DUNGEON ♛ GISELA TOWERS

[boardmaster]

GISELA TOWERS
20 MAY (VALLARIA) 2016

High in the skies, the howling winds tangled around the Gisela Towers make it difficult to hear anything. The monolithic structures believed to exist only in legend or harpy memories loom over you. The thick ropes of ivy crawling up the length of each tower is the only sign of life. Every now and then, shadow seems to pass overhead. It might just be a trick of the light.

Instead of the usual suspects, another familiar face comes forward to greet our Heroes: the devil-may-care Lei, captain and commander supreme of the Airy.

Lei Nervous that your commanders ain’t here? Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. So! Here we are at this… thing. Something something tragic romantic tale about a dragon and a phoenix. Anyway, it’s stupid and you don’t gotta know. Ask one of your commanders later or bribe me with a drink. Now for something more important— [ the winds roars loudly, muting lei’s voice. but heroes can watch his hand gestures and actions as he teaches them how to use the grappling hook: aim and shoot the gun. maybe twirl it with a fancy flourish first ] —did you get that? All right, good! I don’t have enough hooks, so you’re gonna have to share. And take good care of them, I want them back! Now get in there and clear it ASAP! I ain’t got all day to fly you all back home!

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

ONE ♙
One does not simply walk into the Gisela Towers. The only way in is up the long and weathered staircase that wraps around the structure. However, the thing is riddled with missing steps, weak stones and slippery condensation from the cloud cover, so you’re going to need a little help. Should you attempt to climb the stairs, they will crumble beneath your feet at best and bury you beneath their rubble at worst.

This is where Lei’s newfangled(?) contraptions will come in handy! The pockmarks and small ledges created by weathering in the first tower’s structure could prove useful. There are, of course, a limited number of grappling hooks available, so you’ll have to partner up if you want your party to get anywhere. Parties of four are given two of these guns, while the poor souls with less party members get one.

Gisela’s gale-force winds will knock you around and make it seem like the towers are close to toppling over. However, as you make your way up you’ll see that the towers are actually far from abandoned.

MONSTER ♟ Ocypete
Weak against Lightning	Strong against Wind	Immune to None
Regarded as abominations of the avian world, ocypetes are BIRDS the size of horses, which would be incredibly advantageous if they had wings. The offspring of a human and a harpy, ocypetes have HUMAN ARMS that they use to scale surfaces and strong TALONS that can crush rock. They don’t fly, but they do RIDE THE WIND with the use of their long tail feathers, which possess magical wind properties and are nearly twice as long as they are tall. They would look almost elegant if they didn’t have a tendency to flap their arms while gliding. Legend has it that when the phoenix left the towers, the ocypetes were accidentally left behind because dragons plucked their wing feathers, making them look kind of funny. Now with a few millennia’s worth of abandonment issues on their semi-feathered shoulders, they’ll seek to prevent Heroes from ascending the towers by any means necessary with an odd variation of Airy MARTIAL ARTS. Their TAILFEATHERS may be acquired as loot.

What will Heroes encounter once they finally make it inside? More broken staircases, more monsters, even stronger winds blowing in from cracks in the walls and the foot of the tower (which is open to the air), and no floor whatsoever. Gisela’s Towers are hollow! The only footing to be found is on small ledges: some similar to those outside the tower, some that look more artificial; and intact sections of the stairs winding around the walls. You’ll need magic or some ingenuity to stay on your toes—literally! If you lose your grip or footing, it’s a several thousand foot drop back to Gresser. The quickest way down… and the deadliest.


TWO ♙
The treacherous and exhausting climb brings you to a more sturdy area that looks a little less like a wrecking ball just passed through and more like some kind of hive. Blocking your way are dozens of sturdy-looking nests suspended like particularly ugly balls of twine from the walls. These are home to the insectoid Aellos. Tearing the nests apart for loot is only a good idea if you want angry swarms after you.

