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]

[ Adra's too disoriented by the sudden rush of mana to fuss about the untoward way Gil had pawed at him, though he still feels a lingering sense of hands on various parts of his body. No time to dwell on it, though, because that sure is a motherfucking dragon perched right over there. An enormous, three-headed motherfucking dragon.

Adra's eyes widen as he stares at it, as he detects nothing in its expression and demeanor outside of unadulterated rage. That thing was gearing up to kill them. ]

Of course. Of course there's a damned dragon!

[ He draws his rapier, but he's looking to Gil and Saber. He's no true combatant, after all. Still, he's fought hydras before. ]

We--and by 'we', I mean 'you two'--must go for its heads. Understood?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh just rolls his eyes.]

The both of you are going about this far too seriously. A dragon is no god, and a god is no threat to the King of Heroes!

[Of course. Of course it's just like Gilgamesh to be utterly blase in the face of danger, but to be fair, he's stared down the end of the world and won before. Some overgrown lizard was no match at all in comparison, so Gilgamesh decides to engage in a bit of pre-battle banter just to warm his party up.

Or maybe just to make a fool of himself. He sure does that a lot.]

Oi! Mongrel! Dare you bar my path?! If you are the keeper of this wretched place, then stand down!

[Tianya was clearly not expecting a Hero of this caliber. He huffs, then stutters in his anger, "Bar your path?! I should burn you alive for this intrusion! Begone!"]

And I should loose a few of your heads for forgoing the proper respect! Know your place!

["Know yours, you cretin!"]

Yours!

["YOURS!"]

YOURS!!!

[...this could go on for quite some time.]

[armorial]

... Gilgamesh. [ She was pumped for this battle, prepared to strike when the dragon appears, but then... This banter happens. Her shoulders slump with her sword in her hands as he leers over to the King of Heroes. Actually, isn't this ridiculous for the dragon as well?

The more it talks, the more she's concerned about it, but it is their enemy. It must fall by their blade. For now, she holds her ground because as a knight, it's improper to interrupt one who is not fully prepared for a battle.

Well, at least Tianya hasn't attacked them yet. She'll glance over her shoulder to see how Adra is handling all of this. ]

[hymnals]

[ Just what the hell is happening right now? Adra's temporarily dumbfounded, as he looks from Gilgamesh, to the dragon, to Saber, and then back again. This is not the kind of boss battle he was expecting.

Like Saber, he feels a pang of conflict about what they're about to do. Dragons are a noble and proud race on Azeroth, worthy of respect. But not all of them are benevolent, and not all of them can be permitted to go on. ]

Gil! What the hell are you doing? Cast a spell! We have to draw it over here.

[ He creates reflecting barriers around all of three of them, because he's pretty sure Tianya is about to work up enough aggro to roast all of them like so many fresh chickens. ]

[babbylon]

Ooh, I'll cast something, alright...

["You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, you insufferable wretch! Go on and try it!"]

WHAT!

[This was not off to the best start. In fact, it didn't seem off to a start at all; the dragon refuses to move, and Gilgamesh refuses to do anything besides sit there and fling schoolyard insults back and forth. Eventually, though, he does nock a trio of arrows, while mouthing off even more:]

I won't forgive this disrespect, even for a creature of your standing! Prepare to breathe your last!

["You there! Girl and... other girl! Give me the head of this baffoon, and I'll let you go free!"]

Wh... wh... you cannot just arbitrarily bargain for my life right in front of me, what kind of monster...!

[There's no time for rebuttal or even a response. The great dragon takes flight, shaking the whole of the tower along with him, and dives into a lunge. Now Gilgamesh decides it's best to unleash his entire stock of arrows in his face, or one of his faces, which doesn't seem to slow him down so much as make him even angrier...

Maybe Gilgamesh was not the best choice of party member to bring to this battle. But hey, at least he drew aggro! All of the aggro. Literally all of it.]

[armorial]

Focus. [ Saber scolds him despite how he's at the brunt of the battle so early. Saber quickly goes in and does her work. Being a pawn is nice, isn't it... You don't grab aggro, you don't do fancy magic, and you run fast. She's at least skilled enough to decapitate one of the heads looking to swallow Gilgamesh.

It writhes as it falls, gasping, wheezing, sizzling...

