Lugubrious

Infactorium: A New 4Xpansion (Overlord RP) [DISCONTINUED]

Will be posting before too long, sorry for the delay!

World of Light

Tora, Poppi, and Big Band

Location: Sandswept Sky - Apex of the World
Level 9 Tora (150/90) Level 9 Poppi (150/90) Level 5 Big Band (88/50)
Midna’s @DracoLunaris, Fox’s @Dawnrider, Sectonia’s @Archmage MC, Primrose and Therion’s @Yankee, Raz’s @TruthHurts22, the Phantom Thieves, Braum, the Scout, Peacock, Mao, Robin, Tharja, Ciella
Word Count: 2670

In the aftermath of the colossal fly-by, the Seekers picked themselves up with renewed resolve. Thanks chiefly to Braum’s heroic efforts they had been spared what would otherwise have been a deathblow to the team, though Tora and Sectonia’s efforts to rescue isolated team members -and passers by- played a small but crucial role as well. Having been one brawny Freljordian away from a harsh reality where even those blessed by the white-robed council’s afterglow would have been dashed upon the surrounding rocks, the party knew that even if Phalanx wasn’t the Guardian of the Sandswept Sky, they couldn’t get away with ignoring it any longer.

Naturally, nobody knew that better than Midna, who appeared eager to make up for the small part her arbitration played in the barely-averted disaster. Before Phalanx could completely pass Jondo and the Seekers by, the Twilight Princess delivered her ultimatum, then warped herself up to the immense creature. Once aboard she made her way toward the head, where she planned to take advantage of the phenomenon she and the others had forgotten to string the gleaming colossus along and get it away from her allies. After that she could deal with it for good, one way or another. Unwilling to give Midna the benefit of the doubt a second time with so much at stake, Sectonia followed along as a failsafe. This time, nothing would be left to either assumption or chance.

Their departure alongside Phalanx left the remainder of the team with mixed emotions, pumping adrenaline, no immediate threat, and only so many options. As it turned out, Braum’s life-saving ice wall wasn’t the only thing in pieces. Among the wreckage lay the fragmented remains of one of the four multi-man statues on Jondo’s perimeter, its bronze so green and rusty with age that just the solid impact from a windblown Therion had been enough to crumble it. Neglected amongst the chaos, the great chain had been dragged down into the abyss of the bell by its own weight, and the monumental clapper was one step closer to freedom from its restraints.

That wasn’t the only unintentional consequence of Phalanx attacking, however. Now that he’d been hurt by the colossus, Therion fell victim to Galeem’s influence as well, and with the target of his ire not only being dealt with but also actively departing the Apex of the World, that suddenly became a serious issue. Big Band recognized the problem at once, as well as the necessary solution. “I got this!” With a burst of sonic power he charged after the thief with a mechanical arm deployed. He moved fast for a big guy, but it wouldn’t have been enough without an assist from Peacock. Thinking quickly, the girl pulled her head into her hat. A black hole opened on the ground below Therion as he opened his glider, and from it Peacock’s head poked out. She shot out her metal dentures like a bear trap, grabbing onto his foot just in time to stop him mid-takeoff. That gave Band just enough time to get close, open wide his fist, then catch Therion in his anti-air grab, Take the A-Train. “Take five!” The instrumentation in the arm pumped twice like a pile bunker, slamming Therion both times, and on the third sent him tumbling along the ground. Band immediately launched into the same move again, and with the thief’s aggro now on the detective, Therion got up into a low stance ready to strike back. Before he could be counterhit Band canceled his charge with Emergency Break, then sent a friend heart flying with a tip of his hat. The heart flew true, and just a brief moment later Therion was a free man.

With a sigh of relief that everything went to plan, Big Band extended the thief a hand. “Sorry ‘bout that brother, but this player don’t miss a beat. Welcome to the in crowd. We’ll fill ya in later, so try an’ focus on the fight for now.” He straightened up and looked over to see Phalanx receding into the distance, currently reconciling its differences with its boarding party. “Although, if that thing’s peacin’ out, we don’t got much of a fight on our hands.”

“Maybe we do,” Tora suggested, rubbing his chin. “Now that Tora think about it, biggypon snake-beast have normal gleaming eyes, right, Poppi?”

The artificial blade pursed her lips thoughtfully as she consulted her memory banks. “Correct. Previous bosses have unique eyes. Megadragonbowser orange, and Enderdragon purple. Masterpon agree with Midna, after all?”

“Meh!?” The Nopon cut short his sagacious nodding to flash his companion an irritated look. “That beside point! Tora just think that because of baddypon Master Hand, boss must still be around. Friends should definitely ring bell and see what happen, meh!”

Joker seemed to agree. “Couldn’t hurt. Stuff like this is almost always here for a reason.”

“There’s no such thing as coincidence,” Fox mused.

“Agh,” Mona sighed, rubbing his big head with one paw. “I mean, it’s not like we’ve got any better options. But we really just always end up winging it with whatever we’ve got on hand, huh?”

“Hey, man, that’s just how the Phantom Thieves roll!” Skull grinned.

Panther rolled her eyes. “For better or worse,” she grumbled.

Tora gestured at what brazen wreckage remained of the first statue with one wing. “Plus, it looks like friend Therion already get started, meh! Good job Therion!”

“Finally, we’re doing something!” Mao gruffed. “I’ll go left.”

“Tora and Poppi fly to far side!” Tora volunteered without delay.

Tharja looked sideways at Robin. “Can’t you shoot them from here, or something?”

“Theoretically, yes,” the tactician admitted. “Thoron could most likely go the distance. It is an incredibly difficult shot, however, and I would rather not expend the mana if we can help it.” He trailed off as he became aware of Ciella charging another typhoon arrow. The rabbit lady built up her power, took careful aim, and let loose. After a moment in flight the arrow ripped into the right-side statue, shattering it into pieces, and like clockwork the second chain descended. Ciella glanced his way, her half-masked expression one of thinly veiled self-satisfaction. Robin ignored her.

But by this time the team had already scrambled. Together Tora and Poppi jetted off across the iron-sided pit known as Jondo, with Poppi loosely following the route of the spanning bridge in case something unexpected happened. Even with a greater distance to go and a very competitive Mao hurrying to get his job done, the dynamic duo managed to reach their statue first. After the artificial blade cruised in and dropped her Masterpon off, Tora started whaling on the conjoined human effigies. To his surprise, the statue gave up the ghost after only a couple hits, releasing their chain so suddenly that it whipped past and struck him. “Ow!” he cried, rubbing his cheek, but in a moment his out-of-battle healing kicked in and quickly left him with an annoying stinging sensation. He looked up at Poppi, half expecting her to be laughing, but even his sometimes-derisive companion wasn’t that cruel. She gave him a sympathetic pat on the head, then hoisted him into her arms and took off.

At about that time Mao reached his statue, and after a few moments of applying his oversized surgical tools it broke apart, too. As Tora and Poppi flew over the yawning pit, they got a bird’s-eye view of the clapper as its last restraint came off. For a moment there was nothing, just the sound of the wind blowing and Poppi’s thrusters burning. Then something snapped, and the clapper began to fall. It took the bridges with it, caving in the entire span in a matter of moments. It would have been a brutal trap had anyone been on it, but nobody had, so instead it turned out just brutally inefficient. All the effort that it took to rig it in the first place, wasted. The pair watched the clapper plummet into the darkness, bracing themselves for a deafening clang. Several seconds passed in near-silence, until finally a loud THOK echoed up from below, a single meaty note.

Tora shook his head in disbelief, absolutely let down. “What dummypon design this thing, meh!?”

“Don’t demand refund just yet, Masterpon,” Poppi warned, keeping her eyes peeled as she flew. “Poppi get feeling this not over.”

“Yeah, that sound about right,” Tora allowed. “Meh.”

