Masks in the Night

[Sephira]

12th of Ashan, Arc 718

The acrid scent of smoke drifted through the streets, a cold mist suffusing the dim oil lanterns lining the roads of Scalvoris Town. For a moment everything is quiet, only the soft footfalls of a passerby echoing in the distance. Then, in the dim light one can hear the thundering chant of some of sea shanty sung by dozens voices.

Sea Shanty- The Worst Old Brig

"The worst old brig that ever did weigh,
Sailed out of Scalvoris on a windy day

And we’re waiting and hoping
That we get our pay, that we get our pay, that we get out pay

Her captain was sly but he was not true
To the crew he did lie, who he thought were fools

They did then discover what he had wrought
Trying to steal the fish they had had caught

And we’re waiting and hoping
That we get out pay, that we get our pay, that we get out pay

That captain was found, his crimes laid bare
By the hands of his crew he was cast to Chrien’s lair"

At the end of the main road that led toward Element’s Hall, silhouettes could be seen stepping from the gathering fog. Their masks and sea faring clothes catching the light as it became obvious that a crowd of torch bearing masked individuals dressed as pirates were headed toward the Hall. Their voices echoed down the street as they continued to sing the song. Torches illuminated their masked faces; several members of the mob were armed with gleaming new short swords, bucklers and spears. It was a mystery as to how freshly forged weapons made from good quality steel had found their way into the hands of so many. The mob was heavily armed and furious with the recent failure of the Element’s to protect the people of Scalvoris.

Following the collapse of several buildings near the docks only a few weeks earlier there had been growing unrest among the citizens of the city. The Element’s own numbers had been halved as the former Militant had suspended all male Elements from their duties, placing them on house arrest, including himself. Only female Elements were on duty, so their numbers were spread quite thin across the island.

Sephira Blackwood was one of the few Element’s remaining, she had been there the night that they had realized that a cult had infiltrated their ranks. The mage was currently posted outside Element’s Hall. She like many of the other remaining active Elements had been assigned additional guard duties on top of their already heavy workload. The woman had only recently returned to work after recovering from injuries she had earned on the night of the twenty eighth of Cylus. Sephira’s ribs were still a bit sore, as they were not quite done healing, but she had been cleared for active duty. A thin scar decorated her right cheek, freshly healed but a permanent reminder of the events of that night, and the lives lost.

Another female Element was posted along with her, a fellow Flame Element; Emily Ducar. The bookish woman was much shorter than her armored counterpart. Emily was far more talented as an investigator, rather than as a guard but they had all been forced to make do. Emily was garbed in a simple leather coat, with a blue scarf knotted underneath her chin where she had affixed her Flame pin; her right hand nervously played with the longsword at her hip. Sephira stood to her left, appearing a little more at ease and prepared for a fight. She wore an angular, extremely well-tailored dark crimson coat that laid over similarly angular leather armor that protected her torso. Her saber Wyvern sat in its sheath, oiled and ready for whatever the night might bring.

“Do you hear that?” Emily asked, her mousey features creasing with worry as the sound of chanting voices approached. The sea shanty echoing through the streets before merging into the shapes of masked individuals dressed in clothing associated with pirates. Sephira flinched at the appearance of the masks, the image of them bring back unwanted memories that she preferred to forget.

“Halt.” The mage shouted toward the amassing crowd. Torchlight glittered on the cobblestones as the mob came to a stop, the song dissipating to leave behind an ugly silence.

Sephira’s right hand hovered instinctively around Wyvern’s hilt, fearful of the crowd’s intentions.
“Please go back to your homes.” She said firmly, “We want no quarrel with you.”

A man wearing an eyepatch and a bright orange stripped scarf stepped from the crowd, bearing a torch and a shining new short sword. His remaining blue eye leered at her.

“Oh but we want to quarrel with you.”

The crimson garbed mage stepped forward, looking to Emily as she took stock of their odds. There were easily two dozen people in the crowd, perhaps more, the numbers were not in their favor. There might only be a handful of active duty Elements within the Hall, and there were no others posted within the vicinity. It was going to be a rough night.

Dialogue|Thoughts

[Genuvah]

Genuvah had heard of the recent upheavals going on in Scalvoris, when he arrived toward the end of Cylus to try out his new 'outfit'. He wasn't wearing that outfit right now. The past few days had been spent lobbying for mercenary work under the Black Cats. He'd gone forth in the guise of Cowle Rioghsson. Cowle being a bannerless mercenary who was known for little more than some light guard duty here or there and saving a caravan. The leader of the Cats had refused to take him, but told him to make more of a name for himself before he sought work with them.

So when he caught wind of the chanting and clinking of unusually well-equipped rioters, he saw a golden opportunity to either get killed or make more of a name for himself as a mercenary that could get things done.

He joined in their song as they walked along, in part to fit in with them. Yet also to find out what their objective was. He said nothing, but presumed their intentions would be laid bare before too long. He wasn't disappointed. The crowd started slowing down as they arrived at the Element's Hall. Genuvah had entertained the idea of joining them seasons ago, but decided against it. Something about taking orders and following schedules grated his natural wanderlust. Although their mission was noble, and they upheld order of the civilized portions of the Island, he couldn't have joined them in good faith. They may have been too rigid for his taste, but he had no ill will toward them.

