Cain felt a thrill rush through it as the dragon's breath pushed cold air underneath its wings from a harmless distance. The lights were beginning to return, and so its crimson eyes gleamed intently at its target. Below, the army of Order began its retreat, flanks guarded by swarms of Praetors. Master Vargas called for them to regroup, but Asimona's rage was still fresh and hot, and that made the army of Chaos a waiting target.

It reached toward Master Vargas's voice with its magic, sparing only a fleeting glance as it flitted past Asmonia, just out of reach. Master, the connection was weak, but the words that came through were sharp and clear, I'll lure the dragon away and regroup soon. There wasn't enough time to reinforce the link and give clearer explanation, but it was suitable enough.

"You call yourself a dragon!" Cain yowled, fueling the fire that would-- ideally-- keep her attention locked on the Overseer. "You can't even touch me," It sneered before it swept away from the battlefield. It made for the dense forests further inland, staying high and obvious for the dragon to follow.

@Asimona ; exit, I'll be posting a separate thread for them to duke it out
@Master Vargas for visibility

It struck. The creatures, whatever they were, refused to bleed, their tasteless not-blood as disconcerting as the rest of the experience of war. The Zoisite lurched after its retreating foe, driven by the bellowing of its Master, until...

COME.

The Zoisite, nothing more than a tool, froze at the command. It swung its glowing head toward the source of the sound, jaws clacking. It turned and crawled through the sand, finding itself somehow uninjured despite the chaos. But exhaustion came sure enough as the adrenaline vanished, and it struggled to raise its head once it reached its Master.

"We won?" It asked dully, golden eyes searching for approval. There was a pause, however, as it turned to look for Labradorite in the gathered-- and no where was it to be seen. Chrysalises dotted the shore, those of Order and those of the Forge. The numb feeling that rested in its chest grew tighter, crushing its lungs and filling it with a cold nothingness that made it hard to breathe.

It followed its Master, turning away from the shore.

exit!

Even if it could not been seen, Rue hears the roaring flames, and smells the inky smoke. They howl in excitement, imagining the ordered flesh being burnt to ashes.

Vargas's commands for once would not land on deaf ears - Rue's excitement for more seeming inevitable coming battles makes them eager to listen for once. "We will hunt them down! Show your ugly ugly faces, you ugly white things!" they cackle back, padding after Vargas.

Perhaps they'd be useful as a scout... if they could be convinced to not immediately jump into combat, spells blazing.

Exit Rue

They had lost, this time - while mother reassured them that they had done so much already, that this surrender was justified by the effort - it could not help feel like it hadn't done enough. A red eye followed the bright green blood where it fell, another fixed on the deep scores it had carved in the other titan's flesh. It was not nearly close to what it had wanted, which was nothing short of destruction, but Mother knows best.

His joints ached, his injuries stung with sand. It was time to go home - despite the feeling that boiled under his carapace, he was too exhausted to object.

[exit Jugs]

At first, there'd been the brief glimmer of a hope that he would make it in time to spare another of his siblings from falling to these disorganized brutes. The satisfying impact of his stinger burying into flesh and the pained screams accompanying it had unleashed a broad toothy grin, the knowledge he'd eliminated another nuisance in the way of his prime objective further fuel for the battle lust blazing through heartstrings. He had whooped victory and wheeled in the air, extending senses along his link to try and determine where the real fight had to be brought. To see if these Chaos clowns could defend against a challenger who'd yet to fall for any of their stupid tricks and had plenty of hurt left to give them.

But the sharp bolt of agony that lanced across his jaw communicated action had been far too late. Alcina's consciousness tore away as surely as her teeth had been. A flickering plea requesting forgiveness was the final message sent before she toppled into darkness, a greater and more smothering one than that of the battlefield. Although he could not see, anger defied the fact: red devoured his vision, hatred smoldering to the soldier's very core.

"Cowards," he bellowed. "I don't need light to know how little spine you have! Bring it back, if you dare, and I'll show you how a true fighter wins his battles!"

