Latest revision as of 07:04, 2 July 2014

Participants

• Cassidy
• Dio
• Fenris
• Kalt
• Selena
• Siyu
• Sveta

Date

2/7/477

Log

There is no one to meet anyone who has arrived, no guide to show the way. Only the tiniest of whispers on the wind which may have been carried out from the mist's heart by air magic - or perhaps one's imagination - serve to draw anyone who may have been in the area to it, perhaps out of morbid curiosity.

Kalt makes her way cautiously to the edge of the fog wall, dismounting before sending her steed off as the Vixen double checks her armor. The plates and bindings bound properly, and her spear in her right hand with her shield in her left as she keeps her helmet down while awaiting others...

Heavy steps rumble across the misty grasslands as Fenris arrives on the shoulder of his bulky, bovine golem, Behemoth. Something was very, very strange here. He alights from Behemoth's shoulders and sniffs at the air, peering into the approaching wall of fog. He nods to Kalt, who has arrived before him. "I'm not sure what we are looking at," he says quietly, "But I don't think it is Her." He carefully checks his gear and secures the collar of his coat to protect his chest and throat. "But who can be sure?" he asks.

Cassidy approaches quietly and without much warning, dropping lightly from the air to land aside Fenris and Kalt with a soft thump and rustle of her white robes. "Hello, Kalt, Fenris. Good to see you both again." She reaches up to adjust her mask before straightening out her garments. "Quite the unusual situation, isn't it?"

Selena approaches through the haze and mist, shivering a little uncomfortably. The beings already gathered are given waves in greeting; "Cassidy, Fenris... Kalt. You've all been well, I hope?" The wolfess's slight pause is punctuated by her looking aside somewhat.

Not long after the others, a coated leonine figure steps cautiously towards the fog wall. Besides the usual clanking of metal equipment and such rattling upon his back, he accompanied by a distinct crunching sound within his jaw. Produced from a bag, he treats himself to a delicious and crunchy bakery snack along his travels. "Good evenin' to ya," Dio greets with a small spray of crumbs. "Strange bit o' fog this is. Could it be a new spirit o' somethin'?" Reaching down, he finds the nearest small rock and tosses it randomly into the fog.

Siyu is dressed in leather and mail today as he's out adventuring, the pretty looking rodent pulls his long hair back ,and tucks a skullcap on. Keeping his pouchs of poultices and powders well in line as he follows along with the group. "What an odd thing to see...is this normal? I mean, normal for shadowlands..." he glances at Fenris. "Her? You mean boney?" the lack of proper noun clear on his voice. Though the rodent makes sure his sword and dagger pair is still tight on his hips, a slight nervousness from the diminutive rodent.

The wall of mist has no reply for the musings of those observing it, continuing to pour outwards - at a snail's pace, perhaps, but unmistakably so. Inpenetrable and silent, the only way it seems that anyone can learn anything about it is to step within its confines - but who knows what dangers lurk within, should one take such a foolhardy step?

From the heart of the mist, again..."Help...if anyone can hear us...help. This is not natural." As if the obvious needed saying, but it does sound a little hysterical. "By the Creators. Someone. Please."

Kalt grunts gently to Fenris as she pulls her visor down, before looking to Selena as she nods. "M'figurin' we ain't got many options right? If'n it's her, well... We'll be findin' out." She gives a stout nod, before raising her kiteshield once more as the voices come out to the group, the vixen pursing her lips then before she takes a deep breath and begins to walk into the mist with her shield raised. "Let's go stickin' together though..."

Fenris nods to the others as they arrive his gaze fixed into the swirling mist. "Yes, Siyu," he says, "That is who I mean." The tiger blanches a bit when he hears the plea for help and his jaw sets in determination. "It is probably a trap," he says aloud, "But I cannot ignore a plea for help." He fingers the bronze lantern insignia displayed on his belt. The tiger looks at his fellow Lightbringers in the group. "Time to bring the light, right?" he says with a grin, following Kalt into the mist, Behemoth rumbling at his heels.

