DUNGEON ♛ SALAMANCA TEMPLE

[boardmaster]

SALAMANCA TEMPLE
20 MARCH (NARCISSA) 2016

Once a grand place of worship for the ancestors of the Alfersa, the thousand-year-old ruins of Salamanca Temple returned to their full glory overnight. However, it also seems to be teeming with ancient reptiles long thought to be extinct. As the Heroes enter, it’s clear that the multilevel temple is a prime example of the artistic achievements of its time. The rooms are lush with plantlife that creeps in between the cracks of marble tiles and statues of Gladia with serpents at her heel, and the walls are covered in paintings and bas-reliefs depicting a famous epic about the Alfersa’s victory over all reptilian creatures.

The majesty of Salamanca Temple almost makes one fact easy to forget: it was most infamous as a site of magic… and human sacrifices.

Our Heroes know that there’s only one way to get out of here: find and defeat the boss!

	Lisbrand I’m sure you’re all aware, to some extent, that in addition to the war with Noir, Blanc must deal with threats within its own borders. These are what we call dungeons, and we only have a basic working understanding of them. Think of them as natural phenomena. Your task is reconnaissance and retrieval of the mana cores believed to be hidden in the deepest part of the structure, but you will likely encounter resistance. [a gesture to her side] Secretary Verdoni has more details about the nature of the structure. Secretary, if you would.
	Verdoni This is Salamanca Temple, a sacred and important site of cultural heritage to the Alfersa. Grand temples such as this were supposed to fill the devout with hope, but the Gladia of old was not always a benevolent goddess. Gladia’s Alfersan cult was infamous for its taboo sacrificial rituals. As a result, this temple is shrouded in frightening rumors and legends. Over the course of its bloody history, many atrocities were committed over the most trifling matters... The most famous is the tale of Moura Serpente. Perhaps you Heroes will have the chance to personally witness the truth behind these hallowed walls.
	Lisbrand Our scouts are incapable of exploring the structure the way this task force can. Therefore, you will be the front line in this mission. Your issued magical weapon will grant you immediate access to the temple once you approach the entrance. [and just to be safe, she gestures again. some of the Blanc soldiers who have tagged along for support functions march their way towards the appropriate door] Base camp will be established just outside the temple, in the event that you need to leave the area.
	Verdoni Which means that the Airy will be here for a while. Once you finish the dungeon, you are free to retire to your quarters. If you don't feel like riding the ship again, then walk. The journey to Caissa on foot will take a week at most. I suggest heading north to spend the evening at the city of Polgar. I suppose walking is a good thing for you Heroes; we will not always have the luxury of air travel.
	Lisbrand We will be breaking camp in the evening to rendezvous with Airy, so if you are not out of the dungeon by that time, you will be walking back to Caissa. [a pause] But I expect a number of you will do so anyway. This country is on full alert, and traveling by foot should be relatively safe inside our borders, but I hope I don’t need to tell you to be vigilant. I will expect all members of the task force back in Caissa by Lathrya 8th. Heroes, move out!

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 ♙

When you enter the temple, the flooring is surprisingly weak — wait, no. That’s a trap. And those are your screams.

You land in what seems to be the vast and sprawling corridors of the temple’s basement: dark, dank, and full of rats. But it’s more than just that — the smell of blood is thick in the air, and every so often, you might hear cries of agony. Magic circles, dried blood on ornate daggers, and tables with unspeakable tools for keeping mouths shut and human limbs in place… something tells you this is exactly what Verdoni warned you about.

MONSTER ♟ Lizardman
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to None
Men cursed to roam Enprise in a LIZARD-LIKE FORM by the goddess Gladia. Some conspiracy theorists say they aren’t cursed. In fact, their kind was the first to inhabit Enprise before the Alfersa arrived on a giant spaceship! But locals will squint and silently judge if you honestly believe this. These ANGRY, ARMORED lizardmen are equipped with BLADED WEAPONS and their surprisingly exceptional prowess in COMBAT. Their TOUGH SKIN and SHARP SENSES set them apart from your average human soldier. If you grab one by the tail, he’ll simply chop it off and grow one right back! But you might want to go ahead and take the risk — in alchemy, LIZARD TAILS are known for their regenerative properties. Their WEAPONS, SMELLY ARMOR, TAILS and LOINCLOTHS may be acquired as loot.

Once you make it back to the first level where the laity worship, you’ll be met with... more lizardmen. But not all hope is lost! Find the switch on one of the many life-size Gladia statues to open the hidden door behind the altar and proceed. The switch’s location may vary for each party.

TWO ♙

Only the clergy may enter the higher levels of the temple. Before they do, they must wash themselves in the pools of holy water that flank the entrance. These pools are so rich in mana, bathing in them will even replenish your own. As you splash around, you realize you’re not alone. Red and black lizard-like creatures emerge from the depths of the pools with eyes alight with fire and smoke blowing out of their nostrils. Looks like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

MONSTER ♟ Salamander
Weak against Water	Strong against Ice	Immune to Fire (except salamander fire)
In Enprise, salamanders are not amphibians, but FIRE-BREATHING reptiles the length of crocodiles. They have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to CRAWL UP WALLS and LEAP on unsuspecting victims. We hope your spars with the feathered inhabitants of Airy prepared you for this. When COOKED, a salamander’s MEAT can BURN ANYTHING that consumes it. However, it can only be cooked with SALAMANDER FIRE. It’d be wise to keep one alive to cook the rest. We suggest using the FLAME on the tip of its tail — less teeth and much safer. The SALAMANDER PARTS and MEAT may be acquired as loot.

