about him from Swan Dragon before marching to talk to him. She pushes the buttons matching both cells to attune herself to them instantly, and walks to stand on the square. Pilfering some keys didn't seem impossible, but challenging, especially when they most likely wouldn't look like a set of keys. Then again when did she turn away from a challenge?

She feels like someone's dumped cold black water all over her.  Her skin goosebumps and the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.  But she feels a bit more at home within the Pyongyang now:  her headache's gone down a bit and the hallways seem a bit less bright.

She heads back out to the halls.  The Warden seems to be interrogating Swan Dragon with two Gunzosha standing guard.  She can hear the wet smack of metal on flesh as the elemental dragon is beaten brutally.

((Stealth roll: 10, 7, 7, 7, 5, 4, 4 & 2
Float 4-4
Stealth trancending Chi 5
37+20+15+10 = 82 ))

It's odd to feel more home at such an environment, but its a welcome relief. It all allows her to think straight, and better, when she can focus on something else than her aching head.

Lyla slides down the stairs, only to face a familiar sight. She hugs the wall and lets the shadows grow larger. Seeing that the Gunzosha are on guard, she takes one of the tags she collected earlier and tosses it on the otherside of the hallway. She'd need only few seconds to lurk in a better position, and close in on the two. Lyla readies herself, and her gloves. If she could take out one Gunzosha first, it'd always be better for her.

Fighting might be inevitable, but the later they found out about her, the better.

Her toss is excellent.  The keytag lands just aside one of the cells, in juuust the right place that it'd be difficult to find but still make a lot of noise.

"What was that?"

The Gunzosha stop and look down the hall, towards the direction of the keytags.  They both turn and walk down the hall, two big rifles at the ready.

If Lyla wants to get the drop on them, the time is now.

((If you want to attack, roll init.  If you win init and attack their turned backs this round, you automatically get a Laughs and they get a Fears.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:47, Wed 14 Dec 2016.

((Initiative 10, 9, 8, 7, 7, 7, 3 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Shaping wave(stealth): flood 24+20+10 = 54
Initiative: 37+15+10 = 62
FoB: 19+15+10 = 44 / 2 chi))

There is little humor in her stunt and it leaves her partially amused, and even more so relieved to see it actually worked. Since the Abyssal is busy himself, Lyla focuses her attention to the two, who have turned away.

She crouches and effortlessly almost seems to glide behind the two. Her aura spreads itself behind them, ready to fall upon them to dampen the noise that would appear from combat. The shadows seem to darken around her hands, creating talons that vibrate in the air.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Fri 16 Dec 2016.

Imperator 1 Init:
10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4 & 3.
*Goes Last

Imperator 2 Init:
9, 8, 6, 5, 4, 4 & 3.
*Float 4-4
*Goes Last

Both are Rank 7 Lesser Legends.  In later rounds they can attempt to Cover Ground towards the cell- they won't go in but the cell sizzling to keep them out will certainly alert the Abyssal!

Neither of them seem to notice anything.  "Man, this place sucks,"  One says to the other, "I hate it here."

"But at least we're not going to die again!"

"Yeah, there's at least that."

((Attack roll:10, 8, 6, 4, 4, 2, 1 & 1.
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi
Scattering the Golden Feathers 3 chi
Strike 21+20+25+10+10 Auto L/F = 86 / +15 dmg
Burn 24+10+10+10 Auto L/F = 54 ))

Covered with her shadows, Bluefox glides behind the two, tilting her head at the exchange between the two. She arches her brows and lets a smirk spread on her lips. The blue shaded mist lurks between their legs infront of them, covering the nooks and crannies on the floor and nearby wall. A deadly silence falls upon that part of the hallway.

It all happens like an explosion but in complete silence. Her vaporformed talons strike hard and precise, aiming into their armors past the metal. The shadows lurk in from the tip of her fingers, the blue veil turning into an aggressive flame burning everything on their way.

"Reaper's here."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Fri 16 Dec 2016.

Imperator 1 Defense:
10, 9, 7, 7, 7, 2 & 1.
*Dodge Primary 37 + Dodge 5 = 42 vs 86, 4 Ripples
*Dodge Burn 19 + Dodge 5 = 24 vs 54, 2 Ripples

Imperator 2 Defense:
9, 8, 7, 5, 5, 3 & 3.
*Dodge Primary 25 + Dodge 10 = 35 vs 86, 4 Ripples
*Dodge Burn 23 + Dodge 10 = 34 vs 54, 2 Ripples

The Imperators have just enough time to go "Huh?" before Lyla rips them to pieces.  Two malfeas-hearts fall from their shattered corpuses, smacking together and congealing into one mass with a soft 'THWIP', the only sound made in the hallway.

