☆ Event Log: Snatched, Part Two

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Snatched - Part Two

I. A Great Escape (20th, Evening) It's been a miserable six days for the Mirrorbound and refugees kept locked away in a basement cell block, subject to all kinds of torment and experimentation. They're a resilient sort, though, and their efforts to organize and bolster each other are not in vain. As the time passes with no sign of the City Guard drawing close to their operations, the Rathmore family grows overconfident, and characters can hear them talking to each other about another mass-kidnapping in the works. The best opening comes late on the night of the 20th. A few of the family's numbers are out - notably, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother are attending an emergency meeting of Parliament, and Constance is making an appearance at the Coven. This leaves the more inexperienced cousins in charge, the lesser known Rathmores with no particular skill outside of cruelty. Changing of the guard begins as usual, a handful of Rathmores delivering some sparse rations and taking their time to choose a few prisoners to remove from their cells, but this time, the Mirrorbound bite back. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Daenerys and Asura, along with the prisoners preparing an organized revolt, a fire started in the torture room provides chaos and cover - and one dead Rathmore cousin, whose body gives up some of the keys to a handful cells. Time to play the cards you've held close to your chest over days of torture, your held-back spells, your tricks, your items that weren't confiscated. A mass escape isn't likely, with so many people still present in the building and so many of the captives injured and tired, but with enough of a distraction in the form of a prison riot, which may be enough to overpower the three Rathmores initially left in the cell block, a handful of scrappy Mirrorbound may make it out to safety before reinforcements arrive. a. The Escape Attempt There is one door out of the cell block, the main, heavy, warded door that the Rathmores enter and exit from every few hours. It's locked down tight - but it's possible to power through it, pick the lock, or charm it open. On the other side of the door, in the greater basement area, they'll find themselves free of the Bond dampening. Witch magic make take some time to return, depending on whether they were drugged or only charmed, but it'll be important to move quickly. The Rathmores' basement area is large - the size of the mansion above and the grounds put together, and they'll find themselves on the lower of two levels. The cellblock turns out to be a room within an even bigger room, with the stairs at the opposite end. The dangers are numerous: magical and mechanical traps set in areas marked off-limits, illusions intended to confuse and turn people around. There is only one completely safe path from the cellblock door to the stairs, unless they take the time to disarm the traps and illusions with their returning magic and abilities. That safe path is faster but more exposed, with two or three Rathmores in pursuit, and also the other people that could occasionally be heard outside the door - young aristocrats in on the kidnapping, who thought the Mirrorbound would be sent home. They're just as surprised to see you as you are them. In fact, it's not difficult to overpower these non-Rathmore kidnappers; they're obviously shocked to see Mirrorbound still here, in such states, and some are quite angry, or scared to learn what they've inadvertently gotten themselves into. A good handful flee instead of fight, but some others follow through on the shouted orders to go after you. Use the chaos your appearance causes to your advantage. Once escapees reach the upper basement level, up the stairs and through a hidden door, a few more traps remain, but up here, it looks more like a normal basement; servants' quarters, empty for some time now, storage rooms full of antiques, and winding hallways connecting them. It's easier to hide in this dusty maze to escape any pursuers, and eventually, they find the servants' exit out onto the back grounds. From there, freedom is just a run and a decorative, wrought-iron fence away. b. The Chaos Back in the cells, everything descends into chaos. The Rathmores are furious; while two or three of the cousins go after the escapees, the rest begin to gather down in the cell block, put out the fire, and the interrogations begin. They don't bother taking prisoners out to torment them now - they can't, with their torture room charred and smokey. Their main focus is forcing prisoners back in, and locking everything down with magic and heavy chains, to ensure no one else gets out. They grow more vicious now, and they begin speaking directly to the captives - they want to know which ones got free, how they managed it, who helped them, where they're going, who they're going to tell. Those who refuse to talk will be gagged or muzzled or simply beaten without finesse, and they'll move on to the next captive. Preying on the Mirrorbound's camaraderie with each other is the tactic they quickly turn to, hurting one to try and make another talk. The talk outside the main door grows louder in these few hours, angrier. Occasionally one of the Rathmore cousins will go out to spin some lies, or simply shout down any protesting. Some of the enchantments were damaged in the riot, though - they can hear you, just as well as you can hear them, muffled but still mostly clear. The more they hear from within, the more the confusion outside grows; all the better for the escaped Mirrorbound. ..."What's going on? Those were Mirrorbound that got out-" "We thought you were sending them home!" "You told us there was no risk, that this would make them leave-" "You don't need to worry about that! Go back upstairs!" "Someone needs to get a message to our Uncle Thomas immediately-"... They're all panicking as their grand plans, flimsy as they may have been, start to crumble around them. It's just a matter of time, now. The OOC post for the escape plotting is here if anyone needs to refer back to it! Eight characters will be escaping first thanks to a joint effort. The rescue will be underway within two hours of their escape, but those two hours are likely to be unpleasant for characters who remain in captivity. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