At the other end of the room, there is a door with… teeth? That breathing sound isn’t your imagination; the door is very much alive and will chomp at anything that gets too close. Time to get creative. Behind the door is a staircase to the next level.

THREE ♙

Among the rooms on this level filled with treasures of wines, weapons, gemstones and gold is a large shrine with an imposing 20-foot tall statue of Gladia, a thick needle, pieces of cord and a scroll rolled out on a raised pedestal. Written in old Chernovian are instructions in poetry that varies for each party: Heroes must make a necklace out of the eyes of snakes and offer it to the statue. Those who did their research will be familiar with this practice: by doing this, you are giving her all your bad luck and having her bless your journey ahead.

You’ll need all the luck you can get because the moment you finish reading the scroll with your eyes, hundreds of snakes begin to slither out Gladia’s eyes, nose and mouth.

MONSTER ♟ Alfersan Snake
Weak against None	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“Hissss...!” Men who were transformed into snakes by the goddess Gladia. Alfersan snakes are HOSTILE and VENOMOUS, but their powerful venom is also known to create the most potent of antidotes. Some adventurers might hate snakes more than others, but you Heroes can do this much, right? The SNAKE PARTS and VENOM can be acquired as loot.

Once the necklace is complete and offered to the statue, the statue will turn, revealing another staircase to the next level.

FOUR ♙

Men weren’t the only ones punished by Gladia. One thousand years ago, the priestess Moura grew envious of a higher member of the clergy, whom everyone preferred over the selfish, narcissistic Moura. What did that woman have that she didn’t? Consumed by these negative thoughts, Moura transformed the woman into a snake and chopped her into pieces for Gladia, praying that the goddess would hear her plea.

In an instant, Gladia answered: “All your life you have lived a lesser being, so a lesser being you shall become!” With these words, the goddess cursed Moura with a head of full of venomous snakes. Ashamed of her appearance, she locked herself up in the temple to fully devote herself to Gladia. They say that Moura lives up to this day, waiting for Gladia to grant her salvation...

As our Heroes enter a large, circular room at the top floor, they will see a desolate young woman muttering the prayers beautifully inscribed in gold leaf on the walls. Olive skin, pointed ears and amber eyes — there’s no doubt that she is Alfersa. As she raises her head and meets their eyes, she greets them with an eerie, twisted smile.

And so do the snakes in her hair.

BOSS ♟ Moura Serpente
Weak against Fire	Strong against None	Immune to Poison
“You are not from this world. … Ehehe… Ahahaha! Oh! Oh, praise Gladia!” Believing the Heroes to be her divine retribution, Moura wastes no time. At the snap of her fingers, a GIANT SERPENT crashes into the room and slithers to its master’s side. The serpent is strong and quick, and when Moura hops on its back, she is nearly untouchable. Strike its soft UNDERSIDE to get some damage in! “To deliver judgement and receive judgement — that is why I exist. I live for no one but my goddess...” The SNAKES ON HER HEAD are a deadly force on their own: they can extend, retract, and even change color according to Moura’s mood. Moura can also use them to get around. When the snakes sink their teeth into your flesh, their bite can either POISON or PETRIFY. The venom will grant its victim DIZZINESS and NAUSEA. We hope you stocked up on antidotes. The remedy for petrification, however, is A KISS ON THE LIPS. One from your true love won’t have any special effect, but that’s rather sweet of them, don’t you think? PRAYING to Gladia — even if by just talking or asking her for anything — will grant you a temporary RESISTANCE TO POISON. “Why? Why do you listen to their prayers and not mine? … Heh… Gladia did always favor the pretty ones!” If you are PRETTY, Moura with direct her rage at you and chase you down. And if everyone is pretty? She’ll take down the prettiest first. To make matters worse, swarms of ALFERSAN SNAKES begin to crawl over the Heroes to distract you and restrict your movements. Don't fret; the TORCHES in the room will help ward both snakes and Moura away. “My goddess, is this enough...?” When you deal your final strike, Moura appears unharmed. But she falls a second later, sprawled on the marble floor and looking up at the ceiling. Slowly, her eyes close and her chest stills. Is she at peace? A glowing object rises and floats above her chest — your first DUNGEON CORE. MOURA’S ARMOR and TOMES ON STATUS MAGIC may be acquired as loot.

You may exit the temple by going back the way you came or jumping out the hole Moura’s serpent made. Falling to your death won’t be a problem — the giant serpents of the temple see you as their new masters. They will catch you and let you hop off their backs once they reach the ground.

FIVE ♙

Salamanca Temple is in a secluded area, so the Airy is parked at an open meadow. Walking back involves cutting your way south across the jungle and crossing the river. We hope you brought a map and a compass! Both are available for purchase on the Airy. The Airy will leave for Caissa on the evening of the 20th. It will arrive in Caissa on the 22nd.

For those who want to explore, the jungle gets thicker as you head north until you find winding stone paths that lead to the city of Polgar.

