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

[dragonspawn]

It'll make them immune too quickly to when I need to do it again, Subaki, but I'll do it when you make your move so it gives you time to gain an advantage. Damianos is right, though. Remember that this isn't a fight you're facing alone. We've all come this far together and I don't intend for any of us to fall behind due to negligence of our limits.

[ The words are stern, and he fixes his sister's retainer with a look that says he is in no mood to argue with him for it. Subaki's act as a perfectionist is impeccable, but he can tell when someone is trying far too hard to go beyond their own capabilities. It's something he's been victim to, too, in his own time, and he can understand why someone might do it- but right now, there are other things worth concerning themselves.

A glance at Damianos, and the contact he makes with him, registers that Subaki will at least be buffed up- if their acts at the entrance before them weren't enough, something that still makes Corrin's face a little warm to remember, however he looks up when Laurent speaks and with a glance towards the lions and the ringmaster before he goes over the strategy in his mind. It may actually put them at an advantage that way so long as he balances his moves, and he gives Laurent a nod in confirmation. ]

We'll have to time it right, then.

[ His sword is drawn and ready in his agreement, and he shifts as the lions, growling under their breaths, begin to advance on them. With a look towards Subaki, silently wishing him good luck, he looks back towards Laurent, just as one of the larger lions lets out a warning roar while the ringmaster announces the beginning of the show. And in time with that, and the lions beginning their charge, Corrin raises his sword, the chant he remembers on his lips as the sparks prepare to cast through each of the beasts as they begin to move, so he can move away with Laurent after. ]

Let's go!

[overextend]

[ Subaki's shoulders tense up, unused to being touched this often in a single day especially by a warm, strong hand against his neck, but the refreshing feeling that slides through his body at the contact is almost euphoric. His eyes want to slide shut, his whole frame wants to lean back just for a moment longer, but his mind is screaming at him to focus. He wouldn't even need this recharge if he had controlled how much mana he'd been expending to begin with, which he has to improve significantly on if he doesn't want to be a burden to the others.

His throat clears awkwardly as he yanks himself away, trying not to appear as though he enjoyed that, however briefly. His heads lowers in a firm nod, at least giving Damianos his awkward acknowledgement. ]

Let's make quick work of these beasts.

[ If the little lords believe this is the best course of action, then he won't waste time questioning them. A good retainer and knight follows orders to the best of his ability, so he prepares his lance, swinging outwards to summon a flurry of petals to surround the lions, trying to lure them all in one place to start cutting them down at the same time.

As usual, the first attack barely immobilizes them, but he launches into a repeat of the same spell, watching as the petals grow in strength and fervor, slowly down the lions' pursuit. ]

Shall we dance once more?

[ He smiles as he swings his lance towards the closest lion, gutting it smoothly while expecting Laurent and Corrin to make their move now. These beasts should be no match for him and Damianos to take out together. ]

[goldbound]

[ The ringmaster has attackers on the sidelines. As Laurent had watched then, Damen too had seen then take position and climb above. Cutting off the head of the snake was the fastest way to kill it, and as Laurent and Corrin fashion a way to do just that, Damianos knows it will be up to he and Subaki to organize the diversion.

Once, lions had been hunted as sport in Akielos. These were trained and likely hungry, it would be necessary to end then as quickly as possible to avoid those claws and teeth. He has already reached the same conclusion as the prince when Laurent moves away.

Subaki moves and Damen grips his mighty sword to follow.

They follow the petals, distracted by the glint of them. Damen rushes from the side as Subaki guts the first, pushing the length of his blade through the second lion's neck. Its cut off roar brings the third around to pounce, the forth looking to him. ]

Down!

[ He activates his collar and the resounding boom that pulses through the one word blows the lion's mane back. The one midair is knocked back, the forth stumbling and shaking its head in surprise. ]

i can tell you tagged on your phone, king you're so cute u///u

[verisimilitudes]

[Speed is the only thing that matters because now, it is the only thing that will give he and Lord Corrin the advantage. When Laurent turns his back on Subaki and Damen he does so without hesitation and without a glance afterwards. Doubt isn't something they can afford now.

Maybe, to another man, it looks like trust.

The men engage the lions and Laurent turns to towards the ringmaster with a perhaps unexpected burst of speed. He covers ground quickly and efficiently, the whole of his body taut and lean and driven to this purpose- to closing the distance as fast as possible. He barely seems to breathe, and Laurent doesn't lift his head to see if Corrin is following him. Instead, he makes a wide arc, separating himself enough from the young lord to give the man the ringmaster's back. A physical stun should give him the additional moment he needs should anything go wrong, and the element of surprise should give Corrin everything he needs to deal the killing blow- as long as his position isn't given away.

