pawnstorm | DUNGEON ♛ GISELA TOWERS

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DUNGEON ♛ GISELA TOWERS

GISELA TOWERS
20 MAY (VALLARIA) 2016

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

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

Lei
Nervous that your commanders ain’t here? Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. So! Here we are at this… thing. Something something tragic romantic tale about a dragon and a phoenix. Anyway, it’s stupid and you don’t gotta know. Ask one of your commanders later or bribe me with a drink.

Now for something more important—

[ the winds roars loudly, muting lei’s voice. but heroes can watch his hand gestures and actions as he teaches them how to use the grappling hook: aim and shoot the gun. maybe twirl it with a fancy flourish first ]

—did you get that? All right, good! I don’t have enough hooks, so you’re gonna have to share. And take good care of them, I want them back! Now get in there and clear it ASAP! I ain’t got all day to fly you all back home!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His easy smiles, the ones that don't come with extra layers of ego applied or aren't angling for a particular and calculated reaction, are always the most genuine. They make him look more like a boy than a man, a boy with a pretty face that meant well—though of course all parties present know the truth. Still, it's a handsome look.]

You are you. I trust in your ability to come up with something truly great.

[It's his way of returning her earlier encouragement. Adra interrupts, and this time, this time Gilgamesh doesn't throw a fit. He nods, retreats a few steps from the barrier.]

Be prepared for anything. We may very well be walking into an ambush.

[ She doesn't reply, but only looks over to him with her eyebrows raised. Never has she seen such a smile before... It's refreshing in a unsettling sense. It's like this man isn't the one she knows--but he is. He is the same one.

When Adra comes back and she sees the golden king receive him well, her perception of him rises. However, there's no indication of it at all. She merely takes a couple of steps back as well to let the elf do his work, fully prepared for any kind of surprise. ]

[ Adra uncorks the mixture. It has a sharp, sweet scent; fruity and earthy all at once. It's thick, too, similar in consistency to the aello spit (unsurprising, as it was part of the base). ]

Here we go.

[ He tosses the lot of it onto the barrier. The mix is effective: the barrier pops, fractures, and shatters. But the resulting explosion sends bits of the mixture everywhere, splashing onto all three of them. The liquid dissipates in puffs of sweet-scent red smoke, but it leaves behind a souvenir: feline ears and tails for each of them.

(Adra's tail is fluffy and thick and the color of an orange creamsicle.) ]

[Gilgamesh draws his sword, sensing attack...!

But it's not an attack that comes. Or rather, it's not an attack against them. Rather it's something inflicted on them, and it takes a moment for Gilgamesh to realize just what's happened. There seems to be a slight breeze in the air, felt on his head and near his behind. Yet what he assumes to be wind is actually the twitch of golden ears and a matching tail, seen only when he turns around.

Gilgamesh blinks. And blinks. And blinks some more. And the sum of his reaction...]

Oh.

[Yeah, that's about it. What, did anyone really expect the guy who went willingly into the maid outfit to care about animal parts?

Adra, on the other hand, proves far more interesting. He spies that creamy tail and feels the immediate and unrelenting urge to pounce on it. So he does, and it's unfortunate but given that Saber's in the same situation it's probably better him than her. Sorry, Adra, a real King takes one for the team.]

[ She isn't completely aware of what has happened to them quite yet, but she does when she sees her own tail peeking on the side--then at Adra and Gilgamesh having those cat-like features. It's only ears and a tail, so her shoulder slump, relieved that it's a minor effect.

However, Adra's tail is very fluffy and the way it sways is hypnotizing. Focus, Saber. Her fellow Servant must be suffering as well, so she turns to him and: ]

Gilgamesh, control yourself--[ Oh...

It is too late. At least she can hold herself back from the urges to swipe at anything that abruptly moves. She stays there, watching this all unfold. An exasperated sigh follows after, cat ears pinning back to show her sense of defeat. ]

Sorry about that, I'm not exactly an alch--oh--!

