Act 1: Choices
Act 2: Consequences
Phase 1: Effects
Phase 2.1: Ramifications
Phase 2.2: Cold
Phase 3: Clashings
Phase 4: Crossings
-Phase 4: Dust in the Wind
Phase 5: Thrones
-Phase 5.1: Enemy Lines
-Phase 5.2: Game of Thrones
- Session 401: Prelude to the Games
- Session 402: The Game Pieces Move
- Session 403: The Umbal Affair
- Session 404: The Game's Alliances
- Session 405: Battle of Cromwell II
- Session 406: Battle of Seacrest
- Session 407: Lights of Anora
- Session 408: Bloodlines
- Session 409: Unlucky at Ruun
- Session 410: Garden of Mercy
- Session 411: Civil War in Neer
- Session 412: Zegretta Neer No More
- Session 413: Aftermath Turmoil
- Session 414: Launch into Umbal
- Session 415: The Game of Thrones
Phase 6: Strikers
-RS Arc 7: Holiday Wars
Phase 7: Corruption
-Phase 7.1: Leylines
-Phase 7.2: Dark Magik
-Phase 7.3: Angels
-Phase 7.4: Gods
Phase 8: Peace
Phase 9: Collapse
Mini Series: Heart of Terra
Session 401: Prelude to the Games
Following the aftermath in Kerthal, the group plays witness as the eldest, Tina, looks down on Chain for her actions. Chain is sentanced to accompany the group on their journey, and possibly to come back one day when Ama has deemed Chain to have learned proper humility. Tina decides that the country cannot join Ama in the current war, as they need to recall their troops and rebuild what they have. Ama's forces have however gained a beachhead in their war efforts with Umbal. The group uses a mirror to return to the Palace.
11.23.2862
Ty is laid out in preparations for her funeral, Lyn grieves the loss. Lyn goes to leave as others gather and Kaelan sees the pain hidden from her face and embraces her, telling her not to bottle it up inside and offering comfort. She leaves, and Zuzu grieves, and Kaelan again is at the side of an Azuha offering comfort, but this time in a motherly way despite Zuzu's greater age. The group each pays their quiet visits, while Erevis explores her new realm, naked on the girl's side of the school. The group sees that Zuzu really did fall in love with Ty at this time.
Later that night, Zegretta discussing taking Fi'anna with her on her journey while Kaelan oversees the practice of the young ones. Jean plays with her kids and soon they are all joining a funeral procession to put Ty out to sea. Each once again offers their final goodbyes, Lyn delivering the eulogy. She then declares she will join the rest and help them find out who is attempting to take Centerpoint, and rejoin Ama for the war on Umbal.
11.24.2862
Zegretta tells her plans to her gorup, she intends to go to Kit and take a ship filled with supplies to Neer, where she will work to retake her throne. She believes most will turn her down, however, just about everyone who went to the Demon Realm opts to go with them, even Lucky. Jean decides to bring Lit along to attempt to bring her back as they go. Zegretta's group leaves for Kit, where they will take a ship to Neer, heading out, they get on the carriage, leaving some friends behind, and the Catmews, the kids come along at first, but are sent home after a while. Butler does not rejoin the group, but remains behind. Lenneth also decides to stay behind with Chae.
In Blantress, the group is considering their next move and wondering if they can contact Jean, when Wyrd draws them all into the Mark to speak to her.
11.22.2862
In Jeanole, Jean considers the reports on the destruction of Badelf and has only one option in her mind, she sends her forces to war, to begin to unite people and stop the world from falling apart. The group learns of reports from agents watching the Demon Realm of a spray of energy like Jeans erupting. She begins to send her agents and then moves to her room to weep, having not heard from Umi and fearing for her, Truth goes to comfort her, worried about them all falling apart. The others look at one another and express their worries of how dangerous a path this can be for Jean to be taking.
11.23.2862
Jean is having a conference of war when she slips into a sleep, Libel and some enforcers follow her into the Mark and Truth, having to fight resistance, comes with them.
In the mark, the groups meet and Jean meets the others, however, she is disappointed and becomes political when they say they are going to Gelus before going to her. She seems happy to see Umi, but leaves the trance afterwards, and Truth tries to emplore the group to hurry back.
Jean sends her people to begin to check with their allies if they will join with her effort, sending Libel to check on Team Rica and Truth to visit Ama to deliver the news.
11.30.2862
Nearing Kit, Jean contacts Ama through the mirror and sends her kids back to be safe and with their friends and school things. Zegretta's party arrive in Kit and settles down at an inn to rest a day before departing. Meanwhile in Na'vi, Juliet's party arrives in the town and settles down at an inn by the college, the innkeeper friends with Juliet. The group listens to students debating and contemplating, and prepares for a short respite before moving on towards danger.
Session 402: The Game Pieces Move
Juliet's group readies to depart Na'vi, the party having rested and eaten, gathering what supplies they can, it's noticeable that the one thing the city seems to lack entirely are weapon shops. Boarding their carriage, the group says goodbye to peaceful, learned Na'vi and as they leave, they pass two figures which could be Saedi and Celesia. This causes the group to talk and Lia seems to narrow down in her thoughts on what truely happened on the day of the Calamity. She begins to ask Cleo exactly what she did that caused her more damage than when she brought Cersei back to life, perhaps thinking reattaching a head might be more difficult. Cleo feins sleep to escape the questioning as the two women outside discuss how easy it could be to dominate the city.
11.27.2862
Rica's group learns that Neer is attacking Cromwell, showing that the Kingdom of Neer under Zegretta's Aunt and Uncle has offically moved in favor of the King. Revoia decides not to move against Neer and instead to let Neer occupy itself with Cromwell while she makes preparations to move in on the throne. It is now that she shares the secret about the Gelus family line that has had her so worried and reserved about Juliet.
The first Gelus, who appeared mysteriously to bump the McTreggor line out of it's place is none other than Angelus, the one from the Prime Reality who crossed over after the others and vanished into the background. He has been using Black Magic for centuries to invade and take over the bodies of his decendants to retain his immortality, and if the King is truly dead, it may well mean that Juliet's sister is no the occpied body of Angelus and that she may have to die to prevent the Black Magic from continuing.
Moreover, Juliet may still be susceptible to possession. She also mentions that Angelus believes if he can recover the bones of his fallen future sell, he can use it to achieve godhood, and so far only Tanan's remains prevent it - but only for now since another could disturb it. The Gelus royal fleet has been searching the waters for a long time, as yet, not having found the spot, but the Empire has found it.
