pawnstorm | DUNGEON ♛ LEBEDCHE LAKE

LEBEDCHE LAKE
20 JANUARY (DIANTHE) 2016

Commander Lisbrand greets you with a grim expression when the Heroes gather outside of the forest cave. The Heroes are tasked to set up anti-magic explosives provided by Lisbrand Technologies and Gammon at the entrance. On the commander’s signal, loud bangs fill the air, shattering the barrier. A freezing wind howls like a banshee, sending chills down your spine as if to warn you. Turn back now.

Lisbrand remains steadfast. Judging from what her scouts brought back, she informs the Heroes that this dungeon is unlike the others they’ve faced. Mana activity is off the charts, only one scout made it back alive from recon, and… her brother’s in there. Please bring him home safely.

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

ONE ♙ Mirror Mirror
According to Commander Lisbrand, anyone carrying large amounts of mana can now enter the dungeon. Not only that, but you are also able to see every other Hero who entered too. Convenient, but peculiar. In any case, with the help of mana crystals provided by Gammon, Lisbrand’s coming with you.

The path beyond the chamber where you found Alumina is decidedly different. As you proceed, the rock walls turn brittle and clear. You are now in one of the glass tunnels located underneath Lebedche Lake. Dusty footprints are on the glassy ground.... Someone has been here before, and very recently, too.

The glass creaks underneath your weight but it holds. For now.
Follow the footprints and you will reach a spacious intersection. There is a figure calmly waiting for you on the other side with their back turned. No matter how sneakily you approach, they whirl around and you come face to face with… yourself?

MONSTER ♟ Chilling Reminder
Weak against What you’re weak against	Strong against What you’re strong against	Immune to Water
This ice monster is best described as your own reflection. They know everything about you, from the way you talk to the way you walk. They know every skill and spell in your arsenal. Whatever your weaknesses and strengths are also their own. But they also represent THE WORST IN YOU. They constantly CONFUSE others and TAUNT you, reminding you of your ugly, shameful soul. Beware: they can also transform into your other allies in the middle of a fight. Watch out as they try to SMASH the glass tunnels around you for a decisive end to this battle. Strangely enough, the surrounding water will not seep into the tunnels. Instead, it will suck you in and DROWN YOU IN AN INSTANT, and your allies will have no way to get you back. DROPS: Ice Shards, Broken Mirror, Fake Weapon Fragments, Illusion Powder

Once the last monster has been defeated, the deafening silence returns to the tunnels. Take a moment to breathe, heal and check on your fellow Heroes. If you see someone shivering and shaking, help by warming them up or drying them off. You don’t want to remain drenched in the freezing temperatures.

TWO ♙ All the world’s a stage
At the end of the winding glass paths, you reach the underside of the crystal swan which recently appeared. There, you find a theater stage, and the curtains turn into solid blocks of ice once Heroes enter. It will take more than a powerful fire spell to get out of this one.

The black swans outside are still circling the construct above, but you are safe underneath the surface of the lake. If you look past the glass walls, you can watch the fish swim by sunken boats. It’s eerily calm, almost beautiful especially when snowflakes begin to drift down from the ceiling somehow.

A shattering noise sounds behind you and several crystal staircases appear. On top of them you will find…

MONSTER ♟ Pas de Deux
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to Attacks
A troupe of disfigured ballet dancers that come in pairs. Parts of their body are missing or bent in unnatural ways. Their feet bleed as if they’ve been DANCING FOREVER. Their morbid dance HYPNOTIZES their audience to face the same fate. Attack them normally and they will instantly TELEPORT to the other side of the room. The key to victory in this battle is dance itself. Together with your comrades, you must DANCE WITH FEELING. Only by dancing as you attack them will you be able to land a hit. But if you do not take this seriously, painful CUTS will mysteriously appear on your body. Don’t get served, Hero! DROPS: Tin Soldier, Tin Heart, Crystal Spangles, Book of the Eternal Dance

As the final curtain falls for the dancers, the crystal ceiling will shatter, opening the way to the crystal swan above. As you try and catch your breath, the frozen curtains melt to reveal Alumina and Lisbrand.

