aet mafia

SRYAEN [as narrative]: It's ten minutes before midnight, in an alley beside the Imperial Museum in Enorian. The lights are shining all across the city. It's aptly named - Beacon. Can't hardly go anywhere without casting a shadow. But we're shades in the dark. And we have a job to do.

(The scene includes SRYAEN, ASHMER, and PRISM. ASHMER has a rat pinned underfoot by its tail and is lowering a dagger toward it.)

PRISM: I would like for this to be taken seriously.

(ASHMER is carving a small design into the rat's back - it squeaks. SRYAEN stands to one side smoking a cigarette in a cigarette holder.)

PRISM: The smoke is a risk. You should extinguish your cigarette. The rat is making noise. Release it.

(PRISM makes a gesture and ASHMER's foot jerks up. The rat ducks, squeals, scrabbles away, leaving a trail of blood.)

(ASHMER glares at PRISM. PRISM smiles thinly back at him.)

SRYAEN: So, boss lady, where do you want this extinguished? (He gestures to the cigarette.) Is a cobblestone too much of a security risk? Could be some Lumie will see the burn mark and notice it isn't the kind of plant they grow down here.

(Silence.)

SRYAEN (pressing the point): Or maaaaybe I'm being a little bit paranoid?

(PRISM doesn't dignify him with a response. SRYAEN smirks and shakes the butt onto the ground, crushing it under his foot. A sad trail of smoke climbs upward.)

PRISM (continuing regardless): At midnight, we will move. We are aware of the plan - I unlock the door and stand guard. You two move in and take all that you see.

(A pause, ASHMER nodding.)

PRISM: Now we wait.

(ASHMER makes a lunge at the ground - another rat evades his grasp.)

PRISM: I would like for this to be taken seriously. Please.

--

KUROGANE [as narrative]: Even on the cusp of the necromancing hour, Enorian's still alive and bustling. It's like a nest of Auresian fireflies with the breath of dragons and the minds of sheep. But once the flock gets an idea into their head, they defend it like bees.

(It's the Four Corners in Enorian, and KUROGANE stands on a soapbox, surrounded by a growing crowd. Some of them hold up flaming maces, and guardian angels hover above the massed heads.)

KUROGANE: I'm sure I heard about something like this in the Revelation. Wasn't there one man shouting about how everyone was doomed but no one was listening to him? Give me a chance, I'm sure we can work this out like civilized people.

CROWD MEMBER: We aren't staying civil long, you Dark sympathizer!

KUROGANE: Hey, hey, I'm not with the Dark, the Dark's got nothing against you. The Dark's actually not much different from the Light. They accept everyone and it's living hell from then on, I mean... (he laughs uncomfortably) ...can you shut off those maces? Not that they're scaring me or anything, but they're hurting my eyes a little.

CROWD MEMBER #2: They only burn the unrighteous.

KUROGANE [as narrative]: I hate playing the diversion. It's the worst job.

--

AKARYUTERRA[RYOTEGA] [as narrative that fades into dialogue]: One minute to midnight. This is gonna be good. (grinning)

(They're in a primitive car, constructed in steampunk fashion from steel and wood - steam hisses from the exhaust pipe, and the thing has a battering ram mounted on the front. RYOTEGA's holding the driver's wheel and what looks to be a ridiculously over-the-top repeat crossbow. ELEANOR, next to him, is looking over papers with a calculating air. ELENE, looking sorely out of place, is diseased, peaky, and anxious in the backseat.)

ELEANOR: I just hope we don't have to kill anybody. That would be unpleasant.

ELENE (snidely): 'Unpleasant'. Oh, the horror...

ELEANOR: I just don't enjoy killing. Unlike some people.

RYOTEGA: Hush up, both of you. Five, four, three...

(There is a slowly spreading grin on ELENE's face)

RYOTEGA (continuing): Two, one... It's showtime.

(RYOTEGA guns the engine. There's a horrible screech, and then the wheels catch on the ground, and the car goes racing toward a huge, imposing building - the Imperial Enorian Bank, if the sign above the door is to be believed. The car, complete with battering ram, crashes through the double doors in a shower of splinters and wood - RYOTEGA is laughing.)