Cassidy folds her hands behind her back and nods. "Yes, time to do our duty, as it were," she moves off after Kalt, following close behind. "I've got your backs," she adds, as she starts to flex her fingers in preparation for whatever might lie ahead.

Selena shakes her head. "I've been here plenty of times before, and I can safely say this isn't 'normal'." She replies to Siyu, letting out a somewhat loud sigh. "Well, either way. Fenris has a point; a light would probably be useful if only to give us a point of reference to follow." She notes, bringing a small orb of flame into being just in front of the group and offering a hand out. "Unless someone has rope, we have no idea how deep the fog bank is either. Keeping our hands together until we're through should stop anyone from getting separated if it is."

"I don't think I can be trustin' some spooky fog I tell ya," Dio proclaims with a strong nod, and of course followed up by another delightful crunchy treat. "But it ain't like I got 'nough scars." Tying up the string around his bag o' treats, his tucks it away within his coat and pulls his tower shield to the front. "If we're all within' huggin' distance, it won't be too bad. An' remember, the safe word is... Banana."

Siyu winces at the mist, "I think it would be incredibly easy to get lost in that..." he looks around at the relativly grassy plain for a lone tree, or a fairly big rock. Pulling out a length of rope from his bag, "And that sounds ever so much like a trap for the gallant..." he mummers. "Wait...hold on! I..." and then people are going into the bitch, "Flame it..." he grunts and pulls out a spare sword. Pounding it into the turf and tying the rope around the handle. Then tying the extra around his waist and bounding into the mist after the group.

The mist is cold and clammy, strangely sticky and pliant as it comes into contact with the skin. Yet it has no smell in and of itself, and does not seem to directly harm those whom it comes into contact with. The most there is, perhaps, is a foul tinge to it when one inhales, perhaps the stench of rot, but that is all as everyone steps straight into another world altogether.

The mist itself can't be more than perhaps twelve feet, a simple outer layer like the shell of an egg. Within...the first thing that one notices is the smoke. There is no need for Selena's little light: the old battlefield is aflame, lit by the flaming arrows that sweep through the air from the hastily-constructed defenses. Gone are the quiet, peaceful grasslands that until a day ago were laid south of Mossy Stone - some malign force has transformed them into a battlefield of burnt grass and scorched earth. One is able to see clearly the silhouettes of beings in tarnished armour and wielding equally ancient weapons, locked in battle with - yes, those are unmistakably shadows and the shadow-touched. Yet they are but spectres - shadow and beings alike fall to the ground as they slay and are in turn slain, dissolving into cold, white mist while even more coleasce out of that same substance to continue the fight.

The spectres may be immaterial, but the fire, smoke, arrows - and the weapons they wield are very real. Thankfully, they seem to have little interest in the living as they are locked in eternal battle with their shadow counterparts - but the risk of being caught in the crossfire is ever present.

Selena looks over the battlefield with a look of mortification on her face. "... So many..." She murmurs to nobody in particular, before swallowing and looking back tot he group. "It's all work of an old one; all of this." She quickly explains, giving Fenris an appreciative nod for his efforts in magical protection.

Such a strange fog. Dio couldn't help but stick out his tongue and attempt a good taste of it. Naturally, he wasn't rewarded well and it only spoiled the aftertaste of his snack. With the battle now in view, the lion watches silently in awe, yet his shield still sits carefully in front of him in case any wayward projectile decides to soar in his direction. "How interestin'..." he muses under his breath, even giving a pinch to his golden arm. "Ow! Thought I was dreamin' o' somethin'. But this is somethin' awfully familiar. The first attempt to take back Mossy Stone back when the shadows 'ad it under control didn't work out so well fer Lord Robert 'bout twenty-seveny years ago. I remember we used to talk 'bout some o' the battles with shadows in my mercenary camp."

Kalt frowns at the battle taking place infront of them, her hands moving to place the spear upon her back before drawing out her broadsword. The blade alighting with creator's fire, to perhaps help her in any measure should they come into the crossfire. For the most part however, she keeps her shield raised and at the ready as she takes a deep breath. "... Point the way, an' we can go an' try'n figure this all out... Give'em rest an' all."