	Lisbrand Alumina, it’s not safe here. This dungeon is an anomaly; we don’t know what might happen to us. Come with me!
	Alumina Fleur? …No! I need to find Ledo and Nerea! You should go back! I’ll be fine. This is something I have to do. Unlike you, I’m... [ runs away ]
	Lisbrand Alumina! [ runs after her ]

Where are they going? Alumina is a civilian, so you must send them out. But as you try to follow the pair, you lose them in the light...

THREE ♙ The Swan Prince
In the chamber of the crystal swan, pale sunlight filters in, illuminating three figures. An angry Nerea and a crystal projection of an amused Princess Katya seem to be in the middle of a one-sided argument. Nerea’s voice rises, which makes the beautiful white swan huddled nearby flinch back. It weakly lifts its head towards the Heroes, pleading with far too intelligent eyes for an intervention.

	Nerea This isn’t what you promised!
	Katya Oh, but it is. You wanted Alumina to yourself. I gave you a love potion.
	Nerea That killed her.
	Katya So I gave you her mana, which you put into an automaton you stole.
	Nerea Made me steal.
	Katya Haha. [ smirks ] You wanted Ledo out of the picture. Again, I gave you a love potion. Made him a swan. You wanted to bring Alumina back to life, so I asked for thirty eyes, forty limbs, fifty hearts...
	Nerea But Ledo’s as well?
	Katya I do not see the problem. He was to marry your beloved Alumina, no? So get rid of him. Marry him, crush him, take his company and give it to me. That was the deal. See it to the end.
	Alumina [ enters with Lisbrand ] Nerea! Ledo!
	Lisbrand Ledo? [ glowers ] Princess Katya… Explain yourself, Nox!
	Nerea It’s not what it looks like! I’m— I’m trying to save Ledo! Alumina, Fleur, please… Please believe me!
	Katya [ cackles ] Oh, that’s rich! Nerea, hurry up and kill that swan! Before he takes your beloved Alumina!

As Nerea hesitates, a relieved Alumina rushes towards the swan. Nerea falters.

	Katya Heh. You bore me, Nerea. Here I thought you would get your happy ending. You disappoint me. Ah, but fifty is enough for the next part of the spell. Now, Ledo... Awaken.
	Ledo [ the swan twists its body uncontrollably, screaming in pain. for the first time, it is able to speak. ] A...lu...mi...na… Run...

BOSS ♟ Ledo de Lisbrand
Weak against ???	Strong against ???	Immune to ???
“The real Alumina died. Nerea killed her. She killed everybody. I tried to tell someone—-anyone. But no one heard me. It was so cold. No one listened. I tried to stop them… before their hearts were stolen too.” At Princess Katya’s command, Ledo de Lisbrand has transformed into a grotesque union of a human and swan--Alumina even comments that he looks like an angel. His stances are similar to his sister’s, whom Heroes have trained and fought with long enough to notice. His GUN’s cursed bullets contain RANDOM ELEMENTAL AND STATUS EFFECTS. His SWORD strikes also DRAIN you of your energy. Katya’s hold on his mind is strong… Thankfully, two of the most important people in Ledo’s life are also here to assist: the automaton Alumina with a giant gatling gun she lifts with surprising ease, and your reliable commander Fleur de Lisbrand. Together, weaken him to bring him to his senses! “I’m sorry, Alumina. I’m not an angel. Lisbrand Technologies is my life. Fleur loves this country. Blanc and my family’s legacy… They will not fall by Noir’s hand. I will destroy you all. Katya, Nerea… My Servants, attack them.” Ledo’s AUTOMATONS join the fray. A MECHANICAL BUTLER uses a large iron hammer to crush any living thing in sight. A MECHANICAL MAID stands at the back to throw cursed mana crystals at the Heroes, which will either debuff you or explode! Decommission the pair quickly. “I always knew you were an automaton. You looked like her, spoke like her, and you even had her mana… but you and the Alumina I knew felt different. Even so, I could feel your love. It was so different, yet so real… and I thought that was beautiful.” Ledo will swoop into the air, spreading large weathered wings in an attempt to escape attacks and Alumina and Lisbrand’s gunshots. Aim for those unnatural wings to bring him back to the ground! “You had me drink a love potion, Nerea, but the moment you cursed me, you said that I never had your heart. It was then that I remembered who did…” DROPS: Enchanted Swan Feathers, Mechanical Heart, Noble Cape, Butler’s Suit, Maid’s Dress, Iron Hammer, Cursed Mana Crystals

Finally, Ledo sinks to his knees. He’s shaking, gasping and looking as if he’d just survived a war. Blood, sweat and tears trickle down his face. He coughs and clutches his chest in agony. A dungeon core slips through his fingers and clatters to the ground.

