Dust to Dust: A W2B Spinoff

Elle Does Not Need This Shit

Ragnelle had been enjoying herself, laughing with her sister and stuffing her face...well, until some racist idiot did his crap.

"Bloody hell, on the day of Artie's fucking wedding."

Scowling, Elle walked over to stand next to Teacher.

"Hi. You guys are well-informed right? You're not ''stupid', right? So you know that Arturia invited them too, right? That you have no business trying to move them right?"

"Look, friend, let's not push anyone to anything." Arrluk's face couldn't help but light up with a grin as Ulric stepped up for him. "I mean, every man, woman, and sometimes child in Remnant has a right to their own decisions, you know. I know in Mantle that while counseling is available, suicide is ultimately the decision of the actor. What about you, sir?" He motioned to Ulric. "I don't want to bring anyone down or anything, but I am curious what your thoughts are on suicide pacts like these two men here."

"In Siegfried's order we are taught that only in death does duty end" Ulric responded, well aware of where Arrluk was taking this "But dying intentionally is seen similarly to running away intentionally from a battle that might still be won. So it's safe to assume that I am of the belief that these two lads could try thinking with their brains instead of their swords."

Reception

Riko quickly dispersed from dancing with Benedict, blushing up the ears and trying not to look anywhere near Angela as she headed back to her table. She leaned forward to whisper something into Benkei's ear (her wariness of the situation surrounding the two princesses, Edward's gift, and her intention to move to a different table), then reached under the table to pick up her sword.

Riko walked a wide berth around the reception area, sword held by her side and concealed from the view of the vast majority of guests as she headed towards an empty table further up the path and closer to the main couple. She deposited her sword under that table, then surreptitiously disappeared from sight. When she returned, she carried a bottle of wine in her hands and approached the gathering group near Ragnelle.

"Today is a momentous occasion. I am sure there is no need for forcible action in plain sight of the newlyweds, yes?" she said. She gestured with the bottle of wine. "Drinks, then, for the guests?"

edited 22nd Jul '16 10:10:58 PM by opnerf

Defusing

Chase halted at the mass of people blocking the way between him and the shark Faunus who was the only one in his height range. Violence could erupt at any moment, and the hunter's fists were clenched in anticipation. And between the guards Edward beckoned over and the trio standing before them, they seemed the less certain party in accomplishing anything. Yet, they did not seem ready to back down just yet, as if the ostentatious man who called them forward motivated them to stand firm.

"Chase, Edward, enough of this." Amethyst said with an exasperated sigh, though the woman in the purple dress managed to maintain a cool air despite the tension as she got up and delicately slipped the wine bottle away from Riko's hands into her own, a subtle display of her dexterity. "Some wine should calm them down, thank you. Now both of you, get back here and enjoy yourselves."

The reactions between her two companions were easily distinguishable. Chase immediately returned to her side and sat next to her without protest, though if looks could speak, his eyes would be screaming from the potential kill he was denied. Edward blustered unintelligibly for a moment, then groaned in capitulation as he waved away the guards and impatiently awaited the wine that Amethyst calmly poured for him after serving herself and Chase, acting very much like a child given a reward that discouraged them from doing something they wanted. "This is just torture, tolerating such things..."

So for now the party remained peaceful, and everyone could return to amusing themselves for the moment. Wayne and Arturia barely even noticed the separate spats, having been occupied by the strange orb Edward gifted them. Of course, a servant came by Ragnelle to inform her that the fireworks show in celebration of her sister's wedding would begin in a few minutes, so the princess should be seated near her family.

edited 23rd Jul '16 7:15:01 PM by Insano

Hm, well, now Arrluk had a fully primed pilebunker and nothing to actually fire it at. He stared at the piston in its readied position and shrugged. "Looks like you were right. It was not yet their time, it sees." He rapped a knuckle on his weapon. "Of course, I'm not going to unready this thing. The Witch could go off any second, for instance." He placed the antimagic totem onto his coat again, and detached another one depicting a round shield, about the size of a quarter. Arrluk held it out to Ulric. "A token of my appreciation. Should you ever run across my people of Mantle, consider holding it out to them and claiming that you once helped one of us. They'll understand."

Ragnelle crossed her arms and grunted.

"I'm watching you, jerks." the mage said pleasantly, smiling dangerously.

Then, with a dramatic curtsy, she walked back towards the happy couple and promptly stole Wayne's drink.

