Scene #4683: Rituals and Demons

Owner	Pose
Argast Wyrdseeker	The time was nigh. The sacrifices gathered, wards set and alter erected. It seemed that even the sky sensed the impending evil to be unleashed and was filled with black clouds and the odd lightning bolt. The warband of Argasts surrounded the area, watching closely. They knew it was the time for their lords ascention. He stood near the alter, back to the world behind him. "Soon.....Very soon, I promise you. All will feel the wrath of the gods of chaos...but not just for myself, but for my dark brother." He says From their previous battle, Ixqor's body would be placed on what seemed like a throne, with warriors of undivided chaos around him. "My brother in darkness suffered much to grant me this chance. It is only fair that he be here, if only in body, to bear witness. He and his deamon." Argasts says, eyes closed. As if on cue, a crash of thunder echoes across the sky and lightning illuminates the land. Argast then places a hand down onto the alter, and whips open a tome filled with dark runes. He then began to chant in a language unknown to any mortal tongue. The ritual of ascention was beginning.
Rose Quartz	"Well that can't be good," Rose mutters as she taps the radio. "Lapis!" she calls out. "I think we've got our lead!" she cries. Several people of Beach City had been kidnapped in the last few days, leaving poor Steven quite distraught and inconsolable. "I'm going to suit up and head out. If you could, do you think you could help? It would mean so much to Steven," she says quietly, giving Lapis one of those puppy-dog looks that Steven always does so well. The effect isn't even ruined by the sudden appearance of her armor and light cannons!
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli just stared at Rose. She blinked a few times. "Okay," she finally said flatly. Ugh, it wasn't like she cared. Sure, Steven cared. And she cared about Steven. But that was where her caring ended. If these people couldn't avoid being captured, she wasn't going to get captured for their sake. But, Steven cared. And Rose was there. She was sure Rose could handle it. So she just, with the tiniest modicum of effort. Followed the other gem.
Kirito	A black figure bursts free of the nearest warp gate, angled for the heavens. Kirito gains altitude at a stunning rate, propelled by thrumming fairy wings. The sound of wind instruments and glittering light dust both come from those wings, but a tiny fairy he is not. Kirito is a sharp-eared young man wearing thick black clothes, all of which flap and billow dramatically in the winds he pushes through. Two swords are sheathed across his back, and he moves with the kind of determination and confidence that only an accomplished warrior could boast. He's a fairy, alright. One hell of a badass fairy. But for now, he tries to scout the area from above...
Ixqor Nathrach	Upon the makeshift throne, a mangled looking corpse was placed. All but a torso, a head, and a right arm remained. The legs and left arm had been removed, seemingly dissapearing from reality based on the cleanness of the wounds that had been made. The body was still armored in what used to be a deep teal and green, now, slagged and twisted. The head of teh body remained, a blackened visage of what used to be the face of the alpha legion sorcerer. His eyes remained closed, but his several hearts still beat within his chest, defying death itself. He had not endured a century of corruptionn and war to have died in Bevelle. The God's would not take him yet, and so he would please them once more on this day. He knew nothing of it, for he had not yet awakened since taking the initial hit from Bahamuts Mega Flare, but Jomungandr, the daemon residing in his sword, had plans of it's own. The terrible blade was locked in Ixqors remaining right hand, as if rigor mortis had set in to prevent any other from touching it. It was, and is, Ixqor's very dty to guard the blade, and find it's brother and sisters out in the multiverse, for a purpose even he did not fully understand yet. Seemingly just an ornately jagged and gilded blade, Jomungandr waited patiently for the elites to arrive, so that it may begin its ploy to ressurect it's true host. All else was secondary to the creature. It caught site of the black clothed figure and brooded, still appearing as a blade of metal. More would need to come. Neither ritual could go on without sufficient life to feed on.
Razel	Razel has kept his minions away from the summoning circle. He knows what's going on here, as he spoke to Argast about this, and offered his services. Currently he's nowhere to be seen, but there are several people in black and red, standing well outside the circle. Their robes cover most of their bodies, but the hoods of the robes display a pair of pointed, triangular tips. Like cats' ears. And tails of various colors stick out the back in their proper places on the robed figures, twitching with anticipation. But the sense of rage is there. Fire, rage, wrath-- those who can sense magic may pick up a powerful source of it too. Those robed cat-people are not alone. '''Something''' is there, even if it's not immediately apparent who, what, or where.
Steven Universe	Back at Beach City with Rose and Lapis, Steven frets nervously as the other Gems prepare. Connie hasn't been answering her phone, and with the disappearances it seems all too likely she is one of the Missing. For reasons he is not prepared to really examine yet, that is one of the most terrifying things he can remember ever feeling. "Are we going?" His question doesn't leave room for the possibility he might not be joining them, only whether or not the others are prepared to leave.
Rose Quartz	"Of course we are, sweetness." she says, hugging him. She gives a loud, piercing whistle, and Lion comes running up, mane bristling as he senses Steven and Rose's aggitation. "Steven, you sit in front, Lapis will sit behind you, and I'll sit behind Lapis." she says. "Lion, we're going into a really tough fight," she says to the beast. "It would be good if you could help us rescue everyone." she murmurs, rubbing his ears. Once they're mounted, she'll let Steven give the signal to go, squeezing Lapis against her a little.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli got into position, grumbling darkly. She didn't say anything, though. Instead she wrapped her arms tightly around Steven. "I'll keep you safe," she whispered softly to the small boy. And she would. Let lightning and fire and brimstone rain down on them. She'd grab Steven and fly away. What? Keeping him safe didn't mean she'd FIGHT. What were you, mad?
