[x]Entomb them. Raise a defense wall in front of them with earth ofuda so that Hermione can't see what is happening. And then raise a wall behind them and at their sides to fully encase them. Silence their screams with ofuda seal as the walls squeeze them.
[x]Grab Hermione and fall back to the bathroom. Travel from there going room to room thru the walls and ceiling (using earth shape) to get to the children and shelter.
Choice 151: [X] Entomb them. Raise a defense wall in front of them with earth ofuda so that Hermione can't see what is happening. And then raise a wall behind them and at their sides to fully encase them. Silence their screams with ofuda seal as the walls squeeze them.
Choice 152: [X] Grab Hermione and fall back to the bathroom. Travel from there going room to room thru the walls and ceiling (using earth shape) to get to the children and shelter.
Choice 153: It was painfully obvious that these wretches had never fought something other than their ilk before, that for all their experience, they were not nearly as skilled or as clever as those who had wounded him in the Ministry. Did they think him a mere practitioner of their craft, to be brought low by something as pedestrian as a stunner?
'How droll.'
To their credit, they had managed to shrug off his ofuda, likely because traitorous Potter had shared a trick or two with them, but that simply meant that they could no longer be easily - and non-lethally - disabled.
'Oh well. We'll just have to do things the hard way.'
The boy chuckled as he snapped his fingers, and a wall of earth rose up before him, blocking his view of the unsightly savages - and incidentally intercepting several bolts of blue and purple aimed in his direction, as it seemed they had the same idea as he. The wall shuddered under the onslaught, with part of it crumbling away as quickly as he could restore it. In the back of his mind, there was a flicker of irritation at their continued resistance, and in answer to it, several ofuda flew from his sleeves to reinforce the wall - and to ensure no sound could be heard from beyond it.
He let his senses extend into the earth below the building, along with his prana, and willed the ground behind his enemies to rise up. Alas that they were so focused on the obstacle before them, trying to blast their way through it that they didn't notice what happened next - which was that the walls turned from dirt to stone and rushed together at tremendous speed, crushing their bodies into bloody paste - a death quicker than they deserved, but then, mercy was the province of the strong.
"Let's fall back," the boy said to Hermione, who was still looking rather shocked at the sudden outbreak of violence. For a moment, he wondered what she would think if she knew he had quite literally crushed her would be kidnappers, but he thought better of it, as some things a delicate young woman had no business knowing.
"Y-yes. Wha--"
"In the event of an enemy incursion, my orders are to protect you - and the children," Nines stated firmly. "It seems the enemy is here, so let us get you to safety."
"Enemy...? The Aurors?" she asked, confused. "But--"
"There is no time," the boy said, interrupting her. "We cannot apparate to the shelter area, as our enemies have put up anti-disapparition jinxes, but no matter, there are ways around such."
"I--"
"Miss Granger, I will answer your questions later. For now, come with me if you want to live."
Interestingly enough, the building happens to be built over a bomb shelter - perhaps one designed for WWII...or WWIII, and so Shinji is able to get to one of the entrances of the underground area with Hermione easily enough, only to recieve a blast of red to the face as he goes down - as two Aurors have apparently beaten him there.
Fortunately, he can shrug off a stunner with no ill effects, but...how does he respond?
[ ] (write-in)
Choice 154: And what does he tell Hermione when he gets them to safety?
[ ] (write-in)
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
[X] Erect a stone wall to protect Hermione. Release a Flow ofuda toflow behind the two aurors, to then set fire to their wands as they turn.
At that point they really should be ready to surrender. Their target takes a stunner, and does silent/wandless magic, teleports and disarms them.
[X] Tell her the facts. That outer perimeter was breached, killingthe on duty goblins by unknown number of combatants. And that it appears they have sent invisible elites to grab important targets in the chaos. He will defend the shelters/civilians until he is killedor the enemy is neutralized. And they seem to be doing a poor job doing the first. Any questions?
Not much to tell her more than she already was told but might as well repeat it again to her in a bit more detail and telling her about the events that happen when she went to the restroom. Repeating the events in a calm manner to her, will hopefully get it to sink in this time.
Edit: Right first plan will not work as they are disillusioned, and while Shinji knows where the are they are, he could not tell where their wands would be.
Last edited by Skull Leader; December 23rd, 2019 at 02:45 PM.
[X] Release earth ofuda and bind ofuda on the two aurors. While they are despelling the bind ofuda (and their disillusionment in the process), Shinji will with earth ofuda wrap stone around them so they are restrained.
