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

hello hello

[dualitea]

[ Henry's vision wavers - it takes time for him to focus, but Allelujah's presence makes it that much easier. Having a friend helps settle his thoughts, even more than the fact that his alternate self had effectively switched off. ]

Yes... I had to. There were too many of them.

[ There's caked blood all over his uniform and skin - not all of it is his, but those that are cover a significant part of his clothes. Just as with before, Edward fights with absolutely no intent to defend himself, revelling in sheer bloodshed and letting madness blot out any injuries he's received. After that was all over, he had simply ditched Henry to deal with the painful aftermath.

It's life as usual, really. Except it's a lot more agonizing now that he doesn't have a Master to heal him. And it goes without saying that Edward had killed every single one of those soldiers who fought him.

Henry is not proud of it. ]

I'm sorry.

[praises]

[ Allelujah looks him over, unable to immediately tell what blood is his and what isn't. He does so even when he knows all too well it doesn't make a difference where the blood came from, either way. The wounds would be both physical and psychological. Being injured, taking lives in light of it, succumbing to a whole different force that exists within him.

He knows, and yet... ]

There were no civilian casualties. You don't have to be sorry. [ Steeling himself, he finally approaches. ] You — both of you, did what needed to be done.

[ After a moment, he offers his arm for support. ]

We should get you to an infirmary, all right?

we can have her parents come fetch her in the next tag or sth

[dualitea]

[ No civilian casualties... if this was anyone else, he might have not believed them. But this is Allelujah, a friend who has never shunned him for his dual nature - and that, more than anything, gets him to smile.

He believes him. ]

I hope I did enough.

[ Maybe that's what matters. ]

We should, but... [ He glances at the girl now, still frolicking with Alle's carrier. ] I can't leave her alone.

[praises]

[ It was their ranks, the Blanc soldiers, who didn't fare so well. Not without the same gifts that the Heroes were blessed with to protect them, to fight back. Fleetingly, Allelujah feels as though it's unfair, but he says nothing. Maybe the brief flash of sympathy is enough to give him away, but he smooths it over with a glance to the young girl still enthralled with Rosalind's antics.

He's silent a moment, torn, because he and children... well, there's nothing for it, now. ]

We can take her with us. There's a better chance of finding her parents if we're moving.

[ Allelujah looks back over at him, clearly trying to do both Right Things here. ]

let's have the parents come back soonish so we can continue o9

[dualitea]

[ For the moment, Henry nods - but then the girl's noticed that they're speaking about her, so she replies: ]

Mama and Papa told me to stay here and wait for them! They'll be right back. Mister Hero has been protecting me.

[ At that, Henry gives a somewhat sheepish look - he hasn't really done anything except sit here, so... ]

[praises]

[ Hoping to get her to come along with them so long as Henry is able to get moving towards medical attention, Allelujah kneels, his Carrier following suit and bounding over to them. Before he can speak, however, there's a pointed break in the crowd up ahead. A young couple, the woman with a shallow basket on her arm, approach. His glimmer of hope is realized when they call out to the girl, and her whole face lights up. ]

Mama! Papa!

[ She takes off, and Rosalind almost goes after her, if not for Allelujah's quick tap on his shield to keep her near. He stands as the child reaches her parents, getting scooped up by the father. The mother approaches, smiling gratefully. ]

Thank you so much for keeping an eye on her. We never would have been able to give these out, if not for you — oh! Silly me. Here we are!

[ She reaches into the basket and scoops up a handful of bright carnations, all but pushing them into Allelujah's hands. As the family leaves, he overhears them chattering, "They really are our Heroes, aren't they?", and then he's finally able to put his attention where it needs to be.

Albeit it now with a handful of flowers. ]

H. We should get going.

[dualitea]

[ When the girl's parents approach, Henry tries his best to keep his smile on - it doesn't waver, not by the slightest, but he's practically functioning on willpower now and probably won't last much longer. ]

We should. Thank you.

[ For speaking for him, when he clearly lacks the strength. The flowers are a nice touch, but he doubts he can accept them right now. ]

Shall we, go back to the Fort?

[ He rises shakily, leaning on his crutch. At least, he's able to manage this. ]

[praises]

[ Gaze keen on Henry's movement, Allelujah frowns, concern creasing into his brow. While he'd like to allow him a little pride in the shadow of their victory, he can't reconcile allowing him to continue on as injured as he is. ]

Yes, I'd like to. But first, I don't really think you should be walking. Would you mind...

[ — leaning on him, just for a little while. ]

[dualitea]

[ If this was any other moment, he might have refused. But he knows he isn't strong, and that Allelujah is in better shape than he is.

So he nods. ]

Only if it's not inconvenient for you, of course. Thank you...

