WAR ♞ MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU

[boardmaster]

MARCH ON CENTRAL WEST PLATEAU
20 AUGUST (GLADIA) 2016

The quiet, seemingly unremarkable town of Friedgood doesn't seem like a prime target for a Noir attack. Ask any outsider what a Friedgood local's favorite activity might be, and they’ll likely respond "I don't know, digging?" They're not wrong: Friedgood's primary industry comes from the excavation of precious stones and minerals in the nearby mountain ranges and volcanoes. Those who don't make their living from mining most likely still enjoy digging, as the town is a hot destination for archeologists from the school of Pigeonsblood looking to uncover the ancient secrets of Gammon.

More important than shiny rocks, however, is Friedgood's strategic location within the country, specifically the checkpoint known as Platform 42 and 5/8ths. It forms a stark contrast to the sleepy town it resides in. This bustling travel hub is known as the "Gateway to Gammon", and boasts fast transport to almost anywhere in the kingdom. Security is tight here, with grim-faced Gammon soldiers working around the clock to ensure that criminal activity doesn't stand a chance. Keep your contraband at home — an infraction will cost you heavy jail time. Friedgood is also the only town with a road providing access to Grantebrycge, Gammon's illustrious University town.

By conquering Friedgood, Noir hopes for universal access to all of Gammon.

On the 20th of Gladia, amidst strong winds and persistent thunderstorms, Heroes will arrive to the Central West Plateau. Even surrounded by tall mountain ranges and ominous volcanoes, its ancient wall is truly a daunting sight. A marvel even by modern construction standards, it was built over 300 years ago to defend against hostile nomadic tribes, and remains as strong and sturdy as the day it was built. It also provides an important environmental buffer to the people of Friedgood — the wall is resistant to lava.

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

ONE ♙ The War of Three Armies
It’s time to head to the battle, Hero. You may be walking, riding a mount - your own, or a borrowed spider or boar - or hitching a ride from someone else. It’s a miserable trek to the plateau, but at least you’re not alone. Once you arrive, Verdoni is there to greet you, accompanied by another Gammonian, the commander of this battle.

Pinta [ so god damned salty about not being a naval tactician and assigned to ships ] Ah, yes, the vaunted Heroes I’ve heard so much about. The name is Pinta, ah... naval tactician to Gammon’s armed forces. Ask why and I’ll show you a bloody hell. Anyway, welcome to the Central West Plateau! During ancient times, the volcanoes were said to be a wall of flame that protected Gammon. But if that stopped the Othellians, I suppose I wouldn’t be here, ahaha! Now, with them dormant, we must instead rely upon our steel and our wall. It’s strong enough to protect Gammon even if every volcano in the area were to erupt all at once! At least that’s what the locals say. They didn’t sound too dodgy, but... moving on! If you have any questions, our men will be glad to explain; show you how the cannons work, where the traps are and whatnot. Again, this really isn’t my expertise—oh! Our wizards have been creative as of late. We’ve these wind platforms that will fling those Noirs up, up, up! Into the air! Try not to get caught in them, yeah? Our navy will take care of our seas. They’re an outstanding lot, they are. All we need to do is focus! Gammon shall not sink here!

You’ll then be handed a magical bracelet. The miners use it protect them from toxic air, so this is a precaution; should you need it, it should last for the duration of the battle. Now all you have to do is wait and prepare for the battle. Acquaint yourself with the battleground: explore the Defense Wall and see what traps there are. It may give you some ideas of your own. There are also war cannons aligned on the top wall and within its interior. Otherwise, check your supplies or rest and collect yourself for what will come. Your mount may also want attention.


TWO ♙ Fellowship of the Bling
Initially cloaked by thick fumes of sulfur, ozone and the dreary overcast of the storm, the Noir battalion finally arrives. Their general, Spicy Spice, steps, nay, struts forward.

