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

[interchained]

[This whole tower is such a mess that Gil isn't even sure where to start. Besides, while creating a list of complaints is a tempting idea, there's simply no time for that, not with all those weird humanoid birds (just how they...??) around and later with the disappearing steps and ledges so small that they can barely place their feet on top of them.

That's when magic comes in handy, but they need to focus so chit-chatting is reduced to a minimum, at least on Gil's part. However, once they can finally stand without worrying about falling down (too much), he lets out a sigh and relaxes a bit.

This doesn't last long, though. Allen why.]

What the hell is that?!

[It's difficult to tell what that is exactly—he may be talking about either the worm or the goo. Before doing anything, he turns to Makoto.]

Keep your distance from that thing for now, if you may...

[With his right glove removed and after a brief groan (why this), he touches Allen's face trying to analyze the substance.]

Ugh, don't move!

[dilemmic]

[ Maybe they should've been Team #allenwhy instead.

Also gross, Gil, you're gonna end up with spit all over your hand. But that doesn't faze Makoto though she does cast them a curious glance as she steps up to stand guard close by, though not quite shoulder-to-shoulder. ]

Of course.

[ ...she'll let him do his Bishop-ly things and ask later when they're not in front of possible attackers. For now, she keeps her gaze trained levelly on the nest-barricade the creature had emerged from. From this distance, its trajectory would probably be too off to hit her, from her calculations, but that's assuming that it didn't move.

(And now that she's looking carefully, is it just her imagination or is there more movement than just at that one nest? Best not to stick around too long to find out, she reckons.) ]

Can we get it off him?

[ "We", she's shifted to using.

Makoto's control over her weapon is still spotty at best and there are times when her mana channelling fails and she's left just shooting tiny jets of water at monstrous birds - an appalling form, and she'd switched to relying more on her physical training to see her through (i.e. she might've kicked a bird). Climbing hadn't been her strong suit - swimming was - but she'd managed to tough it out with help from the both of them. It's too late to consider it an I effort. ]

[likethelight]

[ Excuse both of you, he was just inspecting the thing in their way!! Any one of them could have had this happen to them!! Better it be him, anyway!! Probably!! ]

? [ Allen blinks slightly when the Bishop leans beside him, stilling when he reaches to touch his face. After all, the mana transfer spark from such a small contact is still enough to make him pause. Although anything in Allen's own mana signature is just confusion and indignation right now, though it's generally a bundle of blindingly bright emotions anyway. But Gil, you.............

You've just managed to stick your hand to Allen's face. Actually, come to think of it now—Allen's own fingertips are stuck there now as well. ] !!!

[ THIS IS SOMEHOW WORSE. But he keeps still, altogether too aware he could bring them both plummeting over the side. At least it didn't hit him in such a way where he can't breath...

And Makoto is right to sense movement further among the other nests. There's first one distant buzz, then another in response to the distressed aello eyeballing them. ]

[interchained]

[So...they're kind of holding hands now? Boys, please.

Gil has possibly no idea how weird it might look like from Makoto's point of view—he has just stuck his hand to the boy's face voluntarily, after all. He doesn't even want to think how does it look like from Allen's point of view, but the surprise is all written over his face and that's more than enough.]

I think we can...

[He doesn't even pay attention to what he's saying at this point. Thankfully, Allen staying still makes things much easier as he can focus on the substance right away. It feels weird when so many pieces of information fill up his head, some of them important (the fact that it's edible and filled with mana), while some of them not (he can see what color the goo is without touching it, really).

But before he makes a bento for his team out of the goo, he needs to know how to get rid of it.

Fire. He's not sure how, but something tells him that fire should help.]

Okay, listen...you're not going to like it. I need to set it on fire.

[Who would have thought that learning how to burn NSFW pictures with a fire spell will be helpful in the dungeon?

He'll need help of the only logical person in this team, though.]

Could you help us if things get ugly...?

[That's one way to put it...]

[dilemmic]

[ If we're going to be picnicking, Allen can have first dibs to the spit goo bento.