[ Adra shrieks as Gil goes for his tail; naturally, he loses equilibrium instantly and falls forward, onto his knees, hissing. Blood elves are half-cat as it stands, after all. His tail poofs in agitation, becoming somehow even fluffier than before. ]

You goddamn animal--

[ Still, he does think, 'at least it wasn't Saber'. ]

[And thus the gang wasted a good twenty minutes or so clawing and pawing at each other and falling victim to the lure of the gloriously fluffy tail. Tails. In their defense, they're all potion drunk, but at least one of the members involved should've known better than to abuse the situation and at least one of the members involved definitely did, but we're not naming any names here so it really could've been anyone...

Eventually that same someone decides to speak up and make the brilliant observation of]

Hm. Perhaps we should move on.

[while currently sprawled on his back and batting at a downed Adra like he's a ball of yarn. Time to woman up and lead these miserable clods, Saber, it falls to you now.]

[ Sighs... Heavily. Her ears perk back up and she'll take the initiative to walk past the barrier and survey the next area. She doesn't expect them to follow, but at least someone will know what they should do next. If they are to follow her, they'll see it leads them outside. The clouds are gathering, but she can make out another tower in the distance.

Why...? An ear flickers as she turns back to her comrades, tail swaying in obvious frustration. Even if they're not close by, she speaks loud enough for them to hear. ]

We'll need to use that gun again. [ This is all unfavorable. ]

[ Why. Why this. Adra's tail lashes back and forth in agitation as he squirms away from this batting, his own ears pressed back flat on his head. So, business as usual, really. He tries to regain some sense of composure and dignity as he follows after Saber, but his hair's unkempt and his tail just won't settle down.

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

You've still got it, right, Gil?

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

[Letting Gilgamesh use a gun... letting Gilgamesh use a gun repeatedly... letting Gilgamesh use a gun repeatedly in the service of others... perhaps not the best of ideas. But after the fun and games are over, Gilgamesh does fall back into line, joining Saber and Adra and gauging their options.

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

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

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

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

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

Everything you have, all the power you possess. I'll require it all in order to do this.

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

It's nice having someone that can buff them... She wishes she had something similar--but she also wishes for a grappling hook of her own. These dreams, these aspirations, they may wait till another day. ]

[ Everything he has, huh. He can do that. He's glad to do that. ]

Then you'll have it.

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

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

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

For a short while, anyway.

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

There.

[He feels incredible.

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

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

With me, both of you.

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

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

So they climb together, are strong together. The mana flows freely between them, rewards Adra for his selflessness. They will overcome this challenge and press on.]

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

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

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

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

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

He inhales sharply. It's a struggle.

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

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

At least there's a floor.

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

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

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

It doesn't attack. Not quite yet. But its "head" bobs around, seemingly preparing a strike whenever their guard falls lowest.]

[ Saber is on high alert, surveying the area without getting close to the water just yet. She does look over to her comrades for a second, to make sure they are safe--that is when she notices something moving in the waters. At first, she thought it was only her eyes placing tricks on her, but... ]

Stand back!

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

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

[ Adra squeezes Gil's hand gratefully as he's lead, glad of the support. The water cascades down on them, and he feels cleansed, revitalized. He tastes more mana in the water, too, and so opens his mouth to it, practically pants as he leans forward for more--and then Saber shouts. ]

Damn--

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

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

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

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

Unfortunately, he's failed to notice a second head looming beside Adra and prepared to snap at his heels. Or worse.]

[ She unsheathes her sword, already coming in fast. She's used to quick blows, but only one to four at a time... However with the weight and shape of this sword, it is rather easier to barrage within a smaller time span.