Yuna Kagurazaka	Rule of thumb: When you're conducting a big ritual of dark and evil (or chaotic) magic, you REALLY should make sure your radio's off if you don't want heroes to show up and interrupt it. The sound of Tzeench's name being invoked was plenty to drag Yuna out of her sullen mood, even in the jungle of Ruliezes where she'd been talking to Elner and Queen Ryudia about her previous mission - the hostage rescue which was so roundly and heavily criticized by a know-it-all Lunar. Sure, Yuna could have done better; similarly, it's true that luck played heavily in the heroes' favor that the hostage-takers knew that a dead hostage loses all possible value and that they weren't twitchy enough to hurt the girl during the face-off. And Yuna knows those things - if she hadn't already known them, Elner and Ryudia between them would have covered things thoroughly by this point. Not that Yuna's thinking about lessons right now; instead, she emerges from a warpgate near the magic circle in Powered Form, homing in on the magic circle at full throttle, hoverthrusters keeping her feet up off the ground and propelling her forwards at dangerously high speed. Elner, Marina, and Erina are all following fairly close behind, Elner's sensors working to try and sift out whatever data can be acquired despite the 'static' of chaos magic in the air. If Yuna hesitates, innocents die and a force of evil grows even stronger. That's all she really needs to know. And the circle - well, rituals usually need an empowered zone to conduct them in, especially this kind of magic. That must be what this circle is for. She doesn't know where the sacrificial victims are, though, and until she does, she doesn't dare to open fire. "Kirito," she radios, "can you see where they're keeping the sacrifices? I want a clear shot at the guy running the ritual ... if we can break his focus, the magic might backlash and finish him off for us." On that note, Elner pulls away from Yuna to head up into the sky as well. Now Yuna potentially has two airborne source of information, but Kirito's already up there and can presumably answer faster.
Steven Universe	"Let's go, Lion." That bitterness that recently has been creeping into the very furthest parts of his mind thanks to Ophelia's meddling was mostly abated by Rose's words and the recent kissing spree among the Gems, but now it is washed away by pure need to protect. This is the feeling that allows him to summon his shield, and it's as strong as it has ever been. He offers Lapis and Rose a hopeful but frightened smile as Lion roars open a portal and charges through into a place dark and unsettling...
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone knew something foul was a foot here. Kotone had no love for Chaos at all and it being up to anything was noty good thing. She's taken note of others arriving. Steven and several of the gems had arrived and so har Kirito and Yuna. She took a deep breath cloaked and startd to stalk in trying to not think too hard about things here, which would be the worst thing she could /do/.
Argast Wyrdseeker	Argast turns and watches all of the heroes arrive. He was wordless, but under his helmet a horrific grin was forming. "Soon, Tzeench.....very soon. They just need to get closer..." He says to himself. His warriors all knew the plan and carefully began to close towards their master. He looked to the body of his fellow sorceror and nodded. "If only you could see this moment, Alpharius. To watch as these heroes fail to stop me..." He says. But quickly, he changes gears. "I see you have all come to try to stop me. Chaos does like an audiance...If you want the hostages, you have to get through me and my warband." He says, standing in the direct path of the circle.
Razel	And the cat-people move as well. As Argast moves to block the circle, they move to his sides, as if to support him and protect his flank. They don't look like much, just cat-people in black robes with swords and daggers. Their tails lash angrily as they wait for the heroes to intercept.
Ixqor Nathrach	The hostages were all held together, split in half side by side Argast. One half to the left, the other to the right. Among the left group were the beach city captives and a few soldiers of Bevelle, while teh right was entirely compromise of bevelliens, all tied up, gagged, and kneeling. Some were knocked unconscious due to insubordination and previous attempts to escape, while many looked to the coming heroes with mixed expressions. Some of the soldiers were terrified, they shook their heads and wrestled to get the gags from their mouths removed, only to be controlled by the slave drivers. The rest went wide eyed and almost cheered, if it weren't for the bindings. THey, like the heroes, were unaware of the trap that was laid for them. Jomungandr was delighted, though he remained hidden for now. FIrst the heroes would have to be lured in, and the battle would commence. Otherwise it was very possible that the daemon could be banished, or damaged terribly, and failure here meant the death of it's host, and that was non negotiable. Jomugandr would revive it's 'master'. One way or another. To the heroes, the throne with Ixqors body seemed to just be a strnage, eldritch looking shrine to a fallen warrior, with the blade being held at it's side, shinning almost blindingly in the sunlight.
Rose Quartz	A set of vines wind up and around Rose's body, holding her light cannons in place. Looking to Yuna and Kirito and the others, she steels herself for the battle to come. "Steven, be careful. This won't be like any of the gems you've had to fight before." she says. Sending a pulse through the ground, she feels the cry of the earth, the corruption and agony like a virus spread through the ground. "Lapis... If there's any water nearby, please, we need your help with this." Tears stream from her eyes as she works herself into a rage, a flickering pink aura surrounding her. Gathering herself... She looks about to charge! Which is when another pulse hits the plants in the area. The cacti rip themselves from the soil, swelling with patriotic mucus as they charge towards the cat-people, thorns glinting in the dim light. Making sure to avoid hitting any of her allies that charge forward, she opens up with a light-cannon barrage, kicking up dust and hopefully doing some damage before everyone gets into attacking-range.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli stared at her. "I don't want to... fine," she muttered. She, grudgingly, let steven go. "Don't do anything dangerous. Stay near Rose, she'll keep you safe." She then jumped off diamond. Wings formed on her back and she took off, swirling around. Well that was just mean, the heroes finally arrive and she just... leaves? How rude! she heads right towards the nearby well... Eh, what's the worst she could do?
Yuna Kagurazaka	Yuna nods to Rose (a familiar face), Lapis and Steven (unfamiliar faces) - and then Lapis leaves. Seemingly. Well, if she chickened out or if she's just making some kind of preparations, either way, there's not much Yuna can do; she turns her attention back to Argast and his minions. "It's going to take more than a herd of cats to keep us from rescuing the hostages and stopping your ritual!" she calls out - and with that, Yuna pours on the speed again. "SHUGOSEIHEKI!!" she calls out, materializing her kite shield; rather than bringing a weapon to bear or opening fire with Powered Form's beam cannons, it seems like Yuna is out to just bulldoze clear through the feline-looking cultists, and potentially to go OVER Argast himself if she can get to him ...
Steven Universe	"Let them go, you big jerk!" Steven is just full of determination, with a heavy sprinkling of worry. He stands up in front of Rose as Lapis takes flight, peering into the hostage groups, checking to make sure no one's... hurt... He starts advancing cautiously, slow steps, shield already at the ready and brows furrowed. Serious Steven never looked quite so serious! "Don't make us fight you, adorable cat-people, we won't lose!"
Kirito	After Kirito comes swooping down and lands atop of the hostage cages with a thunderous noise that shakes the sturdy construction. He makes a bit of a show of rising up to his full height and drawing both his weapons! He wants eyes on him, to give the others approaching some cover and distraction. "So. You guys suck at presentation. I know game designers who do 'spooky, horrifying ritual better.'" The Black Swordsman declares flippantly, doing his best to hide the fact that just seeing this has him wanting to vomit in disgust. Yeah, he's all about provoking and unnerving those conducting it, and he's picked what he hopes is the best perch in the house - because he's standing ON TOP of the hostages. Not a place you want to start shooting towards... he'd hope. Hostages dead before the ritual goes off means hostages you can't sacrifice!
