Argenti's Palace

[beautifulknight]

The stage is set they say;
They don their masks and shields,
Shadows creep and cover their minds;
Now, what beautiful role shall they play?

𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮


♫

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FIRST BATTLE PHASE ROUND 4̸̨̳̹̹̤̬̜͖̰̙̳̳͈̼̒̓̓͋̎̍͋͜

[beautifulknight]

[ There's not even a sound even as the freight train of electrical thunderous rage from Fray connects with the Shadow, more fractures appearing following the hit. Then Kirumi is next, her Nuclear spell hitting him hard, and there's the sound of something splitting in the foundation as she exploits the Shadow's elemental weakness to great success!

Then there's Maika pouncing on the Shadow with incredible ferocity claws out and about, ready to rip and tear through through what's left.

More pieces begin to fall. It becomes clear to everyone soon enough:

The state of the Shadow is due to fall apart in its entirety soon.

Only perhaps lasting perhaps longer due to Aerith's well-timed Brainwashed Diarama! But, of course, it also wouldn't be Argenti if he didn't stubbornly persist for one more round. Yet, at all of the words that might be said, Argenti suddenly focuses on what Falin says. ]

...Back home...and here...

[ ... ]

...Fight for me...

[ Argenti's voice grows distant, but firm, sing-song and gentle as he directs his "request" first towards Fray.

Fray is inflicted immediately with Brainwash! Argenti suddenly casts Tarukaja on Fray right after, raising his attack!

But, he doesn't stop there. He doesn't even bother singing, but the tone of voice is like a song to three others. ]

Yes...All of you...

F̴̨͉̞͕̘̞̮̤͚̯̪͔̬͍̠̟̍̓͑̏͋́̏͌̕͠ight on my side.

[ Next is Izou, who falls under the charm, Eli as well, followed by Maika as well. Indeed all four are now Brainwashed and willing to take an action that will benefit the enemy!

With one armed swing the staff misses Falin (4), catches Kirumi (16), and hits Mafuyu pretty hard (20) right then and there. After that, even the arm crumbles, and the staff falls to the ground.

But that doesn't stop this Shadow from casting Mapsiodyne on Mafuyu, Céleste, Aaron, and Richard! By which I mean miss totally (7, 4, 5, 8)]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ ...oh. There goes all the dogs. Eli struggles a moment before turning quickly on his friends, unable to ignore the statue's song. Fight, he'll fight for Argenti.

He's a fast guy, making his move before anyone even has a chance to free him, and he does, unfortunately, make a beeline straight for Celeste. Less unfortunately is how he has trouble hitting the vampire both times he tries Giant Slice on him (6, 10), so it isn't as bad as it could be, sudden betrayal aside. ]

[cirquedesang]

[You're lucky he can backflip away from you?? He doesn't want to think about the guilt that would come if you got his blood on your hands, my guy.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Yeah, Avrae literally said Eli's bad at betraying people, amazing. Anyway, Falin fixes him and he stumbles to a halt. ]

Huh?! What the fuck...?

[ confused dog look ]

[bloodweapon]

[He doesn't have to be asked twice. It's not as though Fray wants to fight Argenti, after all. He's doing this because he must, because he can't see another way forward that doesn't involve conflict, so it is dreadfully easy to fall prey to those words and turn his attention back on the others, eyes glowing red.

Immediately he turns on Sayaka; she's a bit too far away for the giant blade, which is perhaps the one good thing here because he casts Mazio instead. The Electric damage will also target Richard (3), Izou (4), and Eli (14). Better look out, gang!!]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ HE'S ON YOUR SIDE, CAN OPENER?! Well, that's embarrassing. First he fails to hit Celeste, now this? Electrocuted on top of that! ]

[destage]

Augh!!

[Yeah, it doesn't take long for Sayaka to fall to the ground at that--the lightning hits it's mark and sends her to the ground, and Atropos flies in front of it's master and spreads it's hands wide. It can't exactly do much, but it's not like Sayaka can protect herself at this point.]

[ledbythewind]

[RUDE. But thanks for having terrible dice luck, Fray--]

[destage]

[Sayaka's terrified. Even Atropos can't properly fire off an Agilao (6), sensing the fear in her partner. Sayaka's terrified, and she doesn't know what to do--she can't heal like the others can, she's not strong enough, she's not strong enough--

But she tries to persist nonetheless. Something in her finally snaps, and she knows she's probably going to be hurt, but--

Sensing her little lady's resolve...]

...Stop...

[Sayaka rises up from the ground, tears forming in her eyes, and her grip on her knives is terribly tight. If she doesn't attack now, they could all die.]

Stop hurting our friends, the real Argenti wouldn't want this!!

[Atropos smirks, gently, and sends a fiercer Agilao (18) at the shadow, as Sayaka stands and lets her tears fall.]

