The Duality Wars: The Alien Wars 6
Key: S = Session. Sty = Story. M = Mini. (more may be added with time)
Part I: Ebb and Flow
Arc Two:
Verse 1, S.1: Session 43: The Forests
6.12.5990 CE
The group departs the tower on the carriage, leaving Nezikim behind to guard things, Vyvy joining them on the trip as she needs to meet Gnome still. The Kitos take the final of their three pills to deal with their heat after Alita asks if they're sure they want to, Sasha lets them. Qui flies the carriage, taking them out towards the Great Forest.
6.13.5990 CE
The group arrives at the Great Forest entrance in time to see two groups, Legionares and Amazonians, who are meeting an Ent and a Venus, with a group of Hapians between them. The Amazonians and the Hapians leaving with the Venus, and the Legionares moving off with the Ent. But not before Commodus accidentally identifies Kaiser to a listening Amazonian group.
After the two warring factions
clear off, the group is free to enter the forest themselves and makes their way to Forest Village, where they are able to supply up on poison antidotes and get directions.
Here they hear of how the taint appears to at least be starting at the entrance that they passed, but not getting any more detail about the other three entrances to the forest. Alita marks it on a map for later, to possibly corner the problem by following the taint itself. They learn more abuot how the taint makes fruit taste horrible and seems to be slowly creeping inwards.
6.14.5990 CE
Striking out from the village, the group follows along the tracks towards the capital when they come across a burnt out scene. They find dead Legionares and Amazonians alike, however, they also find clearly planted Academy materials burned beyond solid recognition by those who would not recognize them. Sensing a plot to frame, them, the group tries to decide what to do by finds more Amazonians coming to cover the tracks. They hide and listen in, learning of the Matron's plot to frame academy members for the murder of Kaiser. But also learning he's still alive. In stealth they follow the Amazonians, letting them burn the bodies.
They follow and come to Amazonians who further reveal their plans, the Amazonians splitting up to rejoin their promised mission to deal with the taint while the other half head after the Kaiser. The group keeps following with possible intent to intervene, however, they find they don't have to as three of the Amazonians turn on their fellows and take them out before running off, saving the Legionares along with the Legionares.
Commodus steps out as the turncoats flee Alita is able to cure the Ent and the Kaiser of their wounds and stop a deadly poison in the man, however it is a high grade poison which leaves irrepreable damage to Kaiser. He hides his weakness to the men and the group teams up with the Legionares to escort Kaiser to the capital. Knowing his survival will also clear them of any accusations the Amazonians try to level their way.
Verse 2, S.3: Session 44: A Sickness
6.15.5990 CE
The group continue their journey deeper into the forest, passing rare flowers along the way. Gwen nearly falls off of a tree bridge, but ultimately Qui is the one saved, with the Kaiser being surprised and happy to see her. Qui, her memory still messed up, unfortunately cannot return the feeling. Still, this leads the Kaiser to speak a bit about Qui, as well as his youngest son's wishes for peace, which over time, the Kaiser came to believe in as well. He also requests to speak to Mykel later.
They reach the Ent Capital, full of friendly people, although they can see that the sickness has spread even here. Amazon Matron Seera addresses them as they wait for a meeting, Qui showing quiet recognition. It seems both races, the Venus and Ents, are getting the sickness, and the Venus especially show hostility over the issue, indirectly accusing the Ents. The Kaiser is told that the Great Hunt will have to wait, and everyone is brought to their rooms.
As Mykel speaks with the Kaiser in his room, Qui asks Liana to accompany her to Gnome's shrine, and Liana is more than happy to oblige. They leave with Sasha in tow, although they are briefly held up as an Amazoness delivers an invitation from Matron Seera to Qui. At the Earth shrine, they find multicolored vines encroaching upon the shrine's depths, as well as strange crystal fragments. Liana summons Celsius, who recoils from the crystals, showing curiosity at the vines. The vines appear to be a mix of purple and green, a mix of Ent and Venus colors.
Celsius shows them where she believes Gnome is, in a valley deep between the Ent and Venus territories. They agree to go as soon as they can, though the Ents inform them that Gnome has said that area is infested with lots of monsters. They return to get the others, although Mykel seems furious from the revelations he has heard from the Kaiser, which seem to have shaken him to the very core. Liana, Qui, Alita, Sasha, Commodus, and Mykel are all teleported away.