12.1.2862
Deep inside Kit, really deep in there, Zegretta's team boards a ship and gets ready to sail back for Neer. As they ready to take off and find some Nymph's shyly approaching. Coaxing the creatures on board, they learn from the Nymphs that the Demon Realm has fallen into disarray. Malthus has taken charge and brainwashed Seraphim into being his wife, he's begun heavily bearing down on the weaker slave demon races and started constructing an army to sweep of Tareh again.
The Nymphs let the group know that if they wish to use the Nymph's Passage to return to the Demon Realm to help with stopping the new Demonic Empire from rising, they are welcome to. They decide that after they regain Neer, they can move in on the Demon Realm.
12.6.2862
Juliet's group reaches Yuan, where they begin haggling for boats, while Bel starts some scheme involving cannons, Hoko gets passage back to Ama while the rest pay for passage on the boat of Captain P. As they board and get to know their Captain, Captain P, which may or may not stand for his genitles or perverted status, hits on the ladies and gets them underway, a true MAN! OF! THE SEA!
12.10.2862
In Gemet, Truth arrives to deliver the treaty offered by Jean to Ama. She is slightly shellshocked by the suspicion some of the Shogunate puts out towards her, however, she also shows a lot of her naivety in her beliefs that such a gesture would be taken easily or lightly. The group excuses her, and Butler escorts her, the two talking in Mark Speak as Truth brings Butler up to date on events and explains that Jean needs friends to back her up or everything will fall.Butler considers going with her.
The council argues, Tsuki strangely agressive and agitated towards the events, pushing that they make enemies before friends, while the rest consider their options, Zuzu pushing for friendship strongest of all. Ama decides to play both sides and has them sign the treaty, but also to have a group follow Truth back to the Empire to see what's really up.
Session 403: The Umbal Affair
With the Queens ready to fly, Rica's group is privy to a conversation where Lohain presents a bold plan to take Tri'Hill, needed as a staging grounds to assault the Gelus Capital City. He wants to take a single wing of Queens into the city and decimate it under the cover of a storm. Ro'an volunteers to go to keep the mad Black Rider in check. Mimi volunteers to go and the others, members of her wing, follow as well. The group shares dinner with the crew of Lohain's Badasses, and also meet the NAG Mages who will accompany them on the assault. Rica and Lana discuss what the mages might like to know from them, Lana being trained by a male caster and Rica a user of Angel Magik. A shady figure listens in on them.
12.13.2862
The Shogunate council discusses developments, now two days since Truth departed to head back. With Ama'dorei in a state of repair, they're little more than a staging ground, but with Jean now as an ally, or a tool to be weilded, Ama has some help in the days to come. However, it is more than apparant that an attack is coming for Ama's kingdom, and defenses must be prepared. Mugi is given a tongue lashing for recent behavior.
12.14.2862
Nearing Seacrest, Juliet's ship onbserves a massive fleet being constructed in the harbor, however, it is not for her. McTreggor's flags fly high and it is apparent that Juliet has lost ground while they were gone. The group decides to sail on, heading for an icy cove to the north. They dock and part ways with Captain P, heading inland towards Cromwell.
12.10.2862
Nearing Nephilius, Zegretta's group grows worried over the missing Angel and follow the Nymph hints to check below in their room, where they find the girl submerged but not dead. After relief at finding her, they move to dock and get their things, but find two worrisome things. Nephilus Harbor seems a ghost town, and Neer's fleet is nowhere in sight.
12.6.2862
With a window in the storm opening, Lohain leads his badasses to Tri'Hill, Mimi's wing following in. After passing close to the defenses of the city, two getting injured along the way, the groups land in the Noble area and Lohain begins to wreck havoc. The group breaks off and heads for the leader of the city's home. After fighting through guards and taking them down, they successfully capture Lord Baronister, and they are able to use him to call off the troops, save pockets of resistance. Thousands already dead by Lohain, the rest are at least spared and allowed to surrender or flee for the capital. The group pauses to celebrate, Lohain seeming to gain some sanity in his victory.
12.18.2862
In Gemet, the Shogunate enjoys some time relaxing with Umbal looming on the horizon, one last breath before war.
Truth returns to the Empire to deliver the signed treaty. She gives Jean an honest recounting of the situation but retains her optimism. Butler is welcomed back and informed to go meet her superiors in the NAG. Everyone gets to greet the real hero of the story, Nephilim Parita-Ruun.
Gemet and the Empire, Ama and Jean, meet over the mirror and discuss matters, Jean getting some clarification on Badelf and seeing Kagu. Jean offers her help with Umbal and to ask her friends if they will voluneteer to help. Zuzu suggests that they visit the Empire to see how things are gonig for themselves.
12.17.2862
Blinded by snow, Juliet's group trudges towards Cromwell when they are stipped by riders. It turns out to be Tyler Garnif and others from Cromwell, there to greet them and bring them back. And to show them the war machine they have built for the Princess in her absence.
Session 404: The Game's Alliances
Location: North of Seacrest
While recovering in the fortress tower, the group at Juliet's side is informed on the current war state by Tyler Garnif and his 20 year old daughter, Tiana. Apparently Mimi McTreggor has rejoined her mother Revoia McTreggor who has declared the extermination of Juliet's bloodline.
While Cromwell has resisted Neer to date using tech magik, they need to prepare to face the wrath of two Anima, and thus have created miniature versions of them referred to simply as tech-magik anima to counter.
Though it looks dismal, Tyler notes they have 1000 tech anima already and 30,000 troops ready to fight in Cromwell. Lia and the others discuss the possibility of disarming the enemy Anima or reclaiming them.
12.16.2862
Location: Nephilius
Gathered in a tiny inn, Zegretta summons older Jean's group to discuss their intention. Their enemy is revealed by Jean to be in Neer and the politics of Neer's rule is brought to attention by Lessa, none the least of which involves a lesser known treaty entitling Gelus to half their forces in support of Julianna to quell the civil war.
Kaelan can't seem to shake that everything is moving according to dark schemes, but Jean insists they focus on Zegretta's plights for the moment.
12.11.2862
Location: Kerthal
Tina is coaxed into complying with a treaty she clearly doesn't agree with that her parents acquiesced to, at the behest of receiving aid to honor their treaties with true allies-- after a threat to Ama'Dorei's wellbeing.
12.18.2862
Location: Jeanole
Empress Jean hosts Amaterasu and her company in expensive rooms with fine dining as they prepare to depart from Regius. Aso Erevis continues to display demonic tendencies, such as craving raw meat as Auna is called upon to retrieve pigoink for her.
Jean's Head Priestress Lin Erica is distaught when Jean announced her plans to join the Templars and Amaterasu in their endeavors, and much of the angel's followers say they will as well. Jean plans to keep up in her duties using the convenience of Amaterasu's ability to travel with mirrors.
