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

[querella]

[ Michael...

The serpent before her blurrs in her vision, overlayed by the ancient white dragon, Zero's dragon. She can practically feel the heat from his breath, the warmth of dragon fire that would kill her. That could destroy the forsaken Flower that had given her life. The sound of her companions voices was muffled at best. But it couldn't be him. There was no way. Michael was dead. And so was Mikhail.

The Intoner gritted her teeth, the cuff on her wrist jerking upwards with the motion of her weapon. Her fingers wrapped around the chain just as the weapon made contact with Moura's serpent. The razor sharp blade scratched the reptile's soft belly, drawing a line over the softer scales. One jerked the chain sharply, pulling her weapon back in a wide arc to see if she could do any more damage.

She was sure that she would now take the brunt of the mad priestess' anger. After all, she had dared to strike at her dear pet. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou leaves Jekyll to deal with the snakes on the ground. They're annoying, but they're still just snakes. Probably. He'll handle the big one coming from overhead.

The priestess' snake-hair are all headed for One, the woman apparently having drawn the bulk of their ire, so Kojirou steps in with Laundry Pole in hand. A flurry of blows, one sword seemingly turning into a dozen with how swift and sure his strokes are, striking many times within a single breath. It's not as quick as he's used to - there's still space to dodge between the arcs of his slashes - but it will have to do for now. ]

Get the torches, fire should thin their numbers out nicely.

[ It always works... in stories, at least. ]

[dualitea]

[ Honestly, 'just snakes' is a lot better than what can be said for the majority of the monsters in this dungeon. Lizardmen, salamanders, all these permutations on the common reptilian theme. But fire should work. Even if Orleans was done only with their Assassin expertise, it's an idea. But he isn't sure if he could leave One's side. ]

I'll get them. You guard the lady!

[ He spends a bit more time slicing the snakes on the floor - rather crudely, he must admit - but the trail of blood and severed snake heads should buy them a bit of time. With no discernible fuel on the ground, they might just have to wave the torch around. But it could ward off Moura and her serpent, right?

The priestess shrieks as the taller Assassin advances with his many-pronged sword; the swordsman's slashes forcing her to command her mount to rear back. There is blood dripping down the serpent's underside; perhaps they had found one of its relative weaknesses. This buys some time for One and Kojiro to retreat, or otherwise carry out some new strategy. ]

[querella]

[ One gritted her teeth, her weapon dragging over the ground for just a moment to slaughter what small serpents had come too close to her. She watched the way the larger snake pulled back under it's priestess' command. Watched the trickle of blood along its underbelly. It wasn't a deep wound, she noted, and really it was just a scratch. But if she had her strength back, she might have easily cleaved it's flesh in two. Now she simply needed to figure out how to do so without the Flower's blessing. The taller Assassin's strikes had always struck true, and the other seemed to easily keep up with her on the fly ideas. They worked... considerably better together than she'd initially thought.

But what about now? Against the obvious boss of this dungeon?

It wasn't just the snake, but the priestess as well. ]

Do not worry about me so much, Jeckyll. Assassin, if you would, stay roughly six to seven feet from my right side, I will try not to hit you.

[ Distance. She needed distance. If she ran forward and dropped to her knees, she could slide close enough to the snake and it's rider to deal significant damage to the wounded area. She could, surely, flip back and out of the way before it struck at her? It was incredibly risky for the opening of a fight. It put her in an incredibly vulnerable spot. But if she timed it just so, she could activate her weapon's ability, increasing the length of her chakram's chain an additional two feet. With the additional length and force of the blows, she might stun the reptile. But the priestess would have many opportunities to retaliate. One would just have to deal with that.

One drew back, her footsteps careful and light. Instead of positioning her arms to act as a guide for her weapon when she threw it, she simply brought the blade up so that it was balanced near her hip. The small female quickly looked around her. ]

I plan to attack the snake's wounded belly, which will leave me open to retaliation from Moura. If one of you can dislodge the priestess in the process, we should be able to make this fight easier.

[hiryugaeshi]

Six feet away, and still doing enough damage to knock the priestess off? You sure are demanding, what do you take swordsmen for?

[ But for all his complaining, Kojirou quickly opens the distance between them. Between being in range to hit his enemy easily and not getting team-killed, the latter seems much more important. Besides, he has a few more tricks up his sleeve. ]

There won't be much margin for error with this, but you'll have to dodge one attack. If you can do that, I'll knock her off.

