[System]
---

Arcane Archer Fighter 20Save the world... redeem myself.

[User]
Marcus  Lakeltia

---

The question was asked by the shiftiest of their troupe, only for the Druid to raise her voice once again. "All you need to do is ask", she assured the inquiring minds of the means of travel being handled. "While the many visions seen do prevent me from personally joining you, I still managed to confirm a way one could make it to Vael Turog, fast." With that, she approached a nearby tree and placed her hand against it. Marcus could only raise an eyebrow at this display, but they were soon briefed on how this was going to work. She would cast a spell, and they would step within the tree, to emerge from the other end as if it was just a simple step to be taken. Very well.

And that was exactly how the transition would take place. They were in a hurry: Ellenara had explained that the spell could only last for seconds before the pathway would close again. As soon as she'd given the sign, Marcus had stepped through, into the bitter cold beyond. Granted, he usually was a bit warmer than comfortable in all his armour, but here all that was brushed away in a millisecond. While he marched on a few more steps to give other space to emerge, he cursed the fact he had not prepared better beforehand. Well, it had not been his task to walk here in the first place, but where his aid was needed he would go. Forgoing all that for now though, he really could use a warm cloak or three. The current one was more for protection from magic than the very elements.

Behind him, everyone still seeking to join in the task of taking down the giants and their supposed pet dragon (or the dragon and its supposed pet giants?) walked into the snowy atmosphere. The wind forced itself through the flimsier of the fresh arrival's clothing, making sure they knew just how unforgiving their new environment would be. Marcus turned around after surveying the surroundings for a second. A village, more so than a town at least. Most of the buildings looked quite ramshackle to a cursory glance, though they would stand, and likely act as a barrier against the wind, even if any and all heat would rather see its way out. With everyone now gathered, he nodded at them.

"We have arrived. By Tyr's word, we were advised to seek more information in this place. Those of you who still possess the gift of flight, granted by divine influence or as something entirely, should likely take to the skies and have a look around for anything particularly interesting. In the meantime I shall lead the search for further clues in this settlement", Marcus took charge of the initiative, not expecting himself to be challenged for the position. And looking at those around, the only one likely to do such a thing would be Ada, and she hadn't seemed... right, not since her drunken bender.

Once those that would either follow the suggestion for scouting had left or everyone had decided to remain (and earn a roll of Marcus's eyes), it was time to begin searching. The locals were not exactly out on the streets, that they were not, but the first individual they walked into was a kinsman of the Paladin, another half-orc! "Excuse us, we are looking for any information we might be able to get about the giants-"

"And the dragon, am I right?" the half-orc interrupted the question. "Yeah, nah", he dismissed the inquiries and continued on, carrying the firewood in his arms to wherever it was heading while Marcus was left standing behind quite dumbfounded. Had an offer for help, in a situation this dire to boot, just been... refused? He straightened his back as he stared after the fur-clad individual, while the chilling wind sought the openings in his plate mail. No, there was no other way for him to twist and turn it. That had been a stern refusal.

"Odd, do you not think?" he finally asked of those in his company before raising his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sunlight filtering in through the heavy clouds. In this environment, every little bit helped. The snow could be quite bright, especially on the higher cliffs that were now excluded from his field of vision. "There!" he declared soon after and set on another approach, this time towards a human in the company of... a much larger individual. They were both wearing some sort of a thick coat, while the taller one also had a fur collar to protect her neck. The shorter turned out to be a man, quite surprisingly.

Marcus had barely had time to introduce himself as a Paladin of Tyr, before the shorter one answered: "Ah, adventurers. Here either for the giant and the dragons or a spot of Yeti hunting sport. For someone of your status, probably the former. Listen here, not many are going to say much. There's been many before you, will be many after you. Head to the guild, bother them instead. Last thing we need is to feel someone else's death on our shoulders. Let them handle that." The Goliath woman simply nodded and the two went on. Marcus could spy a couple of axes on the Goliath's back as they headed away, not that it would likely matter much.

He shook his head, pressing his hand against his forehead for a brief second before realising the metal was now cold too. "I do guess we do have ourselves a clue", he confirmed as he returned to the rest of the bunch on the ground. "The guild, I was told. That many have come and that many would come after us. They do not seem to think too highly of... our sort, I might have to put it. Now then..." he explained, raising a finger to his ear. "Might anyone know where this 'Guild' is?" he asked, specifically from their aerial scouts.

Ellenara provided us with the means of travel to Vael Turog through Transport via Plants spell. She did not join the adventurers in this endeavour herself, however.

Those who did follow... well, welcome to the frozen North. Hope you packed your cold resist gear. Marcus sure didn't.
@Lurking Krog@Guardian Angel Haruki@16 Bit@The Grey Dust

[Assistant]
The cold will not settle well for these old bones.

The single line of uttered with a sigh spoke volumes of Kethan's age. Nevertheless, the old cleric found himself pressed on, the duties of one called by his goddess compelled him to devote his faith here. It seems Sir Lakeltia's order would rise to assist with the undead in lieu of their team, holding back the horde for now as these living legends had to contend with draconian giants and giant dragons. Unfortunately most of their crew had all but dissolved, either required to deal with the possibility of the Orc's return or having slipped away somehow. Fortunately their resident druid was able to create a tree portal using her connection to the natural world, one that Kethan would like to aspire too had he the time to spend hours in the woods without his grand library, but it came at the cost of her presence in the field. Regardless, it seemed Lady Mavros, Sir Lakeltia, the Alchemist and the Fool would need some form of spellcasting services for utility and healing no less. Surely now the paladin of Tyr would need to drop the hammer harder, Ada had her bow, and the alchemist her mad science. Whatever the Talon'd could do was fretfully minimal no doubt, perhaps if they needed someone to stab them in the back. Kethan took it upon himself to keep a wary eye on this rascal and ensure the relative safety of his companions. As long as he could keep up with the youth.

Not even dragonfire could warm them.

---

"In such bitter cold a man has but one desire: trading his useless gold for a warming fire."

A general quip regarding the temperature, the climes were not agreeable at all, the nip in the air certainly did more than shake a chill beneath the robes he wore. Had he presage of coming to the mountains, he would have stopped for winter clothes, alas such was not the case in the precious moment of time. Not only were they on the clock of armageddon, but surely the heroic feast they had at dinner was not to be wasted on idle shopping. While true the adversaries were the giants and dragons, perhaps the weather itself would turn against them. If they needed room for the night however, Kethan could conjure up a devoted temple of Ioun as required, as long as no one needed critical healing or resurrections, such acts took quite a bit of effort and the elder had yet to take his midday nap to replenish his energy. But at the age of seventy six, who could blame a human for reaching his limits so early in the day? Naps after all were good for productivity. But there was no rest for the devout, having quite literally marched into a tree to appear a great distance away, Kethan had already mounted himself atop Zaphkiel to take to the skies per the paladin's suggestion. Both faithful had their spirited companions after all, celestials who served alongside them in the schemes of the gods.

From the sky above the settlement, from the master librarian could see all, and from this vantage point he could see the chaos of the structures. The lack of a decent architect, the lack of planning in housing and urban development, the general natural development of the sprawl was clearly evident of either an old city created from a hodgepodge of whatever was erected at the time, or a brutish governor who was as thoughtless as they were impulsive. Regardless what few passers visible from the all-seeing eye of one so used to spotting out a single volume of lore within rows upon rows of seemingly endless shelves found the pattern in the cacophony. Two buildings appeared to be the main attractions with gathered folks, not quite on the same street, but within proximity of each other: a stone's throw perhaps. One perhaps was an inn, with a few humanoids with tasks in hand, and the other perhaps the Guild they were directed to which featured a pair of hulking goliaths and six goblins seeming to settle some dispute. A general gentleman's dispute judging by the lack of hostility in stance and posture, to which position as he was, Kethan and Zaphkiel had yet to be seen by the goblins and their low stature nor the goliaths who lacked eyes on the back of their heads.

"I may have found the location of the Guild." Kethan notified the rest of the team, hushed into the earpiece giving the approximate location of where he was landing, hopefully the rest of the gang could follow his instructions through the rambling maze of the city. "Have no alarm, I am no heaven sent divine agent, but do we require arbitration from this old cleric? Or shall the quarrel be dropped solely upon my arrival?"

Did the they expect an religious inquisition?

Kethan aerial perception check: 1d20 + 18 = 13 + 18 = 31
Kethan insight check: 1d20 + 12 = 20 + 12 = 32

[User]
The transition from Mavros to Vael Turog through trees was yet again another new experience for James. As was the sudden change in temperature. "Well this should be good..." He muttered to himself newbie taking Markus' advice to take to the air.

The old cleric was upward faster than James, simply due to the Pegasus he had and due to James needing to focus on returning to the gaseous form granted to him by the windwalk spell that the paladin had cast. Once his form had altered he took to the skies going above the roofs of the hovels that made up the settlement. The wind blew harder and colder up there leaving him with little more than the thoughts of wanting to hurry and find this guild so he may try to warm himself by a fire, maybe even try find some warmer clothing if time allowed.

His thoughts were interrupted by the smell of food cooking from a nearby inn, which drew his attention back down. He could see a building that seemed less trafficked and also was the source of the smell. Nearby there a group of eight figures, two goliaths and six heavily covered figures, could be seen arguing in front of what appeared to be a large building. He went to get closer to the group to try to hear what the argument was about only to have that blasted cleric swoop in on his mount. He did hear Kethan alert the others to the fact of him finding the guild just before and now the cleric's attention seemed to be on the group that was arguing, who had now also stopped with the sudden interruption.

