Prepare for trouble.

Niki raises her arms, though steps mostly near her allies to protect them. She doesn't seem to care at all she's wearing nothing but a swimsuit. As a stormwall warrior, she can harden her defenses beyond that of a normal person's, and that's not even accounting for both times she went through the Rite of the Sun. The red gemstones of her shield glisten in the vibrant sun, and while the power may not be useful unless her foe is a woman, that and her mace are still both masterfully crafted. She almost looks like a righteous templar for a moment garbed in such pure white garments, though the erotic tease of her body, as well as the glare of her crimson eyes, betray that thought.

Niki of Clan Vakila
Race: Sunheart
Class: 11th Level Warrior - Stormwall
Spells: Aegis, Titan's Bulwark
Equipment: Armour, Mace, and Magic Shield by Dulhin Smithing Co.
Abilities: Rite of the Sun x2
*Given her unique situation, her level is difficult to measure. Also, her shield still doesn't have a name. Weird! You're also still not sure if you know all she can do as a Stormwall yet.
*Stormwall is an elite class of warrior that focuses on defense over all else.

Bumping up against her is the nervous Eva. She grips her pink-tipped wand as she also pulls her arms in tight against her chest. The violet-scaled slingshot bikini leaves little to the imagination, and now that she's being **** into combat, her face is flooding with colour at the thought of attempting to do so in such an outfit. She perks out her bunny butt, pushing into Niki's side as she glances left and right.

"Careful there," says Niki with a glance over. "Your tail tickles."

"S-Sorry."

"You gonna be okay there?"

"Yeah. I'll be fine." She takes in a deep, nostril-flaring inhale, puffing out her chest as she does her best to regain composure. "I appreciate the protection, though I'll make sure all your attention doesn't have to be on me. I can fight too. Whatever's coming, I'll be ready."

Eva Beela
Race: Bunnyfolk / Stel'ae
Class: 11th Level Mage - Universalist
Spells: Magic Bolt, Ghost Hand, Ward, Chain Lightning, Tidal Wave, Detect Magic, Share Senses, Words Escape.
Equipment: Wand, Crystal Star
Abilities: Magic Eating
*You don't know if you've seen all the spells she can cast, and you haven't seen her Crystal Star in awhile.
*Universalist is an elite class of mage that many often mock for being unspecialized in anything.

While not nearly as much as Eva, Amara does seem somewhat uncomfortable to be presented in such garb for a fight as well. It isn't something she'd normally wear, and it is a rather tiny swimsuit, though she recovers far more easily. With her staff grasped firmly in one hand, she extends her other out and places delicate fingers upon your shoulder. With quiet, warm words, she whispers, "Bless," to cast a spell upon you. The magic causes her body to shiver, and almost immediately you feel its effects.

Your senses sharpen. Your defenses improve. With a deep breath, you feel ready to take on the world, both because of her spell, as well as your connection to all those around you.

"Thanks," you say with a smile back.

She bows her head politely. "Of course. As long as I stand, nobody will fall."

Amara Tedrilui
Race: Elf
Class: 11th Level Cleric - Archpriest
Spells: Minor Heal, Major Heal, Gale, Celestial Blast, Moonlight Gown, Bless, Beacon of Warding
Equipment: Silver Staff, Magic Choker
Abilities: Mana Mutation
*Her spells can often be more potent than her level would suggest due to her mutation. She also may have spells you haven't yet seen.
*Archpriest is an elite class of cleric that doesn't often use weapons or wear armour, but focuses on support spells instead.

Luna flutters back, along with Meti, in an attempt to keep safe despite the danger being so unknown. Your seamstress isn't much of a combatant, though you're uncertain about the djinn beside her. They watch each other's backs, all while remaining close enough to the former-mentioned trio to protect them. There are many within the walls of Castle Phoenix who follow you, and many who fight, though Eva, Niki, and Amara are famous amongst them, even if few mention it with words. They're your primary party after all, and while there are some who come close to counting themselves among their numbers, such as Snow or Nyllia, though nobody will ever replace the originals.

Luna
Race: Bombyx Insectrin
Abilities: Sensitive Body, Flight, Master Seamstress

Meti
Race: Djinn
Abilities: Treasure Hoard

Vodrani raises up a clawed hand in defense of her man. She wields his sword in her other so that he may nock an arrow in his bow. You have faith in both of them individually, but together, you don't fear for their safety. They'll be fine, especially after all everyone has gone through. Tom, however, does seem pretty uncomfortable having to fight in swim trunks. Vodrani is naturally unaffected by her skimpy garb. If anything, she's more distracted by her partner's.