If Lyla wasn't suppressing sound, that probably would've sounded like a cannon shot.  But the Abyssal certainly hasn't noticed.

((Initiative 10, 8, 7, 7, 5, 5, 2 & 1.
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 25+15+10 = 50
FoB: 18+15+10 = 43 / 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 27+20+10 = 57))

The steady smacking caused by the Abyssal echoes in the hallway, when the two fall silently to the ground. Oddly out of breath, her shadows wrap themselves around the two shattered corpuses to hide them out of sight. Lyla leans in to pull them aside with the assist of her essence, and in the end leans to the wall.

She had drained herself while stalking around the hallways, and it was taking its toll on her. Now that she felt a little more home at the ship, her strenght was coming back to her. The blue mist comfortingly lurks in front of her, like a pet that was ready to attack those threatening its owner. Despite the danger of being discovered, she waits patiently, hoping that Swan Dragon was able to take the beating that was given to him.

When having recovered what was lost, Lyla hesitates no longer. The talons within her gloves extend to assist the shadows, and she steps out, ready to face the Abyssal, face or back first. She hopes to ambush him, or at least push him back in order to place the battle within the cell at the reach of Swan Dragon and his chains. Two flies at one hit.

((Warden Initiative:
9, 8, 7, 7, 6, 5 & 3
*FoB 27 for 2 Chi
*Init 19 + Speed 5 + AB 10 = 34

Minions automatically summoned!

Minions Go Last.  They're Rank 3 minions.))

The Warden keeps on pummeling his prisoner, but he certainly feels her walk through the void field.  Thus he is waiting for her inside the cell- which seems far, far bigger on the inside.  It still feels cramped, probably because in the time it took for her to enter the room he's filled it with the shades of hundreds of mindless ghosts.  They form ordered ranks, a veritable ghostly army.

"I thought I felt something wrong on my ship,"  The Warden draws a long staff, crackling with dark energies.  "I am the Warden of Sorrow.  And you are?"

((Attack roll: 10, 9, 9, 7, 6, 4, 2 & 2
Scattering the Golden Feathers 3 chi
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi
Lashing Flurry 3 chi

Strike: 22+20+25+10 = 77
Secondary Strike: flowed 34+20+10 = 64
Burn: 29+10+10 = 49
Disrupt strike : 17+20+10 = 47
))

Her bodysuit, which was white as snow earlier to fit the hallways, now shifts to a shade of black, competing with the darkness of the void surrounding them. The visor covers her eyes, but the smirk does not disappear from her lips, when encountered with the surprise of a sudden army.

"You felt something more right in your ship, for once," she replies. "I'm Bluefox of the Living Fleet. The keeper of Shadows."

Blending in with the ranks of ghosts, her shadows disguise her movements, when she dashes towards him. She takes leverage from a set of shadowy stepping stones appearing and pushes herself into a vault to pass some ranks of the ghostly army, her claws slicing near their heads while approaching the Abyssal.

"I had hoped this would be just between you and me, but alas I should've known your type to cowardly rely on assistance," she sighs dramatically, while disappearing in a cloud of shadows.

She reappears behind him, her talons ruthlessly aiming at vital organs, mist pouring past him and sizzling in return when coming in contact with his staff.

((Warden Defense:
7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 2 & 1
*1 Chi:  Tactics +5
*4 Chi:  Block +15
*Defense vs Strike 24 + Block 20 + AB 10 = 54 vs 77, 2 Ripples + Roll
*Defense vs Secondary 17 + Block 20 + AB 10 + IKF 15 = 62 vs 64, Ripple
*Defense vs Burn 16 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 = 41 vs 49, Ripple
*Defense vs Disrupt 15 + Tactics 20 + AB 10 + IKF 5 = 50

RR2:
*17 + 15 - Toughness 10 = 22, a Trivial Wound

Minions:
10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 4 & 1
*Defense vs Burn 28 + Tactics 20 = 58 vs 49, avoids
*Defense vs Primary Strike 17 + Tactics 20 = 37 vs 77, 4 Ripples
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 16 + Tactics 20 = 36 vs 64, 3 Ripples

Warden Attack:
10, 9, 9, 9, 7, 5 & 3
*Strike Lyla 39 + Strike 20 + AB 10 + IKF 25 = 89, Better Blocked

Minions Attack:
*Strike Lyla 28 + Tactics 20 = 48

Initiative:
10, 10, 6, 5, 2, 1 & 1
*1 Chi:  Tactics +5, can analyze with 1d
*Float 0-0
*Analyze Style Fears 16 + Tactics 15 + AB 10 = 41
*FoB with 21 for 2 Chi
*Init 15 + Speed 5 + AB 10 = 30))

Lyla steals up upon him, ripping at his armor in several places.  He makes a paltry attempt at blocking her slashes and the resulting fire, depending on his armor to mostly take the assault.

