Dixie
*`The entrance to the First Floor of the Vektet.`*

A large, cylindrical room of towering stature, with a vast and open interior expanse. "Sunlight" Shines through an open window, illuminating a small, circular portion at the very center of the room — where all entrants arrive, directly — leaving the rest of the room in relative darkness.
Jessie
*`The blinding light that once entranced the group now fades, as they finds they are longer where they once stood, just seconds ago...`*

Still partially displeased from the earlier disturbance, Alois opens his eyes slowly, and takes a glance left, then right, observing the interior of the *Vektet* Where they now found themselves transported within. He briefly tapped the satchel at his side, ensuring that it was still where he left it last, and pauses, taking a deep breath, as he composes himself. All emotion fades, and he gives a nod.

```cs
 are now within the Vektet. Please remain stationary, for a moment. As your guide, I will perform a preliminary examination of our surroundings."```

*`"...This wasn't the environment described in Etra's mission report...`* Alois whispers.

So he spoke. Stood at the very head of the group, he'd be positioned directly at the front of their formation, his back facing them. With his face unseen, he reached into one of his breast pockets, and grasped at something — a small, pen-shaped device, with a yet-unknown function. Briefly fiddling with the device, Alois—

*```cs
 ₕᵤₕ?"```*

He mustered no more than that peep of a sound, as he stared downwards, in shock.

*—The tip of a blade peeks from his back. Bloodlessly, a large, bronze-hued blade pierced him straight through, tearing a hole through his upper-chest.*
Steven
*Well, that's a pain in the tail.*

Tabby's ears twitch as Alois speaks his part, and the eyes on her defender seem almost to light up, as if the pair of them were always on high *Alert*. The tabaxi starts hissing and riling herself up as soon as Alois starts talking; hair practically standing on end.

Indeed, by the time the guard said his lines about oaths, the defender had already reared back, throwing an iron fist aimed squarely at the knight's head with no intent of mercy shown. 

The cat, on the other hand, withdraws an interesting-looking crossbows from the confines of one of her way-too-small bags. Directly at the edge of the riser lay a *Ruby of the War Mage*, glittering with focused magic energy, seeming to power the entire crossbow. 

A streak of scarlet red magic extends from the ruby, striking at the chest of the same knight that was about to get absolutely decked by her mount. A *Repeating Shot* Infusion automatically reloads the weapon with yet another energy bolt, but Tabby is forced to *End her turn.*
Marcus
"DAMNIT!" Josh exclaimed, forming his hands into a saw-blade shape, and getting into a battle stance.

"Alright, we expected danger, and we got it. Let's fight!"
John
An unforeseen escalation. *All* Previous arrangements are null, momentarily.

The guide is heavily compromised, ultimately if not likely deceased by the blow of the blade of bronze construction. Surrounded, by unidentified entities wearing armored, medieval-like attire, growing from the shadows around them. Their word, despite provided translation, are irrelevant being the threat posed as displayed by the illuminated disposition of the unstained weapon. Front, center, behind, X and Y flanks. No instructions, and a failure on part of the superiors heading the operation. Her co-worker, *Tabby Browncoat* Retaliates swiftly with a ranged mechanism, what one could call a *Crossbow*, and utilizes a form of supernatural energy. Others, still in motion.

An early demise would be, disappointing. Her current strengths lie in movement, assuming the armor tolls speed and the ensuing chaos, as well as indirectness of advantage. Current weakness implies that one-on-one combat or melee against undefined and well-armed opposition would be ill-advised, and even in normal circumstances is troublesome due to her limitations. *Both* Gambles, but all sense of logic is shattered by their unpredictability; therefore, she was inclined to assume that her agility could sustain herself throughout the encounter, and look to seize opportunity when provided. A ranged approach could be optimal, but awaiting to see the results of the aforementioned would make or break that suggestion. A final resort is on the table, if necessary.

. . .

She stands there, and does seemingly nothing. Not boastful, but nevertheless still.
Eddie
*```fix
"A-buughh..."```* 
The bandit was dead on arrival, feeling the stirring bout of wooziness as soon as the light that engulfed them faded away. He reeled back, unable to heed Alois' request to stand still by making a beeline to the nearest pillar and wretching out the contents of his stomach. He falls to the ground, gripping the floor as pangs of nausea wracked his body from the stomach-up.

***```diff
-!!!```***

*``That metallic smell!—``*

The earpiece folded beneath the caprine's ears switches on and feeds the translated information in real-time just as advertised. Kuo hastily stands up, unbalanced by the whirling dizziness. He attempts to ground himself, but the sight in front of him was as if somebody pulled the rug out in front of him. His pupils quivered in disbelief, trying to make sense of how this could've happened in only a *Moment* Of time.

Despite the flurry of emotions and senses ramming into his body all at once, he manages to withdraw his dagger from the sheath along his belt. Although thankful that the *Tabaxi* Could handle things for a moment as he physically prepared himself, that moment was short lived as three more knights step out from the shadows and into the 'sunlight.' 

Kuouo readies Infernium, shifting his focus onto the knight on the left which he discerned to be farthest or at least second-farthest from the other two. He'd have to rely on the others to take on the other knights *``cuz multitaskin' would be a bitch to do right now.``* That, and while gritting his teeth, he figured that he doesn't completely know his opponents skillset and in taking more than one on could turn into an *Alois* Situation.

