the boy is back in town [diplomanon conclusion]

[beleos]

Who: Manon, the Shard-Bearers, and special surprise guest(s)!
What: Manon has been revived, and there are questions to be asked
Where: The Tree of Life
When: March 3rd

MANON'S REVIVAL

A few days prior, Manon’s Shard had been planted at the Tree of Life (Tier 2 Meridian and/or those involved with the purification process would know it was by the Tribune himself), and as promised, his revival is providing a neutral ground in which to meet and talk to the man. The Meridian involved in purifying him have been given some basic clothing for Manon, including an eyepatch since just like every other Shard-Bearer who has suffered dissipation, he’ll be hatching from a cocoon the tree weaves. It’s at least a little dignity to be given as a belated “apology” for his revival being a spectacle.

Indeed, when he frees himself from the cocoon, he won’t be ready to be questioned. He’s weak and shaky on his feet, but he’s still rather quick to collect himself and get dressed. Surprisingly, with no apparent shame over being that spectacle!

Some people have “met” Manon already by Communing with his Shard, but otherwise, this is the first that most will be able to see the man causing all of this fuss. He’s short with rust-colored hair and one eye completely covered by the eyepatch he’d been given. He doesn’t exactly seem pleased to be here, though. He looks like he’d much rather be anywhere else. But he’s eventually ready to talk. Best to get this over with.

INTERRUPTIONS

People are given their chances to question Manon and ask him whatever they wish, but not for long.

Quite suddenly and with no more preamble than a strange, crackling feeling throughout everyone’s Shards, a portal suddenly opens behind all of them. First, out steps a small, slight looking girl whose eyes immediately fall on Manon. But a much larger, more monstrous figure steps out behind her with odd, misshapen hands plodding onto the ground and gripping the roots.

A massive creature plods out, and the flowers that surround the skull ripple as if alive. Both the petals of the flower and the very human hair that drift on the creature’s neck are lavender. A very specific shade of it, in fact. And it howls in a way that would be deafening, were it heard with your ears. No, this scream tears through your very Shards in a way that’s almost paralyzing, and as the portal starts to close, other, smaller creatures skitter out along the larger ones’ feet. It seems someone doesn’t want Manon to talk at all.

And for one of the Shard-Bearers among you, that scream digs deeper. Like a poison into their Shard, it pulls out something vicious, something feral, something they had long wished was left behind—But the past isn't always the past.

---

OOC NOTES

This portion of the log is divided into four portions because the majority are limited for the mods’ sake. With the exception of number four (which is not limited), you may only sign up for one of these sections or to chase Manon (see next section) because these are all taking place essentially simultaneously.

1. Vander ; Vander (exhound, played by Thirteen) has entered a berserker state and will attack friend and foe without being able to solidly distinguish between the two. Vander can be injured (even severely), but this thread will end with Vander’s capture by Aetós. You can find this toplevel here.
   
   
2. The Girl (Adelfoúla) ; This is a NPC who will be played by Prince, and is limited to a group of no more than three characters. This thread will end with Adelfoúla’s capture since she will be interrogated to find and rescue Vander. You can find this toplevel here.
   
   
3. The Creature (Aeternae) ; Is limited to a group of no more than three characters, but will be controlled by these players a la a PvE encounter. The Creature is able to attack with psychic powers (similar to the Force in Star Wars or biotic powers in Mass Effect) and is otherwise very large (Hayame-sized the size of a very large horse) and strong, but not overly so. It will regenerate from all attacks unless the skull is smashed, and it can close the petals of the flower to temporarily protect itself. You can find this toplevel here.
   
   All characters that participate in this thread will also be given psychic information about what happened to create the creature, so comment here to note your participation so I can give you that info! The Creature will also subject everyone present to opt-in effects, which are not limited to only the thread participants.
   
   
4. Smaller Creatures ; Are not limited encounters, and are controlled by the players a la a PvE encounter. These are smaller, more easily killed monsters that are able to use minor psychic attacks as well as poison when someone is clawed or bitten if you want to go a combat route or can cause more temporary versions of the Aeternae's effects as listed. You can also make up your own style of lil' skullbeast! This is free for players to get creative with and create a fun encounter however you see fit. All characters that participate in this kind of thread will also be given psychic information about what happened to create the creature, so comment here to note your participation so I can give you that info! In addition, please place all threads to engage the smaller creatures here.

GIVING CHASE

As soon as the chaos breaks out, the first to take advantage is… Manon. Though weakened from just hatching from the Tree of Life, Manon immediately runs into the labyrinthine maze of roots that make up the Tree of Life. He’s not so honorable as to stay and fight, and this may be his only chance to actually escape. However, it does also leave him without the protection he was promised…

---

OOC NOTES

This section is limited to a maximum of three characters from each faction, and they will not be able to participate in the previous section. Manon is fleeing immediately, so giving chase means that these characters similarly will not be sticking around to witness what happens.

