pawnstorm | DUNGEON ♛ LEBEDCHE LAKE

Entry tags:

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

[One]

["Anti-magic bombs". They said that so casually, and on its face it seemed like a fantastic idea—who needed pesky wind or fire magic?

But Janaff picked up things quickly. The rules for things were different here—here, being able to change forms was just as much a form of magic as setting the ground alight or tearing apart the winds. Let alone what his talons did now.

The mere thought of his wings being clipped like that chilled him more than any fell wind.

These tunnels being so small and enclosed unnerved him further; the laguz was sluggish in his advance, as if waiting for the tunnels to widen. They didn't, of course, which he was expecting.

He wasn't expecting to meet himself, though. It was a cliché behavior for a bird, fighting with their reflection in a mirror. But this one moved and breathed and spoke just like Janaff did, circling lazily around the tunnel's roof.]

Come on, you're way too slow! No wonder you let your country fall under the knife.

[Janaff did not like that. No sir. He didn't even dignify his double with a response, transforming immediately in a burst of green light. His double responded in kind, and the two giant hawks met each other talons first.

The ground might not have been very far away, but Janaff couldn't aid anyone down there while he was busy.]

[Three]

[Janaff was tired, but it was nothing he couldn't deal with. He still had enough strength to maintain his hawk form and fight.

Bringing himself to attack someone with white-feathered wings he was having a bit more of a problem with. Even if he was shooting at him.

At least when the automatons joined the fray Janaff had something else to focus his attention on. The hawk dove at the hammer-wielding one, throwing his talons forwards. The automaton blocked the blow with the shaft of the weapon, but Janaff grabbed onto it anyway. He wasn't quite strong enough to tear it out of the machine's hands, though, let alone be in three places at once.]

I can't handle all of them myself!

Uneven fights are the worst, aren't they?

[ and he immediately springs into action, charging the maid with hands out in front of himself. the cursed mana crystals are flying at him and he does his best to smack them out of the way, his fists glowing as he swings and hits gem after gem which explode in different colors: green, purple, yellow, and red. ]

If I take care of this one, you have to get that one. [ he stops for a second to turn and nod a greeting to the bird, who also earns a small frown. ] Also, I still need to figure out how to change without---

[ and he's hit by one that glances off the top of his head, thankfully not hitting him square enough to do any serious damage or debuffing. ]

--- I'll ask later.

Figures a beorc would do this.

[Someone had sort of explained the concept of vampirism to him; he promptly decided it was just another Human Problem. And these machines...it was one thing to make talons for the unclawed, but to manufacture something to do all the fighting for you? How lazy.

The hawk powered his wings upwards and forwards, slipping to the side the head of the hammer was on to drag the automaton off balance. It was a bit sluggish to respond, but not entirely clueless. It corrected its posture, and grabbed at one of Janaff's feet. The hawk sprang free--but lost his grip on the hammer in the process.]

You still can't?

[Keaton might have been a slightly different laguz to what Janaff understood, but the differences were only small. To be severed from his birthright like that--ugh. Poor bastard.]

No. [ still a pretty sore subject, though not as sore as he's going to make that robot feel as he closes the distance a little more, doing his best to dodge and keep himself from getting any nasty sickness from the projectiles. ]

Apparently the thing I need in order to transform is gone. At least, this is what one of the important people told me.

[ he has his doubts, but in the end Keaton couldn't get the sense that Verdoni was lying to him. his intuition is really all he has and it hasn't proven him wrong... except for now, being stuck in this trap with this swan-monster who is the enemy 'commander'.

finally, he reaches his target. one fist smashes the maid in the chest as he pours as much of his mana as he can into one brutal strike and accomplishes it, punching a hole straight through.

sadly, it's a robot. no nerves. no emotion. and he gets a swift backhand that sends him backward. ]

If I could... I would've smashed everything dead by now!

[ scrambling to get up, he fires a ball of lightning at the robot. something he learned on his own, after watching others before him cast spells without any problems--- he may not have his stone, but he could certainly learn other things. ]

[Ah, there was a laguz answer! If Janaff didn't have a beak right now he'd grin.

He broke away from the machine entirely, circling up to gain a little more height. He was aware of the not-heron soaring up into the air to get away from the violence below, but was still reluctant to pursue.

Machine first. Then...then he'd figure something out.

The hawk dove back towards the hammer wielding automaton, talons raised--and the stones on his bracers flickering with caged lightning. Arcs of it leapt out from his claws as Janaff closed in, lancing into the machine and stunning its circuits for a moment. The hawk crashed into it while it was frozen, and did succeed in barrelling it over this time. The machine toppled like a ponderous turtle, and the laguz managed to snatch its hammer away.]

