WAR ♞ BATTLE OF GRAUPERA

[boardmaster]

BATTLE OF GRAUPERA
16 APRIL (LATHYRA) 2016

It is a dark and stormy night; the rain falls in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it is checked by a violent gust of wind —

Not exactly. The rain is still light, but the suns are well below the horizon when the Airy leaves Graupera, setting the stage for Blanc and Noir’s first battle in two hundred years. The weatherman says showers will turn into storms later in the evening, but he doesn’t warn for the milky fog that will soon blanket Capablancan seas. The light from your ships, the lighthouse and the fortress walls serve as our Heroes’ only guide...

The same sleeping bat with sugar powdered around the corners of its mouth hangs from one of the ship’s masts until Commander Lisbrand arrives.

Lisbrand As I’m sure you’re all aware, Noir intends to take us by sea: Capablanca is a key strategic location for launching an attack on the coast. Should Noir capture Graupera, there’s no telling how far they’ll advance with their next move. You will be fighting not just to defend Capablanca, but Caissa as well. I trust you will all perform as well during the battle as you did during preparations. Blanc’s fleet will be standing by to absorb the task force into its ranks; I expect you’ve all completed what naval training was available to you at this point. [ a swift but beady eye is cast over the recruits ] You will need every last bit of it. [ picks up a pen and chucks it with deadly precision at the bat on the ceiling. ]

Verdoni [ immediately casts a wing forward to deflect the dangerous pen on time. then, he drops to the floor and transforms, wiping his mouth with his handkerchief. it’s warm. ] I suppose I need not remind you all of the weather conditions. Noir will enter Blanc territory with the storm, so brace yourselves. I will not lie — Noir has a significant advantage over us in this weather. Expect them to turn the elements in their favor and use lightning, water, and wind magic against you, your crew, and your ship. As most of you here will recall, Noir does not fight fair. They will use every tactic in and out of the book in order to destroy anything that stands in their way. It might do you well to remain alert at all times and to prepare for any scenario. So long as each Hero’s crew focuses on protecting their respective ship, you should be able to hinder their advance. Should the worst come to pass, retreat to the nearest allied ship or make your way to the shoreline to reinforce the last line of defense.

Basic info on the war can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙ Preparation
Only fools rush into battle! In preparing for war, the first step should always be protecting yourself. As such, Heroes will need to mount barrier generators that convert distilled water into large spherical barriers of pure mana on all ships. They will also need to calibrate the ones installed at Fort Graupera. Be sure to stock water by the barrel. When the enemy’s artillery fire hits these mana barriers, the blows as well as any shrapnel will be dispersed and dissipate in the air. Use them wisely; while the barrier is active, the ship will be unable to move and nothing can enter or leave the barrier. The ships also need to be stocked with ammunition, healing supplies such as potions, spare parts and other materials for repairs on the water. No one wants a leaky ship, right?

Once that’s done, get to know your teammates! Meet up with them at your assigned ship and use this time to get acquainted with each other's strengths and weaknesses, discuss plans, and figure out the roles assigned to you. The knowledge might come in handy in the coming hours…

All Heroes assigned to a crew are required to fight on the deck. The soldiers won’t be pleased to discover someone hiding in the ship’s hold. You can be a cabin boy or girl and run supplies, but they'll expect them by the truckload! Nobody gets to slack off in war! If you are not assigned to a crew, discuss your battle plans with your allies to tighten the shoreline defense. Those participating in the naval battle will need your assistance to secure Graupera!


TWO ♙ Sailing Into the Storm

Heh, blind as a bat and wet as a rat — that’s them. Wait, what do you mean the Airy's gone already? I bet Lei ran off because he needed to wax his chest. Fine! I got time to spare, so I’m going to kill the rest of you. I can’t wait to see the looks on your faces when I plunge right in...

A ♙ As predicted by Secretary Verdoni, by the time Noir’s fleet is in range, the weather has changed. Heavy fog reduces visiblity to near-zero, and rushing without stumbling is a feat for the brave thanks the mixture of rain and seawater washing over every deck. Thunder rolls in the distance, a messenger of the double-pronged storm advancing on Blanc. Roaring gusts of wind rip and tear at clothes, Carriers, and you! Watch out! Lightweights and those not exercising caution are likely to be blown right overboard.

