WAR ♞ BATTLE OF GRAUPERA

[boardmaster]

BATTLE OF GRAUPERA
16 APRIL (LATHYRA) 2016

It is a dark and stormy night; the rain falls in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it is checked by a violent gust of wind —

Not exactly. The rain is still light, but the suns are well below the horizon when the Airy leaves Graupera, setting the stage for Blanc and Noir’s first battle in two hundred years. The weatherman says showers will turn into storms later in the evening, but he doesn’t warn for the milky fog that will soon blanket Capablancan seas. The light from your ships, the lighthouse and the fortress walls serve as our Heroes’ only guide...

The same sleeping bat with sugar powdered around the corners of its mouth hangs from one of the ship’s masts until Commander Lisbrand arrives.

Lisbrand As I’m sure you’re all aware, Noir intends to take us by sea: Capablanca is a key strategic location for launching an attack on the coast. Should Noir capture Graupera, there’s no telling how far they’ll advance with their next move. You will be fighting not just to defend Capablanca, but Caissa as well. I trust you will all perform as well during the battle as you did during preparations. Blanc’s fleet will be standing by to absorb the task force into its ranks; I expect you’ve all completed what naval training was available to you at this point. [ a swift but beady eye is cast over the recruits ] You will need every last bit of it. [ picks up a pen and chucks it with deadly precision at the bat on the ceiling. ]

Verdoni [ immediately casts a wing forward to deflect the dangerous pen on time. then, he drops to the floor and transforms, wiping his mouth with his handkerchief. it’s warm. ] I suppose I need not remind you all of the weather conditions. Noir will enter Blanc territory with the storm, so brace yourselves. I will not lie — Noir has a significant advantage over us in this weather. Expect them to turn the elements in their favor and use lightning, water, and wind magic against you, your crew, and your ship. As most of you here will recall, Noir does not fight fair. They will use every tactic in and out of the book in order to destroy anything that stands in their way. It might do you well to remain alert at all times and to prepare for any scenario. So long as each Hero’s crew focuses on protecting their respective ship, you should be able to hinder their advance. Should the worst come to pass, retreat to the nearest allied ship or make your way to the shoreline to reinforce the last line of defense.

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

ONE ♙ Preparation
Only fools rush into battle! In preparing for war, the first step should always be protecting yourself. As such, Heroes will need to mount barrier generators that convert distilled water into large spherical barriers of pure mana on all ships. They will also need to calibrate the ones installed at Fort Graupera. Be sure to stock water by the barrel. When the enemy’s artillery fire hits these mana barriers, the blows as well as any shrapnel will be dispersed and dissipate in the air. Use them wisely; while the barrier is active, the ship will be unable to move and nothing can enter or leave the barrier. The ships also need to be stocked with ammunition, healing supplies such as potions, spare parts and other materials for repairs on the water. No one wants a leaky ship, right?

Once that’s done, get to know your teammates! Meet up with them at your assigned ship and use this time to get acquainted with each other's strengths and weaknesses, discuss plans, and figure out the roles assigned to you. The knowledge might come in handy in the coming hours…

All Heroes assigned to a crew are required to fight on the deck. The soldiers won’t be pleased to discover someone hiding in the ship’s hold. You can be a cabin boy or girl and run supplies, but they'll expect them by the truckload! Nobody gets to slack off in war! If you are not assigned to a crew, discuss your battle plans with your allies to tighten the shoreline defense. Those participating in the naval battle will need your assistance to secure Graupera!


TWO ♙ Sailing Into the Storm

Heh, blind as a bat and wet as a rat — that’s them. Wait, what do you mean the Airy's gone already? I bet Lei ran off because he needed to wax his chest. Fine! I got time to spare, so I’m going to kill the rest of you. I can’t wait to see the looks on your faces when I plunge right in...

A ♙ As predicted by Secretary Verdoni, by the time Noir’s fleet is in range, the weather has changed. Heavy fog reduces visiblity to near-zero, and rushing without stumbling is a feat for the brave thanks the mixture of rain and seawater washing over every deck. Thunder rolls in the distance, a messenger of the double-pronged storm advancing on Blanc. Roaring gusts of wind rip and tear at clothes, Carriers, and you! Watch out! Lightweights and those not exercising caution are likely to be blown right overboard.

Especially once Noir starts firing. Wind and lightning whip through the fog and both Coxswains and Heroes on Graupera proper will need to aim and time their barriers just right. Call it too soon and you waste precious resources; miscalculate and the ship and/or the fortress may take damage! If the barrier generator runs out of power, Quartermasters will need to replenish its water supply! But if the machine takes direct damage, it has a chance of exploding in a shower of fire and dangerous ricocheting parts, drastically decreasing your ship’s defense and maybe even knocking holes in the hull! Protect your ship to protect the fortress; the Blanc army can only put out so many fires. Should your ship take a hit, it’s also the Quartermaster's duty to respond accordingly lest the craft turn into a flaming monstrosity. Gunner’s Mates, return enemy fire with cannons and other long-range weapons available in your ship’s arsenal! The mana cannons in particular deal heavy damage, but they drain equally large amounts of mana. There’s no time to wait for your mana to replenish in the middle of a storm, so grab the nearest Hero for some up close and personal refueling!

If you don’t, Noir mages will take this opportunity to gather mana and send spells of tidal waves. And if your barrier’s down by then? Say goodbye to your ship and pray that you remember those swimming lessons. Your allies on land should be able to assist you once you reach the shore. Go ahead and join the shoreline defense; your shipwreck has probably left them with a few more holes in their defense and a few more fires to put out, anyway.

