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Count Kord     The day has come.

    Kord arrives on black wings, his soldiers pulling up on boats and standing in rows along the shores, their polearms, swords and shields at the ready. A great red banner with a black Y symbol flows in the cold ocean wind, as flakes of snow drop from the stormy sky. The estate becomes a wasp's nest, but many of the guards step outside in service of their lords and barons... and they simply drop their weapons on the ground, and turn to leave. A sizeable chunk of the forces filter off to ships at a dock on the other side of the island. The nobility of Bugen's Fischer Estate panic, and villagers flee from the nearby town in droves. War has come to the great island county of Bugen.

    Kord trods up to the main plaza and pulls up the mic of a loudspeaker that an attendant holds up for him. He holds the microphone with a tendril of shadow, and speaks calmly.

    "The Count of Dragoni has recognized your trespass, and has come to exact recompense. Your only hope of mercy is to bring all those with authority over these lands before me so they may be judged. Those who have perpetuated this lie of a mindless destructive tyrant will understand the justice of Bayern does not play favorites. You have fifteen minutes to make your decisions. While you wait, I will give you some motivation, so you understand how serious I am."

    He calmly puts the microphone down, opens his mouth, turns his head, and fires a beam of energy that levels one of the small side houses meant for housing servants that laid empty when they saw Kord coming, knocking it down like a house of cards.
Theurgus     Theurgus arrives with the Count's forces, sticking out with her scientist-magician combo outfit complete with very large pointed hat. She steps out before the troops and comes up beside the Count once he's fired off that beam of energy. "I doubt they will listen. We will likely have to do this the hard way. Pawns of The Organization rarely understand how expendable they really are to their dark masters."

    The DCC summons her staff, then slams the endcap on the ground.
Deelel Deelel could care less about the nobles who Kord was coming for, to her it was admin program issues way above her. It was the other folks who'd get caught up in the whole affair and she is not going to get in the way of Kord's justice, she's after the supposed cursed blade as that thing needs to end up somewhere it can't be used or if she can find someone to either? Purify it or destroy it. So she's going to be trying to find her way into the estate if she's lucky? She can avoid a direct confrontation with any of Kord and his allies.
Bahamut      A few of those fifteen minutes pass before a powerful, booming roar comes down from overhead. A dark shape can be seen moving through the clouds above before golden-white runic circles appear just below the cloud ceiling. The dark form becomes more coherent as it closes in, and finally breaks through the three circles, shattering them like glass and causing magical sparks to rain down below.

     The great dragon Bahamut plummets down like a meteor, creating a visible wavefront in front of him in the air. He looks like he is going to crash right into that plaza, but his massive wings spread at the last moment to arrest his dive. His landing is still heavy, but perhaps it is meant to be so that the ground will shake upon his arrival. He lands on all fours, roars once more as he rises to his full height and crosses his arms over his chest in regal heroic pose.

     He looks at Kord and his gathered men, then snorts derisively. "So, despite all the words of others, you would still proceed in this manner. Is it any wonder that dragons have such a grim reputation on so many worlds? Although you are closer to a bird, are you not?"

     The gunmetal blue dragon looks around at the town, then up at the lord's home before back at Kord. "In an effort to avoid any unnecessary violence and bloodshed, I would ask a few questions. I will not hinder your efforts if they are answered properly. These 'nobles' -are- clearly at fault for something. First, how many innocent people have died at their or their servants' hands? Second, did the cult they attacked kill any of the nobles? And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, if these lords are in violation of established laws and have not merely offended you and your patron deity, we can proceed without conflict so long as you give those that are remaining a chance to surrender themselves."
Staren     Staren arrives on wings of chrome. He expects either he won't have to fight today... or that he'll have to fight an army of loyalists. A forty-foot tall warmachine is, he hopes, intimidating. Maybe some people will be cowed out of fighting. Every life he doesn't have to take today will be one more that can maybe have a better future after all. The mecha lands on the lawn next to Kord.

    Staren winces as the servants' quarters is destroyed. "Look, it's okay, we don't want to hurt those of you who have no choice. because you DO have a choice now. The system of spoiled nobility lording their 'divine right' over you and doing nothing is coming to an end. If you don't believe in it, join us! ...And if you don't believe in it strongly enough to die for it, run away! We won't judge. I will totally build new houses for any of you who join us! But uh, it'd be nice if we didn't have to smash this place looking for Lord Fischer. Then, like, somebody else can have the house after! So it'd be nicer for everyone if some of you could bring him to us. If not... then get out of our way!"
Orchid      Orchid winces.

     Sure, the house was deserted, but Count Kord's little display of force did likely make things worse for the specific family, and Orchid is here mainly to make sure that the conflict spills over onto the non-combatants as little as possible. Of course, if she can get the cursed blade involved out of the picture, that'd be good too. But she's got double her normal medical supplies, along with triage beacons for coming back through later.
Count Kord     Bahamut's arrival causes even more panic. It's not every day that not one, but two god-like beasts arrive on the doorstep of a noble lord. The noble lord doesn't seem particularly motivated to come out and explain himself. Doors and windows get shuttered, and guards hurry to their posts with their weapons ready, and their Pokemon stationed with them. What few guards remain, at least. They stand behind a fence erected of bronze, tarnished by the ocean winds.

    Bahamut's arrival to attempt negotiation, first by prying for answers, makes Kord lift his head. He flaps his wings just the once, hovering in the air ten or twenty feet up. He floats above the metallic dragon, peering down at him in the imperious way that birds do. He doesn't seem impressed with the inquiry into what's going on.

