http://thirteen-blades.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
thirteen-blades.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
niteo_logs2010-03-19 09:35 pm
thirteen-blades.livejournal.com) wrote in niteo_logs2010-03-19 09:35 pm
Entry tags:
when in rome...
Characters: Espedon, Open
When: About an hour after the smoke appears
Where: Outside the apartment -> The warzone
Rating: TBA
Summary: Espedon hauls it to the warzone with anybody who wants to go along.
Espedon stood beside his unmade bed, looking down at the backpack sitting atop it. He took a quick mental inventory of the pack's contents. The full complement of survival gear would be far too heavy to take, so he limited himself to dried pigeon, torn-up strips of bedsheet, some water, and a few other sundries. Always best to go prepared. Satisfied, he slung the pack over his shoulder and left the apartment. He checked his PDA on the way out.
Moments later, he was outside. The backpack, mostly empty, was slung from both his shoulders. A thin trail of smoke was barely visible over the buildings; not much of a lead, but the city wouldn't be a problem to navigate. Traveling quickly would be the more difficult problem.
As he walked down the steps, he looked to the street to see who had decided to join him.
When: About an hour after the smoke appears
Where: Outside the apartment -> The warzone
Rating: TBA
Summary: Espedon hauls it to the warzone with anybody who wants to go along.
Espedon stood beside his unmade bed, looking down at the backpack sitting atop it. He took a quick mental inventory of the pack's contents. The full complement of survival gear would be far too heavy to take, so he limited himself to dried pigeon, torn-up strips of bedsheet, some water, and a few other sundries. Always best to go prepared. Satisfied, he slung the pack over his shoulder and left the apartment. He checked his PDA on the way out.
Moments later, he was outside. The backpack, mostly empty, was slung from both his shoulders. A thin trail of smoke was barely visible over the buildings; not much of a lead, but the city wouldn't be a problem to navigate. Traveling quickly would be the more difficult problem.
As he walked down the steps, he looked to the street to see who had decided to join him.
no subject
Espedon led the two youths along a main road which joined, eventually, with Highway 106. There was still snow on the ground, deep and, from all appearances, impassable. As the snow-banks rose to a point where traversing them proved too difficult, Espedon slowed to a stop. He paused for a few moments, and extended his hand ahead.
Then, there was a blade in his hand. Its hilt shined an otherworldly gold, its blade gleaming purest platinum. Its form was that of a simple arming blade, bearing red streaks of fiery luminescence. Heat radiated from the weapon, bending the air around it, melting the snow in reach of its aura.
The blade-seeker let the weapon go, and it hovered away from him, controlled by some unseen force. The heat-aura around it expanded and intensified, such that even Soubi and Ritsuka could feel warmth. Without stopping to explain this action, he began to run again. The blade continued ahead of him, about eight feet ahead, clearing a path for them.
Eventually, Nesreca's borders were reached, and a the way ahead came fully into view. Ten miles north of the city, a large plume of smoke rose into the sky, fire barely visible beneath it. Occasionally, an explosion would rise into the sky, adding to the black column rising above what once was the village of Cronoss.
Low hills gave texture to the expanse of snow between Nesreca and Cronoss. Espedon found himself wishing he had worn some sort of camouflage, anything at all to keep them covered . There was very little to hide them on the way there, but the fighting was still distant. Assuming there were no aircraft overhead, Espedon wouldn't be terribly concerned.
Cronoss was, fortunately for the trio, at the low point of the surrounding hills. It would be tactically advantageous, but they would have to get off of the roads and into the snow.
Espedon slowed before finally coming to a stop. He ate a bit of his dried pigeon and took a swig of water before placing the cloth pigeon-bag and the waterskin back in his back. Withdrawing his PDA, he turned to the other two.
"We have to get off of the road," he said into the PDA. "Let's climb that hill there, and see what we can see."
Angelfire, the Blade of Heat, returned to him, gliding into his free hand. He extended the weapon before him to clear the path off the highway. "We're almost there."
no subject
"We should stop him from using that thing. It will only make our location easier to see this close to the fighting. Tell him we'll handle clearing the way from here on out. I'm not risking your life to some glowing knife."
no subject
"You can talk to him too you know," he said, tail twitching for a moment, "He's a nice adult. Not like-" he cut himself off, "He doesn't know about your magic."
His eyes flickered to Espedon's sword, wondering what let him control it like that, and he offered him a breathless smile, speaking into the PDA, "Soubi wants to help you," he said, then looked pointedly to his Fighter.
no subject
The cat-ears on both of the boys made it easy to read their thoughts; it didn't appear as though they were trying to hide anything, anyway. At the offer of Soubi's help, Espedon looked to him.
