[F26-OP] The Integration Effort

[NIGHT 0]

It was after the climactic events of the attempted revolution that things started to stir on the twenty-sixth floor. For the events had brought new-found vigor to the Galteans who would see themselves carve a future into their city once upon a time, despite what textbooks said about a revisionist history. As for the Ladonians, though sympathizers were few and far between, citizens of the lower rung would begin to connect with their discriminated different counterparts; so too would they have the space to house them, as few and far between as their cramped quarters could hold for the residents moving in.

Many hands would be needed to see the Galteans establish their new homes in a different territory, despite the welcome. To that end, it should be of no surprise to the wandering adventurers of Aincrad that these residents are currently seeking help. One way or another, for resources, conversation and compassion, hence began a new chapter in the ongoings of the Empire of Ladonia.

  Reveal hidden contents

recap on what's going on in ladonia:

• [floor description.]
• [f26 boss fight.]
• [ladonian rebellion.]
• [ladonian revolution.]
• [defying destiny.]

---

op guidelines:

• The thread attempts to focus on roleplaying the interactions between Players and NPCs in two areas of Floor 26; Low-Ladonia and the Galtean Refugee Camp.
• Ideas for interactions between these groups of people may include the following:
  • Gathering resources to build facilities and structures for the Galteans' move into Low-Ladonia,
  • Lending one's strength to building these facilities/structures,
  • Speaking to Galtean Refugees at the Camp to convince them the safety of moving,
  • Speaking to Ladonians in Low-Ladonia to convince them of allowing the Galteans to move into the city,
  • Relaying messages/errands between friendly personnel of the two factions,
  • Keeping rebuilding efforts/personnel out of sight from the Ladonian guards,
  • Escorting Galtean Refugees safely to their new homes in Low-Ladonia.
• Players can to move off Floor 26 to roleplay gathering resources if necessary, but to keep time spent on floors beyond the 26th to a minimum.
• Players are encouraged to assist each other on ongoing interactions if there are any. Please check in on the interaction's creator first before joining in.

[Hirru 0]

"The wood required would exceed the limitations of this floor.  We'll have to deal in trade with the sixth and eighth floors.  I'll front some of the col for this venture, but we're going to need further help from other guild for this venture."

Hirru exclaimed as he talked to multiple NPC merchants within the area.  Some would not know what he talked about as they only existed upon the 26th floor, but others would know as they were player owned.  They would flock to their masters to relay the news of the 26th floors reclamation.  The news would bring out business which would know no parallel, as other players would also buy and sell to the aristocracy that existed at this time.  Most would only dwell upon the higher parts of Ladonia, but some actually took pity.  Well, not totally, but money is money.  Loans would be low, but the interest was enough for a profit, it seemed.  Hirru didn't feel that it was justified to do such things, but that was how the economy was.  Merchant's had hearts of gold, only to those that could replicate the gold.

Hirru sighed as he looked upon the reparations and destruction that the felling of the Juggernaut Ifrit caused.  They would have to use quite a bit of resources to bring this floor back to its original glory.

[NIGHT 0]

funny, how cardinal had decided to grant them several floors worth of forests, and only on the twenty-sixth would the players see them put to use.

material gathering was one thing; small items used in crafts were always something that the base had dealt in. and the few that dabbled in logging were only doing so to aid their smithing counterparts, the wood requirement for their time in the castle much lower than the costs of metal, of steel. the sudden surge of needed supply put most of the crafting communities to question, and efforts to the harvesting of logs were increased for their galtean friends -- if only for a short time.

said word from one of the merchants had made way to bistro through one of her witnesses, and hence came time for a personal delivery. night was no strongman, and held no special reputation in the creative scenes, but her broker was different, and it made for good representation on the higher floors. it was with reluctance, though not annoyance, that she started to ferry a collection of planks neatly cut to a few reported areas in lower ladonia.

down in those sewers, conditions were less apt for their storage due to humidity, but nothing a store of varnish couldn't help to stave off its rot, tempered upon the surface before they were carried into the subterranean city. and as she passed a few residents,

