\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Plotlogs/Observers End Sr Ritsuka 241214
Plotlogs

Observers End Sr Ritsuka 241214

In the shadowed city of Haven, nestled near Boston where the supernatural thrives amidst endless conflict, a decisive battle unfolds. Illyana, alongside Ash, William, and Ceryn, spearheads an operation to dismantle the AG underground laboratory's inhuman experiments led by the notorious Renjiro. Gathering forces including the Hand's Shadows and Keepers, Vengeance initiates, and anarchists among others, they embark on a mission fueled by the hope of eradicating the oppressive force that Renjiro and his Golden Shadow mercenaries represent.

The group, armed with an array of tactical advantages including information from the unwilling Hiroshi Takeda and magical abilities, confronts the defenses head-on. Despite encountering deadly traps and enhanced security, including turrets, cameras, and genetically engineered monstrosities, their combined might paves the way through the laboratory's levels.

The narrative reaches critical intensity as Illyana, embodying wrath and determination, leads the charge into the heart of the facility. Ash and William provide support through hacking and illusions, manipulating the battlefield to their advantage. Despite the relentless assault from Renjiro's forces, including an abomination of fused bodies and elite mercenaries, the group pushes forward, unyielding in their quest.

Renjiro's downfall is marked by desperation and a grotesque end; faced with defeat, he chooses suicide through a grim display of biomancy, denying Illyana the satisfaction of delivering the final blow. His self-destruction signifies not just his physical demise but the collapse of his reign of terror over Haven.

The mission concludes with the operatives setting explosive charges, ensuring that the remnants of Renjiro's horrors are obliterated. As they vacate the premises, the implications of their actions loom large; the fall of a tyrant and the liberation of countless souls from unspeakable suffering herald a new chapter for Haven. The operation, though bathing the city in blood and shadow one final time, promises the dawn of peace, albeit fragile and uncertain.

In the aftermath, the specter of Renjiro's misdeeds continues to haunt the survivors, but the resolve of Illyana and her allies remains unshaken. They stand as guardians of the night, ready to confront whatever darkness may rise from the ashes of the laboratory's destruction. The battle may be over, but the war for the soul of Haven endures, fought in the shadows by those who refuse to let evil prevail.
(Observer's End(SRRitsuka):SRRitsuka)

[Fri Dec 13 2024]

On Haven
Haven City is a shadowed city nestled at the coast near Boston, Massachusetts. Supernatural beings thrive and struggle under the endless conflict between bustling urban life. To the northwest lies White Oak University, an institution where supernatural study to control their abilities and also features a clinic for not so great experimentation on live people. But the university tends to draw both humans and supernaturals alike. The city is surrounded by endless forests that cover god knows what in its perpetual mist, and a lighthouse still peers and shines over it, guiding people back to a more safe harbor to the city.

It is afternoon, about 26F(-3C) degrees,

Ash catches up with Illyana with a nod, drawling, "Howdy. I got us some backup... are you ready for this?" Though they're fully covered, Illyana can recognize that Tejano accent, if not the shape and form of Ash.

Illyana nods. "I got us a Bill when he bothers showing."

Ceryn ticks off a two-fingered wave to Illyana, "Howdy."

"I also got a couple of Ritsuka's criminals, a number of Anarchs from the group to be formerly known as Disruptors, and a couple of initiates from Vengeance. You should call for some Keepers." Illyana suggests. "I want this to be a blood bath."

Ash nods to Illyana before counting out, "Besides Ryn, I got us quite a few Hand personnel - I talked to the President last night and got approval to use Keepers instead of just Shadows. So, half a force of Shadow 'ninjas', half a force of Keepers- yeah, I did." They nod to Illyana as she says as much, before asking, "...formerly known as the Disruptors? I haven't been paying much attention... did they disband?"

"Not yet, but Fayad's lost it, Emmanuel's Temple and Novel's in charge now." Illyana shares. "We want to focus on the actual objective; Get rid of Vetr and the other issues who are oppressing, leaving the innocent and leaving Selina well the fuck alone. Oh and we should have some of my people from the Free after I told them what Renjiro was doing."

Ash makes a face at the idea of Novel in charge, but nod to Illyana. "Focus is good, then. Societies without direction crumble from within, unless it's changed. By the way, Ryn and I are dating now." They turn to William as he arrives, and while their face doesn't light up (being under a mask), their voice sure does. "Bill! It's Ash! So great to see you, feels like it's been forever, even though... that was maybe a week ago? Time's an illusion."

"Oh hey, Bill. Fashionably late." Illyana greets William. To Ceryn, Illyana asks, "Ash told you the objective?"

Ceryn hums lightly to Illyana before gesturing vaguely, "Was a bit of a last-second brief, I don't completely get it but I reckon I can take hints from how things go. I'm pretty good at adapting on the fly. Just let me know if you need my mancy but I'm mostly here to support." He flicks a thumbs-up.

Illyana looks between Ceryn and Ash, nodding. "Great stuff. I'm single. Ivy keeps dipping and the supernatural bond was slowly killing me."

William points at Ash "Illusion yes, something like that..." Before turning to Illyana "I fell into a dreamworld, not easy to get out of there just like that- Sorry for the delay"

Long story short." Illyana explains happily, "If it's not Hand, Disruptor, Vengeance or Free, it all dies.""

It, perhaps, does not come as a surprise as the group gathered up again as the day had finally come to bring an end to the AG underground laboratory that carries its own horrors separate from Haven's own or that of the Gates. Illyana and Ash have done what they thought would be good enough to undertake this, or, to a point, all that was in their ability to accomplish this. Joining their group in their request are William and Ceryn. The Hand provided its own group of people, Shadows and Keepers, under direction of Ash's co leadership, while someone received people not just from Vengeance or the Disruptors, but also a group from the Free and a team from those that had been raiding the brothels in the recent, too. They only introduced themselves as the Iron Camellia, Yuki is her name, said the leader of this particular group, though none of them look the type that one would expect from gang warfare. They look more like professional soldiers, and they all have their faces entirely covered. They had also brought a man: Hiroshi Takeda.

Hiroshi Takeda looks to be just a touch uncomfortable about being presented and by appearance, he has a rounder face and is one of those few Japanese men that are a touch overweight. It is not quite sure if he was their captive or if it was a conditional exchange, but he is willing to provide the information that they wanted from him. He tells Ash and Illyana that Renjiro had hired the Golden Shadow in preparation. Some of their teams have been sent down as additional security. Men and women with rifles and others with shields and stun batons in heavy riot gear. He also manages to provide notes on changes that had been down on the lower floor, in the way that some workers came to open it up more, but he is not sure what exactly was changed.

The party does also remember information and sights it had witnessed previously in the facility:

The normal entrance has turrets positioned to defend it, cameras, a fenced off perimeter, distance between the fence with camera poles outside and the forest, a stealthy approach would be impossible without hacking them, but the system was also an isolated one, and extending further underground, the radio signal suppression would mean there is no communication between groups. There is also that the nightmare can be entered from within the facility, but not the facility from the nightmare.
someone first floor was largely just regular laboratories. And Tekeda very much will contribute that the first sub-level floor is almost always empty, and that even the Golden Shadow security had never been on the floor. It is also where his own office is located. It would be the safest and easiest route down, but the way forward would be a touch more difficult if the party is discovered.

