Event || The Empire Strikes Back

[melodiesmods]

Characters: Everyone participating in the event
Where: Aqures Ixen
When: July 27th to August 02nd
Summary: The battle for Aqures Ixen is about to begin! The Heroes of Light are going to do their best to defend Aqures Ixen, but will this be enough? Feel free to participate and reply to appropriate threads. New top-level threads will be posted regularly as the battle progresses.
Warning: N/A, will be updated.

July 27th || Mingle
July 28th || Bomb Defusing / Imperial Assault
July 29th || Mingle / Attack on the 13th District / Aerial Battles / Imperial Camp
July 30th || 14th District on Fire / The Hospital / Mognet Office Attacked
July 31st || The Fire Spreads / Betrayals
August 01st || The Second Wave / Ultima Weapon
August 02nd || Final

Comments

[empirenpcs]

[When the image flickers, it disappears altogether before long. However, within a couple seconds following what he's done to attempt putting out the fake flames, real ones appear in place of the fake one he just extinguished. There is very little hope for his hope to get out of this with anything less than a second degree burn.

Yet, this probably means whoever is behind this saw what's happened.]

[forcegalactic]

AH! [His hand is on fire, his hand is on fire! The Barkeep jumps back, slipping on debris and falls on his backside.] How-what just happened?

[The pain in his hand distracts him momentarily, and he douses himself with a quick Cura spell.]

You saw that, didn't you?

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny stumbles back out of the way, pulling Barkeep by the back of his shirt as he does so to get him away from the fire as well.]

Shit. I sure did.

[He quickly turns his head and in place, trying to see if anyone was nearby. But why should he expect to be able to see someone who can cause illusions this strong? They had to get through them somehow.]

Goddamnit, at this rate, they only way we're gonna be able to find 'em is when the whole place is burnt to the ground.

[forcegalactic]

[Barkeep hisses as the last of the burns fade from his hand. The phantom pain remains, and he holds it in the air as he pushes himself up with his uninjured hand.]

They're somewhere close. That had to see it. [He shakes his hand. It doesn't hurt anymore, but the afterburn is there.] Must have one of those Black Mages with them.

[With that, he stares at the new fire. Must larger that the fake one from before, but it's still flickering, though only at the tips. Strange. It's like when he was getting rid of the illusion, but why...?

A drop of water answers that.

Barkeep tilts his head skyward as another shower begins.]

Of course. [He points to the real fire, then to a neighboring one that remains steady and the rain gets heavier.] They aren't accountin' for the rain. That fire's gettin' weaker, but that one keeps on burnin' like nothin'.

I think we found our trackin' method. [He rests his hands on his hips and smiles confidently. Go on, be amazed.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny watches the flames for a few minutes to see what Barkeep was talking about. After a moment, he grins wickedly.]

Good catch, dude. And if I were them, I'd be hidin' in the fake flames. Cuz who's gonna come looking for ya in there?

[He readies his sword and start getting as close as he can to the fake fires, without getting nearer to the real ones. He doesn't want to risk them spiking up again like they did a moment ago. False flames or not, it was still hard to see between the fire, the smoke, the debris and the rain.]

Damnit... Wish I knew some like, water spells or somethin' useful here.

[forcegalactic]

[Barkeep nods. Didn't think of that.] So find where the biggest fake fires are, walk in, and take 'em out. ...Sounds like a terrible plan.

[He grabs onto Johnny's shoulder.]

What we need to do is find Kobato and anyone else to come with us. I'll call a runner so we can all look together and surround the Illusionist AND Black Mage. C'mon, let's keep lookin'.

[He tugs a few times before running down the street, stopping every few steps to catch his breath and search for Heroes and runners.]

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny thought that this idea might give their enemies time to escape, but at the same time, they really should have as many people with them as they could. After a moment of thought, he gives the Barkeep a stern nod and follows after.]

I guess if they can suddenly make fake ones real, then yeah, we'd be screwed. They gotta run out of juice eventually, right? Can't keep up huge spells like this forever.

[forcegalactic]

That's right, but I don't wanna wait until they're done. [He holds up his satchel he'd been carrying yesterday and today and gives it a shake. The sound of glass bottle clinking comes from inside.] They could be like me and thought to buy some elixirs beforehand.

Our only plan is to stop 'em before they burn any more of this place down.

[nomorecowbell]

[Nanami is running up after getting Hari and some of the other volunteers to continue keeping an eye on fires]

Does that mean a fight?

[forcegalactic]

[With more Heroes by his side and a recently-drunk elixir in his stomach, Barkeep nods.]

It's gonna be one hell of a fight, kid. Best be ready for anythin'.