Ghosts of the past. Bile rises in Fenris's throat, long buried terrors and memories arise at the sight of the terrible shadow attack before him. The burning wagons, the screams of the dying. The tiger swallows hard and waves a hand through the air, doing his best to make a shield of tumultuous air. He has a feeling that these are shadows of the past, but best not to take a chance on how real those arrows are. He frowns a bit as something seems to interfere with his mathemagic.

Fenris looks to Dio as he explains what the group is seeing. "Lord Robert," he mutters to himself, fiddling with something in one of his deep pockets. "I suppose it's time we see how we can help," he says a little louder, burying his own remembered terrors for later.

Cassidy reaches into a fold on her robe and withdraws the spirit-made dagger, flipping it around to hold in reverse grip as she nods quietly. "What a foul place indeed. How should we proceed?" Her eyes dart back and forth under her mask, taking in the sights of various portions of the battlefield. Certainly not the kind of situation she was expecting. A full on battle? Especially one from the past? Not every day you see that.

Siyu bursts out into a...not mist...with a rope around his hips. He huffsa small bit and unties himself, feeling a little foolish, but he figured it was a good idea. He lets it drop and then looks out across the battlefield, "Where the hell did an army come from? There arn't any troop movments out here. Who would move an army this close to Mossy? And with Shadows? What in the..." he chitters a little bit and flicks his ears at the other conversations, "This is somehow the past? Lord Robert's attack?" he flattens his ears, "The dead walking, but not their bodies, their spirits..." he watches the eternal struggle. he looks around, "So who was calling for help?" he lets the question hang. A quick took to Fenris, "Hold on, can we help...SHOULD we help. Is this illusion, spirits, or just some...trick of Mossy Stone. I would act without first figuring out what we should do..."

Give them rest, but there is no rest for these souls. Trapped in the last moments of their lives, the spectres fight from trenches dug with earth magic and behind wooden palisades, meeting the never-ending tide of shadow that pours out from the city - which oddly enough, seems far newer than it is in reality. twenty-seven years newer, to be precise. One by one Lord Robert's outriders die, only to be raised from the mists to fight again, perhaps in the vain hope that they, by some miracle, will be able to escape the gravitas of history and change their fate.

Such a miracle is not forthcoming. By all appearances, they seem to be cursed to die every day...forever. But to what ends? For what purposes? Just as one might ponder these, the voice calls out again from the middle of the strife:

"Help. Please. There're so many of them. Every one we put down, two more appear from the ground. There doesn't seem to be any way out. Can anyone hear us?"

Kalt begins to slowly move forward as the voice calls out once more, the vixen takes a deep breath as she does so, and keeps her shield and sword at the ready. "... Well, whatever's callin' us, s'closer in the middle of it all... M'figurin' if'n we keep our hands to ourselves, an' ain't drawin' attention, they ain't gonna go an' try to kill us." The Vixen's words riddled with uncertainty, and her motions slow and easy to recall if the group decides upon another path.

Fenris's ears perk at the sound of the plaintive cry amidst the tumult of the battle. He remembers well the horror of a shadow attack. "We hear you," he says, following Kalt, "How can we help?"

Cassidy closes her eyes and nods. "The way I figure it... If we help the spirits 'win' here today, though it won't mean anything in history, it might at least let them rest." She tightens her grip around the hilt of her dagger, a frown creeping across her face beneath the white. "Either way, we can't really just sit and do nothing, can we?"

Selena looks out over the battlefield again. "I don't know if we can, Cassidy." She replies to the woman. "You saw them reforming from the mists. There's something else going on here." The wolfess muses. "I can see if Kendrac has anything to say about this - it doesn't match up with any of the old ones I've seen before.

"Mighty sad this is." Dio holds out a vertical palm in front of him and mouths a silent prayer, one to mourn those who have passed in battle. As a mercenary, he couldn't help but feel for the poor tortured souls. "There's gotta be some kind o' 'eart o'... somethin'. Anythin' that might create such a curious shroud 'round an eternal battle."

