Ashelia Riot stands before the Gates of Judgment; her eyes are closed, and though she is steady on her feet, she looks to be deep in meditation; as she stands, seemingly oblivious to the world, Ishgard's horns of war begin to blare. The Horde approaches on the northern horizon.
Livvy Ahtynwyb: ...This is it.
Chakha Sagahl readies for battle.
Sylvan Rain: For me, this is almost a relief.. If we win this we will finally be free of this wyrm.
Nivelth Ajuyn is quiet, merely pulling out her tome and summoning her egi to float behind her in readiness.
Ashelia Riot: ...Is everyone ready?
Iieha Beautemps: ...As... As ready as I can be.
Chakha Sagahl bounces on her feet, eager to get going.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn stamps her feet on the icy cobblestones.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: I wish I shared 'er optimism, but, well, I got my voice an' I got my bow, so...
Varaelian Nilhandril steps forward and puts a hand on Iieha's shoulder.
Varaelian Nilhandril: You can do this.
Ivaan Arkwright nudges Rivienne Marcellus with his elbow.
Ivaan Arkwright: Stay away from any precipices, okay?
Ivaan Arkwright’s face is stone, though Rivienne Marcellus knows him well enough to know it was an attempt at reassuring humor.
Rivienne Marcellus slowly turns to Ivaan and chuckles.
Rivienne Marcellus: Nay, I shalt not fall, not when theres blood to be spilt. Art thou ready then, Arkwright?
Ivaan Arkwright: I am at your side.
Alaq'it Moks: The faster we are done, the faster we are home for dinner! Think of dinner.
Alaq'it Moks prays solemnly.
Iieha Beautemps looks over her shoulder to Varaelian Nilhandril and tries to give a reassuring nod.
Ashelia Riot: As soon as the first wave touches down, the vanguard will charge. Van, lead yours at the first sign of encroaching flyers.
A'zaela Linh says nothing, a blank expression on her face. She's anxious to be sure, but she was ready to fight Nidhogg again. To truly finish him.
Varaelian Nilhandril: Aye. Good luck to yours. I'll keep the skies clear as much as possible.
Etone Greennote chews the tip of an feathered quill while awaiting further instructions, his grimoire's pages threatening to flip over in the wind.
Sylvan Rain: One thing we must remember... Nidhogg is more powerful than when we first fought him. Of course, so are we, but even still... The wyrm's bloodlust is unmatched. Be careful.
Livvy Ahtynwyb nods to Sylvan Rain.
Rivienne Marcellus nods to Ivaan Arkwright.
With a mighty roar, the first of Nidhogg's brood alight upon the Steps of Faith.
Iieha Beautemps feels herself practically freeze at the sound.
Nivelth Ajuyn prays solemnly.
Sylvan Rain: It seems things have begun...
Ashelia Riot brandishes Rampager.
Ashelia Riot: FOR EORZEA!
Chakha Sagahl: We'll send this shade to the Lifestream where he belongs and be back in time for tea! I'm not scared!
Ivaan Arkwright draws in a slow breath, and dons his helm, locking his visage away within.
Nivelth Ajuyn moves to clasp her hands together in prayer, murmuring softly under her breath, and then joins the warcry.
Chakha Sagahl lets out a cheer.
Varaelian Nilhandril turns to face the few with him.
Varaelian Nilhandril: Ready yourselves and try not to hit me. Thanks.
Alaq'it Moks: You are tall enough that I will see you in the crowd, I think.
Rivienne Marcellus: Let us see how many shalt fall...
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: D'ye think ever 'bout wearin' like, a tunic? A nice, red dragon shirt. It'd be ever so 'elpful.
Alaq'it Moks fails to understand Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn.
Varaelian Nilhandril: Yes, because making myself so incredibly visible is always a good idea.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: Well, I'll do my best, then, shirtless.
Iieha Beautemps dons her globe given to her by Hraesvelgr, keeping a steady concentration with her aether...
Sylvan Rain tilts her head from side to side, an audible crack heard.
Sylvan Rain: Let's put this godsdamned thing down for good.
Chakha Sagahl: I'll watch your back, Master Sylvan.
Livvy Ahtynwyb charges at the Grand Steward's call, immediately finding a dragon to fend away from a hapless Ishgardian knight.