In any case, most people's reactions would be some sort of squawk of alarm but Makoto...one of Makoto's best friends back home is a brilliant scientist who erred on the side of experimentation. Human experimentation. Brilliant, basically, but with particularly dangerous methods. Now, Makoto knew even less about a bishop's capabilities than she did about the inner working of her friend's mind, but at this junction, it's not like she had leeway to question his methods.

That's why her first question isn't "Is it safe?" (because that's obviously not). Instead, she draws her gun - in her bag, she has filled waterskins just for reloading - and glances back at the both of them.

Boys, you both look questionable with your hands on Allen's face. ]

Is there no other way?

1/2

[likethelight]

[ Fire??? Did you say fire?? Gil! ]

!!!??? [ NO. NO YOU CAN'T. THIS IS NOT OKAY. WILD GESTICULATING WOULD WORK IF HE CAN'T TALK BUT HE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT. ]

2/3 i lied

[likethelight]

[ ... ]

3/3

[likethelight]

[ In this exact moment, Allen is realizing just exactly how much stranger his life has gotten. Here in this place, in a tower high above a world that's just as foreign as this place is strange and dangerous with people he's only just met. One of whom is about to light something on his face on fire. Light it with what?? Magic?? ]

...

[ So he'd take a deep breath if he could, but he can't beyond a very slow, calming inhale—shuts his eyes tight... and gives a nod.

If you're going to do it Gil, now is good. He can hear the chatter growing. And for right now, well..

He's going to have to trust you, so he is. They're comrades now, right?

And that means having to trust each other right now. Although it doesn't mean he's any happier with the situation or not screwing his eyes shut very tight.

In this moment though he can't help but be reminded of who you look like, though, Gil. And it's... a little unnerving. ]

[interchained]

[Whatever has made Allen realize that fire spell is absolutely necessary here, it makes Gil let out a relieved sigh. It's not like he had any choice to begin with (he needs this hand to serve his master in the future), but he remains silent about that to not make things even worse.

However, it's Gil. He still manages to make things worse, even without saying much. One look at his pale face is enough to come up with a conclusion that he's not entirely sure that he'll succeed. There's a small teardrop-shaped flame on the tip of his index finger forming already.

Well, there goes nothing.

At first, nothing really happens—the goo is as sticky as it was before. They probably need more time, but how should he explain that to Allen...]

Stay still no matter what. No. Matter. What.

[That's all he has to say, apparently.

Not too long after, the substance, instead of sticky becomes more solid but still easy to disintegrate. So when Gil tries pulling his hand which has been resting on Allen's cheek for a while, he manages to free his limb. Now he just has to do the same with Allen's hands, and when he's about to do so...

...the flame on the tip of his finger accidentally brushes over the boy's white bangs, setting them on fire.]

I don't understand why you guys let me do this. ._.

[dilemmic]

[ This team is now team #gilwhy.

If Allen's choice of reaction punctuation had been ?!?! earlier, Makoto's is surely !!!! right now. However, being forewarned is forearmed and her immediate reaction is to grit her teeth, take aim and shoot--

--at Allen who's standing about an elbow's length away. She's a good shot (anyone would be, at this distance), but it's a dangerous gamble: Best case scenario, he gets soaked. Worst case, the water beam will bean him in the eye and that's gonna smart and blind him for about a minute or so. Mostly harmless, right?

Well...perhaps they should've considered the fauna.

Aello are biologically vulnerable to fire and just like all good creatures, they lash out when threatened. The flare that Allen's hair goes up in only serves to draw the insects to a crescendo and simultaneously with Makoto's waterbeams, they launch not one but five spitballs at the three of them. ]

because this whole thing is a beautiful trainwreck

[likethelight]

[ #WHY

WHYWHYWHYWHY—

Maybe it's lucky enough for everyone involved that the instinct at having your eyes snap open to see fire in front of them is to screw them shut again, so Makoto's water gun (WHAT KIND OF WEAPON IS THAT ANYWAY) soaks him but he doesn't get it right in the eye.

You guys... he... ] ...

[ Has really sort of had it. Which is why, you know, it's just his fingertips, so you know what—no. Screw all this.