Especially once Noir starts firing. Wind and lightning whip through the fog and both Coxswains and Heroes on Graupera proper will need to aim and time their barriers just right. Call it too soon and you waste precious resources; miscalculate and the ship and/or the fortress may take damage! If the barrier generator runs out of power, Quartermasters will need to replenish its water supply! But if the machine takes direct damage, it has a chance of exploding in a shower of fire and dangerous ricocheting parts, drastically decreasing your ship’s defense and maybe even knocking holes in the hull! Protect your ship to protect the fortress; the Blanc army can only put out so many fires. Should your ship take a hit, it’s also the Quartermaster's duty to respond accordingly lest the craft turn into a flaming monstrosity. Gunner’s Mates, return enemy fire with cannons and other long-range weapons available in your ship’s arsenal! The mana cannons in particular deal heavy damage, but they drain equally large amounts of mana. There’s no time to wait for your mana to replenish in the middle of a storm, so grab the nearest Hero for some up close and personal refueling!

If you don’t, Noir mages will take this opportunity to gather mana and send spells of tidal waves. And if your barrier’s down by then? Say goodbye to your ship and pray that you remember those swimming lessons. Your allies on land should be able to assist you once you reach the shore. Go ahead and join the shoreline defense; your shipwreck has probably left them with a few more holes in their defense and a few more fires to put out, anyway.

B ♟ The two forces clash! The noise is deafening as shouts from both sides mix with howling of the wind and the crashing of waves. Now that the armies are going head to head, Noir soldiers make use of their landing bridges to board Blanc’s ships! Noir mages simply use water magic to surf or wind magic to jump and do the same. But boarding is when Noir soldiers are vulnerable; make use of your resources and home turf advantage to take them down! They’re not the only ones who can take advantage of nature’s blessings.

Enemy soldiers who successfully board will begin to destroy anything they see. Should the ship be successfully hijacked, Blanc’s soldiers and the Heroes may have no choice but to jump into dangerous waters. Chance of survival is slim: waters are rough and ships are constantly rocking. It’s more than likely you'll be crushed between them or beneath them, Noir soldiers and mages will be taking potshots at you, and the strong currents are sure drag everyone into the depths. Once you’re in the water, you’re as good as dead. You are going to need some help.

ENEMY ♟ Noir Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against Lightning	Immune to None
When these soldiers cry “PERUN!”, run. When they cry “PERUNIKA!”, run faster. These battle cries mean you're about to be zapped by A FEW THOUSAND VOLTS OF LIGHTNING BOLT! The clues and advice left by our surfer friend Antonio, the mayor’s cute butler Charles, and the notorious assassin Black Lightning might help you out here — draw LIGHTNING WARD SYMBOLS to protect you and your allies from lightning damage. WARDS DRAWN BY KINGS are most effective. During battle, you will hear these mages utter other spells you might want to keep in mind: “VELES” is a support spell that summons streams of water. Whoever drinks it will receive a vodka-flavored MAGICAL BOOST! Soldiers like to make a game out of it at parties. “VELESIA” is an offensive water spell that INEBRIATES ITS TARGETS UPON CONTACT. The water it summons possesses a faint alcoholic aroma. It also tastes like vodka. “STRIBOG” is a wind spell that summons a powerful wyvern-shaped whirlwind that can hurl people overboard, destroy ship structures, and even send ships off course!

Noir’s bridges were a good idea, but ideas are meant to be stolen. Use them to move to an ally’s ship if your fellow Heroes and soldiers are in need of support, especially if Heroes have been knocked out or hurled off. The injured can be transported to safety on the backup ship, but beware of Noir soldiers chasing you down! They're as persistent as a rash.


THREE ♙ Crashing Against the Shores
To those who remained on the island or returned from sea, the battle is nothing but alarming lights and frightening shouts in the distance. But that doesn’t mean you can relax. Enemy projectiles that fly past the ships will shake parts of the fortress, and any Noir magic that gets past the naval defense will set any kind of material on fire or blow out chunks of wall, armaments, and you. Use water to make short work of any fires, and remember to reinforce damaged areas, or the fortress will suffer.

Distressed cries fill the air; those watching the naval battle closely will notice crewmembers who have fallen into the ocean. Neither Hero nor Blanc soldier is safe. While they have managed to get away from the main battle, they are now weak, disoriented, and require assistance. Row out in rescue boats to collect and heal the soldiers and your fellow Heroes before they turn into casualties. You may need their help later!

Allies aren’t the only ones reaching the shoreline. Some Noir ships will break through Blanc’s naval formation. If the fortress’ weapons don't take them down, then it’s up to you to take care of the rest. Noir soldiers will disembark and fight Heroes on the shore. Defeat them, destroy their weapons and seize their ships before they lay siege to the fortress! Blanc will thank you for these finely captured contributions to the war effort.

