dev 15 - the enemy of my enemy

Step after step.

He doesn't know why, but he's in a rush to try and get to the lot of them after leaving the castle. He is mostly leaping in his advance, sprinting when he's on his two feet with nice clunks of shimmering metal in response. He has to get to them after all.

He arrives just in time to see the group of Lionhearts trying to make off with the citizen in question, and he puts his foot down.

He doesn't know if he can keep up, especially with the fact that he's out of breath, so they might've been able to get off, but he wasn't going to not try to stop them. His voice booms.


"Hold it."

(Lloyd Durages)

When could he have one day to just get his shit done? The Ookami's gaze soon falls upon the scene at hand - Erehn being dragged off alongside Bo being as hotheaded as ever. For a woman who said they were being careful this was a fine example of not being so.

Mythril greaves soon thunder down the roads alongside the two other Knights but, of course, they're too late given the time the message had got to them. There's a click of his teeth at that...

Why was this bridge so cursed?

Clutching his fists as electricity surges through his frame he'd draw in a slow, steady breath. He would've given hot pursuit, sure, but... Alas, too slow to save Erehn for now. Instead? His gaze travels through the ranks of the Lionhearts.

"Vivian's a cunt I'll give th' lot o' y' tha' much." What? was he to lie to people? That wasn't the Ookami's shtick, sadly. "When it comes t' th' matter o' th' bridge, though..." The Knight's voice trails off, now looking towards the Radiant.

His call on what's said there.
(Thalis lei Avitus)


Tiernay asks, "Who?"

Caila Kriemhild says, "The one you called your friend."

Caila Kriemhild asks, "Bunny girl?"

Tiernay says, "Never called her my friend."

Caila Kriemhild says, "Mm.."

Tiernay says, "Whoever she is."

Caila Kriemhild asks, "Do you know where she is?"

Tiernay says, "If I don't know whom you're talking about, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't know who she is."

Caila Kriemhild says, "Right.."
Well, they had just come in a bit too late. Andrew was fast, by far one of the fastest in the First Light. Every now and then, his dashes through the torchlights caused him to close in on distance, but they were simply too far away.

Yet, he was still lagged behind by that odd feeling that something followed. A glance behind, and Andrew trips on a loose stone, landing on the ground- But eventually, he manages to embody himself in lightning once again, landing with clear posture.

He rises to position, and turns to stare directly at Mars. "Vivian does not express the will of Osrona. In any shape or form." This much had to get out of the way at least. The blade is pulled out, and he does need to at least settle a bit of this matter.

They were in the bridge, and demanding that the knights be the ones leaving. A glance is given to his fellow First Lighters, and a decision needs to be made. One hand is risen. "The bridge has been talked about. Serea was the one to talk about it, if I recall correctly."

After all, this much is what he was told. "We do not need to end this in a fight." After all, there were three civilians around, with only two knights to back him up. One hand is risen, splayed to stop any efforts from the First Light from going through, at least.

"We can talk this out, Marzipan." His shadow still moved around; It seemed eager to march forward, disobeying the light from the nearby posts themselves and grasping forward, but...

The Radiant stood his ground.
(Andrew Lancaster)

Raq would run on all fours, tears seem to be running down his cheeks, he's probably the emotional type of guy…

"T-There... There they are !"
(Raq Ru Amra)


Andrew Lancaster says, "You are at a much better diplomatic spot with me on the table than with any other Radiant. Trust me on this."
Bernadette's life had been pretty rocky in the last few months. Just as she thought things were starting to calm down, yet another one of her siblings finds themselves in trouble. Those honey hues narrow at Erehn, hadn't she JUST told him to be careful?

There is a frustrated sigh, but a slight look of fear in her face. Her family was all that she had left. No- this couldn't happen like this. Her little fists would clench, and she'd stomp her foot firmly onto the ground!

"AHHHHHHHH!" She screamed, flailing her arms in the air!

"This doesn't have to be a fight- and frankly....My nerves are shot. Give me my brother back to me- and I will give ya coins and some useful potions I have here." She'd put her hands into a prayer like motion.

Seems Andrew had the same idea.