Even without sight, he itched to take them on. Craved to demonstrate that they'd targeted weaker prey thus far, and none had a chance of dealing with the likes of him. They wanted to take limbs, steal jaws, impale their betters on flimsy sticks? He could play that game too, and far more skillfully than they could ever dream of.

So much he still desired to do, and yet he was Order; once Mother commanded, her word reigned regardless of the combat-seeking trait woven into his spirit. As the remaining members of his unit departed, his love for her forced him to turn away from those who invited his wrath. He brought up the rear of their retreat, airborne cover for the wounded and landbound. This did not mean he was pacified though. Any jeers that followed them were answered in kind.

"Oh, that's rich! You want to talk about ugly faces? Maybe next time don't hide your drooling ones so I can tear out your slime-coated tongues!"

Such big words for those who slunk in shadows. Ace wondered how these boasts had any chance of holding up when they entirely lacked the backbone to support them. Perhaps he'd learn once the opportunity allowed him to open one of these scumbags up and discover what putrid mess made them tick.

-Exit Ace

He wished for blood to spill from the creature, no matter the color or temperature. He wanted to taste the essence of life draining from the juggernaut's body as he ripped away limp and flesh, but all that came out was strange glassy shards, as if he'd just ruptured a delicate vase instead of a monstrous abomination of Order. He snarled and reached to rip at more, to keep tearing and destroying until the creature was silent.

But-

His following strikes only found the hard chitin of another creature, ripping at the carapace of one of the insects that had swarmed in the wake of the Drones. He snarled, trying to shove it aside to make after his target, but it was persistent, tearing at him with its mandibles and demanding he finish it off first.

With a roar he turned and grabbed at it with all four arms, two on the shoulders, two on the body, claws sinking in deep, and then tearing out in all directions with brutal strength. There was a horrible ripping sound as the Praetor was torn apart and glassy webbing exploded in all directions. Azrael had already shielded his face with his wings in preparation, seeing the same thing happen to Vargas only moments before, keeping himself from being infected again.

A series of sick thumps announced the Praetor's complete destruction as Azrael released its body parts to fall carelessly to the ground, turning to follow Vargas out with anger brewing in his wake. Rage. Hatred. He had not killed enough, he had not tasted the blood he wanted. He had not hurt Mother the way he had been dreaming of for so many cycles!

But it was a victory, at the very least. There would be more chances to kill her sick little family in the future.

*Exit

Siren will awaken inflicted with a new chrysalis consequence:

Minor Rupture. A spiky cluster of the character's gemstone erupts somewhere on their body; a result of them using too much magic, their stone tries to make more of itself. Destruction of this gem can harm them, but if their main stone is destroyed, this one is NOT enough to keep them alive. It cannot be used to give stone. This consequence cannot be healed by chrysalis.

This cluster of stone will take the shape of a cluster of cubes on a tentacle to one side of Siren's body. Unfortunately this is assymetrical; Cleaners may periodically attempt to remove it while Siren visits the Hive tunnels, possibly painfully, until Mother can wrest control to pull them away. It may also be an irritating presence given its asymmetrical nature.

---

Alcina will also awaken inflicted with a chrysalis consequence:

Minor Wither. The character emerges weak, exhausted, thinner and a little withered. They will be easily tired and both physically and magically less strong. This consequence CAN be healed by chrysalis.

Alcina's weariness will not be as intense as it could be... but she will notice the difference nonetheless, finding her stamina and strength drained.

@Siren @Alcina

so that didn't go as well as she hoped, definitely. all things considered, she atleast distracted ace from going after anybody else, and given the fact flying is DEFINITELY an advantageous position, if she does say so herself, she'll consider that a win.

well, despite the fact of course she's falling to leo's floor at concerning speeds.

her side is killing her, and she can't really move anymore because of all the cringefail poison, so she makes a mental note before she hits the ground to consider a better attack strategy next time. hopefully vargas didn't see too much of that embarassing display, and would let her back into the next war!

its a nice thought to crash to the dirt with, a calm smile on her face, knocking her out cold and breaking a few ribs. eventually, her gem gives her mercy, and wraps her in its crystal beauty.

*exit to chrysalis