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Post by Guinevere on Mar 18, 2009 15:44:20 GMT -5
(OOC: I'm autoing a few people who aren't here. AND I'M NOT SORRY! HAHAHAHAHA)
::Gwen is now caught between dodging and deflecting a hail Kerion's bullets, Lillith's crossbow, as well as dancing between both Kenny's and Dante's blades. Eva flies over her trying to take her out with her elbow blades, but Gwen swings her snakes over her head, taking out a chunk of the angel's wing with their fangs. She whirls away from the group, but this brings her closer to Rainii and Jas, now trapping her between four swordsmen on either side of her, snarling at each one in turn like a wild animal. She still remains completely unaware that the Hijrah's rockets are targeting her, but the attack from their guns makes her deathly aware of the airship's presence. Her hazel eyes dart from side to side, looking for a way out. Then they land on Iole, still dazed in Oliver's grip. With a fling of her hand, she throws a fireball at the feet of the first two enemies in her way, Rainii and Jas, and then extends her weapons which snake their way around Kerion, backhanding him to the hull of the ship. Then they find their mark on Iole's arms, pulling her directly to the witch. She grasps the girl with her own hands and to everyone watching, the color starts to drain from Iole's face. Oliver as well was knocked to the ground, losing two distinct items from his coat; a pair of glistening combs. Rena's eyes land on them with understanding as the auburn haired woman tries to help the boy up::
Rena: Blood of Simon.
::In a panic, she starts pointing to the combs, making strange gestures to Oliver, pointing first at her hair, then at Gwen with a still incapacatated Iole in her grip::
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Post by Oliver on Mar 18, 2009 16:01:47 GMT -5
Oliver, still in a confused dazed, unsure why Rena was there helping him can't shake the feeling that through her madness there was some reason. Warily of the woman's intention, Oliver picks the combs up and looks to Rena with confusion. "But... wat?"
With Iole in the corner of his eyes, being slowly drained away, and when Rena offers him her hair, he slides the comb through, a few strands catching themselves on the combs teeth.
In Oliver's hands, the hairs around the combs begin to act strangely, moving, growing, like roots from a tree. Puzzled he stares at the the hairs on the comb but Rena's insistence to do something with them against Gwen leads him to one conclusion.
Oliver sweeps the comb towards Gwen and out from the comb shoots strands of auburn. They wrap around the sorceresses arms, cutting into her like razors and pull. With the second comb, hairs wrap softly around Iole and pry her from Gwen's grip, lifting her away from the danger.
Those hairs around Gwen take her by the arms and pull, with more and more hairs emerging from the few, wrapping around her like a spiders cocoon. Every strand digging into her flesh, choking the blood out of her veins.
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Post by Vincent on Mar 18, 2009 16:06:03 GMT -5
*Beep*Beep*Beep Beep*Beeeeeeeeeep*
A rocket fires out from the hull of the Hijrah, it streaks across the sky and in a brilliant display of force erupts on Gwen. The force throws those on the deck back, debris and flames shooting up around them. The heat burning their clothes and faces, and the concussion reverberating in the bones.
-Aboard the Hijrah-
A loud cheer erupts over the intercom as Nahla claims victory. All Vincent can do is bury his face in his hands in frustration, wary of what collateral damage this will assuredly come back to bite him.
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Post by Guinevere on Mar 18, 2009 16:24:58 GMT -5
::The heroes unveil their eyes after the blast and wait for the smoke to clear. Lillith gets to her feet and starts to put out the small flames on the edge of her sleeves. Through the firelight, they can see plainly, a strange coccoon of writhing auburn hair, floating above the hull. Sparks of stray energy fly from it as two pale bloodstained hands emerge and start to pull it apart. Crimson flames dance around the bone-white fingers, scorching the hair that trapped the sorceress. It falls to the ground where it writhes like snakes. The ripe smell of burnt hair fills the air. Gwen remains floating in the air, but she's screaming in pain. The veins along her pale arms and in her neck and face are bulging and glowing. Her pale skin starts to shine through her tattered red dress that has been completely reduced to rags, its skirt nothing more than a few strips of fabric. Sparks erupt around her as she starts wailing in agony::
Lillith: Not good. Her sorceress power is overloading now. She's going to go supernova, and unless we get off this ship, she's going to take all of us with her.
::She sees Kerion taking aim with his handgun, and quickly grabs his wrist, lowering his weapon::
Lillith: Are you nuts? Don't add more magical energy to this! Who knows how much worse that will make it!
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Post by Iole on Mar 18, 2009 16:31:23 GMT -5
::Iole leans heavily on Oliver for support. It seems her senses haven't quite come back to her yet, because she doesn't seem to notice that Gwen's floating in the air, steadily becoming a bomb. She just reaches out to touch Rena's hand::
Rena, you came back.
