Watch Them Fall (A Salem Quest)

I straightened, moving through the mist - I'd need to be equidistant between them for the best impact here, and judging their shapes through the thick, black fog, the faint press of their 'negative' emotions… here. It wasn't a perfect plan, but the situation wasn't perfect. Casting doubt on their work for Ozma, then extending a hand of peace - given all they'd heard about me, it might just barely throw them -

I hissed and leaned out of the way of another of those annoyingly accurate rifle shots.

At least, if I could get them to listen instead of simply attacking me. Then again, I had made my fair share of warlords and warriors stop, if only for a moment. The hearts of men were easily swayed, after all.

So, with a pulse of air to clear the mist - "Enough." Stern, but fair - more of a look Ozma preferred, but with enough differences to make it my own. Eye contact with each of them, hands folded, making it clear that I wouldn't attack for now, but if they tried a cheap shot - "Clearly you know more than would have been shared by… Ozpin. But I doubt you know the full picture of what either of our goals are."

The Branwen's eyes narrowed - a charmingly bloody shade of scarlet, just a little darker than the Grimm-hue of my own; oh, and the scent of blood wasn't entirely my dead allies. It also came rom the barely visible stain against her clothes where her hand had been pressed before it jumped to the handle of her bulky, graceless weapon. Summer Rose cocked her head, rifle still leveled. "I think I know enough," hovering off the trigger for a second before the slightest tension, shine in the silver of her eyes - and a pull, Raven launching forward beside the bullet, long sword launched into her hand, shining and crackling with electricity

"Do you now." A trace of a smirk crawled onto my face, half intended, half because of the sheer, phenomenal audacity. A spire of rock to knock the Branwen aside and then the flat of the palm and fire to block and dissolve the bullet before it could reach me. Maiden's tricks, ones they'd be familiar with, but possibly not executed as cleanly as I could. "So if I were to tell you that Ozpin seeks to summon the gods back to judge the world - " slap the flat of the incoming odachi to one side, channeling the electricity that surged into me from the blow into a shock to jolt the Branwen away, letting Summer's shot hit the palm of my hand and blast it open, " - to see if the world was unified so they could 'live among humanity' again…"

Raven huffed, then launched into a series of wider strikes, trying to herd me out from using her as cover against Summer as my hand wrenched itself back from mangled ruin. "A unified world sounds boring but not exactly shocking from Ozpin."

"You ignore the point of that unity. To call the gods back. And if you know I can't die, you know the gods did that to me. That they killed everyone for my actions." It hurt, to act as if any of what occurred was my fault, but it was worth it for the way I heard Summer's next shot go wide. "Do you think rulers like that would help those close to you? And that is assuming that such perfect unity is even achievable. If he tries to call them back and there is any disagreement, do you know what they have promised to do? Wipe this world from existence."

And I could not help but curl my tongue around those words. Because as much as I wanted these two huntresses to stop, as much as this might be the argument to do it… part of me hoped to push Ozma to the point he tried to call the gods back, or take the Relics and do it myself. Because if what he had said was true, then…

Well. The world would no longer turn if it was wiped from existence would it? I would die, at last, at long last, even if my initial reasons for dying were gone. I'd be gone. And I knew, in my heart of hearts, that the so-called 'gods' were too spiteful to let that happen - they'd forced me to be alone on a barren planet for eternities once before, there was no reason they wouldn't do the same thing again. But it was… maybe the shortest path to freedom. And I could not help but have some of that push through my words. The faintest twitch of my lips upward at the thought of all this being over at long last.

"I cannot allow Ozma to do that," I said, but the conviction was gone from my voice. Spiraling into stratagems where I could convince him the world was unified, that he'd won, while fomenting unrest deep beneath the surface of his society, ready to be revealed in the presence of divinity - no. Not the time. I still had to deal with this conflict. "And if you remove the pressure I can apply to him here, then he will feel empowered push that - impossible goal forward, the balance crucial to your continued existence lost as - "

It took me a moment to process what happened next - in the moment it was simply impact, flash of light, pain, can't breathe. Over the next few instants I realised Summer Rose had shot me in my lung with some form of expanding over-penetrating round - I wasn't exactly a weaponsmith so I wasn't certain of the grain or anything more particular about it - then during the instants where a hole was ripped through me deep enough for light to just barely reach my organs, she'd flashed her fucking eyes, burning my lungs, delaying their regrowth as reinfection with Grimm matter was reprioritised, and stopping me from talking.