    "I have already made my decision. Get out of my way." Kord knows if he actually explains this, Bahamut will fight him. There's just... too many complications here. The nobles were not strictly in the wrong, and they haven't hurt anyone... the only reason Kord is here is because of a petty insult that broke the proverbial Camerupt's back. "I do not have a patron deity. I am the brood of a god, the only being with the authority to change the rule that corrupts these lands called Bayern. There will be no more divine right in Bayern. There will be no more pointless noble houses."

    "They will come before me and face the reaping of their consequences. Begone, dragon."

    And so, Kord attacks. He just takes a potshot right at Bahamut's face with a blast of dark energy, not interested in diplomacy or negotiation with anyone that would try to impede him now. Trying to change an arrogant godling's mind is probably an exercise in frustration.
Septette Arcubielle      Septette's arrival is substantially delayed, and might not be immediately apparent to those distracted by the conflict of dragons. A five-foot-tall figure simply materializes three miles above the estate and begins to plummet, accompanied a moment later by a handful of smaller drones. They disperse in various directions, flying downwards faster than the killbot's terminal velocity and seeking out any obvious signs of artifact-containing rooms ahead of time. It'd likely be something reinforced, or ostentatious, yet away from casual access...

     She accrues a glowing, comet-like trail near the latter half of her fall, heating up from air friction just before she impacts the ground with a resounding crunch audible even from Kord's position- and likely visible from Deleel's. An instant later- if the sword's position is apparent- she'll break into a dead sprint towards it.
Count Kord     The Wind Touch is held in a mystical vault, that will take time to crack. The stone box is resistant to harm, and found in the basement of the estate. Thanks to Kord paying off the servants and guards, there's no one to interrupt anyone that wants to go for it... well, except for each other. Deelel and Septette will cross paths pretty rapidly.
Theurgus     Kord begins attacking, and with a flick of her hair the Diamond DCC steps forwards. "It seems that the Count has made his position clear. Step aside, or we will be forced to make you." she states, lifting her staff. A pillar of flame erupts beneath Bahamut's feet, compelled into action by the red marble at the head of the weapon which then shifts to a sparkling gold-yellow, and a bolt of electricity slams down atop Bahamut from above. They're both weak blasts on their own, however.
Deelel Deelel is more than content to not fight Kord right now, she's going to make her attempt to get into the estate now. It seems things will be heating up and Deelel will have to move fast.

She is unaware that Septette is after it, she'd only ever heard on the comm before. She'd never met her in person. She's about to as she's going to be making a go for the blade as she's trying to find it herself while she does not have the spy systems that Septette does or even Orchid? She has an idea the blade would be secured within someplace safe like a vault, which would lead her on a course to run right into Septette in very short order. She's not pulled a weapon out just yet as she moves.

Strangely while Deelel would read to any scanners magic or otherwise she's not made of flesh and any real known material? She does seem to have some magic to her. It may end up she might just end up running just about face first into Septette.
Septette Arcubielle      It doesn't take long for one of the hovering softball-sized magitech drones to locate the mystical underground vault. It takes even less time for Septette to barge her way into the basement, Kool-Aid-Manning rudely through un-reinforced walls or floors and meeting zero resistance from the locals. The magical stone will take longer to penetrate... but, as always, she has a plan.

     With a moment's work, she traces an elaborate crimson magical circle on the vault's wall and conjures up a trio of red drones. They start to orbit the magic circle's perimeter, pumping fire magic into it through magitech beams like some combination of thermal drill and radial glasscutter.

     It's not a moment too soon. Her superior speed and scouting network got her here just before Deelel, the earlier arrival- Deelel will find her just putting the finishing touches on the magical cutting arrangement as she enters the basement.

     The Program will find herself face-to-face with a five-foot-tall young-looking lady wearing a purple cloak, lit by the ominous red glow of the thermal rune and the purple luminescence of her own eyes. "I suggest," she says in a worn-vinyl synthetic voice, "that whoever you are, you go back up those stairs and leave me be."
Orchid      For Orchid's part, she's not a main combatant. In fact, she's not any kind of combatant if she can help it. So seeing the big battle between Kord & co. vs Bahamut, Orchid makes her way around the edges, into the house itself. She's heard rumors about a cursed sword, and it looks like other people are also going for it; she follows Deelel quietly, her drones also fanning out to gain more information.
Bahamut      Bahamut has seen that posture from the bird fiends of his world many times, and it is rarely followed by a friendly handshake. He brings up his arms quickly to shield his face and rumbles deeply as the dark energy hits him, leaving black score marks. He growls lightly before looking up at Kord. "You see, here is the problem. You say there will be no more divine right, but you are exercising just that right now. You are a god, or were born by a god, and thus you have dominion over all this land. And you and your allies would put these men to death for naught but their disrespect of you and their misuse of their power. Were you merely here to arrest them and remove them and their estates from power, that might possibly have been acceptable. But, a ruler who rules through fear and entitlement is one I cannot abide. Such rulers caused centuries of suffering on my world."

     His arms remain up as that electricity impacts and arcs over Bahamut while he is immolated at the same time. He growls in pain before smirking. "I see. Well, it seems the time for talk is over. The irony will be when I assist in capturing this noble after defeating you. He did still order the deaths of an apparently benign group simply for existing."