B ♟ The two forces clash! The noise is deafening as shouts from both sides mix with howling of the wind and the crashing of waves. Now that the armies are going head to head, Noir soldiers make use of their landing bridges to board Blanc’s ships! Noir mages simply use water magic to surf or wind magic to jump and do the same. But boarding is when Noir soldiers are vulnerable; make use of your resources and home turf advantage to take them down! They’re not the only ones who can take advantage of nature’s blessings.

Enemy soldiers who successfully board will begin to destroy anything they see. Should the ship be successfully hijacked, Blanc’s soldiers and the Heroes may have no choice but to jump into dangerous waters. Chance of survival is slim: waters are rough and ships are constantly rocking. It’s more than likely you'll be crushed between them or beneath them, Noir soldiers and mages will be taking potshots at you, and the strong currents are sure drag everyone into the depths. Once you’re in the water, you’re as good as dead. You are going to need some help.

ENEMY ♟ Noir Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against Lightning	Immune to None
When these soldiers cry “PERUN!”, run. When they cry “PERUNIKA!”, run faster. These battle cries mean you're about to be zapped by A FEW THOUSAND VOLTS OF LIGHTNING BOLT! The clues and advice left by our surfer friend Antonio, the mayor’s cute butler Charles, and the notorious assassin Black Lightning might help you out here — draw LIGHTNING WARD SYMBOLS to protect you and your allies from lightning damage. WARDS DRAWN BY KINGS are most effective. During battle, you will hear these mages utter other spells you might want to keep in mind: “VELES” is a support spell that summons streams of water. Whoever drinks it will receive a vodka-flavored MAGICAL BOOST! Soldiers like to make a game out of it at parties. “VELESIA” is an offensive water spell that INEBRIATES ITS TARGETS UPON CONTACT. The water it summons possesses a faint alcoholic aroma. It also tastes like vodka. “STRIBOG” is a wind spell that summons a powerful wyvern-shaped whirlwind that can hurl people overboard, destroy ship structures, and even send ships off course!

Noir’s bridges were a good idea, but ideas are meant to be stolen. Use them to move to an ally’s ship if your fellow Heroes and soldiers are in need of support, especially if Heroes have been knocked out or hurled off. The injured can be transported to safety on the backup ship, but beware of Noir soldiers chasing you down! They're as persistent as a rash.


THREE ♙ Crashing Against the Shores
To those who remained on the island or returned from sea, the battle is nothing but alarming lights and frightening shouts in the distance. But that doesn’t mean you can relax. Enemy projectiles that fly past the ships will shake parts of the fortress, and any Noir magic that gets past the naval defense will set any kind of material on fire or blow out chunks of wall, armaments, and you. Use water to make short work of any fires, and remember to reinforce damaged areas, or the fortress will suffer.

Distressed cries fill the air; those watching the naval battle closely will notice crewmembers who have fallen into the ocean. Neither Hero nor Blanc soldier is safe. While they have managed to get away from the main battle, they are now weak, disoriented, and require assistance. Row out in rescue boats to collect and heal the soldiers and your fellow Heroes before they turn into casualties. You may need their help later!

Allies aren’t the only ones reaching the shoreline. Some Noir ships will break through Blanc’s naval formation. If the fortress’ weapons don't take them down, then it’s up to you to take care of the rest. Noir soldiers will disembark and fight Heroes on the shore. Defeat them, destroy their weapons and seize their ships before they lay siege to the fortress! Blanc will thank you for these finely captured contributions to the war effort.

Noir General...? Huh! I just let you rats win! If I didn’t, there’d be no way to find Lei and punch him in the chest later! Give him my kind regards! AND TELL HIM I HIT ON HIS HOT GIRLFRIEND. I think they’re still dating. My intel said they were — [ his voice fades out as the Noir fleet retreats ]

FOUR ♙ Triumph Over the Seas
The thunder of the storm and the blasts of cannons filled the air with deep, resounding booms throughout the battle, but what cuts through the noise is the eruption of roaring cheers from the army that seems to shake the world of Enprise — Blanc has won its first official victory over Noir. The world will know of their triumph. Capablanca celebrates once news reaches the shore; as our Heroes look toward the resort city, they see an entirely different sort of sea — the lights of the city pushing back the night. First in little specks, then in a brilliant flood of color that paints an aurora in the sky: warm, real and bright.

It’s time to go home, Heroes! Or at the very least, back to Capablanca. Dock your ships and then put those sea legs back on dry land. You will be greeted with much enthusiasm from the citizens of the city. Hugs, cheek kisses, more hugs, hand kisses; some even brought pen and paper and are earnestly asking for your autograph. A few forego the paper and make you sign something else entirely. Children swarm in, tugging on uniforms for attention.

The recognition doesn’t end there. As a reward, hotel and resort owners start inviting heroes to stay at their establishments for a few days. For free. Continental breakfast included. Don’t abuse their hospitality or your reputation might suffer. And the freebies don't stop there. Locals also seem to have taken their hero worship to the next level. Small gifts will be given to their favorites. They contain things like pasta, pastries, good luck charms, potions, and even jewelry for Heroes they really like. Someone might even get a “special coupon” for La Coniglietta, a cabaret renowned for its racy shows and voluptuous wererabbit performers and staff.

