Esper Shift: The RPG, Part II

[Eternal Torment]

Brett lashed out with her psychic hands, trying to use them to grab the haku commander's spear to slow it down so she and the others could slash at it. She kept her sword up just in case.

Tabitha circled over to the side, staying well out of the spear's range as she looked for an opportune moment to rush in and land a good hit on the Commander.

Whatever they could get, they would take. This wasn't a situation where they could let chances slip.

[Radical]

Alkhemi next tried her power on the Commander. Maybe she could wrap that stupid spear around him like a snake...

[Ghost]

The battle is a whirling blur about her as Sulin forces herself up. Her right leg nearly buckles as she stands, and the Safero poises herself mostly on her left. Her teeth feel close to cracking, so tight is her jaw, and a spike of fear punches through her chest when she sees Galena charge. Amazingly, the woman's spear gets through, but the commander sweeps her into a lethal hold...only to be stymied by Lord Ikine's thrown sword.

Something flickers about Galena for a moment, but through the haze of pain, Sulin cannot make it out.

Viir is pressed to his limits. Is Kovon down? She cannot tell, it's a blur from here. Lady Tabitha moves to assist, crying out an order, and Sulin knows she'll never reach the scythe-wielder. Would be no help if I could, she grimly considers. But the spear-user...that's a different matter. Biting her lip against the pain, she wrenches herself through two limping steps, the orikan brand coming up in both hands. It's agony, and blood spatters make a trail behind her, but if she keeps her balance on the unwounded leg...

"My thanks for the gift," the Safero girl hisses.

A third sliding step, her thigh screaming, and she totters just out of range. One hand rises from the sword hilt to brush a lock of hair from her eyes - sweat plasters it to her brow. Her fingers close again about the grip of her blade.

Allow me to return it.

Almost falling forward, she staggers in, hacking again and again at the beast. Unable to keep her balance, she falls to her knees but continues to cut at its legs and belly. Skill has nearly vanished in the extremity of her injury; all that remains is a tenacious desire to put this thing down before it harms any more of the Foretold.

Far too injured, the commander collapsed on the ground and started dissolving, Viir and Galena's blades still sticking out of it.

Dryden blinked, standing dumbfounded. A fatal mistake on a battlefield, but one a boy raw to war was still prone to make. His esper ability had been so reliable for so long. He'd explored each facet of it, experimented in the quiet hours of the night far beyond what Zener's Institute had required. To stretch the laws of physics, to find walls no barrier, feel no need to breathe immersed in solid rock, it had been fascinating, extraordinary. And it had been sure. Certainly his phasing had limits, but within those, every time he'd called it had responded exactly the way it was supposed to.

He had touched the haku commander. Phased it. Even now, it should have been under his control. But like air it had vanished, his hold over it as empty as his promise now was. Then it reappeared, and began its assault anew, coming within a hair's breath of breaking Galena's neck before Viir threw his blade through its chest. The Margrave's own opponent took full advantage, burying its weapon into Kovon as the Pilgrim sought to cover his lord.

For the first time today, Dryden broke into a sprint, shame and outrage propelling him to haste. Brandishing his slingshot like a pike, he feinted as only he could, charging straight through the commander without attacking. His hand shot out and found iron purchase, Viir's sword still sticking through the commander's cranium, and pulled. The blade ripped through the top of the commander's head with a sickening crunch, black ichor spewing forth. He drew it upon his slingshot, pulling hard to compensate for the weight of the weapon. He paused for a moment, timing the shot so Viir wouldn't get in the line of fire, then loosed it into the haku's centre of mass. Even if the attack didn't injure the commander significantly, he could at least give the margrave back his sword.

The weight of the sword and the distance it had to cover made it difficult to aim. When Dryden let it fly, it shot through the air an slashed the commander's exposed side. It staggered and shrieked, but Viir still couldn't wrest the scythe out of its iron grip. The impact caused the weapon to spin off course and disappear into the ravine.

And then...

Perhaps it was a desperation move from Viir, trying to take full advantage of the commander's momentary loss of balance. Or maybe the commander realized defeat was immenent and simply decided to take the margrave with it. It happened so fast that it was difficult to tell.

Regardless, they both fell over the edge.

[Eternal Torment]

Far too injured, the commander collapsed on the ground and started dissolving, Viir and Galena's blades still sticking out of it.