Noir General...? Huh! I just let you rats win! If I didn’t, there’d be no way to find Lei and punch him in the chest later! Give him my kind regards! AND TELL HIM I HIT ON HIS HOT GIRLFRIEND. I think they’re still dating. My intel said they were — [ his voice fades out as the Noir fleet retreats ]

FOUR ♙ Triumph Over the Seas
The thunder of the storm and the blasts of cannons filled the air with deep, resounding booms throughout the battle, but what cuts through the noise is the eruption of roaring cheers from the army that seems to shake the world of Enprise — Blanc has won its first official victory over Noir. The world will know of their triumph. Capablanca celebrates once news reaches the shore; as our Heroes look toward the resort city, they see an entirely different sort of sea — the lights of the city pushing back the night. First in little specks, then in a brilliant flood of color that paints an aurora in the sky: warm, real and bright.

It’s time to go home, Heroes! Or at the very least, back to Capablanca. Dock your ships and then put those sea legs back on dry land. You will be greeted with much enthusiasm from the citizens of the city. Hugs, cheek kisses, more hugs, hand kisses; some even brought pen and paper and are earnestly asking for your autograph. A few forego the paper and make you sign something else entirely. Children swarm in, tugging on uniforms for attention.

The recognition doesn’t end there. As a reward, hotel and resort owners start inviting heroes to stay at their establishments for a few days. For free. Continental breakfast included. Don’t abuse their hospitality or your reputation might suffer. And the freebies don't stop there. Locals also seem to have taken their hero worship to the next level. Small gifts will be given to their favorites. They contain things like pasta, pastries, good luck charms, potions, and even jewelry for Heroes they really like. Someone might even get a “special coupon” for La Coniglietta, a cabaret renowned for its racy shows and voluptuous wererabbit performers and staff.

If you prefer to spend your nights in well-deserved peace and quiet, then you’re always welcome to your new room at the completed Fort Graupera. Time to rest on your laurels, Heroes.

Comments

team glop (Gilgamesh, Asuna, Setsuna, Slaine)

[quaria]

[ I take no responsibility for this team name, I swear to god. ]

preparations

[quaria]

[ Barrier generator, huh? Setsuna, wearing a white raincoat over his Hero uniform, is quietly standing beside the heavy generator that is to be mounted on his assigned ship — the S.S. Albatross. As a Knight, he's expected to be the one to move the most burdening weights so he's about to get started with lifting the machine. He's been designated as the ship's Coxswain, so he'll be expected to control said machine as well as steer the ship. He doesn't mind both roles at all, as they rather hit close to home.

As he begins to lift the barrier generator, Setsuna takes a moment to glance at the tall ship. He wonders where his other crew members are. He can see a number of the regular army boarding it, but he hasn't spotted a Hero yet. Maybe they're already on-board? Either way, he's sure that he'll see them soon enough. So he hauls the machine with him and begins to walk up the docked staircase. He tries to be careful not to bump onto anybody who are also loading supplies and preparing to the ship's upcoming leave.

The first Hero Setsuna sees up there is a very familiar person. Once at the ship, he locates an enthusiastic royal whose energy sticks out amidst the gloomy weather and the sullen looks across the many Blanc soldiers. What is he shouting about over there? The Meister walks on to approach, using a free foot to gently nudge the King's leg from behind. And also to catch his attention... He might be smiling a little (no he's not, don't hope too much), maybe glad to be assigned with him once more. ]

King... Please move.

[ Said King happens to be standing on the place where the barrier generator is meant to be placed on. That high platform isn't for you, King! It's for everyone's lifeline. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh hadn't been shouting so much as motivating. With the battle looming just around the corner, Gilgamesh had appointed himself team cheerleader and thus was making rounds on the ship to reassure everyone of their upcoming performance: splendid, splendid, splendid! Nope, even in this awful weather, they'd be just fine. He won't even entertain the notion of defeat, and honestly, shipwrecking?

Not going to happen. Not on his watch. He's not paying much mind when he's nudged at, but Setsuna's voice will always draw his attention. He lights up with an even bigger smile when he turns around and spies their coxswain for the mission. Appropriately (because he's Gilgamesh) and inappropriately (because it's Setsuna), Gilgamesh wrings his arm about Setsuna's neck and proceeds to give him the pep talk treatment, too.]

Ah, there he is! The great Hero that will steer us all to safety! A round of applause for Setsuna, everyone!

[Cue some muted clapping and some muttering about who's really in charge here. Mission sort of successful? Just push him, Setsuna, he'll move with guidance.]

