DUNGEON ♛ LIEFSTE CARNAVAL

[boardmaster]

LIEFSTE CARNAVAL
20 JULY (DELPHINE) 2016

The Heroes chosen for this dungeon may reach Petrosian by any means they choose (by Airy with passports, by foot, by train, etc.) but they must travel to the area under suspicion by a smaller train, sponsored by VIPs; from there, they will take the fifteen mile, bumpy ride from the quaint town station to an open valley downstream. As you’re jostled around in your seat, a cheery announcement informs you that this train ride was sponsored by the illustrious Ryder, who felt it was necessary to express his gratitude to the Heroes and their admirable efforts that just barely saved his life last month. How thoughtful of him.

As the train chugs to a stop, beyond the forest and behind our Heroes, endless fields of gold seem to stretch out as far as the eye can see. What was once rich green grass has been painted yellow by the sweltering heat and clear summer sky. Few trees offer shelter from the sun, but most Heroes will have to provide their own shade as they wait for Secretary Verdoni and Ryder’s quick debriefing.

	Verdoni [ he looks so done with Ryder, but he has a job to do ] Every year, this field serves as the site of the famous Liefste Carnaval. For obvious reasons, we do not usually spend money to send our forces here, and if anyone would like to convince me otherwise, I shall have them entertain their fellow rapscallions at St. Amant.
	Ryder [ coughs ]
	Verdoni [ shut up ] However, due to financial constraints and missing people reports in the area, the carnival was canceled. And yet it is here. We have reason to believe that the reports of missing individuals tie into this carnival. Furthermore, our researchers say there is an abnormal amount of mana activity in the area. Given your previous experience with those, I don’t believe I need to elaborate any further. Your job is to investigate the carnival, find the truth behind it, and retrieve the dungeon core. As for your transportation, we’ve arranged a—
	Ryder Thank you, Secretary. Heroes. Out of gratitude for your heroic rescue, the least I could do was provide some incentive to fetch me a souvenir. This train, the Big Red, was built by one of Gammon’s finest mechanics. I had it shipped here under great expense so that you could enjoy the luxury of Gammon. I hope you Heroes are fortunate enough to visit my land soon. [ and as an afterthought: ] Ah, and rescue those people. Of course. By the way, this weather is absolutely dreadful. My skin was never this dry back in Cochrane. Guard A, Guard B, set up camp. We don’t want to faint from the heat later, do we?
	Verdoni [ why is this guy even here ] To answer the question on everyone’s minds: yes, there is a point to collecting these dungeon cores. Apart from restoring natural order to the land, we have reason to believe the dungeon cores may hold the key to finding a way home for you Heroes... Once we have proper confirmation, I will soon be able to make a formal announcement. Secondly, yes, Commander Lisbrand is still recovering from the Noir attack. We are hoping that she’ll be well enough to join us soon. For now, we do what we can.

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 ♙
Welcome to the Liefste Carnaval! Don’t be shy, come on in!

There’s nothing of note when you approach the carnival’s entrance. The hustle and bustle of any other fun-filled festival can be heard from the outside, complete with excited shouts and distant music. The smell of popcorn and other saccharine treats waft over and make your mouth water…

Before you satisfy your cravings, you should get a ticket. You’ll be greeted by a vaguely humanoid ticket seller entirely covered in confetti and pieces of torn tickets, with a rattling breath as if it caught a cold. It doesn’t speak and merely points to a sign that says 500 colle per person! What? Not everything comes for free. An item of similar value will also suffice.

If you refuse to pay and shoulder your way past it, you’ll find yourself shoved onto your back, face to face with the ticket seller himself. The bits of paper on its face rustle before it shuffles back over to the stand. Try again and you’ll find yourself getting further and further away from the entrance as a minor curse begins to settle upon you. You may come up with your own curse (e.g. loss of voice, speaking in gibberish). Thankfully, the curse doesn’t last long, but the message should be clear: pay for your ticket.

