Johnathan
`𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆`

Even in the winter cold, even in the turbulent gusts of a blizzardy wind, and even across the tremendous distance of the snowfield, the deep sound of a metallic creak echoed distantly within the mercenaries' ears. The frightening sound originated from the top of the wall to the north, and, to accompany the creak, a sparkle of silver light glittered within the darkness and the obfuscation of the blizzard. Its nature was without need for questioning, for its purpose was clear — it was the creak of a bow, and the light of a resplendent, silver arrow, at-the-ready to be launched down at them once more. It hadn't yet been leased, but once it was, it would blow through the brumal atmosphere of eternal night to strike its target like a clap of thunder.

The mercenaries, separated and blinded from one another, would immediately break apart in their sprints into individual groups. The foe's immediate goal was clear — to exterminate them as they entered — yet, still, the enemy possessed intentions for the attack further beyond simple destruction of its targets. So too, as revealed by the tactical convenience of the circumstances that encompassed the battlefield, did the hurling of the tremendous arrows intend to *Split the mercenaries apart.* And this plan was indeed going swimmingly, for in the blindness of the cold, each scattered in directions they knew not. 




—

_ _
**Rook and Cumhall**

The Rook progressed through the obfuscation of the snow at an enhanced pace, crossing the empty snowfield of a mostly-level elevation, so long as one kept northward. Though two took toward the wall at roughly the same time, the armor-clad individual's progression was superlative amongst the two, crossing several-times the distance that Cumhall did, in his slowed pace. He would undoubtedly be the one to arrive first, yet a few moments would still have to be spared in order for one to actually reach the wall. The distance was long, as demonstrated by the visible, albeit rapid, approach of the first arrow.

Perhaps this swiftness was a two-edged sword. He would cross considerable distance before the second arrow came, but progressing toward the wall at such speeds would undoubtedly make him the target for the next strike.

__`𝙋𝙎𝘾𝙃𝙒`__

—the sound of tremendous built-up force in the distance being released in a single instance, as in the flurry of the blizzard, the northern light flared in intensity—

__`𝙒𝙃𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙇𝙀`__

—the sound of a sharpened projectile, piercing the atmosp—
**𝙎 𝙇 𝘼 𝙈**

*—Closing the distance only made the arrow harder to perceive. *
_ _

Even in the darkness and obfuscation of snow and dark, and even disturbed by the unpredictable gales of wind that blew chaotically in every direction, the arrow struck with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the exact target which its guide intended it to. **A massive silver arrow slams into the ground a half-meter ahead of the Rook, sending a forceful shockwave of upwards ice and snow possessing such terribly-weighty momentum that it could even likely stop someone as heavily armored as him in his tracks.**

The air, save for the winds of the blizzard, went quiet in the following moment, as a gnawing cold permeated the region of the snowfield afflicted by the powerful shockwave of the arrow's impact. There would be no more projectiles immediately to follow, and yet the single decisive strike would provide a potent reason to halt, even if only for a moment.

The light atop the wall continued to flicker, remaining still and without a visible source in their frosted sight. It gave no motion, and there would be no terrible creak of metal that preceded the leasing of an arrow. The light had paused, as if to watch over them, or as if because it could not attack them further.

*Perhaps they had grown too close to the wall for it to effectively strike.*

_ _




— 

**Abstral**

The attention-getting of his two unseen comrades — the Rook and Cumhall — would allow Abstral and the rest of the mercenaries to go undetected in their scattering throughout the overcast night, each cloaked in the indistinctness of the ever-shifting tides of the snowy winds. Even with what little knowledge they had of their surroundings, they were still capable of travelling in the vague directions of objects which they saw in the past. Abstral had taken to the north-eastern tower — a wise choice, for it allowed him to both evade the hotzone that was the northern path, all-the-while seeking out shelter in the midst of the blizzard.