"and to think! my kids have been playing with those galtean rebels..."
"for the love of -- not next to my home! in our district? the nerve--"
"selling sticky rice cakes! 50 col per slice! 100 if you buy three at once...!"

their words, within earshot, only fell on the player deaf, stuck focused on her task, mind half out of it from boredom.

| NIGHT  | Lv. 136 >> P. 104, Lv. 32  | Status: resource distribution could be better, she supposed.  Notes:  //

Reveal hidden contents NIGHT | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 21 | ACC: 3 | EVA: 3 | MIT: 44 | LM: 2 | HLY/FLN: 16 | LD: 5 | BH: 55 | Stealth Rating: 6 equipped oathkeeper. FLN II, HLY II (16) Tracksuit of Unfathomable Fashionability MIT (24), LM II Silver Crescent Necklace ACC II, EVA II battle-ready inventory Jack's Executioner BLIGHT (32, -20MIT), BLEED (48), FROSTBITE (40, -1ACC), STATIC (40, 24 SPLASH) skills   Reveal hidden contents mod count: 5/7 2HSS | RANK 5/5 focus, stamina, precision shift: aoe CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4+1/5 reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST FAMILIAR: PROFESSION QUICK CHANGE CHARGE EXTENDED MOD LIMIT extra SURVIVAL CONCENTRATION HIDING blindside, untraceable, vanish, surprise attack-t buffs   Reveal hidden contents statue BIALAS | +TAUNT MOTHRA | +1 EN Recovery TANOS | +25 MIT MORETSUNA | +50 HP OROCHI | +1 LD KUMATETSU | +1 DMG consumables - - - - - - paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. sword arts   Reveal hidden contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x15 -> x18 TECH-A | x12 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x12 | DELAY TECH-D | x12 | SHATTER TECH-G | x12 | BURN misc.   Reveal hidden contents housing Dimensional Backpack, Item Stash | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 EN for the first three expenditures of each combat.  Relaxed | +(5 * Tier) HP per out-of-combat post. Full energy restoration occurs after two turns out of combat. Squeaky Clean | -25% DoT damage taken from the first DoT applied to this player in a thread. Skylight: Searching | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill. Cooldown of 30 days to reassign. Multipurpose | +1 LD/Prosperity/Stealth/Detection to one post per thread. Can be applied after a roll. Filling | +1 T1 slot to a food consumed by this player in a thread. Can exceed Cook enhancement caps. Col Deposit | +5% col from loot-minimum mobs, +10% col from treasure chests. gathering Greenhouse | +2 G.EXP, +1 CD&LD to gathering attempts. Familiar: Profession | +2 G.EXP Demeter's Cornucopia | +1 CD to gathering attempts.

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Another ding. And another. And another. Her attention was torn away from any attempt to record her songs, the constant draw of the notifications interrupting her otherwise focused intent. Sighing to herself, she closed away the piano before opening the notifications, scanning each intently.

‘Galteans? Ladonians? Refugees? What is going on in Cardinal lately? First the flowers, now this…’ She shook her head to clear away the thoughts, before deciding that she wouldn’t have received so many messages from her mysterious sources if it weren’t important.

Bringing up her menu, she pulled forth the messaging system, deciding that it was worth at least asking another about. She keyed up the message, sending it off without a second thought as her mind still considered the oddness of Cardinal and Aincrad over the recent days.

To: NIGHT
From: Nari-Lanreth
Message: Hey, I’ve been getting relatively non-stop notifications about something on the twenty-sixth? Something about Galteans refugees? Ladonians being less than friendly, or something? Any idea what’s going on? Seems like Cardinal has been…well, odd, lately…hoping it’s nothing too concerning, but I’m heading up to twenty-six to see what’s what, and if I can help out at all. Meet me there in half an hour?

Gathering her things, she made her way out of the studio, giving on last look back before turning off the lights and closing the door. She swore she’d return later today to finish what she’d started, no matter whom she had to beg off from.