Once you have acquired your ticket, you are free to enter the carnival at your leisure. Should you turn around to ask the ticket seller for more information, it will vanish into thin air, leaving nothing but a small heap of confetti.

Walk past the first booth; a gaggle of happy children with balloons approach you with boxes of welcoming gifts. Though you might want to remember what all children are taught: don’t take candy from strangers.

MONSTER ♟ Wicht
Weak against Fire, Holy	Strong against None	Immune to Dark
A demon possessing a wooden puppet painted and carved in the form of a happy child with rosy cheeks. It offers BOXES OF CHOCOLATE to unsuspecting victims. Be warned: the chocolate will give you CHILLS AND MALAISE, and eating it will prompt fellow Wichts to link their hands together and circle around you as they chant RING AROUND THE ROSIE. This is not an innocent game, but a spell that accelerates the progression of the disease inside you, manifesting in RASHES, FEVER, SNEEZING AND COUGHING. The Wichts have no sympathy to spare; they’ll keep chanting ‘til you all fall down! Don’t feel like chocolate today? Oh, the Wichts insist. As they shove their boxes at you, their giggles turn into maniacal laughter. Their cherubic features melt into something sharper, harder, and you barely have time to react before they try to rip your heart out with their SHARP CLAWS. Catching Wichts is not easy. They use the wind magic of their BALLOONS to fly out of harm’s way, and the more mischievous ones will inhale the helium inside to release BANSHEE-LIKE SCREAMS that will stun and knock your party back. You can eliminate these demons by any means, but defeating these wooden puppets with HOLY MAGIC will banish the demonic spirit inside them, rendering them lifeless with the angelic features they originally had. These Petrosian-style puppets show really good craftsmanship! DROPS: Colorful Balloons, Gift Boxes, Petrosian Puppets, Wicht Claws, Mana-infused Wood

Suddenly, the cheerful and festive atmosphere vanishes. A flag flutters against a strong, abrupt gust of wind. Shadows seem to whisper and point and watch with gleaming, uncountable eyes. The paths are deserted and what was a vibrant place full of life is now anything but.


TWO ♙
In the chocolate box of the first Wicht you defeat, you will find a hand-drawn map of the carnival. It is extremely detailed and meticulously labeled with every ride, shop, and sideshow. Does this cartographer have a perfectionist streak? There’s a crudely-painted red heart circling one attraction in particular: the tunnel of love. But from the way the color dried, you’re starting to think that’s not paint…

Before you reach the tunnel of love, you have to pass through game stalls and the haunted house. Move quickly; those familiar Wicht giggles are approaching and they will not take no for an answer. Hide behind stalls or large crates to avoid them. Perhaps Rooks or Illusion Queens can cover the party’s tracks!

If you choose to hide behind stalls and crates, a cold draft might hit your back, send a shiver down your spine and make you whirl around to confront—no one. But you could have sworn you saw a shadow in the corner of your eye… Before you can think, something too close for comfort bursts into hysterical laughter, attracting the attention of the Wichts and forcing you to abandon your shelter.

However, Wichts can’t touch you if you join in the fun, and the carnival offers a variety of games to play, from dime pitch games to shooting galleries. A man next to a strongman game might even holler at you to step right up and test your strength. Neither firearms, ammo or hammers will be provided, but you’re Heroes, right? Improvise! Win, and you’ll be greeted by...

MONSTER ♟ Steun
Weak against Holy	Strong against Dark	Immune to None
Carnival staff manning the stalls with smiles that will haunt your nightmares. People who win their games infuriate them! Their weapon of choice depends on where you find them. Food vendors will be eager to hurl BOILING OIL or throw an entire GRILL at your face, while those at the shooting galleries might come at you with FIREARMS—real ones! But sometimes, a bullet won’t kill you. Instead, it will make you smell like cotton candy. It will also cast CHARM MAGIC on you, making your party members fall in love with you. Only strong willpower can break the spell… or you know, a good, old-fashioned kiss. Staff members may also toss stuffed toys at you, but these cute and cuddly things aren’t a gift of goodwill. They’re enchanted grenades that explode into heart-shaped confetti and release a gas that will make you LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY for a good five minutes. DROPS: Assorted Guns and Bullets, Carnival Food Items, Stuffed Toys, Carnival Staff Jacket

Glad that’s over! Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the last area you needed to traverse. Checking the map again reveals that the haunted house is up next. But that shouldn’t be a big deal; you can usually avoid those by simply walking past, right?