Barely did another moment pass before a terrific, hideous moan erupted from below. Unfathomably deep and awfully loud thanks to the reverberation of the bell, it swept across the Apex of the World, an apocalyptic howl of primeval fury. Amidst the tumult, swathes of spade-shaped fliers swarmed up from below, filling the air with a symphony of shrieks and the beat of myriad fins. Tora and Poppi dodged between the creatures, mowing through them with the Variable Saber when the torrent grew too thick, as they fought to reach their allies. They touched down a few moments later, with Tora’s heart racing and Poppi’s ether furnace burning bright, then joined the others in a defensive formation. Nobody believed for an instant, however, that they were ready for what was to come. And they were right.

Deep within the shadows of Jondo, the creature began to thrash. It threw itself against the sides of its great iron prison, over and over again, each calamitous impact enough to topple a skyscraper. Dutifully Jondo replied, each shockingly loud peal resounding through the earth itself, audible across and well beyond the Sandswept Sky itself. The mountain trembled, its very stone cracking under the sheer, absurd force. As the party struggled to maintain consciousness, Tora squeezed his hands to his ears as hard as he could, only dimly aware of the colossal shape soaring toward the time. When he finally noticed his eyes nearly bugged out, knowing that if Phalanx came in for another pass right now, the team was done for. This time, however, Midna and Sectonia were at its helm. Above the absolute clamor nothing at all could be heard, so they waved with everything they had, beckoning the rest of the team to get aboard. Tora suddenly realized that Phalanx wouldn’t be the team’s doom, but their salvation. Gritting his teeth, he set the Variable Saber to full blast, and with it glowing as bright as he could pointed the way for the team. It was flying low, but they would have only one chance–one shot to use their afterglow or other means to get aboard, and escape this head-pounding hell.

Poppi nodded. She tucked Tora under one arm, grabbed the near-senseless Redento, and took off. The Phantom Thieves opened their gliders and ascended on the updraft, while Big Band blasted off with Peacock holding on for dear life with her teeth, the big, white fingers of her cartoon gloves plugged in her ears. Ciella transformed into her Agito form and took flight, pausing only to grab Braum in her talons, perhaps beholden to the man for saving her life before. Before she could flap off the Scout latched onto her, holding his grapple gun with the tightest death grip of his entire career, and with no other options Mao grabbed hold of his ankles. Tharja used her dark magic to warp onto Phalanx, then her Rescue staff to bring Robin up with her. It fell to Raz, Jesse, and Fox to find their own way, for in just a moment’s time the window was closed. Phalanx flew out from over Jondo and into the wild blue yonder.

Right on cue, Jondo split apart. It sounded its last hurrah across the land as the prisoner within finally broke free, crashing through the narrow layer of stone that encircled the great bell and plummeting downward. It was a catastrophic sight, but a mesmerizing one; like a train wreck, one couldn’t just look away. For the life of him Tora couldn’t quite tell what he was looking at, amidst all that debris, but it was huge. Oblong, greenish-beige, with no visible limbs. Like some sort of caterpillar. More than that he couldn’t tell, since the monstrosity plunged down through the clouds and into the Graveyard of the Peaks. A landslide of elephantine proportions was in progress, but even then the cacophony gradually faded, even if the ringing in the Nopon’s ears did not.

“...Whatever it is, if that thing survives its li’l tumble down the mountain, and you can bet yo’ behinds it will, it’s gonna run hog wild across the whole desert!” Big Band was shouting. Midna and Sectonia were already steering Phalanx downward toward the clouds. As it began its forced nosedive Tora turned around and took one final look at Split Mountain’s peak, so tantalizingly mysterious, so near and yet so far. Then it disappeared from view, and he gave a forlorn sigh as he held on tight to the colossus’ hair. He’d have to see some other time just what awaited at the journey’s end.

Band continued. “Wherever it ends up, that place is history. Tostarena, Al Mamoon, you name it. Guardian or not, we gotta take it out.”

“What do you mean, take it out?” Ciella snapped. The statuesque archer was back in her human form, and even with her mask on she looked incredulous. “I mean, I agree, but let’s not delude ourselves. How do we even fight something that size?”

Tora’s eyes went wide. “Meh, meh!” he cried. “What about Railway Gun? It cannon stupid huge, and Tora bet it fast enough to stay ahead of big evil even with it full attention!”

“I was just about to suggest the same thing,” Joker agreed. “This thing’s slow and can’t attack other than ramming the other creature, which I feel like wouldn’t do much. The train’s probably our best bet.” In a massive poof of vapor Phalanx plunged out from the clouds surrounding Split Mountain, and the Sandswept Sky unfolded below. Tostarena Town was little more than a colorful blotch at the bottom of the canyonland foothills, but the team’s drivers kept the colossus right on course for it. More importantly, the team caught sight of the monster once more, still plowing down the mountainside at the head of a tremendous avalanche. Driven more by its own gargantuan weight than any power of its own, the creature seemed to be floundering limply, but that wouldn’t last forever.. “Let’s just hope we can get moving before that thing gets itself together,” Joker added.

How long it took to swoop down Tora couldn’t rightly say, but with adrenaline surging through his veins it felt like ages. Acting on some defensive instinct, Phalanx was headed straight for the sand, so when the ground grew near everyone needed to either jump or take flight once more. The last of the mountain’s afterglow was fading away, but those final traces helped everyone get down more or less safely in close proximity to Tostarena Town. Tourists and Tostarenans alike had gathered at one side of the settlement to gawk at the spectacle, both of Phalanx descending to the desert with the heroes upon its back, and the other creature that came to a stop not that much farther away, surrounding by the cloud of dust and heap of debris it kicked up on its way down the mountain. For now it lay still, stunned by the ordeal but still very much alive. The heroes took off across the sand, going as fast as they could toward the Railway Gun that glinted like hope in the late afternoon sun. As the dust cleared behind them, those who looked over their shoulders could get their first good look at their true opponent, the towering abomination whose countless eyes burned not with the waxing sunset of Galeem, but a true and absolute red, the blood-fire scarlet of hell itself.

Warning. Boss discovered

Red Eye

A boss fight has begun. For those involved in the fight, and for the entirety of the fight, tensions and stakes are high--but so are the rewards. With GM posts accelerated to the point of both Wednesday and Sunday updates, Prompt Failure may result if you endanger your character but don’t post. However, rewards are accelerated:

<500 words is 2 points, 500-1000 is 4 points, and 1000+ is 6 points.

Objective: Defeat the Behemoth of Crimson, Red Eye, and claim its spirit

Ms Fortune

Location: Deep Blue Seaside - Limsa Lominscuttle Town
Level 8 Nadia (59/80)
Koopa Troop’s @DracoLunaris, Blazermate’s @Archmage MC, Hat Kid’s @Dawnrider, Geralt’s @MULTI_MEDIA_MAN, Ace Cadet’s @Yankee, Sakura's @Zoey Boey, Link’s @Gentlemanvaultboy
Word Count: 1136

Famished and impatient, Nadia rocked back and forth on her heels behind the big guy in line as the Koopa Troop queued up behind her in turn. In the light of day she could really appreciate just how different -and strange- both Bowser and Kamek looked. Even Link, when he appeared, looked very little like the boy he had been. Small changes to one’s face were all it took to make someone nigh unrecognizable, and now the young Hero of the Wild was basically a grown man. Nadia tried not to stare, but in her heart of hearts wondered if only fusing with girls like herself from now on would even be enough to stay…well, her. With a sigh she chased the thoughts from her mind. Weird philosophy could wait until after she’d had her fun in the sun. Besides, there was Ace! Leave it to that goober to show up to a beach party in full plate. And was that a wink? It caught Nadia so off guard that she couldn’t think to do anything but smile back at him.