Meanwhile in Seacrest, Libel says that she will join Rica's comrades in their endeavor while awaiting back-up from the Empire after being convinced to join to join McTreggor after Rica's arguments.
In Kaji, Melissa arrives to uncover the truth of the locale and decide its fate.
Session 405: Battle of Cromwell II
Libel moves quickly to speak to Revoia about a deal based on Rica's lines. Her allies however, try to delay her after Lana brings up reservations about Rica's POV, saying some things about Rica's leadership. Rica however, states her primary concern is bringing down Angelus, but even she begins to falter realizing what a union with Revoia means for their friends in Cromwell.
Rica attempts to get Libel to wait a short while to discuss things in detail, but she joins Revoia and quickly makes offers, giving the team no time to change anything without causing a disruption. Mimi is informed of all this by Moira in Tri'Hill, who grows reasonably unhappy with Rica over this. However, while Mimi clearly seems to be turned against Rica, she remains in Revoia's camp for now.
12.22.2862
Arriving in Cromwell, the group is brought quickly into a makeshift council of war. With the knowledge that the McTreggors are on the move, Juliet decides that they will try and retake Seacrest while the McTreggors move for the capital. Hearing that the Empire has allied with Revoia, the group becomes worried that they'll have to fight their friends. Lia decides to try convening with Wyrd and Fate to reach out to Jean.
In Seacrest, a meeting has been called and Revoia lets them know their spies in Cromwell have reported that Juliet as arrived and plans to strike. Revoia does not beleive in pausing to face the rebel forces, so instead opts to let some people stay behind in defense. Rica, angered with herself at the situation and the possibility of hurting those in Cromwell, brings up the idea of creating an alliance with the rebel forces to turn them on the crown. She, Ailee, Finn, Lana and Sal decide to stay behind, hoping they can get the attention of Cromwell and forge an alliance instead of seeing senseless violence.
As they discuss this, Libel warns Rica about burying the relic lest Simon comes for her. Just as the others depart, Simon looms up and grabs Rica by the throat.
Back in Cromwell, just as people are settling down and Lia, Wyrd and Fate are going to contact Jean, a blast of Magic from the Neer side collides into the northern wall, shattering it, while Cersei is patrolling it. She vanishes in the Mark and Cromwell rises to war. Mounting their Anima machines, the team and Crowwell soldiers move out to meet the enemy. Lia uses her Anima skills to enhance the troops and rushes to try and dig Cersei out before the wall is used to repel the soldiers, as the wall is slowly restored, the Neer soliders and a group of Mages, likely from Mason Tower, are turned against the Cromwell fighters. While the Mason Mages primarily are defense and stat buffing - giving their side shields and whatnot - Fat, enraged at the wall falling on Cersei, and others - attack them mercilessly and slaughter them, including young Mason mages.
They are close to victory when Maka takes three spears into the gut leaping to defend Jerrid. Lia breaks off her attempts as Cersei pulls herself out, and leaps to join Jerrid and Maka, desperately trying to save her life. She manages to restore the body, but Maka's mind seems to have gone, or slipped into a coma. The battle ends on a bitter note as the cat screams in loss. Belit uses her presence to force the remaining Neer soldiers to surrender.
12.24.2862
Goddess Eve comes, and Lia, having spent most of her time by Maka's side, is there as Maka speaks, a simple prophecy, "The bird that sings it's Song is caged and is being brought to bare against the pawn that would be queen; save her for me."
Lia puts two and two together quickly and thinks that Song might be used as a hostage or force to threaten Juliet. When Jerrid mentions that no one has really inquired about the girl or tried to save her, Lia realizes what might really be happening and leaps up to raise the alarm. Even as it rings, a maid tells Juliet about Song's life being forfiet if she doesn't go with her, and the two begin to go, James going with her. Lia rushes after them, trying to convince Juliet that it's a trap, Juliet counting on the others to save her.
As Lia rushes after them, she is joined by Belit and Narok, the others not following. Down below in the waterways, Juliet is led to a hidden chamber where an armed and armored Song waits for her. Juliet however, changes Song's heart by telling her of her shame in not being able to help her and accepting her punishment. Just as Song turns her blade on one of the enemy Knights, the others burst in to save the day. Lia then interrogates the maid to learn of what other spries might be in Cromwell.
12.26.2862
While Lia sends her report to the Tower, explaining that the Mages died during an offensive against Cromwell, which they participated in, Juliet goes over reports on the found spies. Urr and Cleo are saying their goodbyes, choosing to settle down to have babies. Juliet and James discuss their chances, while the Empire supporting makes things seem near impossible, the Anima have proven an effective fighting force.
Lia moves out to talk to Jerrid, who is driving his men harder than ever after the loss of Maka, she quells him somewhat, and they discuss their future and his taking on the role of her Aegis. He hesitates on the position, but not on their love, and takes her to start fulfilling it. Cleo and Urr plan a farewell party, and Cersei and Moira begin to wonder what the truth is about Gelus due to his name.
Session 406: Battle of Seacrest
Simon chokes a bitch. Rica struggles to get free and the others try and break him off her. When Rica pulls out the trinket she took from him, he releases her and lets her go. The group realizes quickly that Simon only came for one thing. Rica calls Sal off of Simon and Simon moves off to walk back to the Empire... through the ocean. Ailee, freed from her charm during the fight, drags Finn off to spank him.
Ailee however poses the question - why would a Templar turn into a demonic presence, or at least an undead force, that would move about, and have some intelligence in his eyes as she puts it, and was it the trinket that did it, or was it the trinket that was suppose to prevent it? And if it was the latter, what was the Empire doing to the Templars that made it him that way, and if so was it something to empower them to fight demons and the trinket was a failsafe and hence the order to bury them with it?
12.30.2862
Arriving at the fortress about halfway to Seacrest, Juliet's army regroups, joined by the latest 500 Anima Units and additional troops. The group is given a chance to rest as Umi passes out from a dream calling. They lay her down to rest while the others talk and ponder what's going to happen in the future.
Umi in the dream voice meets a battle ready Empress Jean, who seems busy with yet another war. As if this isn't enough to worry Umi, Jean lets her know that they located Umi's lover, he survived the destruction and ended up in Blantress, but was in critical condition. Umi allows her to take the man to be healed, then has a touching goodbye with Jean. They then part and the dream ends.
Umi awakens that evening as the others are training and planning. She rises and immediately runs off, and out the fortress on her own, refusing to answer a training Cersei, which hurts the woman who thought they were friends, since she always treated Umi as an equal and not like a pet. The others plan a three pronged strike on Seacrest, and once Juliet learns of Umi leaving without a word, tries to hide her hurt.