MONSTER ♟ Aello
Weak against Fire, Lightning	Strong against None	Immune to Wind
Aellos resemble large eagles more than the DRAGONFLIES they’re supposed to be. Mature Aellos can fly, but the flightless and fuzzier larvae are just as formidable. They can HYPNOTIZE with their dozen kaleidoscope-like eyes, rendering targets IMMOBILE but still aware of their surroundings. In order to free them, a fellow Hero must gaze deeply into their eyes for at least 15 seconds. These monsters are also able to SPIT a gelatin-like substance that will stick Heroes to any and every surface and also each other. FIRE will reduce its stickiness. The larvae use hit-and-run tactics: they hunker down in their nests, peek over the edge and launch gobs of spit. The flying aello like to drop their SPIT BOMBS from above and occasionally also release a POWDER that ruins visibility and makes you sneeze. Feeling adventurous? Why don’t you give the spit a lick? It’s actually totally EDIBLE, tastes like jello, and is filled with mana. Just be sure to heat it up so you don’t get your mouth stuck shut. Their GELATIN SPIT and INSECT PARTS may be acquired as loot.

The staircases at this altitude are in better shape than the ones you have—or haven’t—been using. That doesn’t mean they’re any less dangerous. Not only do the Aellos chase you down here; traps are hidden in the steps as well. Some may act like quicksand, trapping an unwary Hero halfway into the stone. Others are enchanted with wind spells that can toss you up in the air, the long way back down to the ground, or blow your skirt upward. There might even be some that provoke the pesky bugs even more!

This floor has flowers and trees creeping their way in from the outside and covering every inch of the place, including treacherous weaknesses in the path. Behind these overgrown plants is a mural depicting a sensual dance between a dragon and a harpy. In order to advance, at least two Heroes will have to mimic the dance painted on the walls to open the door.


THREE ♙
A barrier prevents you from progressing any further. Magic, physical attacks or sheer willpower will do nothing. To dissolve it, you must create a concoction from the random ingredients available on the table and splash it on the barrier. There is no set recipe, so trial and error and a little creativity will be your friends! Along with your trusty party Bishop, of course. (You did bring one, didn’t you?) Those not well-versed in alchemy may end up with potions that explode upon completion, splashing party members standing too close with a variety of strange side effects ranging from mild body horror to a bad case of halitosis. The unfortunate effects seem to differ from Hero to Hero, and they last for a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Once your party crosses the barrier, you will find yourselves outside. The skies are darkening, but you’re still able to discern another tower wrapped in the clouds. A bridge once connected the two structures, but most of it is missing. Use those grappling hooks!

Upon entering the second tower, a marble floor at odds with everything from the last tower will greet you. Lift your head and you’ll find that the rest of the tower is also hollow all the way up; those heights allow room for fountains and waterfalls. It’s a suitable area to replenish mana and rest. Parched throats can be quenched with the sparkling water all around you, but approach any waterfalls and they will start moving in a very unwaterlike way.

MONSTER ♟ Celaeno
Weak against Lightning	Strong against Fire, Earth	Immune to Water
Possessed by pride and cursed by the phoenix’s wrath, these dragons are nothing like the ones you encountered before. Celaeno resemble huge snakes made of water and possess ENCHANTED SCALES that float through their bodies and render them extremely RESISTANT to both magical and physical attacks. You will have to find WEAK POINTS in their protective aura. Hopefully you have a Knight or Bishop on your team to find those weaknesses as soon as possible! Each dragon’s weak points differ. Fortunately, all Celaenos go down easily once you find that soft spot. They use their long, slender tails like WATER WHIPS to knock down or douse their targets; the force of a tail may equal that of a fire hose at full blast! The only time it sheds its armor is to shapeshift into a WATER PRISON that can trap one or more enemies. Try not to attack it while a Hero is trapped inside; it will hurt your friend as well! Use STATUS EFFECTS to confuse or distract them so the prison loses shape. Their ENCHANTED SCALES, SMALL GEMS, and DRAGON WATER may be acquired as loot.

Without any stairs in sight, the way up lies in those dragons. After their defeat, their magical scales can be put together to form a boat that can ride the waterfalls upwards to the top floors.


FOUR ♙
The skies continue to change once you reach the top. Black clouds begin to close in, stray bits of land that have broken off from the main island hover nearby, and a sudden torrent of powerful mana may disorient your party. A storm is approaching.

Just as the first chunk of hail falls from the sky, a mighty roar reverberates through the darkness. Something very large lands on the walls of the tower and causes a tremor that whittles chunks from the tower and actually rolls the clouds back; is that the toll of thunder, or just more roaring?

Finally, an impressive three-headed dragon emerges from below. Once it has perched itself on the tower, one head speaks in a rumbling growl.