Overhead, several flyers drop in behind the vanguard, one of them headed straight for Alaq'it.
Alaq'it Moks: O-OH DEAR.
Alaq’it Moks rolls aside as fast as she can, but scrapes an ankle on a flagstone.
Varaelian Nilhandril: Go!
Varaelian Nilhandril calls, seeing another wave coming right after. Without hesitation, he roars into the fight. His teeth bared, he swiftly gets into the air and grabs at the drake after it fails its mark.
Alaq'it Moks looks shocked.
In mere moments, the bridge is filled with Ishgardian and Dravanian infantry alike, and the skies are swarming with dragons.
Sylvan Rain: ...Van is a... dragon? Now I am truly confused...
Iieha Beautemps watches carefully her allies around her ready to mend wounds when she can. The roars of the dragons muddle her thoughts...
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn quickly fires off a wide broadhead arrow at the passing dragon's tail, and shouts out a booming battle-song over the din of dragons.
Etone Greennote quickly scratches quill to parchment, scrawling out some overly detailed arcanima. Tearing out the page, he crumples it and directs it toward Alaq'it's direction in hopes of shielding her from a future attack.
Alaq'it Moks finds her self separated and somewhat surrounded, but moves toward Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn's song.
Ashelia Riot, true to her word, takes up the back of the vanguard, taking out several of the dragons that slip past the vanguard.
Iieha Beautemps: Come close to me and let me enchant you with strength!
Iieha Beautemps draws from a card drawn; the Balance. The aether around her glows an odd tint as she utilizes the dragon aether deep within her to enhance the card further. Fire engulfs her allies to give them more stamina to push forward.
A'zaela Linh spares no pardon, her spear finding the weakest points of a dragon's armor whenever possible. During the fight her blue aura flames around her once more, and her jumps become more frequent and stronger.
Rivienne Marcellus: Death awaits them.
Rivienne Marcellus’s voice is soft, though her blade slices through the very current as she rushes straight towards one of the dragons tearing into the infrantry. The bit of enchantment gives her enough stamina to push through the ranks and make her way to her mark.
Ivaan Arkwright jerks his halberd free of the spine of a dragon headed for Iieha Beautemps, his eyes never leaving the sky.
Ivaan Arkwright: Mind yourself.
Sylvan Rain releases a large burst of aether from open palms, forcing two larger wyrms onto their sides before quickly charging forward and with an aether-charged fist she plunges it through hide and scale.
Varaelian Nilhandril opens his talons and caught another larger threat and swung around, breaking it upon the walls and continuing after another with more in pursuit.
Nivelth Ajuyn fires spell after spell, infecting dragons with sickness and slowly chipping away at them as the others move to finish them off. Her egi goes to pull several down, using a miniature tornado to do so.
Alaq'it Moks looks at Varaelian Nilhandril in disbelief.
Alaq'it Moks: And he thought WE'D accidentally hit HIM!
A shadow looms overhead, dark enough to blot out even the sun. Nidhogg descends, charging toward the first target in the air he sees - Varaelian Nilhandril.
Chakha Sagahl stops at the presence of a great wyrm approaching. She dodges a spinning wyvern, pointedly stepping on a fallen Ishgardian banneret's face as she runs.
Iieha Beautemps looks to Ivaan with a furrowed brow and draws a card, sending it his way. She enchants it further with her draconic aether, her body glowing a purple hue giving off a powered balance to the man.
Iieha Beautemps: I'm fine!
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: Well, look, right, that seems t'be what 'e's 'ere about... ah, bilge.
Sylvan Rain: Come, beasts! Can you not crush a single woman?!
Sylvan Rain shouts as she catches the incoming swing of dragon claws and after grounding herself, shifts her weight and with a sudden burst of aetheric energy throws the creature to the side.
Alaq'it Moks: You THINK? They all move so fast, how can you ev-OH NO YOU DO NOT.
Livvy Ahtynwyb looks up from a sword thrust at the elder wyrm; her face is one of pure horror.
Rivienne Marcellus takes pause for a moment and gives a glare to the heavens as it darkens around her. A frown touched her features and she sees the beast descend, toward another, she didn't make time to register who it was - even.
Rivienne Marcellus: Watch the heavens!
Varaelian Nilhandril's roar was drowned by the fury that escaped the elder wyrm as it descended the skies and knocked him from the skies and onto the bridge below.