"He's one of the few I got besides Urizen. I don't want to see anyone get hurt here." She was being honest-and that went for both the Lionhearts and the knights. Well- Was she a knight now?...That was still to be discussed.


(Bernadette Solstice)

"The will of Osrona was already given when your king purposefully banned us from entering Osrona's walls." The crossbow aimed within their direction would continue to be alit with fire. Three arrows are reinforced yet again, pulled betwixt index and thumb as their flaming heads are replaced with snapping lions. They growl and roar, as if they were the impossible flames that swallow the battlefield whole.

"Serea didn't do enough...After all, we were waiting for this meeting to see if tensions between ourselves and your own people could be soothed. But clearly, that hadn't worked out fully." Whatever happened at the wedding is far, far beyond what the Felinae had cared for. What was offered, instead, was the fact that she felt a little suffocated when Osrona's people continued stirring up trouble within her home...Or even going as far as to say someone from her own group should 'die' and 'be killed by their own hand'. It is...Unacceptable.

"You wanna talk to me? Then you fight while speakin' to me..." Because she was beyond sharing words with Andrew and those that follow him about. Especially, when words only caused exchanges to become even worse.
(Mars)


Lloyd Durages says, "Mars."

Lloyd Durages says, "Look at me."
From the perspective of a man who had reasons for both sides to be safe— well, only one side. The other only needed to be safe-ish. Or at least for Kofe not to seem like a villain of sorts; he cared little about the lot from Osrona on a personal level. Still, as an onlooker from the side the young man caught the little details that were more important than the rest. If Vivian of all people had sent out assassins, then it'd be playing right into what he had been looking answers to the entire time.

A glance is shot in Erehn's way, briefly, and a question is thrown Mars' way.

"Were those two the assassins she sent for you?"
(Kofe)

Tiernay didn't even seem to be paying attention. What vendettas went on was likely something that'd hardly pull at his conscious, and such seemed to be a rather proven fact as he pushes out a bit of air beyond his pursued lips.

"Goodness, I never thought I could get so annoyed so quickly." More conversation strewn in between what was otherwise a rather questionable event.

He understands the purpose however, and finds himself in agreement of the words which follows after.

"Ah, we did plan a meeting didn't we? I guess we're just not all that important when it comes down to it." He chuckles, while dismissively waving his hand.
(Tiernay)

There's an annoyed groan.

"What is it now.."

For as much as he watches this sort of interaction, there's something about this which had caused him to be rather.. irate. After all, he was supposed to take his captive somewhere else..

Yet, his gaze momentarily turns to Bernadette.

"Your 'brother' should've thought sooner before declaring that he wants me dead - and that he'd be gathering allies to kill me."

"If he wants me dead so much.. I'll give him what he wants - he can duel me, one on one."

It is fair in the eyes of the Rhoynish. No groups, no 'gatherings' to basically take down another. Erehn wanted to assassinate him with the groups?

He can try doing so himself.

Yet, his gaze turns towards the group of knights. His gaze furrows, but..

"..Didn't the will of Osrona come about when the king has done all that he's done?"
(Basil)


Sythaeryn says, "..."

Del mer Joyau says, ". . ."
This was so very, very stressful. He didn't need to deal with this right now - not when there was so many things going on within their own city. The Lionhearts was just kicking sand in their face right now.

Lloyd sets a hand on both Andrew and Thalis' chest. "Let me try to handle this," he requests. He looks at both of them with a slow nod. He wasn't going to resort to battling just yet. If none else, then he knew she'd listen to him, if only a little.

He peers on over to her now, frowning.

"Please. Just a chance to talk this out. That's all I'm asking."
(Lloyd Durages)

"You Osronan people can never keep your stories straight and I've gotta wonder why."

His head lulls in a motion, slowly moving as he observes face after face of the people who claim to want the right of it all, who claim to protect and serve. Those who declare that they are enemies of those who are enemies of Osrona, and this world.

"Is it that you want peace, only to celebrate the death of a worshipped deity of your friends?" Lloyd has his gaze for a few, prime seconds before he moves on to the next.

"Or do you want to declare war against said friends. Because it seems so wishy washy, so silly, so silly."