II. The Cavalry (21st, Very Early Morning) The City Guard is closer than the Rathmores think. Thanks to Mirrorbound investigative help, not always strictly legal but still appreciated nonetheless, they've all followed the clues back and determined a possible address. By the evening of the 20th, several members of the Guard and Witches from the Coven, along with any Mirrorbound who followed the trail, are camped out at a manse nearby, the home of a wealthy widow eager to see her nasty neighbors knocked down a peg. Without solid evidence, the Guard can't get a warrant cleared to search the property owned by a Mr. Barclay, assistant to Thomas Rathmore, but solid evidence comes as soon as eight Mirrorbound manage to fight their way out of captivity, returning to friends and Bonded. They are the last piece of the puzzle, and now legal action can be taken. Theodore Rosethorne, leading a small group from the Coven, sends out a magical message to just the Mirrorbound - they've been found. Anyone who wishes to help bring their missing fellows home, anyone who can help with much-needed healing, or anyone who wishes to bring their captors to justice needs to show up now, because time is of the essence. The Guard can't mobilize more men quickly enough in the middle of the night to be useful and they need all the hands they can get, without a floor plan of the mansion or solid ideas of the captors' numbers. They can barely wait an hour for more hands to arrive before it begins. a. The Rescue Sowilo, Theodore's Bonded Fae and a skilled hand at illusions (and seeing through such), leads the rescue efforts, along with some of Theodore's Witches from the Coven. With information from the escapees, they plan to go through the back, take the servants' exit, and make their way down to the basement levels, while Theodore's assault team will go through the front doors, making as much noise as possible. Sowilo's illusions will keep their presence masked at least until they get into the house. The aim is to get through as quietly as possible, find the cellblock, and secure a safe route to take the prisoners out without them getting hurt any worse than they are. It's easier said than done. Magical and mechanical traps of various types litter both basement floors, and heavy illusion work has been placed to obscure the way. Splitting into smaller groups to disarm the traps and deal with the illusions will be necessary, as the entire group will make its way down to the cellblock as quickly as possible. Sowilo hopes they face little to no resistance, with Theodore's group doing their job, but a few, Rathmores and otherwise, are bound to try and stop them; in that case, they will have to fight. "Make sure you can argue a case for self-defense, if you have to hurt them," Sowilo will tell the rescuers and later the freed prisoners on the way out, wings fluttering agitatedly. "Let them be arrested and publicly humiliated in court - ruin their whole family line for generations to come." He's not happy about it either, and will overlook some of the captors getting a taste of what they deserve, but deaths are not permitted on his or the Witches' watch: anyone who takes things too far will find that the person they're attacking has simply vanished - a convincing illusion - before they're handily knocked out with a spell. They face less resistance than the assault team, but less is not none; a few of the Rathmores are determined to salvage their efforts, and some of their unwitting aristocratic cronies have sided with them. Once they reach the cellblock, dismantling the enchantments that keep the prisoners restrained and addled is the first order of business for some. Others can start unlocking cells and helping people out of their restraints. Protection for the escapees on their way out will also be necessary, as well as medical attention back at the temporary base camp. The main focus has to be on those lost friends and loved ones, bringing them back out to freedom and making sure they're tended to - not on revenge. b. The Assault Theodore Rosethorne, along with some members of the City Guard and some Witches from the Coven, leads the assault. While the rescue team goes around the back, they plan to go through the front door, as loudly and conspicuously as possible. The mansion is large and needs to be swept from top to bottom for perpetrators and evidence that can be used in court. Those joining up with this team are warned that it needs to remain legal - the Mirrorbound and the refugees, all of them, have a very shaky, uncertain legal status within the city, and a mass murder could severely harm what good will they have from the locals as well as their status here. After all, many are still neutral to positive on the Mirrorbound, but that could change in an instant. The Coven will take as much responsibility as they can, but they cannot accept the blame for a senseless slaughter. Splitting into smaller groups will be necessary in order to cover more ground quickly. The aim is to locate, subdue, and arrest as many of the culprits inside as they can. The Guard provides magic-suppressing cuffs, and the Coven a basic knock-out spell, but since many will not go so willingly, some degree of force may be unavoidable. If there's one thing the rich fear, it's a legal black mark on their family name and reputation - the Rathmores will fight back harder than their underlings, but they're also the ones they need alive to face the justice system. Those outside the family, those who only knew about the kidnapping portion, are a mixed bag - some might fight back, siding with the Rathmores, but some might give themselves up once the realization of what happened in that basement sinks in. Once they make their entrance, things move quickly. Several wealthy aristocrats either flee or fight, but their attention is thankfully pulled away from the basement and toward the upper levels. There are dozens of rooms to search, and many are cluttered with an old hoarding family's antiques, furniture piled against doors and windows blocking access to some areas, hundreds of nooks and crannies among the sheer amount of stuff provide cover for culprits to hide in. It's going to be work to ferret them all out and bring them in. Worse still, the Rathmores have collected dozens of cursed or enchanted objects that may be used as weapons against the forces of justice. Some degree of force is expected, but still if anyone tries to take things too far, they might find themselves slapped into cuffs or knocked out with a spell themselves. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