Wrong. As you enter the area, you’ll soon realize that the roads around the house are clogged up by cotton candy and popcorn which might serve as convenient snacks to replenish your mana. The only free path leads to the front door.


THREE ♙
The floorboards creak as your party enters the haunted house. A flash of lightning preceding a crack of thunder reveals a large, arachnid leg. Clicking noises of pincers are the only warnings Heroes get before your party is grabbed and hauled upwards, one by one. Tough strings like silk trap your bodies in a tight cocoon that dangles from the ceiling. Resistance is futile, as struggling will damage your clothes. Don’t worry about flashing anyone; the spider is more than happy to cover your bare areas with more form-hugging strings. The spider silk seems to be enchanted, since captured Heroes cannot escape on their own. You must help them to proceed!

As the spider works on hauling its prey upwards, the others must rescue their comrade before it’s too late! Unfortunately, your entrance has awoken a sudden rush of monsters, and the blood and drool they’re spewing make it hard to believe they’re in costume. Hobbling and groaning zombies, scarecrows and half molten blobs or something in between are eager to have you for dinner themselves. The enemies themselves are not particularly dangerous; it’s their sheer number and the furniture they’ve knocked over which make this fight a pain in the neck. Kick and bat and suplex your way through the enemy ranks until you reach the rickety stairs.

Climbing with care, you finally make your way to the second floor. There is a spider lurking in a corner...

MONSTER ♟ Heer Spinnekop
Weak against Water	Strong against Earth, Wind	Immune to Lightning
“I must say, that was very rude of you. No one has ever turned down an invitation to my tea parties.” A calm and chipper tea-sipping, monocle-wearing SPIDER too big to fit through the front door. The wealthy Lord Spinnekop studied in Gammon for a time and the accent has stuck with him ever since. Despite his manners, he isn’t too pleased to have his snack stolen from under its nose. What’s he going to dunk in his tea cup now? So he’ll try to trap the Heroes once more with his SILK THREADS, please and thank you. His threads will wrap around you in patterns that bind and appeal to the senses. “Ooh, could you do that again? It makes my spinneret tingle!” For some reason, LIGHTNING MAGIC doesn’t work against the monstrous spider. But continue to refuse him and he’ll splash piping hot Gammonian Breakfast tea at your face… or shirt. Let’s hope you didn’t wear something thin and white. As the battle goes on, he’ll crawl from corner to corner, and soon, you’ll notice a method to his madness: he’s been weaving a HUGE, STICKY WEB for you all! “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. I’ll wash you down—after I chew and swallow!” Heroes he likes, he’ll trap in his web and eat. Heroes he doesn’t? He’ll toss them in a giant KETTLE of water he’s been boiling in the kitchen! How does Heroic tea sound? However, chatting with the spider (and boy, does he love to chat) will reveal that despite growing up in the lowlands of Petrosian and living in rainy Gammon, he detests water. WATER MAGIC might just wash the spider out! DROPS: Fancy Tea Set, Top Hat, Monocle, Gentleman’s Gloves, Silk Threads

You’ve had it with this @#$%ing spider in this @#%$ing haunted house! Goodbye and good riddance. The doors upstairs seem to lead to nowhere so you’ll have to climb through the open hatch in the ceiling to exit. On the roof, you can finally survey the entire dungeon, but don’t linger for too long. Otherwise, you’ll be compelled to jump off the roof!