[ He's dirtied enough as it is, and some of it is probably going to rub off on Allelujah's clothes. ]

[praises]

Not at all. A victory isn't the only thing that ends a battle. [ Not when there's fellow Heroes to see to. With that, Allelujah moves to Henry's side once he gets confirmation. Blood on his uniform is a small thing in comparison to seeing someone, a friend, to safety. Opposite the crutch, he offers his arm out. ] Here.

[ Beforehand, he would have been slightly cagey about the contact himself. What it reveals about him, and his other. But he's already steeled his resolve, ready for whatever kind of reaction that may come as a result. ]

[dualitea]

[ The arm is taken, and Henry starts leaning on Allelujah as soon as it's appropriate to do so. The moment their mana exchange starts, he freezes - if only because it's a signature that implies something very familiar.

Henry's own mana is similar, yet different - not two distinct ones like Allelujah and his alter ego, but rather one single signature swirling with two distinct perceptions. Red marbled with green, hope mixed with hate, anger barely restrained by control - opposites stitched together by their existence alone. Right now, it is green that dominates over red, but they are perceptible as two things in one. ]

You...

[ He pauses, unsure of how to phrase what he wants to say. ]

... you are like me, aren't you?

[praises]

[ Allelujah is in control, so the mana that reaches forth to meet Henry's is not unlike an impression of light. Like shapes of it upon a backdrop of black, an all-encompassing pulse of sheer reflex. It reacts to him, reacts to that blare of mixed color in its own way. Not kind, not entirely aggressive by the virture of not having the body with which to express it.

Not Allelujah, and yet an undeniable part of him. While Henry struggles to word his question, Allelujah similarly struggles to word his answer. ]

I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner.

[dualitea]

[ That, at least, is easy to respond to. It's definitely a good thing that Edward had been knocked out by the sheer exhaustion of the combat that they had been in before; the delicacy of the situation would be ruined otherwise. ]

It's okay. I understand.

[ In life, it had been a shameful thing for him. He's able to remember how it was, to have to hide an alternate personality - because of the crimes that Edward had committed, he's been trying to atone for them ever since. It set them aside as abnormal, and people will always stone those different if given enough power to do so. ]

[praises]

I know. [ Allelujah can't be grateful in the purest sense of the word. Not that Henry knows the sort of stigma attached to those like them. Unnatural. Inhumane. However his other self may have come about in comparison to Hallelujah, a manifestation of his war, it bears the same marks. ] I felt as though there would never be a right time, really...

[ But he keeps the other man steady as they make their way to the fort. ]

But being able to help is enough.

[dualitea]

[ As a Servant, the discrimination that he had faced had been lessened. He was no longer amongst the people who had gossiped about his original incarnation, instead being pulled across time and space to work with a group of others just like him. His sins were now all branded for the other Servants to see, but yet at the same time he was not shunned to the extent that he had expected to be. There was a certain surreal quality to his living memories now - after all, not all Servants were good in life. There were others who were like him, Anti-Heroes. Those who would accept him, if only because he was not the gravest sinner amongst them all.

But that kind of tolerance and terse understanding wasn't available here. He had to be careful, once again - even if he could maintain control better, he knows it's impossible to erase Edward from his consciousness entirely. The price to pay for immortality. ]

You've helped me far more than I can repay.

[ That's truth, at least in his opinion. ]

I've caused you a lot of trouble because of him. [ You know who. ] He's... horrible. I'm sorry.

[ Vile, filthy, selfish, impulsive - all those sins that he had wanted to cast off in life bundled together in the worst form possible. ]

[praises]

He is you. [ Allelujah assumes that's the case, at least. Like the shades of night and day still being cast upon the same sky. ] Just like my other, Hallelujah, is me.

[ Lifting his free hand, he smooths his bangs up. Both eyes are always visible, but admitting this seems to make the gold sharper, lively. Whatever it is that they've done, whatever crimes there are to atone for, Allelujah understands that Henry is far more than a simple composite of light and dark. There is always a motive, fallout, risk. Allelujah's own crimes far outweigh whatever he feels like he can be forgiven for. Among them is the sin of taking lives — lives like his, maybe like Henry's. Innocent, innocent lives. If Allelujah was ever to have understanding for his situation in his world, he'd violently struck it down with his own two hands. ]

Being made to live with the contradiction is enough, no matter how terrible. So please, don't apologize to me.

[dualitea]

[ He, who created an elixir in an attempt to banish all evil from his body - and in turn, created a monster even more horrifying than he could every become. Was this darkness unleashed from a place that had always been hidden inside him, or was it created to be of the same measure of evil as the measure of kindness in his heart? That, even he does not know.

A Servant who was not one, but truly two - one which became two, by whatever means.

He has nothing he can say. ]

Thank you...

[ He's never actually seen Hallelujah before, but he knows they were of different circumstance. And yet, he cannot ask any more. ]