Kotone Yamakawa	Koone moved along using any cati or trees large enough fo cover. Though they showed sings of being warped by Chaos already. This place might need to burned to even have a hope of purging what's been done here. The captive were however formost on her mind she commed to Slipbolt back on the Bluenose to be ready for beam outs when she could get close enough. She didn't dare try it blind with chaos about. She'd need something that could keep the signal stable or she'd not risk it but she'd have to get in close. She also tried to not look at Ixor or the other Chaos followers. She made note that Steven is there she keeps tabs on him. Then kirito goes on in like a certain infamous Paladin of yor, while Kotone is going to try to sneak to the hostages.
Argast Wyrdseeker	Argast is struck by the cannon blasts from rose, but smirks. As Yuna comes charging for the sorceror, she and all the heroes would hear a humming noise. "You FOOLS! Did you think I was not prepared for this?! Why would I announce my intentions..." He says. With a slam of his staff into the ground, the circle would reveal itself, and it was large enough to encompass everyone. "When my goal isn't simply power? No, no, no.....nothing so pedestrian. I seek to call forth a deamon, and become one with it! ALL OF YOU ARE THE FUEL FOR MY ASCENTION!!!!! YOU ALL WALKED RIGHT INTO MY TRAP!" He screams. Any heroes within the boundries of the circle would feel their energies begin to be tapped into, and pried from them. Argast would quickly turn and march for the alter, going as far as to remove his helmet. He was...fairly plain underneath, save for the dark smirk (akin to the image of the song his player linked) "Warband....crush them. My time is now." He says, chanting again. Above, eldritch lighting crackled and slowly began to form into the beginnings of a portal. Warriors near the hostages look up towards Kirito and balk at the child daring the fight warriors of norsca. "Make it easy and join them, boy! Maybe our lord will grant you a swict death!"
Ixqor Nathrach	The time was now. The blade seemingly dissapeared, all that was left held in the 'corpses' hand was a hilt. AMong the grass it went, appearing like a toxic, bright green snake, skirting from patch to patch of teh corrupted soil. If it were to be successful this day, it would need to feed, and the cultists who already began to charge forward and attack the various heroes would be as fair as any game. For now it woudl wait. The blood would start to fly any moment. The norscan warriors howled to the sky, like animals they began to charge, slamming their weapons against their shields, and crying out for blood. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! DEATH TO ALL WHO WOULD OPPOSE CHAOS!" Several rushed towards Rose and Steven, brandishing blood red armor and axes. They frothed at the mouth, appearing to have been consumed by anger and hatred. "SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" One shouted towards the two, jumping into the air and trying to slam his great axe down upon either of them. The rest moved into strike. All of the other heroes would be meeting similar responses from warriors in red, green, blue, and pink, all looking to please Argast and their gods.
Yuna Kagurazaka	The circle powers up - and Yuna lets out a brief shriek, her exo-suited form spasming as green light ripples over her armor. Those who've seen Yuna's transform into one of her alternate armors before would likely recognize the 'grid' of light - it's the same wireframe that appears between the initial interfacing and the physical materialization/assembly of the armor. And then Yuna collapses, a stuttering flare of light engulfing her form in the split second before she hits the ground - along with the pieces of her Powered Form armor, forcibly disconnected. "Matrix Canceller ... ?" Yuna wonders out loud, shaking her head to clear it. Then she cries out, "Jiina!!" "It's - I'll be okay," the android replies, her form managing to wrangle itself back together and into humanoid configuration. "Guess we can't help ... be careful!" Yuna quickly helps Jiina back to her feet, then scoops up Shugoseiheki, fitting her left arm through the kite shield's strap and gripping the handle. A pistol materializes in her free hand, and she opens fire, launching repeated blasts of concussive, holy-laced light at whatever enemies stand in her way. The Light Suit shimmers erratically under the circle's effect, flaring brighter when a hit lands on her body, but she protects herself with the shield as best she can. If an enemy gets into melee range, Yuna settles for either trying to knock them off their feet with her shield, or shooting them at close range.
Razel	The cat-people charge at Rose's cactus-people! Well, those with longer weapons do. They're smart enough not to just fling themselves at things that are pointy. As such, the sword-wielding cats fighting the catcus-people will be dodging and slashing. Though of course they're going to get hit. But ideally they'll be trying not to. They have the proportionate strength and speed of a cat, though... so they'll be hard to hit. Yuna bowls over the cat-people who aren't attacking the cactus-people. And some of them... get knocked into the circle...
Kirito	What a HUGE magical circle! Kirito wasn't expecting it to encompass THAT MUCH TERRITORY! But he's brought to his knees with a sudden feeling of weakness, and what's more... his HP and MP meters begin slowly depleting on his HUD vision! What the...?! "... Great, we're on a time limit..." How long does he have? Kirito's eyes rapidly flick over the movement. Not long. A minute, two? Assuming he doesn't take much more damage. But how long do the hostages have? They're in the field too! The Spriggan grits his teeth. His wings reappear. But with the magic drain effect, they're wilted and unresponsive. No magic sparkles from them. Kirito scowls even MORE fiercely. But he stands straight again and brandishes blades, gesturing Argast's way fiercely with them! "Trust me, you're in for a bad time today!!" With desperation boiling up he vaults from the cages by gathering all his strength and goes speeding across the grounds... DRAGGING HIS SWORDS THROUGH THE GROUND BEHIND HIM! ... The ground, and thus the magic circle. He highly doubts that it'll be enough to interfere with the ritual, but anything's worth trying! Which is why he's on a beelie for the altar, speeding in an erratic zigzaggy course to discourage accurate shots. He fully intends to close in and start hacking through the guarding soldiers!
Rose Quartz	Rose is a ferocious warrior, clad in armor, and girt with sword and shield. The weapons is as long as most men are tall, and fits her great fist like it was made for it. Furious tears stream down her face as she walks calmly into battle. "Twenty Thousand years ago, I swore an oath to never take a life. Since then, to protect my friends... To protect my world. I've had to break that oath. Every time, I swore it would never happen again!" she says, putting a hand on Steven's shoulder. "Steven, go and try to help the hostages." she murmurs. Then she darts forward, thousands upon thousands of years of being a warrior... She changes her sword for an axe, which is even larger than she is. "WHY? Every time! Every time, I'm forced to fight and kill! Where does it end?" she yells as she runs straight into the middle of the berzerkers. Her light cannons, controlled by the vines and her monstrous will, lash out. "I don't want to do this! Please don't make me hurt you!" she says. Rose's strength is inhuman, and her axe cuts the air like a hot knife. Haft and blade alike are her weapons, knocking aside defenses and biting deep into flesh. Her cactus troops are doing their thing as well, keeping the cat-people busy with thorny barrages and great big hugs.