He walked a little bit ahead of the mob as they came to a stop in front of the Hall, sharing words with a couple of guardswomen that held the entrance against the crew. Visible beneath his lime green cloak, a tunic of chainmail over a yellow shirt, as well as chainmail leg protection over black pants and brown boots. At his side was a longsword, and over his shoulder a large roundshield covered the back of his cloak.

He had already decided to help the Elements. Yet he could see the odds were not good, even with three of them there to guard the Hall. As he made his way in front of the leader of the mob, he crossed his arms, one hand grasping the hilt of his longsword. "Might want to wait a bit, if it's a fight you're spoiling for. The Black Cats have been called to reinforce the Elements. The rest of us should be here in half a break, if you don't mind standing about." Probably a poor bluff for the mercenary to make, yet it might give them pause to attack the Hall if they feared being caught with worse odds than they anticipated.

[Max]

Ever since the twenty-eighth of Cylus Maxine was angry. Every trill of every trial she was reliving the events over and over. She could see it in her mind's eye when she stared into space during the day, and every nightmare was a vividly horrifying experience. The memories hung over her, haunting her like a relentless spirit. The irony of it was that she didn't want to just move past what had happened to her. She didn't want to forget. Maxine wanted sweet, sweet revenge. The gorier the better.

She'd heard the whispers long before the gathering. Frankly, she'd contributed to a good half of what must've been said around town, happily fanning the flames of rebellion. Scalvoris as a whole was up-in-arms about the betrayal of the Elements and the exposure of their corruption. The cultists had been in their ranks at a number of at least a hundred before Max, Kura, Sephira, Vega, and Lavana had set to quelling them to secure their own survival. It had been a bloody affair that left no kidnapped woman free of injury. Max had the stupid cane clutched in her hand to prove it, too.

The Rusalka was healing faster than one would've logically expected her to. She lent that to the merit of the healer named Faith and her own force of will. As unnaturally well as she was bouncing back, it wasn't quick enough. The cane was better than the crutch, but both left her feeling humiliated and useless for as long as she'd need them. She wasn't in a condition she believed was conducive to her joining the mob that had formed. That didn't mean she wasn't going to find a way to fully enjoy the fruits of their violence against the Elements.

Perched on a stoop nearby, Maxine twisted and twirled her cane in her hand with eyes locked on the next door Element Hall. Each trill was agonizingly slow to pass. The looming shadow of the Element's building was enough to fill her with a combination of anxiety and a rage that threatened to boil over. Instead of fixing her eyes on the doorway, her gaze was locked upon the darkness where she she knew the mob was set to march into view. When their dark shanty reached her ears, a smirk spread wide across her face.

It's about damn time.

Max rose to her feet to watch the crowd come like some sort of rabid fan. She even maneuvered down the stoop and halfway to the Hall in hopes of finding a richer place to spectate from. All was set to go so very perfectly that night. It was going to be the beginning of the end for the Elements. She could nearly feel the history being made right before her very eyes. The three shadows stationed before the crowd would be no match for the soldiers of much-needed justice. It would be a joy to watch each from the trio fall beneath Scalvoris Town's heels for protecting an organization unworthy of such loyalty. Only one's figure was consistent with that of a man, but she supposed she could live with the casualties of two Element women if it meant victory that night. Anticipating the inevitable, she dared to ease in even further to get a better look at both the guards and the mob. Her expression darkened the trill she did.

"You cowardly fucking shits," Maxine's wrathful voice rang loud through the dark, the anger in her tone shaking as though too big for the body it originated from. The Rusalka stopped only when she arrived at the mob's flank. Given her expression, one might've guessed someone had spit directly in her face. "You wear masks like the craven traitors that kidnapped me." A couple of the masked mob members looked away when they met her enraged gaze. No doubt some of them had sat beside her in taverns and gambling tables, soaking in the propaganda she fed them to help fuel city-wide distrust and animosity toward the Elements. "Look at you all, hiding your faces like little bitches."

For the first time, Max turned her head to appreciate the fools that stood in the mob's way. Her brow raised at one face in particular. Fingers clenched into a knuckle-white grip around the handle of her cane. The Rusalka was practically shaking. "And you planned to start...by cutting down one of the women that was down there? Killing rouges before you found the courage to put on your cheap ass get-ups?" The look Maxine shot toward Sephira wasn't all that kinder than the one she'd given those she'd originally aligned with. After all, the Rusalka had point-blank told the Flame Element where she stood on the matter of her loyalties when they were getting patched up. She'd made it no secret about how badly she wanted to see the military fall either. Still, shared trauma had a tendency of forcing even the most fickle of allies. On this subject, Max was fickle indeed.

"If any of you point those at her," Max vituperated with lip curled, eyes glancing toward the mob's assortment of weapons. "I'll show you what happened to the cultists in that underground." Her free hand wandered down to grasp the hilt of her new gladius, Merces Embrace, gifted to her by her lover. Her sights locked finally with the masked mob's leader where he stood with his short sword. "Go on. I dare you. Mine is far bigger than yours.

[Sephira]

Emily Ducar looked to her comrade nervously before unsheathing the longsword at her hip. The blade was almost too long for the petite woman but she held it with some surety.

“Please go back to your homes. We are just doing our duty.” She pleaded with a wavering voice.