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

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

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

[ Well, they're getting nowhere fast. Adra hisses something truly filthy in Thalassian as the second celaeno makes to go for his gut, but fortunately Saber peels it off before anything dire befalls his delicate internal organs. He's casting barriers, but they're just stopgaps; they need a solution, time to think. ]

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

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

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

[They need many blows, and they need them quickly. Gilgamesh watches Saber struggle to make much head way with the serpents, then looks to Adra for guidance. Which was becoming something of a habit, he realized. A leader didn't amount to much without allies to help clear and guide the way, a lesson he was beginning to learn the more time he spent in these dungeons. Still, on occasion, his usual stubbornness did prevail—just not now.

If there's a crack somewhere, it's their job to blow it up. Gilgamesh lifts his hands and summons his familiar blades of light, which hover above. But he needs more, more, more, and with a means to replenish their mana right nearby, there's absolutely no reason to hold back. He shuts his eyes, focuses, wills his mana to flow outward...

And then lets it rain swords, lances, and axes of holy magic, a callback to his now deceased Gate of Babylon. Most meet the same fate as his blade, slipping uselessly off the scales, but a few hit their mark. They pierce those tiny tracks and make them bigger, ripping into fragile bodies that are only just regaining themselves due to Adra's dampening magic. Grabbing one of their foes by the tail, he sends it crashing into its twin, now fair game for Saber to stab it cleanly through. Go for it, girl.

It shouldn't be necessary to tell her where to strike now. The gush of red that's escaping them points straight to the appropriate target.]

[ The pause in this battle is very much welcomed. While her breaths are shallow and she's heaving a bit, she has a firm grip on her chalice and sword. This is all too much for a pawn, but she at least has stamina and watches the serpentine dragons carefully. Though her shoulders are feeling heavier by the second, her pupils blow when she sees the opportunity laid for them.

The colaeno dragons are still sluggish, but are slowly composing themselves, taking back their coordination. Saber grits her teeth and starts charging over and stabbing one right in the open wound.

She is still one girl though, so it writhes and shakes violently with her holding onto her sword. It's a funny sight as she dangles around... Aside from how dangerous it is. The second colaeno watches its friend with a large hiss, but decides to go after Gilgamesh and Adra instead.

It's okay. Saber will be fine here because it's starting to still with each passing second. However, the one approaching the other two is ambitious, attempting to imprison them as quickly as possible. ]

[ Adra hears the watery hissing in his ear right before it happens. He whips 'round on his heel, a barrier spell at the ready, but that won't do any good against the sudden sphere of water surrounding him, encompassing him. His eyes widen as he's completely enveloped; he struggles, to no avail; the celaeno's body adjusts itself to accommodate Adra's vain efforts, leaving him stuck.

It is not good to be the King. ]

Light take you--

[ But then he notices: the celaeno doesn't have its armor. It's vulnerable. Now's the time to strike, no matter the consequences. He batters his prison, splashing water onto himself and the marble floor. His mouth forms the word 'Attack'. ]

[Saber's just behind him. She's struggling, he can hear her, but even if this world had taken her true strength along with his own, she remains a Servant. She remains King Arthur, the proud knight, who did everything within her power to preserve and protect her kingdom. She won't go down to some measly fish, and that's exactly why Gilgamesh trusts her to handle herself without intervention.

Right now, someone else needed him more. He'd read that Kings were more naturally prone to drawing enemy aggression, but never had he believed it before today. Gilgamesh rushes to Adra's aid, yet halts short when he sees the watery sphere. He senses what Adra cannot say, but hesitates, because he also senses this will bring harm to him, somehow. Maybe it's the way the creature seems to sneer at him, daring him to strike.

But as he trusted Saber, Adra trusts him. He seems ready to bear whatever punishment may follow; so be it. Gilgamesh honors his bravery with a brief nod, and then...]

Die.

[And then he seizes opportunity and slices the vulnerable serpent, bow to stern. It falls to pieces, uselessly. Its brother has since collapsed at Saber's feet, motionless and spilling its enchanted water and scales everywhere. But Gilgamesh refuses to look at Adra, refuses to acknowledge him at all, outside a grimace.

He refuses to look because, as soon as he killed that serpent, Adra will feel the same pain visited upon him several times over.]

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