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

[guerrilla]

[Judging by the expression on his face, Robin's just as irritated. He's had Enough, and would like for this to be over, but life isn't ever that convenient, is it.]

Well, if it's aim they're testing, I'm pretty sure any one of us would be able to nail it in one. One of us can aim for the target and the others can aim at the owner.

[This isn't necessarily an endorsement, because he sincerely could not give less of a shit about carnival games right now, but it doesn't seem like it'd be much of a waste of time, given all three of them rely on aim to use their weapons at even a basic level of competence.]

[hoasen]

[Personally, she would like to keep going, only because this looks unsafe. But if they refuse, would they attack? And since they beat the wichts before and received a map, what if they win the game here?]

No equipment is provided, but yes, any of us could just use our own. [She looks uneasily over the rest of them.]

If we all agree to take the risk, then I can cover. [It was then she activates a spell to change her long oar into a huge sniper rifle. Whatever the vendor tries, they definitely won't be able to run now.]

[sealeted]

I'll help Vietnam, and... keep an eye out for any 'helpers' that might pop up.

[It's an unpleasant thought that pops up, but the Wichts certainly hadn't been on their own. The booth owner looks human, moreso than the fake-children, as well as portly and good-natured. But that might not mean anything. There might be prize that can help them, and Archer is the one with (she assumes) the most experience at sharpshooting.

She doubts this will be as easy as it seems, but hope springs eternal.]

[guerrilla]

[Robin takes a quick stock of his quiver and grimaces. This is the price he pays for not giving a shit about magic, he supposes. If he ever goes into a dungeon again he's going to bring way more arrows than he thinks he needs. If they're really going to do this, though, he can't disagree with their choice of shooter.

He was paired with a former sniper in the Holy Grail War based on compatibility, after all.]

Alright, let's get this over with.

[He approaches the booth, and the vendor hastens over, cheerfully explaining the rules. "You have one minute to hit as many of the targets as possible. If you can hit more than three, you'll win a big prize! It's a pretty tough game, if I say so myself!"

Robin removes exactly three arrows from his quiver, completely ignoring the vendor, who eventually gets the picture and goes to start the game. With a pull of a lever, the backdrop behind him springs to life, whirring mechanically, as the targets attached to it begin to move in a vaguely looping pattern. "Your time starts now!"]

Here goes nothing.

[With three shots, all definitely within the time limit of one minute, Robin pierces three targets in a row. Two of them have gone a little wide, but the third is a perfect bullseye. He pulls his cloak up around his face, just a little, but he's smiling. These kind of games are pretty fun.

He doesn't have too much time to gloat about how good he is at archery, though, because the vendor's smile tightens, and he reaches past the lever, behind the backdrop. Pulling a hidden rifle from behind it, he has the gun trained on Robin in the span of a few seconds, and there's not much he can do to retaliate, other than throw himself to the ground as soon as he sees the firearm.

After all, pulling a trigger takes less time than reaching for a fourth arrow.]

Shit -

[This is what happens to cocky bastards.]

[hoasen]

[These games sure are fun! In fact, Vietnam thought it might be a good idea to take these two to Dunyaland after this, just to prove to them that amusement parks are actually great. Don't let this be their final memory of carnivals and such.

Now, he's a very good shot, as she can see, while trying to guard him at the same time. She would've congratulated him, but there was no time when the vendor pulls out the gun.]

What--?!

[She immediately lifts her own rifle to aim at the vendor, firing it. But due to the close proximity and how she's using a sniper rifle in such a distance, not a hand gun, her shot wasn't fatal.]

[sealeted]

Vietnam!

[Her friend gets the first shot. but, unfortunately, that just isn't enough, and having a direct shot at the man means than he has a direct shot at her once he readies the rifle again, despite his wound. Hakuno moves thoughtlessly, faster than any plan could form, and slams into Vietnam, knocking the slightly smaller woman to the ground and taking the next bullet to her bicep as the price for her instinct-driven heroics.

Strangely, instead of blinding pain...]

That... stung?

[She frowns uncertainly, but quickly dodges out of the line of fire herself before he can take another shot. She smells something sweet, but assumes they're near some sort of concession stand and puts it out of her mind. There are more important things taking precedence.]

Okay, what's the plan now? Do we take him out?