1.4.2863
Nearing the city, the group begins to break off from the main force when a single Serpent Queen lands in front of the army. As the rest move on, Narok and Belit break off to join Byron Jr. and Jerrid as the meet with Finn. Finn offers the terms of peace, but since Revoia will not relinquish the throne for Juliet - as well as the fact McTreggor's forces would expect Juliet's to surrender, Byron Jr. declines. He respectfully turns down Finn's offer to join their side, but also suggests he stay out of the fight if he doesn't want to face his parents in battle.
The others move into their positions as on the Noble's Hill in Seacrest, Rica, with her team, Ro'an and the NAG second in command meet up to hear what Finn reports. The others knowing it was a waste of time seem satisfied and move into positions. Rica tells her group that they should wait to see where they're most needed, and tells Finn the same as Byron, that he can sit out of the fight.
The armies clash, and Ailee rushes into battle, she cuts her way towards Narok and Belit, and gets Belit to chase her. The others step deeper into battle as the Western attackers join, everyone headed for Noble Hill in the hopes of ending the battle with the least casualties. Juliet's group battles small groups of mages and encounter a shielded Lower Section of the city, finding it curious before the reach the hill as well.
When they reach, the begin to take out the remains of the surprisingly paltry force left to meet them. Ailee dives off the cliffside with Finn and Belit, Rica flying after them on Pixie, her group taking to the air. Just before the cannons explode, the entire fleet in the harbor set up to take the hill. The aftermath leaves Byron dead, Ro'an missing, Jerrid missing an arm, and the group greatly damaged.
However, the fleet begins to explode, and the group sees Royal Gelus and Neer ships attacking the now exhausted fleet in it's own harbor. Rushing to the docks, the group loads onto a battleship and Belit takes charge of the Navy.
The battle at sea is drawn out when Mason Mages clash with Lia's powers, both groups trying to be as non-offensive as possible while participating in the battle, shielding ships and fighting the create water currents. Rica and her wing join the battle in the idea that Revoia wouldn't be happy if the crown took Seacrest, even if Juliet got it, and the entire group just barely survives when the final ship, a Gelus juggernaught, levels a powerful magic tech cannon at them. After the explosion, people wash ashore and the battle is won.
Rica, deciding that it's better for Juliet to know and charge into battle than not know and be caught by surprise, lets Juliet know about the Blood Curse, and her family's connection to Angelus. Juliet decides to rush as Ro'an predicted, but her reasons are pure, she decides she has to save her sister and free her from Angelus, and no one among her followers questions it, despite Rica's protests for her not to go and an anger retort from Cersei about Rica's honor.
She orders the troops that can move to be ready by morning, but the group, once she passes out, agrees to make sure she rests a day before marching on. Rica decides to follow Juliet, even if they have to from a distance, with the sole determination of making sure Angelus doesn't get his hands on Juliet, whatever that means.
Tri'hill recieves the results of the battle, something they already knew was going to be a loss, however, they also learn of Ro'an's disappearance. Mimi mourns her, and reveals that she and Ro'an were once an item, which Mimi calls a girl crush due to age. Libel mourns the loss of food since is Ajan missing due to having stayed by Ro'an's side for some reason or other.
Session 407: Lights of Anora
McTreggor's forces begin to mobilize, Mimi reports what she knows of the forces arrayed against attacked at Anora. It is not much, just that they are called the Lights of Anora. The queens take off, leaving Moira behind as for some reason she seems unable to wake.
In Seacrest, the troops are recovering and starting to rebuild the city when the Empire's fleet nears the city. Rica readily admits this is her own fault, having pushed the pact with Revoia. The forces quickly begin to pack up and leave, Jerrid left to deal with the ground troops as they flee the city, handing their port over to the Empire. Rica and her wing give the team a flight out of the city and towards the city of Tri'hill, no time to rest now.
Moira in Tri'hill begins to feel ill as she feels marks and something else coming in. As she leaves her bed to investigate, the alarm is raised as a group of Serpent Queens, braving the cold and the winds, move in on the city. Juliet's group starts lethal, but after a scream from Rica to be nonlethal, the group changes tactics and works on unseating riders and capturing them. The battle goes quickly, but the team manages to dismount the 13 of 15 riders they did not kill, including young Bip. As this happens, the two Moira's meet up and recombine into a single being. One rider gets a dagger into the eye of Cersei, but the quick actions of the team save her the most serious damage, though Cersei is left without sight in her right eye.
Taking the surrendered Serpent Queens, the group sends for more of the Army. Fate falls to her knees feeling pain from Libel and a sudden vanishment. This is when the group learns of the Lights of Anora. Juliet mentions a secret passage, and a stealthy Ro'an makes her presence known as she takes the information and flies off for Revoia. Rica recommends letting her go, as Revoia armed with the information means less people dying in battle, namely Mimi, who's still with her.
A few hours pass and the residents of Tri'hill are more than eager to accept Juliet as their patron, very popular as she spent a lot of time living in the family estate there. The group packs up and flies off again, moving on towards the captial. They stop at Trading City when they see the wounded, hundreds of soldiers and Queens suffering from the Lights of Anora's damage. The group goes to seek information before leaving and Lia pauses in her duties and assists the NAG mages with healing as they do, Lia stating quite firmly that when it comes to the sick and dying, the Masons are on an equal footing with the NAG. The others find Ajan and a rider left in charge of the city. Seeing the slaughter and the senselessness in another battle, the rider lets Juliet pass.
The rider, LeBlance, fills them in on what's going on and seeing night falling, Juliet hurries her people back to their Anima and Queens. The group mounts up, Lia joining them and sending off a missive to her people to send a triage. The group mounts up and flies off once more, this time for Anora itself. Ailee needs to be calmed from all the blood she saw, and an hour and 15 minutes later, the group closes on the city, watching as Revoia, Mimi and Lohain take out Light after Light, but also the incredible damage the city defenses have dealt to Clan McTreggor and the grounds around the fallen. The NAG assists the McTreggor forces with shields and volleys of spells. When the group arrives as a fork in the road, they wind up joining the McTreggors in battle.
As they approach, things quickly get out of hand. Revoia claims she will have to kill Juliet now, but the group, and Mimi, argue with her that blindly doing what they already know might be senseless isn't a solid plan. While they debate, Lohain notices Juliet and goes to attack her. The group is forced to fight him as the lights go out. Soldiers flood out of the front gates to sweep the remaining McTreggor forces, then the lights flicker back on to attempt a focused strike. Some in the team are blinded by combat with Lohain, but others begin to attack the lights. They are down to a few left when Lohain finally snaps out of his revere and flies into them, stopping the reamining beam from decimating the team at the cost of his own life. Revoia too is sent in pieces towards the grounds, or at least, her Serpent Queen is.