[avantguard]

[ Are you two flirting in the middle of war I can't believe this

Asuna is looking over cannons since they will likely be the biggest source of firepower and figuring out how they work. When she decides to see what her assigned teammates this round are doing, she sees Setsuna hauling a huge METAL THING and Gil doing his impression of some of those Hero Worshippers back on land and in Caissa and Capablanca.

What is up with him... ?

He's being all buddy-buddy with Setsuna, too. She quirks an eyebrow and makes her appearance with a clearing of her throat. No nonsense here. The Blanc army disperses while murmuring, getting back to work, leaving just Asuna. ]

Would the one who calls himself King of Heroes please give Senpai room so he can put the generator down?

[babbylon]

Eh? "Senpai"?

[Blink, blink. Oh, it's Asuna. That girl who managed to put up a pretty decent fight against him back at Polgar. For all the drama of their clash, Gilgamesh appears to have forgotten all about it, as he regards her with unusual calmness. Maybe it's just his stellar mood that has him, maybe it's Setsuna's presence, or maybe it's...

Well, no, definitely. She's right, and even Gilgamesh can recognize that, so he helpfully steps aside.]

You are part of this crew as well? I see, I see...

[What's that supposed to mean? This man continued to be a handful and a half.]

[troyhard]

[ Having been one of the first to arrive for preparations, Slaine was a bit nervous to meet the Heroes that he'll be partnered up with. He'd noticed that there were new arrivals and was silently hoping he'd be paired with them. Sure, they may be greenhorns, but Slaine has been around the block! He can take care of the newbies! (Cough.) Look, he even took the time to practice his introduction:

"Hello, my name is Slaine Troyard. I'll be looking forward to work with you."

Really, there's only one reason why he'd be hoping for a match up like that and that's mainly because he's still too ashamed for his network conduct from a couple of weeks ago. As he hears the others get on board, he perks up and prepares to fire off that greeting he was practicing except-- ] Ah. [ Of the three, Slaine (unfortunately) recognizes two faces; It's the King-of-Something and the guy that ran him over several months ago. Slaine does not recognize the girl, but they all seem to be acquainted with each other.

THAT SPELLS DOOM FOR HIS REPUTATION.

Suddenly, he lost the nerve to introduce himself... Pulling up the hood in an attempt to hide himself more, he turns on his heel and goes back to counting the supplies. He can just... relay the info to the other crew members... They'll be fine this way. ]

sailing, me either

[avantguard]

A♙

[ As a Pawn, Asuna's usefulness is still mostly attributed to her determination and fearlessness. Where a normal girl would probably want to hide in the hull of their ship, she's manning one of those cannons and using all her strength to move its heavy weight to get at just the right position. It might be laughable to see a slender girl doing such a thing but this is war. Firing said cannon proves to be a spectacle too since she's getting knocked backwards on onto the deck. As if the storm and wind hasn't already done it a few times. IT HAS. ]

Rrgh!

[ But she's back up and AT IT AGAIN. ]

Hand that over! I think I see a Noir ship... ! [ She's pointing at a projectile that's just out of her reach. What is it?? ]

B♙
[ Gil must have x-ray vision in this fog because he's gotten more hits on enemy ships than she has. Not that it's a competition. It's not. This is war, but the fact that Gil (that guy she sparred with in Gladia's temple and told her he would treat her seriously if she could hold her own and she shot back that she would win) was one-upping her frustrated her. Fiercely.

With their little impromptu rivalry going on, not many Noir ships have gotten a chance to board the S.S. Albatross . Was it supposed to be named after a bird? Keep your attention on the battle, Asuna.

Especially since cannons can't stop the mages from trying to board their ship. They can try and shoot them out of the air, but one lands right between Gil and Asuna's cannons after riding a huge tidal wave. The wave hits the ship, making Asuna stumble in her step but she's already reaching for her sword.

These idiots aren't going to compete over who can knock more Noir overboard too, are they? Probably, since she's going after this guy who's thought he could become a part of their crew without protest. Here is her protest: KICKING HIM TOWARDS GIL. ]

[quaria]

[ It's a musket... Because it's an obvious firearm, Setsuna hesitates. It will never feel right; he can never get used to actually allowing this, for him to hand a deadly weapon for an innocent to wield. However, he knows the necessity of the gesture and the severity of the situation. Rather than allow Asuna to be defenselessly unarmed in the middle of war, he understands that it would be far more beneficial if she aided their efforts. But most of all, the battle would end faster. He simply needs to work harder in order to protect her and everyone. He has already made this resolve long ago.

