Benathi Nightsong slipped off the violet chocobo she called mount and friend. A brief ruffling of feathers on the beast's neck, then Bena whispered. The Chocobo gave off a call in response before running off to the shallow waters. Perhaps for a snack.

Asher Rukoth pointed towards his right. "There be some little 'kitties' o'er that way though. So whoever's the least scary ah us best get tah checkin it out...Ah nominate Barry. He seems the cuddly sort."

Dominique La'fleur: "I ain't seen any amount of fish that could gobble up whatever left that much." She pointed towards the pools of blood.

Barengar Armsbreaker blinked at Adun's words before simply setting them aside for the time being and shifting his attention to Erioch, "I'll be doin' m'best not ta."

Adun Blackblade: "Good."

Erioch Koren looked over to Soks as she began to move towards the building, his footsteps falling in behind the Au Ra. "Well don't jus' get to stompin' o'er there without...shite."

Dominique La'fleur crossed her arms under her chest, not moving from her position as narrowed eyes continued to look around the area.

Tarasa Blaetwyn stepped up to Neeka "Cute shirt."

A Lalafell pulls herself around a small Highlander child as much as she is able to seemingly shield the infant from the approaching Blades. Panic rides wild in her eyes, breath heaving quickened pants as she attempts to scurry deeper into her hiding spot. Any attempt to speak with the woman simply sees her stammering back while looking away. “P…please I d-d-don’t know anything. Just let us go, take whatever you want, just let us go.”

Sokhatai Mol waved him off, eyes still locked on the bush. "If it was dangerous I would have sent the loud lancer." Sokha grumbled, leaning forward and peering into the bushes. "It's alright."

Adun Blackblade wandered up behind Neeka and rested his chin on her shoulder.

Asher Rukoth: "Sahagin could'a just diced the folk up afore nommin’ on them," he offered. "Unless ah course they decided that stick dem octopus things atop their 'eads..."

Dominique La'fleur raised an eyebrow as her gaze flicked to Tara, a grin tugging at her lips. "Aye, fashionable and dangerous." she shrugged the shoulder adorning several metal spikes.

Dominique La'fleur looked over her shoulder at Adun, a hand reaching up to pat his head. "How does that eyesoar of whatever it is around your waist not get in your way?" She snickered.

The lalafell lets out a scream as Sokhatai speaks out, her whole frame curling in on itself as she devolves to open weeping. "No...no we don't have t-t-the c-carriage! Don't eat us!"

Sokhatai Mol slumped, sighing and falling back as she shot a glare at Erioch. "... This isn't your fault but I'm blaming you. Maybe someone that's... more /familiar/ in appearance should try to console them."

Barengar Armsbreaker folds his arms over his chest, his gaze falling upon the the panicked lalafell and Sokhatai, glancing between the two. The man blinked the former cried out in terror, his posture going rigid.

Adun Blackblade: "By being nearly fifty and having everything but the kitchen sink thrown at me to overcome in battle. Also, it'll fall off it it's too much." He barely paid any mind to Socks terrifying the lalafell.

Erioch Koren takes a step back from Sokhatai, his teeth drawing against each other. "Shite, easy there...goin' in baring your fangs like some dragon wantin' a swivin' snack at the pair o' 'em."

Asher Rukoth pursed his lips together and sighed. "Dis is why ah nominated Barry. He's friendly lookin..." Unable to continue jest with straight face, he chuckled softly and approached the terrified duo in front of Soks. Slamming spear point down into earth, he held hands up as a sign of non-aggression. "Everythin's all right missy. We're 'ere tah 'elp."

Benathi Nightsong 's eyes flick over to the bush, giving off an internal sigh, "Hey, hey, no one here's gonna eat ya."

Barengar Armsbreaker snorts.

Tarasa Blaetwyn walks up, grunts a little then turns around. "Not good with children."

Sokhatai Mol returned to Adun's side with a scowl, folding her arms with a huff. "... this is why I prefer animals to people."

The small woman looked up to those approaching before scooting further away from Soks, the baby cradled in her arms. A hard swallow gives way to the woman's high voice barely squeaking out towards Asher and Benathi. "Y...you're here to help? Thank the Twleve, praise the Twelve! Please, help the child..."

Adun Blackblade grinned at Socks.

Erioch Koren shot a wide, toothy grin to Sokhatai. "Well from how that was goin' I'm guessin' other people prefer you dealin' with animals too."