Glad to hear that someone else liked her eyepatch, Nadia gave Junior a big grin over her shoulder. “Meowdy there, folks,” she greeted everyone, putting on a southern accent for no real reason. “And thank ya kindly!” After looking forward again to see if Birdie was done yet, she continued to fidget until a lady’s voice cut through the line, sharp and commanding enough to startle the cat burglar even more than it did the freeloader ahead of her. Nadia’s head snapped around to face Karin as her ears and tail stood on end, frozen as if she’d been caught in a searchlight, but after a disarming smile from her hostess her surprise quickly turned to a slight embarrassment, both to be so tense still and to be referred to as an ‘honored guest’. The dude in front of her, evidently named Birdie and an associate of the lady in charge, twisted about to give Nadia a dubious glance. Any other day Nadia might have felt bad to be skipped ahead to the front of the line, but not today, so she looked up at him with a big, smug cat smile. You heard the lady, it seemed to say.

Begrudgingly Birdie stepped aside, and as if a curtain had been thrown open before her, the lavish buffet stretched out in front of Nadia in all its mouth-watering splendor. She stepped forward gingerly, still unconvinced that she wasn’t dreaming. Seafood, baked goods, and the meats, dear lord! There was brisket, pulled pork, chicken breast, sausage, bologna, turkey, hot links, tri-tip! Spoiled for choice and paralyzed by indecision, Nadia hung over the feast for a moment, eyes shining and fingers wiggling with greed. Then she began to rack up her kebabs, skewering something of everything. If anyone made the mistake of offering Miss Nadia Fortune their undivided hospitality, they could bet top dollar that she’d make the most of it.

As she helped herself, her hostess approached. Miss Ringlets stood at least four inches shorter than Nadia herself, but she spoke and carried herself with such gravitas and social expertise that even in her swimwear she made the feral feel like a street urchin. Which, to be fair, she was. But after offering her apologies on Birdie’s behalf the noblewoman took pains to extend Nadia her warmest welcome, and her honored guest was only too happy to accept it. “No problem!” Nadia assured her, turning around with three barbecue-laden kebabs held tight between her fingers on each hand like big, meaty claws. “You must be miss Karen, right?” she asked, completely but accidentally butchering the pronunciation. “Man, thanks a million for the invite! I’d’a been dyin’ for some food if that letter hadn’t come ‘round. And a free pass to a sweet beach party, too!? You’re seriously the best!” Without another word Nadia excused herself. She didn’t want to be rude or anything, but friendly conversation could come after chowing down.

Basically the moment the feral stepped away from the buffet with her ill-gotten gains, she began disposing of them in earnest. For a cat Nadia could really wolf down her food, and these kebabs didn’t stand a chance. She’d already annihilated one by the time she passed by Blazermate, and as the Medabot rose to inquire about her eye, Nadia took the chance to catch her breath. “Oh no, my eyes are fine, see?” Using her free thumb she lifted the clear eyepatch, giving Blazermate a good look at the black sclera and bright blue iris she’d gotten from her fusion with the Oceanid, Rhodeia. “Just thought I’d get something to sorta, hide it, y’know? I look freaky enough as is, don’t need heterochromia makin’ me look like some kinda anime princess to boot. Plus, it looks cool, right? Right!” With a nod of her head she slid the patch back down into place, and without further ado Nadia made her way to a vacant couple of beach chairs beneath a thatch shade. Once seated she could really start doing some damage to her lunch.

The battle was vicious but short-lived, and in the end Nadia emerged victorious. She planted the last of the skewers in the sand beside her chair like the spears of fallen warriors, wiped her lips with the back of her hand, and breathed a long sigh of contentment. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten quite so well, and she was very happy to find that her worries about the Maw ruining food for her forever turned out to be wholly incorrect. Of course, when it came to feasting she’d always been a lightweight, and that hardly changed even after going hungry for a full day, but right now she was satisfied. Now, all she needed was something wet to wash all that meat down. Normally Nadia wouldn’t drink so soon after waking up, but what the heck. It was the afternoon, anyway! Plus, she had an awesome idea. With a wave of her hand she brought out a copycat, who offered a salute before running off to find the Kanzuki Estate’s beachside bar. Nadia busied herself pulling her beach chair out into the sun to lay out her towel, then laid herself down on top of it. By the time she finally got herself comfortable, she looked up and found that her copycat had returned with a delicious mojito in each hand. “Purr-fection!” the feral laughed, taking both drinks before she pulled the double back in. She took a long, cool sip of sugary, minty, rummy, lime-tart goodness, looked out across the gorgeous sea, and let her eyes slide shut. “Man, maybe this hero stuff isn’t so bad, after all.”

World of Light

Tora, Poppi, and Big Band

Location: Sandswept Sky - Apex of the World
Level 9 Tora (147/90) Level 9 Poppi (147/90) Level 5 Big Band (87/50)
Midna’s @DracoLunaris, Fox’s @Dawnrider, Sectonia’s @Archmage MC, Primrose and Therion’s @Yankee, Raz’s @TruthHurts22, the Phantom Thieves, Braum, the Scout, Peacock, Mao, Robin, Tharja, Ciella
Word Count: 1180

Just when the ceasefire Midna wanted finally seemed to be underway, with neither Tora and Poppi, the Phantom Thieves, Sectonia, nor the ASG soldiers on the offensive, Ciella had to go and bring her -as well as Phalanx and everything on it- down. The colossus began to lose altitude, and though it had plenty to spare at this great height, the swirling blue glimmer in the Agito’s blow told the team up above that more gaping puncture wounds in their ride’s gas sacs would soon be forthcoming.

Midna asked someone to intercede on Phalanx’ behalf, but the issue with that was that Ciella could charge and shoot a lot faster than anyone could fly down, and even if the wind stopped roaring in everyone’s years any voice would be hard-pressed to go the distance. But as luck would have it one line of communication remained open. With the colossus otherwise preoccupied, Joker could release his grip on its coarse hair to reach up to his mask and activate his comms. “Necro? Come in!”

“Navigator here!” the U.F.O. replied, her voice mostly intact. “Sitting pretty by the bell. How’s it looking up there?”

“We need the rabbit lady to stop shooting. We think this is a trap of some kind.”

“Oh! I’ll get right on that!” Necronomicon zoomed down to where the archer stood as fast as she could go. After switching off her comms, she placed herself right in Ciella’s vision, if not her line of fire. “Hey, we’ve got urgent news!” she declared, waving her tentacles for attention. “It’s a trap! The guys up top just found out! Don’t shoot it any more!”

For a moment Ciella did not deign to respond. She had a bead on the second gas bag, and her arrow was at full charge. It would be the easiest thing in the world -not to mention a satisfying one- to let fly and pop that second balloon. But the Agito rolled her eyes beneath her mask, and relaxed her drawstring. The typhoon arrow faded away as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other, placing a hand on her hip as she did. “Capricious fools,” she sulked. “This deception will not go unpunished.” Whether she meant the Seekers or Phalanx, however, she did not elaborate.

A couple seconds later Joker’s comms crackled to life again. “Ciella is holding fire! What are you gonna do now?” The leader of the Thieves looked around at the heroes gathered on the colossus’ back, extending the question to all of them.

“If we ain’t givin’ this thing the business, no reason to hang around up here,” Band observed. “Guess we’ll make like a delivery an’ drop ourselves off.”

Peacock looked perplexed. “Agh, baloney! Talk about anticlimax!” She stood up straight, saluted the team with her eyes closed, and promptly got blown away by the wind. “Bombs awaaaaaay!”

Band threw himself off after her, using the afterglow’s slow-fall to control his descent until a rocket blast could stop him short of ringing Jondo’s bell. Using their gliders Joker and Skull departed, headed down to join the companions that Phalanx successfully knocked off. Tora and Poppi were the last to go, and though the Nopon did not at all look pleased by this turn of events, he appeared to be more disappointed than angry. With a resigned shrug as if to tell Midna we’re just wasting our time, meh he let Poppi pick him up, and then both the wannabe driver and artificial blade were gone.