Hope you’re not afraid of heights, because the only way to advance to the tunnel of love is by jumping from roof to roof.


FOUR ♙
Finally, the infamous tunnel of love rests before you in all its glittery, pink glory. Rose petals coat the sign and flower chains hang from the tunnel ceiling. Echoes of sensual moans can be heard from the outside, but there’s no turning back. Once you’ve secured yourself a swan boat, you’re in for quite the joyride. The dulcet tones of a romantic serenade give you something else to focus on other than the disturbingly intimate shadows on the walls, but even the music stops every now and then to amplify the voices further in.

Then all of a sudden, the water of the tunnel starts flowing in the other direction. Due to the shape of the boat, Heroes get doused in cold water, and that’s the least of your problems. More Steuns will come out of the woodwork and take potshots at the Heroes with their guns. Talk about wet and wild! The tunnel’s heart-shaped props might also come to life and attempt to drown Heroes. Why not? It’s not like couples ever want to leave.

After several merry minutes, the water will be drained out completely. Who doesn’t enjoy being stranded in the middle of enemy territory? As you walk down the tunnel, there’s a point that diverges into several paths. Following the path that smells like roses will appear to put you on the right track, but leads to a dead end. Looking around, you’ll find a raised, heart-shaped platform with graffiti that says, NOW DO IT! ❤

That’s awfully specific. Considering where you are, you probably meet the riddle with mild surprise. Maybe if you try to kiss someone, you’ll be able to advance! But actually, if you wait long enough, a simple hug might yet suffice.

Once the riddle has been satisfied, the wall opens to reveal the inside of a circus tent. Vacant bleachers surround the stage, and though they are empty, deafening cheers seem to come from people filling the seats. Without warning, all the lights go out, save for a single spotlight...

BOSS ♟ Y. U. Lyon the Spelleider and his Circus
Weak against None	Strong against Fire	Immune to Dark, Status Effects
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Welcome to the best show in the world! I’ve travelled the seven seas, so I should know.” An outstanding and prolific RINGMASTER who recently fell out of the limelight. After some soul searching, Ser Lyon’s back with a bigger and better show that’ll knock everyone’s socks off! Eat your heart out, Cirque du Etoile. As the leader of this circus, he has the fully loyalty of his performers—and pets. With a crack of his whip, he summons large, maned LIONS that growl as they bare their sharp, white fangs. They attack the Heroes on his orders. Don’t let the large felines jump through those flaming hoops, as these will ENGULF THEM IN FIRE, too! Use WATER to put the flames out. ”Such teamwork… Geluk and I were the same. Why am I thinking about him at a time like this? For our next act…!” Should you defeat his precious lions, he will send out his beloved CIRCUS PERFORMERS: acrobats that can kick your butt, contortionists that can bend themselves twice over as they lock you in a CHOKEHOLD, unicycle-riding jugglers waiting for the right moment to toss you a KNIFE or MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, and tightrope walkers ready to DROP DEADLY SPEARS onto unsuspecting Heroes. You might even get tackled by the occasional cannonball man and GET LAUNCHED OUT OF THE TENT with him! Circus performers of all kinds will try to steal the show, and your imagination’s the limit. Unlike the ringmaster, these people are WEAK TO STATUS EFFECTS. ”He told me to meet him during the Festivale de la Ceinturonne, but I had a show that night. I couldn’t abandon my circus! That was years ago… I haven’t heard from him since. I wonder what would have happened… if I had gone to see him… If I had gone to see him…!” Although his stars are gone, the show must go on. As the drum rolls, the lone Ser Lyon reaches inside his mouth to pull out a sharp SWORD with a flourish. How long has that been in there? Not important. Forget about admiring his top-notch swordsmanship, too—he’s here to kill! Even as you keep your distance, you can’t escape him when he strikes you with his WHIP and singes your skin with his FIRE-BREATHING SKILLS. From time to time, he pulls MAGICAL BIRDS out of his coat to distract Heroes. They will disappear the moment you strike them. ”Bravo, bravo. The circus is my life, but… your teamwork has reminded me of something far more important. Still… we put on a good show, didn’t we?” Before his last breath, he pulls a lovespur out of thin air. It was his closest friend’s favorite magic trick. A DUNGEON CORE rises from his chest, and he ends the show with an elegant bow and a smile. DROPS: Ringmaster Staff, Ringmaster Coat, Lion Mane, Juggling Balls, Sword, Hoop, Balance Pole, Torches