LOCATION ♟ Polgar

Although Polgar is a city relatively untouched by Blanc’s technological advances, it remains one of the country's largest urban centers due to its TOURISM. The city is home to the ALFERSA, a matriarchal society similar to that of the Amazons, in which men are often relegated to housework and manual labor. Most Alfersa believe that machines are no replacement for good hard work and prefer to live alongside NATURE, though small clockworks and machinery do exist in certain parts of the city. TROPICAL FLORA blankets Polgar and its architecture. There are many TEMPLES and SHRINES here dedicated to Gladia, Lathyra and Oubliette, all well-kept as the Alfersa are proud of their heritage. For the gods, their faith does not waver. Some of their festivals last entire months, with the celebration moving from shrine to shrine in resplendent procession. Polgar is also a popular tropical GETAWAY; its spas, resorts, restaurants, hot springs and brothels are all well-known and high-class, staffed by beautiful men and women and catering to all preferences.

Comments

"HAREM SQUAD" (Gilgamesh, Vietnam, Setsuna)

[babbylon]

[So he heard something about snakes...

Yet so far all he's seen has been rats. Hundreds and hundreds of them, by the looks of it. Thankfully, his party members had survived the initial fall with Setsuna's timely aid; he's covered in dust and what, unfortunately, may very well be rat poop, but Gilgamesh himself remains otherwise unscathed.

He starts to take a look around, at the ritualistic objects, the hideous implements and traces of blood, and even a King familiar enough with instruments of torture must cringe. It's utterly barbaric and the overall doom-ridden aesthetic that would suggest trouble awaiting around every darkened corner isn't helping.

Not that he's frightened, but he does glance over to his party to check how they're doing.]

What do you make of this?

[A subtle way of asking where should we go? There didn't seem to be a clear pathway in these spiraling passages. Maybe they should just start walking, work their way up.]

yells into the abyss

[hoasen]

[Vietnam would like to kill whoever designed these white uniforms. It would be nice if they had more practical gear that involved darker colours, better fabric, perhaps a bit water resistant. But sadly now is not the time to consider that, and she'll curse that person after they are done with this dungeon!

After thanking Setsuna for his assistance and making sure that he and Gilgamesh are fine, she starts to look around. The darkness really does make this entire chamber look much more bleak.]

Is this where they had their sacrificial rituals? It seems...underground. [She replies as she looks at one ornate dagger, not entirely sure whether she should touch it.

A voice cries in agony and she whips around.] We do not need to be here. But does anyone see a door?

[quaria]

[ After straightening himself from the fall, Setsuna immediately starts scoping their surroundings. A dirty uniform wouldn't kill him, but unexpected traps or an enemy lying in ambush will. That's why he doesn't mind it at all, only focusing his eyes against the darkness. The lighting is minimal as expected, but thankfully there are torches around.

Setsuna walks forward first, stepping on a torture tool without regarding much of it. He really didn't want to think about what could've happened in this place. They just need to focus and hurry out... Once he's in front of a torch, he takes it off from the wall to claim for their own. He holds it out, in case either Vietnam or Gilgamesh would prefer to carry it themselves. Otherwise, he'll keep it for now. ]

No, but we will undoubtedly find one soon. [ They have to. ] Let us go.

[ Lingering here for too long might spell out trouble. ]

[babbylon]

[His party members are, as to be expected of those that might accompany a King, solid and forthright thinkers. Vietnam asks after an exit, Setsuna snatches a torch, and now they're well on their way to being done with this place. They've only just arrived, but he's already quite ready to leave.

Gilgamesh takes the lead down one passage in particular that appears odd. Or rather, it sounds odd, as there's faint hissing heard from further down. It signals an obvious enemy, yes, but where there's an enemy there's activity. And where there's activity...]

Have your weapons at the ready. We surely face some manner of foe in short order.

[Gilgamesh unsheathes his sword and adjusts his stance accordingly. He looks prepared to fight whatever's coming.]

[hoasen]

[Once Gilgamesh starts moving towards the passage way, Vietnam follows, watching for Setsuna. He might be carrying that torch now, but she would be willing to take it if needed. They'll need to hold their weapons eventually.

It seems like Gilgamesh has discovered a possible hostility.

It's too dark for her to aim at anything. It might actually be the worst place to get into a gun fight.

Thank the heavens she bought a few extra provisions, but right now, in this passageway that could potentially be narrow, she can only use her oar. She pulls it out and readies herself into a stance for battle.

Squinting, she sees movement.]

It's coming. [There's a glint of a blade--] And it's armed.

[quaria]

[ The torch did a fine job of helping them navigate through the passages so far, but now it has lost its purpose. The light will only give away their position faster, so while the foes are still distant, Setsuna drops the torch; he stomps the fire right after, effectively putting it out to cloud them within the darkness once more.

Rather than wait for the enemies to arrive, Setsuna would rather claim the first strike. After the fire from the torch is out, the young Meister picks up the thick wooden stick to throw elsewhere — as if to redirect the enemies's attention to the other corridor where the stick creates an echo from its impact. Their hissing get louder at this point, running towards the source of noise to locate their prey. There seems to be at least four lizardmen.

