Welcome to Gaia! ::

Well that was a way to kick this entire party off. Rising up he turned and looked over the ruins he had taken cover behind. They stood only half as tall as him and were covered with algae and moss. A combination of being both flooded and dry, it really proved how nature was adaptable to the actions of humans.

Bringing the flintlock over he aimed for the enterance to the fortress and pulling back the hammer let a shot of warp stone fly through the air. Warp stone was an odd property, neither entirely physical as it was concenced magic given physical form. It was destruction and poison, it was like all the worse kinds of evil magics combined into one.

And this little chunk of it was sailing through the air and into the gates to the fortress. Exploding with a small burst of green magical fire, it was compareable to a small grenade, but damn did it pack a punch.

Even as the vapours of the weapon began to diperse in the night air Quin's shoulders ached from the recoil. By then Athen was already charging into the place.

Jacob crouched low to a surviving pillar of rock, simple hewn stone, using it as cover against the sudden flying masonry from above. He looked to the battlements above, and noted dark shapes.

Well, he'd noted the dark shapes several dozen feet back. Now was just when he decided to act on it. There were still crossbow-wielding shades above, not tossed by the concussion grenade (it was a sizeable building), and Jacob took these enemies-in-view as his target.

He sort of hoped the two crazier fighters who were center stage took each other out.

Subsequently, he sighted down the magnum's length with one hand, hugging the cover tightly to ward off any return fire. He shot, double-tapped, and let a third bullet loose before pulling back around the corner and into cover. He didn't know how strong the Shades were, but had heard rumor.

Either way, he figured the three bullets should drop it. They were issued in quick-drop fashion, trying to fire two to the chest and one to the head. The noise would be clear to any listener, and the flash visible even through his shroud--
but it would be hardly noticeable compared to the flame-war occuring only yards away.

This is law.

The attack succeeds, but at deminished power.

The ofuda can dampen the aura, but not defeat it.

The badass lives.

Hakan was still out from the shock, as he was healed by the little paper thingies. The wounds were closing, at least, and alot faster than they would have naturally. Lucky him he wasn't around to see his impending doom attacking.

Bastards.

(( Just to make things clear, this was kind of thrust upon me when i was just about ready to go to bed, so i apologise for being somewhat short with everyone. I'm sure we're all tired, so lets just have some patience, as i was completely and totally unprepared to handle this tonight.

Also -=STAT=- Zombie, what exactly were you firing at? ))

Athan and pretty much everyone really wouldn't have much of a chance to attack, sadly, as the second they were in view the Archers let loose with their arrows. Anyone not under cover was going to have something more to worry about, as they had all pretty much foolishly run out into the open. The three that had been making their own crossbows were now taking up position, readying a second volley.

The mine was sadly, terribly effective. Both rooks were pretty well obliterated instantly, leaving only four sword wielding shades and the commander to defend it from behind the rubble. However the Shades were on the lookout and noticed where it had been tossed from. The Null bishop held out it's arm and fired a simple and small ball of dark matter in that direction.

Quin, the only one smart enough to attack from a distance would be rewarded with pretty well screwing what little was left of the defenses around the gate. The shades were a little shaken up by the blast, but otherwise holding ground. However, he had given his position away, and one of the Null mages was now firing a concentrated ball of dark matter at him.

Given that ofuda scripted against fire didn't burn, they were pretty well unaffected by the intense heat of the flames. However, they can only suppress so much, and didn't fully negate the vacume effect. It was merely weakened, and struck the building hard enough to shake the walls. The entire wall that was struck was now greatly weakened, and the shades perched on top of it were thrown off their feet. The Ice bishop began once again sealing thick ice against the wall in an attempt to make up for the damage, but it would likely not get very far before the fighting truly began. A pretty hefty cleft was left in the wall as well, an obvious weak point to anyone looking.

Kami meanwhile allowed himself to be pulled forward. He put one foot forward and basically used Vahn like a springboard. Planting his foot on the man's shoulder and somersaulting over him. A flick of the wrist would send the chains to hopefully wrap around his opponents neck. Thankfully, this put Vahn between him and flying masonary. An orderly retreat was beginning to seem like a good idea.

(( I think that's everything? Pipe up if i forgot something. Turn order and headcount for shades to follow. ))

(( Shade count:

1 Leader, inside the fortress
8 Archers on the battlements now
3 with sword-&-board, 1 with 2 handed sword, guarding entrance
2 Ice Bishops, inside fort and reinforcing the walls
2 Null bishops, on the battlements

Turn order:

Shouyin's was fine. Miners > Shades > Vahn. Ready, steady, go!

Edit: That would make it Vahn's turn. ))

Well that was rewarding, but staying in place was not in his vested interests. With the shot fired and its effect done Quin had fallen behind the ruined section of wall he was hiding behind. Crawling away he only just made it when something struck where he had been.

"No good." muttering to himself as he looked over the spot, a mage, but was sort. He didn't know this brand. Holstering his flintlock he cocked it just in case for a smooth easy draw and fire.

Coming out behind the ruins from the opposite direction then that which he had fired from Quin caught a glimpse and surely them of him as well. Sprinting foward he dove for cover and rolled behind another section, expecting a second spell to be coming his way.

In his haste he was attempting to draw his sword but it didn't seem to want to come out at that moment.

Edit:

((Umm... what can I expect from the null blasts?))