Embers sparked from her furiously as Vega did what she knew she had to do to protect the people here.
Later, when the embers stopped sparking, she would shed private tears over the lives she took here. But that was for later - so much later. First, she had to do her best to ensure that every soul in Sweetsong was safe and saved. Right now, in this moment, Vega was focused - entirely focused - on making sure that not one hair on any one head was harmed. These people - these pirates - were attacking.
They were the instigators,
they were the ones who sought to prey on the defenceless. Or so they thought.
As the Gutripper tore itself apart, Vega took a moment - just a split second or two - to
check the actual situation here . Things got lost in the moment and keeping that big picture was important. If there were any in the Gutripper, or any part of the Gutripper posed a threat, she would deal with that but, when she saw that there were not, she turned her attention to the others.
The only one left was the Butcher and even he was putting up a losing fight. However, he
was putting up a fight and that not only was very, very irritating, but it also endangered them all. So, she checked where her companions and friends were, and when she was clear what was happening, she used the ring
gifted to her by Ilaren. Sir Chip had engaged him and Jasper had dropped the net on the Butcher and she hoped that kept him occupied, but Vega didnt want to take chances -
especially since he had a ranged weapon. If he had time to monologue, she figured, it was time for him to die. So, she
gave Martha the nudge towards where she wanted to go and let Martha do it . Martha dived down, and Vega held on as the dragonling twisted and turned and then, as soon as she hit the range needed, Vega activated the ring and appeared directly behind the Butcher.
Her aim was simple. Appear behind him, run him through twice, to make sure that he was properly dead.
Vega didn't hold with any nonsense like having to fight him face to face. That sort of rubbish had gone out of the window when he led an attack in the cover of darkness, as far as she was concerned. So, she zapped over there, and stabbed forward with both swords - her aim was to embed both blades into his stomach and then pull the blades apart, one to the right and the other to the left. If he had been hit by the freeze of his own staff or the net and that meant that she needed to be at the side - at the side she'd be.
If that didn't stop him, she figured, she'd have to change her breakfast to whatever
he was having.
Because once he was dead, they could turn their attention to that other ship. So far, they'd done nothing except attack the attackers - which made her inclined to pause and maybe talk. If they backed off, then she'd let them. But if they so much as twitched an eyebrow funny, she was not in the mood for messing around.
1.Makes sure that the Gutripper is really dead-dead-dead.
2. Flies close enough to teleport directly behind the Butcher and then butterfly him.
Everyone
Gets the armour from her dancing and hears quiet music.
Everyone - bond together as per the Qylios mark
Following on from her capstone, this ability allows Vega to effective 'buff' a group who hear her play. So inspiring is her music that, when she is attempting to instill any emotion linked with the Domains of Xiur or Qylios, she gives them the ability to fight together, as though they are bonded as per the Qylios mark. Whole groups can function together, fighting as one with each individual having full knowledge of what is going on in the battle. All of the people who are bonded in this way must have heard Vega play at the same time, and within the last trial. This applies to herself, as well.
Everyone + 1 level on a skill appropriate to what they're doing.
She can play and, when she plays, it gives a boost to the skills of those who hear it. When Vega focuses on a group and actively uses this ability - she is able to inspire them to be the very best version of themselves. Any and all who are in the room / area where she plays (so not someone that hears it in passing, they have to be listening) have a +1 level bonus on a non-magic skill for the next trial (so, novice becomes competent, competent becomes expert etc). This skill will be directly linked to the focus Vega has so - if it is in a camp preparing for battle, for the soldiers it will be a combat skill - but the cook for that camp would gain a bonus to cooking for the troops. No more than one bonus per day can be given.
Everyone + 2 levels in a skill of their choice - OR - 50% more efficient.
The impact on those in the area is that they have a shared sense of identity, of community, and they work together better. There is less conflict, more co-operation and people are, basically, happier, more hopeful and getting on better. This translates to a drive to get on and work and impacts PCs and NPCs thus:
NPCs: Learn and develop skills more quickly. In the case of personal NPCs, once they have met the criteria for skill improvement, rather than 10 points per season, they gain 15. City NPCs who are used in the same way (2 x threads per season) may also be improved in this way, with moderator approval.
PCs: PCs who are working towards the goal of the clan are given more support, more help. Things happen quicker and more efficiently for that reason. PCs who are actively using skills which benefit the "clan" and are doing so with NPCs / PCs of the "clan" - may assume that the task is less difficult and by everything going smoothly and people helping, everything falls together more easily. This allows the task to be easier / a stroke of luck /teamwork to mean that the task is completed in 50% of the time OR to 2 levels higher a standard than they could otherwise achieve.
Armour up!
+ 1 on mount to make her Master (usual level Expert)
+2 on Singing (from Lion's locket) - makes this GM (usual level Expert)
+50% on her efficiency as a leader in this situation, rather than a +2 on skills for Vega.