The group recovers and between Lohain and Revoia's falls, and a sacrificial explosive crash by Ailee, the forces below are decimated and begin to retreat. The group finds Aileee and restores her, as well as Libel, who was damaged but lives still. The group is unable to find the remains of Revoia or her necklace, to them meaning she is likely still alive. They leave Ailee with Libel and head for the secret passages, which lead to tombs and the lower levels of the castle. They will need to work their way into the heavens to face off against Angelus.
Juliet thanks them all for their work, for their friendship and their helping her. She asks them to trust her still, in anything that happens. Only Cersei knowing what the girl plans to do to stop Angelus.
Date: 1.5.2862
Session 408: Bloodlines
Coming out through the tombs thanks to Narok's amazing bear strength, the group makes their way out into the streets as McTreggor's Forces meet Neer's within a stone's throw. The group hurries into the nearby church where they learn of another godly figure on Gelus' stained glass, the Prophet. The group learns of a service elevator here directly to the Royal Quarter up above but Juliet eschews that path in favor of the towers of nobility.
They head up as the forces of Stonewall break into the battle, unbeknownst to them having joined in an alliance with Juliet's forces. Fighting their way past a fop, palace guards and deadly lightning traps, the group navigates tower after tower until they reach the very top and the royal palace. Here, they find themselves quickly surrounded, and learn why Juliet chose the long path. Had they taken the service elevator, they would have been disarmed and captured swiftly, this way they are moving on their own terms and ready for a fight.
Once in the throne room, it is Juliet who unmasks Angelus as who he truely is. Offering Julianna-Angelus her own body, using the Mark as a selling point, she tricks Angelus into her body so that once inside it, Cersei then kills her with a lightning blast to the heart before he can react. The freed Queen Julianna allows the group to take Juliet's body down to the leyline, a vehment Lord Hill leading them down with his cronie. Wary of the man in black that accompanies them, the group heads into the chamber, but Libel hides to keep an eye on the man who does not follow.
Restarting Juliet's heart in the leyline chamber, the group is unable to use the leyline to stop him and Revoia, having joined the group bloodied and battered, has to be talked into giving them more time to figure out how the leyline spell works. The Marked in the group leap into the Mark after Angelus as he tries to enter it to find Jean herself. In the space of dreams inside the Mark, the group battles with Angelus, who has trapped Jean in a cage that damages her and him whenever the group attacks. Forcing their way through, the group bludgeons Angelus around, while trying to keep Jean less hurt. It's Umi, running in from her own Mark, who pulls the evil man out of Jean and allows the group to take the final blows on him. Angelus retreats back to Juliet's body and the others start to awaken after.
Outside, those who did not follow prepare a Mana-Trap for Angelus, which they learn at the last possible moment would actually be quite bad for Juliet. Too late to stop it, Juliet awakens and is zapped by the mana, forcing Angelus out and into a solid form, the group leaping to kill him. As he dies, and the others try to recover, Lord Hill shoots Juliet and Julianna with poison darts. Rica and Lia take turns trying to keep them alive as James begins to wig out and beat on Hill for the antidote. It's then that an explosion sounds outside.
Listening in on the dark clad man, Libel learns of a coalition that set all of these events in motion. The man talks on a device that lets him communicate with someone presumably far away, and deciding Hill is compromised, works to set up an 'accident' to kill everyone in the leyline chamber. Libel contacts Ama with a mirror and warns her, and Ama herself comes through to rain down fiery punishment on the man before moving in to intervene on James. She convinces Hill to tell her the secret, and he admits that the poison was made to look like it killed Juliet only and would only really succeed if he himself was killed. The two girls begin to recover, and the war seems to be won. However, as Juliet comes to, they find her eyes have been burned out and she is blind, quite possibly forever. During the battle, Revoia's body is found dead, having given it her all to defeat Angelus and keep his spirit in one place for the others to defeat.
1.7.2862
Juliet, the Blind Queen of Gelus, sits on her throne with Julianna beside her, acting as her eyes. She announces that Mimi will be joint ruler of Gelus and since Mimi is the new leader of the McTreggor Clan. Due to this, Jean's treaty of friendship can then be extended to the Kingdom of Gelus and the Empire is no longer a factor. With Gelus' crown now sitting on Juliet's head, and the previous holder of the treaty backing her up, Neer is no longer a threat to Gelus either.
With seeming peace in sight, the group is able to lick their wounds, and prepare for Juliet's wedding. Shara steps in to solidify her position as both Juliet's advisor and the New Age Guild's position in Gelus.
Much to Lia's flailing, however, she also names both Lana and Lia as her Number 2 people, which leaves poor Lia babbling how she somehow got recruited into the Guild opposing her family. Shara however points out that by siding with Juliet, Lia may have initated this long ago. Cersei reminds Lia that we all have the option to be whatever we choose to make ourselves.
The group is left to decide what to do next. Juliet will be hard at work rebuilding her kingdom, but most of the group promised to return to Jean after they helped Juliet. With things still seemingly brewing up in Neer, there is that to worry about as well, however, unbeknownst to them, a group of heroes who survived the Demon Realm have touched down on the shores of Neer, and another Queen is about to storm her rightful throne.
Date: 12.30.2862 - 1.2.2683
Session 409: Unlucky in Ruun
As they arrive in Ruun, Jubei stops by the Ice Leyline in the Lost Forest in which Ruun is located. From there, she attempts to draw the mana out using her mana bow, forming a mana arrow, but to everyone's shock and horror, drawing mana directly from the leyline forms a massive mana attack that begins to damage the weapon due to it's size and intensity, so that Jubei has to quickly fire it into the Rune Blade. The Rune Blade survives, even as a crater forms around it, and the Ice Slot is filled with ice mana. However, Jubei's weapon is damaged now and needs repair. They then head into Ruun.
Looking for ways to scout Angel's home in order to evade those hunting Lucky and his companions, the group seeks to send Angel on her hidden ways and baits out his seekers by sending out a handful to shop in the open.
What they find is a group of cultist-like old men in cloaks that seem to have a pension for self-combustion using their corrupted mana. Questions arise to the manner of assassination given that guilds of magik would confine or put down male mages without second thought.
While Asha ands Umi pursues one of the escaping cultists into the tree, the rest are invading the great tree (and bringing down guards and alarms) and finding Angel's room in shambles puts Jubei hysteric and in clash with the guards who question her identify despite frequent visits long ago.
Proceeding to the top, they use Jubei's pet name from Angel to open her lab and find her being beaten by a man when another generator explodes, (Umi having taken down the majority on her own while rescuing Umi) engulfing her attacker. With her in safe hands, they discover the men were after a machine that regulated magikal flow-- a way to nullify magik users entirely.