They find themselves in a dark valley filled with purple-green vines, some members getting caught up in them before they get free. Before long, they are swarmed by Ent-like creatures, or rather, what appear to be a mix of Ent and Venus alike, outnumbering them vastly. They attempt to greet them peacefully, but are knocked out by sap thrown upon them, leaving this part of the story to be continued...
Verse 3, S.4: Session 45: Dark Ailment
6.16.5990 CE
On the Venus side of the Great Forest, Vyvy and Ceilia follow leads on the sickness. Some Venus discuss the spreading sickness, talking about the Ents hiding Gnome from them and speculating it may come to war. They end up calling upon Sylph when they realize they are lost. Sylph appears, talking about how wrong the place feels to her. They ask her to take them deeper into the forest.
Meanwhile, the others are captured by Vents, combinations of Venus and Ent. Gnome is nearby, looking equally captured. As they awaken, their Vent captors feed them, asking them to tell Celsius to obey them. They explain that they are outcast, the unwanted children of Venus and Ents, and that the Ents and Venus kill any children of their like which may come to be.
They speak of how Gnome brought them to the center of the forest to hide them, and they say that in turn, they brought Gnome there to protect her. They admit responsibility for the infection, saying it is to make their parents pay for their crimes. They try to get the group to order Celsius to abduct the Venus and Ent leaders' children, but they refuse.
When asked if Gnome supports their actions, the Vents say that Gnome is too kind, merely having hidden the Vents rather than stopping them from being killed in the first place. The team look around and consider their next move...
Sylph lands in the central valley with Ceilia and Vyvy, where she senses Gnome and Celsius, which also seems to be where the bad feeling she was getting comes from. The group pass through an illusionary earth wall that is meant as a deterrent, and beyond, nature in all its beauty. Soon, however, they come upon Vents laying in ambush. Sylph wishes them luck, having barely any mana left.
Back with the captives, we see them trying to figure out a plan. Commodus breaks his binds, while Mykel attempts to use his telekinetic abilities to throw a strange crystal that was on the ground near Gnome away from her. He fails, ending up knocked out as the nearby area briefly warps around them.
The Vents seem to be put in disarray by this, and the Vent leader orders them dealt with.
The Vents pick up Liana and Sasha with their tentacles, beginning to tear their clothing and using them as shields. The group tries to reason with them, but to no avail. Ceilia and Vyvy make their way in, getting hold of Gnome and covering the crystal, which seems to shut off its power. Gnome addresses the Vents, then moves to begin cleansing the forest, as the Vent leader begins to explain to her.
Back in the capital, the leader of the Ents, Gi, thanks them for saving the forest. They try to ask Gi to make things right with the Vents, but she states that they cannot go unpunished, and notes that their perspective is that of outsiders. She begins to explain, saying that when Venus and Ent combine, the biology is unique. They did not initially kill them, despite the fact that the Venus and Ent hate each other, but the children began killing and going insane, and had to be put down.
The group continue to question it, beginning to anger Gi with their words. She does say that she will speak to the Vent leader, but notes that it wasn't under her rule that this began. She also says that she will consult with Gnome, the one most likely to know the truth of the situation. She still seems furious, but at least there will be communication.
The group begin to get ready to head for the Dark Forest, and Gnome addresses them, thanking them for getting the ball rolling on fixing the in-fighting. They soon say their goodbyes, and Celsius brings them to the Dark Forest City. The nymphs of the city greet them, and before long has passed, they have been giving housing for the duration of their stay there.
Verse 4, M.1:
The group parties hard. Sasha is flirted with by a nymph, who swims into the waters with her, showing her how to swim under water without breathing by stealing a kiss, and Qui seems to fit in happily, playing in the waters with her half sisters. It is a moment, one of few, that allows the group to slowly unwind.