Siyu nods his head, "And why now...why here. Why did they suddenly show up. It's not as if they've been fighting continously for 27 years or else someone would ahve seen them by now. I mean..." he motions with his hand, "This is new...what's changed. What's DIFFERENT." he considers. "Mossy Stone hasn't changed has it? Has any artifact been uncovered, did some farmer dig up a shrine recently?" He feels around with his earth magic for any disturbance in the ground...

"Someone's there? Thank the Creators! We were sent out from Anima to do just some routine scouting, take account of the movements near Mossy Stone, and then this mist just rose up about our feet, swallowed us...and next thing we know, we're caught in the middle of this battle. I've been shouting with air magic for a long time, but no one...no one seems to be able to hear us. Please hurry. We've been in this trench for who knows how long, and then the worst parts are when one of the ghosts comes in to bleed out...or at least, we think it's blood...it keeps on happening over and over and over again."

It's definitely coming from closer within, perhaps a little off to the west, which would make sense, since that is the location in which the encampment lies. Yet making inroads through the battlefield with horns blaring, arrows falling and wildfires blazing may not be the safest thing to do.

"Shit, well you're hearin'em. M'figurin' we could go rushin' on in, or if'n you ain't keen on that, we could go tryin' somethin' else... But I ain't seein many ways we can go an' be doin' this honestly." The Vixen shifting her weight before looking at the others.

Fenris frowns. "Magic and mist," he mutters to himself, "There's more than one Spirit at work here." A vivid green question mark fades into being just below his left eye. Pyrrha could certainly reanimate the bodies of the dead, or trap their spirits, but she had never shown visions of the past in his limited contact with her. Nor had she shown any aptitude or effect on magic before. Could this be a new old one? Could it be Zimla? What would the Dream Spirit be doing out here in the Mistress of Bones's territory? Another mark, this one a bright purple appears on Fenris's right ear. At the call for help, Fenris is more than a little relieved. Not a call from beyond the grave, then. "Let's move in if we can," he says to Kalt before signaling Behemoth forward. The big golem should provide a bit of extra cover, even if his magic was on the fritz.

Cassidy is rather reluctant to close in close on a battle field. She never was a front line fighter. Stowing her dagger away, she reaches back for her long bow and prepares an arrow, not yet drawing the string back. "Shall we start, then?" She singles out one of the shadows, tugging back on the string ready to let the arrow fly at the signal of her companions.

Selena looks back over to Fenris nd shrugs. "If Zimla was involved, I'm sure Kendrac would actually know. They're a life spirit, correct?" She replies, shaking her head. "Kendrac doesn't know what's going on here other than it's bad. Pyrrha's direct involvement in this is unlikely other than having set it up. He mentioned having other callers on the way. If there's anything you 're noticing, let me know. The more information we get now, the better we can respond later."

Dio scratches his head and carefully plants his shield in the ground while everyone discusses. "I don't know much 'bout spiritual business, but I'm sure there's somethin' physical we can give a good smackin' to an' end all this. Now let's see..." The lion peers at the battlefield and then back at the group members. "Suppose we can go 'bout the long way 'roun' an' 'ope we don't run into much. Either way, best start to get movin'. I don't wanna look at this fer any longer than I 'ave to." Hoisting his tower shield with a grunt, the coated feline slowly takes off westwards.

Siyu moves slowly along with Fenris, hiding behind his the big automaton, tugging on his ear and pulling out a few herbs, bandages and other healing items, figuring most of that group is injured, "yes, at least we're dealing with live beings. Having ghosts calling for help probably would add a pretty bad wrinkle"

It's a little distance to the trenches that zigzag the old battlefield. With Fenris' golem and the tiger himself leading the way, the group carefully picks their way across the eternal battle, the spectres still largely ignoring them save for the occasional couple of flaming arrows. Those are slowed by Fenris' shield but not stopped, and fall to the ground, setting the already charred grass alight with brief bursts of flame.

