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

[hymnals]

[ He mutters something like 'For fuck's sake,' except it's in Thalassian, so it sounds lovely and flowing and beautiful. He takes the box back and replaces it neatly in his bags; he's finished with his own, too, and sets that one away as well. ]

You're very welcome, Saber.

[ That done, he holds out his hand for Gil's box, his expression deadpan. ]

Come on, big guy. Time to get moving. The sooner we finish here, the sooner you can invade my kitchen.

[carptricks]

[it might be hard to hear her, but this time he's actually paying attention. Asuna manages to knock the ocypete aside before he can react, however, and he gives his party member a grateful salute as the monster crashes helplessly into the tower. but her actions have left her vulnerable, and--]

[damn. he doesn't really have any lightning magic, either. and despite his promotion to Bishop, he had been focusing his training on his alchemy, not his spellcasting. but magic supposedly took all sorts of forms on this world, didn't it. . .? the soldiers of Noir conjured up whirlwinds shaped like dragons during that naval battle. maybe if he focused on his firearm-- and the ammunition resting within its barrel-- he could come up with an entirely new spell in a pinch. . .]

[he places his hand on top of his weapon and clutches it tightly, gaze narrowing. he mumbles underneath his breath-- a quick chant of lightning, as Asuna did earlier-- and concentrates on pushing his mana into his weapon. he feels something spark to life in his hand, something warm and pulsing with energy, but he doesn't have too much time to think]

Right back at you!

[he takes aim again and fires. the ammunition that flies through the air is crackling with lightning magic, and when it strikes the ocypete in the back it gives the monster quite the shock. the creature lets out a strangled yell, and plummets through the air]

. . . holy crap it actually worked.

[Kaito plz why do you sound so surprised]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh startles a little from the force of the slap, but pleasantly so. This, along with Saber's other kindnesses, may have been an error, and Gilgamesh interprets the gesture as reciprocation and therefore interest. He looks upon her with a grin that may be all too familiar, but before he can start on anything lascivious, Adra thankfully interrupts. Gilgamesh nods, hands over his empty box and slips back into mission mode.]

Right. What awaits us inside... I'm afraid it's worse than what we've overcome. The winds howl, the ledges are not nearly so sturdy, and doubtless more enemies are stirring within. That contraption was useful for getting us this far, but no longer.

[Gilgamesh clenches his fist, glances to Saber, glances to Adra, then suggests:]

I propose use of my psionics. In theory, I can propel each of you, individually and with more control, up the tower. You are mana; therefore, you are targets.

[armorial]

[ She's reluctant this time. While it's already unsettling to place her trust on Gilgamesh, doing so many times in fact, she has little choice. As long as he doesn't throw her around like a toy, she's satisfied. It doesn't erase her frown and the dubious look in her eyes.

After all of this, he will pay in some way, shape, or form. She's not sure how, but until her anger is quelled, it sticks to the back of her mind. The dungeon is starting to seem like more of a stroll. ]

Sound proposal. [ If not extremely convenient. There's no reason to not put such a versatile skill to use, so she relents and accepts the theory. It also makes sense to her for the most part. ]

[rollin]

[ Yata watches in awe as Asuna and Kaito take down the ocypetes. Asuna always called him strong, but despite his training, his magic is still out of a Knight's league. Is he doing something wrong? But he worked so hard! It's frustrating to know that now they're on the field. ]

Nice shot! [ DON'T LOOK SURPRISED, it's better than what Yata can manage. He gestures at Asuna to ride his back again, wishing he was more useful THAN A MOUNT. ] You think we could get its feathers later?

[topkong]

[ Of course, the next dance move is a little tricky. No wings, no talons, but no problem for Wukong who backs off, scuffing the ground with his toes. And then he sighs, because he doesn't want to make a huge fool of himself but it looks like the dragon and the harpy had no shame.

Then again, Wukong's not exactly the poster child for shame, either.