"Ragnelle!" Arturia admonished.

Elle shrugged. "It means we're close already."

Fireworks

Wayne made a noise of protest when his new sister-in-law stole his drink, but simply sighed in resignation once she's taken a swig. "It would seem she is correct, Arturia..."

After a moment, Wayne gave Ragnelle a small but friendly smirk as he tossed her the orb that seemed to glow when near. "Since we're so close, I'll let you have that. It seems to suit you, Ragnelle."

Settling by his new wife, Wayne looked on contentedly as servants announced the beginning of the fireworks show. After a few minutes, the salvo began with rockets fueled by Dust fired into the air to create a magnificent explosion. The attendees of the wedding reception, human and Faunus alike, seemed to quietly unite in Beacon Fields for a brief moment under the night sky, their awed faces watching the fireworks that proclaimed their kingdom's prosperity.

About half an hour later, the signal was given for the final salvo, a massive barrage of colored explosions to serve as the climax of the impressive fireworks show. However, the end of the fireworks show also brought an end to the festivities, and in a way no one expected.

As man-made thunder rocked the night sky simultaneously with a multitude of colors, cries came out from the crowd. From the red trees of Forever Fall to the north, a host of men and women appeared and attacked the attendees, bearing strange spears that shot fire into the crowd, focused on the Faunus gathered to the back of the crowd. After several volleys accomplished with the element of surprise, they charged to engage anyone that remained to challenge them in the confusion, apparently determined to exterminate the Faunus gathered in the fields. And in the chaos, the strange trio from before had disappeared as fire and blood marred Beacon Fields.

Angela's head whipped over to the very different percussion than those of the fireworks.

Dammit, I should have paid more attention.

Angela quickly tore her way out of the expensive dress, revealing the majority of her combat attire under the garment. the ex-assassin sprinted over to a nearby table and flipped it over. She quickly pulled on her sword belt and long coat. Angela dropped her mask and pulled up her hood. She then tore across the field, keeping low to the ground and off to the side, flanking the enemies. She threw one of her knives at one of the nearby shooters as she stepped up behind the one nearest to her and attempted to snap his neck.

Reception

Riko bowed politely as Amethyst took the wine from her hands. Then, she moved over to seat herself by the royalty, her sword leaning against the back of her chair within arm's reach. Riko concealed her smirk well as she stood, bowing slightly.

"Here, Master Wayne, let me fetch you another drink."

Fireworks

A little over half an hour later, everything went to hell. Mostly captivated by the fireworks but with the occasional side glance to account for her main suspicion, Riko first only heard the screams. Looking down, she noticed the panicking crowd and stood, making her way through, hand poised over the handle of her sword and expression beset with horror. She pushed her way through the throng to get a glimpse at the attackers' armaments.

Firelances?

Riko's true attention, however, lied elsewhere. As she scanned the reception area, she realized the three guests from earlier were long gone. Riko hurried back to Ragnelle's side.

"Those three guests to whom I gave the wine have left in a hurry," she said. "One of them gave Master Wayne and Princess Arturia a gift; the orb Master Wayne passed to you. It may not be safe to hold."

Riko gripped her scabbard, finger hovering over the trigger.

"Your orders, master?"

edited 24th Jul '16 7:03:11 AM by opnerf

Party Crashers

Ragnelle was shaking not only in rage at the fools who had dared to do this, but also in grief for the innocents who just had the rotten luck of being there at the wrong time.

"Dustdamn bastards, should have set them on fire when I had the chance!" Elle snarled.

She turned to look at Riko, her eyes blazing.

"Those sick fucks are after the faunus, right? Well, I'm not letting them kill anyone else. We'll fight, Ri. I have enough Dust in me to waste them all."

"We rally anyone who can fight and push back. Save everyone we can, and send the sons of bitches to hell."

"Ri, you're with me. Sanfar too. Let's show them how vicious we can be."

"Benkei! Go with my sister and Wayne. Keep them safe for me-!"

And with those words, Ragnelle charged into battle.

Concentrating on the Fire Dust inside her body, she flared her Aura and let loose a torrent of flame on the first bastard who was unlucky enough to cross paths with her.

Meanwhile, Arturia had collapsed to her knees, horrified at the sight.

This was suposed to be the first step in equality...and yet...and yet...

She cried out in grief, burying her face in her hands and sobbing.

