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BOARDMASTER ([personal profile] boardmaster) wrote in [community profile] pawnstorm2016-05-20 03:32 am

DUNGEON ♛ GISELA TOWERS

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.
hymnals: you bring them right back to me (and every time i forget those things)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-05-28 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Why. Why this. Adra's tail lashes back and forth in agitation as he squirms away from this batting, his own ears pressed back flat on his head. So, business as usual, really. He tries to regain some sense of composure and dignity as he follows after Saber, but his hair's unkempt and his tail just won't settle down.

He stares nervously at the divide between their present tower and the next one. He's not typically afraid of heights, but ... he once had quite a few more options to handle them. In their absence, he does glance down and feel slightly unnerved. ]


You've still got it, right, Gil?

[ He makes vain efforts to smooth his hair down as he asks this. ]

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-05-28 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[Letting Gilgamesh use a gun... letting Gilgamesh use a gun repeatedly... letting Gilgamesh use a gun repeatedly in the service of others... perhaps not the best of ideas. But after the fun and games are over, Gilgamesh does fall back into line, joining Saber and Adra and gauging their options.

Which are in pitifully low supply, sorry to say.]


Indeed. But there do not appear to be many reasonable points for anchor.

[He sees a broken bridge, a long gap, and not much else. But he also sees a cliff leading up to the tower, and he has experience with those—specifically in climbing.]

Adra. You've blessings for strength, speed, stamina, correct?

[He doesn't wait for an answer. He's taking aim at that distant point, calibrating the gun appropriately so it'll make it there in one sure swing. Once, he could've managed such a task with ease, carried them both on his shoulders with strength to spare. But now... now he really must rely on his comrades, or else they'll all perish.]

Everything you have, all the power you possess. I'll require it all in order to do this.
armorial: (pic#5238723)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-05-28 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Her ears perk up when he aims the gun, thinking it's the sign to get ready. Since she has nothing else to add, no other concerns since this is also their only option, she gets into position behind Gilgamesh to latch onto him with little opposition. She looks over to Adra, tail swishing rather fast back and forth. The faster they get this over with, the less times they must do this weird method.

It's nice having someone that can buff them... She wishes she had something similar--but she also wishes for a grappling hook of her own. These dreams, these aspirations, they may wait till another day.
]
hymnals: thickening the air i'm breathing (i can feel you all around me)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-05-28 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Everything he has, huh. He can do that. He's glad to do that. ]

Then you'll have it.

[ His eyes spark as he recites the incantation; midway through, they shift from felfire green to molten gold. Wings, enormous and translucent, burst open on his back, pale and ethereal. He reaches for Gilgamesh. ]

Walk in the Light, and you will walk with the power of creation. Walk in the Light, and you will know no darkness. Walk in the Light, and no obstacle will stand before you!

[ The gathering power crackles, leaps, envelops Gilgamesh. An aura of holy fire surrounds him; energizes his muscles and mind beyond anything Adra's cast before. His body is fortified, his speed beyond thought itself, his strength able to move mountains.

For a short while, anyway.

Adra grips Gil's shoulder, his skin pale; flushed. He gasps out: ]


There.

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-05-29 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
[He feels incredible.

Of course he believed in Adra to pull through. Of course he believed in Adra when he'd told him that once upon a time he was a priest dedicated to the faith. But it's one thing to believe and quite another to experience, and as all that magic envelopes him, some of his former glory returns to him. Just a taste, but at the same time just enough to invoke him and inspire him.

You can do this. You can, you can, you can, those spells whisper within his mind. Thanks to Adra, Gilgamesh sees the path to victory. There's absolutely no room for failure.]


With me, both of you.

[Once they've attached themselves, Gilgamesh lines up the shot and fires.

They sail through the sky, past the chipped steps, flying across empty space which could mean their end if any of them were to fall. But they won't. Gilgamesh proves to be a solid anchor himself, and though they're soaring awfully fast towards a bunch of rocks that look awfully painful were they to collide, they don't. His heel finds firm footing and keeps them still and secure in the cliff face. He reaches with a hand, seeks the first hold available. He pulls up. He pulls back, with the hook, slamming it into the next space. And again, and again, and again, making their steady ascent without any trace of hesitation. A glimpse of what this Servant could do, once upon a time.

So they climb together, are strong together. The mana flows freely between them, rewards Adra for his selflessness. They will overcome this challenge and press on.]
powerdriven: <user name="seraphita"> (do me a favor)

[personal profile] powerdriven 2016-05-29 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Levi doesn't waste time being insincere often, so you can bet he's being earnest for his part in this... but hell, if it gets them moving in an orderly fashion, all the better. The wind is coming on strong, making the respite of the somewhat sturdier-looking portion of the tower above feel much earned. But while they've proved they can survive the first part of the gauntlet, they can't drop their guard and run for freedom yet. Himself included.