The man with the orange scarf and the eye patch strode toward the pair of Elements, a look of pure hatred burned in his single sky blue eye. His skin was obviously tanned and he bore scars consistent with that of a fisherman. This was no criminal, but he like many residents of Scalvoris Town had seen their families sheared in half due to the collapse.

“Aye, were you doin yer duty when my sister was killed? Her house was buried in the collapse; they still haven’t managed to find what’s left of her!” He hissed through blackened teeth as he haphazardly flourished the torch clasped in his left hand. The crowd roared in agreement, many voices shouting about their own loved ones that had died on that terrible night

At that moment a man emerged from the crowd, stepping past the rioter addressing Emily to stand before the assembled mob. His dark eyes surveyed the crowd as he announced that a mercenary group was soon to join them within the next half break. Sephira watched him wordlessly, realizing almost immediately that there was no such deal between the Elements and the Black Cats, this man was bluffing on their behalf. He was either a fool or very brave to step between the Elements and the masked mob.

The mage gave the man a subtle but appreciative nod once he finished speaking. If she survived the night, she would not forget his actions. There were so few people willing to defend the Scalvoris military after the corruption of the cult was revealed, it was a comfort to know that some people still trusted in them.

It was at this moment that a tall athletic man dressed in fine black leather armor came into view as he stepped lightly from the press of bodies into the open area in front of Element’s Hall. His hair was a bright platinum blonde and was clipped short to his scalp. A black feathered mask in the shape of a raven’s head was obscuring his features. A thin, beautifully ornamented rapier sat sheathed at his waist. Two other’s followed behind him, one was a spindly man who wore a dull silver mask that concealed his eyes and the other was a heavily muscled bear of a man who wore a similar looking copper mask. The Silver Mask was armed with wicked looking stiletto daggers and his counterpart wielded a vicious looking hammer.

“Now, there are plenty of things one can accomplish in half a break. Your compatriots will be too late mercenary...even if they were on their way. “The man in the Raven Mask stated dryly. There was a refinement to his speed that the man in the orange scarf lacked; this was no ordinary rioter.

Suddenly the exchange was interrupted as a face very familiar to Sephira stepped into view. The woman was clutching a cane to help her along due to the grievous injury she had earned on the night of the collapse. She had obviously healed a great deal since then due to Faith’s expertise, but obviously she was still recovering after her encounter with the leader of the masked Earth cultists. Sephira was certain that if Max ever ran into him again that she would repay him in kind. By the look in the woman’s eyes the Rupturer began to suspect that she had come simply to watch the show rather than to help. Although, once Max sighted the masked crowd her mood abruptly changed.

Sephira slowly unsheathed Wyvern as she listened while the other woman spoke. Max might despise the Elements for the actions of the cult and the failure to detect the corruption in time, but she hated cowardice more. The masks worn by the crowd were a sickening reminder of the cultists themselves, whether they realized it or not.

The mage felt a growing respect for Max as she warned the crowd off from attacking her. While Sephira was under no illusion about the other woman’s opinions of the military, she knew that the woman was speaking the truth. Max would go down swinging if it meant fighting off cowardly masked men who were out to attack the very women that had been kidnapped by the cult.

“My dear, I must say it’s impressive to see you up and about after taking a spear in the foot. Why don’t you sit this one out, I’d hate to have to make a proper cripple out of you.” The Raven Mask spoke silkily; his thin lips were pursed in a simper as he gazed at Max.

Somehow he was aware of how she had been wounded…

Sephira flourished her saber, gazing at the Raven Masked man with venom in her eyes. The Element took several steps toward him until only a few feet remained between them. The mage glanced briefly at the Silver and Copper masked men, taking silent note of their weapons before returning her ebony gaze to the Raven Mask.

“Lay a hand on her and you will find out firsthand how we survived that night.” She hissed to Raven Mask, only loud enough for Max and the nearby Genuvah to hear. Already Sephira had begun drawing in ether, preparing for a fight. Reality appeared to warp around her faintly as her spark awoke in anticipation.

The Raven Mask smirked before turning toward the crowd, his back facing the three as he began to speak.
“Look at them! These are the people that failed you!” The man turned his head to glance back at Max, Genuvah and Sephira, a twinkle alighting in his silvery gray eyes.

“And what do they deserve!?” He shouted, pointing his gloved hand toward Element’s Hall. The other Element, Emily Ducar stood there with her sword trembling in her hands, frozen and unable to move.

The crowd roared as they responded to the Raven Mask.

“To burn!!!”

Torches were thrown through air as the rioters set fire to Element’s Hall. Vials of lantern oil were tossed from the crowd like grenades, splashing on the roof of the building to be caught aflame by the incoming torches.

The Raven Mask turned with a satisfied smile to the defenders, his sights set on Max. Drawing his rapier he sauntered off toward the woman. The heavyset Copper Mask bore his hammer toward Genuvah, preparing to strike him down with a single blow. Next the Silver Mask with his wicked pair of daggers began to approach Sephira.

Whoever these men were, they were somehow set apart from the enraged crowd. As if they had simply been there to fan the flames.

Spoiler

Combat can proceed as you see fit in your next post so long as it is within your skill level. Silver and Copper Mask both possess Competent weapons skills and Raven Mask possesses an Expert level skill in Blades(Rapier). Keep in mind that it might be prudent to keep one alive in order to gain information. Pm me if you have any questions.

Dialogue|Thoughts

[Genuvah]

Ho boy, Genuvah had stepped in it now.