So after the initial hesitation, Setsuna shakes it off. He picks up the musket, then offers it to Asuna while giving her a soft gaze. Use it wisely. But he believes in her, he knows that she will keep her promise to him as well. That no matter what happens, she will always remember to be herself and never forget why she's fighting. After handing the firearm, he turns his head out to the approaching Noir ship. A collision will happen soon, so he prepares himself. He knows that everyone else has already braced themselves too, so he doesn't need to say anything to make them. Either way, he spares a quick glance to Gilgamesh and Slaine as well.

It all happened in a second before their ship nearly tilts over with the turbulence of the collided ships and strong ocean waves. A number of Blanc soldiers slip against the slippery deck, but thankfully none of them fall off. ]

[avantguard]

[ Even if he hesitates, it still seems like a moment to Asuna since her mind is racing. Seeming to understand his unsaid words, she nods at him and takes the musket carefully. Respect your weapon. While looking over her new firearm, she bites her lip. Just as she cocks it up, her foot is slipping on the desk with the force of the collision. Asuna drops the musket nearly as soon as she gets it and it goes sliding along the wood and towards the soldiers.

Although not unarmed, she almost curses under her breath in her frustration. And her eyes dart around for her crew, from Setsuna to Gil to Slaine to the soldiers trying to stay on-board.

And then a bridge from the Noir ship connects the two boats with a powerful gust of wind. Asuna squints against it as the soldiers in their black apparel appear from the fog. One with lightning sparking in his hand. Asuna's hand twitches over her sword at her hip now. ]

Senpai.

[ It's a quiet call, wondering if he's thinking what she is. They've trained together so much that fighting together should be simple. Although they've never tried. ]

[quaria]

[ The musket may have left Asuna's hands, but Setsuna knows it will still be put to good use among their allies. He glances at the Blanc soldiers behind them, ready to support their shining Heroes. They're all armed and ready; that musket which slid away was picked up by a soldier, one friendly enough to offer a small grin when Setsuna looked over. They're ready, everyone is.

And upon hearing Asuna's signal, Setsuna immediately understands what she wanted to tell him. He'll be more than glad to fight by her side. In silence, he slides out his new Knight weapon: the artificial flower which appears to gently glow against the darkness. While the Noir mages are casting, he too begins to draw out mana; sharping it into a sword which shines modestly despite its beauty, as if the silent aurora sky is within his hands. He moves close to stand beside Asuna, complimenting her battle position: truly a master and pupil side-by-side. ]

Please support us... King, Slaine.

[ The two of them will hold off as much as they can, so the Noir soldiers would not be able to set foot for long. But to do that, they need as much additional support against the army right before them. ]

[troyhard]

[ War is not a new thing to him, but despite his experience, it still leaves heart beating anxiously. A Noir ship is approaching them and that only makes the adrenaline pump through his veins faster. However, watching the others steadfast determination makes him want to solidify his own courage. He draws out his own weapon and flips it open. The pages of Earthbound Freedom are blown harshly from the furious wind. ]

R-right, I have your back...!

[ Holding his weapon forward, he calls out "Falcon's Sight" to enhance the the Heroes' vision. If they're using the fog to their advantage, then the ability of Earthbound's Freedom will improve their perception and counter it. He only knows a handful of offensive spells, but he's practiced heavily on supportive and healing. He'll perform to the best of his ability despite still being a Pawn as well. ]

If there are any injuries that need tending to, please leave it to me.

hi I'm THE CRASH and I take full responsibility for everything

[babbylon]

[In Gilgamesh's defense, it wasn't his fault.

Well, alright, it may have been partially his fault. So maybe it was his job to keep the cannons manned and maybe he'd wandered off from that for a bit because maybe he'd gotten vodka blasted in the face one too many times and maybe this led to some unexpected drunkenness that maybe caused the subsequent destruction of all said cannons, effectively dooming them all to a watery grave. Big deal, who needed cannons? Gilgamesh would just punch everyone. With his arrows. From a distance. Because that was definitely how arrows worked.

Everyone's running around in a panic but Gilgamesh has currently plastered himself to Setsuna's side, rambling about his apparent prowess and how he totally deserved the man's praise and why hadn't he paid attention to him during the battle?! Asuna's hollering, Slaine's being Slaine, Noir's blowing holes in their ship and there's enemy combatants flailing about everywhere on deck, but Gilgamesh just can't get enough of his own voice.]