If you prefer to spend your nights in well-deserved peace and quiet, then you’re always welcome to your new room at the completed Fort Graupera. Time to rest on your laurels, Heroes.

Comments

OOC WAR QUESTIONS

[boardmaster]

Please direct all OOC questions about this war log here.

... you knew this was coming

[corpsedoctor]

Can Thunderland dissect any of the enemy that may have fallen?

Team Femmetality in Noir Cried Hard That Day

[fairytality]

PRE-FIGHT: gathering supplies with a side of meet and greet

[fairytality]

[There's all sorts of crazy stuff going on. But when you get down to it three girls were led to one boat and told this would be their vessel. That they were heroes and would be taking command. Each was assigned a role. And now they're to stock it.

Water, bandages, all the supplies they think they'll need.

Oh and maybe do some planning for that Noir military out there. It's going to be the first battle in 200 years and everyone's counting on them as the resident heroes!]

...I don't get what they're expecting. We're just students.

[Well. She's a student. And these other two girls look around her age...]

S.S. P.A.N.T.s (Potemkin, Aigis, Nora, Taiwan)

[burlyheart]

2B

[burlyheart]

Potemkin's new behavior as soon as the enemy ships entered sight explains why he is so reluctant to enter fights to begin with - he's a natural at carnage. Seemingly omniaware of everything happening around him, knowing what needs to be done about it, and executed with brutal energy. The rain, blood, and possibly exhaust from a small engine fire coating his body speak to all the issues he is currently juggling with, so maybe it's less than surprising when he tosses a boarder like a doll straight at the direction of the gunners. The command he roars is quite intelligible over the scream of the soldier.

"You take care of this!"

Team Tiny Terror (Caren, Alice, One)

[showsnopiety]

Part One: The Prep

[showsnopiety]

[Where Caren, Alice, and One meet and find out that they all have a boat together. This can only go well.]

Caren Ortensia (outside of team)

[showsnopiety]

One

[She might be hauling water and the like for her own team, but she's also one to easily step up and do the same with others. Truly, it wasn't that big of a deal, not as much as it should have, or could have been. When finding supplies and where it was supposed to go, she pointed to it and...]

Are you on shore duty, or ship? I could help you take this to the proper location, either way.

[Wasting time before she's to speak to her allies on board? Nah.]

Four

A
[That was it. They had won. There was a part of her that was still dazed in the aftermath, uncertain and unable to think of what to make of it all. It had been a true battle, with those she still did not know and then they...well. It was something. Part of Caren was amazed that she had lived throughout it all. She thought that at one point or another, that she would have been killed during the battle.

No such luck. Instead, she has children she has to gently pull off of her weak legs, asking for autographs (Something about her being an amazing tiny terror?) But it was one man-one that she believed was drunk out of his gourd-that went over the line.

She was fine with signing all sorts of bodies. Even men's flabby chests, but this one? Grabbed her to lay one on her lips.

With an exasperated huff, she made to punch the man in the stomach.]

Don't do that!

[Grumble grumble HUFF. God in heaven.]

I truly despise savage men.

B

[Really, the only reason she had stayed at the hotel was because...it was closer. Her feet and back were aching, and while she would have been fine with walking, people were rather insistent that she stay here tonight. So she rolled with it. It meant that she could rest, enjoy the feel of bandages against her skin a little longer, and wake up without the rustling of others around her.

Not in the same room at any rate.

In the morning after the battle, she was eating her free breakfast. She planned to report back to the fort before long-there were repairs to do, and there was a number of other things she wanted to practice on as well. Fellow heroes could find her doing one of two things: either eating quietly, her gaze contemplative as she stared at the morning light, or silently pushing a full plate of warm, prepared food in front of them.

What? To her, a hungry person needed to be fed. She can get another plate anyway. She thought she saw some hero pastries that she could nibble on.]

4a

[sediments]

[ Bolin is both embarrassed and elated by the response from the citizens; children tugging at his clothes, women shaking his hands, and men kissing his forehead like proud fathers. It's nice, and a lot more energy than he sees back home for his efforts (his starring role as Nuk Tuk not counting), so he can't help but feel a little elated, like he's actually accomplished something good.

Not everyone's show of enthusiasm however, is entirely appropriate. But unfortunately, Bolin is completely unaware of this, having missed the fact that some strange man had stolen a kiss from Caren, and catching sight only of her punching him in the stomach.

His eyebrows shoot up as he steps forward, ] Whoa, whoa! Let's not get violent with the civilians.

Team Buttmad Shounens (Bolin, Kija, Adrasteius, Jae-ha)

[flirtations]

PREPARATION

[flirtations]

Team P-P-Pokerface (Regene, Tieria, Kaede, Minato)

[burnmydread]

ONE ♙ PREPARATION

[burnmydread]

[ It really seems like a job that Yukari is better suited for, but...well, there he is with a bag full of potions. He's actually not entirely sure what all of them do, so he's hoping that there's at least something close to a Dia spell in there. It does kind of stink that in moments where a good Persona might be useful, he's woefully without them. That doesn't really explain why he can still hear the voices in his head, but...eh...

Minato's not prone to dwelling on that kind of thing. He steps aside as one of the ship's hands rolls a large barrel of water passed him and onto the deck. He remembers hearing something about needed it for a shield? Is that something he's going to need to know how to operate...?

Ah, are those his teammates? Yes, it looks like it. He guesses he's lucky that he recognizes all of them. ]

Who gets to shoot he cannons?