BOSS ♟ Tianya the Thrice-Scorned
Weak against Lightning	Strong against None	Immune to Wind, Fire
“Did that phoenix send you?! Tell her she cannot return! Not even over my dead body!” Unsurprisingly, Tianya ─the dragon once wed to the phoenix─ is more than just a legend. He lowers his heads and another loud, guttural cry fills the skies. For now, he remains STATIONARY at the top of the tower. All three heads attempt to SWALLOW a Hero whole if they get too close. Should you go on the offensive, you may be able to chop off at least one head before he’s pissed off enough to move. The fallen head writhes in agony as it moans: “It hurts… it burns…” At this point, Tianya takes flight. The strong GUSTS from those wings can launch a Hero right off the tower. Use your grappling hook(s) to play floating island hopscotch: evade devastating dive attacks and run from the MANA BEAMS shot from his mouths. “You’ll never understand! I never wanted her!” As you travel from island to island trying to get close enough to deal some real damage, Tianya hides in the CLOUDS to launch ambush attacks. Eventually, a PHOENIX descends from the heavens in a burst of fiery light. However, it’s not the phoenix of legend; it’s actually one of Tianya’s spells, and it will burn away most of your mana if any of its flames make contact. MANA EXCHANGE may be the only way to continue this battle... Once Tianya is down to one head, he will immediately rise higher into the sky. “My last words are for her and her alone.” After Tianya is defeated, the storm clears; Enprise’s twin suns shine once more. That precious DUNGEON CORE floats down, blanketed by a SINGLE LARGE FEATHER, golden and shining in the light. “It’s warm… She was always warm…” A SCORNED DRAGON HEART and a MYSTICAL PHOENIX FEATHER may be acquired as loot.

As soon as both core and feather touch the tower, an ominous rumbling and shaking begins. The Gisela Towers are falling apart and it’s now a race to escape before you’re buried under the rubble.

And don’t forget the grappling hook(s); Lei wants them back.


FIVE ♙
All that’s left of the Gisela Towers is rubble. The dungeon has been conquered, the island reclaimed, and the ruins of the old regime can now become the foundations for something new: the site of the harpies’ homecoming after hundreds of years.

LOCATION ♟ Gisela

An ancient sky island that has existed since time immemorial. What enables Gisela to RIDE THE CLOUDS may be an even greater mystery than the mechanisms powering the Airy. The island appears most frequently above Gresser, though its extraordinary altitude makes it DIFFICULT TO LOCATE. The landscape of Gisela is overgrown with JEWEL-GREEN FORESTS, crisscrossed with gorges and dotted with networks of small caverns. But its crowning glory is the THIN GLEAMING WATERFALLS that flow from its edges and into the sky beyond. The water is embraced by RAINBOWS and condenses into CLOUDS when Gisela is high enough, lending to its unusual weather patterns. Although the island initially seems largely uninhabited apart from the Gisela Towers, there is a SEALED OFF AREA that, when viewed from the air, looks suspiciously like LUSH, TILLED FIELDS. Should you ask Lei about this, he will only give you an unusually stern warning against disturbing it. Looks like you’ve solved the mystery behind the pai tiles. Now that the menacing Towers have been demolished, a variety of animal life — usually airborne — will begin to appear on the island. Some of them you’ve never seen before! The fall of the Towers also uncovered the existence of HOT SPRINGS below; newspapers speculate wildly about the source, but most agree that it must have something to do with the renewed vows between phoenix and dragon. The few structures already in place on the island have been speedily converted into BAZAARS manned by Airy harpies. Most specialize in legal alchemical gimmicks, but there’s always another side to these things. Everyone’s here to soak in the breeze, and by that we do mean everyone. In response to the tourism boom, NEW AEROPORTS have also opened in both Gisela and Gresser to provide reliable transportation between the two locations.

Comments

[babbylon]

[Adrasteius for the save! Gilgamesh lights up at once, spying the little box, and claims one for himself. He digs in eagerly with the chopsticks and—under the guise of eating together—sneaks into a spot beside Saber. He may be their self-appointed leader, but in this single gesture it's clear that their healer is their heart. Just the right thing for just the right occasion.]

Saber! You must come to our home after this. Adrasteius makes the best meals; he can outcook anyone you've ever known, I guarantee it.

[And maybe he just wants an excuse to have her in his house. At any rate, as is typical of the volatile Gilgamesh, his mood has flipped completely on its head.]

He is going to show me his culinary expertise as well! See, I am a man of many talents!