[ His weapon's ability will come in handy for this. The Laundry Pole can extend and grow branches, allowing it to expand its effective range and strike from unorthodox angles. He can't make it grow the entire six foot gap between himself and One, but he can move himself closer, and the extra branches can keep her snake hair from stopping his advance.

It's a long shot, but since when has Kojirou not been anything but utterly confident in his swordplay? ]

[dualitea]

[ For the most part, Henry has his attention trained on trying to make his way safely to the torch. However, he's still listening in to their conversation, and an idea occurs to him. In the span of time that he takes to return vaguely to their side, he's looked at the construction of the torch the best he can. The source of the flame seems to come very deep inside it, signifying a strong burning source.

Kojirou said something about setting fire to snakes, didn't he? ]

Fellow Assassin, spear this onto your sword. If we get it close to Moura, she might have to jump or otherwise get burned.

[ If not, he might put it on his own sword and wave it around. His reach is much smaller than the other's, however - so he thinks it's best fit for him.

Worst comes to worst, he could change. ]

[querella]

I would like to believe you are a most capable swordsman, Assassin. [ A smile threatened to expose itself. He reminded her of Gabriella. A little crabby, but not in a bad way. ] If you strike from the left, it is less likely that my attack and yours should intersect. I am certain that this will work.

[ She had to be certain. She had to be sure of herself. No matter how dangerous this idea was, there would be no second thoughts. Moura was not Zero, she was nothing compared to her insane sister. Sure she had a snake, but that creature was nothing compared to the dragon her sister had.

She couldn't wait for the Assassins, however. As far as she was concerned, their window of opportunity could close at any moment. Her lips curled at the sides, a smile finally decorating her features for the first time since she had arrived - her carrier would be so upset that he missed it. But it made her face seem so much more youthful, prettier than it already was. And that seemed to trigger an infuriated cry from their target.

An open invitation.

One sucked in a deep breath, focusing on the next steps she would take. She would have to dodge the snakes that tried to get in her way, the ones that might strike at her legs as she ran. She might have to roll her chakram along the ground as she ran. It wasn't a bad idea, considering she would need to lift it over her anyway. She could do this. The woman took off in a sprint, dropping the chakram to the stone floor. It rolled along her side, points scrapping along the ground. With each turn, it jerked up, meeting the thick leather padding on her gloves. Her small legs eating up the distance between herself and her target.

Crushing Love would only last for forty seconds at the most so far. Any more than that would make her feel nauseous, cause her to lose balance for a while. It ate at her mana at an alarming rate, or so she believed. She had yet to push herself any further with the weapon so far. She would need to make this moment count. ]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Kojirou grabs the torch from Henry with a nod. There isn't much time for idle talk now, not when the giant snake and its owner are already attacking.

He stays a healthy distance away from One at first, moving towards the boss as he spears the torch onto the end of his Laundry Pole. He'll need to be precise, even if there's an extra weight stuck on the end of his weapon, there's no space for him to screw up here. ]

Extend, Laundry Pole!

[ A burst of mana once One attacks, and he pounces forward, swinging his flaming torch + sword combo right at Moura. The sword grows, many branches bursting out of the body of the wooden sword to meet the snake hair. It's like a tree growing in fast forward, a dozen years in the span of a split second, a sapling turning into a great oak.

It doesn't have leaves, but it's more than enough to block the lashing snakes, the main "trunk" of the pole and the flame on its tip headed straight for the main body.

It's a lot of mana. Don't ask him to do it again. But that's why he said there's no margin for error. ]

[dualitea]

[ There isn't much Henry can do for now, given that One and Kojirou seem to have it under control. He spends a few seconds of his concentration hacking at several snakes that come too close to him or One for his liking, but the rest of it is devoted to following a short distance behind the Intoner just in case. He had been poising to slip in and land a few hits of his own, but it doesn't seem too necessary.

Moura screeches, lifting her hands off her serpent mount as if to bat away the flames on Kojirou's sword - but in the few seconds that take for the Laundry Pole to reach its target, she seems to notice that it's not possible. So she jumps, a patch of the cloth part of her elaborate armour already alight. She attempts to roll and extinguish the flame upon landing, but it's already hot enough to burn at her skin.

Part one was a success. Now for part two. ]