The Will to Fight: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

The battles rage loud and ferocious at the gates of the city and off in the ruined wastelands of Erda, and on the walls a struggle of a different kind occurs. The team who stayed behind at the towers are small but determined as they move stoically across the walls to right the stones that have become misaligned, even as their friends battle not too far away.

The city begins to hum. It's a quiet hum, not loud enough to be heard out where the others are fighting but it vibrates even through stone. The recovering monks assure them that it is done, the wards are back up and no demon will be able to enter the city.

Eventually the battle is won, all three battles. The demons fought back and killed, a major blow to their gate system that will keep them back for hopefully a long time. Those waiting in the caverns return to the city and by the time they get there the illusions are gone. Everyone can see the world for what it really is.

But despite the ruins of their world the people are relieved, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through their veins and the mood is one of hope. They will build again, their people will survive.

All Voidtreckers please return to the Voidtrecker Express. Departure will be in a few hours

It has landed not too far from the city, cloaked to make it unnoticeable to the citizens, for all the good that does. No one has been particularly subtle this last week. People can begin regrouping, packing up the camp and getting any wounded not already healed to the train.

However roughly half an hour later another message appears on their SCA.

Passenger Persephone has requested we remain on system System #86525656412355 for an additional day to further assist the people of Erda. The Voidtrecker Express will depart on the morning of Day Fifteen of the month of Kazoo.

The train remains where it is, so the voidtreckers can use its facilities. There is definitely a lot that can be done to assist those of this world and the citizens will welcome any helping hands.

After an extra day they finally depart, returning to the void once more.

(OOC Note: Once the wards are up any characters who are demonic in nature will not be able to enter the city either!)

Comments

[namethattune]

I am afraid I do not have enough evidence to formulate a solid hypothesis for either question. [Which is worrying - without those answers, they haven't exactly fixed the problem, have they.] Were I to hazard a guess, I would say that the wards being fully recharged dispelled the illusion; as to the displayed keystones...either impacts on the other side of the wall from attacking demons, or...sabotage. The latter is more likely.

[The fully charged wards are repelling their teammates who are demonic in nature; surely they would repel this world's demons as well, which makes an initial attack unlikely at best.]

[ourtomorrow]

You're saying humans made the illusion.

[ FROWNING. Wormmon steps back, seeing that while he came over here to express awe at something cool, Ken-chan is doing his Ken-chan thing!

Which is also awe-inspiring. It's okay. He'll just wait....right here....while the smart people do smart things. He does sincerely enjoy watching that.

(And what a cool guy indeed, to go brain-to-brain with Ken-chan!) ]

[namethattune]

That aligns with the information we have found, yes. It seems that demons here are not known for illusion magic.

[They'd spent their time here going through libraries while climbing the towers, hoping to find something of value along the way. Perhaps it is time to go directly to the source.]

Would you two care to accompany me to the west tower? I believe it is time to speak to the monks themselves.

[ourtomorrow]

If you don't mind.

[ Said sternly, with an erect back and a familiar determination in his eyes. Younger Ken is a softer boy - but that doesn't mean there isn't steel in there yet. ]

Something hurt and used these people. I can't let that stand.

NPC after Ken's tag, please!

[namethattune]

I would welcome the company.

[It doesn't take them too long to enter the west tower, and Siebren is able to navigate it easily by this point - both the puzzles in the lower floors and the trick to the upstairs illusion (though he makes certain to explain the leap of faith to both Ken and Wormmon and assure them that it is indeed safe before performing it himself). When they arrive in the topmost room with the monks, Siebren selects the monk who looks the least preoccupied with their work, nods to Ken, and approaches.]

Hello. I was wondering if we could take a few minutes of your time for some questions about the recent...situation.

[ourtomorrow]

Please.

[ Ken is going to let the adult take the lead on this one unless the answers really don't satisfy him. But that doesn't keep him from looking any less intense, here at Siebren's side.

Wormmon, meanwhile, is trying to silently recover from screaming like the hounds of Hell were after him twice in one mission. Void adventures.....take a lot of lung power.....And he's ashamed. He needs to be braver for Ken-chan! ]

[voidtreckernpcs]

[ The man who turns to look at the visitors is slouched slightly, wearing exhaustion openly from the entire recent ordeal. He is tall, heavy-set and has long thick hair. He had been preoccupied, but he can interrupt his work for these visitors. After all, they were the ones that vanquished the demons.

He gently nudges himself off of a wall and gives them his full attention. ]

Yes. [ He speaks slowly, his voice a little strained as though the fatigue was taking its toll on him. ] Go on. [ He gestures with an open palm that they should proceed with their questions. ]

[namethattune]

Thank you.

[Gratitude first; they are taking him from his work, after all.]

We were curious as to the illusion on the city. Is that the sort of magic that the wards would dispel, or would the caster in question need to remove it? As for the wards themselves - are the positions of the keystones on the walls commonly known?

[ourtomorrow]

It was dispelled around the same time the wards reformed, wasn't it?

[ Ken continues the train of thought. ] Knowing the source will help the city's defense.

[voidtreckernpcs]

[ He looks as though he’s considering their questions carefully, as though he were thinking about how to phrase the information they were asking for. ]

The illusion… [ The monk tilts his head slightly as he seems to be mulling over what happened with the illusions. ] Was not of our making. Illusion magic in the tower is contained to the trials you no doubt experienced upon entry, or very limited areas.

[ He taps his chin briefly. ] I couldn’t tell you if it was dispelled by the wards or not. As for the wards, they’ve been implemented into the walls and have protected this city for centuries, but we tend to focus on our discipline of choice.