[ Important questions, here. ]

Shinoa | unteamed

[scythersergeant]

three.

[A strange light hovers in unsteady circles over the ocean.

Actually it's a vulture, with a gas lamp hanging from its neck, cruising through the rain. It's far enough from the action that the rain isn't too annoying, and it flies with a mission; if you're ever thrown off your boat, you're fair game, and it's going to try to snaffle whatever interesting possessions that get dislodged from you in the water. Or chew on your hair.

More importantly is its owner, watching the circling light from her perch on a rescue boat. It's packed with lifebuoys, mostly because she can't swim, but it's going to help you too. When her Carrier dives for you Shinoa will be rowing her boat towards the light to try to stop you from drowning. Hurrah! Try to stay alive til then, she's not the strongest girl and this boat isn't the fastest boat.

Or, you might be her partner in the boat with her, waiting for someone to fall. She'll welcome a chat in the meantime!]

[wildcard]

[hit me up with anything!]

Team Bombshell (Gareki, Kaito, Kojirou, Vietnam)

[hoasen]

[The bombshell is really Kaito's sleeping bombs.]

preparation

[gareki]

[ Gareki finds himself really fascinated with the weaponry that's available here. A lot of the things remind him of Circus. Magical weaponry? Fancy airships? Annoying animal messengers? Check. Check. Check. But unlike Circus, he's more than welcomed to get a more hands-on feel for everything this place has to offer. But they're preparing for a war right now... It's not the time to play around or take anything apart.

Still, he's been assigned as one of the Gunner's Mate on this ship. He immediately approaches one of the mana cannons and inspects them. The other firearms being loaded onto the ship are much easier to use, but this one definitely seems to promise fire power. ]

Not to make anybody nervous, but this will be my first time using a cannon like this... [ Or a cannon in general, gosh. ] Anybody have any idea how this works or are we just going to 'wing it' on the battlefield?

team glop (Gilgamesh, Asuna, Setsuna, Slaine)

[quaria]

[ I take no responsibility for this team name, I swear to god. ]

preparations

[quaria]

[ Barrier generator, huh? Setsuna, wearing a white raincoat over his Hero uniform, is quietly standing beside the heavy generator that is to be mounted on his assigned ship — the S.S. Albatross. As a Knight, he's expected to be the one to move the most burdening weights so he's about to get started with lifting the machine. He's been designated as the ship's Coxswain, so he'll be expected to control said machine as well as steer the ship. He doesn't mind both roles at all, as they rather hit close to home.

As he begins to lift the barrier generator, Setsuna takes a moment to glance at the tall ship. He wonders where his other crew members are. He can see a number of the regular army boarding it, but he hasn't spotted a Hero yet. Maybe they're already on-board? Either way, he's sure that he'll see them soon enough. So he hauls the machine with him and begins to walk up the docked staircase. He tries to be careful not to bump onto anybody who are also loading supplies and preparing to the ship's upcoming leave.

The first Hero Setsuna sees up there is a very familiar person. Once at the ship, he locates an enthusiastic royal whose energy sticks out amidst the gloomy weather and the sullen looks across the many Blanc soldiers. What is he shouting about over there? The Meister walks on to approach, using a free foot to gently nudge the King's leg from behind. And also to catch his attention... He might be smiling a little (no he's not, don't hope too much), maybe glad to be assigned with him once more. ]

King... Please move.

[ Said King happens to be standing on the place where the barrier generator is meant to be placed on. That high platform isn't for you, King! It's for everyone's lifeline. ]

Aigis | OTA, back on the shore

[seventhgen]

[The battle is raging, and a certain robot happened to be washed overboard a certain ship from a tidal wave hitting her. Unfortunately for her, her weight and material density meant she'd quickly sunken to the bottom, without being able to be retrieved. Fortunately for her, she's watertight on all crucial systems, and doesn't need to breathe. It only took a matter of time to walk along the ocean floor back to the island. So anyone on the shoreline will see a young blonde woman pulling herself out of the water onto the beach, dripping wet and with her lower legs covered in sand. She sinks heavily into the wet sand, and looks frankly exhausted. Did you know a robot could look exhausted? You do now. Still, she approaches the first person she sees with bright eyes.] Please, where are the nearest lines of combat? How is the fight going? --is it possible for me to return to my ship?

[scythersergeant]

[Luckily for Aigis, Shinoa's Carrier is on rescue patrol!

....alright, not really, as she sinks and the vulture is left circling over the spot she fell.

Shinoa is the one who spots a figure stumbling out of the ocean, as she bobs on the waves in her rescue boat, and after the initial shock of processing this feat - with the distance between the fight and the shore, odds-defying is an understatement- she scrambles to steer her boat back to shore.]

Are you alright? Do you need medical attention- I can try to get you back out, but you washed all the here, you should see a healer first!

[At least every Hero is capable of the basic first-aid known as mana exchange. Shinoa takes Aigis by the arm, helping to prop the blonde up- her face changes into surprise when she feels the hardness of metal underneath the soaked uniform.]

TEAM YOLO - Korra, Souji, Yata

[tarotcards]

2A

[rollin]

[ Commander Lisbrand and the navy left Yata in charge with this ship's mana cannons, deeming his aim sure and true after he boasted about his exceptional skill and extensive training. While his knack for hand-eye coordination is no joke, he wipes rain and sweat off his brow when he gets some shots in. Phew! Who knew this would be different from his video games?