From all the banter going on between the masked men, the Elements, and the angry woman who'd newly arrived to give everyone involved a verbal thrashing, it was clear the Yludih wasn't possessed of all the pertinent facts. Nevertheless, he was here, and his hand was dropped. He'd have to back them up. Also his bluff was a miserable failure. It was a long shot anyway.

As the others were talking, he removed his shield from his shoulder, holding it at his midsection. He left his sword in its scabbard for the moment.

The man who responded to his bluff seemed very confident in his position and dismissive of Genuvah's threat. Who could blame him. A dozen or score against three or four swords? He didn't know how skilled the others were, but Genuvah was just a green kid fresh off the pickle boat. The anxiety he felt translated to the illusory form he held, resulting in a deep gulping of air. He really did step in it.

So when the danger rose to a fever pitch, the melee began, and the masked men led the charge.

The man with the copper mask was first to strike against Genuvah. The young Yludih winced at the sight of the hammer, knowing full well how much that would hurt it if connected with his crystal body. He managed to get his shield up just in time to block it, but the tip of the hammer nearly hooked the edge of the shield.

Copper mask pulled as the hammer found purchase there, and exploited the opening by kicking Genuvah in the midsection. The Yludih's back buckled, but straightened up quickly as the hammer was brought once more to bear. This time he caught it with the broad side of the shield, deflecting the blow. But Copper mask was relentless, and Genuvah's relative lack of skill compared to his assailant showed.

He could only hope to keep him at bay long enough for the others to handle their own assailants, as well as any stragglers who jumped into the fray.

[Max]

The enraged Rusalka glared up at the Raven Mask with an unrelenting mood of malice. All rebellions needed a strong, charismatic leader. That role was something the woman could never rightly fill, and given her condition, it had been obvious that someone else needed to step up and bring about the first wave of violent discontent. This mob was nothing other than a showing of cowardice. It was an utter bastardization of the full-bodied revolution she'd lusted after. The only greater insult was that which was directed toward her existing injury.

"Yeah and I'd hate to have to shove my pretty sword up your ass, but here you are about to force my hand," Max crudely spat just before she found Sephira marching to her side, saber gleaming its warning in the torch light. Her resolve hardened the moment she heard the Element hiss her own threat on Max's behalf. A camaraderie once loosely shared to survive the cultists had been reborn with stronger ties to confront new faceless enemies. She could practically feel the nerves of the man and other Element woman. There would be no room for lasting trepidation. The threat was real. It was here. Raven Mask had smugly rallied the excitable mob to action. Maxine was about to be crushed under the heel of a cause she had tried for trials to champion.

The Rusalka watched with a neutral expression as the Element's Hall was put to flames. In response to this act she exhibited no indignation toward the Scalvoris Town citizens. Bits ago she was prepared to sit back and enjoy the poetry of the spectacle. She'd planned to breathe in the scent of that burning pyre deeply while its destruction's reflection danced upon the lens of her eyes. Raven Mask had ruined that for her too. The torching of the Element Hall now only signaled an escalation of a brutishness that would devolve into an all out attack. Once again Maxine had led with her emotions rather than her head. Her fury had her standing on the wrong side of the battlefield and in no shape to properly take on Raven Mask. He had probably been right. If she was lucky, she'd only emerge from this scourge as a permanent cripple. The reality of a very real threat began to set upon her in time with the unsheathing of the ornate rapier.

Max retreated backwards, rounding outward and away from the rushing mob as Raven Mask stalked toward her. She reluctantly glanced between her cane and her opponent before hurling it at him in spite. He merely dodged the childish gesture with a chuckle.
"Be reasonable," Raven Mask advised while Max had set to casting her cloak aside, revealing her own full set of black leather armor. "This isn't a fight you can win." She placed most of her weight on her good foot, attempting to amend her usual ready stance to accommodate her routine to her injury. Raven Mask tsked at the poor sight. "Some of all this was your doing. It would be a shame to see you die for one of them."

He was right and she knew it. She didn't want to impede the success of this assault. She wanted to see this Element stronghold crumble to its knees, the organization and its lingering members stomped out beneath the heel of a unified Scalvoris against them. She wanted the remaining cultists rooted out with absolutely no costs spared. Yet what Raven Mask couldn't understand was that when she looked to his face now, she saw only an alternative version of Earth Mask in the flesh; her nightmare incarnate standing before her with his sword bared. Maxine glanced over his shoulder to spy Silver Mask storming toward Sephira with his wicked daggers at the ready. Her lips pressed together.

"She isn't one of them," Max stated firmly, pulling her gladius free of its sheath. Otherworldly cerulean flames danced along the edge of the strange blade. Raven Mask's next forward step wavered a bit, his grey eyes widened slightly at the sight of her unusual weapon. She bore the beautiful gladius before her. A strange blue light from the flames illuminated a thin line of her face. "Wearing those masks, you all only honor the murderers you came to punish," the Rusalka declared louder this time, her words intended for more than her single enemy. "So as long as you keep wearing yours, I'm done talking. Get on with it, asshole." Raven Mask shrugged and happily obliged her.