With the lizardmen's backs exposed before them, Setsuna doesn't hesitate to launch himself forward first once more. In an on-going war, there is no timing. No one waits once the flags of battle are raised. A person can die in a single minute. His instincts to survive plow through his body, allowing him to move with a considerable reflex for battle. He slides his nonmagical weapon out of its sheath with one arm movement, then fluidly strikes his blade in a crescent-like flow once he stops in front of the unaware mob.

Perhaps the first attack may have been successful, but the aftermath doesn't entail the same. Setsuna shortly falls in surprise when he realizes that the lizardmen are armored! His first strike only managed to scratch the surface of the target's armor... His eyes turn serious when the angered target attempts a counterattack, quickly jumping back to evade a malicious cleave that intended to cut him in half. It's then that the rest of the mob start charging forward as well, all currently aiming for the young pilot due to the built aggression. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh takes Vietnam's warning into account. Setsuna launches into an admirable assault yet falls back fast, though Gilgamesh picks up the initiative almost immediately. He may be an ordinary person thanks to the repressive magic of this place, but his eyes still could see extraordinarily well in the dark. When the enraged lizardmen gather up to strike back, this is when Gilgamesh lunges.

He meets the first of many strikes with a tackle reminiscent of bulldozer, aggressive movements stopping the beastman clear in his tracks before he can reach Setsuna. One, two, three blows, all parries but all forcing it back, and then he looks to the remaining trio, holding Emru high and declaring at the top of his lungs:]

I am Gilgamesh! Heed my command; you shall bow before me, mongrels!

[Gilgamesh's sword gains a crisp red glow, which sends the enemies into a woozy daze. While they don't quite bow as intended, they have clearly been winded by the weapon's special ability. Now is the time to act and act in full force. Gilgamesh scans them over, quick as he can, then finds the right mark and addresses his party.]

Lower ribs, left side. Show no mercy.

[Gilgamesh doesn't. He stabs one of them in the open spot and sends it crinkling over in a pool of its own blood.]

[hoasen]

Setsuna--!

[Vietnam whips out her combat knife; her magical weapon is too blunt. Her aim was Setsuna, moving over to cover him until he could get back onto his feet. She curses, because while her body moves just as she wanted it too, quick and easy, she needs to remember that her body no longer regenerates, nor is she as strong: old habits of recklessly protecting others with her body no longer applies here.

And then she saw a magical weapon wielded in battle for the first time.

That was a sight to behold, creatures of the dark winded by Gilgamesh's charm attack. It seems like he can control it better now, despite his previous worries. If Gilgamesh can do it, figure out the weaknesses of this creature? So can she.]

Got it, Gilgamesh.

[Judging from Setsuna's battle, it's armoured and she has only a combat knife. The length of the knife itself may be too short for this kind of kill, where they're aiming for a body, not a neck. Still, it is fine. Her next plan of action isn't exactly what she'd call ideal.

Her long oar changes, the wood shifting into place until it forms into a strangely long gun similar to that of a sniper rifle. As soon as it completes transformation, she loads it up with piercing rounds. Playing it safe, Vietnam moves until the gun nozzle is just inches away from "Lower ribs, left side" and shoots. Who even uses a sniper rifle at point blank? Still, it is light, and came easier to her than expected.

The shot itself was brutal, nothing clean like a sword strike. But a win is still a win, and she spent no time thinking about it. Immediately after her attack, she holds her gun up to back up whoever strikes the final target.]

[quaria]

[ A rain of blood in the darkness... Setsuna's own pair of eyes are sharp enough to be able to witness such a sight. But he doesn't stare for long, especially as the glow from the King's magical weapon further stirs his spirit. Thankful for Gilgamesh's and Vietnam's quick assistance, Setsuna repays their efforts with his own. He doesn't spare time talking, instead he spends it by finishing the current fight. After he regains balance, not a second passes, he's already back at the frontline after a recovery sprint. He will not allow Vietnam to get hurt because of him. He doesn't slow down as he closes the distance between himself and the last lizardman, directly ramming his trained shoulder to smash the monster's chest area.

The attack leaves the already disoriented lizardman to be completely stunned in place, allowing Setsuna to effortlessly tear through its lower ribs through the left side. The sound of his blade might be no different from the sound of a torture tool's in this moment; an agonizing scream runs through this dispirited hall as the blade meets vulnerable flesh. Although, he doesn't intend to let that continue. He is not one for such violence. To end the creature's suffering, he follows up by breaking its ribs completely with a powerful pull — instantly ending its life and once again bringing silence to their location.

Cold wind sweeps through as Setsuna straightens himself, glancing around in the darkness one more time. If cold wind is blowing here... the exit out of this underground area must be near. ]

This way.

[ Setsuna walks on ahead to indicate the direction where he feels is correct, but he doesn't step too far. He'll let the others collect themselves first before they proceed. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh makes a mental note of both their combat styles; a sniper at one side, a hand-to-hand specialist at the other. Yet again, he finds himself impressed at his comrades' superior focus and their willingness to get a messy job done fast. Neither of them leave any waste behind, and it could be said that the encounter ended in relative elegance—a trait highly valued by the King, though he didn't have as much room for it now, weakened as he was.

Rummaging through the corpses for anything of value, Gilgamesh nods at Setsuna and offers thus:]

I shall scout on ahead. Wait for my signal.

