The Tides of Change

[Mercedes]

Mages were truly the most powerful beings to walk idalos. They were the true carriers of power, and had dominion over virtually everything they walked upon. There were some strong enough to outright destroy targets; like Volker. There were others who could teleport, and several more types of sorcerers unknown to Merces. However, there were several reasons to fear those who carried the spark. Mercedes had the desire to showcase one of them; people turned against him and there were others that followed the popular opinion. Kian, Volker, and Maxine had been the only people he could turn to when he needed to. However, not even they seemed intent on battling in his name. A series of trills passed, and a large fleet of animals descended from the heavens in his direction. However, as the owls came forth with their talons; another action took place. He had been pulled off-balance by one of the several portals opened by his comrade.

Had his intention truly been to part the crowd, and force control in the environment? Perhaps, he wanted to provide a distraction, and move Mercedes out of the way. No matter the case; Mercedes did not intend to stick around and find out. The sorcerer fell and had been slung a short distance; when he landed a large sum of ether gathered around his figure. Much like conflagration, and several other defiance techniques there were more variants of “embrace”. He needed to make an exit, and leave behind Max to settle her own fate. He did not care whether or not his beloved Maxine died, but he did have the desperate need to save himself.

The earth bound to his flesh, and clothing alike within trills. Just as swiftly as the earth surrounded him, and embraced the sorcerer he sank beneath the surface of the earth. However, with this strange technique he noticed a difference. The earth no longer felt heavy, and immobile as it typically had when he walked upon it. He had the ability to move freely; as if he fell into the depths of the ocean. The sorcerer did not have much of a relationship with earth. Yet, unlike fire or water he never managed to mistreat it or talk to the earth as if it were a lesser being. Mercedes spoke under his breath, and mumbled a few words as to beg the earth to move him.

“Please... I need to leave.. get me out of here, I beg of you.. I cannot do this on my own.. I need help..” Mercedes spoke, and as he continued to descend into the ground the earth moved him. Mercedes knew that if he remained in place he would die, and all that he heard in place of words were simply mumbled, jumbled up nothings.

“Forgive me, Max”

[Faith Augustin]

65th Ashan 718

Faith kept one eye on Mercedes, but she made sure that she did her job and her job was working well. The crowd were dispersing and for a variety of reasons. She looked, gratefully at Padraig and she felt a rush of emotion at her husband's willingness to stand up and be counted. Because he knew, she knew, they knew that this was wrong. Kura's entrance was a sight to behold and Faith raised an eyebrow. "Remind me to tell her she's a flagrant glory hound," she whispered to Padraig and the slightest of smiles tugged at her features. Give it to Karem's daughter to arrive like that. Faith so often forgot that Kura was mortalborn because she was, quite simply, her friend. They were family in a way which was impossible to describe,

But still. The woman was a show off. And Faith knew, there was a bit of Kura that was loving that entrance too.

Fair enough too, Faith had to admit, so would she. But even her feeling of being impressed with Kura was overwhelmed at the sight of... "Lor... I mean... wow!? Are you??" she asked and the smile of pleasure which lit up her face could not be denied. Her hand briefly reached and touched his, on her shoulder as it was. He spoke then about Mercedes, and she frowned. "There was a cult, a group which attempted to bring the Elements down. I think it's because of another person trying to take power, but it was a small group and we.. I'm on the Council here.. we are dealing with it. He's the opposite of help, but no. Stop the woman hurting anyone else, my Lo...lovely brother?" Yes, she thought, My Lord was probably not the thing to call him, so she did her best to just cover that. Her hand squeezed against his. "By all the Immortals, it is good to see you."

But then, the man Mercedes, who she had been focusing on from the beginning, first moved in one of Lord Venora's rupture things (she assumed it was his, anyhow, he was the only rupturer she knew here) and then she saw earth start to wrap around him, and Faith moved her hand.

That was all. Just a slight movement. So slight that probably only Alistair and Padraig saw it.

"No," she said. "Coward."