Dominique La'fleur seemed to also pay no mind to the confrontation, instead just letting out a sigh while looking back at Adun.  "Still, you could do with some fashion advice." She wrinkled her nose.

Adun Blackblade: "Will you dress me?"

Dominique La'fleur: "And give the priestess another reason to try and off me with those bitchy eyes of hers?"

Adun Blackblade: "I said dress, not undress. Has she been misbehaving? Should I speak to her?"

Asher Rukoth slipped on confident smile and dipped his chin, nodding. "Aye, we're 'at's exactly right." Approaching the Lala, he knelt down and looked over the child before fixing gaze on the caretaker. "Ye've done a mighty fine job lass, makin sure this lil one was safe. Best ye be 'oldin on'tah 'im still though...Can ye tell us what 'appened?"

Erioch Koren moved forward into the settlement just a touch, his form kneeling down next to a spot of crimson-stained ground. "Huh...there's ain' any bodies 'round here."

Sokhatai Mol: "Don't worry, you'll find some chocobo leavings in the bar when I come back." Sokha called back to Erioch with a frown, watching Asher and the children. "There's plenty."

Dominique La'fleur rolled her eyes. "I don't need a white knight to take care of me Adun. I ain't seen the woman in a while, best be keepin' it that way 'till the storm is over."

Adun Blackblade: "That's gonna be a long storm."

Benathi Nightsong nodded, remaining behind and offset to the left of Asher, casting her eyes into the small harbor town, giving a slight frown before returning to the Lalafell. She remained quiet, since Asher had already spoken.

Dominique La'fleur: "Oh I know."

The woman finally stood, a few sniffles giving way to more confident words. "I..don't know. We were all going about our day when these fish...men...things attacked. They started just..." She shudders before bouncing the infant slightly in her arms. "...eating everything they could. It was chaos so I took the child and hid. Gods, they chased so many down and took them back into the water..." To the lalafell's credit, she manages to hold back the tears any further.

"Can...can we leave now? Is it safe back that way? I think we can make it to Horizon..."

Barengar Armsbreaker moves up toward Erioch, noting that Asher and Benathi seemed to have the lalafellin woman under control. His eyes swept over the same patch of crimson that Erioch did, grumbling quietly to the man, "Thinkin' they took th' bodies?"

Adun Blackblade grunted softly and straightened up. "So, do we get to kill things now?"

Dominique La'fleur: "Gotta find'em first to kill'em"

Benathi Nightsong nodded, "I think we've got a good idea what's happened. If he's done here," she nodded in Asher's direction, "I've got a chocobo y'can ride to Horizon."

Sokhatai Mol cocked her head to the side, eyes narrowing. "I don't think they took anything. Where are the drag marks? All I've seen are puddles."

Dominique La'fleur: "We could all have ourselves a little fishin' party at the docks to bait'em out? If they're still even near here."

Erioch Koren righted himself, breath huffing from his lungs as he drew the handaxe from his side. "I ain' knowin' what they did with 'em, but they ain' here now. Not matterin' much, anyroads, job is stayin' the same whether folk were here or not, aye?"

Adun Blackblade: "Is it sahagin? Should probably check the water."

Asher Rukoth pressed tongue to tooth, no longer all that enthused. Not even with how his prediction was right. Glancing back over his shoulder to Bena, he rubbed chin for a moment and then fixed attention back on the woman and child. "Aye, ah think it be safe...but first off, when ye were runnin did'ja see any ah the fish-folsk go any other way aside from the shore?"

She shook her head as she scrambled atop the chocobo, the child nestled against her chest. "They took everything back down into the water, by the docks. You're going to fight them? B...be careful." WIth another nod the Lalafell turned the chocobo around and began to make her way back towards Horizon, happy to be free from whatever befell the settlement.

Courrier bore the weight of the Lalafell and the infant with apparent ease, "To Horizon with you," Bena murmured to the beast before she left, knowing the destination.

Dominique La'fleur tapped her foot impatiently, a scowl washing over her features.

Erioch Koren grinned wide as he looked back to Adun. "Hells, Grumbles...didn' know you were so into swimmin'. If you're that anxious you're more'n welcome to be leadin' the charge, I ain' lookin' forward to takin' a dip in the ocean anytime soon."

Adun Blackblade: "The hell's got you so cranky, Neeka?"

Asher Rukoth: "Dun you worry bout 'at, we're professionals aft'all." Giving the woman a reassuring smile, he stood and waved them on before moving to claim spear and return to group. "So," he said to the lot. "Fishies ate everyone an most like ther by the docks...Ah'm thinkin we should get Bena an Tara up ontah the buildin's fer superiority in battle."