After a few moments, the Seekers reunited at the edge of Jondo, near one of the four statues. Band looked over the crowd, aware of the plentiful mixed feelings, and opted to take control of the situation. “Well, where do we go from here?” he asked. “Y’all find anythin’ down here?”

Robin, arms crossed and coat flapping in the wind, turned his attention from the statue to the detective. “Well, these things seem to be holding the bell’s ringer, preventing it from moving. We considered breaking them to see what would happen, but decided against it.”

“Why, meh? Some kind of problem?” Tora asked.

Robin shrugged, wishing that the person who made the call was getting grilled rather than him. “Thought we’d consult everyone first, I suppose.”

“In other words, you’ve ground to a total halt,” Ciella remarked, her apathetic tone suggesting that she didn’t care enough to make the situation her problem.

It wasn’t long at all before Poppi cut into the discussion. “Excuse me? Enemy incoming.”

Tora blinked, looking around. “What? Where?”

“There!” Poppi exclaimed, pointing into the sky. When her allies turned to look, they found Phalanx headed straight for them. The sunset-red light in its four eyes reminded the heroes of this world’s truth: that those under Galeem’s influence would not cease their struggle, no matter what. It bore down on the team, flying low enough to nearly scrape the rim of Jondo, and with it came such a massive front of air that the entire assortment of Seekers could be thrown from the mountaintop in mere moments. As if that wasn’t enough, the colossus lowered its horn like a charging rhino, ready to strike.

Braum leaped into action to protect his allies. “Stand behind me!” he called as he leaped in front of the team, slamming his shield into the stone. Ice sprang up from the impact point, freezing his shield to the ground and creating an even bigger wall of defense. He poured in all the magic he could muster, swelling the ice wall to twice, then thrice its size. The Heart of Freljord planted his feet, and steeled himself.

“Poppi Alpha, time to shine!” Tora called, running for Redento, and Poppi was of like mind. Without a moment to lose she quick-shifted to her most defensive form and knelt behind Tora, holding him in place while he dug in with the Drill Shield. Confused and afraid, the wandering pilgrim hunkered down behind her. The front slammed into the heroes, and on its heels came the spiky jaw of the colossus, ramming into Braum’s barrier with withering force. There came an earth-shaking CRACK, and though Phalanx slowed, it did not stop. It blew through, shattering the ice, and Braum fell backward with his shield on top of him, jarred into unconsciousness by the impact.

Those not in direct contact with the barrier avoided the follow-through, but it still took a moment for them to get their heads straight and rise from the icy wreckage of Braum’s defense. Band watched the remainder of Phalanx pass by overhead, in awe that he somehow thought this thing wasn’t a threat. In Galeem’s world, there was no such thing as a creature without a violent bone in its body. Tora and Poppi escaped the worst of the assault, and thanks to their efforts even Redento was okay. As they rose from their Rigid Shield technique they turned to face their allies, not even bothering to ask the question on everyone’s mind. What now?

Ms Fortune

Location: Deep Blue Seaside - Limsa Lominscuttle Town
Level 8 Nadia (57/80)
Koopa Troop’s @DracoLunaris, Blazermate’s @Archmage MC, Hat Kid’s @Dawnrider, Geralt’s @MULTI_MEDIA_MAN, Ace Cadet’s @Yankee, Sakura's @Zoey Boey, Link’s @Gentlemanvaultboy
Word Count: 2064

Results

Party: Bowser, Junior, Kamek, Blazermate, Geralt, Ace Cadet, Sakura, Link, Nadia Fortune
Boss Reward: 30 EXP

After approximately ten hours of blissful oblivion, a dreamless, nigh-comatose state rather more like unconsciousness than slumber, Nadia stirred at last. She awoke in a tangled cocoon of sublimely soft bedsheets, swaddled like a newborn baby and every bit as dressed. Scarcely able to move, she stared at the inn room around her in a state of bleary serenity, breathing slowly and steadily, so fogged up by forgetfulness that she couldn’t so much as remember her own name, let alone where she was or why she was here. It took a few moments for the gears in her mind to start turning again, and like water through a broken dam the memories came rushing in. The battle...the Maw…the island…the beach. Maybe an entire six-pack of beer before bed hadn’t been as good of an idea as it seemed at the time. Nadia sighed, let her eyelids slide shut, and turned over. Some of the events remained fuzzy, maybe even repressed, but she got the feeling that was for the best. After a few moments her eyes blinked open, fixed on the radiant sunlight that peeked around her room’s window curtains. Whatever happened last night, today was a new day. Totally revitalized by her extended stay in slumberland, she felt fresh and new, even if she did have a slight headache. Today there would be no monsters, no storms, no curses, and no fighting–just a well-earned vacation. If Peach or whoever wanted to put her straight to work on the next boss, they could suck it. Limsa Lominscuttle Town with all its delightful amenities awaited Nadia Fortune. It was time to enjoy the peace she’d fought so hard to win.

The feral took a deep breath in through her nose and attempted to rise. The silken bindings that made her look like a mummy held her back, so she got to work getting herself loose. For now she lacked the mental wherewithal to deal with all the knots and entanglements, and many of them seemed torn already, slashed into uneven strips and ribbons by inadvertent claws. “Cat imagine how that happened,” Nadia murmured, and with another sigh she finished the job. Once free she treated herself to a luxurious stretch, working out the stiffness in her arms, shoulders, and back. After a quick rub of her eyes she hopped down to the floor and practically skipped over to the window, though she wisely stopped short of throwing it wide to stand there like a queen surveying her territory. Still, even if the angle looked across the city rather than the land or the ocean, the view from up here was really good. As she peered down through the curtains with bright eyes, she could see tons of people of all shapes and sizes everywhere, on the bridges and the seastacks and wharves, just going about their business. There were many shipgirls among their number, though their casual citizen attire and lack of rigging made them tough to recognize at first. Judging by the shadows, the glint on the waves below, and the level of activity it had to be midday, at least. Maybe she was just imagining it, but the place seemed even more bright and cheerful than she remembered it. Everything, as ordinary as it might be, looked so vivid and full of life. Maybe the news of the Seekers’ achievements had already spread, and the cityfolk knew that they lived under the shadow of the Abyssal Fleet and the accursed Bottomless Sea no longer? Either way, the sight of things as they ought to be filled Nadia with happiness. Her grogginess melted away like mist in the morning sun, and with last night’s horrors a dull and distant memory, she felt like a million bucks.

That feeling came to an abrupt end when a loud rumble suddenly reminded her how hungry she was. In fact, ‘hungry’ probably wasn’t a big enough word for how she felt; ‘famished’ might be more appropriate, or even ‘starving’. Before she could launch herself into the city to avail herself of its many restaurants, though, there was one not-so-minor issue in her way. “How am I gonna get new clothes…?” Nadia asked herself, scratching her head. Obviously her old outfit was beyond salvation, with the very possible exception of her cat-bell if not the collar attached to it, but its disposal left her with approximately zero other options. Her eyes landed on the cases left over from last night. “Not a dream,” she murmured as she padded over to open the last one up. As she suspected, it held a miniature treasure trove of gold coins. Her eyes lit up, but they teared up a little, too. “Thanks, guys,” she breathed, too wistful to celebrate her sudden wealth, at least for now.

If money wasn’t an issue, that just left the logistical matter of exchanging it for goods and/or services. Maybe she could call for help? Then again, even if her friends were in the adjacent rooms, it would be pretty embarrassing. The idea of having to explain the situation to Ace in particular made her turn red, although as her thoughts raced down a tangent a mischievous smile took over her face. Before she could get carried away, however, she shook her head clear. “Whoa, gettin’ sidetracked.” Hopefully she could find him later and just hang out or something, but for now this was her problem to solve. For a few minutes Nadia paced around her room, tail swishing back and forth, impatient from hunger, until a bright idea popped into her mind. “Oh. Oh, oh!” Gathering herself up, she summoned a copycat of herself from her vital fluid. The watery doppelganger stood there until Nadia reached over and took off its head, which she then absorbed and replaced with her own. It took a little adjustment, but she found that since the copycat seemed to respond to her will, she could puppet it pretty effectively. Though a little wobbly at first, she managed to grab the coinbox and slip out the door. “Okay! First stop, clothes. Second stop, grub!”

