dev 3 - desert encounter

The desert. Quite the nice place, y'know? Knights don't bother to venture that far in the bush, little life, little resources, practically, nothing in this side of the world. There was no reason for anyone to be around here.

At the exception of Baba who wanted some form of rest. One rare moment - which Baba wasn't luring men and women of Osrona to kill them off. A moment of weakness?

The Witch settled a little campfire with a cooking pot. Inside, was some human remains - bloated eyeballs floating at the surface. She liked it cooked.. Of course, the coppery smell of blood and flesh stained the area.

Not like Baba was worried about it… The woman was just sitting there, waiting.
(Baba)

A way to forget. If anything, after his brother's death and the recent events, he imagines that he could use a way to find respite amidst the constant action of combat and many other things happening- a way for him to forget that his family has mostly fallen apart at this point, that by now he's mostly left alone in this world, save for some of those that remained by his side.

A reason for him to wander the desert.
A reason for him to seek this solace.

Here, under the burning sun, he finds himself wrapped in a silk scarf that covers his mouth and nose- a way to prevent the wind that blows with sand from obstructing him in any possible way. And yet, long before he could get distracted in his endeavour of wandering about and potentially find peace that he seeks..

There's a smell.
That of charred, boiling flesh.

He knows of this smell, if only because of the way that he experienced it time and time again in the past, in the events that he would rather never recall. Here, he finds himself locating Baba sat next to what seems like an attempt at cooking something- that something being the human remains the moment he catches a glimpse from the distance.

"..You."

She should know that trouble is afoot with this Knight around- that perhaps with others around she could hope for an easy way out, but.. with him? She's practically obliged to a combat that would otherwise bring her much of the trouble. And yet..

"Strange to find you here."

"But unfortunately for you, I'm not here to wait until you feast." The azure flames surround his frame.. and while he doesn't necessarily attack, his hues steadily narrow upon her, almost a clear preparation for it, should things go awry.

"I need information on Yuri and Cameo. I know they reside in Moonfall."

"Tell me about them."

Is it a request, or demand? One thing is certain.. he makes it sound stern.
(Nerin)

Caught off-guard, Baba raised her chin - her back turned against Nerin. She didn't expect to have this kind of company here, it'd seem Knights patrol around afterall? Or is it the Nerin's will who brought him here, in this place.

That was left to be determined.

Baba's minions rose from within the depths of the sand, these little creatures that'd barely reach your knee - yet eerie and dangerous. Since their last encounter, it'd seem she had many, many more minions.

Eachtime she took a part of their soul - a new servant arose.

While their mistriss had her turn back, these puppets gnarled at Nerin - one of them coming out of the swarm to stand right before him and flex at the Knight. Yes, each of these creatures had distinct traits. Some of them were pure evil, others, goofy and gentle. In the end, it didn't matter much - as they were all forced to listen to Baba's call.

But… in their free time? These sentient creatures were like normal beings would do. One puppet giggled at it's brother flexing before Nerin. So goofy, so silly. While it could be endearing to see this little tribe having their own miniature life, it was hiding something horrible.

All of them, were Baba's previous victims. All of them, walking reserves of mana for her to feast upon battle.

Ruthless.

"How's the child?" she asked, eyes locked on the dish she was preparing. "Is he still alive? If so, I'd love to pay him a visit. Him and your wife, in the middle of the night.~"
(Baba)

The putrid, vile essence of the creatures was rather apparent to him. If anything, he had imagined that the presence of her past victims, the way that these creatures had surrounded him in such way.. it would cause him to become enraged, so much so that he could bask in the presence of atmosphere, in the Resonance of violence to be had. And yet..

He knows that willpower and perseverance is important.
He knows that remembering why you fight is important.

And he fights to bring justice to those that have taken everything from him - his chosen brothers and his close friend. For as much as he gives a glance down at the creature that approached him, in the end, he seems to mostly disregard it, making a steady approach towards Baba.