The second sub level floor held the security detail on the last visit, and it is where certain horrors were kept in their own rooms and places. Sadly, there is no precise knowledge on what these creatures are, beyond a footnote that some of these eels had escaped in the recent months and caused harm to Haven. With the manpower provided they can probably face those with minimal casualties, but this is under the presumption that they face them without the Golden Shadow around the corner. This floor was also where the security detail held their weapons. It could be useful for resupplying ammunition, as the hallways are narrow enough to be a problem.

And the third sub level, that is where the most hated and despicable Renjiro has his office. The party remembers that they had two ninjas from the Dynasty with them in addition to a fleshformed monstrosity tampered together from various body parts and people. It is also where the children are being tested on, where the godling was being used in disease experimentation. This floor should most certainly mean that everyone there should have a mask for protection. There has been some reconstruction, from what Takeda had told them, so this floor, if pathing works, would be both the most risky but also the most daring floor, and risk means to expect high casualties.

In addition to that, The Free had asked Illyana to help them uncover a file on three Angelborn, among them, a familiar-named Angelborn known as Patricia, and to help in this, they gave her a team of mercs.

For Ash on the other hand, there were contacts in the Hanshin Group. They began to distance themselves from the whole affair when the report came that the Dynasty had taken the facility and using their resources for their own ends. They asked Ash to recover data on experiments, located on the second floor.

It, perhaps, does not come as a surprise as the group gathered up again as the day had finally come to bring an end to the AG underground laboratory that carries its own horrors separate from Haven's own or that of the Gates. Illyana and Ash have done what they thought would be good enough to undertake this, or, to a point, all that was in their ability to accomplish this. Joining their group in their request are William and Ceryn. The Hand provided its own group of people, Shadows and Keepers, under direction of Ash's co leadership, while Illyana received people not just from Vengeance or the Disruptors, but also a group from the Free and a team from those that had been raiding the brothels in the recent, too. They only introduced themselves as the Iron Camellia, Yuki is her name, said the leader of this particular group, though none of them look the type that one would expect from gang warfare. They look more like professional soldiers, and they all have their faces entirely covered. They had also brought a man: Hiroshi Takeda.

Hiroshi Takeda looks to be just a touch uncomfortable about being presented and by appearance, he has a rounder face and is one of those few Japanese men that are a touch overweight. It is not quite sure if he was their captive or if it was a conditional exchange, but he is willing to provide the information that they wanted from him. He tells Ash and Illyana that Renjiro had hired the Golden Shadow in preparation. Some of their teams have been sent down as additional security. Men and women with rifles and others with shields and stun batons in heavy riot gear. He also manages to provide notes on changes that had been down on the lower floor, in the way that some workers came to open it up more, but he is not sure what exactly was changed.

The party does also remember information and sights it had witnessed previously in the facility:

The normal entrance has turrets positioned to defend it, cameras, a fenced off perimeter, distance between the fence with camera poles outside and the forest, a stealthy approach would be impossible without hacking them, but the system was also an isolated one, and extending further underground, the radio signal suppression would mean there is no communication between groups. There is also that the nightmare can be entered from within the facility, but not the facility from the nightmare.
someone first floor was largely just regular laboratories. And Tekeda very much will contribute that the first sub-level floor is almost always empty, and that even the Golden Shadow security had never been on the floor. It is also where his own office is located. It would be the safest and easiest route down, but the way forward would be a touch more difficult if the party is discovered.

The second sub level floor held the security detail on the last visit, and it is where certain horrors were kept in their own rooms and places. Sadly, there is no precise knowledge on what these creatures are, beyond a footnote that some of these eels had escaped in the recent months and caused harm to Haven. With the manpower provided they can probably face those with minimal casualties, but this is under the presumption that they face them without the Golden Shadow around the corner. This floor was also where the security detail held their weapons. It could be useful for resupplying ammunition, as the hallways are narrow enough to be a problem.

And the third sub level, that is where the most hated and despicable Renjiro has his office. The party remembers that they had two ninjas from the Dynasty with them in addition to a fleshformed monstrosity tampered together from various body parts and people. It is also where the children are being tested on, where the godling was being used in disease experimentation. This floor should most certainly mean that everyone there should have a mask for protection. There has been some reconstruction, from what Takeda had told them, so this floor, if pathing works, would be both the most risky but also the most daring floor, and risk means to expect high casualties.

In addition to that, The Free had asked Illyana to help them uncover a file on three Angelborn, among them, a familiar-named Angelborn known as Patricia, and to help in this, they gave her a team of mercs.

For Ash on the other hand, there were contacts in the Hanshin Group. They began to distance themselves from the whole affair when the report came that the Dynasty had taken the facility and using their resources for their own ends. They asked Ash to recover data on experiments, located on the second floor.

It, perhaps, does not come as a surprise as the group gathered up again as the day had finally come to bring an end to the AG underground laboratory that carries its own horrors separate from Haven's own or that of the Gates. Illyana and Ash have done what they thought would be good enough to undertake this, or, to a point, all that was in their ability to accomplish this. Joining their group in their request are William and Ceryn. The Hand provided its own group of people, Shadows and Keepers, under direction of Ash's co leadership, while Illyana received people not just from Vengeance or the Disruptors, but also a group from the Free and a team from those that had been raiding the brothels in the recent, too. They only introduced themselves as the Iron Camellia, Yuki is her name, said the leader of this particular group, though none of them look the type that one would expect from gang warfare. They look more like professional soldiers, and they all have their faces entirely covered. They had also brought a man: Hiroshi Takeda.

Hiroshi Takeda looks to be just a touch uncomfortable about being presented and by appearance, he has a rounder face and is one of those few Japanese men that are a touch overweight. It is not quite sure if he was their captive or if it was a conditional exchange, but he is willing to provide the information that they wanted from him. He tells Ash and Illyana that Renjiro had hired the Golden Shadow in preparation. Some of their teams have been sent down as additional security. Men and women with rifles and others with shields and stun batons in heavy riot gear. He also manages to provide notes on changes that had been down on the lower floor, in the way that some workers came to open it up more, but he is not sure what exactly was changed.

The party does also remember information and sights it had witnessed previously in the facility:

The normal entrance has turrets positioned to defend it, cameras, a fenced off perimeter, distance between the fence with camera poles outside and the forest, a stealthy approach would be impossible without hacking them, but the system was also an isolated one, and extending further underground, the radio signal suppression would mean there is no communication between groups. There is also that the nightmare can be entered from within the facility, but not the facility from the nightmare.

The first floor was largely just regular laboratories. And Tekeda very much will contribute that the first sub-level floor is almost always empty, and that even the Golden Shadow security had never been on the floor. It is also where his own office is located. It would be the safest and easiest route down, but the way forward would be a touch more difficult if the party is discovered.

The second sub level floor held the security detail on the last visit, and it is where certain horrors were kept in their own rooms and places. Sadly, there is no precise knowledge on what these creatures are, beyond a footnote that some of these eels had escaped in the recent months and caused harm to Haven. With the manpower provided they can probably face those with minimal casualties, but this is under the presumption that they face them without the Golden Shadow around the corner. This floor was also where the security detail held their weapons. It could be useful for resupplying ammunition, as the hallways are narrow enough to be a problem.

And the third sub level, that is where the most hated and despicable Renjiro has his office. The party remembers that they had two ninjas from the Dynasty with them in addition to a fleshformed monstrosity tampered together from various body parts and people. It is also where the children are being tested on, where the godling was being used in disease experimentation. This floor should most certainly mean that everyone there should have a mask for protection. There has been some reconstruction, from what Takeda had told them, so this floor, if pathing works, would be both the most risky but also the most daring floor, and risk means to expect high casualties.