It proves more difficult as he realizes just how small his mana pool is. When his mana's down, whether he's about to leave his post for the deck or not, he reaches out an open palm to the nearest Hero without looking. ]

Hand!

Lapis | OTA, back on the shore

[oneirism]

♛ THREE

[So Lapis eventually finds herself back on the shore, shaking water and sand out of her hair as she tries to catch her breath. Her bones are aching, she feels sick, she's certain half of the blood on this uniform is hers and she just wants to lay down and pretend that none of this is happening.

But it is, and at this point, she can't exactly run and hide. She won't let herself anyway. Her mana supply is exactly full, but she still has enough to keep going, taking a deep breath as she wills herself to move into the battle along the shoreline. Lapis still isn't much of a fighter, but she can still do something.

So some of the Heroes dealing with the Noir soldiers may get some rather... odd help. Mainly in the form of them suddenly becoming terrified of something, some dropping their weapons as if they burn or some suddenly screeching and running away from the Hero they were fighting.

And the source soon appears with a thoughtful look as she watches their cowering enemies,looking a bit out of breath as the stockings on her legs glow.]

... Huh, it worked. [Then a glance over to her fellow Hero.] You okay?

♛ FOUR

♛ A ♛

[It's over. It's finally over and they won, and if Lapis wasn't so completely tired, she would at least be cheering a bit. None of this even feels real, but she can still feel her body shaking from the adrenaline as she tries to catch her breath.

All she can do for now is just... lay on the sand. She's well aware of the locals swarming all over the Heroes, but she has no intention of joining in with that - content to just lay here and watch the sky darken. Glancing over towards the city, at the lights and at the people cheering, and realizing she helped protect that. Even if she can't fight, she finally did something.

But she's too tired to celebrate. So she's gonna keep laying right here. If anyone is nearby they'll probably here a quiet voice speak up from somewhere on the sand.]

... The city looks really pretty from here. Too bad it kinda sucks sometimes. [Way to ruin the moment, Lapis.]


♛ B ♛

[Lapis opted to stay at the Graupera, if only because it was quiet and right now, some quiet sounded nice. She's still feeling sore the next morning (for once she actually slept in a bit), but she's still up and about rather early, trying to massage the soreness from her joints and muscles as she shuffles towards the kitchen.

Even though she's still completely exhausted, she still starts to move around the kitchen, grabbing some ingredients together to make herself some food. And some tea, tea would be nice too. She works slowly, grabbing the utensils she needs before she gets to work, yawning quietly as she does so. So anyone who wanders in will see Lapis, with a steadily growing pile of pancakes next to her. She seems to be improvising with flavors as well, since some have strawberries, some have blueberries and some have chocolate chip.]

... You can help yourself if you want. [Is all she says as she flips another pancake onto the pile - this one has banana. Feel free to ask for requests too, she'll make anything.]

b;

[accordance]

I would prefer to help you instead.

[ There's a very easily recognizeable voice, and it sounds amused. Lord Light appears in the doorway, dressed neatly in his uniform without a single thing out of place. Lapis might have noticed it yesterday, but there's also a circlet set into his hair now. ]

How about it?

Team Try Hard (Shin-Ah, Kasen, Maki, Tyrnen)

[twosidedsword]

Pre-Fighting

[twosidedsword]

Team Bar Joke (Jiroutachi, Shunsui, Lola)

[sakeplz]

Pre-Fighting

[sakeplz]

Team Cutie Bruisers (Lapis, Sion, H/Allelujah, Lux)

[oneirism]

Preparations

[oneirism]

Team misfits (Arsen, Juzumaru, Cirno)

[tsunetsugu]

Preparations

[tsunetsugu]

TEAM STEALING YOUR HEARTS (Gaius, Noir, Thunderland Jr)

[corpsedoctor]

PREP.

[corpsedoctor]

[ Game plan for a doctor, a thief, and an ex-marauder. ]

adrasteius | on the shore | ota

[hymnals]

THREE;

a.

[ He's battered and bruised, but he's not giving up. Once Jae-ha and the others had secured a Noir ship of their very own, Adra had asked to be dropped off at the shoreline. Skirmishes are everywhere on the beach, and the stormy seas are full of people in need of healing and rescue.

He jumps down onto the bloodied sand, breathing hard, his jaw set. There's a fight just ahead of him: a few Noir soldiers slinging spells and crossing weapons with the Blanc soldiers and the Heroes come to assist them.

Adra cannot intervene directly; as yet, he has little faculty with using his sword as an actual weapon. But he scrambles across the beach regardless, casting barriers as the Noir opponents move in for the kill.

Then, standing a ways apart from the fight, Adra casts a barrier around himself. He lifts his arms, and a golden glow limns his entire body, concentrated especially on the crown of his blond hair. Translucent angel wings unfurl from his back as he opens his mouth and begins to sing--a divine hymn. His voice is deep and sonorous, an instrument practiced early and often. Though his singing alone may inspire those listening, its spell can only reach a few nearby Heroes: a spell of quickening. As they listen, their bodies move faster, their minds think more clearly. They are, in every way, hastened. ]

b.

[ Adra had nearly ended up overboard himself a number of times, saved only by the timely grabs of his significantly stronger crewmates. After seeing more and more people fall into the water, Adra knew he had to make saving them a priority. Taking one of the small boats docked at the beach, Adra's out on the water, searching for anyone who might need a hand. ]

Swim to me, if you can! I'll get you warmed right up.

