> > Justin really isn't into the whole siege atmosphere that seems to be pervading the tower. The grand hall is deserted. Classes are suspended. Any Blade with enough combat experience to be trusted and too little sense to refuse has been issued weapons and set to patrol or observe. And what is /he/ doing? He's in his effing /workroom/, staring across the table at the /one/ other Blade who's actually been through an invasion. And he doesn't even remember it, either, why the hell is he asking him? This is horrible. "There's got to be something better for us to be doing." Eladria shrugs. "Like what? Hunting dieties?" Razz has her head bowed, her hands fiddling with some pieces of wires. At some point she set the piece down in her lap, and looked up. "I think I should leave," she said quietly. Eladria looks at Razz, and looks at Justin. Justin has remained outwardly calm, as always, and it's doubtful that anyone in the room currently has enough psi sense to see that he isn't inwardly. "If you wish to, Razz, but I think you'd be safer here." He gives Eladria a steady non-glare, probably quite disquieting. "You're here to make sensible suggestions, let me remind you." Razz turned to face Justin. "It's not that I wish to leave," she continued. "It's that I'm endangering the students by staying here. We wouldn't be attacked if I'm else where." > > Eladria sighs and nods. "Well, we really have two options. One: We fortify the tower, here, and insure that everyone is safe. Two: We get a special group, well trained, and take Razz away from the tower. From what you've said, I don't think he'll attack the Blades unless Razz is there." Justin nods, slowly. "Well. I'm afraid the Tower is already about as locked down as y'can get it. Unless the next attack comes from above, we can at least keep them out of the upper levels long enough to portal everyone out." He doesn't seem quite so happy with that plan, but it /is/ a plan. As for the other option, "That could work, only, where would we go? Wait. No... wait, perhaps." Razz asks: Perhaps what? > > Eladria sits, and ponders a moment. "Well, there are several defensible places we could flee to. The Temple of Fiends sticks out in my mind. Razz turned to face Eladria. "Where is that?" > > Justin asks: Mmm. ...not my first choice, but yeah, y'about can't beat it for security. 'Ladria, you know the Freedom Blades? Eladria shakes his head, and turns to Razz. "It's on Eldaria, north of the swamp outside Coneria. Razz frowned, as if she's trying to remember something. "What makes it secure?" > > Eladria grabs a piece of parchment and a quill pen. He draws a rough layout. "One entrance/Exit and LOTS of hiding places." Razz blinked, and looked down at where Eladria had been scribbling, wondering. "Uhm, oh." > > Eladria pushes the paper to Justin. "It could work." Justin is quite familiar with the Temple, thanks. "...not the friendliest of places to live, particularly when we have no idea how long we'd be spending there. We don't even know the extent of Crulath's power outside his domain... Still. It would keep the Blades safe. Razz, you're sure about wanting to get out of here? Given time to prepare, we're actually a respectable fighting force." Razz turned back to Justin. "What if there is no time to prepare?" > > Justin would draw Razz's attention to his earlier statement if there were any convenient way to do it. "We're already prepared. Everyone who could be sent home was. Everyone who can fight has been armed. The entrances have been barricaded. It's likely to stay this way even if we do decide to leave. I'm not absolutely confident that he wouldn't attack the Blades again just to spite me." There is a flash, and a hideous, grimacing gargoyle appears in the room! It seems to be carrying something in one paw. Eladria stands and draws his sword. Justin isn't messing around anymore. He's around the table, blade in hand, practically before anyone has time to blink. "Right... you can speak?" Razz, realizing that something has happened, yet not quite sure what it was, got to her feet. Hearing Justin's question, she turned to him. "Who's there?" > > The words come in a grating tone. "Yes. I come bearing greetings to the Lady Crulath, and a gift." Razz asks: Lady Crulath? The grating voice seems to cough an affirmative. "The one bearing his child, the fruit of his loins, the Savior to be." Justin stands down, but remains wary. "That's a bit forward of him, I think... No matter. I'm going to assume for the moment that this gift isn't going to be harmful. Deliver and be on your way. Send him our regards." Eladria leans toward Justin and speaks low. "That thing is dangerous. And you want it near her?" The