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

[herplaceinthesun]

[Sion's joy, Caren's scolding... wow, they looked so alike it was uncanny, she wasn't quite over it yet. Still, there were more important things to focus on, the chief once being their ascent to the heavens. Flying on an airship had felt just like home, so despite any danger, Aisha felt prepared.

Excited.

Okay, she's grinning.]

I don't have anything to help with staying afloat, but my grip's pretty damn strong.

[Even stronger, with her bracelets. She may still be just a Pawn, grateful that Sion and Alice were at a higher level, but like hell if she was just going to be a burden on them. This was the time to prove herself and see just how close to space she can get from here.

Gazing upwards, she slides the pack on her waist to the side to make room for Alice to hop on. There'd been a few safety checks of the grappling hook, the tech here was still ages behind was she knew. But it checked out, and it would be fine, with the sunshine of the King's blessing and all their strength. Aisha jerks her thumb in the direction of the tower.]

This makes us our own elevator, right?

[digophelia]

[ As with any group tasks, Alice is usually quiet and very distant up until she feels the need to say anything, at all. She hasn't and she doesn't, merely standing back to observe the newcomer, who stands out from the "siblings" (and Alice will continue thinking so until she's told otherwise). Rank doesn't matter -- she still feels like the title of Queen doesn't fit her, in the least. As soon as Caren chides them not to waste mana, Alice feels the need to be contrary, tucking the ghostflowers comb in her hair.

Though, this was going to be difficult.

Heights and climbs didn't bother Alice, being forced to hitch a ride on a grappling hook with another is, unfortunately, very daunting to Alice. Loathing touch and any sort of physical contact, Alice is physically distant, watching them get ready. Great.

In a aesthetic way, Aisha faintly reminds her of the Cheshire Cat. It does nothing to make Alice comfortable, who visibly grimaces at the idea of the grappling hook with her. It's nothing personal, she hates invasions of personal space.

The only real response from Alice was a sharp exhale, tentative steps closer to Aisha, all the while her right hand fell on her sword, just to assure herself that it was still there. It was obvious that Alice was going to struggle with this and she hated it. ]

[sunderings]

[ He rises, Caren in tow, lashes fluttering just as she expects, his hands helping her legs to secure neatly about his waist as he turns his head, catching the jerk of her chin in his peripheral. Endearing as always, his little sister, their relation (though not by blood) evident in the way he anticipates and adjusts to her habitual scolding; her penchant to be dour with an effortless smile. Yes, he is joyful, and what's more, he is unabashed, at the ready with the grappling hook which he brandishes with an easy grace and fires, its prongs finding purchase in the tower looming above. Testing the line, he seems pleased with its position, aligning with several pockmarks the size of footholds, the weathering of the stone beneficial for their climb. ]

No mana shall be wasted, only put to good use. [ Do not worry so, Caren are the words which pass unspoken between the King and his charge as his gaze turns upon Aisha, and Alice who hesitates, her hand upon the hilt of her sword. ] Let us endeavor to remain at the same altitude, during the climb. If any enemies should find us, we will face them together.

[ And be stronger for it, regardless of struggle to be found in traveling in pairs. ]

I do not know what this 'elevator' of yours is, Lady Aisha, but if it has claws such as your own... [ Light of heart and willful, the King's spirits are bright in the prospect of adventure, entirely innocent (if not somewhat in awe, even now) as he continues on: ] ...it must make for quite the ride.

[ The image it forms in his mind's eye is enough to deepen his smile as he shakes his head, pulling upon the cable before him as he finds his grip, his heels scraping the tower's side as he hoists himself (and Caren!) up, holding there. ]

Come, then. Our journey awaits.

[showsnopiety]

[His fluttering is met with a sigh; his smile with an eyeroll. It's habit by now, after the long month and a little more together, side by side. He's clearly enjoying himself, no matter what she says or does.

But she still touches his face just so, clearly worried, even if her expression is as dish water dull as ever. Her legs are, at least, secure around his middle. She sees nothing wrong with what he says, about staying together at least; it makes sense to her. Her arms move to embrace him, even as it may seem familiar, she merely wants safety.]

