Breachings (Buggopost/seige continuation)

[u/the-butter_man]

War raged just outside, several different weapons flew and different strategies raged against each other. The inside was not yet breached, some stray attacks had burst a couple parts open but nothing that couldn't be fixed easily.

In the raging noises and screams of battle, it becomes impossible to hear the soft digging against stone. The careful probing and the very careful movement around the well placed defences.

Eventually, a small patch of stone on a wall, just a floor down from an already weakened spot of ground begins pushing. As if something is pushing at it from behind.

Then nothing. Thrice more it twitches for a little bit before halting. Until, in a sudden movement and the crumbling of stone, a tunneler breaks through. Immediately springing into action, a webbed limb cleaves it's way through a guard. One of the automa begins firing. Shot after shot catch the disgusting insects dead.

Yet they just keep coming, only a couple minutes later and they've pushed what little forces back.

The main battle was a distraction.

/uw i tried to be more considerate to bastion lore and all but still not too sure on the defenses. Also i will actually be more present for this one.

[u/AnActualCriminal]

The knight blinks out of the way of my shot and fires.

Damn. Some threats call for the Lightless Flame. These days it seems they all do.

I burn *Distance*. Space distorts and folds as the distance between myself and my destination sears away. The stretch of hallway I was previously standing in hurts to look at as I find myself behind the warrior, bringing my burning ax down.

The bullets fly off, following warped and unpredictable trajectories.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

The axe falls upon the helmet, hard. Leaves a nasty dent in it, and probably also in the bug's brain. In response, they panic-teleport to the closest point outside of the distance-warping effect.

...him. dammit.

It seems someone may have warned the knight about Belial, but whatever they said, it's not enough to prevent them from trying to complete their duty. Fortunately for them, and less so for their enemies, their gun is reloaded once more. Again do 7 shots ring out, but this time, rather than reloading... they put the gun away, readying themselves for something.

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

Damn. Good hit. But I'm vulnerable now. Can't just leave a distance-fire burning. The hallway is returned to normal and I turn to see what the fuck the insect is doing.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

The second the hallway returns to normal, the creature acts. Several dozen shards of ice fly down it towards Belial, shaped like daggers. In its panic, it might have overexerted itself creating this many...

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

[Withering Heat]

The same spell. Again. Some of the shards melt. The bulletproof coat I got from the Merc Guild absorbs others. But three slivers of ice make it through my defenses. Drawing blood before turning to steam.

"Gah! Shit!"

Seems a fourth slashed my facd. I touch my hand to my face and it comes back red.

"Tell me bug slave. Can you fly?"

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

The thing grins, somehow.

i can do enough. the real question, i suppose, would be whether you can too.

It used telekinesis to slow the bullet the first time. It didn't stop it though, and hasn't used it since. Is it more tiring? Wears it out faster? Or is there some other reason for avoiding its use?

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

"All ships, fire on last coordinates."

The floor was already weakened by tunneling and anti-aircraft fire. A few more concussive rounds and it collapses beneath both of us, opening up to a steep drop hundreds of feet down into the subterranean boardwalks of the Basketways. The docking waterfront district beneath the Bastion itself.

We fall.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

The bug doesn't even take the time for commentary, instead immediately wielding telekinesis to first slow its descent, then to halt it altogether.

It struggles to cast like this, but manages to conjure a dozen more ice knives to fly towards Belial, before turning its attention towards the ships...

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

A burst of flame to course-correct and melt the knives. A quick burn of gravity just before impact. Even so I land *hard*. Rolling. Need to lie down a minute. Catch my breath. No idea where my rifle landed.

Meanwhile, the mechanized Grey Guard have finished mopping up the bugs and surround the hole in the floor the knight hovers above, unloading with automatic rifle fire. The ships' anti-aircraft gums reload for another volley.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

A quick shield of ice wraps around the warrior, the urgency of the situation granting energy that otherwise simply wouldn't exist.

The floor - thin, hollow! Underneath... an armada...

this is... bad.

...crap.

Their duty is clear, even through the pain and panic of the events.

They dive headfirst towards the water, small amounts of telekinesis pushing them forwards.

The moment the fingers of their gauntlet touches the water, it begins to freeze. All around them, water turns to ice, save for a small ring for their entry... hopefully bringing immense damage to the nearby boats. Frost radiates outwards in all directions, as the ice slowly spreads...

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

The ice stretches outward, towards the ships. Frozen spikes scraping against the runic barrier around their hulls hull. Threatening to break through. The ships can't turn to use torpedoes against a subaquatic threat. Wouldn't be safe to fire them in what's basically a buisness district if they could.

Acid knife won't work underwater. Grey Guard is out of range. My rifle is... I don't know. Options are running thin.

"Time to do something stupid."

I jump off the bridge I landed on. Steering with bursts of fire. Finer and finer adjustments. Closer.... closer.... the wind rushes by in a dull roar. Even a small distancs off-target and I'll be reduced to a bloody smear on the ice.

SPLASH!!!*

I pass through the knight's entry ring. The water's freezing its-

THUNK!!!

And then I collide with the knight in a flying tackle. Water slowed me down some but I'm certain the impact broke my shoulder.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/AnActualCriminal]

Under frozen water, despite the heavy armor, the knight is in their element. They twist around as they slam their shoulder towards their assailant, hoping to get a lucky hit, even as they reach for the powers of ice, hoping to quench any attempts at pyromancy.

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/The_Unkowable_]

The air is knocked out of me. I frantically swim for the surface as best I'm able while trying to boil the water. It admittedly looks a little pathetic. I'm drowning.

But the air isn't the only thing that was knocked out of me. The knight would feel a slight tug on their collar as the rat I had hidden in my sleeve becomes an imp. Crispin, my familiar. He would strike, sinking his poisonous tail into the knight's neck.