By giving the spectres in melee a wide berth, though, everyone makes it safely across - and there, in a shallow trench are a handful of reptilian beings in uniform, no doubt the scouting group that was caught in the mist when it materialised. One of the three looks positively tired out, but looks up at the group exhaustedly. "Thank you for coming. I don't understand...with how loud I was shouting, and with air magic to carry my voice, I should have been heard all the way back to Firmament. But..." she shakes her head. "We can walk, but Percy took an arrow to the thigh and can't stand. Those things out there aren't just apparitions - however did you make your way in here?"

Fenris nods gravely to the reptile who spoke. "Something is interfering with our magic," he says, "If we had not been nearby, we would never have heard you." He turns to Siyu, "Anything you can do to help our injured friend?" he asks, "Now would be the time. Behemoth can carry him if he is stable." The tiger looks around. There must be SOMETHING to hint at who is behind all this! The tiger sighs, not seeing anything to hint at an answer, then closes his eyes and calls on his patron Spirit. "Alright, Puzzler," he murmurs to himself, "I need an answer. Who is responsible for this apparition?" The tiger waits for a moment, green and purple question marks suddenly dotting his striped fur. These ones weren't going away for a while. Hopefully it would be worth the trouble.

Cassidy relaxes on her bow as they slip into the trenches, looking the reptiles over she gives a soft nod of greeting. "Yes, your cries of help were rather faint. But we got here when we could. As for how... We just walked here, really. Nothing too special to it, I think. I'm a terrible medic, but we'll get you out as best as we are able."

Selena takes a moment to consider something - or listen, perhaps - before suddenly interjecting. "Okay, there are some more callers to the south. One of them should be able to provide medical assistance if we can get you there." She explains, looking again over the 'battlefield'. "Heard back in Firmament? You'd be heard in Thera'dor before that if you were yelling so loud." The wolfess mutters to herself. "Isn't there an air elemental messaging service for scouting parties? I know they exist, they're just expensive."

Dio lets the base of his shield fall upon the ground with a heavy clank before he digs into his precious coat and pulls out his lovely snack bag. "I'm sure the rat lad over there can patch ya up nice an' tight," he claims, undoing the string around the bag and immedietly digging into the bakery wonders with a solid crunch. "So, tell us a bit more 'bout what 'appened if ya don't mind. Besides all the spooky ghosts an' such, did ya observe anythin' else?"

Siyu gives a little grunt ad nods his head, "Of course...an arrow?" he ponders, "How could they be generating their arrows out of nothing I wonder. If they're all spirits, I can imagine a wound caused by some energy or spectral thing. But to leave a physicall arrow..." he muses over that as the short rodent kneels down. A quick bit of poppy and he'll get ready to treat, "I don't know what kind of head it is. But it didn't strike the bone, or nick the artery. Prepare yourself and I'll finish driving the head out..." he tells the reptile. Doing some field medicine to at least let the fellow walk. He'll be sure of course...to keep the two pieces of arrow.

Thanks to Siyu's quick attention and the dulling effects of poppy, Percy is able to stand, though not without a lot of assistance. The wound is just a flesh wound - the arrow didn't stay in, instead tearing a gash through skin and flesh. Considering the time that the trio has spent in the trech, it's stopped bleeding, although with the state of the original dressings used to stem the flow it's a wonder if the wound doesn't get infected later on.

"I know, I sent out the elemental...it never returned." The speaker, a coral snake, shakes her head. "Please, let's just go. Percy isn't going to bleed out, but we don't want to be around...this any longer Since we got into the trench, we haven't dared to peek out - more than enough things are stumbling into here as it is. What IS happening?"

Fenris smirks a little as the Puzzler's answer enters his thoughts. Rhyme. Of course. The tiger shakes his head and looks around for the hill that the puzzler warned about. "Look to the hill for a spear, the banner of fear," he mutters, searching around.

Indeed, as Fenris peers off into the distance towards Mossy Stone, in the direction which the Puzzler indicated, he sees a banner on a faraway hill, its main shaft that of a spear. It bears no emblem or mark declaring ownership, yet the cloth is a patchwork of five colours - green, white, red, purple and blue. What an interesting choice of banner.