Iieha Beautemps's eyes widen when she hears a crash onto the bridge. Her body shakes when she sees who descends from the sky. She almost feels her feet wanting to move, to run. Not away but towards.
Iieha Beautemps: Drahn y morn!
Sylvan Rain stops to see Nidhogg descend from the sky. She tries to hide it but she can't help but smirk, muttering to herself.
Sylvan Rain: Finally...
Nivelth Ajuyn: Althyk protect me.
Alaq'it Moks stops and sighs.
Alaq’it Moks: We will not be home in time for dinner, I think.
Etone Greennote nods wordlessly as he scribbles across his gaudy grimoire casting a spell of protection on Varaelian Nilhandril and the rest of his group, following up with a round of shielding magicked barriers.
Etone Greennote: That'll 'elp a lil, innit?
Alaq'it Moks nods to Etone Greennote.
Nidhogg lands, his vantage such that he now stands between the Riskbreaker vanguard and the support.
Ivaan Arkwright found himself staring up in awe at the black shape swooping in from the north. It was bigger than he thought. Taking up a defensive posture he stood at the ready, constantly adjusting his aim to launch himself at the wyrm as soon as an opening presented itself.
Iieha Beautemps: Nidhogg please, I beg of you! Stop this!
Iieha Beautemps moves forward.
Livvy Ahtynwyb shields an Ishgardian officer - a very tall Hyuran woman?! - as rubble flies everywhere at the wyrm's descent.
Alaq'it Moks: THEY ARE-- Dusk Mother's breath, they are separated from us.
Nidhogg simply roars in Iieha's direction; he charges straight for her, lashing his tail out behind so as to knock over all at his flanks.
Varaelian Nilhandril shakes his head and pushes himself up and rushes forward, grabbing at him to hold him back as much as he could.
Sylvan Rain: Do not waste your breath on this hopeless creature, Iieha. A petty beast that has gone mad in his bloodlust!
Sylvan Rain steps forward, pointing a finger directly at Nidhogg. Some might thing her mad for challenging the wyrm in such a way, but Sylvan had never been more ready to destroy this damned thing.
Rivienne Marcellus narrows her gaze when she watches Varaelian Nilhandril fall, and a growl emits from her throat, a guttural sound. She looks to the blood of her blade and then runs to one of the few surviving soldiers, pulling them back behind her, she pushes a few to the ground to avoid the violent lash.
Alaq'it Moks scans the skies for Varaelian Nilhandril but cannot pick him from all the things being knocked about in the encroaching darkness.
Iieha Beautemps shouts as the aether surges around her.
Iieha Beautemps: Don't...don't say that! Don't say that!
Iieha Beautemps feels her body tensing up as Nidhogg has drawn closer.
Ashelia Riot is ready to charge the wyrm from behind, despite knowing what is at stake if she does.
Suddenly, another dragon approaches, one just as large as Nidhogg.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn two-steps a little over to the right.
Livvy Ahtynwyb: That's...
Iieha Beautemps: H-Hraesvelgr, Hraesvelgr! Ah... you're here---!
Ivaan Arkwright had been a breath from launching once more, but the second roar of the approaching Hraesvalgr halted him.
Hraesvelgr and his kin descend at last, and the two wyrms of the first brood have their standoff. Though they speak in their own ancient tongue, their words ring clearly in the minds of all in the vicinity.
Chakha Sagahl: Such incredible power...
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: Such incredible volume.
Now angered, the wyrms begin a duel in midair.
Iieha Beautemps draws a card as she listens to their words. The Bole is drawn and with her ancient aether she enchants it and uses it on Vidofnir and Vedrfolnir.
Iieha Beautemps: Fight with your might and protect those in need!!
Varaelian Nilhandril lets go as he is swiped away and slinks off the cliff and back into the sky and land safely away to let his wounds rest for a moment.
Sylvan Rain: Hmm.. Perhaps the words I exchanged with Hraesvelgr held some weight after all...
A'zaela Linh: I'd say we have Iieha to thank.
Iieha Beautemps: Hraesvelgr please---! Please keep fighting! Please! I believe in you!
Iieha Beautemps tries to further channel up as much as her aether as she can. It's almost as if a low roar is heard from her surging aether.
