Session 6 Melchion Ascendant

*Maia just frowns, and takes a deep breath. Time to focus.
*The_Slayer gets flung back again, and this time, manages to regain her footing by pressing both her feet against the ceiling and vaulting onto her feet, skidding to a halt right beside the group in an impressive acrobatic manoeuvre. "Hmph…"
*Tyra finally hauls herself up with a groan, swaying some before readying her knife.
*Diana had already made her dramatic fucking declaration, bitches. So let's just say she was standing there being awesome.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie shakes her head, a little chuckle coming from it. She turns to one of her undead minions, her red eyes flashing as the zombie suddenly convulses… And then Maia would feel a press of painful telekinetic energy forcing her into the ground. ]
*Maia tumbles to the ground with a quiet grunt and a glare in the other Oblationist’s direction.
*Diana levelled her gaze at Sophie. "You weren't paying attention. When I said that…" She became shrouded in ripples of distortion, as the world seemed to -bend- around her, focus extended to do more than was normally possible. "…I meant it! Motherfucking paste, damnit!" …If her kinetic forces were visible they'd appear to be flailing like a tantrumming child… and making a bloody mess.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Chunks of meat go flying as several of the zombies are ripped into pieces.]
*Diana …meanwhile just idly shot a defensive-formula canister over Tyra after that. To say anything would totally ruin the dramatic posturing.
<Mina`Haplo> [ The line of undead surge forward, their hands ready to tear and claw at their opponents! Some make their mark, some of them go astray… But as one of them shambles towards Diana, Sophie’s eyes meet her's through the thick of people… And she grins fiendishly as one of her minions picks up AU-X and slams it against the wall! And again! And again! Before throwing it in pieces to the ground. ]
*The_Slayer engages in zombie-repelling sword fighting, and is capable of brushing most of them off. "You try your luck."
*Diana twitched. And twitched again. "Hey! That's mine! And it isn't a repulsive piece of crap made of the dead either!"
<Mina‘Haplo> ["Mnnhnhnhmhmhm…" Giggles Sophie at Diana’s words… Before a sudden change of tone comes over her, and she sighs sadly. "I tried -so- hard…" ]
*Tyra bites back a yelp as she gets cut open, steadying herself.
*The_Slayer announces boldly, "Demon, you are not worth the mercy of this Order."
*Maia stands up, shooting a glare at the Slayer. Maybe Lucius would say what she wanted to say, right that moment, as she fired off an unbalanced eldritch blast at one of the nearby zombies.
*Tyra grits her teeth against the pain, then flicks her knife up. Off goes a zombie's head.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ It falls to the ground, quite dead. Again. ]
*The_Slayer burns forward, the petals of her flavor and theme hurricaning behind her; the Stinger is held aloft in an alacritous first strike delivered as she slide-tackles to a halt, accompanied with a swift uppercut slash that boosts the eladrin upwards for a downwards bisecting cut. It all flows artfully, blood spurting alongside floral bursts. "Count yourself lucky I cannot slay you."
<Mina`Haplo> [ Lucius fires off an attack, but it mostly misses…]
<Mina`Haplo> [ Sophie reels from the vicious blows on her body, and she screams in pain in a voice most undemonic. "Why… I only ever sought his love…" She whispers, clearly crying, before suddenly snapping her gaze up at the Slayer, striking out at her eyes with painful black tendrils.]
*Maia has a pretty clearly pained expression on her face, like she wants to cry.
*The_Slayer has black tendrils go into her blackened hood, and there’s a noise of pain as she bleeds out from her -eyes-. "Do not think this will stop me!"
*Diana shook her head, continuing to attack… blowing away one of the undead as she continued to slam the floorboards… and gesturing with her hands to form a war machine, the more robust CU-X, to menace the other group of zombies… "Love… Love isn't killing. Love isn't blood. That's goddamn hate, you idiot!"