Once Y. U. Lyon the Spelleider and his lackeys have been defeated, the phantom cheering cuts off. The bleachers are suddenly occupied by the missing Petrosians, exhausted and confused as to how they ended up here. The dungeon magic appears to have compelled them to act the way they did. Reassure them, help them down from the bleachers and make absolutely sure you leave no one behind.

Soon, the carnival gates open. The show is over and it’s time for everyone to go home.


FIVE ♙
Once you step out of the gates, there’s a flash of light and a final pop of confetti. The next time you blink, you’ll find yourself in a campsite. It seems like Ryder kept his word and set up a rest stop for everyone exiting the dungeon. You’re back in one piece and the area seems to be back to normal as well. Relieved murmurs spring up from the rescued Petrosians who are quick to thank the Heroes profusely before they are whisked away by Blanc’s medics for a check-up.

Verdoni Good work, Heroes. What you do with the dungeon cores is your business alone, but all efforts to assist us in assessing them will be appreciated. That includes providing us with said dungeon cores, of course. I will report our findings as soon as we can. Thank you.

As he leaves, he catches the sight of Ryder and clicks his tongue. That Gammonian is making good use of his human footrest again. Some things never change.

Now that Heroes have left the dungeon, they are free to do whatever they want to. Rest in the tents? Fill your rumbling tummies? Treat injuries? It’s up to them!

Comments

[likethelight]

[ It's more that there was an entry fee period—this isn't a normal carnaval but something far more sinister. Something they were going to have to fight their way through, most certainly. Also that the ticket-seller—there's something about him, to one long-used to fighting against those like demons that were once but are no longer human. And Allen keeps a very close eye on him as the man eyes how Sion takes the colle from his satchel.

Allen doesn't have the sight of his left eye anymore, but it doesn't meant his instincts aren't strung quite tight right now.

(And some of the sounds coming from this place...)

Sion says something—beyond his magnanimous gesture of purchasing their tickets—that catches Allen's attention though before he could protest it. Something that makes his expression smooth a little at last from the unease that's been cloudy around him. "Laid to rest"...

Ah. He'd told Miss Sakura similar.

But he pulls a bit of a face for a second but then smiles at the King's admittance before he'll join him at his side. His new weapon, the demon-fingered and angel-winged gauntlet is on his left arm, and The Fool stitched anew and out of sight into one of the gloves Lux gave him on his left.

Reaching out, he pats Sion's arm for a moment with his gloved hand. In silent thanks for the payment while he and Lux grimaced (he didn't have to, but Allen won't stop him), and to smile a little at that. ]

Maybe when we've returned home we can visit a real sort of show then. [ Because he doesn't have the heart to say it, but this doesn't really count, Sion...

His silver eyes do drift to Lux at that as well. If perhaps, ah, she's forgiven him yet... ]

[rememberher]

It's ridiculous really.

[ Huffing out a sigh, she nearly misses Sion stepping past the both of them to take charge of this rather annoying situation. Seeing him stride toward the stand, producing the money from his satchel, she stepped forward, reaching out to try to stop him. He really didn't have to!

But it was done before she could say a word and, letting her hand fall, a resigned sort of smile curled her lips. Leave it to the Hero King to take command here. She would have to pay him back. Later. Once they got back. And they would, all in one piece.

He never... really? It wasn't actually a big deal, but that he was so positively delighted, Lux couldn't help but giggle gently as well. Walking beside him, she smiled for the first time on the trip out. The three of them standing together, nearly shoulder-to-shoulder.