"Why.....why?!"

They attacked his kingdom. They dared to march in here and disregard his authority.

He could not let this stand.

Galatine Myrrdin Vale, Knight King, will drive out these intruders himself. The king, now garbed in his armor, marched towards the intruders, his ancestral sword Serena in hand.

edited 24th Jul '16 2:40:49 AM by GrimHelm

Party Crashers

Well, wasn't this a troublesome situation, put lightly. Mantle miscreants attacked out of nowhere, bearing their firearms. They shot indiscriminately, or at least so it seemed at first glance.

Ragnelle and Riko were already in the thick of it, but he worried little for them: they could handle themselves. His only concern was only that they were careful enough to avoid collateral damage, but koi Faunus likely had that under control. What now bothered him, as he opened his book and looked for the right incantation to halt the invaders, was the figure of King Galatine himself marching towards the riflemen. A perfect target for any ambitious Mantle goon.

"Imbres, Glacies, Domine." He muttered, snapping his fingers towards the sky. With no cloud visible above the thick hailstorm rained down upon the group of Mantle warriors, each ball of it the size of a closed fist and harder than reinforced steel. His approach was that perhaps someone should survive to be further questioned.

Swiftly he moved over to where Galatine was. The usual, slightly confusing Benedict Remington was gone, replaced with an analytical mind and a confident stride. "Sorry to bother you, Your Highness, but 'tis best you probably make a hasty escape lest you are spotted and targeted." He muttered, the pages of his grimoire flying by themselves as another incantations presented himself to him.

edited 24th Jul '16 4:31:11 AM by FergardStratoavis

Reception

Gratefully accepting Arrluk's gift, Ulric grinned and said "Many thanks, my friend. And should you ever find yourself in times of trouble in these lands, the Order of Siegfried will always fight against injustice, no matter who is being wronged."

Pointing to the white cross that adorned his surcoat, Ulric continued "Should you see anyone bearing this symbol, tell them Ulric sent you and they should be more than happy to stand by your side."

Party Crashers

Gerhart and Ulric had been sitting away from the majority of the attendees, Ulric had decided to take a few minutes to grab another stein of ale and to let his squire get some food in his belly while they further discussed his training as a knight.

Of course this discussion was cut short by the latest batch of guests starting a massacre in front of the two members of Siegfried's order.

That simply would not go unpunished.

Rising to their feat simultaneously, Gerhart drew Macht from its scabbard and unslung his shield from his back as Ulric drew his two handed flamberge with a relaxed ease that came from years of familiarity with the blade.

Advancing upon the attackers with Gerhart, Ulric began to speak, his tone unmistakably furious "I am Ulric Von Kreuzfeuer, Knight of the Order of Siegfried. You have committed a great injustice against these innocent people, an injustice that will not go unpunished while I still draw breath."

Charging forwards towards the attackers, Gerhart and Ulric swung their blades in tandem, Ulric swinging high in an attempt to decapitate while Gerhart swung at his foe's arm, aiming to disarm his opponent (literally).

Party Crashers

Riko paused as Ragnelle charged on forward. The grip on her scabbard slackened. Ragnelle would, without fail, try to do the right thing.

"Never change, Elle."

Grim determination set into her face. Riko tied the cord of her scabbard around her dress sash and relocated her war fan from its temporary place under her dress to its rightful location. Unsightly, but functional. She followed closely behind Ragnelle, sword at the ready to defend Ragnelle's flank. Riko stepped in front of a cat faunus woman, blocking an assailant from reaching her.

"Run to safety," she said, looking back to give something resembling a reassuring smile. "We will take care of this."

Riko faced the assailant directly across from Ragnelle's first target, eyes wary of the end of his spear, just above the spearhead where bursts of flame seemed to cut people down. These weapons resembled the Vacuonese fire lances, but seemed even more cutting edge.

"Watch for these weapons," she told Ragnelle. "They are no mere spears."

Clutching the handle of her sword, Riko flattened the trigger, ejecting Taisho Sanshoku with incredible force. Aura flowed into her hand, directing the blade into a graceful vertical arc with little chance of accidentally striking the wrong target.

edited 24th Jul '16 10:18:03 AM by opnerf

"Welp. Only a matter of time." Arrluk sighed. Any number of reasons for the killings he was seeing. The groom could have hired them, thinned out the Faunus population. Could be agents provocateur trying to make him think exactly that. Whatever it was, it wasn't important right now. What was important was that his people were dying and he needed to get the heat off them. His body lit up with aura and little sparks kicked up around his boots as his Semblance fired into action. Arrluk crouched low, pressed Cane to the ground behind him, and fired.