[ Through healing. ]

FOUR;

[ Oh, Light. This is just like those first days in Caissa, except a thousand times worse. Adra may have afforded a few people the right to touch him without too much preamble, but that does not apply to these random, grasping citizens. As the crowds surge, Adra recoils; apparently the people are so pleased with the victory that they've forgotten to hate him--either that, or somehow everyone's aware that he doesn't want their attention, and so they're hyperfocusing.

In any case, Adra finds himself backing away from a particularly overenthusiastic group of admirers--they're reaching to kiss his cheek, to take his hand, to--inevitably--prod his ears. ]

Listen--turns out fighting for survival versus a well-prepared war machine is horrifically exhausted, so if I could just--go--

[ His anxiety spikes as a man, then a woman, reach for him; he can barely hear what they're saying, honestly, though he's sure it's perfectly kind. One of them manages to shove an envelope into his hand before he outright panics and summons a shimmering barrier to protect himself.

Not that it does much good, since no one is actually attacking him. He squeezes his eyes shut. Damn it.

If anyone not among the cheering natives draws near, he hisses, his voice shaky with anxiety. ]

Get me the hell out of here.

a;

[accordance]

[ One light precedes another - a pinpoint of bright gold on the horizon draws close, resolving itself into a slim man flying across the sea towards Adra. Lord Light has his wings out, but that's not the main reason he's able to fly straight despite the storm. Golden rune circles have appeared all around him, in addition to a halo behind his head - magic, sourced from his newly-gained weapon that allows him to stabilize.

He lands into a brisk walk and vanishes his wings, not quite diving into the fight that's already upon the sands. He's a lot faster with his wand thanks to the elf's incantations, allowing him to fire off lightning bolts at a speed previously unattainable before. While the Noir soldiers have some defense against lightning, they do not have any against the innate Holy element that comes from all magic the deity produces.

It's been a while since he's last smote someone, but maybe this counts. ]

team mostly mysterious names (Levi, Wukong, Vivienne, Lord Light)

[powerdriven]

preparations

[powerdriven]

henry jekyll/hyde | unteamed

[dualitea]

three;

a
[ For one reason or another, he had not been selected to be on board the ships' crews. But Henry finds little disappointment to have in that - he had not been picked for the Okeanos missions for a reason, and that reason was his relative lack of sea legs. Even if he was fast, he was light and thus vulnerable to being washed off. Better to be here, on solid land, where he performed better.

Skirmishes have broken out all along the shore, clusters of Heroes and Blanc soldiers alike fighting off their invaders. Henry's in a particularly thick brawl - just him and two allies against six enemies, but he makes up for the lack of numbers by being fast enough to evade their lightning bolts and sink his knife into a few at the same time.

If he spots you on the beach and you're not too badly hurt/your clothes are intact enough for him to recognise you as an ally, you'll get a shout. ]

Hey! Could you give me a hand - please?

[ He's getting a little tired, and it's hard to defend two other people at once. ]

b
[ Maybe it's a while later that you've chanced him on the beach - he's still fighting, the corpses of several Noir soldiers scattered on the bloodstained beach around him. There's blood all over his uniform, too; and when he looks up it's obvious that there's also blood on his face.

He's changed. Changed from the need of it and the sheer lapse of concentration - all trace of quiet determination on his expression has been wiped out, replaced with a devious grin bordering almost on insanity. Perhaps it had already changed into insanity, by the way he cackles and dances around the remaining soldiers, hacking at their bodies with evident delight.

Except insanity clouds perception, and not just mental ones - one of the downed Noir soldiers raises a hand and begins to chant, seemingly aiming for Edward's back. If he's not alerted to the threat, he could go down very easily.

Would you leave an ally open to the enemy? ]


four;
[ When the battle is finally over, Henry can be found amongst the crowd - reluctantly, that is. Edward's rampage had tired both of them out, and the Berserker had simply opted to ditch control of their shared physical vessel and go straight to hibernation - leaving his other self to pilot what was now a heavily damaged body. If anything, he's trying his best to wave at the grateful citizens and talk to them; but he's leaning a lot against the crutch that he had been given. There's a child who's bugging him with questions about the lightshow and cannonfire that she had heard in her home - but Henry is practically falling asleep on his feet and cannot process her questions properly.

So she's gotten answers about mana barriers and how they work when the questions were posed about ships, and her attempts at getting him to tell more stories of the high seas had turned into exposition about the soldiers and how she should ask her parents how to make lightning wards. It's not really going anywhere - while she's still trying to get answers out of him, the frustration on her face is becoming evident. Her parents aren't around, either.

Also, Henry is about to pass out. ]

four

[querella]

[ One was tired. Exhausted. And all she wanted to do was head to a hotel and crash for the evening. For days, even. But instead she found herself weaving through the tide of bodies. Of fans who wanted to stop her at every moment. Fans who hugged her too close and tried giving her as many kisses as possible, had nearly loaded her down with gifts. It had taken nearly all of her will power not to shove them aside or scream for them to leave her be. But she didn't want to ruin anyone's mood.

And in the midst of all of this celebration she was startled to see the other hero. Jeckyll, she recalled, that was his name. And he looked terrible. But so did she, she was sure.