We encourage discussion of which characters will be participating in this portion of the post in the associated Discord Thread for this plot since the factional makeup of this team is likely very tied to Manon’s fate. As Loremasters, we’re truly cool with whatever, so we encourage players discuss how to make a satisfying narrative and future plot opportunities out of Manon’s overall fate rather than trying to “win” the encounter. Also to note, Manon is weakened, but will be attacking anyone that attacks him assuming (probably correctly) that they’re trying to kill him. There is a risk of dissipation in this encounter!

If a conclusion to this thread is not reached by Wednesday, March 8th, Christy will reach out to all thread participants, and we’ll come to an OOC conclusion for Manon’s overall fate to prepare for the Setting Updates that Friday! We can obviously continue to thread it, though! The toplevel for this chase can be found here.

CODING

Comments

[baltimores]

[ He really wishes he could've brought his gun.

Yima had told Amos that something was going to happen here, but had left it at that. He hadn't had the chance to ask her any followup questions, lost and contented in her embrace, but she had also told him not to be afraid, and so he isn't. Amos is beyond caring about Manon at this point — he's an insignificant speck, he's nothing, something in him deeply flawed to even attempt to leave Zenith the way he did and so, not worth his time — but Yima had asked him to bear witness to whatever it was that was going to happen here.

So he's here.

Without a gun.

Amos knows it's a luxury he can't have in this particular instance. Not after his behaviour as an aggressor during the debate; not when so many members of the Meridian seem to have pinpointed them as the bad guys (no), as people ready to kill Manon on sight (... well, yeah, maybe). He hasn't even brought his dagger, opting to go weaponless, like he really is here to do nothing more than observe.

He's keeping a watchful eye over things, but it all seems pretty standard so far — at least until Vander suddenly whirls around, and Amos turns around with him, and oh, okay. The portal is what's happening. The girl and the beast stepping out are what's happening. Whatever Aetós' involvement here is, Yima had known it was going to happen, so—

He feels paralyzed, a sharp spike of anxiety at the disturbance in his shard before he beats it back down, because Yima told him he didn't need to be afraid. Fuck if he even knows what fear is.

And then he feels something else he's all too familiar with.

The emotions of the other Exalts present have been humming along in his background all this time in a way Amos is used to happening, but a building and raging anger is something he knows. Intimately. Amos whips back around, the girl and the beast gone from his mind as he sees Vander warping in a way that's all too familiar to Amos as well; he may not have the size, but a deep, instinctual part of him knows what it feels like for claws to emerge from hands. For teeth to grow and sharpen.

And that anger is pushing up against his mind, inviting him to join in with it, and he kind of wants to—

Seeing Childe, who's closer, snaps him out of it. Seeing Childe try to attack and get tossed to the ground, and no, fuck that, that's not happening here.

Fuck he wishes he had his gun.

As it stands, all Amos has is magic, so he uses that. Suddenly there are two fey spirits at his sides in the shape of grizzly bears, and with a quick bark of an order to kill him they're charging towards Vander, ready to tear him apart with their claws teeth whatever they can, while Amos rushes over towards Childe. He's vulnerable, Amos isn't right now; the least he can do is be a shield until Childe's good to go again. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri hasn't precisely been on edge, but he has been trying to keep an eye on everything and everyone. He doesn't think that the Zenith are likely to let information out that they consider secret. Whatever Manon has, it's important. He's a little distracted - there are thoughts of other happenings, other missions swirling in his head - but he's still alert. Still watchful. Things have been mostly fine, though. Quiet, even. But Vander's cry yanks his attention away. He feels his body tense, can feel a ripple through the communion - emotions running hot. He turns in time to catch a glimpse of a girl, a girl he's never seen before, and he finds himself wishing dearly for a weapon. He starts to reach down inside of himself, searching for the brief flickers of magic this place has granted him-

And then Vander twists and changes and the roar is deafening. He's trying to decide what to do - how to do it - what he can do to keep Vander safe - and then Childe goes flying, struck by a blow. Dimitri remembers him - the man who helped him in the frozen castle - and his attention wavers. He makes a choice. And much like Amos he goes dashing for Childe, moving quickly thanks to his strength. He's at his side, almost right behind Amos - the man he recognizes from the negotiations. ]

Are you hurt-?

[ That's to Childe, mostly. He can worry about Vander once people are out of the way. ]

[exhound]

[There’s that thud of collision, something innately satisfying to the uninhibited primal rage that’s pushing him forward even as the last of changes wrought by this insidious magic—this curse, whatever it may be—continue to wrack his body with the last of it’s changes. Like a true unmasking of the metaphorical inner beast Vander had long since thought caged, patchy spots of fur spring out across his ungainly form… and with it something even more unnatural. Along one arm and all the way up to the back of his shoulder sprouts jagged, uneven rocky protrusions, a mocking echo of the magic he has been pushing himself so hard to master. And for a moment, it is just as painful as the dagger’s slice across that same arm.

