Cursa, The Snowy City

[Irvine]

Nestled at the foot of a mountain chain, Cursa is an industrious mining city with some mine shafts leading miles away. Still considered a frontier town, it has little military support, instead having a small militia to put down the monsters that occasionally roam inside the mines. About a mile down from the city is an airship dock that ferries the mined goods to Balfonheim and from there, distributed to other cities. Cursa is home to all races but predominantly hume and bangaa though the bangaa prefer to live in the warmer depths of the mines.

[Zell]

Gabranth made his way towards the town of Cursa, with the intent of joining Clan Lux that had recently been established. He would have rather stayed by himself but he couldn't make a living hunting marks or accepting request without first joining a clan, this one seemed alright to him the only other clan that looked decent was lead by that Judgemaster insult; Sephiroth.

As he walked he played the conversation with Sephiroth over and over in his head and each time reminded him of his own blind loyalty to the crown. My eyes have been opened. My only mission now is to ensure Lord Larsa's safety. Gabranth soon stopped as he came to the entrance of the city, he scanned over the worn town from beneath his helm and was reminded of the lower levels of Rabenastre. "Why would a clan choose this vile location?" He shook the question off and proceeded into the town to find the Clan hall.

[Irvine]

Ultimecia walked into Cursa, the trail of her dress damp from the snow. Her feet touched the shoveled stone street and she took the opportunity to shake the snow from the edge. "Kursed weather," she muttered. "Insekts... Taken down by worthless, insignifikant, insekts!" She practically yelled the last part, earning her the stares of several passerby.

She had been cursing Squall and his friends for several days now for disrupting the flow of time and space and ruining time compression. She had thought she would die but instead she had been thrown into this disgusting world. It was better than being dead though.

Walking up to one of the humes on the street, she held her imposing stature, commanding, "Where is this place?" The hume was a hardened man, having worked in the Cursa Mines for over ten years. Unimpressed by the clearly extravagant newfolk woman in front of him, he merely answered in the same tone he gave the overseers, an buisnesslike tone that gave nothing away.

"This is Cursa. It's a mining town. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back down there and help mine some of the gold pockets." He sidestepped around Ultimecia and continued on his way. "Kursa?" she asked, a bemused expression on her face. "He said gold... An excellent place to begin my subjugation of this pitiful world."

She laughed, casting a flare spell into the nearest house, collapsing a wall and setting some of the wooden trim aflame. "Bow down before your Queen, the Sorceress of the Future. As they have persekuted me, so shall you find yourselves under my reign," she called out, an open challenge.

Her challenge was answered by the militia, approximately 12 men, armed with iron swords and spears. "Is this all this pathetik town has to send against me? Fine, then you shall perish!"

One stood to the forefront and pointed his sword at Ultimecia. "Do not take us lightly, Sorceress," he said the last word as though it were a vile taste in his mouth, obviously not one for those who used magic. Ultimecia narrowed her eyes at this offender, the spark of his words igniting the flame of rage within her. She cast a holy spell on the man, blasting him into unconsciousness.

Seeing their leader fall, the rest charged her, only to fall to a Maelstrom spell. She walked past the exhausted men. Already tired from the day's work, the Maelstrom spell took an especially heavy toll on them. They were alive but had no stamina to fight.

Ultimecia laughed, casting a meltdown spell through the door of the tavern, blowing a hole through it and charring a table int he way. "Will you submit to your master now?" she laughed as the people ran in all directions trying to find some form of safety.

[Seru]

When he saw the fires, Selferas had shed all pretense, and made a leap down the mountain, landing in a small crater across the town from Ultimecia. His eyes were quick to assess the damage. He saw a wounded civilian, and grabbed him, dragging the unconcious man behind a building, feeding, rejuvenating the lost strength from such a leap, as well as rebuilding his Manna reserves.

Punching in the window above him, he tossed the body inside, to keep him safe from the cold, and stepped out into the open, keeping cover between himself and the crazed mage. "And I just wanted to have a drink." He looked back at her, and flicked his wrist out, a Shuriken finding it's way to the palm of his hand. Keeping an eye on the surroundings, he noted several militia unconcious or dead.

He timed his shallow breaths, and stepped out from behind cover, unleashing the Shuriken at the Sorceress, aiming to hit her in the shoulder, and stepped back behind the building, taking corner cover again. He then looked at the buildings around him, and smiled, a plan forming. He began to burrow into the snow.

[Zell]

Within the ruble of bar the that was just blasted by the wild spell an armored figured arose. Why does every place in this world welcome attacks?! As Gabranth walked out into the open town he saw people scurrying about as a meniacal witch laughed at her handy work, he walked towards the town towards her the last bit of debris fell from the horn on his helm.

"You find this funny, witch?!" He yelled as he broke his swords apart. "Does it make you feel powerful to smite those weaker than yourself?!" Gabranth pace quickened and eventually became a run towards the women. "Your crimes shall be answered for." Gabranth skidded and spun launching Innocence at an almost point blank range.