     The dragon spreads his wings and crouches slightly before growling deeply. White energy arcs over him before forming into a group of grey-white swirling orbs around his shoulders. "So be it!" He thrusts his arms forward and the orbs fly toward Kord and Theurgus before exploding around them.
Septette Arcubielle      Orchid's drones don't take long at all to locate Septette and her tools: they crackle with ultraviolet light and a shrieking electric thrum just outside the boundaries of normal human senses, and Sept's peripheral drones lash out at her scouting bots on sight with magical blasts of electricity before retreating or dematerializing.

     Their source and master is just as obvious. Septette's presence and location is, if not familiar enough to identify, at least staggeringly blatant to any of Orchid's sensors. The question is: what's she going to do about it?
Count Kord     THWUMP! Kord mitigates the force of the blow with a spiderweb of shadows, but grunts and gains a bit more lift from the strike of gravitic energy. He closes one of his eyes and states, "It is my duty to clear the board, granted to me by my deceased patron's power. You will stand aside, dragon. The fools will die, they have had plenty of time to change their ways already." He flaps his wings a couple of times to get into position, preparing for another attack against Bahamut. This time, a great shockwave of wind blasts the ground, kicking up dust and cutting grooves in the ground. Plants are uprooted, rough topiary shattered in a spray of leaves.
Staren     Bahamut comes to talk! "Look. These nobles are persecuting innocent people for their relig--!" Staren starts to explain, but Kord just shoots! "Hey! We don't need to--" and then Theurgus joins in too! "Look, we shouldn't be fighting eachother! What if the noble's house was built on top of another legendary pokemon or there's Multiverse stuff here? We don't know, we might need to all work together here! How embarassing is it gonna be if the noble gets away while we're fighting?"

    And then bagamut fires back, and... oh hell.

    "Hey! I'm sorry, but--" Staren abruptly whips the Star Hawk's right arm into position, spraying a burst of fire over the dragon before his mecha drops into a combat stance and manifests its shield. "--I can't let you stop us! So, you want us to arrest the noble instead? And what, have them rot in a dungeon instead of ending their life now? If they were willing to live any other way, they'd have left -- or changed their ways" the mecha nods in Kord's direction. "If they're committed to only making the world worse... than the world is better off without them!"

    Really, he'd LIKE to offer the nobles a chance to live if they surrender peacefully, but... now that the fight's started, he doubts he can keep that promise. Especially since he's not sure he COULD stop Kord from killing them, anyway.
Orchid      That... is a good question! Orchid's drones don't take much effort to take out, but she knows where they are when the are attacked. Soon Septette and Deelel are joined in the outer vault by Orchid. "So now that we've all gathered here, I don't suppose we can politely explain our intent?" she asks, continuing, "I've heard of the sword, and would rather it wind up lost."
Septette Arcubielle      One of Septette's violet eyes flicks over to Orchid as she enters. Just the one, like a chameleon tracking two different insects at once. "I don't mind talking about it," she says in that syrupy-calm voice, "if you think it'll go anywhere."

     After all, she only needs to run down the clock on that thermal rune. It's already carving a shallow circular groove into the stone vault, wide enough for a man to step through without bowing his head.

     "I have every intention of making sure this 'Wind Touch' is secured. With me. Because I am the only one capable of ensuring that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. It corrupts its wielders; I am incorruptible. Isn't that a tidy solution?"
Theurgus     Theurgus brings up her staff in a defensive posture as those white orbs are brought up and hurled at her and Kord. She erects a barrier made of blue hexagons, then leaps aside, but gets blasted backwards by the gravitic component, slamming back against some scenery. Standing with a spider web of red damaged code along her back, and streaked across her arms and face, the Mad Magician readies herself. "Winnowing Zephyr, howling Mistral, bring forth a great storm. Oxyn Malus!"

    With a twirl of her staff, a fussilade of cutting wind blades whip out to slash around Bahamut.
Septette Arcubielle      Septette taps her radio headset with one finger. "Malevolent artifacts can't be safely contained by squishies. Artifacts are forever. No matter how securely you think you've contained them, eventually they'll get out, and someone will pick them up and spill blood. And that cycle repeats, over and over. I'm willing to attempt destroying it, but I'm presuming it can't be. Does this vault look like it's meant to be opened? Surely the people here already tried their best."

     If Orchid or Deelel want to interfere with her plans, they may be running out of time: the three drones orbiting the cutting-glyph on the vault are already making it drool molten rock. Hard to say how far they have left to cut, but they're speeding up...
Deelel Deelel hears the comment over the comm. and looks at Septette for a long moment not moving to make any hostile move just yet.

"I think I know who you are and I know your reputation if you are here? I know of you Miss Arcubielle."

Deelel does seem to be making ready herself as she looks like she is expecting a fight now she doesn't go for the disc on her back she flicks her twist and a strange melee weapon appears in hand and it's got quite the big magical signature.

"I'm here to either have this blade purified of find a way to destroy it before it can cause any further trouble. What do you want it for?"

She seems to be waiting for Septette's reply. Orchid does not go unnoticed either as she does take note of her. Another synthetic as well, curious. Orchid also gets the same question.

"I'm asking you the same what do you want it for?"

She gets her answer in short order for a moment, the Basic pauses listening for a moment and shakes her head.

"Many say they are incorruptible I have yet to meet one in all my centuries of life."