It gets him to rear back to his full imposing height, unsteady on his feet just long enough that his quarry is no longer alone before him. Two more to account for, but it hardly matters—that fury burning in his chest is more than happy to oblige any that stand in his way. That discordant song still resonates within his Shard, a staccato beat urging him onward. He joins in its chorus with another low, rumbling growl.

But the two new additions soon become four as two true beasts are summoned from nothing to impede his path. Vander rushes forth to meet them without a shred of hesitation, and they provide a storm of fur and teeth and claws to match his own. There’s a few moments of wild swings and snapping of jaws on all sides before Vander abandons the distance between himself and one of the grizzlies. He lets it successfully sink its teeth into a shoulder in exchange for his claws to seek purchase on either side of it before throwing all his weight forward in a motion that would bring them both stumbling closer to the three men mere feet away from the chaos.

Somewhere underneath that swelling sea of fury pressing in on him is an undercurrent of panic, of fear—and a brief spark of recognition that is quickly smothered beneath the unrelenting tide.]

[vapour]

[ Luckily, Childe doesn't look like much but has a pretty high stat on his character sheet for constitution. so even though the blunt force hurts and hurts more from even more blunt force, his body attempts to work with the fall to recover more quickly rather than smash into the ground completely tense while resisting impact. he's able to keep moving and untangle himself from being a ragdoll to a cat that lands on its feet for the most part (or, in this case, Childe manages to end on one knee with the balls of both his feet having regained contact with the ground.) His head is swimming, though, and he's had the wind knocked out of him to the point his diaphragm doesn't let him breathe much at all. So he's quite grateful for Amos's bears and both men coming to his aide (It's not something he's used to, but this isn't the time to be pondering about that, and he's hella thankful regardless of being used to it or not.) Trying to calm himself so he can take the deep breaths necessary to get his breathing back to normal, he can only nod to Dimitri's question before finally managing a hoarsely verbal "Thanks" to Amos for his quick retaliation (and it's an unspoken thanks to Dimitri too ... to them both for coming to his side rather than letting him deal with it.)

—Not that the situation unfolding in front of them with Vander and the grizzlies ( and everything else exploding around them ) is relieving by any means, but it does give Childe some extra precious seconds that are just enough for him to be able to ground himself again and really witness the absolute madness unfolding.

okay, he feels like he got hit by a truck but he's still plenty capable to remain in the game and he'll the other two in dealing with Vander. ]

Ughh, that's... what the hell happened to him—?

[ he knows it must have something to do with his shard but that's it.

Seeing the bear and the lupine grapple and start edging back towards them, he doesn't wait before starting to look his two companions both up and down (although he happily listens while doing so if there's answers to be spoken.) ]

—do you both need weapons? [ Childe had come unarmed himself, technically, as well, but when a big part of your use of element control is having learned to forge an armory at will, it takes some of the well, fuck me sensation away, at least.

(even better when you've mastered it to a point you can conjure multiple without sacrificing their integrity.)

There is one other question in the air, too, for them both that they'll feel and know of despite it being unspoken: What do we do? ]

[baltimores]

[ Amos' expression softens for a moment as Childe affirms he's alright, as he thanks him, before his eyes flick over to Dimitri. Another Meridian from the debate earlier, and no doubt someone he's left a shit impression on, but that's not important right now. What's important is that they all have the same priority here, so Amos can look past his affiliation just like that.

He looks over at Vander at Childe's question, thankful for the way his bears have bought them a minute, calm as he takes it all in. The one not in Vander's grasp leaps towards him, aiming to dig its claws into his back, tear him apart from there. ]

He's lost his mind. Don't know how or why, but he has. We're both Exalts, I— [ He grimaces as that one spark of emotion from what's left of Vander hits him. All-consuming rage flooding his thoughts, its waves lapping up against where Vander's emotions end and Amos' begin, but panic, too. The sensation of his friend before he drowns.

It's more than Amos ever gets in these scenarios. ]

He doesn't want this. This shit has happened to me before, and you don't want this. We need to kill him. Put him out of his misery. When we bring him back, he should be fine.

[ A beat, as Amos goes over his options. Childe's offer for a weapon, and while that would be great, he recognizes that his best play here is to meet Vander on his turf — which means magic, weapons, all of it will more than likely soon end up meaning nothing to him.

He looks back at Dimitri. Back at Childe. ]

If I end up like him then kill me when it's over, too. So we don't hurt anyone else here.

[ Misa's here. Kaeya. Atsumu.

He doesn't want this, but Amos steels himself regardless. ]

Going to try keeping his attention on me. Give you guys some windows to bring him down.

[ And then he's taking off, charging directly at Vander as he grapples with his bears. Amos throws himself into them — literally — increasing his weight at the last possible moment so that what was Vander gets hit with a thousand or so pounds of solid human.

Whatever happens after happens. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri still isn't quite used to the idea of just being able to "bring someone back" after you kill them, even if he intellectually knows that it's true in this place. He blanches slightly, but he accepts the conclusion. Sometimes people have to be killed to protect others. Even people you would rather save. He'd prefer to talk Vander out of whatever madness has overtaken him, whatever transformation has torn him apart and made him... this... but he doesn't know if that's even possible. Most of those he saw in his own world who turned into monstrous demonic beasts weren't able to come back from it. Edelgard had been one of the few. So he gives Amos a very serious nod as he kneels next to Childe. ]

...I understand.