And she put every bit of energy she had, into the action she took. Just that gesture. But in that gesture?

Mercedes' magic stopped.

Off Topic

I think we might need to call a mod for this. I've pm'd Aegis with details of exactly what she's doing / done.

[Lavana Tharn]

Tharn

There was a feignt smile behind her steel Visor as she had heard that shriek, it was one of those things the mortal born still couldn't truly get over. She knew that voice, and felt at ease when the Imperial Owl had arrived. It stirred something within the mortal born, confidence in herself as she felt pride in being an imperial. Lavana didn't feel abandoned or alone, and maybe that was the point of her mothers actions not to hurt but to inspire her the way her sister had.

Lavana took her attention to Max, she had this crazy look in her eyes. She could see it, Max was backed into a corner and felt threatened. "Im in this for you not me, I'm the one that fucked up; I failed you. I wasn't strong enough, and by the gods how I tried to be that night. Ive kept to myself and it haunts me, it was my fault the earth mask had speared your foot. That one thing that spurred this blind crusade of hate in you. I could have checked on my way up those fucking stairs but I was blinded, undisciplined and maybe if I had stuck to the task and secured his demise this might have turned out differently for you.

Don't you see, I'm to blame!"

Lavana was of the belief, the firm belief that this was her fault. It all boiled down to that one earth element, this fall from ruthless grace into bitter madness. The only thing that truly separated the two was discipline and maybe through it by accepting her failures Lavana could reason with her friend.

"We all did things we aren't proud of after being drugged and kidnapped at that party. And I'm no better then you; your right I laughed I reveled in that moment of insanity. I'm not an element I'm unfit for that pin, I just want you to open your eyes your throwing your life away. Dont you get it? This is your chance, don't be like me think of the consequences I've hurt everyone I care about; Including you"

Lavana took a minute to deliberate, while Celarion was wrapped around her arm, is butchering the people closest to her the best way to appease Qylios? Lavana felt that maybe if Sephira was bound in battle, maybe she too could feel the thoughts of guilt that tore through her. As those skeletons in her closet came pouring out into the open. The mortal born understood; what was on the table. Lavana resisted the urge to defend herself and tell Max how shed been ejected from the council meeting by demanding to get her help and compensation, shed allow herself to be bit and wounded if only to let Max know it was ok.

"What's your man going to do, as he sees you lay dead or dying? Your going to get him killed? Is that what you want?"

Just like Lavana learned what she did had consequences both immediate and long after the fact."The same dagger you wish to cut me with is the same one I pulled from my chest to save you., do you remember that, and what of the pendant I gave you?" Max was delusional if she thought Lavana would be capable of cutting max down, she was capable of helping Sephira survive her encounter and nothing more. They were a few out of a handful that mattered, there was another way a non violent faithly alternative.

"Your right! I fucked up bad.

If you go!

I'll go!

Together we can take responsibility, anything less and I'm a hypocrite!

Just

Please, let me make it right"

Self sacrifice of her freedom in exchange for Maxs life. A commitment to her friend would be all it would take for the mortal born to gesture to Sephira to clasp a menacle on Lavanas forearm as she was willing to serve her time and make her peace. She was tired of running and trying to dodge her mistakes, shed bind herself in chains if it meant she could keep her bond of friendship with the Rusalka.

Actions before words, it's all she had.

[Volker]

Of course she hadn’t listened. Merces and Max didn’t want reason or any real solution, they wanted chaos and didn’t particularly care who was caught up in it. That was an irritating realization and as Volker watched the fight erupt all he could feel was...frustration. One could have spent seasons undermining the Council and the Elements. Exacerbating the flames by strategy until the town folded in upon itself and attacks were common. They’d been handed a revolution on a plate and here they were about to blow the entire thing on one measly riot. One measly, badly armed riot. Brute force wasn’t the way to accomplish anything when it came to overthrowing a nation. Spears made an uncomfortable throne or so the phrase went.

