Mission #13 - Historic Route Six-to-Four

[lucetimods]

Who: Jack Holden, Silver, Leonhardt, Jack Sparrow, Serah Farron, Shikamaru, Haru Glory, Hyuuga Neji, Albert Silverberg, Helios Sprensonne, Saori, and Kotetsu.
What: Mission #13: Historic Route Six-to-Four
When: February 27th - March 2nd
Where: Along Route Six-to-Four
Summary: A routine transport mission goes awry when the cultists attack and a game of dreams begins.
Rating: Whatever 300 was rated, tbh


Departure

As noted on the mission briefer, this will take over the course of four days. The first two hours of the mission will be loading up the caravan and taking their assigned positions once it hits the road. This segment will be entirely hand waved. If you want to use this thread to establish some brief greets and exchange of names among characters, that’s fine, but the Malnosso will keep the workers too busy to do anything more than exchange pleasantries.

Four hours into their road trip, the caravan will suddenly come to a grinding halt as they pass through a shaded forest. Suddenly the lead vehicle will ring out with an explosion as it goes flying off the road and on fire. Fortunately, none of the volunteers were permitted to be on the lead vehicle, but it does spell trouble from the group. With the sound a war horn, the caravan is suddenly descended on by winged assailants. The security forces equipped to the caravan rush to mount a defense, but the cultists are cleverly able to use the forest to their advantage to launch their attacks. From four points around the caravan, Shifters take up position and block the powers and technology of all present.

And then the General steps onto the battlefield. The battle commences as the MSF draw their blades. The volunteers and other workers enter the fray as well in what looks like a hopeless battle. But before any conclusion can be had for either side, there’s a flash of bright light and everything goes dark.

Please use the plotting post for any questions!

Comments

For Saori

[folklorist]

The scene is one of idyllic artistry. It almost feels like a painting come to life right off the canvas is was drawn upon. The towering castle with its slightly weathered and blemished stone towered over the surrounding countryside that was peacefully quiet. When Saori steps forward the castle’s door will open with a small groan as the aged hinges move against one another. The inside of the castle is picturesque and completely unique for a castle’s inner workings. Banners with the Sprensonne household seal adorn the walls along with the school’s own mascot and seal as well. And upon entering two large statues will gaze down at the incoming persons from outside, but their eyes are not judgmental rather they are peaceful and welcoming as far as statues can be.

Upon walking further into the castle’s main hallway the sounds of people can be heard outside in the garden. The clinking of glasses, soft music, and people laughing and talking will drift through the air along the cool summer breeze. The garden is decorated in strung up lights and with a multitude of tables carrying an assortment of delicious looking hor'deurves. The primary coloring of everything is gold with green and the people are dressed in fine dining clothes for the evening extravagances that are soon to take place.

Helios will be sitting next to a young woman, no older that thirty-five. Her hair is bright green and her eyes are just as stunning, like two emeralds they glow in the sun’s illuminating light. Helios’ hand is gently wrapped around hers and he laughs when she leans over to tell him something. His smile is pure and genuine a sight that has become sparse in the real world. But here he is happy and practically glowing with radiance as he gets up to talk to several more people around the garden itself.

For Saori

[windandrain]

Saori didn't want to think about what was coming. She didn't. But the minute she slipped into Helios' dream world, still reeling from her own, the goddess knew who and what was waiting for her when she found her family. She knew who Helios wanted more than anything else in the world. And she knew why. Better than anyone, she knew why. The price Apep had taken.

So when she passed into the great garden and saw the green haired woman, she knew instantly that must be Elise. She was beautiful, and though Saori didn't gape, she did have to blink once to turn to Helios.

"Helios. There you are."

[folklorist]

Helios will turn back to regard the familiar voice that called out to him. Elise's eyes never leaving Saori's figure.

"Oh! Saori. I-I didn't see you there. I'm glad you could make it to the party!" His smile widens as he moves away from the blurred faced couple to the storm goddess. He motions off towards the tables containing food and an arrangement of drinks.

"Have you had anything to eat yet?"

[windandrain]

"I have not, and I don't think it's a good idea." Saori kept her voice tight and her emotions on a short leash, but her cheeks were still red from crying. This...this was an odd parallel to her own dream. And she wanted nothing more than to just run. Let someone else deal with it. But who could?

"Helios, can we talk privately?"