```fix
"Grrgh.. Alright! I'm takin' the one on the left. You guys gotta stay on yer toes. If ya manage t' defeat one, join another person and fuck them up! Two-on-one, three-on-one? It doesn't fuckin' matter. If they're willin' to backstab someone, use every dirty trick in yer book!"```

The bandit flies towards his intended target, dashing with intent to knock the knight down. If he managed to do that, it'd give him a moment — just a *Moment* To quickly analyze vital areas in the armor to strike. From there, it's 'every dirty trick in the book' to take the bastards down. Kuouo clenches his eyes, nearing the knight before using his speed to flashstep and powerfully ram his horns into the metal-plated chest.
Erika
It seemed Gaige would ultimately be denied access, disappointing but in the he was not personally invested in weather or not the man was allowed in.
The devices were certainly interesting, and warranted investigation, he accepted them without second thought but did not put them on, he couldn't take the risk of removing his helmet so instead handed the ear and eye piece off to his drone.
He seemed unphased by the sudden teleportation, he gazed around the room examining the unique architecture.
```diff
- "This device you use to tap into the structure's teleportation inferastructure is certainly interesting, may i ask how it works?" -
```
Just as he asks the question the order for silence is issued, and seconds later Alois is slain and any hope of getting an answer lost, but the man is not phased, in fact this only makes his mission easier why ask for answers when once can simply examine the device themselves, of course once the threat was exterminated.
Debra
Without needing order the drone already knew what was of most importance, securing the device, it swooped down slashing the straps and swiftly latching on, flying up aways to safety.
Erika
```diff
- "It all seems a bit cliche dont you think?" -
```
He grabbed the rifle from his back, it was attached magnetically, rather than with a strap to make drawing it faster, the rifle itself was pure metal, with a standard stock but a rather interesting receiver and barrel, looking more like science fiction than reality, he flicked a switch on the side of the gun which lit up a holographic sight and opened fire, the gun as some might have expected from its design did not fire bullets, instead it fired a bolt of concentrated energy that crackled and glowed white, the gun was semi automatic but the man had quite the trigger finger, he fired slow first to distract the knight while the drone swept by, then sped up unleashing a torrent of fire, aimed not for the armour, as energy based projectiles did not perform as well against metal but for the gaps and cracks between the plates, especially around the head and neck, most of the shots would miss the slim targets but he only needed a few good shots to deal some damage.
Sarah
—Then, a critical follow-up. Knight [F2], knocked prone and already injured, is struck by a goring attack directly targeting its weakened and freshly-damaged breastplate. **Kuouo's horns** Slammed into its armor with considerable force, backed by the sheer speed of his flashstep. His horns naturally meet with a small crack in the breastplate, **Tearing it further open, enough to allow him to gore the knight outright.** Knight [F2] stares down at its assailant through its helmet, as if about to attack him whilst his horns were entrapped within his armor, yet **Fails, falling limp, irresponsive.**



As further bolts of energy whizz past the third knight — the only one infront of them that had not yet acted [henceforth F3], it prepares its blade, recklessly charging forth. Unlike the other two coordinated knights, it seems this one has significantly more confidence. Or, perhaps it simply did not understand tactics as well as the others. **The knight closes some distance, yet is stumped by two of the oncoming bolts of energy shot by Cumhall, reeling back, and nearly losing grip of its sword.** Nevertheless, not allowing itself to be outdone, it strengthens its grip on its sword, **Charging towards Kuouo, slicing from up-to-down toward his chest.**





There was also the matter of the **Three knights who had flanked behind them.** Apparently unseen, and in an advantageous position to strike, **One of the three knights behind them [henceforth Knight R1] charges towards Cumhall, swinging horizontally at him from behind, as he shot towards the knights ahead of himself.** The other two knights [Knight R2, R3], do not yet move, analyzing the situation and holding position close to one-another, as if in a pair.
Steven
The defender and its valiant rider quickly pivot upon the felling of Knight F1. The defender steps forward, trampling the downed knight under its weight — in a spot that would be illegal in the fair sport of boxing. That, and likely cause extreme infertility to poor Knight F1 should he miraculously survive.

Meanwhile, the Artificer turns her head, raising her crossbow. The ruby on top gleams despite the dark, dank conditions; the *Ruby of the War Mage* Adorned upon it is, of course, a *Spellcasting focus.* Tabby uses said focus, changing the color and damage output of the energy loaded into her trusty weapon to that of **LIGHTNING** Magic, casting _Arcane Weapon_ at first level as her *Bonus Action*, no doubt in attempt for it to conduct across the armor of these knights. Gold, after all, is the most conductive metal on the planet.

For the cat's main action, she then fires said crossbow upon Knight **__R3__**, dealing both Ranged damage from the crossbow itself, and additional LIGHTNING damage. 

As with before, the gemstone automatically reloads another bolt. Alas, the pair of adventurers are forced to *End their Turn.*
Debra
The drone seems to have abandoned its previous task of watching Cumhall's back, it would seem to not truly be under his command, instead thinking for itself it occupies itself with the device, probing it with a number of scanners and sensors, committing each and every piece of hardware and software to memory.
Erika
Without the drone to watch his back, Cumhall was left wide open, the sword slash tearing clean through the fine fabrics of his waistcoat but failing to pierce the armour beneath.
```diff
- "I just got that dry cleaned" -
```
He grimaced, stumbling slightly slightly but more annoyed his clothes were slashed than at being hit, he spun around bringing his metallic right arm round, small pieces of metal shifted, opening exhausts along his forearm before his elbow rocketed hard into R1's abdomen with a loud hiss of some sort of propulsion device, he then pressed the barrel of the gun to the knight's chin and pulled the trigger, more than once for good measure.