epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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.

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[He looks from her to the still-vanishing rune. Hmmn.]

No. But I can still help you.

[Koltira reaches out with his free hand, his open palm hovering over a patch of dirt. The earth begins to rumble, the soil churns, and a few moments later, something starts to fight and tear its way to the surface. A ghoul--a slack-jawed, skin and bones creature with enormous teeth and filthy, knife-like claws. The ghoul growls incoherently as it leaps ahead of Asuna, clobbering the nearest pack of guards. Its guttural howl--and its shredding embrace--are a good distraction.]

Kyah!

[AW HELL NO.

Asuna jumps right out of the way, giving this ghoul a clear path to the guards while she stares in horror. A few times, she looks between Koltira and the creepy mob he had summoned. She hates stuff like this. It's helping her but it's also... not helping her.]

Wh-what is that?! [She didn't sign up for creepy, horror monsters!! In fact, she's darting around to find something to hide behind. There isn't much so she chooses Koltira, keeping him between her and the ghoul but still holding her sword and ready to fight off anybody that gets too close.

What happened to her cool entrance?!]

What are you doing?

[He scowls up at her as the ghoul just keeps going to town, rending and biting at whatever comes within its reach. Its attacks aren't very powerful; it's meant to distract, not to kill, but the guards seem just as unnerved by the ghoul's sheer biology as Asuna. Koltira makes a 'tch' noise in his throat.]

It's just a ghoul. He won't hurt you. He's barely hurting them.

That's what I should be asking!

[Why would you summon ghouls? WHY?! And she's scowling right back down at him, pointing her sword at the monster doing what it can as a distraction. He can reassure her all he wants that the ghoul won't hurt her but she doesn't like it. She won't get near it!]

You're supposed to be focusing on the rune, are you not? Don't summon ghouls! It's not helping! [HER. AT ALL.]

[Koltira groans, a low, gravelly sound that comes out much more sinister and threatening than he intends. Mostly he's just exasperated. The ghoul is not permanent; in fact, it starts to fall apart as they speak, its limbs dropping off one by one. The guards, emboldened, move in to finish it off.

Fortunately, the rune has all but disappeared beneath Koltira's hand. Once the glow on the ground fades, Koltira gets to his feet and draws his sword. His eyes are burning lichfire, empowered by his consumption of the rune.]

Enough of this.

[He swings his sword, and an arc of ice follows it, holding each guard fast to the ground. He inclines his head at the girl.]

Easy pickings.

[That's even creepier!? She stares, a little horrified. If it was a skeleton, this would be different. Despite carrying her sword and obviously being skilled with it, Asuna is a sixteen year old girl. She shoots him a look from being groaned at.

But he's done his job and Asuna has... done hers? She just watches as he stands, still standing somewhat behind him and keeping him between her and the ghoul.

Immediately, she's distracted by the ice and her eyes widen. No, she should have expected magic. It was normal for elves. So as he keeps them in place, her gaze hardens and she closes the distance with another flash of light.

The ice shatters and there's a loud booming sound as her Sword Skill has an AoE that effects all guards within it's radius. Some of them hit nearby walls, most of them skid twenty feet away. She doesn't celebrate her victory, just waits for her cooldown period to be over to she can attack again if they come at her.

Then she SPINS TO FACE KOLTIRA.]

There will be no more ghouls, if we're working together.

[She's good with her weapon; he'll give her that. The guards that aren't outright unconscious will certainly need a moment to regroup, though Koltira can already see a few of them rushing back over the dark field.]

Why?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Are you afraid?

[immediately,]

No. [yes...

but she won't admit it. she will never admit to being afraid, she'll just get mad that she's called out on it because that's the mature thing to do.]

I just don't like them.

[what's the difference there is none]

Hmnh. No, many do not.

[He squints into the gloom ahead; he can see a couple of guards rushing towards them, weapons drawn. Koltira extends his hand, and a lash of shadowy energy bursts from his palm. The dark whip grabs one soldier by the throat, then yanks him forcefully back towards Koltira and Asuna's position.