Volker watched the Elements thunder in on mounts and the army thereafter. How could they not have foreseen this? How hard was it to see that one small peasant group now being rounded up or slain by trained soldiers would have gone south? Volker gritted his teeth. He walked after Amaris. “Leave them.” He told her sharply. “They are dying. They have chosen their graves foolishly. The only woman with the skill to heal them is ignoring them to shout at a man who is not listening.” He nodded to Faith. He didn’t like her. She was arrogant, and seeing her killed wouldn’t sadden his evening in the slightest. He thought he caught sight of the Element soldier who had warned him to get out of Scalvoris...but he wasn’t entirely sure and all he could smell was blood. The rain made the coppery scent wash up in the air, along with the stench of vacuated bowels from the dead, piss from the terrified, and sweat from animals and man.

He shook his head to get rain out of his eyes. “Leave. Now. War is no place for you.” He snarled at Amaris.

‘When was the last time we had poultry? I think it was...what, last time the sun was warmest?’

Volker tore his attention away from Amaris to stare at the Harvester. Silently the creature pointed at the sky. It was dark enough with the wind and rain but even so Volker hadn’t been expecting giant owls. He hissed in surprise and drew one of his longer knives. Some woman was riding the back of one of the owls, who then proceeded to scream at Merces like everyone else. Half the battle seemed to be butchering citizenry that weren’t trained for war and were losing piteously (which honestly called into question why half of the army’s commanders were asking Merces to stop the violence), and the other half seemed intent upon arresting Max. Volker was not happy. The waste he was seeing was making something inside of him twitch. The dead, wasted. Lives, wasted. Military force so abominably wasted he wasn’t sure if this wasn’t enjoyable for them. Kill the citizenry and half the army showed up. There wasn’t even a serious risk of Scalvoris itself being in danger!

‘Gods what happens if you kill a chicken in this town, do they summon a dragon or just one mounted cavalry battalion?’ Oor seemed about as impressed at the show of force upon mere bakers and butchers as Volker was.

Volker roared in pain when the sound of screaming owls filled the square. It wasn’t just him either, so many folded in upon themselves to get away from the hideous noise. One of the animals was above him, and Volker concentrated what they’d practiced on. The bubble was so small the owl didn’t notice it until it grazed a foot. The reaction was instantaneous. The Enormowl’s talons turned grey and withered, the affliction crawling up the animal’s peg and Volker’s Harvester took full advantage. The owl panicked and kicked at the small pocket, which only gave Oor access to the other leg. As the owl screamed and twisted around, Volker began heading toward Merces. He had to get some sense into the man. The Harvester has no illusions it wouldn’t be noticed. The Enormowl fell from the sky sans legs and most of its lower half. Oor vanished just as quickly. It was up to Volker now, Oor was content watching the gigantic bird bleed to death.

“Watch Amaris!” Volker bellowed at the Harvester. “Tell me if you need to defend her!”

Volker wound through the crowd. He hated this but he avoided contacting Elements whenever possible. He hid in the crowd of fleeing citizens. It was made easier by the sudden chaos of portals appearing everywhere. People were pushed this way and that, and it compacted the crowd. The Elements has a harder time avoiding the portals, and it meant they were more likely to hit each other than a fleeing fisherman.

As he drew closer to Merces he could see the man’s mouth moving and the ground beginning to stir under him. Volker had seen that particular trick before in the Sweetwine Woods when Merces had used it to cripple a cart. Now he was attempting to...what? Blow the battle from underneath or escape? He growled and approached the mage, who had either decided not to do whatever it was he was planning..or he’d seen Volker. “Mercedes you have blown your only chance at this. All eyes are on you now. Look at what you have caused!” He gestured to the battle. “You clearly overestimated your own abilities.” He lowered his voice. “Run now and we can find your mate later. I promise you this. We can do nothing further here. Go. Now. While they are still discussing whether or not to kill you.”

