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

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!

[tarotcards]

[ Souji has always considered himself one of the luckier ones of the arrivals, only because he had experience fighting in battle. His reflexes are sharper than one would expect from a teenager of his age and he doesn't blink twice when he's tossed in the middle of a mission. However, even with all he had done back home, he never had to deal with being placed a ship and having the battle the elements. ]

[ It's tough, he has to admit. He gets chills from the cold rain and he has to brace himself whenever the ship rocks and shakes. It's a brand new experience, one far greater than anything he ever had to go through, but he keeps a levelled and determined mindset and attends to his duties. ]

[ He's up on deck to check on the conditions of the crew when Yata holds out his hand and he immediately takes it with his own. He hasn't been using his mana at all so there's more than enough to share. ]

[ He looks on over to other parts of the ship, trying to gauge the situation. ]

How are we holding up?!

[ He yells through the rain and wind. His voice is definitely going to give out after this. ]

[probending]

[Korra keeps an eye on Yata and Souji. She understands that this will require teamwork, and so that requires taking down the barrier when he's about to attack. She puts it back up seamlessly at first so there are no gaps in their defenses, but as the battle drags on her timing starts to lag a bit. She's still raring to go, though. She won't stop fighting until she can't stand-- and she's not there yet.

At this point she understands what mana transfer is. She takes Souji's other hand without thinking about it. The feeling of mana transfer is pleasant even on her end, and since Korra doesn't really mind physical contact, it revitalizes her rather than freaking her out.]

Feel that? We're doing just fine!

[Her eyes scan the sea, waiting for any sign of a projectile. She can't just leave the barrier up all the time; she needs to time it correctly.]

[rollin]

[ The mana flows into him and it's almost as if he's breathing in a new life, ready to take on their attackers. The storms and seas rock their ship, but Yata remains steadfast. He grips the cannon, red flame-like mana gathering at the barrel. ]

Korra! I'm firing!

[ But as Yata fires the cannon, a Noir cannonball imbued with fire heads straight for their boat! ]

[tarotcards]

[ Souji has more than enough mana to go between Yata and Korra, and he has all of his mana potions in his bag so he gives them as much as he can. He's almost back to trying to refill up the generators when he sees an attack coming their way. ]

Korra-san, the barriers!

[ Will they even make it in time?! ]

[probending]

[And here's the choice: totally waste some ammo, or risk taking a huge hit. Korra doesn't hesitate. The mana transfer is like a jolt of adrenaline to her weary limbs.]

I'm on it!

[There's just a split second after Yata fires-- a brief window for her to activate the barrier without nullifying their own onslaught. But Korra has excellent hand-eye coordination. The blast explodes harmlessly and dissipates against the invisible wall.

Meanwhile, Yata's not a bad shot. Korra cheers a little preemptively, maybe, but it's good to celebrate when you can.]

We got 'em! Keep at it!!

[Time to guzzle that mana potion.]

[tarotcards]

[ The barriers are truly what's keeping this ship still floating but they could only last for so long. With the water supply draining, they're quite possibly in danger of being left open and Souji quickly realizes this. ]

[ He pulls out two potions from his bag, twists off the caps, and hands them one each to Yata and Korra. These should hopefully last them until he makes his way back to helping. ]

I'm refueling the generators! Keep sure your mana levels don't drop too low!

[probending]

[Korra takes the mana potion gratefully and flashes Souji a smile of thanks. She's too busy for pleasantries right now. Maybe after she chugs this thing.

... which she does. Amazingly. She could probably take Yosuke in a chugging contest. ANYWAY...]

Thanks. Yata, barrier's ready!

[ooc: I hope breaking the order is ok, I need one more comment for AC and everyone seems pretty indisposed otherwise. If it's not I'll delete and sit on my hands np.]

[rollin]

[ ooc: It's fine! Sorry for holding the thread up; was recovering from an illness. ]

[ Yata catches the mana potion and takes a swig or two, or... Four, and the empty bottle gets tossed aside. ]

Ugh, that shit's nasty. [ His hands are both back on the cannon. Status? He could be better, but he has to keep going if they're going to win this. ] Aight, let's do this!

[ A glowing red ball of mana begins to form in the cannon's barrel once more as he aims for the enemy's hull. ]

Korra, on your cue!

[ But the moment she shuts the barrier off, a large wyvern-like gust from the Noir ship zooms right towards them! ]

1!

[tarotcards]

[ Quartermaster, huh? Well, that doesn't seem too bad, really. Souji wouldn't necessarily call himself a healer (he normally had Yukiko and Teddie cover the group's healing), but he certainly isn't unfamiliar with it. It's nothing he can't handle so he's not complaining too much about his job. He might need to run around the ship to understand how the ship works, though, since that's one of his responsibilities, but first, they need to get all these supplies on the ship. This is just... pure physical labour, and who knows how they're going to manage to drag a giant generator onto the ship. That's going to require teamwork and a strong back. ]

[ In the meanwhile, he rolls a barrel onto the ship and sets it upright in a corner with the rest. He stands up straight, cracking his back, and wipes the sweat off his brow. Hm. It's probably simple enough to figure out who are his teammates, so... ]

Are you guys all right so far?

[probending]

[Korra follows Souji up there, carrying a barrel under each arm. She's ridiculous. She already has a nice collection of barrels placed beside the generator, though she hasn't attempted to drag the machine up there yet. She's getting there.]

Doing just fine!

[She gives him a grin and a salute.]

I'm Korra. I've been handy around boats for a while but I can't say I've ever used something like this. [There's bending used in the navy, but that's General Iroh's thing... not hers.]

[rollin]

[ Following Korra is Yata, carrying one barrel and sure as hell wishing he carried two. Damn, where does Korra get it? Did she undergo some secret training or is she just crazy strong? Maybe he should try two barrels next time.

Souji's weak, by the way. ]

Yata. I ain't been on a crew before, but that woman's crazy if she thinks we'll sail smoothly with a week of training.

[tarotcards]

[ EXCUSE U, Souji can swing a mighty sword but he's not about brute strength, okay. Korra and Yata can have their own barrel holding contest. ]

And I'm Souji. [ He offers a smile. Not salute, but a smile! ] I haven't done anything like this before either, so we'd have to make sure to pay extra attention during training.

Maybe you can show us the ropes, Korra-san.

[probending]

[Barrel lifting is fun. You're missing out, Souji.]

Nice to meet both of you. [She tilts her head.] Well, these boats are a bit different than the ones I'm used to. These can't be used for hunting, and I'm not sure how these machines work aside from the little bit they showed us. I'm sure I can manage it though.

[That's her job after all.]

Both of you can swim, right? If you can't, don't be afraid to tie yourself to the railing. It's gonna be slippery.