<Mina‘Haplo> [ The creatures shuffle forward once more, and Maia would find herself under heavy assault from one of the slashers, its long knife-like fingers carving at her arms. Most horribly, the face looks familiar, like it could belong to one of the officers she worked with…]
*The_Slayer has, of course, by now, created that now-recognizable symbol of the Slayer: the glowing, ornate rotating trefoil of enmity around Sophie’s forehead.
*Maia glares at the zombies for a moment… and then a shadowy aura gathers around two of them, coalescing into toothy jaws and successfully chomping down on one of them.
*The_Slayer announces to Maia and the others, "Hold the line! Tyraline, flanking position — our blades will bring about the wintry end of this battle!"
*Tyra simply nods, taking off at a dash that leaves most of the zombies swinging at nothing but air. Well, except for the one that obliterates one of it's comrades. She comes to a halt behind Garland, her mannerisms suddenly mimicking the other girl's rather precisely. Even her voice is near spot on as she speaks. "Love? I'll give you some love, my dear…"
*Tyra then lashes out in a vicious series of strikes. The knife slashes at her legs, pain slowing the other one down. A boot clad foot comes up to crash against the Oblationist's head, sending her off balance some from the blow.
*The_Slayer finds her sight betraying her, but her desire for vigilante justice is so strong that her elven ears and her nose both pick up on Sophie Garland's form. She hears her movements, the way her feet scrape on the bloodstained floor, the way her form gives off a unique scent… and then the Stinger is out in full force as she proclaims, "Do not confuse me for a simple obstacle!"
*The_Slayer shortly finds the time to wipe the blood out of her eyes. And they flare open, underneath the darkness of that hood; damaged and bloody as they are.
*Maia looks back to Lucius with a frown, pointing vaguely at the combat across the room and shaking her head.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie screams, her yells short, and painful, and as Tyra cracks her in the head, she squeals in a manner disturbingly similar to the sound a rabbit makes when it’s broken its legs. "Why didn't I… Not worthy… Nnn…"]
<Mina‘Haplo> Lucius’s turn :P
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Lucius flails wildly at the zombie attacking him, before turning to Maia. "They’re getting too dangerous! Be more careful on her, Tyra, Slayer!"]
*Diana …stared at Lucius. Then at the CU-X model that had just ripped apart a zombie with its bare hands. Then back at Lucius. "…Really."
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie’s sobbing continues, as the ground around her suddenly starts to glow red. An expanding ring of magic appears, and she screams… And for a moment, everyone can see what Maia sees; Melchion, a hovering legless creature, floating above Sophie, shadowy and murderous, with Sophie chained to its torso… It lashes out painfully, gleefully, striking Tyra and the Slayer mentally…]
*Tyra stiffens, face going as white as a sheet as her eyes widen. "N-no! Don't!" A step, doubling over as sobs start to wrack her.
*The_Slayer is slammed, and hard; leather and chain both burst to the ground with its strike, along with elven blood. Instinctively, the Slayer strikes back with a counteracting circular hit from the Stinger, but falls short of reaching her mark, and she herself lets out a mewling snarl as she weakens, her legs giving way as she drops to her knees.
*Diana eyed the demon, as it finally manifested… then slid forwards in a single stride, a hammerblow of force chasing her as she went, knocking away one of the zombies, as she faced down the last one, flanked by the rapidly-advancing machine soldier. She took a moment, though, to shoot back one simple comment to Maia. "Maia! Now's the chance, strike that infernal thing down! I've got these!"
*Maia nods resolutely, and points her wand directly at the head of the demon floating above Sophie's body. She's aiming carefully… she's got to hit that demon - not Sophie's body below, and not the image of Sophie chained to the demon's chest either… —
*Maia closes her eyes for a split second to focus, as eldritch energy begins to crackle violently around her rod; her brow furrows, and then… silently, she thrusts the rod forward, and a massive burst of the dark-purple magical energy explodes from the tip, cascading directly into the demon!
