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BOARDMASTER ([personal profile] boardmaster) wrote in [community profile] pawnstorm2017-01-10 09:59 am
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event ♚ january

WELCOME? TO MENCHIK



Alumina Antimoine, daughter of the mayor of Menchik, is missing.

Upon her sister Gretchen’s urging, the mayor has rented a conference room at the Gearson Hotel as a venue for all Heroes to share information regarding the recent disappearances, including their daughter.

According to various reports, Alumina ran off yesterday nght and hasn’t been seen since. She was quick to rush from her home despite her timid nature, claiming she had something important to do. Her parents are beginning to grow worried. Hannes and Gretchen have done their best to look for her, but so far their efforts have been fruitless.

Gretchen
Sorry to interrupt your investigation, but I’ve enough reason to believe Alumina’s disappearance is linked to this. She’s the most invested in the missing people’s case more than anyone else, so I...
Hannes
Ooh, macarons!
Gretchen
Hannes. [ loads gun ]
Hannes
[ pops a macaron in her mouth ] Relax! There are security automatons all over the city, so I’m sure we’ll find her in no time. Maybe she’s hitting it off with one right now. I mean, they’re pretty hot.
Gretchen
[ munches on it ] Buttercream…

[ gasp, how embarrassing ]


A-anyway! If you’re more useful than my brother, by all means, help us!
Lisbrand
Gretchen.
Gretchen
F-Fleur! You’re back!
Lisbrand
My task force and Lisbrand Technologies will take it from here. Our company’s automatons are equipped with cameras. If we can get into the system, we can locate Ledo and Alumina quickly.
Hannes
See, I knew there was more to Fleur than her huge knockers!
Lisbrand
Hannes. [ loads gun ]

ONE ALL-NIGHTER
Long tables and uncomfortable chairs await you in the conference room. Coffee, tea and some small snacks have been prepared for the Heroes as well as pen and paper to take notes with. This is where Heroes can share information and pool knowledge. Maybe something will add up if you all work together!

Each table has copies of the missing people reports and some might recognize the faces staring up at them from the pages as corpses found near the lake. Newspapers have been neatly stacked on a table in the corner, with many articles noting increased avian activity near the lake and within the city. Certainly odd at this time of the year. Other articles include statements from Menchikans where they found severed fingers or toes that turned into black feathers shortly after.

Hannes and Gretchen also haven’t been idle and have interviewed police officers and Commander Lisbrand’s scouts, who reported encounters with misshapen monsters with beaks. The number of casualties and injured are high. It appears that the monster is too strong for ordinary humans to deal with.

TWO Never tell me the odds
The door slams open and a messenger from Lisbrand Technologies runs into the room, breathless from his travels. He claims that Alumina has been found near Lebedche Lake!

Gretchen
That’s great! But…
Lisbrand
Yeah, I don’t like the sound of that lake.
Hannes
Oof, hold on. Everyone, take these. [ gives everyone a satchel of magical bread crumbs ] Use these so the others can find you.
Gretchen
Yeah, alright. Let’s leave glowing bird feed on the ground. That’s a great idea.
Lisbrand
No, he has a point. This time around, the birds are out to eat us. Heroes, move!
While searching the lake and the surrounding area, Heroes may find one of the following:
  • Tattered pieces of Alumina’s hair ribbon rest on a dead branch of an otherwise healthy tree. When you pick the pieces up, you’re hit by a sudden chill and your vision grows dark. Something bitter seems to coat your tongue for an instant, and you immediately feel exhausted. Look at your hands and you will find that the ribbon is no longer in your possession.

  • As you climb one of the large rocks near the shore, something light brushes against your head—a soft, black feather. Another falls, and another... until you are pelted by the ton.

  • Empty bullet shells can be found in the pebble stones by the shore. If brought back to Gretchen, she will worriedly comment that the shells match the gun she gave Alumina for self-defense a while back. Does that mean that someone tried to hurt her?

  • An envelope addressed to Alumina. It’s contents are empty and nothing seems to be out of the ordinary until you hold it up against a source of light, revealing an emblem.

