Justin
The hunt to the East had met its conclusion. Those who still lingered there did so in search for something or someone who might still hide within its midst; as for the most of them, however, it was time to move on. It was eventful, to be sure — violent and harming in some ways, and bonding and enlightening in others. Even if it only made them hate eachother's guts, now many of the Hunters in search of the Koi knew much of who they were up against and with: all the cards were lain on the table, and yet the prize was still out of sight...

Except for one, of course.

One returns from the East with what all the others who ventured and fought there fought for, a comrade at his side. Melded into the vast crowd of the festival streets, hunting down this Hunter will be quite the great challenge for those who return.



***```THE KOI HUNT
ENTERS PHASE 2```***

`- -`

 ATTENTION!"***﻿
﻿
—A booming, feminine voice with a deep growl resonates far-and-wide through the city streets of Sanctum Mesa, cutting clearly through the resonant idle noise of the festival, a number of its participants stopping in their tracks to face toward the origin of the noise. Toward the origin of the noise, and—
﻿
***STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.***
﻿
—the repetitive rhythmic stomps that follow it, originating from a collective of least five-dozen or more individuals at once. *A march.* Tall, short, wide and slim figures clad each in identically-designed, yet individually-fitted suits of regal, symbolic armor march in rows of four through the wide centerstreets of the Festival, all emblazoned with a distinct insignia and banner. The unmistakable three-part rune. The arcane symbol of royalty. 
﻿
**The mark of the Regni Medeas: the Medeian Royal Dynasty and their Guard.**
﻿
The Custos Regni's show of power had already begun near the start of the festival. Yet here they all were: nearly every member of the Guard here at the Festival present — even their captain, in all her armored glory. That, then, raised the question: what was this commotion about?
﻿
**"ALL PARTICIPANTS OF THE FESTIVAL OF CONVERGENCE—"**
**"PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE HERO OF ALL MEDEI-KIND—**
**"THE *FORERUNNER* AND GREAT *FLAME OF FĪNĪRE*—"**

__***"HIS MAJESTY, THE MEDEIAN `𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆`!"***__
﻿
***STOMP. STOMP. STOMP!***
﻿
The Custos Regni stop in the streets, performing a traditional salute with spears in-hand. As cheers roar throughout the streets, the entire Festival holds its breath in a moment of anticipation...
Jose
"Well I figured ya didn't wanna kill 'em — Ya know, festival rules and what not." Kuouo looked to the side, idly tapping his digits along the floor. "But... Good problem solvin' I 'spose!" Kuouo tilted his head and smiled. "Saved me from gettin' shot and I don't got a motorbike t' save me this time." The bandit slipped out a notepad and pen from his backpocket, flipping its trusty pages once more as he put his heist-minded logic to work. Sticking out his tongue, he semi-deftly illustrated Daniel and himself holding the fish together before representing the garage they were in with a circle of dark ink.

"So this is the parking garage we're in, right?" Kuouo set the notepad on the ground and pushed it towards Daniel. "Those two asshats in trenchcoats allllllll the way over here." He drew a crude boat in place of the glorious *Navis Auri*, once again putting his penmanship to work and decorating both Max and William as stick figures in cute cowboy hats. "They're actually slightly closer than that, but point o' interest, y'know?" The goat struck several lines, surrounding the perimeter of the circle that entombed their ink-y compositions. 

"The moment we stand up, we're pretty much in the open for 'im t' take a sh—"

— 

*What's this?*

*That voice. The familiar sound of armor clanking against the ground. The regal insignia plastered on each and every guard. There's no doubt about it - It was the Custos Regni, and they were rolling out the red carpet for the king.*

The bandit smacked his tongue, "Tch. No king o' mine." He rolled his eyes and kept watching through his peripherals. *'They had all the time in the world t' do this, __why__ in the middle of a dangerous fish hunt?'* Kuouo thought to himself, squinting at the captain who he disrespectfully saw as his equal. Finally, he stood up, leaning against the rail and watching the debacle from afar as he disregarded his caveat earlier. "Let's see what the hub-bub's all about. We can keep a better eye on who's in the crowd too cuz ye'd be a *Damn fool* T' fire off yer weapon with the Medeian King out like this.
Bonnie
Still running and hopping from roof to roof, he stopped in his tracks at the booming voice yelling the arrival of a king and the marching of an army, *There's a king now, an actual king? No matter they're all the same, kings, captains, barons, all are rich and powerful off the backs of the working class.* He thinks to himself remembering the labor unions and the how it was his job to protect 'American prosperity' as they called it, what a bunch of damn lies. *This complicates things, I can't be firing with him nearby, watch and observe.* While coming down from the roof to the ground and hiding in the darkness, only observing the crowd gathered, hoping to spot kuouo and Daniel, keeping his rifle slung over his shoulder and his pistol hidden by his coat. If needed, he will draw but not unless forced