Bread Crumbs [mission / closed]

Sitting idly by on the fountain, swinging his legs and humming to himself with not a care in the world, it would seem that Sovereign was a novice with little attention to the potential dangers around him. But he had his eyes and ears scattered about, he was merely just enjoying himself until the other arrived. 

Looking up with a playful smile, he hopped off the fountain like a child, his hands spread out slightly either side of him as if to keep balance and curtsy slightly to the lady with fire in her eyes. "Oh, it looks like we're the lucky pair tasked with catching these little lights." He didn't feel the need to shake hands, for he felt his little nod of the head was enough. "My name's Sov, and although the view of all this metal is indeed exhilarating, I am here for the mission, hehe~"

This was an area he didn't come here very often, and although he knew of other guild masters, he only really knew of stories about them and their way of ruling over their guilds and territory. Right now, he had the Godfather in front of him, but he didn't know that. To him, she was likely just another regular member of Odin's Spear, a mercenary who followed extremely strict orders of the Spear. But then again, the same could be said the other way around. 

Standing before Anniken was the new guild master of Quatro Cerberus, stereotyped as a mindless machine who only commits crime and terrorises the innocent. But of course that was far from the truth, he was too young and innocent to be associated with that... 

"Afraid I'm unfamiliar with this town, so I do hope you'll be able to assist in navigating it." He'd say softly, making out to be more useless than he was, as he was already having piece of information fed into his mind from the shared senses between him and his duplicates. He made a few to cover a wider area, so the information wasn't entirely clear, but he'd definitely know when something strange and magical was spotted.

---

HP: 220/220 | MP: 96/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Hit or miss.
Attack 2. Hit or miss.
Damage received: ??
Conditions: ??

Offense
Standard Action.
— Attack Roll: roll here
— Condition Roll: roll here
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: ##

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)

So far so good, Sovereign was worried that his mission partner here would have been one of those broody and violent members of Odin's Spear. He had prepared to be a little roughed up by one of them, probably to assert dominance or to 'show him who's boss', but so far this person was incredibly pleasant. Besides, engaging in a little scrap here and there with violent individuals was something he did best.

"I'm sure we'll come across them soon, it's not like it would be difficult to spot." Sovereign also began followed Anniken, walking by her side with his hands clasped behind his back. There was a lot that could be said about the differences between the two, simply just by how they walked. Sovereign's posture was upright and his chin tilted upwards slightly. His steps were confident yet elegant, and he had a sharp sense of awareness about him, despite having the mask on. Anniken however seemed more comfortable in this area, like it was as familiar to her as the backs of her hands. An interesting observation. 

"Can't say for certain where this magical anomaly would have gone now. Seems like they're no longer in the original place. There is the site that the event happened that we could check out though." Sovereign stated with a finger quickly held up as if he were a teacher. "How close are we to the market area? It's said the original attack took place there."

Despite knowing this, Sovereign still allowed his clones to wander other parts of the town. These wisps sounded like they could follow commands, or at least travel around on their own. If that was the case, they probably wouldn't remain in the place they were created. 

---

HP: 220/220 | MP: 96/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Hit or miss.
Attack 2. Hit or miss.
Damage received: ??
Conditions: ??

Offense
Standard Action.
— Attack Roll: roll here
— Condition Roll: roll here
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: ##

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)

"Like fireflies, huh?" He thought out loud, "Maybe a bit like what I saw at the other day..."

Sovereign didn't mean to think out loud, in fact, it was the only way he could process the information. With so many duplicates active and roaming the town, his thoughts might have gone to the wrong body, therefore he needed to say it out loud so they could all go through the same thought process. It was a difficult ability to manage sometimes, especially when around other people who would think that he's just gone a bit crazy.

With this fact in mind, he decided to get his clones to look for the same residual ethernano that he saw in Sameuelsonite Town. It might not be the same, since he doubted it was the woman who attacked but rather, the effigy she had stolen. Still, would it be that absurd to think they may be related somehow? Holding his hand on his chin, Sovereign's lips were pouted slightly as he pondered in the matter more. It was hard to come to any kind of conclusion or have a clear thought at the moment, so it took a bit more concentration. So much concentration that he almost missed the part about Anniken saying she found the energy familiar.

"Hm?" He glanced up at her with curiosity, despite not being within close vicinity to the wisps, she could still detect it and recognise the signature somehow? That either took a lot of skill, or it meant she encountered something like this before.

"I see, at least nobody will get injured if a fight does break out in the market. Though I'm sure this will end quite quickly." Sovereign stated, his mind too frazzled to have a proper train of thought. But at least they were almost at the market, as the buildings became fewer and smaller as a clearing appeared up ahead. Well, it wasn't entirely clear.