[Irvine]

Seirait:

The heavy steel giant slid down the snowy east slope, Seirait riding atop it, having dropped the villager off with a group that had been fleeing. The giant leapt and they landed in the middle of the street with a slam. Seirait quickly surveyed the damage. "Unavoidable," he said. He watched the sorceress and the armored man she was fighting.

Regardless of the conditions, they needed to be stopped. Together they could easily level the town. "Subdue them," he commanded. 'Neither of them fit any of the marks. We can deal with this on our own, maybe get something out of it,' he thought.

Worker 4 opened its chest, blasting three beams of energy at the armored figure. 'That explains what the cannons are for,' Seirait thought leaping off. He pulled out his Dancing Wolf, twirled it once and leapt into the fray, firing it at the woman.


Ultimecia:

Ultimecia watched with amusement as the armored man attacked her. "Of kourse I find it funny, as you say. Would you not enjoy making the worms that kontrolled your life pay reparations? What krime have I commited? I merely seek retribution."

She expected an attack. What she did not expect was four of them. She dodged the first easily enough, the second almost nipped her but the third and fourth hit her directly. She missed the shuriken that flew by, accidently dodging it with the first Innocence attack.

Standing back up, having fallen from Innocence, and scowled. "You would dare to attack me? Then perish as SeeD should!" She cast Bio on Gabranth, to begin his painful death with poison. As soon as she finished she jumped back as a bladed chain struck the ground where she had been standing.

Averting her gaze for a short look at where it had come from, she saw Seirait bringing his weapon back in. As it took its normal form she noticed its similarity not only to that accursed Squall's weapon, but to Seifer's as well.

"Another SeeD come to kill me? It seems I kannot eskape them even here! You shall fall as he should have!" She cast Drain on him, hoping to restore her health.

[Seru]

Once he heard Seiraits voice, and the second spell being Cast, there was suddenly a Knight bursting from the snow. "ORSALO LUX! AURORA! EXHALE BLOODY AIR! UNHOLY DARKNESS!" She dared attack HIS friend? She would know suffering. She would know Darkness. And she would know pain. "None may attack the Kinsmen of Light, lest they know the fury of Heaven!

[Zell]

Gabranth dodged the Bio spell but in that motion got caught by explosion from the sudden combatants attack. Gabranth then pulled himself from the snow after being thrown across the field. "Thats it!" Gabranth was surrounded by a fierce aura from the Dragon Force spell he just casted on himself.

Gabranth took off across the field towards the giant figure that attacked him and jumped into the air close to the beast, a visible sphere of aura began swirling around him, the intensity of it growing every second. "Perish!" Gabranth then launched the Hatred attack, the sphere blasted off violently, crushing everything in its path.

[Irvine]

Seirait:

Though he could feel his strength being sapped, Seirait smiled as Ultimecia seemed to recognize him. "So then you know about us. SeeD, the elite mercenary troops of garden. Though I would want to know who I remind you of."

As soon as he had spoken, the sorceress was blasted by Selferas' Dark Holy spell, taking back the life gained and then some. Seirait remembered it was the same spell he had cast in the desert. "Selferas, I have this one. Force the other to stand down."

He fired his weapon again, this time whipping it around to encircle Ultimecia and bind her. Behind him, Worker 4 reeled backward slightly from the blow but came back, aiming a sparking punch at Gabranth's chest.


Ultimecia:

Ultimecia was refreshed for only a short while. Only a few seconds later she had it taken away with interest as the black screams surrounded her. She fell down to one knee, gasping for breath. "You speak...of the fury of heaven? You...have yet to know...the fury of a sorceress!" she raged.

Standing back up she cast a Meltdown spell at the new attacker standing beside Seirait. From the corner of her eye she saw the bladed chain arcing towards her. She quickly cast a flare spell at it, the explosion sending smoke into the air and knocking the weapon back.

Her laughter could be heard over the explosion. "Don't worry, you will soon meet him. Once I kill you and return to my own time, I'll kill him too."

[Seru]

Selferas felt the non elemental magic blast into him, but he growled, as he felt the spell attempt to take something that did not exist. He shook off the feeling of weakness, but realized his energy from his recent meal was gone.

Turning, he looked over at Gabranth. "Knight, your fight is with me! I am Peter Shadowwing, Knight Templar of Clan Lux. Draw your sword, and prepare to face the fury of a Nightblade!" He drew his Rune Blade, and crossed the distance between himself and Gabranth, leaping over some rubble with little trouble.

[Zell]

The giants fist slammed Gabranth into the snow yards away from his previous location. Blasted machine! Gabranth pulled himself to his feet and then heard a voice call out to him. Clan Lux?- But before he could put it all together the man charged him, without hesitation Gabranth readied his blades and charged at the man also.

"I have no quarrel with you! I came seeking Clan Lux!" With his Highway Star held in a reverse grip he attempted to disarm the man and then maybe get some information of Clan Lux and their whereabouts.