Rivienne Marcellus helps up the few that were not wholly injured and keeps her eyes to the skies as the battle takes flight above. She gives them reassuring nods before taking her blade anew and turning her attention to the path ahead while the shouting continues.
Etone Greennote continues to feverishly scribble across the pages of his grimoire, ripping and crumbling a seemingly infinate number of pages into the aether in an attempt to shield and heal his charges. The redhead's Eos fairy, Greenbean, assists with spot healing as well.
The dragons' fray seems endless, more so for its viciousness. Aether of great magnitude and power swirls around the duo as they fight, encircling them completely until they are obscured from view...
At last, a single dragon form falls from the heavens, its wing clearly broken. It is Hraesvelgr.
Iieha Beautemps lets her globe fall to the ground as her hands cover her mouth in shock. She can feel her entire frame shake.
Iieha Beautemps: N...No... no... No...
Iieha Beautemps’s feet tell her to move and she tries her damned best, sprinting off to reach for him.
Sylvan Rain: Iieha! Be careful!
Sylvan Rain runs to her side, making sure she isn't flanked by other dragons.
A'zaela Linh: Iieha--!
A'zaela Linh immediately sprints after the young woman, fending off what dragons she can on her way.
Varaelian Nilhandril: Iieha! Stay back!
Nivelth Ajuyn focuses more on destroying the rest of the dragons that are headed for the city, the sickness consuming the horde, and then re-focuses on Nidhogg.
Nivelth Ajuyn: Well. Looks like our cavalry died.
Iieha Beautemps's tears well in her eyes as she thinks that the dragon has been slain...
Ivaan Arkwright: Sylvan, CATCH!
Ivaan Arkwright scoops up the discarded globe and hurls it to the Roegadyn, not wishing the young woman to be unarmed.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: Don't get separated! They'll drive a wedge atween us!
Sylvan Rain turns, catching the globe and lets it levitate in her hand as she hands it off to Iieha Beautemps.
Sylvan Rain: Focus! We must see this through...
Iieha Beautemps: No---! I have to save him, I-I have to I have to!!!
A'zaela Linh: I'll help her. Stay with the others, Sylvan, please.
Rivienne Marcellus motions to her men to flank the dragons to try and give passage to those rushing forth; golden eyes are narrowed as she moved along with them, cutting down the remnants that stood in their path.
Nidhogg lands.
Nidhogg: Thou art weak, Hraesvelgr - a slithering wyrm who fawneth on the vermin who should rightly be his prey. For a thousand years I have fought without cease - and thou didst think to prevail against me!
Ivaan Arkwright does his best to advance in the general direction of the fallen wyrm, but is constantly stopped by more foes in his way.
Nivelth Ajuyn runs up next to Ivaan, spreading Bios and Miasmas in her wake, then launches another wave at the ones in front of the dragoon, weakening them severely.
Sylvan Rain: Hraesvelgr will be alright, but we must stop Nidhogg lest this destruction continues.
Sylvan Rain dashes past Rivienne Marcellus, looking to her briefly with a nod. Her voice erupts into a roar and she intercepts a larger wyrm that was heading in the direction of the others. She releases the power of the Forbidden Chakra and her fist collides with its face causing it to fall on it's side.
Sylvan Rain: Rivienne! Finish it!
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn points at the dragons, helpfully, and remembers to shoot at some of them, but the smaller ones this time, having reasoned that firing even a Roegadyn-sized arrow at Nidhogg might as well be flicking sticks.
Iieha Beautemps finally makes her way to the fallen wyrm and her hands touch the mangled wing. The blood stains her hands and her body shakes. She's trying to use the aether around her to heal but tears overcome her and her focus is lost.
Iieha Beautemps: Hraesvelgr please... please don't die. I don't want to lose you...
Iieha Beautemps’s aether whips widely as finally, the wyrm speaks to her in ancient tongue.
Hraesvelgr: Sohr dran hern.
Alaq'it Moks heads forward to attempt stabbing smaller dragons where Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn has shot them.
Livvy Ahtynwyb fends off an entire pack of dragons - a dozen or more - from reaching the fallen Hraesvelgr and the girl beside him.
Ivaan Arkwright lashes out, the serrated blade of his halberd crashing through the thin neck of the wyvern that had been harrying him, a gout of dark blood splashing across his armor.