Tianya shrieks in agony and starts beating his wings. She pushes her luck, trying to cut down another head... But the gust comes strong as the dragon takes flight, but Saber holds her ground to the best of her ability. ]

We need to move quickly. [ They have little area to move and Tianya is making his way to dive at them. With his size, it's almost impossible to dodge. Move where though? Her eyes shift to the many floating islands around them. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra raises an eyebrow at 'other girl', but, hey. It's not the first time, and besides, there are much more important things going on. Such as the suddenly decapitated head, moaning in pain. Another twinge in his heart, but if they don't fight, this dragon will knock them off of the tower--or worse. It's mad with rage or grief or some toxic combination, and--well, the thought cuts off as the sudden backdraft from Tianya's wings swirls up around them, pushing Adra back. He skids to the edge of the tower, scowling, making angry gestures with his hands.

As the dragon dives, fresh barriers pop into place; furthermore, a hissed out blessing follows, designed to strengthen their muscles and quicken their movements. ]

There! We've got to jump--

[ He gestures to the nearest island as he throws all of his weight and energy into moving against the wind, towards Gilgamesh. With his blessing bestowed, it's difficult, but not impossible; still, his hair and clothes whip up around him; he's like a little blond hurricane. Should've brought a scrunchie. ]

[babbylon]

[Thankfully, and a little ironically, the severed head falling past manages to get Gilgamesh's own back on straight. Focus, Saber cautions, and Gilgamesh seems to listen. He too recognizes the need to move and move fast; Adra makes his job easy, but he has to go a bit out of his way to grab Saber as well, and as a result—though they make the group jump, towards a nearby island—Gilgamesh gets a sizable chunk of his leg torn by a vicious set of talons.

It hurts, of course. But Servants were sturdy things, and he knows the King of Knights would never bow to such a blow. If let himself show weakness, he'd just embarrass his own title. He winces, feels pain as strongly as any other creature might, but ultimately doesn't allow it to slow him down. He secures his footing as Tianya starts sweeping back around, babbling something bombastically...]

Hold tight to me, the both of you. No matter what, we stay together.

[Already Gilgamesh recognizes this fight was going to be mana intensive. He's preparing a proper spell to fire off, but it will take time. Go, go, barrier rangers!]

[armorial]

[ Don't tell her what to do? She'll hang tight, but her eyes widen when she sees those talons sink into the man's leg briefly. It was only a second, but the force exerted must have torn plenty of fibers. As they land, Saber sheathes her sword and instead takes out her Grail. ]

If you cannot fight us on the same ground, you are nothing but a coward! [ She has always felt fond of dragons, but she knows what she must do. For now, she tries to distract it with questioning its nobility. Its two heads raise themselves high, as if to show off its elegance and pride despite its agonizing pain.

"Child! Do you not know who you speak to?!"

It briefly ignores Gilgamesh and Adra for this one second. Saber is able to cast a barrier to protect herself from the dive that only sweeps her half of the island. Please focus on casting, magic party members. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra's got one hand clamped down on Gil's shoulder; he's using his free hand to keep casting, keep the barriers up and fortified. When he watches--and feels, through the force reverberating through Gilgamesh's body at the blow--the talon strike, he cringes in worry and dismay. Hissing a Thalassian curse, his hands glow with holy power as he stares down the livid wound, as though its very presence offends him.

The spell runs right from Gil's spine on down to his torn up leg, encasing him briefly in a bright, golden glow. Regenerative power flows hot and soothing in his veins, causing the shredded skin to mend itself, the tissue reforming as though it were never broken in the first place.

No one will suffer for long under his watch, Adra vows.

(Except the dragon, regrettably.) ]

[babbylon]

[It occurs only belatedly to Gilgamesh that this fight might be more difficult for Saber, who carried dragon blood within her own veins. Adra, too, appeared to hold a certain veneration for the creature, and Gilgamesh himself was just as awed by its power and majesty. But Gilgamesh also recognizes this beast as an enemy, and he was but a beast, maddened with grief. As always, Heroes will do what needs to be done. Adra's magic, along with this belief, heightens Gilgamesh's resolve and encourages him to fight on.