The rapier was a faster sword than she anticipated. As soon as she'd narrowly hopped backward out of the way of his first thrust, she was desperately leaning away from its return. A last minute parry with her gladius saved her from a stick to the chest that nearly ended the fight all too early, but as soon as she'd redirected the threat, Raven Mask had already jabbed in again in time to catch her left upper arm. Max reeled painfully backward, nearly falling in the process when her bad foot tapped the ground. Blood ran through the lacerated cloth of her unprotected bicep. When she glanced toward it, however, she did not find so thick an injury as she'd anticipated. It was only then that she seemed to understand something about her opponent's weapon that had not been so obvious to her.

It's the point that does the damage. Not so much the edges.

Raven Mask gave his rapier an expert twirl in his hand. Her gladius might've looked intimidating to behold, but the early spill of her blood had fed his ravenous ego. He lunged in with more tact. His lightning-quick attacks forced his less-agile enemy backward with clever purpose until the inevitable mistake was made. In a wild effort to keep herself from the pointy end of the rapier, Max was forced to plant her weight on her bad foot. Even with adrenaline the pain was nearly overwhelming and her fall onto her back as unavoidable as it was involuntary. She cursed the moment her spine struck the cold, hard ground. Raven Mask rushed in to seal her fate with grey eyes as hungry as his incoming sword.

Max rolled to one side before she could be properly skewered, and the point grazed down along her leather-protected flank instead. When she returned it was to send her good heel into the kneecap of her opponent. He gave with it the best he could, falling back to give her enough space and time to hobble to her feet despite her foot throbbing its protest. Raven Mask could see the suggestion of weakness in the grimace that painted her expression. He went back on the offensive rather than giving her time to recover, shooting his rapier out before him with a scary precision. It had already been proven that Maxine couldn't effectively keep away from his blows. Her impotency so long as she was down a foot was a reality that was beginning to weigh heavily upon her.

And so when that rapier came for her middle she did not move, but grasp and bear before her the body of a mob member who had been rushing by en route to the Element Hall. With wide eyes both her body shield and Raven Mask watched the point of the rapier slip between his ribs. Max's gauntlet reached down and around her sacrifice to grasp the debole, and using her body shield's ribs as a fulcrum, she violently bent the slender blade until it snapped. Raven Mask staggered backward looking dumbly at his once-exquisite weapon reduced to rubbish. Maxine wrenched the mortally wounded, anonymous mob member away from her and onto the ground to exsanguinate. Her nearly black eyes trained themselves sinisterly onto Raven Mask. Just like that, the playing field had almost been leveled.

[Sephira]

Sephira stepped backward hesitantly as Silver Mask approached, the thin man leering behind his metallic visage. For a moment she hesitated, as there was still some part of her that shied away from the idea of killing. However these men were a clear threat, who had ever intent on doing harm to them and the Elements.

Flames spreads across the roof of Element’s Hall, the fire roared and hissed as it ate away at a place that had always been a second home to all Elements, including Sephira. In the moment that the fire had been set, Emily Ducar had rushed into the building. Her tiny frame was obscured by gouts of smoke but she emerged from the Hall with two other female Element’s in tow. The trio coughed heavily as they exited the burning hall to see the mob that was forming in the firelight outside the building. The crowd began to chant with a growing fervor.

“Burn, burn, burn!”

Sephira had but a trill, perhaps two. Her spark roared to life with a fury as she reached toward the silken touch of the surrounding ether. Focusing on the area between the crowd and Elements Hall she ignited a pool of Ether with a snap of her fingers and it began to warp the fabric of space. The manipulation was not enough to cause the manifestation of a portal but rather a Roaring. A distorted area of space that reverberated with the same sound made during the creation of a portal. The deafening boom shook the ground and many of the rioters dropped to the earth with their hands clamped to their ears. Many more bolted away into the night, frightened of the strange magical distortion. Perhaps a dozen or so of the rioters remained. These were perhaps more familiar with magic and less afraid of a simple Rupturing cantrip.

In the moment she had taken to create the Roaring distortion in space, Silver Mask had closed the distance between them and was driving his daggers toward her. Already in contact with the surrounding ether, Sephira grasped at a pocked of the energy behind the masked man. She vanished into the Blink portal with a flash of crimson brilliance. The moment she emerged behind him she swept her saber upwards in a diagonal slice, her eyes aflame with fury. To her surprise, Silver Mask caught her blade with a solid block, using both of his daggers in a cross formation.

Sephira had never been blocked after a successful Blink. It was as if he had known exactly what to expect with her, as if he was familiar with her methods...

Silver Mask grinned at her with grimy yellowed teeth.

Sephira didn’t wait for the counter attack; she reached for more Ether and used a tactic she had only used in practice. She focused for a moment on the space beneath his feet and the distance to Element’s Hall. A chasing portal erupted beneath Silver Mask’s feet, the crimson gash in reality opened with a thunderous boom before the dagger wielding man dropped through the portal like a stone. Silver Mask emerged screaming through the exit portal that was easily twenty feet over the burning Element’s Hall. Sephira watched him fall, a dark gleam in her swirling black eyes. The mage took no joy in killing, but after the events of the twenty-eighth of Cylus, she would take no chances with these men. The cult, or those responsible for it were now well aware of what she was, and of her skill set. Not to mention the man in the Raven Mask seemed privy to the information regarding Max’s wound.

These men knew who they were and they had trained in combatting them. The Elements, and all involved in the events of that cold Cylus night were in grave danger.

That much was clear.

