EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

[futurologists]

THE BARRIER As promised, Arthur has the means to unlock that first, crucial step to saving the ALASTAIR recruits: unveiling the runes maintaining the barrier. He has sequestered himself in a rented room in the inn down the road from the prison; he’s at a good enough distance to keep his concentration unbroken, but near enough that he can reach the runes in question. The recruits are told to be ready, to wait for his signal before they take action. The signal comes just after the stroke of 5 on the town’s clocks, at what would be dawn in a world of less darkness. There’s a shimmer in the air around the brick building of the jail, like the surface of a bubble. Then suddenly the runes are there: glowing bright green, flaming into existence at various points along and within the barrier. There are at least 30 of them along the outside. They’re etched on walls, scribed into doors, carved into the very ground. These have to be destroyed first to make any progress, in any way the recruits are able to. Once these all have been broken, erased, or scattered (and some of them are cleverly hidden or out of reach -- have you checked the topmost brick in the clock tower of the jailhouse?), the first defense of the barrier has fallen. Then the jailhouse itself can be rushed, but magic is still hampered until every rune is destroyed. From there the runes can be found every few feet in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the jail, and only once each one is broken will the spell be completely lifted, magic and abilities restored to the area, and the inmates considerably easier to break out. The recruits aren’t the only ones that can see those runes, though. The jailers are quick to react, and some spring to the defense of the runes while others rush to sound the alarm, calling even more armed guards to the area. Even city guards start to show up in response to the alarm -- there’s definitely a time limit on this venture. Dispose of the runes, rescue your friends, and be out of the area quickly, or you might just be overrun with armed, angry opposition. THE ESCAPE By the time those in the cells are finally brought out, it’s pandemonium. The guards, jailers and city guards alike, might not have been able to stop ALASTAIR’s recruits from destroying the runes and bringing down the barrier, but they’re determined at least to stop dangerous criminals from escaping into the city. And these criminals were due to be hung, so they’re not looking to take anyone down peacefully. They’ll be going for the killing blows. The best chance will be to rely on numbers and scatter. In ones and twos and threes, people should be taking to shadowy alleys, slipping around corners, even dropping down into the sewers, if they have to. Anything to thin out and disappear. The most capable and destructive fighters are asked to stay as long as they can, giving the bulk of the rest of the escapees time to disappear into that unending night. THE COOLDOWN Those that helped free their friends probably won’t run into too many problems in the following days, unless you run into a guard with a few injuries and a long memory. The ex-prisoners, though, are another story. They were in there long enough that the men and women who guarded them know most of their faces quite well, and since they’re out of prisoners to guard, what else do they have to do but take to the streets and search? Ex-prisoners should play it carefully, then, if they don’t want to end up right back where they started. Guards are more than happy to cause an immediate fracas should they spot anyone that belongs in jail. That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out at all! Just, you know, take a disguise with you. As if anticipating the rising demand for them, all local merchant shops seem to be stocking up on scarves, shawls, and bulky clothing. Isn’t that nice? Most of them don’t really care what anyone did to end up in jail, they just want to share in on those ALASTAIR-paid wages. If spotted, townsfolk have varied opinions of the escapees. Some are mistrustful and bitter, and will immediately alert guards upon realizing who they’re dealing with. Some of them really don’t care. They’re tired of the darkness, tired of the conflicts, they just want to get on with life. One old man in particular seems to inexplicably love all ALASTAIR recruits, the ex-prisoners in particular, and will insist on buying a drink and playing a game of chess with any of them he runs into. The goblins, of course, have pretty good opinions of anyone on the wrong side of the king, and will be your best bet for finding lodging and food. Some of them might even think of you as a hero, or at least a roguishly charming vigilante. Spend your post-breakout time well, and try not to make any more enemies.

Comments

Sieglinde Sullivan | Kuroshitsuji | OTA (mostly)

[grunehexe]

01. Get Your Acid Here

[Sieglinde has been uncomfortable with waiting. But her own investigations looking for the runes tied to the barrier holding the captives powerless had been fruitless... And this Arthur character assured he could bring them to light. So wait she did, tucked in the crook of a butler's elbow, a few glass vials held ever so carefully in her lap.