Owyn burns up, igniting flames all across his body.

"Or are the people and the Knights of Osrona, the Radians, the Exarchs. . are they not on one accord with their own King?"


(Owyn)


Owyn says, "There's no need to explain shit, man."

Owyn says, "You're not allowed on this bridge."

Owyn says, "End."

Lloyd Durages says, "That's another matter. I just want the man."

Basil asks, "--The man?"
Basil tugs on NPC Erehn that's capped.
(Basil)


Basil says, "This man? He's not going anywhere."

Basil says, "He wants me dead so badly. I'll give him a duel, one on one. No assassins, no groups."

Basil says, "Fair to me."
After a few brief, quietly whispered words with the priestess at his side, and watching the scene in front of him unfold curiously, Sythaeryn discreetly slipped over to the stone ledge of the bridge. With a fanged smile to Cerise, he offered a blood lily flower on the smooth surface as a small gift.
(Sythaeryn)

Sythaeryn drops Sinka x1.

Ever the neutral friend to everyone, Cerise lurked off to the against the railing. She watched the knights, the Lionheart group... all of them with just a few flicks back and forth of her tail.

The flower slipped across to her made her lips twitch into what could have been a smile, as she accepts the flower, twirling it around in her hands.
(Cerise)

Cerise picks up Sinka.

"If my brother has threatened you- I am sorry for that. He isn't the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to keeping himself safe." The brown haired felinae calms a bit, given it had taken a few breaths. Those honey hues looked at Basil. She looked sad, and for a moment...She took a gander at Thalis.

He'd know what she was about to do.

"Take me instead. Leave my brother and take me." She pleaded quietly.

"I understand you are upset for the things he's said- and I will take full responsibility for his actions. Just please- leave him be."

Her body was still, she was barely even breathing...
(Bernadette Solstice)


Lloyd Durages says, "Be. Quiet."
Andrew's face turns into a scowl of sorts. Why, of all people, was it always him who ended in situations like these. The one who loved to talk things out, always the one who ended up with the people who wanted to talk the least. Everyone just wanted to fight.

It got on his nerves, truly- Even his shadow seemed to agree with such, continuing to stretch itself as it aimed to claw at the others, kept close by a restrictive layer of light cast by the Radiant himself. His energy was still being drained.

This was not good. Nothing of this was good. "We are all in accord to our king." A glance was given to Lloyd and Thalis, before he whispered a few words to them. This sort of thing had to be dealt with, even if he was only devising a plan B.

In case Lloyd's talking didn't work.
(Andrew Lancaster)

Andrew Lancaster whispers something.

Raq decided he could not take any more of this. He takes a step forward and firmly said.

"Yer not takin' me brother anywhere ! Oi'm willing te exchange anythin' Oi've got if et means Oi can get me brother back, ye kin even take me in 'is stead, but there's no way in hell Oi'm lettin' ye take 'im wherever yer goin' !"
(Raq Ru Amra)

Sythaeryn glanced from Cerise to Del, blinking slowly. His smile widened.
(Sythaeryn)

Sythaeryn whispers something.


Owyn asks, "What the hell did you even say, man?"

Basil says, "Something about brother and kin. The answer is a no, anyway."
Del is here, present. A sad gaze on the situation at hand. A man captured and all these Knights showed up against the Lionheart group? and the bridge being claimed? They just watch for now, lingering in case any hostilities arise...
(Del mer Joyau)

Kofe shifted his attention from one side to the other, eventually settling his gaze upon Lloyd. This man was probably the one who'd have the most honor in it all. Fearless enough to take another's place and even die for them, even if it wasn't his business. No, no. Honor wasn't the right word.

Lloyd had guts. And integrity.

"I think you should take a step back and realize that Vivian's been hiring assassins to kill people left in right. She's got a massive debt to her name that she can't pay, but she's got enough money to try and kill people she doesn't like?"

He shook his head, stepping forth and in-between the groups at last. What came next was probably what would seal the deal.

"Lloyd. She's put a hit on someone from Osrona, too.

Let Basil deal with the guy. If he's worth anything he'll live. Take care of the real problem instead of bein' the knight that runs as the con-man while a church's on fire."
(Kofe)

Raq clenches his fist at Basil's words.