Here, the azure flames would flare up.
Constantly surrounding his hands in a steady rhythm.

It threatens to overspill, to latch onto her- for even now, when he makes a steady approach to her, it's as if those flames attempt to reach out to her and carefully grasp at her being.. as if they attempt to invade her in the most bizarre ways possible - but what's more strange is the way how his hands move to that, almost as if they sail upon the waves of this energy.

There's something strange, unusual about it..
But he's no doubt the source.

"The child is fine. You will never see it again. Try to hurt it, and you will regret it dearly."

He makes that much clear. Though.. when he comes close- almost close enough to reach out and grasp her.. he stands looming over the witch, his eyes so steadily narrowing.

"I have no time to play your games."

"Yuri and Cameo. I need information about them. Provide, or you're my target."
(Nerin)

Truth is, she didn't even know the both of them as Baba was the solitary witch. Moonfall could burn, she didn't care as long it served her interests. Now that she got what she wanted from them, this sweet knowledge, this bond with the Dark Lord of Helheim they could all die.

It didn't matter in her eyes.

However, this one had some priorities. You see, she hated Knights as they embodied what they hated the most and unfortunately for Nerin, all he would get from her is the following. "True question is, who is the prey here.~"

Suddenly, Nerin would feel the brilliant energy surrounding him - flicker. A large amount of his life force, <>drained. Touching the Witch, touching the LEECH, was never a good idea - afterall, the closer you are to a blackhole, the stronger the effects are.

This was literally the same with Baba.

This overwhelming amount of power she felt was repurposed into a powerful and compact blast that'd knock the Knight back, thus building enough distance between the two. The monstrous Witch then slowly rose from the ground, the dish she's been preparing for so long - spilled all over the sand. Wasted.

Food wasted…

All her minions stopped to turn towards their mistress, all of them shocked and in fear. They knew what was about to happen and soon - half of her minions imploded, the sweet vitality these have been gathering for a few days - given to Baba.

The corrupting miasma slowly manifest around her, bracing with power and madness. The woman slowly turned now facing Nerin, teeth grinding against eachother as she stepped forth - her staff in end. Last time, Nerin was much stronger than her.

Now.. even unprepared, Baba will reveal how much she's grown ever since.

"You'll end up in tha' cookin' pot and then, I will make you into my puppet and order ye to kill your wife and child." her crooked hands rose from within the depths of her cloak, nails digging in the flesh of her cheeks as she cackled.

This fight promised to be gruesome.
(Baba)

The leeching energy was too much. Perhaps, this approach has come from the fact that he's never been too experienced with the witches and could not anticipate the way that they would act, but.. at the same time, when the leeching energy intended to push him back and punish him for interjecting upon the way of the living that the witch had shared, the azure flames attempted to protect the man.

Shrouding him..
Steeling him..

In such a way that he would find himself standing up once again after being knocked back, a heaved breath escaping his lungs. If anything.. he could feel the shudder course through his body, a reactive response to the putrid, vile energy that coursed the lands in attempts to sap the lifeforce from him as well, and yet..

Inhale. Exhale.

Here, he finds himself surrounded in nullifying energies, ones that could protect him even against such magics- even if temporarily. The steady positioning across her was made in order for him to effectively stand upon the stand- where the stance that he's observed in the past from Id and Wano alike comes to fruition..

Hands ablaze in azure flames..
Pointed slightly downward.

There's something about this technique, something unusual. Something that is meant to steel a simple man to the ways unimaginable even against the horrors that Baba displays, and yet.. his eyes steadily narrow a little bit, knowing, waiting..

Expecting her to lash out.

"You will have neither."

"If you will not tell me the information I need.. then you will suffer for it."

Again and always. And without further word, already the Knight lunges forth, already he intends to bring her down..