Steven Universe	Steven nods to his mother, turning to try and help the hostages and is overrun within 10 of his little steps. As the cat-warriors descend on him in fury and chaos, any urge to pet them flees Steven's mind. And that draining effect nibbles at his courage and determination. A small horde of them swarm him immediately, buring his small form under bodies, armor and weapons. It looks for a moment as if he came to this fight woefully unprepared and paid the price... But this is Steven Universe. Almost dying repeatedly is a way of life for him! A pink light builds within the pile, then with a sound like the ringing of an oversized gong, the cat-warriors are flung off of him, several feet in every direction. Wow, that shield got big suddenly! And just as suddenly it shrinks to fit his arm again, perhaps just a bit smaller, and he dashes headlong through the scattered warriors toward the hostages from Beach City. In all the noise, it would be easy to imagine a small voice desperately calling out, "Connie...?"
Argast Wyrdseeker	Argast was, at this point, fully committed to chanting the words and extracting out the required energies to fuel the portal's openning. But around him was a bodyguard of chosen warriors of the 4 gods. Blue, red, green, and pink and each wielding either a greataxe or a sword and shield. "Foolish boy....to fight the sheer grace that is my blade..." says the chosen moving to fight Kirito, clearly belonging to Slaneesh. As for yuna, she would find a Khornite wielding a greataxe her enemy. "None may harm Lord Argast! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" He bellows out in challenge. Above them, the portal was starting to grow larger, and it seemd like a talon covered hand was trying to reach out, and a HORRIFIC screech echoed out.
Kotone Yamakawa	The ritual is coming making for the hostages She's trying to get close and so far she's not been spotted or so she thinks she's going to tyr to get to them. She knows she can't play off the distraction that Steven, Rose, Kirito, Lapis and Yuna are unaware they are giving her. She's got to make it count, and she hears Rose's word and wonders how much pain the Gem is going through. she wonders how much of herself dies when she kills something that's not for food or protecting herself? She opens up a channel to Kirito and attemps to get some help she knows Chaos is likely to start killing people one way or another if they do nothing. She's going to turn on the signal booster, she's also going to end up exposing herself doing so but she's going to have to trust in the union. She'll be focusing on getting the youngest hostages out first then focus on everyone else. She prays silently this isn't for nothing but there's nothing else she can do at this point. The moment booster is fully online? The teleports will start and she'll act to intercept anything gets comes in. <<Slipbolt start getting them out of here!>> Thus the beamouts will start, but how many can she get out in time?
Ixqor Nathrach	The battle had fully commenced, and the Gods of Chaos laughed in unison as they watched the scene unfold. The sky cracked with more lightning, and the clouds swirled around the circle. Back on the ground, Rose had taken to the berzerkers with a greataxe. Even though they were made killers, they had some respect for this usurper, only enough to relish in killing her though. The leaping berzerker was then cut by the stomach, nearly being taken in half, the warrior gargled out as blood spurt from his mouth and he fell to the ground, dead upon impact. Another strike came a berzerkers way and cut him across the chest, sending him stumbling back. A second strike knocked his head clean off. The remaining four began to reach Rose then, one aiming to sweep at her legs and another looking tostrike at her chest with both axes barred. The catlike assasins screamed and yelled as tehy were flung off, several being knocked unconscious upon landing away from the initial blast from Stevens shield. Lucky for him, his strangeness among the crowd of warriors left some confused as to why a shiel dbearing child was running amuck! He nearlyr reached the cages when he heared banging against the bars. Connie was indeed among the leftside captives and had spotted steven among the runnings horde. She let out a muffled yell before a warrior clad in blue stepped between the two. He wielded a staff and held out his hand, terrible magics forming in it. He fired off several bolts of fire and chaos magics towards the child, assuming steven to be eays prey. "A waste of my efforts you are boy!" The sorcerer mocked steven. To some of the warriors surprise though, both cages began to thin in number of captives... Some were being beemed up in secret! Kotone had done well to try and save the captives stealthily, but she was found out. Having already saved ten of the thirty prisoners, two pink clad warriors pointed her out and began running towards her, one wielding two swords, and the other using a bow to fire out trhee or so arrows towards her. "Surrender to slaanesh wench! Suffer and die!" All the while Jomungandr moved to the fallen corpses, and sucked them dry, perhaps noticeable by some of the elites had they not been to caught up in battle. More noticeably, the corpse n th thropne would begin to glow, subtly, a green and purple mix. Something was happenening to it. Unbeknownst to the heroes, Jomungandr was feeding from the bodies, and transferring the life force to it's host, who's soul was bound to him, so that his body may be reborn. Once he finished with the two khornates, he moved to the cages. The prisoners were just as useful as any freshly dead soldier. Slowly but surely, the prisoners would start to be drained.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli arrives! In fact, it would look like a great big cloud was flying towards them. It was Lapis! she'd found some water! Yay! She flew through the air, the water connected to her arm as if it was connected. She then hummed and looked down. She didn't really know who was... what. She knew Steven, but that was really it. Oh, and the hostages. They seemed to be important. Oh, wait, someone was attacking steven. Designated target, yay! She lifted her hand and a good chunk of the water turn to ice, forming a hovering ice berg. She then sent it crashing down at the guy before looking around. She didn't know who else was good, though. Finally she gave a shrug. She just tossed the entirety of the remaining well's water supply down on EVERYTHING(primarily the ones chanting, though), the water coursing all across the seal, everywhere but at Steven and the hostages. Rose was a big girl. She could take it. She then lowered herself down, landing behind Steven. The puddles of the water she had so wantonly tossed aside began to rise up, gathering in her hand before forming shards of ice. "I... don't care about you," she said softly. "But if you try to lay one useless hand on Steven, I will shatter you." It was hard to tell if that threat extended just to the cat people, or everyone there. Granted, there was the giant monster thing. Some kind of fusion? She sent a few shards of ice at it. A paltry attack, really. Her main focus was on Steven. But hey. At least she served as a proper distraction. Probably.
