middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

Dawn Attack

It's been a busy few days of fighting demons, attacking keystones and fighting both on the demon and human planes. On the morning of day nine of the month of Kazoo a gate opens close to the base camp that the two teams have made.

It seems the demons have decided to focus on this unexpected threat, because it is a sizable force, with a number of the large demons. They march towards the camp with single-minded focus, the opportunity to stop these unwanted defenders taking precedence over their desire to destroy the city.

The advantage to the landscape being as ruined as it is, is that there isn't much to stop the lookouts from seeing this force headed towards them. A gate opening is not subtle. There should be enough time to make sure the defenders are ready.

Scouting Ahead

Once that skirmish is won those on the Red team will find their SCA's beeping, with an exclamation point far out to the east.

A group of demons is congregating at the location indicated. Investigate why, defeat the demons and close any gates nearby.

It will take a while to get there and there is plenty to do on the way for those that follow the exclamation point. Roaming packs of demons, gates to be closed. Exhausting work, especially for those going in and out of the demon gates.

Protecting the City

Once it is clear that these defenders are not going to be easy to wipe out, the attacks on the city itself get more frequent. The demons have changed tactics: rather than sending in large groups they open many small portals, sending small strike teams to harry and target individuals.

Some of the attacks are clearly meant as traps: they open the gates in or very close to the city, to lure the Voidtreckers in to where they will be affected by the spell. Ranged attacks may be useful here.

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Sleep comes little and when the demons attack at dawn, it's back to work and focusing on the task at hand. Xingchen is really out of shape when it comes to combat, as he hasn't been training since his arrival, the surgery, and his time on th train. Eventually, it's all coming back to him, the swordsmanship skills that he was famously known for back home.

That morning at the edge of the camp, he bids Xue Yang a fond good-bye and even gives him a kiss for good-luck, and goes off to join the others who are more focused on defending the city to stave off and fight the forces that marched into the city, seeking to destroy whatever is left of it and makes a path for the others to close down the gates and eventually he teams up with whoever is close the gates to stop them from crossing over.

At the end of the day, when the sun goes down and the forces were pushed back, Xingchen exhausted and drained from the fighting, he returns to the camp and waited at the edge of the camp, keeping himself awake, his eyes searching expectedly.

Perhaps he's waiting for someone to return from the war alive.

...

[ There are plenty of ways to deal with the stubborn folk. But he has none of the luxury of time to choose among it. Roland would rather act fast so he can get the job done and save a life, versus pretending there's more to gain over growing shy to do what must be done. He takes a solid breath before he does the unexpected.

He moves to lift Ken up with both arms cradling the boy, lighter than he ever expected a kid like him could weigh. ]

If you don't want to worry Vexen, then you have to get better before he ever finds out. [ And it's a good thing Roland is Roland, uncaring if this move will earn him his roommate's wrath. So be it. If there is not enough resistance, he will stride over to the nearest open tent, empty, with only a cot on the ground and some makeshift wooden surfaces that act as tables. ] Red needs its warriors. So be a warrior for me, and take the help. I'm just going to get your stamina back, because getting hit by smaller demon magic means they drain it out of you. After this, you do whatever you want to do. I won't stop you. Deal?

Edited 2021-03-19 14:25 (UTC)

"Did you fight a lot of annoying demons at home?" He did. This is about as close to what he knows as he can get. Except not really demons...but corpses and living corpses were close enough. They could be just as annoying. He had to fight plenty when he was still figuring out how to control them.

"Not every stop is like this."

"Ssh!" A beat, then a shake of his head. A wave of his hand. "No, I don't have it! I thought you audited your things! Hold on, okay? There's something - !"

Roland's response is instantaneous, knees bending to crouch and move aside the cot in question. He isn't even looking at Tidus, knowing there's something here, something he needs to find.

Boop. Boop. Beep.

It's not by the cot. But he's close. He can hear it. Louder and louder...Suspiciously louder and his gut is broiling with instincts going haywire. Roland is practically crawling.

"Do you hear that?" He cups his hand over his ear, please Twin Teen uno, let's focus on this first! "Find where that's coming from! Now!"

Xue Yang had help on the battlefield so he definitely makes it back to camp alive. Jiangzai changed into the simple blade form just in case other demons decide to rush him before he makes it back. The longer double blade no longer necessary now that things have started to quiet down.

But it is the quieting down that makes him more nervous. Because there always seems to be a quiet before everything explodes into the big finale. Which means they might be nearing their worst confrontation soon.