No hostile action is just taken just she seems to be stating a fact of her life.
Orchid      "How far a civilization has advanced can be measured by how much energy they can bring to bear on a task," Orchid says. "Say this thing was put here several hundred years ago? Yeah, figuring out how to destroy it sounds like fun." She looks over to Deelel, and shrugs. "She's got a point. But I'd like to try breaking the thing before we break each others faces over possibilities. Oh, and I'm Orchid."
Septette Arcubielle      "You've just met your first one, then," the yggdroid replies with just a hint of impatience in her voice. "I've seen the face of an alien god of madness. I've memorized the incandescent brain-warping patterns of Jupiter brains. Some metals never rust, and some souls are impervious. And if you'll give me a minute longer, you'll see the test of that."

     To Orchid, her tone becomes a bit more cordial: "And what makes you think that destroying it is a good idea? Magical items can have power sources just as volatile as any nuclear reactor, Orchid. If it blights this land beyond repair for a hundred years to come, that'll be on your hands, won't it? ... And it's Septette. Arcubielle for surname, if that matters."

     She enunciates it like a series of letters: R-Q-B-L. Weird.
Deelel What was going to very likely be a fight has turned into something else as Deelel weighs her options and the logic that Septette has laid down. "That is also true, I have seen it, cursed blades, rings and relics of fallen ages."

She pauses for a moment.

"I would be willing to help you try to find a way to destroy it. It would be a waste of time and material to fight over it. I would be willing to work with you both to attempt to destroy it. The ID is Deelel and I am a multimedia program a Basic. I am not flesh at all, it's creepy how it's dying and alive at the same time."

She looks to the vault for a moment and thinks.

"I may have a way to get us in there without wasting any more time."

She could be making a mistake but given Septette actually made her points and did not try to gang her right out? She seems inclined to work with her at least for the moment.

She'll flick her wrist and summon her Key-Blade the Duel Disc.

The weapon is in hand and she points it at the vault.

"Let's see if I can crack this open."

Deele would then attempt to use her blade to break the lock and get in without any more need for cutting.
Bahamut      Bahamut's arms and wings both come around to stop those railgun rounds, though he is helped by the fact that Staren didn't seem to be aiming to truly harm. "Yes. They should be removed." he agrees. "But, the method is just as important as the result."

     Kord's wind attack crashes against Bahamut, pushing him back and causing more cuts to appear on his armored hide. "However, if he is not stopped here what is to keep him from becoming a tyrant who kills all within his dominion who speak ill of him? It may not happen quickly, but such unchecked power very rarely leads to a benevolent and kind ruler. As for the 'mercy' of killing them...are they not to be punished? If they have no prisons on this world, I can easily accomidate them on either my own world or in a Paladin facility."

     Theurgus's wind blades leave a deep cut in Bahamut's side as he defends against Staren, forcing the dragon to let out a short roar against the pain. "Death is not a mercy. It is a finality that breeds more hatred and distrust." As Bahamut says this, the golden gyro on his back starts to spin more and more rapidly, and soon is arcing with golden-white energy. "You could be showing the people of your world that you are a just god who is worthy of their praise, but instead you show them that any wrongdoing which draws your attention will be punished with their destruction!"

     Bahamut leaps back and lands on all fours, then firmly plants each hand and foot, his thick metal talons digging deep into the ground to anchor him. The energy arching over his gyro arcs around to start building in front of his mouth, and he lets out another booming roar as it builds into an orb nearly as big around as the dragon himself.

     Then, he fires. The beam of swirling white and blue and purple seeks to engulf Kord, Theurgus, and Staren, and the amount of pure destructive energy unleashed is massive. Even after the beam passes, an upward eruption follows along the beam the path took. Bahamut has taken careful aim though, making sure that neither the town, the estate, or the people on the beach will be caught in the blast.
Orchid      "If you think it might have some backlash if destroyed, I'm fine with taking it someplace no one cares about before trying to break it," Orchid says. She's going to hold Septette to her word of being willing to try destroying it. "I just hope you don't think you can also make use of the corruptive power without being corrupted yourself." She'll watch Deelel attempt to open the vault.
Count Kord     The stone vault defies Septette and Deelel. While they discuss what to do with the contents, layers of magical protection slowly erode, and the crystalline stonework cracks only a piece at a time. There is no door to break open, only a concrete-like, seamless cube with arcane magic surrounding it. It cracks slowly, but this is an effort that could take all day if they were lesser people. They may need someone with a dedicated destructive force to open it quickly at all. Which may explain part of Kord's motivations for being here...

    Whoever sealed that sword didn't want anyone to touch it or even look at it. They put it down there seemingly so no one would ever use it again, not even the nobles. Speaking of which, a man in tan fisherman clothing with greying, ratty hair and an eyepatch scampers down the stairs to interrupt their exchange. "Do not open that!" Lord Fischer demands, sweat beading down his brow. "Do not!" He holds his hands up defensively. "There is nothing in that box but hell and misery. Leave it alone!"
Staren     Bahamut speaks of taking them to prison and punishing them. Staren stammers. "I... g... b... what? WE'RE gonna keep him from becoming a tyrant, you idiot! And what are you arresting them for, a trial? Whose jurisdiction is this? They ARE the ones in charge and they're corrupt! The only other person claiming authority here IS Kord and he's decided on how they'll be dealt with! And if you believe in keeping people alive just to punish them... then I'm disappointed in you, Bahamut! All that TRULY matters is that the future is better! No matter what suffering someone 'deserves', there's no point to it! The only reason to keep someone alive is because it might make the world better somehow! If you'd keep people alive just to punish them... YOU'RE the one thinking like a petty tyrant!"