III. The After (21st On) Activity continues all through the night and late into the morning at the former Rathmore estate. All the Rathmores and a couple dozen other wealthy aristocrats are brought out in cuffs over the course of several hours, while all the prisoners are liberated to receive medical attention and reunite with their loved ones. The Guard take statements from everyone who will give one - what they witnessed, what happened to them, what they know - and all who were affected are told they will be invited to testify at trial. A gathering crowd forms at the end of the street, wealthy neighbors aghast at the horrors they're learning had occurred right in their District. Most are disgusted with the once-prominent family. On the steps of the Parliament building, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother, all sitting members of Parliament themselves, are publicly arrested in front of colleagues and on-lookers early in the morning. Constance Rathmore is taken out of the Coven roughly in magic-suppressing cuffs, surrounded by a small group of furious Witches, students of the Coven who spent the week trying to find the missing Mirrorbound and refugees with Divination. They escort her to the prison themselves. All who are arrested are transported to holding cells of their own within the City Guard - all except those requiring urgent medical attention, who will remain cuffed to their hospital beds until trial. Nessie and Mhairi make an appearance at one point to give the Mirrorbound their sincerest apologies for what happened, and Mhairi delivers the news that they're pushing for an expedited trial in Parliament, in order to keep Thomas Rathmore from bribing any contacts. They, along with Theodore and Sowilo, and the Guard, are all open and forthright with what will happen next: public trial and a certain conviction, followed by sentencing. They don't expect that the Rathmores will get away lightly; what they did is too public and too horrific for even the anti-Mirrorbound wealthy to stomach. Those others who were involved, who weren't aware of what was going on behind that metal door, they'll still face justice themselves, no doubt. In the meanwhile, those kept hostage will need all the help they can get to reach something resembling normal again. Hug your loved ones, nourish your Bonds with each other, and begin trying to heal together.

Welcome to Part Two of January's event log, Snatched! An aftermath summary of the trial and sentencing will go up on Feb. 4, the day after the City Tracker deadline, so get your submissions in if you have them! More politically-oriented characters may find an opening in the near future to enact change within Parliament and provide their own representation within the city...

And as a general reminder, please make sure to use content warnings where necessary in your headers!

Comments

[omnicrafter]

[Irhya's rage is a sub-zero chill to Mira's fiery fury, more contained but definitely no less intense. If anything, it's creating a feedback loop, putting her on edge to leap at the slightest movement.

Vanitas' presence in this endeavor is mildly surprising, given his apparent resistance to any kind of empathy, but she's not about to argue. Allowing Mira to take the front while she guards the rear, she moves after them at top speed, which is impressive considering how much shorter she is, not to mention the weight of her sword on her back.

Gods above, Hades, please be alive...!]

[unsundered]

[How long had it been?

There was always noise in this world. There was always sound, a clamor that he could never escape. But it was louder now, the din of panic and of struggle. It didn't register as hopeful, or carry any hint of salvation or safety. These were the final hours of the Final Days; this was life in captivity, about to meet its inevitably unpleasant end.