"New plan," Fenris says with a grin, pointing to the banner on the hill, "That is where all of this is coming from." The tiger turns to the rest of the group, "I suggest that we take care of this problem at the source," he says, "But we should move fast. Those who are with me, let's move. The others can help our friends here." With that, Fenris stands and waves Behemoth to move with him, charging up the hill and doing his best to avoid stray arrows.

Cassidy glances towards the banner in question, narrowing her eyes. "Banner, huh? Sounds to me like we ought to go put an end to it then, as well." She lightly strums the bowstring with her gloved fingers while her ears twitch under her hood. As Fenris moves off, she moves with him, prepping another arrow.

Selena nods back to the scouts. "Well, that's unusual to say the least. They're supposed to be reliable..." She replies, clasping her hands together for a moment before releasing some subtle water magic over the group to ease the being's actions a little. "If you're heading off there, I should see these beings to the callers before I join back up with you. It shouldn't take too long."

Dio stares at the mysertious banner with curious eyes, mind going back to see if he could recognize the pattern lain before him. Unfortunatly, nothing comes to mind. Perhaps it could be a new pattern entirely. "Maybe if we give it a good snap all this'll come to an end. Worth a shot. An' thanks fer the spell, lass." With a nod towards Selena, the lion heads up to investigate the banner.

Siyu gives a grunt and he nods his head, "All right..." he says as he ties the final bandage on the scouts, "You guys make sure you get cleaned up when you get back that would is nasty..." he says as he looks over at the banner and he winces, "All right you guys move on, I help the scouts get out of here..." he'll lead the scouts to go and head towards the edge of the mist.

As Siyu and Selena make their time evacuating the injured scouts, Fenris, Cassidy and Dio make their way through the eternal battle, weaving their way through the melee. Yet something is wrong as one draws closer to the cursed hill that rises above the fighting: the air becomes fouler, breathing harder. The trio's feet start to be weighed down, as if their boots had turned to cast iron, their footsteps leadened. The patchwork banner has not made a single move, continuing to flutter in the wind as it always has, yet the oppressive aura grows with each step in that direction, draining strength and will alike. Even Fenris' golem is affected, gaining spots of corrosion on its exterior, its joins beginning to audibly grind against each other.

Cassidy is the first to give, involuntarily falling to her knees, choking on her own breath, unable to take another step forward. Still, between the two of them, Dio and Fenris summon up the willpower to carry the fennec forward, until one is within perhaps two hundred metres of the hill.

In the air, the call of an old bugle, reveberates. As one, hundreds of spectres jerk to attention like puppets on suddenly-pulled strings, instantly dropping their attention from their eternal battle and focusing it on the intruders, daring them to take another step forward.

Fenris looks out over the field. "Right then," he says, looking a little silly with all those question marks on his face, "Behemoth! To arms!" The tiger readies himself for battle, prepared to unleash as much magical power as this strange place will allow.

Cassidy shuffles along, prepared to fight, but then it hits her. She's not even entirely sure what 'it' is as she falls to her knees, coughing and choking. "Damn," she manages out, but little else.

Dio breathes heavily, gasping for breath as he makes his way towards the banner. Yet still, he attempts to push onwards with Cassidy in tow. However, his advance quickly ceases after observing the large army of troops before them. Planting his shield directly in front of him, the lion raises an eyebrow as Fenris decides to attack. "Lad... We best get movin' right now. We're a man down an' only two 'ardly strong. We gotta send report to Camp Anima 'bout this," he claims, about to start a retreat.

Selena gives Siyu an appreciative nod as he moves along with her and the wounded. On arrival to the caller's position, the woman speaks up; "These beings need some medical assistance. There are still some beings heading up the hill to confront whatever's there - If any of you are willing to back us up it'd be appreciated. Failing that, I trust you've heard about the situation from Kendrac or each other? Failing that, I'll ask him to explain it to you. I'd like to get back to the others now - if you want to come with us, then come. Failing that, do as you will." With that, the woman starts back along the path to the others...

Siyu turns his head up as the battle suddenly goes silent, and the bugel calls, "Oh creators...Run you fools! Those arrows are real enough!" he shouts to the group.