    They argue, and then Bahamut demonstrates why he's one of the most powerful summons. Staren makes the mistake of trying to block the beam, his mecha crouching behind its shield.

    For an instant, it looks like it will hold, as the beam tears into the parts of the mecha exposed. The energy shield strains and goes down and the Star Hawk takes most of the brunt of the blast! When it dies down, the mecha's plating is orange-hot where it isn't melted off completely; the ground under it is glass. There are explosions and smoke inside -- truthfully, Staren had yet to finish the repairs from fighting Vortigern, and now another dragon's tearing his machine apart already! Staren is struck speechless for a moment.

    Then he just unloads on Bahamut. The railgun built into the arm as well as a mecha-scale laser rifle. Circling around Bahamut to make him have to pay attention to opponents on opposite sides!
Orchid      There are some tricks Orchid could use that would make breaking into the vault easier, but she's not in a mood to use them. As the old man shouts his warning, she shrugs. "As it happens, I agree with you in principle. But this one," she gestures to Septette, "Wants to take it away. The other two of us want to see if it can be destroyed first, or at least figure out a way to keep track of it."
Count Kord     Lord Fischer objects, "You mustn't touch it. Any hand that has touched that blade has fallen to madness almost the instant they felt its power in their grasp. Manaphy entrusted this to us, and you will not remove it from this property. You haven't the authority!" He's getting red in the face. "Leave!"
Theurgus     Theurgus has been privvy to this attack on a few occasions already. But always on the side not being targetted by it. She erects that barrier again, and tries to run out of the cone of fire; however she's not fast enough and gets engulfed, her defense only blunts a tiny portion of the damage.

    The Mad Magician is burnt, scorched by the Mega Flare, and falls to her knees as the beam fades away. She uses her staff to support herself, as she pulls a crystal from her inventory. "Access." she states, pressing it into her chest. Energy pulses from her body, and she is engulfed in light. Where Theurgus once was, hovers Diamond Soul now, swinging her staff around to launch a barrage of elemental energies. She speaks no incantation, but eruptions of fire, javelins of ice, bolts of lightning and slashing gusts of wind assault the King of Dragons, while shadows claw at his chest and beams of light sear into his scales, one after another.
Septette Arcubielle      Septette's demeanor instantly softens as the panicking man descends the stairs. She holds her hands out in front of her in a supplicating gesture. "Sir, I'm terribly sorry, but you have to understand- Kord is just outside, yes? He will take it if we don't. Is that truly the outcome you prefer?"
Count Kord     Lord Fischer pales. He looks out to the sound of fighting, freezing in place. Sweat rolls down his cheeks. "I don't want /any/ of you to take it," he replies, his voice cracking, desperate and terrified.
Septette Arcubielle      "And we'd prefer nobody had it, too. We'd prefer if it could be forgotten down here forever," she says in soothing tones. "But that isn't going to happen, is it? The man who invades your lands now- can you really talk him out of his thirst for power; his hubris? I don't think any of us can. Let us take this off your hands, before it is turned against your people."

     Does she actually believe any of this? Of course not. Is her deception remotely perceptible to external examination? Also no.
Deelel Deelel does not act hostility to the Noble has he arrives.

"Our fear is that the likes of the Concord will take it and should it take hold of someone such as Count Kord or someone else within the Concords ranks such as Seifer? It would bring a trail of misery in its wake. That is why we came, we all caught wind of this situation. It has traits of artifacts of another world I'm aware of."

Deelel does not seem hostile or threatening to the man.

"We seek to keep it from him."

She's working and the fact that her keyblade is working at all on what a god sealed is pretty impressive to her even if it will take time to crack it open.

She sees the fear.

"Is it better than the ones who intend to seal it beyond Kord's reach or destroy it preferable to him getting ahold of it? The only reason I'm here is that Kord is coming otherwise I'd have been happy to leave it where it is."
Count Kord     Kord doesn't have anything else to say to Bahamut. This is a clear divide in ideology. The dragon demands that they step down, that real justice much be enacted here. Some kind of reference to the hypocrisy of Kord's actions. He grunts at the end of the dragon's words, and follows the dragon's path into anchoring himself. And so Kord briefly closes his eyes, breathing a hissing sigh of annoyance at the dragon's self-righteous retorts to decades of misery and anger. He opens his eyes and regards the dragon coldly, as nothing but an obstacle now. If he couldn't be negotiated with before...
    He twists in the air, launching himself to avoid the core of Bahamut's beam. His Mega Flare burns along one of the flying Poke'god's wing, harming him with a burning hiss along his black and red flesh and feathers. The clawed dragon-bird flaps several more times to get closer, and tries to land right in front of Bahamut in the opening of the attack where the other dragon would be recovering. He angles his mouth upward, and anchors his own claws. His underside glows with incredible heat and wind blusters around him. His maw opens, mere meters from Bahamut, in the blink of an eye. Bahamut has a moment to defend himself, before Kord unleashes a cacophonous blast of red energy, ripping dirt and stone and creating a sucking vacuum of air as it annihilates the very atmosphere in the path of the beam. The essence of destruction has been fired nearly point-blank at Bahamut.
Orchid      "Yeah, it's crappy when all your choices seem bad," Orchid says. "Of course, getting the sword without further trouble is going to require some cooperation," she reminds Septette. "We keep an eye on you, and we take it somewhere we can destroy it safely."
Septette Arcubielle      "Entirely reasonable," Septette reassures Orchid sweetly. She gestures to the stone vault with one clawed hand, as if to silently invite her to try her best at cracking it open, before sliding her eyes over to the noble. "Listen. I understand that you're currently faced with a very difficult decision here. I know that you have no reason to trust me. But you have even less to trust that monster of a man outside, don't you?"
Count Kord     Lord Fischer mulls over this. He looks between each of them, and looks down at his feet. Then he advances, and he holds up his hand to place on the box. He glances off to the others when he sees the damage they've done to it, wincing at the sound of more fighting outside. Then he says, "Your Divine Eminence. I forsake this duty, for it is no longer possible to hold up my end of the bargain. A demon barks at the gate. Please, remove the enchantment, and allow these few souls to bring this accursed thing elsewhere, so it may be sealed again, or destroyed. I beg of you."

