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

[hymnals]

[ All right, all right. He takes a bite. The barest little nibble, his teeth scraping the red skin and only just striking at the meat beneath. But it's something.

He licks his lips. ]

Happy?

[sediments]

[ The smug look on Bolin's face suggests that he is definitely happy, and he lets the apple drop back into Adra's lap with a victorious ] yep! [ arms extending upward in a victory pose before dropping unceremoniously back onto the bed with a sigh, as though having accomplished some great feat. ]

You bit it, now you have to finish it.

[ Feeling so proud tbh. ]

[hymnals]

[ It's true that Adra hates wasting food. He makes an aggrieved noise in his throat as he takes another, more substantial bite. ]

Please. I would have eaten it -- eventually.

[ He thumps Bolin's chest, lightly. ]

I'm not a child, you know.

[ DOESN'T NEED THE FOOD POLICE ]

1/2

[sediments]

Oof.

[ Bolin grunts in response to being thumped, though it hadn't hurt at all. He doesn't respond to Adra's statement, because he knows that the elf isn't a child, and he doesn't feel the need to say anything to placate Adra's irritation. ]

You hit me.

[ So he whines instead, pushing out his lower lip as he looks back at his friend. ]

[sediments]

[ Then, like he's allowed to change the topic: ]

Are those the reason you're always so covered up?

[ The question is vague, though it's obvious to tell what he means with the way that his eyes are openly curious, following the trails of tattoos over Adra's neck and collarbones. ]

[hymnals]

I did not hit you. I don't hit people. I tapped you.

[ Adra follows the line of Bolin's gaze. He shifts uncomfortably, frowning. ]

No. I cover up because my bare skin isn't everyone's goddamned business. The tattoos are just--incidental.

[sediments]

[ That's fair enough. It's easy for Bolin to accept that people have different levels of comfort; whether they prefer to bare their skin or hide it makes no difference to him, and he doesn't need to find a reason for it.

The tattoos though, they're still interesting, and he keeps his gaze on them, curious, rather than looking Adra in the eye. ]

So what are they for? Are they a sign of your status?

[hymnals]

[ He laughs--a short, harsh bark. ]

Status? Hilarious.

[ He glances down at his own wrist, and for a moment his expression darkens. He seems far away, as though recalling an unpleasant memory. He draws back the sleeve of his robe, revealing more swirling patterns; every line glows softly red, casting shadows over Adra's pale skin. ]

They're not of any use in this world. But in Azeroth, they limited my ability to cast offensive magic.

[sediments]

[ Status seemed like the logical conclusion to Bolin, especially as they glow and change, his eyes widening at the sight. They reminded him originally of the tattoos that master airbenders would receive, though now hearing Adra's explanation...

It's like they're binding something. ]

Oh, you got them because you wanted to focus on healing?

[ Which makes sense, since Adra seems to be very firm about not using his magic to hurt. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra supposes he could just say 'yes' and leave it at that. It wouldn't even be a lie, totally. He did want to focus on healing. But that wasn't why he got the tattoos. ]

No. I got them because I had--control issues.

[sediments]

[ Maybe they're not exactly something that Adra is proud about; memories that aren't all that pleasant. Bolin probably shouldn't stare so openly, so he drags his gaze away to look at his friend's face instead, eyes wide. ]

You were too powerful?

[ He's pushing himself up on his elbows now, obviously engrossed in the conversation. ]

[hymnals]

I have ... hmn.

[ He brushes his long hair away from his face; furrows his owlish eyebrows. ]

A condition. Fire in the blood. When I was younger, sometimes it just--got out.

[sediments]

Fire in the blood?

[ Okay, first of all, that sounds cool as hell. But Bolin doesn't say this, and does his best to make sure that it doesn't show on his face, because it's obviously that caused Adra a lot of struggle - to the point that he'd had to get his body tattooed. ]

Ah... I don't really know what to say. [ Fire in the blood sounded like a way to describe a firebender, except Bolin knows he needs to start thinking outside of the paradigm of the Four Nations. ] So you don't miss your offensive magic at all?

[ Even though it was part of him?? ]

[hymnals]

It never went anywhere.

[ To illustrate the point, fire appears along the length of Adra's arm, along the lines of his upturned palm. The tips of his fingers alight, burning so hot that the edges of the flame shiver blue. ]

The tattoos bound the intensity, not the spells themselves. And I could break the enchantment, if I wanted, though at cost. But there was no way to fully negate something so intrinsic to my biology.

[ He observes his own arm clinically. ]

I don't how better to explain it. When I was born, I melted my crib.

[sediments]

[ The first thought that Bolin has is, selfishly, wondering why his earthbending is gone then. Isn't that also part of him? He'd been born an earthbender, just because it wasn't as obvious as the way that Mako always tended to run warm doesn't mean that it wasn't part of his physical self.

But he shakes those thoughts away, instead pushing himself up so that he's sitting upright again, watching the lines along Adra's arm. ]

Well, that makes sense. That must be why I like you so much. [ He jokes, gently jostling the other man with his elbow. ] My brother likes to set fire to things too.

[hymnals]

[ The flames extinguish with a soft, smoky 'poff' sound. ]

I don't like setting things on fire. That was the whole point --

[ Ah, but. Bolin is being jovial. He sighs. ]

You must mean your elemental bending.

[sediments]

Yeah, it was my brother's element.

[ He crosses his arms and sighs. ]

Firebending is the cool and edgy style of bending; popular with the girls and all that.

[ Even though it's not even as rare as waterbending or earthbending! Some people are just attracted to danger, he thinks, and fire is the most dangerous of the four. (Not counting... bloodbending, he guesses.) ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra raises an eyebrow. ]

I've never been popular with anyone.

[ Shrugging. ]

But all mages can access all elements. The only limit to magic in Azeroth is your own will. Similar to Enprise, really.

[ He jabs a thumb at Bolin. ]

Which means all is not lost for you, my friend.

[sediments]

[ What a crazy idea! Being able to manipulate all the elements... like everyone's the Avatar.

He just quirks an eyebrow at Adra. ]

What do you mean?

[hymnals]

I know you miss what you could do before. My own spellcraft isn't what it once was. But you might be able to get a bit of it back, if you're willing to try.

[sediments]

[ Bolin smiles a little hesitantly at that. ]

Oh, yeah. Korra's been training me to use earth magic. I'm not that good at it though.

[ Maybe he doesn't want to be. Which is unusual for Bolin, who usually isn't so stubborn about things. Perhaps he's more bitter about having lost his earthbending than he's willing to admit—to the point where it's hindering his progress here. ]

[hymnals]

[ Hmm. Adra, ever perceptive, folds his arms over his chest. ]

You don't sound terribly enthusiastic. Strange, given how excitedly you talked up this bending back when I first met you.

[sediments]

[ Hunching his shoulders defensively, Bolin shrinks away from the other man. ]

I'm not good at magic, that's all there is to it. [ He's no stranger to struggling futilely against something that he just wasn't suited for. Except back home he'd given up on metalbending and mastered lavabending instead. ] I'll learn something else. There's a lot of stuff here that I've never seen before.

[hymnals]

Hey, Bolin.

[ He leans forward. ]

Last I checked, you were a grown man. Don't start regressing.

[sediments]

[ Irritation sparks, and Bolin turns an uncharacteristically angry look toward Adra. It's rare for the earthbender to get angry, but this is obviously a sore spot for him. ]

I'm not regressing! I'm expanding my horizons. I don't need magic to be a good fighter.

[ Well, he's getting by. Surprise surprise when he gets promoted to a Queen. ]