The gathering ocypetes make it clear to him it isn't a time to afford being picky either. You could say the wind's actually on their side. Fortunately, he's got enough experience in making split second decisions without losing his head that he might stop Adam from losing his. He has to question leaving that poor sap to bring up the rear.

This isn't a suicide mission, right? That's established? Because it sure sounds like the ideology of a guy willing to throw caution (and himself) to the wind purely out of expendability. And Levi knows that well, too. Though before he can argue, Cirno offers a potential solution herself and suddenly it's like everyone's trying to be the fall guy all at once. Funny, since it just makes him write it all off. Agree to whatever while planning to stay vigilant of them on his own terms.

Which in practice means he scoffs and tosses Cirno the grappling hook, looking to Adam sharply as he draws his swords.
]

Go.

[ He doesn't need the gun anymore, but somebody's got to play signal if this plan's going to work. And if it doesn't... he'll handle it. ]
powerdriven: <user name="seraphita"> (pic#9591173)

[personal profile] powerdriven 2016-05-29 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Why would he know anything about courting a man, let alone entertain the idea that he should right now?! He's with Cirno. They should forget this shit while it's still fresh and go for the door while it's still open. Though vacantly, as he drops Adam's collar and pushes him away, he is wondering why exactly that was what got it to work.

It's just easier to scowl and accept their good(?) fortune. Levi rushes for the gate in turn, without checking to see that their third party member follows suit.

You can thank him later.
]
herplaceinthesun: (heh)

[personal profile] herplaceinthesun 2016-05-29 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[The Ocypete's return is more annoying than anything else. Such a small threat wouldn't end them, and while Sion (and Caren, by virtue of the way she healed) were hurt, it wasn't anything so dire that she truly had to worry about their safety. It just pissed her off, is all.

Thank goodness it thought to bring a friend. Alice might want to have some more fun too.

Before the creatures get to their party, Aisha rushes to greet them properly. Now that she's not hanging from a cliff, she can actually do something here that isn't just hanging on. She picks the one on the left and says "hello" with a spinning high kick, knocking it against the wall of the tower.

While fighting, Aisha is all grace and no mercy.

Quickly, she grabs the creature's hands with one of her own, pins it against the wall with a wicked grin. It pulls against her hold, clawing at her uniform before she unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks. Eventually, the struggling stops, her personal punching bag worn out by her exercise.

Tossing it's body over her shoulder, she glances to see if Alice needs her help taking out this trash.]
armorial: (pic#10133791)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-05-29 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ It is a rather uneventful climb--or maybe it's because they are moving at such a fast pace nothing has suspected them. There's some appreciation for Gilgamesh's endurance and stamina, but all praise can wait for later. Once they make it to the entrance, they'll be met with the marble flowing and the marvelous streams of waterfalls. It's quite a sight that even Saber takes a moment to admire when they enter.

There's something strange about this place. Despite beautiful, Saber is uneasy.
]

There doesn't seem to be a staircase. [ Her first observation, basically calling for them to look for another way. She's still rather perplexed though... ]
herplaceinthesun: (glare)

[personal profile] herplaceinthesun 2016-05-29 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[At any other time, the press to her neck might be distracting at the very least. Right now it just mixes in with her adrenaline, and her heart's pounding just as much as Caren's. Especially when that mana beam falls, Alice's phoenix replaced with the dragon's, the girl starting to fall...

There was no way she could have gotten there in time, thankfully Sion makes that point mute. She knows they'll be alright together, which left her with the problem of getting them up to fighting range.]


Hang on tight!

[Aisha wraps an arm around her comrade and runs, leaping off the isle they stood on and shooting the hook up at the next. It's a process she has to repeat, again and again, while dodging the beams and working against the wind. Luckily she's agile, and pretty damn stubborn besides.

It was like flying, only with much less control and no small amount of worry.

Eventually she hooks unto on a island close enough to have the dragon in their sights. Using her bands for insurance, Aisha digs deep and climbs up the side of it, clinging to Caren tightly. She can barely see Sion and Alice now.]


Here we go... Have fun hitting this bastard, make it hurt.

[All her pity for the circumstances of the fight was gone, blood-thirstiness having swallowed it up. Not over his dead body, huh? If that was his wish, at least she was certainly willing to provide.]
hymnals: or did i believe this dream (did i dream this belief)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-05-29 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Adra presses his forehead to Gil's back during the climb, eyes squeezed shut. Not because he's afraid: he has faith in Gil, and faith in the Light, and he knows all will be well on their ascent. Rather, he's trying to manage the flow of mana. Ordinarily, he would refuse the channel, but that spell really did take just about everything he had. He needs restoration; if he doesn't take it, he's liable to just fall off of Gil and crash however many miles it is to the earth below.

