The Mana-Verse

[Fxeni]

"That would include you two, I'd say," Fxeni said quietly as he approached them. "Let's head back and regroup before they find us."

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Right." Nodding to the two Aya silently slips away with the group to return to the barn.

[Phi]

"Oh, you guys came back!" Pema jogged over to them, "Umm... where did you go, exactly?" She bit her nail.

[Sapphire Knight]

Shuu was stretching and getting himself un-stiffened.

Susanoo on the other hand, was right behind Pema, his tail swishing and his ears alert.

[Sakura Leic]

"Yes please tell us where you two went." Calien said with his arms crossed while Sakura was holding the Spoink absentmindedly petting it with the Tepig, Swinub and Piloswine behind her. 

Calien looked like a father would when he needed to scold a child.

[Blue Valkyrie]

"We tracked that machine back to Heimdall, looks like two of Albertus' lackeys are behind this snow storm. They are waiting to spring a trap on us once we arrive."

[Sapphire Knight]

"It smells as though Heimdall may be within a Lorde's Nest." Susanoo spoke, sighing. "It was difficult to smell through the magic that is making this storm."

"Which means we may be getting some daemon interference." Sapph added, armored up and rolling his shoulders. "That said, the lackeys you mentioned are planning to ambush us, we can catch 'em off guard since we know that they're there."

[Lorde's Nest = Daemon Lord's territory]

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Demons? Albertus doesn't have the power to control them though."

[Sapphire Knight]

"No. But it is territory that others of my kind have claimed, and we are on the edge of it." Susanoo explained, shaking his head.

"Daemon lords are actually pretty reasonable as long as you don't attack them. But the magic in this storm might attract attention."

[Blue Valkyrie]

"So close to a human settlement?" Aya tilts to her head

[Quickman]

Riagan gripped his war hammer. "That doesn't sound good..."

The Professor was off somewhere in the barn, making new items.

[Sakura Leic]

"So 2 Masters and a possible Daemon attack, and from what Sakura told me Daemons are quite the nuisance to fight." Calien groaned while pinching his nose.  "This is already more ridiculous than what my good friend has dealt with when he was around Pema's age, and that's saying something."

[Sapphire Knight]

"A Lorde's Nest is vast, and we are on the edge of it." Susanoo said, sniffing the air. "So long as HE doesn't show up, the native... Daemons, as you call us, should not be too aggressive..." He added, giving a cautious look at Shuu, who, in turn, directed the look down at one of the daemon tablets slotted into his armor.

[Quickman]

The Professor emerged from some corner of the barn, still sporting his flamethrower.  He had taken the time to finalize it and make it less slipshod. "I, I don't, I don't suppose that, that this would be of any use?"

[Fxeni]

"Hmm, I'm surprised the Daemons haven't attacked Heimdall, considering all the magitech there..." Fxeni muses to himself.

[Sakura Leic]

"Unless the Masters and Daemon Lord are somehow Fire Elemental I think that Fire Spitting thing will be perfect Prof." Sakura stated "Just be careful with it and don't burn the wrong things."

[Sapphire Knight]

"If you guys are alright with waiting for a little bit after we chase out these 'Masters' and daemons don't show up, I'm gonna go pay a visit to the local daemon lorde to see what's going on." Shuu said, sighing a little at the mention of fire.

[So... Ignoring the blizzard, what would you say Heimdall's natural environment is like?]

[Sakura Leic]

(Still perpetually snowy, it's like Siberia.)

[Sapphire Knight]

[Hmm... A giant ice wolf for the daemon lord (if they show up)?]

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Once we deal with Albertus' forces I still need to track down the Omni-Gem fragment, I'm sure we'll have time."

[Fxeni]

"We'll see what the mercenary network knows... if there's anyone left there," Fxeni says. "Those two Masters up there seem to have cleaned up shop rather well."

[Sakura Leic]

"Mr. Tepig told me his Master was frozen by 'Monsters' more dangerous than the Chevals." Sakura sighed "Guess that's what the Masters have been doing huh."

"If that's the case there might be a slight chance of them being saved.  A slight chance but a chance nonetheless." Calien stated.

"What are you talking about Daddy, they were frozen!  You kind of can't spontaneously unfreeze them and expect them to be fine!" Sakura cried.

"In normal circumstances yes, however they were frozen by Magic." Calien replied "If we defeat the Masters the Magic might undo itself and the victims might recover.  Theoretically mind you, I'm definitely not certain if it would work, but there may well be a chance."

"Let me guess this sort of situation happened hundreads of years ago in the history of your homeland?" Sakura facepalmed.

"Well the Zora's homeland actually but yes." Calien nodded.

"Ugh if we weren't dealing with what we were dealing with I would think you're crazy." Sakura sighed "Especially since no one is going to understand what you're talking about right now...."

[Sapphire Knight]

Shuu nodded. "Well then, we should be getting our last-minute preparations done and head in to battle." He said, nodding. "It'd be better to get this done quickly without collateral. Or, at least, as little collateral as possible."

[Quickman]

"We should wait out the storm.  Wait until morning, and then we can move out." Riagan had settled down for a light rest.

The Professor had since retreated up to the hayloft with his flamethrower and an armload of junk.

[Sakura Leic]

"Storm's probably not going to clear in the morning, but we still should rest." Calien stated "If those Masters are causing the Storm as well they probably won't let up even for a trap."