Rose Quartz	Rose seems to think a little as she dips and dodges amongst the chaos troops. With a sigh, she rolls out from under a clumsy axe swing. She rushes closer, pushing herself so that she doesn't seem to weaken when she enters the circle. "None of you... None of you are BLORP BLORGL BLUB BLUB BLUB!" she shouts as Lapis's huge lake's worth of water comes crashing down on them. So she's left standing there as the water comes down, shouting defiantly with huge bubbles coming out of her mouth. There's a glow next to her as she takes out... A giant penny. It shakes the ground as it thuds, even cushioned by the water. Heaving it up with both hands, she flings it up at the hand. It strikes, pushing it back just enough to plug the hole. It will only last for a moment, but moments are all they need! "None of you! None of you are worthy to fight me!" she shouts at them. She's done her research, and she sneers down at the chaos troops. "None of you could lay a scratch on me, no matter how hard you tried! You're all as weak as you were before you submitted to the demons! Your hate, your strength, your desire, they're not nearly strong enough! Wait another fifty thousand years before you challenge me!" she laughs. She keeps taunting them viciously, trying to keep their attention and fury focused on her as she alights atop the water.
Yuna Kagurazaka	Yuna just gives the Khornite a withering look as he charges at her, then drops to one knee, digging her shield's lower corner into the ground to help brace it, and herself. "I'm not out to harm Argast, I'm out to stop him ... and bleeding for Chaos is against my religion!" the petite blonde shouts back as if rebutting the challenge. She's not lying, either - although which religion she means might be up for debate, sometime when she's not fighting. She does not let the Khornite warrior get into swinging range, either, instead raising her pistol - aiming around the side of her kite shield - and firing a focused blast up at his face. It's very deliberately non-lethal - if Khorne gets stronger from blood being spilled Yuna just won't spill blood, even that of her enemies. The impact will be much like a powerful punch, blunt force rather than burning or piercing - but more than that, Yuna wants to blind the axe-wielder so he can't swing the axe with any accuracy. Ideally, she'd like to bust his weapon as well, but she MIGHT not have time for two shots with the required amount of force.
Steven Universe	Steven goggles for a moment at the big Wizard guy, shouldn't he be wearing a cone-shaped hat and have a big long white beard? Ready to dodge around and reach for Connie, he keeps the shield between himself and that glowing hand... that was just plowed into by a very cold, very large ice cube. That would be Lapis! Given a chance, he tries to leverage the distraction to get hold of Connie's hand, calling out behind him, "Lion, help!" Until now, Lion has been padding through the battlefield, picking things up with his teeth and roaring them out of the scene... weapons of fallen enemies? As Steven tries to connect and fuse, Lion perks up at the cry and Roars. A portal opens before him and he ducks into it, to Steven's side! Even Steven is a little surprised at the obedience from the unpredictable cat!
Razel	And there is the flare. As the battle grows to a fever-pitch, the rage of the Elites begins to grow. And a sigil appears in the sky, spines and curving horns, blazing with fire behind it. And he appears, the Devil of Wrath, passing through the sigil in the sky. There is no readable expression on his face for a moment, but then a small smile curves at the corner of his mouth. There is, however, work to be done. He's not about to land, though-- while he managed to miss getting flooded by Lapis's water toss, there's still water everywhere. He's fire-aligned. And... a penny? Hopefully it's made of copper. Because if it is, it should melt easily enough. He concentrates on the area around that penny, and tries to cause an explosion large enough to affect it. Of course, if it melts, it's going to shower everything under it with molten copper...
Kirito	Kirito's charging at the altar with high speed, determination blazing in his eyes. With lives on the line his speed does seem to have increased a notch or two over his usual performance in Alfheim Online! That, and his eyes have narrowed fiercely. There's no trace of his usual mischief and easygoing attitude towards things here. The Black Swordsman's determined to break through and save these people, even if... Even if it means killing that Chosen who stands in his way, sword ready! "Heh." Only one. What's more... What's more, Kirito's left sword, one made of magical obsidian, erupts with orange-red flame energy! The light's a bit dimmer than it would be normally, courtesy of the magic drain field, but unbearably hot waves of heat roll from it! "Down with you!!" He might as well be calling the chosen trash, though who knows if that's really the reality. Provoking his foes to anger is all he can really do to get an edge right now. Kirito comes barreling in like a freight train, the blade moving like it's rocket propelled and carving a vicious path. Parrying it will require truly astounding strength and footing, for the Sword Skill he's just activated is a brutal five strike technique that ends with a blazing explosion!
Argast Wyrdseeker	The slaneeshi warrior moved to bring his shield up to block, but found himself and his body torn apart. "Ahh...How could you?! My perfect form..." He whimpers as he dies. But in his place comes a pair of nugle and khorne champions. "HELLO my friend! I'm so happy to see you. Let me give you a hug!" Shouts the nurgling, while the khornite is currently a frothing mess, greataxe slamming down. Yuna's warrior reels back, wincing as his eyes begin to be blinded. "Where are you, Brightwitch?! I'll rip your heart out and eat it!" He screams, swinging wildly. Argast looks up, elation on his face. "YES!!!!!Lord Maleo! Great Deamon! I call you forth and offer the souls of these unbelievers and these heroes if you will become one with me!" He cries up to the talon. Next emerges the horrific visage of the vulture lord, it's beaked face tilting at Argasts offer...pondering it.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone knows they need more time and this is going to lead to her having a /very/ bad time as the warriors come. "Surrender to Slaanesh and what become a cultists lovd doll? Hell no!" Is her reply she can't really fight back as she's got to keep the signal going and one of the arrows catch her in the stomach. It's painful she's slowly down but she's not bleeding. Well in the normal way. It couldbe worse, it couldbe a hell of a lot worse she thinks about it. There could be no one left ot help hese people but can she hold out longenough playing a game of keep away with the two cultists.