So as I was saying, that shot against the Sailfish had been particularly spectacular! And you mean to tell me you really and truly missed it?

[Something's on fire. Something's on fire by Gilgamesh's foot. It may or may not be an important part of the ship. Gilgamesh does not appear to notice.]

[quaria]

[ Nothing in this situation is redeemable anymore. Setsuna did what he could to respond with damage control, but everything is only continuing to go downhill when none of his crew members (except Asuna, bless her heart) is reacting properly. Slaine and the rest of the Blanc soldiers lost control of their lives, and now we have a King who simply cannot be tamed. As a recap, the barrier generator was destroyed because Gilgamesh wouldn't let him concentrate. With continuous beckoning for starved attention, the young Meister was ultimately thrown off his rhythm — the shield activated late, and the damage couldn't be undone when an enemy projectile directly hit their lifeline. Without the barrier, the ship is receiving more and more damage, leading to its main engine to malfunction.

Although Setsuna didn't allow his frustrations to reach him, his collected response to follow up with back-up plans still wasn't enough. Gilgamesh wasn't manning the cannons properly, Slaine started screaming, and Asuna also started screaming (in anger); the young Meister is the only one who hasn't snapped in the middle of this flaming ship. There's nothing that he can do now but begin evacuating everyone here. Turning his icy eyes to stare at the drunken King, he moves a hand to tightly take hold of him. He brings their faces closely, not as a gesture for affection but as a means to deliver his message more firmly. He stares. ]

You, King. Stay here, and do not move until I return.

[ At this point, even if Setsuna asked Gilgamesh to help him with evacuation, he would most likely only get in the way. He's too wasted to listen to anything. Once he sets that message in place, he lets go in favor of stomping on the fire by the King's feet before rushing to the others. Where did Asuna and Slaine go? He quickly scans of what remains of this sorry ship, being stared at by Blanc soldiers who eagerly awaits for his orders. He looks over to them, raising an arm to signal for them to start escaping. ]

Everyone, do what it takes to leave! I will attempt to drive as close to the shore as possible, so prepare yourselves for the meantime. There are still working bridges... If you can manage to cross or jump to a different ship, then please do so. I will do my best to give you that opening!

[ That said, he looks around one more time to look for Asuna and Slaine. He'll run back to steering the wheel after he secures their situation. ]

[avantguard]

[ Asuna is screaming because she's been avoiding VODKA SPELLS. And the ones that miss her splash on her person and they're cold as fuck, making her shriek in anger and surprise. She's already wet from the storm, why this too?! They haven't gotten to her like Gil, however. At least there's that. Because Gil literally does not seem to be giving a fuck that they're going to be sinking soon.

Now that Noir has ABANDONED S.S. ALBATROSS with her sinking, it's just the Blanc crew. Once she hears Setsuna's call, she stops giving instructions to a couple of soldiers herself, telling them in urgency that they have to get off this boat NOW or they're going to be swept up in the storm and the ocean. And that's bad.

It's important to get the army off this boat first, that's what Asuna thinks. So while Setsuna is steering them towards some form of safety. When a bridge appears, she ushers soldiers to go ahead of them.

Until there were four. Where are their working bridges? Water is coming up onto the deck now. More of it, anyway. ]

Slaine-san! You're nex─

[ There is loud creaking from their ship and Asuna goes silent, eyes wide. ]

What was that?

[troyhard]

[ If Slaine is screaming, then it's because he's probably on fire, too. He'll burn down with the ship!! No, that's terrible.

He had been doing whatever he could to put out the fires that keep starting and consuming the ship. It's a futile effort, and it became evident that the only course of action was to abandon ship. She cannot be saved anymore, especially when Asuna alerts everyone to the loud creaking. ]

T-that definitely doesn't sound good...

[ If water has begun to breach the inside, then that spells the end. At this rate, it sounds like the ship will be sinking faster than they'd expected. Asuna wants him to evacuate first, but he doesn't move yet because... ]

W-wait, in this situation, women and children should go first!

[ This is not the time to argue over who should evacuate first. The sea is a cruel mistress, but this time, it's harsh waves did the group a favor. Sort of. The ship is rocking badly. A strong wave knocks against the S.S. Albatross, and Slaine, being a total lightweight, is effectively sent overboard and into the waters. ]

[quaria]

To the left!! Move to the left side immediately, all of you——!!

[ That is what Setsuna screamed in advanced before the waves hit them. Of course, not everyone has quick reflexes. Those who managed to listen to him would've safely stayed on-board; the tilting of the ship goes to the right, so anyone who went to the opposite side would've received an advantage of balance. Anyone else who failed to move would undoubtedly fall off. It seems that thankfully most soldiers managed to react on time, as expected from trained military personnel.

