Scrapped: Co-Op Graduation

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

Location: Territory 2
- Village: Dilos
Season: Autumn
Setting: Late Afternoon

Situation Report

The Cloaks located in the Village of Dilos have reported that a local group of mercenaries are suspected to be behind a string of kidnappings of young Chosen children and elderly Chosen from the peaceful village. The Cloaks have thus far been unable to ascertain the fate of those taken. The current count of missing is between 7-10. The Sages have ordered an investigation into the matter. A mid-level member of the Orbs is dispatched with two young, promising neophytes. Their directive is simple: they are to observe the village and mercenaries in order to get a better understanding of where the missing Chosen are located and more importantly, if the mercenaries are responsible. There is an assault team wrapping up a mission nearby, that were to be called in to deal with the mercenaries.

During their search, the Senior Operative managed to uncover the location of the missing villagers. The two neophytes are left to monitor the hideout while the Senior contacts the assault team. Knowing the reputation of the duo for not following plans, he specifically tells them to stay hidden and not to engage the mercenaries. He disappears into the brush moments later. The Senior finds a secluded section and begins drawing symbols in the dirt. He reaches into a pouch on his belt and pours some light blue powder on the ground over the symbols. He holds his hand hovering over the symbols for a moment as he concentrates on them. They start to glow light blue then silver and back to light blue. Once they turn light blue again, the Senior reports their status and their location. The symbols turn silver and a reply is given that the team was regrouping and would be arriving within thirty minutes.

Meanwhile, the duo find themselves waiting and observing as instructed when one of the mercenaries rushes towards the hideout. As he approaches the sentry, he tells them that they need to get the villagers ready to be transported immediately. The sentry asks him what happened and he tells them that they've been compromised. The sentry asks how he knows that and the mercenary tells him that they don't have time for it. It was obvious that he was hiding some failure on his part, but that only added to the sense of urgency. One of the sentries heads inside to get the captives ready while the mercenary, who made the mistake, rushes towards a covered wagon nearby to get it ready.

The neophytes are left in quite a predicament. For some unknown reason, the mercenaries are now spooked and about to move the captives. They don't know how long it will be before the Senior returns and they were told not to engage the mercenaries on their own. There is one sentry at the door, which is closed once again, and the first mercenary who is currently in the back of the covered wagon. It is unknown how many mercenaries are inside the hideout. While they've been in the village for the last couple days, they've counted roughly 5 or 6 mercenaries in the village, but one of the current sentries never went into the village, so there are at least 6 or 7.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

Trained muscles and joints remained neutral and still beneath the full length black cloak which covered the body of one of the two hidden, actively surveying males in the bush. Remaining hidden in this manner was never a comfortable position to be in for anyone, but up to this point, Syx was learning to embrace things that made him discomforted as becoming used to those things would dull them and reduce the amount of weaknesses he held within his body. The cloak would only hint at a slender frame, barely allotting a visibly smooth bottom portion of the face and crimson eyes which take in the scene that unfolds before them, giving rise to a change in plans that would be obvious to him. Mindful of his surroundings, he would have taken in the knowledge of the quantity of mercenaries about him, the current direction of the fall breeze that shifted through the forested area that they were in, and the available light and visibility granted by the post noon sun that still remained dominant in the skies above the ceiling of the forest canopy which would be directly above them at varying heights. He knew that they could not move carelessly, though, to him, action had to be taken.