In addition to that, The Free had asked Illyana to help them uncover a file on three Angelborn, among them, a familiar-named Angelborn known as Patricia, and to help in this, they gave her a team of mercs.

For Ash on the other hand, there were contacts in the Hanshin Group. They began to distance themselves from the whole affair when the report came that the Dynasty had taken the facility and using their resources for their own ends. They asked Ash to recover data on experiments, located on the second floor.

Ash tells Illyana, "Shame on Ivy, I like her. Are we putting subjects out of their memory, then? Less loose ends that way, and a number of them aren't salvageable. It may be the most merciful."

"Alright so... Same as I told Yana before..." William starts "I can cover with illusions their eyes, but their noses and ears still work... If they catch you like that- Just a matter of time... And if this fails" He says tapping at his own head "Visibility suddenly becomes an issue again" He pauses for a moment after saying that, before looking at Illyana "I didn't bring heavy weapons, just concealable ones because, if it comes to worse... I can look like one of them and stab- But I am pretty useless in combat compared to probably most of these people"

Ash nods to their Hand team as they all arrive in preparation, turning to speak in a professional manner that drops the Ebonics from their voice. "Shadows and Keepers. I debriefed you this morning, and sent the email last night. You should have all heard the details from when I last returned from this factory. The plan is to path into a spot we've memorized within. Should this fail, we have no choice but to enter from the front."

Ash gestures to Ceryn, unable to hide some affection in their voice to drawl, "We have a skilled arcanist here who can use his gifts with nature to handle the turrets and cameras if we do this, which means the rest of us will have more time to hack and smash. Shadows, focus on the cybersecurity, I'll lead on that front. Keepers, follow Yana here - if she smashes or burns, you help. Do not retrieve anything, this is a sanitation mission. Any moles will be left in the smoldering ruins."
someone To William, Ash reminds him, "Illusions only work on one person at a time, unless it's face stealing. Which is a bit more psychic... so, do not rely on illusions for the group. They also do not fool cameras or technology. Personally, Bill, I recommend you use your skill at stealth to sneak past things and wreck havoc. You are especially gifted in that department."

Finally, they look to Illyana, as the leader, in case there's more to say before they start pathing.

Ash nods to their Hand team as they all arrive in preparation, turning to speak in a professional manner that drops the Ebonics from their voice. "Shadows and Keepers. I debriefed you this morning, and sent the email last night. You should have all heard the details from when I last returned from this factory. The plan is to path into a spot we've memorized within. Should this fail, we have no choice but to enter from the front."

Ash gestures to Ceryn, unable to hide some affection in their voice to drawl, "We have a skilled arcanist here who can use his gifts with nature to handle the turrets and cameras if we do this, which means the rest of us will have more time to hack and smash. Shadows, focus on the cybersecurity, I'll lead on that front. Keepers, follow Yana here - if she smashes or burns, you help. Do not retrieve anything, this is a sanitation mission. Any moles will be left in the smoldering ruins."

To William, Ash reminds him, "Illusions only work on one person at a time, unless it's face stealing. Which is a bit more psychic... so, do not rely on illusions for the group. They also do not fool cameras or technology. Personally, Bill, I recommend you use your skill at stealth to sneak past things and wreck havoc. You are especially gifted in that department."

Finally, they look to Illyana, as the leader, in case there's more to say before they start pathing.

"You, little man." Illyana points to the small japanese doctor. "You can get us the files we need?" It's no question. It's far from that, and in spite of being angelborn, she's also very demon now; The fat little man looks like a victim, and as a victim he shall be treated. Still, Ash's question is the most reasonable here, and to such ends, it gets the next address. "The question is this; Do we go for the ground level and infiltrate guns blazing and work up, or work down. We've got mines, grenades and neutralizers. I went to the market earlier. I think we all have masks at the ready." Illyana tosses one to William. "So's he-- And even the children arn't recoverable, so either way, it all depends on how much we're willing to suicide run. I think start at the bottom and work up personally, but I'm not thinking clearly where that smirking little prick and his monsters are. Hence you all." Self-aware, at least. "I wanted Antonio from Boston," Illyana adds, "But for one, the Duke has him on business, and for two, day light. They're golden Shadow, so we can be almost certain they wont have neutralizers of their own, but we should be at least ready for the prospect. It's something they care about though, so they will fight back- But I have no compunctions in letting ninety nine percent of my Disruptors die. I'd rather the Vengeance didnt; I need them, but if push comes to shove, I can live. The Free can make up their own minds, and Ritsuka's people don't belong to me.."

Illyana adds, gesturing to the free, "Champion s up front. We burn." Then she, too begins to open a path, following Ash's lead for the hand. After all, the time dilation for pathing, they still have time to talk, both in the forest and as they wait to open it.

Ash nods to Illyana, drawling, "I agree. Cut the snake off at the head. Why wear ourselves down with fighting on the upper floors when we can get right into the thick of it? Really, Bill would be great to help with Dr. Takeda on information gathering, but... are you particularly skilled with that, Bill?" They turn to Ceryn, asking him, "What do you think? The enemies will be concentrated at the bottom, but we should be able to path there. They should know where exactly we are coming in from, but it's also immediate combat that way. We *could* split forces."

Ceryn pulls his lips to the side as he considers Ash, "I mean, pathing is the fastest way, and it would take them off guard. But I doubt once there's a fight it'd be so easy to path back out again. Sadly I cannae really use all of my weaving so far underground, just fire. I could also bring along Kesp?" He muses, tapping his foot in thought, "Really does depend if you think we outmatch them in an ambush."

William turns to Ash for a moment as they address him "I mean, the big monsters- I know I can't trick a whole room of people, but I've been told there's some very awful things in there, those I can get off people, and have them attack their own ranks..." He tries to clear up, before bringing up the mask tossed by Illyana and and fastening it around his neck, ready to just lift it up in case it needs to be worn, which it will likely be. He takes another moment as Illyana and Ash try to organize everyone around them, before he asks the first of them, while she opens the pathway "Do we just rush for it or-" There's a pause there before looking back towards Ash "As good as I can get- Less experience than I should, but so far it's shown me great results"

"Anarchs," Illyana raises a fist, getting the Disruptor's attention. "These people are what we were formed for. Vetr is one enemy; Dominus is an objective, but you're now going to do what you never turned up to training to do: Fuck shit up!" Stepping forward, Illyana raises her voice, allowing her power armor to unfold from where it stood at her feet. "Follow the Hand; Today, they're not your enemy. Today, they're going to take down this menace like you are. Free, you know your jobs. Vengeance, pay attention. Champions up front. I want fire. I want carnage. I want piles of enemy dead in front of us and rivers of blood. Suppressing fire behind, pick off what gets in our way. Don't let anything stop my angels. Arcanists, you fire when the weapon users need to reload. Nothing lives. Everything dies, and if it stands up; Cybernetic or undead, you put it down again. Structural damage to a minimum- We can collapse the place after. Now is carnage and mercy killings."


Ash nods to Ceryn, explaining, "Kesp is great. I'll be bringing in Briar, too." They lift the stuffed animal at their side as example. "As for people... I imagine we should all be proficient at combat. Ritsuka's gang should be capable since they've gathered all of those poor women from other gangs. The Free is constantly fighting. Though, if we're doing this, you've made a good point... I think we need to order who goes first."