James floated down into an alley to switch back to his normal form before heading into the guild. He walked past Kethan, who had just finished offering to arbitrate the matter between the goliaths and the other six figures, and walked past the eight others. He noticed one goliath looking him up and down, albeit with only his eyes, and the look that was rather decerning of an unimpressed disposition of what he saw. The bard in guise didn't really put much care into impressing others from a physical stand point, which he presumed was what the goliath was looking at. With step and a pause as he opened the door he turn back towards Kethan. "Grandfather, we should go inside and wait for the others. This isn't our quarrel nor our business." He stood there with the door slightly ajar waiting for the cleric.

[Assistant]
Janine  Fawkes
Scrapmouse

Scrapmouse's Wings of Flying were dismissed after she lowered herself off of the perch. She watched as the Elf casted a spell on a tree and created a portal for them. She quickly hopped onto Sparky, and she patted the mechanical servant and commanded "Alright Sparky! Full speed ahead!" After Sparky gave a noise of affirmation, the mechanical servant charged ahead through the portal.

...

"HOLY MOTHER OF--! IT'S FREEZING!"

Scrapmouse quickly grabbed her arms and shivered. She thought she was prepared for the cold. Apparently, she was wrong. She looked to the half-orc paladin as he stated that they needed to find information. Kethan immediately took on the job of scouting, and no sooner than he left he informed them that he found the location of the guild. As much as Scrapmouse would have loved to help, she had already used her Wings of Flying for the day.

As the two scouted and after they relayed their information, Scrapmouse asked Marcus, "Think they'll listen to another Guild member? I think I can try an' talk to them when we get there,"

Scrapmouse had been a member of a Guild ever since before she started adventuring. Maybe her roots in the guild can help them out in this situation?

[User]
As Marcus took the initiative, Ada let out a quiet sigh of relief. Giving orders all the time was exhausting, especially when some refused to follow them. Here, she was among equals, not subjects, none of whom had any reason to obey her commands. She had no authority anymore, anyways.

The sigh instantly turned into a shudder as the cold hit the group like a slap across the face. "Finding any shelter would be smart in this town," Ada declared. "We won't last long in cold like this." Despite the relatively close geographic relationship between this outpost and Mavros, Ada knew little about Vael Turog other than what she had read. She was no diplomat, after all; she was a ruler of her city.

"If you please," Ada continued, trying to keep her teeth from chattering, "simply refer to me as a commoner outside of Mavros. Nobility is not easily welcomed in the crueler areas of the world. This city is likely no different. After all, we are not far from the Goblin Wastes."

Thankfully, the others were able to locate a building she hoped was the Adventurer's Guild hall before too long. Ada walked along towards the rear of the group, her fingertips lightly running along her bow. They needed to be on their guard in a place as seedy as this town appeared. At Scrapmouse's suggestion, Ada nodded. "It's worth a shot. They will likely listen to one of their own easier than anyone else."


[System]
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Appearance: Long black hair with a middle parting, one long bang pulled out of a half updo. Light brown eyes that turn gold in different lights.
Personality: Shen Yu has always been known as one of the more serious generals. The 'Shen' of his name meaning he is a 'deep thinker' was the perfect name to give him from early on, for Shen Yu will always analyze everything for a good amount of time before taking action. The man has had most things given to him early on, so his endurance can be strained after awhile and he doesn't feel failure too often. Because of this, the man can easily be swayed to do irrational things when he is in a bind. The best way to beat him is to keep just out of his reach, a battle of endurance is much stronger against him then a battle of arms.

While he may be fully grown, the man has no woman around him and is quite oblivious in this respect. He has always loved the feeling of battle and such things as riding horses, never doing such things as worrying about the inner court. He knows that in the future Shen Yu will have to produce an heir, but until then he remains quite the single pringle. And it's not as if there haven't been advances, but the man is extremely oblivious, especially if the advances are from the same gender.

Biography: Shen Yu comes from an old noble family that has been running low on money ever since the civil war between the princes of the Qi kingdom. Usually a clan of scholars or merchants, in order to gain fame and favor for the Liu clan, Shen Yu went into the military. As a boy, Shen Yu had loved to be taught the way of the sword and horseback riding. After the required amount of teaching was over, the 12-year-old ran out and found a new master to teach him even better techniques. While he was from the main family, everyone called him some kind of brute for going into fighting instead of calligraphy and writings, but Shen Yu didn't care.

After years of being taught the means of being a soldier and the honor of being a military officer, his master Long Tian died. Grieving, but resolute, Shen Yu joined up with the military and steadily moved up the ranks. He had thought he had gained favor from the higher ups when he was given the position of general... only to find out that they wanted him to guard the border, not allowed to return back to his hometown or clan unless of the death of one of his immediate kinsmen. To make matters worse, his rations for his men weren't the best, making life miserable. Shen Yu's life from here on would be quite difficult.

[User]
There was a small smell of burning oil and wood in the air... along with another scent that Joshua's brain tried to correlate with an unwanted memory, but couldn't exactly place it. What was it? There was an overflowing metallic smell that overflowed the man's senses, giving the man's gagging reflux a chance to exercise. Blood... and a lot of it. As he opens his eyes, there's a cloudy sky directly above him, he's seemingly on his back. The clouds give off a weird feeling though, they are a mixture of smoke and strange moisture in the air. His body was temporarily immovable, just the nervous system trying to process what the hell was going on. He was lying on wet grass and as he raised his arm... the entire back of it was covered in browning blood.

Smoke licked at Joshua's nostrils and he began to cough maniacally. The man finally shifted into a sitting position before getting all the way off the ground. The grass was littered with body after body. Crushed heads under sliced up horses, legs sticking out of fallen war tents with astounding needlework and patterns. There was a nearby river that looked like it usually carried fresh water... but the liquid was dyed a deep blackish red and there, crossing from one side of the land to another was a row of wooden boats, slowly burning and all attached with a long chain...

That smell that no one could normally place was the smell of burning human flesh.

The sound of a cry of pain. There was someone still alive out there! A shadow of movement passing in between the fallen tents and what seemed to be plated armored soldiers that held bronze swords. Their hair kept in black high buns and waists tied with colored sashes drenched in blood. Out in the field of cut down tree stumps stepped out a man with only one arm, a cloth pressed tightly against the wound. He wailed in pain as he continued to move forward, his eyes blurry and his body ready to give out. Not looking where he was going, the man stumbled over a fallen horse and seemingly couldn't get back up.

[Assistant]
~ Animation ~

Plastic carrier bag clutched in one hand, he made his way up each slate step in the evening chill, and along a path or decorated stone towards a large, relatively worn but seen discernibly modern building, just off the outskirts of the city. They liked to keep the place out of the way, either to keep the patients from hearing the sound of traffic constantly, or to keep the crazy away from society. In either way, it was a pleasant walk up from the car park, just far enough of a distance to let him into a calm mood, on the off chance the visitation didn't go as planned.

She had already been locked up within the Harrison Private Psychiatric Hospital for four years now without signs of recovery. Some days she seemed to be a tad better, but any disparity in her condition reverted within the next couple days. For a few years Joshua had blamed himself; maybe if he was a better older brother, maybe if he had stood up to their father, or just been there more through their foster years, she wouldn't be in the state she was.

He couldn't let himself think like that, though. Couldn't harbour those kinds of beliefs and emotions. All they would do was hurt Emily. What if one day he could't visit her, or something else happened, while he was in his own self hatred? She could have another episode. If she was taken to a state hospital, who knew what they would do to her? It was a scenario Joshua simply wasn't willing to entertain.

But every step he took seemed to sound more hollow. As though the earth beneath each slated section of path had fallen away, deleted from under his feet. The world seemed to spin, the trees in all directions molding and warping in a psychedelic kaleidoscope of greens, and blues, and the oranges of the setting sun against a backdrop of grey clouds and white light from the city. It rained and snowed and thundered and the sun shone and detonated in a million sparkling stars shifting like a wave of diamonds that rained down on the planet and obliterated everything in their path to make way for a new reality.

His stomach lurched as he sat up, from those slated pieces of path surrounded on all sides by grass and trees, and the giant, wavering, illusory old but modern building. His clothes were soaked through from the rain, and the smell of pine and oak trees tickled at the back of his nostrils in protest to his location. The sky sat overcast, glaring at its newly procured victim with sneering beads of sunlight.

Yet the closer he looked, the more he let his eyes focus on the dim-lit sky and the rich, deep green trees, something clogged his view, blocking the passage of reality to his brain. No trees existed here. No overarching building of wood and glass, old yet new. No ornate path to the psychiatric hospital he had visited for the past four years. No grass. No glinting sunlight through dark thunderclouds.

Smoke and ash and blood and decay lingered in the air round his every molecule, filtering past his eyes and nostrils, the facade of a real world blemished with torment. This place wasn't real. He had just fallen unconscious, maybe slipped in a puddle on his way up the stairs. The life essence of human beings clung tightly in fabric to his skin, tarnishing his skin incarnadine. Turquoise eyes pierced the fog of war like a lighthouse beacon, radiating through the deaths of hundreds, and the burning of the churned and demolished land to see what he wanted.

For Joshua wanted nothing more than to see anything else. Bodies littering a wasteland of darkness, eclipsed in smoke from fires long since extinguished by time. The dull ring in his ears, taking in his surroundings from an upright position, letting feeling return to his legs and arms and brain to make sense of everything. Where, on Earth, had he ended up? Feeling the panic crawl its way into his throat with ragged breathing, caught on his windpipe, forcing out a cough from asphyxiation.

And a scream. A scream that drew his head instantly, despite the migraine that implanted itself deep into his brain. Even in an addled and vacant state of mind, Joshua had a duty; he couldn't let a person in pain or trouble to their own devices, especially not on the field of battle. The though had barely crossed his mind before he reached his feet and sprinted in the direction of the man.