Sephira turned sharply toward the Copper Mask, her gaze cold and calculating as she took account of the area surrounding her next target.
The scent of ash filled the air while embers drifted through the streets.

The mage started running, changing her tactics. Normally she entered a fight with a Blink; this would have to be somewhat different. Her boots pounded against the cobbled street, her saber grasped in her hand as she sprinted toward Copper Mask. The mercenary from earlier had done a good job of fending for himself, but it was clear that he was at least slightly outmatched by his opponent.

Sephira approached from Copper Mask’s right side and when within only a couple yards she snatched at swirling tendrils of ether. The energy swam through her veins and her spark seemed to shiver in delight as carefully crafted scarlet skysteps emerged under her feet. She raced up the magically forged steps until she crested the air at her opponent’s shoulder level.

Her timing would have to be perfect...her measurements accurate.

Her saber Wyvern sliced diagonally across Copper Mask’s right shoulder just as she passed him. A half trill later she leapt off the highest skystep and tore open a yawning Blink portal with a loud boom. Sephira vanished through the gleaming red gash, and it sealed behind her. The hammer wielding man reeled backwards as the pain of the strike bit into his shoulder. It was not enough to down him, but it was enough to earn her a few trills of distraction.

The mage emerged from her second portal instantly, her momentum gained from her sprint sent her sliding across the ground past Copper Mask. Her blade was out and aimed at his legs as she made the pass. This was a tactic she had used before, using previously built up momentum to defeat the Wind Mask only a few trials earlier.

Copper Mask howled, he was bleeding and wounded at the shoulder and now his legs were bloodied and caving in under him. Sephira had done more than even the playing field; Copper Mask was down, but not out. The mercenary had given get time to intervene; now she was returning the favor.

The massive masked man bellowed like a wounded animal, dropping his weapon as he fell to a knee. His legs were bloodied and red fluid wept down his back. His meaty hands reached out for the mercenary, but his movements were sluggish and haphazard.

The crowd continued to chant and watch the Hall burn, however Emily had enlisted the aid of the two Element’s she had rescued and the trio were running buckets of water from a nearby well to the burning structure. Hopefully they could get the blaze under control, although at the rate they were going they would need help, and soon.

Sephira then turned her gaze to Max and the man in the Raven Mask. At that moment Max had used a passing rioter’s body as a fulcrum to shatter Raven Mask’s rapier. Sephira had to appreciate the woman’s resourcefulness; even wounded she was a force to be reckoned with. The mage sought out the other woman’s eyes.

“We need him.” She snarled. Sephira had a feeling that Max could end the altercation, and hopefully capture the man. They were badly in need of information that perhaps the ringleader of the masked men could provide.

After passing on the message, the Element turned back to the Hall. The application of buckets of water was not enough to stop the inferno, and Sephira had an idea.

The mage jogged toward the Hall, and stood in a somewhat calm corner of the scene where she sheathed her saber. The remaining members of the mob had grown quieter as they watched their handiwork. Sephira breathed deep and began focusing on the area near to the docks. It was some distance away, a good five kilometers perhaps, but Sephira could see the shore of Scalvoris Town clearly in her mind’s eye. She had been there many times before, not to mention on the night that the collapse had occurred. The mage focused, slowly drawing in ether like thread on a spool as she reached further than she ever had before. Sephira felt that familiar sensation that she had experienced before, when she had overstepped on that night. She knew what it felt like and she knew what to expect. This would be a different sort of portal, one she had only practiced once previously; A long distance full compression of space. A compression portal was dangerous, especially if not well practiced, but Sephira did not intend to go through, rather she was bringing water through it.

Back in the fray, Raven Mask retreated back a few steps before pulling several throwing knives from his jacket pocket and looking toward Max with a devilish grin. He launched a pair at her with a flick of his wrist, the silvery projectiles racing toward their mark.
“You stupid girl!” He swore at Max.

“ How did you think this would go? You’re barely on your feet, and you think you can stop this!?”He sauntered toward her, a smirk dancing on his pale lips.

Spoiler

Combat can proceed as you see fit in your next post so long as it is within your skill level. Copper Mask is down but not out. Raven Mask is continuing in his assault. His expertise in thrown weapons is only Competent. Pm me if you have any questions.

Dialogue|Thoughts

[Genuvah]

Copper Mask's hammer rained down on Genuvah's shield like the beating of a war drum. He felt the verberations through the wood of his shield, down into his forearm and elbow. It wouldn't be too long before his arm gave out and an opening presented itself to his assailant. Then a swift saber slash flew behind Copper Mask, a streak of crimson on the air that subsequently splattered against the pavement. Genuvah gave a quick nod of thanks to the woman before moving into action, He let his shield arm down, and with his right gauntlet, punched the masked man in the face.

His longsword was in its scabbard, Genuvah knowing that it would do no good in a close quarters fight such as this one. Copper still grasped his hammer, so whatever tendon may have been cut was not his weapon hand. Genuvah still had a fight here. Still gripping the armband of his shield, he approached the stunned Mask. To Genuvah's surprise he still had the presence of mind to send his hammer in a lateral strike against the Yludih mercenary. Genuvah quickly deflected the blow with his shield, ducking to avoid it's hammerhead by inches as it flew over his head. Before Copper Mask could reverse coarse and backhand Genuvah in his unprotected flank, the mercenary charged him. He grappled with his forearm and kicked his ankle out from under him, sending the man to the ground.