The Huntsman skated along the ground literally frictionlessly, and pulled Cane off his gauntlet. As he neared the front lines of the fight Cane telescoped out to its full six feet and Arrluk swung low, attempting to smash and trip as many targets as possible while staying mobile.

Party Crashers

Sienna sat with Fev and watched the fireworks in awe, she's seen a few signal tools that looked like this, but nothing so colorful and magical. the Dromaesaur stared at them with childlike wonder in her eyes.

That is until a couple of jerks decided to crash the party and attack fauni in the back row. She was not sure whether to intervene, until she noticed Arrluk joining the fight, any friend of Fevrier's was her friend, and friends must be protected.

The raptor took a hunched posture, she infused her tail with her semblance before hitting the ground with it, the collision gave her enough momentum to take a massively high leap forward, high enough to only be barely seen by the people below.

A few seconds afterwards she tried to descend upon one of the attackers, bringing them down on their stomach and shattering large parts of the ground beneath them. She stopped them from moving with her left foot before driving her large curved foot claw straight through the attacker's neck, fully pinning them down to the ground, should they try to move they'd lose more blood in the process, besides the fact that it was incredibly difficult to move at all.

She snarled on the rest of the attackers, her fangs fully showing. Sienna tried to scare them off, her towering figure, her wings fangs and claws usually succeeded in making people at least crap their pants.

Wedding Smashers

Remington's hunch was indeed correct: these men and women were apparently from Mantle. And they weren't just a ragtag bunch armed with strange spears; these were soldiers trained to fight with this strange new technology, quick to move and ready to take advantage of the range their bayonets afforded them. Their Auras allowed them to take a few hits from the specialized warriors that took up the fight against them, but even these attackers would fall in short order. Still, they came out of the red forest en masse, numbering like a small battalion in force. Several dozen lined up in four groups made of four rows to the north, where the front rows peppered the field with metal that pierced through tables and poked through armor as the back rows reloaded to take their place. The guards and soldiers of Vale fought valiantly with the Huntsmen and Huntresses in the fray, turning over tables to create some cover while they replied with arrows and Dust.

In the process of trying to get the king back to safety, Benedict and Galatine were approached by a couple dozen warriors. They cried "Death to the false king!" as they charged to overwhelm them with their numbers and long range in melee.

For Angela, the firing squad she attacked turned to engage the woman who had downed two of their own already and torn cries of pain from their throats, still standing against her over a dozen to one. "Cut her down!"

At both Arrluk and the duo that was Fevrier and Sienna, the opposing soldiers began trying to keep their distance from their irregular opponents and engage them with ranged combat from where they felt they'd be safer.

While Gerhart and his master progressed through the throng of violence, a soldier of Vale was suddenly tossed their way, bloody and broken by the massive man in dark green clothes. He stood almost eight feet tall, and growled at them as they drew near. "Traitors. I'll feed your guts to my hounds!"

As Riko and Ragnelle made their way through the fray, one of the firing squads turned their attention to the pair quickly taking out many of their own. Right by them was Amethyst herself, wielding a bow made of dark, violet-tinged ice. Generating arrows of the same color, she fired them at the princess in rapid succession as the squad she commanded concentrated their fire towards keeping Ragnelle isolated, smirking at the carnage surrounding the former reception.

Just as Wayne was trying to comfort Arturia from where they were separated from most of the battle, Edward stepped forward with a golden spear resting on his shoulders. "Why? Because traitors like you let animals run wild."

"She is innocent in this," Wayne retorted with a growl as he quickly summoned Iron Thunderbolt to help Benkei protect his shocked wife, glowering even through his impassive helmet. "Leave her alone."

"Step aside, Eisenmann. Getting rid of her is what we both want in the end."

"She is my wife, and you will not lay a finger on her!" At this reply Edward sighed with exasperation, readying himself for battle even though he was already outnumbered.