    There's a pause. The clouds overhead briefly part, and a beam of light (which no one in the basement would see, but everyone up in the fight with Bahamut would notice) would shine down on the house. And then...

    The box simply cracks, and crumbles to sand in a pile at their feet. And in the sand is an immaculate silver longsword in its scabbard, humming with ambient energy that even non-magical folks could feel. It feels powerful just to look at it. This is a mystical artifact, alright. So... how are they going to move it?
Orchid      Why, by having something that manages to be too weak to be considered a real threat carry the sword! Which is why Orchid pulls out a Mettool from one of her bags, instructs it to pick up the sword, and follow the spotter.
Septette Arcubielle      The little killbot smiles warmly at Lord Fischer. "I'm sorry. For... all of this. The mess; the tumult. I think you'll find that you've made the correct choice. Go now, and absolve yourself of this burden. It's handled." She turns on her heel, dismisses her three cutting drones, and strides forward to the silver longsword.

     The aura of magic- and of menace, perhaps- around it is almost palpable, even were her senses not what they are. Septette doesn't hesitate. She stomps the Mettool, picks up the sword and straps the scabbard to her back, then turns around to face the rest of the group with a smile on her face.

     "I think I'll be going now. We'll be in touch."
Count Kord     The Mettool briefly picks up the Wind Touch. The sword shimmers, clattering in its scabbard. The tiny robot then lets out its tiny noise of defiance, and tries to pull the weapon from the scabbard almost the instant--

    Septette steps on it before it can manages this, and takes the sword. Welp.
Orchid      "And that is why I used something weak to pick up the sword," Orchid says. "We'll be in touch Septette. And if not, we'll assume you were too weak, and are probably a threat."
Bahamut      Bahamut slowly stands to his full height once more as he listens to Staren. "Then, Kord should temper his judgement. Rules should be agreed upon by all, not simply the one being who makes them." Bahamut says to Staren. Calling Bahamut a tyrant draws an obvious reaction, but despite the insult upon his face the dragon simply snorts and rumbles menacingly. "I hold no dominion over anyone other than those who seek it. Keeping someone alive to punish them is justice. Death releases them from punishment before they have ever experienced it, before they have had time to reflect on their actions. Before they have had a chance to atone and change both their lives and the lives of those they have wronged. If they were guilty of more than simply being greedy nobles who abused their station and insulted a god, perhaps I might agree that they deserved death. But, by your allies' own words, no one was killed, even if it was despite their efforts. The people they have wronged so far can have recompense paid to them, and are still able to have the soul-cleansing pleasure of seeing justice done without the soul-staining act of revenge through killing."

     Bahamut says all this even as hits from Staren's mech and Theurgus's many kinds of magic leave his metallic hide pockmarked with holes, slashes, cuts, and dents. His words are punctuated by grunts and growls from the various hits, but the Aeon continues to stand strong. "Are you not the one who preserves the dead until such time as they can be placed in a new body? A prison is a prison, no matter how nice." he adds, directed to Staren.

     Kord lands in front of Bahamut and blasts him nearly point-blank with that powerful beam of...Bahamut isn't sure. Anti-energy? Void? Gravity? His wings curl around and he himself curls up so that his thickest skutes are facing Kord. Still, the beam exerts crushing force on Bahamut, and when it passes Bahamut looks somewhat like a giant hand has gripped him and squeezed powerfully. He feels a bit shorter, and wherever there was armored spikes or horns they are curled inward toward the center of the beam. "Of course...you care nothing for this argument, do you Kord?" he says, one intense blue eye gazing out from the gap between Bahamut's forearms. "You merely know you have been wronged, and that you cannot abide such a thing regardless of what or who is harmed in your wake. You gave them their chance, as far as you are concerned."

     Once again, that grey white energy builds around Bahamut's shoulders and forms those orbs again. They swirl around him for a few moments before they launch outward and explode around his opponents. "Do not worry. When I defeat you, I will ensure this man and his accomplices are captured and punished for their crimes. Even if it is not in a method you might choose."
Septette Arcubielle      Septette smiles slightly at Orchid's remark, but doesn't respond just yet. She draws an iridescent string from her leather satchel and stretches it between her fingers, almost to the breaking point- her outline starts to shimmer and blur, like she's being drawn out to another place.

     If Deelel (or Orchid) wants to prevent her from making off with the Wind Touch, this is their golden opportunity. If not... it seems like she'll no longer be with them in short order.
Theurgus     Theurgus sees the Impulse blasts charging back up, and, thanks to her more mobile state, dodges away from the blasts, leaving the blast zone before more damage can be piled onto her. She rises up into the air and lifts her staff above her head. "Seeping Crest of turbidity, arrogant vessal of lunacy. Boil forth and deny, grow numb and flicker, distrupting recharge. Crawling queen of iron, eternally self destructing doll of rust. Unite, repulse. Fill with junk code and know your own powerlessness. Glacier Chains!