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Melchion’s semi-triumphant laughter is interrupted by the eldritch bolt to the face! The blow -echoes- with the sound of a furious, angry voice, in a language no one seems to understand… A moment of silence, then the image of Melchion trembles, shaking, then suddenly vaporises, a wave of energy flying through the room, sending loose objects, zombies, and Lucius flying. A moment of silence…]
<Mina‘Haplo> [… And Sophie falls forward onto the ground, sobbing in gasps.]
<Mina`Haplo> [Lucius is picked up by the wave and bodily hurled through the open door, where he slams into the same dent on the same car before, his scream of surprise suddenly cut short as he is knocked cold.]
*Maia scrambles forward as quickly as she can to Sophie’s side.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ The woman is quivering terribly…]
*Diana is, in her case, telekinetically anchoring herself to the floor as best she can!
*The_Slayer is among those objects, given she’s not stable yet. She slowly rises with a pained grunt as she puts her hand to her face, opaquely, and starts hobbling from the crime scene, intent on just fleeing as best she's able to. "… get your baggage out of this city, Oblationist. I do not want to see her here again," is hissed through clenched teeth in a pained tone.
*Tyra is actually blown across the floor from it, still practically curled up and sobbing uncontrollably.
*Maia snaps her head over to the Slayer, and that isn't a friendly look on her face when she's looking over, it's more of a mind-your-own-fucking-business look. In fact…
<Mina‘Haplo> ["W…" She looks up for a moment, and points at the slayer, turning her gesture into a ’stop' motion. ]
*Diana turned about. "…Maia shot the goddamn demon. What more do you want ?" …unfortunately, the amount of time she could keep CU-X running was coming to an end, so she'd have to stand with only a whirl of mechanical parts - including her fallen assistant - to flank her.
*Maia … swiftly attempts to backhand the Slayer across the face.
*Maia stands, from where she had been kneeling, and swiftly walks towards the Slayer, intending to cut her exit from the room off by grabbing her by the shoulders from behind. There is steely determination in the way she's moving, her expression…everything. Because someone just Crossed the Line.
*The_Slayer is grabbed, weary as she is from the battle and still with lingering sentiments still plaguing her mind… and possibly more under that invisible face of hers. "Back off."
*Tyra sobs a bit more, starting to slowly ease herself into a kneeling position.
*Diana had, by now, gathered the fallen and the unusable, and was staring between Tyra and the Sl… Xi… Th… and that person. "Don't be so swift to take control of what isn't yours. You don't own this town anyway. Closest to it is my boss - Tyra. Yes, so hasty to condemn people that you forgot about her! So obsessed with vengeance that you won't help someone." …So Diana moved to do just that.
*Maia can't really respond in any fashion, hands being occupied. She stalls for a few seconds, though, before she ultimately does let her go, though she nudges her to turn around.
<Mina‘Haplo> ["S…Slay…Slay…" Sophie mumbles. "Slayer…"]
*Tyra promptly wraps her arms around Diana, burying her face in the other woman’s clothing and adding to the already present mess.
*Maia backs up towards Sophie - and quickly, at that - keeping an eye on the Slayer. Does she turn around?
*The_Slayer bites back with a raw, venomous hiss to Diana as her anger reaches a boiling point, "You'd be nothing without obsession, robot fetishist." Then she properly addresses Maia, and similarly doesn't give her any words… because she places her oath on her, the glowing trefoil symbol on her forehead now. "Consider that your only warning." She turns back again to just leave.
*The_Slayer does, actually, look to Sophie, but all she's got for her, as she leans to the side of Maia, thumbing to the latter Oblationist, "Your fate is with her now. Make good use of it."
<Mina‘Haplo> [Sophie is trembling, and she looks up. The red has faded from her eyes… And she is once again blind, it seems. "Slayer… You… Are… Are not… V…" She coughs violently.]
*Maia looks angry, if the Slayer notices. She’s clutching the rod in her hand tightly… is she going to … ?
*Maia … is defused by Sophie's condition, as she falls to her knees and puts an arm around her fellow Oblationist gently.
*The_Slayer lets out an audible, grousing sigh as she makes use of some quick fey magic: she flicks her hand over and announces, "Rise, Sophie. You'll survive your wounds."
