DUNGEON ♛ GISELA TOWERS

[boardmaster]

GISELA TOWERS
20 MAY (VALLARIA) 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

LOCATION ♟ Gisela

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

Comments

[hymnals]

[ WHAT IS THIS STATIC HE WAS DOING HIS JOB! HE IS NOT HERE TO STEAL YOUR GIRL GIL ... He gives Gilgamesh a look that reads, essentially, 'What the hell, man'. His ears twitch in agitation as he turns back towards Saber--ah, what a cute smile. He's about to smile back, but then she puts the gore-coated gun in his hands and he just feels flabbergasted.

He has to shoot this thing, now?

He turns it over in his hands (ugh, it's covered in blood and viscera bits), thinking. He's been training, yes, but he knows he can't bear her weight. He'll have to cross up to the ledge alone, and get Gil to employ his psionics again for Saber's safe passage. ]

--fine. Wait here just one moment, Saber.

[ Making an irritated noise in his throat, he lines up the shot, aims, and fires. The hook bites into the next ledge with an appreciable thunk, and Adra leaps over, landing gracefully beside Gil. At which point, his expression still deadpan--jaw set, lips thin--he hands over the gun. ]

Here.

[babbylon]

[That's if Gilgamesh was willing to spare his precious psionics for Miserable Betrayer #1 and Miserable Betrayer #2. If. Gilgamesh does what he does best—pout for no real purpose, to no real effect—and waits for Adra to make the arduous journey over. To which he doesn't even acknowledge with so much as a nod, before deciding yes, he is a great and generous god, he will guide Saber onto the glorious Gilgamesh-filled heavens after all.

To his credit, he does so. Not so much to his credit, he may have done so in a way that landed her straight in his arms. Into an embrace, whether she wanted it or not, most likely not, all while he catches Adra's eye ever so coolly. Try to wingman for me, why don't you. The great, generous, glorious Gilgamesh requires no such manning of the wings! The great, generous, glorious Gilgamesh commands his own vessel, and with utmost sensuality!

Ah, but didn't he just ask for assistance not moments ago? From the elf he's staring down, no less. Ahem, he's just going to let this particular mood pass, and...]

Go on ahead, Saber. We will join you shortly.

[Actually, Gilgamesh doesn't even wait for her to pass. He just asks of Adra, point blank:]

Hold my hand.

[armorial]

[ To think that her staying behind would prove a point that SHE IS UNHAPPY would go through to him, but of course not. She's brought over with ease, arms crossed neatly in front of her chest and sword sheathed. The man owes her at least a safe trip aside and good behavior. He should shut up, fight, and do nothing more.

Her eyes practically glow when she's in the man's arms, radiant in pure murderous intent. He dares mock her and think he can hold her? How much does arrogance carry oneself? She practically has a inward monologue about how insufferable this man is as her eyes squint at nothingness. The atmosphere is thick, only getting thicker as Saber stays near Gilgamesh. Maybe it's meant to choke him--sorry, Adra, for having to deal with this. Hands balling into fists, she's about ready to punch Gilgamesh square in the jaw.

But she relents and goes on without them to scout the next area, taking her animosity with her. Go ahead and gossip or make out whichever it isr. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra's natural empathy is killing him right now. Even an oblivious fool could mark the strange, palpable energy between Gil and Saber, and Adra is neither oblivious nor a fool. He feels exhausted, observing Gil's jealousy, his boyish enthusiasm, and--by contrast--Saber's cold, murderous fury. He really doesn't want a damn thing to do with any of it.

He looks after Saber as she goes, sighing. A headache's forming between his temples.

When Gil demands his hand, he wants to snap, 'Why the hell should I?', given the attitude Gil's putting on him, but--Gil needs mana, doesn't he. It's a matter of business. Fine. ]

Just for a minute.

[ He takes Gil's hand loosely in his. He stares straight ahead, frowning, his eyes dark. ]

You're ridiculous, by the way.

[babbylon]

[Despite Gilgamesh's petulant attitude, however, his grip proves gentle. He frowns too, for a different reason.]

You are upset.

[Or at the very least, unhappy. Careless at the best of times but far from outright dense, Gilgamesh has sense enough—and shame enough—to glance away. He won't say he's sorry, can't even remember when last he had to anyone for anything, but his body language has turned apologetic. Saber won't see it, but he will. It won't make much of a difference to her; he needs to, in contrast. Gilgamesh trusts him more with it. Figures he might understand it.

Apparently, Saber's earnest promise to try had been all but forgotten.]

It is a complicated matter. I will explain once we're through. For now...