And catching Allen's gaze, she gave him a very subtle nod, before her smile turned a bit mischievous. ]

Your treat, of course.

[ Cold, Lux. Cold. ]

[sunderings]

[ He is charmed by small gestures, little things—his twenty years have been spent in the destitution of banishment and a resplendent, gilded cage with no in-between. And as such, what he enjoys most is the overlooked and the mundane, the simplicity of interaction with any being, if only because...

(They stand side by side and shoulder to shoulder, their party of three, Luxanna's laugh and the touch of Allen's hand to his arm lingering with the King even as a poignant air settles upon him, a whisper of something which sees his gaze turned back toward the ticket-seller they'd moved on from.)

...it's much too ephemeral, isn't it? The time they've to spend with one another, human or otherwise. The ticket-seller is vanished, perhaps a man who had never been, leaving only a pile of colored paper behind.

But Allen suggests the prospect of attending a show, and Sion does not miss Luxanna's positively boreal intonations—they do, in fact, inspire a smile of his own, his lashes falling to half-mast as he fixes the exorcist with a playful (chilling) stare which seems only to add (frost) fire to the Lady's declaration: ]

I would be most delighted to spend an evening at the theater with both a Lady and budding gentleman as my escort. [ Stepping forward, he seems keen to explore, making way to the front gate with eyes, now, for only what lies ahead, though...! ] And to thank him, for all the good-will he is to show us, Allen...

[ And Luxanna too, for it is the whole of the party that his magic falls upon as he gives pause to bestow blessings to carry them through the trials they are to face, the good that they are bound to do, and the sacrifices they will make for it: ]

...may strength and glory be upon you— [ The touch of the King's mana is a caress of sunlight, giving rise to a surge of might, bolstering body, magic, and mind which leaves behind a marker: a corona of luminance which settles upon blond and white-as-snow hair. ] —grace of wind be with you...

[ Grace, manifest as twin circlets of wind swirling about the feet, glinting and aglimmer with light itself pulled into their vortex before the energy coalesces into aetherous wings at the back of the feet, offering haste and greater agility...! ☆彡 ]

...and may fate smile upon you, on this day! [ + Luck and dexterity up, up, up and through the proverbial roof, the final spell carrying with it no cosmetic alterations, but simply a boost. A confidence to smooth over jagged edges and frayed nerves, for the Hero King's magic is potent and powerful, carrying with it his own belief that they will be victorious; that the missing will be found by the end of their journey, and that this dungeon which feels so very much like a tomb will not continue to draw others in, its story cyclical and unending as it siphons mana from the land.

(Trapped, like Sion's own realm, condemned to repeat one thousand year's worth of tragedy.) ]

This magic will fade, after a time, so do not venture far from my line of sight after we pass through the gates; I will need to see it renewed.

[likethelight]

[ Leave it to the both of you to make Allen feel so very doomed for ever making the suggestion to do something light. Lux... Lux do you know how beyond a pauper he is, so great is his debt that he'll be be hip-deep in the negative for a good number of lifetimes... What could he have possibly done to—

—oh. (Oh..)

But the King's incantation leaves Allen's surprise greater than his inner sense of calamity, how his mana swirls around them like a gentle breeze and leaves him feeling so very lighter suddenly. Not just physically but of heart and mind as well.

(Let's not say "luckier".) ]

! [ A genuine startled sound!, feeling his feet almost lift like that as the energy woven into the spell tugs at them, but Allen just twists to look behind himself to see. ]

Incredible.. [ There's no small amount of awe in the young rook's tone as he pats down the breast of his uniform jacket for a moment as if to confirm he's still quite himself and real. It's his first time experiencing a King's ability to enhance—and words people use to describe it don't really do it justice.