That's when a moltov goes sailing by, fire exploding just to Laurent's right. Ah, it looks like not all reinforcements are waiting for orders. They'll need to stem the tide. Laurent reaches for the pool of mana within him and instead of targeting only the ringleader, he chooses to target them all.]

Look at me! Look only at me!

[They'll need to keep the ringleader engaged to keep any more of the acrobats from launching once Laurent's mana is depleted, and then- he'll need to hope that the other two members of their party are able to join him in making sure the Lordling isn't overwhelmed. It looks like the act of fighting the final boss will come down to Corrin himself.]

you guys are adorable and I am ashamed of being so slow and tired.

[dragonspawn]

[ Trust, in itself, is all he has. While he hadn't had the luxury of keeping his retainers close to him when he made his decisive choice to not side with any kingdom back in his world, it was Sakura who had believed in him and brought with her her retainers that had included Subaki. He may have been a nobleman in her service with no allegiance to Corrin besides his Lady's word, but not only did he continue to stay by his side, he ensured it to the best of his ability.

It's that ability that he believes in, to the friendship he wants of him, and is looking past the awkwardness of the last few hours to believe in his skill to handle this with the man named Damen, who he's found himself forming quite a bit of respect about. In some ways, he also makes him think of his older brother Xander, and that comforting, yet strong presence- though not their image, because Xander and Damianos would look like night and day next to each other- is what makes him believe that Subaki and him will form a strength of their own together in a way that will get them through this without a hassle.

Corrin is moving then, and he trusts in Laurent to give him the room he needs to strike out at the ringmaster- though he worries, momentarily when the explosion grazes the young royal, and Corrin wants to turn to protect him, but like a spark of returning flame himself, he's quick to react in a counterattack.

Not for the first time, Corrin feels like he's watching his brother Leo with that skill in Laurent- and it's what makes him determined to reach the Ringleader, immediately. And it's why, right before Laurent's spell is called, Corrin races forward and launches himself down to slice his blade down the ringleader's back.

Only, his hit never makes it, having to dodge by the last moment before an acrobat swings her legs towards him to knock him away, and he barely misses getting hit by a hairsbreadth. He curses under his breath as he lands, but is quick on the move as she flips in the air, aiming herself towards their companions now. Corrin doesn't wait, not wanting them to lose their momentum, calling upon the attack of the dragon from his blade, right as Laurent calls his command. ]

Fly, dragon!

[ He's long since realised that the original incantation he was told to use didn't actually matter- as long as whatever he said called upon the dragon's stun, it would work. And the coiling dragon's image races out towards her, stopping her mid-flight as she falls gracelessly to the ground, frozen in her position, causing Corrin's eyes to light up. ]

The performers aren't immune either!

[ He just hopes that goes for all of them, but judging from the response to Laurent's ability, and the fall that acrobat took, it's definitely giving them an advantage. He turns right back to the ringleader, his blade slicing in a deceptive arc across his chest, never intending to hit him there, but the next, he definitely does, using his own body instead to push the ringleader down off the center stage, to throw off his balance and with a swing of his sword, aiming the tip down, he pushes it towards his chest-

But just makes it towards his shoulder, skin crushing under the blade before he gets knocked back from his movement to throw Corrin back and the ringleader stands, clutching his wounded side, his almost maddened utterances passing over Corrin's ears. Heard, registered, but not understood.

He doesn't need to. Instead, he calls, as the final of the lions fall. ]

Subaki, Damianos, on me! Surround him!

[overextend]

[ Corrin's yell pulls him out of his repeated casting, his own eyes finding the prince fast before noting his wounded state. Were they back in their own world, he could easily heal him up, but here, he has no command of staves any longer. It's a frustrating realization that hits him a little hard as he moves his body towards Corrin, aiming to protect him from another attack.

He's no longer thinking about theatrics at the moment or making himself look as glorious and dazzling as possible and mostly is concerned about keeping the other man alive as he'd promised Lady Sakura that he would, and his lance swings out towards the ringleader, hoping to attract his attention long enough for Damianos to take him out from behind. Between the two of them, there should be no escape for this man. ]

Stay back, Lord Corrin! Leave the rest to us! We can finish this!

[ If Corrin keeps pushing himself as he is, they'll end up having to carry him out of here, but at least, the opening he created is enough that they can strike down from all sides and end this battle once and for all.

Ignoring his own growing exhaustion, he unleashes swipe after swipe with the edge of his lance, throwing his whole body into it. It's been a long time since he's had to fight this much without his mount, but he won't allow himself to be bested here. ]

[goldbound]

[ Damianos skewers the last of the lions as chaos erupts around them. He can hear Laurent shouting, his voice somehow magnified by the quality of his mana. He can see the flash of Corrin's magic dropping acrobats. As he whirls, he shouts wordlessly at the cyclist that starts by— the blast of his collar knocking him off balance. Damianos wastes no time slicing his sword through the man's neck on his rush to the ringleader. He does not look back at the felled performer.