[guerrilla]

I don't see a reason not to! I don't think he's just going to stop shooting at us!

[She seems okay, though?? He'll fuss over that once there isn't someone actively trying to kill him in such a close vicinity. He had enough time to grab that fourth arrow while Hakuno was busy getting shot, and he lets it fly. It hits the vendor in the knee, downing him - he drops his weapon and has to briefly scramble to get it back. Vietnam and Hakuno can either finish him off here or make a break for it, but they'll have to decide pretty quickly!

This is far from the only booth in the carnival, however, so Robin takes a quick look around to see if anyone else has decided to join in the, uh, fun. He doesn't see anything in the immediate vicinity, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't on their way...]

Dammit, this is so stupid.

[Maybe someday he'll get to play a real, non-horrible shooting game, especially if Hakuno and Vietnam are both determined to take him to Dunyaland.]

[hoasen]

[They certainly do insist on taking him to Dunyaland. But that is a conversation for another day as they try to deal with this attacker here.

Vietnam definitely did not expect to be pushed to the side by Hakuno and have a shot taken for her. She near screamed about this--]

Hakuno! [--but calmed slightly (in confusion) because Hakuno was not bleeding nor hurt.

That gives her enough time to aim her sniper rifle at the vendor as they come to an agreement that he needs to be taken down. And so with another shot, she aims to do just that.

Whether or not she kills him, this shot also gives her comrades enough time to gather their weapons and attack!

But, she noticed something while Hakuno is close by. Hakuno smells like cotton candy. She didn't realise that her powers as a Rook maybe giving her some immunity to this curse Hakuno may have right now, but who knows for how long? They'll have to find out--]

Hakuno, you smell particularly sweet right now.

[sealeted]

Yeah, I... I think it might have been a dud bullet, of some sort?

[the vendor is down for the count, so she tugs Vietnam into a run, gently reaching out and giving Archer's cloak a small, pointed tug as well on the way, keeping her eyes peeled for a good place to take cover while they take stock of the situation. She skids to a stop and ducks back before she can catch the eye of some sort of food vendor, finally taking the chance to rub at her slightly sore arm.]

It... didn't hurt? Not the way a bullet should, I mean. Maybe it's because Archer won and nonlethal bullets are our prize, but it doesn't seem like I was poisoned.

[Yet.

She frowns and murmurs the incantation for a weak, poison-centric cure spell, and doesn't feel anything but a needless pull on her mana.]

...yeah, not that either.

[guerrilla]

[After the cloak tug, Robin is right behind her. That's four fewer arrows he's got, and he hates that, but there's no point to having them if you're too dead to fire them.

Being a connoisseur of utilizing projectiles to dispense poison, when the bullet that hit Hakuno doesn't seem to do that much damage, he jumped to the same conclusion - he stares intently at her until she casts the cure spell, looking for anything that might be a symptom.

Once the spell's been cast, and no symptoms present themselves, he relaxes a little, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the vendor.]

If that's what he was going for, he should've used something that could be lethal regardless of poison. That would have been two opportunities to kill you, instead of one.

[What a gentleman, constructively critiquing the guy trying to kill them.]

I don't think we'll have to worry about that guy anymore, though, he's not going anywhere. If we can get past the rest of these booths without tipping anyone off, we might not have to fight at all.

[Looking for ways not to fight is just as important as looking for ways to start one.]

[hoasen]

[Nothing so far, as Vietnam looks at Hakuno's arm in worry now they're at a(nother relatively) safe place. A spell is doing nothing, so either nothing really happened, or it was some really strong magic.

She hopes for the former.]

Hmm...I wonder. If you feel something strange, tell us, okay? For now... [She tries to cast a healing spell, just a small one to help Hakuno ease the pain.]

So if we can't get their attention...then let's go behind and between booths...

[She opens the map again--] We need to get to this haunted house.

[sealeted]

Thanks.

[Hakuno manages a small, bright smile at the healing spell. She could have managed on her won, but it's nice to be taken care of. Speaking of which, she tugs at Archer's cloak again, and slides three arrows out of her own quiver.]

Here, take these.

[He knows how to make them count, after all, and it's probably not very smart to go back for the ones he left in the shooting booth. Hakuno holds them out between them as she peers at the map, nibbling her lower lip thoughtfully.]