She would have lifted her other hand to wave, or motion for the child to be off, but it was bogged down with some gifts. Homemade goods to tide the Intoner over. So instead she settled with closing the distance between herself and him. She briefly glanced at the child, but returned her gaze to the assassin. ]

Child, forgive me but I need to speak with my fellow. [ One's voice was surprisingly crisp, calm as she dismissed the child. It hardly matched the way she was carrying herself, shoulders slightly drawn inward, an arm curled around her middle. ] Do you need assistance?

General Hux | Open - tw: mild gore

[endoftherepublic]

WAR - On the Beach

A.
[at first, the battle had seemed far off from where Hux had been standing on the beach. In all honesty, he much preferrs it that way. He's a strategist; a commander of armies, placing them in the path of their enemies and using them to slowly restore order to the chaos around them. Being right in the middle of battle doesn't suit him the way it does Phasma or Ren.

Unfortunately, this state does not last long. Some of Noir's ships had broken past Blanc's line, and Hux watches with narrowed eyes as they approach. He isn't particularly a fan of how close they're getting. Hux yanks his blaster out of his belt and flicks the switch on the side--the blaster makes a whirring sound in reaction, gears turning as the barrel extends and lengthens, parts of the gun shifting until it is less a blaster and more of a sniper rifle, with a sight flipping up on top of the barrel during the last of its transformation. As it changes, Hux moves towards a crop of rocks at the beach--it's low to the ground, so he has to drop to one knee to place the rifle on top of it. Once settled, he shifts the butt of the rifle up onto his shoulder, closing one eye to aim down the sight. From here he can see mages on the ships, the soldiers, the crew.

He shifts the aim of the rifle, breathes in then breathes out slowly as he pulls the trigger. The gun goes off with a cracking sound, jolting against his shoulder. By now he's gotten more used to the recoil; it's not something one usually had to deal with when working with blasters. Never-the-less, his shot holds true: the helmswoman drops like a sack of bricks, a round hole in her forehead and the back of her head blown out from the force of his shot. Hux shifts the rifle, swinging the sight slightly to observe reactions--the soldiers on the ship are in an immediate uproar, one grabbing at the helm to keep it steady, others looking for the source of the shot, and still more seem to be clamoring to get off the boat and onto the shore as soon as possible.

Hux's mouth twists slightly as he glances at them. He can't take out all of them this way; they are approaching too quickly and he doesn't have enough bullets.

How annoying.

They're getting closer now, so he'll have to move. He shifts the rifle off his shoulder and moves to stand, hopefully to find a better place to take shots at their opponents. Unfortunately, even as he moves to do so, the mages on the ship seem to have gotten impatient and several of them have sent whirlwinds hurling towards the short and, more specifically, at Hux himself]


B.
[Two ships of Noir soldiers have landed on the beach, and the result is chaos. At least they also have the power of the Blanc army with them as well, for the little good it does. They're meat shields, but Hux will take what he can get and do his best to use that to his advantage. He's currently found a way to remove himself from the battle proper and discovered and outcropping of rocks further up the beach which he can crouch behind with his sniper rifle and fire off shots at Noir soldiers. He has to be judicious with his bullets; he only has a few left. How annoying.

One would think him to be relatively safe, as set up as he is. He's currently crouched behind the outcropping of rocks, his sniper rifle propped up on top, bent down on one knee with one eye closed to look down the sight on his sniper rifle. He seems to be taking aim, breathing in, preparing to fire--and he's so focused on this, he doesn't notice the Noir soldier sneaking up on him silently from behind.]

AFTERMATH

A.
[The crush of the crowd is, frankly, overwhelming. Not that the loyalty gleaned from these people won't be a boon, but Hux is unused to the press of so many bodies. It's disconcerting, compounded by the fact that he is dirty and scraped up and his uniform singed in spots where he was barely dodging lightning. His blaster is clipped back onto his belt and he has a hand resting on it, as stabilizing as it will get. He's currently being chattered at by an owner of one of the local hotels, who is inviting him in to rest up in the hotel.

Oddly, Hux seems reticent to accept for some reason.]

B.
[Wildcard! HMU, I'm pretty much open to anything. This also goes for the war prompt; it was just easier to put it down here.]

A!!

[hoasen]

[She's not looking better, honestly, and yet, just like normal, she looks at his condition--]

Are you alright, General Hux? [Then she realised she was interrupting.] O-oh, I apologise.

lux crownguard | ota

[rememberher]

[A.]

[ In many ways, it felt dishonest fighting someone else's war. Generations of pent-up aggressions were lost on her, the history of skirmishes and hostilities meaningless in the grand scheme of things. That they were summoned here solely for that purpose, and it infuriated her to some degree. She could understand their struggle, empathize with it in fact, but the fact that this was not her home, not the country that she had sworn to protect...

Watching preparations being made, Lux tucked a few golden strands behind her ear, her expression complicated and shielded. The young blond never fought on the front lines—that was more her brother's speed—and while combat was hardly new to her, fighting on this grand scale was. Shaking her hands, trying to will that bit of cold nervousness that settled in her fingers to abate, she looked for somewhere that she could be useful.

She was the light of Demacia, their lady of luminosity, and a hope for the people. This wasn't her world, this wasn't her war, but the least that she could do was bring a bit of warmth and light to these pale and hopeless faces. Frustration had no place here. ]

That looks heavy. Did you want some help?

[B.]

[ It was over, it was done. Their first battle—her first battle—with Noir, and even as the triumphant cries of her new comrades roared over the thunderous cacophony of cannon and storm blasts, Lux could feel the energy draining from her every pore. The makeshift harness that she used to keep herself from being thrown overboard still attached on her waist, she watched as the coastline closed in.