His ghosts aren't so lucky.  They're mostly torn to shreds- but only mostly.  Some survive, mostly thanks to a spread-out formation.

"Please,"  He sighs at her as he spins his staff, "They're as much a part of me as your hands and feet!"  He swats around the area in a wide net of strikes, cutting off potential places for her to run and hide.  This is aided by his few remaining ghosts, who slash away at any spot he might miss.

((Defense vs Warden 7, 6, 6, 6, 4, 3, 2 & 1.
Dodge: 36+15+5+20+10-5 = 81 vs 89, 1 ripple
Crow Eclipses the Sun 4 chi

Defense vs Minions 8, 8, 6, 5, 5, 4, 2 & 2.
Dodge: 28+15+5+10 = 58 vs 48

Initiative 10, 9, 5, 4, 4, 2, 1 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 19+15+10= 44
FoB: 15+15+10 = 40 / 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 24+20+10 = 54
Hide style: stealth 21+20+10 = 51

Attack roll: 8, 7, 7, 7, 5, 5, 2 & 1
Scattering the Golden Feathers 3 chi
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: 25+20+25+10 = 80, better dodged
Burn: 37+10+10 = 57, better dodged
Disrupt strike : 18+20+10 = 48
))

He tries to cut her away, and corner her, but she does not let him do so. It's much harder to control something you can't actually see. Bluefoxes shadows veil her and hide her movement within a cloud of smoke. The darkness of the void momentarily seems to suck all the little of the remaining light in.

Out of the dark, her talons lash out, tearing the air around her apart as well as everything that is standing in her way. She scoffs at his response, and slices from somewhere behind him, or maybe it was infront of him. It's hard to tell where her attack comes from when her essence copies the talons everywhere. It was a fool hardy move, pushing her essence on the edge, but that was her way of doing things.

"Hands and legs? Well I'd be devastated to lose either of them...like you just did," she retorts regarding the damage she managed to inflict.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Thu 29 Dec 2016.

((Warden Defense:
10, 8, 6, 6, 6, 5 & 5
*4 Chi:  Block +15
*Defense vs Primary with 36 + Block 20 + AB 10 + IKF 15 - Better Dodged 5 = 76 vs 80, takes Ripple
*Defense vs Secondary with 25 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 = 50 vs 57, takes Ripple
*Takes Disrupt

Minions die :(

Warden Attack:
10, 7, 6, 5, 2, 2 & 1
*Strike Lyla with Flowed 30 + Strike 20 + AB 5 + IKF 25 - Disrupt 5 = 75, Better Blocked
*Disrupt Lyla Speed with 22 + Tactics 15 + AB 5 = 42))

Lyla's stealth isn't as useful as it could be against the Warden.  His defense is daunting.  Though he takes another pair of scratches and is hindered, she has to duck and weave through a complicated pattern to try to get at him in the first place.

"I lost them?  Interesting," He growls as his last ghost flings itself in her path in an effort to shield him from most of her attacks. "How naive of you to think so."

His counterattack focuses more on filling the area around him with educated guesses instead of targeted attacks.  That may be good enough for most; a normal human would be battered to pieces!

((Defense: 10, 8, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4 & 4.
Float 5-5
Primary dodge: 34+15+5+10-5 = 59 vs 75, 1 ripple & roll
Disrupt 18+20+10 = 48 vs 42

Initiative: 10, 9, 9, 7, 7, 5, 3 & 1
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 13+15+10= 38
FoB: 15+15+10 = 40/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 29+20+10 = 59
Analyze fears: 27+10+10 = 47
))

Her dodging and dancing in between the pattern is almost perfect, but almost doesn't quite cut it, as his staff hits her due to recklessness. She could've dodged it, had she not focused her efforts on attacking. But no, she was not feeling too defensive.

He tries to hinder her swiftness, but she notices it, and masks her movement to prevent him from hitting her legs.

"A loss, even if a temporary one, is still a loss."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Mon 02 Jan 2017.

RR on Lyla:
*14 + Damage 5 = 19 - Toughness 5 = 14 - 18 = No wound

Warden Init:
8, 8, 7, 6, 4, 2 & 1
*Summon Minions:  MINOR ACTION, 28 = Rank 4 Minions
*Loses Init

Fears:  Opponents who get too close, opponents who are outside of his zone of control

After the successful strike- a hit that threatens to bruise Lyla's ribs- the Warden readopts his original stance.  A flexing of his muscles brings another horde of ghosts around him, swarming out of the walls and from his very armor.