"Well Oi'm not lettin' ye leave weth 'im anyways…"
(Raq Ru Amra)

Sythaeryn whispers something.

".. No. You can't do that. He's a weakling."

Lloyd is sweating. Mars isn't saying anything, and he doesn't know the rest of her posse well enough to be getting the same kind of sway over them as he may with her. He gets it now. She was probably trying to turn the other way, because in the end, he knew, and she knew where this situation would inevitably end up. Even if it wasn't today, then another day.

".. So no talking then, alright. That's fine."

He slowly paid a glance over to Kofe.

His stare lingers owlishly on him for a time, and he grunts before long.

".. Unfortunately, it isn't that simple, Kofe. If it's true, then I'll handle Vivian. I'll get her arrested and executed if it comes to it, but .. that man they have right now. I cannot abandon him. He has a wife, and a child. I know not of what he's committed to land him in this predicament, or even if his foolishness deserves him such a fate. What I do know is.."

He sets a hand on his blade, and his gaze narrows. Sharp. Sure.

"If I let you simply kill that man without doing anything, then it'll stain my honor as a Knight."

He takes a step forward now.

"My kingdom is in disarray right now. I'll duel you, one on one - no interferences. The majority of us don't stand a chance - you're all strong fighters. Relinquish the man, and fight me instead."

His blade is drawn, a cry of steel that reverberates proudly, and the emotional resonance on his face shows true. A man that's resolved.

"Even if it means death, I'll fight you. Whatever judgement you desired upon him, you may deliver upon me instead."
(Lloyd Durages)


Lloyd Durages says, "You're Rhonyish, right? Then you shouldn't want to simply beat a weakling to death. Come on, fight me. A real opponent."

Owyn says, ". . ."
Sythaeryn gave a small nod.
(Sythaeryn)


Kofe says, "You're an idiot, Lloyd."

Kofe says, "But you've got guts."
The young boy just looked around, completely clueless and oblivious as to what was going on around him. From the looks of it, there was some underlying tension between the two groups, but not enough to cause them to actually break out into a fight --or not yet at least.

He stood behind Siegfried, looking to the others gathered before his eyes settled on the burnt man. "Hey u--" he stopped suddenly, looking over to Lloyd as he spoke and just threw a deathmatch onto the table as if it were nothing. Is -this- what was expected from people within the First Light?

"Damn...what?"
(Alexei Isolet)


Owyn asks, "Just how did Osrona end up with such a good person like this?"

Kofe says, "But you're the biggest idiot."
Heavy steps from Siegfried's running came across the bridge as a report of an incident took place. With a cadet in tow they would arrive to see his fellow knights there. Dealing with a situation.

"What's going on" He'd state, accusations of dueling, assassins and the wench Vivan were flying. He wasn't surprised. She was in debt, so far in debt that he didn't know how it was possible.

"Lloyd, why are you trying to duel people. What did Vivan do this time? Who does she owe money to now?" He'd state panting from his shortness of breath.

"Everyone settle down, and Lloyd, there's no need to duel someone."

"Not yet at least."
(Siegfried lei Lohengramm)


Sythaeryn says, "Much worse-"
Boring, up until a certain point. The male's stance on it seemed rather passive up until he waves a hand to interject any words which may flow prior to his now sharpened focus.

"Good is subjective. We've all got little attributes about us that we display in order to sway the heart." He chuckles, while tapping on the side of Owyn's head with a single digit.

"I'd say it's more interesting this way. A proper duel, because as it stands? Erehn? He's a damn idiot, and while we'd be doing Esshar a favor if he were to somehow... Magically croak!" Tiernay hums, while canting his head.

"I'd be so damn bored, after having listened to all of this."
(Tiernay)

She landed by the bridge, eyeing the scene curiously. She didn't know what was precisely happening, but watching Lloyd offer himself up to Basil was an interesting turn of events! She squinted her gaze briefly, before suddenly shaking her head as if trying to wipe out illusions that simply weren't there.