::Rena smiles at the girl's touch, but looks back sadly at the stranded group. Iole was too weak to transform, Eva's wing was injured, Jas was drained, Dante didn't have his wings out, and who knows what transforming again would do to him. That left Lillith and Kenny who couldn't hope to carry them all. And even if they could, would the Hijrah even be able to clear the explosion in time? She had to buy them time. She turns back to face Typhon who has remained latched to the bow of the ship. She signals to the monster who starts climbing along the side. It reaches where the group is, and extends one of its massive arms towards the Hijrah, acting as a sort of gangplank::
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Post by Vincent on Mar 19, 2009 0:21:57 GMT -5
"Tresk, bring her in and get them off there." "Bit... unorthodox sir." "I've stopped trying to rationalize anything with these people."
The Hijrah stabilizes herself beside the arm of Typhon, her cargo bay door open with Rafee waiting for them to hop aboard.
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Post by Lillith on Mar 19, 2009 1:41:12 GMT -5
::Lillith scoops Oliver up as she passes, making her way for Typhon's arm::
Kenny, get Iole! Dante, help Eva! Rena come on!
::The auburn haired woman shakes her head::
What? We need to get out of here now! Lets go!
::Rena looks back at Gwen, screaming and writhing in the air::
Rena: Calm.
Rena, there's nothing you can say to her at this point! She's gone!
::Again, Rena shakes her head and points, this time to Iole::
Rena: Try.
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Post by Kenny on Mar 19, 2009 2:06:36 GMT -5
:Kenny heads to Iole carefully picking her up as he steadliy makes his way while looking at Gwen going all nova like.:
"Hang on Sis were gonna make it before Gwen goes off"
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Post by Iole on Mar 20, 2009 2:53:49 GMT -5
::Iole starts to squirm in Kenny's grip::
But... Rena.
::Rena reaches out and takes Iole's hand, looking at the little girl with tears in her eyes and speaks in her now slow and broken speech::
Rena: Trust me.
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Post by Kerion on Mar 20, 2009 9:37:33 GMT -5
::Kerion looks on at Gwen before drawing his Punisher, loading a white round into it:: Time to put an end to this! Let's see how she handles Void.
::She sees Kerion taking aim with his handgun, and quickly grabs his wrist, lowering his weapon::
Lillith: Are you nuts? Don't add more magical energy to this! Who knows how much worse that will make it!
::Goes to argue, but realizes she's right and lowers it::
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Post by Oliver on Mar 20, 2009 21:48:56 GMT -5
Oliver looks back to the overloading Gwen, staring at her in a strange sense of awe. He then looks up to Lillith as they cross the Tyhpons giant span. "Tis, ain't gonna end we'l, ain't it?"
As they get closer to the Hijrah, Rafee calls out to them to move in quickly. Calling with with a wave of his arm.
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Post by Iole on Mar 20, 2009 22:25:19 GMT -5
::Lillith just tucks Oliver closer to her chest as if to shield him from the blast before it comes, and races to the top behind the others while Kenny still struggles to keep Iole in his arms. The girl squirms and struggles, turning her head to look over Kenny's shoulder where Rena just stands and smiles, giving her a small wave::
Rena! Rena don't! Come with us please!
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Post by Lillith on Mar 20, 2009 22:26:51 GMT -5
::Lillith and Kenny, still holding the two children are the last to board the Hijrah::
Vincent, I think we should get going!
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Post by Vincent on Mar 20, 2009 22:40:11 GMT -5
Rafee comes over the intercom. "Capt'in, all aboard, Lillith saying we got to move." "Understood."
He taps Tresk on the shoulder. "Get us away and then engage after-burn, I'll be down to meet the guests."
((Let's assume we're all on board, shall we?))
Vincent enters into the cargo bay were they have received their guests and greets them. "Well, what a sorry lot we have here. Everyone alright?" He approaches Dante. "Glad you made it..." He looks at him puzzled for a moment. "Did something with your eyes have you? Interesting look."
"Capt'in, cargo bay door secured and sealed." Rafee states. Vincent nods. "Alright, everyone! Brace yourselves, we'll be hitting the afterburners any moment. Going to feel a strong jolt."
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Post by Kenny on Mar 20, 2009 22:57:05 GMT -5
:As Kenny held Iole close he looked at Lillith who was holding Oliver and gave a small smile:
"Brace yourself looks like were about to go top speed"
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Post by Guinevere on Mar 20, 2009 23:07:38 GMT -5
::Rena watches as the Hijrah starts to pull away from the Variola, which at this point is threatening to crash and sink into the ocean if Gwen's self-destruction doesn't blast it into a thousand tiny pieces first. Rena waves one final time to Iole and Kenny who she can still see as the gangplank begins to close. Then her mouth sets in a hard line and her strange forked tongue flicks in and out of it. She turns to face Gwen who continues glowing brighter and brigher. Rena extends her hands towards her and focuses her power, hoping to bring Gwen out of her madness the same way Iole had cured hers. Almost immedieately, Gwen's glow dims and she starts to sink back down::
Gwen: STOP! STOP IT!!!!