He rips his hands from his face, losing not a terribly small amount of epidermis but he's been through worse. And because being kind of blinded and mute has made him hyper-aware of that angry chittering sound--he's body checking both of you out of the way on instinct, even if he has to plow into and pick up both you kind of to do it although he'll try to be gentler with Makoto.

He doesn't care that you're bigger than him, Gil. He doesn't care at all anymore. That's a lie, but still.]

why is the best word to describe this whole adventure

[interchained]

[#GIL DID NOTHING WRONG

(That's what he'll keep telling himself at night)

He really didn't want it to end like this, but they say that hell is paved with good intentions. And when he's about to start apologizing to Allen, the boy is already trying to push him away.

However, Gil still hasn't noticed the sticky spitballs, so he's simply not aware that the reason why he's being grabbed like this. Given what has just happened, there may be only one reason and he can't really blame him for getting worked up...]

Shit...I'm sorry, Walker, I'm sorry—

[Well, at least he didn't tell him that his hair doesn't look bad. Moreover, he doesn't do anything to defend himself, so Allen can go ahead and...

Nothing of the sort happens, though. Instead, Gil lands ungracefully on his butt, a few steps away, really confused about what's going on. Until he tilts his head.]

Walker?!

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

[dilemmic]

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

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

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

[dilemmic]

[ Hello, spitballs on a rock.

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

This place is officially deemed Not Safe. ]

We're getting out of here.

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

[likethelight]

[ He'd really love to respond and is sorry for the rough handling, it just seemed necessary, but...

peh! It's probably not the smartest idea but screw it, he uses his tongue to poke through the spit seal on his face. At least it seems to work. Although gross, so gross feeling..

Although somehow it doesn't taste half bad... ]

It's okay! Sorry, I didn't mean-- [ To be so rough, but he cuts himself short as the insects begin to crawl out of the shadows, a few becoming a.. lot.

He nods to Makoto, instinctively drawing closer so they can stay together, not quite shoulder to shoulder. ] Follow me-- [ Because he has an idea.

Reaching into his breastpocket, he retrieves The Fool. And gripping the joker card in his hand into a tube, the weapon activates, a brilliantly white blade of pure mana as long as he is tall and almost as broad shoots out, making the air vibrate and hum as an illusion of white and black greatsword shimmers in place over the energy.

He lifts it, facing the way ahead with all the nests in the way. Time to see how quickly he can tear through them to clear a path for them, casting first a glance over his shoulder at the others to see if they're ready to run. ]

[interchained]

[Gil has enough of people pushing him away or hauling him up, which means he's more than eager to stand on his feet all by himself and as fast as he only can despite being bruised here and there. Just as he draws his gun from the holster, Allen tells them both to follow him. Well, whatever his idea is, if it involves getting out of here in one piece, he's in.

Just for a brief moment, he lets himself ponder how much mana this weapon of Allen's may drain. By the size of it, only one answer comes to his mind: a lot. Which means they don't have much time to get through the nests.]

Let us help too, Walker. You're not alone in this.

[Holding up the gun, he looks at Makoto for confirmation.]

[dilemmic]

[ Hell, there's probably an entire colony gathering in here and Makoto's willing to bet that if she'd spent any longer to figure things out - that there'd probably be a queen aello somewhere in this mess. It's a good thing she doesn't want to.

And she nods. They came in here together, they'd bust through together too. Besides, there's no telling how far they were thus far and conserving manpower resources seemed like the best course of action. ]

1/2

[likethelight]

[ That—oh...

Oh.

For a moment he draws a breath and looks like Gil might have very well clocked him upside the head with that. Because he didn't mean—he wasn't thinking like that... was he? And he certainly didn't mean to imply they aren't just as able. (Gil moreso, arguably. Ranks are foreign to Allen still but he does understand he's a Bishop.) But it's been so long since he even fought with the others that...

Maybe he has. (And it was always a downfall of his before.)

"You're not alone." He swallows for a moment at that, then gives a nod.