He didn’t want to stay in the spotlight for long. He spat at Merces’ feet. “Next time do not be so quick to gamble with lives not your own. You impudent child.” Volker snapped at him, and headed back towadd Amaris. He still didn’t like the idea of her being in a war zone with just his Harvester to help her. Oor could kill easily, but he was also unpredictable and temperamental. He wasn’t quite prepared for the curve ball the creature was going to throw at him; being helpful. He stopped short of Amaris and watched her attempting to tend to the wounded. Silently. He went to grab some more from the crowd to help her before the owls got them or the elk mounts trampled them.

‘Look uh, I know you aren’t exactly a fan of us...or me. Mostly me,’ Oor appeared in front of Amaris. ‘But I think I know how to help. That dead owl over there has feathers big enough to wrap around wounds. We could use the down to help stem wound bleeding. It should be clean. Like that cotton shit they out on wounds before the bandage. I can’t help you move the wounded but I can help find supplies. What do you need?’

[Patrick]

Things went from bad to escalated the longer that they stuck around, sure enough Pat also had his answer when saw Kian act out. The man had taken notice of one particular individual, the same Pat did earlier when she arrived to make her own stand on the field of battle. Faith. His connection to her remained a bigger mystery to solve, but when Kian took to stand and immediately Blinked his way next to her; both Patrick and Damien stood at odds with the decision. Was it really the best choice to have made?

No matter. Patrick's own ether responded as he focused on the space he pinpointed as destination, and the fuel for magic responded with a brief pulse surrounding his form. Much like his fellow Rupturer's on the field the air around his form crackled and sung, and in just a momentary lapse his eyes glowed a vividly bright violet hue. The Rharnian merely took one step forward towards the direction of his lover, and from there dissipated into the air almost like ethereal dust. Yet just when his own body remained the form of one still did, the impression of his form remaining ethereal as it swiftly glided through space.

In just a brief span of a trill Patrick's form materialized where the ethereal figure of his flash step mutation arrived, an hand used to throw off his soaked hood while he reached behind him with his other arm. Beneath his cloak had rested the one weapon he felt safest bringing along, considering the occasion he certainly wasn't in the wrong about it. In his hand he pulled out the crossbow he kept at his backside, his free hand used to crank the weapon shortly afterwards, and load one of the bolts within it during Alistair's brief speech. The man called Faith his sister no less? An intriguing statement considering recent occurrences.

No doubt she too would recognize Patrick even in this rain, although admittedly hair was never stylish when drenched. "You've got me to back you up." He insisted in the event he intended to keep his promise, that is if it really came to executing the one that started this riot. He shot a glance at Faith and spared her a smirk, and proceeded to listen to whatever insight the smaller but braver woman had to say. Cultists? It seemed that was the recent cause for this particular event, and naturally someone decided to add fuel to the fire for their own cause. Typical. This wasn't the kind of anarchy Patrick would've supported, not when it misguided poor sods into a war game that held no true purpose. This was simply just a fool's errant attempt at chaos.

And it worked.

Now it seemed that the odds were against him and Faith spat merely one venomous word, while the earth beneath this man seemed to react in an unusual way. Earth magic? What kind of power was this? "I've... never seen that before." Patrick muttered as he held his bow up close, the head of the bolt aimed towards the man. There was no credible way he could shoot from here, even if Patrick had the skill and tactical know-how to make the shot. Too many variables were involved and the man's own inexperience would only worsen all of them. No he maintained a steady finger and refrained from squeezing the trigger, surprised to see that as the riot leader tried to burrow he way into the earth... the earth no longer obeyed.

"So what do we do now exactly?" The Rharnian asked in a heavily unnerved fashion now that they were amidst a bloody fight, although admittedly he wasn't going anywhere without protecting Alistair or his friend. "I got your back whatever the case." He would've glanced to the side then to look at the two, but honestly the sight of people with weapons proved to unsettling to look away from at the moment. Needless to say he'd follow along with whatever and if they wanted him to, Patrick wouldn't question shooting anyone else just to protect the current thing that mattered to him most.

Off Topic

Congrats, Pat is now a defender of the Faith. Seriously though if they instruct him to do something else, he'll proceed to do that so long as they're not compromised.