Seems we agreed on that one;
[X] Talk privately to Hermione, seal area so no one overhears. Explain the basic facts to her. The outer perimeter was breached, and contact was lost with them. Assumed dead. Minstry forces has started to invade the building. He was sent to find her and to protect her and the children. Nines will attempt to answer any questions she have to the best of his ability.
Last edited by Daiki; December 23rd, 2019 at 03:15 PM.
[X] Release earth ofuda and bind ofuda on the two aurors. While they are despelling the bind ofuda (and their disillusionment in the process), the earth ofuda will form an stone fist that will knock them against the shelter walls, knocking them out.
Ok Daiki. Let's knock them out with that Stonefist spell from Dragon Age but I figured it is better to have them busy despelling the bind ofuda while we punch them. In case the stone punch does not knock them out at least they will be visible.
Last edited by Skull Leader; December 23rd, 2019 at 03:08 PM.
[x] Earth Fist + Earth Shackles
Because it's pretty hard to knock out well armored people. Also, wizards, so inhuman durability and healing factor of some proportions.
[x] SL's casual infodump.
Just following orders on murderblendering people, yes.
New Infodump for Hermione cause of talks on discord.
[X] Talk privately to Hermione, seal area so no one overhears. Explain the basic facts to her. The outer perimeter was breached, and contact was lost with them. Assumed dead. Ministry forces have invaded the building. He was sent to find her and to protect her and the children. Nines will attempt to answer any questions she have to the best of his ability.
And now a new plan for the action choice.
[X] Release earth ofuda and bind ofuda on the two aurors. While they are despelling the bind ofuda (and their disillusionment in the process), Shinji will wrap stone (with the earth ofuda) around them so they are restrained and can not move
Last edited by Skull Leader; December 23rd, 2019 at 03:11 PM.
Choice 153: [X] Release earth ofuda and bind ofuda on the two aurors. While they are despelling the bind ofuda (and their disillusionment in the process), Shinji will with earth ofuda wrap stone around them so they are restrained.
Choice 154: [X] Talk privately to Hermione, seal area so no one overhears. Explain the basic facts to her. The outer perimeter was breached, and contact was lost with them. Assumed dead. Ministry forces have invaded the building. He was sent to find her and to protect her and the children. Nines will attempt to answer any questions she have to the best of his ability.
Choice 155: Having previously fought a handful of the Ministry's finest, Matou Shinji was not especially perturbed at the presence of two invisible...adversaries. True, he had failed to notice them using his more esoteric senses, but then, he chalked that off to being distracted by the pretty girl he was escorting, as Granger had definitely filled out in a year and a half. There was a glow about her that there hadn't been before, a quiet confidence that made the wavy-haired maiden far more appealing than she had been when she'd been pursuing him.
...that or it could the perfume she was wearing, an almost spicy bled of bergamot, amber and sandalwood that hinted of the exotic, a delectable mix, especially in combination with faint notes of well-hidden unease - even fear.
Still, she had nothing to worry about - riffraff like whoever these might be were no threat when compared to someone who bore the might of an elder dragon - or even something substantially less powerful, really.
So he proved as he released a swarm of ofuda in the direction of the twin presences he could feel using his earth senses, relishing their spike of shock as the paper slips homed in on them, even as they tried to evade - to dodge out of the way - to break contact.
'When will you learn that resistance is futile?' he scoffed, as he pictured how they would move, and some of the ofuda shifted trajectory, heading not for them, but for where they would be going, forcing them to lose their footing as the ground beneath their feet surged upwards. With a thud, the two presences tripped, and several binding ofuda came to rest on what he supposed must be their faces.
The flash of light that happened next was expected, as they apparently had the same countermeasures to magical ensnarement as their fellows, but he had hoped to trigger that, as the dispel talismans were not particularly discriminate about the spell effects they ended. They couldn't be, given the range of things they had to counter, and so when they dispelled the bindings he imposed, they also dispelled their own invisibility.
'Checkmate.'
Without another word, the earth rose up around them, sealing them in nearly skintight cocoons of stone - though he did allow their noses to stick out so they could breathe. He wasn't a monster, after all, to kill when it was unnnecessary. Their wands, though, he called to himself wordlessly, since they'd not be needing those anytime soon.
"How...?"
"Old mercenary trick for dealing with people in the dark," Nines responded easily, tapping the blindfold he wore. "It's not as if invisibility helps when I don't need eyes to see."
"You seem used to...all this," she observed, noting how he'd dealt with both groups so...easily.