[armorial]

Thank you, Adrasteius. [ Per usual, she gives Adra the respect and appreciation he deserves as healer and their food dispenser. Nodding once as a sign of reverence as she takes the box. For once, she doesn't inch away when Gilgamesh comes closer. ]

I've had some of his pastries before. [ Agreeing without a second though. She doesn't go into detail about that thought, instead opening her respective bento box and eating with much grace despite her ravenous appetite. It's obvious that she's overwhelmed by Gilgamesh's energy, quiet until he stops. She doesn't bat an eyelash at the fact they are living together, but it does make her curious. Either way, it's none of her business.

Also, Shirou will always be the cook for her, but she doesn't disclose that either. No point in raining down on anyone's parade no matter how obnoxious they are. There's a heavy sigh, not agreeing to the invitation nor rejecting it. She just finds a handkerchief in her pocket and offers it to the King of Heroes because you have crumbs on your face, mister. ]

Will you not be eating? [ She's watching Adra with a careful eye now. Does he remember this gaze? It's familiar, isn't it? ]

[dualized]

[With Agito willing, it was safe to say they were all in agreement now. It wasn't Soma's favorite solution either; but she refused to prioritize her own feelings over a logical solution. She takes one grappling hook and hands the other to Jolyne.]

Very well. It's decided. Using the hooks, we'll climb in pairs. But be careful- the winds are strong here.

[dualized]

I can manage. Wait until it's focused on me and then do what you need to.

[All she needs to do is get it's attention-- and with her weapon, that shouldn't be a difficult task. The more it focused on her, the easier it would be for the others to do what they needed to. She trusted they would be able to accomplish as much.]

[sugegasa]

Love is often an inspiration for ceremony and being at one's best. I feel sad for them, that they weren't able to stay together.

[But he continued the ornate movements regardless, hoping against hope that they were performing the ceremony correctly, or at least enough to guide them on a little further.

Shin-Ah may have liked the wall, but Shunsui was hoping it wouldn't be the exact spot he was sitting against that would become their new pathway. That would simply be tragic, he really liked the young man!]

[sugegasa]

[Shunsui figured out Shin-Ah's intent when he saw the dragon continuing to attack him. Feeling the need to protect him (although it was obvious he could easily protect himself!) he unsheathed his katana and followed after the great beast.

The attack was relatively simple, all things considered. He was used to fighting off solid ground, and while he didn't have much mana as yet, the amount he did have was enough to concentrate into a small patch of solidity to rest on in midair, for a second or two.

It should be enough...if only the thing weren't so deadset on moving to attack Shin-Ah.]

[yaoihand]

[ Yes, this sure is an awkward scene. Kija's not actually that good at dancing, so his movements come stiff and in need of guidance. He constantly needs to glance back at the mural to know what to do next.

They probably aren't doing this in a very satisfactory way with that stubborn measure of space they had put between themselves. The dragon and phoenix in the mural are holding each other tenderly.

Despite his unease, Kija thinks they're doing a good job (surely there is a limit to positive thinking)???? It all feels like it's going smoothly until Bolin's foot crushes his, and he's forced to make a pained noise. The other man is not light!! ]

Ow! You stepped on me! You must watch where you're putting those feet!

[sediments]

[ Bolin winces at the accusation, shoulders drawing up in distress and defense. ]

Sorry—you should move faster!

[ He doesn't meant to pin the blame on the other man, but it comes out anyway. What they need to do is zoom through these dance steps so that whatever magic is going to happen happens, and they can move on. This isn't even that awkward, Bolin's not scared of proximity and they're just dancing innocently. But Kija's personality just puts him on edge; makes him defensive.

Huffing a little, he tightens his grip on Kija's hands as he all but starts to drag the other Hero through the steps, waiting for the inevitable jingle to signal that they've completed this task. ]

[yaoihand]

[ Look, he's more focused on the huge bird creatures coming at them from all sides???? The dignity of the other two isn't quite a priority in his mind. Plus, it was Bolin who had offered to carry him!!!!

An ocypete comes swooping in with its claws extended, and Kija grabs hold of it with his humongous hand, tossing it away. The creatures are persistent, however, now coming in twos and threes. As Kija has his hands occupied with wrangling the two bird beasts trying to hassle them, another one sees an opportunity in ... the small girl the two annoying male humans were trying to protect.

It swoops in from the other side, trying to pull Sakura right from Bolin's arms. ]

[sediments]

Whoa!