Or were they? She wasn't quite sure what was real and what wasn't. It was difficult. But a hand came out, a claw poking Sythaeryn as if measuring if he was actually real or not. Once she seemed satisfied she dropped her voice though her gaze was still upon the gathered crowd upon the bridge.
(Amara Chance)

Amara Chance whispers something.

The snowy-haired drakanite visibly cringed on hearing Cerise's quietly spoken words, wincing in a glance over to Owyn. Afterward, he looked to Amara curiously, tilting his head some before his attention returned back to the ruby-winged woman.
(Sythaeryn)


Aggression remains to be seen. Her gaze fluttering briefly- the bow and arrow soon shifting slightly, pointing within the direction of the Durages. Regardless though, the duel seems to be one of Honor. Although, uncertainty soon gathers. She accepts. "...If that's what you want, then fine then. However...Should we win, you all leave this side of the bridge. You do not come back to the West." After all...

 Just as the lot of them were banned by Osrona. They were now banned from this side of the land as well. It's only fair.
(Mars)

Sythaeryn glanced back to Del suspiciously.
(Sythaeryn)

Del looks up at him, then at the scene in hand.
(Del mer Joyau)

Was he truly ready to face off against the Rhoynish, all for the man that not only found himself in such predicament out of his own foolishness, but the one that was willing to sic so many people upon Basil?

Even now, when Lloyd approaches him with such intent.. he seems terribly unamused by such display. If anything, there's already a flicker of flame- a flicker of stardust that is gathering around him, all too soon to be proven as the manifestation of his own aggression.

"You're a fool to protect him, or someone like Vivian."

"He's tried to sic groups of people after me - and he tried to connivingly have me killed." A pause. "You will defend honor of someone who has no honor at all?"

"Someone who had no bravery to face me, and instead resorted to such games?" But it's his choice, isn't it? If anything, Erehn is throw to the side..

Tied up, unable to leave.

"So be it."

A single glance is given onto Mars, Tiernay and Owyn. "Make sure that nobody tries to snatch him while I fight this knight."

"Or I'll kill them for being just as conniving as he is."
(Basil)

Sythaeryn whispers something.

Sythaeryn whispers something.

Sythaeryn whispers something.

Amara Chance whispers something.

Basil has engaged Lloyd Durages in Dangerous combat, with a capture roll of 1

Lloyd Durages assumes the Gentle Blade stance!


It had been quite a while since Garm was informed of the ill-doings of the mercenaries at Baleford. Delayed, other Knights had evidently gotten ahead of the Radiant upon his arrival-- his pace increasing from a walk to a run... then a stop.

While people accused him too often of being a loose cannon, the Ookami tries to get a measure of what the heck was going on before making any moves; Between known criminals and certain minor bothers present it was difficult to know what to deal with... first.

Did he even want to?

"You've all gotten bold lately." He addresses nobody in particular on his approach, though doubtless it'd reach the right ears. His sceptical, dark eyes linger upon Cerise a moment longer than the others.

Why was a courier hanging around with a wanted criminal?

(Garm)


Basil has lost 11 vitality from this battle for three hours.

Lloyd Durages has rolled 2 or over: they may escape capture attempts (unless otherwise specified)!

There's no doubt in his mind that the knight is a powerful one.

For the holy magics are oppressive in their kind, defensive to their user; to the point that he could see it being a nuisance like no other.. proving itself to be difficult to deal with - so much so that the Rhoynish even found himself faltering, albeit brief.

"Nh.."

It's needed for him to call upon the star, isn't it? Alph, the one that represents judgment- and much like the judgment he would cast upon the likes of Erehn, he would cast upon those that find themselves opposing against the Rhoynish. For he knows..

This isn't the matter they should dabble upon.
This isn't the matter where they have a say.

And quite frankly, he's grown far too tired of it; far too irate by the constant interventions of the past- whereas the powerful blade of the Lloyd slashes across his flesh, spilling the lifeforce of the Rhoynish, he's burned in response by the heated supernova- one that is powerful enough to push through defensive techniques of Holy magic.

"Why do you even think--"

"That this is your place to talk about honor?"

When he has none? When the likes of Erehn have threatened Basil with the ultimate demise that could be torment, worse than for the vilest filth of Hel.. yet, he's the one to be defended?

