[Nexus] Outside XXIX

[Rebonack]

[Thessaloniki - The Vents]

"They're warbeasts," Gaius replies. "Hard to kill. Very strong. And very clever. The Legion uses them on missions they wouldn't think of sending actual soldiers on. Like, say, crawling through the volcanic vents to get into the city."

Sorta like what happened here!

As for the shape shifter it doesn't look like anything is lurking behind the numerous pillars that dot the surroundings. And there are plenty of sounds. Sounds of his companions. Sounds of machinery. Sounds of steam. Sounds of explosions in the far distance. Sounds of rodents crawling around in the walls.

And the sound of a single coin-sized piece of plaster landing right in the middle of the party.

That's the only warning they get before the the half-ton Wyvern slams into the ground and aims to bisect Tavish with one of its orahalcum vibro-blades.

Apparently the monster was clinging to the ceiling just behind an archway and waiting for them to pass underneath. And visible light simply wasn't interacting with her. And a nearby heating duct was masking her already dampened thermal signature.

Clever girl...

[Thessaloniki - The Gate]

"We're putting together a team right now. We've got a wizard who knows how to baffle The Legion's detection gear with us," the fellow in the cloak replies, gesturing at a guy who's wearing similarly muted attire. Doesn't look like your standard flashy wizard at all! "There's no point standing around here and letting the Legion roll over use. We're moving out."

The wizardry fellow walks over to the wall and places a hand on it causing a small section to become briefly translucent. Dippy should be able to feel a breeze from outside the city filtering through. "They've got these walls warded something fierce. I can't keep this up for long. Get moving!"

They'll have a great view of the incoming enemy forces in the distance. Wonder how they'll get all the way over to the camp?

[The Legion - C&C Tent]

Those still inside are hurried off to the remaining transport along with Centurion Legate. That should include the triplets, the bald newcomer, and the weird bug man. "Everyone inside! MOVE! You'll be briefed on your mission on the way!"

[Legion Transport - Sammy and Eighty]

The men have fallen into their conversation again now that the briefing/pep talk is over. Specific orders scroll across the HUDs on their helmets informing them of what mundane and boring task they'll be stuck with in place of shooting rebels in the face.

Eighty watches Sammy closely. His expressions. His body language. Even his heart-rate. Everything suggests that he's really quite angry. She just... she can't understand it. Order and discipline is everything in the Legion. You don't speak out against an officer. You don't disobey. You don't talk back. You follow your orders and if that means you die then you die for the glory of the Legion and for Mars.

She just can't comprehend his defiance and rebellion.

It must be because he's from somewhere else. Somewhere outside The Legion. Somewhere that forces people to fend for themselves rather than having a strong centralized society to lend them strength. That must be it. He's just from a barbarian land. He doesn't know better.

Maybe... Maybe when the battle is over he could come back to the Capital with her! That would be the best place to learn medicine. And to learn order and respect and honor! The Wyverns are all on display in their Eyrie when they aren't deployed. He could come visit her! It would be perfect.

When the boy replies Eighty gently nudges Sammy in the shoulder with her nose. "I wasn't hurt. I was just surprised is all. Don't worry for me, I'll be fine."

[The Bandicoot]

Thessaloniki-The Vents

Flarg disappears, reappearing above the wyvern. He drops down on the thing's back and uses his blades to try and climb to it's neck. Meanwhile the falcon is flying about, diving in to strike with it's talons. If it does hit the wounds will be slightly larger than the talons themself and they fester, a thin smoke coming from them. The wolves surround the thing and lunge forwards, trying to take bites out of it. The bites have effects similar to the talons.

[Hattish Thing]

Th-thanks.... what's nice about it?

And no, m-my ears aren't red.

Not sure...j-just reminds me of s-someone I knew. Marty then gently reaches to run his hands through her hair. D-Don't lie...y-you don't have to hide anything.


Abandoned Louv're Mine

A figure lies on the mine floor. She isa very young, rather pretty young woman. She wears the suit of an overseer. She was to make sure everything was running smoothly in this particular mine. She has four long slashes on her waist, her clothes are ripped apart there, showing the four long wounds. She gets off the floor by leaning on one of the wooden boards blocking the area. You have to help...me....please...it got my husband....he worked ere....help me? She's obviously badly hurt. It attacked all of us...killed so many....It got me...but I ran...I was trying to find my husband. It had dragged him away....Please...help me find him....

[Morty]

[Thessaloniki - The Gate]

As Dipsnig follows the rest of the group, he says: Sneaking into the camp with all those troops in the way won't be easy. Do you have anything in mind?