  • Pages of a letter are scattered across the lake’s surface. Retrieve them and the ink will suddenly begin to spill from the pages and drip down your arms, burning your skin. No spell or ointment will cure it until an hour has passed. What is left behind on the pages, however, are broken sentences: “...can’t be... “ “Promise to…” “...happier with me.”
Find other Heroes to put the pieces together. There will be only one conclusion: Alumina has been kidnapped. Considering the recent events, this is very bad news indeed. And not some they will take lying down, Lisbrand promises. She won’t rest until she knows more and Heroes are welcome to join her.

THREE Cave Story
It’s evening by the time Lisbrand’s team discovers where Alumina is being kept. The Heroes and Lisbrand will be led to a cave near the lake. Reports say that the strange noises from further in often ward intruders away…

Inside, Heroes will find angry, screeching bats. Lisbrand is all too used to shooting them due to Verdoni’s antics, but they’re not vampiric by any means. Be mindful of the ground as well—the lake floods the cave once in a while, leaving stones slippery and covered in algae. Steady footing will come in handy when vicious rock monsters come charging towards you. Madness fills their eyes as if they have been tampered with by dark magic... There’s no other choice but to put them out of their misery.

A foul smell fills the air as you venture deeper into the cave. You soon find its source: severed body parts left to rot litter the cavern floor. The various parts have been sorted into morbidly neat piles: hands to hands and feet to feet. This isn’t the work of a mere beast. This was planned by someone meticulous.

Someone human.

Gretchen gags at the sight and Hannes exchanges a nod with Lisbrand before leading his sister back to the cavern entrance. The siblings won’t be tagging along for what’s to come. You keep moving. Water drops from the ceiling, your footsteps echo down the grimy walls. The shadows cast by your torches seem to come alive, reaching out and clawing at everything they can reach. Finally, moonlight filters in through a hole in the ceiling and in the center of it lies—

Alumina.

No calling will wake her. Approach her and heavy fog will begin to filter in the room. Lisbrand snaps, “Don’t breathe!” The fog is poison! They need to get out of here! She snatches Alumina with a grunt and escapes with the Heroes. They will be hounded by by a flock of black swans who will try to cut the Heroes off with their dark magic spells. Once out of the cave…

Gretchen
Alumina!
Hannes
What happened to her!?
Lisbrand
Get back, the cave isn’t safe!

[ turns to the Heroes ]

I’ll bring her to the hospital. You’re all dismissed. We’ll talk about this when I get back, but I have a feeling it doesn’t end here.
They leave with Alumina, rushing with fear and panic towards the hospital. As Commander Lisbrand says, it doesn’t end here. The investigation continues.
notsolomon: (pic#9183647)

William Twining | Open

[personal profile] notsolomon 2017-01-12 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
1
[This had turned out bigger than William thought it would, but he's invested now. It's hard not to be when an headless body fell right in front of you. So he's going around, sharing what information he can. He's always thought that if, heaven forbid, he didn't manage to get into politics, he'd get into law. And horrible as this business is, it's a chance to sharpen his investigative skills.

It's not just the body that concerns him, but what he's heard of the young man's change in engagement plans. It's too suspicious to have nothing to do with this.

He's also taking advantage of the free coffee, because there is no way William can do this without caffeine.]


I suppose we have had it too easy for a while though...

[The last month or so had been rather quiet, so it made sense that they now found themselves within this storm.]

III
[The only thing more tiring than this cave are the rock monsters that keep coming. William's wind and fire spells are doing some damage, but it's taking time and his ring, while made to smash stone, takes too much mana for him to just throw punches here and there, so he's getting tired. He needs mana badly. He also needs, you, yes you to help him out here.]

Come on, if we work together, we can take this one down!

[Wildcard]
[Want to do something with prompt c? Or deal with the afterwards? Or modify any of the other prompts? Throw it at me! I welcome all things!]
hoasen: (seek)

iii!!

[personal profile] hoasen 2017-01-12 12:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[When Vietnam last encountered William during a time of battle, it was after the war, and he was exhausted. Admittedly, she was too, but as someone who was so accustomed, it didn't quite show.

But even as long as she's been here, no one is ever prepared to fight a monster they've never seen before.]


Alright!

[But they still must, and so she runs over to join the fray. Thankfully, William, a Rook is here!]

I will protect you, tell me what you would like me to do!
hoasen: (NO YOU CANNOT PUT THAT THERE)

vietnam | ota!

[personal profile] hoasen 2017-01-12 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
A

[There is a loud screech from Vietnam as it looks like she's slowly backing away from...

Something?

This entire situation probably explains itself as you carefully watch her try to dodge the automaton.]


Stop! Stop right there--!

[She was so flustered she nearly missed the logo on the body of the automaton]


ii

[Vietnam was still at the lake when she starts to reach out for pieces of paper that seems to be that of a letter, blown towards a lake. Whatever would be? The ink was beginning to run, so she sure hoped she could get it them in time.]


iii

[Though it doesn't at all affect her like it would most others due to her past, Vietnam finds the ordered body parts disgusting for a different reason. She scowls, clearly unhappy with the situation. That being an understatement.]

What purpose does this even serve...?
quaria: (i believe that we'll meet again)

a

[personal profile] quaria 2017-01-12 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nice situation you're in, Vietnam. Let Setsuna suplex that pervert for you, then. So that's exactly what he does, with the intention to knock the naked guy's consciousness out. The sexy robot smashes against the ground, but that didn't affect him at all because... Yeah, he's not actually human!!

The Knight realizes this all too clearly when his target just stands back up as if nothing happened. And said naked guy is still trying to approach Vietnam... ]


What is this?

[ If he destroys that guy, will he end up in jail... Is this considered destruction of private property...?? ]
notsolomon: (pic#10712202)

[personal profile] notsolomon 2017-01-12 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[He is indeed very thankful that someone more physically handy has entered the fray, someone who can hopefully capitalize on what he's doing.]

Alright! See those parts of it that are glowing?

[He pointed at joints on the monsters that were bright red with heat. Areas where William had been blasting fire and heated air at it.]

Knock those down and hopefully they will come loose.

[If they just disabled the foe, it shouldn't be a problem.]
cutcrease: <user name=sasscons> (pic#10701730)

a

[personal profile] cutcrease 2017-01-12 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh wow, he's pretty hung. I think you should try and go for it!

[ Junko, god bless her and all that she does, decides to simply watch Vietnam struggle with the automan. The logo doesn't go unnoticed by her, either, but right now she's not trying to be helpful. ]

You're never gonna find a guy as big as him in your life! DO IT!
long_live_the_queen: (lookin kinda smug there)

Kaede | OTA

[personal profile] long_live_the_queen 2017-01-12 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I

[Kaede was pacing again, not just standing in a corner and silently observing or ignoring things as she wished. She wasn't exactly in the best of moods, though this one was more anxious than her usual agitation.

She did spend awhile staring down at the missing persons reports and newspapers, though not out of recognition. Was this what the news looked like back home, when she was off on her murderous little spree?

How curious. Kaede took another sip of tea. She'd been pacing so long it was just lukewarm now.
]

II

[There was a ribbon there. It's gone now.

Losing the ribbon itself was frustrating—but it didn't feel like an attack. The next thing did. Kaede spat in an attempt to get the bitterness out of her mouth, and slumped against the axe handle as strength left her limbs.

When thrown on the ropes, Kaede got angry before anything else. She gathered herself as best she could, head darting this way and that—until she spotted someone.
]

What the hell did you do?!

[She seems to think they might have something to do with it. And she's stalking over with her axe low and irritation twisting her expression.

>Input action]

[Wildcard]
[Want to do something else? Maybe she walked into you in prompt I? Want to do something specific with prompt III? Throw it at me! My plurk is [plurk.com profile] blueraven if you'd rather plot there.]
Edited 2017-01-12 19:36 (UTC)
long_live_the_queen: (guess she doesn't need a nose)

III

[personal profile] long_live_the_queen 2017-01-12 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kaede has been, ah...desensitized to dismembered corpses a long time ago. Her nose wrinkles at the smell of decay, but she just shrugs at the question as if Vietnam was pointing out the weather.]

Don't know. Why are you asking me?