Interrogating the remaining cultists uncovers a scheme to use Lit's soul to shatter Lucky's, the orbs and the machine intending also to purge their corrupted mana, to which the man falls dead.
Zegretta regroups and lays out the need to survey how Neer is currently and to perhaps build up a fort. Umi hunts down the one male magik user that Theric allowed to escape out of the city, heading for the capital Mercy, while the others stay behind to get things ready.
Date: 1.4.2863
Session 410: Garden of Mercy
Two days after the events in Angel's house, the team is resting up when Angel calls everyone up to her lab. She presents her prototype flying device, a carriage of sorts that uses swords attached to the top and back. After getting in and using Wind Mana, the group, minus those who return to Ama's due to the limited capacity, fly off, nearly crashing into a tree and tractically cutting short the life of a bird who may have been the real hero of this story. Fi'Anna constructs a funeral ballad for the bird.
Umi arrives in Mercy only to run into the Enforcer Melissa, who believes she is the younger Umi and goes with her. Umi tracks down the man she seeks who and finds him talking to a noble who identifies himself as one of three left in the plot against Lucky. Assassins Creeding them, Umi destroys the orbs and is then assailed by the Royal Guard. However, the two find themselves saved when the Captain of the Rose Knights joins in and decides to help them out. Umi is led into the palace, where she can finally rest.
Travelling Northwest of Mercy, Zegretta's group passes a dark forest to find a paradise buried inside, the Garden of Mercy. However, just as they get there, the Sky People dismantle the ship due to Angel's continued violations of flying without a license. The craft plummets into a lake and the group pulls their things, and some stragglers out and onto the shore as it sinks. Once on land, they dry off and continue deeper into the Garden.
As they travel, they are attacked by a charging Deertard. Kaelan Gale Bursts the greature hoping to knock it away, but as Deertards do, it breaks it's neck and dies in the process. Twenty more Deertard choose to avenge their fallen bretheren and the group battles Deertards. Overcoming them, Kaelan finds a Deertard Seal and picks it up.
Umi awakens in Mercy, and after protest and defense by Enforcer Melissa, she is met by the Rose Knight Captain who questions her, letting her know that the Rose Knights stand to aid Zegretta if she lives. He also lets her know that they tested the bodies of the two she killed and found they were magic users, male users among the Neer Nobility is troubling, but also takes some heat off Umi's back. The Captain then escorts them both out to the Mason Guild to seek aid from the First Wizard in finding the last of Umi's targets.
Finding a stone slab, Zegretta's group is given a riddle that Kaelan solves by replanting a flower in front of the slab. This opens the Tomb of Knowledge, a place that Mercy set up and Queens of Nuege and Neer have kept records in ever since. There is also an armory and the group is given the chance to outfit themselves in Tier 12 armor, Kaelan insisting that Zegretta wear the Armor of
Mercy that's found there as well, as a symbol of her right to powr. Taking records on their companions still missing and about the noble families, the group readies horses to head to Mercy.
Umi, Melissa and the Captain enter the Mason tower and after some Aegis inspect them, they are let up to see Tanya Mason. The First Wizard agrees to put some of her finest Male Caster Trackers on the job and sends them to aid Umi. She then questions how Umi got up from Gelus so fast, tapping a journal which undoubtably is the one Lia has been reporting to this whole time.
As Zegretta's group readies the horses, Zegretta finds information that points to information that the nobles who were against her joining the Rebel Princess are backing her Uncle and Aunt, which means they might, in fact, be the ones who ordered the hit against her. Which means the country might be heading to a Civil War.
Date: 1.6.2863
Session 411: Civil War in Neer
Zegretta's carriage nears Mercy when a group of Rose Knights step out from the underbrush and call out to Jubei. They ask if Jubei is with the Queen, revealing they know she is still alive. Zegretta makes herself known after Jubei totally covers for her with no suspicious behavior at all. Totally. As the Knights join the group in the carriage, they move on for the city where Rose Knight Natasha gets them past the gate guards. At this time talk of what's going on in the city points to the nobility in power causing the problems, Kaelan and Zegretta both fear that the Twins might be at the center of the plot and outline the convenience they would have if they captured Fi'Anna.
Once inside the city they head for a special bunker known only to the Queens of Neer, known as Sanctuary, and passed down to the queens by the secret keeper who is Angel. They arrive and go inside to find the bunker was constructed from part of the PAX that Mercy recovered after the Calamity. The group begins to make plans, Zegretta using a machine to allow them to spy on the most powerful of nobles, Lord Kapister. They witness Kapister meeting with none other than the male mage that Umi is tracking. Umi and her new Mage Hunter companions joining them, the Mason mages look quite upset when they see that not only a male mage works for Kapister, but Kapister himself and several other nobles are Mages as well.
Left needing time to plan and coordinate a move on Kapister and the other illegal mages, Zegretta outlines a plan to have the group blackmail nobles in Kapister's favor to get them to vote against whatever his plans are in the upcoming senate meeting. They fail in their first undertaking, ending up killing a pedophile noble in the process, but their next attempt against a theif goes much better. After many attempts over the night, the group returns just as the Rose Knight Captain rejoins them and they learn that the Senate meeting is in two days. He plans to get Umi and some of her people into the meeting, while Mason's mages set up circles of six. Meanwhile, Zegretta will make her move on the palace to take Tyranna and save her brother (hopefully), while the majority of the governing body is busy within the senate.
The group rests up and makes plans, and begins working on charging a stock of god-weapons, magick throwers from the PAX, to use in the coming battle.
Date: 1.8.2863
Session 412: Zegretta Neer No More
With the Senate about to go in for a vote, the team divides into two, with the notable interesting shift of Lucky going with Zegretta and Kaelan to the palace. Future Jean, Umi, and Jubei head off with the Captain of the Rose Knights and his crew, Zegretta outlines the plan to take the palace with Kaelan, Lucky, Asha, Angel and Lyn.
Sneaking through the back ways, Jubei's group is joined by a number of Rose Knights and Mason Mages. They head into the halls and interrupt a mage working influence over an older senator. After which they head for the back door to the senate. Umi sniffs out into the crowd and takes down another mage, leaving one in the crowd and one up on stage with Kapister. Jean and Umi head above into the rafters to try and get a drop on Kapister, but plans are brought wildly out when Kapister launches a vote to place Jubei under scrutiny. Rather than retain the stealthy plan, Jubei marches out to challenge the claims and Kapister launches his trap.
Sensing a spell being laid out, the First Wizard Tanya Mason out in the crowd begins to try and dispel it, when she feels a hand close around her throat and begin to sever her. This causes her brother to cry out and use an Aegis' anti-magic powers to protect her, however, every other mage in the crowd meant to capture the male mages suddenly finds themselves fighting against being severed as well. As the confusion rises, an illusion laid by the males cause the crowd to see Jubei and her allies as attackers bent on killing, giving Kapister the perfect cover to assassinate Timothy.