	Why is it that every time I come around, that Cochrane Bridge wants to go down? [ ADJUSTS HER WORLD CUP BRA ] They can’t keep that wall up forever.
Let’s make this a quick one, so we can get out of this smelly rain! [ gets ready to fire her gun in the air when she remembers something ] And don’t forget, target their puny pathetic healers, first. [ raises gun high above her head, signaling for the attack with a BANG! ]

On her cue, the Noir Vanguard rushes forward with a fearsome war cry, followed soon after by the Rearguard.

ENEMY ♟ Mounted Noir Soldier
Weak against None	Strong against Fire	Immune to None
These soldiers gallop onto the battlefield with their imposing GOLDHORN GOAT mounts. These are bigger and stronger than the average goat, and their golden horns tend to ABSORB SPELLS directed at their riders. Some spells in a soldier’s arsenal: GRISTRELKI sets fire to the rain — literally. It converts the rain in the sky into a barrage of fireballs. Pray your umbrella’s fireproof! With the PLAMEVODA spell, they can turn hot water (i.e. those from geysers) into bubbling hot lava. When combined with a strong cooling spell, the spell can trap you in rock… That is, if the lava doesn’t kill you first! DVIZHE SMERTI is a dangerous spell that paralyzes its target, rendering them unable to even speak or blink. This can be cured with mana exchange. Hurry before Noir strikes with a rain of fire!Of course, the soldiers are capable of HEALING SPELLS to assist their injured allies and mounts. The VANGUARD is lead by an impressive wall of massive shield units, armed with various melee weapons: swords, maces, and daunting battle axes. Herd them into the traps around the battlefield to render them immobile! The REARGUARD, armed with bows and arrows, will try to overwhelm the HEROIC VANGUARD. HEROIC DEFENSE back them up with long-ranged attacks and the cannons! If they get close enough to the wall, the Rearguard will relentlessly attack the Defense! Both units are under strict orders to prioritize an attack on the HEROIC SUPPORT. If they see any Hero or Gammonian soldiers helping each other or performing rescues on the battlefield, they will give chase IMMEDIATELY. DROPS: Shield with Noir Emblem, Flame Staff, Assorted Non-Magical Weapons, Golden Goat Horns, Lava Lamp

In the heat of battle, you will feel the ground beneath you shake and tremble. In a turn of events neither side could have predicted, a dormant volcano in the distance erupts, raining down fire and scorched earth on the area. More alarming, however, is how the resulting earthquake sets off powerful, white-hot geysers on the battlefield. Stay alert! To make matters worse, the approaching lava makes Noir’s fire spells even more deadly, and Noir shows no signs of letting up on their assault.

Spicy Spice You think a little bad weather is going to stop us? Don't make me laugh. [ laughs anyway, then falls into a coughing fit ] Urghh, damn these fumes — Oh whatever, Send in the riders!

THREE ♙ The Desolation of Noir
Undeterred by the eruptions, the geysers, or the bad weather, they’ve called in their aerial units, fierce griffon riders who’re trying to fly over the wall and into Friedgood. Don’t let them pass! Make use of your resources and shoot them down: Heroes with long ranged weapons or magic will find their skills useful here. Learned how to fire a cannon? Now’s your chance! If not, protect your allies, Hero and Gammonian, as they line up their shots.

ENEMY ♟ Noir Griffon Rider
Weak against None	Strong against Fire, Lightning	Immune to Wind
For the first time, Heroes will witness firsthand how Noir’s legendary griffon riders—often called masters of the skies—live up to their name. A griffon’s powerful wings not only lets them soar at great heights; they can whip up terrifying BEAMS OF LIGHTNING. Griffon riders are armed with JAVELINS which they can also throw and cast the same spells as their counterparts on land. However, they share a closer bond with their griffon mounts. Upon losing their master, the griffons will go BERSERK and proceed to kill everything in sight. If a Hero gets caught in a griffon’s talons, the creature will drop them into their boiling demise at either a GEYSER or VOLCANO. DROPS: Mount Treats, Riding Gloves, Noir Lance, Harness, Griffon Feathers, Griffon Talon

The lava is fast approaching and Noir can no longer take the heat. The griffon riders are maintaining their assault, but the rest of their army is falling back to escape. Time for you to retreat too before Gammonian soldiers seal the wall and you’re trapped on the plateau side. Fried Heroes ain’t Fried Good.