[Aegis]

Mercedes was wrapped up in his protective earth, as it answered his begging, his pleading. Mercedes would be able to hear that the earth was eager to please the Defier, ready to help. And it did. It turned his form into a statue fit reminiscent of a child playing with clay by the river. He sank halfway into the soil, his waist below the surface when it stopped. The earth around him was confused. It called out for Mercedes, despite him still being within its grasp. Mercedes could feel it searching for him. With the connection between the two of them severed, the earth attached to his torso fell away in crumbles, revealing the stuck man's face to the crowd that had turned to see what was going on. The earth around his legs began to increase in pressure, squeezing more and more with each passing trill, starting with a discomfort that was heading toward pain.

But the spark inside Mercedes raged in anger. It did not like that something had severed its connection it had to the earth during the Meld. Mercedes could feel his reserves moderately depleted from the expert ability that was cut short. He still had gas in the tank, could still hear the earth around him. Meanwhile, earth's confusion was turning to pouting, thinking the mage had played a trick on it, having called for its help only to sever the connection. And still, more trills passed.

The Meld had been negated. But the connection to the elements was still within the mage's grasp. The effect that Faith had put upon the man only stopped the cast that was in progress. It cost the mage precious time, exposing him to those around him. Those around him needed to act, and act fast. He was alone, isolated, his beloved Max off with her fighting throng of people. Vulnerable. This window was short, however, as earth's confusion wore off, and it found the mage again, chiding him for tricking it. It nagged at him like a miffed lover might when a prank was not well received, warning him to not do such foolishness again, or that it might not come at his beck and call. But still, it was here and now.

!

Message from: Aegis

Mercedes, Meld was negated by an effect of Faith's. This does not seal Mercedes' magic, nor completely sever his connection to any of the elements. His ether is depleted as Meld was used but forcibly canceled, but there is still more to be used. Mercedes is currently pinned from the waist down, and there's roughly a 15 seconds window of confusion in the earth before it accepts Mercedes once more. Faith, I've updated your Prophet Notes* to reflect the changes here. Everyone else, continue onward, my modbomb here was only for this specific moment. If anyone has any questions, drop me a PM.

[Sephira]

Sephira’s eyes softened but for a single trill when Max spoke. She knew who the woman was referring to.

He was still with her; Earth Mask. The man might be hundreds of leagues away but he had ensnared Maxine the night of the collapse, he had trapped her in a prison of her own thoughts. The mage could empathize; she had borne a wariness and paranoia around Defiers ever since her master’s death. It was a strange and terrible thing to be held captive by your own mind.

“You are fighting the wrong enemy Max. If Earth Mask was here I would fight him with you, but he isn't. All you are doing is hurting innocent people.” The Flame Element said firmly as Lavana stepped up to her side. Sephira was not ready to forgive the woman for lying to her but she accepted the bond all the same. A gleaming golden band of light encircled her wrist, and she became acutely aware of Lavana’s intent, and tactics. The mark would allow them synchronize in combat, understanding innately each other’s movements and maneuvers during a fight.

“Let me bring you in, and we can talk.” This was Sephira’s last olive branch, the last offer of a peaceful resolution that she would offer.

Max and Sephira had fought together side by side, it brought the Element no joy to be forced into this position, but she had her orders. There was always a point in a soldier’s life when orders had to come first, when discipline had to serve in place of free will. Maxine had become a clear and present danger to the people of Scalvoris. She had killed an Element in cold blood and stirred up a riot that would likely be remembered for arcs. Sephira had no choice, she had to subdued by any means necessary. The Flame Element had every intent of bringing her in alive, but Max could be like a wild animal when cornered. She had killed Raven Mask earlier that season when Sephira had tried to spare him in order to extract information. The mage could not depend on her behaving rationally.