Dominique La'fleur 's eyes shot daggers towards Adun as her gaze snapped to him. "I'm not cranky." She replied firmly before stomping off towards the docks, clearly ignoring Asher's tactics.

Adun Blackblade follows!

Benathi Nightsong: "Or just... walk."

Asher Rukoth: "Yep. Ther we go, nevermind me." Rolling his eyes, he followed after with a bemused sigh.

Erioch Koren did a double take as Adun and Neeka started walking off, his shoulders rising in a shrug. "Y'know, one o' these suns we'll actually get to usin' some kind o' tactics with this bunch." Rough laughter fell from the man as he followed the three.

Sokhatai Mol: "Tactics? What's that?"

As the group approaches the docks, the reason for the scent becomes more and more evident, several discarded, half-eaten carcasses of all types are washed upon the shore and bumping against the sides of the docks. Before one would have time to comment on the sorry state of the pier, several large pools of bubbles spring to the surface of the water on either side. Within a single beat, a Sahagin leaps out from the ocean and land heavily upon the docks.->

The creatures appear as though nightmarish fiction alone could conceive them, patches of swollen and grotesque skin and muscle spread all over their figures in various places. Each of their fingers are elongated into wickedly curved claws, their mouths too wide to close fully and full of teeth that would only puncture their lips were they to close. Guttural howls tear from their throats as they charge the Blades, their eyes devoid of thought beyond hunger.->

Asher Rukoth: "Ah d'no. Learned bout em in Ishgard but some'ow ah ne'er quite seen em used afore...Rare as Black Mages these days apparently."

Benathi Nightsong: "That's not a Sahagin."

Tarasa Blaetwyn: "Secrecy is a black mages best weapon."

From below the docks, several long, clawed Sahagin hands burst up to tear and drag Erioch, Neeka, Adun, and Barry into the water. The three creatures that had leapt aboard the pier rushing Asher, Benathi, and Tarasa before attempting to grab and bite them as though to eat them raw. Similarly, one more mutated beastman emerges from the shore, its body bent down on all fours as it spins about in a frenzy before charging Sokhatai.

Adun Blackblade groaned softly as he saw the mutant whatevers. Well, he assumed they were mutant because he'd never seen them before. As one approached him, he fell right side dropping back, aether swirling around him as he aspected. Charging forward, he met the creature half way, throwing two strikes right at its face right off the bat.

Neeka’s gaze snapped towards the pair of claws bursting up from the docks, a vicious snarl washing over her features. The dragoon was in the air with a jump before the beast could latch on. A hand reached to her back, unstrapping her lance and angling it downwards. Her descent came with the spear driving into the creature’s arm.

Asher Rukoth cocked his head to the side, a stupid, incredulous laugh escaping parted lips. "Well they look /reaaaal/ friendly," he managed. Continuing to laugh, he unholstered gun belted to his side and took quick aim. A crack followed as the bullet discharged into the beast charging him, entering and exiting scaled shoulder in spray of blood.

Tara quickly noticed the creatures leap out of the water. She quickly placed a hand on the ground and left ember that quickly began to grow in size before riding the aether out of the way as the Creature ran into the now decently sized ball of fire that erupted on impact to soak it in flames.

Sokhatai Mol had been too busy watching the others get ambushed on the docks to pay much attention to the one hellbent on charging her down. She managed to scramble away just in time, narrowly ducking under the charge but not being much help to anyone.

Bena drew her bow from her back as they approached the docks. She drew an arrow and pulled back as the mutated Sahagin began to lunge at them. The one that charged her didn't get a chance to bite; Bena brought a booted leg forward and kicked the thing roughly in the chest, sending it tumbling back down the stairs. Benathi loosed her arrow at the downed Sahagin, the projectile finding purchase in the corrupted beastman's stomach.

Barengar Armsbreaker blinked as the creature burst up onto the dock, blinking several times at its misshapen body. There was something foul at work here. He didn't know what it what but he knew he didn't like it. Barengar failed, however, to quickly react to the hands that burst up through the docks. He managed to avoid getting restrained by the beast's grip, but still goes falling into the water below as the ground he stood upon gave way.

As the claws burst up from beneath Erioch the man can only curse, half of the word muffled as he is sent beneath the waves. “Shi-Mmflg!” Claws scrape along the man’s coat, digging through the fabric to take a chunk out from above his ribs. (Take 2 damage.)