It begins.
(Nerin)

She's ruthless, merciless. So much so that it's clearly shown in the magic that she employs- the way that she saps him of his lifeforce, so much so that he isn't certain at times whether he would truly stand victorious.. for when the time comes to it, when the illusions keep assaulting his mind this way, he can't be so certain that it would end up right for him.

He can't be so sure, and yet..

Inhale, exhale. It stings, it hurts.. but despite the putrid magic surrounding him time and time again, he finds himself fighting back against the possessive magics that would otherwise snuff him out- each time he finds the opening for counterattack, it is unleashed in immediately powerful attacks upon the witch, up until she could barely stand.. for each attack brought upon her form intends to sap her of her own energy as well.

Each attack is precise..
And while he basks in Resonance of violence..
It is alarmingly calculated.

A strike, upon strike, upon strike- the countless hits delivered onto the area of her collar bone and shoulders shows its effect, for there are burn marks from the azure flames that surround his fists. Where they're turned slightly downward, they're used to unleash the attacks of potency upon her, one that feels as if there's no escape from it- even now, when he barely finds himself persevering against the attacks of Occult..

'Close your eyes.'
'Have faith in what you fight for.'

It is often said that the mind can conjure the things of utmost brilliance, of shining, shimmering will that manifests itself in the sapphire colors around his frame. One in which his eyes close just for a bit, if only to re-open again and deliver the blow that would disable her for good; one in which the azure flame spreads through her body, starting with collar bone and shoulders, all the way down..

Her circuits set ablaze.
So much that it hurts to do any magic.

Here and now, where she's weakened.. so is he. For while he speaks..

"--Give me the information about Cameo and Yuri. Right now."

.. it's clear his breath is ragged, heaved. This fight has taken much toll of him, and perhaps, this is all a bluff..

A bluff that he can truly pursue her right now.
(Nerin)


Growth.


It was alarming how much this woman was growing. Year ago, she could barely stand against Nerin. Now? It was to wonder if the man wasn't saved by Fate but the most frightening of all, there was still a lot of room for her to grow.

A Witch that must be killed at all cost and yet, eachtime, she managed to survive. Her Will, her savageness was what kept this wreckage still from the shattering blows of the past. Blows which were inflicted when Baba was only a little girl.

Despite how deformed she was, Baba was surprinsingly tough. Eachtime Nerin's fist came to touch her, the man's strength was sapped and repurposed for her to gain an edge over Nerin. To stand close to Baba was to suffer as this gift she was blessed with at birth - was her downwall and her upbringing.


Life ruined her so she embraced Death, the untold tales of the little girl before she was known as Baba.


Each of Nerin's strikes hit, hit, hit until she finally fell down on her rear, blood covering her features, blood staining her clothes, blood everywhere. This 'Gift' she had to take and repurpose strength - severely weakened, the dolls all around her, bliking in and out of existence.

She could feel a fire burning inside her
But not a good fire as her use of mana
Would set her ablaze.

Baba looked up at Nerin, in pain and yet - smiling. He was weakened too, she knew it. His bluff wouldn't work on her - he could probably not chase after her thus, she thought she could stay a little longer.

To speak.

"You ask the wrong person, the one who wishes to bring down Moonfall and it's coven aswell as Osrona and it's knights." She paused, to cough blood on the side. "Do you think an outsider like me would know where are the men you look for?"

"Silly boy."
(Baba)

If there's one thing that he's learned, it's the fact that such putrid creatures tend to persevere the most.. that they tend to be survivalist that simply refuse to die out no matter what. For that fact alone, he knew that this would likely not be the last time that they face each other.. but instead, it would be something that they could come about to trade blows against one another.

Time and time again.

But this growth, the way that she could oppose him.. it was most definitely alarming, so much so that he takes the note of her features, her appearance, as well as the magic she uses- and while he could temporarily disable some of her circuits with the precise blow, he knows one thing - it may not last forever. Of course, the Knight does grow, but..

So does she.