Turning back to the people, Ash declares, "Minions first, when we approach the end of the Path. Then those with shields, form an outwards facing circle to protect those who come behind. Allow angelborn champions to proceed first. Work in tandem. I need a team to travel up a floor for data. They'll likely start backing up as soon as we arrive. I need Bill on that team...."

sighs, asking someone, William, and Illyana, "I've been doing a lot of work with hacking, lately. Should I join the assualt, or the data retrieval team? I could help to protect the smaller team, but...." They glance at Illyana, worried. "...I don't want to leave Yana behind."

Ash nods to Ceryn, explaining, "Kesp is great. I'll be bringing in Briar, too." They lift the stuffed animal at their side as example. "As for people... I imagine we should all be proficient at combat. Ritsuka's gang should be capable since they've gathered all of those poor women from other gangs. The Free is constantly fighting. Though, if we're doing this, you've made a good point... I think we need to order who goes first."

Turning back to the people, Ash declares, "Minions first, when we approach the end of the Path. Then those with shields, form an outwards facing circle to protect those who come behind. Allow angelborn champions to proceed first. Work in tandem. I need a team to travel up a floor for data. They'll likely start backing up as soon as we arrive. I need Bill on that team...."

sighs, asking Ceryn, William, and Illyana, "I've been doing a lot of work with hacking, lately. Should I join the assualt, or the data retrieval team? I could help to protect the smaller team, but...." They glance at Illyana, worried. "...I don't want to leave Yana behind."

Ceryn crouches down aside a sly, mossy-furred fox, giving it a few pats on the head before looking up at Ash, "If Kesp gets torn up, you're helping me grow his new body." He easily answers to them, eventually drawing back tall, "But I'm sure he wont mind, especially if he gets to eat."

Ash nods to Ceryn, as well as to the fox. "Of course. Though, ideally, that won't happen. Still, eat well."

"I'll be more stable this time." Illyana notes, "I've done some growing." Though if that's for the better is anyone's guess. "I'm killing Renjiro, but I cant tell you what you're all doing. If you can hack, go with the Shadows. They're your people. Take bill so he wont die; I don't need to deal with his sister, but splitting up is dangerous.Take a demon or two as bodyguard." Picking a few people out of the lineup from the Disruptors and Free, Illyana tells them, pointing in turn. "You you and you," she orders, gesturing to Ash, William and Ceryn. "Guardian angels, one each. You and you." Pointing out two Disruptor broozers, "Demon warriors on Ash and Bill. Protect the guardians, make sure they get their retrieval done. Hackers with shadows- And I like Ivy, too." Illyana notes in a quieter voice to Ash. "I still see her from time to time, but she's never around when I need her."

Ash nods to Illyana in thanks, drawling in a soft tone, "Be careful, Yana. I've learned to be more selfish - and I cannot lose you." After ensuring that the Keepers would follow Illyana's lead, keeping two trained by Sam on them, Ash prepares to leave.""

At the start of the discussion, only the leader of the individual groups remained after the initial outline was provided, and when the decision is made to where they will path: Straight to the heart of the facility, they each make a nod, turn and start preparing their groups. The formation is being dictated, and that means that they put themselves into the positions implied. The champions join Illyana, followed by the Iron Camellia strike team, whom switch to shields and single-hand firearms, followed by the group of the Hands, and then the sect and cult followed by the other group of the Hand. At the front are minions for better or worse, both Ash's Briar - A man-sized bipedal vulpine jackalope and Ceryn's fox grow into their minion forms, Ceryn and William find themselves, however, wherever they want to be in the column while Illyana is with the Champions. It is a bit of a small march, a couple of steps, but it looks like a marching formation before the path opens into the forest.

Skeletal branches make a grasp to the sky as fog surrounds the large group entirely. The fog is thick, the light steps of the people in front and behind slowly pace and skitter one after the other after those at the front. Gas masks are adjusted and taken up. The sky here... is dark. Both the fox and the hybrid are the first to enter, the distance short, and the quick release of figurative hell as the first people step through is self evident. The first find that this is the place that they did have prepared for. The third sub-level has been somewhat changed. The door that leads to the room with the monstrosity, including the door, is gone and the beast roams and reigns freely. There is Golden Shadow Mercs, with all of the attention first having gone and settled onto the minions, which divert the fire, then the combined strike team as well as Illyana and the champions.

The monster looks to have been asleep, and is in the middle of waking. It consists out of a mass of flesh and meat, stitched together of many different body types... and the worst is, it all seems to be alive. An arm sticks out here or there, the shocked grimace of a child's face glares dead-eyed at Illyana and it will about start to move. The Golden Shadow raise their weapons. But it is not all dread and gloom, because no one of the opposition knew where the path would lead, and that means that they do fine some cover for themselves where needed or wanted.

Renjiro however... is nowhere to be seen. Neither are the Dynasty Ninja.

crouches down aside a sly, mossy-furred fox, letting the thing nip his thumb, the drawn blood being lapped up. After a couple of moments, the mossy vulpine bursts into a verdant growth. The ironwood branches that made up it's bushy body creak as they deform, ending with bladed tips underneath it's shaggy mane.

"Going to be a first working in such a large group..." Ceryn mumbles aside to Ash as he double checks his quiver, arrows rolled between fingers as he whets the tips methodically, always keeping one knocked. "I hate this stuff." Is all he notes about the tea before bringing it to his lips.

William takes the shot and drinks it without paying much attention to who gives it, now placed behind quite a couple rows of people, his eyes set on the abomination that seem to be right in front of their little army, watching as every enemy takes cover from them. But he remains somewhat still, there was many people to hide within in his side of the field, his eyes stuck in that fleshformed abomination

As Illyana lands with the champions, Illyana calls back; No engagement survives intention as intended, and with the monster being free, Illyana's orders change. "Fire on the mercs, Champions, Demons on the abomination. I want it torn to shreds. Burn it, break it- Make it suffer. Keepers, arcanists, get rid of the Golden Shadow!" As Ash hands out tea, Illyana downs it; Trust and planning pay off, and this is but the first step. The demons, like Illyana are strong-- Stronger than angels, but can regenerate far faster than anyone else. Illyana directs them, as the tanks to pen the creature in so the champions can burn, gravatonically slow and blind it for the appropriate party members to beat it down; A war of attrition. The other mercs know their job, and Illyana trusts them to do it. Ash, William have the Shadows and the other gathered hackers, and the objective is obvious. The group knows the information it needs. But outside of murder; Something that Illyana clearly wants to do, she wants one person dead above all else. The tea will aid in finding hidden objectives surely, but Illyana wants Renjiro. So she steps aside with the command team, ever so often pathing in to thrust a power armored sabre through an eye, or to aid a group as needed, but trusting the assembled revengers to do what they are here to do.

With the vessel at hand, no need to summon, Ash infuses Briar - A man-sized bipedal vulpine jackalope with their life's energy, in the form of glowing starlight drawing straight from their pores, and into the stuffed toy. She grows and grows into a man-sized, shaggy creature, almost half-yeti in appearance. She's quick to tear into the enemies, claws and teeth ravaging them.

Ash focuses on getting their team to the exit with no or little injuries. Their crossbow lands bolts with skill, and their illusions turn enemies against each other - just as William described. They keep one hand on their medical kit, ready to activate their talisman and tend to wounds as befitting of their attire. They try to keep track of Bill, knowing that his skill with stealth could hide him from their view.

