EB p.2 The Dark Times

[Nohiki]

Ignis lowered her head. "Since the very beginning. I joined her group shortly after the dark clan took over. and my mission is to keep you and Targus out of harm. And i will do that. There IS a difference between you and the others. Same goes for Targus and few other people. You have the power to stop them, but this time their numbers are too vast. If i can not talk you out of the battle today, i will fight by your side, but know that if the battle goes bad, i will fulfill my orders through force if necessary." she explained to be clear. "And one more thing. Something about the dark clan smells. There is something we do not know yet about them, and we were not able to figure out what exactly. Watch yourself on the field." she said and left briefly to get her gear ready before joining with amber again.

[Midnightmoon]

Amber paused. She instructed the runner to go prepare, then followed Ignus saying slowly, "I'll go, but only if they breach the last baracade and there is no chance that we can force them back. Then the remaining survivers will retreat down the excape passage we have managed to make towards the randey-vue point with another base. After the order is sent I'll follow you." Amber paused again then headed down another passage, "Instruct Targus and any others your supose to collect, then meat at the main entrance with me."

[Kauria]

Athvesa brought his gaze down to the ground, where the small stones gradually gave way to packed soil as he ran. One drop of water hit the ground, a dark circle marking where it had landed. Then more came, swelling into an absolutely torrential downpour. Athvesa's gait slowed; with each step he felt the ground growing softer. He slid to a halt, metal-sheathed claws sinking into the muddy earth.
Almost immediately, a message scissored into his mind. General, we've lost eight . . . no, nine soldier pairs!
Athvesa withdrew his right hand in mild disgust, flicking the mud from his talons. Purebloods, willing recruits, or forcibly turned?
Uh . . . all were turned pairs. Their reflexes are worse than the willing recruits.
I know that, Athvesa hissed, leaping onto the wall of the canyon. He heard Maela give a yell of surprise at the sudden motion and shift her weight to accommodate their new orientation. Where are your troops right now? he asked, peering through the gray sheets of rain.
We're all currently on the walls of the canyon, southwest of your current position, General, a new, crisp voice responded.
Good. The ice dragon extended one hand in the indicated direction, and the rain briefly stopped in a line to the other cliff wall, allowing him a glimpse of the seething black shapes on stone. Athvesa turned his head back in the direction of the fortress, and spotted a massive wall built just in front of the mountain. I think I've found our way out.
"You," Maela whispered, "are insane."
"No, really?" Athvesa detached himself from the wall, ice magic shimmering around his hands.

[Nohiki]

Ignis went to Sid and Targus to tell them about the escape route. "'Suppose you already know a thing or two about it." she smiled when she remembered trapping Targus there. She talked to a few of others she saw potential in, mostly alchemists and magicians. She didn't know why, but Aquariah requested people of these talents to be recruited, so she will. she met up with Amber as instructed. "I have set up few surprises of my own. there is a large pile of whatever explosives i have left waiting to detonate at your command in an abandoned part of the base. It will be used to vibrate the ground so they can not follow Agate as he tries to tunnel himself and Firen away in case we'll be evacuating. I don't guarantee it's success, but it's the best i got." She took a deep breath and tightened her armor to fit as close as possible, but also leave enough space for breathing. "If i don't make it out, it has been an honor." she said and extended her hand for a handshake. "By the way, do you need a wingman? I can cover your back, but i have no ride on my own."

[Morty]

"What are they doing?" asked Jack incredulously, watching Pyhros and Saratheen throwing themselves against the wall.
Get up here, you idiots. Lulu telecommunicated to Pyhros in Saratheen, rolling her eyes. Didn't you hear what we said about waiting till the second wave?
Jack tapped his foot impatiently. "The Generals should have let us go first. It's obvious they've been preparing for us." he said, waiting for the chance to charge.

[Midnightmoon]

Amber was greatly suprised at this turn of character for Ignus. Amber returned the hand shake. "The honor is mine as well with any soldier I fight alongside. Fight whereever you will." "You are free to ride with Aber upon me, but from the rumors that overshadow your reputation you are plenty strong to hold your own against nearly all oponents." Firen said as he came up behind Amber. Amber nodded to Ignus, then mounted.

------------------------

"Sorry, Captain, but even if I was my former element I would not have been able to withstand the crushing ground that swollowed up a few of your other soldiers." Saratheen hissed back.

[Morty]

Don't make me come down there. Lulu grunted threateningly.
Just get up here, would you? The view is better. Jack intersected, waving from their place halfway up the canyon wall.