Twenty minutes later her head returned atop her copycat, a slightly lighter coinbox in one hand and a bag in the other. She slipped back inside to find her body languishing on the bed, bored, hungry, and literally twiddling her thumbs. As she entered she only barely avoided stepping on and soaking an envelope on the floor, slipped beneath the door at some point during her outing. “What’s this nyaow?” Though filled with curiosity by the letter, it would have to wait. Quickly she reunited head and body, put on her brand-new clothes, then stood before the mirror to survey her new outfit. A black one-piece bathing suit that caught her eyes by virtue of the white tiger-stripes on the sides lay beneath a pair of high-waisted jean shorts with as much spiky fluff around the bottom as she could find. Over that went a baggy white tank top, tie-dyed with swirls of blue that complemented the new patterns on her skin. From a pirate-themed shop she’d managed to lay her hands on a clear eyepatch, which helped alleviate the weirdness of her discolored left eye. Although, it also just made her feel cool. She’d even grabbed a black leather satchel for her things, and a matching collar, so once she got her cat-bell attached, the ensemble was complete. Nadia nodded in approval. Not what she was used to, but she liked it. Sporty, comfortable, fun, and didn’t obstruct any separation points. Plus, it was nice to change things up once in a long, long while. And everything fit! This really was a fantasy world. “Purr-etty darn good,” she grinned, although a part of her was just a tiny bit nervous, uncharacteristic as that was. Hopefully I’m not the only one who likes it.

Though eager to get going, she did not neglect the mystery letter she’d received. She cut it open, using a claw as a letter opener, and pulled the paper out to read it. Dear accomplice of the illustrious Seekers of Light, she read. On behalf of the city of Limsa Lominscuttle Town, I wish to thank you and yours for your heroic -and definitive- efforts to keep our city safe. As a show of our appreciation, I wish to extend you an invitation to my beautiful seaside estate for an all-day beach party. We have all manner of activities and diversions on offer, as well as full catering, with a barbeque lunch, a well-stocked bar, and a specialty dinner come evening. Without any crowds you can expect to relax and enjoy yourselves to your hearts’ content, so please stop by the southern shoreline district. Best regards, Kanzuki Karin.

At the mere mention of barbequed meat, Nadia’s mouth was watering well before she finished reading. Without a word she bolted off.

---

Nadia put all her dexterity and agility into getting out of Limsa Lominscuttle Town lickety-split. After using its web of bridges, ropes, and nets to parkour her way to ground level, she made her way to the southern bridge, and with the sea lapping at its foam-white stone bricks she jogged the whole length. That brought her to the upscale residential district at the southern part of the vast cove, where some of the wealthiest citizens and soldiers of the seafaring city lived. There both the sea and land grew more tropical, with flourishing palms, ferns, and flowers forming a lush jungle just outside the borders of the luxuriant homes of the community called Mist. According to the signposts sprinkled throughout, however, the feral’s destination lay even further beyond. She left the grasses terraces and assorted manors behind and followed the beach for a short ways, through a crowded resort that thrummed with pretty good music. She passed by a cool dude riding a jetski, a musclebound meathead sizzling seafood, a small gang of apes building sand castles, and a bunch of girls engaged in water gun warfare. Though they made Nadia feel a little self-conscious, she also couldn’t help but double take at how weirdly homogenous they seemed. Her attention quickly shifted, however, to the loud-mouthed giant cyborg lady coaching the matches, who sounded very intoxicated. It wasn’t much farther until she left the bounds of the resort. To her left the jungle grew thicker, and on the right the water filled with colorful fish. Only then did she come to the Kanzuki Estate.

Though much smaller in scale than the resort that preceded it, the beachfront home was classier, with a more private and natural feeling. In the background, the music faded away to a pleasant ambiance just louder than the gentle roll of waves against the shore. On the other side of the surf lay a breathtaking view, a dazzling expanse of shallow shoals filled with coral and sealife, pierced here and here by great white stakes whose angelic wings and halos moved rhythmically in the slight breeze. On that wind drifted the wonderful, tantalizing smell of cooked meat, telling the cat burglar that she’d arrived in time for lunch. There were only a couple people around, including an elegant-looking lady reclining in the shade, and an enormous freeloader helping himself to the buffet. Nadia thought about pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, only she was afraid she might wake up. “This must be what paradise looks like,” she said aloud, a little wary. Despite her misgivings, however, the letter in her bag told her that she belonged here, and that was good enough. Nadia took a deep breath, smiled from ear to ear, and went to get in line behind Birdie.

The Chalk Prince, the Fallen Child, the Skeleton, and the Skullgirl

Location: Frozen Highlands - Snowdin
Linkle’s @Gentlemanvaultboy, Frisk’s @Majoras End, Papyrus’ @Dark Cloud

Albedo gave Papyrus a curious glance as he made something of a show, announcing his hurt feelings to the whole room in a boisterous manner. Admittedly it would be a lifetime commitment for the alchemist to fully comprehend normal human emotion, let alone that of the living dead, but he couldn’t help but wonder nonetheless. It was true that Treat didn’t seem eager to accept the skeleton’s hospitality, but was the offer for his sake, or for hers? Albedo didn’t particularly like the thought that Papyrus did it just to seem magnanimous, though, so he tried a different angle. Did he feel put-out because he felt unwanted, maybe? That made sense to Albedo, but if his objective was to feel wanted by every stranger that crossed his path, he might be in for a bad time. Surely he didn’t think that Nia meant anything by her own offer, since she entered the room well after Papyrus laid out his.

Meanwhile, Treat had realized in an instant that she’d inadvertently given Papyrus offense, and the wolfgirl withered in her seat. However, the development also served to convince her that maybe her gut feeling had been the right one, after all. Two sensitive people who didn’t fully understand how their actions affect others might make for awkward roommates. Linkle hid her disappointment far better, and urged Treat to give Nia and Dromarch a chance. Her support seemed to be the final push the wolfgirl needed. “W-well…okay.” She tried to put on a smile as she addressed Nia. “If you’re really willing, then…I’ll accept it. Thank you very much.”

After a few moments Albedo’s train of thought came to a stop, his mental foray inconclusive. There were simply more pertinent matters to consider. One was Frisk’s confusion when presented with the objective of his and Linkle’s quest. To his chagrin the alchemist couldn’t provide any better detail about the internet he and his new friend sought; all he gleaned from Father Guerra was that it had the power to grant just the sort esoteric knowledge that could be crucial in their campaign against the Highlands’ infamous, indomitable bruiser. As Frisk and Papyrus prepared to depart, however, the child dropped a few important hints. “A computer,” he repeated thoughtfully. Someone or something with the power to compute–to manipulate numbers and equations. He would have figured this ‘computer’ to be a professional in the same vein as a clerk or magistrate, for whom the internet was a tool like an abacus or ledger, but Frisk made it sound like an object. A mystical object, possessed of all manner of inscriptions, as well as a screen. Perhaps like the device in the bar called Survive? Suffice to say, Frisk had Albedo’s interest. Maybe the kid would factor more into this story than the alchemist originally thought.

Frisk and Papyrus’ departure, unfortunately, took all their secrets with them. While originally Albedo would have taken his leave as well, and proceeded with Linkle to their new destination, the realization that Frisk knew more than they let on called for a change of plans. Linkle seemed to be in no hurry either, so that settled it; for now, the duo would hang tight in Nia’s lodge. As Albedo nursed his cocoa, the Skullgirl dredged up some memories from a little while back, and with them in mind posed her host an odd question. As she asked it, Nia’s face quickly turned to one of astonishment.

