[Video]

[break_the_ice]

[Katherine is in full kit, cleaning her weapons when the feed turns on. Her pokemon are conspicuously absent from the shot.]

I need to work up a sweat and kick the darkness where it hurts.

Anyone want to join me in a run on one of their areas?

Ozuma, you got a preference on where I should go hunting?

Comments

[Audio]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

I was just thinking that I'd hadn't heard of any pushes happening lately.

I'm up for joining in the fun. When were you thinking of heading out?

Re: [Audio]

[break_the_ice]

Just waiting long enough to get a target and some intel. Probably tomorrow morning at first light.

[Audio]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Sounds good. I'll see you then.

[break_the_ice]

Good. Dress warm, it's still cold out and I doubt the shadows will care much.

audio

[hornedwarrior]

There is a section of areas beyond the windmill that could be cleared. A bridge connects the windmill to the next area and it should already be extended, so getting there shouldn't be too terribly difficult.

Do be careful, Kathrine. More dangerous shadows seem to be appearing every time someone dares to venture out.

[break_the_ice]

I know the area, I've scouted it a few times. Never stuck around long enough to draw anything's ire. Guess that's about to change.

If I were afraid of the danger, I wouldn't be a hunter. Worst they can do is kill me. The Darkness isn't usually so merciful.

[hornedwarrior]

Likely.

You may not be bothered by such a fate, but I'm sure you can't say the same about anyone who would go with you. Just... keep that in mind. Please.

[break_the_ice]

I don't intend to die. This isn't a death wish. Just the desire of someone who's been pushed too far, to do some pushing back.

If you've got any pertinent warnings about the new creatures we're likely to face, I'd love to hear it. Being as all we've got are a few whispers from the last group that went beyond the walls...

[Sorry Ozuma, that's some Guardian slang there.]

[hornedwarrior]

[At least he understands what she's getting at.]

Good.

I'm still learning about the presence of the new ones as well, though if you'd like to gather some information before leaving, the children named Katie and Lance were the first to encounter some of the new ones.

[Audio]

[heritrix]

I'll come. It's definitely been long enough.

[And she could (does) chide herself for that, but the best way to fix that is to move forward. This month has definitely given her the motivation for that.]

[break_the_ice]

Fantastic, another warm body lets me feel better about this already.

I'll be getting ready at first light tomorrow.

[heritrix]

That's agreeable. Where would you have us meet?

[break_the_ice]

The windmills sounds like a fine landmark, shall we meet at the closest stone couch?

[heritrix]

We'll be continuing on that way, then?

[Rin nods to herself, pleased enough with that. She remembers the area well from when she was last there, so their starting position will be familiar to her. Too, she remembers the scouting mission she went on, when plotting out what locations were best to tackle that summer. They'd met at the bridge: her, Sans, Wade, and ░▒░▒░.

░▒░▒░. ░▒░▒░. There was a fourth person there, Rin's so sure, but when she tries to picture who, she can't see through the static.]

Then the closest... couch... [She sounds distracted for a moment, but just a moment. There's a clapping sound, a hollow pop of soft cheeks, and when next Rin speaks she sounds she again has a grip on herself.] That would be the bridge. I'll be there.

[Video]

[miseris_socios]

I'm in. Light attacks will be helpful, and I can heal, so there's less of a likelihood we'll have to drag someone back to the infirmary.

[break_the_ice]

Tactical application of light is always useful, and I'll welcome it.

[miseris_socios]

Good. Any special supplies you think we might need for this one? I can see about getting them together.

[break_the_ice]

You're all going to need water and heat. It's still colder than a lunar night out there. Lanterns, gloves, good boots will all be important. We don't want anyone losing their footing out there.

I can't speak towards a tactical loadout for all of you, though. I am going to be bringing three weapons.

[miseris_socios]

I'll... see what I can find. There's that clothing area now... I can probably find something there. And I've got a spear and my Persona, so that's lightning, light, and healing.

[ordon]

[It's difficult to get used to all of this for Link. The phones make no sense, even with the few crash courses he's already had. Still, if he was brought here for a reason he won't shirk his responsibilities.] I'm interested in joining.

[break_the_ice]

At this rate, it may just be a fair fight for us after all.

We're glad to have you along. We're going to meet up tomorrow morning at first light. Bring some supplies, it's not going to be an easy fight and we may be at it for a while.

[ordon]

Glad to be of help then. I'll be ready.

video;

[peacefulwinter]

I'll need to check with Lily, but we'd both expressed before that we wanted to help, so I have a feeling we're in. It'll be- well, just like home, in a way.

[There's a certain unease in her tone, but the fire in her eyes burns brightly.]

Do we need to bring anything? Aside from us and our... armaments? [She hasn't introduced Raquel, and now is probably not a good time for it.]

video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Lily's face pops up a short time later.] Well, there's not much question about whether or not I'd be in for this, is there?

At the very least, this is a good opportunity to test something I was wondering.

[peacefulwinter]

[She shrugs; it really wasn't a question, no.] It's still the polite thing to do. Do I want to know what you're testing, or should I wait patiently for you to show me?

[alilyinthemoonslight]

I asked this to Colin before, but results are inconclusive. Basically...

What do our powers do to the things we're fighting?

Re: video;

[break_the_ice]

Bring supplies for a long day. We may need to refresh while the fighting's going on. Bottled water, energy bars, that sort of thing. Anything you can wolf down in a hurry.

Also, dress warm. If you think it's cold in here right now, remember that this is the civilized part of the castle...

[peacefulwinter]

I don't have to pack much else, so that'll be fine. It'll be like a picnic. Except we're expecting to get into a fight instead of just sit under a tree and relax, but that's fine, too.

Cold and I are good friends. I'll be fine, but I'll make sure Lily's ready. She will likely not be fine without help.

[break_the_ice]

I'll take your word for it, but I don't want to see anyone taking this lightly. The shadows have been getting more dangerous of late.

[peacefulwinter]

Ah, that's not quite what I meant. My alternate form is aligned with ice, so I'm not particularly sensitive to the cold anymore in this one. Sure, I'll freeze if you dump me into the Arctic ocean like anyone else, but it takes more for me to have a problem with it.

[break_the_ice]

[You'll have to forgive Katherine. When you say "Magical Girl" to her, she just thinks another one of Ikora's femme fatales.]

I'm not just thinking the cold, but each thing fewer you need to worry about is good for all of us.

[peacefulwinter]

I'm also fairly attuned to violence by now. Even like this, I can get thrown into - or maybe through - a wall and be more or less okay, though not more than once in succession. As Diamond, no, I'm plenty tough enough. I don't anticipate anyone will need to worry about me more than any other trained soldier or similar. So long as what we're fighting is tangible enough to hit, I'll be okay.