Once the signal goes out and the runes appear, though, she seeks to distribute them, holding out a vial to anyone interested in assisting.]

Take this, and carefully pour it upon the runes- it destroys most all it touches, do not allow it near your own skin.

[What she calls a potion to erase the spells of others most people just call "acid".]

02. Barrier Mission [Locked to Sebastian, Rin, Archer]

[What an odd group this was- though now wasn't the time for such observations. A butler (a demon), a witch (a scientist), a mage, and a Servant... But Sieglinde was glad for the aid, and a girl who seemed well versed in magic. Though it surely differed from her own knowledge due to their different worlds, she would be keen to hear even more. Later.

Sieglinde has just finished work erasing a rune that had been laid on a foundation stone within easy reach despite her particular handicap, the now pitted and acid-gouged brick proof of her "potion"'s work, still smoking slightly. Carefully recorking the bottle and handling with gloves, she turned her gaze upwards, question directed to whomever of their ragtag group was listening.]

It is done- have you sight of another?

03. Post-Rescue Medical Treatment

[Sieglinde is little help in the actual rescue operation- rather, she is a burden more than boon. But she knows that, and by the time people are scattering, she has a message ready and sent out to the network.]

username: sieglindesullivan
For those of you who require medical attention, please make your way to the western market apothecary.
If you need assistance to reach this location, please alert me. Any other available healers who are available, your aid would be appreciated.

[Those who reach her will find she's set up shop... Off the street, (she's not trying to get you arrested), up a set of narrow stairs to the rooms she's been renting above the apothecary.

Countless sheafs of notes, books, scribbled magic circles and text in Old German have been hastily shoved off the bed and tables to make room, so she's ready to work, sleeves tied back, gloves on, hair out of the way.

Now, what seems to be the problem?]

hey maybe they won't talk about semen and infertility this time!!! ...uh I mean 3

[babbylon]

[Sieglinde had beckoned to him from beyond the prison bars, so now that he's free—free and well-rested—he comes to her. He's dressed in clothes that contrast his status as king, those of any average youth on the street, and clambers up the steps in near silence. Not because he's hiding, but as an aspect of his natural grace.

He slips into the open room and looks around at the mess of papers and paraphernalia; typical of a magus, he figures, and their habit of making sense of the nonsensical. His eyes fall upon the girl and she's both what he expects and not, though he doesn't comment on it.

Rather, he sits on the floor on a comfortable nest of pillows and simply studies her.]

So this is the face of a witch?

[He keeps his own carefully controlled. It's impossible to tell what he's thinking, other than that he's thinking something.]

No promises

[grunehexe]

[With the communication via text Sieglinde isn't sure to expect from the legendary Gilgamesh. A "Servant", and one who she should not make assumptions on based on the epic she had read, simply one of many tomes in the expansive libraries of the Green Manor.

But it wasn't this.

Between patients, she had turned to taking stock of her potions, a random looking collection of glass vials and ceramic jugs, fingers dancing lightly over the tops as she tipped each one to evaluate the amount remaining in each, freezing a moment upon Gilgamesh's arrival, brow furrowing slightly at his lack of greeking- until he makes himself comfortable and speaks, making his identity known.]

The face of one, at any rate.

[A witch who had not been a witch in her own world outside the realm of belief, raised to believe in her abilities and taught them as "magic", only for the truth to expose them as science of the highest caliber. But a witch she was in this world, granted spells of healing by their captors- so she had kept the name, and the secret shame she felt that went along with it.

But her look in turn is clinical, looking him over for injuries, signs of fatigue, moving about on her knees only, all important items arranged in a circle around her, to begin washing the blood from her hands.]

You look better than I feared you would.

[The way he had spoke... She had done as she promised, and prepared in advance. There was a vial of blood tucked away in her skirts, and a bandage on her forearm.]

[babbylon]

Someone saved me.

[For as prideful as Gilgamesh could be at times, there's no veil of it now, no attempt to hide the truth. He just stares evenly back and announces this, glad she didn't see him at his worst. It would likely color her perceptions moving forward and he is cognizant enough to avoid that much.