[Abandoned Louv're Mine]

Dipsnig isn't really concerned about Jakus' lack of caution. For a goblin, leaving someone buried alive is a great crime.
What was that "it" you're talking about? He asks the woman. Better yet, what happened here?

[Dark Elf Bard]

Not sure...j-just reminds me of s-someone I knew. Marty then gently reaches to run his hands through her hair. D-Don't lie...y-you don't have to hide anything.

She gently untucks her ears, which are a light shade of crimson.

Who was it?

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Oh, no one y-you know. I haven't s-seen her in....seven years now. She was a very g-good person. Had white hair...l-like yours. But she was human. Marty wonders why her ears are red. Maybe it was normal for drow?

[Dark Elf Bard]

Are you human?

She says this softly, almost in a whisper.

((Is he still touching her hair?))

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Marty wonders why she was whispering. Um...n-no...well...half. I'm a half elf. I take after my mother though. She was h-human. And yes, he continues brushing her hair with his hands. Eventually his hand brushes against her face and ear.

[Dark Elf Bard]

T'rissylene gasps, barely audible, when her ears get touched. Her cheeks turn a light shade of crimson as well, though it's hard to see against the drow's skin.
But then... she settles back, eyes closed, the sun on her.
What were your parents like?

((what time is it?))

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Well, he'd been in Trogs for...about two hours. So, maybe 6:30 Nexus time.

He doesn't hear her, but does see her face redden a little. He continues brushing her hair and runs his hand across her ear. You have long ears. I h-haven't seen a full elf in....a l-long time.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Well, I'm a dark elf.... ever seen one of those before? Besides Elkandar?
{Scrubbed}

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

No...I h-haven't. Just high elves. He continues marveling at her ears and gently caressing her. He didn't know hy he was doing it...he just wanted to make sure she didn't have another episode. She seemed to get upset easily.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Was your father nice?

{Scrubbed}

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Er....n-no...not really...I d-don't like talking about h-him.... He looks down to the ground. Good, she hadn't freaked out. He owed it to Elkandar to take care of his sister while he was away.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Oh. I'm sorry. How about your mom?
{Scrubbed}

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Msarty is oblivious. Well...she w-was an elf...a g-good woman....

[Dark Elf Bard]

W-wow... my family's the opposite...

{Scrubbed}

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Marty doesn't really pay attention to ear size.

Oh? I'm s-sorry...Y-you didn't l-like your mother?

[Dark Elf Bard]

W-well... she did the...intestification...

My father was very kind though. Mother always beat him.

[Terumitsu]

[The Legion - C&C Tent => Legion Transports]

Well there was no time to lose then.

Nearly shoving the helmet onto her head, the bald woman made for the nearest transport at a brisk pace as she brought her suit's status in a last-minute check over everything. She already knew everything was running smoothly but this was simply a part of her pre-battle routine, a ritual of sorts if one wanted to call it that.

There was a possibility that the transport she boarded would have enough room for one or maybe four others, depending on how fast the other sell-swords were in finding a seat. If not, well, no real loss, right?

[Hattish Thing]

W-well... she did the...intestification...

My father was very kind though. Mother always beat him.

Oh...I'm s-sorry. You can always l-look to someone though, a good friend. I had Toque. I've known him for years. But, I left Cylar.
He continues brushing her ears.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Friends... what are they like? Are you my friend?

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Friend...You must h-have h-had friends...and sure. You're m-my friend.

[Dark Elf Bard]

I-if this is friendship, I've never had it before.

She leans toward Marty a bit. If he doesn't push her off, she'll slowly lean against his shoulder.

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Um....Ok? Y-You must have had f-friends....really. He doesn't move. She had traveled a lot. She was probably tired.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Nope... not except you a-and Elkie.

[Mindfreak]

Eastern Shore of Vroen
The girl laughs, moving her hair back in place behind her pointed ears.
"Yup, this is my dragon, though he liked to go by Shimmerscales."
Then, Eadin might find the Dragon's mind reaching out to her own.
Hello.

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

Marty frowns, Oh...well, y-you'll meet other people. You Ok? He's glad she hasn't freaked out like she did before...perhaps her mental health wasn't the best? Oh...what was he to talk about insanity. He continues touching her. Maybe she'll fall asleep. Then he could take her back to Trogs. She needed her sleep.

[Dark Elf Bard]

{Scrubbed}

She yawns and puts her bare feet up on the bench, snuggling against Marty.

[Hattish Thing]

Gazebo

He notices. Was that usual for drow? He guessed so. Maybe he just wasn't paying attention before. Y-You feel any b-better?