Without turning his head, he would speak in a low tone, barely above a whisper, words that were meant for the only other occupant of the foliage with him, speaking, “how would you judge the strength of the mercenaries against our own?” To him, it seemed a simple question that would impact the thought process on his next movements from here on. It would reveal his decision that waiting for the senior operative was not an option. Though he liked to keep the amount of times he’s disobeyed orders to a certain threshold, he still did not want to be accused of standing by while their efforts of reconnaissance goes to waste. Still, though he was contemplating an intervention of some sorts, he still remained curious on how the captive would be moved. There was still the possibility that they could track the captives to wherever they are moved and from there move at night, or under the direction of the senior operative.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

Two days of moving about this village had finally paid off. Now that we had located the whereabouts of the captives, the Blades would be arriving soon enough to handle the rest. The more we're sent as tagalongs on these missions, the more I wonder why we didn't join the Blades to see more action. I enjoy hiding in plain sight and learning about different people and their behaviors as do I enjoy traveling all the time instead of being cooped up in an outpost for weeks at a time, but there has to be more. I have always heard stories of wild adventures and daring rescues and skirmishes that the Orb engages in, but most of our assignments have been recon only with mild action. And yet again, Syx and I are simply observing in some foliage and in the cool clime of autumn. If only we got stationed along the coast. Pretty girls, great weather, and we would have missions both on land and out at sea.

My daydreaming is interrupted by a question from Syx. Right when I was envisioning me kicking a pirate's butt overboard and about to get a kiss from a hot damsel in distress. Now instead of her, my thoughts fill with analyzing the mercenaries. Scanning over them, my eyes gloss over a bit as I focus on a psychic scan. I'm still not good at these and very limited to what I can actually do, tho I never tell Syx that. Coming back into focus, I try to respond with my mind's "voice" as my instructor refers to it, but I still cannot, My spirit really needs to learn how to be more helpful! I reply in a verbal whisper, "They are humans for sure. The one in the wagon is the weaker of the two. The guard is distracted by whatever is happening inside the building. He keeps turning back towards the door. The one who went inside seems fairly strong... but of course, we could take him. We're gonna disobey orders again, aren't we?" I pose that last question with a mischievous grin. I didn't mind breaking orders. In fact, one could argue that I am more frequently the one who pitches the idea to do what we want instead of what we're told.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

“Is that what you want to do?” Syx would answer with a question, shifting things back onto his cohort. Beneath the veil of shadows provided over his visage by the hood, a smirk would accompany the question. Still looking forwards, he would continue, “that is one option among many.” There is a pause before he continues speaking, “…in either case, I suppose I should prepare for anything…” With that, the hooded head tilts down and eyes close as the male places the palm of his hand to the ground, “I’ve been saving revealing this…” There is a small shimmer of light, though not large enough to attract attention behind cover, and at the junction between the ground and the palm, something begins to build, much like an orb of energy which continues to grow as his palm lifts up slowly to the height of about six inches. After that threshold, the orb of energy separates from his hand and what’s left molds itself into a beast.

The beast would be about six inches tall and look like a puppy while still holding properties that made it resemble the spirit which it was. The fierce beast would run around in small circles and then look up, giving a welcoming “yip!” to his master. “Shit…” would come the murmur from Syx as he quickly holds his hand over the muzzle of the puppy, basically holding its entire face and suspending it inches over the ground; he shushes it while holding the index finger of his other hand to his lips in a motion to be quiet. Whimpering ensues which is continuously hushed.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

Great. So it seems like it's my turn to take the blame for us disobeying orders. Didn't I take the blame last time? Meh... not like I care anyway. I look at the two mercenaries analyzing my potential effectiveness against both. This little analysis is interrupted by Syx's deciding to show me something. I glance over at him and my interest becomes peaked. The glowing light is strange in itself as I haven't really known Syx to use powers. He's unarmed fighting skills are impressive, but I often wondered what exactly his power was. When the puppy is created, I pause and look at him in a matter that asks, "Are you serious?" When the beast makes noise, my eyes widen as he rushes to silence the nuisance. The sentry turns to look in our direction, but makes no motion to move towards us. I shake my head and whisper to the young puppy summoner, "If we get caught because you decided to conjure a pet puppy during a mission... *sigh* how do you want to handle this? We can't let the villagers get loaded up on the wagon. I can try to damage the wheel, but there's the mercenary that is currently in the wagon right now."