Ok then. Together. ]

2/2

[likethelight]

[ It's a tiring weapon to use, but Allen feels a little revitalized already when he looks back up. ]

Mn. [ He raises the blade up, eyes forward on the stairs ahead and the nests in the way, more eyes beginning to reflect back at them in the low light as aello crowd together to watch them. Gathering numbers... ] There here we—

—go! [ He'll lead the way first, striking out and ripping through nests and larva alike in large swathes at a run.

But not to leave them behind. To expect them there beside him as he does. Maybe a couple steps behind, this is sort of gross. ]

[interchained]

[Truth to be told, he thought that Allen would be more stubborn about it. Not that they could afford to quarrel over anything, really.

While Allen's pushing forward and cleaning the path for them, Gil watches over the rear, making sure that any aello won't get past them. They're quite persistent and some of his mana bullets get stopped by their spitballs, but they're steadily advancing towards the staircase, so that's a good thing.]

[dilemmic]

[ Makoto's not as quick a shot as Gil but she doesn't need to be when the swarms are practically around them. For each nest that Allen decimates, ten aello rise up to meet them - most of which are cut down by the next strike - but for those that manage to rise above and out of sword range, they're swiftly frozen by a shot of mana-infused icicles before they can launch their attacks. At the very least, even if they weren't about to be trampled underfoot, the ice would immobilise them enough for them to get out.

They're actually making great progress, it would be a pity if it went to naught right now...?! ]

[likethelight]

[ Makoto.

Makoto why.

Why did you have to jinx it.

Because it's true, they are making good progress, even if that only progress seems to be forward and Allen's hoping that it is indeed the way they have to go. And he almost has to cheer as he rips through the next cluster of nests and can see the stairway. ] There!

Just ahead-- [ Just one more step--

One more step that ends rather abruptly. As there is one particularly spiteful aello, laying half frozen on its side, that spits at the white-haired nuisence ripping up its home in the only way it can.

Right at his feet.

So that his boot sticks to the ground and he pitches forward and slams down with all his forward momentum. But it's okay! He caught himself with his face..... ]

[interchained]

[The stairway is truly a godsend. There's been enough of bugs in various stages of their lives for today already. And they're already so close to it, so what could possibly go wrong?

E v e r y t h i n g, for example. Thanks to that one aello, one single aello. Apart from them going around destroying nests]

?!

[The surprised sound Gilbert makes is something in between a gasp and a shriek, it's really hard to tell. However, finding the culprit thankfully isn't.

Too bad that the aello's aim is so good that using its own spit, it manages to reflect Gil's mana bullets.]

Shit, you'll have to get new ones!

[That could only mean that Gilbert's planning to come to your rescue, Allen (FINALLY). With your favorite fire spell, of course.]

[dilemmic]

[ Hell hath no fury like an aello scorned, clearly.

Makoto doesn't even have time to wince because with Allen going down, the next target in line would be her (no thanks to current unfortunate positioning). She opens fire at three aello making a beeline towards Allen, but there's no doubt about it: The sudden lull in damage has opened an opportunity for Aello Part 2: Electric Boogaloo. They're hostile, territorial and they're coming for all three of them.

Breaking formation is exceedingly dangerous now, in any case, so she just yells -- ]

Leave them!

[ drop your shoes, allen, who needs 'em ]

[likethelight]

[ New ones?? Leave what, his shoes?? What are you, crazy?! He can't do a dungeon barefoot!!

Hnnnngg... twisting around, he grits his teeth and yanks on the boot. It starts to give with an unhealthy pop-suck, but it doesn't come free yet. Just looks... kind of sticky and gross, the spit clinging to the sole of it.

Ah crap, he catches the aello beginning to swarm in out of the corner of his eye. Now or never.. ]

It's... fine!! [ Watch out, Gil. He's aiming away from you since he sees you coming to him, but Allen takes a break from pulling on his boot to twist and snap his sword out in a very sharp, very agitated sweep at the aello the instant they draw near. Huge sword... huge range.

It might also be a bit of overkill because he's pissed off. And bugs don't factor into his love of humanity.

He may be stuck but damnit he won't be helpless. ]