[ The ocypetes are considerably more determined now, where only one had come before, clawing and pecking at the trio. Perhaps they'd seen the error of their ways and had smartened up to attack in larger groups now. Kija's putting up a good fight on Bolin's back, and the earthbender does his best to ward off the beast grabbing at Sakura's clothes, but he's unarmed, and he opts to wrap one arm around her back instead, the awkwardness forgotten as he does what he can to keep them from yanking the girl away. ]

Kija, they're attacking Sakura! Urgh.

[ Right as a beak digs into his bicep, tearing through his uniform easily and trying to loosen his grip on the girl. This really sucks. ]

[quaria]

[ As Allelujah mulls over the barrier, Setsuna roams around the untouched areas of the alchemy room, or what remains of its ruins. His glance wanders high and low. He eventually looks at a large gap on one of the partitions; it doesn't look like this gap was a weathered crack, it almost seems like a door was here before. He shortly decides to jump onto the old platform and take a glance outside. He makes sure to secure his grip on one of the ivies, not wanting to get blown by the winds.

How long have they been in here? Or is time warped within this dungeon? The skies are dramatically changing for the worst to come... They have to hurry. Prying his gaze away from the heavens, the youngest Meister looks at the aged plant boxes at the tower walls. Among overgrown weeds, there's several herbs that stick out. He reaches out take them before returning to Allelujah's side to show him. ]

Ginseng and star anise...

[ Both common ingredients in Chinese herbal medicine... Though they suppose, they should address it as Ma Jiang in this world. It's not too difficult to notice that Ma Jiang has an outstanding similarity to what they know as China. ]

TEAM SPARKLES (LL, Lux, Guren)

[accordance]

one

[accordance]

[ It is perhaps for the best of them that Lord Light can fly.

He soars through the towers on a pair of white wings, gliding through the air with significantly less efforts than his teammates do. The grapple is given to the other two for use, but it should not be difficult - especially considering what he had told them before they began their ascent.

'Take a steady pace. If you stumble and fall, I will catch you.'

Even with his reduced abilities from godhood, he had been practicing flight and his secondary weapon would provide any boost he needs. For now, it seems that their path is relatively unhindered. ]

I sense something ahead. What can you see?

[ He's able to activate Scan, but that requires him to stay still. ]

three

[accordance]

This is.... a barrier, I think.

[ This he says after walking straight into it in a rather undignified manner. His frequent use of Scan had blurred his perception, dulling his sight down to a human's capabilities and shutting down mana sense entirely. ]

A mechanism, then. Look around. Hidden catches, anything on the walls.

[ He has faint memories of a dream that involved looking for similar things in a dungeon of fire, and it was the same at Salamenca Temple. ]

four

[accordance]

[ It doesn't take a Bishop to be able to tell that they are nearing the end of the dungeon. Air pressure becomes perceptible, storm clouds gather - unsettling especially given how sturdy the last tower proves to be. The possibility of everything crumbling still remains at the back of his mind, and his body is configured to sprout wings at the slightest notice.

It's uncomfortable. But at least it gives them an edge, however slight. ]

Do both of you have dragon combat experience?

[ Tianya is still preoccupied with himself right now, this can give them a few seconds to discuss. If the other two have no suggestions, he will start issuing orders.

Only one of them can fly. This will be difficult. ]

[dualitea]

{ Henry pauses now to focus - his senses are about on par with One's, but by virtue of his innate Servant senses he's able to extend a further reach. ]

Yes, there are ones in that direction. Creatures possibly fliers, or crawlers.

[ There's a bit more of movement from below, now perceptible. Whatever they are, they're bound to come within visible range very soon. ]

Save your sight, Shinoa. Prepare for battle instead, at the rate they're going -

[dualitea]

[ The Assassin turns to examine the table's underside and legs for hidden compartments. ]

I don't think so. Salamenca Temple had a pedestal, but not this one. [ He's read that one out, after all. And no runes on the walls either. ] The one you have your hand around is clean. What's inside is red and clear with no impurities.

[ Shinoa has a good idea, so it just boils down to trying it out. ]

I know this one is Alfersan snake venom, I've used it before. [ Dark green bottle with a snakelike carving on the side. ] And these are moonlight nettles, found near Gresser's rivers to be picked at night. I'll see if I can recognize the rest...

[ Really, he knows all these because he's a habitual scholar. It kind of begets the question of why he's a Knight instead of a Bishop. ]

[dualitea]

[ It's good that One's recovered - just a momentary lapse, one that he will have to follow up with her later - but the battle is the most pressing, and he can only hope that they have not lost too much time.

