Preparations for War

Enkidu continued through the swamp after Aera, casually resting his staff on his broad shoulder.
You shouldn't...
The thought entered Enkidu's mind so subtly that he could hardly tell that it wasn't his.
...shouldn't be an ass.
He sighed as he realized where the thoughts were coming from.
Get out of my mind, Enkidu's own overpowering thoughts roared back at the thoughts of the snake, I will not suffer your presence now.
Then all was quiet again, and Enkidu continued trudging through the swamp with the others.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

Allina: <Watch out!!>

*A large figure jumps at Aera, but Allina jumps in front of her, taking the hit: she's hurled across the air, crashing through the goo into the swamp. Enkidu's warning couldn't have come in a better time. Several more large creatures dart towards them from amongst the trees and mist. They look like large black tigers, each with six horse legs and a very long tail, covered in the swamp's goo They seem to roar, and run with heavy stomping at high speed, but no movement they make causes even the smallest sound.*

---

Helzol Palace

Ace: <...Okay.>

*Ace smirks, returns the orb to Kasa and heads towards the crossroads.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

*A while later, a young maid comes in. She brings an envelope to Ryzell and helps him back to his room.*

---

Nymphe, Kingdom of Nymphe

Kelphy: <Rhea, can you help us follow it?>

*Rhea nods and closes her eyes. Seconds later, she snaps them open, and they've changed colors to a glowing orange. She runs down the street, Kelphy following.*

Rhea: <It's an illusion, but it doesn't feel like the caster is nearby.>

Kelphy: <...They're back?>

Lumyr: <Damn.>

*Lumyr avoids all the creatures and heads to see if Allina's alright. Winston, on the other hand, takes off the safety on his arm cannons and instantly fires two rather large rays of energy from each cannon, both intersecting and forming an even larger beam that continues towards them.*

=====

*Kasa follows Ace to the crossroads.*

Ryzell opens the envelope when he gets back to his room.

---

"Maybe... we should be prepared"

---

Ranmaru yawns and pretty much just one shots one of the creatures. It happens so fast its hard to see what exactly he did but lines of darkness seem to linger in the air before the tiger's body rips itself apart.

*Lunsai returns Ace's smirk*

Lunsai:<I forgot to do something in my room. Wait here.>

*Lunsai darts back down the hall*

Enkidu lifted his staff above his head and began to spin it around, firing powerful balls of flame at the attackers from the end of the staff.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*The pieces of the tiger simply each regenerate into a new tiger. The beam also tears a couple of them apart, creating two new groups. They are now surrounded, but when Enkidu starts firing fireballs around they seam startled. Some of them are hit, quickly being consumed by the flames without regenerating. Two of them jump on Crone, who teleports a few yards back in a flash of light. Allina is frantically waving her arms out of the water, trying to swim in the slimy water.*

---

Helzol Palace

*Assuming she left when they were already at the Crossroads, the Gatekeeper just stands there. They can't see his eyes because of the hood, but if they could, they can feel he'd be glaring at them suspiciously.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

Dear Kelvin,

Upon arriving back in Vinia, I was greeted with panic and confusion. The entire kingdom has apparently been frozen for over a day except for those who were out on missions. A thiefess that apparently stood up to the invaders was almost fatally injured and is still in recovery, but I will report back with any information she can give me shortly. I should also tell you about a strange apparition I saw on my way here. A ghostly magic figure delivered me a message that I have yet to understand
*The rest of the letter has been ripped off.*

---

Nymphe, Kingdom of Nymphe

*They follow it down several streets and then down a dark alley downtown. The figure stops flickering about and two small eyes become visible on its face.*

{Johanna Falls...}

Ranmaru yanks Allina out of the gunk roughly and sighs audibly.

---

"That's weird." Alto says.

---

"Strange." Ryzell strokes his chin.

*Lumyr appears from seemingly nowhere behind Allina and Ranmaru. Somewhat ignoring Ranmaru, he looks directly to Allina.*

Lumyr: <...What were you thinking, charging in? You could have been killed. Do you really value your life that little?>

*Meanwhile, back where the battle was at, Winston was laughing like a fucking maniac.*

Winston: <So fire does the trick, does it?>

*Winston flicks a switch and flames come out of his cannons, instead of the lasers, acting like a flamethrower as he shoots it blindly in all directions. Cue crazy ass laughter and you've got the situation.*

=====

*Kasa just stands there awkwardly.*

Kasa: (C'mon, where'd you go...)

*Lunsai runs into her room and closes the door. She quickly strips off the red attire she had been wearing and grabs a small pile of gray-green clothes on the floor.*

Lunsai: [I knew these would come in handy.]

*Lunsai pulls a long gray-green shirt over her head and then a matching pair of pants. She fastens a gray-green knee high cloak around her neck.*

Lunsai:[ So where are my boots?]

*Lunsai finds her boots under a pile of old clothes. She pulls them on and tucks her pant legs in. Finally, she secures a brown leather belt around her waist with a pouch to one side.*

Lunsai: [That's everything, I think.]