I hated being interrupted at the best of times. This? Having an offer be rejected so wholeheartedly was galling, but the method was especially rage inducing. I could barely focus enough to hear anything over the roaring of my blood, the choking tightness in my throat, the twisting, melting corruption of my humanised flesh dissolving over and over as it brushed against the rest of my body.

"You're implying you exist in a state of, what, symbiotic balance with Ozpin?" The click of her working the action of the rifle, of the approach of the Branwen's boots as I slid back across the cracked floor. "I don't think there's much balance in a horde of destruction ripping people apart."

I tried to form a snarl as air wheezed through the bullethole in my chest, settled for simply shattering the lightning-dust blade as it came down on me with a wave of force, stepping into the blow - I would have liked to do it with my torso, there were few pleasures in a fight quite like trapping one of a Huntress's precious weapons within my own body as it healed around their blow, pulling them in close and sinking my nails into their fucking eyes, but it was structually unstable right now; better to do it with my hand than risk being ripped in half. Raven withdrew her sword before I could get a full grip on it, stepping back to resheathe it and add another dust blade, spitting, "Ozpin's a fool if he thinks he can make, what, the whole world peaceful? Foolish and cruel, what a winning combination." A hint of tilted lips, as she redrew with a light blue blade blade so cold my wheezing breath fogged the air between us. "You two truly are a matched pair at least."

Almost as galling an insult as what Rose had done to me. As though I could ever be like him, be cruel enough to do as he had -

"Easy, Rae." The sound of footsteps and I spun aside, away, avoiding Summer's attempts to close in.

"What, you'd defend him?"

"No. But we shouldn't be distracted either. Focus up."

… interesting. I straightened once more, the hole in my chest finally closing as my body and soul recombined into how they should be, and went on the offensive. A simple fireball to split them apart again, reshaping it into a wall of flame that should hold Summer Rose back for a little while, and if the Branwen wanted cold so much… spikes of ice sundering the floor, blunting her attack, as I calmly folded my arms and cleared my throat of any remaining blood, emerging from the Grimm-fog with my best composed, bored expression. "Fine. If you won't heed my warning, then understand this - congratulations." I spread my hands wide, partly as a gesture, and partly to bring my elemental effects together, shatter them in a shockwave to drive the Huntresses back. "You have brought me to the table. If the balance I hold against Ozpin is so distasteful to you, what balance do you seek here? You don't want your world destroyed by monsters of Grimm. I do not wish to see it destroyed by Ozpin or the absent gods. You wish to see the innocent lives of the people - " A flick of the eyes to Summer as she straightened from her crouch, weapon ready, " - of those close to you safe. And you feel I threaten this. What guarantee can I make to prove to you both that I am not the villain you see me as?"

"Nothing," Branwen spat. "We can't trust a single word out of your mouth. You're an adept liar and you'd say anything to get us to leave - "

I couldn't help but let my lips twitch towards a smile as Summer blocked the drawing of Raven's sword with the head of her axe. Her gaze flickered as it held on me. "If you meant a word of that, you wouldn't be fighting us so hard to preserve something that can only be used for destruction. You say you don't want to see the world destroyed - I know enough to know that if you meant that you wouldn't want something that can only be used to make Grimm."

"So to summarise - " Ah, apparently me talking once more was an indication for combat to at least partially resume, since the Branwen was a bird again, then herself as reality rioted around her, already launching into an attack that I parried with a slash of rainbow force, " - you can't trust me, and the fact that I use the resources available to me to fight Ozpin - "

"The indiscriminately destructive resources." Summer Rose, still hanging back, even as I ducked between the blows of the… purple and given the angles she was coming from, gravity dust? Gravity dust blade wielded by her compatriot.

"Well, you killed my less destructive ones too." I gestured to where Rosie and Mircalla's bodies lay.