True to what Allen had instinctively sensed that day they first met, Sion is a dauntingly impressive (powerful) sort of person. ]

Sion—your power is a thing like this...? [ It's full of gratitude and amazement most certainly! But.. Allen's also trailing off as he speaks. Expression becoming still like a ghost has just brushed the back of his neck and caused the hairs to raise. Because it's an easy sort of sound to overlook at first... The giggle of one lone child just at the periphery of your hearing. Normal, in fact, to hear at a carnaval.

One child right... there, reaching to tug on the sleeve of the hero closet, a box of chocolates in her hand

One giggle and then two. Three. So very playful and innocent. It's hard to tell where they've even just come from, because surely they were alone a moment ago and are now surrounded. ]

[rememberher]

[ If this were any other situation, she might have given the King an approving grin and made just one more affirming comment. No, Allen wasn't entirely absolved of the guilt from before, but it was just easier for her to force their conversation from a few days prior out of her mind—for the time being. With danger nipping at their heels, this was hardly the time to let such a dilemma cloud her judgment.

(Better to fight alongside a friend than... the possible alternative.)

Sion left her no real time to question her conviction, either, and feeling that rush of mana, warm and strong, as it curled around her, settling at her forehead and feet, the light mage took in a surprised breath. She had been blessed by the Hero King before (her boots, now quite worn in over the past few months of use, still bore his Mark), but this was different. A King's Grace.

No, this Sion's protection and guidance. A promise, to keep them safe. To bring them back, alive; to bring everyone back, alive. ]

Then let's be quick, we don't want to waste any time—

[ Her words abruptly cutting off, curbed by the sensation of something tugging on her uniform, and the sound of childish giggle that didn't seem quite right. Sickeningly sweet, disarming, chilling. And a wooden (quite literally!) smile, nearly splitting their face in two, their heads canted unnaturally to the side as they offered some kind of gift up. Lux pulled her arm away suddenly out of reflex, her expression turning dark as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

One. Two. Three. And there were more coming, judging from the laughter. ]

Stay close.

[ Her voice was surprisingly level, glancing up at both Allen and Sion both. Still strapped to her back, the crystal on her back slowly awoke, glowing faintly as a beacon for them, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Likewise, the gemmed bracelet on her right arm hummed to life, beckoned by its new master.

Looking over her surroundings, she tried to gauge the situation. ]

I can't tell how many there are. Be ready to take my hands and move.

[sunderings]

Your hands, Luxanna?

[ He's not had the pleasure of fighting beside them, Luxanna and Allen both, since they'd received their promotion to rank—Luxanna, a flourishing, florid Queen (who still cares to wear the boots he'd inscribed with his King's wards months ago), wields now a wristlet of faceted gemstone, the band catching his attention no sooner than it hums to life, thrumming and alight with her manaflow. Reflexively, he steps forward where she draws back, pulling her arm well out of the reach of dozens of wooden fingers, little hands which belong to children with too-saccharine smiles and rosy cheeks, their limbs given life and motion not by any will of their own, but...

(Ah ah ah ah ah, they are not our Demon, but even so...)

...something far more sinister, far more lonely and sad. Suddenly, Allen's silence strikes him as a thing profound, the words the younger man had said before your power is a thing like this...? resonant in his ears as the children surrounding them (...four, five, six...) make offerings of sweets, chocolates rusting in their paper-wrappings as their boxes are pushed, up, up, and up by insistent hands.

Though he'd murmured it is the very least I can do upon the compliment paid, the gentle tide of his rank's magic is far from the Hero King's power—had Allen forgotten what he'd glimpsed upon the train? Sion is meant to--

(...devour them.)

--trust, for now, in his friends: Luxanna, who offers to them an escape, the potential of a path without combat, and Allen who will burgeon out of his quiet soon with no small amount of conviction.

Meanwhile, Sion bides time, testing the threat of their newly-met companions by accepting a chocolate box much to the children's delight, their giggles positively gleeful until the moment when they find the King has no intention to partake of their gift, deciding to grant him another: claws which spring forth from their hands, hooked and terrible and seeking to part the flesh of his chest (split the ribcage, tear out his heart), but meeting only with...!