Thomas Whitham
Race: Human
Class: 9th Level Rogue
Equipment: Bow, Shortsword

Vodrani
Race: Succubus
Estimated Level: 9
Abilities: Supernatural Beauty, Enhanced Strength & Durability

Fang lunges forwards while simultaneously drawing the dagger from the tiny scabbard she had tucked against her hip by her bikini bottom's string, moving constantly unlike the others as she prowls close to the ground. "Whatever monster we gotta fight, I'm not gonna let it get in the way of our beach party." The way she bends her back really does remind you of a real cat, and you can't help but watch as her swimsuit wedges between the cheeks of ass while it protrudes outward. Her fluffy pink tail sways left and right as she patrols.

Fang
Race: Catfolk
Class: 9th Level Rogue
Equipment: Daggers

Using one hand to stabilize, Alice slowly pivots her arm cannon like an automated turret scanning for motion. Her glowing cyan gaze remains fixated on her task. No words come from her lips, though just for a moment as you look away, you feel her eyes upon you.

Alice
Race: ALICE
Estimated Level: 9
Abilities: Arcane Cannon, Modular Body
*Her talents are difficult to list due to the unique physiology of all ALICE automatons.

Peony lowers herself to the ground. Her palm pushes flat against the soil, and it almost looks as if she's listening for something though not by her ears. As a woman of the woods, she can likely extend her senses in a manner of speaking to the foliage around her. The grass around her stirs, though not by wind alone, and while it may be a coincidence, it feels as if the branches of nearby trees are creaking and stretching towards the glade.

Peony
Race: Dryad
Estimated Level: 7
Abilities: Tree Stride, Plant Control

As an insectrin, Ariusia has a toolset unique to her people. Each subspecies of insectrin is different, and were designed to do different things by Demon King Muian. Unlike Luna, she was one made to fight. Not only does she have the biology to aid in this task, but her enthusiasm is noteworthy. Immediately, she locks into the situation with an excited grin stretched across her face as her back appendages curl in to grind off each other with a sound similar to a whetstone against metal.

Ariusia
Race: Mantidae Insectrin
Estimated Level: 7
Abilities: Back Blades

Anastasia is conflicted, as been the case for some time now. She wants to protect everybody as well as vanquish to apparent evil, though the command was given to her by a Demon King, and even more pressing to her now, she's being made to do such a thing while wearing an adorable bikini. This is surely the ultimate humiliation for her. That being said, she does still remember what was done to her by Niki's shield back when she first met the party. Whenever she thinks of that moment, she shivers.

Anastasia Phairgem
Race: Human
Class: 8th Level Cleric
Spells: Bind Undead
Equipment: Shield, Mace, Censer
*She definitely knows more spells than you've seen.

Meanwhile, Gwynevere isn't just biding her time for you to do all the work. She throws her arm to the side, and when she does, the ring she wears flashes bright. Magic curls around into her hand, and it jets out to a sharp point away. In an instant, she's wielding a beautifully crafted rapier and is ready for combat. With a nod, she looks to the floating anglermaid Anyana up at her side and in response she nocks and arrow once again. Her gaze then shifts to Nelli the jellymaid, but she's already prepared to defend her mistress with her starfish flail.

"... So what should we expect?" you ask in the uneasy silence. While you do also feel strange fighting in trunks, it's far from the strangest thing you've done. You're thankfully more focused on speed than armour, though you do wish you had your drake-leather. You always have your ring, however, and not only does your sword pulse with magic, you can feel the warmth of that power wafting through your body from head to toe.

Gwyn stares up towards the sky. "Masks," she answers bluntly.

Right on cue, the clank of wood hits the ground, and then another, before it feels as if it's raining. Water isn't what falls into the glade, however, but carved masks. Each one lifts into the air after an initial bounce against the soil, as if something invisible plucks them up, and then a bright light flashes. It isn't momentarily. The energy remains, and molds itself into humanoid figures. Being of light take shape, each one with a mask of their own. You notice some similarities. There are only a few different designs, but repeated throughout the many appearing both in the clearing you're in as well as between the trees.

Each body is tall with chiseled muscles, though still seemingly made from some sort of bright, pale magic, like elementals, but they're nothing you've ever seen before. Those with thinner carved eyes manifest bows made from the same light. The masks with short tusks and terrifying eyes wield axes. Those that frown and have a single horn protruding from their forehead are armed with spears and shields.

"Who dares trespass on my land?" comes a voice so loud yet distant that if there were any animals remaining in the area, they're long gone now. The palms shake, causing one coconut to drop and land upon a wide leaf just below it. "Go, my Mask-Men. Eliminate all those who threaten my island!"