Monsters stalked the corridors; sometimes they took human shape. The world outside his cell was burning, crumbling, forming anew, all in the space of an instant. The same moments, repeated- or was it just one, that's lasted this entire time? He knew, now, that what he was often seeing wasn't there, but that didn't make it any easier. Any lapse in concentration, in consciousness, and he was in the past once more. Sometimes, he was tempted to not fight the delusion, but if he let that happen, he wondered if he'd ever come out of it again. But if not, would it really make a difference?

Each breath hurt, each thought hurt; his ribs were cracked, and he was trying to avoid piercing a lung. One eye was glued shut with his own blood, and he'd given up trying to do anything for it, to stop the burning that felt like it was eating its way through his head, or clean off the clotted mess that covered the right side of his face. His shoulder was still torn, the arm useless; its broken wrist made grinding noises whenever he accidentally moved it. His clothes were a mess of torn fabric, bloodsoaked and sticky, any bare skin showing signs of welts, bruises, burns. One leg was especially weak, a deeper gash having damaged muscle; he hadn't been able to really stand on it for days, and by now it would have no chance of supporting his weight at all.

Curled against the far corner of his cell, Emet-Selch is alone. His attention- whatever scraps of it he can collect- is fixed on the door. Knowing, expecting death to come through it at any moment. Half-conscious, awareness distorted, anything that comes into his space is not going to be immediately recognized, only met with a defensive, futile recoiling. He's already cornered, and he can't crawl into the wall; there's nowhere for him to go. But his working eye is furious, spiteful, and to anyone who does approach, the sound he makes is a guttural sort of hiss.]

[inlikethebrume]

[To him possibly, when the door opens, it is someone who is associated with death. The fact that the dark armor and large sword at their back is some sort of reaper of souls and they are finally here to let the man rest. But for the woman who sees the appearance of the ascian...it's like her heart stops beating.

She has seen many horrors: the kinds that would cause nightmares in a normal person like someone turning into a sin eater or a priest believing throwing a child over the Vault's roof will solve the problems. Mira has seen her fair share and reacted appropriately. However, it's the shape of the man in the corner that stirs her, feeds that rage of how these people are complete monsters and the overwhelming feeling of worry washes over. She slowly walks over, mouth gasping as she covers it in horror before sliding her helm off to reveal herself to him.]

Hades...

[Barely a whisper as the helmet lands on the floor with a thud as she moves closer to him and lands on her knees, one hand slowly reaching out to stroke the start of his face not harmed.]

O-Over here!

[She croaks out for Vanitas and Irhya as her hand, quivering in fear as her gloved hand reaches his skin, that familiar warmth feeling spreading through but unsure if the bond would catch it. Gods she's relieved to see him alive but what did they do to him?! Mira keeps her voice steady and quiet this time.]

It will be alright, Hades. We've come to get you out.

[darkcharge]

[ For a few moments, Vanitas had fallen behind. Not long, because he doesn't stay distracted for long. If anything it's Mira's shouting that she's found the old man that gets Van on his feet again and catching up with her and Irhya. ]

Great. So let's grab him and -

[ Or not grab him. Van stops short the moment he takes note of that defensive, snarling position. He recognizes it because he has been there. They are going to have to wait and see if Emet-Selch now why is Mira calling him Hades? even recognizes them. Will he even accept that they are here to take him out of this place?

He really does look pretty awful. Vanitas won't make a comment on it, not like he had with Ventus. After all Van has seen the sort of magic that Emet-Selch is capable of pulling off, so to see him in this sort of state, where he had been powerless to stop it, is actually a little unnerving. With those injuries... Can they even move him? ]

Mira. Can you stabilize him?

[ Van will at least try to do something. ]

[omnicrafter]

[Were she a different sort of person, Irhya might be startled at how thoroughly they've broken him. He was already traumatized to begin with; she feels the bile start to rise and the slivers of vengeful ice enter her blood as she looks him over.

...Well, they're going to have to calm him down first. Bad enough that his injuries look horrific, a matter she can't help but feel completely useless about like this, but if he tries to struggle in his defensive fugue, it'll just make everything worse. On him, mostly.

She doesn't know what to do. Vanitas and Mira have far more helpful skills in this field than she does, her old conjury knowledge means nothing aside from the purely physiological aspects she'd picked up along the way. For lack of anything better, she tries to suffuse Mira's negativity with a gentle wave of reassurance for him, though she doesn't know if the Bond will even reach its destination yet. Still, it's her only recourse at the moment.]