The weight of the sword and the distance it had to cover made it difficult to aim. When Dryden let it fly, it shot through the air an slashed the commander's exposed side. It staggered and shrieked, but Viir still couldn't wrest the scythe out of its iron grip. The impact caused the weapon to spin off course and disappear into the ravine.

And then...

Perhaps it was a desperation move from Viir, trying to take full advantage of the commander's momentary loss of balance. Or maybe the commander realized defeat was immenent and simply decided to take the margrave with it. It happened so fast that it was difficult to tell.

Regardless, they both fell over the edge.

"Oh."

Tabitha stood there, shocked beyond belief as the two tumbled over the edge of the ravine.

It was a good few seconds before she ran over to see what had become of the two entangled warriors. Had both of them perished?

[Guy1]

Far too injured, the commander collapsed on the ground and started dissolving, Viir and Galena's blades still sticking out of it.



The weight of the sword and the distance it had to cover made it difficult to aim. When Dryden let it fly, it shot through the air an slashed the commander's exposed side. It staggered and shrieked, but Viir still couldn't wrest the scythe out of its iron grip. The impact caused the weapon to spin off course and disappear into the ravine.

And then...

Perhaps it was a desperation move from Viir, trying to take full advantage of the commander's momentary loss of balance. Or maybe the commander realized defeat was immenent and simply decided to take the margrave with it. It happened so fast that it was difficult to tell.

Regardless, they both fell over the edge.

"no....nononononono......" Brett repeated to herself as she ran over as fast as she could. "I can catch him....I can catch him...." She sent her tentacles over the edge, trying frantically to catch Viir.

[Ghost]

"Oh."

Tabitha stood there, shocked beyond belief as the two tumbled over the edge of the ravine.

It was a good few seconds before she ran over to see what had become of the two entangled warriors. Had both of them perished?

Looking down, she could see Viir dangling over the shadowy chasm, so deep they couldn't see the waters below. He was hanging on to the haku scythe, which he had manage to hook into a crevice among the rocks.

He looked up at her. "Sorry, Lady Tabitha. Looks like this is as far as I go. Funny, though, seems like my sword wasn't so lonely after all..."

The scythe was already withering. Soon it would dissolve into dust.

"There isn't much time," Viir said. "I hate to ask this of you, but you have to keep going. Cross over into Tanisa and keep going east until you reach Kiruna. Find a man named Talan, he'll get you on your way. He'll ask a question and the answer is 'as long as the west wind blows', remember that."

Almost half of the scythe had turned into powder and Viir's hand started slipping.

"Get to Haparanda, find Tanilo, and tell him what happened! We were supposed to meet at the third day of sixth month in a clearing east of the city. He must learn about this, that is important." He smiled sadly. "Sorry it had to end like this."

The scythe finally broke in his hands. Viir fell.

"no....nononononono......" Brett repeated to herself as she ran over as fast as she could. "I can catch him....I can catch him...." She sent her tentacles over the edge, trying frantically to catch Viir.

One of her arms reached Viir, but as it could not touch his flesh, it simply tore the sleeve off his tunic. For a brief moment, they could see something flashing like silver around his wrist.

Viir looked strangely peaceful as he fell, and then he vanished among the shadows without a trace.

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

Looking down, she could see Viir dangling over the shadowy chasm, so deep they couldn't see the waters below. He was hanging on to the haku scythe, which he had manage to hook into a crevice among the rocks.

He looked up at her. "Sorry, Lady Tabitha. Looks like this is as far as I go. Funny, though, seems like my sword wasn't so lonely after all..."

The scythe was already withering. Soon it would dissolve into dust.

"There isn't much time," Viir said. "I hate to ask this of you, but you have to keep going. Cross over into Tanisa and keep going east until you reach Kiruna. Find a man named Talan, he'll get you on your way. He'll ask a question and the answer is 'as long as the west wind blows', remember that."

Almost half of the scythe had turned into powder and Viir's hand started slipping.

"Get to Haparanda, find Tanilo, and tell him what happened! We were supposed to meet at the third day of sixth month in a clearing east of the city. He must learn about this, that is important." He smiled sadly. "Sorry it had to end like this."

The scythe finally broke in his hands. Viir fell.



One of her arms reached Viir, but as it could not touch his flesh, it simply tore the sleeve off his tunic. For a brief moment, they could see something flashing like silver around his wrist.