Scattered about were small stalls and tables, a few shacks here and there and metal signs dotted about with the names of shops and signs to help people navigate there way through. It was probably more difficult when there were people everywhere, but it was empty and a lot of things were packed away.

"Has that always been there?" The pup pointed a finger up across the market, a strange scorch mark spread across one side of a building which had dented some of the metal. On the ground not too far from it were were grooves in the dirt, likely from a wagon. But the trail stopped, and instead was another scorch mark like something had exploded. 

---

HP: 220/220 | MP: 93/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Hit or miss.
Attack 2. Hit or miss.
Damage received: ??
Conditions: ??

Offense
Standard Action.
— Attack Roll: roll here
— Condition Roll: roll here
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: ##

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)

Sovereign couldn't agree more with everything that Anniken was saying, and it was nice to have someone that he could have proper conversations with. In his guild, all he had got in response from his members were grunts or threats. Then again, he didn't expect much from the people who probably had less intelligence that the will-o-wisps floating around town. 

With regards to the presence of the wisps, it would make sense that they didn't pose as much of a threat as what created them. But he also wasn't sure of the numbers that they had generated in, since groups of weaker enemies were always quite the nuisance. He would know that too well, since his spells revolved around that. 

"It must be the area the flare of magic took place. I wouldn't say it was a lethal explosion, but enough magic was expelled at such force that it caused burns and impact to the surrounding area." Running his hand along the side of the building wall, he tried to see if he could sense any kind of familiarity from it. Though sadly, he didn't. He knew the magic was there, but he hadn't been exposed to the previous source long enough to be fully accustomed to it. 

Thankfully, that's where Anniken came in. 

"The other day?" Sovereign questioned, taking a moment to realise what she was referencing. "Ah! Yes, sorry."

"I took a visit to a town a couple days ago. I think I encountered something similar, though also, perhaps not quite." Frowning, he looked to the side as he decided how much information to disclose. He was asked to keep this secret, but at the same time, he wouldn't be able to find out much more unless he got the assistance of someone who knew more than him. 

"I was tasked to dispose of a magical artefact that had gone haywire. But by the time I reached the destination, someone had got there before me and ran off with it. They invaded the town and took it by force, leaving all kinds of energy in her wake, small ethernano particles that shone like little lights." Reaching in his back pocket, he pulled out a small parcel of wrapped cloth and string. He then untied it, resting it in his flat palm and revealing broken fragments of a metal as white as cloud and shards of gold. "I believe this belonged to the person who attacked, maybe part of her armour or weapon?"

He passed it to Anniken so she could take a closer look before he continued, "I had been trying to pursue the case, and this mission description was the closest thing that matched with everything I have so far. A person transporting a strange device, the thing going crazy and accidentally attacking people and destroying parts of the town. I had to investigate it."

t̵̡̘̪͖͒͛̔͠h̶͍̼̥͑́́͠ȅ̴̱̘ ̷̻̜͇̹̏̾͌̅͝ͅḽ̷͐̋͘ǐ̶͔̎͌͂͠ģ̸̜̩̟̯̓h̵̖̤̯̱̒̾̓̀͠t̷̬̾͐̽͛̚s̵̼͊́͂͘͠ ̶̘́͐̈́͑̽s̵̬̱̔h̵̦̭͙̦̓̓͠i̷̛͚̝͆͘n̴͖̞͌̋̓̄̊e̷̡̫̝̅ͅ

ḯ̸͕ ̸̤̕s̷͙͛e̶̬͛e̶̝̕ ̷̹̔t̵͔̚h̴͇͆ě̸͙m̶͓̊ 

 

t̸h̴e̵y̷ ̷s̷w̶a̶r̷m̴

Sovereign suddenly tensed up, the scrambled thoughts of his duplicates feeding into his mind as he heard their words through his head. Images of lights dancing across the rooftops of shadows flickered in and out, and his lips curved into a smile as he slowly turned to face the direction they were spotted.

"...I know where they are." 

---

HP: 220/220 | MP: 88/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Hit or miss.
Attack 2. Hit or miss.
Damage received: ??
Conditions: ??

Offense
Standard Action.
— Attack Roll: roll here
— Condition Roll: roll here
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: ##

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)

The two wasted no time in pursing their target, dashing as fast as they could down shady alleyways and back streets, always catching a glimpse of the light at the other end as it flickered away. Did it know they were being chased? No matter what way they turned or ran, the lights seemed to be one step ahead. Maybe he was just overthinking it, but it was as if they were the ones leading Sovereign and Anniken to a location they wanted.