gargoyle begins to move toward Razz, at a decent pace, despite being made of rock. Razz took a step away, remaining close to Justin, unsure of what to do. > > Justin hides nothing. "We have his word that no harm will come to her until the child is born. And I doubt very much that a shambling mass of ore can strike faster than the three of us, anyways." Pfft, just let it try. The gargoyle seems to chuckle, and carries what appears to be a small, metalic device. Justin may recognize the metal it is made of. Razz is made even more uneasy by the chuckle, and took another small step back. > > Eladria looks at that device. "Justin. . .what the heck is that thing?" Justin extends a hand. "Ahh, may I? I'm not certain everyone's prepared to trust your employer." The gargoyle continues toward Razz. "The Lady Crulath is the only one to handle the device." Razz reached out and gripped Justin's coat. "What is it?" she asked. > > Justin waves his hand before the gleaming demon. "Yes, could you at least answer us that much, then?" The gargoyle stops, and holds up the device. "It is merely a seed, much like that within her. Truly, the device is for the Savior, but the Lady Crulath is to hold it for him." Eladria steps forward, toward the gargoyle. "Justin, I'll take care of it." Justin likes this not one bit, no he doesn't. "Watch yourself." He reaches behind himself to take Razz's hand, and shoves the table back and out of the way should they need to make a quick getaway. > > Eladria slashes at the gargoyle, chopping at it's shoulder. Razz took Justin's hand, and heard the sharp clang made by Eladria's sword against stone. "What's happening?" > > The gargoyle slashes at Eladria's leg, barely scratching him. Eladria starts to laugh, and goes to swing again, and freezes, midswing. He drops onto his side. Razz heard the laugh cut off abruptly. "Eladria?" Justin's expression goes grim. Well, great. Absolutely wonderful. He's not about to repeat Kiran's error, whatever it may have been. He draws his own blade, and releases Razz with a gentle shove in the direction of the table, assuming a ready stance and staying /well/ out of reach of the Gargoyle's claws. Razz backed away, and reached out to steady herself as she came into contact with the table. Not knowing what's happening, yet afraid to ask, she remains silent, and uneasy. Eladria lies, frozen, on the ground, and the gargoyle moves forward. It reaches down and rips open the dwarf's chest, looking at Justin with a sickening smile on it's face. Justin lets it grin all it wants. Recalling his swordsmans' training, and jenna channeling, he flashes forward and puts his anger behind his blade, vaulting up brushing the ceiling of the chamber, and bringing his broadsword down with force as though he intended to cleave the damnable thing from top to toe. The gargoyle positions itself directly over Eladria, making it a neither or both proposition. Justin is prepared for this eventuality, even, though it means no small adjustment to his trajectory and no minor risk from the damn thing's claws and whatever felled the dwarf. He arrests his swing momentarily, letting himself impact the beast bodily, drive it backward, before bringing the blade down towards its stony skull again. The gargoyle swiftly does two things. First, it takes the device and buries it in the dwarf's chest. Second it tries to slash Justin with it's claws while being struck. Justin realizes he's going to look pretty damn silly performing his next maneuver, but it's not like there's anyone in the room to see. Holding tight to the hilt of his sword, now wedged tightly in the demon's head, he kicks off and attempts to flip over it, trying to avoid the apparently poisoned claws. It's a near thing, too near to tell, really. They tear through his coat and shirt as through air, and it's anyone's guess whether that's Justin's blood or Eladria's on them and on his clothes when he lands. He clutches a hand to the possible wound on reflex. The gargoyle shatters and falls apart, scattering runic dust all over Justin and Eladria. Justin coughs, choking on the painful dust, and drops to one knee, still clutching at the wound in his side. He does not, for the moment, show any signs of going rigid and keeling over, though. Razz stays close to the table, having absolutely no idea what is happening and not knowing if the time is right for asking. > > Justin says: Gaghhh... Razz. Get the... no... Justin shakes his head and stands up. "Come on, we need to get to the infirmary, fast." Razz released her clutch on the table, a slightly frightened look slowly coming off of her face. Navigating to Justin's position, she nearly tripped over Eladria's