With a sharp inhale, he runs toward Shunsui and leaps up. His intention, of course, is to land on his shoulders! That's what it looks like on the mural, so he assumes this is what he has to do? Maybe?

Squawk. ]

[burnmydread]

[ He had started out in front, but when the stairs turned into landings, even Minato knew he had to stay with the group. He's glad he did when the enemies come. They...actually look like they could be one of his Persona, but that's beyond the point. He grits his teeth, taking hold of the Nagita strapped onto his back.

Also being the primary magic user, he feels he needs to make the first assault. Or, well, semi-assault. He's finally getting more accomplished at the few specialized spells he's learned, so why not try one out in battle for real? Minato says something quietly to himself...is it a song? Lyrics? It's hard to tell. Either way, it doesn't seem like the time to sing, but a small, growing ball of cold blue light grows in his hand. ]

...Heads up!

[ And then he tosses it like a baseball at the enemies. It misses, unfortunately, bouncing off the wall and ends up landing on one of the scattering Ocypetes.

Who...suddenly seems a little less angry? In fact, it seems to be smiling and wow, hey friends! It waves. It fucking waves at them. ]

[herplaceinthesun]

[The view from up here is amazing. Sitting on the ledge is ill-advised, but it's just for a moment. Physically she isn't that tired, it's something else she can't quite put her finger on. But Aisha isn't much for contemplating, so she picks herself up and goes to meet the group at the tower.

Speaking of...]

Okay, this is getting a little old.

[All this climbing, she can see why Alice is so grumpy about it. Once she gets to the inside, she stands with the others, it's not like they can all go up at once. At least she shouldn't have a problem getting up, this sort of thing is nothing for a Ctarl-Ctarl.

If there's enough room for her feet, she's got it.]

[burlyheart]

I just need to prove that to myself first!

[Potemkin continues giving it his all. He swings his other arm to grasp his forearm, supporting a single fist with his entire massive upper half. He even goes so far as to drive the spike of fist-mounted firearm against the barrier, triggering the explosive round in it.

There's a fearsome BOOM and a flash of red light from the makeshift blasting chamber between his glove and the wall, but the barrier looks no different for it.]

[eyegotcha]

Hello Mods! I was wanting to know, are the Aellos able to hypnotize blind heroes who see through mana? Are blind heroes able to reverse the hypnotizing of their party members, as well? Specifically asked for the hero(es) that don't have eyes at all!

[burlyheart]

[Potemkin returns the nod with his own.]

Slow and methodical is the way to go.

But even in the case of mistaken judgement, no one is going to fall during this mission. As long as I concentrate on my own grip, I have a trick that will be able to catch either of you.

[digophelia]

Do not think of me as so soft-hearted a smile can undo me. Especially his.

[ Alice speaks evenly and flatly, having her back faced to Caren and Sion, feeling anger rise through her body. Slow and uneasy steps as she finally gets to get on the ledge. Alice is determined to press through this as to not show if any or little signs of exertion. She's been through worse, there had been times where she had been left to starve or been beaten badly to where she couldn't move at all.

A climb, battle, and dragons would mean nothing, she would tell herself. If there was more room inside, Alice would have easily left them, without so much as batting an eye. Teamwork wasn't her strong suit, but she was forced to wait along side them, her eyes turning to the rock that Sion refers to, noting it.

Too valuable to risk, Caren says. Alice's scoff echoes perfectly inside, gripping her sword and repeating the same process of burying her anger. For now, she begrudgingly stays near Aisha. ]

TWO: We Interrupt This Violence to Bring You: PUZZLES!

[eyegotcha]

That was fun, wasn't it!?