The power of his orb real and felt by the mages, they cry out and Jean leaps down to destroy it as Umi leaps into the fray. The battle is short but Kapister manages to run away, abandoning the orb. Jean's destruction of the orb infects her with the same darkness infecting the male casters, and she has to be contained until she can cleanse herself. The mages begin to inact a purge and more of Mason tower moves in to try and seize any male casters remaining while an unconcious Tanya is taken away.
In the Palace, the group is quickly brought face to face with guards and Zegretta makes herself known. More than half the guards take knee to the rightful Queen of Neer, however, their fellows stab them in the back and soon an all out battle breaks out as guards take sides either for Zegretta or Tyranna. The fight down below rises and Zegretta orders the others to move on as she makes her presence known and rallies the troops, joined by the Rose Knights and Maria's mages.
The group rushes up into the upper levels, having to face some more guards, they take them out and open the secret passage to the royal chambers and move above. Asha forgets to close the door however somore guards follow, leaving Kaelan to have to flood the stairs to keep them down. The group comes out into the Throne Room and come face to face with the Elite Queen's Guard. They clash for a short time where they have to display their fighting prowess and convince the guard that they fight for Zegretta. Allowed to pass, they head above into the living chambers of Tyranna.
Here they fight against Tyranna's elite, trained in stealth and dirty fighting. The group is hard pressed but manage to cut their way through, joined by Zegretta who helps them bash down the final door. Here they face Tyranna and listen to her case. Kaelan of all people begins to switch her suspicions at this point, watching Henry closely and telling Asha to as well. This is a good thing, as Henry breaks up the testimony by attempting to stab Zegretta in the back with an invisible, mana coated dagger. Kaelan replaces herself with Zegretta and Asha tackles that little boy down. They soon learn that it was Henry behind Zegretta's assassination all along, the young man in fact a male mage himself. Asha knocks the boy out and Kaelan says they'll give the boy over to the Masons, who can at least help him with his ability and cleanse him.
1.10.2863
In the aftermath of the short lived civil war, Timothy is laid to rest and the family is left to recover from the wake of the Tribunal's plotting. Zegretta delivers a speech to her people, that in the wake of all that has happened they will be changing the Kingdom's name. Like Gelus is changing to Anora, Neer will be changing to Di'Neer to reflect the return of Kaelan. She also announces the wedding to come, Kaelan and Zegretta joining hands. They intend to make allies with Anora as they investigate the leylines and prepare for the coming crisis. Whatever may happen, Neer is now united once more as the Kingdom of Di'Neer. And happily, Lit's soul is whole once more.
Date: 12.20.2862
Session 413: Aftermath Turmoil
The young Jean and her followers ready to leave, Rachael leaving her baby Nephilim in the care of Aurica and Brony. The group says their goodbyes to those staying behind, and takes a mirror to the port to set sail on the ship of Captain Xi, who likes to smoke. They are joined by a hooded crew member who may or may not be Parita. On 12.30, Jean informs Umi after getting information, clearly showing signs of exhaustion after all the travel.
12.31.2862
After 11 days of sailing Jean's group stands around a war map making plans, when they notice Ama is getting sicker and sicker as days going by. Jean offers to heal her, but Ama refuses, and Truth tries to offer a fox dance, which causes Ama to get upset misunderstanding her. Ama marches off and Jean lets the Ametsune crowd know if they're going to act out they can all leave. No one does, and the group continues sailing on.
1.1.2863
Ama is on deck hurling over the side when Jean makes the connection and Truth voices it by asking if Ama is pregnant. The outlying islands of Umbal are sighted in the distance and the possibility of outposts comes up. They decide to head south and check out the island before moving to the mainland.
Disembarking from the ship, Jean's team finds that the island is swarming in corruption, the scent of the dead, and remains, scatterd all over the island. After finding a field of bones, the group is attacked by bone monsters and have to beat them down. They choose to go further in land and gather into.
1.3.2863
Journeying into the depths of the island, the group fights off Kitsune and traps as they make their way in. After cleaving down some more soldiers, horribly twisted with corruption, the group makes their way into a fort. Here they learn of the Umbal leader, Wakaba and find that she has discovered the Imukami, a sword that Kasha thrust into the Earth right before it blew up in the End of Days, and that when the Red Planet blew up, the asteroid it was floating on must have crash landed on Tareh.
The group returns to the boat after gathering intel, including a map of Umbal. On the way there, 1.5.2863, Jean collapses as she is attacked by Angelus and Ama leaves through her mirror to help them. The group gets back on board and sails off.
Shortly thereafter in Amersune, Ama brings Robert Hill to meet his grandson and is given a second chance to watch over his bloodline. Nilla and Aurora will be watching closely. Brigette sneaks after Ama to the ship to join the others in Umbal.
Ama returns to the ship, but the group has to wait until after Erevis is done giving Ama the D to get a report.
1.10.2863
The ship arrives in the port city knowin only to them as the Weeping Sore. They disembark to see even the citizens here share in the corruption. As the Templars beging to take root and the citizens run, the campaign against Umbal truly begins.
1.13.2863
In the two newly renamed countries of Anora and Di'Neer, Juliet and James and Zegretta and Kaelan exchange vows and swear their oaths, creating new monarchies. The groups are there to witness their friends join hands and for a short while at least, have a moment to be joyful and enjoy parties to celebrate what victories they have earned.
Date: 1.14.2863
Session 414: Launch into Umbal
Location: Anora, Kingdom of Anora
After reclaiming the kingdom, the advisory and lead positions are being diced up and allocated while Cersei gathers the bearings of the group and Juliet enjoys the spoils of her marriage. Moira laments the loss of Whispering Grass to the elven male mage and brother to Celestia.
Location: Mercy
Zegretta meanwhile takes the nobles under heavy scrutiny, discerning which are truly loyal or not. Angel prepares to leave, drawing sadness from Jubei, encouraged by Kaelan to just go ahead and propose to her, but the halfling takes flight in a mini little one man device to avoid detection from the Sky People.
With the use of mana arrows and a poor Kaji slamming into the castle and choking nearly to death on a cowmoo, Angel is enticed back. Jean tells Umi that soon they will head to the Empire themselves to confront the younger Jean and Umi at the helm of the empire.
Location: Umbal
Ama's troupe upon Umbal treks further inward, seeking the Umbal leader Wakaba featured in a painting, holding an ancient sword of Ama's last miko's sister. The farther they get in, the weirder and more bizarre the horrors of the corrupted land become, twisted into images of things of the far past and of the imagination.
