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

CHECKPOINT 1: FLOWER MEADOW

[buildyourworld]

Item: Fairy Dust
- Dust from the wings of fairies. Used in various concoction for it's medicinal property but raw Fairy Dust may cause Confusion if ingested.

team #trainwreckin it

[praises]

[ Perhaps it's the dark, lingering presence of Salamanca in his mind, or the rather... cramped... method of travel from it, but the first checkpoint is a welcome sight. Once Setsuna slows his machine, Allelujah hops off to stretch his legs, digging a directive from his pocket and looking around. ]

This is the designated point Tieria gave us.

[ And it's quite beautiful. The meadowland stretches down over a series of hills leading to a mountain valley, dotted with trees. Flowers carpet the ground as far as he can see, a sea of blue and yellow against the green.

It looks like the high-altitude meadows of the Altai. His home. ]

...so even Blanc has places like this.

[impulsives]

Yeah.

[ This sight reminded him of something from his home, rather, the promise he made to a certain person on protecting the new budding flowers of peace growing back home. That even if these flowers are scattered by the flames of war...

They'll replant these flowers again. ]

It's been a while since I've seen something like this.

[ ...He has faith that his world will recover. And that the peace everyone won will last longer this time. ]

[quaria]

[ The motorcycle stops completely. Once the engine is off, Setsuna follows suit and leaves his seat in favor of stretching his legs. They haven't traveled that far in a while. Within the span of two months, he's been mostly contained within Caissa. While the capital is large scale, there's still something different about spreading one's wings across vast roads... especially those which are beautiful.

Setsuna has to agree with Shinn's statement, but he does it in silence. Instead, he takes awe with his enlarging eyes. There's a certain shine within them, even more as he stares out at the seemingly endless flower fields. It almost makes him forget what they're here for, but he eventually focuses. ]

What are we looking for?

[praises]

[ Allelujah is in a strange place. Having been by Setsuna's side for so long, he knows better than anyone what a sight like this means to him. And though he's only known Shinn for a short while, he knows that this boy is also a Gundam pilot. Their circumstances are surely different, having listened to Shinn describe his home, but even if the two younger pilots aren't aware, Allelujah senses something similar from the both of them like this.

It takes chaos to appreciate peace, destruction to appreciate life. It's not something that can be sought, because Allelujah has tried. But it can be found, even unexpectedly. His gaze drifts to Setsuna. ]

Fairies, apparently. But we're ahead of schedule, thanks to you. There's nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy the sight for a while.

[impulsives]

Some quiet time sure sounds good after all the mess I've been through in this place.

[ Sides, how hard does finding fairies can be anyways? Famous last thoughts for anyone, to be honest. ]

[quaria]

[ Oh. So, they can rest a while... That might be nice. Setsuna looks back at Allelujah and Shinn for a brief moment before heading off on his own. He walks forward, intending to surround himself among the flowers.

That's exactly what he does shortly, seating himself among them without trampling any of it. He's been careful on where he steps, and he seats himself on a space where it's enough to contain him. It's then that he simply stays there, looking out at the view of the field and the sky.

There's a gentle wind blowing, so he feels at ease here. If only every part of the world is like this... ]

[praises]

[ Allelujah allows Setsuna to go without too much else but a lingering glance. That's just like him, when faced with a sight such as this. While he simply goes, the older Meister notices that Shinn sounds it out first, and stays behind with him. ]

You're not the only one who thinks so. Even if you know how, fighting is difficult to sustain.

People [ We — ] need things like this.

team "how do human"

[sunderings]

[ It is beautiful, the meadow. Picturesque as a fairytale, a gentle breeze sweeps loose blades of grass up and away, into the blue of the sky, and the flowers which seem to part before the Hero King's careful steps outnumber the greenery—spring has well and truly sprung! ]

You've my thanks for leading us here, Miss Aigis.

[ And for all that they've traveled on foot, they've made rather good time, haven't they? Enough to stop and admire the blooms, at the very least. And admire them, he does, though Sion does not wander far from the trees which bank the grassland. ]

But shall we hunt— [ A thoughtful hum. ] —or allow for the fairies to come to us?

[seventhgen]

You're welcome! [She says cheerfully, secretly relieved that she led them correctly. It's a lot of pressure, okay? She stands still for a moment, taking in the scenery. She wishes she could inhale and experience 'fresh air,' or feel the breeze and sun beyond simple temperature scanners. Still, it's very aesthetically pleasing.] Will the fairies come if we stay here? We should be careful not to scare them away...

[buildyourworld]

[ The flower meadow spans as far as eyes can see beyond rolling hills, with flowers of all kinds and colors. When the guide on Airy explained the areas en route to Caissa, Tieria knows he wants his family to be here. He wonders briefly how happy Setsuna will be when he takes this beautiful place in. He knows Allelujah and Marie had come across similar destination during their travel to Mongolia so he hopes they would appreciate it. He smiles thinking about them, quietly admiring the scenery. ]

Before you think of that, shouldn't you figure out how to collect the fairy dusts? [ Or have they forgotten what he told them about raw fairy dusts?

From afar, if they listens carefully, they would be able to hear soft sound flustering wings... ]

[sunderings]

[ Wings. Though the Hero King does not, at first, hear the faint flutter of sound, he perceives the mana of the additional presence in the flowerfield, the gleam of his golden eyes turned toward where forest foliage gives way to the meadow. It rather seems the perfect place from which to covertly observe from afar, or so Sion thinks, and he is proved not to be wrong when he catches sight of a fairy, garbed in flowers and in leaves, hovering about and peeking through the tall blades of grass.

Truly, this is a gentle place. Aigis is full of cheer, Tieria looks to be at ease, and Sion... ]

Perhaps if we express interest in meeting them, they will come to extend a merry greeting? [ —if his voice carries just a touch louder than the norm, it is deliberate, because it is not only his pair of comrades who he is speaking to. ] We are friends, after all, and we've many stories to share and tell.

[ What's more, he'd not be surprised if the fairies were intrigued by their mana signatures, as new as Heroes are to this realm. ]

Why, would you not enjoy speaking with a fairy, Miss Aigis? And you as well, Tieria...?

[ As for collecting dust, they simply need not to inhale the residue, is that not so? ]

[seventhgen]

I would really like to meet a fairy! [She says brightly, turning back to look at the other two.] Do you think they'll give us some fairy dust if we ask politely?

If all we need to do is not inhale it, then I should be the one to collect it. I don't breathe, after all.

[buildyourworld]

I don't really care. [ The fairies certainly heard Sion because soon, they appears from the nearby trees, approaching them slowly. Their fluttering wings glimmers under the sunlight as they fly towards the company of three. ]

Both of you try, use your own method. We should collect some extra since they would fetch us some colle if sold. [ He'll take this chance to observe their skills, perhaps he would learn something from them too. The purpose of training includes learning from each other after all. Although he doesn't know how to get those fairy dusts, he did came prepared with an empty satchel. ]