[ Peacock was already rambling by the time they reached the top of the stairs. Somehow, the group managed to get through that nightmare of a climb and the treacherous stairway with... some problems along the way. The excitable young wannabe leader was ranting and raving as they left about all the amazing adventure the group had. Wild gesticulations of her arms and reenacting swings of her chainsaw paired with her recounting was almost adorable, provided they hadn't just left an area where the girl murdered countless creatures for sport, to the point that her idle chainsaw was dripping with the gelatin from those strange flying monsters. Oftentimes, she had riled up entire nests of the dangerous foes just to sate her seemingly endless bloodlust. So, naturally, it was a little tough to consider her adorable after seeing her indiscriminate fighting.

It didn't help that Peacock took plenty of trophies, too. Assorted feathers, body parts, really everything the murderous girl could get her grubby hands on. She looked like a proud hero, her chainsaw hanging over her shoulder as she sauntered into the relatively quiet room beyond, overgrown with invading trees and a large, sealed door. Naturally, Peacock strolled right up, placed her hand on the door, and tried to push it open.

Immediately, her smile dropped into an irritated frown. ]

What the--!? Locked!? Nuh-uh! Ain't nothin' stoppin' me, ya hear!?

[ And off she went, trying to bash her shoulder into the door, stab it with her still-hot chainsaw blades, anything at all! None of it worked.

So, with a sigh of resignation, Peacock put her back to the door and slid down to take a small rest. She looked like she needed it, too. Despite being a gleeful murder-machine, she looked every part a tired mess, already beaten and bruised from the earlier reckless fights. ]

'Ey! One a youse guys look for a switch. Thing's stuck, an' I think I done my part.

[ She bossed around her cronies teammates, and then busied herself with finally lighting that cigar in her mouth. Shielded from the winds at long last, it didn't take her long to flick her match to life and start puffing out smoke. After wagging the match in the air to put it out, Peacock reclined back against the door, grinning at her own successes. ]

I'll be right here if ya need me. But don't bothah me for nothin', got it!?

[sugegasa]

[Shame? Whatever might that be? Shunsui took a fair bit of pride in how little shame he showed about anything. Being the captain commander of the Soul Reapers did nothing at all to change that, so a dance in a dungeon wasn't about to either!

Focusing on the mural, he readied himself for Wukong to land on his shoulders, bowing low to make it a bit easier! A strange, silly dance, perhaps, but if it could get them through this he was all for it.

He was expecting the impact, but it still took the breath out of him when Wukong landed! Shunsui quickly reached up to try to give some support, still trying to move in the manner depicted.

Which meant he needed to dip low with Wukong on his shoulders and then to break into flight...]

How would you like to try the next part? Maybe there's a little bit of higher ground I could jump to?

[...Hell if he knows.]

[likethelight]

[ The suggestion they might have to backtrack into the aello again is more than enough motivation for Allen. ]

There didn't seem to be any other way to go.. [ Admittedly they were hurrying and could have missed it, but there really hadn't seemed to be a branch in the path.

He approaches the wall, rapping once against it with his knuckles on an unpainted section... then pressing the side of his head to the stone and doing so again to listen. Ah—maybe...? ] ...

[ Nothing. It is solid stone after all, even if there might be a room on the other side. He pulls back. Puzzles aren't his thing. ]

Could there be a seal? [ Even in his world he's at least passingly familiar with things of that nature. His Master had been a powerful mage in addition to an Exorcist, even if he hadn't taught Allen that part. An illusion that has to be unlocked; something of that nature. ]

[likethelight]

[ He always kind of looks like he's gazed into the abyss... that's sort of what his left eye and that odd facial scar he's toting around did before...

But don't worry Makoto, Allen is still absolutely 110% able to throw himself at things here though! It's what he does best!!!

Ahaha—he flashes weak sort of smile at her assessment, though. O-oh. Damn. She's sharp. She's a little like Lenalee in that regard... ]

I just need to get used to this weapon more, that's all. [ Or mana use in general and how extending his entire self into a weapon that's almost as big as he is is bone-wearying here, even moreso than Crown Clown ever was and it was the same size. Even if he's very used to pushing on despite that very frequently.