arm. "What happened? Eladria?" > > Justin shakes his head sadly. "Not pretty at all. That Gargoyle got him pretty good, with some sort of toxin. We have to get him to the medics fast." And where the hell is everyone? There're supposed to be patrols on this floor same as all the rest, why hasn't anyone come to check? "Go to the corridor and yell for someone, we'll probably need help." Razz nodded, and ran to the doorway, having memorized the layout of the room for the numerous times that she's been there. Opening the door, she drew a deep breath and yelled: "Help! Someone's been hurt! Help!!" The cry quickly drew the attention of several nearby personels, and they trooped into the workroom, setting to carrying Eladria to the infirmary and checking Justin for injuries. > > Justin pokes the nearest medic in the shoulder, attracting her attention. "Antidote /potions/. Get me one, and administer one to Kiran, /fast/." Razz kept herself out of the way while the medics worked. A vial of antidote potion was quickly administered to Justin, one can only assume that Eladria received the same. Justin drags himself off to the table in the corner, drops into a chair before it, and slumps. Damn it all over again. Eladria didn't look much like he'd be recovering from that, it's probably only a matter of time. And gods only know if the antidote potion would be effective against whatever vile toxin mix Crulath cooked up for his heralds. It wouldn't take too many of /those/ to wipe the Blades out. There's nothing else for it. "We'll have to get out of here. If Crulath can bring one of those in here, chances are he could just as easily bring a thousand." Razz nodded, slowly, after the medics had all left. Would she say 'I told you so'? I really don't know, but since Justin didn't the last time he got the chance to, it's only fair that Razz should return the favor. Justin shakes his head, slowly. "...So. Any preference? The Temple? /Saito's/ Temple? Narg? Tzen?" Razz's head was bowed. "I don't know where any of those places are," she murmured. > > Justin shrugs. "Well. But, the point is, we need /out/, fast." He sighs, heavily, and stands. "I hope I remember this right..." He begins a complex incantation, in runes quite different from ordinary spellcraft, and slowly a ripple in the air begisn to form in the center of the room. Razz bit down on her bottom lip, and spoke. "What are you doing?" she asked, slowly. Justin can't answer until he completes the spell, and it looks to be taking a lot out of him to do it. Finally, painfully, he forces out the last syllable, and a shimmering, whirling portal yawns open in the center of the chamber. "I /hate/ Gate-work... that's our exit. Ladies first?" Razz looks somewhat down cast, and carefully stepped out, feeling her way into the portal. > > Justin follows directly after, taking Razz's hand as the gateway takes them far away from Crulath's influence, hopefully. Justin has not, it seems, suffered too many deleterious physical effects from the events of the last evening, but it's anyone's guess how he's feeling otherwise. Mirai was more than happy to put them up here for the time being, and downright /gleeful/ at the sample of possibly toxin-ridden blood he gave her to play with. Rather disquieting, that. So, Justin and Razz are currently sitting in the parlor of the Second's quarters of the Tzen Freedom Blades post. Razz has been quiet since the incident, not even questioning their whereabouts. Probably has a lot to think about, having been partially responsible for the death of several people. Even when Eladria died right before her, she didn't even knew it was happening. She just stood there, blind, completely useless. And she had caused his death too. How easily might that have been Justin? > > Justin is, actually, mending the gashes that the gargoyle's claws opened in his new coat. He's had /years/ of experience watching friends and acquaintences die before his eyes, and it still does hit him hard, he has no idea how Razz must've taken it. "...are you alright? You really can't feel that it was your fault." Razz turned her head to face Justin, expressionless. "Why not?" she asked quietly. > > Justin isn't quite so sure how to answer as Cory seems to be... "Eladria was there by his own choice. He attacked the Gargoyle by his own choice. His death is the Gargoyle's fault, and Crulath's for sending it, and his own for attacking." Razz's expression remains unchanged, and she turned away again, staring blankly at the thin air ahead of her. After a short moment of silence, she spoke up again. "Would you teach me how to battle without the use of my eyes?" Justin looks speculative, nothing much else. "To