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie scrambles into Maia’s arms desperately, clinging tightly in a manner alarmingly similar to a child. The magic from the Slayer heals some of her wounds, and she shivers a little; some colour comes into her face. "Sl… Slayer. You're not done." She trembles a little. "Someone is after you."]
*Tyra shakes some, starting to calm at least a little bit. She's still sobbing though.
*Diana didn't care that she was getting her clothes messed up… after all, that was the point of most of her outfits. Instead, she muttered, definitely audibly, but not overly loud. "A point, missed. I have other things to do." …And she wrapped her arms around Tyra's head, and pointedly made sure to look down. It didn't feel right to glare in this condition.
*The_Slayer remarks in response, "Someone is always after me."
*Maia gently rubs Sophie's back to try and comfort her. It's really all she can do.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie sighs, and leans a little more into Maia, although she can’t see her. "But how many know how to find you? The feathers… You left them…"]
*The_Slayer 's stance becomes more of a recuperative one now, sparing a glance to Tyra for a moment… but her wrath is clearly sweltering well and high above any sign of damaged, gaping-wound empathy hiding underneath her. "Who else, Sophie? You cast the ritual that tracked Olon down…"
<Mina‘Haplo> ["You… You left them." Repeats Sophie. "You left the feathers… Some feathers in his office, and… And Madame Vickers took them, and then… Then she found us…" She coughed. "The ritual… To unleash Olon on you… Needed… The feather…"]
*Tyra stiffens a bit, a few vestiges of control starting to exert themselves. The tears are still flowing freely as she lifts her head, though.
*Diana …blinked. She mouthed the first syllable of ’Vickers', but… looked back down, and returned to silence, squeezing a bit tighter.
*The_Slayer walks another step in. "Was she working alone?"
*Maia doesn't really know what's going on here, but she does know that she holds the trump card. She sticks to trying to comfort Sophie, all the while watching the Slayer very carefully.
<Mina‘Haplo> ["She… She was the one who hired us." Coughed Sophie. "She swore us to secrecy… To be alone. No one was to find out. She wanted vengeance."]
*The_Slayer turns around somewhat lightly at that and says, "If that is all, then that is fine. Vengeance begets vengeance, and the Slayer accepts that."
<Mina`Haplo> ["I’m sorry…" Says Sophie. "I never intended for this. If I could've I would've fought it…"]
*Maia gently pats her on the back at that. With her free hand, she signs to … anyone who might be looking. Diana? Slayer? <Someone please check on Lucius for me.>
*The_Slayer looks back towards her and responds ardently, "The mercy of your Order has bestowed upon you a second chance. Reflect on that opportunity, for I would not have given it to you." Then she walks out the house to check Lucius for, well, a pulse.
*Diana …very haltingly signed back, still pressing against Tyra with her arms. Because she was in no mood to talk to that person even indirectly. <When Tyra… can stand.>
<Mina‘Haplo> [Sophie nods, once, then falls into Maia’s arms, her eyes closed. Lucius, on the other hand, is still alive, although he's clearly injured; he's bleeding from his head, his glasses are cracked, and his left arm is clearly broken.]
*Maia slowly stands, still attempting to cradle Sophie in her arms - quite a burden for one of her build, really, but she's managing somehow. She nods to Diana slowly, her expression finally softening into one of just deep worry.
*The_Slayer pulls him towards a more favourable position for recovery, and then -finally- is given the chance to just GTFO out of this scene and finally release the single barrier against total breakdown that's held up for so long in the cold, unfeeling comforts of her own house.
<Mina‘Haplo> [Sophie stands shakily, still clinging to Maia.]
*Tyra coughs, starting to get to her feet. "I… I need to clear out, too."
*Maia signs clumsily with one hand, <Tyra, you okay?>
*Tyra shakes her head, not trusting herself to speak.
*Maia gives her a concerned, but helpless look, before starting to help Sophie out to Lucius’ car, which she is totally going to commandeer.