"What a shame. I guess you'll die with the rest of the traitors, then." And then he lunged, ready to run Benkei and Wayne through with his spear.

edited 24th Jul '16 2:27:31 PM by Insano

Arrluk's initial assault got heavily stymied when the riflemen changed up their tactics, but he did not despair; he was ready for it. He'd actually been prepared in case one of the other Huntsmen here were going to go berserk and start killing folks but eh, six of one half dozen of the other, right? Arrluk slid a mortar shell out of his coat and dove under a table to get ready.

Arrluk rattled off approximate figures on where to fire and how much to pull back on Cane's launcher as bullets rained down on him, before he stood up, knocked over the table, and hip-fired the mortar with a satisfying POOMP! straight into the mass of soldiers. "Could an animal do this, huh?!"

Edward however would charge right into Tempestas, with his Semblance active to make him a wall between Benkei and Wayne, and their would-be assailant. Sol Divider was in both his hands, and he was intent on stopping this madness.

"I do apologize, but I'm afraid I'll have to force you and your compatriots out of here. While yes we may have Faunus among the guests here, I'm not allowing your little group to get away with mass murdering them.", he said, calm determination in his eyes.

Miles meanwhile rushed to get as many of the guests out of harms way as possible, taking out his forgehammer, Schmiedemeister, to bash away any of the attackers that tried to stop him.

Angela threw two more knives, these ones primed to explode on contact, as soon as she was done snapping her first target's neck. She then slid across the grass to where the other attacker had fallen, retrieving her knife before tossing it again, now also primed to explode.

The assassin juked sharply to the side before rushing the next terrorist, drawing her blade before knocking up her opponent's weapon and laying a hard slash against her throat which easily depleted the aura before knocking her out with a powerful backhand to the temple. Angela then brought forth her wings and used themas a shield, trusting the energy constructs to hold.

"Then it would seem that these hounds of yours are going to go hungry tonight." retorted Ulric, readying his sword and addressing his squire "As one, Gerhart"

Immediately knowing what his knight meant, Gerhart raised his shield and lunged forwards, swinging for his foe's hamstrings while Ulric let his Flamberge arc towards the massive man's shoulders.

Party Crashers

Fevrier's eyes widened at the sight of the attackers. Danger! And how close, how private in this time of marital bliss. Very well, it was up to them to save her friends and the guests from the attackers. As their enemies had the range advantage, there was one option. Pulling out her sling and picking up a bunch of objects, she began slinging at any enemy in range. She didn't aim for their heads, but rather for their ribs.

"Back! Fevrier will not let you hurt any more people!"

Fireworks

Sir Vladimir could feel his blood boiling. What should have been a joyous day and the first step to peace and equality was destroyed, by men who seemed to be out to force the Faunus under their boot. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to use Impaler to rend the flesh of each and every one of these bastards and take down whatever they were using to kill the Faunus.

Right now, though, his bloodlust needed to be held back. Right now, he needed to make sure to limit the carnage to the best he could. His attention focused himself on the archer with the violet bow, who had attempted to corner Ragnelle. He let his wings extend, thinking of flying over... only to quickly pull them back before they could be seen from the cloak as he realized that flying during an attempted massacre of Faunus would quickly make himself a target. Rather, he ran towards Ragnelle, using Impaler to eliminate any crooks in his way.

edited 24th Jul '16 5:28:05 PM by Aquatica1000

Wedding Crashers

Sanfar nearly snarled as she drew the oversized blade from its sheath, the hefty metal hitting the ground with a clunk before she launched herself forward, the screech of steel on the floor filling the ears of whichever poor soul she was charging forward. It was a tactic that the Dreadknight had made all too well known in her crusades for coin, if only to spread her fear and renown as she charged through the ranks.

She closed distance quickly, dipping in for a quick slash at the midsection, the speed of her swing belying the heft and size of her sword as she set about trying to cleave her opponent in two, if all went according to plan, she'd chop through that one and smash into the one adjacent to him.

Party Crashers: vs. Amethyst

Riko sheathed her blade. She stepped in front of Ragnelle, and with a flick of the wrist, she unfurled her war fan into a shield, taking it by the newly formed handle and blocking Amethyst's arrows.

"Did you enjoy the wine?" Riko said.

She focused her steely gaze on Amethyst.

"I will be sure to make it your last."

Once sure that she was clear to do so, Riko fired off Taisho Sanshoku, ejecting the blade along with a gout of water that followed the same motion. Powerful jetstreams lashed out towards Amethyst and her squad, threatening to tear through them.

edited 24th Jul '16 10:14:11 PM by opnerf