"Hmph" Fox muttered "there isn't a single thing left alive upstairs that will kill me now" he said shaking his head "After that monstrosity robbed me of my duel with the Colonel I am in no mood to to leave any of them alive. So we move as you say and destroy this fortress if we can"

He would them look to the roof

"Can you not sense Remora? For all we know she is betraying us as we speak to save her own hide"

Dawn Sword offered a smile and a soft "thank, Master Hornet" as she was helped to her feet, before turning to Sun Snake and asking him in an uncertain tone:

"So, we'll need to fight our way out, Master?"

Swift sighed, giving little reaction to being hugged by Sun Fox other than a faint ghost of a smile.
"Well I can only hope" she replied quietly.  "I just wish I could have done more.  No sense worrying about it now I suppose.  What's done is done."

She glanced down at the Sommerswerd, still clutched in her hand.
Looking back up at Sun Fox, she turned the sword around, offering the hilt to her.
"I think I prefer smaller blades than this though.  Would you like it back?" she asked.


OOC: Wasn't sure which one to give it to.  May as well be the one who gave her a hug :)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Mon 25 Apr 2016.

Sun Fox smiled softly at Swift Fox's words, and then said:

"You've done more than enough, I think. Don't keep worrying about what you didn't do - just make sure you always do your best, and then go onward doing it."

She then looked down when Swift Fox handed the Sommeswerd to her, eyes widening and glistening a bit, before she took it and say, her voice sounding deeply grateful:

"I... thank you, Swift, really. I'll try to be worthy of it."

She proceeded to recover the korlinium scabbard from the ground, sheating the holy blade into it before securing it on her back, removing another sword whom handle was wrapped in blue velvet, the crossguard shaped int paired snakes, to do so. Then she turned to Sabre Fox, offering the kagonite sword to him and adding, with a chuckle:

"I fear you will need to find somebody else to carry this one for you, Sabre Fox."

So Sun Fox is now carrying the Sommerswerd, and the Kagonite Snake is free to take for anybody who wants it.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Mon 25 Apr 2016.

Retrieving his Kagonite Snake back, Fox nodded to Sun Fox before looking to Swift

"One of Vyctars weapons is still there" he said "Consider it your spoils on taking the kill" he said

He then offered his required sword to an unlikely candidate

"Then I offer it to my latest student...... Dawn Sword" he said offering her the blade "Go on, take it. For a new Kai to survive a Darklord is a feat in itself. And I know you will never wish to replace your own sword, however........ I expect you to train with me in dual wielding once we return to the Monastary"

Dawn Sword looked surprised, looking at the sword on her hands, then conflicted.

"Uhm... thank you, Master Sabre Fox... but... how am I supposed to carry it?"

She looked at the weapon, then at herself, clearly unwilling to let go any of the other weapons she was carrying, since one was a gift from Sun Snake, the other had been her father's, and the latter was the bow she was holding on Sun Fox's behalf, which had once been Lone Wolf's very own.

"If it comes to that," replied Sun Snake to Dawn Sword, "though I would hope we could find another way."

Sun Snake focused his mind for a second. "I cannot sense Renora. She may be dead, or she may have simply left. After all, the Nadziran was here. One way or another, she is beyond our help and harm, and cannot do either to us in return."

Sun Snake looked to Dawn Sword for a moment, and then smiled. "Ah yes, it feels like so long ago. I forgot I once used a simple blade, rather than the one that had formed itself to my mind. I believe I can take it back, for now. Sabre has presented you with a fine gift, and I think I would like to carry my blade one last time, if you will permit me."

Sun Snake will take his plain sword and put it in his backpack for now, to let Dawn Sword have the Kagonite Snake.

Dawn Sword looked surprised, then nodded, handing back to Sun Snake the sword that had once been his to then tie to her side the one that Sabre Fox was hadning her.
This message was last updated by the player at 20:57, Mon 25 Apr 2016.