His party's actions, and unspoken faith, are not in vain. Gilgamesh unleashes a torrent of light upon Tianya when it comes near, blinding him and sending him screeching back in agonized fury. Magical swords and spears stick out of his body, and for a moment, the fight looks to have taken a turn in their favor. One of the mana-infused weapons has buried itself in one of the dragon's remaining necks, and the wound leaks out, apparently severe.

But swifter than he seems, Tianya ascends to take cover in one of the storm clouds, leaving the party alone and exposed. Gilgamesh won't wait, however.]

Let us stay on the move!

[He's got the hook in hand, and he's got a target. Gilgamesh gathers his comrades up and makes for another island, higher and further from where Tianya disappeared.]

[armorial]

[ An enemy is an enemy. Her distraction bears fruit as the dragon is further injured. The clouds seem to get darker by the second, swirling in a foreboding manner. Saber takes no time to hold onto Gilgamesh as they swing over to a farther island. For now, the dragon doesn't pursue them, but there are mana beams being fired towards their direction. All of them miss so far.

Saber still looks back to where the dragon fled, expression dark. ]

There is something coming...

[ As if to answer her, a mana beam fires straight at them. ]

[hymnals]

[ A quick gesture and a new barrier handily absorbs that mana beam. But, wait ...something is coming. A brilliant, burning shape, emerging from the clouds like a celestial descending right from the heavens. Adra lets go of Gilgamesh as the shape draws nearer, as its silhouette becomes detailed, becomes inescapable. ]

A phoenix.

[ He breathes the word as the fiery, shimmering creature descends. It's coming right for them, he realizes, and he can feel its heat against his face and arms as it draws near. Part of him is mesmerized. He wants to reach out and feel that fire in his hands, to touch this vital symbol of his people.

But the rest of him is a dungeon veteran, and if there's one thing dungeon veterans know, it's this: don't stand in the fire.

He shouts, strangled, as the phoenix comes crashing onto the island. ]

Out of the way! Step back!

[ He follows his own advice, but he's not quite quick enough--the phoenix grazes him with one of its wings, and he feels his mind catch fire in the worst way. His mana chokes as it suffocates from even this brief contact with the flames, and he stumbles back towards Gil and Saber, his head throbbing with pain. Damn it. Hopefully they were faster than he was. ]

[babbylon]

[But Gilgamesh couldn't leave well enough alone.

That is to say, he couldn't leave Adra alone. He refused to, that imagery of bloody claws carving into his back still all too vivid from earlier in the dungeon when his attention slipped for just a second. So when Adra falls, so does Gilgamesh. They fall together, and Gilgamesh suffers nearly as much being so magically inclined; he can feel his reserves depleting near to zero, and when actively engaged in battle, that spells disaster.

Gilgamesh cannot spare any thought to Adra's preferences right now. He thinks the elf may be willing to forgive him, for what has to happen, as he draws him so close he's nearly magnetized to his skin. His arms hold him steady in an embrace as lightning crackles all around them in the background, the rumblings of Tianya not far off. For now, the dragon has stopped attacking... but the reprieve will prove brief at best, Gilgamesh knows.

Gilgamesh presses himself, forehead to forehead, and heaves out a sigh.]

You endure too much, you know.

[For my sake. For everyone else's.]

After this... once we've won... I'll show you. I'll show you just what it is you deserve from this King.

[This Moment brought to you by mana transfer. What a multipurpose mechanic!]

[armorial]

[ She tumbled far enough once they reached the platform to not be swathed by the flames, but she doesn't act fast enough to pull either Adra or Gilgamesh out of its way. She watches them engulf in flames, eyes wide and words stuck in her throat. Luckily, it only lasts so long and relief washes over her. It doesn't take a bishop to tell that their mana has been swept out of them. It's in their posture, how they hold each other. Still, she's glad.

While she doesn't have a lot, it was easily replenished their method for hopping islands. She looks over to them then makes her way there before looking over to the direction of Tianya. He's still over there in the clouds and the only way they can win this battle is to get close. ]

You two are ranged.

[ It's a ridiculously obvious observation, but it's what she does next. She steals another glance over to her allies before taking the gun for herself. Goodbye, it's time to be reckless as ever and prove that she isn't always the sane one. Without a word, she's going to hop islands by herself. With her weight, size, and speed, it's easy for her to maneuver across the islands.