Ash does call out to Ceryn, "Are you with me, mi Corazon? Or Yana?" There's a mix of emotions in their voice - someone to watch Illyana's back that Ash trusts with her life... but also, their own heart, their port in the storm... they do best with him at their side. They don't have time to waffle over it, however - they need to move-move-move!

"I mean, I'd go with Yana but I'm more familiar with your abilities, I think we'd work together better." Ceryn easily responds to Ash, obsessively checking over his arrows, fletching and regrowing wood with murmured words of reverence, "I do feel a little under equipped compared to everyone else marching along..." His voice is barely a whisper over at Ash, eyes drawn over the others marching in lockstep.

Ash relaxes as Ceryn makes his choice. "Every person, every arrow, every red hot weapon counts, my heart. And you, I can trust to be capable and able to watch my back - that means more than anything else."

For the time being William seems to be ignoring most of the talk, already having enough for his sensitive ears with the blasting sounds here and there, instead he finds his way to hide among the multiple bodies running around and the heat of the battle. At first trying to keep his eyes on the abomination, having it attack its own allies, using the heavy hitter against their own team, but as Illyana commands the demons and they start to take care of it, he lets go off that task, approaching Ash once again, now allowing himself to trick and confuse those spare enemies that might be charging or shooting towards the group. Covering his ears to hear himself speak and maybe to tune down the volume of reality right now, he tells the other two "I am with you on information- But as soon as we got something, or find the guy, I am heading there with Yana..."

Ash nods in agreement to William, drawling, "I feel the same way. I can't be gone for long." Their gas mask, perhaps, covers the sounds - but, far more likely, they've gotten accustomed to their sensitive hearing in situations like this.

RAAAWR!!! The monster lets out as it raises all of its little wiggling hands and then also the stitched together hand. William looks at it for a moment, and it just screams out a second time as Illyana's efforts and group make their strike against the beast. This thing, is most definitely an abomination. Horrid to consider this may have once been... people, and in the immediate response, they all scream and scream and scream! The screams of children, women, men, mundane and supernatural alike. The monster is terribly strong, and so when it makes to smash, the victim of it gets flung half across the room, but Illyana manages to land a good strike at it, right on one of the eyes, and its multitude of endless screams... grow louder.

The first strike team offer there shields up for cover for another person, the minions strike into the Golden Shadow and start to wreak havok, but these Golden Shadows were prepared. They draw up shields where cover for them is not enough, and now that the combat is under-way, they seem to consider out of about four squads with three people each that use melee weaponry, and their ranged teams here consist out of threes as well. There is eight of them here. Two of their melee range ones engage both of the minions, while the other fires a shot between.

There is something that makes a beep---beep--beep beepbeepbeep as it it tossed and starts to reach the ground near Illyana, a naturalizer grenade. Ash treats the people they can, this here, is a deadly fight after all, but there is someone they cannot safe. Not today, as death claims them, unable to provide any cure at all. But so do some from the Golden Shadow.

Looking into the nightmare... William suddenly sees a masked person slide by from one corner to the other. They are lithe, and it looks urgent. But from the report, the nightmare would only be one way here, so they might be stuck in the nightmare.

As her phone beeps, Illyana's acute hearing notes it. She reads the text, smiles, then slips it away into a pocket before continuing to observe the battle field. Things are decided, the infiltration group will fight their way up as the heavy hitters; Keepers, Anarchs and Vengeance, free work on dismantling what's here. Illyana, at the back with the commanders of the team gestures to Ash, Ceryn and William. "Take professor tubs, go get what we need then smash the equipment; Remove everything before they can backup."

if it wern't obvious enough, Illyana points at the poor unfortunate kidnapped japanese man.

Ash expected to take Takeda with them - he should be part of the team, which has been immediately headed for the exit. They do not go to heal the people supporting Yana - that would be at cross purposes. They are focused on their own team, keeping bullets poorly aimed, hiding members, turning the foolish fighters on each other, while taking their own shots when they are not healing or misdirecting. Having Ceryn to help with the shooting, and William with the illusions, Ash is better able to lead and tend to their team as they head through.

William turns his head around upon noticing the nightmare-presumably-stuck person, tilting his head towards Ash and Ceryn, or to any of the people that Illyana had commanded before to follow and cover them, as he asks to them, his voice probably not reaching Illyana, but who knows with her hearing "Does anyone have a mirror? I see someone there- Not here in the battlefield... But there, in the nightmare..."

Ash shakes their head, adding, "Not one you could fit through. Likely a scout, reporting on our actions... we need to hurry. And to be prepared for what may be on the next floor." They don't like William's report, but they show gratitude for it.

Ceryn focuses his attention between the chaos and a sly, mossy-furred fox, ironwood vines that snake out from the vulpine searing with a blue heat as he murmurs mantras under his breath. His attention is broke as Illyana calls out to him, leaving him to loose one more arrow into the fleshy beast before regrouping with Ash and the informant, "What's the best way to destroy machines? I don't really have a hammer or anything more appropriate."

A naturalizer. That's a problem-- Or would be if not for angelic speed and the greater degree of pathing that Illyana has. "Naturalizer!" Illyana yells, booting the small device before it can go off with demonic strength back in the direction it came from. Moving to another part of the room with a blurring burst of speed before a short path, all to escape the radius of the explosion, Illyana finds herself at the back of the group- With luck, the explosion wont nullify too many of the attackers. "Insendiary grenades on the abomination!" she yells; If the naturalizer reduces the effectiveness of her team, explosions will have to do.

Ash tells Ceryn, "Heat and force. If you can get to the inside, rip and cut." They try to keep it simple - and it likely is. Destruction is easier than creation, after all.

Illyana notes for the sake of the SR: In power armor, strength 5, running 4.

"It's masked and-" William starts, but then he groans, nodding to Ash, there was no point on going into the nightmare if he was just going to get stuck just like them "Alright- We head up first... But keep an eye for anything they might have left behind that allows us to come back, if it's a scout, it knows where to report- And thus, where the guy is, even if with middle steps"

"I don't have much in the way of force." Ceryn murmurs to himself before placing a palm on the complicated myriad of machinery that completely passed any sort of recognition of the backwards wildling. Rather than thinking to hard about it, he whispers a simple, "What's inside, outside." The mantra immediately is followed by a pulse of heat that spreads through the metal, growing red-hot and quickly overheating systems and hardware.

It is the Hackers that perk up for a first and do mention that the elevator backup is now in control for Ash and Ceryn and associates and William can indeed witness the single figure make their way into the elevator from the nightmare... and then, well, the person is not there when the elevator DINGS and the doors open as if nothing at all was going on. Seems the machinery doesn't give a damn, but of course it doesn't. The Naturalizer goes off- it was definitely more localized, and only affects the two people that get it to them from the Golden Shadow, and they take cover. About a fourth of the Golden Shadow have fallen, with some on the side of the attackers, though on who can be saved, or cannot be- that can only be determined at the end of it, when and if there is clean up and if they are not to be buried forever underneath the the floor above.

From one corner, there is a figure that is rapid fast as they suddenly align their scope onto Illyana PANG- the bullet flies and flies aiming for Illyana's arm. Onyx, silver and obsidian, compressed into a single, very dangerous bullet, and this is not the only figure that turns its attention to her. The giant abomination smashes people away again, someone lands with an ugly crunch and then starts its screaming descend towards Illyana. Some of the teams do hear her, and then throw the incendiaries- they got up, but it keeps walking and walking and walking towards... her.