Wounded, barley conscious, with his arm severed at the shoulder, collapsed against the bloodied corpse of a horse; the stench of decay clawing at his nostrils, forcing him to swallow down gag reflex time and time again. Just like that time.
"H-hey, hey, its okay." his voice shook as he spoke, still recovering from the dehydration in his mouth intermixed with the metallic tinge of blood, "Help! he felt himself shout, against his misgivings, "Th-there's a wounded here!" he took the cloth from the man and pressed it tight to the wound, attempting to stop the bleeding; he had basic medical training, but not for this. Not a severed limb or a... a sword wound.

Taking another glance around the field, everything seemed to slow. Corpse after corpse piled high against mud and dirt, peppered with smouldering fires trickling smoke high into the miasma of the sky. Horses lay strewed periodically, punctured with arrows and swords, much the same as the ones every soldier seemed to carry. Their weapons, their outfits... Where? Where the hell was he?

[User]
All that came back to Joshua was the echo of his plea for help. None of the bodies stirred and all that could be heard was a rockslide in the distance and the rush of the blackened river. There was no birds singing or squirrels nearby, not with the stench and blight of war on the land.

The man was groaning and whimpering, his eyes looked dazed and his face was getting paler and paler. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he wept angrily, not even really noticing Joshua's approach. "Th-Those blasted scoundrels! How dare they perform such a trick of sorcery against the Kingdom of Li... Damn that witch! Damn Xi Lei so that I may get my revenge!" The rest of his words were muffled as he hacked and blood spurted out over his armored chest. The light continued to dim out of his eyes as tears continued to fall, "My death prevails in vain..." He whimpered, his shame pouring off of him in waves of despair. Finally he fell quiet, his struggling body going limp against Joshua's helping hand.

The man must have lost too much blood from the wound, there had been no way to save him. The body and blood were still warm and it seemed almost to seep into the bewildered man's hand. Only after a few moments did a speck of life sound from off in the near distance.

Down the river, there was a lone horse who still had an ornate saddle prepared on it's back. The horse itself must have belonged to some high official or strong cavalry man, with the gold stitches adorning the bridal and the horse's luscious mane which was only flaked with blood looked well taken care of. The horse seemed to have tried to take a drink from the lake, only to spit it out and back away frantically when the water tasted of something foul and probably poisonousness. Now the horse was sniffing around the bodies, trying to find something to eat and knocking a bottle of what seemed to be alcohol out of one of the corpse's pockets.

As the horse finally noticed Joshua, it reared up its head, eyeing the man carefully. A muffled puff of air and the horse started to get closer to him... Only to again, rear up its head, give a scared neigh and trot away, hurdling over corpses left and right. Something was a miss to scare a stallion away like that... but what?

The sounds of galloping could be heard coming from the opposite direction, many meters away was a horse moving towards Joshua fast... and had a rider on its back. The rider was dressed in a flowy robe that seemed to reach over the whole of the horse's back, his hair long as the bun had come undone. As the rider drew closer, he reached for the bow on his back and aimed an arrow at Joshua's head.


[System]
Super Powered name(optional): Tuner

Power(s): Sound Wave Manipulation.

Power Item:

Appearance:

Allegiance: Hero (Possibly on the path to becoming an Anti-hero)

Personality: Elijah is one of those people who can't seem to keep himself together. He has good morals and ideals, but it's common for his emotions and fears to get the better of him, especially in times like these. When Elijah steps into his "People Person" persona, he can be a very cheerful, charismatic and understanding person. Balancing the side of him that he shows others and the side of him that he shows himself, is one of his greatest struggles. Elijah can seem like a a very happy person, which he can be, but because he has this excessive care for what others think of him, he bottles up his feelings in order to make sure the people around him are okay.

History: Elijah grew up in the lower class. He was and only child being raised by a single mother. His mother , however, was a recovering alcoholic who was trying to put her life back together. His mother tried her hardest to be the best mother she could be, and for that, Elijah set aside his feelings about her alcohol addiction and encouraged her to get help. Because of her addiction, Elijah's mother couldn't keep a job for more than a month. This was incredibly difficult when it came to paying rent. His mothers on and off alcoholism went on for years.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Is a question Elijah was asked often, but he rarely thought about. he didn't care where he worked, as long as he could help out his mother make ends meet, he would be satisfied. Eventually luck came his way when he found a part-time job at a grocery store in the next city over. After a few short years, Elijah and his mother move into an affordable place in the city that Elijah worked in, the city of Grayshire. The city seemed quaint, which was perfect for the two of them. things were finally starting to look up for them.

On the day of the Gray Bomb incident, Elijah was working at the store until closing at midnight. That night was as ordinary as any other. When he arrived home his mother made a late night dinner than went to bed, Elijah followed suit after he ate. That next morning would change his life forever. Elijah woke up to see his mother packing everything she could into a single suitcase. She wasted no time explaining the situation to Elijah. Elijah went into his room and started packing as much things as he could. They had both rushed out of the house and drove out of the city to the closest train station. They bought tickets to New York City, the plan behind that was simple; in a city that big, who could find two people among the millions?

Elijah stood in New York City. The feeling of being overwhelmed by everything started to subside as he composed himself. From the moment his mother told him about the government troops raiding the city, to the time he got to New York, everything was a blur. Even one of the most important things...His mother was no longer at his side.

[User]
John was slightly confused when the small woman tapped on his shoulder. Most people on the streets avoided him. Which made sense seeing how he was ragged and head an intimidating mask to help cover the burns on his face. Maybe she just didn't really get a good look at me, he thought to himself.

He snapped back to the world around him as the woman started to scale the side of the building. "Wait, don't go in there." Not only was Jerome his only solid lead, but there might be some form of trap waiting.

John ran to the side of the building she climbed up. Thinking for a moment John spread out his arms. His shadow climbed up his body to form hooks on his palms. Using the hooks to scale the building, he climbed into the broken window.

Cutting his hand as he pulled through the window, John took in the room. The woman stood a couple steps away from him, and Jerome lay on the ground unconscious. Most of the room was on fire, and it looked like it had spread out into the hall. The room seemed to be covered in tech. Most of it was used to help people from Grayshire.

Moving past the woman to Jerome, "You can ask how I got up here after we get him out of here." He turned to her, the fire lighting up his figure. His voice had a slight rasp do to his mask, "I need you to get him out of here and meet me in the ally fifteen blocks south of here." John moved to a safe that sat under a desk. He made his shadow very thin and slid it into the small keyhole.

[Assistant]
If the pizza he brought with him wasn't a dead give-away his voice certainly was. He immediately recognized the voice as the one he had spoken to after he had taken the voice modulator off back in Grayshire on the video stream. "I was starting to think you wouldn't show up." Lexx said as the man sat down next to him. Lexx then shook his head and grinned at the suggestion. Not cause he refused a slice but because the man really showed up with a pizza. "I didn't really expect you to actually bring a pizza. Sure I'll have a slice." Still, even simplest acts like this tell a lot about a person. If this is hinting at anything, it's that the 'masked man' is dependable. Atleast I would hope so, Lexx thought.

"So what should I call you? Other than Mr. Anonymous." As he said that Lexx finally got a good look at his face. He had quite an average look, nothing noteworthy except how pale he was. It almost appeared as if he was sick.

[User]
The sheer amount of technology taking up the apartment threw Amelia off when she pulled herself through the window, and though she couldn't source the start of the fire, she was positive something had been rigged close to the door, where the fire had already spread out. To her surprise, she was joined shortly by the masked man, and she did a quick double-take when she noticed the mask. Okay, so it wasn't very frightening from the side, but a front view? That was a whole other story. Definitely not a shoe thief, then. How he'd even got up the building was a mystery, but she had to agree - they needed to get the unconscious man out before he caught fire like his computers.

"Right," she managed to get out, the smoke causing her to cough immediately after. When had she gotten so sensitive? She'd dealt with smoke before, and it never set her off so easily. Maybe sticking to everything but glass wasn't the only thing that had changed about her.

Taking a deep breath through her shirt, she picked the man up with ease, slinging him over her back like a sack and heading back to the window. It didn't occur to her until she was scaling down - a more difficult feat than she'd expected, because she couldn't go upside-down now that she was carrying someone - that she didn't know if she was supposed to bring this man with them or not. Witnesses were starting to gather, though; people that were evacuating the building, most likely. With a quiet swear, Amelia settled for picking up her shoes and leaving barefoot. She adjusted the man on her back to be more slung over her shoulder than behind her back, briefly considering how easy it was to carry him, and set off, ignoring the protests behind her. If this guy was being targeted, she was better off bringing him with her; she didn't just go in a burning building for fun, after all.

[Assistant]
Ved
He smiled gently, moving the box of steaming pizza in his direction, after he took a slice, he rose a shaky hand and took a piece himself. He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, enjoying the flavor of it, as well as the dry spice to it.

"For the time being, please, call me Ved. It was the nickname my Mother gave me when I was young."

He said quietly with a subtle smile, reaching up and scratching slowly on one of the shaved sides of his head. His fingers, like himself, were long and thin, and his hands were incredibly cold.

"And what would you like me to call you?"

He asked as he lifted the slice to his mouth again and chewing slowly, then setting the slice on top of the closed box as a makeshift plate. He took in the man's appearance slowly, making sure to notice little details that would otherwise go over-looked.

[User]
I hope I can trust her, After half a minute John had gotten the lock to open. Inside the safe was three papers and two numbered USBs. Folding the papers he placed them and the USBs in a pouch on his belt and stood to look around the burning room. Water had started to come out of the sprinklers in the ceiling.

Thinking it over for a moment, John forced his shadow to form a glove on around his hands. "Sorry Jerome, but we can't risk it." John moved from computer to tower to terabyte tower smashing each. Soon the room looked worse then it began with.