Something like that. But there are no claws, Sion. We'll take a ride on one, once we're through this.

[He might enjoy going up and down one of those. There might be on in the Airy. Her eyes linger on Alice though. Maybe it would have been better if she had been paired with Sion for this but...she's certain at least that Aisha will not let her fall.]

For now...I'm ready.

[She'll keep him safe. And this close, with such an embrace, they will be able to share enough mana that she could at least spit out spells, if not use her weapon readily.]

[herplaceinthesun]

Nah, they're pretty boring... but nice if you can see out of it.

[The image of him riding one makes her laugh, what a softie. Then again, after this something like that might be the best thing. There was bound to be lots of trouble in there.

Caren and Sion pair up, and she waits. Her assumption is that Alice is simply afraid of either heights or having to rely on her. Aisha supposes it's understandable, even the bit of vulnerability she's experienced since arriving here was a pain in the ass. It makes her more patient than she might otherwise be.

She can't quite stop the urge to bounce on her toes, though.]

Ready when you are. [Mostly to Alice-] Let's do this!

[After all, adventure was up there.]

[digophelia]

[ It would make sense that the siblings would pair up, wouldn't it. Alice took the time to glance away from the both of them, quelling any slight feelings of jealousy. It reminded her a little of her older sister and her, though, Lizzie had some similar qualities in Sion (her teasing and playfulness), she had similar qualities to Alice, herself. She almost gets pulled down by a memory of her older sister.

"Keep our secret, Alice, or we're not sisters."

What a terrible time to think of Lizzie. She purposefully waits, glancing away with a hand on her sword and continues to be very silent and reluctant. It would be reasonable to assume that perhaps that standoffish behavior was her fear of heights. As soon as she hears Aisha's voice, Alice came to the conclusion she had no choice.

Anyone that gets near Alice will notice her shift; she stiffens, even flinches with the slightest of touch. She'll just continue to reluctantly grip whatever she can and hope that they ascend quickly.

Alice will feel more inclined to say something once she doesn't have to deal with her aversion to touch. ]

[sunderings]

[ And so they climb.

Their ascent is, perhaps, not nearly so swift as Alice might have liked, but the pace they strike is steady, and the company makes good time. Three quarters of the tower falls to the banter which the King pitches back and forth between the blasts of the grappling hooks and the latch of the prongs, before the sound of his voice (and even the firing of the guns!) is swallowed by the whipping winds, the gale which sees Caren's hair swirled everywhere, and Sion giving pause first to heal Aisha's hands (if the skin of his palms has long since gone raw, he does not wish to imagine the state of her own) before tending to himself, then Alice and Caren both.

Now, more than ever, they will need to be steadfast in their footing and their holds, for at this altitude, the shadows which had once passed harmlessly overhead are now foreboding in their proximity and loom much too close to go unaddressed. And for all the thrill (the pleasurable ache which has settled into his muscles over the duration of the climb), the King does not enjoy the vulnerability of open air, and chooses to preemptively guard with a barrier woven by the words what I seek is reflection. ]

Caren— [ He calls, then, to their comrades, his voice carrying this time through the torrents of wind: ] Alice— Lady Aisha and I will need for you to be our eyes. The source of the shadow...

[ What manner of foe approaches? ]

[showsnopiety]

[She holds on. There's little ease she can do, other then ensure that there is a flow of mana between them, flowing sure and strong, keeping them both fine and well. There is a need to adjust and make carefully comfortable at intervals; her thighs, at one point, start to ache from keeping a grip on Sion as they go still higher and higher.

And yet...(though there is a part of her that wishes to scold and sigh, to roll her eyes, even as they keep up quiet banter until the winds make it near impossible...

...and shadows that had been far away draw ever nearer. Oh. Her eyes widen, and she takes in a sharp breath. Now she has seen some things. Battled against evil. But these? There is only one way to sum them up:

Freaks of nature.

The arms flap as if they flailing for balance, with fearsome beaks and tails long and lush. But more importantly, they appear to be wind riders and...this could get bad. Very, very bad.]

Wind riders. Some manner of bird with human arms; I know not their names.