William, Ash and Ceryn make their way up, whether this is by elevator or taking the shaft ladder will not draw a difference, and they all see as the two Dynasty ninjas watch them from the Nightmare. Their gazes are masked today, though if the outline could be interpreted, they would have smiles.

has updated the room description for sub level 2.

"There's more people in the nightmare... And those look like the ones that were supposed to be with the big baddie" William comments to Ash as the move from one level to another "They might be alright with being in the nightmare because they don't need to come out into the chaos, there's no danger in there because no one goes in knowing there's no exit..." He tries to rationalize, shaking his head as he thinks once more of the figure he had originally seen, it was masked, so he couldn't see much, but there was fear, and it seemed to run away through an elevator, if that was all added up to the point that only one person and two ninjas were missing once they descended. It made sense that that was the explanation "We might have the guy on the loose... Do we just- Can someone warn Yana from here? Or do we have to send someone back?"

William huffs some, starting to lose the patience even with his own reasoning, shaking his head "Better... We get the information and find a safe place- We know his name, if he's trying to scurry around without a route, one ritual is enough to lure him to us whether he wants to come or not"

Ash looks doubting, too. They murmur to the two, "Data is a secondary objective... but, we've made it this far. Yana looked like she was under heavy focus back there... we can turn around and support her. I'm not sure if we should try to handle them or not... I can't lose her."

Obsidian and quartz; Both problems. Silver, not so much. Still, a bane is a bane, and Illyana really cant afford that. Stop, drop and roll. Path. Run, duck and weave. Grab the nearest person, use them as a human shield-- Perpetual motion, adrenaline, demonic healing, pain deadening and recovery. Oxygenating, light feet, incandescence-- As many tricks as Illyana can use to evade, dodge, skip and avoid. Fights are messy, and so Illyana paths to the Golden shadow, attacks who she can, paths away after a attack. But even with inhuman stamina, she'll slow eventually, so something has to change. Renjiro was working on hybridizing, so there's a good chance the abomination too would have the banes, so when possible, Illyana seeks to put the monster between her and those shots. She has the combat teams, so now? Now, not get got, and have the teams do their job as Ash, Ceryn and William gather the information they need.

Ash calls out to their Keepers, "Order change - support and protect Illyana, unless she orders otherwise!" And then, they continue, up the elevator, determination taking over.

"Yana is fine, and she will be with or without us- We are just one more person each in a huge army-" William says shaking his head at Ash, following along towards the other room "I need at least three arcanists with me... He's not going to run away if we can help it"

Ash sends one of the two Keepers up the elevator hatch to watch for enemies, while the other Keeper and the two Disruptor Bruisers take point with shields. Their shadows - many of them as combat capable as Ash, fold in behind, corralling the trio and the non-combative hackers. They nod as they find above, and in front handled, with orders for the Keeper on top to hop down after them and take up the rear. Any injuries that can be are tended to in the ride up - probably just one or two. Ash continues with this formation, focusing on shooting with their crossbow, with their little handheld game at their side. It has a goofy little dolphin on the screen.

William starts sticking fingers up at Ash as they make their way to the new floor, almost explaining his reasoning while on the dead time between one floor and the other "Yana can keep whatever is going on down there for a while- And we can have arcanists cast rituals to ensure the weasel doesn't scurry out through the nightmare- Though rituals need time and peace to be cast- We deal with the second floor and the information gathering while they enfeeble, sicken him, give him arthritis and lure him- Four arcanists, all rituals cast at once..." He says with the four fingers sticking out "We get whatever information we can get and whenever those are finished- He'd be trapped in the nightmare, stuck coming back to us every single time he tries to walk away- Then we get Yana and we have him at our disposal"

Ash tilts their head at William before asking, "Why do you seem sure that he's in the Nightmare?"

The teams below adjust themselves a little bit - but it costs. Nothing is ever free, least of it all protecting a single individual. The fight below proceeds, the now aflame abomination roams and specifically targets Illyana, and it does not seem to possess any concept between ally and enemy as people die and burn alive to it from the Golden Shadow itself as that is where the Championborn Illyana pulls to. People scream as they shake, thrown themselves to the ground... and burn to death. Skin turned dark, and there is just another question: Will the fire suppression turn on?

DING- the elevator opens and Ash, Ceryn and William get to step out of it- and the precaution that Ash applies prove to be valid and more than just reasonable. It starts straight with being fired at. Fortunately it is no sort of MG nest, that would be horrid for a facility like this. Through the gunfire, Ash can see the people they had witnessed before, on their last trip. The facility security by itself... and far in the distance, there is Renjiro. The one and only that seems to be behind all of this. His arms are crossed, and he smiles on over towards the elevator. Fortunately, the space directly in front of the elevator is wider, so people can take cover at the sides from the hallway and at the sides of the elevator itself, there is some space, too.

William hears a light clicking behind himself... Where did the Dynasty ninjas go?

Ceryn hears a distant crying- and then a nightmareish scream, as if something is drawing close... close...

The Abomination begins to turn black from being burnt alive, for as much as such an entity can be considered alive. It's a charcoal stiff posture that makes movement more difficult, and the bullets that hit it from its own allies, of obsidian and onyx and silver, make it scream that it can be heard on the top floor, but even that does not last for as long as the its mouths are burnt, blind, as it begins to swing aimlessly. There is a moment where one could take a very lethal strike at it, Illyana sees the opening... but right now, that means taking the risk of being gunned at and wounded, too.


"I am not sure, but the ninjas that were meant to be guarding him were there- Besides, the lure will work even if he's outside the nightmare" William explains to Ash, before turning around to check whatever that clicking was, not really aware of much that is going on, clearly not used to this kind of scenarios, every sound making him to scurry around to try to hide while tilting his head to make sure what it was, if not recognizable

/could/ critically hit the thing. That's an option, but she also has inhuman strength, speed-- And fire. So though there is a critical hit, it's not exactly conventional for an angel champion or a biokinetic demon. No, to the contrary, it's an attack that takes some set up; Illyana takes a page from D&D's book, and creates a delayed action fireball. The protection detail will suffer for it, but that gives Illyana that few more seconds to delay-- The ball of flame in her off-hand growing-- Then again, the long delayed attack being thrown a few dangerous seconds after. In that time it's possible that Illyana can get wounded, but she has demonic healing and demonic recovery, so that's a risk she'll have to take. Orders are given, fragmentation grenades are tossed, magic and bullets fired, melee weapons set a blaze and employedd. It truly is carnage on all fronts. Fortunately then, Ash, William and Ceryn have an easy time of it. They reached the lift. What could possibly go wrong? After all, it's hardly like Renjiro or the ninja would be on the second floor. That would just be silly. Besides, Illyana cant think about that right now, she's busy with the problems in front of her, and she does so love bloodand mayhem.

Ash presses their face to Ceryn's cheek in gratitude, unable to kiss him properly with the mask, before they are suddenly right in front of Renjiro, invisible to his eyes as they move to stab him in the neck with the flaming hot tip of their spear.

William takes a moment to watch what Ash and Ceryn were plotting, but instead, being covered properly by combatants, he draws from within his pocket a little gun, previously concealed, aiming it towards the enemies right in front of them and firing a shot or two, he doesn't even care if he lands it or not, not being the most proficient with handguns, but it doesn't matter, all he wants to cause is chaos and a distraction from the heavy fire on the elevator, using his own magic in tandem to make it look to everyone around that the shots came from within the enemy's own lines

Ash paths one way, spear burning hot, the spear moves forward, expensive, gold... The spear pierces forward- And then, Renjiro is gone, replaced by a creature of eels and nightmares that screams as part of its eels is being pierced and burnt. It SCREAMS, and the air shivers as more ugly moans and screams join from the room that is marked: Subject Containment. Fortunately for everyone, the first few that spring out, spring out from the wall- but from the nightmare. They stare at Ash and Ceryn, but cannot act. Not here, though they try to, rushing, moving...