As John moved towards the window part of the ceiling came down blocking it. damn, He turned and ran into the hallway. Most of it was fire, but on the opposite end was another window. Jogging to the other end, John looked out the window it sat just above the building next door. Taking a couple steps back before running and jumping through the window. Glass cutting his arms as he smashed through it. huf, He was just short, and landed on the edge of the roof. Using his shadow to form hooks again, John slowly climbed down.

Taking the long way around to the meeting place, he was starting to feel worn. Stopping in a dark ally to avoid police cars flying down the road. He had a moment to catch his breath. Finally reaching the meeting place, he turned to the corner and asked two things, "Can I trust you, and is he still breathing?"

[Assistant]
When Amelia reached the meeting point, she laid the man on the ground and started doing what she could to clear the man's lungs of any smoke. Though he was breathing on his own, his breaths were shallow and it was clear enough he was struggling. Just being in clearer air seemed to be helping, however, she had no idea if he'd wake soon or not. She was pretty sure proper care after inhaling smoke like he had required a manual resuscitator, and a small knot was forming on the back of his head. Throw in the preliminary burns from the initial exposure to the blaze, and she was amazed he was still alive. Fifteen blocks was no walk in the park, after all.

"I don't even know where the nearest hospital is," Amelia muttered irritably, wondering, not for the first time, if she should have left him outside of the building. At least when emergency services had arrived, he would've received more appropriate medical care. Not only that, but for all she knew, she'd just taken the man for his attacker.

Before she could dwell on the man's condition any longer, the masked man joined Amelia in the alley and fired off two questions as soon as he saw her. Standing from the crouch she'd been in by the man's side, her lips pulled down into a frown. He seemed to have his priorities pretty straight, but he was the one in a mask, and that first question should've been what she was asking. Regardless, she answered him after a few beats of silence between them.

"I'd like to think you can," Amelia responded, glancing over her shoulder at the unconscious man. "He's still breathing, but he's struggling. His arms have burns - probably second degree, given his proximity to the flames, and his head injury seems mild, despite the knot on the back of his head. On the upside, he's not bleeding." She ticked off the man's condition with her fingers as she spoke, then looked expectantly at the masked man. "Are you trustworthy?"

[User]
Elijah had been sitting on top of his building on and off for days, but this particular moment seemed to change the way the top of his building feels to him. His "Happy place" was the top of his roof, bad that quickly became a place of espionage when he'd witnessed both a fire in a building a few blocks away, and two fleeing civilians. He'd observed intently the girl scale the burning building downwards with a man on her back, and shortly after watched a man run from around the building. Elijah's first thought portrayed two people setting a fire in an apartment then fleeing with their victim. But as they ran down the street into the alley way across from his apartment, their conversation would signify they didn't know each other.

Elijah forwarded his brow as he watched the girl examine the body than give her analysis to the man with the mask. "Two masked people in one city; seems like a trend." Elijah whispered to himself in a cavalier tone. Elijah focused on the two people, starring at them with beaming eyes. The sound waves that their voices were emitting danced in the air, and the more Elijah focused the clearer the waves became. Elijah focused more on the sound waves rather than the two people. He could hear their voices now, as clear as day. The females voice and the masked man's voice could be heard as if they were right next to Elijah. "They don't even know each other..." Elijah concluded as he eavesdropped on their conversation.

Elijah thought about modifying his sound waves to make it so they were audible only to those two people, but Elijah wasn't confident enough in his powers and didn't want risk looking like and idiot talking to himself on a roof. So, he decided he listen in only. As he listened in, his mind started to wander thinking about conspiracies against people like him. He was almost certain he wasn't the only person with powers, so he knew he wasn't the only person being hunted.  could these two be different people hunting the same person?, Elijah thought. That theory stuck in his head now, it made sense why the girl was carrying the man and why they didn't know each other.  They may have answers to everything that's been happening lately...


[System]
Theurgist

---

Level 2:  (7 / 100)

-------STATISTICS-------

-------MASTERIES-------

| VIT -- 15 | 20% | BLADES -- E
| MGT -- 1 | 05% | POLEARMS -- E
| SKI -- 1 | 05% | AXES/BLUNT -- E
| SPD -- 5 | 65% | BOWS/RANGED -- D
| SRT -- 15 | 100% | THEURGY -- D (5 / 40)
| MND -- 1 | 05% | MYSTICISM -- N/A
| LUK -- 7 | 100% |
Secondary Statistics

WGT -- 0
ACC -- 2
AVO -- 2
RES -- 25
CRT -- ??

---

Traits:

- INSPIRATIONAL -- Allied units within 3 spaces get +10 Hit/Avoid during the phase you take the 'Wait' command.
- MIRACLE -- 3xLCK% chance of lethal attacks reducing you to one VIT rather than zero. Only effective when above 1 VIT.

---

* Heal -- 𒀀

	+ MIGHT | 0 (As Melee)
	+ ACCURACY | 90 (As Melee)
	+ WEIGHT | 0
	+ CONDITION | 15 / 20
	+ RANGE | 1
	+ SPECIAL | Restores VIT to an adjacent ally equal to (SRT+7)
	+ COST | 250

Possessions:
- Glass amulets

- Personality / Appearance* Iddin-ninshubur has a large, intimidating build that at the same time seems incredibly weak. It is as if an elephant had seen shackled to something far more powerful than itself. His clothes are ragged but flowing, white trim aiming for a status above his means. As he walks, and the wind carries through, the whistle and clinking of glass fills the air around him. These myriad amulets made from shards of glass adorn Iddin-ninshubur's whole being. His eyes seem to be those of something not quite present in the world, ethereal in silent judgement of others' failings. The stern aspect of his face compliments that impression, but on occasion softens into a peaceful and forgiving manner. His brown skin shows no stranger to harm underneath the robes, marked with battles and hardship over the years akin to the rings on a tree. Any approaching the thirty one year old man would surely be suspicious of his sudden alternations between contemplatively slow and deeply frantic movements.
* Iddin-ninshubur holds servitude to the gods as deeply important, but regards none as highly as his deity Zuzu. He holds great confidence in his priestly abilities; while not a braggart he takes great offense at any who question his authority in those manners. He typically works quietly and gracefully, as if the whole world was made fragile and beautiful. He is not ashamed of his poor talent at physical work, but is willing to support those who are with a fervor. His patience is lacking and he frequently looks down upon those lacking in reverence for the gods. Iddin-ninshubur has no qualms in advocating for himself or seizing opportunities as they are available. Despite his temperament and opportunism, he is as reliable a companion as the sand is to the desert if one befriends him. It cannot, however, be said that he truly loves anyone besides Zuzu— it is said not even his wife is shown real warmth. The theurgist is cautious in his advice and prefers subtle solutions. He cares deeply for asthetics.

- Backstory* Iddin-ninshubur was born to a decently regarded family in a city of no particular significance. Showing promise in scribe school, and with significant help from his parents, he was able to be educated as a priest. Soon after assuming official duties in the temple, however, he felt a deep draw towards another god. Iddin-ninshubur abandoned his station and home to be one of the few followers of Zuzu, god of petrification and glass. He proceeded to wander from place to place, earning enough to live on as a scribe and a healer while attempting to spread the worship of Zuzu.
* Iddin-ninshubur eventually came to work alongside mercenary companies, and built a strictly business relationship with his current company's captain among other contacts. In time the captain's first daughter fell to some sort of sickness. The captain was, at the time, still a poor rank and file mercenary. Iddin-ninshubur agreed to cure his child, but only if he would be allowed to wed her. The captain had to agree, and the daughter was successfully restored to health over time.
* As the mercenary's fortune improved, Iddin-ninshubur benefited alongside. The relationship between the two came to be more personable over time, as well. Iddin-ninshubur did not care much for actually fostering a deep connection with his wife, and their marriage was effectively just on slate. His wife did as she pleased without Iddin-ninshubur, and he found no issue with it. Very few in the company ever learned the truth of how Iddin-ninshubur became the captain's son-in-law, but many learned the individual and his secret were more present than relevant to the company as a whole.

[User]
Ofik:Again!

Etor:But father! I've done this over a hundred times.

Ofik: AND YOU WILL DO 100 MORE.

Etor:Yes father! ...a sword is cooler than a lance though.

Ofik: Etor. Your battle acumen will grow as you do but you have a darkness in you. Darkness that must always be kept at bay. Death and bloodshed could further plunge you into the abyss. The long spear provides that distance. As "cool" as a sword may be you should always attack first then counter when they close the distance. The key to battle is to hit them more than you are hit.

---

Etor: Damn.

The Ensi had gotten away and the group had to rush to save him from being ambushed. The two Hellions who came to back him up made him feel better in their own way. Zarif as a scolding but relieved leader and Siris by laughing off any offense that stood before him. The young spearman pretended to be too busy concentrating on the yeeks to hear the cleanup duty remark that Zarif made. However, the flop sweat that followed most definitely gave him away. The yeek warrior that the confident Siris had struck down would've been the end of Etor.

---

As Zarif rides off in what Etor considers a really cool fashion, he feels a tinge of embarrassment. Etor weakly raises his hand towards the mounted rider.

Etor: My... my long spear.

The short spear that Zarif gave him was lighter and easier to maneuver, it was a better weapon for him to use and yet he had always followed his father's wishes to use the heavier long spear. Had his father been stifling him due to the fear of the darkness within Etor? As Siris boasted further, Etor had felt something stir within him. It wasn't an emotion it was something more, something from within, and from the world unseen. He put his hand on the shoulder of the yeek in front of him, barely alive but too base to reconsider any other course of action. He drove the short spear through the weakened yeek, its limp body slumping onto his breastplate, it's blood smearing onto the fledgling spearman. The yeek's last breathe feed whatever was stirring within him or it soothed it, the young spearman couldn't tell.

