AC II - The Battle For Balamb Garden

[Helgraf]

The Cadet nodded silently. He waited until Cristo was on his way, then removed a small, slightly rumpled lily from inside his uniform and laid it across the headstone. He shook his head sadly from side to side, and murmured softly, as though speaking to the departed.

"He won't understand. Not for a long while yet. But I'll keep an eye on him for you Faeli. Try to keep him from throwing his life away needlessly."

A single hand stroked the topmost rock of the cairn they'd assembled. He called upon the Junction with the only Guardian Force he'd ever managed to make manifest in the test exercises. Heat welled forth; for he was not conjuring the Guardian Force but simply calling upon its aspect. Great heat, channelled most delicately to fuse the rocks together into a silent memorial of their loss.

He walked away slowly, almost exhausted. Even this limited form of calling was strenous for him, perhaps moreso than simply letting its full destructive might release itself. His steps were wobbly, and once he was back in one of the corridors, he leaned heavily against one of the walls, drawing deep breaths greedily, trying to suck in energy along with the oxygen to sustain him.

[Freshmeat]

(in reference to Fin's post)

"We've got a signal sir!"

"By Jove! We do?"

"That we do indeed, sir. Quite."

"'Tis the radar, I presume?"

"Quite correct indeed, sir. He has pointed at you even though he could've made exactly the same argument against several other players, but didn't speak up until now. Do you think he's looking for any excuse whatsoever to get you killed?"

"Hard to tell, but... wait... is he wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume?"

"But you're right, sir! Why on earth would he do that?"

"This is a disgrace to the sovereign state of England! He's even wearing the hat backwards!"

"Do you think he could be a Remnant sir?"

"Well, 'Fin', that's French for 'End' isn't it? Perhaps the end of the world? You can never know with those bloody Frenchmen!"

(Nah, just kidding. I don't exactly suspect you at this point. I just felt like writing up some nonsense. That said, I think the entire 'Seifer check' thing will be over either today or tomorrow anyway, so I suggest you think of a better excuse until that time comes.)

(And seriously, what's up with 'Freashmeat'? This is occuring with surprising frequency, and I can't seem to figure out how this can happen, because there don't appear to be any words that start like 'frea...'. If there is, please remind me. The mind boggles. Mine does, at least.)

(On an unrelated note, I don't see why we should send people to face the encounter when we know they can handle it. Only seven people are up for autolynch at this point. Five of them have posted in the meantime. That leaves two more people. Since we've got two backup players ready and willing to play, there's no need to cut our losses here in any way whatsoever.
We might just as well start right away and find out who's protecting who.

From an item-gathering point of view: only masons and network members can do it right. Every individual that acquires an item will probably have it stolen from him during the night anyway. If you've got no one else to pass the item to, chances are your item will simply fall into Fujin's hands. The only exceptions are single-use items that you can use right away. The odds of getting these kind of items is much lower than that of getting any other sort of item, so there's little point to stepping up to face an encounter unless you've got some sort of ulterior motive.
Losing a day isn't a disaster, but I wouldn't like to see this become a trend. The last thing we want here is for items to fall into the hands of a neutral role - at least, until we figure out whether Fujin is ultimately going to side with us or with the Remnants.)

[FujinAkari]

(The last thing we want here is for items to fall into the hands of a neutral role - at least, until we figure out whether Fujin is ultimately going to side with us or with the Remnants.)

((If Fujin doesn't work against the remnants, my karmic wrath will flay the pretender where she stands!

RAWR!

^_^))

[Shadow]

(And seriously, what's up with 'Freashmeat'? This is occuring with surprising frequency, and I can't seem to figure out how this can happen, because there don't appear to be any words that start like 'frea...'. If there is, please remind me. The mind boggles. Mine does, at least.)

Quit crying you FREAK!

I'm gonna start calling you Freakmeat_

*bow chiga wow wow*

[Ranna]

*Sniggering at the exchange and running blindly around with a "Etiquette for young ladies" book on her head. - Trying to keep it balanced see? - when she runs into Ariko by mistake. The book falls open and the page reads...*

RULE 32: Never speak, unless you are spoken to first.

[Cristo Meyers]

(Promised the wife long day of doing nothing tomorrow, so this'll probably be my last bit for now. Yeah, I know, you're all crushed. )

By the time Cristo returns from burying Faeli, it seemed as though the group had chosen a champion to fight the grendel: Demonic Angel, named so for his demeanor and ruthlessness in combat. He seemed more than willing to take on the creature.

Cristo places a hand on each of Angel's shoulders and looks him straight in the eyes. A grendel's breath electrifies the air around it, be wary. His tail can cut a grown man in half. Don't forget, this creature is dragon-blooded. The second you fail to respect that, it kills you. This is a creature of lightning: the wind and earth are its enemies, bury it in a grave with the fury of the earth itself.

He claps his comrade on the shoulders, Show them that nothing can stop us!

((If Fujin doesn't work against the remnants, my karmic wrath will flay the pretender where she stands!