[For now, they're stuck with each other. Gilgamesh attempts a smile, triumphant and compelling.]

Believe in me, as much as you can—because I know, in truth, she cannot.

[Time to join her. He gives Adra a tug and starts following Saber up the steps and into the hive.]

[armorial]

[ And when they catch up, she's merely standing there, looking up to the hives that are humming with insects, droppings and spit laid respectively under them. This is better than a tentacle monster, but she hasn't dared step any further. Turning to them, it looks like she has calmed down for the most part. She had some time to tie her hair into a ponytail while they were having their moment because it's a hassle...

Point is, the little nests up there have stopped her from advancing--her instincts are telling her to not make any disturbance. ]

The staircase is over there. [ Right in front of them, just passed the nests looming over their escape. Saber, being a knight and a king, takes the first light and delicate steps. Actually, within only a couple of steps, she draws her Grail instead of her sword and starts picking up the pace when the sound of flapping wings grow in volume.

The aellos are peeking out of their nests, kaleidoscope eyes drawn to not only Saber, but Gilgamesh and Adra behind her. That's when they start flying out, dropping spit bombs and this powder that shrouds their surroundings. Luckily, they're not separated, right?! No, they're separated if they didn't catch up with her. At least her sneeze means she's close by. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra squeezes Gil's hand when the other man looks away, his own soft heart vulnerable to any sign of remorse, any suggestion of self-reflection. He sighs. ]

I do believe in you, Gil. And I'm not ...

[ They start walking, and he tries again, before they're caught up with Saber. ]

I'd never try to interfere with any of your -- [ he's about to say romances, but does this situation really qualify? ] -- relationships. It's not my business. I just want to make sure we all get out of here, safe and whole. That's all.

[ And then he falls silent, because they've hit the landing, and they've hit the aellos, and suddenly he cannot see a single goddamn thing. Damn it. ]

[babbylon]

[They are simple words, but they are soothing. Gilgamesh takes heart in them, as well as in the warm flow of mana. The longer they walk together, the stronger he feels. Saber will make due as she always does and always will, he figures; he cannot help but be anything more or less than himself, and that's a fact others must accept. A fact he'd bullied a whole world into accepting, once upon a forever ago.

Gilgamesh's eyes can no longer see for miles and miles, but they are sharp nonetheless, penetrating even this strange mist. As they meet up with Saber again, he can spy pitfalls everywhere. Traps ahead of them, enemies behind, and hives, hives everywhere that are now buzzing. Vicious wings beating just above their heads. And, of course...]

Ugh!

[...spit. Spit that's now been hurled unceremoniously at Gilgamesh's face. Did he deserve that? Probably. Did he like that? Not at all.]

Let us not dawdle in this miserable coven! Hustle!

[Gilgamesh charges forward. The bugs make a beeline for him, and he starts slashing away. It's an easy enough affair, this time, with solid steps beneath their feet.]

[armorial]

This way. [ GRACEFULLY SNEEZES. Her voice calls for them, already ahead, but then she runs past them to guard the back--well, Gilgamesh already ran past her and almost slashed her face. It's only luck that she is able to duck and pass by with little trouble. Luck has also graced her to not step on any traps so far... But maybe that's because she's light and somehow doesn't trigger it with her little weight. Her luck does run out when she passed by the two, one step bursts a gale that may send either Adra or Gilgamesh flying. Probably the latter because his fat self would be more than enough to spring the trap.

Saber doesn't hesitate, believing them to be fine as long as they're together, so she guards their rear. There's a sound of water, but it's still hard to see anything past the powder. There's only but slime... slime........ slime.... more slime... None that get on the other two for now.

Maybe one splats over the shrouded barrier and lands on Adra's shoulder, but that's one outlier. ]

I am behind both of you. [ Her way of saying keep moving. The numbers of aellos are far too great for only three. ] Do not look back.

[ Not that they can anyway. They probably can't even see two feet in front of them. Unfortunately, a stray aello may find its way beyond Saber's makeshift fortress of defense and offense. Good luck, children. ]

[hymnals]

[ As Adra's barriers are static, they're not much use in racing through this gauntlet. He keeps his head down and his teeth gritted as he moves, as he struggles to hold in the near-constant urge to sneeze. A glop of sticky slime splats onto his shoulder, drips unpleasantly down his back and chest. He groans aloud, but that just causes him to breathe in more of the itchy pollen and all of this is the. worst.

Wind from the activated trap buffets against him, and he fights to keep his balance--as well as his temper. ]

Enough.