Raven grunted, then apparently deciding mobility wouldn't aid her resheathed her sword. "Not to sound like I'm a fucking child, but they tried to kill us first." Her sword relaunched, straight for my chin - bold, but like this I wasn't willing to let a blow land that could move my gaze off Rose, give her a chance to sneak up on me. I swatted it aside, noting that Summer was still simply covering for now, as long as I was talking. What had caused her to shoot me before, then? Had it been as simple as me lying, noticeably enough for her to pick up on?

"Maybe your best examples shouldn't be a notable assassin who we've fought before as she tried to kill council members and a former serial killer, either." Summer's eyes flashed again, and I called up a knot of Grimm arms to take the blunt of the blast.

Hmm. I could press her on that - do you not believe people can change, something to that effect - but it might be too naked a blow. Perhaps - "Ozpin's push for unity means I need to find those dissatisfied with how his societies function. Their lack of actual unity, boiling beneath the shiny surface he imposes." I shrugged, sliding back, back, back. "Then again, I suppose you might be one of those who is so… privileged by the surface that any attempt to extend it comes across as mere violence."

That twisting of the truth was apparently enough to bring Summer's riflebutt to her shoulder again, though she'd used her eyes earlier. I caught a little of her expression as well - anger, yes, righteousness, but also a tightness around her mouth. My blow had landed, and at least some of what had provoked her to rejoin combat had been wanting me to be wrong, rather than knowing I was bending truth.

I hadn't achieved my intended goals in bringing up my Ozma's conflicting goals and lies, but I'd learnt so much about my opponents. The Branwen was shorter of temper - and no longer aligned with Ozma, despite the gift of his magic and her presence here. And Summer, while she would have no tolerance for my lying, could be baited - both into going against her ally, holding her back from doing me harm, and into seeing the flaws in the world she stood for.

Now, I just had to use what I had learnt to keep them both on the back foot.

-.-.-

Summer Rose Trait (A Simpler Soul) revealed!: Summer Rose may choose to ignore any social manipulation or diplomacy attempt; if she does so, she gains 1d3-1 minimum of 1 Stress (on this occasion she gained 1 Stress).
Raven Weakness (Ozpin the Great and Terrible) revealed!: So… the bandit has no love for Ozpin or his secrets. Does she feel manipulated into accepting her gift? Is that why she returned to her tribe? I had assumed it was Ozma diversifying his assets, but if she left his employ…
Summer Weakness (Always an Open Hand) revealed!: It's hardly surprising from a 'noble' silver-eyed warrior, but despite her vicious skill and defiance against manipulation she is willing to act even against allies to give her foes a 'chance'. That… could be easily exploited.
Summer Stress: ~2!
Raven Stress: ~3!
Salem Stress: 1

AN: Sorry this one took so long; I was very unwell and had to housesit, then because I'd left it so long I got blocked. Hopefully this makes up for it!

A Followup Blow

As before, vote for any or all of the actions below to take during the upcoming Battle Turn. Picking more than two will cause increasing penalties to all Actions. Choose wisely.

You may make write-in Actions, but please do not vote for them until I have approved them and added them to this. The same rules as before apply to most votes, including Vote Planning being encouraged.

Voting will be open for 48 hours.

Remember as well you may enhance an Action with Salem's thirst for destruction, guaranteeing its success, but ensuring it will be achieved as destructively as possible.

[ ] Tear Them Apart (Mentally) - There is a clear disconnect between Summer Rose and Raven Branwen. Raven left Ozma's service - Summer stayed, even if this action isn't in his name. Summer is willing to let an opponent, even me, speak as long as it's 'truth' - Raven doesn't trust a single word I say. Yet here they are, both working against me, with the long familiarity of combat partners. Sundering them won't be easy, but there are enough cracks that forcing a lever in long enough to gain an opening isn't impossible.

• If making this vote, an approach may be written in as a subvote of no more than 25 words. If not, Salem will choose an approach she feels best fits the situation and what she's learned
• Roll Difficulty will be determined by chosen approach - remember, you can use Salem's own Goals and Weaknesses and her opponents' to make your lives easier.
• Potential Complications: Hardened resolve, a returned comment that hits close to home for Salem, or a disadvantaged position in combat caused by stopping to talk.
• This Action can be taken only once this Turn.