Corrin is down, however briefly. Subaki rushes up next to their target. Damianos sees the ringleader reach for his whip and target what he perceives to be the initial cause of his circus getting out of hand (Look at me! Look only at me!).

Damianos puts himself between Laurent and the ringleader and raises his sword. The whip cracks like the sound of a thunderclap and Damen feels it rend the cloth of his jacket from his arm. Blood blossoms as his skin splits. Subaki takes the opening for what it is and attacks with his lance, but Laurent's spell is deeply effective and the ringleader does not turn his attention away.

He cannot get close enough to hit him without leaving Laurent vulnerable. The bullwhip comes down again and he raises his free arm as though raising a shield. The whip splits his chest and catches in a loop around his forearm. Damianos snarls like an animal and brings his sword down through the middle of the taught rope— cutting the whip in two pieces. ]

[verisimilitudes]

[Perhaps they've simply endured so much together that they've forged a rudimentary system. It's certainly more well-oiled than they'd been at the start. Laurent can move while he enchants his target, but as the seconds pass he can feel himself draining. He needs to keep the Ringleader's attention and to do so, he needs to devote his own. It comes at the cost of protecting himself from harm, but the moment the Corrin moves, Laurent starts to speak. They aren't nonsense words, it's encouragement. They're a string of commands that he needs to mean, that he must pour the whole of his intentions into, and in doing so those words become a shackle- binding him to his target.

He's aware, on his periphery, of Corrin rounding on the Ringleader and of Subaki moving to the offensive- his lance lowered. Laurent is then- both surprised, and unsurprised, to see Damen step in front of him. The whip comes down and there can be only one memory for such a sound. His control on the man is waning.

Laurent uses the last of the mana he has to tell the Ringleader to throw his weapons to the outside of the ring, and then his knees buckle. The rest is up to the others.]

[dragonspawn]

[ There's a rush of adrenaline- of fear and determination the moment he hears Subaki's words- and Laurent's command towards the ringleader. The attacks continue to fall, the surrounding enemies all being taken down in a furious battle rhythm that has thankfully, been going in a way that hasn't failed them yet. Between all their skills, the momentum between the four of them, though initially shaky at best, has definitely improved in a way that he finds himself absolutely thankful for the utilisation of a skill he never imagined himself being so reliant on.

For if not for Laurent's ability here, they certainly wouldn't have been able to make it half as well as they ultimately have- though in all correctness, Damen and Subaki have shown skills no short of admirable and effective. While Subaki, he completely trusts and acknowledges as someone who will put in his very best into everything, Damen himself makes him realize what an asset he must be to Laurent. If not in raw power and battle skills, but companionship- the caring in his eyes for Laurent is unmistakeable, and it's the fact that those two have that bond at all- that Subaki, having endured this with him as his subordinate by association, his sister's retainer-that Corrin's own determination rises the moment he sees Laurent's legs give way.

He's done his part, and instantly, Corrin is back on his feet, his own charge strong and prepared as he sees the effects of Laurent's command. Disarmed, the ringleader looks confused- and it's then that Corrin launches himself up at him, right from the front, not wanting to have Damen suffer any further either (he didn't miss that whip's lash) and calls out- ]

Subaki, now!

[ The cut across the ring leader's chest is just the opening- it's Subaki's lance that will pierce the final blow. ]

[overextend]

Already on the move, my lord!

[ With the lions gone, only the ring leader is left for Corrin to dispel. Subaki is fully confident that his own last blow will finish him off for good, so he charges in fast and sharply, pushing in on the ringleader and piercing him through at last. His arms strain painfully from the motion, but he continues forward anyway, teeth clenched together until he's certain he's disabled him completely.

Immediately after, he relaxes just enough to recover some mana into himself, though the weariness weighs his bones down heavily. This dungeon had definitely been an ordeal, and he's not sure if he can hold it together for yet another battle. As much as he wants to push himself and continue his duty, the constraints of mortal blood pull him to the ground, bid him not to unsheathe his lance anymore. There's just simply very little strength left in him -perhaps just enough to walk out of here, though he's also worried about getting everyone else out safely. If anything, he can prove to be a human shield so they can escape if it comes to that.

For now, he's content to watch this battle come to an end as he withdraws his lance then glances at over at Damianos, Laurent, and lastly, towards Corrin to give him a small, restrained nod. ]

It's over. We have to return to the princess and her brother.

[ He's been too long from their sides, and he can't imagine how they must have fared, though he has full confidence that Takumi would protect Lady Sakura well. Still, he wants to make sure they're safe with his very own eyes, and he knows Corrin is equally worried about them. ]