Koltira presses his free hand to the soldier's chest, and ice spreads rapidly over the man's armor, holding him in place.

As the man shudders in Koltira's grip, he adds--]

Because they are afraid.

[ ... Sooo he doesn't make fun of her. That's a good sign. As he looks away and into the gloom, she exhales quietly but stays alert. The guards seem to come from nowhere and there's more coming towards them. Her grip tightens on her rapier but instead she watches what is going to happen.

If another ghoul shows up SHE SWEARS!!!! Oh no. Just shadow energy. Cool.

Her stance shifts when Koltira pulls a body towards them, readying her weapon to attack. There was magic in SAO, but there was nothing like this. She's awed and a little confused by it at the same time.

Nevermind about not making fun of her, he's calling her out again. Her sharp gaze bores into the back of his head. ]

I'm not afraid. I said I don't like them. [ He's not killing anyone, is he? There's another guard though, he seems to have stopped dead at the show of magic and Asuna takes that chance to close the distance in a flash and hit him in the chest with another burst of light -- her own magic, in a sense. He flies back but gets to his feet, aiming his weapon at her. Asuna stands her ground.]

No matter how many times you come at me, I'll knock you down.

[Koltira has to admit it--the girl is skilled. He's impressed, or at least, impressed enough that he doesn't press his point.

But he does consider the guard, still trembling, shivering, in Koltira's grip. He could choke the life out of the man easily. He wants to. Still, he gets the sense that present company wouldn't appreciate the corpse.

So, with an irritated sigh, he drops the guard, who--of course--instantly scrambles for his weapon.]

Knock him out, and let's move on.

[ It would bother her delicate sensibilities. More bothersome for her is being told what to do. Although she doesn't look at him, the guard will see her jaw tense. This isn't a place she's familiar with though and she was planning to do so anyway if he didn't leave on his own. Normally, a lot of people avoided a 1v1 battle with Asuna.

But she draws her sword back again -- before she can start a sword skill she knocks the hilt of her sword into the side of the guards head and knocks him out easily. With that, she sighs and sheathes her blade.

And when she turns to face what MUST BE A DARK ELF, she closes the distance between them. ]

If you don't mind, I have a question for you. Have you heard of the kingdom of Lyusula?

[He shakes his head, 'no'.]

I have not. Do you hail from there?

[ That answers a lot of questions she didn't have to ask. Her shoulders sag a little, her brow furrows. ]

No. [ Maybe she should explain. ]

But that is where the Dark Elves hail from, I thought-- [ He was dark elf but that's obviously wrong. ] Nevermind.

[ Time to get back to business. ]

Will you continue to get rid of the runes with your magic?

[He stares down at her, confused. Maybe a little insulted? It's hard to tell.]

I am no dark elf. I am sin'dorei. Or, I was.

[Hmnh. Difficult to explain. He shrugs.]

I will. I can sense the runes, pulsing. The network is crumbling, but slowly.

Was?

[ Now she's as confused as he had appeared. Not insulted. Sin'dorei? She opens her mouth to ask about it but the mission is more important right now and she's reminded. ]

So that means the mission is succeeding?

[ Hearing that a network is crumbling doesn't sound promising. She furrows her brow and muses aloud. ]

Even if I'm happy to save people, I wonder if there will be bigger consequences for destroying the runes.

A long story. For another time, perhaps.

[As to the matter of the runes, he just shrugs.]

I imagine the immediate consequence will be the displeasure of the humans in this realm. But there's little helping that.

[ Right, the jailbreak. The runes. She's still curious. ]

I was thinking something more along the lines of a significant problem to the rest of the populace. I wonder who else is in the jail.

Edited (don't tag at 2am self) 2016-01-12 09:57 (UTC)

Ah. Yes. The criminals and so forth.

[He shrugs.]

We could simply kill them. They are likely scheduled for execution, anyway.

[Is he joking? Maybe. Maybe not.]

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EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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merry... xmas.... sdlkgjdsg

tags are good presents

at this point they are new years presents ;;

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