At the same time, Ledo begins to topple to the side. Alumina cries out and catches him before he can hit the ground. Although weak from the battle, Ledo looks at Alumina with a tender smile.

	Alumina [ flustered ] Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not the Alumina you want...
	Ledo [ chuckles ] I never said you had to be.
	Nerea [ looks as if she wants to approach, but frowns and doesn’t. she tightens her fists. —which open when Lisbrand cuffs her. ]
	Lisbrand Nerea Nox, you are under arrest for treason, murder and grand larceny. Heroes, take her. [ a couple of compliant Heroes—perhaps you—take Nerea into custody, and she lets them. she stares into the distance as she slowly realizes that everything she’s done has been for nothing. ] I should have known it was you, Katya.
	Katya You should have. I suppose that’s why the swan is inheriting the company. As for Nerea… [ at the snap of her fingers, Nerea disappears from your grasp ] She has a lot of potential. Ahahaha! Heroes, you must be wondering why the dungeons are like this… Or, well, how I know about dungeons at all. Just so you know, you’re not the only ones the gods favor! Ah, you all look as tasty as you did before… I can’t wait to see all your faces in the months to come! [ as she starts to cackle, Lisbrand stabs the mana crystal, ending the feed ]

After Lisbrand puts her gun back in its holster, she and the Heroes prepare to set off with Alumina and Ledo. The army will come to fetch them in large boats at the dungeon entrance, she says. She also reminds the Heroes that Nerea Nox is now an enemy of Blanc. Alumina begs Lisbrand not to speak any further—even the Heroes know what fate lies before Nerea. Lisbrand suggests that perhaps it is best to rest her mind for now. That goes for the Heroes, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1

[William's read enough tales of adventurers in this world to know all the cliches. So when he comes face to face with the apparition of himself, he's not immediately unbalanced beyond a single moment of surprise. Tales of being made to face a version of yourself as a form of psychological attack is one of the oldest tropes. He's almost annoyed.]

You and I both know how this is going to go.

[His other self shrugs, looking disinterested.]

Are you sure of that? Or perhaps you're just going to run away.

[William grimaces at that comment and readies some wind magic, watching as his other half does the same.]

It's a shame that i have to kill a man of such quality, but there can only be one of us.

Enough talk then, let's get this over with.

III-Battle with Ledo

[The fight was going well enough until that damnble maid and butler joined the fray. And now it's all they can do to survive. They need to take the two out before they can even think of taking Ledo down, but the two make a formidable team.

Should one take out the butler first, with his mallet that could easily kill a person in one blow? But the maid's debuffs are very troublesome and she's making it so one can't even get at the butler. So after a moment, William decides to focus on her.]

Hey, you! [He points at the person next to him.] Let's take care of her quickly! Those crystals are posing too much of a threat!

[He barely dodges a crystal just in time, hearing the tell tale explosion in the background.]

III-Post battle, with any losers who want a mana exchange or got swanned and need help

[It's all over and for once entering a dungeon has seen a good turn for William. He's carrying a bag of loot, not entirely sure what he will do with it, but satisfied. Finally the success he deserves is on the horizon.

He's actually humming to himself until he sees you in your current state.]

...someone wasn't so lucky it seems.

Wildcard

[Throw whatever you want at me! I'll welcome it with open arms!]

Already on it!

[As someone who harasses people with status effects from the back, he knows how important it is to eliminate the enemies that serve that same role first. He fires an arrow at an oncoming crystal, wincing as it explodes several meters away - that was a little close for comfort, and he can't just keep playing defense forever, but now he's got a better idea of how strong the explosions really are.