[She takes in a deep breath, meditative and she reaches within herself for her mana. For fire. Adra had been more help and a terror when he assisted her in finding her desires and magic.]

Throw them into the furnace of fire!

[Flame flows forth from her suddenly outstretched palm, her gaze under her hair of steel and determination. She doesn't know what Alice will do, but...in this case, heat is all she can offer, a distraction, a probe, and pain for the creatures about to set upon them.]

[herplaceinthesun]

[It could be worse. Besides the extreme ache in her hands, this still wasn't the most ridiculous or dire situation she'd ever been in. Not being alone makes things easy enough, and by the time Sion's healing them up, she's considering that magic may very well be a boon.

Of course, that's when worse comes knocking on their door.]

Birds with... sure, why not?

[That might be a contender for most ridiculous.

Unfortunately, Aisha can't do much for anyone right now but keep the climbing up, holding herself steady for Alice to do whatever she can. There's a deep whistle at Caren's fire-throwing, she can't help but be impressed. The power of mana was serious stuff.

No time to play spectator though, she had to ascend.]

[digophelia]

[ Fortunately for Aisha, Alice very light -- a little too light. The slip of a girl says nothing in response, but focuses her sights ahead. She won't let them know how much fire frightens her, as her body begins to tense up. The ghostflower comb in her hair, Alice draws her focus on whatever these creatures are. They would be absurd enough to be something out of Wonderland, wouldn't they?

Quietly, Alice began to hone in on that, wondering what sort of thing she could pull out of Wonderland directly to scare them off or drop a powerful illusion enough to render them vulnerable in fear. Really, Alice can think of one thing and one thing only that would really strike fear into them.

There is no incantation for her comb's magic, it's silent and creeps up as soon as Alice focuses on the illusion, drawing from her mind and ever-present hallucinations. ]

If you're all so eager to die, let me help you.

[ It was the first thing she said in a few hours; Alice was still abnormally withdrawn for various reasons. The dark illusion began to form, coming from darkness that Alice began to cloak over them. All she had to do was concentrate hard enough, and the illusion slowly started to take shape, pulling them into what may as well be look like flesh. It would contort and twist, as if it had its own heartbeat, eyes shifting and boring onto them as Alice would not break eye contact from her target.

Come closer, I dare you. But the illusion, as quick as it was cast onto them, was already starting to frighten them away. Frantic screeching as Alice pushed the illusion further, willing to push her mana to greater limits.

[sunderings]

[ Some manner of bird with human arms, Caren's voice sounds in his ear, her fire at his back (impressive, he thinks, without turning from the climb, needing not to glimpse the magic to feel the force of the blaze or to hear the crackle of flame), but then darkness falls, and the King knows it to be Alice. Alice, who has become a greater, far more fearsome source of shadow herself.

He glows brightly as the pitch settles upon them, the golden light which had been dulled by the grey of the churning sky mists and cloud cover all too apparent now as it limns from beneath his skin, shining as Alice's illusion takes its shape, and the company is pulled in with it. Beneath his hand, the ledge which he'd taken as his grip is wet, not with condensation, but with the consistency of viscera, the tower itself changed into a pulsating mass of flesh and of eyes which begs some loathsome part of him to...

(Caren, upon his back, may perceive a sudden shift in him, the vibrance of his mana ungentle now, in this moment, and singing of one thing only: destruction.)

...devour it. ]

Lady Aisha, dig into the tower, regardless of what you see! Let nothing compromise your hold.

[ —his voice rings out, echoes, even as he forgoes his own grasp upon the ledge, offering a murmur of hold tightly to me now to Caren as he turns, angling his body so that he may better glimpse these wind riders for himself. His hold upon the grappling hook is unfaltering, the aim of twin blades formed from dark magic and the incantation of sword true as they take one screeching abomination by the throat, the creature bellowing, choking out its last breaths as it plummets, disappearing from the landscape of the illusion as it falls. ]

Be relentless and swift with your magic, Alice— [ He worries for her, for Aisha and for Caren, but if the illusion is already cast, then let it be used to its fullest extent. ] —it affects not only our enemies.