battle? I can teach you what I know of it, definitely. I'm not much of an expert." Razz kept her eye ahead of her. "When can you do it?" she asked. Justin shrugs. "Whenever you feel up to it, I suspect. It's not like it's a skill that can be picked up in a few minutes, know. It'll take a fair bit of practice, although I suspect you're already practicing a lot of it just as you are." Razz nodded, even though she didn't quite grasp the meaning of Justin's last words. "Can we start now?" > > Justin sighs, quietly. "...Yes, yes we can." He stands, and heads for the door, a shade slower than normal walking pace. "Come with me, then? Here is hardly the place to work on it, I think." Razz stood up, and walked to Justin's side. "Okay." Star Mountains - Andries Peak Andries Peak is the highest point on the Imperial continent, andvery few have climbed to the point that you have, now. Towards thesouth, you can see beyond the mountains, towards the main continent,and even the outline of the Danke Mountains. The small path towardsthe main mountain road is to the northeast. Razz reached up and wiped off the sheen of perspiration over her forehead with the back of her hand. With all the climbing they just did, they have to be on a mountain. Of course, the cool climate is also a big tip off. "... are we stopping here?" Justin appears equally unconcerned with the rapidly chilling air and the strenuous climb they've just completed. "Seems a decent spot. To be honest, I'm not sure there's that much for me to show you, if you managed that climb so well. I couldn't have done it blindfolded." He reaches the center of the cleared area and takes a seat. Off in the distance, a wolf's howl is heard. Razz reached down and dusted off her knees. "All I had to do was follow you," she explained. "I can't do that in battle." Makoto's shadow slowly begins to penetrate the bushes nearby as they ruffle back and fourth but no one can be seen nor heard. Another howl echoes the air and a slight clank in armor can be heard. Justin shakes his head. "Not that. Well, some of that, actually. If you can follow me closely enough to find handholds and keep to the trail, you're well on your way. You just need to learn a little more about how it can be applied in combat." Razz tilted her head as she heard the clank of armour in the open mountain air. "Did you hear that?" > > Justin nods, unconcernedly. "Coming from right... about... /there/." He jabs a finger almost directly towards where whoever's tramping about in the bushes is tramping about. Razz sighs, but she's almost getting used to Justin's tendency of pointing, regardless of her ability to see or not. "Where?" > > Makoto's body still can not be seen yet, for the bushes begin to ruffle back and fourth with a body moving through them. A very large head peeks out of the bushes but it has a snot which is a white silver color, snarling slightly its owner walks in shortly behind its lead. "What reasons do you have being here?" (Cory makes comment about R&J accidentally skipping over campfires) > > Justin still is not remarkably concerned. "It's got a lovely view. More importantly, it's got a lovely view even without sight, you'll note." No, he deliberately ignored them, and Razz is unlikely to notice unless she steps in one or the other. Makoto's scabbard can be heard as it finds the sword running against the sides into his hands, appearing from the bushes almost in a offensive manner, "Who are you?" Razz turned to the figure who appeared out of nowhere, really. "Who are you?" she asked back. > > Justin looks absolutely harmless, sitting there in the clearing. Well... mostly harmless, anyways. "Justin Thomas Childs. And you would be..!" He obviously recognizes the man, but, in case he's wrong, he'll let him say it himself. Makoto peering through the visor of his helmet, and then down at his wolf. "I am..." pausing momentarily standing in shock at the remark from Justin Makoto hefting the helmet off his head he bow's his head slightly. "Sire, it would be Makoto" trying to evade the fact of his nearly pearl white skin from your view he edges back slightly, causing his wolf to snarl bareing it's teeth slightly. "Kyori, down" upon his words the wolf slowly stands down, and sits at his feet. Justin nods sagely. "Would you be so good as to put the sword down, Makoto? We're not going to attack /you/." Razz's eyes widened, and her expression gains back some of its simple innocence before all these crap with Crulath had happened. "Makoto? I thought you were dead." > > Makoto bite's his lower lip at Razz's words but nods his head towards head at Justin. Sheathing his sword back into is resting place, trying to figure... "Why are