As he reaches the edge of the camp, he tucks Jiangzai away, no longer needing it now that he is at the border. He spots the man ahead of him and walks straight to him with a satisfied smirk on his face. Clearly pleased with how the day went.

"I'm back, daozhang."

Great. Then you and I can work together and get this done ASAP.

[ Roland too, is totally sure. But instead of his own pistol out of his hammerspace, it's his sword that's brandished with a flick of his wrist, legs poised and ready to jump into the noir world of demonic activity.

His SCA beeps. It's still timed...but he doesn't reveal why just yet. ]

You're Prompto, right? [ He remembers him handing in his survey. They might have shaken hands then, but now is really when Roland has the chance to get to know his Purple teammates better. ] Let's make this quick, yeah? If you've got a plan that works better in there, now's the time to rally. Tell me what to do. I'll follow you if you've got a big idea.

[ Feed into that strong Protag energy, sir. ]

[ Santa is real and he lives inside the hearts and minds of all children all over the world okay!!

Roland quirks an eyebrow at Inigo, but otherwise says nothing else. He does, however, stand up straighter and the sword by his hip lowers just a tad. ]

I'll tell you a secret I discovered I while back.

[ Roland takes a step forward, offers Inigo his wrist wrapped with an SCA that's ready and set, timed to 30:00. ]

I don't know why or how, but I don't quite care to question it. You know how people who enter these gates get weak right away? [ He frowns deep. ] It doesn't work right away on me. I timed myself. I get a half hour above of everyone else where I feel fine.

[ Convinced yet, pup?? Your crazy dad is. ]

So it makes sense that I go in there too.

[ ...even if he doesn't quite answer Inigo's worried question. ]

Edited 2021-03-19 14:38 (UTC)

"There can be an elegance to fighting...but this is not it." He doesn't like fighting himself but he knows how necessary it can be. All his attempts at stopping wars in the past have all failed. He has seen several of them himself over those 800 years. Been a part of them as a Prince and a General. But that doesn't make them any easier to endure.

"I just wish I was better suited to being out here. But this is certainly more in the realm of what I understand and can deal with then the previous world."

Robots...less good at dealing with those. Flesh and bone enemy? That concept he can understand.

Roland may be doing his very best to get unhelpful obstacle #1 to cooperate with this endeavour, but clearly he didn't count on the fact that where one trouble teen goes, the other is soon to follow.

So maybe the tent was quiet for a moment, but that's soon interrupted by another voice stepping into it, just a moment or two later.

"Tidus! I think someone els--"

He can't even finish the statement. Not even because he's probably being shushed. But mostly since he's just realising what kind of scene he walked right into, with Roland practically crawling on the ground.

Inigo's baffled look travels from Roland's form over to Tidus, giving him his best 'bro, what did you do??' look.

AUDITING things?! Is Roland talking to him about auditing!!

Which is the exact kind of exasperation Tidus wants to throw at the man, please don't talk to him about being responsible right now!, except Roland's not even giving him the decency of looking at him, down on his knees and -- what?

Beep...beep...?

...

Tidus is baffled into silence, though he was already wiling to listen to Roland (kinda). He's heard this beeping before, eyes flitting around, and he moves more around the tiny compartment, wanting to ask the obvious question--that Inigo's arrival interrupts.

To give him that look. Tidus's eyes widen and his hands go up, a defence of 'I didn't do nothing!' that's been seen plenty times before. But he's not keeping his focus on Inigo, turning back to where he hears that static. There, amongst the other bits and pieces of belongings-

Tidus picks up the void radio, figuring it's the source for all this noise going on. Twisting the device some in his hands, he asks in a loud whisper, "Did you get something?"

A signal? This is a lot more boops than he heard when he ever did hear anything...!

He knew his prince wanted the dagger and if he intends to keep it as his treasure and if it's his will, he will defend it. But if any demons survives, they will follow them to the train, putting everyone on board at risk. So, he'll make it his goal to kill every demon in this world until the mission is over so his prince can keep it. It's not possible. It just takes time.

He carries him to the camp and lay him inside their tent where he could rest properly on the makeshift bedding. "Dianxia, do you want to eat anything? I'll get you something to eat and drink."

The fighting becomes quiet, but there's a lot of death. It's hard to tell whether the end is near or not, for now, for a tense moment, rest is required before the final battle near the end of the week. He's waiting on one of the makeshift chairs at the edge of the camp, keeping on look out for intruders, but most of all, he's on the look-out for him. He waves so he could see him.