Etor:Thanks Siris. I dont know what I would've done without you and zarif.

Etor stays on 21-21 killing yeek #5

[Assistant]
Siris saw two yeeks lunge at him and immediately put his shield up. The first yeek slammed into the shield much harder than Siris anticipated considering it's size, but not strong enough to force the warrior lose his stance. While stopping the yeek with his shield Siris pierces the yeek through the gut, killing it in one blow. Afterwards he immediately pulls the sword out and prepares himself for the second yeek's attack, using his shield to use the yeek's momentum against it so it falls to the ground where Siris quickly finishes it off.

After finishing off the second yeet, out of the corner of his eye he spots another yeet coming towards him

Siris: "Hid yourself behind these other too huh?! Well no matter!"

When Siris got a proper look at the yeek he realized his mistake, although the yeek itself wasn't too close it's weapon was (if one could call it that that is) much closer. With a quick movement of his left arm Siris manages to deflect the Yeek's makeshift spear from stabbing him in the stomach, but not enough to completely avoid the blow which causes a relatively large cut on his right side.

Siris tries to immediately swing at the yeek but the surprise damage and the extra distance caused by the yeeks spear causes him to miss, allowing the yeek to take a couple of steps back and be out of immediate harm

Siris: "UGH!"
"You are not like the others, but you shall quickly fall to me nonetheless foul beast!"

At that moment Zarif passes them both and starts to head inside the ruins. Siris was about to take it as his cue to attack his enemy immediately since he felt like he was being left behind for being slow but stops himself when he hears his companion Etor thank him for his aid.

Siris: "Hahaha!" Siris confidently laughs trying to hide how much he's concentrating on the yeek in front of him to try to think of how to attack it without taking anymore damage
"It's the least someone of my skills can do! If you wish to thank me buy me some alcohol as celebration after we are finished!"

With those last words he rushes the yeek warrior to try to get past the spear's long reach before it can attack. The yeek tries to stab the human warrior in front of it but, with his shield, Siris hits the spear hard to his right. Following that momentum, Siris continues spinning while moving forward enough so that he turns a full circle followed by a fast and sharp cut into the yeek warrior's throat. While not enough to decapitate it, it was enough to cause it to certainly have a painful death despite its failed attempt at trying to hold its throat.

Siris: "In the meantime, let us finish off the rest of these creatures!" he shouts in Etor's direction
"Of course, I could also do it by myself! And that is what will happen if you do not hurry my young friend!! No time to waste!!" turning to face Zarif's direction

Siris moves 4 tiles to 24-22, then attacks yeek warrior 4

[User]
Makeen saw the stains of several slain Yeeks ahead. Rushing to the aid of Etor and Siris, he realized his assistance wasn't needed. As he approached, both his companions slayed their opponents. Causally flipping his knife, Makeen congratulated them on their work. "Good job guys. Guess the only ones left are in there."

Makeen moves six tiles to 21-22.

[Assistant]
One of the creatures on the right chooses him as its last target, but one manages to slip past and attack Ashür. The blue creep is now too close to their employer for Lyun not to pay attention. He circles around the Yeek, moving towards Kastilus' spot and cleaving the creature with a swing of his weapon.

Lyun: "Good... Keep close." His words, aimed at Kastilus, could barely be heard by those nearby. If, by any chance, someone was paying attention to him, they could probably notice him whispering more words than he properly vocalized.

Lyun moves three tiles to 21-27. He then attacks Yeek Warrior #3 with his battleaxe and hits for 18 damage, killing it.

[User]
Ashür: ". . ." The Brute transforms the Yeek before him into a split pile of gore, sure enough the bandit is no longer needed here, their employer was safe and sound and sure enough their stipend of coin. The sounds of clashing and a distant reverent gibbering call him onward further into the fray with his comrades.

Thus, the man gives Kastilus and Lyun both but a single nod and twists about, making a straight B-line past the triumphant Siris with blade outstretched to run the final Yeek upon the field through.

Ashür moves seven tiles to 23-20 and attacks Yeek Skirmisher #5 with his curved blade for 5 Damage.

"Careful." He speaks whilst driving his sword true while Zarif and Salador clack up the sand block steps to the ancient temple, "Our foes no doubt bear a trap beyond."

[Assistant]
Iddin: Let my speech command yet another blessing from my God. Sand, gather! Form together to my comrade's flesh! Burn with heat, far greater than the heat of the sun, the heat of my conviction and the heat of your true nature. Be born anew, now so resplendent as to throw the sun's own light back! Learn the whispers of the body you are now attached to. Become the shape of what was lost!

Iddin advances in a bizarre stride akin to a dance that lacked rhythm but preserved some strange flow. His staff screams its strange harmony with the wind. Each wild stomp throws sand into the air, and it flies to task. At last Iddin stands next to Lyun, the task done. He scans with a jerking motion of the whole body for the next man to heal.

Iddin moves five tiles to 21-26, healing 3 health for Lyun.


[System]
Nicknames: N/A
Age: 19 years
Gender: Female
Master of:
Command Seal Location:
Origin: Circular Flow「The Wheel of Samsara」

Personality: Hifumi's has a complicated personality as is expected of any human being. However, her regular self is a bit of diva. Because she's truly gifted and from a respectable bloodline, she tends to have a very big ego. Even though she's really self-centered, she's able to back up her words more often than not. That said, confusing Hifumi's ego with cruelty isn't appropriate. She's more likely to ignore than to torment others if they don't interest her. However, she does have a soft-spot for those she considers "interesting individuals", regardless of what that means.

Biography: A descendant of the one and only Murasaki Shikibu who's an extraordinarily talented writer and mage on her own merits. She was born out of an arranged marriage, to the Second Owner of Japan's most powerful spiritual grounds—the city of Kyoto. From her earliest childhood, Hifumi never disappointed her parents, always showing what the combination of a privileged bloodline and proper upbringing can do. Not only did she excel at magecraft, but also in her mundane tasks as well. In fact, by the time she concluded high school and moved to England to continue her magecraft education at the Clock Tower, Hifumi had 4 published novels all of which are on track to become modern classics of the Japanese literature.
 It's expected that after learning about the Holy Grail War—a ritual that she was well acquainted with since it originated from her homeland—Hifumi jumped at the chance of taking part of it. After all, it's nothing short of her obligation to recover this "wish granting device" and bring it back to where it belongs.

School of Magecraft: While Western Magecraft isn't her forte, the basics of the General Magecraft taught at the Clock Tower are like a children's play for Hifumi. Along with knowledge of what may as well be considered a mage's best friend—the nordic Curse Gandr.
 However, the Foundation of her magecraft lies in the exploration of art. Most specifically, in the written form. It's a subtle type of magecraft excelling at Bounded Fields—especially when combined with Hifumi's talent wit Imaginary Numbers—and Mental/Sensory Manipulation. In a way, it can be considered the perfect magus' art, a product of boundless at beauty and refinement. Or at least this is what Hifumi thinks of it.

Skills/Spells List:
【Gandr】The only actual directly offensive known by Hifumi. It's essentially a simple sickness curse that has been crank up enough to the point it becomes capable of hitting targets with a power similar to a handgun's bullet. It's a really simple and economic spell—with plenty of interesting variations—for a mage of Hifumi's talent, which allows her to use it more or less at-will (in a manner similar to Rin).
【Bounded Field Creation】The primary use of her magecraft, however it's not a combative one but rather the ability to generate advanced bounded fields with a wide range of effects. Given the fact that this falls under the category of a ritual, the concept of daily usage really doesn't apply here but for simplicity's sake 12/day is probably more than she'll ever do.
【Imaginary Numbers Magecraft】Imaginary Number Space manipulation, this isn't a magecraft that can normally be used on its own but rather as a mean of augmenting Hifumi's Bounded Fields, as such it falls under the same limitations as them.
【Japanese Witchcraft (Poetry/Lyrics)】A specialized form of magecraft derived from onmyōdō and other forms of Far Eastern withcraft styles. As expected, it's forte are curses and spiritual manipulation, applied to writing. A sympathetic type of magic that relies on producing the likeness of others—and thus, influence their—through words rather than a physical or spiritual connection.

Based on the axiom that "a writer creates a world whenever they put their hands to work", a universal through that—even to this day—is recognized by anyone who has ever read a book in their life. With the same ease, that they create a world, they do change and shape our perception of reality itself.

Words are powerful weapons. "The pen is mightier than the sword" and, for this reason, shaping reality with them is easy.

While the bounded field creation aspect is what Hifumi focuses on the most, using her words to create barriers, and zones that are almost completely cut from reality—shaped by nothing but the power of her imagination—thanks to her ability to tamper with Imaginary Numbers Space.

In fact, her strongest bounded field is simply the ability to create a "line" that separates space by producing a small "gap" leading to Imaginary Numbers Space. While it's not wide enough to use for travel or to dump others into, it's a barrier of near total isolation that displaces space around itself. She can also create bounded fields that camouflage the space around themselves, curse others and a number of any other advanced effects.

Naturally, this also allows her to store her magic in specially prepared mystic codes in the format of scrolls, in a manner similar to that of those who practice Gem Magecraft.