[Their enemies already knew they were here, so there was no sense in moving on with anything less than utmost haste. Gilgamesh skips with a swiftness perhaps surprising for such an ordinarily lazy royal, using the light of the sword to guide him along. His trail will be easy enough for the others to follow, and once he comes upon the door in question, left slightly ajar, he whistles sharply.]

Over here! We are clear!

[For now, anyway. As for what lies just beyond, well...]

[hoasen]

[The battle went down swiftly, thankfully, and neither of them were hurt, so she sighs in relief. She's certain that Setsuna and Gilgamesh have skills to fight on the frontlines, which leaves her as a suitable rear gunner. At the same time, this is not the best terrain for it. So clearly the only solution would be to make sure she can join them. If her long oar is not effective against armour, then needs something sharp. As her team mates recollect themselves, and Gilgamesh starts forward to scout, Vietnam looks at the lizard she took down. And then proceeds to take his sword gear and belt onto herself.

She doesn't feel right letting Gilgamesh on first, since his skill in detecting a weak spot is very important, but he is the one with the light and no one else can touch his weapon less they want a manaburst--

Hang on, mana. They could simply make fire. She will think about this later, as Gilgamesh has already called them over. There's a chance that wherever they are heading, they will no longer need the light. That being a perfect scenario.

She makes no noise as she quickly catches up to Gilgamesh and Setsuna, and then move onto the next area. It seems to slope upwards, with stairs making up for steeper angles. The look of area was already vastly better than the basement.

She's guessing that as soon as they climb this slope, they will be back on the floor they fell from. Which means there will be at least a little more light.]

No matter how much air comes through now, it still smells the same. [Full of blood.] I'm moving forward. [And she raises her oar-turned-gun up to use the scope.

AS Gilgamesh mentioned that it was clear, Vietnam treks forward, creeping quietly as to not alert anything that could have been hiding. One can notice strange shadows when moving forward, and she realises later as she gets closer to the end that those were the looming life sized shadows of statues.

There are so many Gladia statues, she really couldn't help but feel disturbed. It just didn't help that they came out from the pits of torture and death, so it was like being surrounded by so many stone corpses.]

[quaria]

Wait.

[ They fell from a trap door once on this floor, who is to say it won't happen again? As a precautionary measure, Setsuna stops both of his companions with his silent voice from stepping forward any more than this. Before climbing up himself, he looks around the basement for a moment. He picks up a couple of lying debris, then brings them up with him. Using the pieces of debris, he slides each one across the floor, doing his best to do it noiselessly to not catch attention. The weaker floors open up due to the weight, causing half of those thrown debris to fall back underground.

Now they know which floors are trapped and which ones aren't. Setsuna then steps forward, leaving the basement completely then settles aside as he repositions his nonmagical sword. There are more lizardmen wandering around... It'll be trickier this time around however, with the lack of floors to walk on. But those floors can be used to their advantage as well. He asserts one more time before he bravely starts jumping forward, breezing through each step as he propels himself to skip above the open floors. He purposely reveals himself this time, catching enemy hostility once more — he's confident that he'll be fine, indicated by his unfazed expression. He gives Vietnam a small glance, a signal that he'll give her an opening to snipe whatever he will lure out.

The lizardmen hiss wildly, as if they're in disbelief that the trio survived the pitfall from earlier. Setsuna holds his current ground, especially after he notices that the heavy and armored lizardmen aren't as agile as him. They have no idea how to reach him. How idiotic. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh is also glad to get out of the dark. He did not fear it, but his place was in the light of day, not the shadows of night. He remains on his guard just in case, scoping out the statues along with Vietnam once Setsuna marks the trapped floors with a bit of ingenuity. Beautiful treasures in their own right, yet they seemed foreboding in a sense. Seemed to warn of even more danger just around the bend.

And danger indeed presents itself. Gilgamesh had been tailing Setsuna, clearing the tiles with equally fluid leaps and coming to stand beside him. Unfortunately, he had no ranged capabilities to exercise here, but maybe a means to distract would prove useful. Or rather, a means to incite.

Gilgamesh targets the group of baffled lizardmen with a simple fire spell, usable even by a Pawn. Provoked by the painful burn, they start staggering forward anyway, only to either fall all over themselves and plummet down below or run into each other in a panic. Either way, perfect fodder for Vietnam to sweep up, and he's all the gladder she came along. Even Gilgamesh must admit he cannot do everything on his own, though it is a bit embarrassing as an Archer to have no bow to speak of.

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh mentally scans ahead. He thinks he can hear something, something like the sound of teeth gnashing, but he can't be sure until he gets closer.]

[hoasen]

[Vietnam moves only part of the way; she follows the clear route until she was able to find cover in order to position herself, ready to shoot. She was situated right behind one of the statues, and made a note to herself to not damage them. After all, the last thing they needed was some kind of strange curse because of sacrilege. Did that even happen here?

Let's not try to tempt fate.

Either way, her teammates need her to end their enemies, and they're trusting her too with these distractions as they try to take them down. She's grateful for the clever tactics of sending them below, because that saves her ammunition for the rest of the dungeon. Easily, she takes all of those left standing on this floor all down, and once the last one falls, she stands up and makes her way to join Setsuna and Gilgamesh. She'll have to thank them for looking after her later.

But now that the battle is over, she could hear a strange sound: teeth gnashing. Breathing? Her eyes quickly dart around to see if she can see what is happening. There is a faint vibration in the ground. Whatever is heading towards them is coming closer.]