    A spell circle draws beneath her feet, mirroring one beneath Bahamut's position. From within erupt a thousand chains of glacial ice. They lash out, spearing through buildings and attempting to bury Bahamut under their mass, altering the battlefield in close proximity to the Dragon King.

    "This infighting is pointless. Something has changed within the manor, and time is short. Cease this foolish rancor. Count, your vehemence is warrented; however the pawns of The Organization are oft blind to their own wrongdoing. Let us capture the nobles, as suggested by our powerful foe." she looks from Bahamut to Kord.
Count Kord     Kord scoffs aloud at Bahamut's remark. That proves it's pretty much exactly on the nose. He sticks his head up, and very narrowly deflects the brunt of the Impulse of gravity energy, which shatters along spikes of shadow and his lifted wing. He blocked it some so he could focus on his target. Pain crackles along his body, but he doesn't care. Nope, he has higher concerns. Like defeating this dragon ahead of him and razing the grounds of the Fischer estate, whether or not anyone dies in the process.
    He takes a short hop back to gain some distance, landing in the dirt and muck they've kicked up in their fight. His claws dig in and he snaps his jaws shut with a click, while red blood drips and weirdly hisses from his body. He tilts his head like an inquisitive bird, and peers at Bahamut sideways some. Then his eye briefly flashes purple, and a blast of purple energy echoes out from his body in another huge wave. A shot of Psychic power, it seems!
Deelel Lord Fisher makes the choice to help them she nods to him once..

"I will not forget this."

She looks to the weapon, she can feel it and it's power. She looks at it and doesn't look to touch it herself leaving it for the drones to take it. Then Septette moves to stomp it. She will pause for a moment

"It's best we are leaving we can continue this later as Orchid suggests but I do not wish to be here when the Concord arrives. Not only is Kord her but so is Staren and I would prefer not to have to fight him."

She's taking a risk trusting someone who is an unknown here but she's going to do it there's no time to argue. She will trust Septette and contact her later about this.
Orchid      "Here," Orchid flips something to Septette. It's a tracking device. Yes, she may be trusting too much, but she'll know right away if that trust will be betrayed.
Staren     Exploding orbs batter the Star Hawk. Staren reflexively blocks with a shield that isn't there. Chunks of metal are blown off, leaving ragged tears in the Star Hawk's form. Only still standing because it is such a mass of metal.

    There's a strange light. Septette says it has to do with her, so it's okay. Septette always does the right thing.

    Staren looks to Kord. "If it would stop this pointless fight... Do they really need to die? Like, is it because others will rally to their claim to the throne after you depose them, as long as they're alive?"

    There doesn't seem to be any response.

    Staren sighs. "Sorry." he fires a burst from the lasers at Bahamut, then keeps the railgun pointed at him as the mecha transforms into a plane and speeds towards the dragon. When it gets close to melee... arms pop out of the plane, manifest beam swords, and swipe at Bahamut as Staren speeds by -- doing his best to be hard to hit by dint of acting like neither bird nor plane nor man and moving only like a multiverse-tech-enhanced transforming mecha can!

    "...I have to choose when to go against my allies. Maybe killing these nobles isn't really necessary... but with what they're doing to the world, I'm not putting this world's best chance for a brighter future in jeapordy just to save their lives. Kord is going to fix this world. Noone else has stepped up. Do you even have a plan, beyond putting corrupt nobles in prison?"
Septette Arcubielle      After three or four more seconds, Septette turns to a pure-white silhouette... but catches the tracking device with one of her feet, expertly snatching it with the talons. "Your caution flatters me," she says wryly.

     And a moment later, the string snaps, and she simply disappears. There's an audible pop as air rushes in to replace the killbot-shaped empty space, like a tiny sonic boom. Orchid and Deelel are left alone... perhaps to contemplate whether they've made an unwise choice.
Orchid      With Septette gone, and Kord's intent to level the place stated, Orchid takes Lord Fisher with her, politely but firmly, to minimum safe distance.
Bahamut      Bahamut is crushed beneath ice, hit with powerful beams and slashed with powerful beam sabers, and blasted with a beam of psychic power. The big dragon groans and drops to a knee, his teeth clenched and one eye closed against the pain as his blood flows from his many wounds, much of his armored plating carries deep gashes now, and even his wings are looking tattered.

     "Nnnng...and because no one else has stepped up you are willing to accept any ruler so long as there is one? A world is very difficult to change for any one being, even a god. A world is only truly changed when the multitudes accept that there is change to be made and are willing to make that change. And just what is his plan? Kill everyone until only the supposedly good remain? New evils will always rise. That is why a world must be governed by all, not simply by a few in power."

     Bahamut forces himself back to his feet, his breathing a bit difficult now. "And that is why...I will not allow any of you to follow this course of action so long as I am able to stand against you."

     The sword being discussed is a separate matter, and one that Bahamut can't possibly address right now when he is on his last leg against opponents just as stubborn as he is.

     Once more, Bahamut leaps back, and his hands and feet firmly plant in the ground. The golden gyro on his back starts to spin, and all those present must recognize what is coming.

     The golden-white energy flows over Bahamut again and builds once more in front of his mouth. The orb of concentrated energy and massive beam once again seek to engulf Staren, Theurgus, and Kord before it explodes upwards once more.