Given that his last attempt to reason with a dungeon boss didn't go as well, he hadn't been expecting any headway to come of Shinoa's questions. However, it seems to be doing very well at distracting the beast. ]

Um, ice mostly. Ice, with wind and some lightning. I'll see if I can amplify the lightning effects.

[ Ice had work ok the dragons at Gresser, but it seems Tianya is powerful enough to be immune. And now, the same problem presents itself - none of them can fly. ]

I may need to transform. When I do, I ask that the two of you give me a wide berth.

[ Reaching into his shirt, he retrieves the crystal bottle tucked under his lapel. He may have to use it very quickly depending on how fast the dragon goes on its offensive.

You like it, don't you?

Course I do! I've been itching for this kind of shit since FOREVER!

He knows that part of the reason Edward has been so willing to stay docile is Henry's superior maneuverability and the fact that the both of them will die if they fall. Here.... it's different. ]

They've learned so much on What Not To Do (like set Allen's hair on fire).

[dilemmic]

[ Look, a gun is useful for long-range combat and that's what she's used to most of the time, stop judging her water guns. She saved his hair

And technically, he saved her from meeting a very spit-y end too. The air is knocked out of her when she lands on her side, gun clattering away to a dangerous dangling precipice, but there's no doubt that Allen's timing is impeccable: The spit hits the rock just inches behind where they'd been standing with almost alarming accuracy. These things mean business! ]

...ugh. [ That's probably gonna bruise tomorrow too. She removes her hand from where she'd been shielding her face and winces, sitting up. ] Walker, what the--

[dilemmic]

[ Hello, spitballs on a rock.

Hello, ten of these insects peeking over their nests with incessant buzzing. Some have wings and are clearly starting to hover, with an almost malicious glint in their hundred eyes...

This place is officially deemed Not Safe. ]

We're getting out of here.

[ Get up. If any of you two are still out of it, she'll grab you by the scruff of the neck and haul you up. ]

[dilemmic]

[ A room with no doors (or rather, as they would find out later -- one so well hidden deep in the ivy that it's only noticeable when it opens) and a mural on the wall. A mural that still stumps her, by the way, no matter how she looks at it. ]

Decoration?

[ She says it in a tone that's more duh than puzzled. That's usually the use for murals, as far as she's concerned. Maybe it's a cultural relic - they had said that this place was akin to a legend, after all, and something like this wouldn't have been out of place -- but she was no historian. ]

But there doesn't seem to be anything else down here. Did we venture too far down?

[ But should they really go back up? ]

[dilemmic]

Heh...are you sure you should be worrying about me? [ He's the one with the singed hair, the most depleted mana, the one that looks like he's gazed into the abyss. ] I've been better, but it's nothing too serious.

[ Working at JP's had been no safe haven either, but there were always security protocols in place, generations-old methodology to fall back on. It was fundamentally safe, but the same couldn't be said of this place. For this reason, she has to keep it together, even if the most she can maintain is a steady outlook and an ah, open mind. ]

[dilemmic]

[ Still, it's far from her not to notice how much Allen throws himself into things. And away from things. At least he hasn't gotten to the point where he throws himself at things.

She frowns and raises her voice so even Gilbert can hear. ]

But-- if you feel like you need a break, make sure you tell us. Don't overdo it.

[passtave]

A-Ah!

[ As the ocypete tries to tear her away from Bolin, Sakura can feel herself start to slip and redoubles the strength in her grip, her heart hammering in her chest—she's holding onto Bolin so tightly she's probably choking him, to be honest.

But the ocypete doesn't give up, and she can feel herself start to shake with fear... if she falls, it's a long way down... frantically, she loosens one arm from around Bolin's neck (oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh) and grabs one of the chakrams attached to her belt—the ocypete is so close that she doesn't even have to throw it, and instead she just sort of hacks at the bird thing, her knuckles white around her weapon.

She's not doing much actual damage, but it activates the weapon's repelling ability, pushing the ocypete back just a little. ]

[passtave]

[ This is hard to watch... but Sakura doesn't really have any choice, since she's currently third wheeling. She's quiet as they go through the steps, wringing her hands in front of her anxiously. Ah, they missed a step... should she point it out? They have to get it right in order to advance, so... ]

U-Um... [ Her voice is soft—they might not even be able to hear her with all that yelling going on. ] I-I think you missed this one...

[ She gestures towards one of the murals, with the dragon dipping the phoenix almost to the floor. ]