Those pulled under by the Sahagin would feel claws and teeth ripping and tearing all about them, though not necessarily at the Blades. It would seem as though some sort of pure feeding frenzy was going on beneath the waves, beastmen attacking each other for the newly-found food as often as they were trying to devour the Blades. Those without a Mythril Snack reached up from the water to once more try and pull Neeka and Adun beneath.

Back upon solid ground, the creatures attacking Tarasa and Asher lunged forward, oddly-muscled shoulders attempting to knock the two prone before leaping atop them and dragging them towards the pier. The remaining Sahagin all continued their wild assault against Benathi and Sokhatai, long arms trying to wrap them against their forms before blade-like teeth sank deep into their flesh. ->

From the end of the pier, a giant splash of blood-soaked sea sprayed upwards, a massive, scaled arm as big as a full grown Roegadyn man reaching out from the depths to try and grip upon the fragmented dock. The boards of the pier give way under the strain, the arm once more plummeting into the sea before a second attempts the same with more success.

Adun was caught off guard by yet another creature coming to drag him under water. As the gross claw things tore through his shirt and into his skin, he growled low and took the opportunity to open a chakra before being dragged under the water.

The dragoon’s gaze snapped to Adun, eye’s going wide as he was pulled from the dock and dragged under. The distraction was enough for a clawed hand to wrap around her boots and pull the redhead under. The metal of her greaves now shattered as she kicked and flailed violently under the sea, trying to get her bearings and figure out her next move. (Armor gone. HP - 5/5)

clicked his tongue and frowned having expected the stopping power to be enough to at least stumble the creature. Turning to the side and taking a half step back, he avoided tackle and watched the too close mutated-fishy rush by, unable to deliver proper counter attack and unwilling to overextend himself in the attempt.  (Untouched)

Tarasa eyed the mutant with odd fascination as it soaked the fireball and turned to lunge at her. "Interesting." She was focused on her own battle as she flung a tumultuous ball of lightning at the creature to zap it before it reached her causing it to go rigid then fall dead at her feet.

Sokhatai scrambled past once more, the benefit of being tiny and the burst of adrenaline letting her evade the snatching beastman as it tried to pull her towards the water. The crystal at her side sparked to life, drawn out by Sokha's needs before sending the rush of healing aether towards the smart-arsed barman that probably didn't deserve it. ((Erioch healed +2))

Bena wasn't prepared for how quickly the Sahagin would recover and lunge back to her.  The Sahagin got his claws around the Ishgardian, using his weight to actually pick up the woman, his grip causing her to drop her bow. He tried to take a bite out of her as he hauled her down to the docks. Thankfully, he just crunched the leather and metal that made up Bena's left shoulderpad, ripping it off from her and spitting it into the water as the Midlander struggled to get free.

The Armsbreaker thrashed and struggled against his attacker's attempts to pull him deeper into the darker regions of the crimson stained waters. His jaw clenched and exercised as much force as he had at his disposal to smash the head of the sahagin that was grappling him. Managing to daze the creature just enough to free himself from the grasp, Barry quickly grabbed from one piece of debris to the next in an attempt to find a way out of the water in the time that he had bought himself.

Erioch twists and turns beneath the waves, his head just breaking the surface long enough to draw in a deep breath before he is tugged underneath the waves once more. One of the mutated creatures sinks its teeth into his shoulder as he is held down, the Highlander reaching upwards to try and pry the creature loose before once more making a break for the surface. A muffled thanks is spoken out to Sokhatai as his wounds begin to close.

The Sahagin slashing its claws at Tara falls flat, it’s body heaving its last before it lies fully still. Meanwhile the same creature that had dragged Benathi to the docks now worked to bring the woman beneath the ocean, teeth trying to find a firm hold. The monster on all fours wheels away from Sokhatai and instead opts to charge Asher, leaping into the air with a howl. Thankfully, Sokhatai is left alone, the other Sahagin occupied.  ->

Beneath the waves the feeding frenzy continues, more delicious Mythril Morsels being dragged below for the beings to try and tear apart. With a deep, grinding groan the creature at the far end of the docks final manages to pull itself up out of the water, the whole of him swollen and bloated with whatever was altering the beastmen. Its right arm was weighed down by an anchor and chain, the metal lodged in its twisted flesh.

