Golden Age: Ruin

"Then we must retreat."

OOC: Sorry busy at new job

*Marcus, still carrying Rayna on his back, struggles to keep up with the others. He manages simply with his sheer will to take care of Rayna. As the others are finally stopped at castle, he manages to regroup with them.*

"Mmm...something's burning..."

"I know just hang in there. So what now?"

*Lilith wades across the moat.*

L"What are you doing?"

R"Robbing the castle."

*Thiera gasps. Roatha turns around.*

R"What? Come on, the Camelot knights can't possibly win. I'm taking anything that isn't bolted down AND on fire & getting out of here before the Romans, or the Franks, or some other assholes come by to finish everyone off. Besides, I don't owe Arthur dick."

*He finally manages to break a bar, creating an opening big enough for a person to squeeze through. His sword looks significantly worn down, though.*
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*Once outside, the group encounters Lancelot, who is carrying Guinevere on his shoulder.*

Lancelot<I heard the whole thing. The Queen is safe. We must find somewhere for her while we attend to matters back in Camelot.>

"Do you have any suggestions Lancelot?" Lune asks sincerely.

Kelphy: <What matters? Is uncle all right?>

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*Ari glares at Roatha like he's about to punch him in the balls*

*Duon walks out of the building, brushing off the many wounds on his chest and forearms.*

Duon: <I could use some bandages, if that's of any concern.>

Lancelot<Not really. And I honestly have none. If Camelot is in trouble from internal threats, nowhere there is safe. Mordred has already used Her Majesty in his schemes twice now. I suspect that this was a plan to distract us while the scheming trio attacked the weakened Camelot directly. No doubt assassinating Lords Arthur & Merlin are among their intents.>
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R"You can come with me if you want. But I'm through living with the rats."

*They enter the room that controls the moat's depth. There's a resevoir of water, some simple machinery, & a staircase leading out of the room. There are no guards & no sign of struggle.*

"We should prepare a counter attack. Instead of rushing headlong into conflict there I recommend a more strategic course of action" Sophia says.

"I agree. Normally I'd say we jump right in but we are facing a large enemy group."

Kelphy: <Yes, we must help Camelot at once!>

*On the magic train back to Camelot.*

Lancelot<We'll just have to leave the Queen here. I'll stay behind to protect her. The rest of you continue on to Castle Pendragon when we arrive.>
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*They wind up in a maintanence hallway. At the end of the hallway, Senthose turns to face them.*

R"Never thought I'd see you again."

S"So you do remember, at least a little bit."

R"Yeah."

S"You aren't in a rush to kill me?"

R"Why should I be? I didn't know them very well, after all. You saw to that."

S"I see...and what of the rest of you?"

*Roatha walks past Senthose, continuing towards the rest of the castle.*

*Kelphy nods*

Kelphy: <Please, take good care of her.>

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*Ari steps forward and glances at Lilith and Thiera*

Both are silent for now.

*When the train stops, they see that the sky is suspiciously dark in the castle's direction, lit mostly by fire.*
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L"Why are you down here? You can all just teleport into the castle, can't you?"

<I could have came in with Seraph & Mordred, but that wouldn't advance my goals at all. While everyone else is preoccupied, I'll just take a look at the more interesting features of this castle. The treasure stash, Merlin's research, et cetera.>

"Well that's not a good sign."

Kelphy: <No...! Let's go already, please!>

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Ari: <(...Master?)>

*He draws his sword*

"He's not the immediate problem. Forget him."

*Lilith runs past Senthose, heading towards the throne room.*
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*As they reach the castle, they see the same thing that the previous group saw.*

Kelphy: <It can't be...!>

*She runs off towards the city and the castle*

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*Ari follows Lilith, glaring at Senthose*

Sophia and Lune follow Kelphy.

*Inside the city, another flame-spirit forms before them. A grin forms on its "face."*

<Why do you interfere?>
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*In the throne room, they find Mordred locked in combat with an elderly knight much older than Arthur, a knight with a large knight dishevelled demeanor & dual curved blades, a knight with greenish armor, & Galahad. Galahad is doing the most damage by far, occasionally becoming enveloped in a gold-white aura & smashing part of Mordred's armor. King Arthur is not fighting, but trying to persuade the elderly knight to stop. All other knights who were left behind in the castle have been slain.*

Mordred<Senthose, where the Hell are you? I'll have your head for this!>

Arthur<Sir Ector, please, you are like a father to me. More so than my own father. I've sired this problem, let me fight Mordred in your stead!>

Ector<My Lord, I've lived a full life, & I will not see everything we've worked for be brought to ruin by this arrogant whelp. Camelot needs its King more than it needs me.>

*At this point, Mordred runs him through. Arthur cradles him in his arms as the other Knights go ballistic. The dishevelled knight breaks out a big honkin' mace & cracks it over Mordred's head. Amazingly, he doesn't die, but a root bursts from the ground & grabs his ankle, pulling him away from the scene. Lilith slashes at him, but he blocks.*

L"Everything's not going according to plan, is it, Mordy? Ari, Thiera, stay back! He's too much for you!"

T"We can fight him too! Can't we, Ari?"

*The sight of Mordred enraged Marcus. He carefully put Rayna down and approached him, ready to attack with the others.*

"You've dealt more than enough pain for one lifetime."

*Ari nods firmly and steps forward, drawing his sword and pointing it at Mordred*

Ari: <You... You will p-pay for what you did to the people of Ca-Camelot.>

[Mother... Father...]

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Kelphy: <...Why wouldn't we!?>

*She holds her hands out, shooting a water jet at the enemy*

Lune and Sophia ready themselves for combat.

<What have I done, aside from eliminate enemies, traitors, & fools? The Frankish army was slaughtered by my Djinn. Malegant & the others fell to me. I shall live to see Camelot purged of weakness & spread until it has no borders!>

*He dodges a mace attack & shoots an orb of fire at the Green Knight. He sneers as Galahad blasts him into a wall.*

<Shouldn't you be more worried about that old wizard? He has no one to protect him, & he's going head-to-head with Seraph atop the castle.>
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*The spirit screeches as its flames are exhausted. When this occurs, many similar spirits flee the scene. However, they're replaced by a monster with a flat face & a back & tail full of poisonous quills, & another monster that's merely 6 flapping wings & a glowing face.*

"Well... then... I believe a tactical retreat is in order."

"Agreed Lune."

Kelphy: <...I'm not going back!>

*She clenches her fists and two spheres of water form around the enemies*

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*Ari runs forward and fucking stabs at him*