Posts by TaiChiKitty

Tess couldn't help being a bit nervous with the fact that there were assassins and not just the homunculi. It wouldn't surprise her if they decided to take hostages, like they had done on previous encounters. She suppressed a shudder at the memories.
"Sometimes I wish we were as highly trained as assassins," Crispin muttered to himself.

As they began dodging shadows, Tess and Crispin kept tabs on the other homunculus and the assassins that hadn't reached the group yet.

"Crap," Tess muttered as the assassins came into view. Now there were more than just shadows to worry about.

OOC: Yes, Kang, Kenji, and Naomi. So, Crispin gets knocked out by Sloth, Shay gets a broken leg, and Anzhela gets caught. Just so we're all on the same page.

OOC: Yes. I just got really excited reading your OOC comment. So who are Kenji and Naomi attacking? Also, Kang did notice that Joan's dad had a philosopher's stone. And Kang also thought about attacking Crispin while he was busy helping Jian's injured shoulder during that fight. Just so you know. XD

IC: Tess did her best to avoid the shadows while keeping an eye on the assassins. With their numbers being almost even, this fight could quickly get worse for the group. Fighting these highly skilled assassins and the homunculi could easily get them all killed.
Dodging yet another shadow aimed to kill him, Crispin tossed a handful of shuriken near Pride, using alkahestry to attack the homunculus. Before the blonde had a chance to do more than send a quick attack, he had to dodge a shadow coming from another direction.

OOC: It's funny, Kang goes from not being fond of anything so inhuman and killing Gluttony to working with the homunculi.

OOC: More random info. XD Kenji knows Tess can use alkahestry, because she used it against him in a fight. And Bojing could tell a lot about Crispin.

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"Bojing thought for a minute then said, "Let's see... You appear to be Amestrian, but fight in a Xingese style. The girl with the blue eyes that Dai was supposed to 'take care of' looks kind of like she could be your sister. Your sister knows alkahestry and alchemy and I'm guessing you do too. Your master must be Guan, who lives at the Yao clan's palace. You're inexperience fighting leads me to believe you just finished your training. Need I continue?" Bojing was trying to discourage Crispin. "I deduced all that from your fighting style and prior knowledge."

Also, Naomi may have seen Crispin heal Tess.

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While Jian was busy with the remaining assassins, Crispin helped Tess pop her shoulder back in place and used alkahestry to heal the stab wound, not using the philosopher's stone because of the assassins. The pair then turned to watch the scene unfold.

Anyway, with all that and what I mentioned in my last post, Kang probably has a good idea who the doctor might be.

Ooc: I only remembered some of that stuff because I've been rereading chapters. I also did a bit of searching to get details. Lovely IC comment there. XD my phone tried to put violent instead of comment there.

Obeying slowly at first, Sloth suddenly sped up, catching most of the group off guard. Crispin noticed him coming at the last moment, but it was too late, getting caught in the charge. Unfortunately, Shay got caught as well, her leg being crushed against a tree that the homunculus crashed into. Crispin avoided the tree, but was sent flying through the air. After traveling some distance, his flight was stopped as he collided with another tree, hitting his head and crumpling to the ground.
Upon seeing her brother suddenly disappear, Tess shouted, "Crispin!" In her distraction, she narrowly avoided being skewered by one of Pride's shadows.

OOC: Jessica can now show Shay's reaction before she gets thrown. And have Pride drag Crispin closer to be held hostage.

Because she was so close and not running away, Sloth reached down and grabbed Shay, swinging her over his head and releasing her to send her through the air, back the way he had just come from.
Noticing a shift in Pride's focus, Tess took the chance to look for her brother. Crispin had landed a fair distance away but she was relieved that she could sense him. At least he was alive, though she had no idea what condition he'd be in after getting caught in Sloth's charge. She froze when she spotted Pride's shadows wrapped around Crispin's limp form, slowly drawing him closer.
"Crispin!"

Momentarily freaking out, Tess rushed toward Pride in an attempt to kill him and free Crispin, kunai at the ready. Dodging shadows, she almost managed to get close enough to kill the homunculus before he forced her back.

Pride's demand made her freeze, unsure what to do. Frankly, she was surprised that the homunculus hadn't already killed Crispin, since he seemed to just want to kill them all, but she didn't want to push her luck by attacking again, leaving her feeling very helpless. She hoped desperately that her brother would wake up soon.

Ooc: You know, I don't really see a reason for three hostages. If the two hostages can stop them from fighting, then pride can notice the bargaining and interrupt. Joan and Anzhela can stop fighting because of Crispin and Shay, so Kenji and Naomi pause as well. Then while everyone else is distracted by the bargaining and arguing, Kenny can sneak up on Kang.

Ooc: We could either have Kang say something before pride interrupts our just have pride interrupt, since he's not currently fighting while holding Crispin hostage. It's kind of ironic that pride is going to get mad at Kang for not just killing them when he's holding a hostage himself. Hypocrite. XD

IC: Keeping an eye on Pride, Tess risked a glance around at the others, noticing Jian and Shay in a similar situation. She could guess what the assassin leader wanted.

"Enough," Kang interrupted. "What is your decision? Come with me and give her a chance to live? Or watch me cut her down now?"
Before Jian could reply, Pride interjected. "The plan was to kill them all, Kang. That includes the Prince."
"I made no such agreement," Kang replied. "I do not work for you, and I will do what is in my best interest."
"But if you let them go, they'll keep causing problems for the slave trade," Pride pointed out.

Tess rushed to catch Crispin as he was dropped, gently setting him down before darting towards Pride. Taking advantage of his temporary blindness and lack of shadows, she killed the homunculus multiple times, making it harder for him to recover.

OOC: Yes. XD

IC: When Pride suddenly started fighting harder, Tess began to realize that he was getting desperate. She wondered how close the homunculus was to dying permanently, seeing his change from his usual confident self. Knowing this could be their chance to finish him off once and for all, she pushed harder, making sure he didn't get a chance to use Crispin as a hostage again.

OOC: asfdgflg;hlk.,mnbsvssfdgbfjgk,gmn *bows*

Risking a quick glance back at Crispin, Tess caught sight of the shadow sneaking toward him. "No, you don't!" she exclaimed, jumping over the shadows around her to land on the homunculus. She landed a rapid barrage of attacks and then leaped off as Pride collapsed.

As she watched the shadows turn to dust and blow away, Tess sighed in relief. She knew they weren't out of the woods yet, (literally XD) but now they had one less homunculus to deal with. She went to check on Crispin, who showed no sign of waking up anytime soon. At least he was alive. Glancing at the fighting still going on, she debated whether to go help or stay and guard her brother.

Watching in shock as they began to leave, Tess could hardly believe it was actually happening. After all their miraculous escapes, it seemed their luck was running out. The only thing keeping her from trying to stop them was Crispin's limp form next to her. She didn't want to leave him unguarded, especially with Sloth around. They still had to deal with him.

Once the assassins and their prisoners were gone, Tess tried to shake off the shock and looked around at the others who remained. Kenny, Joan, Anzhela, Crispin, and herself, as well as Sloth. The homunculus still stood almost in a daze, as if waiting for someone to give him orders.
Addressing Joan, since she was the state/federal/whatever alchemist, Tess asked, "What do we do now?"

Nodding, Tess very carefully moved Crispin next to a nearby tree and created a barrier wall around him for extra protection. Once that was done, she glanced around at the others and asked, "How do you guys propose we do this?"

OOC: How do we want to do this anyway? Do we want to go into detail or make it short?