[ He calls fire to his hands, and burns the ground around them as they go, melting the trails of goo smeared across the floor. He hears the aellos buzzing, louder and angrier, as they race forward--and then he hears the buzz almost directly in his ear, as he and Gil come face to face with one of the fully mature insects. ]

Damn--

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh somehow manages to avoid further embarrassment in this dungeon and leaps clear of the worst of the trap, snagging Adra by the waist and using his greater weight to keep them both secure. Run like hell was a bold tactic, and potentially not the smartest, but with all the hazards around them it may have been their only choice.

And now their only choice is to face this bug head on. But it will be different now, Gilgamesh vows. Adra stands beside him and it will be different and he won't ever have to endure those claws on his back ever again because Adra is his vassal and Gilgamesh is his King and kings looks after their vassals, the king needn't walk alone, even she said so—]

Do you see these people, you worthless mongrel?

[The bug snaps its pincers, makes aggressive moves, but Gilgamesh is undeterred.]

They are under my protection, so I'm ordering you now: die.

[And die was, apparently, one of Gilgamesh's words of incantation. A blast of psionic power slams the bug hard in the head, sending it spiraling several feet away and into a stun. Nocking a trio of arrows, Gilgamesh builds up a powerful charge, and lets them loose. The carapace shatters on impact, the wings fall to pieces, and whatever remains plummets far below. Path successfully cleared. Peace through superior firepower.

And hey... was it just him, or... did he actually look kind of cool there?]

...ah-CHOO!

[Never mind, false alarm.]

[armorial]

[ She's literally machine gunning sneezes at this point, almost four in a row. Saber can't see so if anything it would look cool to Adra... who probably already thinks Gilgamesh is cool. Moot display of skill and grace, to be honest. There may be a couple of more strays, but not that many... only one or two try to pass over, but the triggered traps as they speed through the stairs are throwing what's left of the swam off. ]

They are falling back. [ Was that a pillar of fire? They just triggered a step that essentially blew up like a hyperactive volcano. How fortunate are they to not have gotten burnt into a crisp. That doesn't mean there isn't some wayward goo flying towards the front. The aellos aren't going to make it easy for them even if they're taking the hit and run route.

It seems once they reach the next floor, the aellos retreated, uninterested as long as their nests are safe. It also doesn't help that their swarm is reduced to a small group. The spit though... might have gotten onto most of their clothing. Gilgamesh and Adra are possibly stuck together like super glue. ]

[hymnals]

Ah ...

[ It's true ... he might have swooned a little. His eyes might have widened, might have become momentarily starry at Gil's display of protective prowess. He might have found the follow-up sneeze endearing, too. All of those things very likely happened. His heart is far from stone, after all.

But the goo splattered everywhere, especially on them, is a little too much to tolerate. Adra is a fastidious person; he likes to be neat, trimmed, clean. He does not appreciate a mess, particularly not since he's presently physically attached to Gil, his forehead pressed against the other man's chest. For the Light's sake. ]

Let me--just--

[ He cringes as he presses his hand to the jelly-like substance. Heat flows from his open palm, causing the aello spit to loosen and soften. After a few moments, he's able to slowly, stickily pull away. Ugh. ]

[babbylon]

[It's also true that this was rather disgusting, but Gilgamesh could think of more gruesome fates than being forcibly attached to Adra. He looks cute, caught in a huff like that with his head bowed down and his face scrunching up. All the more so as he struggles and doesn't make much progress. If it wasn't obvious to Saber already that there was a little something-something going on between these two, it will be now, as Gilgamesh reaches to ruffle the elf's hair with a slight grin.]

Now, now. You could do worse for yourself, being stuck to such a King.

[But said King does decide to be merciful and help him with the goo. Somewhere along the way, some of it accidentally winds up in his mouth, and...]

Hm? This is actually... here, Adra, try a bit of this.

[He's going to try a bit whether he likes it or not. Gilgamesh just unceremoniously shoves a finger covered in delicious goo jelly into Adra's mouth At least it's tasty?.]

[armorial]

[ Yo, she ain't dumb. When they mentioned their house, she knew instantly there was something between them. She doesn't care what it is, but she knows Adra isn't one to use Gilgamesh... And so forth, only sees it as an unfortunate choice made by a fool. She does, however, consider she may be wrong and that this is good for the both of them.

Still, knee jerk reaction and all. At least she keeps it to herself.

Where is Saber though...?