Viir looked strangely peaceful as he fell, and then he vanished among the shadows without a trace.

Edan watched the margrave fall, his face set. He watched as he disappeared from view, his words ringing in his ears. He nods, solemnly.

"We'll remember. I promise, Lord Viir."

He turns his back on the ravine. There are more important things to take care of now. All the pilgrims, and Lord viir, were dead. The haku, slain. But his own people were all walking wounded if not worse.

Edan starts making the rounds, checking on the worst wounded and trying to help using whatever medical supplies (bandages, salves, ointments, what have you) they had had in their supplies. Galena and Sulin appeared the most injured, so he tended them first and foremost.

He himself had come away virtually unscratched, though the overuse of his Odin's Eye had left him feeling badly drained and used, his face a bit paler and greyer than normal.

He also, unobstrusively, replaced his own normal sword with Lord Viir's. It was in better condition, and he wanted to honor the Margrave for his sacrifice.

Edan made sure to check all his comrades as he made his rounds. As he does so, he looks over at Tabitha. His tone is serious, his face calm and rational, and his words even.

"Tabitha. We're badly hurt and exposed here. I want you to scout around quickly and make sure we didn't miss any straggler haku. The last thing we need now is to be hit while we're so vulnerable. Take Dryden with you just in case as back-up. Joseph, the horses either bolted or are too badly spooked to be of use. Please, try and find them and bring them back. We're going to need them. We also need to gather our supplies that have been scattered in the fight, tend our wounded and our dead."

[Tami]

Falling to the ground, Galena was badly injured and barely conscious. However, the healing crystal, still in her left hand, starts to glow faintly, along with the calcite around her neck.

Her eyes open slightly as she struggles to take a breath, Galena gasping slowly and painfully.

[Sharpandpointies]

Exhausted, battered, and impaled through the leg, Sulin can only collapse in place, her Orikan brand shifting back to its rod-like form and rolling away from her outstretched fingers. Not yet even aware of the loss of Viir, she lies face-down on the rough, broken ground, drifting in a half-concious state. She's barely cognizant of any attempts to patch her wound - a dreadful puncture clean through her leg, liberally oozing blood.

[Radical]

Exhausted, battered, and impaled through the leg, Sulin can only collapse in place, her Orikan brand shifting back to its rod-like form and rolling away from her outstretched fingers. Not yet even aware of the loss of Viir, she lies face-down on the rough, broken ground, drifting in a half-concious state. She's barely cognizant of any attempts to patch her wound - a dreadful puncture clean through her leg, liberally oozing blood.

"Someone help Miss Sulin!" Alkhemi pleaded, even as she focused on telekinetically warping the commander's spear.

[Ghost]

With the last haku gone, the calm of dusk settled over the pass and the Fortold found themselves alone with the silence of the ancient mountains and the tranquility of the dead. Then, from a distance, they could hear a lone ocarina playing.

[FalconX2000]

Far too injured, the commander collapsed on the ground and started dissolving, Viir and Galena's blades still sticking out of it.



The weight of the sword and the distance it had to cover made it difficult to aim. When Dryden let it fly, it shot through the air an slashed the commander's exposed side. It staggered and shrieked, but Viir still couldn't wrest the scythe out of its iron grip. The impact caused the weapon to spin off course and disappear into the ravine.

And then...

Perhaps it was a desperation move from Viir, trying to take full advantage of the commander's momentary loss of balance. Or maybe the commander realized defeat was immenent and simply decided to take the margrave with it. It happened so fast that it was difficult to tell.

Regardless, they both fell over the edge.

As Galena and Sulin rushed the haku commander behind him down. Dryden exalted as the Margrave's sword found its mark...or close enough, anyway. The weapon cut through the air like an awkward but heavy arrow, slicing through the side of the haku commander battling Viir, producing a gratifying shriek from the facelss abomination as it lost its footing. Then the blade careened into the ravine beyond. Oops.

The wrestling between the two combatants reached a crescendo of frenzied movement, ending with both toppling over the edge to their deaths. After travelling all this way, they'd just lost their entire allied contingent in a single battle. The Margrave's mission would end with a whimper before he ever reached the country he'd gone to scout. For all their power, for all the blood and sweat they'd shed, they'd been unable to save even one of them.

Well bugger that.