• Defense, continue shooting at any enemy target in range! Be attentive and aid your allies as they retreat back to the wall. Do not fear, you have the advantage.
• Vanguard, fall back! Watch the skies for any griffon riders on the way to the wall. Once you arrive, take down enemies who try to breach. Letting even one enemy pass could spell disaster.
• Support, grab the wounded and check the wall’s condition! Any damages should be repaired immediately to prevent the lava from entering Friedgood.

FOUR ♙ There and Back Again
The wall closes, sealing the lava and ending the battle. Hopefully no one got left behind.

Spicy Spice Now I'm wishing that I didn't wear these shoes (I hate heels). Better get up out my face! [ trips on her way out ] Oh shit!

Catch your breath, Hero. You won. First, check up on everyone and heal your wounds. If you borrowed a mount you might want to take the time to say farewell, since the trip back to Friedgood means you’ll be parting soon.

The people of Friedgood are grateful. They know what would have happened if you lost. There’s no time for fancy parties. They’re pulling out whatever they can find for a makeshift street party right then and there.

You can find bowls of Splotched Richard - a dessert pudding - and Bangers and Mash. If you’re in the mood for something strong you can get pints of Guileless or Pale Noir, maybe a Lasker Train Bomb if you can find someone who’s willing to mix it. Or perhaps you fancy a CreamAle, the favored drink of Grantebrycge.

You’re welcome to stay out and party as long as you like - the party is for you, after all! In fact, the people will respect you more if you get drunk and pass out on the side of the street. But for Heroes who’re tired from the war, you’re always welcome to stagger into the Bollox Inn for a room, free of charge.

Comments

[sediments]

[ ⁽(◍˃̵͈̑ᴗ˂̵͈̑)⁽ if you would like a starter, please feel free to comment below!! i am also open to pms to discuss thread ideas, or if you want something specific go ahead and mention it in your comment and i will cater to any desire x( ]

rin

[sediments]

[ It's a little weird that when Bolin manages to find himself having a thought outside of the incoherent need to defend himself and watch out for others, the first thing he thinks is, it's pretty uncomfortable being this sweaty.

The temperatures are searing around them, enough that Bolin's probably going to need water more than mana or anything else once the battle is finished. Magic spells shot at the geysers leaves lava bubbling dangerously in too many spots over the field and as nostalgic as it is, it leaves the earthbender deeply bitter. At least, when he has time to afford emotions like those. Most of this thoughts consist of oh no! and oh man! or seriously?! when their even semi-coherent.

It gets hotter when Bolin, after knocking out one of the mages with a hard hit to the head, finds himself tackled by a heavily armoured soldier, the enemy trying to grapple Bolin into the oozing lava behind them both.

Grappling is not Bolin's forte. ]

Hey! [ His voice is loud, when he catches sight of Rin in the distance. He just needs a moment of leverage to pivot and spin his attacker around and toward the lava. ] A little help here!

[defenceless]

[he doesn't have to wait long. once bolin calls for her, her face blanches with horror, and she races over to him, leaping across a crack of broken earth.]

Lassen sich die Schatten, wie mein Körper sein!

[rin sounds angry; that's no surprise. at the muttering of her spell, a shadowy tendril of dark energy slithers up from between some nearby shards of obsidian and wraps around the soldier's neck. it holds him in place firmly, but it'll be obvious in a second or two rin isn't really planning on letting him stick around. mainly because:]

Stay—away—from Bolin!

[with a midair kick, she sails over bolin, smashing her boot into the noir warrior's head with strength that most puny little queens wouldn't be able to command. her new magical weapon is responsible. covered in a red and white design of jagged arrows and sharp corners, the garments boost her attack significantly, and the man cries out before granting bolin the moment of leverage he requires.

of course, the downside (upside?) of all of this is that rin just jumped over him in a skirt and he got an eyeful of glowing panties.]