[ He rests his hand on Childe's shoulder and there's a soft glow from his hand - a wash of warm energy that soothes pain and mends minor scrapes and bruises. It isn't much, but it's all the healing magic Dimitri has. He gives Childe another reassuring pat. Whatever he thinks of Amos after their first meeting, he has to admire the man's bravery and commitment. So he'll follow his wish, if that's where this ends up. ]

Good luck. [ That to Amos. Then he's back to Childe. ]

I didn't bring my weapon with me. Foolish, in hindsight. Can you provide one?

[ He guesses he can based on that question, but... well, he'd rather have his hopes dashed immediately. ]

[exhound]

[Fighting, for Vander, is something that’s always had a rhythm to it. Timing your swings, perfecting the footwork to go along with it… there is a certain understated kind of grace to fighting with one’s fists, even despite how swift and brutal it can be. Suffice it to say, there’s not a trace of that elegance to be found in his beastly ferocity.

The brutality, though? It’s there in spades.

The tangle of fangs and claws that Vander and the bears have descended into is loud and ugly. His claws sink deeper into the sides of the one his attention is focused on grappling and he keeps pushing forward until the thing is forced to stumbled backward to the ground. There is a pleased growl that could almost be mistaken for a laugh and he forgoes his hold to instead put those claws to use in a volley of swings at the downed bear. But in so doing, he makes a perfect target of his back for its twin. The jolt pain as its claws sink into him is enough to get him rearing back, but it’s less stunning than it is more fuel to the fire urging him to fight, to draw blood.

He wheels around to lash out at the other bear. Its claws make a swing for his face then, but it turns into a near-miss that instead gives him the opportunity to sink his teeth into that outstretched arm. His jaws snap down tight and he’s beginning to yank with all his might—just as something comes flying in and crashes into his side hard.

Vander and the bear both hit the ground in a tangle of furry limbs, and he can hardly even tell who or what had been the cause of it outside of a glimpse of a decidedly human body amidst their flailing. The infuriated roar he vocalizes is oddly strained with the air half-knocked out of him from the impact, but it’s all the warning he gives before attempting to scramble back up to go after his newest attacker, jaws parted and aiming to seek purchase on unadorned flesh.]

[vapour]

[ Childe is silent at Amos's decision. There's nothing on his features, but something about the serious yet blank look to the older Zenite says a lot— they're not as familiar with each other as they could be, but for Childe, Amos is one of his closest comrades considering how aloof he tends to be about making connections with the others. Childe himself has a typical way of tending to blank out emotionally when he doesn't like something or otherwise know how to accept the sudden conditions. Which means... he doesn't like this at all. And he knows Misa and Kaeya and several others will be really upset about it. It's ridiculous for him to make a fuss— Amos's plan is the best they got, and Childe also knows Vander will be worse off having known he killed people in an uncontrollable rampage than being killed.

( It's a small saving grace that killing in Kenos isn't like it what they're used to back home, but there may be a time when that suddenly doesn't work anymore, for whatever reason, and it's not worth chancing to treat death as insignificant, especially considering they all go through the process of dying, anyway—) Making a fuss when Dimitri has accepted it, even, would make him a burden more than an aide... and he's already frustrated enough that once again it looks like Vander is going to die in some sense because of him. At least it's not protecting him, but still, ugh. He feels bile burning in his throat as he watches Amos join the brawl, his anger (and his general anxiousness to fight because that's what Childe does) starting to rise. Despite this, while Childe usually loves fighting for the opportunity to get stronger and better himself not because he wants to kill his opponent. (well, okay, sometimes he loves the opportunity to kill, too, but that isn't right now.)

—Thankfully, Dimitri's touch on his shoulder snaps him out of it, and his frustrations settle down (more like, get kicked into the back of the line of his head, but close enough) rather than continue to push his anger up.

Even better, Dimitri asks for a weapon, something that childe needs to concentrate on to do which means he can block any thoughts about the current emotions running wild in his head because fuck them they're so problematic. ] You got it.

[ he tosses his one remaining hydro blade into the air and as it spins it changes shape immediately, elongating into a lance that somewhat resembles the one he was using on the scorching isles. it'll come back down to land point-end first in the dirt besides Dimitri for his taking. ] I didn't get to study your weapon, I just vaguely remember how it looked, so be aware if it had anything special to its build for balance or weight distribution that other lances wouldn't have. If you want me to look at it later for a more accurate copy in you ever need one again, let me take a look at it when not in a fight, okay? If that was a substitute weapon from Meridian and you now have your own or at any point get it, I can do the same thing then.