Don't you see this, Argenti? Don't you see that we're willing to keep fighting--to keep persisting in the face of this, to help you?

We don't care what sort of monster you've become. We don't care what sort of monster you could be at the end of all of this. That doesn't erase the good you've done--it never will!

Isn't there still beauty in choosing to do good, despite the actions you've committed?!

[chimken]

[ Falin thankfully doesn't take a hit, again, before she tries Bon Appetit on the shadow again, immediately swallowing him and spitting him back out with light Bless damage (17). ]

We are fighting for you! Fighting to help you!

[ Quickly, she focuses her Persona on Izou, Eli and Maika to use Energy Shower so they can clear the brainwash as fast as possible. ]

[bloodandstars]

[ ...And then the Energy Shower lands and the voices ebb into silence again. And what have we learned about saying to our healers? ]

Fuck. Forget breaking the armor. I'm going to roast that asshole inside it—

[ Wait, not that. And she's not even fire element. ]

...Thanks.

[goei]

[Once Mafuyu's no longer in life threatening condition;]

Thanks, Blondie. And Yeah!

[Turning to Theirgenti]

What she said, you damn idiot!

[goei]

[As Izou finally gets back on his feet, he realizes what they're doing doesn't make sense. Hasn't Argenti always stood up for him? No matter what, he's believed in Izou.

Anyone who doesn't see that is in the way. And the first person who's in his way... is Mafuyu. Quick as lightning, Izou is drawing his sword and striking his blade entirely through Mafuyu's abdomen. (18)]

This is... Divine punishment!

[beathollow]

( mafuyu's already trying to keep herself up in the wake of the staff- the first time that she's cried out all night... she doesn't see izou moving until it's too late and there's an unfamiliar, horrible pain and a horrible smile on izou's face.

more than she's in pain, she's just-

stunned. )

I...zou?

[imperiosity]

[Hm. Maybe he shouldn't have complained about the brainwashing effects because now it's worse!! Great!!! But okay since they're kind of down four people at the moment, he will toss a Media at Kirumi, Mafuyu and Sayaka, a Rakukaja at Kirumi because of the whole weak point thing and then he'll toss a Giant Slash (14) at the statue.]

[destage]

[In lieu of Sayaka saying thanks (she's a little too busy crying), Atropos looks to Aaron and shoots him an appreciative look.]

[beathollow]

( once she can stand again, because that was a crit and a near crit that nearly took her the fuck out- )

Thank you-!!

[gardenful]

[ Quickly, Aerith casts Media on herself, Falin, Kirumi, and Mafuyu. ]

We're already on your side, Argenti! None of us want to fight you. You don't even need to use spells to get us onto your side. All you have to do is be yourself again.

[ She uses Aroma-terror-py against him for light Bless damage, but... misses (9). This is starting to be too much for her, and it's showing in her lack of focus. ]

[beathollow]

Thank you!

[bloodandstars]

[ Oh. This... isn't new. Singing in her mind, in her blood, telling her to tear and crush and burn and their voices sound l̸͇̐i̸̯͌k̷͎̈́e̶̪͗ ̶̖̿t̵̪̒h̵͚́e̵͉̔ ̴̜͠s̴̩̀ţ̵̆ǎ̶̢r̷͇͝s̴̖͋.

Maika gives a low, furious growl and whips her head towards the first target she spots — unlucky Kirumi. Or lucky Kirumi, because in Maika's (always) furious state, she doesn't take much care to aim either wild slash (8, 6). ]

[kandata]

[Kirumi, having seen Maika attack Argenti so bravely, she applies Rakukaja onto her! With the bad luck that it's right before the brainwashing happens, and also when a staff hits her. Kirumi is a competent gal but there's only so much competence can help when you're getting wrecked]

No...!

[Maika gets extra defense, and Kirumi is forced to use Dia on herself for the sake of survival]

[bloodandstars]

[ SHAME... Maika will remember this, too. She owes Kirumi one. A couple. Less than she'd owe her if she'd hit. ]

[beathollow]

( with her utility actions used- a diarama for herself and marakukaja for herseld, richard, izou and celeste- mafuyu forces herself to her feet and casts jack pot sad shot (11) for psy damage. )

[vogelfrei]

[ Though he's not joining the huddle around Mafuyu for reasons such as 'emotional constipation' and 'his player was asleep' that doesn't mean McGillis isn't also stressed about what happened here. He tosses her a Dia and a Rakukaja from afar, before turning his attention back to Argenti.

They're almost there now, just a bit more... McGillis' Giant Slice even lands for once. (16) ]

[beathollow]

( it's for the best, in a sense- his concern is clear, but if more people gathered around her, not only would they be sitting ducks, but she's pretty sure she would feel horribly guilty for the crime of (checks notes) being attacked.

as she's able to stand properly and regain herself, maybe it will offer him some reassurance. )

--Thank you...