----

The teleporter glowed, the bright light filling her closed eyes before fading slowly. Opening them, she found herself in what felt like medieval times – the city streets filled with an almost imperialistic feel. Glancing about at the nearby NPCs, Nari realised she’d never actually stepped foot on the twenty-sixth before, one of the many floors she’d avoided until now. There’d been no cause, or so she’d thought.

Glancing around, she saw no sign of anyone familiar, nor did she get the feeling that asking around here would be…beneficial. Already the voices were reaching her ears, and from the tones and the few words she was catching, it didn’t seem pleasant in any way.

Tucking her head into the hood of the vest she wore, she stepped down from the platform and into the city proper, following the map towards the denoted position that had been sent with the most recent bewildering message.

----

“Excuse me, I’m looking for a…” Her eyes shifted to the message once more, before continuing to speak to the elderly woman she had come upon. The area around her reminded her of the slums of some of the cities she’d visited, bringing a chill to her spine and her senses to full alert. “…a Hynkel?”

The elderly woman shook her head, giving off a sound that Nari assumed was displeasure or disagreement. “You won’t be finding him anywhere round here. Picked up by the guards a few hours ago, dragged off on some charge or another. His brother may know more about it.”

Disheartened, but still determined, Nari gathered the information about the brother from the elderly woman before heading off towards the designated home. This was turning out to be far more in-depth of a situation than she’d originally anticipated. Just from what she’d heard in passing, it had sounded like the city had gone through a full revolution in recent times, and that there were still outstanding frustrations on all sides. ‘Would explain the refugees, at least…what have I gotten myself into?’ Another quick check of her notifications, but still no message from NIGHT – something that caused her worry to simply increase.

----
Word Count: 606

Nari's Statblock

  Reveal hidden contents

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 37 | HP: 840/840 | EN: 96/96 | ACC: 3 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | F. Aura: 32 MIT; 16 FRST | Thorns [72 DMG] | Frostbite [40 DMG; -1 ACC] | Battle Healing [+25] | Heavy Momentum: [+4 DMG] | Paralyse | Taunt | STH: -5

Tier 4 | Tier 7

Laurel Wreath (Earn Col equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in thread).

+1 LD (This bonus only applies to looting, searching for and opening chests).

 

Equipped Items

Póg Deiridh [Tier 4; Polearm [One-handed Assault Spear]; Demonic] A metre and a half in length, the short spear contains a shaft of polished wood with a twisting combination of light and dark violet, with a single line of black separating the colours. The thin blade itself is coloured lavender, with a heart of royal purple. Attached at the connection between shaft and blade, are twisting tassels of violet and ice blue.
Enhancement: Frostbite [2 Slots] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated Frost damage each enemy turn for 2 turns. In addition, anyone with Frostbite receives a -1 Accuracy debuff until the effect wears off.  Frostbite damage does not stack, but can be refreshed. The highest tier of Frost damage overrides lower tier versions; cannot be overridden by lower-tier versions. [Must hit to activate the status condition.]
Enhancement: Accuracy [2 Slots] | Effect: Gain +(1 per slot) to the BD when attacking. Cannot be used to cause a critical hit.

Glacadh Morríghan [Tier 4; Heavy/Plate Armour] Designed as form fitting half-plate armour, this piece has an open chest area, designed to adjust based on the wearer. Small pauldrons protect the shoulders and neck, while light greaves cover the arms. Coloured in a shifting of soft violet and ice blue, the bottom left front of the torso contains a small curled fox.
Enhancement: Frost Aura [2 Slots] | Effect: Prevent (4 per slot * Tier) damage per slot from successful attacks against you. Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (2 per slot * Tier) unmitigated Frost damage to the attacking enemy.
Enhancement: Heavy Momentum [1 Slot] | Effect: After an unsuccessful attack, gain +(1 per slot * Tier) base damage until your next successful attack, at which point this bonus is removed. Another unsuccessful attack will reactivate this enhancement. Must be using the Heavy Armor Skill for this enhancement to take effect. [For Area of Effect attacks: This effect only activates if you miss all enemies targeted by the attack.]