"You seem to be running out of Essence,"  He rumbles at her, "Too much offense!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:07, Thu 05 Jan 2017.

((Attack: 10, 8, 6, 5, 5, 2, 1 & 1
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: Flowed 45+20+10 = 100, better dodged
Disrupt block: 18+20+10 = 48
Burn: 21+10+10 = 41

+5 to both if Fears apply))

"There's never too much offense!" She smirks and skips back from the hit disappearing into her shadows.

It had been a foolish close call, a silly attempt at finishing things quickly. Hasty decisions didn't get her nowhere. The hit near her ribs is a reminder of things past, how she tried to go and save her friends with broken ribs before the exaltation even. It's amusing.

Upon having taken a closer look to his style of fighting, she weaves a pattern past the ghosts that once again emerge to litter the small room. Pushing herself away from the wall, she flips right behind him, all too near to the ghost swarming armor of his. She pulls her arm back and the shadowy blades on her hand turn into blueish flames as she aims to shank him near the ribs in return.

Defense:
7, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 3
*Defense vs Strike 27 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 = 42 vs 100, 3 Ripples + ROll
*Defense vs Burn 23 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 = 48 vs 41, Blocked
*Takes Block Disrupt

RR on Warden:
*1 Chi for Chi Aura
*29 + Damage 15 - Toughness 10 = 34 - Anything = another Trivial of Lyla's choice, or inflamed to Minor

Attack:
9, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4 & 3
*5 Chi for Strike +25
*Strike Lyla 26 + Strike 20 + AB 10 - Disrupt 5 + IKF 25 = 76, Dodge -5

Minion Attack:
9, 8, 8, 7, 1, 1 & 1
*Strike Lyla 31 + Tactics 20 = 51

The Warden weathers her attacks, throwing up vast hordes of ghostly spirits who slash at her as she passes and otherwise throw themselves in the way to break up her chances of dealing with him.  She still delivers a solid blow that sends him reeling, but it's not enough to stop him from his own vicious counterattack.

((inflame the trivial to minor

Defense vs warden 9, 9, 9, 7, 7, 3, 2 & 1
Primary dodge: 39+15+5+10-5+5 = 69 vs 76, 1 ripple

Defense vs minions 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 4, 2 & 1
Dodge +15+5+10 = 57 vs 51, miss))

She doesn't expect him to give up, the fight would continue until one would fall. She tumbles and weaves past the ghosts, breathing in and out. She sticks close to his skin, dodging past his arm and torso, leaning back away from the staff staying almost too close to comfort to him.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:07, Sat 07 Jan 2017.

Warden Initiative:
8, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*1 Chi:  Analyze Style Fears
*FoB with 23 for 2 Chi
*Analyze Style 18 + Tactics 25 + AB 10 = 53
*Init 16 + Speed 5 + AB 10 = 31

The Warden flicks his right arm, spattering blood across the floor as he shifts his staff to his left.  "You're a cunning one," He remarks, "I'll greatly appreciate breaking you when this is all over."

((Initiative: 9, 8, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 & 1
Used 3 chiv joss
1 chi on +5 Stealth
1 chi on +5 speed
Using Murderous Shadows w/ Unarmed+Saber
Initiative: 12+15+5+10= 42
FoB: 18+15+10 = 43/ 2 chi
Ghostly Presence: 19+20+10 = 49
Awareness to find locks: 23+20+10 = 53 vs dif 40
Shaping wave to open the said locks: 36+15+10 = 61 dif 10
Hide style 23+20+5+10= 58 vs 53, hides

Attack 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 7, 6, 3 & 1
Lashing Flurry 3 chi
Reincarnating Nine Brothers 5 chi

Strike: 17+20+25+10 = 72, better dodged
Secondary Strike: 38+20+10 = 68, better dodged
Burn: 29+10+10 = 49
Disrupt block: 20+20+10 = 50

+5 to all if Fears apply))


Seeing his blood spatter to the floor, colouring the emptyness crimson, Bluefox can't help but to smirk to her small triumph. The blueshaded mist spreads itself and turns to more dense one to cover her movements from the Warden and his ghosts. She herself takes speed from wall to wall and jumps upwards to see past the horde of ghosts and the Warden, her visor immediately analyzing the chains when catching a glimpse of them. Propping herself somehow between the voided wall and the door arch, she focuses her attention to the chains of Swan Dragon.