The elevator suddenly closes behind William, if he glances back... he sees the man that had just been on the other side of the room, smiling at him, and right besides him, are the two ninjas. Each of them holds a more traditional style of Chinese weapon, but it is too short to make out quickly right now. The elevator itself... goes down, down, down...

There is more than just a few shots that end up piercing Illyana's skin. There is an ugly bullet of Onyx and Quarters that hits her thigh, and yet another that goes to her arm, simply because she took the moment to stand still... More orders are given and grenades are chugged, thrown atop, and they go BOOM. Illyana lands the hit on the abomination and it cannot scream as it topples and moves and then stumbles to the ground, now, only a big pile of meaty cover, in a manner of perspective, as some do move to take up cover behind it. It must feel more like a flash, because the gunfire ceases... and then silence... and then DING. The elevator doors open... and out comes the most hated man and his two ninjas... Renjiro starts to clap, his gaze set onto Illyana.

After seeing the man in the elevator going downwards once more, William doesn't even wait to call it back, he instead sneaks from within his tightly secure space and rushes towards the stairs, making his way downwards now in a much slower method, but one that he can at least control, having seemingly forgotten about the gathering intel part the moment he had seen the man head in the same direction that Illyana was

Ash deals with the eel-nightmare abomination as quick as they can, wanting to quickly move out of sight and get to work on the data. They have their ability to fall away in the shadows and edges of combat at their side, though they recognize that they may need to get the group moving back up to the next floor. Completely unaware that Renjiro has gone below, they can only focus on their mission, pathing back to Ceryn as they call a retreat, hacking the elevator to bring it back up, even while pressing the button.

Ceryn supports Ash with harrying vollies of arcane-lit arrows, peppering the monstrosity a steadily mounting blaze that creeps along the wooden shafts. He glances over to them for a moment, noticing the call and backing up towards the elevator.

That was the wrong thing to do. It'll continue to be the wrong thing to do, as the entire assault group-- Those left are alone with 2 ninja and one man-- Less than a man, and Illyana is far far stronger than the last time she was here. The heat skyrockets, Illyana blatently ignores the pain of the bullets, and like the discounted bastard child of a Terminater extra, Illyana takes the time to heal her wounds, the demonic recovery reducing the damage caused by bane as her sabre flares with incandescent violent fire. The teams know what to do, focus on the ninja, and Illyana paths to someone. There's a burst of adrenaline; A draw back and overpowering attack against the man-- Illyana is not subtle here. It's violent, brutal, hostile. There's an angel's obsession, a demon's violence and it's entirely focused on Renjiro. Her strike is born of power armored strength-- biokinetic enhancement, angelic fire and lashing aura. Could she have thrown said fire? Yes. It would also likely have been smarter to do that, but Illyana hates Renjiro. Illyana hates him with a vitriolic caustic equivilence that nears on her abject, incoherant fury at Gonthorian. If given half a chance, Illyana would pin Renjiro down and rip him apart; Sanctuary prevents death. It's more about intent, and outside of Haven and where the Lab is, that is something that Illyana doesn't even need to worry about-- And that shows in Illyana's eyes. She is a monster. She is a monster and she wants-- Desires-- Needs to rip Renjiro limb from limb from limb.

That was the wrong thing to do. It'll continue to be the wrong thing to do, as the entire assault group-- Those left are alone with 2 ninja and one man-- Less than a man, and Illyana is far far stronger than the last time she was here. The heat skyrockets, Illyana blatently ignores the pain of the bullets, and like the discounted bastard child of a Terminater extra, Illyana takes the time to heal her wounds, the demonic recovery reducing the damage caused by bane as her sabre flares with incandescent violent fire. The teams know what to do, focus on the ninja, and Illyana paths to Renjiro. There's a burst of adrenaline; A draw back and overpowering attack against the man-- Illyana is not subtle here. It's violent, brutal, hostile. There's an angel's obsession, a demon's violence and it's entirely focused on Renjiro. Her strike is born of power armored strength-- biokinetic enhancement, angelic fire and lashing aura. Could she have thrown said fire? Yes. It would also likely have been smarter to do that, but Illyana hates Renjiro. Illyana hates him with a vitriolic caustic equivilence that nears on her abject, incoherant fury at Gonthorian. If given half a chance, Illyana would pin Renjiro down and rip him apart; Sanctuary prevents death. It's more about intent, and outside of Haven and where the Lab is, that is something that Illyana doesn't even need to worry about-- And that shows in Illyana's eyes. She is a monster. She is a monster and she wants-- Desires-- Needs to rip Renjiro limb from limb from limb.

William is probably on a much slower path here, going down the stairs when others were using elevators, his only advantage being, that somewhere this closed, confrontation was more personal, it had to be, and there he could really make use of illusions in a much more significant way than with a group around that he couldn't target as a whole, having sneaked even from his allies in order to follow around the man with the two bodyguards back to the same place he had just came up from, still, taking his sweet time, considering it took even a bit to get up there with an elevator

The clapping comes to an end- and then the elevator doors close, just as everyone readies and and starts to rifle- It goes up, and then there is as stop... the elevator doors open, and Ash and Ceryn can gaze into the elevator itself. There is Renjiro, and then there is Illyana and the two ninjas. They are fighting. Poor William sees the elevator go up again half-way through and gets to run back, but if he does, he gets to be there when it opens again- And this is perhaps when Renjiro glances to Ash, and there is, for the first time, some genuine fear in his eyes. The doors however... start to close again... Do they rush in, or do they keep out? It is a messy fight, Illyana is probably upside down with at least one of the Ninjas, and now, the question far more becomes a question of how to handle his death in such a narrow space with long weapons, firearms that might go everywhere, or big blades. Well, the big blades do not seem to work so well, though Illyana has inflicted some cuts as well. It definitely is not the space for Biomancers to do their art, in the little that there is of Chinese mythology, they usually need much more space, and one could see a sort of sword aura around of of the Ninja's weapons.

Of the assault teams, the ones downstairs are probably cleaning up now, and on this floor, they glance to Ash.

Rejniro did return to the elevator, after seeing that there was a lot of people still. With William, and Ceryn helping and Ash and Illyana organizing a bunch of people. He would have glanced around and then stepped back into the elevator.

There's a groan coming from William as he sees the elevator going back up, he's tired and overstimulated, probably both in sound and sigh department giving the usage that explosives have been given tonight, and how acute his sense of hearing and sight had became lately. He was at least, just getting the good part of it, so far not wounded or attacked himself, if you discount the general rain of fire aimed towards anyone on his side, maybe with a bit of luck here and there. But he nonetheless makes his way back up the stairs, undoing the path walked down

Ash had already pathed to Ceryn, so they were near enough to the elevator. With Ceryn at their side, they can look out and not see Bill. However, Ash doesn't have the time - they know that William's skill is stealth, and he's likely to be safer. So, they nudge Ceryn, and have the keeper in the rear join them as they move to join the elevator party.

Illusions do more than their spear, but more importantly - they create an in-depth illusion of foxes - gumiho, kitsune, and huli jing alike - they overwhelm Renjiro's vision with attacks, fox flames, seduction, constant movement - all at once. Even if his eyes are closed, the vision persists, to keep him off kilter.