So he lets the channels stay open. As always, the magic is a drug, and he's intoxicated by it, in thrall to it. Their mana burns in his bloodstream, and he wants as much of it as he can get, wants to gorge beyond simple satisfaction and into pleasurable gluttony. But he won't--he won't, he can't, he has to stay focused.

He inhales sharply. It's a struggle.

But they do land, at last, and he stumbles back, his vision hazy. Light, it's so good.

He rubs the side of his face, glancing around blearily, and mutters. ]


At least there's a floor.

[ And such pretty waterfalls ... he starts wandering towards them. Thirsty, still. ]

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-05-29 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Gilgamesh doesn't really help matters much, as he takes up Adra's hand—still concerned that he may still be drained, from giving all he could—and leads him to the water. Unfearing, or maybe just complacent after that recent victory, Gilgamesh dips his head underneath and lets it spill over him. Quenches his thirst and then some, rejuvenating life flowing all around him. He sees it as a sign, a sign of their certain success.

But Saber may very well be the first to notice something amiss. Something winding behind the falling water, smooth and graceful and difficult to distinguish from it at first. But it is separate, and it is dangerous, and both of the men are standing right in front of it.

It doesn't attack. Not quite yet. But its "head" bobs around, seemingly preparing a strike whenever their guard falls lowest.]
powerdriven: <user name="seraphita"> (pic#8976308)

[personal profile] powerdriven 2016-05-29 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Considering he's holding the grapple first and his blade second, there's no way he can stop it when Cirno detaches from his sleeve. (Though he'd have dropped the sword to affix her to his side instead if he'd had any chance to do it. That thing's a magical relic, sure, but that just makes it like all the rest of their weapons: in seemingly endless supply.) As it is, neither of them have an opportunity to do much. The dragon's flight seeks specifically to lose them, and once she's let free, Levi manages to hang on like a shaken rag doll at best. His attempts to slow its roll by gouging the thick scales of its back fail to connect, and in the rush of its movement, his attempts to pinpoint what's become of his teammates gathers him mostly a blur.

Except then there's Adam. Yelling something he can't really hear over all the wind roaring in his head. He tries to get a foot hold just in time for the fang attack that sets the creature ricocheting him—and the grapple—loose. Seeing it's wing pinned to the earth by the mighty stake might be more satisfying if it weren't at the expense of going flying in the opposite direction. Yeah. Thanks for that.

Not like he can be mad. A wobbling section of the tower wall braces his complete headfirst descent, and at this point, he's not thinking about blood and bruises—he's thinking about getting out of this. Acting now. Acting fast. The hook may be obstructed with the bits of flesh and lizard skin torn from its back, but swinging for the dragon's tail by the grapple is what he comes up with, and it's momentum all the same. Levi runs with it. Literally.

He swings his sword like a guillotine and when the monster's dead, he keeps going back for more. Thinking those two better still be alive.
]
likethelight: (217)

1/2

[personal profile] likethelight 2016-05-29 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Gil, you... ]

You're not exactly volunteering for it yourself! [ Really, Allen's halfway into getting a good old righteous indignation huff going. Although that's because of a sinking dread that the other was probably right, that would... mostly make sense, and who designed this place, that's just twisted, but— ]
armorial: (pic#10133890)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-05-29 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ Saber is on high alert, surveying the area without getting close to the water just yet. She does look over to her comrades for a second, to make sure they are safe--that is when she notices something moving in the waters. At first, she thought it was only her eyes placing tricks on her, but... ]

Stand back!

[ Saber rushes over, with the speed of a pawn, but she is too far to help them.

The celaeno was going to strike eventually, but is forced to take action when it notices abrupt movements. It finds that if it didn't take its chances now, it won't ever. Its slender body moves quickly out of the waterfall, making its first appears; head rising above them, it dives down to strike Gilgamesh and Adra very much like a viper.
]
likethelight: (129)

2/2

[personal profile] likethelight 2016-05-29 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ —Makoto volunteering sort of stops him dead. ]

... [ um









nope. nothing. Really? No, Makoto, why... ]
shitbastard: (And admittance is a bitch)

[personal profile] shitbastard 2016-05-29 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
[My contributions to this thread are endless. Adam is momentarily down. If that's even a thing he can be. It's more of a reboot than anything. An person made by an AI, neither human nor robot; some things are out of his grasp even if he never yearned for them to begin with.

