The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

[voidtreckermods]

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.

Comments

[subcircuits]

Right now, Devero can most definitely not stand on his own two feet. The touch of the life-stealing chains, brief though it was, had hit the already weary man hard. If Trunks hadn't been there to drive the foot soldiers off, his act of defiance might just have been all the resistance he could have managed before the remaining demons overwhelmed him in retaliation for killing their leader.

He tries to stand, but his legs just won't support him. He uses the solidity of Trunks's arm for stability as he sits ungracefully in the churned up dirt instead.

"That's one of your magic beans, right?" he mumbles, distracted by trying to pull his chest plate off. He could swear he's been burned, he needs to see how bad it is--

[light_of_willpower]

"Yep." Once Devero seems settled, Trunks is holding his hand over his ARMS band. Soon enough he's pulling out a tiny bean that almost resembles a lima bean. Passing it to the other, and all but glaring at him to take it.

[subcircuits]

Devero doesn't take it at first, too busy yanking up the base layer of the armor to examine the stretch of his abs. The burns he's expecting are absent. There are no physical marks at all.

His gaze is a little bleary as he finally raises his gaze back to Trunks. He blinks several times at the innocuous little bean in his friend's hand. "This is it?" he asks, reaching up to take it.

[light_of_willpower]

"Yep. I plan to buy more, although we're trying to grow 'em on the train." Once the bean is taken, Trunks is going to step back. Crossing his arms, turning himself in a slow circle to gauge how much time they might have before being bothered next.

[subcircuits]

Devero doesn't respond right away. He's too busy squinting dubiously at the bean, which looks way too small and unassuming to be magic. Especially not magic enough to-- how had Trunks put it, the first time he'd mentioned them? To "heal any injury short of death".

Not that he can really afford stubborn scientific skepticism right now. He glances up at Trunks, then pops the bean into his mouth--

It's obvious the moment that it's worked, because Devero shoots up to his feet as if propelled. He stares incredulously at his hands and arms, which had been shredded by demon claws even before that scrawny fucker had gotten its chains around him. He pats himself down; not only are his wounds gone, but so is the phantom sensation of burning-- not to mention the fatigue of a long night of interrupted sleep and the early morning rush back to the base camp with Koumyou.

An incredulous laugh bubbles up out of him. "Rust and ruin, Trunks! You didn't tell me these things worked so fast! Or that they would make me feel this-- this good!"

[light_of_willpower]

"Now you understand. They're rare in our world, and gone for good in my timeline." Trunks said, with a smirk. "So get back out there and do what you do best, Devero. I'm going to go play target." Preparing to take off for the air, and do just that while raining pain on the demons he encounters.

[subcircuits]

"With pleasure," Devero says with a grin of his own. He salutes Trunks with a closed fist and steps back to give him room to launch. "Go wipe 'em out, brother."