Quick rules: While it's technically made of water, I don't make my weapons like most elemental magic users even in my world do. They're far more durable, sharp, and resilient. It can't be destroyed by other magic or elemental reaction. It will interact to its advantage with any elements it clashes with, but otherwise, it will act like it has no elemental properties and rely on your strength and its blade alone. I've yet to see anyone of any strength break my weapons, so it should serve you well enough.

[ Childe's own dual hydro blades come into form immediately as he opens his hands to grab them. ]

Okay, plan time. I don't think we can fight him successfully with the intent to incapacitate him. His build and stamina mean he's probably going to need to be struck by blows with killing intent to actually get injured enough to matter, to begin with. That said... I'm going to let you take the lead on how we go about this because you're Meridian like Vander. If we can control who delivers the killing blow, though, it should probably be you, by the way. Not that I won't strike to kill him myself if you can't for whatever reason. I won't force you to kill; I'm more than fine with the blood on my hands as it's kind of part of my job, anyway. It's just that if we can swing it and you're not going to be guilted by it, I think it's better it be a fellow Meridian who does.

[ A small pause before more quietly. ] ...And if we have to kill Amos, let me strike the final blow unless it's absolutely necessary for you to do so. [ Maybe Meridian doesn't really care who it is so long as it was justified, but he knows Zenith has a preference and a sense of we take care of our own and that it is expected a Zenite kill a Zenite that has no control to prevent them from harming others. If Childe could have done it instead but doesn't and Dimitri does, it will come into question ( even if it's over Childe and his lack of taking responsibility for Amos rather than anything to do with Meridian. ) ]

cw neck/throat trauma, some blood

[baltimores]

[ Death means nothing to him because he grew up surrounded by death, because there are things worse than it. Amos has died twice now; recognizes that there's a pretty decent chance he dies a third time here, but it's okay, because he knows he can take it. Better him than someone who can't.

Before he takes off he gives Dimitri a nod, of... respect? Collaboration? Something like that. And he'd linger for a moment longer on Childe if they had time, but his silence...

He'll owe him something after, probably.

Amos has to revert to his normal weight right after he crashes into Vander, lest he crush himself under it on his own. One of his bears is already gone thanks to Vander's prowess, only dissipated instead of leaving behind a body because it was fey. It just cements to Amos that this was the right time, this was probably the only way he could help—

He feels Vander's roar from above him more than he hears it, and it's just as Amos is getting back to his feet that Vander is on top of him, teeth sinking into the spot where neck meets shoulder, tearing a chunk of him out.

It should be a killing blow; it's an awakening, something buried deep inside Amos rushing up to his surface in a haze of red. There's blood, but his skin reinforces itself, holds everything that absolutely needs to be in place there as hands stretch and grow into long claws, as his own fangs protrude from his mouth. He doesn't experience nearly the scale of changes Vander did — still something like a foot shorter than him; no fur; certainly no rocky protrusions; and still entirely, if somewhat warped, human — just a peaceful mindlessness of rage as his only instinct becomes kill, and Vander right in front of him, already having attacked him, is the best target here.

Without a mind left to tether it to this plane of existence the other bear disappears. With a snarl of his own he rushes up to meet Vander, claws seeking purchase to swipe, to sink in and tear his chest out, to slaughter, because nothing else makes any sense. ]

[hauntedking]

If that's what you wish, I see no reason to deny you... for my part, I will not hold any grudge. Not now. Not for this.

[ Dimitri is a little disturbed by the talk of killing already, but... well. This is what he's signed up for, isn't it? Everything seems to happen quickly. The clash of Amos with Vander and the roars and the chaos. It's not the rush of a full-scale battle, but it's certainly closer than anything else he's run into here. He accepts the elemental weapon with a nod, half-listening to Childe's explanation. ]

My objective is to keep everyone else safe. And I will do what I must, with whatever tools we have at our disposal. [ He starts to get back to his feet, eyes locked on the struggling Amos and the monster that Vander has become. This really does hit a little too close to home sometimes. he can smell blood and feels as if he can sense the rage rolling off of the both of them in waves.

What a terrible sight. ]

We need to wait to find an opening and then we strike. If we want to try and keep Amos safe in any case... if we care little for collateral damage I have other ideas. [ He grimaces. ]

...pinning them both down and immobilizing them would help.

[exhound]

[There’s a swell of triumph and glee as the metallic tang of blood greets his tongue, tearing flesh from body with a snarl. This is what he sought, what he needed all this time. To allow the rage he’s suppressed for countless years now to return to the surface and let it guide him. There’s no need for other thoughts. Not now.

And he’s clearly not the only one embracing that today.

In the back of his mind blooms the faintest flicker of recognition at the sight of Amos, but there’s no distinction between friend and foe for the beast. All that matters is that he’s strong, that he’s somehow still standing despite his wound, that he too is now embracing the need to fight and draw blood. The large clearing here among the roots is growing louder with the din of pockets of scattered fighting and the bellowing of monsters, but Vander’s focus is locked onto the man in front of him, a man quickly becoming more bestial himself.