[sediments]

[ Admittedly, that's not exactly what he'd been expecting. He's never actually seen Rin fight before this, but he'd assumed that if she's a mage she's a long rage fighter. It's very easy to imagine her controlling the fight from a distance, sharp eyes analyzing the situation and landing precise hits.

So when she flies in to dropkick the soldier on the head, it's rather easy to say that he did not see that coming.

He's not ungrateful for the opening however, and as soon as the grip on him slackens, Bolin swings around on his heel, to shove the solider away from his and toward the lava; the substance bright and deadly behind them and in a moment of relief—

The lava immediately hardens, the armoured soldier hitting cooled rock again, and it seems like that mage from earlier isn't as down as he'd originally thought. (And, in some distant part of his brain, he's glad to know that for how cruel the Noir soldiers can be, they look after their own. It's a thought he barely even registers for the moment.)

As for Bolin, he's quick to station himself close to Rin's side, his shield out in front of him. ]

Thanks— [ He manages before the mage explodes fire toward them, it's ready wide and angry. ]

[defenceless]

Damn it.

[he may hear rin curse underneath her breath, a light and quick complaint as he huddles up beside her. she doesn't even need to see the armored soldier to know what had happened—the clang of metal on hard rock is obvious enough, just like the standing mage before them.]

It's not over yet.

[she whispers to bolin, then prepares for the oncoming fire spell, the gristrelki rain of fire beginning nearly in time with her words. they have to think fast. a powerful noir foe is at their back right now, and a mage is assaulting them from the front. she'll have only seconds to pull it off, but...]

Listen to me! Grab me! Jump to the side!

[sediments]

[ His instinct tells him that he should engage the enemies as best as he can so that Rin can get to ground where she can cast undisturbed. There's two of them, but that's definitely not enough to deter him, and they could use some water spells right about now.

His shield comes out when the fire starts to rain down, and he sends it up, the metal working easily under his control, growing wider with easy movements of his hand to cover them both from above and shield them. The mage is already working on another spell, with the armoured soldier ready to keep them both distracted, and there's hardly any time.

When Rin issues her orders, Bolin doesn't spend any time questioning them. ]

On it!

[ And he does as asked, shield dropping and fixing itself onto his back again as his attention shifts and he grabs both of Rin's arms, the soldier starting to charge at them as Bolin does as told and jumps. ]

feel free to make the copies do things!!

[defenceless]

[well...

it appears bolin is quite resourceful, as an ally. what she wanted was for him to carry her so she could cast an illusion spell—but employing his shield is a much better tactic. rin watches the metal spiral to cover them with widened eyes, although, yes, she breaks out of it quickly.

in a flash of motion, he's answering her orders and pulling her away. once she's on solid ground again—in fact, the very moment her feet touch down and she can freeze—she forms her arms into an odd shape.

the incantation, and her concentration, is rewarded with a double of the both of them several feet distant from where they currently stand. the two noir enemies pay no mind to their current location; they aren't able to see them, either, their "real" presences masked with illusion imagery. rin is completely silent, her face and eyes steely with focused determination.]

[sediments]

[ It takes a moment for Bolin to even realise what's happened, until he does and his gaze darts from their copies and the enemy soldiers to Rin. It's the magic that he'd asked for a demonstration of at least, and it likely couldn't have come at a better time.

He works in tandem with the copies, both the illusion version of himself and the actual Bolin rushing the mage, as Rin stands back to cast. The armoured soldier, who had originally made Bolin their target, shows a moment of hesitation, surprised that he could leave his fellow mage unguarded, and heads for Rin's copy in the hopes of both cutting off her magic and stopping Bolin by taking his companion hostage.

Of course, Bolin doesn't stop. His copy keeps the attention of the mage swinging out his shield from the front while Bolin swings around the side, moulding his shield into a staff so that he can swing—

Right into the back of her head to knock her out. He runs his hands over the metal bits of armour that she has, taking them under his control, welding them into restraints to pin her to the ground, wrapping one more around her head to cover her eyes.