In his progression forth, impeded only by the sudden gusts of wind that might stagger one ungeared for the treacherous snow, he would go otherwise undisturbed, allowed to progress toward the

_ _




—

**Sachiko**

Sachiko paced through the dark and blind of the snow, and found only light. They took to no particular path, and even though they searched for other individuals to regather with, their voice would only be met with the howling wind, their sightlines only met with the whites and dark silvers of the flickering snow. Still, their feet pressed forward, and with no fear of arrow to strike them down, they continued through the snowfield, guided unconsciously toward a single destination — the *Light in the distance,* As if it called to them. Eerily quiet, peaceful, and almost strangely warm, the closer one grew to the light, the closer they grew to
Patty
Whisked away by the glowing blue aura from under his feet, the bandit would feel its effects work against his stomach, though it was immediately calmed by the biting breeze gusting through his fur, the sensation of fresh cold snow crunching under his paws in a once again, sunless environment. He didn't so much as break into a shiver for he was already acclimated to some of the harsh Snowdin nights he'd endured without a home or cozy inn to reside in — Though, what differed between such nights was the appearence of a shining moon above, standing high in the sky and dimly illuminating the floor in its white luminence. The bandit, scanning the radius around him, is met with the familiar sight of knights strewn across the snowy floor, each seemingly to have met their end with great, dense arrows piercing their body. To the north was an enormous wall that probably led to a city within - The most probable option for the bandit to take as he sought to learn more about this 'Cowardly Tvotkei' — and of course, the treasures he supposedly held in his vault. However, far eastward, the bandit couldn't help but notice the silhouette of a tower-like structure almost invisible in the night were it not for the revealing lunar light. He didn't think too much of it before examining the knights one last time.

```fix
"Damn... I wonder how long they've been th- Oh Fuck."```

Kuo's senses flared, the sound of a projectile — most likely the ones that ended these knights' lives — whisped through the air. It was impossible for the goat to predict its trajectory, especially with the weather growing kicking back up — **W h a m!!** 

The arrow struck the ground with frightening forces, forcing a flurry of ground snow into a cold, white mist scooped back into the growing gusts of the blizzard. The bandit switched his line of sight between the arrow that connected to the ground and the late knights claimed by its siblings. **``Was it a warnin' shot?... Nah, can't be.``** The bandit concluded rather quickly, because even if it was, the outsiders were in it for the long haul and the next shots would certainly be with intent to kill. No, with the calming of the storm upon their arrival, their assailant's line of sight — wherever they may be — cleared the way for a clean shot. 

Although some may that being clad in black in an endless field of white may be an eyesore for those wanting to stay hidden, the lack of any light — sans the dim illumination falling from the moon — coerced the bandit donned in his tattered black cloak and hood obtained from the first floor to stick to the shadows. Weather in itself is an erratic being and there was no telling as to when the storm could die or intensify, however, the bandit was going to be safer than sorry against an opponent with a clear advantage — a skilled archer, seemingly propped up on the dozens-meter high wall that stood tall in the north region ahead of them. Despite the whirlwind of snow that blocked Kuo's long-term sight, he was able to infer such from the trajectory of the arrow and the suspenseful long draw of the bow loading another arrow — There was no time to waste, but approaching the wall directly would certainly be a death sentence. Not only would the opponent's line of sight improve upon the outsiders growing closer to the wall, but the distance between the arrow and them would close as opposed to the few seconds it takes now for the arrow to traverse. For now, he'd too, scatter from the group and dash through the snowfield as quick as he could without eliciting any attention from the silver-arrowed sniper, heading northeast towards the tower, hoping there'd be a chance to observe the wall from a sheltered area and form a plan of approach.
Johnathan
Delayed in his approach, yet not without great speed in his nature, the furry bandit, Kuouo Aiche Dee, would gain sight of the tower within the blizard some time after Abstral had already arrived. Though it was mostly a mirage within the ever-shifting tides of the snowy winds, the silhouette of the moonlit tower soon grew more and more clear in the distant sight of the outsider as he trekked further and farther through the Second Floor's large snowfield. His caution of the bowman atop the wall was not unfounded, and yet it would seem unnecessary; not a single arrow would come his way as he ventured throughout the darkness of the night, and he would go almost entirely unimpeded in his venture forth.

Accustomed to the cold as he was, it would not take long for him to arrive close to his destination — the  in the distance.

Before he entered its general proximity, however, he would immediately take notice of the two figures close to its sole entryway. A white-haired man — no doubt Abstral, one of the mercenaries he had entered the Second Floor with — and a knight, clad in pearly armor. It seemed that they were talking something over, and so he was granted two options: **Either to approach and join in their conversation**, or to **Continue to keep his distance, and seek another way into the tower.**