::The pale witch screams as Rena's power forces a painful memory to the front of her mind::
::A little girl with long sandy blond hair and shining hazel eyes leads a dark haired scruffy little boy by the hand to an old abandoned playground. The forgotten swings creak eerily on their rusty chains as the breeze pushes them::
Young Gwen: Kome on Lance. Don't be such a skaredy kat. This is the perfekt place to praktice our powers.
Lance: But won't your parents be worried?
Gwen: Please. Father's too busy with his friend Mr. Krowlith, and Mother lets me do whatever I want. Now it's time to see once and for all who's the strongest; my sorceress power, or your summons.
Lance: But I can only summon Ifrit. And not even for very long.
Gwen: Chokobo.
Lance: I am not!
Gwen: Then prove it.
::The playground lights up with Ifrit's flames as young Lance calls him onto the field. Gwen squints against it and reaches out for the summon, placing her hand on its arm. The heat doesn't bother her because she's already started absorbing its energy. The summon fails to pull its arm free and Gwen smiles as the mock battle is already tilting in her favor. She doesn't let up as the summon falls to its knees, but her grin cracks as Lance wheezes out a plea::
Lance: Gwen stop. Please let go.
::Lance is weakening just as his summon is, and Gwen starts to panic::
I... I kan't! Lance kall him off! I kan't let go!
::Ifrit roars before his being fades from the physical plain, but Gwen's hands are still glowing red from his stolen fire::
I kan't turn it off! I kan't... Lance run! Get up and run!
::The entire playground suddenly goes ablaze with crimson flames, and when they clear, Gwen stands alone in what is left of the playground, a twisted metal frame that used to be the swingset, and a see-saw cracked in half. Gwen kneels by the black scorchmark on the pavenment where Lance just was, unable to believe that the boy she had been teasing just a few short seconds ago was no longer here, would never laugh with her again, never help her up when she fell and skinned her knee, and would never try and hold her back whenever she was about to do something foolish that would surely get her into trouble. Through the barrage of grief and unbelief, she sees her hand as it strokes the blackened stone. Her skin has turned as white as bone::
STOP IT!!!!
:: Rena holds the image steady as Gwen stops glowing and sinks back down to the top of the Variola. Gwen sreams, holding her hands to the side of her head, trying to shake the image out. Then, as if respond to its mistress' distress, a glint of metal flies through the night sky, appearing out of nowhere and flying unhindered to its mark. Loci's jitte strikes Rena in the stomach, seconds before she falls flat on her back. And just when she hits, Typhon roars a deep sorrowful moan before he lets go of the Hijrah and falls into the sea with a splash that echoes in the night::
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Post by Iole on Mar 20, 2009 23:15:28 GMT -5
RENA!!!
::The Hijrah's gangplank doesn't close fast enough to shield Iole's sight from the Variola as Rena falls. She leaps out of Kenny's grip and out of the airship, sprouting wings and changing shape into the white dragon. The dragon swoops down onto the burning airship and scoops the dying woman up gently in her talons. She soars back into the Hijrah just as its thrusters blast it to full speed. Iole returns to her girl form as she and Rena tumble into the ship. The jitte falls from Rena's stomach, letting her wound bleed freely as it slides along the floor of the ship, leaving a scarlet trail in its wake. She crawls to Rena and holds her head in her lap, trying to get through to her::
Rena... Rena wake up... Rena?
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Post by Kenny on Mar 20, 2009 23:22:54 GMT -5
:Kenny looks on as Iole holds on to Rena who was struck down with a Jitte as he head towards to his sister to see the damage and slowly shook his head when he saw the wound:
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Post by Iole on Mar 20, 2009 23:27:52 GMT -5
::Iole's breathing becomes shallow, coming out in slow shuddering gasps between her words::
Eva... Eva she needs healing... or ... a phoenix down or something, just someone help me stop the bleeding.
::But anyone looking at Rena can tell it's already too late. No one can bring back the dead::
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Post by Vincent on Mar 20, 2009 23:30:05 GMT -5
((This is done by request of Dante))
The ship jerks hard, forcing those standing to stumble about, and in a most strange display Dante, unable to catch himself, strikes the ground hard, smacking into a crate. Instead of just merely hitting the crate, Dante explodes into a cloud of gil, 1000 gil to be exact, leaving not a trace say for only gil.
Vincent rushes to the spot, while Rafee helps Iole with Rena.
"What in all the bloody hells is this!?" Vincent turns to the bulkhead and rushes for the intercom. "Nahla, we got wounded and... I'm not even sure what, get down here!" He returns to the spot where Dante had fallen and inspects the clothes and gil. "This makes no sense."
Rafee meanwhile, checks Rena's vital signs. "Ain't looking too good capt'in."
Oliver looks up from Lillith's grip, first to Vincent and Dante. "I knew it, I did! He didn't sme'l right, differe't! Sumtin cha'ged befor Gwen attacked, it did! Thout it was ta fire but no!" He then looks to Iole. "She... she gonna be a'right?"
Just then, a large explosion sounds in the distance and the Hijrah is thrown forward from a powerful force. Alarms blare, lights flicker and cargo shifts till it subsides.
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