Gilgamesh keeps his hands folded on his lap, the very picture of politeness in another's home. Or whatever passed for it.]

But I wanted to come anyway. I did promise to meet with you.

[Gilgamesh holds out his wrist after a moment. A small scrape, slow to heal, mars his skin.]

A test, then. Heal this wound.

[It certainly was a test, of sorts. If she had magic, as she claimed, he'd catch a taste of her. And if the prana was good, he'd ask for more. Simple as that.]

03

[1300yen]

[It would be hard to imagine anyone making it out of that affair unscathed, and Alisha is no different. When she sees the message, she makes her way to the apothecary as best she can. Thankfully, none of her wounds are too serious—mostly bruises and non-lethal cuts, that sort of thing—but she knows it never hurts to be careful.

(Read: Now that things have calmed down, she can afford to be a little more mindful of her injuries.)

When she sees just who sent out the message though, she's a little taken aback. Alisha's no stranger to appearances belying experience (Edna is testament enough to that), but it still surprises her. After all, in Edna's case, the fact that she looked like a young girl didn't change the fact that she was a Seraph who'd lived for countless ages. There was no telling if this girl was like that.]

Excuse me. This is where one can receive medical attention, yes?

[grunehexe]

[One of the first things Sieglinde had learned upon coming to the outside world was that people outside of her village considered her a child. It had been baffling, offensive even to someone like her who had been raised as a lord, relied upon, but over time she became able to brush the knee jerk response to defense aside.

So she simply nodded at the question, gesturing to the bed she sat beside, small (unnaturally so, actually) feet dangling several inches above the floor where she sat perched on the edge of a pulled up chair.]

That is correct- please, take a seat.

[But she didn't behave like a child- not now, at least, with the situation as dire as it was, already looking the older girl over, evaluating what injuries she could by sight alone.]

[1300yen]

[It's certainly a strange sight, a young girl speaking with the authority of an adult, but even if it leaves Alisha puzzled, she's not one to be rude. Especially considering that she's the one who came here for help in the first place, she'll take what help she can get.

She takes a seat on the bed easily, looking around the room with interest (and noting that the girl's feet are unusually small, even for a child).]

Are you by yourself here?

2

[cutlery]

[ As soon as it was requested, Sebastian was of course ready to provide assistance to Sieglinde. In a way, he was impressed that she had managed so far, though he also guessed that it might not be too difficult for her to find it, considering her condition... Still, playing the role of transportation isn't something that he minded too terribly. She was more agreeable than Ciel, after all.

Once she's finished the one rune, Sebastian crouches to collect her up once again. In truth, he does know where another rune is, since the magic brushed up against his being in a peculiar way. But he won't admit that, since that would come with admitting how he can feel out such a thing when he's rather certain that it's out of sight. Instead, he'll politely defer to the other pair, since it seems like they're more suited to such a thing in the first place. ]

On that note, do we have any idea of just how many there are?

[defenceless]

[rin's been convinced of sieglinde's capabilities well enough, and it's only natural that anyone who would accompany her at her side receives the same sort of respect. standing tall at her own less than impressive height whether the smaller girl is lifted up or not, she raises her head and—as sebastian might have expected—she is notably less reluctant to reveal her magical sensing powers.

sieglinde has already heard of them, after all.]

By my count, it's at least a couple dozen, but more and more are diminishing as we talk. That isn't accounting for the ones inside. We'll have to break the outer barrier first.

[she turns to archer, the tall servant right next to her, as easily as if it was breathing, and with that same ease she delivers a command, hands on her hips.]

The two nearest to us right now are very high up. Why don't you take care of them for us, Archer?

[naturally, the runes are out of sight with the un-enhanced eye, high up on the jailhouse's clock tower. rin realizes archer can see them, however, likely as clear as day even in the night.]

[anti_altruisms]

[ It is an odd sort of group they make, he supposes. Sieglinde is an acquaintance of Rin's, one he hadn't met before, so while he is willing to defer to Rin's judgment in this, he is also quietly watchful. He's here to be support and to protect his Master while he's at it.