An inhale, exhale.. and only eventually does he find himself speaking up once more. What surprises him is the fact that she doesn't flee.. but it also makes him assume a single thing - that she saw through the bluff, that she knew the Knight could not advance upon her so easily.

"..How do you not know them?"

"It is Ookami woman, Yuri- it is the man that claims he's a Lupin, Cameo. They poison Moonfall with the presence of Syndicate." But she wouldn't care, would she? If anything, she's admitted to that much when she said she's outsider.

"..Why?"

"Why do you do this? Why do you torment others? What do you even gain from this?"

Is it an attempt to dissuade her, or an attempt to learn more about her? Either could be right, and yet..

He spares a moment for it.
Just this once.
(Nerin)

"Because all failed. All failed to make this world right, all failed to make this world fair. You fight for the Crown that is corrupted to the bone declaring wars for their best interests, led by a handful of people who rule above others and stomp these who have less. You close your eyes whenever one of your comrades 'accidently' kill, steal or worse. You make people believe you're the pillars of peace while in fact, you're the pillars of a rotten apple."

Baba rose from the ground, a smile drawn across her features. "Moonfall is that aswell. These of the coven rule above others - the rest are set aside, kept away from precious and valuable knowledge, kept away from all the secrets this world has to offer."

"You want to know the reason why I kill your men and women? Why I spread chaos?" Her lips pressed into a thin line, restraining herself to burst ouf of laught. Madness. The unholy arts were deeply rooted within her.

"Because I want to set this world ablaze, I want to bring Death all upon us to start anew - a new world shaped by the Dark Lord himself. I'll unleash the Wind, unleash the Demons, have them crawl out from within the depths of our world to destroy all of us. We do not deserve this world, we do not deserve life as we're self-destructing creatures who seek nothing but power over others."

Finally, the witch turned on her heels back turning against Nerin. "And something tells me you're not so happy with the way this world is being led as you're the only Knight who thought wise to speak with me."

And then she walked, well-aware Nerin wouldn't attack her as he was out of strength - and perhaps even confused.
(Baba)

Part of him expected the answer like this. Part of him knew that she would be fighting for the bitterness that was dealt to her by others, for the decay and rot that she saw within Esshar as a whole- and yet, as much as he isn't going to argue against that, for he too believed that there are elements best left behind..

There's something that feels wrong to him.

"What could you possibly know what I fight for?"

It's almost hissed, laced with poison- as if Baba made a terrible assumption about Nerin, one that he finds almost.. offensive to his nature. It's one that he would not stick to, no matter what - for where there's corruption, he would fight against it. And yet..

"You blame us for bias, and yet here you are, assuming who I am and what I fight for." Before she could even say anything else..

"I fight to avenge my brothers- my friend that has died to unjust death, led into oblivion by those who should've known better. I fight for people that are precious to me - and I fight for what feels right."

He isn't going to argue whether this is corrupt or not. In truth, he believed that he's grown rather.. cold to things around him, distant as well- for where others may argue their position, he doesn't seem to listen. This does bring him a single thought..

Has he grown too jaded to see that?
Or is it merely a part of maturing?

"It does not matter to me what you think of others. My family, my friends - they deserve that. There are people in this world I care for, and those I will not allow to be touched or harmed."

Is he biased? Of course he is.. in fact, he makes no effort to deny that. But.. perhaps, after losing two of his brothers, after losing a close friend of his.. he's become terribly, terribly protective..

So much that he seems to care less for the average man that could care less about him as well.

"Do not-- do not assume who I am."

Another exhale. Here, he feels his fists tremble.. because it hurt to even try to use that technique without appropriate training. He quietly hisses in pain, but.. before anything else, he already seeks to trail away.

Drip, drip, drip..!

A small trail of crimson follows. Is it his blood, hers, or both? Who knows.. but it would seem that he has no fight in him left eitherway.

For now.
(Nerin)