That's one out of the battle. ]

[defenceless]

[the second is coming up... hopefully. she can't do anything like respond to him or give him directions any longer, but bolin hardly needs her advice. instead, it's her job to guide their illusory clones from her safe haven, and while orchestrating an extremely convincing double that replicates bolin's fighting style is still beyond her means—she'll have to study her allies more for that—coordinating on the level of basic battle is elementary.

the copies are distractions, so that's the role they serve. even if they're nothing more than nothingness, or air, they're nimble, leaping out of the way and dodging maneuvers by the enemy.

it's when bolin skillfully imprisons the mage that rin takes her cue. the integration of her dark elemental magic with her illusions remains a new tactic, but once only the armored soldier is left, the bolin and rin copies turn on him with a quick snap of their necks over their shoulders, a position that's as painful-looking as it is impossible. in tandem, they grin darkly, and their forms dissolve into fingers of shadow that then lurch towards their target and crowd down his throat, suffocating him.

the "suffocation" is all illusion, of course, but it's enough to nevertheless result in the man fainting, unconscious, to the hard earth, as a result of his own hands gripping vice-like around his neck. rin steps forward, pumping her fist.]

Y-Yeah! We did it!

[at that moment, with new wariness just beginning to creep over her features and a light shout of "dvizhe smerti" from a voice up above, everything about rin stops mid-stride—down to the blinking of her eyelids.]

shinji

[sediments]

Hey!

[ There's a lot of things vital to winning a battle: strategy, tactics, pragmatism, and a level head, to name a few. Bolin likes to make his contributions to those efforts, though apparently he's not that good at them? (Just let him try! He has his moments.) In the heat of a fight however, he focuses more on survival than strategy, and not just his own, but that of his allies around him.

He'd caught sight of Gammonian soldier under fire from a distance, a Noir mage tossing spells at the poor fellow before Bolin was able to leap in and knock her out with the swift swing of his shield forward.

Or at least, he'd thought he had, but his approach of the frozen soldier is cut off by a stream of fire, the mage struggling back to her feet and full of revenge. That in and of itself wouldn't have been so bad if not for another Noir soldier quickly closing in on them, this one armed to the teeth and brandishing a mace, and why isn't that Gammonian moving. ]

Hey! C'mon! [ Fire flares at his side as Bolin all but somersaults to escape it; the mage is fast and deadly. ] Work with me here!

i have no idea what i'm doing

[unevoke]

[ War is a different beast from what he's used to, more chaotic and unpredictable than Tartarus could ever be. Mostly, it's unfamiliar, and Shinji's strengths saps all the more quickly from having to constantly readjust his strategy and response to new stimuli.

Not that there's much strategy to begin with, Shinji having quickly learned that there's no better friend to have on the battlefield than gut instinct - at least, not if he wants to stay alive. Even then, he's pretty beat up, uniform charred and torn in numerous different places. But he's alive, a better fate than a number of his comrades now motionless on the ground beside him. Partly in thanks to his magic spice shaker, because it's easier to set a bunch of people on fire all at once than to meticulously punch people in the face one by one. (Never mind that it drains his mana a whole lot faster, or that his control of it is still incredibly shitty.)

He sees the oncoming soldier and makes use of his magical weapon again, arm arcing out to fling spice everywhere before he uses up more mana to set everything alight. The oncoming Noir soldier stumbles at suddenly being set on fire but keeps charging forward - what the hell - and Shinji barely has time to swear and jump out of the way before the soldier dashes through the space he'd previously been occupying.

(He doesn't notice that he's overshot, flames licking at the boots of the frozen Gammonian soldier.) ]

welcome to the club!!

[sediments]

[ The second flare of fire magic, closer to the soldier then, gets him to panic. That is way too many enemies for one Bolin to handle until he remembers—wait a second. No, it's not.