[ if only Keaton were a laguz, then he wouldn't have to worry about the item requirement. oh well, at least he can do other things, like... well, actually, he's definitely at a disadvantage.

though to the robot maid he's briefly stunned, it doesn't seem like that. as he pounds away at the metal woman, Keaton is a little sad that there's no blood as he puts a hole or two through its chest and its throat. another punch, and something cracks inside--- its power source, finally decimated, leaving the lights in its eyes to fade away into darkness.

it's taken a lot out of him, and he breathes heavily as he stands up only to barely evade another burst of fire from the swan? the heron? circling above and trying to escape the combat. ]

... I'm not sure what to make of that guy up there, but I don't think I'll be able to easily reach him. I need some time to recover!

[ mana. he needs more mana, or the flying unit will need to come down. dang, where is a friendly archer when you need them... ]

[~~Shinon just couldn't make it today, it's a shame~~

Janaff hurls the weapon away off to the side, winging over one last time to bring his electrified talons down on the machine. He'd lost quite a bit of momentum, and that last strike brought him to a standstill. The automaton was unmoving, at least, and likely wouldn't be getting up soon.

...ugh. There was no helping it. He'd have to fight that winged figure, or at least drive him out of the air. The hawk ducked his head and crouched, wings still half spread.]

Get on! I'll carry you up!

What? Really?

[ not that he doubts Janaff's ability to carry him, but it just... is that okay? even in their combat, he has to take a second to gently pat Janaff's back, frowning inwardly and outwardly. ]

Are you sure that's okay? [ a beat, to dodge another bullet (literally). ] Do you do this all the time?

[ he's not worried about his physical weight, but the implications. ]

[come on his speed stat isn't reduced that much when carrying another unit!!]

I've done this before! Not your fault you were born without wings.

[Or any number of Janaff's sadly flightless comrades in the Liberation Army. The hawk's feathers do fluff out a bit when Keaton keeps touching them without getting on, though.

don't make it weird Keaton]

[ OH NO FLUFFY FEATHERS ]

Okay then. [ he carefully climbs onto Janaff, wrapping his arms around his body. there are no shoulders to cling onto and he's definitely a bird so... no saddle either. do they make bird saddles, maybe he should ask someone later if this becomes a regular occurrence. ]

We're going to need to ground Ledo. Just get me as close as you can, and I'll try to keep you from getting hit.

[ with one hand, of course. he's going to keep his grip because there's no way he's becoming a pancake today.

maybe later. ]

[This would be so much easier if he kept his scarf in beast form. Janaff leapt into the air the moment he felt Keaton stop wriggling around, feathers brushing the floor.]

Got it!

[Almost immediately after taking off Janaff had to swerve to avoid another gout of fire from Ledo. He'd noticed the hawk now chasing him, and seemed to be focusing his attention on them-

-gunfire from below split Ledo's attention, and Janaff was able to get closer without getting shot. At least right this second.]

[ yeah, then Keaton wouldn't feel the need to squeeze Janaff a little tighter as they get off the ground. wolves are definitely land creatures--- as in, feet belong on the ground and not dangling precariously off the side of another shape shifting fellow. ]

Great. Uh... well, I hope this works!

[ he points his hand in the direction of Ledo. the spikes on his knuckles slowly extend out... then with a loud PFFT!, fire toward the bird. sharp, pointy studs that glisten with a green sparkle as they leave him.

whatever they do certainly gains Ledo's attention now, the swan pivoting and firing. ]

Yo! Watch out!

[ he lowers himself against Janaff, hoping that the feathers will hide him? a little? ]

It might take some time, but the poison is pretty strong! You got anything?

Edited (i miss tagging on my computer orz) 2017-01-28 22:35 (UTC)

[ Kanji had thought he was already done with this shit, from last time. But here he is faced with his Shadow (or, at least, the essential equivalent) again And Kanji has to admit that... actually, he's fairly grateful for having done this before.

He knows these taunts. He knows the weaknesses that his Shadow hurls at him. He's had to accept them before. And while it's still a dangerous fight, it isn't an unknown one. Still, as Shadow-Kanji leaps just out of his reach again, Kanji is starting to get a little frustrated. Resisting the urge to shout his frustration, Kanji looks up, and manages to catch sight of the battling hawks?—probably some sort of bird—above.

Well, if they are all havein gtrouble trying to fight themselves, maybe they should all swap, and try to fight someone else. ]

Oi! Featherduster! [ is the shouted warning he gives before flinging a short lightning "chain" from his crochet hook bludgeon, aimed for just past the pair of birds, hopefully to get their attention. ]

Come and get it!

[ There had to be a way to tell these Shadows/doubles apart. If the Shadows he knew had weird personalities and yellow eyes, these would be distinct somehow, too. Something off. If only he knew a bit more what to expect. ]

[That certainly did get his attention! Their attention. One didn't spend time in the air without being painfully aware of lightning. Both of the large hawks squawked, pulling away from each other briefly.]