Well, straight ahead there's a concession stand with at least two people that I saw before back-tracking, so we'll need to go around that...

[guerrilla]

Thanks, kid.

[The cloak-tugging is weird, but he'll put up with it for now, especially if Hakuno is handing him some arrows. He's still got less than she does, even with her giving him three, but that just means he'll have to be more careful.

He takes a look at the map, too, frowning. There really isn't much space to hide. His first dungeon, and it's built completely against his skillset. Typical.]

We could try to ambush them from a distance if we have to, but if there isn't anyone manning these booths over here, with the way they're shaped it looks like they should block their line of sight enough for us to get pretty far. I mean, assuming they aren't horrible demons with amazing eyesight.

[After the horrible demon children he's not willing to put anything past this shitty carnival.

The booths he points to are a fair distance away, but if the rest of the booth owners are packing heat, it's best to stay as far away from them as they can.]

I'm doing okay as far as mana is concerned, but if we have to fight, what about you two?

[He hasn't had to expend any since Hakuno helped him recharge, but the other two just cast a few spells, after all.]

[hoasen]

[Hey, just think, eventually they'll rank up, and they'll be BADASSES in the subsequent dungeons.

But yes, plan of attack now.]

If they do have amazing eyesight, we will probably hear them call out to us. In any case, I have this. [She pats her sniper rifle.] It will make up for the distance so we can cover more ground.

[And it doesn't need magic too, now that she's kept it fully transformed. Once they get out of the open air, all will be well. Even if Hakuno still smells strangely like cotton candy. Actually, this happened ever since she got shot...]

As long as I do not need to cast many spells, I think I should be okay. [Tiny fist pump!] I just need to conserve it for my gravity spells.

[sealeted]

Yeah. Tell me if you end up needing more.

[The cloak tugging is actually Hakuno trying to be considerate, given that they had to drag him metaphorically kicking and screaming into doing a mana transfer with her not ten minutes ago. Now Hakuno has left his cloak alone, though, tugging at one of her forelocks as she turns over some unpleasant ideas of her own inside her head.]

Good eyesight, or more balloons. I know snack carts sometimes have those attached, so I wouldn't put it past this place to have something like that waiting for us.

[She resists the urge to smell herself. Is the sweetness getting a little stronger, or is the scent just getting to her?]

...well, either way, we'll just have to muddle through. I'm at about three-fourths, so unless I need to do anything fancy I should be okay for a while. Probably.

[guerrilla]

Yeah, it doesn't sound like any of our options are good. Business as usual, I guess.

[It's only now that he notices a weirdly sweet smell, and after ascertaining that it seems to be coming from Hakuno, his frown deepens.]

...We should definitely move as quickly as we can, though. That bullet he fired at the kid might have been intended to track her. It's a common hunter trick to leave some sort of mark on something or someone you intend to take care of later...I don't know how good their sense of smell is, but I've got a bad feeling about this.

[Why does he not have his old cloak. Sounds and scents are completely nullified when it's in use, so it'd be perfect for hiding Hakuno in a circumstance like this.]

[hoasen]

Unfortunately so. But we've managed so far, no? I think we're making good progress.

[No falling into traps or anything yet! And thinking about that...it does make sense. Perhaps they will get swarmed.]

Then...I wonder, if it is some kind of magic, there should be a way to negate it.

[But they don't even know the spell, nor do they have a Bishop amongst them to tell them the properties. If Bishop powers even worked that way. Truth be told, she doesn't really know.]

I would suggest we move quickly, but at the same time, if it is a tracking scent, wherever we go, they will follow.

[Except now, she's realising that it seems to be testing her own body. There's something about Hakuno's scent that is beginning to weigh heavy on her, like it's testing her resolve.]

[sealeted]

Scent...

[That makes a terrible kind of sense, and the niggling doubt as to whether it's getting stronger roars back to life. She grimaces, but it isn't as though she would go back and do something different, given the choice. After all, if she hadn't shoved Vietnam, she probably would have gotten hit by the bullet. Given the choice, Hakuno's glad it was her.]

Well, we might as well get as far as we can before it gets too noticeable. And I'm guessing just taking off my jacket and shoving it somewhere won't help, if it's magic.