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

In the middle of hushing the small spirit animal, a grin comes to the base of Syx’s face as he speaks, “this isn’t a puppy… it’s a beast of furious strength. As for the wagon… just watch me take care of it.” The small animal is cupped in the hands of the handler then when leans back and casts his gaze skywards beyond the green shadowy canopy of the forest ceiling. With a light murmur, he would incant, “Falling Heavens Meteoral Strike!” With a swift up swing of his hand, he hurls the small puppy high into the sky. The creature breaks through the forest ceiling and takes into the air where it seems almost magically propelled to lift even further up. It continues up until it becomes a glint in the air, barely visible in the post noon skies. At the apex of its height it stops and suddenly the beast burns with energy. Its direction is redirected downwards with much more speed than propelled it upwards. The beast rushes in a head long free fall aimed for the wagon. The sheer force of the wind energy causes its ears and muzzle to flap in the wake of its speed with its small half tail wagging ferociously. Seeming as having come from re-entry due to the dark aura of heat that radiated from its core, it makes contact with the wagon causing an explosion of wood chips, leaving the wagon with a hole in it about the size of a baseball. Firmly planted in the ground, would be the face of the summon spirit after having made contact. The wagon would be in one piece, but now with a hole in it.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

It takes every ounce of discipline to keep from bursting out in laughter when he calls the little runt a beast of furious strength. When he claims the wagon as his target, I just shake my head as the puppy is launched into the air. That's it... he's lost it! I mean I was a little annoyed at the yapping of the mutt, but to throw him in the air and he goes through the canopy towards the heavens. I pause for a moment longer as I wonder if Syx has super strength or something. The something could very well be the strength of his magic in being able to propel the beast. No matter. With his pet cruelly removed from the equation, I tell him that I will silence the guard while he plays around. One of us has to do work after all. I back up from my position and sneak behind and around Syx to move closer towards the road. I check to our rear and flank before I start to make my way to the edge of the brush and sneak along it. Coming up within direct visual range of the sentry. I notice the sentry take on a very confused look on his face in the direction of the wagon. I mean I am glad that he has not noticed me, but that is certainly a little peculiar. Especially since he is not looking directly at the wagon, but instead, he's looking up towards the sky. Using this time of distraction, I continue my approach.

Now almost within melee range, I notice what he is looking at and find myself VERY confused as well. Did a rock just fall out of the sky and crash into the wagon. Welp, time to deal with him while he's very distracted. Using my moment of opportunity, I dash at the sentry and channeling my psychic energy, I release a discharge of power at the sentry's head knocking his head back. Within a moment, I would be closing in to subdue him with a sweeping throw and chokehold. If left undisturbed for five seconds, the sentry would be going night night and getting drug away from the door. Hopefully, Syx would be handling the wagon and not goofing off.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

Syx’s head is down as he holds his forehead with his right hand and shakes it from left to right slowly. He would have to come to the realization that his powers weren’t as advanced as he thought they may have been. Most of his training had been in an imaginary realm in his head, something he liked to think of as a spiritual realm where he was able to separate his mind from reality. This would actually be one of the first times he had manifested Cerebruthyl, but in his spiritual realm, he remembered the creature being much larger and stronger. Either way, it seemed to be enough of a distraction for him to move given the fact that his cohort had already made his move. With Huntare breaching the entrance and the male on the wagon confused, Syx moves swiftly to close the distance between himself and the wagon. As such, his body would move from the bush in a bee line to the wagon, his cloak waving behind him in the motion of his movements. The startled wagon driver is able to hear Syx approach and takes a moment from his confusing in looking at the hole in the wagon, to turn around and look towards Syx who would be horizontal in the air, already launched in the form of a drop kick. The form is a bit messy, but Syx manages to get his foot to shove head first into the merc’s face, kicking him off of the wagon and following through, falling on top of him. Collecting himself before the drop kicked male, Syx is swift to pull his fist back and strike a swift and hard punch to the temple of the guard’s head.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

After ten to fifteen seconds of squirming, the sentry goes limp. Hmm... that should have been much faster. When my hand to hand instructors do it, it only takes five seconds and someone is out cold. I will have to practice that move more. Still, no reason to fret since the objective was still accomplished, the sentry is unconscious, yet alive, so he can be questioned later. I move his body around to the nearby side of the building and cover him up a bit. Moving back towards the door, I realize that we didn't actually come up with a fully detailed plan past remove these two. We'll need to work on that next time.

