Convergence

Radiance tilted her head back and laughed. "I have your word then, your promise? Fine, I will play along. I warn you, do not lie to me and tell me now if you have already lied. I will forgive you if you are honest." Slowly Radiance levitated the ring from Ice Breaker's hoof and allowed to slide onto her horn. She felt a part of her mind vanish, leaving a hungry void. Radiance almost wanted them to test her patience.

Radiance stared into the eyes of Ice Breaker. "Definitely more than meets the eye. What is her story?" Weighing options, Radiance swiftly decided the best course of action. "It is not a surrender as I was never against you in the first place. If you recall, I have been merely defending myself, never attacking even though the opportunities arose. These soldiers are mine. They are not a liability if I say they are not a liability. The greater liability here is you and these henchmen, but I can help with that." Radiance glided her longsword across her neck and into the open air, where it twirled then stabbed deep into the earth. A yellow light exuded from the sword and obscured Radiance for a fraction of a second. When the light faded the sword had disappeared. A very keen eye might have noticed Radiance's armour seem to glow slightly brighter or the studded rubies twinkle slightly more often. However, the change was minuscule. "very well. These two recruits cured I can agree with. As well as your terms. However, I will not be dishonoured by being castrated. I am not putting that ring on my horn. As I have said, I have had the opportunity to harm you, and have not. I pose you no threat and I will cancel my shield allowing the poison to take over. The poison has exhausted me, and will soon get worse, how much of a threat do you really think I could be if I did want to? I have one last condition, nopony, including you, lays a hoof on me without my permission." ((oh, enchanted armour. What would an elite Royal Guard Strategist be without enchanted armour? Torrent, I will note you details on the enchantment, and we can come to an agreement about the power.))

Ice Breaker had more battle knowledge than Radiance thought. She did not allow herself to go full force into the shield, she was able to escape unscathed. Radiance readied herself, and saw the five ponies, plus Ice Breaker, in almost striking distant poised for an attack. She poised herself for action, trying to find an escape, to trick or how to injure one of her attackers. What Radiance saw instead were her recruits unconscious and most likely soon to die. Although her outer complexion showed no signs, a tear jerked Radiance's eye, "what have I become? I will save you, the only way I know how." Radiance's horn lit up as she began to channel magic through her aching, sluggish body. Simultaneously, a wave of light crashed out from her horn, her tower shield disappeared into thin air, and her shimmering steel longsword appeared in its place. Radiance crouched slightly as she buried the longsword deep into the earth. A ring of white light expanded from the sword and consumed the ground near Radiance. Radiance forced herself to look away from her sword and at her attackers. Her voice, even though no louder than it was before, rang through the sky in a powerful, commanding, yet soothing boom. Her laugh, a harmonious, deep harmony, echoed through the sky. "Your boss needs me far greater than I expected. All he has to offer is a poison that is easily countered, and a group of lackeys that need to team up in order to confront a weakened, poisoned pony. You all should be ashamed that you cannot deal with me in my current state alone." "How easily could I have maimed Ice Breaker with a thrust of my sword instead of a shield? She was careless, and I could have used that to kill her. But I didn't. I didn't because I mean you no harm. Yet you have the blood of my stallions, my ponies, innocent ponies, on your hooves. If your boss wanted me dead, I would no longer be breathing. The fact that I am still alive means he still wants to meet me." Radiance removed her sword from the dirt, as the ring of light faded away. "So now, listen to me and listen well. I will not repeat myself. You will give whatever aide is necessary to the recruits. You will cure the poison. And you will let them live. If you do that, I will allow you to peacefully escort me to where you will. If not," Radiance flipped the sword and placed its edge on her throat, "I will spill my own blood right now. Stand down, cure the recruits now, or you will have to answer as to why I am dead and why you have failed your master. I doubt he is one to take failure lightly." ------ Anivia, flying high in the sky towards some destination she was unsure of suddenly felt uneasy. She was given the command to message a pony, which pony she was unsure of and there was obviously no message attached to her leg. She circled back to where she had flown away from Radiance. Even from this distance, the telescopic eyes of Anivia the falcon could make out little dots that where Radiance, the recruits and the foes. A small circle of light encircled one dot. Anivia was able to recognize the light as Radiance's at once. The prospect of a message was pushed out of her mind, as she responded to this new command. Using the darkness of the night, trees and buildings she came closer to Radiance and the others while remaining hidden. Silently she watched from a distance that she could see clearly, yet anypony would have difficulty even just making out shapes. Anivia waited for what was to happen.