<Mina‘Haplo> [Sophie suddenly starts tugging on Maia’s shirt.]
*Maia looks at her helplessly, not that she could really respond in any way. Clumsily she signs to Diana, <Could you ask her what she needs for me?>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["You’re… Very quiet." Mumbles Sophie. "I must show… Show you something…"]
*Diana slowly nodded. "I can… Sophie, Maia's sacrifice was her voice, you're going to have to let me relay her words. She wants to know what it is you need of her, yes."
*Maia nods. <Show what?>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["The police… They came, but…" Tug tug. "Oh…" She tilts her head and stares at a space about 5 metres to Diana’s left. "Alright… They came, but Melchion did not kill them all. He left a few alive for … For 'strategic purposes'."]
*Maia walks over to that spot, slowly, with Sophie in tow, peering at the wall.
<Mina‘Haplo> [Sophie guides Maia awkwardly over to one of the walls, to a bookcase. It’s been knocked over by Marakanas's spiteful explosion, revealing a faded door. "In… Inside." She taps on the door.]
*Maia slowly grasps the door handle, opening it nervously. What manner of horror was she going to see inside…?
*Diana followed along, just in case she needed to interpret more. At least that person left.
<Mina‘Haplo> [A small group of policemen inside, four of them. They looked battered, bruised and beaten up; one of them was nursing a broken leg, the other was trying to staunch a gash in his side. They’re familiar to Maia; one of them is Detective Walter, with a bleeding and cut face; next to him, with the gash, is one of his rookie detectives. "Maia!"]
*Maia looks a bit relieved; she was expecting a lot worse. She nods to Walter confidently.
<Mina‘Haplo> [Walter stands up, and nods. "I see you’ve beaten the little hellion into submission, then." Sophie doesn't look very happy at that. More guilty, really.]
*Diana muttered. "Yes, she shot Melchion in the head." Redirect redirect.
*Maia scowls, and signs to Walter, <It's not her fault. Do not blame her for actions she had no control over.>
<Mina‘Haplo> [Walter frowns. He read the dossier, so he’s prepared. "… Ah. That bad, huh."]
*Tyra has somewhere along the line pulled a vanishing act.
*Maia nods simply.
<Mina‘Haplo> ["If it were up to me, I’d still throw her in some sort of asylum, but you Oblationists do things your way." He nods, and turns to Diana. "You helped, huh?"]
*Maia signs to Walter, <I need to talk to you later alone.>
<Mina‘Haplo> [Walter nods.]
<Diana> "…Would I have done anything else? I got involved when that -thing- attacked us. And really, I design weapons for a living - and am one myself. With you guys backing me up legalwise, why the hell not?" …She tried to grin. She didn’t really feel quite up to it.
<Mina‘Haplo> [Walter knows how Diana feels. He tries to give her a smile, but he just can’t do it. "Thank you. I appreciate it. I'll see about making sure you're both recognised, in some way or another." He sighs. "Alright, men. Let's go. Daniels, help Lamington with that arm."]
*Maia will help the cops as best as she can, but she's already got her hands full, so she's probably just going to on and head for Lucius' car.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ The most able cops help Diana, Sophie, Lucius and Maia, although they look fairly mutinous at having to help Sophie. One of them quite violently spits at the ground in front of her before walking off to one of the police cars.]
*Maia will, at that, simply go off and handle things herself.
*Diana would ensure that glares were given to those who did something too overharsh for it. Seeing the demon herself proved Maia and Lucius’s mercy had worth, as far as she was concerned. But after everything cooled off… She'd go back to work. Or, rather, home. Not that there was a difference in the place…
*Maia gently loads Lucius into his car, and nudges him awake, before helping Sophie in as well. Next to each other, so she doesn't have to feel alone. And then, she can start the drive to Redspring.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Lucius sort of opens up a bleary eye, which immediately shuts again. "Oh, oh. Maia, augh… My arm…"]
*Maia - do these things have cruise control?
<Mina`Haplo> [ It has a little magitech cruise control button, for ease.]