[She plucks at her white uniform coat uncertainly, even as she shifts and gets ready to run.]

[guerrilla]

If it's magic, taking off the jacket might not do anything, but I have an idea.

[He takes his cloak off and holds it out to Hakuno, suddenly not quite able to look her in the eye. The idea of her taking anything off is more flustering than it has any right to be.]

It's not nearly as useful as my old one, but it might do something to stop the scent from traveling as far just by covering you up. I don't know how much time it will buy us, but I think it's worth a shot.

[Of course, that just means his cloak is probably going to smell like cotton candy in the aftermath, but if it's just the inside, it might be fine.]

[hoasen]

I am sorry, Hakuno. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be caught in this kind of situation.

[She sighs, a little upset about this, but that is all they can do for now. They will have to find out a way, and they have to keep moving. At least Archer has his cloak. It's large, better than their coats. But also, why is he looking away...

Goodness, she's feeling more tired, unusually so. But her mana doesn't feel at all drained.]

I think that could help. I..I could try to do something with my gravity, keep it together as we run. [That would take a lot out of her, but beggars can't be choosers.]

[sealeted]

Oh, thank you.

[She actually hadn't been able to help herself, and had tried on the cloak herself after buying it, so there's a half-surety in her movements as she tugs it into place. But he doesn't need to know all of her curiosity-driven whims. Luckily for him, if they manage to dispel the Charm magic, the scent should vanish too, so he won't have to worry about any lingering smells.]

Don't worry about it, Vietnam. If it wasn't this, then something else would have come along to make our lives that much more difficult. And you don't have to waste your mana like that; the fabric is heavy enough to hang shut, more or less.

[She isn't exactly sure how the new temporary addition to her wardrobe will affect her aim with her bow, but she's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. One problem at a time.]

So, we're ready?

[guerrilla]

I'm ready if you are. Just...be careful, okay?

[Still not quite making eye contact. Maybe Robin can brush this off as being concerned about Hakuno making a mess of the cloak if he plays it cool. He's had an underlying sense of worry about her since the start of this mission - a lot of it had dissipated after her skill with a bow was good enough to help win a battle, but now it's stronger than it's been this entire time.

Right now, more than anything, he wants to make sure Hakuno is safe.]

Uh, you too, Vietnam.

[He adds, completely as an afterthought. This is awful.]

[hoasen]

Alright...if you are sure, Hakuno! I am here so please feel free to rely on me. I am here to protect you, after all.

[Such is the nature of her rank, and she did a poor job of it with Hakuno being affected like this. And she's not sure how much of a good job she'll do if she's tiring? Why though?

And...wait a minute, Archer?]

O-of course. And yourself too. I will protect you also. [That wasn't an afterthought, she actually just didn't say it. But now she feels like she has to be cause he did? What a mess!]

I am ready. [And she'll follow as soon as they start!]

[sealeted]

Yes, I will.

[She nods, resolute, and can't help but smile at the exchange of concern between the two of them. Maybe it's a bit awkward, and a bit belated, but before today the biggest exchange between these two was... Well, handing off a drunk and morose Hakuno, though she was asleep for that part.

She clenches her fist beneath the cloak and gives it a small pump to bolster herself. She definitely won't let herself become a burden, not with the two of them doing their best like this.]

Right! Then, let's go.

[guerrilla]

[It takes a second for Robin to respond, and even then all he does is nod. Has Hakuno always looked this pretty when she smiled?

No, there's time to think about that later. What he has to focus on now is keeping an eye out for any wandering vendors. He takes off at a brisk pace - not quite running, because it's louder than walking, and he doesn't need to provide another tracking method for them. His nearly silent footsteps and the way he practically hugs the walls of the first booth he passes make it clear that this, at least, is something he's used to.

His bow can shoot around corners, as long as the target is within a certain distance, so he listens very carefully for anyone else approaching. If they do encounter any vendors on the way, it'd be best to take them out before they're noticed. Hakuno and Vietnam are free to keep whatever pace they'd like, but he's trying to stay just slightly ahead of the other two. He doesn't know much about Vietnam's weapon, but it seems like Hakuno's, at least, is limited to shooting straight ahead like a normal bow - having the person with the most flexible range in front seems reasonable.

And if Hakuno thought he was cool for taking the lead, that might not be so bad, either.]