It's over now. Please, say something...

[unsundered]

[Mira was taking a chance when it came to trying to touch him.

Even when she took her helmet off, there's no immediate recognition; he was expecting a threat, so that's what he saw, and when she approaches regardless, he twitches back from her, breathing fast despite the pain of it. His mind is a very short leap away from panic, which in his case, would mean biting and snapping at anything that came within range.

But the sound of his name has him go still. It was the one thing that could reliably get through to him, if not immediately. But when her glove touches his face, and there's this flicker of something from a long-smothered Bond, Emet-Selch, at least, doesn't try to strike out at her. Confusion and unease gradually replace aggression, and when Vanitas arrives, his attention flickers between them. Still cautious. Still trying to catch up with what was going on, what was being said--

And then Irhya appears, and while three people around him was quite threatening in itself, they were familiar, her voice was familiar, and familiarity was more reassuring than any word or spell.

He's still not quite up to saying anything yet. But though tense, he doesn't seem like he's going to try to bite anyone. And his attention- as hazy as it is through everything- remains fixed on them. Partially to make sure they don't do anything strange; partially to make sure they don't disappear.]

[inlikethebrume]

[Book smarts she had in some but when it came to those she did care about, it is hard to react in a more composed manner. It simply could not happen. Logic told her that he only reacted as such because he was down here for almost a week and been through hell.

Even with knowing certain things, it still stung and thankfully she keeps it to herself.

Hades is listening to them, focusing on all three and Mira replies with a light stroking from her thumb. Hearing Vanitas, she nods before facing the ascian again, keeping her tone soft and soothing.]

We are here to help you, Hades. I will need to touch this shoulder, only for a moment.

[It's like when she saw Vanitas that one time, telling him what she was going to do to try and get him to trust. She's got faith in them all and it sounds better than trying to shove a potion in. Mira's not cruel like that as her other hand touches the less harmed shoulder gently.]

Do the best that you can, Vanitas.

[darkcharge]

[ Very carefully does Vanitas watch all these interactions. He waits for Emet-Selch to say something or to do something. When nothing actually happens, Van doesn't know whether or not that is a good sign. Let Irhya and Mira try to keep him calm and see that they are not there to hurt him. They are better equipped for that than Vanitas is, especially since he is still largely indifferent. Perhaps one day he will look back on this and regret his inability to even dredge up an appropriate emotion, but not this day.

Mira has asked him to do the best that he can and that is enough of a motivator to do just that. So while Vanitas doesn't actually take it slow with his movements - he simply can't bring himself to be soft - he isn't really making aggressive ones either. Instead he tugs off a glove as he sits by that injured leg. There's no way he is going to be able to heal everything, but this? This he can do. At least Emet-Selch should be able to put some weight on it and he won't be, well. Dead weight. ]

The more you resist, old man, the more difficult you'll make this.

[ Because even as Vanitas allows his hand to hover over that nasty wound, he can't use his own magic reserves completely. He doesn't know how. So some of it has to come from him and some of it also has to come from Emet-Selch as well. It will be impossible for Vanitas to heal it completely so there will likely be something of a scar later, but really that should be a small price to pay to get the man on his feet, correct? ]

An ether or two would come in handy in this situation...

[omnicrafter]

[Handling his injuries is going to hurt, no matter what. But Vanitas has the right of it, and so she watches him carefully, hoping to whatever gods will listen that he doesn't struggle. First and foremost, he needs to get out, but that will be the challenge in and of itself, especially when all three of them are too short to just pick him up and carry him in their arms.

Irhya backs off a little, sitting on her haunches so he has space. It's clear his mind is not entirely present and accounted for yet.]

When you're done and able to get him up, sling his good arm over my shoulder; I'll help carry him.

[unsundered]

[Slowly, very slowly, it begins to sink in that not only was this not a threat, this was... help. It's still not relief that Emet-Selch feels, but a sort of- blank. Where something positive should've been, but it either no longer existed, or he was too exhausted to experience. But when Mira steadies his better shoulder, he uses that arm to attach to her, fingers digging in.

Apart from breathing, he's very still when Vanitas closes in, having honestly no idea what he's going to be attempting. His words aren't exactly the most reassuring, and in the future he might comment that Van's bedside manner still needs some work. But he doesn't flinch away or do more than watch him closely.