"Well, a mercenary walks with death, after all," came the response. "This isn't my first battlefield. It won't be my last."
"Battlefield?"
"I'll tell you once we reach safety. You're in danger here."
Safety, in this case, being the underground shelter that could be accessed through the basement - one that Hermione knew about, though him bringing it up only made her somewhat more nervous.
"If we're in danger, what about everyone else?" she asked. "Everyone back in the room. Shouldn't we be going back for them?"
"The First Citizen can handle himself in a fight," Nines replied, thankful that the blindfold meant that Granger couldn't see him rolling his eyes at how much of an understatement that was. "He defeated Grindelwald, remember?"
So the papers said, after all, and one could trust them to be--
Nines smiled crookedly, not willing to finish that ridiculous thought, even in the privacy of his mind.
"B...but what of the others, like the First Citizen's secretary and WADA's board of directors?!"
"I do not think the secretary is in any danger," the boy replied. "Rather, I pity anyone who rouses her anger." He didn't really want to say more, but... "She is as far beyond me as I am beyond...them," he said, gesturing at the cocooned individuals. "With her and Mudbutton to protect the rest, I am not particularly worried. Now, if you don't mind, Miss Granger, let us get to shelter."
"Ok," the girl allowed, heading towards one corner of the basement, where...
'Ah. Yes. She would know where the shelter hatch is.'
...she spoke a few words in his ear and a hatch seemed to emerge from nowhere, becoming visible to him by mundane and esoteric senses - even as he suddenly began to sense a complex underground.
"The shelter's access point is a Secret, kept by students and faculty, unless permission is given to disclose," she stated, as Nines blinked. "It keeps intruders from being able to find it."
"...need to know, huh?" the boy noted, his opinion of the security here going up several notches. "Who put this into effect? The First Citizen?"
"The Founder of WADA."
"...clever, especially with your limited enrollment," he admitted.
"I thought you might think so," the girl said with a dazzling smile as she turned the wheel to open the hatch. "Shall we?"
The two proceeded down into the shelter, sealing the hatch above them.
On their way down, the boy explained the basics of the situation - how the outer perimeter had been breached, and contact had been lost, with hostiles present in force.
"Hostiles?" she echoed, somewhat uncertain. "Then...the Aurors?"
"Opportunistic at best. Responsible at worst," the boy replied. "What I know is that the area is locked down, with anti-apparition jinxes in place, and that during the assault, a group of armed and dangerous individuals came to try and kidnap you. Whether or not they were truly Aurors, or just posing as them, I cannot say, merely that it was my duty to protect you. Thus, when they confirmed themselves as enemies by attacking me on sight, I neutralized them as a threat."
"...if apparition was not an option, how did you get to me? For that matter, how did you even know where I was?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she stepped off the ladder. "...do you have some kind of tracker on me?"
"No, Miss Granger," the boy responded. Technically speaking, the bracelet of flow ofuda disguised as charms was not a tracker after all. "I confess I did not know exactly where you were, though I recalled you mentioning that you had gone to the bathroom. Hence I used an Eastern movement technique to go to the nearest washroom, and well, you know the rest."
"An Eastern movement technique?"
"An equivalent to apparition, though the mechanism of effect differs," he noted. "For a very long time, we did not have wands in the East, and so developed other tools and other methods by which to use our magic."
"Oh. That makes sense," she acknowledged, proving herself far more open minded than the Hermione of several years past. "Would it be possible for someone like me to learn some of these techniques?" She smiled, though the expression was somewhat brittle. "Given that I've been in danger once, I can't say it won't happen again, and I don't want to always have to be some damsel in distress."
That was a notion that Matou Shinji readily approved of, as the more capable she was, the more use she would have as an asset for Albion.
"It...is not impossible," the boy admitted. "However you would need to learn some of the foundations of the Eastern Arts in order to do so, including how to craft ofuda, the mindset required, and other such. And with your schedule..."
"I can make time, as long as I have someone willing to teach me," she responded, her eyes bright with determination.
[ ] Agree - as Nines - to spend time helping her
[ ] Suggest that she learn from Matou Shinji, who practices both eastern and western arts
[ ] I have heard of a westerner who has mastered some of these arts. A certain Miss Lovegood?
[ ] Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
[ ] Try to convince her that its not worth her time
The battle above ground ends, with the whole of the Ministry strike forces either dead (8) or captured (192). Among the captives are Nymphadora Black, who commanded the assault, and Percy Weasley, who had been responsible for the infiltrators. In comparison, Albion casualties total 21 goblins KIA.