“Hah! That’s lush, that is! And you’ve met Tora?” The sheer coincidence of it all seemed to amaze her. “Yeah, I know the little guy. Figures outta everyone, it’d be ‘im…” Nia did not sound all that enthused about him in particular, almost as if she hoped it’d be someone else. “Still, it’s good to know he an’ Poppi are fine, and it means that everyone else must be too, out there somewhere.” Her eyes almost shone as she envisioned a different face, one she’d feared she’d never see again. “Don’t suppose you’ve met anyone named Rex? ‘Bout fifteen years old, brown hair, blue divin’ suit? Maybe with a red-haired girl named Pyra? O-or a blonde, Mythra?” Realizing that she’d leaned forward onto the table, she cleared her throat and straightened up. “Ahem! Not that I’m too worried, or anythin’. If anyone can ‘andle ‘emselves, it’s my friends. Just figured I’d ask, is all.”

World of Light

@Gentlemanvaultboy@Majoras End@Dark Cloud

As it stands with the Snowdin team, with Treat's situation nearing it's conclusion for now, Nia's guests will soon move on. For Albedo, he and Linkle have as a likely destination Edinburgh MagicaPolis, and since Papyrus didn't pay that any mind but instead has business at his house that concerns Frisk, it would seem to him as though the two pairs are parting ways.

That said, there's one more angle to that group at the moment. Linkle was present during the fight against Marie in the Dead Zone, helping to clear out the skeleton fodder en masse while her friends took on the boss. She would have seen Sans when Marie took control of him during that fight, and even if she doesn't make the connection that he might be the brother Papyrus mentioned, maybe she thinks he and Papyrus look similar. In addition, as a skeleton -a minion subject to the Skull Heart- he might brook some sort of connection to her. As a result of all this, maybe Linkle gets the feeling that the group's supposed to stay together and she moves to bring both Frisk and Papyrus into the fold via friend hearts and exposition.

World of Light

Forgive me. I won't bother you with such reminders again.

World of Light

Be that as it may, that's his business. If you've got free time, we're almost at two weeks without a post from Papyrus.

World of Light

Princess Peach

Location: Smash City Alcamoth

While the exhausted princess wanted nothing more than to follow Nadia, Ace, and the others back through Junior’s painting to Limsa, where she could collapse at long last among the sheets and pillows that a triumphant hero so richly deserved, she couldn’t clock out just yet. It had been a very big day, especially the unconscious Hat Kid she cradled in her arms, but not just for the crew that set out yesterday morning across the sparkling sea. For all she’d been through on Blackwater Bay, beneath the Bottomless Sea, and within the bowels of curse-rotted Carcass Isle, she acutely remembered every face that set out alongside her just a couple fateful days ago. When she closed her eyes she could see them, locked in combat against the grisly Thing from the Stars or the darkly magnificent Enderdragon, but it was here in Alcamoth where she physically saw them last, when the team split into Yellow and Blue. Fox, Midna, Primrose, Tora and Poppi, the enigmatic man known only as Courier 6, the precocious Phantom Thieves…where had they gone, and how had they fared in that inhospitable desert known as the Sandswept Sky? She needed to make sure Bowser and Mirage were okay before she could relax herself, but right now she couldn’t turn down a chance to ask for any updates on the others, either.

Peach took a long, deep breath in, then exhaled, and set off across the great atrium of Alcamoth. She moved at more of an amble than a march, and she made sure to disturb Hatty as little as possible, but she moved with purpose nonetheless. Even in the dead of night the countless lamps arrayed throughout the atrium garden filled it with a soft, blue-green glow, so she had no trouble finding her way toward the place’s back half. For a moment she took a brief detour by the receptionist’s counter, but not even the hard-working Isabelle was up at this late hour. With a sigh Peach hoped that her excursion wouldn’t be for naught, and pressed on.

With the floating citadel’s adjunct domes serving as the complex’s fighting arenas, it fell to the main structure to serve the residential, commercial, and utilitarian needs of the populace, and still Peach found herself marveling at the grandeur of it all. Countless stories of shops, businesses, apartments, and more extended upward to such dizzying heights that she needed to crane her neck to see the highest one, arranged like immense shelves. It made Coconut Mall look like a shoebox. Still, the princess paused for only a moment, since she knew that her destination lay at the bottom. She made a beeline for the Garfont Center, where the Alcamoth Mercenaries -and by extension, the entire campaign against Galeem- were based. The watchman on duty, one of the Miis, offered her a bow. “Can you please get this poor girl to the infirmary?” Peach asked, and with a nod the Mii accepted her precious cargo. He then ran off, leaving the princess to admit herself to Mercenary HQ.

Stepping inside the place, she almost didn’t recognize it. In the time since she’d been here last, the place had turned from a slapdash alcove outpost into an entire pseudo-military headquarters, complete with its own wood-and-iron style tailor-made to differentiate it from the futuristic temple aesthetic of Smash City proper. It featured a wide-open central command chamber dominated by an enormous round table, where a holographic screen that took up most of its area displayed a map of the World of Light. It seemed to be based off the map recovered from her castle on the day everyone first arrived, with much of it vaguely covered by the fog of war. At least the Eryth Sea, the surrounding mountains, and much of both the Land of Adventure and the lower third of the Sandswept Sky seemed to be filled in, with places of interest marked. There were even a few bright lights in small clusters here and there that Peach realized must be mercenary teams out in the wild. Looking around the command center, she found four arched doorways that elsewhere in the building, those being labeled Dispatch, Mog Station, Armory, and Barracks. There were two strange terminals marked as Vehicle Bay and R&D, which she could only assume were transporters of some kind. On the far wall lay another screen, this one marked ‘Spirit Board’, and as she approached it lit up. Hundreds of people, creatures, monsters, and more suddenly appeared across its breadth, neatly organized and available for selection. It was by no means complete -she saw no mention of ‘Abyssal’ under A, for instance- but the scale of the compendium was already staggering.

“Magnificent, eh?” a deep voice remarked from behind her in an Australian accent. When Peach turned she found Commander Vandham leaning on the table, fully dressed and styled, every bit as enormous and imposing as she remembered. “Weren’t much for a while, but once we got our ‘eads togetha an’ put ‘er to rights, she’s a beaut an’ no mistake.” He ran his fingers along his jaw as he looked Peach up and down. “Speakin’ of, you’re lookin’ spiffy, but not quite as I remembers ya.”

Peach managed a weary smile. “Hello, Vandham. No need to try and make me feel better, I know I must look like death itself. But yes, I ended up fusing with a girl named Chao Ho. There was…a battle on the sea. It’s a rather long story, and not a pleasant one.”

“Sounds intense,” the giant murmured, pulling out a chair at the round table for the Princess that she gratefully accepted. He then seated himself, causing the chair to creak. In the light of the map screen his hairdo seemed even more dazzling than usual. “Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do to survive. No matter ‘ow big an organization gets, if the right person kicks the bucket, that’s all she wrote. I’m glad ya made it back, Princess.” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his burly arms. “I take it things went well?”

Peach nodded, exhaling. “It was close. Very close, and not just the end. We had a few losses, I’m sorry to say. But to make a long story short, we’re one step closer to flushing out Galeem.”

“Holey dooley, anotha one already?” With the news of casualties in mind, Vandham measured his response. “I don’t mean to downplay the losses you mentioned, but that’s ‘uge news. Three outta thirteen, that’s nothin’ to scoff at. Proof ya got what it takes to go the distance, even if it ‘urts. Sometimes victory demands sacrifice, but if it means savin’ the worlds, the prize is worth the price.”

“I hope so.” With a sigh, Peach looked down again at the map, taking in the scattered lights. “How are things here? I know it’s late, but I needed to see if everything’s okay.”