He got up to approach him and greet him. "Welcome back. How your day went?"

Panic on the mission
With Allen, wherever he went his little golden golem friend was always close to hand. They were always inseparable. However, while there were attacks going on it seemed like they had separated.

Timcampy was flying around in a panic, trying to get someone's attention. Anyone's attention at this rate. Please focus on the golem who is flying quickly either in your face or around the head.

What is resting?
When Allen had finally been found and tended to he had been told to take a break, but Allen felt frustrated at that. He wanted to get back in as soon as he could but as he looked at his hand, he knew that there was only so much more he could handle as his left hand seemed to be twitching slightly.

"Just for a bit longer okay, we need to keep going."

Boop beep boop boop It skittered a bit, but doesn't seem to be attacking at least.

Beep It was interested in this rucksack though, a metal arm coming up to push at the flaps.

Beep beep beep

Edited 2021-03-19 20:13 (UTC)

"It does not require that if the train is as much like Naut as I suspect," he said flatly. "VERDANT SLASH!" he called, aiming his staff and sending a blast of strong green wind into two demons, breaking them against a wall behind them.

“What the heck is a Knot?”

He changed tactics and dipped a demon into a smooch. It was not appreciative.

"I'm careful!" Prompto answered at Noctis' cautious warning, but that was before he heard the beeping.

He crouched low, slightly, creeping towards the tent that was shaking. There was definitely a mechanical beeping. It didn't sound like an MT.

Prompto glanced at Noctis and gestured. Maybe they should each go around a side, see if they could catch whatever it was?

"I feel...like I'm on the brink of death!" Prompto declared overdramatically, his arm dropping to spread out on the ground lazily.

The dramatics were back, he would probably be fine.

[Ken jerks in Roland's sudden grip but doesn't thrash out - it's more out of surprise than anything, and he's exhausted. He really is light - the hoodies he wears hides just how skinny he is. He's definitely under seventy five pounds... the food hoarding might make even more sense to Roland.]

[This close it's easy to feel the tension in Ken's body, like a coiled toy ready to spring. His muscles twitch occasionally, but he doesn't complain. He'll never complain about the pain and exhaustion that have been a part of his life for years. His chest rises and falls more or less regularly, and as Roland carries him he slowly leans ins head against his roommate. There's no words, just silent acceptance.]

I'm trying. ... I'm trying. I don't want anyone to lose someone because I can't be there to heal them. I don't want someone to be trapped because I wasn't there to kill what was hurting them. I can deal with the scary things. I can deal with being hurt if I need to.

[His voice is quiet and a little rough, small breaths and tensions betraying his emotional state.]

I don't... I'm trying. I'm not... you know.

['Supposed to be alive'.]

... The least i can do is keep my team alive.

"A tangle of materials, often rope or hair, but could also be wire or other organic or synthetic materials, why?"

"Yeah, I know, what does any of that have to do with the demonic train that kidnapped us?"

He released his target and set them on fire.

He sent another blast at another demon. "Oh, Naut as in Nautilus."

"A mollusk?"

He wrinkled his nose, scratching a bit of moss on his cheek. "Soooo, you belonged to a cult focused on mollusk worship?"

Prompto was doing what he could at a range to give Xue Yang the freedom to move as he liked, while incapacitating his enemies. He'd already found that a single shot wasn't quite enough to fall some of these guys.

"Uh, yeah. Lucis is kinda overrun with them. They don't look the same but...when the night falls, we're surrounded by demons. Some are just demons, some of them are like animals that have been corrupted with the scourge."

The best thing about the armiger was that he had magic, infinite bullets. Thank you Noctis.

[ Prompto laughs a little bit, in a friendly way and shakes his head. ] Yeah, that's me! [ He offers a dorky little victory sign with his free hand. ]

I'm better at a range, and I'm used to people going nuts in my field of view and not hitting them. Noct warps all over the place. [ He grins. ]

So. [ He's presuming that sword will put Roland in close range. ] Do your thing and I'll watch your back, see if I can't stagger or disable some of them for you. A shot's not usually enough to take them down, unfortunately. [ They're tough buggers. ]

I can get up close if I need to, I've got a different weapon for that.

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The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

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hope this is ok, if not let me know!

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Allen Walker | OTA

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it's fine he's just Upset

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