There is another coming. [She tries whispering this to not alert anything else, but the room was cavernous.

It would've been great if they knew where to make a break for it. The room itself had only the doorways heading into the basement. Beyond the altar there seems to be...a wall? So where exactly can they go beyond?]

[quaria]

[ This vibration... Setsuna doesn't like this at all. The mass of the upcoming enemy is fearful. They don't know what else is in this temple, after all. But he isn't afraid — he stands still as he's trying to study the vibrations, trying to scope just how massive their next target would be and where it is coming from. The breathing pattern feels the same as the other lizardmen, so it's most likely their leader or their most powerful fighter. Those teething noises are alarmingly more bloodthirsty than the lesser lizardmen.

Out of a protective instinct, Setsuna positions himself so Gilgamesh would be directly behind him. He glances at Vietnam as well, wanting to check if she's still all right in her current position. And it's shortly after did their next foe reveal itself from one of the underground doorways. Setsuna's eyes widen slightly as he witnesses it; an executioner, or rather, a butcher. It's a gigantic lizardman as he thought, but it's wielding a grotesque blade with multiple teeth — not unlike of a chainsaw. The weapon itself has hints of human flesh on it, and the creature is emanating a foul stench so reminiscent of a burnt corpse. It lets out an inhuman howl before throwing down what appears to be bloody remains. A disgusting meaty sound runs through the large room after the remains hit the floor. Is it trying to intimidate them? It most likely is.

But rather than respond with hesitation, Setsuna responds with hostility. All this time, he's been reserving his mana. But he doesn't need to do so in a battle like this. He returns his nonmagical sword back to its sheath before sliding off his magical weapon off its belt. It's been folded away all this time, but no longer; he quickly sets it on the ground before manually assembling it to utilize from this point on. ]

[babbylon]

[If only he had his proper senses again, he could've smelled the beast coming, so disgusting, dripping with blood and organs and other unmentionable things once it finally chooses to unveil itself. But he's not afraid. None of them are. They are soldiers who fight alongside the King; fear has no place in their hearts. Gilgamesh stands strong with them, and for the first time in many, many years, feels a sense of camaraderie.

We will do this. We will win.

Setsuna needs a moment to assemble his magical weapons, and though he's assumed a defensive stance in front of the King, Gilgamesh breaks away. A King must lead, his men must follow. Even if Gilgamesh had no vassals to speak of in his day, the tables have turned. He relies on others or else he dies, this much he's come to realize. And if there's anyone he trusts with his life here...

Fight for yourself. By your own will—

Gilgamesh remembers those words. He remembers the flower. He remembers faith, love, affection. He remembers a stranger who took him at his word and marveled at his crown and believed in him, though she had no reason to do so. Who fights for him and with him now, without qualms, without regrets.

He charges ahead with those memories in mind.]

Here, you brute!

[Gilgamesh meets the lizardman's powerful swing head on. He will force the opening that Setsuna and Vietnam need. He will bear the blows for them this time.]

[hoasen]

[This is panning out just like the movies. Destroy mooks, get challenged by a boss.

But so early? They haven't even gone beyond this first room. (Not counting the basement.) But estimating from how much time their leaders gave them, perhaps this dungeon isn't so big that they would be fighting a war all by themselves.]

Gil-- [She stops herself, the last thing she needs to do is to tear the creature's concentration away from Gilgamesh's efforts. But he's going to need help very soon as Setsuna prepares his weapon.

Think, Vietnam! He'll be fine. He was able to quickly discern weaknesses before.

But she has to stop it from hammering him with that strange blade. She could shoot it, but without knowing its weakness and whether or not it is the same one, it makes it hard to initiate a plan of attack. It's armoured, like the other ones, and it is definitely stronger. And it needs to stop moving around so much.

She runs forward, past Setsuna, encouraging him along the way before she settles next to a statue. There was something very odd about it, like it wasn't as linear as the rest of them, but she has no time to investigate. Muttering words she had memorised and practiced for the last half month, Vietnam launches a fireball at the Boss Lizard's head as soon as she could get a clear shot. Her plan is really to take out its vision, if it was at all possible. But she hopes that eyeballs are still a weak part of any kind of body.]

[quaria]

[ This is the real thing, after all. This is no longer a training dungeon. Setsuna knows that he can't afford to make mistakes here; it's all too reminiscent of situations from home, where he had to constantly run without stopping or risk himself closer to death. Fight to live, these are the words that he tells himself and to those around him. In this moment, he recalls them in order to motivate himself.

Both Gilgamesh and Vietnam are doing what they can... As Setsuna finishes up, he lifts his head to study the current situation. The King is boldly holding aggression this time, while Vietnam fires an attempt to blind their massive target. But did it work? He patiently waits first, wanting to see the results in order for him to respond accordingly. Another inhuman howl wails through the air, signifying the effectiveness of the spell. Although it didn't quite blind the creature as intended, it successfully burns the protective scales on its head, leaving it as a vulnerable area for future attacks.