[Nohiki]

Ignis hesitated for a second. This wasn't her. Pull yourself together! she thought and shook her head. She then wielded her adamant claws and climbed on Firen. she gave Amber one of the butterfly bracelets. "The new blade Aquariah sent after Targus." she expalined. "Through this you can tap into my power if you need. My dragon was one of the strongest of his kind, don't hold back!" she shouted as the first loud sounds of battle cut through the air. She then quickly walked over and assumed a position farther on Firen's back to cover the upper side and the air behind them. One hand she held to his back scale (assuming he's got one, looks so from the pic), forming a tiny fireball in the other to be ready to expand. "Any time now." she said.

[Midnightmoon]

"I won't be draining you." Amber replied, loosening the sword from it's sheeth but preparing her bow with an arrow. Then she nodded to her other archers who had lined up behind the infantry in front with her. All but her ignited their arrows, by mudain or magical means. The crashing became louder.

[Nohiki]

Soundtrack: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JY4HMLb0Hs

"No worries. I've got plenty for five. You know nothing about me and Odin, but i know a lot about you and i know you are much better fighter than i am. Don't worry, i'll stop it if i'm running under reasonable levels." she thought to Amber and then kept silence, watching the sky over them. When the first enemy arrows started to fall from the sky, she stood up, turned around, punched her hands against each other. She went to her fight mode. Her hair was glowing in orange flames, and her eyes were dark purple. She swung her hands forward and two barrels of fire shot out. The fire swirled and formed a fire shield over the rebel infantry, butning circa half the incoming arrows.

[Midnightmoon]

Amber didn't have time to think about Ignus's comment and signaled rebel return fire. The first few walls were breached. The gas was ignighted and the floor was lit up before the deffenders.

[Kauria]

Athvesa powered forward, straining against the wind and rain. He faltered, dipping closer to what had become a roiling brown river. He slashed down with both hands and a platform of ice blossomed beneath his claws. He crouched and pushed off again, this time managing to claw his way onto the top of the wall Agate had built. Breathing heavily, he sent a message to Leucrocuta. I've found the source of the wind, which should make flying easier. About five hundred meters up and northwest of your current position is an air dragon. If you can get someone to take him out, we're ready for the second wave.

[Morty]

"This sounds like a job for--" Jack started unpacking the dart gun from Lulu's sidesaddle.
"Oh please, you're no good with that thing anyways, let's just get close enough to pelt him with rocks or something." said Lulu, and set off along the cliff, crawling along it like a deranged spider. Jack grumbled and clung to her for dear life. "Go ahead and charge, everyone!" he called to the remainder of the troops on the cliff.

"Nice shot." said Jack, booting the headless air dragon's body off the edge of the cliff. He picked up the still-living air elf by the ruff and did the same.
"I do what I can." said Lulu, grinning and hurling another stone projectile against a tree, leaving a large splintery hole in its trunk.
He flipped onto Lulu's back and they sailed off to catch up with the battle, the tempest having been reduced to a steady drizzle.

[Awesomoman]

(OOC: NIGHTWISH FTW!!!)
"We lost Rando and his rider, better fall back." Maruk warned Agate who quickly dug as fast as he could back to base.

Targus and Sid on the other hand were suited up for battle, Targus had his sword ready and Sid was twisting his ax around. "You ready to fight and not flight?" Targus asked. "This time, but only because there is not where to fly." Sid relied. Targus smiled. "So remember the plan, once Agate gets here we go the other way through the tunnel. Take out anyone in there and head out, then take the enemy from behind." Sid gulped. "What about Ignis and her...." "Forget that, if the battle gets too bad we can go right back where we came from but for now i want to slice some demons." Targus waited until the ground opened up, Agate jumped out alone with Maruk. "Your turn." Agate said high fiveing Targus as he jumped in.

[Midnightmoon]

Saratheen had finally climbed up to the first entrance and had to enter the fighting imidiately or else get knocked off the cliff. Both her and Pyrhos faught for their lives, trying as they might to harm but not kill their former allies. But with every broken bone that was inflicted, every splattering slash, the dark thing in the back of both their minds withered. It wanted out, it wanted blood. Pyhros lost track of time. It seemed like a long time since they had struggled into the fight, dodging fires slashes. Eventually the enemys deaths lost meaning and they faught full stregth again, before their captivity and conversion. They finaly saw a bit of a lul in the section they had gotten themselves into. They saw many bodys and through the few left fighting, the pair saw a flamming form, looking to be living fire in human form, with a Fire Clan pair.