But Allen isn't entirely stupid and is going to take the opportunity of a quiet room he's probably not going to be terribly useful in with no enemies around and ease down to sit with his back to the stone wall near the barrier. Haaaah... Blast.

He really is weaker here.

But he watches Gil poke around the table and its strange assortment of items on it. Cauldron, beakers... ]

What exactly is all that? [ After the last room this place obvious works on puzzles, so it has to be a clue to how to get through that barrier. And even in the Order they had alchemy. Even if Allen doesn't actually understand it at all. ]

[querella]

[ A curse nearly slipped past One's lips. They needed to move faster then. To get to the gap as soon as they could. It would give them more room should it really come down to combat. If only it were as easy as moving along the platforms in the land of Mountains and Sands. Although platforming could be such a pain.

With gritted teeth, One pushed the thought from her head just as she removed her fingers from the grooves she'd dug into the ancient stone wall. She slid her palms along the wall as she moved, no longer relying upon it to keep her balance. ]

Move quickly, but do not upset your balance. We should be able to reach the gap before the enemy locates us.

[querella]

[ One moved to Shinoa's side, resting a gloved hand on the smaller woman's shoulder. She gave the briefest of squeezes, a silent offering to share mana if need be. A part of her wondered what benefit her flowery, carmine colored mana could offer the other. With Alice, it had become something dangerous and volatile when used with the mana cannons during their battle at sea. But a part of her was sure that it had only become so because of how it had been used.

A fragmented glimpse of the Flower, that's what she had chalked it up to in her journal. ]

Let us worry about this while you rest.

[ She gingerly drew her hand away, focusing on the ingredients before them. ]

Perhaps the potions that have been premixed may be a base? [ Her fingers circled the neck of one glass bottle, carefully lifting it so as not to upset the milky green substance inside. For a moment she thought of the sauce that Two had made for their ogre meatballs... and she almost, almost smiled. ] They may hint at what we might be looking for. Unless they are failed attempts.

[encountered]

Well.

[ He's always been one for smiles, and optimism and bravado when it comes to it. And, it shows with how enthusiastic he was about their odds. ]

My friends have always said that my optimism is one of my [only] strong suit.

[praises]

[ Sometimes, just sometimes — Allelujah is privvy to the sorts of things that traverse Setsuna's mind just by having to look at him. It's not a perfect skill by any means, but it is weathered by having known him for years and years. It has heart. So when Allelujah glimpses the brief, nearly faraway expression the younger Meister has, he smiles a bit, uncorking the nearest vial. ]

Hopefully this'll prove to be the right track for us. I know how it seems...

[ Holding the vial at eye level, he approximates how much to use at this point. It already looks fairly volatile. ]

A little familiar, in the motions at least. But the circumstances surrounding it are outside of anything we could ever think of.

[medicament]

[Surprisingly or not, it's not just Maki who considered Peacock the leader of their team, which Luna found quite hilarious, given all the circumstances. However, the leader seemed to be hesitating despite being so fired up about walking into the dungeon just a minute or two ago. This is something that Luna didn't expect to see so early, if at all.

Splitting up so early didn't seem a good idea to her. Or splitting up in general, really. They didn't know the area and couldn't anticipate what would happen. And if something was to happen, it would only put them at a disadvantage.

Instead of raising an objection just yet, Luna walked over to Peacock and placed her hand on the handle of the grappling hook, over the girl's hand. Something about her was off, but whatever that was, Luna couldn't tell.]

Miss Peacock, you need to focus. You've got so excited about this that your hand is shaking.

[While trying to help Peacock steady her grip at least a little, she finally added:]

I think we should go together, though. Actually...I insist we do.

[querella]

Weak to lightning? For a dragon that arrived with the storm, I am almost shocked.

[ One looked the dragon over, focusing on what mana channels she could make out. As a Dark Knight, her ability to see them was poor at best, and at a time like this it seemed to be at its worse. Of course she could clearly make out the largest pool of the beast's mana, within the center of its chest - or off-center? Ugh, even that was hard to tell! ]

If you can, make sure to remove at least one of the dragon's heads when you do transform.