*Lunsai runs out back down the hall*

Enkidu grinned, mania dancing in his eyes, "No match! None at all!"
Ceasing to spin his staff, he began firing accurate lances of flame at each of the creatures within his vision. He also made a conscious effort to avoid being burnt by Winston, who seemed to be foolishly burning the entire area.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*Allina shakes Ranmaru off and turns to Lumyr.*

Allina: <What are you talking about!? I didn't cha-->

Crone: <Let's go.>

*The tigers have been erradicated by the fire attacks. Winston may or may not have set every tree around on fire. Leaning towards yes.*

---

Helzol Palace

*Ari sighs in relief as Lunsai returns.*

Gatekeeper: <...What do you want?>

---

Nymphe, Kingdom of Nymphe

Kelphy: <W-What does that mean?>

{Johanna Falls...}

*The image vanishes. Rhea's eyes return to normal.*

Rhea: <I don't know. It seems to have been cast from a very great distance.>

*Lunsai snatching the orb from Ace and holds it out to the Gatekeeper*

Lunsai:<We're to join the exhibition...>

"Is it a place?" Alto wonders.

---

Ryzell sits patiently.

---

Ranmaru fingerflicks Allina in the forehead for being stupid then follows the rest of the group.

*Yes he did. Yes he did. But he doesn't even give a shit and just moves on. So does Lumyr, following Crone.*

=====

*Kasa fist pumps in the air behind.*

Kasa: <Damn right!>

Enkidu looked slightly disappointed by the defeat of the tigers and fell in with the rest of the group, his staff resting casually on his shoulder.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*As they're proceeding, the spreading fire consuming the vegetation reaches a hill nearby and the ground starts shaking. The hill starts raising, revealing to be the back of a 50 feet tall gorilla creature covered in dark vegetation like grass, bushes, moss, and aquatic plants from the swamp. It roars loudly and soundwaves infused with glowing red energy spread towards the group, blasting them repeatedly.*

---

Helzol Palace

Gatekeeper: <I received no orders regarding reinforcement for the expedi-->

*A red glow briefly emanates from beneath the hood.*

Gatekeeper: <...I see. Very well, you may go then.>

*He takes the orb and holds it in his hands, turning it red, before handing it over to them and pointing at the swirling energy portal on the floor.*

---

Nymphe, Kingdom of Nymphe

Rhea: <I don't know...>

Kelphy: <...Y-Yes, you do. You both do. Let's go back, we need to speak with Ryzell and my uncle.>

*Lunsai accepts the orb and nods in thanks. Then she turns towards the portal*

Lunsai:[That was odd.....]

Lunsai:<Coming guys?>

"Huh? What's this about Kelphy?"

---

Ranmaru is sent flying into a tree where he lands with a thud and his now hanging indignantly upside down.

Enkidu braced himself but was knocked off his feet, grabbing out for a tree with one hand and holding his staff tightly with the other.

*Lumyr surrounds himself in flames to shield himself. Winston just gets blown back, crashing through a few burning trees as he does so.*

=====

Kasa: <Sure.>

*Kasa follows.*

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*Everyone else is also blasted away, except for Olympe. She shoots out of the monster's shadow and double slashes at its body, only to be slapped dozens of yards away. Ranmaru's clothes are probably on fire as the monster brings a gigantic hand down upon Aera.*

=====

Ace: <...Y-Yes!>

*Ace also steps on the portal. A white flash of light blinds them momentairly and they're teleported. They appear at a very stinky, very dark swamp area. The sky up ahead is reddish, with lots of smoke making the dark mist even worse. They can barely see each other, even at that distance.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

*Kelphy points at a book at the top shelf of a bookcase in the library.*

Kelphy: <R-Rhea, do you mind?>

*Rhea, who was sitting on the sofa nearby (presumably next to Ryzell), nods and takes two fingers to her left temple and closes her eyes. She snaps them open, once again glowing orange, and the bookcase trembles slightly, the book becoming enveloped in swirling petals of orange energy while slowly and reluctantly sliding off of it, before falling to the floor at Kelphy's feet. She picks it up and starts turning the pages.*

Kelphy: <Johanna Falls, Johanna Falls... Here.>

*She holds the opened book out to them. It shows an illustration of a well-known forest area in Vinian territory.*

Kelphy: <The ancient Elven Woods. I knew that name seemed familiar. It's right here. The elven tribes that used to live there called them the Johanna Woods. There are still elf hermits living there, and a group of falls within the forest...>

"Well then I guess I know where we're heading next... or you all are... since I can't move around yet. Still before you all go would you indulge me in letting me explain some things to you all? It could help strengthen your own magics" Ryzell says.

---

Ranmaru's clothing is somehow not on fire but his hair ties are. He swiftly removes them before his hair catches on fire.

*Lumyr recovers himself and lands on his feet, the barrier breaking. He summons two soldiers that charge at the monster. Winston flicks another switch and the missile on his back launches off like a rocket, seemingly vanishing from view completely within seconds.*

=====

Kasa: <It's... much worse than I expected.>

*Lunsai turns in a 360 degree circle, staring into the distance*

Lunsai:[Glad I changed into these clothes]

*Lunsai turns back towards Ace and Kasa*

Lunsai:< You guys alright?