So ur pc terrorist will be back online shortly carry on.]
hymnals: on the one who's strong (let it make me fall)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-05-29 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Adra squeezes Gil's hand gratefully as he's lead, glad of the support. The water cascades down on them, and he feels cleansed, revitalized. He tastes more mana in the water, too, and so opens his mouth to it, practically pants as he leans forward for more--and then Saber shouts. ]

Damn--

[ He snaps to attention, just as the celaeno makes its move. With a quick, sharp gesture of his hand, Adra casts a barrier over himself and Gil; the draconic monster slams against it, hissing. Tugging on Gil's hand, Adra makes to leap out of the way before the celaeno can gear up for a second attempt. ]
likethelight: (204)

1/3

[personal profile] likethelight 2016-05-29 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ He can't help but feel like you're both ganging up on him and squints/squirms a little...

But what Makoto says actually makes him think for a moment as he obediently pops the cube into his mouth. It is basically food after all. ]


I wouldn't have expected it to either, but...

This place is obviously designed for someone to find their way through here, isn't it? [ because of the last room of which They Will Never Speak of Again ] Why else would there be solutions given for every obstacle there is to over—
likethelight: (07)

2/3

[personal profile] likethelight 2016-05-29 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
...

[ His chewing slows. Looking more thoughtful. Then pale. ]
likethelight: (169)

3/3

[personal profile] likethelight 2016-05-29 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Then j u d g i n g. Right at Gil. ]

—come...

[ Gil. This taste. He knows it. ]

...mana replenishing jelly, you say...?
Edited 2016-05-29 02:14 (UTC)

[personal profile] babbylon 2016-05-29 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[A King's luck, or lack thereof, was truly legendary, and therefore the sinewy beast bares its fangs at Adra first and foremost. Together with the barrier, and with a swift wielding of his blade, he's able to keep it at bay, but its teeth are relentlessly sharp and its hide unyieldingly tough. Every attempt Gilgamesh makes to pierce it falls short; the blade either misses or gets deflected by some invisible force. He scowls, eyes scanning across it form, trying to find an opening.]

Speed over strength! Strike fast and strike true, Saber!

[Hitting it hard was just a waste of effort at this point. But flurrying—much easier to do with a scimitar than a longsword—could potentially force a weak spot to reveal itself. Gilgamesh, meanwhile, keeps it occupied as the barrier continues to wear down. It won't last forever, but maybe just long enough...

Unfortunately, he's failed to notice a second head looming beside Adra and prepared to snap at his heels. Or worse.]
convictionary: (No I can't slow down)

And there's likely a part two once you answer me.

[personal profile] convictionary 2016-05-29 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[...

...

.........]


Sure.

[This will bite him in the ass shortly. He heard that. That 'sure' was said very deliberately. He's going to saunter up to him and past him.]
armorial: (pic#10134253)

[personal profile] armorial 2016-05-29 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ She unsheathes her sword, already coming in fast. She's used to quick blows, but only one to four at a time... However with the weight and shape of this sword, it is rather easier to barrage within a smaller time span.

Unfortunately, she finds her flurry yielding little results. The celaeno continues to strike the barrier, barely noticing Saber's puny threat levels. Maybe they just don't think she's that big of a deal? What is this insolence? It's a little unnerving to be ignored by a beast... But she guesses it's good in some ways.

It seems obvious that this thing has a protective shield--possibly its scales, but she's not sure where its weakness. You know what? Just quickly slash everywhere until it cries. That's what she should do, right? She sees the second head waiting by Adra's heels and abandons this one for it. There's a quick slash to its head to steal its attention.

Ah... It seems like just right when she left the first one behind, it finally notices her. It may be unlucky for her, but her comrades will be spared for maybe five seconds before the dragons' attention turns back to better things such as Kings and Queens. For now, she'll cast her own barrier with the grail. They're brief, only used to counter strikes she cannot parry; it also helps conserve mana. Please do something during this window, thank you.
]
hymnals: that wants to grow (caught in an infinite maze)

[personal profile] hymnals 2016-05-29 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, they're getting nowhere fast. Adra hisses something truly filthy in Thalassian as the second celaeno makes to go for his gut, but fortunately Saber peels it off before anything dire befalls his delicate internal organs. He's casting barriers, but they're just stopgaps; they need a solution, time to think. ]

Listen, and be still. Repent, reflect, repent.

[ His blessings can supercharge mana--as he did to Gil--or they can turn that same mana to sluggish gelatin. Upon casting this spell, the celaeno slow, slow, slow--until, for a few moments, they stop entirely. Enough time to examine them for weak spots, hopefully. ]

Try to feel out their shields. It's like armor ... there's a crack somewhere.

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