Genuvah took the initiative this gave him to batter the man in the forehead with the rim of his shield. Once, twice, and again. Soon enough the man lost his grip on the hammer. As he did this, Genuvah was ready to grip the handle of the weapon, and throw it along the ground toward the burning building behind them. If any of the mob thought about picking up the hammer, they'd better have more sense than to do it in the shadow of a building that could collapse at any moment.

Regardless, Genuvah took a step away from Copper Mask after stunning him, and finally drew his longsword. He gripped it backhand style, as he descended on the man. However, instead of running him through, he wrestled him, wrapping his arms around his front as he took hold from the man's rear, forming a headlock. The longsword, he brought across his throat, using the flat to form a lock there. 'Don't move, big guy... All I need to do is twist this sword to open your throat, from skin to spine. The fight is over!"

While he did this, he took stock of the rest of the battle that was still ongoing. The two or three women who were also in the fray were still about the fighting, and one of the women was being approached by a man weilding throwing knives. Genuvah thought he might help them, but knew grappling with his opponent and keeping him still was about all he could manage for the moment. Besides, they seemed to be able to handle themselves. This wasn't the time for misguided chivalry.

[Max]

With her smoldering gladius in her right hand and the broken end of Raven Mask's rapier in her left, Max had her menacing stare fiercely focused on her nemesis. She extended her left hand out and dramatically dropped her trophy while its master looked on. The sword piece dinged upon the street, the symbolism of its landing ringing loud in both fighters' ears even as the air had been filled with exuberant rioters. The pair of grey eyes beneath the feathered disguise should've singularly commanded her attention. Instead, feeling the gaze of another directed upon her, the Rusalka spied Sephira looking right back at her.

Need him?

She could hear the urgency in the woman's tone. While her beloved Element Hall was up in flames, the mage with the flame pin was still trying to think two more steps ahead. Max's brow lowered and her lip slightly curled. Raven Mask was the clear ring-leader of this disgraceful, yellow-bellied gathering. Whoever's face was under there, it was someone with influence and knowledge, and the latter was something of value to both Max and Sephira despite their difference of opinion on the Elements. To pick his brain he'd need to leave this encounter alive.

While Sephira rushed off, Emily valiantly helped her sisters out of the engulfed Element Hall, and their sole male ally was locked in a fierce battle with a masked man of his own, Max was preparing to bring her fight to a conclusive close in one way or another. At first her enemy's retreat threatened an amused guffaw from the crippled woman. That was, of course, before she caught the firelight glinting devilishly off something Raven Mask procured from his pocket. By the time she realized what they were it was too late. Two of the throwing knives came soaring right at her, and she had little time to do anything else but the most natural of flinch responses.

The first knife audibly cut through the air beside her ear just before the second tinged luckily off the blade of her gladius she'd brought in to protect her head. The sound of his voice cut through the air as sharply as the weapons he'd hurled at her. She'd been taunted in a fight before, but she couldn't remember a time when the words spoken were so painfully true. When she snapped his rapier she hadn't evened the playing field. She'd only bought herself precious, precious time.

"For fuck sake," Maxine growled, body practically trembling with caged emotion. "Do you ever shut the fuck up?" Raven Mask immediately capitalized on his advantage of distance to launch a second assault on the fool too angry to decide against insulting her superior opponent. Another pair of knives whipped through the dark. The response was a predictable one, but her restricted mobility made dodging the projectiles a chronically difficult endeavor. Max attempted to lean back and pivot out of the way the moment she saw the flick of the man's wrist. This time she didn't emerge so lucky.

One of the knives found purchase in her leather armor. One of its edges wedged itself into her left flank, sticking out of her side where it landed. Max staggered back with as much weight kept on her good foot as possible. Raven Mask's smirk broadened. His steps toward his stuck quarry hastened as quick as he was planning her subsequent death. She looked down toward the shining weapon peeking out of her figure, body involuntarily leaning a bit forward, and expression briefly contorted in pain. Raven Mask marched forth with his remaining knives in hand to finish the job. Then, a sudden swell of dark clouds manifested and flowed thickly outward from where she stood. In a trill both the Rusalka and Raven Mask were consumed in the condensed vapor that separated them from the rest of the world.

"You can't hide from me!" Raven Mask grunted, his grey eyes searching impossibly about the dark storm that had swallowed him. Chants encouraging the Element Hall's burning rang about. Panicked Elements shouted to account for survivors of the fire and organize an effort to quell it. With the air filled with the sounds of chaos, Raven Mask didn't hear the cripple until she was upon him. Max laced her fingers through his hair, yanked his chin upward, and placed her gladius at his throat. Almost instantly the masked man's demeanor seemed to change.

His body stiffened and the raised throwing hand froze where it was. Max glared longingly from behind where her sword met his windpipe. Slowly the throwing knives slipped from his fingers to clattered like the broken rapier piece had upon the ground. Her grip on the hilt of her gladius was knuckle-white. He held his hands up for her to see he was no longer armed, and while she couldn't see his eyes, she reckoned they held within them the non-verbal plea to spare him. The clouds around them began to dissipate and slowly reveal the pair to the rest of the world.

"We need him."