For the ninjas, one cannot see Illyana, and they attack the other, trying to keep both of them busy.

Ceryn sticks close to Ash, eyes gazing through the sudden arrival and departure of different folk. He keeps an eye out for Kesp, who he hadn't seen since riding the elevator upwards.

William eventually makes it back to the second floor, where Ash and Ceryn are, and apparently the elevator party is back on, though, he doesn't outright come out, there's still, presumably, people outside the whole up and down area, shooting at them, unless they had stopped upon seeing their boss that is. Instead he tries to make use of his stealth and some more magic to blur the vision of him, making him invisible for a couple seconds, enough to get back within the security of the keepers and bruisers that were covering him before, now standing once more within the elevator that now contains, the target, the ninjas and Illyana herself

Too incoherant to even notice that the sabre she's using is hindering her, but so enraged that she needs to have Renjiro in pieces, Illyana does the only thing her psychotic mind can come up with; She sheathes her sabre-- Right into the nearest convenient scabbard, one of the ninja. Snick-splat. Hands free, and with the tensile strength to manhandle one thousand five hundred LBS of mass, she does just that. It's like a cat playing, and Illyana being slender, even in armor, she has the advantage. So it's loving in a way when the shorter blade comes out; The knife parts flesh like butter... If that butter were being heated slowly and churned with the force of a blender behind it. Illyana isn't gentle at all though; The blade of that punch dagger is flaming. It's pistoned in and out of flesh. Which of course gives her a free hand. There's no need to do it at all. It's entirely theatrics. Illyana paths behind Renjiro, using the raising and falling elevator's confines to redecorate. Hopefully, the next tenents like crimson. Tenderly; The caress of a lover, Illyana slips the short blade into Renjiro's thigh. She doesn't kill him though. Not yet. It's not the time for that. Beside, Ash, William and Ceryn need to get to watch her performing arts. They should get to take part, but so does Renjiro. He gets to be the star of the show, but for that to happen, he needs to not run. That'd be hard with broken knees. So behind him, Illyana's fingers snake out, circle the back of his neck, and Illyana holds him up, legs dangling. There are no words, which is likely far more cause for Illyana's rage. Illyana is usually a talker. The fact she's simmering is likely dangerous. Though as the doors open, and Illyana blocks them with her new sabre sheath, Ceryn, William and Ash would notice the soft whisper of "Scream for me." as Illyana yanks hard on Renjiro's knees, popping the joints with as much effort as snapping a wishbone. Then, the good doctor is thrown out of the shaft, before the group. "Now we're going to play a game." Illyana calls, having not left the elevater yet. "You even get a head start. You manage to stand up and run, and I'll let you free." Illyana has no intention of it. Coated in blood and with dripping walls, she notes in a far more conversational tone to Ash. "It's amazing how much blood you can get from three people." Then she steps out to join the others. "First one to the kidney shot gets five points. Either way, he's stole my dagger and I'll need it back."

Illyana likely means the elevator walls are dripping, but this is haven, and she's a demonborn, so really, it could go either way.

Ash doesn't really have the time, as they listen to an announcement in their head. So, they order one of the team members to satisfy Illyana as they ask her, "I need to get back to Haven soon - why not keep him?" They work on getting the elevator to the last floor while Illyana has her fun- though, they pause in the doorway queued to leave. "Or rip him apart now," they growl in a deeper voice, anger flashing in near golden hazel eyes as they look at Renjiro with loathing. "He cannot be redeemed."

With the manipulation from Ash, one ninja slices the other's throat, and then to rid of the other is simple. Renjiro on the other hand looks panicked when he sees the beasts of seduction, and then there is the feeling of a pierce into his knee, blood reddens the area around of the wound, staining his fine clothing. But... he does not scream for Illyana. He winces. She tells him to scream, and tosses him aside. He looks back to the elevator, to Illyana And then reaches down to pull the knife from his thigh, cuts it over his palm and lets it flow to the ground around him. Blood splatters, and Ash, Ceryn and William all three notice that he is starting to cast something, some sort of ritual, and before anything can do anything- his neck snaps, his skeleton distorts, breaks, pierces out of his skin and splatters more blood around. Bone pierces out of skin, pierces into organs, and then the man's body simply explodes.

The last look that he holds over his face is a smile, not the kind of welcoming one, not the one that reaches his eyes. It is the one that is focused on Illyana. Smirking. Cocky... for even in this victory, he will deny her what she most desires: to kill, to rend... To satisfy herself on his death. The arcanists might recognize that it was biomancy, a somewhat distorted form thereof, very much intended towards suicide. Bones are reshapes brutally, to even disallow any form of servitude in death through dark magic. Nothing remains but a puddle of meat and bones.

William watches as Renjiro is shoved out of the elevator, now probably somewhat incapacitated, though as Illyana speaks, despite her giving the man a head-start, he shakes his head, reaching for the pocketed knife that he normally brought out when it came to doing rituals. He didn't seem as bothered by the blood, or by the state of the man, his stare was cold rather, unusually so. He goes to almost stab just the area that Illyana had pointed out, but then the man explodes. And he seems, let down? Almost disappointed he cannot really go through with it

"Oh no you--" Illyana frowns. The bastard denied Illyana Illyana's pleasure. Still, he's dead. She retrieves her dagger, she wipes it off, and she slips it away. Licking a finger, Illyana reaches up to her ear piece. "Clean up. We have the information, Renjiro is dead and we can finish murd-- mercy killing." There really should be more there. Illyana really should be spitting with rage, but instead, she just kicks the mass of flesh that was Renjiro. Over coms again, she announces. "Set land mines, nerve gass and meet on the second floor for extraction. This suddenly got less funand I could be doing better things."

William huffs a little, before clearing his throat, still looking down at the pile of meat and bones "We can just- Get everyone out and set everything aflame... No need for more casualties if we have everything... Just scorch everything that remains"

Ash focuses on taking the required data before opening a path out.

nodding to someone, Ceryn and Ash, Illyana steps over. There are pretty red foot prints as she moves, but she doesn't leave yet. Once the team is gathered, the charges are locked and the place can be imploded, that's when she paths out; No one gets left behind.

nodding to the disguised Ash, Ceryn and Ash, Illyana steps over. There are pretty red foot prints as she moves, but she doesn't leave yet. Once the team is gathered, the charges are locked and the place can be imploded, that's when she paths out; No one gets left behind.

Illyana says "Everyone take care. It's woofer night."
Ash nods to Illyana and William, looking exhausted once the data is captured.

William nods his head slowly, still looking at the human puddle, but sighing out and moving to the pathing group, seemingly distracted

The data is recovered, explosives are set, and the path out is made- and the party and everyone else- wounded included, though whether those of the Golden Shadow are taken along or not is up to the four. Explosions go off later- but there is only one more affair that is left for the party to be handled. What will be the report that will come up about it? It is close enough to the forest that a news report will most definitely be there.

The initiates of Vengeance leave, they mention something to Illyana about something going on in the god-realms. The hand does what Ash desires, and Ceryn and William, well, they do as they like. The free tell Illyana that they will be in touch.

Golden shadow, Renjiro's victims, any staffers left are all left when Illyana leaves. ONly those who came in get to go. Roach motel style

Ash makes sure that the Golden Shadow wounded are tied up before the place is blown up. As for news, the Hand has been fully aware of the op and the destruction - that's what Whispers are for.