"ț̸̉́h̸̜͘ͅě̷͔̳͋y̵͓͐ ̵͉̃g̵̥̒̈́ṛ̵͔̀͠ö̴͚̭́ụ̶̟̐p̴̞̈́͋"

"s̶c̵a̸t̷t̸e̶r̵e̸d̴,̵     ̴n̶o̷w̵ ̷w̷h̵o̶l̴e̴"

Sovereign tried to understand what the duplicates were telling him, but the images seemed too unclear for him to make any hasty judgements. He would simply have to make last minute decisions and go with the flow. But nothing right now seemed normal, it was just one question after another, but if Anniken truly does recognise this magic and knows who it belongs too, that changes everything. 

At a final turn, Sovereign would slow his pace and walk calmly to the large clearing they had arrived at. It was a residential area, except some parts were still under construction so the area was rather empty in terms of buildings and people. Except for the Sovereigns. 

One by one, figures stepped out from the shadows from various parts of the area, a glint of gold flashing on their face as they approached Anniken and Sovereign. "You said they were here?" He would ask, and 6 other voices spoke back to him at once, "Yes. We saw them all. They were here just a second ago."

Sovereign was so accustomed to his clones that he forgets other people may be wary of ominous figures randomly approaching them at times, and he never explained the spell to anyone because it was rather self-explanatory. They all headed to him, the group of duplicates surrounding Sovereign as their eyes flickered like a candle. They all looked in different directions to locate the wisps, stepping further into the area as their heads turned side to side. 

But it seemed the lights were no longer hiding, as a peculiar thrum of power began to radiate from one of the buildings in the distance. A light so bright began to shine out the cracks that all Sovereign's covered their eyes, and then, the high pitched hum turned into an explosion. Panels of rusted metal went flying in all directions, crashing to the ground and colliding with other nearby buildings. Sovereign was struck by a tire, but the duplicates took the initial brunt of its impact. A swarm of small orbs then shot up into the air, rising from the exploded shack and amassing together into a single organism as they lit up the sky and flew up. 

It didn't hesitate to attack, spinning around rapidly before dive bombing in Anniken and Sovereign's direction. Despite its viciousness, the sound it made as it moved sounded like twinkling stars, wind chimes swaying in the wind.

_________________________________________

Wisp Mass
HP: 90/90   
ATK: 10
DEF: 5
Level: 02

Standard Attack: 2VnTiuE4
Damage: 10

---

HP: 210/220 | MP: 84/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Hit or miss.
Attack 2. Hit or miss.
Damage received: ??
Conditions: ??

Offense
Standard Action.
— Attack Roll: roll here
— Condition Roll: roll here
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: ##

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)

Cascading down like a glittering waterfall, the wisps pummelled into the earth and anyone caught in the area. Anniken took the brunt of the attack, bracing herself through the swarm of wisps before striking firmly with her blade. It sliced through the air, coming into contact with a bunch of them as they hissed and screamed in response.

Sovereign had managed to avoid it completely, his clones' bodies flickering with shadow for a second as they threw him back like a slingshot, as he soared through the air, his body spun like a dancer as magic build up around him. Majestically gaining his balance and clasping his hands together, more mirror images of himself would form, except these ones were completely black like shadows. In mid air, he and the shadow-selves thrust their arms forwards, creating a sinister duplicate of the wisp swarm, consisting of purple and black wisps. It, too, charged forwards and clashed with the original one, dealing damage before dissipating.

Sovereign then landed on the ground, the shadows retreating into nothing before his perfect duplicates returned to his side once again. "That's brilliant news!" he exclaimed upon hearing Anniken, "Let's finish this thing off and head after her."

Damaged from both their attacks, the wisps would retreat suddenly to the other side of the clearing, pressing close to the ground and moving around like the ocean. The twinkling grew louder, and the humming sound from before began to build up. Instead of an explosion however, an arc of light blasted from the mass towards Anniken, the concentrated force scorching the earth and tearing apart the buildings as it would then slowly make its way to Sovereign.

_________________________________________

Wisp Mass
HP: 60/90   
ATK: 10
DEF: 5
Level: 02

Standard Attack: 33zUYDba
Damage: 20

---

HP: 210/220 | MP: 73 84/105                                    A.J. Godfrey

SPOILER: Click to show

ATK: 00
DEF: 21
HEAL: 00
STAM: 11
Level: 02

MAGIC. Legion

Defense
Attack 1. Miss.
Damage received: -
Conditions: -

Offense
Standard Action. Bite Back (Counter).
— Attack Roll: #
— Condition Roll: #
Bonus Action.
— Effect: ??
DMG: 10

Inventory
Kisses (T1 Mace)

Spells used: Duplicate (6 clones)