RAWR!

^_^))

(Now there's a scary thought...)

( )

[The Valiant Turtle]

Points at Ariko

[Studoku]

We're pointing at Ariko now?

[Aemoh]

*changes point to Ariko*

[easyname]

*points at Ariko*

[DarkLightDragon]

*DLD growls*

Why are we always switching points on one person's whim?

[Fin]

(in reference to Fin's post)

"We've got a signal sir!"

"By Jove! We do?"

"That we do indeed, sir. Quite."

"'Tis the radar, I presume?"

"Quite correct indeed, sir. He has pointed at you even though he could've made exactly the same argument against several other players, but didn't speak up until now. Do you think he's looking for any excuse whatsoever to get you killed?"

"Hard to tell, but... wait... is he wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume?"

"But you're right, sir! Why on earth would he do that?"

"This is a disgrace to the sovereign state of England! He's even wearing the hat backwards!"

"Do you think he could be a Remnant sir?"

"Well, 'Fin', that's French for 'End' isn't it? Perhaps the end of the world? You can never know with those bloody Frenchmen!"

Whoa! Calm down Freakmeat ((Shadow, you are hilarious)) I pointed at you because you are the only person here to do a seifer check twice, and I had no other evidence!

Also I think I got your name wrong because I confuse 'ea' in 'meat' with the plain ol' 'e' in 'fresh' sorry about that!

[Freshmeat]

((Like I said, I just felt like writing up some nonsense. No harm meant.
For the record, I don't really care what people call me. I was just curious about the 'Freashmeat' thing which I've seen happen on several other occassions as well. Call me Fristi Meat if you'd like. It doesn't really matter to me.))

[banjo1985]

Okay, you have roughly 18 hours before the end of the 2nd day. The following players are still up for autolynch:

Fayt
Zombie Pixe

Theork, Griever, hope you've been keeping up with play!

Votes are as follows:

Demonic Angel - 11
Ariko - 7
Cristo Meyers - 2
Easyname, Malmagor Andrigal, Emperor Demonking, Freshmeat & Helgraf - 1

[Vampiric]

RULE 32: Never speak, unless you are spoken to first.

I think these are the rules you're looking for.

I'll point at Emperor Demonking.

[Lamech]

Okay, people if a cadet really wants to volunteer just send a PM to the narrators saying your Siefer, (unless you have the bad luck to actually be him) you will, face the next encounter, and be a confirmed member of team good, which will really help our friends behind the scenes. If your a power-role don't draw attention to yourself. (For completeness, if your a member of team evil please identify yourselves, and provide us with a list of what your weapons work against.) Therefore I'm slightly suspicious of Demonic Angel's more vocal supporters.

Ariko, I would not want to be you right now.

(Hey I didn't miss a day of voting after all.)

[LemonAndLime]

The cadet known generally as Lemon emerged into the open hallways of the Garden, still clutching two books under one arm.

"Well, my GF still seems to be completely useless in this situation, so I suppose we'd better be buying time until our superiors can help sort out some order from this chaos. So, are we supporting Ariko on the front lines today?"

[easyname]

Everyone should change their votes for Ariko. I think we got a Remnant!

[Mordokai]

"Even is she is Remnant it does us little good. She admited she can defeat Grendel. No good will come out of it."

[pingcode20]

((Mff, haven't gotten around to voting properly today, have I? Ariko seems to be getting tonnes of votes in a very short space of time... I'll go with that.))

[DarkLightDragon]

*change point to Ariko*

[Lamech]

"Even is she is Remnant it does us little good. She admited she can defeat Grendel. No good will come out of it."

Crap... I forgot about that. Well, maybe she is a lying reverent. This won't end well.

[Cristo Meyers]

(I appear to have missed something important behind the scenes, if the counter bandwagon is any indication. Ah well, I'll leave my point up as a Seifer check.)

[banjo1985]

The Grendel bears down on the quiet interior of the Garden Library, electricity crackling across it’s blade-like tail. The reaction in the library is sluggish and uncertain, the murder of Faeli and Cristo’s obvious sorrow have hit SeeD hard. But two cadets step forward quickly, ready to fight the monstrosity for the good of the Garden. A recent exchange student from Trabia Garden, the intense youth has quickly made a name for himself as a stubborn and skilled fighter. Already he has earned the nickname Demonic Angel, his hellish fighting fervour balanced out by his desire to protect Balamb Garden any way he can. Ariko also steps forward, eyeing the beast warily.

“Back away. We have this one.”

“He’ll kill you all you know. Ariko too. They just want to gain your trust and maintain your ignorance, so that they can murder you all in your sleep. Like shooting fish in a barrel…..swim swim…..bang bang…..hehe oh there will be blood in the corridors again tonight!”

Mustiado turns in horror to the shadows between the musty shelves at the rear of the Library, but the speaker is already gone. Only he seems to have heard what was spoken, the other cadets are too engrossed in the battle that is about to ensue. Demonic Angel could be a traitor, Ariko too, if they intend sto fight the creature there must be some sort of ulterior motive. Mustiado hears the strangers voice echo in his head, he cannot take that risk.