Shove off, beorc! This doesn't concern you!

[...which one of them said that?

...how did they say that?]

[ Talking birds. Even better. Kanji groans. At least it's not as bad as Teddy. He suppresses a shudder. ]

Oh yeah? Then make me stop! [ Kanji charges up another small amount of mana, and lets the lightning fly, still not aiming directly at either of them. His own double takes the opportunity to try and attack, and Kanji is quick to meet their crochet-club with his, before shoving them off farther and sending them sliding back across the ice. ] I can take ya both! MY dumbass AND your dumb ass.

[ Now if they'll just start talking again. The shadow will probably be the one spouting insulting bullshit, at least if his own is anything to go by.

Heh. Talk shit, get hit. Definitely Kanji's style of business.

Though if the not-shadow bird decided to, uh, get his feathery butt in gear and starting to help out, Kanji would appreciate. ]

[Unfortunately(?), that seems to have riled both of them. Both hawks shriek mostly simultaneously, and with the same amount of indignation.]

What did you say about me?!

[And they dive, though one of the hawks is leading by half a wingbeat, which promptly notices and takes advantage of this situation.]

Tibarn's not here to carry you this time, huh?

[The trailing hawk's crest bristles, and he swipes his talons at his double. It swerves, but not without losing a puff of feathers from its back.]

[ Kanji might not know who the hell this Tibarn guy is, but that sounds like shit a Shadow would say. Target locked.

Now, the thing about swerving in the air, is that you gotta pay attention to what your swerving away from, and maybe not necessarily little peons on the ground. Who happen to be jumping up high to swing a large, heavy metal object at you. Very fast.

Kanji finds that thunk extremely satisfying. ]

Hey, Hero! You gonna help out or what?

[The club connects with the hawk-double with a thud, cracking across its shoulder and part of a wing, halting its progress mid-wingbeat.

Janaff's crest bristled further, but...well, of all the things he'd been called in the midst of battle, "Hero" was merely unfamiliar and a bit strange. His ego could do with fluffing later, but for now--his double was in range of his talons.

The laguz lashed out again, dragging those knife blades on his feet through the double's back, lacerating the shoulders and the muscles that powered the wings. That it looked, sounded, and acted just like a belligerent copy of itself was no less distressing, but his instincts and his pride made it difficult to stop.]

[ Score~!

The weak parts of birds have gotta be the wings, probably. Also lightning probably sucks, now that he thinks about it. The not-shadow seemed to be taking advantage of that first hit, so Kanji charges up a chain of lightning again, this time expending a larger charge of mana to get himself a nice, decent length of chain, before lashing it at the wounded Shadow, given that it's mostly distracted.

He keeps a side-eye on his own shadow, who is getting up again, though much more sluggish. Good. Shadow Kanji probably only needs a few more hits before he goes down for good. ~~Benefits of having done this shit before, and all~~

As soon as he whips that chain out, he flips the crochet-club in his hand again, to go back to swinging, not waiting to give the bird an opening. Hopefully together they can make a space for some breathing room, and Kanji can get about meeting his new fellow dungeoneer ~~friend?~~ properly. He cries out as he brings the club smashing back against the talons of the Shadow-bird ]

Get bent!

[Beorc weapons could, Janaff grudgingly admitted, be useful sometimes. But only because he was keeping his double low in the air and close to the ground, where the club could be more effective!!

The laguz beat his wings faster in an attempt to stay hovering in the still air, shredding his double's back in the process.

The double wasn't helpless, though. Kanji's club impacted one talon solidly--but the other one grabbed into the weapon, lightning crackling and arcing from the copied bracers on its legs to the weapon and the assailant making a mess of its back. It forced Janaff away with an angry screech, talons clasped tight into fists and his limbs locking up painfully as the electricity scorched through his nerves.]

[ The charge travels down Kanji's weapon with ease, and though he is quick to drop it, the shakes of being zapped are still set his nerves on on fire. Shit he'd forgotten how much that hurt.

He backs off trying to shake some of it off and regain control over the slight spasms of his muscles.

It is then that his own Shadow takes the advantage to strike. One swing manages to hit Kanji squarely in the face, but he's already been battling his Shadow, and even as his head reels Kanji is grasped with an idea.

He grips his own shadow, and shifts his weight to hurl the double of himself as hard as he can at the Shadow bird.

With a crash, Kanji's double collides with both bird double and club, the last charges of electricity down the metal crochet hook-club shrieking into the Shadow's ow nerves, sending him jolting. Just judging by the reflection of his own weariness, it won't take but a couple more hits to take down his own shadow. Who knows about the bird-guy's, though. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

DUNGEON ♛ LEBEDCHE LAKE

Janaff | OTA | Pawn

3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject