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

[dragoonage]

Aye.

[ Unsurprisingly, he's never heard of them. The Allagans were so infamous in Eorzea that... if she were related, she'd know. ]

The last place I visited with... machines, and their terminals. [ basically ] The last time I was around such things, they attempted to kill me. Something about security breaches, in an area long dead, populated only by those with blinking lights and abominable experiments left behind.

[ he was really out of place in azys lla. ]

[seventhgen]

Oh, I see. [Sort of.] I'm very sorry to hear that this was your experience.

I certainly don't want to kill you, if it helps?

[dragoonage]

[ He's pretending to think about this. ]

I cannot think of anyone who would rather it be otherwise. [ ... ] Where is your 'terminal'?

[ Because they were huge things in Azys Lla and he has no idea how to computers and robots please help him he just wants to go fight dragons. ]

[seventhgen]

I don't understand. I don't have a terminal.

Here, I run entirely on mana, so I don't have any need to recharge or do any upkeep besides basic maintenance.

[dragoonage]

[ oh, well that's fine then. the dreaded terminal, with it's wild screens and glowing letters could really only mean terrible evil machinery anyway. ]

Basic maintenance? Such as food and water?

[ ...what do robots even eat. ]

[seventhgen]

No, such as examining, repairing, or even replacing my internal components as necessary.

As I'm a machine, I do not eat or drink. [She hesitates for a second.] I would like to be able to, however. Food is very tasty.

[dragoonage]

Is that something you've experienced first hand, or have been told?

[ At least he's genuinely curious about this. It's barely even sarcasm. ]

[seventhgen]

The first one. I was able to take a magical potion that temporarily gave me an organic body.

[She glances downward, averting her eyes.] There are things I enjoyed about that, but I think it is better if I remain as I am.

1/2

[dragoonage]

[ ...

that's all there is for a moment.

a long, quiet stare. ]

2/2 i'm so sorry this delved into a poop tag

[dragoonage]

[ —and then he's laughing, actually laughing; it's short, but it's not a snort or a sneer or a scoff, it's one of Estinien's rare, real laughs. ]

Ah, I can imagine why. Organic bodies can get messy quickly.

[ He's literally imagining what it'd be like to poop for the first time. Truly a horror. He's glad the memory is lost to his youth. What about having too much to drink, and experiencing vomit—or worse, the raging headache that comes as a consequence? These things are already gross and annoying, for someone to not experience them daily (in the poop case... hopefully???) and for the first time, he can only imagine how much easier it'd be. ]

Among many other reasons that I'm sure are just scratching the surface.

it's completely ok!!

[seventhgen]

[It's okay, Estinien, because Aigis does not seem embarrassed or offended in the slightest. Her response is actually entirely said with a half-smile on her face as she casts her eyes back upward.] Oh, that wasn't bad! I enjoyed nearly all of my new organic experiences and am grateful I had the opportunity to experience them! [Then that smile fades again.] I do wish that being human wasn't so... squishy, or vulnerable. Experiencing pain was not one of the things I enjoyed.

[dragoonage]

[ E-enjoyable is possibly not what he'd been thinking. But maybe after being... metal... and full of strange electricity and other unknown things, it would be.

...no, he can't really relate. He'll just take her word for it. ]

That we agree about. [ He's definitely more an S than an M, anyway....... ] It can be amazing, the things that man can survive. But in that same vein, we can die in the blink of a second. Is that not the same for... your kind?

[ He's beaten up robots before. It was a lot easier than trying to talk them out of killing him. The things in Azys Lla were infinitely less amicable than this one. ]

[seventhgen]

Hmmm... if you're asking me whether I can be destroyed, or killed, it's slightly complicated.

It's true that as a machine, I can be rebuilt from injuries that would be fatal to a human. I could lose a limb, or be cut in two, and could be restored to full functionality with the proper repair work. However, there is a part of me that's irreplaceable. [Her hand, almost subconsciously, touches the front of her chest at the base of her neck.] It's... you can think of it as my 'heart.'

If this part were damaged or destroyed, I would lose my sense of self. Even if I were given a new heart, my existence would be different. So the old me could be considered to have died.

[dragoonage]

[ It's weird.

It's also weird how natural it seems. Of course something metallic would have a heart, a source of power. A sense of self—it's hard to believe. But here she is, talking to him like a normal person... albeit in a weird manner, with many words that he barely understands.

...he's not even going to question anything else. He knows how to stab dragons, this is beyond him. ]

Seems like the same thing, then.

[seventhgen]

[Aigis' hand moves up to stroke her chin in a very natural-seeming gesture.] Yes. The only difference is that it is not my physical form that would die. [A pause.] However, were I to be crushed or melted or otherwise damaged beyond repair, then I suppose that could be a death as well. It is possible my heart could be retrieved if it were not also destroyed, and then I could be given a new body.

[dragoonage]

[ ...he's lifting an eyebrow. ]

Do you have any to spare?

[ does... does she just have bodies tossed about, ready to be inhabited if one were to fail? ]

[seventhgen]

Oh, no, not at all. [She shakes her head.] Certainly not here, and I'm not even sure if any exist back at home. I'm the only one remaining of my series, after all. So it would probably take considerable time, effort, and funding. But it is theoretically possible... I think.

[dragoonage]

[ A series... there are more of you, or were at some point. Of course, he's a fool for not realising it. ]

Mayhap I'll just agree with you, to save us both from further explanations.

[seventhgen]

[Sort of. She has sisters.] Oh, that's not a problem. I don't mind explaining things as much as people need. --but if you don't like them, I would be happy to move on!

[dragoonage]

Er... I just don't believe that I'll ever be able to wrap my mind around nearly any of this, if I'm to be honest. [ He's nodding. ] But as long as you're fairly... normal... and are not out to murder me, I think most of this information is useless.

[ HE'S SO NICE. But he's come to the conclusion that this robot isn't about to shoot him or electrocute him or Fury knows what else those Allagan monstrosities could do. ]

[seventhgen]

I understand. Many people don't come from a world where something like me would be possible.

[She nods.] But I can assure you, I have no intention of trying to kill you, or indeed of trying to injure you in any way.

[dragoonage]

Aye, I'll keep that under consideration.

[ Even if he's only slightly more relieved... at least it means the same on his end.

Wait, before he just up and leaves: ]

Do... machines like you have names as well?

[ He probably shouldn't just go on calling her robot... though he might anyway. ]

[seventhgen]

Yes, we do. We are called Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapons.

[Oh, wait, this may have been...] But I am called Aigis.

[dragoonage]

[ That is sure a long name, but you know what... Ishgardians can't say shit, not with names like The First Dicasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena. ]

And I am Estinien.

[ He's bowing his head slightly. Look... he can be sort of polite. Sometimes. It might be a bit late, though. ]

[seventhgen]

[Yeah what the hell, her series name is way easier than that.] It's very nice to meet you, Estinien-san!

I hope to work alongside you in the future. [She returns his bow.]