Tianya doesn't seem to like how quickly Saber is approaching and is sending beams her way instead of Adra and Gilgamesh's. Luckily, she can expend little mana to cast short barriers meant to briefly steer away the beams, as if reflecting it with a sword. Otherwise, she can outrun the rays for the most part.

It draws Tianya out of the clouds, believing he can at least take on a merely pawn. She hopes that in the time she took to get here, that they have replenished enough to snipe the dragon down.

If not...

She can hold out for maybe five to ten more minutes. Just maybe. Her training would all be for naught if she can't. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra doesn't resist the embrace; in fact, he leans into it, wrapping his arms around Gil and exhaling, hard, against the other man's shoulder. It's not ideal, but he knows what must be done: they're in the middle of a deadly battle, and neither of them will survive without their magic. So he invites the channel, lets the potent magic flow freely between them, and does his best to stay focused on the situation. To not lose himself to the heady intoxication already threatening to overwhelm him.

When Gil speaks, Adra's grip tightens. His fingers dig into the other man's shoulder blades, and he wants to reply, 'No, not enough', to ask what Gilgamesh means about deserving anything--but then Saber takes action.

Adra pulls back, shouting. ]

Artoria!

[ Saber impressed him from the start. She'd woken up in their room with implacable calm, and she's stayed unshakable ever since. Their conversation by the water had cemented his admiration; her ideology matched so well with his, and she put it forward with more grace and poise than he ever did. He had judged her then as virtuous and just, and he's found that assessment hold true throughout this experience. It was easy to see why Gil loved her; why anyone would.

Adrasteius will not let her fall.

He casts another barrier, of course, but the following blessing takes a different character than usual. He focuses this time on her strength, her endurance; she doesn't need speed so much now as she needs to simply withstand Tianya's onslaught for as long as possible. So his blessing fortifies her body, giving her not just power but staying power. She is a Pawn, but through the Light, she will be their bulwark. ]

Let's finish this.

[ He grabs for Gil's hand. Lightning, as fierce and sharp as the bolts crackling through the sky, sparks to life along the length of his arm. He throws his other hand out, towards Tianya, as the channel for the spell builds. ]

Together.

[babbylon]

[Why did he always feel as though he was chasing after her back? Gilgamesh cries out too, Artoria, Artoria, but none of it will reach her. Everything's swallowed up by the furious sounds of combat, by the increasingly enraged screeches of the dragon. His words are also drowned out, but they are sadistic, and they are sorrowful, and they are all reminders of a love forsaken. But Gilgamesh hardly cares for them, anyway. He sees only the brave little King of Knights, fighting their battle for them, buying them time. The brave little Pawn, as selfless as ever, ducking and dodging and doing her best in spite of losing what once made her so great and so legendary.

He remembers, earlier in their conversation, I can't imagine a Noble Phantasm that would best fit me aside from Excalibur. If she cannot summon it, he decides, he must do so for her. Only Saber's most stalwart ally would carry the day here. And together with that lightning magic...

Yes, together. He agrees. Gilgamesh nods his head and spreads one of his hands, out to the side, and invokes every ounce of mana in his body. He must create something beyond anything he's ever managed before. He must devise a spell so powerful, that there will be no room for Tianya to recover. He pictures its shape; he recalls its glow; he thinks back, to how Saber held it high before her head to destroy a monster that threatened the world.

He remembers, the sword he was to face down himself before Enprise took him from his rightful battle. With all of his focus, and all of his effort, a massive broadsword of purest light forms beside him. It begins to charge, gaining energy from the lightning due to their link.]

Oh, holy sword, blade of peerless triumph; grace my hands and descend upon this battlefield. Vanquish them in your light; deliver onto them your fury and your judgment. Bathe them in your glory, and crush them with your might. I, Gilgamesh, call upon you now—Excalibur, Sword of Promised Victory!

[His magic responds. This was no true Excalibur, but it would come close. And that would have to be good enough.

Mana crackles and sizzles along the length of the sword. And when Saber might falter, when it seems as though she can hold out no more, even with Adra's blessing strengthening her, that is the moment Gilgamesh makes his move. With a devastating swing, he slams the sword into the ground...]

EEEEEEEXCALIBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUR!