Only a handful fell off the ship, but that is still an alarming number. Even one person is an alarming number, as not a single life is worthless. So knowing that Slaine fell with a few others makes Setsuna's teeth grit in further frustration. This is the worst, an absolute disaster. He wants to respond right away, but he has to do one last task before moving away from this ship. With all his strength, he turns the wheel to the opposing direction — moving it away from those who have fallen below. He won't let this ship run over any of them. Once he's certain it has moved further enough, he turns the wheel again so it would be aimed towards the island's shorelines.

It's then that he lets go of the ship's navigational wheel completely. He makes his way to Asuna's side, assessing the situation anew. The surviving soldiers on the ship is already managing to escape one by one, so they would be fine on their own. The ones that require help are the ones below with Slaine. He's looking around for anything useful, then realized a new problem on the next scene. ]

... Where is the King?

post crash

[quaria]

[ For separate top levels following the crash thread. ]

[quaria]

[ The outcries of the battlefield continue; across the dark skies, across the deluge of the ocean surface, and underneath the torrents of water itself — lightning, wind, water... Although trained and adjusted to face the most extreme scenarios, Setsuna can still nevertheless feel the difficulty rushing through him; this is especially true in a world where his body is no longer working the same as before. The war has been rolling out for a few hours now, yet tirelessly he fights on, for the sake of living and for the sake of those around him. And right now, he's grasping someone important... no, significant.

A burst of water screams once Setsuna breaks through the surface. He lets out a soundless gasp as he readjusts to the surrounding air. He pulls the King closer, holding him with all his determination against these merciless waves. He keeps swimming forward, no matter how many times nature pushes him back to the direction of the ocean. Without a boat, in the middle of the battle... He keeps pushing on and on, his eyes never displaying fear or hesitation. It's fine, this is nothing. It took at least five to ten minutes to swim back to the shore, nearly collapsing against the white sands as he begins to cough helplessly. He's inhaled too much liquid...

But he punches his own gut, telling himself to get a grip. And now in silence, he sits up, shoving himself upright to observe the trembling King. He has never once let go, wanting to reassure this person that he is and will never be alone, no matter what he may think. He has always been here, he said his word to keep his promise. He will follow through it, as long as he is alive. So he peers down at him with that unchanged face, eyes still as the rain continues to fall against the world. ]

[babbylon]

I don't want to die.

[I don't want to die.]

I don't want to die...

[Delusional, delirious, these are the only words that leave Gilgamesh for quite some time. He'd nearly resigned himself to the void, and now that he's been forcibly pulled from it, he's shaking and shuddering and regretting everything that's happened up until now. So much for the great King of Heroes, cheering his comrades on, assuring them of victory; now, it feels only like defeat. He hunches on his side and curls in on himself and ignores all else around him.

Until he catches sight of that face. Forever unchanging, forever distant, eyes that will always be so faraway, looking down upon him. Gilgamesh reaches blindly for his hand. He hacks up ocean water in his lungs. Through the rain and the fog, he remembers. He calls out:]

Setsuna.

[Without thinking, he calls him such—]

My knight.

[—and thus betrays everything he ever stood for, the King who had no need of vassals, until he lost the power that set him above them all.]

[quaria]

[ Is... this the first time? Setsuna's seemingly soulless visage continues to exist in silence. Yes, this is the first time that Gilgamesh openly admitted it to him, the words that only those frightened eyes were able to say during that winter. Now, he has met with them again... With an undesired honesty, forced out after the King nearly felt the kiss of death. Thinking over his epic once more, Setsuna has now come to understand why his King is sinking against these grayed sands. He doesn't say anything about it however, knowing that it is never easy to face a weakness. It is enough to feel and remember it.

It is all right now. It's going to be okay now. Setsuna lower his eyes, long lashes lacing underneath. He still has not let go, and he will not until Gilgamesh regains sense of himself. Right now, he understands that this person needs. He embraces him, to allow a shared mana flow — without denying the address as well, an indication that he has accepted that title. But rather than a mere title, he would instead see it as a sense of purpose, a sense of the buried emotions that he can never bring out. Yes, he is the King's Knight. He will continue to be, just as his warmth would never fade. He will keep living on, and as long as he does, he will protect those around him. He will not allow himself to fail again, if he could ever help it. No matter how many times, he will fight on and make this clear to anyone.