Ixqor Nathrach	More and more of the prisoners were escaping while being beemed up, but at least five by now were sucked clean, left to be whithered husks of taught flesh and broken bone. The other prisoners tried to scream as the serpent daemon fed on their captives, but suddenly it let out a terrible screech and vanished. It's hunger had been sated, and the supposed corpse on the throne began to glow, almost blindingly. Some warriors paused to look up at the spectacle of both the beaked daemon and the glowing corpse. In a flash of light, the whithered remains of what Ixqor used to be were no more. Something else had replaced it. The slagged armor was gone, and the semblance of humanity had faded. His limbs had returned, but in a fashion he'd hardly expect. Now, thrust into the waking world, Ixqor went wide eyed. He was surpised to be alive, but when he looked down upon his hands and body, he was even further surpised. Scales replaced his skin, and his vision seemed to be more apt to what he thought a predator would see. The psychic prowess he commanded still lied within his mind, but his body was more corrupt, beeming with chaotic energies. His head took on a much different shape as well, his neck leaning out, and his entire facial structure forming something similar to the snake like daemon that was his blade. He had been not only saved, but elevated by Jomungandr, becoming somehing much more than human, much more than a space marine and a sorcerer. He was one with the chaotic energies that lurked in his mind. He had become something more than any man could control. As the magics wore away, he fell to the ground with a thud, the slagged armor cracking and shrugging off of his new body. On his hands and knees, Ixqor breathed heavily, saying nothing before starting to laugh. "I... I yet live! The God's have not forsaken me!" The warriors watching Ixqor were in awe, and inspired by his sudden shift to what some would consider sainthood in regards to the chaos pantheon. They rushed ever more fervently to battle, beginning to swarm over Rose, seeing as she was no joke of a fighter as they suspected by her appearance. Lapis and Steven also began to attract a large amount of attention. The now drenched, and very upset warband brought themselves up from the sggy ground and laughed. "You think a bit of water will stop us!? You're truly laughable!" One warrior called out before several came to attack Lapis in melee. The serpentine sorcerer was also surounded by warriors assisting him to his feet. He towered over them, just as before, but bore a strange hydra like pattern on his chest. 'Fitting', he though. "Oh yes... It is magnificent! COme! Come and celebrate this new birth! Look upon me, -heroes-!" He spat the last word. "And see that even death trembles before me!" He raised his now whole blade to the sky and cackled, hissing like the vile snake he was. Maniaclly he began to recite a terrible spell. One that he had only ever uttered once before. "Oh divine serpent who slew a thousand souls in a single night! I beseech thee! Take mine body! Use mine soul! Consume me on this day, so that mine enemies will perish! Jomungandr! Arise!" Lightning crackled as the warp storm raged about the battle field, conducting upon Ixqors blade asthough the God's heard his prayer and answered. The serpent spirit of Jomungandr rose from the blade like a pillar into the sky, before crashing down over Ixqors body, engulfing it in blackness. The warriors stepped back, unsure of what was to come next. The black visage that engulfed him then burst, as the horror that he now was became manifest. His arms and neck were stretched out, in a welcoming fashion, and from them grew not hands or his head, but three large black serpent that coiled into the air, screeching loudly. Jomungandr had taken control, and it was time to feed. The serpents lashed out at rose, all three striking from the left, right, and above at horrifying speeds, psychic fangs barred to tear through her.
Rose Quartz	Which is why Rose drops out of sight. The circle has weakened her a little... but not enough! The fangs pass through her hair, cutting it short. The beast... THING gets a mouthful of cottoncandy hair, while Rose lands with a short 'do now. She stares up at the thing. It's like... Back then. She can't beat it on her own! She's been in situations like this before, when whole armies of gems fused against her. The fear clenches her heart, but a smile creeps across her face as she throws herself at Lapis. Landing, she hugs the smaller gem tight. "Hey... Are you alright?" she asks, groaning with the effort as she forms her shield, thrusting it out strongly, fending off attacks with such speed that it rings like a church-bell. "Lapis... I know you don't want to. I don't know if you even can. But please, we have to try. A fusion is the only thing we've got that's strong enough to beat him back." she says, creating a bubble-shield wall to hold back the assault for a moment. "Please. If you won't do it for me. Or for everyone else who's fighting so hard. Can you do it for Steven? Will you help me keep my son safe?" she asks, voice throbbing with emotion.
Yuna Kagurazaka	Yuna actually smirks faintly as she sees the Khornite flailing around - and she simply refrains from saying anything. She wants to taunt him, to ridicule his faith in the Chaos deities, but - well, she likes her heart where it is and uneaten, so she doesn't want to help him zero in on her. Also, she has more important fish to fry. Yuna dismisses her shield and her pistol, quickly but quietly circling around the flailing Khornite warrior, and heads towards the altar, and Argast, and the hole in space with the daemon peering quizzically through. The Matrix Divider materializes in Yuna's hands, the barrel/blade of the hybrid weapon starting to glow, then to flare as Yuna channels as much power into it as she can, as quickly as she can. The weapon is starting to actively crackle with power as she takes aim - BVEEEWWW! - and the blast sears past Argast's shoulder as Yuna tries to blast the daemon right in its ugly-as-sin vulture-esque face. And only then does Yuna speak. "You're not making any pacts today, sorceror of Chaos - and I pledge by the Queen of Light that you never will again!!" The Matrix Divider is already building up for Yuna's next attack as she speaks, and as she finishes, Yuna strikes again - a melee swing this time, rather than trying to shoot Argast in the back, or even in the side or front for that matter. And like her shot at the daemon? This time, Yuna ISN'T holding back. She doesn't necessarily want Argast dead in her heart of hearts ... but she DOES want him, if not maimed, then marked with an indelible reminder. While Yuna rarely spends the amounts of energy it takes to hate anyone, she's tangled with the myriad minions of Chaos too often - and seen far too much of the suffering they inflict - to not hate them. Such is the fury of the Savior of Light, and the reminders of what Chaos seeks are literally all around her. The frenzied blood-thirst of a servant of Khorne, the unthinking hedonism of Slaanesh's devotee, the contagious plagues infecting one of Nurgle's servants ... and standing right before Yuna, the very sorceror who invoked Tzeentch as he began his ritual, in a scheme that ensnared not just Yuna but several of her heroic allies. And then Ixqor is transformed by Jormungandr's power. Yuna was so focused on Argast that she didn't even pay attention to a SECOND Chaos sorceror on the field ...
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli shrieked, backing up. She formed water around her, lashing out with little whips and strikes. But lapis wasn't a warrior. She wasn't trained for this. They were coming from all sides and she was being overwhelmed, easily. It was obvious she was not meant for this. And she could see it too. She finally she just... collapsed to her knees and covered her face. IT would be fast, she hoped. It would be... And then she was saved? Rose stood over her. The gem stared up, her eyes wide. For a split second she realized what PEarl saw in the woman. The shield around her. The hand out. The call for... fusion. It made her shudder. She took the hand, but then pulled back. "I... I can't. I can't! Please, R-rose. There are better... better gems. I can't... please... I..." But Steven. He was there, he needed her. He needed them. She had arrived late and she was beginning to feel the drain as well, now. Her hand hovered mere centimeters over Rose's.