"You never had any rights to speak on this."

"And you ought to learn that."

A blast. Powerful enough to not only knock back Lloyd, but incapacitate him entirely- he was fortunate enough to avoid the fate that many have met before Basil.. with their flesh burned, their limbs mangled or worse. Whereas he'd be unable to fight..

At the very least, it won't be the long recovery.

"Do not interject on my dealings, as if you know what you speak of."

"Ever again."
(Basil)

Their battle is something that is something akin to a laser light show. The cosmic dust meshed with his ionized gas given form in a raging, hot azure inferno is met with the burning ozone of raw holy energy. He bursts through, swift and on his two feet, and they share words amid their battle, eyes alight, and souls alive.

"It was my place the second you took an Osronan man away, regardless of his sins. Even if he is a criminal-- an idiot. A weakling, even!"

That wasn't the point. It didn't matter. He wasn't Basil's to judge, and Basil would not handle it under the crown itself. This was him doing his own justice, and while it might've been right, he couldn't stand by idly and pretend that Erehn didn't exist. Not when he was of the Kingdom. Not when this was all happening before his very own eyes.

A Knight couldn't simply stand by and watch that kind of thing unfold before their eyes without a second thought. It didn't work like that.

The art in which he wields makes it so that Basil leaves this fight with not but a drop of blood spill, and little less than some dirt and bruises at most. His technique-- his Sword of Light, struck him internally. Spiritually. It was a beautiful form to fight, making it so he didn't have to be truly hurt.

Though the same could not be said when Lloyd experiences the brunt of his attack. The blast torpedoes him into a nearby tree, lighting him in its starry energy as he is sent flying back. He twists and mashes straight into a tree, crushing bark and branch. His skull racked in pain, and his eyes went wide.

"..Y--"

.. No, no. He couldn't simply let him get away. Not like that. Not when Erehn had yet to be relinquished. His vision was fading quick, and as the tree he had been a ways deep inside of gave way, so does his body drop with a loud, pained thud.

His sword drops, and he lies on the ground; defeated.

He had lost.
(Lloyd Durages)

The Radiant's instincts go haywire at that moment. That paranoid presence, a kind gift from Regulus, was slowly digging itself into Andrew further and further. He couldn't bear watching this himself, specially with the idea that the fight was to the death.

It had not resulted in Lloyd's death, ultimately, but it was enough for the Radiant. The moment the Holy magi is blasted away in these flames, hazel eyes search for him, and for the first time most would see the desperation in his sight.

His only friend was in peril. "LLOYD, NO!" And quickly enough, Andrew abandons all momentary notions of decorum, his body dissolving into a flash of light as he darts away in the Knight's direction. The selfishness within him had won over the oath that he vowed so long ago.

His own body moved on its own, as the Radiant moved to grab the body of his unconscious knight. "Take Erehn." It was a price he had to pay, after all. An assassin. A mercenary. Someone who had no business dirtying his beautiful city - And beyond anything else, the kind that only brought trouble to it.

Something inside his head hammered to say he deserved it. He sought to carry the knight, eyes focused on Basil. "Take the one you wanted originally. Leave Lloyd." Hazel eyes focused on the Rhoynish, perhaps if only to gauge his reception to that.
(Andrew Lancaster)

Huff.

His eyes close. Momentarily, he allows the surge of his own start to rejuvenate him after this battle- to say that he was merely bruised or cut up would be false.. for while all he needs is a bit of rest to ensure that he'll properly be able to get back into any sort of action; after all, in such manner, he remains to be wounded still, but..

"..It's over."

The tint of rosegold permeates the visage of the Rhoynish; perhaps, a sign from the Yellow Branch that such action is found to be good- for it follows his own dogma, for it follows what he intended to carry through with. But.. to that end, while he sees Andrew rushing over in such manner?

There's little reaction to that.

"Take your friend."

"Do not stand in our way again, lest you wish to face consequences for such. His luck- or anybody's luck- can only last for so long."

But.. as for others remarking about Erehn? He seems to merely disregard that. For now, he approaches to his prize- to his captive.

He intended to take it and leave.
(Basil)