While the maid winds up for another throw, Robin aims the next arrow at her hand. It buries itself in her wrist, the impact knocking the crystals out of her hand. It'd be enough to incapacitate something living, but she's an automaton, so she simply reaches for another handful of crystals...but maybe that's the opening they need.]

[Even when those crystals aren't hitting them, the debris from that blow back is unpleasant and just short of blinding.

The arrow barely slowed her down, but William is already readying a fire and wind spell and casts it, trapping her in a cyclone of flame. Of course being a machine, she's not effected like a normal person is, though for a moment, she slows.]

We almost have her, if we can just keep her from throwing any more crystals!

[She was determined though and he feared what would happen if her butler companion realized her state and stopped engaging with the heroes he was currently facing off with.]

[ Irisviel looks exhausted. She's been tending to everyone who has required healing or mana, removing debuffs and generally getting people back on their feet. But after a long string of people, she finally has a moment of reprieve. ]

Ah...

[ She felt dizzy and found herself sliding off the seat she found herself on, to a rather ungraceful heap on the floor. Which is exactly the state William was finding her. ]

Please, don't concern yourself... too much...

[He recognized her from that one job and rushed to her side despite her reassurances, kneeling down.]

Are you well? Do you need help>

[He grimaced looking her over more closely. By now he's started to recognize the signs of someone who has used up too much mana and frowns.]

I think that is enough healing from you.

I...

[ It gives Irisviel pause, before she realises that she is on the floor. With what seemed to be a fair effort of her part, she stands up - putting her hands to the floor and propping herself up, before reaching for the chair and standing up. ]

Perhaps. There were many affected today. Would you require anything?

[Rising up with her, William watched carefully. Yep, that didn't look good.]

No, I am fine enough. I didn't burn through too much mana. [It had been a fair success for him this time around, against all odds.]

And if there was, I would hardly bother you. Like I said, I think you are more than spent.

I wouldn't call myself unlucky...

[ He says, clearly slouching while leaning against a wall and tiredly looking up at William (and his bag of loot). Although he's drained of mana, Yew tries to muster up a sheepish smile, although the fact that he's visibly trying to muster one of his normally-natural expressions is telling enough as to what kind of condition he's really in. This is fine. He's fine. ]

Er...though, I will admit that I've had better journeys in dungeons.

[He sets his bag of treasures asides and puts his hands on his hips as he looks at Yew.]

You ran yourself really low, didn't you?

[Somehow William had managed to not burn through all his mana, partially through efficient spell casting and through... totally not inappropriate brushing against people by accident.]

[ Yew lets out a sheepish chuckle. ]

I-I'm usually better at pacing myself, really.

[ ...Maybe. Well, not really. Usually, he'd have his friends tell him to slow down or to pull him back by the scruff of his neck whenever he got too riled up, and his own personal feelings may have played into this more than usual. Again, he knows how it feels to lose a brother. He didn't want Commander Lisbrand (or anyone else, really) to feel the same pain. ]

I...guess I got a little too enthusiastic.

[Frowning, William shrugged and shook his head.]

You sound so unsure of yourself.

[Not that he couldn't understand the desire to help. He knew the pain of losing family all to well. Besides the death of his parents, he also had all of Solomon's losses drifting through his head.]

Do you need me to help you?

Uh...

[ ...Well, it's not weird because it's with William. Although he's still hesitant about the whole physical contact = mana exchange thing, William's a friend, so he doesn't mind as much. He's not the most touchy-feely person, but he likes to think he's relatively normal when it comes to these sorts of things. Friendly hugs and the like are perfectly fine, and so is holding hands. ]

If you wouldn't mind, of course.

It's not a problem.

[He doesn't exactly like the touching part of this either. It's a little too casual and indecent sometimes. But at the same time, it doesn't matter if it's Yew.

So he kneels down and removes his glove, extending his hand out.]

Then shall we?

Yes.

[ Quietly, he takes off the glove on his own hand, and takes William's hand. ]

...Thank you. Do you want to take a seat? It's more comfortable than kneeling.

Yes, of course.

[He said as he seated himself, crossing his legs.]

That was a mess wasn't it?

DUNGEON ♛ LEBEDCHE LAKE

William Twining | Queen

battle with ledo

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some iii/wildcard combo

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iii;

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