Adun held his breath as he was under water. Like it was a match of goddamn blitz ball, he used the momentum of the creature pulling him under and turned underwater so homehow kick it and swim up to the surface. As he beached the waters, he took in a deep breath and clawed at the docks, pulling himself up onto the side.

Neeka was determined to not lose her weapon, struggling under the water to get the lance strapped into the holster on her back. Doing so, she didn’t notice one of the creatures behind her wanting to make the dragoon lunch. A scream tore from her lips as grotesque teeth tore into her unarmored shoulder, causing a stream of bubbles to rise towards the surface.

Asher Rukoth bared teeth in vicious grin, eyes alight with the mistake just made by the beastie. Opting to lower pistol, he adopted throwing stance, lined up his polearm with the incoming foe, reared back his arm and loosed; spear point sliding easily through soft belly to appear out the other side of its back along with a good portion of metal haft. When it hit the pier with boneless crack, the rest of the weapon cleared for Asher to claim it again.

Tara bent over and poked the dead monster with the tip of her staff a few times to make sure it was indeed dead before standing up and taking a moment to survey all her co workers now in the water before dropping down some ley lines in prep for the large one coming down the way. "A rather large one is on the way Asher."

Sokhatai Mol let go of the breath she'd been holding, the creature distracted by some other member of the party. She darted down the docks, skidding to a halt and dropping to her knees and trying to pull Erioch out of the water despite the gnashing and thrashing of the monster below.

Bena continued to be an unwilling bit of prey in the Sahagin's grip. She wasn't trying to actually break free now, though - she knew she wasn't physically strong enough to pull that off. She writhed and got her right arm free. She yanked an arrow from her quiver, spinning it around in her fingers before bringing it down into the Sahagin's eye. It howled, throwing Bena away and stumbling back. It fell into a hole one of its fellows made, ending up in the water. Its previous wounds saturated the water, and it was consumed by its frenzied fellows.

Barengar, with no help from the gnashing teeth and swiping claws of the misshapen beasts that frenzied in the water, managed to pull himself up and out of the water. To say that he was glad to be out of the water was an understatement. With a quick roll of his left shoulder he finally pulled his weapon proper free from its place on his back as well as the throwing axe at his side, turning his attention to the massive creature at the fore. He pulled arm back and let it fly at the creature, aiming for whatever appeared to be its face.

Erioch would have let out a sigh of relief at Sokhatai's arm reaching down for him had ocean not threatened to fill his lungs should he do so. Her arm was taken and used to pull the Highlander up and onto the docks, sea-water and blood dripping from his frame as one of the claws raked down his calf. "Thanks, darl-GAH! BASTARD FISH SHITE!" He kicked wildly at the water, a myriad of curses tearing from his throat.

The hulking Sahagin leans backward and lets loose an ear-splitting howl as it finally seems to notice the scent of blood and the sound of battle. It begins a lumbering, crashing charge towards the group both upon the docks and the shore, its eyes swollen shut by whatever is mutating the beast men. The arm with the chain embedded into it swings wide, the anchor sweeping across all those on the shore as it tries to trample those still on the pier. ->

Beneath the waves Neeka has full view of the mad torrent of claws and teeth tearing and biting not only at her but also the two remaining Sahagin each vying for the tasty Neeka-snack.

Adun started charging in the same direction as the creature. As it reeled its anchor to swing, he swung behind it, catching on the balls of his left foot. He then rotated and threw an aspected hook kick at its back, heel sinking into it hard and bursting with fire aether on contact.

Wisps of blue aether swirled around Neeka as she was quickly running out of air, the hand which had sheathed her lance now reaching for a blade kept on her belt. The metal shoved into the creature’s mouth as it attempted another bite before pulled back with as much force as possible under the water. The dragoon frantically looked at her surroundings, finding a rotten wooden pillar to launch herself off of after bursting from the waves, she landed on her feet back on the docks with an extremely pissed off expression.

Asher snapped his attention to the lumbering monstrosity Tarasa warned him up, just in time for eyes to widen and catch sight of the anchor tossed their way. "Fuckin 'el---Shit!" Caught by the hook as it swung by, rust metal crackin against tempered plate, he found himself unbalanced and falling forward to land upon roughly upon knees, held up only by having thrust his arm forward to catch himself.

Tara watched the large creature take a swing and braced herself for the impact that never came. She jumped back a little and fell onto her ass as Eroich took the blow for her and was hurled back down onto the docks. "Eroich!" She somewhat screamed out as she quickly sat back up and began charging a spell.