The Rupturer began gathering Ether in the case that Max disregarded her offer. The energy snaked into her grasp and her Spark quivered with delight. However before she could even think about casting the first bit of magic, Max spoke and her words forced the mage to give pause. Sephira visibly flinched, her eyes swirling with crimson and ebony as he turned her gaze toward Lavana. Sylvia Macklin had mysteriously died the night of the collapse. They had dragged her tattered corpse from the rubble trials after the event, and she had barely been recognizable. She had not died in the massive chamber Sephira and the other women that been held prisoner in, but in a smaller underground room beneath the warehouse. The woman had already been kind to her, ever since the beginning of her time as an Element. She had been a friend, and evidently her murderer was standing right next to her. Rage like nothing else coursed through the mage’s blood. It was all more lies and deception that Lavana had kept to herself. Sephira stared at the mortalborn, her gaze unwavering. It took all her strength and discipline to keep her actions in check. The radiant band at her wrist flickered before vanishing.

Lavana began speaking and as she did Sephira unsheathed her saber. Wyvern’s brass hilt gleamed darkly in the wash of clouds and rain, the blade hissing as it emerged from the sheath. Owls were screaming overhead and portals emerged that pushed the crowd apart. The mage was dimly aware of the battle happening around them.

“You do not get to decide.” Sephira said lowly once Lavana finished speaking. Her eyes were steely and bitterly cold. She did not get to choose to go with Max, wherever the woman went. However she would face the crime she had committed; the murder of Sylvia Macklin.

“You do not get to decide how justice is served.” The mage said stoically toward the women she had once considered a friend. She flexed back into a high guard stance, her saber arced at a downward angle above her shoulder.

“And neither do I, not to-trial...but I do have orders, and I will protect the people of Scalvoris from you.” There was no mistaking the look in her eyes as she focused on Max. The gravity of the situation fell upon the three as bonds and friendships were shattered in ways that may never be repaired.

“Last chance Max.”

Dialogue|Thoughts

[Freya DuCarinos]

○ Common ○ Rakahi ○ Pailtic ○ Hussian ○

The time was nigh upon her to move into action upon the sudden opportunity that presented itself. Freya was no fool to the rubbish happening within the town’s square. She heard the whispers within the shops and taverns of the riot that was commencing, the manhunt for elementals that had failed to protect the citizens of Scalvoris. While Freya felt a sense of guilt over such lives lost, she felt even more guilty that she chose to take advantage of such unfortunate times by preparing to steal a boat out from under the nose of someone unsuspecting. She’d learned a thing or two from Wendell, especially the important aspect of stealing, like not getting caught, and so, the biqaj proceeded on her way out the door of her Inn Room at the Knight’s Rest and into the packed streets of Scalvoris Town.
She turned down a back alley, appearing calm and collected as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and weaved her way through the streets, towards the docks. It was pouring rain, aiding her with low visibility should anyone with curious eyes spy her task, and the docks would be in a haphazard state of destruction and reconstruction. Most of the boats would be cluster to one side of the dock, if not scattered about the bay and only accessible by way of rowboat. When Freya arrived, there were several people there that appeared to be scrambling towards their boats, backpacks and bag packed full of items while their families trailed off behind them. She stayed on the cusp of the crowd, eyeing any guardsmen that might show but the lot of them seemed to have run off towards the riot. There were few there, but they were preoccupied with keeping a lookout for rioteers, not unsuspecting thieves like Freya. She blended in with the rest of the hooded citizens trying to get out of the rain (and the chaos). So there she stood, if only for a minute, to look upon the boats that were hers for the picking. There were several sized boats, one of which was a Cog ship that the biqaj wanted so dearly to have, but alas, had not the crew to get very far with it. So she had to choose something smaller…
There, sitting out in the bay was a red flagged schooner. It looked custom made with deep mahogany colored boards that gave it a black appearance against the darkness of the sea. Other than the sails and the masts, the ship was actual well hidden within its environment, something Freya needed for her business needs.
Before looking, her feet carried her forward, only to knock shoulder to chest with a man and fall flat on her face, “Uoh..!” Freya grunted into the impact, the wet ground hard on her palms as she looked up. “Hey!”
The man stared down at her, never saying a word, which was odd because most Scalvori were quite mouthy, at least from the trafficker’s experience. However, what was odd was the deep red line across his neck, a very unusual scar to have in such a place. How would such a man survive something as deep as the wound looked. He stepped around her with his things, leaving Freya to stand on her own and watch as he stepped onto a boat with blue and white lion flags. She grumbled, then pulled her hood up tighter over her head and continued on her way.
Rowboats were easily accessible, and quickly enough, she’d found one and pushed her way out onto the bay with the rest of the traffic of the waters. Stirring the boat was easy enough, the strength in her arms from the sea pushed her forward faster and faster till the edge of her ship aligned with that of the schooner’s. It was a lot bigger than the Arbiter and sleeker too, making Freya wonder just who owned the boat.
“Heey!” She called, accent dancing in her words while her hand slapped against the wooden side of the ship. “Is anyone there?” There was no answer, to which Freya called out again, “Hello?!”
Again, no one called back to her and so, the biqaj pirate proceeded up the built in ladder on the side of the ship and onto the deck, making sure to tie the rowboat to the ship as well. There were barrels, boxes, and other assortments when she arrived uptop, giving her the impression that this was a merchant vessel, if anything. Once more, she called out, warning whomever may be around that she was there due to the riots in the city. Searching for the stairs, Freya checked the rooms below deck and found it a bit bewildering how much space there was compared to the Arbiter. It was as if the boat was a hybrid of some kind, but still functioned and appeared much like a schooner would. Chrien must have blessed her that day, because there was not a soul on board after Freya finished her searches. Thinking it might not remain that way for much longer, Freya set to work on raising the anchor and deploying the necessary sails to begin moving the ship off into the horizon. Scrambling towards the wheel, she saw the speck of a rowboat starting to make its way in her general direction and slowly, she angled the ship away from port and back out into the ocean, her own rowboat trailing behind her.
Grinning, the woman grabbed the wheel tighter. Now she needed to find a cavern with deep enough waters to park the ship in and she would be set… But what to do with it?