He spits the gore from his mouth and with a roar rushes in to meet Amos head on. In the state that he’s in, there’s something simultaneously satisfying and maddening in having someone strike back at him with equivalent fury. It’s like it amplifies it, draws forth a deep and primal need to show him just how powerful his own rage can be.

His opponent’s claws find their mark and tear a long and bloody gash along his chest. There is no thought or foresight to dodge, only the need to push forward with pure power and meet him blow for blow, his own claws swinging wildly in retaliation.]

[vapour]

[ does Dimitri really think they're going to hag thing to talk killing at any other point?

Childe's expression darkens as he sees Vander rip at Amos's throat before saying quickly: ] trying to restrain them is going to be difficult without tranquilizers, but we can—

[ he pauses as Amos transforms, gritting his teeth. he can probably help using his foul legacy form and end this quicker, but his discord might go through the roof as a result. Adding another transformed crazed entity is not going to help anyone.

But... they don't have much time for this either. ]

We have to wear them down to restrain them. Do you want me to go in and create a site for opening for you on Vander? Be careful of Amos, I'm not sure if he'll be able to identify us as on his side.

[hauntedking]

I didn't mean restraining them.

[ Dimitri's response is a touch grim. He's distracted by the bloody fight going on just nearby. How do they do this? He hefts the elemental lance in one hand, testing the weight and balance. It's not quite what he's used to. But it will do. ]

I meant it quite literally. I have a lance and given the right angle I can certainly drive it all the way through someone with hardly any effort at all.

[ He's... grim about this. He doesn't take pleasure in the idea. ]

But I think if you can create an opening for me, it will work. I can try to immobilize him, either with a pinning blow or by taking out his legs. Then we can deal with the rest.

[vapour]

Oh~? I can do that. And I have plenty of lances where that came from if you need more.

Guess it's showtime.

[ Childe's hand comes to pull his red mask that's sat off to one side on his head now down over his eyes as they suddenly spark a deep violet. Visible electricity of the same color crackles around him, although any tendrils that touch Dimitri seem to not affect him—save for as soon as the electricity collapses outward and disappears, his lance will immediately change elements. beneath the mask Childe grimaces at the pain of activating his delusion, but it's always been like this to the point it is almost a feeling of comfort. Outwardly he shows no signs of discomfort.

guess it's time they jump in too. ]

[baltimores]

[ His entire world has boiled down to Vander.

Not that that hadn't been the case for Amos even a few minutes ago when he'd been more sentient, but that had been when he'd been worried about his friend; now he just wants to kill him. And everyone and everything else too, for that matter, driven by a bottomless rage that he knows, on some level, makes up his entire being. In normal circumstances, he knows his anger is something to keep an eye on and respect; being introduced to worlds with magic has made circumstances well beyond normal. Made it so that his rage is all he is, lets his id take over entirely.

There isn't even a satisfaction as his claws tear into Vander, dripping with his blood, because he's still standing. Still alive. Still fighting him, like he has any fucking right to, and he roars with pain and anger as Vander's claws connect, tearing into his arm and slicing it open. His muscles reinforce themselves, still ready to attack, even as blood flows in rivulets down his arm. It's a flesh wound in this state. It's easily ignored. The beast in front of him needs to die.

The surrounding area and all its people mean nothing to him; he'd just been speaking to Childe and Dimitri moments ago and nothing in his brain registers so much as their existence. All he can think to do — all he can do — is retaliate, charging forward into Vander's body, arms and claws outstretched in an attempt to bury into his own, restrain him, drive him to the ground with his mass and leverage and hopefully stay on top of him where he can hack and slash and kill. ]

[exhound]

[Vander too has always known that anger should be handled with a certain level of care and respect. He’s seen what it’s like when when someone lets it get the better of them—hell, he wasn’t innocent of that either, even before now. He spent too much of his youth letting it be his driving force, his motivation. It led him to some good things, but it’s so easy to let it go too far. He’s toed that line before, but not like this. Never like this.

All that exists within that anger now is the desire to draw blood, to see the life fading out of vibrant eyes. And the eyes staring him down now are so full of life with that fury to match his own. Every successful strike urges him to push harder; every wound received entices a whisper in the back of his mind that there needs to be payback. How can anyone dare try to stop this pure and primal force? Didn’t they understand that needed to be free and unhindered?

He would make them understand, then.

The man—the fellow beast—that Vander should know better to be a friend, charges forward, his own claws sinking into Vander’s arms. His opponent’s use of momentum is a good play, and for the second time now he goes careening into the dirt with the other man following. But he can’t let this slip-up stand a second time, and he twists as they go falling, pulling the pair of them to land heavily on their sides. His arms are still within Amos’s grasp, but those fangs of his remain free, and he makes a snap at his face now that they’re in close quarters.]