Emet-Selch doesn't have his boss levels of HP right now, so any amount of healing will help. And when he realizes that's exactly what's occurring, he- still doesn't entirely understand- but he's also not about to try and stop him. Vanitas being there in the first place was unexpected enough (had he been bored?), but that he was both helping and healing was beyond the Ascian's current capacity for comprehension.

So for right now he'd just have to accept it.

Though he could probably say something semi-coherent by now, he doesn't; just paying attention to things, staying in the present was taking a good deal of what little energy he had left. The image of having to be carried out of there was an absurd one, incredibly undignified- so it's probably fortunate that he doesn't have the strength left to care, much less fight it, or even pretend that he could walk this off on his own.

...perhaps he couldn't do everything on his own, after all.]

[inlikethebrume]

[When she sees Hades cling onto her arm, Mira lets herself stay firm so he will know that this is indeed help. Having Vanitas and Irhya there do help her stay calm in order to be of some service and she is grateful.]

Aye, that's it. Hold on to me.

[She can at least provide some kind of small comfort for him and nods at Irhya's request.]

We will get him out together. None will let the other fall now.

[Keeping eyes on both Hades and on Vanitas, the boy's mention of ethers almost going over her head until she remembers a small conversation with Thancred earlier. When he had asked if she had room for supplies earlier, she had noticed a couple of yellow vials. She never tested them out, hoping to do it while out in the Wildes but now is as good as a time as she uses her other hand to reach in her bag and pull them out, extending it to the boy.]

You speak of these then? They may help.

[Don't worry, the only side effect is that it'll taste like lemon. Once he takes them, she's going back to keeping the ascian calm.]

[darkcharge]

Hm. I would be tempted to let him fall over, but after committing to this that seems counter productive.

[ Please don't try to lump him in with the "togetherness" of this group. Not yet at any rate. Emet-Selch isn't necessarily wrong. Vanitas had been bored and the thought of seeing people go out in all their fury is far more entertaining than hanging back. However, there's also that possessiveness he had felt earlier. Truthfully, there's a myriad of reasons and some of them Vanitas doesn't want to examine too closely.

Healing Emet-Selch is just practical, yeah?

He takes the offered bottle and goes ahead and takes a drink and he'll make a face because he likes sweet not bitter. This will mean that he can work for a bi longer. Knitting flesh and muscle back together isn't an easy task. Healing Ventus' burns had been easier. However, bit by bit Vanitas does manage to put the Ascian's leg back together. When Van has done what he can, he sits back. He's actually a little tired due to the effort. ]

That's the best I can do.

[omnicrafter]

[A part of Irhya is tempted to shoot Vanitas a warning glance for that, but he doesn't drag it out, so she lets it go as just misplaced sarcasm for the moment. Once he proclaims he's done all he can, she does cast a glance at Mira, then starts to gather Hades to her in order to lift him to his feet.]

We're going to lift you. It's probably going to hurt, but bear with us for just a little longer, all right? Once you're out, we can sit down and start fixing you up properly.

Ready, Mira? On three. One... two...

[She slings his arm around her shoulder and stands up, slow enough not to surprise him but fast enough not to draw out the inevitable pain for longer than necessary.]

[unsundered]

[Not only was Vanitas healing him, he was... doing a fairly decent job of it. While continuing to lean heavily against Mira, the Ascian regards him skeptically, especially with comments like that, but he can't really complain. Though he still possessed more than enough pain to go around, that leg did feel better. Not well, but better. He could probably technically walk, at least with assistance.

And assistance he had, whether he wanted it or not, and as bewildering as it remained. It still wasn't entirely sinking in that they were all there for some reason, as the world was ending- they were there, and why would they--

When Irhya hauls him up, Emet-Selch attaches to her in turn, as best he can- which isn't a very impressive best. The sudden movement does get a sharply pained noise from him, strangled into another hiss. A rush of dizziness and nausea runs through him at being upright, but he manages to cling to consciousness about as well as he does to Irhya.

But he was up, and he very much did not want to be there any longer.]

[inlikethebrume]

Three!

[Finishing Irhya's countdown, she takes the other side while trying to be wary of his injuries, grabbing her helmet and slipping it over her head. Like hells she's leaving good gear behind. Mira then adjusts herself, making sure she is wary of the other injuries the ascian may have. If she could try to use their Bond to reassure--no, that isn't the best thing right now. What they need to do is get him out of this hellhole and to proper medicine.]