Specific uses other than bounded field creation and alteration are:
 【Curses】The ability to change other's fate. It can go from giving them a headache, causing them to stub their toes on a staircase, all the way to tripping down stairs, losing the lottery, to even deadly sickness and outright death by accident or illness. On the other hand, these can also heal, help you find a lost item, find your way out of a maze, among any number of benign ways to alters one's fate. Sadly, a curse to win the lottery is a bit too high level for Hifumi. Effects that rely on affecting the bodies and minds of others who also possess large magical energy reserves are notoriously hard to accomplish, but alteration of external fate is far more possible. 12/day
 【Rewriting】Altering existing magecraft to fit one's needs. As long as Hifumi is able to comprehend the workings of someone else's foundation, she can rewrite their magic to fit her will. This is not very useful in a combative manner (like the rest of her magic) but can work like a dispelling effect. It really shines when dispelling and altering the effects of lingering magic (especially those that relies on glyphs), making it very suitable for destroying others' bounded fields, and counter cursing. 12/day.
 【Imaginary Song/Phantom Poetry】The ability to create a world through words and reflected shadows. This is not an illusionary trait but rather the shaping of Imaginary Numbers Space into something that can affect reality through the careful application of words. In essence, it creates "that which does not exist". Hifumi uses this to produce Imaginary Familiars able to influence the world around herself. However, since they aren't real and "do not belong" in reality, their appearing is vague and foreboding to anyone who hasn't read, or heard, the story Hifumi created for them. In essence, they look like blobs of shadow given physicality, but since they aren't real their shape is limited by the observer's imagination until it's "fixed" by an external source. A concept similar to that of the Schrödinger's Cat, in which the reflected shadows both exist and not until being confirmed or denied by an onlooker. This can also be used to generate "phantom attacks". However, as expected of Imaginary Numbers based effects, they are almost worthless against "things that exist" but very powerful against things that "don't exist" including others spells and all manner of spiritual bodies. Though, it's unlikely that Hifumi is powerful enough to seriously harm any existence greater than a familiar or non-incarnated demon. 12/day

Mystic Codes:
"Ink blacker than shadows
Paper whiter than snow
A fox's tail brush dances in the poet's hand"

A conceptual set of implements used for Hifumi's art. They are amplifier type mystic codes helping her focus and control the flow of her magical energy much better than if she were to do use undignified tools to work her craft.

"A robe of the finest silk
Twelve layers within
A maiden wears it"

A magnificent twelve-layered ceremonial kimono, used solely by those who belong in the Imperial Court as princesses and ladies-in-waiting. A set of formal wear that Hifumi usually doesn't make too much use of because it's cumbersome to wear and seriously limits her mobility for daily life purposes. However, if she wears it while practicing her writing, inside of her workshop, it further amplifies her magecraft skills to a nearly unbelievable level. It's a tool that stores an enormous supply of magical energy, soaked into every of its fibers.

For all intents and purposes, whenever Hifumi is wearing her ceremonial robes, she can use twice as much magic as she would normally be able to. Even though the output of every individual spell doesn't change, just their quantity that increases.

Amount of Magecraft Mana: A

Other: She has a pair of servants to help her with the complex process involved in the preparation of her magecraft, as well as work as maids serving her in all needed purposes.

Class Name: Archer
True Name Atalanta
Nicknames: The Chaste Huntress
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Servant of:
Weapon(s): Bow「Tauropolos: Bow of Heaven」
Wish: "The salvation of all children."

Class Skills:
Independent Action A
Magic Resistance D

Personal Skills:
Crossing Arcadia B
Aesthetics of the Last Spurt C

—Parameters—
Strength: D
Endurance: E
Agility: A
Magical Power: B
Good luck: C
Noble Phantasm: C

—Noble Phantasms—
Name: Phoebus Catastrophe「The Complaint Message on the Arrow」
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Army
Range: 2-50
Description: A complaint letter on an arrow seeking the divine protection of Artemis and Apollo with the Tauropolos received from the Guardian Deity Artemis. In the next turn arrows will rain on all enemies as if a downpour. Range can be set.

Name: Agrius Metamorphosis「The Boar of Divine Punishment」
Rank: B+
Type: Anti-Unit(Self)
Range: 0
Description: The Monstrous Beast of Calydonia that Atalanta killed. A cursed Noble Phantasm where one owns the power of the Monstrous Beast when she wears the pelt.
 Even though Tauropolos is sealed (however, she receives a "dark bow'" with different properties in its place), other than luck, all other stats rise. And an A Rank "Mad Enhancement" equivalent status is taken on. The skill Self-Evolution is added. In battle, the wearer's form, therefore nature, changes.

[User]
𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚔𝚒 𝙷𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚖𝚒Hifumi didn't imagine the day could get any less interesting. Introductory Formalcraft classes were far below her level, yet she had to preserve her reputation and thus gave her whole attention to her morning classes.

Thankfully, she had an appointment that felt like it would ease her up, in the afternoon.

Until the time came, she spent the rest of her break at the library examining an unpublished manuscript said to belong to Britain's greatest writer—William Shakespeare, a man that's often compared to her own ancestor when it comes to prominence in their respective literary spheres.
—𝚇 𝚇 𝚇—Hifumi arrived at Director Orson's office as soon as the appointed time came.

The room was simpler than she expected it to be. Perhaps it was a statement of the man's sobriety, nevertheless the fact that it was occupied by three old—and unappealing—men made she frown in an almost imperceptible way.

"It's only expected..." she thought as she closed the door behind herself.

As soon as she did so, Hifumi bowed and introduced herself, "Good afternoon, I'm Murasaki Hifumi, of the Fujiwara Clan. May I ask why is it that you summoned me?" she said in a tone.

[Assistant]
Kaybernett

Head Office, Clock Tower

---

The meeting place was just a hop and a skip away from the duelling grounds, so Jack had the pleasure of an easygoing stroll through the storied halls of the Clock Tower on a sunny afternoon. The paths to different departments of the association were very familiar to him, and the head office was no exception, so he was able to get there more-or-less on time despite his pace.

Jack's suit-jacket had been stained with blood during the process of saving the loser of a violent duel a few minutes ago, and while he wondered if walking into the war meeting looking like that would have helped him seem strong and intimidating, he decided against doing so, tucking the jacket away in his case and resolving to clean it later.

The Meatmaster had met the headmaster before, but the business today was apparently being led by a higher-up named Orson. The name certainly sounded familiar, and as Jack stepped through the door and gazed about, he recognized the face of the old man behind the desk as well. Added on to that were two seated men who gave the distinct impression of combat experience- and Jack would know, given his usual job was to stand by while people fought all day. Finally, a younger woman still standing in front of Orson's desk.

"Nobody let you know what we're doing here? The Director here must think pretty highly of you as a mage, Miss Hifumi, because you've been picked for the operation against the Grey family." He said so as if he hadn't been picked for the exact same thing.

I got picked because of my healing. Not because I have a track record of assisting against rogue families, right..?  He took another sweep of the office. "Afternoon, all. I'm Jack." Not taking a seat as of yet, he sent friendly looks around the room, and an offhanded nod to Orson.

[User]
𝙼𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚔𝚒 𝙷𝚒𝚏𝚞𝚖𝚒"I see," Hifumi replied as someone else—a man named Jack, apparently—who had just entered the office spoke to her. She didn't show any signs of an overt reaction, but the truth is that every moment that passed made her less and less impressed with this group. Judging by the faint smell of blood that she could feel wafting from Mr. Jack, and the way the other men behaved, she was finally able to figure it.

There are truly magi who think with their fists rather than their brain, huh?

Hifumi brought a finger to her lips and smiled mischievously. "That much goes without saying, does it not?" she said in a disarming tone.

"Perhaps I should have been more specific with my question, right? I was—am—more interested in the reason why I—or rather us—were summoned here instead of being sent straight away to our destination. Is a briefing really necessary when the situation is this clear cut? Or perhaps it maybe to make us aware of the stakes at hand? The nature of the Holy Grail War? Or something else entirely? Having an inquisitive mind is only natural for us magi, is it not Mr. Jack?"


[System]
Age
29
Race
Half-elf
Class/Level
Bard 2
Background
Duelist
Personality
See CS For Details
History
See CS For Details
Stat Generation
Point Buy

[User]
G A B R I E L

Jub, the Peculiar was certainly well peculiar; from the way he dressed to the way he looked and talked, absolutely everything about him was so damn odd but in the most tame way possible. Gabriel couldn't properly articulate the words to respond to whatever he was just smile and accept Jub's handshake "Yes, uh quite a pleasure." excusing himself the swordsman stepped forward to the ticket booth,

"Whoever it was, we should be thankful for their generosity." he said eyeing his companion as he took the blue butterfly and put it in the pocket of his vest.

[Assistant] Jub beamed up at the two strangers who had helped him, and was just about to say something more to them - maybe try and persuade his new friends to buy a nice trinket? - when the goblin at the ticket booth suddenly addressed them, claiming they had all had tickets already paid for. This, apparently, included the bugbear who had paid Jub. The wizard glanced over his shoulder towards his employer, unsure if he had heard. He cast the bugbear a questioning look befoer turning back to the ticket goblin, who handed him what looked to be a pair of butterfly wings. "Oooh!" Jub said. He took the wings, holding them to get a better look at them, poking at the material with a gnarled fingernail.

[User]
"The carnival goes round and round, The multiverse is our playground. Nothing's free and nothing's lost. Every visit has its cost."

Her voice came out as a clear, if soft-spoken, declaration. Irregardless of the rest of the group's remembrance or knowledge of that phrasing it held significance to Zavakri herself. She stared at the ticket-goblin with slightly widened eyes, the showcased 'free' items of wary interest to her. He was genuine, that much was certain to her, but whosoever had purchased these items had been waiting for her.

No. Her mind clarified that detail swiftly, her eyes settling on those around her. They'd been waiting for them.

"I will take the ticket." She says at last. "But I need to buy one for my sister." She elaborates, reaching into her cloak to produce her gold pouch to pay for the extra ticket should it be affordable. "As for the wings..."

She sighed, staring at them with softer eyes.

"Purple for me, lest someone else has a preference for it. I never could decide between red or blue as a gel, and so my mum told me to stop bickering over it and just wear purple. Something lucky about purple for me, I feel-- Er, right, I'll just settle for the pink then."