He grins a little then, because there are a lot of things people could say about Kuvira and how she's a monster, but it's undeniable that she's an incredible metalbender, and Bolin had learned a lot from watching her, despite never having developed the skill himself. Her precision was deadly on the battlefield, and she never wasted time or energy in disarming her opponents, and Bolin takes a page out of her book.

Pass a hand over one of the metal bands incorporated into his uniform, he sends it flying toward the Noir mage, snapping around her head and rendering her blind. There's an inappropriate moment where he's glad that he's still a great shot except—

Except that she's still casting, and she sends a roar of fire, now crooked and shot off to the side to where Shinji is struggling with the other soldier, who quickly sets about tackling the teenager into the stream of fire to give him a taste of his own medicine. ]

[passtave]

where is my starter fork

sakura

[sediments]

[ There aren't any moments of peace in this battle. When they'd been on the train, as awful and tense as the situation had been, with threats of civilians being taken and bombs going off there had been times where Bolin could duck into a cart, find himself a healer and just breathe; regroup and collect his thoughts.

This battle is considerably different. In the vast, plateau there's no where to hide or find even a moment of solace. And the moments they do find are stolen, taken at the cost of the soldiers around them fighting to keep them safe while they recover. Bolin's glad for it, smiling at Sakura, who's hands are so steady over the gash bleeding from his side until the blood stops and the flesh and muscle knits itself back together.

She's doing great. ]

Sakura—

[ As tender as the moment is, he doesn't get to say his thanks. There's no more time when a griffon rider screeches toward them, the beast ferocious and angry in the air, the spark of thunder in the air and he only has a second to grab her and move, hitting the ground hard and rolling away from the bolt of lightening that cracks down to the spot where they'd been standing seconds prior. ]

[passtave]

[ This isn't the kind of battle that she's used to. It's different from their fight on the train, just as chaotic but not as contained, where they could face enemies in a small space and take cover just to breathe. It isn't like back home either, where Big Brother Corrin kept her near the rear of the army, so that she could heal safely from the back lines.

Here, she doesn't have those kinds of assurances. It's messy and senseless and horrific, and the only thing that's keeping her from panicking is knowing that she can't panic if she wants to be of any use to anybody. She has to stay focused.

The gash carved into Bolin's side is gruesome, but this is something she's far more accustomed to. She's just finishing up when he suddenly yanks her away, out of the trajectory of a lightning attack that strikes the spot they were just standing a second ago. It's so close that the crack rings in her ears and her vision goes white for just a second.

After she blinks away the spots in her vision, she glances over her shoulder at the pair of griffon riders on the attack—she doesn't doubt that they'd seen her healing Bolin and decided to target her, as many of the Noirian soldiers seem to be doing. Quickly, she glances around for cover, but it doesn't surprise her that there's none—they'll have to fight. ]

B-Bolin!

[ She doesn't know—no, she has to do this. As the griffon riders circle around and ready their weapons, their movements through the air reminding her of Hinoka and Subaki with a pang, Sakura readies her bow and takes aim, her heart racing wildly. But this is what she's practiced—has been practicing, over and over again with her brother at her side, so that in moments like this her hands move on their own, for all that they tremble.

She looses her lightning arrow so that it crackles through the air and buries itself in the chest of one of the riders, electricity rippling outwards, his cry of pain rattling her to her soul. ]

[sediments]

[ When it comes time for the counterattack, Bolin doesn't bother to crowd Sakura or hover, instead he lets her step away so that she can ready her weapon despite knowing that they're targeting her. As much as he cares and wants for her safety, it's not his instinct to coddle his allies on the battlefield. It's his instinct to trust them, to rely on them, and let them experience the fight because that's what's going to help them survive here.

He doesn't falter as Sakura lets her arrow fly, he doesn't have the time to allow himself surprise over the deadly accuracy of her blow. Instead, his shield is flying out, the metal expanding and spinning rapidly under the guide of his hands to block and defect a volley of arrows from the remaining griffon rider.