Water Hornet had been standing silently, scratching with his finger at the inner side of the Jade Mask, seemingly detached and completely lost in his own thoughts.

He raised his head as Sun Snake addressed him, but didn't speak until the exchange of weapons took place. "Turning the Agarashi against its own masters will be difficult. The creatures were infused with Evil, just like beasts we met outside, entering its mind and projecting one's thoughts to it will take a combined effort of strong psychics...I reckon," said Hornet matter-of-factly, "but if we link our minds, then perhaps it's not impossible." The young Magnakai brushed his chin. "Perhaps it would be easier to find another way - like presenting its masters as a prey much preferable than a group of Kai...but I guess we'll see when we get closer and assess the situation." There was a glimpse of cold aggression on Hornet's face for a second, before it lightened up again.

"But first: Dawn Sword, Raven, Sun Fox, anyone else...are you hurt? As I said, let's heal the worst of injuries and be on our way - we'll discuss the plan on the go, won't we?" he gave an inquisitive look to Sabre Fox and Sun Snake.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:53, Mon 25 Apr 2016.

Dawn Sword offered a tired smile at Water Hornet words, and pointed at her chest, where the no longer bleeing yet still very raw wound was visible under the horizontal rip Vyctar's sword had cut into her leather clothes:

"I really think I could use a bit of healing, yeah - and I'm also feeling bruised pretty much all over right now."

Which, considering how Vyctar had battered her down with both his tail and blunted spikes at several point, as well as nearly electrocuted her, was hardly surprising. What was surprising was instead Silver Raven, whom abdomen's woun was still bleeding slightly, waving an hand in a dismissive manner as he commented:

"I've been worse."

He clasped his shoulder as he said so, but it was clearly an unconscious movement. The Kai was completely focused on Vyctar's sword, in front of whom he was kneeling, studying it with clearl curiosity, occasionally even poking it with his finger to make the electrical sparks running over it make sudden jumps. That seemed to make him smile, as he asked absentmindedly:

"Does anybody cares if I take this one to study it? It's a really interesting piece of craft, and I wouldn't mind having the time to learn how it works."

Sun Snake looked to Water Hornet, with a quick glance towards Sun Fox. "Well, I believe you may have not one master of the lorecircle of the spirit but two to work with, so perhaps turning the creature's mind might not be as impossible. I have encountered one of the agarashi minds already. Hmm..."

Hehe, let's try it then! :D

Sun Snake looked across to Silver Raven. "I daresay you've had worse by the end of the fight, rather than during. Sun Fox defeated Master Starfire with you on her side, Swift Fox made it out of the Darklord fortress with you by her side, and I don't think it's a co-incidence that we have defeated a Darklord with no fatalities and you were there. Please, for my own peace of mind, I would feel better about our chances in this escape knowing you are at your peak fighting fitness."

Stubbornness recognises stubbornness :D
This message was last edited by the player at 07:01, Tue 26 Apr 2016.

Silver Raven stopped in his examination of Vyctar's sword to turn toward Sun Snake, eyebrows raised, and answered, his tone plain:

"You're vastly overestimating my skills if you think the merit for any of those successes is my doing."

He then closed his eyes in defeat, grabbing the sword on the ground and sheating it across his shoulder, before adding:

"But if it makes you feel batter, I'll accept any healing Hornet wants to offer."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Tue 26 Apr 2016.

"Take these instead" Fox said handing him two Laumspur "best save our mental disciplines for reserve"

Fox then grinned and looked to Snake

"You forget that I was there too. And considerably less stronger than I am now" he winked

"Well, I didn't like to say, but I think you might be slowing down in your increasing years," said Sun Snake to Sabre Fox, "It seemed to take you a whole three blows to single-handedly cut through that crypt spawn..."

Sun Snake said it with a smile, clearly relieved that Sabre Fox had managed to best Vyctar's powerful answer to the warrior without serious injury.