“Hold your blades. I’ll put this overgrown lightning rod down. There will be no blood tonight; we are no mere fish to be killed at leisure!”

Demonic Angel looks confused.

“We can take it.”

“Back down traitor, or I swear I will run you through here and now! I will deal with you later, you and your lies!”

Demonic Angel and Ariko see Mustiado’s eyes, the mad rage inside them, and step aside without a word. They know that at that moment their comrade means to do exactly as he says. Mustiado charges past the crowd of cadets, insane with the words still echoing in his mind.

“Hey wait! Don’t do anything stupid! What’s up with you?!”

Zombie Pixe and Fayt, quiet until now, follow Mustiado towards the roaring Grendel, futiley trying to hold him back. The Grendel finds itself with three targets in close proximity, it leaps into the air and brings it’s scythe-like tail around in a wide sweeping arc.

Mustiado has eyes only for the Grendel, and his reflexes are honed by anger, he manages to duck just in time. Zombie Pixe and Fayt are not so lucky. The Grendel’s crackling tail strikes at neck height, sending their sightlessly staring heads pinwheeling towards the crowd in a shower of blood and bone fragments, hair standing on end. Their bodies stand to attention, filled with electricity. Then the charge dissipates, and they collapse one set of joints at a time, dropping into boneless heaps on the Library’s varnished floor.

But now the Grendel is off balance, Mustiado sees his chance and takes it. The Grendel’s intestines drop to the floor in a steaming heap as the cadet slices a huge wound along the length of its belly. A blow to its exposed throat finishes the job.

Mustiado turns around, and the madness has drained from his eyes, leaving a look of complete disorientation and confusion. He sees the headless corpses of his fellow cadets, and the cold questioning stare of Demonic Angel and Ariko.

“What…..what happened? The voice….gods, I’m so sorry…….”

Night falls over Balamb Garden, and uncertainty rules the darkened corridors. It seems that there is a madness loose in the Garden, and that its catching. There are other forces at work here as well as the Remnants. But what they will do tonight remains to be seen….

Summary

Mustiado faced the Grendel in front of Demonic Angel and Ariko, who tied at 11 votes each. He managed to defeat the encounter.

Fayt and Zombie Pixe were autolynched. Their roles will be re-assigned to Theork and Griever respectively.

Night 2 begins now and will end Tuesday morning (GMT) or as soon as all actions are in and I have the narration ready. Get your PM’s into me asap for your actions!

[Uncle Festy]

((Eeep!
Did not see that coming.
So... was that Seifer's doing, or just a random thing to deal with a tied vote?
EDIT: Banjo, I think you made a mistake with my encounter %s. Please check your PM box.))

[Mustiado]

....

God... no...

--Mustiado stares on in horror at the disemboweled Grendel, his knees quaking as he dropped the sword he took from... somewhere...--

What was I thinking?!

--He collapses into a pile on the floor, clutching his knees and rocking back and forth slowly--

[DemonicAngel]

"What voices? what are you talking about?!" DA looks at the now dead Grendel, and then at Mustiado.
He retracts his dagger tail, and then looks at Ariko.
"I could have taken him down by myself, y'know." he smiles a soar smile and looks at the bodies with disgust. "Lets clean this up, before they start reeking." he then looks back at Mustiado, and starts walking towards the bodies, not waiting for anyone else to help him.

[Shadowcaller]

SC comes toward the scen running, he looks around the destruction the Grendel have made and finally turns toward Mustiado, Demonic Angel and Ariko.

Are you alright cadets?

He notice the dead Grendel next to Mustiado.

You..you killed it?
What did just happend here?

[Cristo Meyers]

(well we know who isn't Seifer now)

Cristo runs to Mustiado. He'd seen battle-madness before, but this was different. It was too sudden, and over too quickly. He'd never seen an episode like that.

He hauled the cadet up onto his feet. Wake up! There's work to be done. Two more bodies to be buried. Plans to be made. This day isn't over. You've got to stay with us.

His eyes fall to the two fallen cadets. He hadn't known them particularly well. But that didn't matter, comrades were comrades in times of war. We could take them to the gardens, unless someone has a better idea. But I'm afraid I don't have it in me for two more burials today...I'm going to retire for awhile. He turns back to Mustadio, Be strong, center yourself. We've a long road ahead of us.

Cristo looks around for a moment, searching for a companion that, for a moment in the excitement, he had forgotten wasn't there. When he realizes his mistake, a quick grimace of pain crosses his features before he suppresses it. This wasn't the time or the place. Perhaps later, tonight, after he had hunted...

[Mordokai]

"Hm, interesting. There is much to be pulled from this days going on. I think we got a solid measure of information today and hunting Remnants should be much easier from now on."

Flicking his blade with his hand, he puts it back in it's sheath and heads back to the dormitories.