There's a sense of static in the air, a rumble from the rider's griffon and he can tell that another strike of lightning is about to come their way, and he needs to slice one of his metal plates through the beast's neck before it gets the chance.

But the opportunity doesn't come. The riderless griffon goes feral, and as much as Bolin is focused on sending metal plates after his target, it's difficult to miss a giant, flying creature swooping in toward him. He barely has time to think before he's leaping away, gritting his teeth and retaliating with a gravity spell to fling the beast away, attention no longer on the second bout of lightning. ]

[passtave]

[ There just isn't enough time—between the rampaging griffon and the gathering electricity of the remaining rider's lightning spell, she doesn't have the luxury of those precious few seconds it takes to draw her bow twice. Everything is a blur. The riderless griffon is attacking Bolin with a frenzy that scares her, but it won't matter anyway if they're both struck by lightning, and so she aims a silence effect at the rider, shouting over the din of the battlefield.

It's enough for now. She turns back towards the feral griffon, using the time Bolin bought with his gravity spell to notch another lightning arrow and shoot the creature. It screams in pain, fingers of lightning crackling across its body, but doesn't go down—if anything, her arrow only spurs into even more furor, frothing at the mouth.

She draws another arrow, her heart leaping in her throat as the griffon lunges for Bolin, but this time she lets her arrow gather in power before releasing it. ]

[sediments]

[ The arrow lands with such force that Bolin has to duck away due to his proximity with the griffon. He's pretty impressed, though he doesn't have the time to stare in awe or offer Sakura his compliments. Instead, his attention moves elsewhere, going to the next threat, the next opportunity.

The rider might be silenced, but the griffon continues to screech angrily, sailing through the sky and setting its sight on them. Bolin's not in the mood to deal with another feral beast, so he focuses on griffon this time, his shield whirling out toward it, narrowed and sharpened under Bolin's control and

Slices cleanly through the griffon's neck to kill the beast. It hadn't really stood a chance, as powerful and dextrous as it was in the air, it wasn't as agile as Bolin's projectile. Given their close calls with lightning and lava so far, he's not upset at a relatively easy victory. Though it does make him pause, seeing the griffon's rider raise a javelin because there's no way he can throw it while falling from such a height— ]

i went with: how wildcard can i get

[acknowledges]

[There's chaos, and then there's a battle. There are so many people around him that Naruto can feel the energy and camaraderie thrumming through the crowd. They're focused on different tasks, as individuals and for their respective units- but Naruto finds that just like back home, people are aware of one another; they're looking out for each other. It isn't friendship, it's something else.

As part of the vanguard Naruto is trying get as much attention as possible. His voice carries, he challenges a number of Noir soldiers at a time- he tries to stay light on his feet and knows that he has people to help him out if it gets bad enough. He is, in fact, so focused on the clash of one body to another that he misses the moment things take a turn. One poor, unfortunate goat is re-purposed- no longer a mount, he's used as a battering ram. (wink wonk) He has no idea where it comes from, but that's because he's distracted by the soldier in front of him cutting to the left. Naruto turns around just in time to get punched in the face by a flying goat and go flying in turn.

Thanks for breaking his fall Bolin. You've really got his back. (wink wonk)]

[sediments]

[ It's not exactly a great time during this fight, but considering that Bolin hasn't seen anyone impaled and bleed to death so far, he's doing all right. The Gammonian soldiers are incredibly cooperative as well, and it's the type of camaraderie that helps to lift the earthbender's spirits in a fight.

Knocking one of the enemy soldiers out with a swift hit from his shield, he's helping one of their fellows up and sending him on his way when Naruto comes slamming into him from the side. There hadn't even been time to catch sight of the boy sailing through the air, when the space around them is already populating by flaming raindrops and spitting geysers.

Needless to say the impact sends them both sprawling onto the ground, the wind knocked right out of Bolin, to the point that he wheezes a little in an attempt to get some air back into his lungs. ]

Naruto?

[ It's not the first time that they've lounged around together, but this isn't really the time or place, especially when that goat isn't done with them.