Dryden was running before he fully realised it, feet pounding as he ate up the distance to the precipice. A few of the others, nearer to the meelee and perhaps a tad fitter, reached there first. Brett seemed to be trying to do something, but what he couldn't tell. Tabitha and Edan held their gazes downward, and even in his haste he could tell from the set of their shoulders and jaws that they were listening to something. Was Viir still there? No time! He'd find out once he got down there.

Not pausing for a heartbeat, he leapt over the edge, the ravine's chasm yawning like an endless abyss below him. And there was Viir, sleeve torn, already nearly gone from sight. In that moment, just as gravity started to claim him, he hollered for aid.

"Boost me down!"

[Eternal Torment]

Looking down, she could see Viir dangling over the shadowy chasm, so deep they couldn't see the waters below. He was hanging on to the haku scythe, which he had manage to hook into a crevice among the rocks.

He looked up at her. "Sorry, Lady Tabitha. Looks like this is as far as I go. Funny, though, seems like my sword wasn't so lonely after all..."

The scythe was already withering. Soon it would dissolve into dust.

"There isn't much time," Viir said. "I hate to ask this of you, but you have to keep going. Cross over into Tanisa and keep going east until you reach Kiruna. Find a man named Talan, he'll get you on your way. He'll ask a question and the answer is 'as long as the west wind blows', remember that."

Almost half of the scythe had turned into powder and Viir's hand started slipping.

"Get to Haparanda, find Tanilo, and tell him what happened! We were supposed to meet at the third day of sixth month in a clearing east of the city. He must learn about this, that is important." He smiled sadly. "Sorry it had to end like this."

The scythe finally broke in his hands. Viir fell.

One of her arms reached Viir, but as it could not touch his flesh, it simply tore the sleeve off his tunic. For a brief moment, they could see something flashing like silver around his wrist.

Viir looked strangely peaceful as he fell, and then he vanished among the shadows without a trace.

Tabitha closed her eyes, mouth set in an expression of sadness.

"No, Viir. Your sword wasn't lonely."

No tears flowed. She wasn't that kind of person. But she'd find a way to honour the proud swordmaster.

Edan watched the margrave fall, his face set. He watched as he disappeared from view, his words ringing in his ears. He nods, solemnly.

"We'll remember. I promise, Lord Viir."

He turns his back on the ravine. There are more important things to take care of now. All the pilgrims, and Lord viir, were dead. The haku, slain. But his own people were all walking wounded if not worse.

Edan starts making the rounds, checking on the worst wounded and trying to help using whatever medical supplies (bandages, salves, ointments, what have you) they had had in their supplies. Galena and Sulin appeared the most injured, so he tended them first and foremost.

He himself had come away virtually unscratched, though the overuse of his Odin's Eye had left him feeling badly drained and used, his face a bit paler and greyer than normal.

He also, unobstrusively, replaced his own normal sword with Lord Viir's. It was in better condition, and he wanted to honor the Margrave for his sacrifice.

Edan made sure to check all his comrades as he made his rounds. As he does so, he looks over at Tabitha. His tone is serious, his face calm and rational, and his words even.

"Tabitha. We're badly hurt and exposed here. I want you to scout around quickly and make sure we didn't miss any straggler haku. The last thing we need now is to be hit while we're so vulnerable. Take Dryden with you just in case as back-up. Joseph, the horses either bolted or are too badly spooked to be of use. Please, try and find them and bring them back. We're going to need them. We also need to gather our supplies that have been scattered in the fight, tend our wounded and our dead."

Her ruby eyes snapped open, the light in them going from sad to focused.

"None left, Edan. We weren't shot from behind when the Commanders came, so we're not in immediate danger."

With the last haku gone, the calm of dusk settled over the pass and the Fortold found themselves alone with the silence of the ancient mountains and the tranquility of the dead. Then, from a distance, they could hear a lone ocarina playing.

The brawler turned to the sound, eyes now narrowed in suspicion.

"I'll investigate the music. If I don't come back and you don't hear me talking, don't hesitate to charge in."

And with that, she stomped off towards the newcomer in the distance.

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

OT: Tami, I had Edan check on you and Sulin first.

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

With the last haku gone, the calm of dusk settled over the pass and the Fortold found themselves alone with the silence of the ancient mountains and the tranquility of the dead. Then, from a distance, they could hear a lone ocarina playing.

Edan's eyes narrowed at the sound. It was well played, but fit poorly with the situation at hand.