@Torrent505 Thanks for the information . Oh an even if Radiance wanted to get caught, would she really want to look like she wanted to get caught? And perhaps she might gain more from resisting getting caught for as long as she could. She might be able to get more information on what she is up against. Appearances, appearances.

Radiance always made a point of keeping all ponies in her line of sight, and tonight was no different. It was not something Radiance thought was going to happen, but expect the worst and you will never be disappointed. Out of the corner of her eye, Radiance saw a blur of motion and a pair of hooves flying towards her head. She did not hesitate, her horn instantly lit up as she summoned her massive golden tower shield between her and the hooves. She braced herself as she attempted to throw the shield with all her might against he incoming hooves. Admittedly, she could not thrust the shield nearly as hard as she wanted, but the sheer weight of the shield combined with momentum of the hooves would surely at least bring a lot of pain. "Im going to need to be more cunning to win this." Radiance's whole intent was to bring as much pain as possible to the pegasus. To sprain an ankle, to slow it down, to briefly stun her with pain. Anything that would make the pegasus vulnerable for a split second, that would be all Radiance would need. While assessing the situation, Radiance forced herself to conjure a map of Canterlot in her mind. There was a sewer grate not too far from here, about a block and a half. If she could find a narrow alleyway to run through, she just might be able to make it in time.

@Torrent505 I see, and whats to say Radiance thought that she would actually escape? Perhaps she might have wanted to get caught... who can say? I was thinking more along the lines of a massive blunt force trauma to the hooves, in hopes to sprain an ankle or momentarily 'stun' her with pain

@Torrent505 If you insist. The falcon is still going to try and grab the friend, and nothing is going to stop Radiance from taking down whoever she can with her. out of sheer curiosity, how strong is Ice Breaker? I would assume as a secretary she would be more of a desk pony with sub-stellar strength and endurance. My question is, how easily could I disorient/incapacitate Ice Breaker with a large blow of a blunt instrument?

Damn man, 6 ponies against 1 poisoned one and one too fargone to do anything. I don't want my character to have to super saiyan or anything like that. Can Anivia go fetch a character that I control to make things a little more fair, at least that is if Radiance can delay the enemies long enough?

yay. Sweet, as smart as angel? I am going to have some fun with that. Hmm something that might be interesting, some posts or parts of posts from the falcon's point of view...

Radiance's body was fighting against her, trying to slow her down, to stop trying. She ignored the painful protests of her body, and forced herself to think clearly. "Just like my training." Radiance cringed, and resisted the urge to vomit. She had promised herself that she would no longer think of those days. The blue pegasus caught her off guard, she wasn't expecting someone so quickly. "Although she probably won't be of much use to me, babbling on like that." That is when Radiance saw five ponies, 2 pegasi and three earth ponies that looked as if they would confront her. She sighed in relief, "Whew no magic. Can't fight, not like this. Appearances Radiance, appearances." She turned to the mayor's secretary and whispered in harsh tone, "Shut up Ice Breaker, you fool! Do not look scared. Help the recruit walk," she motioned to the pony struggling to keep up. Radiance stopped, and whistled. The sudden outburst shot a bolt of pain through her head. She ignored it, and called "Anivia, to me." Within seconds, a Black shape could be seen in the sky, flying towards Radiance at an alarming speed. The falcon came to a gentle landing on Radiance's shoulder pauldron. It looked at Radiance's face and cocked her head. Radiance spoke loudly, loud enough for the five ponies to hear, "Message them." The falcon swiftly took off and flew at top speed towards the castle with a shrill call. "There is no message attached. Hopefully they will figure out there is trouble. Anivia is rather persistent." A wave of light erupted from Radiance's horn. She hid how much she had to exert herself to accomplish such a task. She turned to face the five ponies. She addressed them in her diplomatic tone. "Is there anything you need? I fear I cannot provide assistance to you at this time. I am far too busy at the moment. If it is an emergency, please contact either the mayor or anypony within the castle."