And with that she removed her cloak, folding it away slowly and neatly until it was a concise square which could fit within her traveling bag. This left her new, but comfortable, traveler's clothes apparent to all- she was decidedly middle class, but practically minded- and the crossbow she carried strapped to her side also quite obvious. No longer laden by the cloak, she knelt down and began to fasten the butterfly wings onto herself.

"When in Neverwinter, do as they do, eh? Jolly good." She was mostly talking to herself at this point.

[Assistant]
"Description? What do you-" Before Miizel could finish his attention was brought to the people behind him when the goblin managing the ticket booth called for the people behind him. Two humans, an elf, and weird looking gno-ope not a gnome. He was a gnome and he knew what they looked like. Then again he was far from his home so it could be a different subrace.

The goblin then mentioned that someone had already paid for their tickets throwing Miizel into further confusion. Someone or something had been expecting him, no, them. He suddenly recalled visiting a carnival when he was younger but there's no way it was the same one right? After all he's was over 100 years old.

He cast a glance at the place he emerged from. Thankfully still nothing. Might as well accept this, I was planning on going in anyway.

"Thank you and to whoever paid for me." He said, taking the tickets and choosing the yellow butterfly wings. "You mentioned the tickets were only valid for 8 attractions. How many are there in total?"

[User]
Brutrumukk

Brutrumukk watched as people lined up for tickets to the carnival. He was too far away to hear what as going on, but he could see the ticket goblin nodding towards him for some reason and the other goblin he paid to spy on the carnival looking back at him questioningly. Brutrumukk hoped that wasn't a sign that his spy had been discovered so soon. He didn't enjoy the thought of having spent four gold pieces on a spy who got caught right out of the gate. "What's goin' on over there?" Brutrumukk muttered to himself.

[Assistant]
Welcome to the Witchlight Carnival!

The Ticket Booth

The goblin listened to everyone of you with an ear horn lifted to his ear. He sets down the horn before he answered Aurora first while shaking his head, "An anonymous benefactor paid for those tickets, Ma'am. Sorry,"

When Zavakri mentioned that she wanted to pay for her sister, he answered her, "Of course, Madame. You may have to describe your sister to me, so that I can give her her ticket. An adult ticket costs 8 silver pieces, while a child's ticket costs 3 silver pieces,"

After Miizel asked about the attractions, the goblin grinned and he answered, "I said they're worth eight ticket punches, young man. There are many attractions here, and one or two of them are free. Any food or drink you might want also cost a ticket punch,"

He then directs his attention, and he speaks to Jub, "Ah yes. You, young goblin, you were speaking with the bugbear earlier, yes?" He remains silent for a bit to let Jub answer his question.

After Jub answers his question here, he continues, "I can only give his ticket to him. Would you do this old goblin a favor and tell him to come to this booth? I would like to have a word with him,"

He then looks to the rest of the party, and speaks while handing them a rolled up map, "Here is the map of the carnival. Once I clear something up with the bugbear, you are all free to explore the Witchlight Carnival. He is in your party after all, and I fear there is a misunderstanding,"

[User]
Jub's ears pricked up as he heard someone behind him speak, and he glanced over his shoulder to see a human woman. How long had she been standing there? This was the second time today Jub the Peculiar's legendary senses had failed him. He'd have to be more vigilant. More importantly, those words she had just said, about things not being for free... sounded really familiar, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Jub shook his head. Oh well. It would come back to him later. He pocketed the green pair of wings before the ticket goblin suddenly addressed him, mentioning his previous conversation with the bugbear. Beneath his hood, Jub started to sweat. "Ha... indeed, I, err, have spoken to the gentleman over there," he said with a feigned laugh. "Just a passing, err, friendly conversation if you will. I don't know the man personally, of course." Anyone who had spoken to Jub previously would immediately pick up on the strain in his voice. When the ticket goblin asked him to bring the bugbear over here, Jub gave another small laugh. "Ha... you got it, my eloquent friend, I'll, err..." He stepped out of the line. "I'll be right back." He hurriedly made his way over to the bugbear before anyone else could speak to him.

Once he reached Brutrumukk, Jub immediately dropped his grandiose demeanor. "So, err, there's a complication," he said to the bugbear.

[Assistant]
Brutrumukk

Brutrumukk watched as his goblin spy broke away from the crowd at the ticket booth and hurried over to him. When he heard what his spy had to report, Brutrumukk let out an annoyed snarl. He considered just taking his money back and sending the goblin packing, but decided to hear his spy out before passing judgement. "A... comp-lee-cay-shun? As in somethin' went wrong over there?" He asked in goblin. "...Well? Spit it out, Mag damn it! What 'appened?"

[User] Jub flinched slightly from the bugbear. "Apparently, my, err, good man..." he said. "You, erm, have a ticket." He motioned over to the carnival. "The charming fellow at the booth has said that someone had paid for a ticket for you, as well as for myself and a few others."

[Assistant]
Brutrumukk

Brutrumukk looked over at the ticket goblin, then back at the goblin standing in front of him "Someone bought me a ticket?" Brutrumukk asked, quite clearly perplexed by this turn of events. "An' now them an' theirs is willin' to let me in...? You sure you 'eard that right? You best not be muckin' about with me 'ere."

[User] Jub held up his hands. "I am just as in the dark here as you are, my friend," he said. "Regardless, the fellow at the ticket booth would like to have a word with you. Something about a misunderstanding, I believe he said?"

[Assistant]
"Eight and three. Best make it two of each just to be on the safe side." She rummages into her gold pouch, muttering senselessly all the while;

"We were but gels when we came last, so that'd be two child's...but she'd be nearly a woman grown now, so best make it an adult's to be safe- and nothing's free, that much is true, so I'd better be safe and buy my own ticket too..."

She produces the required twenty-two silver in short order and exchanges it in swiftness for the tickets, which she delicately folds away; the free one into her pocket, the rest safely and securely into her bag. Seeming to lose her reverie for the time being, she studies the map and taps her chin a few times.

"...Gosh, this all sounds positively..."

She gulps.

"...Whimsical."

[User]
Brutrumukk

"Right then." Brutrumukk said as he turned towards the ticket booth. "Let's go see what this miss-under-standin' 'e wants to 'ave a word about is." With that said, Brutrumukk made his way over to the ticket booth, arriving just as Zavakri finished paying. "Oi, old timer." Brutrumukk announced his presence in common as he closed to talking range. "That other goblin told me someone bought me a ticket an' that you think I'm thinkin' about stuff wrong."

[Assistant]
Welcome to the Witchlight Carnival!

The Ticket Booth

The old goblin completes the transaction, and before he could say anything to Zavakri after she takes the tickets, Jub and Brutrumukk approach.

With the earhorn up to his ear, he listens to Brutrumukk as he speaks. He sets down the horn and he speaks to the bugbear after nodding, "Yes, I did want to speak to you regarding a misunderstanding. But I must clarify: The misunderstanding was on our part. Not yours,"

He then goes to explain, "Your benefactor has explained to us why you were acting the way you did for the past couple days. Of course anyone would be upset if their rest was being disturbed!"

He continues, "Your benefactor also told us that you did a lot of good for the denizens who live around here. So...we can't really deny their payment for your ticket,"

He then rummages below the booth and pulls out another ticket and a pair of fake orange butterfly wings, and hands them to Brutrumukk, "So, on behalf of your benefactor: Thank you for all of the good you've done. And on behalf of the Witchlight Carnival: We apologize for the disturbance, and we hope you enjoy your time here. This will be our last night here,"

[User]
Aurora

The goblin's comment had left her more curious than before. Was it someone she knew? It was certainly possible. However she was not sure who she knew that also knew the others here in the line, and the bugbear that seemed rather displeased with the carnival's presence.

"I'll take an extra two adult tickets as well." Rory took out sixteen silver to pay for the extra tickets. Before she could set the silver down the bugbear had walked over to the booth and started loudly addressing the goblin ticket taker. She quietly waited for the two to finish hoping that there won't be too much of a scene cause by the disgruntled person.

Once the transaction was done, she stepped forward and set the silver on the the counter. Upon receiving the extra tickets, Aurora put all three in her coin pouch and stepped to the side to wait for Gabriel, and put the purple wings on for the time being.

[Assistant]
Brutrumukk

Brutrumukk listened to the ticket goblin speak and, all in all, liked what he heard. He especially liked that this would be the last night the carnival would be here. It came as quite the relief to the bugbear that the peace and quiet he so loved about the field and the Snoring Stone would be back the way it was by tomorrow. When the ticket goblin finished speaking, Brutrumukk gave a sharp nod and grunted his approval. "Y'know what? You lot ain't so bad." Brutrumukk said as he accepted his ticket and wings. "So who was it what paid fer our tickets anyway? An' what are these wings fer as well?"

[User]
Jub scurried after the bugbear, still looking very nervous. This nervousness turned into outright panic when Brutrumukk addressed the ticket goblin, and in a voice that anyone within earshot was likely to hear, referred to Jub as 'that other goblin'.

With a burst of anxious - bordering on hysterical - laughter, Jub patted the bugbear on the leg. "Hah... poor fellow doesn't know what he's talking about," he said. "Other goblin? Really now!"  Even as he was speaking, he was attempting to pull his hood further over his head.

[Assistant]
G A B R I E L

Krog

"Yes well, I'll just take the ticket." Gabriel leaned on the ticket booth counter to take his ticket stub, offering the open palm of his hand. Once the ticket goblin hands it to him, Gabriel steps to the side next to Aurora with a smile "So, what's the plan?"