Sokhatai took a moment to breath for a moment, before she was thrown unceremoniously into the water she'd just pulled her companion out of. She surfaced instantly, sputtering and coughing through the water in her lungs and turning to try and catch sight of Neeka. The crystal shook a moment, brightening before sending a healing waves towards the woman she'd been looking towards.

Benathi blinked as the Sahagin roared, "That's a mighty mother-" She turned and scrambled up the stairs, scooping up her bow and then taking a few more steps away, turning as she took a moment to regain control her of her breathing. Thankfully, the anchor swung harmlessly behind her.

Barengar takes a few steps backward as the massive creature began to press itself forward upon the dock. The last place Barengar wanted to be when fighting an oversized monstrosity was on a damaged, wooden dock perched over a swarm of veritable piranha's. He was glad that he had as the monstrosity’s wide sweep narrowly missed him, though it offered him an opening. The man lunged forward and sank his axehead into the thigh of the lumbering beast.

Erioch’s head whipped around just in time to see the large Sahagin charging towards the group, his body pushing upwards and rushing away from the creature. Just as the anchor swung towards those on the shore, the Highlander pushed himself between Tarasa and the flying metal, the force of the blow sending him toppling back down to the pier. With a small groan the man stood and shook his head, axe at the ready. (5/8 2 armor)

Adun kept light on his feet, making sure to get out of the way of any sort of retaliation the creature made to being attacked. He drove his fist into it once more.

Neeka was greeted to the sight of the hideous monstrosity the Blade’s now found themselves dealing with after she’d landed back on the docks. A groan escaped her lips as she took only a moment to scan the surrounding chaos. She immediately launched the blade in her hand towards the creature, aiming for one of its eyes.

Asher Rukoth looked up at the vile noise that preceded the display of nothing that could be good. Spear and pistol abandoned to the sides, he threw up arms to shield face in time for the acid to spray down against him. What started as a growl at onset of pain that would have transformed into something more if not for the planks cracking and dissolving beneath him to send him plummeting into blue depths.

Tara quickly extended both her arms forward with palms up while her feet took a bracing stance on the wood dock. She quickly muttered a few odd sounding words as a barrier of aether quickly punched forward to become a shield for the incoming goop. A few seconds after the goop began to eat away at the magical barrier an almost Sokh sized icicle shot through what was left of the barrier  to nail the creature in the right shoulder and leave the Roe woman panting for breath.

Sokhatai Mol scrambled out of the water, blindly grabbing at whoever it was pulling her up. She was soaked, and pissed now, latching on to whoever it was and returning the favor with healing. ((Erioch +1)

Bena took a breath and drew her bow back.... Shit, this is a bad position. She saw the giant spit out its acid, and decided she didn't like that that much. She moved to get a clearer shot on the creature, unobstructed by the dock.

Barengar held up the broadside of his axe to his fore, using it as a makeshift shield from the lashing bits of claw and iron that whirled about in front of him. His teeth grit as his jaw clenched, whether the storm before channeling the force behind one of the blows to the weapon into a heavy swing. He was once more aiming for the same section of leg that he had struck before; hacking away (Deal 1 damage).

Erioch dove low as the beast began to spin, his right arm diving between the boards to try and fish for Soks collar. Upon finding purchase, the bartender hauled the Au Ra upwards and free of the ocean, sitting her upon the dock just as he saw Asher fall beneath the waves. "Gods-dammit...really?" (6/8 2 armor)

Sensing the blows landing upon it from all sides, the large beast hunkered down and did its best impression of a dragoon by leaping into the air. Though not nearly able to soar as high as Ishgard's finest, the heavily mutated Sahagin did manage to make it fully ashore, it's bulk crashing down on Benathi and Tarasa before its throat swelled once more. A solid line of red digestive fluid flew from the monster's maw, eroding the dock and any of the Blades standing atop the pier in turn. ->

Beneath the waves, Asher's new swimming partner was eager to become closer to the dragoon and sought to give the man a giant kiss. With teeth. Lots of teeth. It's biting your face.

Adun just kept wailing on it, his strikes lighting up with aether aspected fire each time they connected. Besides going in the water, he's seemed quite apt at staying out of any sort of danger.

The dragoon seemed almost offended at the way the creature took off, eyes narrowing with a growl. A hand moved to pull the spear off her back once more now that she was on land, aether swirling around her legs. She took off skyward, as if to show that monstrosity how it’s -actually- done. With the beast in her sights and it distracted with the other members, Neeka crashed down onto its back, driving her lance in as far as she could.