Tohsaka Rin unfortunately, has yet to wake up, with no magical or mundane treatments seeming to work to wake her from her slumber
Choice 156: In the wake of the battle, Mashu mentions that there may be a way to wake Tohsaka, but that it is risky. It involves someone having their consciousness enter the dreamscape of the stricken girl and free her of whatever might be keeping her from waking. It is simple in theory, but is also difficult - and can as easily result in the death of the would-be rescuer, especially as their meddling will usually provoke some sort of response, and to die in someone's mind is to have one's consciousness be extinguished.
Does Shinji wish to take the risk?
[ ] No, it isn't worth it.
[ ] Yes - he is willing to undertake this trial - but not yet
[ ] Yes - and he wishes to do it now
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
[x] Try to convince her that its not worth her time
For reasons
[x] Yes - and he wishes to do it now
For some other reasons.
The garbage site eating my posts, ffs.
[x] Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
Certainly not forcing anything (or something that could be perceived as such) on Luna, after the outburst on the isle.
We can give the opportunity to meet with Kohaku, and then it's up to them to do what they want.
Plus, it grants us some positive points with Hermione without engaging to anything personally or forcing stuff on anyone.
[x] Yes - he is willing to undertake this trial - but not yet
Sensible points made about being more prepared (we don't know what we could be facing in there) and perhaps having suggestions / opinions from mind specialists or magical doctors might give us some insight before jumping in.
Last edited by Daiki; December 24th, 2019 at 09:58 AM.
[x] Yes - and he wishes to do it now
[X] Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
Poor Rin looks like she Is Gonna be in coma for long Time.
Last edited by skulkidcachi90; December 24th, 2019 at 04:31 PM.
[X] Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
[X] Yes - he is willing to undertake this trial - but not yet
You need to prepare Shinji for this.
So we are in a tie.Shame i want to try save Rin now.Dont want to wait almost half of a year to have the chance to enter in her mind.
[x]Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
[x]Yes - he is willing to undertake this trial - but not yet
Choice 155: [x]Offer to introduce her to Fujou Kohaku, the unofficial ambassador from Japan
Choice 156: [x]Yes - he is willing to undertake this trial - but not yet
Choice 157: In the aftermath of the battle, Shinji - as Nines - finally gets to have a conversation with Lockhart in a private, sealed-off room regarding what happened to Tohsaka Rin, the effect it had on his squad's ability to perform their mission, and why exactly the Ministry attacked, given that he hadn't expected nearly that level of response.
"If you hadn't been here, sir..." the boy began, shaking his head. "Or at least, if you hadn't made your visit so public..."
"...then the Ministry wouldn't have attacked, and brave goblins wouldn't be dead?" Lockhart asked, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly. "You are correct, Mister Matou."
"If you knew that sir, then why...?"
"Because when one is laying a trap, it makes sense to use bait that your quarry will find...irresistible," Lockhart responded, shaking his head. "Mudbutton, Commander Peverell, and I all knew an attack from the Ministry was coming in the near future. One was inevitable, given that to them, we are rebels against the Ministry's lawful authority - it was merely a matter of when and where."
"And you thought that this...turning a school into a warzone, was a good idea?" Shinji demanded.
"Mind you, WADA is a school whose students and faculty are all informed about the extensive shelter system underneath - one protected from what happens above by distance and magic," the First Citizen noted. "As well as a place that had a rather sizable garrison of goblin troops. But yes, I did."
"Why?"
"Because it was better that they assaulted a place already prepared for them than one that was not," Lockhart explained quietly. "It is true that many brave goblins died today, but in turn, the entire strike force sent against us - all two hundred, including most of the Ministry's surviving Auror force - was either killed or captured, dealing a significant blow to their ability to continue prosecuting a drawn out conflict. That aside, consider the optics."
"The optics?"
"The Ministry committed a massive strike force against a place of learning, overrunning the brave soldiers placed around it for its protection in the wake of the Battle of London, heedless of any collateral damage, or any of the unwritten rules of the wizarding world regarding consideration for civilians. This force, like the last one that threatened civilians, was stopped by the brave soldiers of Albion, who fought against overwhelming odds to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."
"...and so Albion comes out smelling like roses," Shinji grunted, shaking his head.
"Yes. Already, a representative of the ICW has acknowledged us as the legitimate government of Britain, given that the rump Ministry has become a rogue state using terror tactics against a civilian population, " the man stated. "Indeed, envoys from some of the other Ministries of Europe will be arriving in a week for us to renegotiate agreements they had previously made with the Ministry of Britain."