Sun Snake looked around the room. "So, perhaps we should see if the agarashi is vulnerable to suggestion now, while we are far away from it and not as tempting a target. And while we are this deep, perhaps we can feel how well the lava is bound by magic, and if there is a way to break those magical chains. And I still have the Seeing Stone. Perhaps I should contact Banedon to let him know of our return. The sooner he can be ready to take possession of ...the one in our hold... the sooner Valador's plans may be stopped before they can start. Also, perhaps Banedon - in his incarseration in Kaag - may have insights in to how we can assault the magic keeping this place standing."

"If you were counting the charge that was meant for Vyctar then don't bother, as clearly that was for him and not for any joke he put before me"

Fox then shook his head at the next suggestion

"Are you sure that's wise? You know how long old Valleys ears are, he may intercept the fact we have so far completed our mission"

"It does look like an interesting one that" remarked Swift, looking over Vyctar's sword.  "Was thinking of toying with it myself.  Though, I might have another idea to occupy my mind when we get back home."

A thoughtful look came over her before she shrugged and took off her backpack, sliding the mirrored shield off her arm and placing it to one side.
Taking out the four Sun Shards, she arranged them in a small group in front of her, and then took out the two Vordak Gems, placing one aside and rolling the other around in her hand as she looked up at Sun Snake.

"Since it's likely everyone in the fortress already knows we're here anyway, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to use these to heal everyone?" she suggested.  "Maybe enough of them going off will make some of them wonder just how powerful and dangerous we really are to them and perhaps think twice about getting in our way..."


OOC: Just putting the OOC thought into IC action :)

Sun Fox shrugged.

"Some healing wouldn't be amiss, but wether it comes from Hornet's skills, Sabre's potions, or Swift's magical gems, I don't think it changes much. And I doubt any broadcasting of our position would matter at this point - if we could feel the dark powers in the air lightening after Vyctar's death, I have little doubt every darkspawn in the place is already well aware of what we've done."

The Kai Lady didn't seemed particularly worried at the prospect of the whole fortress waiting in ambush for them - if anything, the small smile on her lips seemed to suggest that she would enjoy the challenge.

Just pointing out something I thought you all should be aware of. :)

Sabre Fox, if you want anybody to use your stuff, you might want to say how much END those potions could heal.

"Sun Fox is right," said Water Hornet with a nod towards the Kai Lady, "we better apply healing fast and then get on our way. I propose using Laumspur and similar substances first; I'll take care of the wounds where it won't be enough, afterwards. I'm afraid, we must try to preserve as much of our mental reserves as we can - in light of what lies ahead of us." Hornet looked sombre, but there was no trace of fear in his eyes; in fact, it seemed like something died in the Magnakai recently and the prospect of possible death didn't perturbed him that much (as before). "Swift, if you can release the power of the Sun, again, I think you should. I don't think it will scare any of our enemies, though. Unfortunately."

With an eye of an adept at treating sick and wounded people, Hornet looked to Silver Raven: "Yes, Raven, you really don't look good." Turning his head to Sun Fox he continued: "That applies to you, too." 'I wonder if I sound like White Mantis chiding reckless novices...?' thought Hornet to himself, and addressed Dawn Sword in a softer tone: "I'll look at your wounds in a moment...er...Dawn Sword. We'll need every swo...every Kai to give their best."

OOC: The three mentioned people are most hurt. I vote for using Sun Shards and available Laumspur; afterwards healing the remaining missing END up with WH's Curing (btw, that's how I knew who has lowest END).

"If need be, I can heal people with this too" remarked Swift, raising her left hand to show Hornet a small ring she was wearing.  "It doesn't heal as much as some other methods though."

She looked back at Sun Snake, pulling out the pendant from beneath her tunic and raising the Vordak Gem, waiting until he readied the Kai Axe before bringing the two objects together.