     After it has passed, Bahamut tries to remain resolute. But, it is quite obvious he is exhausted.
Count Kord     Kord takes the hit to the face by a giant laser beam. He hasn't the energy to avoid the attack... and really, he hasn't a good way to avoid it even if he wanted. Those are some huge lasers. Kord's body sizzles, his body trembles, blood drools from his maw. But he refuses to back down from his task. He isn't joking, and wasn't joking when he showed up. He's going to destroy this estate even if it kills him in the attempt. He sucks in his breath, and opens his maw as if to throw out another attack.

    That doesn't happen. The power fizzles out inches from his maw. He then growls and SLAPS his claws into the dirt.

    Bahamut's shadow surges up in an array of jagged spikes, making a metallic SHHHNK as they stab through the air at him!
Theurgus     Talking about a new venture in discovering knowledge, leaves Theurgus completly open to Bahamut's second Mega Flare. She regains focus far too late, and is once more engulfed in the searing energy beam. Her defenses break, and her transformation sears away, before she slams heavily into the ground, trailing smoke and being covered in a crisscross of red damaged code... much like she looked after fighting a different dragon not so long ago.
Staren     The Star Hawk is already flying away when Bahamut starts charging for another megaflare. OH %^&* HE'S GONNA DO IT AGAIN?!

    Staren manages to fly out of the way at just the right time. The beam streaks out into the sky, over the water. If this were an anime there'd be a dramatic shot of Staren looking scared and then relieved while the bright beam reflects on his helmet visor.

    And it seems the fight is over. It was a misunderstanding. The noble was resisting Kord only to protect the sword, and Septette has it now. He's going to be spared -- there is no need for Bahamut to continue fighting.

    Staren sighs in relief as he circles back around...

    It has become a matter of pride.

    So sayeth the dragon.

    <"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"> So shouteth the Staren! <"You said you were doing this for justice! You said you were doing this because you believed it was right! But now, you give in to bloodlust?! STAND DOWN, Bahamut! If you take any hostile actions, I WILL shoot!">

    And if Bahamut makes any agressive moves, he does, laser light and hypersonic metal raining down at the dragon!
Bahamut      Bahamut is pinned in place like an insect by Kord's shadow manipulation, and he lets out a roar as a few of his limbs are immobilized, and one spike even catches him in the gut. He listens to all of the discussion, then lets out a slow rumble and stands tall before Kord. "You are right, Staren. However, it is not bloodlust that possesses me now. It is pride. Kord believes I have tred on his, and I will not deny him satisfaction even after the situation that brought us here has been resolved. And he still displayed a willingness to kill merely for an insult. Such behavior is unbecoming of a god, much less a dragon."

     Bahamut makes an obviously aggressive movement - namely he flexes and breaks free of the shadow spikes - and Staren fires upon him. Lasers and bullets perforate his metallic hide from above, and he holds up his arms to protect his head. "So, let us finish this, Kord! Dragon to dragon! King to King!"

     Bahamut flicks a finger at Staren and the Star Hawk, and a small bolt of lightning lances out, but this is likely simply to keep Staren at bay rather than actually harm him. Bahamut faces Kord with resolve and a proud smirk. "But, I will not simply give you victory! You must earn it!" he says, then leaps at Kord, aiming to pounce him like a raptor does its prey, with all his long, sharp talons bared.
Count Kord     "Begone from my sight, foul serpent!" Kord howls, as the thunder slams down onto him. And as Bahamut lunges for him, he snaps forward, still surprisingly spry despite all the apparent physical damage. He opens his jaws, jams his claws forward, and tries to twist about and slam the other dragon into the ground with a great big THUD! Using his current opponent's momentum against him, to try and seize victory and complete his task today. CHOMP!?
Staren     Oh shit. Staren really thought that would finish Bahamut! Lightning zaps the Star Hawk, but the additional damage is like a scratch compared to everything else done to it.

    It kind of feels like pure spite is keeping the dragons going. Staren checks if this is something his comrade wants settled between dragons.

    No, Kord says. Finish the mission.

    "Save it for the Shrine, Bahamut." He continues raining high-tech weaponry down at the battlefield!
Bahamut      Bahamut grunts as Kord bites, claws, and tries to throw him. But, Bahamut is both quite heavy and quite strong. He might be moved, but he lands on his feet despite the attempted slam. "Foul -serpent-?!" he says with a growl as he grapples with Kord.

     Staren comes in for another strike, and Bahamut can't weather the storm the time despite all his efforts. He roars as the plethora of weapons fire rains down upon his back. His grip on Kord loosens and with a slight rumble he stumbles backward. "Nnng...well fought." he manages, barely standing. He tries to turn toward the warp gate and start walking, but with his strength gone and his body so battered, the dragon ends up falling forward instead, unconscious.
Count Kord     "..."

    Kord stares at Bahamut, briefly looking down on the figure's battered body. And then turns, stubbornly, to start systematically dismantling the Fischer estate. Lord Fischer himself steps out of the building, but does nothing to stop Kord by this point. He rubs his brow instead and finds a convenient little hill to watch the destruction efforts from. He doesn't seem too upset by all this damage, and instead seems more...calm, even relieved. Like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. Not happy, but serene.

    Manaphy appears from a nearby puddle, and floats over to linger behind Lord Fischer's shoulder a moment. He's unaware of her presence, her figure invisible to his mortal eyes, but Elites seem capable of seeing her. She watches Kord's rampage, and muses aloud... "So like his parentage," in that sad way.

    Then she vanishes like fog, a soft puff of air erasing any evidence she was there.