She was behind them--actually, is behind them, but has not caught up yet. Possibly because she has been hypnotized, frozen in place... In the middle of sneezing. Her chest feels like it's going to combust, eyes already welling with tears from being petrified in such a pitiful state, never having the opportunity to eat aellos jelly. ]

[hymnals]

[ He growls irritably as he keeps trying to extricate himself from the binding spit--why is there so much, why this, he wants to go home--and shakes his head. ]

I'm not enamored of sticking to any royal--

[ Mmmf. He doesn't finish his gripe because suddenly there's a finger in his mouth. Indignation shoots through him, and he's about to yank violently away, but--damn, that jelly tastes good. Tastes like ... mana. Oh, no. Adra makes a soft 'hnnh' noise in his throat as he licks the rest of the jelly off of Gil's finger. Oh, it's good. He wants more--but--no--no, where is Saber?

He squeezes his eyes shut and pushes back, breathing in sharply, clutching at his chest. ]

Don't do that, damn it!

[ He wipes his mouth, ears folded, practically vibrating with irritation. ]

We need to find Saber!

[ He whips around, part of his mind still liquid and happy from the sudden infusion of mana, and squints through the haze of sneeze powder. There she is--frozen to the spot, apparently. ]

Saber!

[babbylon]

[Wants more, hm? Gilgamesh can certainly abide that request. Abide it and then some, he'd heard rumors of the infamous dungeon quickie, and if Saber's missing they can just go ahead and mosey behind this bizarre rock formation and...

Ah. There she is. Gilgamesh blinks and glances back at her, more than a little irritable himself at having his schemes interrupted, then marches right up to her. Waves his hand around, gives her ahoge a few tugs, sticks his tongue out. Still alive after all that insolence? Still alive, it would so seem. She really must be out of it.]

Her mouth's open. How cute.

[This is apparently the prevailing thought on Gilgamesh's mind. He smears a dab of the jelly around her lip and figures she'll thank him later for it. How to fix this, though? The last time someone had been petrified, they'd had to—

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, that's a definitely an expression that should not be on his face ever. The gears are turning, the mind's plotting, and he's wearing a sneer so vile even the devil might look away in disgust. He glances over to Adra and gives him a nudge.]

The maiden requires a kiss from us, I believe. So shall it be you or me? Quickly! We must remedy the situation at once, by any means necessary!

[Fortunately, said situation may very well resolve itself another way. He's certainly gazing deeply into her eyes, but for all the wrong reasons.]

[armorial]

[ She's quiet, still imprisoned in this hypnotism, but she is well aware of her surroundings. Waves of distress and disdain are being propelled from her ahoge. She may not be able to speak, but she is inwardly spewing a speech of a king.

What vile beast dares threaten me? Archer, if you choose to step closer with that unsightly mug of yours, I will see to it that you are hanged, drawn, and quartered; your head will be delivered to me on a pike, and it will be showcased in front of the Hall of Glory for all to see. You should feel honored since your sentence will set a great example as someone foolish enough to try to take advantage of my person, my kindness, in such a state. I have given you many chances to redeem yourself, even allowing Adrasteius to live in such blissful ignorance, yet here you stand before me, scheming like a sly serpent. You disgust me. It is surprising to me how you can call yourself a king, let alone a man. I give you this one last warning to stay back, King of Heroes. If you desire to go against my wishes, brushing aside your impending punishment, I would rather you end my life here. My honor shall not be stripped by the likes of you, heathen. As dictated by Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights.

KEEP STARING INTO HER WATERY EYES AND COME DOWN HERE, FUCKER. ]

[hymnals]

[ He is not going to fuck in a dungeon, OK. He just wants more of that delicious mana ... but he sets it aside, for the moment. There are more important matters to worry about. Such as the way Gil's looking at Saber.

Adra slaps at Gil's hands, hissing. No one had been petrified in his dungeon run. ]

I don't know that either of us should kiss her.

[ He frowns at her in concern, and lifts one hand, but does not reach to touch her. It's wrong. An invasion, a violation. He doesn't want to, and he doesn't want Gil to do it, either. ]

Please, let's just--wait a moment. Just a moment.

[ He, too, is staring directly into her eyes. Come on, girl. Wake up. ]

[babbylon]

[Doesn't want him to and actually preventing him from doing so are two very different things, and sadly, the latter does not lie within Adra's power. Gilgamesh shrugs him off and steps close, too close, nearly nose-to-nose with her and smiling wickedly. Fingers resting beneath her chin, breath heavy. Oh, yes, forbidden fantasies here we come.]

Well... just in case... it couldn't hurt, could it?

[Is this happening? This might very well be happening. Except a twitch of movement catches Gilgamesh's attention, and he's halted before the worst can unfold.]