At least this time however, the thundering sound of the goat's hooves hitting the ground gives Bolin a bit of warning, his eyes going wide before he grabs the younger man and rolls them both out of the goat's path with a yelp. ]

[acknowledges]

[His nose is broken, but somehow not as badly as his pride.

They hit the earth so hard that he's momentarily dazed, blinking blearily against the blood trickling onto his lashes from somewhere near his brow. He can't actually figure out which way is up and which way is down. Is he laying on the ground? What even happened? At least he landed somewhere with a friend- oh hey, is that-]

Bolin?

[It's all he gets out, because then the world is rolling again. Bolin- (he assumes it's Bolin. It sounds like Bolin even if he hasn't seen him yet) grabs hold of him and Naruto gets a mouthful of dust before they're pitching to one side. It hurts, but not enough to make him down for the count. Mostly he's just really, really confused. His fingers spasm on the meat of his biceps, an attempt to ground himself even just a little. It's a testament to just how out of it he is that Naruto doesn't sound outraged when he opens his mouth.]

What the hell was that?

[sediments]

[ Coming into a crouching position from the roll, Bolin keeps his gaze focused on the goat before glancing down at Naruto before back at the goat.

And then he does a double take and grimaces because that is not a pretty sight. It reorganizes his priorities, and when the goat charges at them again, this time Bolin reacts with something a little more aggressive, one hand holding Naruto, and the other pushing out to cast gravity magic that flings both the beast and its rider away. ]

It was a goat, did you make it angry or something?

[ He grins a little, helping Naruto up, though his concern bubbles through - ] Can you see straight right now? Get on my back, we need to get somewhere less chaotic.

[ Because the goat isn't their only problem, and it'll struggle back to its feet eventually.

i was hoping you'd leave that typo. alas.

[acknowledges]

Why would I make a goat angry?

[Naruto is legitimately confused. He's trying to figure this out while trying to figure out why his nose hurts so bad that it's throbbing in his face- wait- is it crooked? Is his face on crooked???]

I thought the goats were our friends.

Oh maybe that was the pigs.

[Poor little guy is on the ground over there and everything. He reaches out for Bolin's arm, uses it to steady himself and waves the offer away.]

I c'n walk, you should save it'attebayo.

I'll follow you.

why are you like this

[sediments]

[ Naruto??

The more the boy talks, the more concern Bolin feels. Naruto's rambling about goats and pigs being their friends like this is the Disney special of Hell on Earth. There's just not a lot of cover that the earthbender can take them to, never mind that the other boy hadn't even answered his question regarding whether or not he could see straight.

Time for some executive action. ]

You're not walking anywhere—hold on.

[ It's easy to pick the blonde up; Naruto's got a lot of muscle to add to his weight, but he's still no challenge to Bolin. He manages to catch the eye of another soldier, and there's as many allies around them as enemies, and he doesn't feel any guilt asking for a moment of cover as he drags his friend away, finding a spot free of both lava and geysers so that he can really focus on Naruto. ]

Okay, now seriously answer me, can you see clearly?

you're just lucky i guess

[acknowledges]

[He isn't rambling! He has serious concerns! He doesn't even really remember getting smacked by the goat but that's mostly because it had been a blur of movement and the pain that followed. Naruto lifts an arm and pushes his face into the crook of his elbow, an attempt to wipe the blood and dirt off his eyes- it smears across the side of his face instead.

He's just about to argue What do you mean I'm not walking anywhere? when he's hauled entirely off of his feet. There's a moment of surprise not just because he's lifted off the ground but because he's still trying to gain his bearings. He'd been focused on a few different enemies, he needs to get back out there.

Naruto's brows crease. He tries again to wipe the blood back so he can focus. Mostly its the throbbing in his whole face, it feels crooked.]

Well, it's a little blurry, but that's 'cause this stuff keeps getting in my eyes.

[His head shakes.]

But I'm a rook and I got this cloak. I'll be okay, it just hurts right now.
That dragon fell on me one time, remember?