Rose Quartz	"Lapis... I don't want to hear you say that. There are no other gems but you that can be you. You're our Lapis Lazuli. You're our only one. Nobody is better at being Lapis than you are." she says. "I can't save him alone."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli moved her hand closer. Just a little closer. Her eyes turned to Steven. "I can't... I can't promise... I can't promise I'll let you go. I can't promise I won't hurt you. I can't... I might... Imight not be able to stop myself. When we... when I..."
Rose Quartz	"And that's okay. I understand." Rose says, wincing as the barrier starts to crack a little. "As long as you stay our Lapis, everything will be okay."
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli put her hand into Rose's. "Okay... But... I'm... scared." She closed her eyes and moved in with the woman, ready to dance and following the other woman's lead.
Steven Universe	Skipping past the iced sorcerer, Steven grabs Connie's hand. She... does not look well, and in fact if not for her extensive training would have been one of the dead before now. But Steven takes her hand, looking worn himself, and kisses it in that gentleman kinda way he's seen people do on TV, offering his own healing power to bolster her flagging energy. And with that, he and Connie shimmer into a shimmer of solid-looking light, melding together until Stevonnie stands inside the cage in Connie's place! Taller, athletic, and stronger together! Lion roars from behind the cage, and takes a bite of the bars. Crunch! Stevonnie collects all of the people in the cage together, bubbles them in one massive pink bubble, and shoves, sending it rolling past Lion out of the cage, fast toward the edge of the circle, and with the force of a... rather large heavy round boulder? She pats Lion as rhythmic words, lyrics, emanates from her delicate lips, leading her into a dance of grace and beauty that even Pearl would approve of, with Lion providing weapons for her use as needed. Nothing short of a real Power can stand in her way. "We can come together We can fight and win the day And it doesn't matter whether They're too strong and we're afraid Because when there's no choice but to win When you're feeling beaten again When the darkness closes in We can come together There's no evil that can fight The Crystal Gems' combined might We come together and... make it right!"
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa is doing what she can, she can't save everyone, but to those she can? It matters right? And to those that ... perished the small comfort is they knew people cared enough to try and come for them. She's got a arrow in her gut still, it's pain is noticable it's bad actually but if she shuts off her pain receptors. She see the chaos warrior is back but now as some kind of demon? Some sort of monster? She doesn't know but she is not going to stand still right now. "All this by those who use you and throw you away after all there's always a replacement? Isn't there..." Kotone is still focusing on the evac but she's in danger of falling from further hits and she's got to keep on her job before more people are devoured.
Rose Quartz	Rose takes Lapis' hand and leads her through the dance. It's a sweet, slow dance, one you might see in a ballroom or during a wedding. Rose is being as gentle as she can, despite the urgency of the situation. Like Garnet always said, the first time is the hardest. Step left. Step right. Back-step and twirl. Dip. Hold. Toss into the air. Catch. Slow twirl... The barrier shatters and the psychic fangs come rushing down on them. The terrible assault is sure to rend their minds! And they are pretty weak from the circle. And that's when their gems glow, their bodies starting to glimmer and shine. Their fused shape wobbles in the light of a first fusion, growing. Changing. It grows up, taller and taller. From the glow comes a woman. But wow, WHAT a woman! Standing taller than she's ever been in a fusion, curly blue hair falling down to her back. A pair of watery wings sproud from her back... In her left hand is a shield of ice and sharp, icy blades, and in her right is a huge thorn-riddled claymore, a jagged tool of cutting destruction. Her four great arms flex as she finally comes into being with a blinding flash of light and a surge of the water around them.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli And all was calm. All was good. Everything was goo-- Then their minds became one. Rose would be hit by all the pain and suffering. Six thousand years of being a prisoner, only to be freed and captured again. And again. And again. All the hatred, the pain, the loss. Losing everything she ever knew, again and again. Her mind reeled. Worse yet, Lapis could feel them starting to meld. A moment later the massive woman screamed. She grabbed her head, shaking it wildly. "NO NO NO NONONONONONONONO!" Inside their mind, Lapis held herself, screaming. Then turned to Rose. "I WON'T! NOT AGAIN!" She was panicking. But rather than breaking the bond, she was working to force it, to maintain it. Chains of water lashed out around the two of them as she tried to drag Rose back underwater. In the real world, she opened her eyes and slowly lifted a hand. Her two empty hands. The water of the area began to swirl around her, lashing out in tidal waves of powerful magic. The large woman, however, turned to the only creature that stood in its way. That could possibly be a threat to such a monster. It charged forward with a scream, slashing the claymore down with a swing that could cleave mountains.
Kirito	Kirito's face transforms into a disgusted grimace at the sight of the Nurgling. he's seen ugly things through the Multiverse and MMORPGs... but that one has to take the foul, seriously unappetizing cake. Although he's just slain a foe - yet more blood on his hands - Kirito's not of the mood to stop, and he's not going to feel ANY remorse for dicing apart Daemons. What's worse, Kirito's body remains frozen after the explosion! It shakes and shudders as he struggles to manuever through Sword Skill stun time... THERE! With a howling screech, purplish-white plasma light flares on his cystalline longsword, opposite the obsidian one he just struck with. "UUUUUOOOOOORAAAAAH!!!" And motion returns to his body just in time. UP and around, his blade moves in an upwards-and-back arc that slams into the axe and forces it slightly to the side. The blade carves into his side, glancing through his opposite arm and leaving a hell of a nasty-looking crimson gash decal... But then Kirito's backflip ends with him driving that blade INTO THE GROUND! Huh? Sizzle. Sizzle--WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!! Electricity POURS OUT every which way in huge arcs, attracted to everything metal with terrifying fury!
Argast Wyrdseeker	Argast looked back and with a sense of elation, cheered for his fallen brother had been reborn as he hoped to be. He finally understood what had happened when the attacked bevelle. But quickly snapping back, he realized that the revival had done nothing but weaken the magic bonds he was using to draw forth Maleo. Not to mention having a sword crash into his arm and knock him off balance. Maleo himself cawwed angrily at Yuna, reaching out to try and swipe at her. But the heroes intervention had in many ways done their job. A panicked caw revealed Maleo frantically pushing the portal open. It knew that it's time was limited in this realm. In that situation, it accepted the bargain from Argast. But it wouldn't be that simple...at least not now. Kirito's attack was far more effective then he would realize. Somehow, it managed to damage the alter. Raven feathers set alight, the tome on fire. Yet despite that, the raven skull rose. Higher and higher until it seemed level with the vulture lord's face. In a flash, a loud WHOOOOSH to rival the black swordsman's skill is heard. Then, where the portal once was hovered a the skull, eyes alight with bluish-purple flames. "Not this time, Hero." Argast muses. The lightning fries him, and leaves him with a nasty smoking habit from his armor. "Lord Maleo is safely contained in the skull..." He says, pulling it close. Then with a snap of his fingers, his hellsteed emerges. Argast secures the skull safely to his neck and laughs. "...and next time, we will be one. I can promise you that." Then with a glance towards Ixqor, a nod. "Stay safe, my brother." He says, before starting to ride off.