Asher Rukoth's eyes stung as salt water invaded, though with vision still wide he saw the beastie coming. And as he was fast becoming a one woman guy, he did the only thing appropriate and slammed his fist forward to catch it, only instead of simple punch he plunged arm down its throat to grab hold of vital and rip it free. Blood spread fast in the water around him as he left the floating carcass behind then to breach surface. Grabbing ledge, he hoisted himself up to glare at the monstrosity, hair plastered to face now and armor no longer hissing from acid.

Tarasa went wide eyed for a moment as the hulking creature lept her way. She once again called on the aether for a quick escape as she almost seemed to teleport out of harm's way while leaving another one of her ember bombs that would explode as the creature landed soaking it in flames that thankfully didn't hurt Neeka that was on its back.

Sokhatai Mol was clinging to Erioch still, trying to get her bearing when some of the cast-off acid flew her way. It only made her cling tighter, eyes screwed tighter as she unconsciously directed her own healing energies inward. It was not a pleasant day for her, it seemed.

What was this thing's deal? It tried to land on Benathi! She rolled further inland so that she wouldn't become an Ishgardian flapjack. She came up at a crouch, before tapping an icy blue rune on her bow. Aether saturated her arrowhead before she sent it soaring. The arrow lodged itself into the Sahagin's eye as it thrashed, and the aether that she had channeled burst. Several growths of ice explode from the right side of the Sahagin's face, dripping its mutated blood, whatever color that might be. Combined with Tarasa's bomb, it was probably a very frightening display.

Barengar attempted to pull himself away from the line of caustic fluid that was being poured upon the dock but had no such luck. Large globs of the digestive substance splatter upon his right arm, seeping into some of the rings of his armor. It made short work of the padding below and began to burn upon his skin. The Ala Mhigan growled and lashed his arm out several times in a vain attempt to rid himself of the fluid. With a shake of his head he pulled himself together and followed

Erioch begins to twist and turn as the boards beneath him begin to melt away, somehow surprisingly spared from the acid spat at the Blades. With his hand still fast on Sokhatai's collar, and the Au Ra still clinging to him, it was something of a miracle that the man avoided the glob of spittle raining down upon them. Seeing Sokhatai was not so lucky in avoiding the fluid, the Highlander held blinked for a moment before dunking the Xaela beneath the water to wash off the spume. "There. All clean."

The beast let loose another howl, one that slowly died into nothing more than a whimper as it collapsed in a heap upon the ground. Silence hung over the pier as the waves stilled, the pier creaking and groaning under all the strain it had endured.

"I'm going home now. Neeka, stop being cranky." And with that, Adun and his see through shirt were off.

Sokhatai Mol looked up the moment before she was dunked, spluttering and choking once more on the water she found herself in once more. "So... much..." Sokha coughed, clearing her throat. "Chocobo shite is going into the bar." She was hissing, her silver eyes brightening with fury

Benathi Nightsong took a few breaths, shaking her right hand for some reason. She moved her bow to her back. She rubbed her right wrist as she approached the Blades. "No one's -too- hurt, yeah?"

Tarasa Blaetwyn approached the now dead pile of monster and took a knee while a gloved hand slowly rubbed over the creature's arm. "Quite a fascinating creature." She pulled out a small satchel and laid it out on the ground revealing a few bottles and syringes. She quickly jammed one of the needles deep into the creature and began extracting fluid.

Asher Rukoth ground teeth briefly before he stood upright and brushed hands down arms and shook himself as dry as he could. Working jaw, he already knew the amount of work that had to go into armor and wasn't at all happy...along with the fact that he now needed a trim from where acid caught hair. Moving around the beast, he reclaimed weapons and strode of the flight of stairs to leave. "Makes 'ate the deep sea even more," he said off hand to Tarasa. "An wonder what the fuck else be lurkin down there, an what drove em to frenzy."

Erioch grinned down to the woman, shoulder and calf still dripping crimson to mix with the ocean water flowing from the man. "Hey now, I was jus' aimin' to be washin' all that shite off ya, darlin'. You're welcome." Laughter sounded out from the man as he set the Au Ra down upon the docks. "All jestin' aside, you doin' alright? Everythin' in its proper place an' whatnot?"

Dominique La'fleur hopped off of the creature, taking her weapon with quite the disgusting sound as it came out from the back.  She wrinkled her nose upon noticing Tara with the needles.