Rin points out the runes, and sure enough, they are plain as day to his eyes. His bow materializes in his hands, and it only takes two quick shots, bright red with magic, to shatter the runes at the top of the clock tower.

Breaking the barrier isn't going to prove so difficult. ]

3.

[prayingone]

[Any other available healers who are available, your aid would be appreciated.

Shirley hasn't been in Chantes long. She doesn't know its streets as well as she could; the crowds of humans and goblins, larger than she's used to, intimidate her a little. But having a set destination and task makes it easier to go out... and to be honest, she's used to not knowing her way around town. Once she makes it to the western market, all it takes is asking one friendly merchant selling candles on the street to find the apothecary in Sieglinde's message.

She makes her way up those narrow stairs to the entrance of Sieglinde's apartment, hesitating only a little before lightly knocking on the door as she enters.]

Hello? Excuse me, is this-- [Once she enters, she's momentarily surprised by the sheer number of notes and books contained within the small room. It reminds her a little of Will's house where, although he had bookshelves in every room, he would keep his favorite texts and notes on monsters piled on every available surface-- including the windowsills. It would be silly to ask "is this the place," when it so obviously is.] Um, I saw your message. On the network.

[She's more than a little surprised, too, by how young the author of the message is. Her words had seemed so measured and mature: like that of an adult many years her senior.]

I know a few healing artes. If I can, I'd like to help you.

[grunehexe]

[At the sound of a knock, Sieglinde did not look up- she was rather focused on a patient, albeit one that was already unconscious. The man was sprawled out on her floor, shirt on the other side of the room, and Sieglinde's gloves were blood-stained from dealing with a gash across his chest.

- The unconsciousness wasn't from blood loss, at least, if the bump on the man's head was any indication.

The sound of "healing artes" did turn Sieglinde's head, though.]

- Of course, do come in.

[A bit late, but she extends the invitation anyway, even as she keeps moving her hands- pouring a potion carefully over the wound now that she's cleaned the blood away.]

What exactly are your artes capable of, miss?

[With as many worlds represented, she had to ask.]

[prayingone]

[It's a somewhat gruesome sight... but one that she's sadly familiar with. War is everywhere, on Melfes. How many bandages had she wrapped around Senel's cuts and bruises, after he'd come home from long missions of fighting monsters at sea? How many ointments had she given him for his battered knuckles, after he had beaten away the soldiers in red? She can't count them. There are just too many to even try.

She doesn't shy away from the sight of the wounded man, or the blood on Sieglinde's hands. It's just par for the course in their line of work. She approaches the process, reaching to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and watches to see if the potion has any visible reaction on the wound.]

I'm able to heal mild to moderate physical injuries, to various extents. The longer time I have to cast, the more powerful the arte will be. [She tugs thoughtfully at one of her braids, trying to think of the best way to describe it.] At the least, I can make sure an injury is well on the mend; given enough time, I can heal it outright. But I can't heal things like broken bones on my own. At best, I can ease the pain and... encourage the bone to heal. I can't do much for illnesses, either, or poisons.

In the past, I've collaborated with other crystal erens to heal a major, life-threatening injury... I'm not sure how it would work with other magics, but I imagine it should be possible for me to combine my strength with others.

1

[jamminshield]

[Steven had been hanging back, since he's essentially useless when he doesn't have access to his powers.

But that was until he came across Sieglinde handing out her vials. He'll reach out to take one and then squint at the bottle.]

Whoa... Is this like some kind of super powerful magic acid?

[grunehexe]

[Steven had not been someone she'd expected to run into... But Sieglinde was the last person who could underestimate someone based on their age. Rather, it had been his cheerful and flippant seeming nature that made her think it odd to see him here... But then again, she didn't know much of the other boy...

So she nodded seriously, pointing at the vial he now held.]

It will burn away almost any natural substance, and any spell along with it.

[jamminshield]

[Steven might not be one for violence, but he's all for doing his part towards rescuing his friends, even in minor ways.

He gives a determined nod as he looks it over carefully.]

Cool... Thanks a bunch! I promise I'm only gonna use it responsibly.