Verse 5, S.5: Session 46: Forest for the Trees
6.17.5990 CE
After a night settling in among the lovely maidens of the Dark Forest, the team awakens refreshed and Shade sneaks into the woods. Vyvy, Qui and Alita follow her to find her attempting to remove a strange glowing corruption from the woods. After she finishes, she informs them about how this corruption is light based, but she doesn't think it from Aska. They travel back to the city where they settle in and consider the source of the taint. Things grow temporarily violent when Qui steps in with the crystal that they recovered from the Great Forest. Shade destroys it and tells them it carried for her the same feeling she felt when the corruption started to the north.
Alita theorizes that a similar gem may have somehow been dropped into the woods and could be the source of the corruption. Sasha, wanting to investigate that pulls together a number fo the team members and they head north. After treking some time, their Nymph guide and Alita both find themselves crippled by a wave of light as they near a large glowing crystal. The crystal strengthens Liana and Sasha, who feel more connection to Aska as they approach and using their light powers, are able to shatter the crystal, stopping the corruption. They head back to inform Shade, who offers to take them to the Daemon Capitol. Alita seems to fear that this is all a greater working of something else, finding the coiincidence that two different crystals with the same purpose appeared in both forests so close to one another.
The group rests and recuperates, preparing to move in the morning.
Verse 6, M.2:
Neekito who takes a moment to have a private talk with Shade about what they discussed before, her short lifespan. The Dark Spirit gives her a strange gem that the fauna tucks away, hiding it for the right time. Other than that, Shade spends time with her lover, Vyvy and the others enjoy the fun and sights of the dark forest, relaxing and being pampered by the nymphs and love that is there.
Verse 7, S.6: Session 47: Daemon Capital
6.18.5990 CE
Shade and the nymphs come to say their goodbyes to the group, Vyvy also stating that she's going to stay behind for now and resume her pilgrimage. Shade sends them on their way, and soon they are standing in the Daemon Capital, sometimes called Eus.
As they find their way to a large inn, they are greeted by a childlike vampire who asks Qui if she'd like to go somewhere and see the sights. The others stop this from happening, and soon they are handed a flier, deciding to stay at the inn, known as the Dark Gort.
They discuss the city, including the tower in the center of it and the Empress. They decide to go and learn more, though Sasha requests something to hide her eyes, soon noticing how the red in Liana's eyes has gotten more intense as well. The Kitos leave to find something for both of them to hide their eyes with.
Sasha and Liana discuss Eve, Celes, and the connection to Aska. Meanwhile, Qui and Alita leave, looking around the neighborhoods, pondering if they can find the young-looking vampire girl they'd seen, who Alita believes may be the Empress' younger sister. Pretty soon, they run into Vyvy, who came to introduce them to Lady Rain, saying that Lady Rain should be able to get them an audience.
They describe the vampire girl to Vyvy, while Sasha and Liana continue to wait for the Kitos, a bit worried. Alita's group pass said Kitos not long after, noticing they've been taken in by a pheromone-using headhunter. They stop the lilin who was luring them off and save the Kitos from her, who then resume their mission. Rain speaks to Alita about what she thinks a Lilin should be like.
The Kitos bring Sasha and Liana pairs of shaded glasses, as well as demonic eye drops, which Sasha soon uses. Alita's group catch sight of the vampire girl and tail her, eventually managing to stop her. They speak to her, and she seems annoyed that everyone keeps assuming she is the princess. She eventually gives a name, Sephri.
The groups meet up again, and Rain has Rosa lead Sephri along to be fed. Sasha thanks Rain for rescuing the Kitos, and Rain invites them to stay at her mansion, but realizes that they're already staying at an inn and that some may be happier there. Qui notes that she is tempted to go with her.
Verse 8, M.3:
Comically, one by one the group moves into Rain's mansion, leaving Liana behind. Qui first leaves, keeping behind a monster Fluffy she picked up for Liana to take care of. Despite her being a deviant vampire, Rain seems to be a proper lady, despite her odd age since real vampires seem to grow up to an age they wish to stop aging at. Eventually, after many visits, all the team does end up moving over and Rain tells her maids to not be their normal selves around them, indicating the maids might be a little too playful for many sakes, seeming to know that Liana and Sasha are Hapians who would not appreciate it.
Allowing them to enjoy her books and bringing in food for them, Rain tolerates their presence in her home, revealing she is more of a hermit these days, despite her small, youthful looks.