[folklorist]

Helios frowns a little the light of the sun becoming a bit dimmer as a patch of clouds drifts over the bustling lively party. He looks at Elise and then back at Saori.

"Ah. Um. Of course. Is-is everything alright?" He knew before the words escaped his mouth that everything wasn't alright. But he hoped and wished for it to be so. Just this once he hoped it to be so. But hope and actuality were often two entirely different things and he was wondering why he felt this way.

[windandrain]

Saori's eyes flick between Elise and Helios as she speaks. "No, but it's something we must speak about. I am sorry. But we must."

She knows that look in his eye, that...sad, forlorn little look and she doesn't know how to tell him. She doesn't want to, but she must. As much as she knows it will hurt him, for him to die. Here? That was unacceptable.

[folklorist]

Helios looks at Saori and lets out a small sigh nodding before he walks towards her.

"We can g-go by the garden maze if you'd like?" Elise is silent throughout most of it but her eyes are gleaming with anger.

"Helios. I don't think you should go. It can't wait? It's such a nice day out and we are celebrating after all."

Helios pauses and frowns, turning a little to look over his shoulder back at his fiancee. "It'll only take a moment, dear. I'll, um, be right back." He flashes Elise a smile though it lacks the true conviction of happiness within it.

[windandrain]

"That would be fine." She nods and gives Elise a cool look. "Please lead the way."

[folklorist]

Helios nods and silently turns towards the gardens he'll keep an even pace as he walks pasts faceless persons who greet him cordial and congratulate him as he wanders by. Then he stops under the shadow cast by the large hedge wall at the beginning of the intricately detailed and full sized labyrinthine like garden maze.

"S-So you were saying?" He doesn't sound very eager to hear the news Saori brings, but he is willing to listen and that is what he going to do.

[windandrain]

She follows, running through what she needs to say in her mind over and over. It's a convoluted mess, but she's glad at least that Elise isn't there to listen. Saori wasn't sure she could deal with those eyes. Not after Yuuna's.

"Helios," she begins, "you know this isn't real. This is a dream. And you...are in grave danger. Do you remember Luceti and the Third Party?"

[folklorist]

Helios stands there like a rock unmoving or emoting much.

"No." His voice sounds somewhat hollow and desperate despite the knowledge that Saori wouldn't lie. He doesn't want to believe that this is all fake though. It was so perfect and he was so terribly happy right now. And Elise...

She was wrong she had to be wrong.

"You're wrong. I-It, it feels real, everything does." Why would the third party do such a thing in the first place? Helios recognize some of it, but it's hazy and muddled.

[windandrain]

"No," Saori replied in a flat tone. She wasn't going to stand for this, not after she'd had to kill Yuuna. She knew exactly what Helios was feeling, but she couldn't let him drag this out. It'd be the death of all of them if he died. And she'd never forgive herself for it.

"It's not real. It's a dream...constructed by a monster. A member of the Third Party. It's meant to trap you here, make you not want to leave. And then they'll kill you. And I can't. I won't let that happen."

The goddess looks around the maze, hazy as it was, and shakes her head before turning back to him. Her eyes, misted over in worry, fix on his. The parallel here between his dream and hers is just...awful. She wants to hug him, hold him, and just let him rest. But she can't.

"I know it hurts. But it's not real. You've got...you've got to end it and wake up. Or you'll die."

[folklorist]

Helios doesn't like what he hears. He doesn't like this anymore. Why? Why can't this be real and he can't be back home with Elise in his life once again. The dull ache in his chest gets more profound as he stares back at Saori.

"I-I can't." He can't do it. He can't do what Saori is insinuating that he needs to do. He can't kill her again. Watching Elise die once was bad enough...but again? It would just reopen so many old wounds that only just healed over. He can't do it.

"I can't see her die again..." his voice cracks as his eyes mist over with tears that are about to fall, but don't.

[windandrain]

"You must," Saori says, but her eyes aren't unkind. Her hand reaches up to his shoulder, squeezing as reassuringly as she can. She knows what it's like. She's been there. And it hurts.

"It's not her. It's a monster. It's stolen her face. You...can and you must. I...I had to do the same. My own monster took Yuuna-chan's face. But that's what it is. A monster. It's not her, and if you let her keep you here, then we'll both die." She sniffs sadly, "And then who'd care for the little ones, at home?"