As a result, the giant lizardman is sent on an immediate rage; it starts thrashing its dangerous weapon wildly, beginning to pummel away at Gilgamesh's magical blade. Setsuna doesn't wait any more after seeing this. He gets on his formed motorcycle, starting it up as light emissions begin to burn through the air. He waits when the giant swings its weapon down again, then he blasts forward as he recklessly ascends on the giantic creature's arm as though it was a ramp. He actives the mana blades on the mobile weapon's wheels right after, causing another crimson rain as he tears apart its armor and tough skin while continuing to climb. ]

[babbylon]

[Did someone call out for him? No, it must've been his imagination. This foe was undoubtedly much tougher than the last reckless packs of lizards, clearly a higher ranking soldier among them, but Gilgamesh views it no differently. Just trash waiting to be disposed of, refuse to be piled high and burnt to a crisp. Gilgamesh manages to weave between the blows with reasonable agility, and his face lights up when Setsuna arrives. At last!

Predictably, the bike absolutely tears through armor and scale alike. This was it, the weapon they needed all along, and Setsuna has employed the wisdom of show no mercy to its fullest. The creature screeches and writhes in agony, and its swings turn blind—both a blessing and a curse, as the arcs become more unpredictable. And eventually, it lands a hit, as it goes down in a pile of shredded flesh and guts.

Its weapon sinks into Gilgamesh's arm, perhaps in a final act of rebellion, and he gasps.]

Ah...!

[It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. It hurts more than it should, more than he can ever remember feeling in his lifetime. Such was the sacrifice of lingering too close, he supposes. At least it didn't cleave through to bone or too far past the surface, but blood gushes between his fingers as he holds his hand tight over the area.

The damned lizard continues to twitch. Is it still alive? Fury overtakes Gilgamesh, and he starts to stab into its exposed neck, again and again and again, shouting in rage and making a complete mess of what now is quite obviously a corpse. It doesn't seem to matter.]

How... dare... you... attack the King... so brazenly... you worthless... MONGREL...!

[Fortunately, the King will recover. It looks worse than it is. But for now, a bit of his madness shines through. It is harder to watch than the wound itself.]

[hoasen]

[Fire burns armour. She will keep that in mind, even though it didn't work as well as one would like. Perhaps one of the other elements would've been more effective. But the weakness was enough to secure a quicker death after Setsuna brutally slays it.

Vietnam knew that this was not going to end as well as they would've liked. They're both too reckless, and the monster itself wasn't going to die without bring one of them with him. She knows Setsuna would be fine. His weapon would give him a quick getaway. Gilgamesh on the other hand needs to get the hell back. But it was too late to warn him. And she knew exactly what he was worried about that made him so angry.]

Gilgamesh! Stop moving! It's dead now! You have avenged yourself!

[Even though really, Setsuna had already shredded it to bits. Her voice was firm, because the more he does this, the more he will damage himself midst his anger. Her charge towards him was probably reckless, but she deemed it essential. She stops just behind him, feet firm on the ground, so that should he try to attack her out of mad reflex she would only need to duck and parry.

Without warning, she grabs his wound to pin his movement (sorry Gilgamesh, bear with it) and mutters an incantation. Healing spells could only do so much when she has no mastery of it. But if she can stop the pain? Even just the bleeding? Vietnam will take that chance. She brought first aid, but she'll play by the rules for now.

Also, she's pretty sure that three basic heal spells does better than just one. As soon as she was done, she leaps back.]

Setsuna!

[quaria]

[ After decimating the gigantic lizardman, Setsuna parkours himself off the dying creature together with his speeding weapon. He drives a little way off to secure a safe distance between himself and the rampaging monster, though is quickly shocked after realizing that Gilgamesh hasn't moved away at all. He witnesses the bloody scene play it before his large eyes, guilt and regret filling his chest in silence. He should have secured the King's safely first... But he wanted to believe in that strength. He never thought this would happen...

Vietnam's sharp voice goes through the air, as if stepping in for the words that Setsuna couldn't say. Her strong and admirable gestures further remind him of a companion from home. It easily makes him soften, glad that she is here with them. And upon being called, he understood right away what she wanted him to do. So he drives closer before getting off his weapon temporarily. After removing his hands off the handlebars, he transfers the two of them over the King's injury instead. It was a good decision to study a bit of healing magic, as it has proven to be constantly useful in this world. Like Vietnam however, he has no mastery of it — but it's more than enough to further soothe their King together. He concentrates as he casts and holds that holy spell against the wound.

And when Setsuna finishes, he looks up at the King's face in his familiar silence. That's a side of him that he's never seen before. He doesn't know to feel about it, it's as if a completely different person in that maddening instance. "... What happened?", his eyes ask though his voice doesn't say. He stares at him in that unsaid concern. He worries if Gilgamesh would require a temporary rest before they move on. ]

King...

[babbylon]

[The moments that follow are hazy, at best.

Gilgamesh feels his consciousness waver, not because the wound ails him, but because he's at a loss. He's in shock that he could ever fall prey to such weakness. Always, always he was the predator, the strongest on the battlefield, absolute King, but one swipe was all it took. One swipe, and Gilgamesh suffered for his arrogance in assuming he could still do anything and everything just because he willed it so.

He heals, of course. He doesn't fight it, how he's spun and pinned in place. With both Setsuna and Vietnam focusing their energies on him, the injury closes as if it never were. He feels rejuvenated, but he also feels ashamed, as if he could ever know such a thing. He was the party's self-elected leader, after all. What did they think of him now? Some posturing buffoon who couldn't even stand up to the slightest bit of challenge, some madmen who couldn't control himself? He looks to Vietnam. He looks to Setsuna. He schools his expression flat, tries to hide it all behind a familiarly stoic veil.