Póg an Gheimhridh [Tier 4; Heater Shield] A smaller heater shield, this piece contains the typical heater shape, with a bouche edge on the left hand upper corner, and a tear drop tail that curls towards the right on the bottom edge. Coloured a shifting soft violet and ice blue, a small white fox appears on the forefront, the ideas staring outwards and the mouth pulled back in a snarl.
Enhancement: Paralyse [1 Slot] | Effect: Natural critical attack rolls of 9-10 (1 slot) or natural successful attack rolls of 8-10 (2 slots) remove the enemy’s action on their next turn. Paralyzed opponents lose any evasion properties.
Enhancement: Taunt [1 Slot] | Effect: +1 Hate generated from Howl, Focused Howl, and successful attacks.
Enhancement: Thorns [2 Slots] | Effect: Successful non-critical attacks against you deal (9 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Only activates on damage dealing, melee attacks.

Battle-Ready Inventory

Teleport Crystal {3}
Pure Unadulterated Rage (Meals) | Tier 1; Mitigation 3
Starter Healing Potions {4} | Heals 50 HP
Blank Dungeon Map {4} | Tier 4
Immolation Potion {1} | Tier 4; When used, successful non-critical attacks against you deal (10 * Tier) unmitigated damage to the attacking enemy. Must be of the appropriate tier to use. Effect lasts for one thread.
Caribou Stew {3} | Tier 4; Rare Meal | Protein II

Inventory

Monkey Agility {2} | Tier 1; Evasion 1
Super-Duper Anti Snake Sauce (Salve) | Tier 1; Antidote 2
Spyglass {3} | Use to reduce the number of posts required to search for a dungeon, familiar or field bosses by 5 posts. Effect lasts for one thread.
Big Bertha Braciole | Unique Consumable (Meal) | A fishy entree that restores +2 additional EN each turn in combat for one thread.
Uncommon Health Potions {5} | Tier 1; Heals 5% of Maximum HP
Uncommon Overhealth Potion {1} | Tier 1; Adds 5% of Maximum HP to users Maximum HP for a thread
Rare Health Potions {1} | Tier 1; Heals 10% of Maximum HP
Arrowhead Brooch | Tier 1 Perfect Trinket | Accuracy III
Music Box | Tier 1 Perfect Trinket | LD III
Ketchup Chips {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Snacks| Probiotics III
Poutine {3} | Tier 4; Uncommon Meal | Overhealth I
Cheesecake {3} | Tier 4; Perfect Dessert | Loot Dice III
Divinity's Wait {6} | Tier 2; Perfect Potion | Mitigation III
Divinity's Protection {5} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III
Fruit Infused Tea {3} | Tier 3; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III
Cold Brew Coffee {4} | Tier 1; Perfect Potion | HP Recovery III
Percephonius Pyratius {14} | Tier 4; Perfect Potion | Damage III
Axintori Alcemitanti {15} | Tier 4; Perfect Potion | Overhealth III
Eleanór a Rún {1} | Tier 1; Uncommon Support Song | HP Recovery I
Fill-iù Oro Hù Ò {1} | Tier 1; Rare Support Song | HP Recovery II
Clann Ulaidh {1} | Tier 2; Uncommon Debuff Song | Lullaby I
Clann Ulaidh {1} | Tier 2; Uncommon Masterpiece Debuff Song | Lullaby I [Instant]
Cànan nan Gàidheal {6} | Tier 2; Perfect Debuff Song | Incarceration
Bothan Àirigh Am Bràigh Raithneach {1} | Tier 2; Uncommon Masterpiece Support Song | HP Recovery I
Siúil a Rún {3} | Tier 2; Uncommon Support Song | HP Recovery I
Siúil a Rún {3} | Tier 2; Rare Support Song | HP Recovery II
Siúil a Rún {4} | Tier 2; Perfect Support Song | HP Recovery III
Cànan nan Gàidheal {1} | Tier 3; Uncommon Debuff Song | Lullaby I
Cànan nan Gàidheal {1} | Tier 3; Uncommon Masterpiece Debuff Song | Lullaby I [Instant]
Clann Ulaidh {1} | Tier 3; Uncommon Masterpiece Debuff Song | Lullaby I [Instant]
Clann Ulaidh {1} | Tier 3; Rare Debuff Song | Lullaby II
Clann Ulaidh {1} | Tier 3; Rare Masterpiece Debuff Song | Lullaby II [Instant]

Sword Arts

[x12] ST-I (12 10 EN) | A single-target sword art.
[x15] ST-II (15 13 EN) | A powerful single-target sword art. Only available for use when ST-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if ST-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x20] ST-B (20 18 EN) | A devastating single-target sword art. Can only be used if the sword art used the previous turn is not ST-B and had rolled a natural CD9+. When performing an AoE attack, use only the first roll.
[x11] AOE-I (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
[x14] AOE-II (14 12 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE | A powerful sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. Only available for use when AOE-I was used and successfully struck an enemy the previous turn or if AOE-II had been used and had missed the previous turn.
[x16] TECH-A (16 14 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.
[x16] TECH-B (15 13 EN) | DELAY | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Delay] on the enemy. [Delay] is a status condition that reduces the enemy’s ACC by 1 for one turn.
[x16] TECH-C (15 13 EN) | COUNTER | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, places [Counter] around the player. [Counter] reduces the final damage taken by its user by 25% (rounded down) for one turn.
[x16] TECH-D (15 13 EN) | SHATTER | A single-target sword art that applies [Shatter] to an enemy for 3 turns. [Shatter] is a debuff that can stack up to a cap of 3. Each stack of [Shatter] removes -20 MIT from an enemy, down to 0, if it has MIT.
[x12] TECH-F (11 9 + 2 * targets EN) | AOE STUN | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once. All struck targets are stunned for one turn.
[x16] TECH-G (15 13 EN) | BURN | A single-target sword art that, on a successful strike, applies [Burn] on the enemy. [Burn] is a DoT ailment that deals [14 * Player Tier] unmitigated Burn damage for 2 turns.
[x2] RAW-A (10 8 EN) | THORNS | A single-target sword art that utilizes the [Thorns] of the individual against the enemy. Other types of enhancements that apply damage upon contact with the individual are also considered in improving the damage of this sword art (eg. Immolation Potion, Flame/Frost Aura, etc). Outgoing damage is considered mitigatable.  Must have a weapon equipped to activate this sword art.

Combat Skills

Battle Healing
Rank 3
Passive
Effect: While in combat, recover 1% per rank of your maximum HP (rounded down) at the beginning of your turn.

Fighting Spirit
Passive
Effect: Attacking and using Howl or Focused Howl generates +1 additional Hate. (Ex. Generate 1/2/3 Hate on a Miss/Hit/Critical attack. Generate 5 Hate when using Focused Howl.)

Howl
Active: Post Action
Energy Cost: 2 EN
Effect: Adds +2 Hate each against up to 4 targets.

[Howl Addon] Focused Howl
Active: Post Action
Energy Cost: 4 EN
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: Adds +4 Hate against a single target.

Weapon Skills

Polearm
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: +7 DMG

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Stamina
Passive
Effect: Reduces EN of all attacks by 2.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] Precision
Passive
Effect: Gain +1 ACC.

[Rank 5 Weapon Addon] <<Weapon Type>> Focus
Passive
Effect: Decreases minor critical threshold by 1. Also reduces DoT thresholds by 1. Players cannot use Focus and Ferocity at the same time for the same Weapon Type.

[Rank 5 Shift] TECH Specialist
Passive
Effect: For TECH Sword Arts, +4 to multipliers, +3 to EN cost. No other Shifts may be taken.

Armour Skills

Heavy Armor
Rank 5
Passive
Effect: MIT + 35. You can only benefit from one armour skill at a time (the respective armour type must be equipped). Your evasion is capped at 1 enhancement slot and you take -1 to Stealth Rating per rank.

[Rank 5 Heavy Armor Addon] Iron Skin
Effect: Gain +15 Mitigation and +15 * Tier HP

Active Extra Skills

Block
Passive
Effect: Requires an equipped shield. User’s evasion cannot be greater than 0 (can still be negative). Grants additional mitigation:
Rank 5: 25 MIT

Frozen Hide
Active: Free Action
Energy Cost: 5 EN
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: As a free action, apply one slot of Frost Aura and one slot of Frost Thorns equal to your tier to yourself until the start of your next turn.

Parry
Active: Post action
Energy cost: 9 EN
Cooldown: 3 Turns
Effect: Apply the energy cost upon proc, not activation. Reduces the final damage of the next successful attack against you by 50% (rounded down) and negates stun/paralysis effects of that attack. If hit by multiple attacks, only apply parry to the first attack against you. Parry lasts for three turns. Cooldown starts when the player activates the Skill. If the player is hit when using Parry, the cooldown is reset to 3 turns.

[Parry Mod] Vengeful Riposte
Passive
Cooldown: 4 Turns
Effect: A successful Parry also returns 50% (rounded down) of the raw damage that would be dealt to you back to your opponent. The reflected damage can be mitigated by the opponent.

Survival
Cost: Complete <<The Traveler>> with Unlock Conditions
Action: Passive
Effect: Increases Healing effects received from all sources by 10%. Grants immunity to all damage dealing environmental attacks/effects.

Inactive Extra Skills 

Concentration
Cost: Complete <<The Gemini>> with Unlock Conditions
Action: Free Action
Cooldown: 5 turns
Effect: As a free action, gain Absolute Accuracy on your next attack. In the case Absolute Accuracy is already present, increase your Accuracy by 1 instead. Effect lasts until the start of next turn.

Meditation
Action: Post Action
Cooldown: 3 turns
Effect: Recover an additional (4 * Tier) energy. 

Combat Mastery

Mitigation
[Expert] -> Rank 3
Passive
Effect: Gain +6*Tier Mitigation per rank. Ranks of this Skill apply to Mitigation enhancement caps.

Familiar Skills

Protector Familiar
Active: Free Action
Cooldown: 3 Posts
Effect: The next time you would take damage, your familiar rushes to your aid, reducing the final damage by 10%.

Estate Buffs

Master Bedroom
Effect: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat.
Master Bathroom
Effect: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down).
Dining Room
Effect: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread.
Basic Kitchen
Effect: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
Living Room
Effect: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Attic (Storage)
Effect: +5% bonus col from monster kills and treasure chests
Storage Closet
Effect: +1 Battle Ready Inventory Slot

 

[Nian 0]

oh, where would the galteans be, if their rightful ruler hadn't been there to take care of them?

the question was rhetorical. for nian had no intention to leave her subjects in the dust. her arrival on the scene was quiet, cautious, unprecedented. it hadn't been voluntary in the slightest.

no, her presence was only necessary.

there'd been some requests about everything and anything. sneaking supplies in, errand work of documents and deeds, scouring some refugee's homes for one piece of paperwork or another. they would've been ideal for stealing.

the monster took a different route, instead.

it was in one of the isolated districts in lower ladonia that the beast had found herself prowling about. a small hand grabbed to her uniform -- disgusting, the king would have found it, had she noticed the boy not even ten years of age by her side. the tug he drew to pull her away was also of no use, for the weight and might of steel against concrete was much to bear for a kid of his stature, his uncertainty.

where nian was standing, she'd cornered a patrol of ladonian guards, their backs against a brick wall, black metal arms sunk horizontally across the exit to their salvation.

"and you'll leave the people alone, won't you?"

the tyrant only drew a sneer, a trace of white against a shadowed face, her quarry locked in trembling and afraid.

"this is a decree from your royal highness. the city benefits from their presence, unlike you mucks who siphon off the royal treasury to fulfill a deed out of xenophobia. and for--what--purpose?"

her steel claw scratched out mortar, not even giving the victims a chance to respond. and still, the boy tugged, incessant, confused and curious.

"hey, miss...? what's... going on here...?"