Commanding Angelfire had been difficult. More difficult than it should have been, at least. The Seventh no longer spoke to him, and apart from what he willed it to do, it did not listen, either. Under normal circumstances, he would have given the command to the Seventh and the Seventh would have controlled Angelfire for him, leaving his mind free to concentrate on other things. Now, it was his will alone that forced it to move. Even Angelfire's own inborn spirit was silent. It had required unwavering focus to keep the blade manifested and activated, and he was drained.
Espedon nodded to Soubi. In his other hand, another blade glimmered into being. This one was a thick shortsword, simply-enough made, but the hilt was large and round, reminiscent of a circular shield. The heat pouring forth from Angelfire subsided, and the weapon stopped glowing.
"Lead the way," he said, motioning toward the village with one of the blades. "But be careful."
no subject
Magic wasn't really a tricky thing. It depended more on the confidence and inner strength of the person performing it and only those with true names or those called 'fighters' could use it - in or out of battle. In battle, it was tradition to expand the field and set a boundary so that no magic would pass from it. Outside of battle it was frowned upon to use one's magic. Soubi, being the fighter, was the stronger of the two with the offensive magic, even without the true name of Loveless upon him.
Making sure to keep Ritsuka's hand firmly in his, he pulled his Sacrifice close and gave the boy a deep kiss. Drawing on the extra power their intimacy provided. When he broke away, cheeks flushed with satisfaction and a little desire, Soubi took a quick glance around for what he felt to be the most useful look out point. Lifting his hand in that direction, he called, "Part and conceal."
Anyone else would have had to elaborate and be more precise in their words. But Soubi was strong enough, had enough experience that the simplest of spoken concepts would convey his power in the manner he desired.
The snow swirled, as if caught it a strong wind and in a moment, the air around the three was whistling and heavy with snow. Anyone looking their direction would see a thick cloud of white stirred up by the wind. But despite the chaotic dance of snow around them, the three were not touched. Whatever wind was doing this didn't even move the edges of their coats.
Soubi shot a rather smug, and very full of himself, look at Epsedon. With a mocking bow he, gestured toward the odd tunnel that formed, all obstructions to the hilltop cleared and fully concealed in a veil of white.
no subject
His pride at Soubi's work was quickly suppressed with a frown at his attitude, and he gave another warning grumble of, "Soooubi," though he couldn't stay cross for long and was soon smiling at him again, pressing on through the tunnel.
no subject
His gaze followed the path of the tunnel as it extended up the hill. It would be better camouflage than the path he had been burning.
"Convenient."
Espedon looked back to Soubi to find him in the middle of his sarcastic bow. The boy's expression was priceless; so sure and so satisfied. Espedon hadn't been aware that they'd been in a contest, andthis elicited a 'hm' from him. He shrugged and gave Soubi a look that said 'yeah, okay, alright.' It was impressive dancing snow, he'd give him that.
Resting Angelfire on his shoulder and letting the shortsword dangle loosely in his hand, Espedon walked, in unsnowy comfort, up the hill.
no subject
The trek to the top of the hill was a short one, easily done now that their path was clear. Once the three were up there, the spell would end and the wind would settle it all back down, likely covering them as it did so. But that would fine as they'd still be able to survey the city while staying under cover. In anticipation of the falling snow, Soubi subtly moved around behind Ristuka and wrapped his arms about his sacrifices' waist, chin settling on his head. To keep him warm just as the spell gave out.
no subject
no subject
Cronoss had been a small village, barely more than a main street with a few farms dotting the land around it. Where the houses once stood, there was only blackened rubble. Burned-out skeletons of the few stores and restaurants the village had lined the main street. Splashes of red peppered the snow in the distant, bodies left unburied.
On a road leading out of the village, a line of humvees and troop carriers were on the move, away from the three and away from the destruction they'd caused.
Espedon's expression became grim. He scanned the village for movement- troops, survivors, anything. This had been a complete massacre.
"Everything. The women. The... children," Espedon growled. He edged closer. "I'm going in to get a better look. There's got to be some survivors. Anything. I want to know who they were."
no subject
Growling slightly, he reached out a hand to lightly grip the forigeners shoulder and hold him back.
"We need to wait until they are gone or it won't be safe," he said to Ritsuka.
no subject
"...If we get hurt too no one will come for us."
no subject
"I think they're done. Whoever's left would be the cleanup crew," he said, squinting a little, hoping to get a better view. "There's not much we can do for the survivors anyhow. Unless that magic of yours can teleport people."
Which I doubt, unless you just like two-hour winter runs.
"If you two decide to stay here, I can come back and tell you what I saw. To tell the truth, I hope there are a few of them left."
no subject
no subject