Max raised her eyes to spot Sephira through the commotion...and drew her blade deep across Raven Mask's throat.
"Say hi to Water Mask for me," she murmured grimly in his ear just before the hysterical throat-grabbing and blood-gurgling started. Her fingers uncurled from his hair. Raven Mask fell to his knees, blood flowing profusely over his hands that tried in vain to stem the wide, weeping wound. His demise was a drawn-out, gruesome affair to behold. All the while Max merely stood over him, staring nearly unblinkingly as though afraid to miss a single, agonizing moment of it. It wasn't long before he had fallen permanently into a fetal position. The red pool growing beneath him dyed his bright, platinum blonde hair a deep crimson.

"That hurt," Maxine muttered, wincing. "So much." She looked down at the edge of the knife awkwardly protruding from her side. Her eyes turned almost instantly up toward the smoke-filled sky. "Dammit!" At least the stranger with the longsword seemed to have won his battle with Copper Mask, the latter of which was annoyingly still breathing. Max looked back down at Raven Mask with a tilted head. Possessed by a sudden, albeit obvious curiosity, she lowered her gladius down to slip the disguise off the face of her kill.

[Sephira]

The mage reached further than she ever had before. Ether swam through her core, through her soul before her Spark drank it in with great greedy gulps. Sephira reached forward with her hands, her fingers splayed toward the direction of the bay. This was different that simply snapping open a Blink or a quick Chasing Portal. She was essentially compressing the space between her location and that of the seaside in a space thinner than the width of a hair. It was hard at first, like trying to lift something heavier than yourself but as she worked the task grew easier. Her Spark was terribly satisfied by all this, as it craved to be used every trill of every day.

Raw energy crackled violently between her hands as the space over Element’s Hall began to waver and warp. The mage felt the symptoms of overstepping beginning to cloud her concentration. It was light, and nothing compared to what she had experience before, but the wear on her etheric channels was beginning to draw on her reserve of strength. Sephira forced herself to focus, her hands sweeping in front of her slow wide arcs. Hand motions always helped her visualize the creation of a portal. For a moment the woman recalled Lavana’s jokes about her hand waving. The memory carried a thread of bitterness. The woman had lied to her about her identity, giving her a false name instead. Sephira barely trusted anyone as it was, that deception had only pushed the mage further away from people.

Finally the compression snapped into place, the air distorting above the Hall with an impressive ear shattering boom that echoed among the fire-lit streets. There was a delay at first as luminescent waves of scarlet formed the air-borne portal. Sephira watched from below as water rushed from the portal, siphoned from the ocean some five kilometers away. The liquid crashed down into the flaming structure, snuffing out almost the entirety of the flames. The mage cut off the flow almost immediately, only allowing through enough ocean water to quench the fire and save the Hall. The large portal dissipated with an exhausted flick of Sephira’s hand.

The mage turned back to the scene. The remaining rioters had fled with the loud opening of the portal and the deluge that had followed. Emily and the other Elements were collected just outside what remained of Element’s Hall. There was a massive hole in the roof and many of the desks and items inside had been ruined or destroyed, but the structure was stills standing.

Sephira’s vision was fuzzy and she had a hell of a headache but they had survived. She walked toward where Genuvah had subdued Copper Mask. The hefty man was held in a lock by the mercenary. Thankfully he had not killed their only witness.

“Thank you.” Sephira said to Genuvah with a sigh as she knelt down in front of the mercenary and the captive Mask.

The Element’s face was only a foot away from the captive’s face as she peered at him with furious ebony eyes.

“I’m sure a man like you understands the value of cooperating with us. “ She said flatly to Copper Mask.
The man simply sat there, evidently having no desire to meet her gaze.

Sephira stood and waved toward Emily Ducar, the smaller Element jogged over, a look of exhaustion plaguing her expression.

“Put him in irons, and let’s get him to the Redoubt. The Militant will likely want to speak with him.” She paused briefly as Emily helped the mercenary maneuver Copper Mask to his feet where she began placing cuffs on his wrists. “And take that thing off.” She spat, gesturing at the copper mask of his face.

The Element turned to Genuvah and gave him an appreciative nod. “We won’t forget this. The Elements will see you compensated for your actions Mr.... ?” She went silent for a moment to allow the mercenary to give his name.

“I’m Sephira, and keep in mind that the Elements may need your assistance in the future, so keep in touch with us.”

With that the mage strode toward where Max was standing over the man garbed in the Raven Mask.

“Did you really have to kill him...” Sephira said scathingly. Max was removing the man’s black feathered mask from his face when she arrived. His faced was unfamiliar to her, so at least he was not an Element as far as she was aware.

“He might have had information...valuable information.” The woman said as she pressed her hands to her temples.

One of the Elements that Emily had rescued came running up to the pair with bandages in her arms. The thin woman was one of their field medics and approached Max to remove the small daggers and apply a simple bandage. Whether or not Max allowed this would be the question.

Sephira seemed consumed with her frustration before she noticed the other woman’s wounds. A gleam of concern appeared in her eyes. Max might be as hard as nails but she was just as mortal as the rest of them. She had risked her life to help them, even if she hated the Elements.

“Thank you.” The mage said stoically. “You didn’t have to fight with us, but you did regardless. I won’t forget this.

The night had been a terrible one for the Elements. The Hall was heavily fire damaged and drenched, there were several dead to account for and a growing unrest in the city. At the very least they had the man beneath the Copper Mask as a witness. Perhaps he had some snippet of information that could be of use.

Dialogue|Thoughts