[vapour]

[ with Vander and Amos in their own world of violence, it's rather easy for Childe to move in and find an angle to best attack from somewhere that will give Dimitri a clear opening without a chance of Vander seeing it coming. Circling around, Childe uses the shadows cast by the tree and their own natural blindsides to sneak and then launch an attack at Vander's flank that will get him to turn away from Dimitri's position if he reacts at all while coaching with Amos. His blades go to strike and sink into the flesh aggressively once they cut knowing it should give a little bit of help to Amos if he can jam his blades in far enough. With his delusion activated, the electro blades will send some jolts into Vander, top— on top of pain they might cause some of his muscles to spasm in ways Vander might have to let up on his fully aggressive maneuvers even if just momentarily.

It's not something he's betting on, however, and too much current is a bad idea if he and Dimitri are trying to avoid killing. So he'll just keep extra alert in case he needs to move away quickly (from either of them, since he is well aware of Amos is totally gone might retaliate over any interference, too) while twisting the knives inwards. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri would prefer not to kill either of them, even if knows they'll return from it. But if they have no choice... so be it. He grits his teeth and waits as Childe starts his own attack, the sound of the struggle between the two berserking men (or beasts, maybe) filling the air. Then as Childe comes in, Dimitri likewise lunges, attacking from the blindside. He tries to sink his lance through Vander's side - and then through, bearing down with as much of his weight and strength as he can to try and pinion him in place. ]

[baltimores]

[ There's an unappreciated intimacy to violence in such close quarters.

He takes it as Vander twists and rolls them to their sides, his own face close — too close, judging by those teeth that snap at him, sink into the top of his head. He practically barks in response, sharp, furious, as his claws sink further into Vander's arms, vision obscured by his fangs, rendered immobile—

There are other sounds around them. Something else is happening, his senses allowing him to perceive something other than this one narrow point in the world. That there's anything else going on beyond his need to kill this animal he's entangled with... Well, it pisses him off.

He jerks his head upwards into Vander's teeth, without a mind for the pain, for the way they just might sink in further, the way blood freely streams down his head and into his eyes, his mouth. He wants this thing off of him. Wants to see what else is going on. Wants to kill it too, whatever it is.

But he keeps himself thoroughly entangled, refusing to let go of his hold on Vander's arms until he's forcibly removed. ]

[exhound]

[It’s so easy to forget everything else around them when in this state. There’s more to see, more to fight, but for the moment it’s all unimportant. There is the bloodshed right here in front of him to keep him more than occupied for now.

At least, until the rest of the outside world decides to come barging into this scuffle of beasts. There’s the taste of blood on his tongue as his teeth sink into his opponent, and with it the hum of satisfaction even as Amos tries to jerk his head away—then suddenly the sting of pain blossoming in one side makes a bid for his attention. On its own, something easy enough to ignore, but that unexpected shock that follows barely a moment later has him seizing up just long enough to give Amos the opportunity to free himself from his bite.

His attention wheels onto this new attacker, finding the one who had first been the target of his rampage once again joining the fight. Even as Childe twists the blades deeper, Vander responds with a low growl and tries to lunge for him, snapping almost futilely toward him while Amos still has such a fierce grip on his arms.

Within this close-quarters tangle of bodies, their ploy for a distraction works wonders. Vander struggles to retaliate against Childe while simultaneously being unwilling to fully disengage from his fellow berserker, and it gives Dimitri the perfect opening with that lance of his. It finds its mark low on one side, piercing first through his back. The force of it makes the edges of his vision fuzz black, his enraged flailing coming to a near halt.]

[vapour]

[ this time Childe is extremely focused, and for better or for worse is usually quite in agreement with both Amos and Vander over the thrill of a fight. It's just that when out of four people participating, Childe is now the second most sane individual in terms of having any sense of self and control, that's a problem that can't really be ignored even by something like Childe himself— because if Childe lets go and gives into his natural penchant for battle this will end up a complete and utter disaster beyond what is already shaping out to be.


When Vander turns attention on him, Childe's mask hides his expression in the face of gaining the mutated Bearer's attention. Although that lunge is thwarted mostly by Amos having a hold on the Meridian and Vander himself unwilling to fully focus on a single new opponent, the younger Zenite of this group doesn't doesn't take any chances.

He shifts to pivot back, pulling one blade out of Vander's side only to flip it around and jam the butt of the handle against the other blade's own. The current of electricity cracks and amplifies as the weapon elongated itself into a double bladed spear, and the force applied to connect them as well as the momentary selectivity surge will be felt from blade still wedged into Vander going a little deeper. He doesn't bother attempting to confine on digging into the flesh than that initial extra force and, instead, uses his weight to launch himself backward by using the spear itself as his momentum base. As a result, Vander will feel the weight in the blade trying to tear down further into him, but because of how built and resilient Vander is, it's
really intended to try and add some pulling force downwards that might cause his balance to teeter rather than try and inflict further damage by exasperating physical wounds.

It's all not done for very for long, either; Childe's maneuver is quick and ultimately will end with the electro-weapon being ripped free of its target just as Dimtri's weapon impales Vander from behind.