Rivienne Marcellus sees Sylvan and the company push from the corner of her eye. At her attack, the maiden rushes and bashes the side of the face with her shield, only for steel to rip through from underneath it and pierce the throat.
Rivienne Marcellus: More! Bring me another!
Iieha Beautemps presses her face into the feathers of Hraesvelgr's face.
Iieha Beautemps: I don't want you to die... I don't want us to give up, but... what can we do?
Iieha Beautemps feels herself weep harder as the dragon bares his teeth to her.
Hraesvelgr: To give up? I lend my strength and you would shed tears?
Hraesvelgr grunts low in his throat as he urges her to pull away. In that moment his eyes open, but there is a hole in one of them.
Iieha Beautemps, being ushered back, takes notice. Did Nidhogg take his eye?!
Sylvan Rain: Another, you say?!
Sylvan Rain is perhaps a bit too excited for this, but she obliges Rivienne Marcellus by propelling herself to the nearest dragon and in a single blow to the knee, dislocates the joint.
Sylvan Rain: One more!
A'zaela Linh rushes to Iieha Beautemps's side after finishing a battle with another of Nidhogg's brood. She shifts her lance to one hand so that it is still at the ready, but she places her other on the girl's back. She knows not what to say that could possibly quell her sorrow, but she knows she must do something to help.
Hraesvelgr: To challenge my brood brother, take my full strength. Use it. Do not let it go to waste.
Iieha Beautemps’s hands reach out to the massive eye offered to her.
Hraesvelgr: I shall rest and you shall fight.
Iieha Beautemps holds it in hand, the aether practically bleeding from it.
Livvy Ahtynwyb looks over her shoulder at Iieha Beautemps... and stares in awe at the thing in the girl's hands.
Ashelia Riot: An eye!
A'zaela Linh sees this as well, her eyes widening. Her first urge is to run away from the bloody thing, yet...she does not.
Iieha Beautemps: The aether bleeding from it... it's not like Nidhogg's. It's different.
Iieha Beautemps looks to the resting Hraesvelgr and then to A'zaela Linh.
Iieha Beautemps: I... have to use this for us.
A'zaela Linh would in any other circumstance have shaken her head and run, but finds that she can't entirely say no. She trusts Iieha Beautemps, but she has no plans on putting her hands on the eye herself.
Ashelia Riot: All diversionary units! Keep the Horde with us! The others must be allowed to fight the wyrm uninterrupted!
Sylvan Rain's attention is stolen by the dragon eye and she calls out to the other Riskbreakers.
Sylvan Rain: Do not let Nidhogg obtain the Eye! Protect Iieha!
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn pushes forward to fire on the lesser drakes circling their master.
Fhiliht Merlhaemrwyn: Is that, uh.... legal?! I mean, allowed? I mean, with th'eyeball.
Ashelia Riot: CUT THEM OFF! KEEP THE HORDE FROM THE EYE!
Alaq'it Moks fumbles through her pack; the fray cannot be allowed to come forward.
Alaq’it Moks runs forward with... kupo nuts?!
Alaq'it Moks: YOU WILL ALL BEHAVE YOURSELVES!
Alaq'it Moks launches the nuts toward the Horde and hides.
The kupo nuts EXPLODE with an enormous bang and the Steps of Faith crumble. An entire section, the one containing Nidhogg and the vanguard, separates from the rest of the bridge.
Iieha Beautemps holds the eye and feels the bridge begin to break.
Iieha Beautemps: W-What's happening?!
Alaq'it Moks: They are... they are cut off now, well and truly. We must hold our own here.
The aether from the eye dispels, spreading its power to each of the eight fighters facing Nidhogg’s shade.
Livvy Ahtynwyb has partaken of such power before, and it is easier now that she has a team she fully trusts.
A'zaela Linh: ...Kupo nuts.
Iieha Beautemps channels her own aether around her and the eye. There is a vague shape of a massive dragon around it that ushers a roar as the eye disappears into aether and spreads among all of those present on the bridge.
Ivaan Arkwright had been on the other side of the explosion, but with a simple jump the obstacle was cleared, the dragoon rejoined with the party.
Sylvan Rain: Everyone together! It is time we ended this!
Rivienne Marcellus runs down the back of the dragon and points her blade forward, holding her shield up, and grounding herself, from any incoming debris coming her way.
Ashelia Riot: TWELVE BE WITH YOU!