[showsnopiety]

[She might have made a joke about how the birds were will armed, even made some sort of remark about Aisha's whistle, some sort of sassy remark about it. But then...Alice makes her move, and shows the difference between a pawn and a Queen.

She could not do such a thing. Should not be given such a power. It's too...

beautiful. Bird cries become human screams, the beating of a laboring heart suffering, suffering, suffering. Only he can take on all the evils of the world, only he can, and for a moment, she almost, almost sees another under her hands, not Sion: someone who has dusky skin, a whirl of tattoos and...

He's no longer here.

Her grip, for a moment, slips.

Then it's Sion again, his braid lashing against her cheek before she grabs onto him, too tight. Her pupils are too wide, the light almost swallowed in the dark. But she holds on, and her fingers roll out, her voice trembling.]

The river of God is full of water.

[Another outpour of mana, this time thick and cold, slaps against another tail with a dull splat. It's thick with cold, like saliva. If it helps the illusion, she'll do what she can.]

[herplaceinthesun]

Whoa.

[Was there anything else to say, really?

Alice and her slaughterscape had officially won the "strangest thing she'd ever seen" award, but Aisha was too busy gaping to congratulate her. She had goosebumps, was a bit freaked out, but this wasn't the same as being trapped and facing some creature from inside a ship. She had control here, and that was what mattered most.

Activating her bracelets now, her grip tightens, just enough to keep going. No way she was gonna fall because of her own teammate!

Her laughter echoes against the tower, her climb as surefooted as ever.]

Aisha didn't know we were getting chased by a bunch of chickens... [She can sense the disturbance with them all, and so plays the relief. Not to distract, just to take the edge off.] But I guess that's what they get for all that fowl play.

[One notch, another, another, up they go. Progress, all that mattered now. Support the attackers, have their backs. Horror, darkness, water, and her grip.]

They could have just given us a hand, so we didn't have to take 'em.

[digophelia]

[ It's true, her aim could use some work; the worst part of it was, Alice was struggling to differentiate a border, per say, of her illusion overlapping her target and allies. She couldn't admit that it was a combination of her vision, pushing more creatures of Queensland that were familiar in appearance to her beloved carrier. But Alice was starting to exert herself a little too much, her green eyes boring into them, almost losing herself to it.

At least then, she knew when to stop, snapping her eyes from her targets, when a great number of them started to fall from the sky. Alice treated it like an annoyance, rather than the horror than it actually was. Violence wasn't something that Alice ever bat her eye at, not even when she let the tendrils of Queensland begin to claw them out of the sky. ]

Just descend to the top, all of you, lest I find something more gruesome.

[ Her voice smooth, even, belaying the mounting frustration that she had to be carried like this. It wasn't her intention to cast the illusion on them as well, but it would be a vague enough comment to where it could be seen as one. Finally, when Alice can see a good number of them out of the sky and freely falling past them, she breaks her gaze, calling back the illusion. From then on out, Alice had to close her eyes for a few moments to ensure that the illusion was finally gone.

The difference between magic and her mind was going to be difficult. ]

[sunderings]

[ The path between madness and magic would be arduous to tread, as toilsome as their climb, though even their ascent would come to an end whereas Alice... her journey would be as unending as his own, fraught with horrors kept at bay by strength of will; the light which would always stand as bulwark against the dark.

Their assailants seize, falling stuttering and stilted through the sky, paralyzed by what had gripped even him, even Caren with its lurid (beautiful) majesty, and as the illusion fades, his free hand touches gently to Caren's arm (her grip upon him is vice-like, and he is unable to shake the tremble of her voice from his hears), his fingertips alight with soothing magic, filling her with its warmth for at this height, the winds are searing; they are cold. ]

My Lady Aisha... [ He is grateful for her good humor, the relief which it brings, reminding him of two who were dear to him, who surely faced their own trials now, in the absence of their King, but he hoped... Oh, how he hoped they retained their banter, the smiles which they'd offered to him in order to lift him out of the mire of his own making. ] ...I would offer to you a standing eggsaltation, were I not otherwise preoccupied.