Surveying the surrounding area, I look at the small building. It's not that big to allow for a stealthy entry and neither of us has healing magic, so we can't really afford for the captives to get hurt, so how do we do this? Looking over at the wagon with a devilish grin, I chuckle to myself. I speak loudly for Syx to hear as well as those inside the building. "Anything of value on that wagon? If not, let's just take the horses. We can't go back empty handed this time." I reach behind my back and grab my sole weapon, a lightweight leather "gauntlet" with three curved blades that serve as claws. Equipping that on my left hand as I crouch near the door. I signal for my cohort to get ready. At least two or three of them should rush out. Concentrating on my harnessing and prepping my psychic energy for an attack is my current focus.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

After the punch to the wagon guard, Syx shakes the hand used to hit the guard feeling a bit of a sting in the strike as a moan is emitted with it. After recomposing that short moment, Syx pulls his hood back revealing mid length white hair which he brushes back as he wipes his forehead with the back of his first. “Well, that’s that…” he would say as he attempts to stand up. As he stands, he is tugged on the cloak he wore and he is pulled to the ground by the guard he thought should have been knocked out. A “whoa” is emitted as it would seem that the punch given to the guard was enough to stop him from moving at the time, but not knock him out; either that, or the guard was playing possum. Being pulled down and to the ground, Syx would retaliate in being caught off guard, by rolling side to side and slapping at the guards face and hands while attempting to kick him off, something akin to a small child trying to struggle out of the grip of a larger kid. During this tussle on the ground, the puppy earlier summoned by Syx would find his way from unplanting his face in the ground and would run over to the current battle and bite down on the guards shoulder and pull, tug and yank the shoulder with the full force of about 10 lbs. A lucky kick makes its way across the face of the guard that turns his head and makes him reel. Around this time, Syx would hear Huntare and call back, slightly flustered, “um… yeah… we are robbers stealing things…!” With the opening form the kick, Syx would command, “Niko, now!” With that, the puppy would look up as if understanding the command. Releasing the guard’s shoulder, he would hope onto the face of the reeling guard, straddling it, and would proceed to attempt to choke or drown the guard with his spirit version of a golden shower.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

With the claw gauntlet now fixed to my hand, I look at the beast as the door opens. Two of the mercenaries rush out of the door preparing to stop the bandits who were stealing their means of transporting their cargo. When they come out, they are shocked, confused, and appalled all at the same time. A third mercenary comes out and pushes them aside. "What are you idiots just standing around for?!" He witnesses the act as well and tells them to grab that kid, pointing at Syx. The two mercenaries start advancing towards Syx. The first one has a regular sword still in the sheath and light leather armor over his chest. He is wearing regular pants. The second merc has a club in his right hand, hide "breastplate" and hide pants. Thus, while they have some protection it isn't much.

~~~~~~~~~~

So far they hadn't noticed me off to the side. Looking at the one giving orders, I focus solely on him as I release a psychic discharge at him. The beauty about magic is that it is quiet. Two of the mercenaries continue to approach the wagon. That psychic strike wouldn't keep the 3rd merc down for long, so I would need to follow up, but if I rush him while they are still closer to me than they are to Syx, I could end up overwhelmed. Besides, by our reconnaissance, there is at least one more merc inside the house watching the captives. I make no sudden movement as I harness my energies once again. I'll just have to be a little patient. Besides, Syx can handle those two on his own... I'm pretty sure he can at least.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

The guard on the ground seems to be somewhat subdued as there is chocking and gargling coming from him as the puppy drowns him and now Syx attempts to choke him out from a position on his knees with both hands wrapped at the bandit’s throat wondering why in god’s name he wouldn’t stop moving. With a swift look up, he looks towards the entrance where he would expect to see Huntare catch whatever guards coming out of it off guard to easily dispatch them. The male below him slowly begins to stop moving as he notices Huntare take out one of the three. One down, three to go. He would be somewhat confident in his friend’s abilities to keep him from harm while occupied until he notices the hint in Huntare’s eye that suggests that he was only going to stop the one, assuming that Syx could handle the two others. Thinking quickly, Syx picks up the still peeing Niko removing his hands from the throat of the tapped out bandit and would hurl the dog in a spiral pissing ten yard throw to hit one of the rushing bandits in the face. From there, Niko would begin his assault.

After the throw, Syx has enough time to stand up and raise his hands before a punch breaks through his guard and meets with the side of his face, sending him back toward the ground with cursings for Huntare on his lips.

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

Merc 1 is knocked back by some unknown force and it knocks him over. He clutches at his head as he tries to shake it off in order to recover and figure out what attacked him. Merc 2, the one with the sheathed sword, closes the distance on the young bandit, Syx, as his companion, Merc 3, is surprised to see an animal flying at him. Looking at the club in his hands, he lifts it up in an upward arcing swing at the flying beast. Merc 2 throws a punch at Syx which connects. He looks down at the boy and grins. "I'm going to enjoy beating you to a bloody mess, you little punk."