"Please wait! You must know..." one of the callers, a motherly-looking mouse calls out to Selena, but the wolfess is already gone.

Up on the hill, the banner shifts and trembles at its base, a bony hand reaching out of the earth to take ahold of its shaft. This is followed by another, and another...six of them in total one clutching the banner, the other five each with a weapon in hand. Five colours, five weapons...the number five seems to be awfully prevalent here. Five of the corrupt Court working in concert? There certainly isn't enough time to watch the rest of the horror emerge from the ground. If one's going to beat a hasty retreat, then one should do it soon.

Fenris focuses the best he can, drawing down a rain of fire from the sky, terror giving him an adrenaline boost. FIVE Old Ones!? TOGETHER!? "Just a parting shot, Dio," Fenris gasps to his leonine friend. "Behemoth!" he chokes out, "Full retreat!" The tiger helps Cassidy struggle away until Behemoth scoops the fox into its arms and Fenris staggers along beside, praying that his shield of air can at least throw off the aim of any attackers.

Cassidy doesn't put up any resistance when she's scooped up and carried off by the golem. What an embarrassing display, brought low by so little. She does naught but lament that fate for now, though.

Selena curses as she moves up the hill, aparrently recieving another communique - then hearing Fenris's loud yells she curses quietly. "Come on, we need you back down the hill. Regroup, we'll figure out what to do from there!" She calls, muddying up the ground behind the retreating beings in an attempt to harry persuers. "If something gets too close, I'll target them but the damping effect isn't helping at all."

No need to waste anymore breath! With his shield covering his retreat, Dio speeds down the hill along with the others as fast as his tired legs can take him until finally nice and safe for a snack break.

Siyu is still near the edge of the fog where the scouts were. The rodent didn't move away, after all, the sight of the army, and now the banner caused him to freeze up. Hanging back in fear and hoping his friends got out all right.

One by one, everyone is herded back by Selena to the willow grove, where the scouts and Siyu still are. One of the callers - a blindfolded serpent - is creating some sort of perimeter with his staff, and of the other three, a luminous-patterened wolf steps up to greet everyone.

"I'm sorry we were so long in coming," he says. "I'm Victor, and these here are Claudia, Ludmilla and Darval. We had to group up before heading here...but that's enough excuses from me. I'm sure you wish to know what's going on.

"What we do know is this. Our fellow caller here -" he gestures at Selena - "suggested to Kendrac that she thinks the Queen of Death would not likely acqueise to such cooperation. He agrees that she may have required some persuasion in order to go along with this plan, which means that someone in the Corrupt Court who outranks her backed it, or she was simply vetoed by sheer numbers. It is impossible to know the truth, however.

"It is likely that the mist, over time, will grow to fill the entirety of the old battlefield and any areas associated with the battle twenty-seven years ago. This unfortunately, includes that - ah, rather unfortunately situated camp to the west. Walls will not keep this menace out, I'm afraid - if that does come to pass, which at this rate may be two weeks to a month, evacuation of the camp will be necessary. The good news that the spectres will be unable to leave the source of their memories, so there is little risk of this spreading to inhabited lands. No doubt, though, that it is a step for some other purpose.

"For now, please spread the word: no one is to brazenly approach the mist. As you all have experienced, it is not a simple conjuration to be dispelled at a whim; the bannerman and spectres are tied to one another, each one's presence bolstering the other. The bannerman cannot be destroyed without quelling the lost souls, while the souls cannot depart so long as the bannerman exists; it is a bit of a conundrum. As they have banded together, lending their powers to create it, so we have gathered here, callers of different sprits, to oppose them. Some study will be required in order to determine how best to exorcise the spectres from the battlefield.

Siyu looks out across the battlefield, "How are their souls kept here. Are they really the lost from the last expedition? Are they just spectres, are the actual souls. Where were they? How were they brought back..." he stares across the battlefield. "And why, what is the point of all of this..." he considers, looking back at the rest of them, "Do you have any shades with you, anyone who can speak with the shadows? Are these actually shadows fighting or just apparitions?"