Chocolate. It is the chocolate box which the Wicht's claws spear, catching well and fast into the small parcel which the King twists sharply to the side, his fingertips alight with a bout of minor holy magic as he brings his free hand down, severing talons from puppet with a resounding break and echoing snap!.

Though not yet defeated, the Wicht falls back, the giggles of the others' swelling, sharpening into a crescendo of laughter as their features twist and malign, reflecting the nature of what dwelled inside. ]

This is...

[ (Wonderful.) ]

[likethelight]

[ It's true. But while upon the train Allen had seen the no less mighty dispel of a King's abilities... they were a sight of Sion he had also let slip from his mind. The man walking through a blood-slicked valley of death as a shadow of both it and himself. Ripping people apart from the inside and destroying their minds, crushing their spirits along with their bodies in a manner while not a foreign sort of horror to Allen... was certainly foreign to how he had perceived the King.

(He'd blessed Allen that day too, but the boy had been far too gone and already too focused on his last words to Sion before he passed out to commit it to his somewhat spacey memory.)

Some things, while never forgotten, are best when... not dwelt upon.

Though it does mean he finds this side of Sion's abilities... not even so much a relief? But something that... suits him.

But this is...

( This is The Fool leaping into huge and brilliant existence in his hand as Allen moves blurringly fast, dropping to one knee at the point of their little group and sweeping out in corkscrew— ]

...an ambush. [ And something he says in soft, almost pitying contrast with his snowy white head bowed as the holy manablade rips through the three demon puppets nearest behind him in an unforgiving explosion of shattered wood. So quickly and brutally it's like he had never seen them as the children they masqueraded to be.

The sad thing is even without his left eye—he hadn't. Which is both a little comforting and not.

"By doing this, we can be suspicious of anyone who comes close..."

But there's more. Three—more beyond that even, perhaps, as disjointed giggles begin to echo around them in rising crescendo. Like chattering cicadas. And Allen begins to rise to his feet beside the two of them again, expression schooled in a softly somber manner as his eyes sweep across the destroyed Wicht and the others that are beginning to encroach. ]

Lux— [ Now might be a good time, whatever she is planning. ]

[rememberher]

[ The glint of polished, wooden claws, brandished at Sion and ready to tear flesh from bone, grounded her more than anything. Her body moving on instinct, her staff was in her hand even before she realized, and a spell on her lips before even the King could strike.

Light to pierce the darkness, to protect them all. ]

Lucent Singularity!

[ Swinging her staff once, an orb of iridescent light erupted from the larger crystal end, soaring through the air and detonating, catching a few of the eager "children" in its blast.

"An ambush." He took the words right out of her mouth. Wonderful.

Quickly placing the staff back in its holster on her back, she grabbed for both men, taking Allen's right and Sion's left hands. She was still a novice by her own standards when it came to illusion magic—and was often known for being far too harsh on herself, ever the perfectionist—but this would be the true test of her skill. She only hoped it was up to snuff.

Feeling a sudden bloom of mana between the three of them (she knew this, the feeling of both of their signatures swirling around her), Lux took a deep breath, her own mana surging.

Then all at once, it began to fade, her signature, their signatures melting away, dispersing like smoke in the wind. Like it was never there to begin with. The feeling of her own mana radiated in those hands she held, tingling almost like they were asleep, acting as a tether to bind them to her.

The bracelet on her arm flared, and the world before them shimmered like a mirage, a trick of the light. And that was what it was. Enveloping them within an illusion, bending and shaping the light around them, her brow creased deeply in concentration. And while the Wichtes' laughter still roared around them, it seemed almost confused, bewildered.

(Excellent. She had managed to pull it off.)

Her lips drawn into a thin line, she glanced at both silver-haired men, giving them a slight nod before directing her attention outward. She could not speak, lest it break her concentration, break their veil of (temporary) invisibility. But they would need to press onward. ]