We still need to watch for any others who will try to stop us. [But there is a silent saying in there: 'If someone tries to attack, defend first.' Mira would love nothing more than to put these rich bastards in their place but Hades needs care first.]

Let's go.

[Move together everyone, we gotta hurry before someone tries to be a Big Damn Villain.]

[darkcharge]

[ Honestly Pastel Kitty-Cat could glare at him all she wants. That is overall a better reaction than being called soft. Better that than to have people assume he is capable of something like caring.

He watches the other two haul Emet-Selch to his feet. The old man hasn't said one word but even Vanitas can see that he clings to them both like some kind of lifeline. It is a little unnerving, seeing someone usually so verbose practically silent, save for the grunts and groans of pain. ]

Do you really think they'd be capable of stopping us? I'd really hate to be the person that stood in our way.

[ Vanitas is taking that other ether, just in case. He takes Void Gear off of his back and follows the two ladies holding up their charge. Part of him sort of wants someone to try to stop them. He's already done a "good deed." So he needs to engage in a little violence to shake off his weird feeling. ]

[omnicrafter]

That means you're taking point, Vanitas. Have fun!

[She says this as blithely as can be, adjusting her balance as she begins to move and matching her pace with Mira's. Blithely, because she knows exactly what he must be thinking right now, and that's the desire to smash someone good. They go slow enough to allow him to walk on his own, something she supposes he may not have done for a number of long, long days now -- how could he, with an injury like that? And the silence says more than any complaints or screaming could, reminding her that people like him are not only breakable, but perhaps more easily so.

How traumatized must he be to have lived through a time anticipating his own death twice...?]

If the need arises, I'll leave him to you, Mira. Someone has to stay with him if we run into trouble.

[unsundered]

[This was already more movement than he'd done for most of the week; even when his legs had been less bad, he'd had other injuries to keep him still. Standing becoming impossible had been more of a dull surprise when one of his captors had tried to haul him to his feet one time.

Just this much was both very tiring and very uncomfortable, and all his attention was spent on being both upright and moving forward. They could probably have led the Ascian off a cliff without him noticing. Or immediately caring; it wouldn't have exactly hurt any much more. Distantly, he hears his companions talking around him, but even though they were right there, it felt like it was all coming from a distance- understanding delayed by a deep haze.

At least that means he's accepted their presence; for whatever else Emet-Selch was getting out of this experience, they were all part of some sort of in-group.]

CW: Burns

[inlikethebrume]

[Mira nods at the plan as the group goes out slowly, moving further away from the cell where the ascian was kept and into the corridors that will lead them to freedom. Other than other rescuers getting some of the refugees, there seems to be nothing else standing in their way. Perhaps the group will be able to get him out without incident after all.

And it's that same thought that gets smashed into pieces as the clicking of heels move towards them, Mira peering through her helm at what sounds like is coming their way. Stepping out of the shadows is a tall well dressed gentleman, holding what appears to be a large axe, crackling with lightning magic. The dark knight doesn't recall seeing him as part of the Rescue Team and by the snarl in his voice, he doesn't appear to be an ally.]

More vermin? We should have simply gotten rid of you instead!

[Mira has an idea of 'getting rid of' means 'kill off' but she doesn't have time to speak up, the feeling through the Bonds from her simply gave out one idea: Protect. He lunges with his weapon raised towards the group but shifts his body to move towards Mira's side. She grits her teeth, knowing that she cannot get her sword out AND hold onto Hades at the same time. And that leaves her magic left. She has to think quickly before that axe is lowered onto her and it's coming down quick. All she can think is Protect and her free hand grabs onto the man's wrist, the skin there beginning to be consumed in black and purple flames. He screeches at the contact as Mira growls.]

You and your ilk shall never raise a finger to harm another soul again.

[She lets go and he recoils away, trying to find a way to put out the flames. This also leaves him wide open for anyone wanting to take a shot. Mira can claim self defense since he went after them with a deadly weapon.]

[darkcharge]

[ Take point? He supposes he could. Movement is rather slow going. Really it isn't surprising. Even after healing Emet-Selch's leg it isn't as if Vanitas had restored his life energy or anything like that. The old man has a myriad of other injuries that are going to slow him down. That, in return, will slow the four of them down altogether. Really, that should piss Vanitas off. He should just take off and leave them to it. Hasn't he done his part? Has he not done enough?

Yet he doesn't. Vanitas is irritable about it, sure, but he isn't going anywhere. Though he does see an opportunity as some stranger with an axe comes into view. Vanitas is already thinking about just taking them down - why risk someone coming at them with a weapon when hey don't know who they are?