His body that only knows fighting... Right now, he wants to stand up and return to the battlefield. But his heart that yearns mutual understanding, he wants to stay right here. He knows what he must do first, and so he will remain until the King is ready to fight with him once more. Shifting the King in his arms, he angles him more comfortably so he wouldn't be facing the ground. Instead, he makes him face up. As he should be doing. And so, he continues to stare... Gently, as if the wind deceptively weakened in that instance, his hand ghosts against the King's cheek. ]

I am here, and so... are you.

[ We are still living on. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh will hate himself for this later, swear he never said such a thing. For how could a King who walked alone have someone sworn to his service, have any comrades at all? He wrestled with it to this day, how he's grown so fond of others in just a relatively short stay. How he's come to understand and be understood in turn. It's not right. It's not proper. He should be shutting himself off, not reaching out.

But it's hard when everything around you encourages it. When people push and prod and won't leave you be. When even holding hands feels so wonderful, due to magic in the world he can't control. He hates himself, but more likely than not, nothing will change. It will only get worse. He will only continue to forget the garden left behind and seek another, where he may enjoy the beautiful flowers together rather than look upon their withered petals with disgust.

Flowers...

The memory of flowers, in a vast field like a rainbow, brings him back to reality. He sits up when directed. He leans into the hand that touches him. He weaves fingers around. I am here, and so are you. Yes, that's right, isn't it? Regardless of what this man is or isn't to him, he speaks the truth. And he hears what isn't said, we are still living on, and that makes all the difference. So he declares:]

I am alive.

[And thus the will seeps back into his body, all at once. His King has returned.]

[rollin]

[ Meanwhile, on the S.S. YOLO...

Their allies are falling, and among the three members of his crew, Yata is the most aware. Their ship is nowhere close to its demise, but if he can't replenish his mana for the cannonsfast enough, he might as well call it the Titanic. When he's not manning the cannons, he's on the deck, fending off enemy Noir soldiers alongside his comrades as he engulfs his staff and his fists with instants of fire that dance violently in the rain. The red trails of light serve as a beacon—a guiding light for any ally that might need assistance or a spark of hope.

In Asuna's case, it's both. ]

Hey! Are ya gonna let yourselves lose to a buncha nerds!? They ain't shit without their mana! C'mon, let's show 'em what you're made of!

[ He shouts at his fellow soldiers, oblivious to the yelling speck in the distance... ]

[avantguard]

[ WHO THOUGHT OF THESE SHIP NAMES

Her heart is racing, she's yelling, she's wondering if maybe she was knocked out and now she's dreaming because people can't fly and yet here she is. The wind of the storm bites at her skin, at her cheeks, and when she reaches the peak of the arc Setsuna had thrown her in, she starts to panic even more. Where is she going to land? She trusts in Setsuna but what exactly had been his plan?

She would have been fine getting on the boat with Slaine...

A red light grows as she falls downwards. No, there's two. She's going to land on another boat. And there's something familiar about that light, although she can't put her finger on it.

She realizes a little too late and she's too shocked to give him a warning ahead of time. She yells when she's about ten feet from landing. Noir soldiers and leftover Blanc look up at the shouting figure, confused at this talking (screaming) projectile. ]

WATCH OUT!

[ Definitely too late. She slams into Yata as if he had been the target all along and they go tumbling across the deck, a jumble of limbs and water flying everywhere until they're just a pile and she's just laying on top of him, dazed. ]

[rollin]

[ It is always too late when Yata sees a woman, because he ends up screaming and tripping over himself one way or another. At first, he thinks it's an angel, but... In this case, Asuna gets the jump on him. Quite literally, too.

They end up on the other side of the deck, Asuna on top of his torso as he tries to regain his bearings. ]

Ugh... Asuna...? [ He sputters, almost dumbfounded. Girls don't usually fall from heaven. ] What were you doing in the sky!?

[avantguard]

[ Her face is buried in his stomach and other parts are sprawled everywhere. Her arm is draped across his chest and her knee bumps his shoulder as she slowly sits up and winces. It was better than hitting the deck but Yata... is not soft.

Wait, Yata?! She turns to look at where his voice is coming from and finds herself speechless. What are the chances that she would land on Yata's boat? No, don't do the calculations. She just knows it's pretty slim and yet here she is. ]

Setsunpai threw me...

[ She's so stupefied by this turn of events she lets that nickname slip in front of Yata. Are the gods playing a joke? Delphine, maybe. She comes back to her senses a little more. ]

Was he aiming for your boat?! [ She's still sprawled on him, looking up at him from her spot on his stomach. ]