She had opened locks before, many many times before. Admitted she had done such deeds even as a normal human. But then again these locks were nothing like those locks at that time. Still in the end they were only locks, and their placement as well as shape was always somewhat similar. She got what she needed with one look: an opening.

Once again she darts into motion, almost headfirst diving into her own shadows that give way to her. She tumbles next to his right side, and still in movement pushes his already wounded arm aside with a talon to get in his guard.

"I don't think thats the right way to ask a girl for a date,"she retorts while slashing towards his healthy arm in a stretch, while continuing with a vault past him.

She gives a small nod to Swan Dragon upon finally reaching him, before her shadows wrap his chains in them in order to pick the locks. She uses her sharp tipped talons to mold into the locks, impatiently waiting for them to give up.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Tue 10 Jan 2017.

Defense vs Lyla:
9, 8, 3, 2, 2, 1 & 1
*8 Chi:  Block +15 vs primary and secondary strike
*Defense vs Strike 22 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 - Disrupt 5 + IKF 15 = 57 vs 72, Ripple + Roll
*Defense vs Secondary Strike 21 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 - Disrupt 5 + IKF 15 = 56 vs 68, Ripple + Roll
*Defense vs Burn 19 + Block 20 + AB 10 - Better Dodged 5 - Disrupt 5 = 39 vs 49, takes a Ripple + Roll
*Defense vs Disrupt 18 + Tactics 20 + AB 10 = 48 vs 50, takes Disrupt

RR 10 on Warden:
*35 + Damage 15 = 50 - Toughness 10 = 40 - Chi Aura 11 = 29, a new Minor or Minor inflamed to Major

RR 11 on Warden:
*30 + Damage 15 = 45 - Toughness 10 = 35, a new Minor Wound (or inflame that previous new Minor to Major)

RR 12 on Warden:
*32, a Minor Burn

Warden Attacks Lyla:
8, 8, 5, 4, 2, 2 & 2
*Strike Lyla 32 + Strike 20 + AB 10 - Disrupt 5 + Strike 25 = 82 (If you wound his other arm, this drops to 77), Better Blocked
*Disrupt Lyla Strike 28 + Tactics 20 + AB 10 + IKF 15 = 73

After his attack, he's Taken Out.

The Warden is just too weak to truly stand up to a pre-exodite of Lyla's caliber.  He spins his staff to defend against her, ghosts swarming as he counterattacks, but she shreds him and his armor.  He burns through the rest of his Essence trying to keep her off and drive her away.

It's not enough, though.  She gets past him and quickly finds the lock- a link in that big ball of soulmetal made of mere steel, with a tiny little hole in it, big enough for a needle.  It takes a sliver of essence twisted just right for the chains to fly open, causing a cascade of fire essence to burn away his ghosts and illuminate the cell.  Swan Dragon stands up straight, stretching old bones for the first time in a decade.

"Well done,"  He says to Lyla as he looks at the writhing form of the Warden in front of him.  "Please don't kill him."

((Defense:10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 3, 3, 3 & 3
Primary dodge: 43+15+5+10-5+5 = 73 vs 77, takes 1 ripple
Dodge disrupt: 26+20+10 = 56 vs 73, takes disrupt))

The Warden's last hits are vicious ones, and Bluefox doesn't manage to get past them unscathed. Her dodge seemed sloppy at the end due to her focus being on getting to open the locks, and the hit is immediate reminder that she should've paid more attention. The last hit renders her feeling battered and bruised, but she still stands tall in a much better condition than her combatant.

As she calms down, her shadows lower themselves and lurk on the bottom of the cell covering what remnants there could be of the ghosts. They shun away from the Warden, leaving the space around him empty. The talons in her gloves are pulled into the them, and she stretches her fingers.

"I didn't come here on an assassination duty," she notes, more targeting the words to the Warden than Swan Dragon. "I think this failure will be punishment enough for him... Unless that is you had something else in mind."

End of Battle Rippling Roll on Lyla:
*19 - 16 = 3, a Trivial I'm not even going to care about.

Lyla EoB RR on Warden:
*47 - 23 = 24, a Minor condition of Lyla's choice

The Warden has collapsed and twitches on the floor, no longer able to protest as she smothers away his ghosts.  Swan Dragon twists his arms until they pop.

"No, honestly, killing him would normally be best but it'd be a bit of an inconvenience for this whole ship to explode with us on it."  He kicks the Warden in the face, making sure the Warden is properly unconscious.  "I've picked up a few things.  These prison ships immediately self-destruct when their owner deattunes to them.  That'd be quite the inconvenience, don't you think?"

He looks at her, "Please tell me you have the ability to escape with both of us."