Seeing as my character hasnt met raven, I cant really comment. For my next post, I want to introduce something new to my character, but want to make sure everyone is okay with it first. I want my character to have a pet falcon. It will be an ordinary trained falcon, as in it will be able to do everything a normal trained falcon could do: hunt, deliver messages, and respond to simple known commands. If anyone has a problem with this, please let me know and I will not add the pet.

So umm, I disappeared for the longest time without any notice, and was dreading returning and having to apologize to everyone. By some foul sorcery, I really did not miss much. In all seriousness, sorry for disappearing and I am still in on this RP (That is if my character has not died from poison over the weeks ive been away!

I am actually a very calm and collected person, especially when gaming. I find getting frustrated while playing loses someone more games than anything else. Period. I main support in League of Legends, I find I carry the team by keeping them level headed and not fight just as much as shutting down enemies and saving allies.

So I am interested in this RP, but is still running? There hasnt been any activity in the last few days.

@Torrent505 The commotion was too much. Recruits puking like their intestines were on fire. They would die a gruesome death, but Radiance could do nothing for them. To try would be foolish. She noticed the mare lagging behind, "leave them. You will kill yourself." Her muscles began to ache, but they were bearable. They will surely get worse fast. Radiance reached the door and forced it open. She traversed the ledge, and stepped into the cold night. Light erupted from Radiance's horn, it was noticeably more difficult this time. She did her best to focus, and sent a small yellow ball of light into the air. It dissipated, leaving nothing behind. "I may have been blowing smoke, but I do have a friend." A soldier should be stationed at the castle as a lookout for signs, if he followed her orders. Yellow means in dire need of Celestia. Red is send reinforcements, white is everything is fine. The castle should soon be aware of Radiance's return and that she is in a bad situation. Hopefully Celestia herself will take the warning seriously. "Hurry. Longer it takes, the worse it gets. Castle, now." Radiance turned at started at a slightly slower pace towards the castle. She wanted the mare to live. Loyal recruits were valuable servants and the easiest to manipulate. As she walked, she felt her muscles seize up and her mind begin to grow foggy. Radiance was sure that she would be okay, but would the mare be able to keep up?

Radiance saw a wave of light obscure her surroundings for a split moment. The timer had started. There was no time to lose. They often say that in the Guard there is no man left behind, Radiance was not prepared to risk her life for anyone. She turned to the mare that seemed to be the leader of the recruits, "my side now." Radiance voice then boomed "Rally to me if you want to live." She brought herself to a gallop towards the door, but she felt her mind and muscles begin to grow slow and sluggish. She forced her mind to clear as best she could. She forced herself to slow down just enough to become stable. She forced herself to scan her surroundings. Her senses were not quite as keen as she would have wanted them to be at the time. She tried to look for any approaching figures, any potential hazards, and if the mare in uniform was following her. She did this while trying to make her way to the door and to the safety of the open city.

Fair enough. I wasn't sure what the best way of making that spell balanced was. I tried to make it so that the spell was really effective under a short duration, seconds to a minute. Exhaustion of recasting it to keep the effect would be what kept it weak. I definitely did not mean for it to be overpowered. I was planning for the spell to completely consume Radiance, meaning she couldn't fight, and she would must likely keel over from exhaustion in a fairly short duration. The way you described it seems perfectly fair, and perhaps a much easier way of monitoring the spell. Would the same recast and exhaustion issue persist? As for the medicine Radiance took, was any of it effective? Surely she would be in at least a slightly better boat then anyone that is merely caught in range of the spell.