Hm?

[All that meaningful staring has paid off; she's free. She's free and Gilgamesh hasn't heard her unspoken wisdom to back the @#%$ off, so he just stands there stupefied and wondering if he should go through with this or actually heed Adra's advice. Figures that he'd listen to the man over the woman.

Yet it's too little, too late. Give that big obnoxious blonde a slap, Saber, he more than deserves it.]

[armorial]

[ She doesn't move, frozen in a different sense. One sensual touch is more than enough, but he's a daredevil. Quickly, her hand grabs his shoulder, not the reassuring gesture she has used before. It's rough, but it desists because her hand finds its way to grab onto his collar instead, shaking him despite him being his close. ]

I see you do not value your life, Gilgamesh. [ Her tone is low, intimidating, because she feels ultimately humiliated (in front of Adra makes it worse). It's a thought that unfortunately escapes her jelly stained lips, but she does not lay another hand on him. She wants to strike him with her fist, throw him over the stairs, maybe kick him down the steps so that the traps have their way with him.

Instead, she shoves his back, trying recompose herself. She's exasperated and angry, but not crass. ]

Do not treat me like one of your many playthings. [ She can't even say that as vehemently as she used to. Maybe she's a little disappointed, but she brushes it off. A king does not fall so easily even when her allies do not respect her, not even expecting an apology, so she walks ahead and past them. Taking off her blazer that's covered in slime, she ties it to her waist. They are in a dungeon. ]

Let's move on.

[hymnals]

[ Adra would be fine if the floor just gave way and dropped him right down to the bottom of this tower, honestly. His stomach churns with sympathetic disgust, and he scowls at Gil as he turns to follow Saber. While he's not fully aware of the relationship between these two, this dungeon has illuminated some clear facts: Gil wants her (badly), and she wants no part of it.

At least Gilgamesh hadn't actually kissed her. That was something.

But Adra's just feeling more and more sick and exhausted, so he trudges onward, eyes dim and downcast--til he's distracted by the riot of colorful, flowering trees that surround them. The veils of powder had obscured the foliage til now, and Adra strides over towards one particular cluster, near the far end of the floor. The blossoms are enormous, sunset colored, vibrant with red and gold and purple. He reaches to pluck them carefully from the vine, wanting to take them home. At least he'll get something good out of this place.

Meanwhile, in the corner of his eye, he spots a mural.

Hmm. ]

[babbylon]

[Rejection, as ever, flows straight off Gilgamesh's back, harmless as a stream. If anything, the reaction brings with it a pleasant rush of nostalgia. For all the world has taken from her, his proud, upright Artoria remains, bold enough to challenge her fellow crown and threaten him in the same breath. He peers after her, and says nothing, because he doesn't have to. They know the score. Adra's just getting a front row seat to arguably the most one-sided romance in history.

The King orders move on, so they move on. However, he thought he'd heard the trace of something in her tone, something odd... something like I expected more, but should've known better. It bothers him for reasons he can't quite explain and doesn't care to dwell upon for more than a moment.

Gilgamesh brushes it off and follows Adra's line of sight to the mural. Pushing foliage out of the way, he reveals what it depicts in full: a dragon locked in some sort of mating ritual with a harpy. Or it appeared as much, as they were posed sensually together, gazing at one another as Gilgamesh had been not moments ago with Saber.

Ordinarily, he wouldn't pay it much mind, but the presence of a door nearby makes him suspicious.]

I wonder...

[Wonder along with him, comrades. Possibly stop him before he gets any worse ideas.]

[armorial]

[ She does not wonder with them and instead finds a nice place to sit down, seiza like usual, and rest. It may look... uncomfortable to keep this position and proper posture with all they've gone through, but she does it. It's soothing to her. Deep breaths. She takes this time to meditate a bit, calm herself down so she doesn't lash out on either them, prepare her mind for any upcoming battle.

She even closes her eyes, trusting that Adra would stop Gilgamesh from doing anything dumb. Of course, she can still hear them, so it's not that she's completely defenseless nor standoffish. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra packs the flowers carefully in his bags before anything else. They'll make beautiful ink, he reckons, and the thought of working with them once he's home calms him a bit, gives him something to look forward to.

He joins Gil by the mural, and the door, and he narrows his eyes as he examines the uncomfortably romantic embrace. Adra runs his fingers over the tiles, on down to the door, which is quite clearly impassable. His eartips curl. ]

You've got to be kidding me.

[ Adra's a dungeon veteran. He knows the probable score here.

He's not happy about it. ]