He does not hang his head, because he refuses, but it's reflected in his tone nonetheless.]

So this, then, is mortality.

[Poetic words from the mouth of a humbled King. As the saying went, gods didn't bleed, and yet.]

...we press on.

[Gilgamesh composes himself. He puts the moment behind him, he once more leads the way. But it's a moment that neither of his comrades are likely to forget.]

[hoasen]

[Vietnam can certainly feel that pack a punch, the lack of mana. As she settles back while Setsuna heals Gilgamesh, she was already planning out how to ration her spells. If Gilgamesh doesn't help up like they hoped, then she was going to have to pull out the bandages. Honestly, this body, even with all that mana, feels pathetic. She was already impressed by humans, but now she can really admire them for their resilience even more.

But really, Gilgamesh need not worry about what she thought. She understands all too well what this spells for them, as she too was an immortal. But she has felt pain, and bled. She has taken blows that would kill a human, and endured it. Because countries cannot die. At least not until that country dissolves.

She looks over at Setsuna, giving him a quiet nod of the head and then flicking her gaze over to Gilgamesh, so that he can follow. They can rest once they're out of this room, for now, let Gilgamesh have this moment.]

It hurts us. Mortality. [Vietnam walks on after them, her tone gradually getting softer than it was before.] I apologise if I was rough-handed, after all you did to protect us. It was...impulsive.

[quaria]

[ It goes the same for Setsuna; this is why he tends not to use his magical weapon until only opportune moments, the toll of its mana consumption is heavy. While he isn't drained yet, he can feel the immense loss from that single fight and the additional healing. But he doesn't let it show. After all, they're still at the temple's first floor despite all that progress. It's not over.

Setsuna listens in continued muteness, trying to understand both his comrades's words. It's true... Mortality does hurt, but it isn't necessarily entail a bad thing. Because it reminds them to live, it reminds them how precious life really is, and how it can display a person's true strength... That struggle that indeed humbles a person, making them realize the things they never did before. He understands these all too well, as a person who struggled to live on. He observes their expression, Vietnam's, Gilgamesh's... Eventually, he watches the King and the country walk away.

Had these two met him a few years back, Setsuna would never been able to understand why they're feeling like this. Isn't it normal? But... now that he's no longer a human, he's able to step into a world that he never thought he would ever be in; the world beyond humanity — although despite everything, he never wanted to forget. He didn't want to be considered as anything else but human. He was so touched... when the King called him that, even though he knew that it doesn't apply to him anymore. But he wanted to keep on believing, in his heart that he hasn't forgotten. He will never forget what he's been through to reach the point where he is now.

What can he do for these two now, who are both struggling over the concept of humanity? From where he is, he eventually voices out as he watches their distant backs: ]

Your mortality... Even if it should hurt, you still have to face them.

[ But...

Setsuna hurries on his steps forward too, grabbing the handle of his bike as he runs to catch up to the two. He stands in-between them soon enough, glancing at both of them once more; staring with those bright eyes of his. ]

But you do not have to face them alone.

[ This is... something he's learned, too. Because he's always been supported by those around him, he learned. And he wants to extend these feelings to both of them. They'll make it out of here together. It doesn't matter if it's scary or if it'll hurt... They'll return to Caissa without fail. ]

[babbylon]

[I don't want to face it, he'd tell Setsuna; I don't want it to hurt, he'd tell Vietnam. But he's a King defined by an endless well of pride. He can't voice his weakness any more than he'd shown it. Bitterness holds tight around his heart. It makes him glare at nothing in particular as he marches on, as that earnest apology goes unheeded. It is not out of cruelty, but rather because that wound stretched deeper than just his skin. And that will take much more than a spell to heal.

They discover the hidden door behind the altar, and it doesn't take much longer to find the switch—a double-ended contraption that Gilgamesh and Setsuna toil together on until there's a meaningful click that signals their success. Gilgamesh remains quiet throughout, even if he's still turning over those words in his head, you do not have to face them alone. Yes, he recalls that strength he found faith in earlier. Perhaps...

Gilgamesh's eyes flicker to the door once it groans open, appear the slightest bit more resolute. Even if he won't make an outward display of it, both Vietnam and Setsuna's sentiments weigh on him. Setsuna's good intent, as ever, is not misplaced. For the King, it simply takes a bit longer to work through and process, especially in pensive moods such as these.

They walk, they walk, and they walk. They encounter no more enemies, which undeniably all present are grateful for. For as boisterous as he'd been earlier, Gilgamesh offers no conversation now, lost to his thoughts. A faint trickling catches his attention, breaks the silence, and fills him with a strange hope. He looks to his comrades to confirm it, that he hadn't just imagined it in his stupor.]

Do I detect a stream?

[More than that, maybe. Gilgamesh jogs, then outright runs ahead, and he nearly gasps as his vision's filled with brilliant blue.]

Could this be mana?! And from the water...

[Gilgamesh cannot be kept down for long, so it would seem. He calls back for them, excited:]

Look, look! Luck smiles upon us! You both must come quickly!