As she was trotting, Radiance felt a pressure building in her lungs. She was right, and this was the moment she was waiting for. Flicking her shoulders, the leather pouch that hung from her neck bounced out of her armour and into the open. Jabbing her hoof into a weak stitch in the leather, the purse cracked open spilling its contents onto Radiance's hooves. Herbs, fungi, pills, anything and everything that has been ever used successfully to counteract biological warfare. Proper dosages, and she made sure they had no confounding effects on each other. She ate them all in a large mouthful. The empty purse drifted lazily towards the ground mere seconds after Radiance felt a pressure in her lungs. Radiance's thought process was instantaneous. One of the benefits of being a trained strategist was a mind that could constantly be in fine focus. "Lungs, respiratory. Smoke, tobacco, alcohol. Poison. In air. Drunkeness." She didn't have time to put it in words, but she knew that the air was tainted. Most likely with a substance that could cause severe inebriation and poisoning. What better way to mask murder then to make it look like one drank far too much at a pub? Before the empty purse hit the ground, Radiance's horn lit up in a dark golden hue. She was casting a spell created by the great battlemage that gave himself the oddest of names, Ozymandias. During an ancient war, rebels poisoned a town's water supply with a powerful hallucinogenic agent. The townsfolk and army began to slowly grow insane due to their nightmares constantly being brought to light. Ozymandias was able to craft a simple spell, a spell so ingeniously simple that any unicorn in their right mind could cast. In a short radius, light would burst out from the user's horn. Those close enough would have their minds purified and any effect of any narcotics, or chemicals in the blood would not affect the users. Radiance had no comprehension on how such witchcraft could even operate, she only knew its limitations. The spell would have to be cast in rapid succession, it did not solve the problem, it merely hid it. Rapid casting would surely lead to rapid exhaustion. Radiance hoped that her medications would be effective, and that her spell proved to be successful and that her followers where in range. However, her survival was really only what she was concerned about.

@Torrent505 Radiance sighed, "Sir? Do I look like a stallion to you? To answer your question, you are here for eye candy. Nothing more." Radiance took a deep breath and thought if she really wanted to do this. She lowered her voice so that only the mare could hear, "there is a possibility that you may need to carry me. If that is the case, take me directly to Celestia. Not the hospital, nopony else. Celestia. No, do not ask." She turned around and started off at a swift trot. Her golden, horned helmet suddenly appeared in the air beside Radiance, and slid atop her head. To the castle. She only hoped she would arrive there, without anything out of the ordinary happening.

@Torrent505 Radiance could not mask her disgust for such a lazy stallion. "No, not long. Too busy drinking your life away?" Radiance eyed the mare. She reminded Radiance a little of herself, not too much but a little. I have to remember to ask her name. "I need you to accompany me, we are travelling to the castle. I will give further instructions when there. It most likely won't take much longer than an hour. Now follow me." Radiance turned her body and headed towards the door. She signalled to the recruits to hurry up and make their decision. Radiance was eager to be rid of this place.

@@Torrent505 "Let us say it is unofficial. I have no warrant to command you, but I have use for you recruits. This is a good time to get in the good books of one of your superiors. Seeing that, I am willing to compensate you for your efforts." Radiance glanced at the mare, weighing options. She wanted no ties to this place. "I am only seeking aid from those in uniform. Now if you recruits would be so kind to follow me, we shall begin. It shan't take long." Radiance shifted positions, feeling her leather purse glide across her neck. She hoped she wouldn't need its contents, but the barkeeper's confidence was unsettling. She just hoped its contents, and the couple simple spells she was able to teach herself, would be enough if her suspicions became true. Radiance suspected she had been poisoned in some way, although she couldn't guess how.

Typical, sending a son to do an errand that he does not want to do. "Listen kid, you seem like a sensible pony. Your going down a rough line. Never do what I just did, seek an audience with somepony you have no confidence in. If I were afraid to die, I would have never stepped in this pub to begin with. I will pay for that wine." Radiance reached inside a special compartment of her armour, and drew out a small bag of bits. "Keep the change. If your father comes after me, you may need it for a nice tombstone." Radiance left the bottle of wine behind and walked up to the small group of Royal Guard recruits. She levitated a cup and smashed it against the table to silence them. "How would you ponies like to make an easy bit?"

You make it sound a whole lot better lol.

Heh I have realized something. My characters are always that one douche that refuses to do what everyone else is doing. I do not know why that is lol.