[An enormous burst of combined energy—more like a miniature bomb, lightning and holy intertwining to creature something new onto itself—roars to life and targets the dragon and both his remaining heads. Fall back, Gilgamesh shouts to her, so she doesn't get caught in the storm. This was it; either they won here, or they lost outright.]

[armorial]

[ Despite Adra's blessings, she is finding it hard to battle this dragon on one island, but she holds her ground even if the platform shakes under his weight. It's better than him diving at her. She doesn't look back--she can't look back. She has to parry, block, and cast her barrier against every single hit. The weight of each strike is taxing; it practically sends a tremor through her body.

There are many close calls, some grazes against her cheek and her legs, but she presses on despite the sting. She has to hold on a little longer. It's hard to hear her comrades, harder to tell if they can pull this off. The dragon, even with two heads, left is overwhelming. Despite how all of this is against her, she remains calm and confident. Adra's blessings hasn't worn off just yet. With all her might, she's able to decapitate one other head, but takes a blow to her side in the process. She can't feel any of it, the talons that grazed painfully against her side, nor the warmth of blood running down her body. Adrenaline is a nice thing, isn't it.

Her injury is taking its toll on her as she staggers back from a gust of wind from the dragon's wings. Tianya starts to ascend as the makeshift Noble Phantasm travels towards him. It's only then she barely catches those words to stand back. Even before those words meet her ears, she already had a premonition that something's coming her way. The dragon doesn't have time to react to the charged missile that's aimed at him. There's only the turn of his last head, then the beam of light hits him. It's blinding... Saber only barely leaps back, gripping onto her side. She's perplexed by Gilgamesh's choice in names and skills, but it's still breathtaking. Saber takes only a second to admire it, something she has long seen. Does she miss it? Something so destructive... Something that brought victory to her country countless of times?

Except it may have blasted part of the island she is on. It shakes unlike before and tilts--is it falling? After staying still for a while, she struggles to move forward, practically falling down onto her knees. She feels lightheaded and things are starting to spin; it's hard to focus. The gun, the gun. She fumbles around to sheathe her sword and get the gun to shoot it at a nearby island. Before she escapes to a safer island, she hears the dragon speak some of its final words.

It's tragic, she thinks... She tumbles as a landing, rolling across the platform like a rag doll. She's conscious though, but everything aches and her nerves are scorching. There's a moment where she does tries to lift herself up to at least indicate that she's alive. There's some wonder, wanting to see the fate of the dragon. ]

[hymnals]

[ She was always warm ...

Adra hears those final words and feels his heart throb painfully in his chest. It was terrible, what they had to do here. The sad story they were forced to end. He knows it likely couldn't have gone another way--Tianya's mind was gone, his spirit corrupted. Circumstances with which Adra is all too familiar. But that doesn't make it right, or good.

Still, his teammates had fought with honor and valor. Gil's sword strike (the significance of which was, sadly, totally lost on Adra and his Azerothian origins) illuminated the heavens like the power of the holy Light itself, and Saber had given it her all in holding the dragon at bay while the spell was cast.

Saber's still some distance away from them, but Adra's spells reach across the battlefield. He calls down a cascade of restorative energy as the dragon falls; the golden beams of light criss-cross the sky, shimmering as they converge on Saber's body.

Meanwhile, Tianya breathes his last, collapsing as he expires, hurtling fast towards the earth below. The dungeon core slowly descends after him, and Adra sees that it's covered in a single, shining phoenix feather.

He reaches for it, instinctively, his eyes starry, but--then pulls back, hand to his chest. No. There were other matters to attend to. Such as: getting the hell out of here in one piece.

He looks to Gilgamesh with an expression that clearly states: Ideas? ]

[babbylon]

[Saber has the hook, as well as renewed blessings upon her thanks to Adra, so in theory she should be fine on her own leaping across the ledges. That just leaves the two of them, and though Adra stops short of claiming their prizes, Gilgamesh doesn't. He's a greedy thing, he sees the feather and he wants it for himself, so he'll take it. Stashing the dungeon core in his pack, Gilgamesh glances all around them at the crumbling atmosphere, and then down below.

Then he speaks words that should arguably never leave his mouth.]

Trust me.