[ Unlike the bishop, One didn't care to reason with the dragon. She wanted it dead. She had to kill it, as they were natural enemies. It was only right. One edged forward carefully, watching the middle head. Her eyes locked with the large reptile, their gaze narrowing almost simultaneously. Her attacks had already proven to be devastating to her other enemies, ripping through flesh and bone with shocking ease while dragging out their mana. ]

THREE: Three Heads are Better than One!

[eyegotcha]

[ Like a bonafide Washington crossing the Delaware, Peacock stood at the head of her ship, with hands at her hips and teeth shining through in a wide, proud grin. There have been innumerable ups and downs, plenty of fights, a fair share of life-threatening moments, but they had triumphed! And now, all that was left was to ride this impossible boat up an even more impossible waterfall. The sound of roaring water, the feeling of a successful battle... it was all welling up into a prideful story the redhead was already exaggerating in her head for when she got back. Her role, obviously, would be the most... 'assisted' in her storytelling.

But! That didn't mean she was ungrateful. In fact, if anything, Peacock had grown to appreciate her once-dismissed teammates. Not enough to take a break in her boasting to check back on them, but enough to feel proud of their help. And enough to actually save their butts when the time called for it!

Her proud stance was broken by a sudden blaze of mana, knocking out her sight for a time as she winced and instinctively wiped at her eye sockets to clear her sight. Of course, that didn't help at all, but it was the thought that counted!

Peacock narrowed her eyes with an annoyed grumble, her mana senses returning to sense nothing but blackness all around them. Clouds? Or were her senses shot? Leaning down to grope at the ship, the cyborg collected her bearings, just in time to nearly be knocked off their makeshift raft by a gust of wind. Well! So much for the heroics!

Plopping herself down in the boat and hunkering down as the party approached the top, the youngest fighter leaned in to check in on her comrades. ]

Everyone okay? 'Parently bad weathah up here! [ She smirked confidently at her understatement, crossing her arms and quirking a brow. ] Ya bettah hold on, 'cause if youse made it through all that just t' die here, I ain't gonna let ya rest peacefully, see!?

[ Her status check issued, the girl returned to the matter at hand. Her smile slowly dropped as she glanced over her shoulder, focusing her mana back towards their path. Even through the black clouds and powerful magical interference... She could tell they were nearing the top. And she didn't feel like she liked whatever was waiting for them. ]

Somethin' tells me we ain't done yet. Ain't there always some big, bad ugly waitin' at the end a' these things? That's sorta how games work, right? [ That's all this was to her, after all. It was basically just a giant game, right? Reaching into her bag, Peacock pulled out some of the gelatin from her stash, warming it up with a quickly stricken match. ]

I'd say get yerself ready! Eat up n' keep healthy, 'cause you're gonna need it!

[medicament]

[It was good to hear that at least one of them had fun, because as for Luna...well, that sure was an experience. All she could do was to put a few of those creatures to sleep and make them fall down, cleaning the way for the team a little as they had been climbing. The Aello awaiting them in the nests were more tricky, but that was past them already as well.

And it seemed that they earned a well-deserved break. With no enemies around and all the greenery surrounding them, Luna felt like she can finally relax a little. Apparently, so thought Peacock...too bad her idea of relaxing was a bit different from what Luna had in mind.]

Miss Peacock...

[With one swift move she pulled out the cigar from her mouth, smiling gently, just like she did nothing wrong.]

I'm going to start looking right away.

[soulshift]

[ She nods in acknowledgement, not saying much to that. Irisviel's suspicions were confirmed - Yukari had fought a lot before coming here. What a lot, for a young girl. But her expression was sympathetic at the very least. ]

I think I can make it. I'm not the strongest, but I am stronger than most humans.

[ she says, enigmatically. But she's never climbed like this before. It looks relatively easy, at least in that it's just straight up. ]