you two here?" Justin repeats himself for the sake of his former student. "There's a lot to see here, even without sight." He won't address Makoto's undeath; stranger things have happened. Possibly to him, even, especially after the Tree. > > Makoto walks over towards the two slowly keeping an eye on the area, "But, Justin you have a specific reason for being here, and I know your not here because of the Freedom Blades... or does it?" Justin shakes his head. "It does, as a matter of fact, have to do with the Freedom Blades." Makoto jolts back slightly muttering something under his breath which seems to be ... freedom ... "Something is wrong....what is it?!?" Makoto cuts back towards Razz, "Mi'lady" bowing slightly Justin nods sagely again. "Exactly, Mako." Razz couldn't help but have her lips twist into a bitter smile at the memory of the last person who had addressed her as such. Makoto's right hand twitchs slightly about the hilt of his sword, "What is it....I can help or try to atleast. Anything" Justin considers. "Well, for the moment, lend us the use of your clearing, here?" Makoto quirks an eyebrow in confusion, "Sire, I hate to be disrespectful.. but may I ask why?" Justin looks to Razz for a moment, almost as though seeking confirmation. "...Razz seeks training, blind-fighting, other ways to see your opponent. This is a good place to work on other perceptions." Makoto scratchs the back of his head with his free hand, "Blind-Fighting??? There is a reason for the fighting as well, and your not wanting to tell me, why?" Razz nodded slightly, her expression retracting back to the sullen calmness it was before. > > Justin looks his undead former pupil squarely in the eye. "With all respect, I'm afraid it's a trifle personal." Makoto snickers slightly, clenching a fist in the process. "Personal or not...I would atleast like to know if your training here brings trouble or others to this location. No one was soupposed to even know where i slept." Makoto lowers his head slightly, "If it's that personal.. Im destined to find out sooner or later. On one condition though" Razz, taking note of Justin's silence, asked her question. "What is it?" > > Makoto says: Promise me, you will not bring any one else here, nor inform them of this location. Makoto says: As you do, I have to keep my training in par. Over the last year I haven't trained much.. Justin regards Razz a bit blankly, leaving Makoto to announce his terms into thin air. "What is what? You know far better than I why you want to be trained." Razz turns to face Justin, frowning in confusion. "Makoto proposed a term that he'd like us to abide by while we train here, I asked what it is." > > Justin nods slowly. "Oh. Sorry. I'm stupid. You might easily have picked a better place to hide out than a landmark like this, but I personally swear to reveal your whereabouts to no-one." Makoto snickers softly, "I mean honestly you two are the only ones who even came here in the last five months.." Razz cocked her head again, wondering. "Where have you been? We thought you were dead." > > Makoto snarls slightly, "Not that I can deny... but If you'd like to check a pulse to find your answer then be my guest." turning away slowly hiding his head from Justin in shame. Razz blinked, confused. Razz asks: What do you mean? > > Justin doesn't see what's to be so ashamed of... hell, he has trouble finding his own pulse sometimes these days. "Well, tell me, how is the afterlife?" Makoto walks over to Razz, reaching his right hand out. "Here's my hand, check for a pulse. Im right infront of you" Makoto sighs slightly, "Sire, I hate to be crude.. but thoose are fighting words" Razz reached out, and placed her hands over Makoto's icy wrist. She blinked again, and adjusted her grip on his wrist. "I'm sorry... I'm not good at finding pulses." > > Makoto peers at Razz, "It's hard to find something you dont have..." blinking slowly Justin is spectacularly unconcerned, still. "If you really feel compelled, you can go ahead and try. I didn't say anything you didn't." Razz is dense, true, but she's never been introduced to the concept of the undead, so we must excuse her. "I don't have a pulse?" her face twisted in confusion. > > Makoto quirks an eyebrow towards Razz, "Im talking about me, Ma'm.." snarling a bit then cant hold back he snaps at Justin "Obviously its bad if I couldnt get my right to sleep for the eternity..." Razz asks: How can that be? Makoto says: Soupposedly I have things to finish off here..and they didnt want to let me die fully for the time. They said, the one bond that holds me to this realm is the loyalty for Mirai, caring for her made my life the peek but my downfall to rest.