[He casts a spell—something equivalent to Slow Fall, which Adra likely will recognize—then takes a leap of faith off the island, gripping tight to Adra's hand. Instead of plummeting to their death as it seemed they were doomed to do, they float gently along, buoyed by controlled waves of mana. Their feet will find a soft landing down below, near some previously hidden hot springs, a welcome sight that they both might make ample use of.

Gilgamesh appears a little distracted, however, looking up and over his shoulder for something... or someone. He's hopeful that Saber has enough wits about her to maneuver her way down safely, but he also had a few parting words for her. Just in case they didn't see each other after this.

They might have been words like thank you.]

[armorial]

[ This familiar feeling washes over her and she feels refreshed, wounds closing up quickly as well. She can't give her gratitude from this distance, so she settles with meeting them down below instead. It's okay. Saber tries not to hold them up, grappling herself using the hook gun across and around before she ends up on the ground. Her landing is perfect unlike before and she stands upright.

She's a little far off, but she makes her way over with her short strides. There's quite a smile on her face, not meant for anyone, but for their accomplishment and performance. It is her first time in a dungeon, so she can't tell if this ran well or not... However, her comrades are safe and she takes a moment to examine them head to toe. She clasps her hands together, letting it all sink in. ]

We did well. [ That is what matters the most to her. She doesn't even ask about the glowing loot, the reward, or the appearance of hot springs. She merely seems relieved that this is all over and that she has proved herself useful despite how little she can offer. Saber is beaming. ]

[hymnals]

[ Adra had little choice but to trust Gilgamesh, though in this case he didn't wrestle with the idea too much. He's seen Gil's abilities for himself; he knows he can at least put faith in the man's competence.

Once they're safely on the ground, and once Saber has joined them, he relaxes--a little. She's beaming, but he mostly just feels exhausted. Sorrowful, spent. He wants to go home.

But she's right, so he pushes all those unpleasant feelings away for just a second. ]

You were both invaluable. Thank you.

[ But that's the most he can manage. His smile falters, and he takes the opportunity to step back, away. ]

But I need to go--sit. Somewhere. So.

[ He lifts a hand. ]

Al diel shala.

[ And he turns to be off, without waiting for a response from either of them. Take care, guys. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh opens his mouth to speak... but realizes soon thereafter that Adra really did need some time to himself. He must've been exhausted after all that transpired, as he'd struggled so hard on their behalf. He lifts a hand too, waves goodbye, and makes a note to check in on him later. He hasn't known him for long, but already he's come to understand that Adra was not the sort of soul that endured loneliness well.

He looks to Saber, and what a pleasant surprise—she's not just smiling, she's grinning from ear to ear. It has him grinning too, just a little, as he approaches her with shoulders squared and head held high. So this was what victory tasted like.]

Indeed, we did. And we could not have done it without you.

[Gilgamesh offers Saber a handshake, and earnest words of gratitude.]

You were brilliant, Artoria. As to be expected from the King of Knights, shining alongside me.

[armorial]

[ She wanted to say more, show Adra gratitude in full, but she restrains herself. He does look rather exhausted, so she stays behind with the King of Heroes. Ah... Of course. When Gilgamesh talks to her, that grin falters to that of a small smile. She's surprised that she can even hold this for so long, even more so because the man isn't saying anything deplorable.

Silent at first, she takes his hand without hesitation, giving it a firm shake. ]

Thank you. [ She's not really sure how else to respond to compliments, but she remember the glow that came from his last attack and the name he screamed. It's ironic, she thinks, but she doesn't let it get to her. She can at least offer genuine words. ]

You outdid yourself, Gilgamesh. [ In almost every single way. A good thing? A bad thing...? Both? ]

[babbylon]

[He certainly did! Gilgamesh puffs himself up with an all too familiar ego, regains a familiar smirk as he folds his arms and nods his enthusiastic agreement. Really, he hadn't done anything like that before outside of executing Enuma Elish... he's more than a little drained by it, but of course, seeing the bright and beaming face of his woman does encourage him some. Maybe too much, actually.]

I brought Excalibur to you! See, it is more than possible to accomplish great feats in this world. They simply assume a slightly different form.

[Is it time for fanboying now? Oh, yes. It is time for fanboying.]

How acrobatic and agile you were in combating that beast! The powers above have surely recognized you; I know your time to ascend draws near.