Barengar slowly eased his stance as it became clear to him that the creature wasn't going to be lashing out or puking up vile gunk on anyone any further. His attention was quickly pulled to the burning on his arm. He quickly flicked his eyes around for sources of water that were -not- the sea that was full of sahagin.

Tarasa Blaetwyn: "This looks more manmade to me than anything natural, which has peaked my curiosity. Something warped these creatures into what they are now."

Tarasa Blaetwyn filled a syringe and pushed the foul liquid into a vial before grabbing another needle and repeating the process where the spine should be.

Benathi Nightsong flexed the fingers of her right hand before seeming satisfied that her hand was intact. She placed her right hand on her hip, eying the creature, wrinkling her nose at Tarasa's work, before looking to Asher and Neeka, "You guys are okay?"

Sokhatai Mol frowned at him, though her eyes seemed less irritated as she quickly began shaking off the excess water. "Just my wounded pride. But that heals with time."

Dominique La'fleur took a few steps back away from the process while holstering her weapon and offering Benathi a nod.

Tarasa Blaetwyn: "Looks like this was a Sahagin at one point, i'll have to do some more tests back at my study to be sure however."

Asher Rukoth grunted. "Aye, ah'm just fine." Stabbing spear into the dirt, he reached up to free braid and shook fingers through his hair, just barely holding onto the cloth strip that had held it as such moments ago. "Lucky too at the fucker sent me in'tah the water though ah din't fancy gettin wet like 'at."

Barengar Armsbreaker found no alternative that met his criteria, unfortunately and simply began to reach for his waterskin, emptying all that remained within it upon his right arm in an attempt to wash away the caustic fluids.

Erioch Koren couldn't stop himself from ruffling the Au Ra's hair as he began to move up to stairs. "C'mon, kid, I've found that drinkin' heals all manner o' wounded pride, eh?" He stopped before the rest of the Blades examining the beast. "I'm goin' to collect the reward, everyone livin', aye?"

Benathi Nightsong: "As far as I can tell, we're all still in one piece."

Asher Rukoth: "How much was the payout for this shite anyways?"

Dominique La'fleur let out a sigh "Does it matter? It's never enough for the fucked up shite we have to deal with." She waved a hand in the air dismissively before turning on her heel to walk off.

Erioch Koren raised an eyebrow to Asher as he began to make his way back towards civilization. "Enough that we got to takin' the job in the first place. Odile'll get your pay to you 'fore long I'm sure."

Tarasa Blaetwyn finished with her syringe work and began to repack her things. "I'll have to hire someone to bring one of the smaller ones back, I doubt anyone will bother these though."

Asher Rukoth rolled his eyes and loosed scoff. Glancing to Tarasa then, he pursed lips and moved over to one of the less mangled corpses and picked it up to toss over his shoulder. "Where d'ya want it?"

Erioch Koren looked back to Tarasa. "You wantin' to head into town with me then? I ain' lookin' to make any o' you lot haul one o' those swivin' Sahagin back on your own."

Erioch Koren: "Or hells, that'll get to workin' too. Much obliged, Asher."

Barengar Armsbreaker moved once he'd managed to clean himself of enough of the fluids, he made his way up to briefly glance over the fallen beast. Beyond the bizarre nature of its state, Barengar seemed to find it of little real interest.

Benathi Nightsong: "I'd offer, but... I'm not big enough to carry one, and Courier doesn't like the smell of 'em."

Tarasa Blaetwyn blinked as Asher hefted the creature. "Oh, well back at my study at the Company Hall should suffice."

Dominique La'fleur: "Not to worry, the Knight is always happy to oblige." She muttered before walking off out of sight of the group.

Sokhatai Mol waved a hand. "I'll be back in the stables, if anyone wants more patching up. The magical sort, or bandages."

Asher Rukoth wrinkled his nose some at the smell but otherwise looked to be fine with the creature's weight. Giving a nod to Tara, he set off. "Then ah'll be droppin it off there..." Narrowing his eyes, he stared at Neeka and clenched jaw, confused.

Erioch Koren looked over his now-ruined coat, breath huffing out from his lungs. "Might get to takin' you up on that, Sokhatai, after I'm findin' some tailor to be patchin' up this coat."

Sokhatai Mol nodded. "You'll find me in the stables."

Barengar Armsbreaker grunted stiffly before pulling his gaze away from the fallen beast. He tipped his head toward the departing members of the company before preparing to do the same himself. He'd had enough for the day.