[ Ah, there it is, his smile—it surfaces after he finds his grip upon the tower, recoiling the cable of the grappling hook only to fire it again, his aim and the latch of its claws taking them higher. ]

Instead, I propose to you a race. [ To keep Alice appeased, and Caren's grip from slipping again. ] Whoever first sets foot upon the topmost platform...

[ Up, up, and up they go. And though there are no more shadows in his line of sight, he casts the cover of a barrier for each stretch of tower they are to scale. And so it becomes a rhythm: the surge of his mana, then dispelling of the barrier below, another launch of the grappling hook, all coupled with the King's zeal. ]

...will be treated to all their heart's desires aboard the Airy after we have conquered this place.

[ Not that, of course, he hadn't intended to do as much to begin with—if he is guilty of anything, it is of doting upon others, and already, the energy expended upon climbing the first of the towers has warranted quite the thorough spoiling. Neither Alice, Aisha, nor Caren will be spared!

But perhaps a treat greater than any has already appeared before them. Overhead, it looms, visible even through the mists: the platform heralding the way into the tower. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Caren could have been lost in that. If she had been another, she might have started laughing, hysterically. Or screaming. As it is, the illusion of Queensland struck her hard. Not with fear, no. Longing.

But this isn't the place for that. Her grip eases, and she, out of routine or habit, bats at him with one hand.]

That was awful. And you're doing it again.

[Her voice is a little more faint then usual, but there is that same amount of tartness, the huff in her voice. Still, for a few moments, she rests her head on that white jacket, and tries, against all odds, not to think of what it would be like to have that tattooed skin against her face instead.

She feels content with it, at peace, because there is nothing quite like hearing her own heart cry out in sufferance. She sighs, loud enough for Sion to hear as they begin to ascend in earnest. Caren knows that Sion will intentionally lose but...

The switch that happened before. She has to wonder what she had felt under her body, so similar to her own focus...but completely different. It makes her wonder what else he does to try to forget or suppress the need to destroy.

...Ah. They're a little too similar after all, aren't they. That really is funny.]

[herplaceinthesun]

You got it, Alice.

[It'll be easier to do now that the tower isn't made of guts anymore. Everyone seems to be settling down in their own ways, it makes her breathe a bit easier. That sort of tension was enough to drive her nuts.

Armbirds fall out of the sky in droves, and she plucks a few feathers as souvenirs, doesn't feel anything about it but glad. Pausing for a second to stop the mana flow to her bracelets, Aisha yawns. It feels like they're been doing this for hours, and she's almost starting to get bored with the whole thing. Not that she wants any more fights up here, mind.

Long way down, at this point.]

A race? [Her smile here is playful, too big, dangerous in a way. Sion's right on time with the challenge, really. Though she'd be majorly put out if she found that he let her win, how dare he?] You're on.

[Sorry Alice (and Caren, most likely), she's being a bit more reckless now, firing the hook with gusto to match the king's zeal. At least she's quiet, focused on getting to the top as fast as possible. Each hand and foothold is like a saving grace to her, even as the wind threatens to render their progress and lives moot. It whips at her ears, hurts like hell.

By the time she gets to the top, Aisha is hardly aware if she won or not, or anything else. But they made it, didn't they?]

Here's our stop...

[Just let her sit down for just a second, okay guys?]

[digophelia]

This isn't a game.

[ Alice, who's already losing her patience with being this close to someone in a very long time, is eager to get up to the top. She finds herself glaring at Sion for the suggestion of a race. It's a shame that her partner (sort of speak) takes that to heart and pulls them up. Thank goodness that nothing happens when they finally ascend.

Alice doesn't wait, she immediately lets go and jumps to solid ground once she is able to, resisting the urge to hold herself. Already, her hands are back on her sword, ready to withdraw. If they lost, Alice wasn't going to be particularly sore about it; what mattered was getting to the top safely. Fortunately, Aisha wasn't going to earn Alice's ire. She would keep going, adjusting the comb tighter in her hair. ]

The both of you, stop wasting time already.

[sunderings]

[ His voice is gentle, soft when he speaks: ]

Have patience, Alice. Opportunities for rest are few and far in between during instances such as these.