*Maia will have used it, once she got to a straightaway, then! With that done she can sign to Lucius, <Relax, we’re heading to the hospital. … Tell her, too.>
<Mina‘Haplo> [Lucius doesn’t seem to realise that he's sitting next to Sophie. He turns, sees her, lets out a little yelp of fear, and jumps back, ramming his broken arm into the side of the car.]
<Mina‘Haplo> [… Once the screams of pain have subsided, he manages to painfully choke out what Maia meant.]
*Maia signs more, <And please, relax. Think of what she’s been through.>
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Lucius flushes shamefully a little, sinking into his seat. "Sorry." He mumbles to Sophie, who shakes her head. "You don’t… You don't have to apologise."]
*Maia offers a tired smile to Lucius. <I'm going to the Redspring hospital instead so we can help her out as well.>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["Ah… Can…" He pauses. "Can I sleep, Maia, please…?"]
*Maia sighs a bit. <But… if you do, no one can keep her company.>
<Mina`Haplo> [Lucius closes his eyes for a minute, then nods. He’s obviously in pain, and very tired, but he's just gritting his teeth. "A-alright. I'll try." He mumbles. "I'm Lucius." He offers his good hand. "Sophie." She shakes it. "You've led us on quite the goose chase, Sophie." "I'm sorry…" "No, I didn't mean it like that, I was just making conversation…"]
*Maia signs to Lucius, <I wish I could communicate with her at all.> She looks a bit depressed.
<Mina‘Haplo> ["You will be able to soon." Says Lucius, reaching forward and patting Maia on the shoulder.]
*Maia nods. <Soon.> She paused. <Lucius, I-> She stops, and shakes her head. <That can be discussed later.>
<Mina`Haplo> [ Lucius tilts his head at that, then sits back in the seat and nods. "Alright, Maia." He says, nodding. "How’re you feeling, Sophie?" "I feel nauseous, and my head is aching, and my body is hurting… But for the first time in a year, I am free…" She says, and the gratitude in her voice is clear.]
*Maia reaches back to grasp Sophie's hand and squeeze it gently, comfortingly.
<Mina‘Haplo> [ Sophie squeezes it gratefully, lifting Maia’s hand to her lips; she kisses it. "Are the two of you going… Going to look after me?" She asks, looking at Maia and Lucius.]
*Maia nods to her!
*Maia signs for Lucius to interpret, <You are still one of us, no matter what has happened.>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["You’re still one of us, no matter what has happened. And we look after our own." Says Lucius, with a pained smile. Sophie bows her head. "I… Thank you, both of you." She says with a little sniffle, before turning and hugging Lucius tight, oblivious to the fact that she bangs into his broken arm doing so. To his credit, he doesn't scream, but he does whimper through his teeth.]
*Maia watches the scenery as the car rolls along, steering when necessary. It's probably a long drive to Redspring.
<Mina‘Haplo> [It’s a good few hours to Redspring; at some point or another, Sophie falls asleep, still clinging gratefully to Lucius, who looks at this a little awkwardly. "… You did well, Maia." he says.]
*Maia raises an eyebrow. <Really?>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["Better than I did." He said. "I saw you strike Melchion. It… It was a perfect blow."]
*Maia presses her lips together nervously. <I was scared>, she signs sheepishly. <Scared that the Slayer would kill her.>
<Mina`Haplo> ["I was scared too." Says Lucius. "Admittedly, I had a zombie trying to claw me, but… She came close. They were both so furious… And then Melchion attacked them." He shook his head. "I wonder what happened…"]
*Maia frowns a bit. <I saw a vision of some kind, but I’m not entirely sure what it meant. Perhaps it related to Marakanas.>
<Mina‘Haplo> ["Hmm… Maybe." Lucius’s eyes flutter a little, and he yawns.]
*Maia smiles, and gestures for Lucius to get some rest.
<Mina`Haplo> ["Thanks, Maia." He says with a bit of a smile, and falls asleep almost immediately.]

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