(The guards converge on the car, maces and fists lighting up with characteristic flame - three of them are cut down where they stand by a flurry of crossbow bolts, and RYOTEGA unfolds from the car, grinning smugly and firing another burst into the chandelier above. The light dances crazily, the chandelier sways, and bits of fire, glass, and tallow rain down as ELEANOR and ELENE exit the car.)

RYOTEGA: All right, people! This is a robbery! Elea, get the doors. (He waves her away for a moment, turning back to the frightened remainder of the security.) You stay out of our way, and... (he pauses, pointing to a few trolls) ...you, you, and you, bring up the money and put it right here in front of me. (He whirls) Oh, no you don't!

(A Luminary molding a globe of fire in his hands pauses, eyes widening, and then RYOTEGA cuts him down with a brutal strike of magic. It isn't fatal - he lies groaning upon the ground.)

(ELENE wanders over to him, bending down.)

ELENE: Ooh. You don't look like you're in a good way.

(Her hands trace over his chest - he's muttering terrified gibberish. His living compatriots seem revolted and on the edge of making a dash for ELENE.)

ELENE: Maybe you'd like something for that nasty awful gash in your chest. I've got lots of things here for it.

(He winces and writhes as she traces a fingernail down the magic-inflicted wound.)

YOUNG LUMINARY: Nnf.. Stop..

(ELEANOR has finished casting a giant icewall across the bank's entrance, warding it with a series of strange Numerological designs.)

(The trolls have begun piling the money up, making dashes to and from the various vaults in the bank. It turns from a heap to a relative mountain, and RYOTEGA's grin is absolutely unshakable.)

RYOTEGA: That's right, that's right, just keep putting it there...

(RYOTEGA is tracing a circle around the money, muttering to himself, and the hastily cast spell causes the money to lift itself into the air and levitate into the open trunk of the car; bag by bag, as it nestles itself with soft clinks. He straightens, watching warily, keeping an eye on the room.)

ELENE (beaming with a sickening maternal expression): You just hold still, little boy...

(There's a black ooze - sibilant ichor, as it were - overlaying the YOUNG LUMINARY's chest.)

ELENE (continuing): ... You'll feel fine in a minute or two.

(The security forces seem to have decided not to interfere with whatever sick experiment ELENE is performing.)

YOUNG LUMINARY: I feel n-numb...

ELENE (smirking): That's right, then you won't feel anything. (a sugary, overblown smile) Just fine!

--

(An open door - the back of PRISM's head is visible, peering in at the exhibits of the Imperial Enorian Museum. The display cases are broken and askew as ASHMER and SRYAEN go through, stuffing everything remotely shiny and/or valuable into sacks. PRISM's expression is absolutely invisible from this angle, but SRYAEN looks calculating and ASHMER seems bored.)

SRYAEN: You said we're looking for a diamond?

ASHMER (lifting up a scimitar): Ooh.

PRISM: Yes. It will be the size of a male human fist with precisely sixty-four evenly cut facets and will be mounted on display near the back of the museum.

(ASHMER is playing with the sword in the background.)

(SRYAEN peers around a corner.)

SRYAEN: Well, I know that's got to be accurate. Guess I'd better take a look, huh?

(There's a loud CLASH. PRISM and SRYAEN whirl to see ASHMER, who has just struck an old gong with the scimitar. ASHMER blinks, hesitates, and then grins.)

(Silence. PRISM looks outside, glancing to and fro in irritation.)

PRISM: There are no visible guards. I would like for this to be taken seriously.

SRYAEN (rolling his eyes): Come on, let's check out the back.

(SRYAEN grabs ASHMER by the arm and hauls him off.)

--

(The inside of the Imperial Enorian Bank - the view focuses in on ELEANOR's icewall.)

ELEANOR: The Numerological seal is holding... a small bit of interference from the background devotion they saturate the city with, but it'll be fine for a few more minutes. (she glances over her shoulder) Ryotega, how's it coming?

RYOTEGA (grinning - close-up on his face, with ELEANOR visible over his shoulder): -Beautifully-.

(The YOUNG LUMINARY screams, jerks, and falls still.)

ELENE: Oopsie!

(ELENE beams around at the grim-faced security guards and giggles softly. They are not amused.)

(The last of the money floats into the car. RYOTEGA begins to speak - there's a BOOM. The building shudders.)