1.19.2863
Location: Entering Di'Neer
As Juliet approaches Zegretta's domain in a carriage, they're set upon by a certain old bitty serpent queeen, who knocks the top off the carriage and starts licking them down like a dogbark.
Kaji, as it may, then grabs them and speeds toward the kingdom. Where Juliet and Zegretta shake hands as equals of different nations finally.
Location: Inner Umbal
Venturing further still, a week now upon the shores of Umbal, Amaterasu's group finds a village representing the ancient japanese customs. Investigating a school leaves Bridgette without her guards and covered in blood, and thus Ama does her best to suppress the evil in the school-- assessing that they will likely be going underground in search of their quarry.
With the entrance likely in the heavily haunted school, they set up a holy perimeter and make a camp, preparing to dive into the depts and nooks and crannies to find the entrance to the suspected underground.
Location: Anora
Meanwhile, Ro'an presents Mimi with a gauntlet, professing it to be what Revoia insisted she gain for the next 'war.' As she summons its power, again arises... Anima E.
Date: 1.19.2863
Session 415: Game of Thrones
With work underway to begin cleansing the area, Templars prepare to head into the structure with those of Ama's brood, leaving Bridgette and a few others to remain outside the school to guard it. With 1800 Templars, Jean with Truth at her side steps up, joined by Thara, Tsuki, Ama, Auna, Rachael and Leruste. After destroying a wicked shrine, the group moves down into a shaft underground. They follow the tunnel and encounter more corruption, and a trap of flesh arrows that claim the lives of 100 Templars before the group is able to dismantle the trap. They continue on into the darkness.
1.20.2863
Juliet and Zegretta discuss things and their plans for the future as the party waits for the caravan of Mason mages returning from Gelus, now named the Kingdom of Anora. The mages arrive to present D, and Lia knows instantly they've been duped, what they present is a normal gauntlet. D has been stolen sometime during the war. This leads the groups to compare notes and they find that over the last few months, maybe even years, someone or something has been stealing all of the Anima that are known about. Doing a headcount, they realize they need to check with other nations and see what their records are on the Anima distributed to them.
They decide to check on this fact, and suspect the Tribunal is at work, the groups head to the castle to make communications with the other kingdoms.
In Umbal, a night of setting off trap after blood curdling trap has led the group near the central nesting area. While Jean is asleep and nestled in with Truth, the others move forward to strike into the area. Truth waking her after they leave to follow. Breaking into a nursery, the group takes down the guards and sitters, and the kids there seem to fall for Ama's tits, calm until Jean arrives with Templars. Here they throw acid at the armored warriors, bringing down quite a few, they seem angered at the color of their armor.
Back in Mercy, Fi'anna and Zegretta set up the family mirror and touch it to contact Amatsune. Greeted by Hoko and Zuzu, they warn the two about the pattern and Hoko insists that they will handle the checks on Anima L located in Ama'dorai under the control of the royal family there. They then attune the mirror to the one left in Jeanole, here the people of Jeanole are perplexed as how to answer, but Aurica saves the day as Young Umi is brought in as well to figure it out. With them there to answer. When Zegretta introduces herself, there is a fraction of a moment where Lin Erica seems surprised. After they relay the information about the Animas, Libel is sent through the mirror to rejoin the group at Jeanole. Zegretta also explains her plans to campaign back into the Demon Realm. Their conversation ends abruptly however when the mirrors on both ends turn back and shatter outwards in an explosion of darkness. Garald taking a hit from the shards to protect Umi.
In Ametsune, Zuzu talks to Tina through the mirror with Hoko, they learn that Tina doesn't have the family Anima and assumes that Chain took it when she left. After they learn this, the mirror explodes, as does every mirror in the Ametsune palace. Leon is struck badly as is Hoko. Zuzu sighs, so much for a quick mirror trip home.
In Mercy, the group reacts to the mirror, Kaelan attempting to shield the group with a barrier, however, some shards get through. Fi'anna is hit in the side and James takes a bad blow for Juliet. They find the shards are infused with corruption which tries to infect. Mages are called, but before they arrive Jean pulls corruption from Fi'anna, which dissapates when thrown aside. They hear the laughter of a female Azuha mage, and try to puzzle out what happened.
Just earlier, back in Umbal, the group, minus Templar accompaniment, heads down the tunnels and overhears a converstion. A female Azuha speaks to a male, the female named Wakabe. The male appears to be from the Tribunal, explaining to the female that those from the past are unfurling their plans and putting people back into power that they never wanted in play for their plans. Wakabe dismisses him after he explains the power of the sword she holds, promising it'll strike the heart of 'that goddess'. The group arrives in time to find only Wakabe, armed with the sword they must destroy. Striking as a team, they use Holy attacks and combined powers to try and fight the overwhelmingly strong Wakabe.
They overcome Wakabe quickly however, and it's then they discover the boon wasn't for Wakabe, but the sword itself. A black corruption seizes the sword, and it rises while Tsuki isn't looking and pierces through her. The team then grapples with the sword and the black sludge, using Holy energy and willpower to fight it off. They manage to knock the sword away and pull Tsuki back, Jean using massive energy to do it and the dark corruptive sludge pouring into her as she yanks on it, but it appears to have already done damage to the Heart of Tareh in some way. Aso Erevis recognizes the liquid and has Holy users channel power to drive the sludge into a sealed container, keeping it at bay. The group takes it and the smote sword and heads back to the surface. They rejoin the remaining 500 Templars and head back for the Empire. However, there have been two changes already noticed: Tsuki's already darkened hair from the incident in the Demon Realm is even darker and her darkening eyes darker, and Empress/Young Jean seems to have taken in some of the corruption like her Future Counterpart, though her inner holy defenses seem to be warding it off.
1.25.2863
Zegretta calls a meeting in Mercy and outlines their problems, the Demon Realm, which is coming no matter what they do, and the leylines. She asks that each group consider which they would like to tackle as they will split into two teams to handle it. They propose to ready for war with the demons and to get Ama to contact the Sky people to give fast transport to the group handling the leylines. Some decide quickly what they will do, but others are given days of preparation to figure out their plans. The group going for the leylines will strike out in a few days to contact the Sky People and the Demon Realm group will remain behind some time longer to prepare for war.
Somewhere, in an unknown location, men and women sit around a table, reviewing the events as they have played out. One, Kapister, uses horrible analogy to explain that Lucky and his spawn are trouble for their plans. The woman at the table states that all is not lost, because the two female rulers they still control allow them to maintain the forced checks and balances. Kapister's outburst at that reveals the woman is related to one of the subjects at hand. The woman moves the pieces on the table that represent Jean, Ama and Tsuki back to the Empire. She announces it's time to end the game.