OOC: Making another shard + Sun Flash :)

"I think there is only enough sunlight energy in the axe left for a flash or two, but given the creation of a shard can empower the axe again, then this should not be much of an issue," said Sun Snake.

So saying, Sun Snake waiting for Swift Fox to line up the shards, and let forth a blast of radiant energy.


Ok, so sun bursts for 1SP and 2WP each, and will then use WP to restore the sunlight pool of the axe.


Sun Snake looked around to Sun Fox and Water Hornet. "he last agarashi mind I encountered was basic enough, in its way, to be directed. That was not the issue, although that creature was probably one of the first, so this one may be different. The problem was that linking to that mind was a true link. It could be directed and enslaved to my will, but then its own desires and reactions would be my own. And I daresay its death throws strong enough to be my own. However, perhaps with you, Water Hornet, able to use any link I have to place a lasting compulsion in to its animalistic mind, while Sun Fox, with your help perhaps our wills could be both stronger than its, but more importantly you can pull my mind back out of the link afterwards. That might be enough to drive it onwards, without a complete and permenant link being formed. It is worth check now, because if not we then have to prepare to fight it, knowing that the rest of the fortress might change their plans and spring the ambush around us if we are not careful."

Swift placed the former Vordak Gem into the same pile as the others, then reached out to touch each one of the now-charged Sun Shards in turn.
"Might want to close your eyes" she remarked, before a series of bright flashes flared up.

As the last of these faded, she picked up the last Vordak Gem and brought this into contact with the pendant too.
The last of the glow within it went out, as another bright flash went up.

Swift carefully placed the six Sun Shards into the small pile in front of her and looked up at Sun Snake again.
"So if we charge all of these up again, I'll need one of them to recharge the pendant, but the others can be divided among some of us, then we can make use of them in a tight spot on the way out of here.  If we make it out of the Darklands, the sunlight should recharge them again on its own."


OOC: Sorry about the delay, weekday issues.
So, fired off one of the shards (at creation) already in a previous post.  Set off another five here.  And just created another one setting off another flash.
So that should be a total of...  *gets out calculator*  ...35 END and WP restored, and most likely enough to bring everyone's CS back up to max :)

Aren't you all glad I'm here?

*cough*  *awkward shuffle*  Anyways...  Up to Sun Snake if we want to charge up all six shards again, let Swift absorb one and then split the remaining five shards around the group.

As flash after flash of sunlight went out in the dark chamber, the wounds on all the Kai slowly disappeared, until they all were in the best condition they could be. Sun Fox stretched for a moment, testing the flexibility of her muscles, before turning to Swift Fox and saying:

"I think dividing the Sun Shards between us is a good idea - it would ideally allow us to use them all at once as we're charging through a group of enemy, which ough to make it much easier for us to punch through. However, if we only have five, who do you think would have less use for having one of them along?"

She let her gaze move over the group, as if waiting to see wetehr anybody was going to volounteer as not needing the help these artefacts could grant.

Everybody be sure to heal as Swift Fox said you should.

Sun Snake gestured to the axe. "This Kai relic seems to have the power of the sun too. I can do without a sun shard if needed."

The other logical one would be the Sommerswerd wielder, but only if we intend to use rather than hide the blade.

Water Hornet flexed his hands, arms, back, legs and feet. He was pleasantly surprised that the puncture wound of his feet, that he had suffered in the petrified forest, seemed to get better, too. Watching with curiosity the Sun Shards before Swift Fox, he sent a silent prayer to Kai.

Sun Snake's words brought Hornet out of his musing and after a similarly curious glance towards Snake's weapon, he responded: "I can pass on one of them, too, if necessary. As for your previous suggestion, Sun Snake, let's try crazing the agarashi - after all, sowing confusion among the enemy helped us get inside..."

OOC: I agree that the Sommerswerd wielder would probably be the best choice not to have a Sun Shard; it's just in WH's character to volunteer to not take one if there's nobody else to say so.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:23, Sun 01 May 2016.