RYOTEGA: The fuck?!

ELEANOR: Severn's blood!

ELENE: Ooh!

(The icewall has developed a crack down the center. It vibrates. There's another BOOM, the building shudders, and the icewall falls inward, in two distinct halves, a flaming figure wreathed in steam framed in the doorway.)

ELENE: ... Eek.

(DASKALOS walks in, fists blazing, giant form -still- on fire, wings spread, ready to dispense some justice.)

DASKALOS: I might have known! Ezrax's cronies, come for another go!

(ELEANOR is backing away very slowly.)

DASKALOS: Well, your reign of evil stops here! For I, Daskalos Qefin, Grand Master of the Daru, Hammer of Evil, Master of Light, will smash you underfoot like the puny bugs you are!

(ELEANOR stops and exchanges dubious glances with RYOTEGA.)

DASKALOS: I see your terror even now, ever pathetic, you utter fools! (The flame around him flares, and he's gesturing maniacally.) I have you at my mercy, my very whims, and the cleansing fire will -rend- you of your impure forms! Say whatever prayers are known to your kind, for it all ends here! Daskalos ends -you-!

(There's an explosion far off in the city, and DASKALOS turns to look at it. A moment later a flying soapbox arcs in through the devastated doorway and hits him square in the forehead.)

DASKALOS: Ow! (He falls.)

ELEANOR: That's what he gets for monologuing.

(KUROGANE dashes in, with his clothing smoking and expression wild, simultaneously terrified and giggling.)

KUROGANE: I learned something new today! Meteor arrows in close proximity explode when you light them on fire!

(He pauses, heaving, gasping, beaming up at them.)

KUROGANE (continuing): I... am -never-... being the distraction... again! (He flops to the ground.)

RYOTEGA: Elea, grab him. Elene, get in the car. Let's bust this joint!

(RYOTEGA leaps into the driver's seat, gunning the engine, and everyone else piles in. They zoom out the same way they came in, not-accidentally running DASKALOS over in the process.)

DASKALOS: Ow!

--

(SRYAEN runs out from the back rooms, holding up the diamond.)

SRYAEN: I've got it. And Ashmer's got...

(ASHMER lumbers out of the back room, scimitar in one hand, and a long rube emblazoned with the Rahnite symbol.)

PRISM: We will have to have Evilo look at it when we return. We shall wait outside for pickup.

ASHMER: It shoots fire.

(ASHMER gestures to one side - the tube spits fire over at the wall and sets it on fire.)

(SRYAEN glances over his shoulder, grins in approval, and beckons ASHMER out.)

(The three wait at the roadside, lined up, and ASHMER shoots flame at the sky occasionally. SRYAEN juggles the diamond, and PRISM alone is still and stoic. The car, piloted by RYOTEGA, squeals to a halt beside him, and the doors fly open.)

RYOTEGA: Geddin.

KUROGANE (in the backseat): Hey, look! A mob!

(KUROGANE points. There's an almost literal wall of fiery maces and angels approaching them.)

ELENE: Ooh. Pretty.

ELEANOR: There's another one down the other end of the street, look...

(PRISM jumps into the car. SRYAEN and ASHMER hang on the doors, either side of the backseat - ASHMER's wound his legs through the doorframe, scimitar in one hand and flamethrower in the other - SRYAEN's hands glow with latent magic.)

(RYOTEGA guns the engine, and they take off toward the mob of LUMINARIES and DARU approaching them.)

ASHMER: Finally. Something interesting!

(The car plows through the men and topples them like bowling pins, and ASHMER and SRYAEN variously rot, decay, burn, and slice apart the men at either side with ruthless, skilled vigor. The car tilts, turns on two wheels, and skids into the Four Corners, which looks like the site of a major bombing.)

(PRISM glances down to her seat.)

PRISM: Nephilim Ashmer, there is blood upon my garments.

(ELENE whirls over.)

ELENE: Ooh, can I see?

(PRISM takes her head firmly and pushes it away.)

PRISM: No.

(The car keeps squealing down the road and bursts past two very surprised guards and out the gates.)

ELEANOR: Ryotega, back to Spinesreach at top speed for the rendezvous with Evilo.

RYOTEGA: You got it, Elea. We done -good-.

--