[The handful of fire held in her palms in lieu of a torch didn't flicker, but the shadows seemed very...lively anyway. They stretched into hands and claws stretched on gaunt filaments, disappeared around corners and reappeared from behind the piled and sorted corpses.]
long_live_the_queen: (are you talking about my hat)

I

[personal profile] long_live_the_queen 2017-01-12 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
How polite of things to wait this long before fucking up.

[Yes Kaede your pessimism really helps here.

She just has tea, and seems to be somewhat intently staring down at the newpapers. The nearest is opened to a report about the birds cropping up at the lake out of season.
]
notsolomon: (pic#9496509)

[personal profile] notsolomon 2017-01-13 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe someone got bored. Or thought we wouldn't notice.

[He glanced where the girl was looking towards the paper.]

Birds at the lake huh? I am sure that is not connected at all.

[He said it with some slight sarcasm. Because of course it was.]
notwagging: <user name="bittenbittern"> (11a)

A

[personal profile] notwagging 2017-01-13 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ uh. well, that's certainly a naked human-not-human not wearing anything, chasing a familiar face. ]

Is that normal?

[ whatever he's talking about, it's more of a hypothetical than anything as he leaps at the robot with both fists balled up together so he could swing down and around...

... and immediately bounces off of it. APPARENTLY where he hit it is a lot harder than it looks??? ]


I guess that's not the weak spot.

[ maybe he shouldn't get in the way? however, that mark looks oddly familiar to him and he watches it with intent. ]
long_live_the_queen: (basically her face 99.9% of the time)

[personal profile] long_live_the_queen 2017-01-13 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaede's face twitched into more of a scowl.]

It's probably swans. It was before.

[Well. Once, and not too long ago. But it was more than enough to make Kaede a bit biased.]
hiryugaeshi: (Default)

Kojirou | OTA

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2017-01-13 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
1. Birds, why is it always birds?

[ Report reading isn't Kojirou's speciality, to be honest. He's grimacing at the piles of papers before him, gingerly pulling out the few that catch his eye.

He can't help it. While the Servant summoning system granted him the necessary skills, he never did formally learn to read, and thus never developed any interest in it. ]


Beaked monsters. It seems our adversaries will once again be avian. Have there rather not been a lot of them?

[ Seriously. It's like there are bird enemies every month. ]

But still, there are no birds I cannot cut, so on that front we're safe. Ah, will there ever be an opponent as difficult as the swallow I faced that day?

3a. Except when it's not birds.

Hm, these ones can certainly fly, but it's not quite the same.

[ Kojirou hasn't really bothered to draw his sword against the swarm of bats yet, instead covering his face with his sleeve and letting them flap past. ]

A startled animal can be dangerous, but ordinary ones are usually more concerned with escape than fighting. It should be easier to just let them pass.

[ Never mind Lisbrand shooting them, there'll be no end to bat hell if they try to take them down one by one. ]

The greater danger here would be keeping yourself from falling into their droppings.

[ Guano is a thing. ]

3b. No wait, it's birds again.

[ Gotten past the bats, fought off the rock monsters, examined the piles of body parts, grabbed Alumina and now they're ready to leave!

Except now the cave is filling with poison and they're under attack from magic slinging swans. ]


I should be able to hold my breath for three minutes while fighting. I wonder how many of them I can take out in that time?

[ So ponders the SAMURAI out loud, as everyone is trying to get the hell out of dodge. ]

4. GIMMICK INFRINGEMENT

[ In which Kojirou does the Breadcrumb Trail job.

Of all the things Kojirou expected while searching for clues, getting swarmed by a huge bunch of birds was not one of them.

Having those birds merge into a single giant bird-like creature with him as its core was definitely not one of them.

Another giant bird creature landing in front of him being all ominous and dark and threatening? He most certainly wouldn't have put money on that happening. ]


Become Wingdam? [ The giant bird-tron seems to say, echoing the SAMURAI's words with the trill of a thousand bird songs.

Those sure are some fancy external speakers. ]


I have had to slay many birds, but never one quite like this. Let us see how well this works then.

[ But he seems rather okay with it? Or at least, he's just rolling with it, as Wingdam rips a small tree out of the ground with a weird hand-wing hybrid. ]

I suppose now I am Wingdam, so en garde!