[System]
47 YEARS OLD
LEAD AUROR OF THE SANTA BARBRA DIVISION

MICHAEL SANTANA
34 YEARS OLD
AUROR

ROWAN CHANG
36 YEARS OLD
AUROR

[User]
---

As quick as he had tossed the wand to Claire, she sprinted out of the room, his own spirit lifting as at least one of them would got out. The tossing of the wand also distracted the guard as he lifted his body up to intercept it, giving Abram a chance to slip out from underneath the large, behemoth of a man. "You should be paying attention to me," Abram said as he sent a barrage of punches to the man's face and chest. He was about five punches in with the man's large sausage finger's overlapped Abe's fists, stopping his furry of blows, before sending one to the auror's gut.

A cough of blood and saliva was spat out by Abram as he gasped for air. Not wanting to die in whatever hell hole they were in, Abram pushed on. He wasn't about to let Claire down by sending her into the rest of the warehouse alone, he needed to pick up his feet and do whatever he could to follow her. Another punch was sent his way but this time Abram stepped back away from the reach of the guard's fists, quickly retaliating with his own lunged punch. He struck the man in the cheek, leaving an imprint, before slinging a powerful sledgehammer punch down to his forehead.

The hit was effective as the man's eyes rolled back as he fell backwards. Abram puffed heavily, knowing full well that luck was on his side. If the man was on his feet instead of still fighting on his knees the young auror would have been dead. Spitting out a bit of blood, he felt the pain in his chest finally throbbing as well as his fists from the blows he gave and received. He was an auror for a reason, magic meant that he wouldn't have to physically do anything, but not having his wand and with the wards made it impossible.

"Claire!" He said as his head snapped back to his partner. Abe sped out of the room, out to a hallway. Puzzled and dazed from the fight, he blinked furiously as he just continued on with following his gut. He wanted to call out to Claire, but he also didn't want to alarm the others that they escaped, if they hadn't already. Abram bit his lips as he peeked in room after room, holding his stomach with one hand, slugging himself along, pain throbbing all over his body.

His spirit evaporated in an instant as his body went cold. Abram stood in the doorway to one of the smaller rooms and was greeted by what looked like the man he had barely knocked out in the room they had been kept in. "What the hell." The auror said with a deep sigh. His knees were about to give up as he felt the energy lift off of his shoulders.

[Assistant]
Claire couldn't see Abram, but she also couldn't see or hear any sort of panic or guards rustling around as they realized that the cell had no prisoners and one guard. She was praying that he was able to get out okay, trying to keep an eye out for him while also blending in. She paused in the doorway of a small room and heard rustling from around the corner, causing her to whirl towards the noise, momentarily forgetting that she was meant to be a guard rather than an Auror.

When she saw that the noise was from Abram, who looked as if the guard had used him a weapon instead of an opponent. The nerves lifted slightly out of her stomach, then dropped back down when she saw his knees buckle under him. With no explanation, she reached forwards and grabbed him around the waist, picking him up and taking him into the small room, shutting the door behind them and setting him down on the floor.

 "Abram, it's me." She whispered, taking the opportunity to maintain energy by using her own voice rather than that of the guard's. "We've got a trick they don't know, but we don't have long before they figure it out."

Her partner looked like hell, and she attempted to keep the worry off of her face. He needed help soon, and she wasn't sure how much she could give, or how far the wards on this place extended. The only thing that made sense to her was to have wards on the cell itself, and maybe on the immediate hallway outside. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to use magic in case of an escaped captive.

 "I cant do anything big now, but I'm going to heal as much as I can in as little time possible so you can at least walk out of here. I have the rope in my pocket; once you're healed a little I'll tie you, and I'll escort you out of here. I don't know if it will work, but I have a wand and a disguise, so it's the best plan we have right now."

Praying this worked, she put a hand on him and mumbled,  "Episkey." she could have done it without speaking, but it was stronger with the wand at her side and took less energy. It wasn't a strong spell by any means, but it would heal any small cuts and scrapes and broken bones, like noses or fingers.

"Can you walk?" She asked, offering him a hand. He needed a wand at the very least, and at best they would find their own wands and her bag, which were likely locked up somewhere with her bag being gone through.

[User]
---

A mixture of confusion and relief fell over his body as the person before him wasn't actually the same man he had been brawling with in the room they were locked up in, but instead it was Claire in disguise. She quickly chanted a minor healing spell over him, which eased the pain of his bruised and battered body, and helping him stand to his feet.

"I should," he muttered. "We need to find our wands and get out of here fast." Wincing as he moved, the auror bit his lips, peeking out the door behind him. There wasn't really much of an option other than checking every single room until they found their gear, but again, it was a dangerous game they would be playing.

Claire's plan of walking Abe out like a prisoner seemed like the best plan of action. So he agreed, letting her bound his hands together as they returned out into the hall, trying to play the role of prisoner and guard as best as they could.

"The guy should be out for awhile longer, but I don't know when they'll notice he's been gone too long." Abram said as they neared the corner. That's when another two guards appeared on the other end, with the two of them actually having to now figure out how to avoid being caught out as frauds.

[Assistant]
Claire made sure to tie his hands well enough to be convincing, but loose enough for his to be able to slip his hand out and fight if it came to that. She had no actual plan for what was going to happen, and she was hoping that every movie she had ever watched worked out in her favor with what she was trying to pull of. Having a wand was helpful, but she wouldn't mind if they got out of there without ever using it.

"The only way I can see to get out of this is to tell the truth most of the time, make major assumptions, and lie the rest of the time. I can do this for about an hour, I'm guessing. Just go along with it." She said quietly, just loud enough for him to hear. Pulling Abram up a bit roughly, to keep up the image, she stared down the guards, squaring her shoulders.

"Little bitch in the room pulled some bullshit trick; nobody thought to warn us she was a metamorphmagus. Went in there to pull her out for questioning and the minute I touched her, she turned into me, and he started to beat the shit out of me. Knocked her out, but she hasn't turned back yet. I'm separating the two of them so they can't pull a stunt like this again."

She was using the guard's voice, a rough barking noise, and holding Abram firmly. "She'll wake up soon I'm guessing; still have my wand, and she's not that big, so just don't let her change into one of you. I'm taking him to storage first, see if we can get him to give us the laptop password. It's got some sort of encryption on it."

She started down a hallway, not giving the guards time to react, when one called, "Storage is the other way, dumbass. Reverse trace his wand too, see if he can explain the last stuff he has on there."

Claire turned and led Abram in the direction the guards had indicated, shaking him slightly as they walked towards the other guards to keep up the image, praying they didn't see past the scam.

[User]
---

Abram kept silent as he watched Claire in action. She was good, really good. Her morphing and acting abilities were on point, and she played the guard pretty well for having only touched him just once. Once the two guards were out of distance and corners away, Abram grinned widely. "I think letting you lead is better for the both of us."

He chuckled playfully as they neared a single door at the end of a hallway. Going with his gut, Abram assumed it was to the storage as he slipped his hands out of the loosely tied ropes. Once inside he was relieved that there were no other guards around, meaning that whoever took them didn't have too many henchmen as he thought lying around. "Let's see if we can find our wands."

Rushing to a table on his left, he looked around the messy table filled with tools and knickknacks, along with plans and blueprints of the hotel they were staying in. "You were right... Someone knew we were going to be there."

A mixture of fear and anxiety began creeping from his toes as he looked at the things on the table, almost forgetting about finding his wand. "We might be in over our heads."

[Assistant]
"We are absolutely in over our heads."  Claire said in her own voice, finding it was becoming harder and harder to fully be the guard. Her hands and voice were hers now, allowing her to conserve some of that energy but stay in a state that would allow her to quickly shift back should other guards enter.

Surveying the room, she ran a hand through her—or rstaher the guard's—hair, seeing just how carefully planned everything was but also how much of a mess the place was. They wouldn't have time to sift through everything to find their wands; she would kill for a camera and her computer st the moment. Her wand and her bag were all she wanted at the moment, and she had no idea where to find them in this clusterfuck of a room.

Looking around the mess, pacing a little bit, her eyes lit up and she looked at Abram. "We are idiots." She whispered, a look of glee in the guard's expression.  "we've spent so long learning complicated things, non-verbal defense spells.....we're forgetting the first things we learned. We can summon something we don't know the location of—we should be able to summon our wands and the rest of our stuff from in here! Do you have the energy to get yours? You try first, and if it works, you can watch my back while I get my stuff, and we can figure out a plan to get out of here. We may have to cause some serious damage, take out a lot of people at once."

She spoke in a low, quick whisper, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Accio was something she had completely forgotten about, sonsidering she really only used it when she was lazy, but in this case, it was completely plausible. They'd have to do it one at a time, but if it worked, and they didn't have to search for everything, then they could buy themselves a lot of time and save a lot of energy. There was no way to know whether they would have any backup coming, whether their bosses knew what was going on and had been involved or whether there was a mole in the departments. Their best nest was to just escape with a trail of destruction in their wake, though if they could get out underected, that would be he best option.

[User]
Abram shurgged his shoulders, he had the energy, and Claire was right that a spell would simply find their belongings for them, but that would raise a lot more alarms than they needed. The auror trusted his gut though, that Claire was right, it was the only way and no matter what they were going to be in trouble, having their things with them while in trouble would be better than not. "Yeah, I can."

After a deep breath, Abram chanted the summoning charm as he rose his hand into the air, picturing his wand in his hand. "Accio." A bright light began shining from the back corners of the room as it shaped into a small, golden orb, shooting straight at Abe's hand. That's when a loud alarm began piercing the air. His eyes widened as he glanced over at Claire, knowing what he had to do.

"Accio!" He roared again, this time envisioning Claire's wand as another orb flew to his left hand, forming the shape of another wand. He quickly tossed it over to Claire as he heard heavy footsteps behind the door behind them. "Get cover!"

Abram shifted his body towards the door as he extended his arm out, roaring out another spell with whatever energy he had left. "Aqua Eructo!" A forceful jet of water shot from the tip of his wand at the door that was instantly opened as forceful orbs and beams of light began shooting in.