[Max]

The Rusalka slowly shook her head. Lavana was trying to play martyr, taking the blame for the crimes against Max that she did not commit. The bone dagger had plunged deep into the throat of the man responsible for her descent from reality. She could still feel the satisfying give of his flesh, the warmth of his blood where it spilled out against her hand. Earth Mask should've been dead when he hit the ground that night. Instead the very soil itself had apparently come to his aid to plug the mortal wound. If such a direct, fatal strike like that wasn't enough to put him in a grave, there would be little evidence to make Max believe the Mortalborn would've seen much more success. No. This was not Lavana's burden to shoulder. It was one for the Elements and them alone.

Max was about to voice her protest when mention of Mercedes arose. Finally, she seemed to give pause, blinking her gaze back down the street again. Her brow furrowed and her body angled as though prepared to race toward the place she'd seen him last, soldiers in her way be damned. No flames erupted over the sea of soldiers or along the backs of flying Enormowls. Whatever rousing speech he'd been giving before had been replaced instead with his alarming silence. Dread filled her at the same time Sephira began to reject the Immortal-sanctioned bond Lavana had offered her in alliance against the Rusalka. Had they killed him?

A new sensation of panic surged through her veins. The words of those she once called friends hadn't fallen on deaf ears. Their logic was unfailing, weakening her faith in the frenzied cause she was undertaking. Her eyes became colored with more lucidity. The riot had been a bastardization of the slow burn she'd strategized much earlier in the season. This outcome, the one that left her facing those that she'd helped fight the cultists in the first place, was not what she had wanted. Things had so quickly and violently become out of control. She'd become so irrevocably consumed that she couldn't even remember when exactly it was she'd started to slip. She'd been out of control. Every time she had the sense to lay down her weapon, she was turning around to pick up another one.

Yet there still existed that small voice that warned her she wasn't wrong. Earth Mask was out there. He was close. He was alive and left unpunished. The city-wide sweep would've been her best chance to hunt him down. With all the Elements surrounding her, it would seem that window of opportunity had come to a decided close. Her free hand came up to swipe the water from her face in one, frantic motion. If only she could find more Ambrosia, she could sweep away the cloudiness of her withdrawing mind and figure an alternative way out of this.