[ He's doing it. He's going to fight the other bird-monster. ]
foxhands: (forget it)

iii

[personal profile] foxhands 2017-01-13 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[They smell. That's Nakigitsune's first thought, as he looks down at the piles of parts. They're strange to look at, too...separated from each other, like pieces of clothing.

Feet aren't socks, though.]


Organization?
sakeplz: (Lazy Times)

1. Oh Ko...you and those birds...

[personal profile] sakeplz 2017-01-13 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's been a little while since they last spoke but here he is. And he doesn't look exactly motivated to really do anything. Well aside from watch Kojirou talk about the birds as if they are the foulest creatures on the planet. It's actually sort of cute in a way.]

Uwaaaah! You make them sound so scary!

[Said by the sword who could totally beat them if he wasn't sitting over there. Drinking. Again.]

I'm glad I have you here.
hoasen: (verses)

[personal profile] hoasen 2017-01-13 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[With someone on the front line, and the back like him, they'll definitely take it down! Especialy now that she notes what he's trying to do.]

I see!

[And that is when she starts switching her gravity to quicken her power.]

I will do my best. [Oar out, she moves in to try to swing it at the joints that he already heated up.]
hoasen: (HUH)

[personal profile] hoasen 2017-01-13 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[NOT WHAT SHE THINKS. As long she's not sure this is a nice situation.

Although, she's pleased and touched that Setsuna tried.]


This I believe...is a kind of robot? [She dodges again before he lunges.]

You will have to watch out too, Setsuna!
chronosynthesis: (79)

II

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2017-01-13 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya approaches when he sees her chasing after the pieces of paper, ducking to try and grab one for her as the wind picks it up.] Oh--! Is this yours?
foxhands: (can i SAY them?)

ii

[personal profile] foxhands 2017-01-13 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nakigitsune had come here to help, scouring the area for clues of the missing girl's whereabouts - and instead found an angry tired(?) woman coming at him with an axe.

She's not actually an enemy though, right? His magical weapon is a stuffed animal anyway, there's not much he can feasibly do against an axe. He slowly moves into a defensive position, ready to try to dodge if she attacks.]


I didn't.
icanseefor_miles: (I am unimpressed)

1 Hello birbman here is a Bird Man

[personal profile] icanseefor_miles 2017-01-13 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Janaff was used to being in slightly claustrophobic quarters with people more important than him, and with piping up whenever he had something to add. Or there was something on Ulki's shirt.

The laguz was considering making off with one of those cookies when he stopped and frowned a bit.
]

...what was that?

[The feathery wings on his back flick at the ends and refold, almost like arms crossing.]
long_live_the_queen: (fucking stairs)

[personal profile] long_live_the_queen 2017-01-13 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fatigue was still dragging Kaede's feet, but her grip on the weapon's handle was solid. The metal of her gauntlets creaked, even.

She's still out of range, and probably...? not going to attack. Maybe. She recognized Hero insignia easily by now.
]

Why are you standing there?

[When did he get there? Kaede had been somewhat distracted, with the very recent events.]
hiryugaeshi: (no I won't stop being a smug shit)

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2017-01-14 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
Do I?

[ Kojirou smiles slightly, as though that fact pleases him greatly. ]

I haven't allowed myself to be frightened in a long time, but they can be difficult opponents. I would say to leave them to me, but I only have these two arms and one sword.

[ beat ]

I suppose that means you'll have to put your wine down.
hiryugaeshi: (i'm just that good)

[personal profile] hiryugaeshi 2017-01-14 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kojirou looks at Janaff over his shoulder, wondering who had called out to him, only to find an actual bird person standing there. ]

Ah, the wings of a hawk. But you don't have a beak and your feathers aren't black, so I suppose there's no reason to suspect you.

[ Kojirou nods, scratching his chin in thought. ]

I don't suppose you can fire beams from your mouth?
sakeplz: (Preparing For This)

[personal profile] sakeplz 2017-01-14 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
[How could you say something so cruel to him? He pouts his way.]

Put it down?

[But...but...]

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