Childe lands a distance away— just enough that if Vander were to suddenly swing himself in a violent reaction, Childe will still be out of arm's reach, while assessing what is needed next. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Battle, as it always is, is a rush of emotions and jagged flashes of moments that will only be strung together in memories later. For the moment his focus is on the now, the immediate, ignoring what has come before, barely thinking of the future. He just needs to follow their plan and hope that it's enough. He can feel the strength in Vander's body as the great mass struggles to move - and he sees Childe go darting back out of reach. That makes him (and Amos) the next likely targets.

So he'd better do his part.

He can smell the blood and the sweat, can feel the strain in his muscles. There's a grunt from him, a noise of exertion and power, and he puts his great strength and weight into his weapon, shoving it deeper and deeper, trying to pass it entirely through the other man and into the ground beneath him. There's a spurt of warm, steaming blood and he can practically taste it on his tongue and lips. His voice rises in a low murmur. ]

I'm sorry, Vander-

[ But he does it all the same, because it has to be done. ]

[baltimores]

[ There is suddenly too much going on for him to properly follow.

Head free from Vander's bite, he's able to rear up some, look around with wild eyes. There are two others attacking — not him, but his prey — and the only instinct that's able to rattle through his head is that they're trying to take this away from him. The way Vander's limbs stop, the way Childe and Dimitri attack him, look to nullify him, look to pin him...

Like a dog that's forgotten it already has a bone in its mouth and wants the new one you're holding right now, he disengages from Vander, ripping his own claws away and out from him. Whatever's being done to Vander — it's no longer the priority. He can come back to him later. Or not at all, if he doesn't even remember him (he won't). But Vander isn't the threat anymore, Vander isn't the target anymore...

Dimitri is the closest now, so with a snarl he whirls on him, eyes empty but for mindless rage without a hint of recognition or even humanity, and claws at the ready. ]

[exhound]

[The tables have turned on him here, and all he can do is snarl and flail at every flash of movement, every glimpse of another body. He would revel in the chaos of it if it weren’t for the precarious position it has already put him in. Each jolting shock of Childe’s weapons do their job of further staggering him, but at the cost of further turning up the dial on his blind and now confused rage.

He is noticeably more sluggish when he snaps for the younger Shard-bearer again, and with as hard enough as it is at this angle and amidst this press of bodies, his teeth find nothing but open air to sink into. Particularly when Childe maneuvers to pull himself out of reach and Amos suddenly relinquishes the iron hold he’s had on his arms this entire time.

The momentum and the shift of the Zenite’s ever-changing weapon do their job of throwing off Vander’s balance, allowing Dimitri’s impressive strength to sink his own spear further into Vander’s side and drive him into the dirt. Practically pinned in place, his vision swims and it takes every last remaining ounce of that rage that’s been pushing him forward here to keep himself conscious despite it.

A pained growl rises from his chest, and dazed, he makes a feeble attempt at swinging at whatever movement suddenly draws within eyesight, but it’s uncoordinated and lacking the same fervor of his earlier swipes.]

[kenosnpcs]

[ It’s then that they’ll all feel it. There’s that strange, crackling feeling in their Shards again, an impression of teal light, but in that moment, time simply stops the moment after the portal whorls into existence.

Aetós steps out with a huff of breath like they’re tired, then tuck a pocket watch back into the folds of their robes. They look around at the chaos and murmur a noise that sounds distinctly pleased, though there’s no one to hear it now. It’s not ideal how all of this played out with Manon… But it could be valuable otherwise, and that’s why they’d caused a distraction more than anything else. Manon was a completed project. New material was needed.

So, they look around and appraise the entire group fighting against Vander. They’re each appraised in turn, and a silver hand is placed over their Shard, wherever it may be. This is what they’ll remember when time restarts. But whatever the masked figure is evaluating isn’t clear. Finally, they turn back to Vander, caught mid-swing and sigh. ]

I was hoping it wouldn’t be the biggest one.

[ Vander has nearly a foot on them, after all, and nothing about Aetós’s frame implies the strength needed to carry him. So, it takes a little magic. ]

Periorízo.

[ Threads of teal light shoot from their fingertips to wrap around Vander, and similarly, this is where he’ll begin to have memories of what’s done to him once time restarts. The light crackles against his skin oddly, but it’s not painful. It’s just an odd sensation as Vander suddenly begins to… shrink. As if magical threads were compressing him, he’s quickly, painlessly reduced to half of his size. If he took the time to look through the entire spellbook granted to pursue at Tier 2, he might even recognize this spell as Enlarge/Reduce. However, interestingly, the way Aetós’s shoulders sag, it doesn’t seem like it’s an easy spell for them to use.

But Vander is solidly more portable, and that’s what matters. There’s no real elegance to it as Aetós simply grabs the back of Vander’s shirt with the metal hand and starts to drag him to the portal. It’s still not the easiest, but it’s at least possible. The moment Aetós’s footsteps through that frozen portal, there’s a click like the movement of a watch’s hand, and time begins again.

The silhouette of the masked person and Vander’s much smaller silhouette are the last things the group will see before the teal portal closes and dissipates into motes of energy. ]