"She's right," Max evenly voiced her agreement with Sephira. "You have to stop trying to save me, Lavana. This time I can't be saved." Raindrops coaxed most of the blood off the end of her gladius. The cerulean flames licked hungrily along the edges of the steel blade in search of more. A brief light cracked across the sky to illuminate the urban battlefield followed by the booming roll of thunder overhead. Some things were predetermined but Max had one last choice left to make.

"You keep saying that. That we can talk." Her ebony eyes locked onto Sephira where she stood now in her high guard, prepared to fight. A flash of lightning across the saber's length seemed to remind all in its vicinity of its sharp cutting edge. "It won't change what comes next. You know that." What she'd done here, this trial, no doubt merited either a hefty prison sentence or the gallows. Her mind had already become a mental cell, and with the possibility someone had reaped Mercedes from her world as well, the latter of the two options sounded more like a mercy. At least then she wouldn't be trapped and vulnerable like bait on the line for Earth Mask to find. That very notion alone was enough to drive her closer toward the sword.

"I'm dead already," she finally said what the three of them must've been thinking. Max began to pace toward the Flame Element with her weapon in hand. She showed no signs of giving further pause. If she was the irredeemable murdering menace in Scalvoris, by all means, she'd give this soldier the chance to prove her devotion to its people. All Max could think of as she closed the distance between herself and Sephira, was how heavy her gladius suddenly felt in the hand preparing to swing it.

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura looked over the crowd as the riot continued to devolve. Someone was disrupting the crowd with what appeared to be Rupturing Portals, but the leaders were still active. She had owls watching both leaders and reporting back to her. Maxine was confronting Lavana and Sephira, while the other was....attempting to dig himself out as though he was the Earth Mask from the ruins. He stopped though, and from the sound of the report she was getting, they were getting into quite a discussion. After a moment of listening to reports, she nodded to herself and climbed back on the Enormowl she was using as a mount. She felt, heard, the death of one of her owls and bit back a growl. It was never fun to experience them die like that, but the risk had always been there, and she didn't have time to mourn.

Her mount climbed into the air and she briefly flow over the male leader. She looked down at him for a brief moment, triggering her Unshakable Tracker ability in case he managed to escape. Then one of her owls dropped down next to the man and contemplated him for a moment. Then it opened it's beak and lowered it's head so that the man's top half was almost entirely inside the owls mouth, though it didn't bite down. However, it was perfectly ready too if it became a necessity. With that handled, Kura had her mount turn towards the Maxine, Lavana and Sephira. Things were getting bad there.

One of the closer owls flew down and raked the ground between the trio with its talons to try and keep them separate as Kura landed near the trio. "Well, now this is gettin' out of hand isn't it?" she said as she stepped down from the owl and approached the trio. "Sephira, are you really blamin' Lavana for doin' what she needed to do to survive? If she hadn't killed Sylvia, the cult would have killed them both. That's how groups like that operate. They likely had similar plans for us, and if they had disarmed us, we might have had to make the same choice." she said, before frowning slightly. "And if you're forgettin', what you and I both did tryin' to survive weakened the dock supports. Our hands aren't so clean that we can be throwin' stones." she said, her tone disapproving.

Then she looked at Maxine. "And then there's you. What the bloody hell are you doin' lass? Are you tryin' to give the folks that tried to kill us exactly what they want?" she asked, her tone intent. "Or are you so far gone that you've lost any semblance of reason?" Letting out a sig, Kura shook her head. "If you're doin' the stupid because you think the other leader will help your or he's dead, he was stopped tryin' to tunnel into the earth, just like the berk what stabbed your foot. His magic doesn't appear to be workin', and my owls have him." she said, before pausing to look at Maxine. "Come to think of it, how well do you know that one? Givin' his method of attempted escape, I'd rather know how well you two are acquainted."