3

[haring_to_go]

[ aha! Finally a bit of calm amongst all the chaos. The prison break had all happened so fast he was still piecing the whole thing together. ]

username: lunettes
Ah, pardon me, but should you need an extra hand, I would be happy to extend my services. I know a little of emergency first aid and could be of use in organizing any of the wounded if need be. Do you expect to see a fair number of injured?


[ Because curious minds would like to know. Just how many of them were there, anyway? ]

[grunehexe]

At this point any hands who are experienced will be most appreciated. Seeing as I will take any, not just those of ALASTAIR, many have come for treatment and I've only two hands.

[haring_to_go]

Then consider my services rendered. I'll make my way to your location as soon as I'm able.

... Ah, would you mind giving me directions? I'm afraid I'm rather new to this city.

[ understatement, but whatever. He's figuring things out! Little by little. ]

3 - post-rescue

[keystaff]

I can meet you there and help if you need it! Not that I'm glad when the chance to practice my healing is because people were hurt, but. If you need a hand, let me know, okay?

[grunehexe]

That help would be most welcome, Sakura. I find myself without hands to spare.

[keystaff]

Then I'll get there as soon as I can! Just give me a few minutes to make my way there.

[Which shouldn't take too long if she runs. Or just uses the Jump card. Really, she should look into the idea of some new skates at some point.]

3!

[counterattacked]

[It takes a while for things to settle down. Long enough for Sieglinde to have seen to the worst of the injured and long enough for the guards to give up on the worst of their sweep of the town, long enough to find somewhere to lie low and clean up a bit and look less the part of a freshly escaped convict before venturing out into public again. Some things take a little longer than others—his healing factor had kicked back in after the barrier went down, but even if he regenerates damage more quickly than most, it's slow going compared to more immediate magic means. It'll still take a day or so to fully recover, especially when it's tied so intrinsically to his own (battered) energy in the first place.

It's hardly enough to keep him down when he doesn't want it to. (She'd made a longer journey with harsher limits.) After pulling his cloak up to hide his face on the streets and finding her home above the apothecary—should have guessed that one, maybe—he knocks solidly at the door. Anyone home?]

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde didn't know who to expect would come through her door next. She'd known what she intended when she sent her message out to the network... but naive as it was, she'd hoped not many would need it.

She'd been wrong. By the time Eren arrives and knocks on her door, Sieglinde had been washing up, trying to scrub the blood from her hands into a basin of diluted potion. Her normally messy flat had gained a new layer of bloody paint in some places, let alone the discarded gauze and haphazard shoving aside of items to make room for patients.

Lifting her wet hands from the solution, she looked about quickly, but- Masamune was somewhere between unconscious and dead asleep in her bed, upper chest and arm wholly bandaged and splinted. Struggling to her feet, Sieglinde somehow made her way to the door, (more like, fell into the door, if the thump was any indication), cracking it open to identify her caller before yanking the door open.]

- Eren?

[But he wouldn't have much time to actually say anything, because she quickly looked past him down the stairs before reaching out to yank him inside.]

[counterattacked]

[Woah, how forward. He has just enough time to frown at the thump from the other side of the door and spot her face through the crack when it opens (which means thankfully this is the right door, and not the door of someone more inclined to call for the city guard when they see him.) Then she's throwing it open and dragging him inside with a suddenness that takes him a off guard enough that he doesn't even bother to resist it.

Slightly bemused, he looks back over a shoulder at the doorway and then back over at her before opening his mouth.] ...hey.

[She's a medic of some sort, he knows, and the state of her flat doesn't really surprise him. Some of the trappings are familiar, some he's never seen before at all. The part of him that had been browbeaten to Levi's cleanfreak standards is probably horrified at the clutter, but it's the streaks of gore that tell the story. It speaks a lot as to how busy she's been.

(If he can spot Masamune from where he is, he stops and sharpens momentarily. Jaw set grim and hands twitching back into fists until he turns his attention back to Sieglinde.)

Finding his ground again—] I won't stick around for too long.

[If she's worried about that. Harboring one fugitive is probably risk enough.]