[Seru]

Selferas let the Rune blade fly out of his hand, and leapt, up and over Gabranth, grabbing it, and landing behind the man. "If you wish to stand with us, then let us ready our blades against the Sorceress who threatens this fair land!" He inhaled, his hunger awakening, seeing Ultimecia. "Master of all swords." The sky darkened, the clouds turning black. Above Ultimecia, a great bejewleled eye, Ruby red, weeping red ephemeral fluid, appeared. Encasing it was brass, like hellish steel. "Cut energy...." The fluid fell on the Sorceress, and then... It exploded upward, a stalactite of red Ice. "SANGUINE SWORD!"

[Zell]

Once his sword disarmed the man he swung with the Chaos Blade but claimed nothing but air, he looked up to see the man dive right over him.

"If you wish to stand with us, then let us ready our blades against the Sorceress who threatens this fair land!" Gabranth watched as the man launched an attack at the "Sorceress". "So these are the Clan's member's?" Gabranth then turned his attention back to Ultimecia who was under heavy assault. Gabranth inhaled deeply before his voiced echoed beneath his helm. "So be it! This criminal has been judged...Guilty!" With a tight grip on both swords he unleashed another flurry of Innocence, the three blades flew at the Sorceress right behind the previous attack.

[Irvine]

[OOC: Combo/Wrap-up post. This is also where i will begin making the combination techniques for Seirait's spellblade atacks. I will name them and edit the ability list accordingly.]

Through the smoke of the explosion a hole was formed, a spear of thunder lancing through. Ultimecia jumped to the side as it passed only to be hit by Selferas' Sanguine Sword. "Meddling fool!" she muttered. She prepared to cast a holy spell in response but was interrupted by Gabranth's Innocence attack. This time she was ready for them dodging them all, now being further away. She readied the spell again only to have it broken again by Seirait charging through the smoke at her.

His hair was out of his face and both eyes were visible. Before Ultimecia could tell, he was already in front of her, having cast haste on himself whle on the move. "I don't plan on joining anyone," he leered. She just managed to dodge as he brought his weapon crashing into the snow.

She counterattacked with a bio spell, hoping to poison the SeeD. It hit him but he only smiled at it. He stood there and tossed his Dancing Wolf into the air. Clapping his hands together, he cast both Thundara and Blizzara, creating a giant icicle charged with electricity that flew at Ultimecia.

He leapt up to catch his blade as it it spun through the air and brought it back down releasing the chain. A few deft movements and he had cut the icicle into shards, electrified shards that were now flying at Ultimecia [Blitz Hail].

Ultimecia tried to cast another Meltdown spell to dissolve the ice but she failed, drained as she was by the combined attacks of the three men. She was struck by most of the pieces, jolted by electricity and frozen by ice.

"Damned SeeD..." she muttered, on one knee in the snow. 'Maybe it wasn't Squall. It was this one...' She stood back up, breath heavy, slightly off balance but clearly still dangerous. "It's not going to be you," she sneered. She cast another flare spell, aiming at Seirait.

He was already racing toward her though. Seirait quickly counter-casted his own flare spell. He came through the smoke and stopped just as his blade touched Ultimecia's neck.

"As I see it, there are three options. One, I kill you where you stand. Two, I leave you at the mercy of this town. I expect they wont be too kind to you. The third option is probably what will interest you the most. You see, there is no price on your head so we have no need to call a judge. You are in our jurisdiction alone."

"That being said, I can offer you this choice: join Clan Lux. I offer sanctuary to those who would desire it, reality to those who believe. I care not who you are or your past. You are a sorceress; that is all. If you would join us then you would be an ally, a comrade. We shall protect you and in turn you shall protect us."

"Now then, make your choice."

Ultimecia stood there, feeling the cold steel against the flesh of her neck. "Not much of a choice..." she murmured. "Reality is harsh," Seirait answered coldly.

She didn't believe Seirait's words. SeeD was meant to kill her. But then he was right. Either she would die by his blade now or by the townspeople. She scowled internally at both ideas, moreso at the first. 'To be killed by a blade I had enslaved...' But he had made an error! He was offering to let her live. She would use this Clan Lux for her own purposes while working inside them.

She refused to admit though that it was her own fear of death that was pushing her towards this choice. "Fine then. I yield," she said grudgingly.

Seirait removed the blade from her throat and offered her his empty hand instead. She took it in her own and sealed the deal. "Contract sealed," Seirait said. "What kontrakt?" she asked. "The one where you joined us. It's just a way i make sure you know exactly what you've stepped into," he smirked.

"What is the status of the other one?" he called out to Selferas.

[Seru]

Peter Shadowwing smiled, seeing two new allies for his clanmates. "The Knight was seeking us out, Seirait!" He chuckled, a warmth in his voice. "And a Sorceress to join our force of arms as well? We have been blessed." Selferas closed his eyes, quietly thankful he did not have to slay the Sorceress, or the Knight. It would be far to much in the way of damage to the town. And he was not sure he could have won that fight.