Vandham leaned on the table, thinking. “Well…it’s a mixed bag. On one ‘and, we’ve really started putin’ a foot’old in the area. Workin’ on solvin’ problems like transport an’ supplies. Got a few missions done, an’ our scouts ‘ave some juicy details on other areas, includin’ what became of that bloody Dead Zone. Trouble is, a couple didn’t turn out well…”

Peach bristled. “Like what?”

“I’ll get straight to the point,” the big man said, turning to place his elbows on the table. After tenting his fingers he kept his eyes on the map. “Don’t suppose you ‘eard about this bludger Eggman, sendin’ a bunch o’ tin cans to attack your castle?” Looking alarmed, Peach shook her head, so Vandham continued. “Well, don’t fret, ‘cause our guys beat ‘im off. Trouble is, they went after ‘im, followin’ ‘im all the way back to his base. They stormed the place, but once inside things went south. Team got separated. Dedede, Ness, and Wario made it out, but those crazy blokes, that li’l fella Pikachu, and Mario got stuck inside. Ain’t ‘eard from ‘em since.”

A sharp intake of breath from Peach told Vandham that he’d been right to be reluctant. After a moment, however, the princess got herself under control. “Well. That’s bad, but it’s Mario we’re talking about. If anyone can get the job done in this whole world, it’s him. I trust him with my life.”

Vandham nodded. “Right you are. When I asked ‘round, I was gobsmacked by what everyone ‘ad to sa about ‘im. ‘E’s like a bloody celebrity. I’m sure once ‘e an’ the othas are done givin’ those machines a good thrashin’, ‘e an’ the rest’ll be ‘ome in time for dinner.” He leaned back again as the tone lightened. “I do ‘ave some news ya might wanna ‘ear.”

“What might that be?”

“Well, earlier today we got some visitors. They flew in on this giant ship, a real sight to behold. Turns out they’re a joint operation between two groups called Bridges and the Centennials, connectin’ places together and keepin’ the peace, ‘cept neither got enough manpower for the job. Wasn’t gonna make any big decisions ‘til you came along, but I’m was thinkin’ we stand to gain a lot from joinin’ forces. Ya ought to meet ‘em in the mornin’, once ya got some shuteye.”

Peach nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. On both accounts. Don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay conscious much longer. Need to rinse off and sleep.”

“I can tell!” Vandham laughed. “Well, you can use the Barracks. Save ya the trouble of goin’ anywhere else. Washroom’s in the back.”

Peach dragged herself to her feet. “You’re a lifesaver. I’ll go right away.” Without further ado she turned to shuffle off in the indicated direction. Only once through the doorway did the princess turn. “...Goodnight, Vandham. Don’t stay up too late yourself.”

“Bahaha!” the giant’s shoulders shook. “Just you try an’ stop me, li’l lady!” With a wave he stomped off, leaving Peach to put herself to rights and to bed by herself. Even after all that excitement, it was looking like a busy day tomorrow.

Infactorium: A New 4Xpansion (Overlord RP) [DISCONTINUED]

Actually, since Mae has the Witching Veil item already I was thinking I'd just have her bring that up.

World of Light

Tora, Poppi, and Big Band

Location: Sandswept Sky - Apex of the World
Level 9 Tora (145/90) Level 9 Poppi (145/90) Level 5 Big Band (85/50)
Midna’s @DracoLunaris, Fox’s @Dawnrider, Sectonia’s @Archmage MC, Primrose and Therion’s @Yankee, Raz’s @TruthHurts22, the Phantom Thieves, Braum, the Scout, Peacock, Mao, Robin, Tharja, Ciella
Word Count: 1270

Phalanx put up quite the struggle, curling and swerving through on the winds as it strove to rid itself of its unwelcome riders, but the Seekers stayed the course, and while some of their more terrestrial members tumbled off into the wild blue yonder, a few others managed to close the distance. In prime condition thanks to the full restore and with their flight abilities still bolstered by the afterglow that brought them up the mountain, they chased the sky leviathan down and grabbed hold. Tora and Poppi might have beaten Midna to the punch if not for the unlucky twist of a colossal fin in their direction, brushing them aside. But even that misfortune only delayed the inevitable. Their enemy’s panicked thrashing soon subsided, and as Phalanx evened out, the dynamic driver-blade duo closed in on the final sigil.

They swooped in for a landing while Midna and her wolves worked at the covering, ready to help pry it away from the weak spot should the Twilight Princess need another couple hands, but their friend managed just fine. A little dimensional sorcery brought a vicious-looking dagger to Midna’s hand as she prepared to strike the decisive blow, so Tora and Poppi stood by. While excited by the locale, the momentous occasion of a battle against Galeem’s chosen Guardian, and the high-flying daredevil action, neither were particularly tense or worried. All things considered, especially their previous boss battles, this seemed pretty uneventful so far. Of course, neither imagined that this moment would be the end of the fight, either. Fights against gigantic beasts in their own world made them very well acquainted with foes with utterly absurd levels of vitality. Surely more weakspots would reveal themselves, or additional enemies would appear to complicate things, or it would change forms, or…something. As nice as it would be to have a cake walk for once, nothing worth doing ever ended up being simple.

At the last moment, however, Midna paused. Tora looked on for a moment, confusion mounting, as she lowered the blade, but not into the runic flesh. She then let the fin fall, which clamped down over the sigil with such force and noise that Tora nearly jumped straight off Phalanx’ back. By that time, Big Band, Joker, and Skull were close enough to hear her announcement, which only gave rise to further bafflement among her allies. “...Middypon serious?” Tora asked after a moment, brows furrowed, but the shadow hand she placed on the fin to hold it down -in essence, keeping it safe from her fellow Seekers- told him she was. It took him another brief moment to overcome the ridiculousness of having a moral debate in the blistering wind atop a titanic monster’s back above the clouds, but Tora soon found his tongue.

“Meh meh!? Why!?” the Nopon called back to her. “If Midna not want kill animal, just fly off and squeeze eyes shut while Tora do it, meh!” He held up and activated the Variable Saber, its vibrant laser blade ready to burn deep into Phalanx’ flesh. “Tora do this all the time, like with Stoyan and Reginald. Death just natural part of life for all animals, especially big meany ones that probably deserve it! We not come all this way for nothing, Midna! Here, let Tora at it!” Despite his protests Midna remained adamant, which made the Nopon a little frustrated. “You go crazypon or something? We right on cusp of big-big victory! Here, Poppi!” He turned to his companion. “Use superstrength to get open again!”

The artificial blade hesitated, not because of the potential harm to the colossus, but because doing so meant directly opposing her ally’s will. “Poppi not know, Masterpon…”

“Mehhh! Please use superstrength?” Tora reiterated, serving the nicety alongside a helping of exasperation.

“That not it!” Poppi snapped, looking between her creator and the Twilight Princess. “Think about what Masterpon asking! Poppi not want go against Midna. Even if she seem crazy we should talk it over first.”

A moment later, one of Ciella’s mighty arrows of despair ripped into Phalanx’ flight bladder like a raging typhoon, piercing through the membrane and exploding on the inner wall of the opposite side. As yellow gas streamed from the rupture the colossus began to pitch downward, descending from on high now that it couldn’t keep itself up as well. From the rocky precipice where she’d taken aim at the creature from below, Ciella did not smile, but tightened her grip on her greatbow with renewed focus. Confident that she’d be able to bring the creature down this way even if bullseye shots eluded her, the Agito slowly pulled taught her bowstring once more, condensing a torrent of water for another spiral arrow.

Meanwhile, the others had fanned out across Jondo from the point at which they entered, searching for anything that might be of use for their communal efforts against Galeem’s champion. From their distance the ground team avoided experiencing even the token difference that Phalanx mounted against the fliers, which helped make its total lack of meaningful threat so impactful that Raz down below started having the same doubts that Midna soon would up above. After a cursory examination of the surrounding area, Robin couldn’t help but agree. “You may have a point. While I can offer no further hints at the moment, if this truly is our foe, one whose existence directly serves to protect Galeem…it does seem rather too easy, does it not?”