Then this person speaks and it is clear that this newcomer is a threat. A threat that Mira seems to have a handle on. And when the guy is on fire, Vanitas laughs. Yeah, he is going to get in on that. By dashing forward and clashing - axe to Keyblade. He hooks the weapon and rips it out of his opponent's arms, tossing it away. That dark fire should be avoided, right?

So Vanitas uses his own magic to attack. Does he care that this guy is defenseless? Nope! Vanitas is too focused on giving the guy a taste of what real Lightning magic is like. ]

and some more violence

[omnicrafter]

[A flare of icy fury pierces Irhya, one Mira can undoubtedly feel through the bond, coupled with murderous intent. If they let him go, he'll only go on to commit similar atrocities later.]

Hold him.

[She drops her side of Hades and makes some long strides as she removes her own sword from her back; Vanitas can have his fun, but she means to get this done quick and dirty.

Without hesitation, she drives it in, skewering him straight through so thoroughly that she can lift him up on it and then remove his half-dead form with her foot. Perhaps the scariest part is that she is completely silent and completely expressionless as she does it, her features set harsh and unforgiving.

Once he drops to the ground, the fire still burning weakly in a few spots, she returns to her place, scooping Hades back up on the opposite side from Mira and ignoring that her sword is dripping a trail of blood behind her.]

Let's try not to play with them too much. I just want to get the hell out of here.

[unsundered]

[The sight of one of those people appearing out of nowhere has the Ascian tensing, feeling an absolutely useless fury, along with the desire to recoil back- though he can at least temper the last by attaching harder to his supports. Not being able to do anything other than sort of stand was... a quite terrible feeling, actually, and one he'd be dwelling on afterward.

But there's no real satisfaction in witnessing one of his tormentors burned, electrocuted; oh, he hardly minded, but it would never be enough. There would never be a way of sufficiently repaying what they'd done.

He doesn't protest as he's shuffled between women, leaning more heavily to Mira as he watches Irhya silently dispatch their foe.

...He had very ruthless friends. Which was the strangest bit reassuring, but perhaps shouldn't have been a surprise; it wasn't as though he didn't share the same nature. But, crisis averted most efficiently, he likewise shares Irhya's sentiment; it was time to leave.]

And some more fire

[inlikethebrume]

[If Mira wasn't who she was, she would have either screamed or scolded her comrade and Bondmate on her tactic. But instead, against the icy rage of the vampire, Mira cannot help but be satisfied at the man trying to gasp for air and hissing out low curses as he lays there half dead. With a nod, she keeps a hold of her Bondmate and starts to move along.]

If another shows themselves, I call the next one.

[What? She's not a saint in the slightest. Mira swears she can hear the man try to say something about how he and his family will get them all, and her reply is to simply let out a stream of fire from her fingertips in his direction, not caring where it hit as long as it shut him up. Considering how he stopped and is only making gutteral noises, it hit its mark. Man was still half alive at least.]

[darkcharge]

[ It's not that Vanitas can't appreciate ruthlessness. He does and normally he'd approve of such tactics. However he hadn't been overly keen to let it all end so soon. Sometimes people should just be made to suffer. And these people? Yeah, they probably should suffer. Van's thought process, of course, isn't because of what they have done with the torture or anything heroic like that. More like you should be able o take what you dish out. ]

So you can run that one through?

[ Looks like Van isn't going to be able to have much fun with the two ladies just wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. That is somewhat irritating, but oh well. Really what is the whole reason of Van taking point if he doesn't get to inflict some suffering?

Van steps over the gurgling, bleeding mess before Mira decides to torch it. Why not add a little insult to injury. ]

I know you're in a rush and all, but really you are letting him off too easily.

[omnicrafter]

Some would argue we're being too harsh in not killing him off quickly enough.

[Irhya's tone is dry; it's not that she's interested in his suffering, but her first priority is Emet-Selch at the moment. One glance at him tells her all she needs to know, and he still hasn't quite come back from the brink of mental numbness he was undoubtedly teetering upon.]

Stay and play around with them if it suits you, but the rest of us are getting out. You're the only one whose hands are free; you decide what to do with them.

[She pauses to brush past him and open the upcoming door for Mira and Hades, leading to the series of steps they came down originally. There are occasional sets of footfalls, but none seem to be charging down towards them in the chaos... yet.]