Ixqor Nathrach	The hydra daemon that was Jomungandr smashed into the ground, leaving holes as wide as the snake bodies themselves. Rose had jumped away, and the snakes pulled out, shaking themselves off. They looked to Rose and Lapiz, fusing, and seemed to cackle. The serpents began to speak then, the daemon communing directly with the fused gem. "So you prove yourselves worthy of my power!? Delightful! You will test my hosts new found strength! Come and face the power of Malice!" The hydra serpent coiled back and went to strike at the fusion gem, seeing the sword coming down. THis was the strength of Jomungandr's empowered form, attacking from multiple angles! Two serpents opened their jaws wide and caught the blade, their warp liek qualities making them rather durable, but not invincible to the attack. They screeched in pain, but haulted the blade, while the third ducked from below. Striking up, the serpent looked to end this quickly, and clamp it's massive fangs into the neck of the gem woman. "YOU HAVE FEAR IN YOUR MIND MORTALS! STRONGER OR NOT, YOUR MIND IS WEAK!" Jomungandr itself screamed to Lapis and Rose as it attacked.
Razel	When Argast begins to retreat, the remaining cat-minions get the same idea. And so does Razel. His role here is done. The cat-people who haven't been either drained by the spell of otherwise dispatched begin to disengage from their various battles, and to flee from the area. As for himself? Fire suddenly engulfs the Devil of Wrath, and when it burns away, he is nowhere to be found. The sense of power and rage leaves too.
Yuna Kagurazaka	As soon as the trap closed and Argast's magic circle was empowered, at the same instant that Yuna's combination with Jiina was nullified, her Light Suit began working overtime to protect Yuna from the trap's effects. Chaos isn't going to get a chance to corrupt or mutate her; the Light Suit is designed to protect its wearer, and its defensive aura lives up to that purpose. But it takes its toll - the Light Suit has limits, and even if the draining effect is minimal for Yuna herself, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. And then Kirito unleashes a wide-area electrical attack which seeks out anything metal. Yuna doesn't usually think of her Light Suit as metallic; as far as she knows, it's more like super-advanced polymers and/or ceramics, at least where it doesn't have the supple flexibility of plain old cloth. But there's still metal in there, and the Matrix Divider itself has more metal than her armor. So when Kirito cuts loose with his lightning spell, Yuna gets zapped too: not badly, not fatally, but enough to make her twitch a bit and send extra sparks dancing over the Light Suit's surface, leaving a couple of wisps of smoke trickling from stray bits of it. "Little more careful next time, Kirito?" she jokes to her ally, starting to help get the remaining not-really-sacrifices away. The villains have fled, the good guys are still standing, and ... the prisoners are going to be okay? She thinks so. She hopes so. And it's right about at the last second - when the last survivor is being escorted out - that the Light Suit suddenly shatters, leaving Yuna absolutely and completely defenseless. Fortunately, she's close enough to the edge that her collapsing body hits the ground just outside the magic circle - and she's able to yank her legs away, compromising herself even further. She's probably gonna need help getting back to Njorun Station or wherever herself, now.
Kotone Yamakawa	Kotone Yamakawa has saved who she could she'd got an arrow in her gut, she's been drained and looking weak. She's also got a power warning flashing on her internal Hud. The Young Cybrog staggers a few more time. She can only look up at Argast and Ixqor for a moment. She's armed her weapon is drawn now and she attemps to line up the shot. "Weak? You sold your will to others for more power. The power will never be yours, just what they granted to you. You'll always a be their puppet." She takes a deep breath and then opens fire, the bursts are controlled but it's clear she's trying to help Rose and Lapis now. "Consume, that's what you do in the end your own gods will devour you whole as well."
Steven Universe	Stevonnie is a dervish, a blender! She slips through the slightest of openings and slices demon cats into ribbons with their own weapons, not even bothering to draw them free as Lion continues to provide her with a plethora! With the draining circle down, she feels herself recovering quickly! Which is why when that big snake thing bites two of her favorite people, she feels strong enough to lend a hand. "Get your fangs off my giant woman!" Not exactly the most coherent battle cry, but it does the trick as she leaps up, jamming a very large demon sword into the neck of the striking snake-thing. She may be small enough that it is more like a splinter or needle to the thing, but that doesn't matter because she's mad.
Lapis Lazuli	Lapis Lazuli struck her blade down, deep into the other two snakes. As they bit into it, ice began to spread out from the blade as the water around the area seemed to be flowing around her, coating the snakes and trying to encase them. In her remaining free hands, two more blades, more like harpoons than swords, formed. Her shield lifted up, blocking the snakes head before she thrust it in. She didn't even seem to NOTICE Stevonie. Yet. She rammed the shield in with all her fury, screaming with rage before she slammed the two harpoon like swords at the creature. Ice would form where ever they struck now as all the water in the air lifted up around her form, striking into the creature, with swords and shield. She... definitely didn't notice Stevonie yet. She was small though. Maybe she'd get lucky.
Ixqor Nathrach	The jaws ripped into the shield, likely tearing gaping holes in it, as all matter seemed to fall before it's bite. They were lucky to have dodged it, or they would have suffered terribly. The shield pushed back then against the snake as magical ice began to freeze over all three. Ixqor's body buckled as Jomungandr knew fighting this creature alone was not woth his time, nor profitable. The serpents pulled off of the blades and shields before fully freezing, shattering teh ice from their forms and receeding back into Ixqor, leaving Stevvonnie to fall as their sword simply stabbed into the air where the snake was. "Unworthy of me and my daemons pressence! Jomungandr, we must away!" Ixqor in his new, demonic, and snakelike form picked up the blade from the ground, and, almost casually walked away. After a few feet he waved his hand in an adgitated fashion, as space time bent to his will and opened a portal to the warp. Unafraid he walked into it, closing the portal behind it.