They had done it. But the work wasn't over yet.

She wanted to sit. Collapse, even. But that would be for later (much, much later, behind closed doors). Watching as crewmen and combatants clasped shoulders and embraced, the young pawn took in a deep breath. This wasn't her world; this wasn't her war. And yet she felt both drained and energized. It was odd. She wanted to make landfall, wanted a nice, warm meal and and soft bed to melt into. But for the time being, she unlatched her carabiner and threw herself at the nearest soldier in a celebratory embrace, laughing heartily.

They did it. They won. ]

[WILDCARD.]

[ Come at me! ]

B

[theskyenceguy]

[already on shore as Lux's vessel pulls in is Ema, who had unfortunately been taken out of the naval battle early. . . what, with how her group managed to sink their own ship, steal a Noir ship, and then crash said Noir ship against land. everyone else on the shore might be celebrating their victory, but Ema does her best to hang back on the edges of the crowds, her arms crossed and her head bowed]

[she looks worn. absolutely worn, and perhaps a bit guilty. she hadn't realized how harsh a real battle actually was, and she can't help but feel, deep down, that despite the victory she personally had lost]

[Lux, when she reaches the shore again, may find Ema quickly trying to weave her way through the crowds to head back to the city. back to her hotel room. back to a place where she can bury her head in a pillow and just sleep for the next seven to ten hours]

Emil – Unteamed Knight – Open

[forbothofus]

I. Before the Battle – Beach
In an effort to keep away from magitech, Emil avoids the fleet and finds himself patrolling the beach. Not the most pleasant of jobs; he's soaking wet and only his mana-sight allows him to discern what's around him in the darkness and fog.

Chances are you either stumbled into him or he found you. But for all the discomfort, he offers a warm smile. "It's rough out here, huh? I wish they’d given us some warm cider while we wait."

II. Mid-Battle – Inside the Fort
He was out on the shore, battling against Noir mages (and winning), when a mana cannon boomed no more than a mile away. And then Emil learned a valuable lesson: staying on the beach during the naval battle was a terrible decision.

His scream was almost drowned by the concussion of the cannon. He was lucky some of the Graupera soldiers assumed him struck by a spell and stepped in to cut down the mages for him, or he would have woken in Caissa some hours later. Someone retrieved him from where he was lying in the sand and directed him to retreat to the wall.

The experience still has him shaking as he stumbles into the safety of Wall Laci. The walls shudder behind him under impact; he should move further in before the last of his mana reserves are lost. Visibly he only has a few scorch marks and a light cut on one cheek, which stings when he grimaces. He may have left a number of felled Noir soldiers in his wake, but mana depletion bled most of his strength, and his sword is held useless in his right hand. Squinting in the rain, he seeks shelter and a safe place to recover.

[Will match format as always! Posts are spoiler-free by default, but that may be changed by request.]

II

[topkong]

He looks dazed, and that's why Wukong is sprinting over toward Emil with whatever energy he has left. Not that it takes mana to move with purpose, but having used most of it just to get through the soldiers to make it to this relatively safe place... well, he's lucky to be here.

Using his jacket as a makeshift rain guard, he hastily reaches out to hang it over the both of them and guide Emil over to an overhang where he had been resting only moments before. He has no shame using clothes, including mandated uniforms, as makeshift bandages and other necessary things.

Finally getting to a place where the rain or wind falls hard on either of them, he slumps against the wall. His tail, wrapped in scraps of cloth, is bent in an awkward fashion.

"... I'd ask if you're okay, but I'm pretty sure we're both feeling the same way."

Tieria Erde | Off-ship | OTA

[buildyourworld]

A: Nobody swims in this weather!
[ He knew it. He's not even surprised when he ends up in the sea with his team. Any attempt to regroup however, is gone with the waves but Tieria is glad he managed to fry the Noir ship they were fighting with a well placed lightning spell, assisted by the great storm. Screams and howls of Noir's soldiers sounds like music to his ears in the collateral damage he inflicted. If he's swimming, they better be dead.

With that done, he's swimming to the shore, grabbing one of the floating plank for extra support against the rowdy waves.

If you're nearby and needs help, he wouldn't mind letting you have half the plank. Or did you perhaps noticed him smirking while watching those Noir soldiers burns from the lightning he send? ]

B: Victory is when he doesn't need to bleach his uniform, again.
[ He's in zero mood for celebration, so instead of staying back like some of the heroes, Tieria pushes his way out of the crowd, looking for a quiet spot to rest. He's exhausted from being low on mana and fighting on shore (he knew he made the right decision picking up Forseti). He's also sporting a couple of cuts and bruises but eh, he's dealing with them, by gritting his teeth mostly because he sucks at healing.

If you're nearby, don't bother him.

Really. Don't. ]

C: Wildcards
[ Hit me up with anything! ]

B. I'm so sorry (no I'm not)

[rememberher]

[ Even with her own reserves nearly tapped out, it's hard for the sunshine youth to fully turn off. Working her way out of the large crowd, she happened upon another Hero, drenched from his impromptu dip in the ocean. Luck must be on your side today, Tieria, as someone with a medical bag and a sudden burst of energy half-jogs toward him.

That's what you wanted, right? ]

Excuse me? You look hurt. Are you all right?

[ No matter how she answers, she approaches. Better accept your fate. ]