Tharja had her narrowed eyes on the statues, attempting to divine their purpose. “The chains…” she murmured. “The ringer. They’re not holding it up. They’re holding it in place.”

Jesse, however, was two steps ahead. She’d run through the situation in her mind from both a practical and meta perspective, and everything was coming up ‘destruction’. Simply put, if they didn’t do anything with the tools at their disposal, nothing was going to change. Her ideas concerning the functionality of the bell in the boss fight garnered some interest, but it took a couple choice words from Primrose to make those above Jondo begin to see Phalanx in a new light.

“A decoy, yes…and the bell…” Robin repeated with a slow nod. “That would make sense.” His eyes turned toward the craggy pass where the climbers came in, and the reinforcements appeared via portcrystal. “The challengers arise, beset by a grueling climb. Up soars the creature, enormous and impossible to miss, but easy pickings for a well-armed force. For those seeking a quick end to their ordeal, the day is soon won…” He walked over to join Tharja, who knelt at the edge of the bridge staring down into the darkness. “What was that the pilgrim said? It was built to ring across the land, but ‘now Jondo resoundeth in a deep triune moan’...”

Therion’s consultation turned up no definitive information, other than reinforcement of the bell’s importance. Coolheaded and reasonable, he seemed averse to the idea of sounding this mountain-entombed instrument, but his friend Primrose seemed resolute, and Robin agreed. With Jesse raring to go, the course of action seemed obvious. “Looks like we have a plan. Once all four statues are broken, the bell should be free to ring. Shall we divide and conquer?”

“Allow me!” Braum declared, as bombastic as ever. “Ever since that villainous hand appeared I’ve been itching to break something, and if it helps the team, all the better!”

Mao stepped forward, his hands in his pockets. “Finally, some action. Just busting a statue, is it?” His mechanical arms roared to life, ready for some industrial-scale disassembly. “No sweat.”

The Chalk Prince, the Fallen Child, the Skeleton, and the Skullgirl

Location: Frozen Highlands - Snowdin
Linkle’s @Gentlemanvaultboy, Frisk’s @Majoras End, Papyrus’ @Dark Cloud

With Treat feeling quite a bit better, more welcome, and even a little wiser, the general mood of those basking in the cozy little household’s crackling fireplace was suitably warm and bright. While the goodwill was flowing, Linkle took the opportunity to request medical assistance for herself as well, and her host quickly assented. “Right, yeah, comin’ right up.” She performed her dance once more, and in a matter of seconds Linkle found herself suffused by the healer’s ether magic as well. Its reconstructive power knitted together her wounds and breaks, and though the pain of injury did not reach the Skullgirl as it once did, any chance to be whole once more was a welcome one. “Though you can forget about that ‘miss’ guff,” the cat-eared girl added with a casual smile. “The name’s Nia.” She glanced over at her big, fluffy companion. “I’m guessin’ Dromarch already introduced himself?”

“But of course, my lady,” the tiger replied with a polite bow of his head.

“So, you’re lookin’ for an internet, hm?” After laying her ringblades on the coffee table, Nia crossed her arms. “Well, I’ve ‘eard of an etha net, but I ‘aven’t seen one, and it wouldn’t be of much use on anythin’ but Blades anyway. As for an ‘ospital…” For a moment Nia and Dromarch exchanged a glance. Then the healer’s brows shot up, and she looked back. “Surely ya don’ mean Mount Massive? That en’t just some ‘ospital, it’s a flippin’ insane asylum! And from what I’ve ‘eard, it en’t empty, eitha!” Full of genuine concern, she searched the group as if for confirmation that they were serious. “You lot sure ya can’t find an internet anywhere else?”

The news left Albedo less than pleased. “Well, that seems far from ideal,” he admitted. “It really is rather important that we find one, and we can handle ourselves in a fight should it come to it, but if this facility is unable to assist us in this regard perhaps we should seek an alternative.” He took a deep breath, his face contemplative. “Rather than try our luck with additional points of interest scattered around the Highlands, perhaps it is past time I struck out beyond my comfort zone.”

He turned to look at Linkle. “To the northwest lies Dragonspine, a mountain from my home. It is where I spent most of my time back then, and when I am not in Snowdin, it is where I spend most of my time now. On clear days, I can look out from its heights across the ocean, past the floating obelisk you mentioned before, and see a sprawling cityscape upon the water. A city of frozen canals and great arched bridges, and buildings shaped like pumpkins with icicles the size of trees hanging from their frosty witches’ hats. The size and distance of the place are somewhat…well, intimidating. Only once did I seek out a boatman, and though I did not enlist his services, I did learn the city’s name.” As he spoke, he produced his sketchbook, and after some flipping arrived at a two-page that he then turned on Linkle in all its glory.

“Edinburgh MagicaPolis.” If the Skullgirl wanted a closer look, he offered her the book for her to hold. “If what we seek is a product of what they call ‘advanced society’, surely we will find it there.”

Nia leaned herself against Dromarch, putting an arm around his neck and absently scratching his chest. “Well, good luck with all that, then! As for me, I’ll be stayin’ nice and warm at home, thanks!”

“Indeed,” Albedo offered a rare smile, even if the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “That said, that is but one possibility, and we cannot go anywhere until Treat’s well-being is assured”

“Oh! I’m fine!” the wolfgirl fretted, content to listen and not at all expecting that she’d be brought to the forefront of the conversation. “Please, don’t worry about me!”

The alchemist furrowed his brows. “Don't worry? After we found the house you’ve been squatting in has been haunted by a giant monster for who-knows-how-many months? Surely such a thing is only natural.”

“Well, you know..” Treat began.

“Listen for a moment, Treat,” Albedo cut in, his voice soft but stern. “You have been through a great deal, suffering in isolation and silence. But the way you are treating yourself is self-destructive. Almost prideful. All we want is to get you back on your feet, and to show you that you do not have to be alone. Seldom do I insist on anything, but if our efforts mean anything to you, please stop devaluing and effacing yourself, and accept the help of others, little though it is.”

“Exactly!” Nia just about exclaimed. “I mean, I don’t know for sure what you’ve been through, poor thing. That monster bit especially, that’s pretty freaky if true. But, take it from me, ya can’t run away forever. Sooner or later you’ll ‘ave to find where you belong, and there’s no shame if it takes someone else to teach that to ya. If it’s pride, swallow it. If it’s fear, face it. But whatever it is, it’s better than livin’ a lie–even if that lie is just ‘everythin’s fine’.” She gave Dromarch a final scratch and pulled away to put her hands on her hips. “So, whaddya need, if ya don’t mind me askin’?”

Treat looked terribly uncomfortable, but also touched. Though she felt a hair’s breadth from melting away, she took a deep breath of her own, and pushed through. “W-well, I guess I need somewhere new to stay.”

“How ‘bout ‘ere?” Nia ventured instantly. “I mean, it’s nothin’ too special. Pretty quiet, nothin’ ever happens. But it’s nice, and Dromarch ‘ere is the best friend anyone could ever ask for.”

The tiger bowed his head. “You give me too much credit, my lady.” After regaining his posture, he fixed his temperate, azure gaze on Treat. “I must concur. I would be honored to extend to you my hospitality. It would also behoove my lady to make a friend near her age, as well.”

“Can’t force ya or anythin’, but it’s a pretty good deal, eh?’ Nia grinned. “Why not stay the night at least, see ‘ow ya feel? Not like ya got anywhere else to go, right?”

Treat mulled it over, but the fact that she wasn’t brushing off the offer said a lot already. As abrupt as this arrangement stood to be, it was true she didn’t have a lot of options. Between her chill but cordial fellow beastgirl Nia and the prestigious Papyrus, she already had a preference forming.

World of Light

Make sure to have Papyrus suggest the as much then, as well as why.