[ ] Divide Them (Physically) - They still cover each other so fluidly and easily, even with Summer Rose holding back. I cannot allow a counterattack from Summer to land, but I cannot simply fight defensively either - I have no reinforcements coming.

• Roll difficulty is currently 3d10, Risky (3) (+4 for A Gift From the Gods, -2 and Risky (+1) for Silver Eyed Warrior, -1 due to difficulty, and Risky (+1) due to Raven's Semblance and A Bird's Eye making it difficult to separate them for long).
• Potential Complications: It leaves Salem open for an attack, the attempt injures one of Salem's fallen Agents, or it risks the structural integrity of the subterranean room.
• This Action can be taken any number of times - rather than separate rolls, each Action after this first makes the roll easier, with the second dropping the Riskiness by 1, the third increasing the roll by +2, and each subsequent increasing the roll by +1.

[ ] Call Grimm - Cold bodies might not be useful against Summer's eyes, but the right choice might make arguing or negotiating with her easier. Most Grimm capable of such influence are fragile, though, and I'd need to invest myself in their protection. Still, if they can give me an edge…

• Each time this Action is taken, pick one of the options below. Duplicates can be taken, but each takes an additional action. Mark the chosen options with this Action by placing them in square brackets after the vote (for example, [X] Call Grimm [Apathy] [Apathy]).
• [Apathy] - How else to get them to abandon their cares? Apathy are both slow and fragile, however - but if I can keep them hidden in the fog, then questions that had once merely been distracting can become stunning.
• [Nightmare] - While not immediately useful, fending off possession by one is bound to distract the pair. And if I can get one of them…
• [Chill] - The nuclear option, though uniquely vulnerable before it can take a host. If I can get one into one of them though, they're mine, though I'd imagine that a Silver Eyed Warrior would be functionally immune.
• No potential complications, though Salem may have to take action in future Turns to keep the called Grimm safe!.

[ ] Resuscitate an Agent - My Agents are my best hope at evening the field, since they could approach Summer in combat without fear of her greatest weapon. Yet most lie defeated. Still, if I could bring them to bear, if only for a moment…

• A target (one of Salem's living Agents - Rene, Hazel or Coral) may be chosen for this Action; mark the preferred target in square brackets after the vote (for instance, [X] Resuscitate an Agent [Rene]). If no target is chosen, then Salem will choose to target whoever she feels is the best to back her up against this threat.
• If making this vote, an approach may be written in as a subvote of no more than 25 words. If not, Salem will choose an approach she feels best fits what injuries are visible and what can be done with her limited in-field options for healing.
• Roll Difficulty will be determined by chosen approach and target.
• Potential complications: Further injury, or being left open to attack by Summer or Raven.
• This Action can be taken no more than thrice, once for each potential target (each of her living Agents).

[ ] Negotiate Further - Summer Rose will only accept the truth, and a world made 'safe' from my actions. What, exactly, does this mean? Is it possible to hammer out a deal with her at all? There is only one way to find out.

• If making this vote, an approach may be written in as a subvote of no more than 25 words. If not, Salem will choose an approach she feels best fits the situation and what she's learned
• Summer Rose will reject any attempt at negotiation that does not keep 'innocents' safe.
• Further information about this Action is obscured. However, taking it will reveal things about both Summer and Raven that make its success on later Turns higher.
• You cannot achieve this Destructively.
• Potential complications are unknown at this time.

[ ] Collapse the Cavern - There is, of course, a way to stop this. But it would remove the Pool from my grasp for a time, damage Evernight, kill my agents, and not even guarantee the deaths of my foes, ensuring they could return and try this again. Still, as a last resort…

• This Action immediately buries the entire area under several hundred feet of rubble as Salem collapses the supports holding the room up with magic.
• This does not count to the Action limit.
• Taking this will immediately end the Battle. All Agents will die. Evernight will be severely damaged, and access to the Pools of Grimm resource will be limited until it can be excavated.
• Summer and Raven may survive.

Turns without using 'A Desire for Pure Destruction' -1/3