~~~~~~
As Syx throws his companion pet thing, I exclaim, "Die!" The club wielding Merc 2 would definitely be distracted by my voice considering that I had stayed out of sight before this. The exclamation comes with a release of energy. While my primary target had been the mercenary closest to me, I continue along that path. The psychic attack this time targets his body instead of his mind directly as I had hoped. Well, I suppose working on control and my powers doing what I actually want them to do will be on the training to-do list, provided that I don't get us killed right now. His body writhes and involuntarily contorts as I move closer to him with my left claw poised to finish him off.

~~~~~~
If the canine summon didn't connect and distract Merc 3, then he would be turning to attack me from behind.

Supreme Mystic Rep! : 56 Location : California

After the punch connect with Syx’s face, he is sent falling back to his haunches as his summoned friend passes over head having been successfully batted with the blunt object. Quickly rolling to the side and getting into a crouched position, Syx frowns as he maintains eye contact with the merc who had hit him and taunted, knowing in the back of his mind that another with a weapon was on his way as well. With this information of the battle in his head thus far, he came up with a strategic plan to handle the situation. Without wasting another moment, Syx turns and rushes away from his previous position, making a bee line for the forest line from which he and Huntare had come. That would give the sword and punching guy the choice to either pursue Syx or be distracted by the one who yelled ‘die.’

Mystic Elder Rep! : 19 Location : Los Angeles, California

Merc 2 was not about to let his prey get away. He laughs as he gives chase to the fleeing boy. Merc 3 didn't swat the flying furball as hard as he had intended since the exclamation and death of Merc 1 did in fact catch him by surprise. With the sounds of conflict reaching inside the building, another mercenary exits the house. The teenage acolyte, Huntare, was now outnumbered 2 to 1. Thankfully, he had lost visual contact with his cohort or he might have found himself both confused and disheartened by the decision made by Syx to flee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Instead, I strike the final blow to the downed Merc 1. As blood drips from my claw as I retract it from his flesh, I backpedal a bit with the opening of the door and the 4th mercenary exiting. Now Mercs 3 & 4 were preparing to attack me. I have to figure out how to maneuver so that both of them can't attack me together. After taking a couple more steps backwards, I stop and look at both of them then my surroundings. If only I was skilled enough to knock over a tree or something awesome like that. I could dispatch these chumps with no problem. Merc 3 has a club and Merc 4 has an axe. The club is too thick for me to simply cut thru with my claws and even tho it's a hand axe, I have to be careful to keep him from being able to cleave thru the blades of my claws. For the moment, no attack would be made while I wait for Syx to deal with his opponent and back me up.