"What, is it over already?" the boy asked, blinking.
"Nothing so convenient," Lockhart noted. "We have secured legitimacy in the eyes of the world, but I fear that the fight is just beginning. With many of its experienced personnel captured or otherwise neutralized, the Ministry will grow desperate, perhaps resorting to unorthodox or unsavory methods. Still, none of that can be done right away, so we have time."
"...and my squad, sir?"
"You have completed your mission, so as agreed, you may recruit more members." He paused for a moment. "Tell me, are you satisfied with Emilia's performance? Do you wish to keep her on your squad, or would you like me to reassign her?"
[ ] Keep her on squad - Shinji is very satisfied by her performance
[ ] While she performed adequately, he doesn't see that she did anything that a replacement couldn't - have Lockhart reassign her
[ ] He expected better of Emilia - have Lockhart reassign her
Choice 158: "As for the matter of Tohsaka, you are welcome to request a replacement. Did you have anyone in mind?"
[ ] Perhaps...the Edelfelt girl who had been at the dinner?
[ ] A goblin could probably work
[ ] Are there any reliable mercenaries?
[ ] Perhaps...someone from the...order you run?
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
[ ] While she performed adequately, he doesn't see that she did anything that a replacement couldn't - have Lockhart reassign her[ ] Perhaps...the Edelfelt girl who had been at the dinner?
[X] Keep her on squad - Shinji is very satisfied by her performance
She did her job and is professional. Plus her skill/ability is rather useful. Might as well continue to work with her as the biggest hurdle (Shinji and her past history) has been addressed.
[X] A goblin could probably work
Rounding out the team. As we have said in the past that Albion is for more than just wizards and humans, I think it is time for us to have our Squad embrace that by letting a Goblin in. They might not be the most powerful pick here, but they bring discipline, weapon skills as well as aux skill by way of crafting that could be useful. And will gain us more goblin connections that could benefit us later. Time to embody Albion by bringing a noticeable non-human into the mix.
I am also good with getting an assassin to our team. Not a huge fan of getting Luvia on our team. Not so much cause I dislike her (the opposite in fact) but more do not need the headache that will be if Rin wakes up to this and the headache that is Shinji around an attractive Blonde girl. For once, can we please not go with the Hot Girl option?
[x]Keep her on squad - Shinji is very satisfied by her performance
[x]A goblin could probably work
[x] Keep her on squad - Shinji is very satisfied by her performance.
No reason to be dissatisfied with her here. As long as she follows orders, I see no reason to swap her.
[x] A goblin could probably work
Still working on good relationships with Goblins. Plus it benefits us to have a goblin for the team as they have knowledge that we do not and could help facilitate working / cooperating with other squads in the ALF. It's always good to have a variety of species too, for it offers different opinions and makes the Albion coalition look more solid as a result.
It's also a decent way to promote the acceptance of goblins (and other magical species) among other nations, as VIPs we escort / protect / interact with during missions could exchange and witness directly with one, rather than reading reports of their actions within the armed force.
I would probably have went with an Assassin if we had swapped Hilde, but she completed her mission without any trouble (nobody noticing her cover) so there's no reason to.
Mercernary (Jack?) or Luvia if we needed more power, but with Shinji and Hilde, we're good for now.
Last edited by Daiki; December 25th, 2019 at 01:55 AM.
[x] While her personality remains questionable, she did her job with commitment and competence. Keeping her on the squad is the right decision.
"We are doing something horribly wrong when the murderous monster with a possible grudge on us is the most reliable member of the squad. " - Malorius, early 2019.
Any compliments I can think of for Hilde come out very backhanded, and for a good reason. Growing complacent with her now before we had a single trial by fire (e.g. a chance to backstab us with a decisive result) seems to be the trend among us, but I'll prefer to avoid it.
Even if that leads to never creating a true trust/friendship between Shinji and Hilde, that's ok. Professionalism is more than enough.
[x]A goblin could probably work
No strong opinion on this vote except the vehement denial of Edelfeit option. As elaborated previously, that creates a lot of issues IC and OOC for our continuous support of Rin.
So I'll go with a goblin. Everyone seems charmed by the skin-deep veneer of civility they use to cover the simmering hatred towards everything within.
Also, pseudo-D&D games possibility. That's a thing.
Last edited by Malorius; December 25th, 2019 at 01:55 AM.
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