A glimmering sea of rolling Orbels advanced, a large variety of various creatures represented in its ebbs and flows. A Khargen rolled forward, its vicious reptilian nature somehow perfectly expressed by the assorted spheres. A cat-like creature was at its side, loping along. An undulating worm beside that. Among these and more, the assorted Orbels advanced like an inevitable doom. They were a wave of momentum, pushing one another along. Even had they wanted to let the humans go, it was unlikely that they could stop now. And if one thing was sure, it was this. They did not wish to let them go.

The party looked at each other nervously. As one, they reached an unspoken decision. Following Erik’s advice, they sharply turned on their heels. The next moment, they ran.

They burst through the corridors in a whirlwind, stirring up the air with the speed of their passage. Yet no matter how fast they ran, the ever-present sound of rumbling metal spheres appeared from right behind them.

With the reaper at their back, they pushed on desperately. Dharen, in the lead with his high Strength and Agility, encountered the room that they had investigated previously. He burst inside, yelling out for the others to follow. While they caught up, he began to ready the room’s remaining pieces of furniture and debris. Ozen was the first to reach him. The dour man immediately picked up on Dharen’s plan and began to gather materials in turn.

Finally, Serah and Erik passed through the threshold. As they did so, Dharen and Ozen quickly piled as much debris and obstructions in the doorway as possible. Fortunately, the entrance into the room was fairly narrow, seemingly built for smaller-than-average individuals. Thus, they were able to block it fairly quickly. Even so, they did not stop. Hundreds of Orbels lay outside, far too many for them to fend off on their own.

Fortunately, the skeleton’s final resting place was quite littered with suitable material to block the enemy’s passage. Serah and Erik joined in as well, adding their own efforts to the construction of the makeshift fortifications. Though muffled by the stifling wall of debris, the rumbling grew impressively loud. Dharen and Ozen braced against the wall, putting their own strength to bear and increasing its sturdiness.

The horde of Orbels hit the fortifications with a metallic boom, sending the sound of splintering echoing across the room. The defenders tensed readily, but it seemed that the hastily-made defenses would hold for the moment. Now, the sheer number of enemies worked against them. The Orbels were unable to back up to maneuver greater leverage against the barrier, and instead were pressed against it by the overwhelming numbers.

With a moment of reprieve, the party began to debrief Erik. He revealed that he had found the boss chamber unexpectedly, and the Orb Knight Keljier lay within. The target was a massive automaton fashioned in the form of a giant mounted warrior.

As Erik tried to back away, he was beset by a large number of Orbel. During his escape the number of attackers grew beyond his imagination. Though many of the Orbel were somewhat weak individually, the sheer amount of enemies was enough to make one weak at the knees. And if their demonstrated ability to combine and reform when broken apart was taken into account, they become an absolutely terrifying force.

It had taken voracious usage of his Hasty Nature ability to create enough distance from the creatures to provide ample warning to the others. Even now, he was visibly pallid and withdrawn with the punishing aftereffects of its constant activation.

While Erik explained the situation, the smashing of the Orbels into the makeshift fortifications was a constant reminder of the spectre of death that looked over the group. Urgently looking for something - for anything - that would help, the group began to root through the remaining furniture and debris.

Dharen searched as well, eventually finding a tattered journal within a drawer near the skeletal remains. Though it did not hold a title, he opened it. In this situation, even simple information could be a useful weapon and shield, if nothing else.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

Day 1: The 14th Cycle of Abadon, Year of Belun:

I write here in hopes of leaving a record behind of who we once were. My name is Alak, and I am an engineer of the Del. It is my duty to help our people achieve progress and prosperity, that our legacy may span the generations for eons to come.

Yet, it appears that very legacy may soon crumble to dust.

Yesterday, a circle of arcane markings appeared within the enclave. At first we merely studied it, attempting to ascertain the secrets that it might hold. Such fools, we were.

Today, the markings activated for the first time. I myself was there to witness the event. Yes, fool that I am, I was one of those very same Del that chose to study the circle rather than attempt to remove it.

When the markings activated, the circle lit with a brilliant blue light. Even now, the sight would remain beautiful in my mind were it not tainted by the horrors of what came after.

For in the next moment, they appeared. Summoned somehow through the workings of the ritual circle, a group of five creatures arrived.

Words are an insufficient description. Though their appearances were varied, each of them seemed to emanate a palpable degree of power. It seemed to fill the air itself, and one might nearly taste it on the tongue.

Though startled, we responded to their sudden appearance with curiosity. That curiosity would be our undoing.

We stepped forward, questions on our lips. And as we stepped forward, so did they. Only, there were no questions on their lips. Nor were there answers. Instead, they brought only death.

Just like that, those of us nearest to the creatures were cut down. Soon, a wave of death spilled forth as fountains of blood erupted from severed necks. It was only by dint of being near the back of the crowd that I was able to turn on my heels like a coward and flee.

Even now, I can hear the sounds of battle. The Home Guard have been attempting to block their passage, but it is clear that this is a losing fight. The enemy is powerful, and entirely without mercy.

Coward I may be, but I am not without my own sense of duty. I have assembled a group of like-minded researchers, those who survived the initial massacre as I did. They have seen the enemy. They know what is necessary. Today marks the first day of the defense of our home, and perhaps the death of our kind. Today marks the first day of our research, of our search for a method to fight back.

⥫⥬⥫⥬⥫⥬

As the entry came to a close, Dharen pulled himself from his inquisitive readings. It was clear to him that this journal was important somehow. If he delved into its depths, he might have some sort of answer to their current predicament. At the very least, they may gain some knowledge of that which they faced.

Excited by his discovery, Dharen approaches the others. They were still rooting through the room with alacrity, searching frantically for something that might aid them.

“I’ve found something. It looks to be important.” Dharen held out the journal, presenting it for the others to see.

Serah took the proffered book, opening its pages. Her look of anticipation slowly turned into a muddled frown as she flipped through the journal.

“Well?” Dharen asked.

“Well, what?” Serah replied. “This may very well be important, but how are we to know and decipher the information that it holds if we cannot even read the words that are written?”

Dharen paused for a moment, startled. Surely, they know how to read. He took the journal from her hands, examining the pages once more. The words, once again, spilled forth from the pages.

Then, Dharen looked more closely, making a realization. The pages were filled with a script that he did not recognize. Yet, he could read it as if he had born been able to do so. His brows furrowed in confusion.