[ Not that he, of course, is resting. Having set foot upon the platform in second place (and truth be told, he hadn't needed to forfeit the race—a gap had formed between the two parties, brought about by Aisha's physical prowess and the King's many pauses given to casting magic, and even if he had sorely tried, no power in this realm could have helped him to bridge it!), Sion had shifted to help Caren find her feet before moving on himself. With a roll of his shoulders, he focuses keenly upon the way that they ache, his feet carrying him through the passageway before them and into the tower itself, for this is one of the many ways he suppresses the darkness within himself:

He cannot stop walking forward.

(Alice, perhaps, knows this best: Will you stop?!, she'd demanded of him, once upon a time. ]

We will need the whole of our strength for the trials to come. [ And then he is standing upon another ledge, the regal plait of his hair tumbling over his shoulder as he peers down, the tips of his boots courting the weathered edge of stone in his observation. ] ...it is hollow.

[ His eyes flick up, making a quick study of the stairwells which spiral ever-higher into the tower—could they support his weight? Alice's? Caren's? ]

And we've a ways yet to climb.

[showsnopiety]

[It was certainly a crazy sort of tension, wasn't it. Her first dungeon, and she was not sure how many Sion had faced, how many Alice had. And yet...they seemed to be doing strangely well, if that was the first leg of the journey.

Caren allowed herself to be carried, as her usual, before settling onto her feet. She has to take a moment for herself to stretch her legs, even as she stared after him. Moving already. It might have been good for his legs, but what was going through his mind...

Nothing good, that's for certain.

She moves to follow him, and gives his arm a little shove. Pushing him back before he would, of all things, attempt the steps himself.]

Give me the grappling hook and attend to Aisha. She needs your spells. Your smile should be enough to ensure Alice will not go ahead of us.

[Her hand is out, her golden eyes calm.]

I'll test the first step, and come back. It may be they won't support your weight, and Alice is too valuable to risk.

[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.]

[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. ]

[sunderings]

Not because you are soft-hearted, Alice, but rather—

[ Because you are silk incased in steel, and would turn from the sight. But this, of course, he does not say, and it is for more reasons than one: from above, a lone Ocypete descends, riding the winds funneled into the hollow of the tower by the cracks and crevices in its structure. The Hero King and Caren both (Caren, who had given him a shove, pushing him back while nearing the foot of the ledge herself) make for favorable targets, though in the end, it is Caren who is within the creature's reach, and it is Caren who—

—is shielded by the brother she bears no blood relation to.

She is pulled close and dear to his chest, the grappling hook clattering to the ledge as his arm is cleaved by talons, flesh torn and ripped through as the Ocypete attacks only to circle back and away as though it were displeased, hoping to find a stronger gust of wind to carry it forward for its second aerial assault. ]

Caren— you are unscathed?

[ Asks the King who bleeds incandescent gold as he blinks down at her, assessing her condition before falling back and ushering both Aisha and Alice along with him. For now, it is best to defend their position, to hold here until the Ocypete returns for round two.

And so it does, with a fellow abomination in tow. ]

[showsnopiety]

[Aisha truly was refreshing. Caren would have enjoyed bantering a little, back and forth, if only to make Alice stew and grumble. The smallest woman in their number had been about ready to explode for some time now, and she needed to lash out. Sion would have done well as her object of fury. There's something in there that needs to be laced anyway.

And Aisha could have enjoyed it.

But even as Sion protests, there's a beat of sound, and that is enough for Caren to shove Sion further back. She is prepared to take the blow, even onto death and-

She finds herself drawn away and into his arms. There's gold on her jacket. It's his blood. (His blood matches her eyes). ]

I'm fine.

[Her voice is steady, hard, and she makes a sweeping gesture.]

Pain is a kindly, hopeful thing, a certain proof of life.

[The pain, at least, vanishes; the blood may lessen, as Caren silently bucks her body against his from the sudden pain from the slashes she felt on herself. And yet, that won't stop her from repeating the spell, over and over, until she was certain that the wounds were closed. Even if she had ignore the fighting.

She'd let Aisha and Alice do the fighting while she took care of the healer.]

[herplaceinthesun]

[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.]