2018-03-09: A Number of Complications

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  • Log: A Number of Complications
  • Cast: Jean, Avril Vent Fleur, Lemina Ausa, Fei Fong Wong, Hiro, Dean Stark
  • Where: Meribia - Port District
  • Date: March 9th, 2018
  • Summary: A group appears in Meribia's Port District in the wake of the transportation effect that sent them from Filgaia to Lunar. Almost immediately they run into trouble. Lucia has a bad time of it. Ruby explains it all. Fei attempts to upset the apple cart. Rebecca and Avril try their hand at pantomime. Jean meets a fan. Lemina discusses a deal. Hiro gives piracy a try. Dean attempts diplomacy.

DG: A party led by Jean is now entering Big Trouble in Little Meribia.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
======================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>=======================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Stop Right There! *>=======================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 In a flash of silver light, you are whisked away from Filgaia, and appear in
 the middle of the port city of Meribia. Specifically, you appear in its
 marketplace: a bustling, busy place that is teeming with activity. Colorful
 stalls and tents have been placed up, where people sell handmade goods,
 leathers, and smithed tools and jewelry. Meribia is well patrolled, though,
 and the sudden flashes of silver light draw attention.

 From men and women wearing polished steel helms and breastplates, carrying
 spears. Low-ranking Guardsmen turn and stare in your direction, before one
 bellows: "Stop right there!"

 The chase is on!
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

The silver light brings them here, from where the Domain raged, from where everything was falling apart, and the Lord of Calamity roared.

It's clear, here; the Blue Star is visible high up in the sky, gorgeous, huge, and there is the peace of normal conversation, colorful tents, people again. To recap what happened then... Jean appeared with Lucia, still holding her up from where she'd caught her; Lucia was crying, and Jean started to set her down, to support her. The Fiends at least assembled nearby... But: There are complications, past this one, shining moment of peace.

Complication the first: They are very much not alone! This isn't a bad thing, though. ...At least, some of the not-alone isn't a bad thing, their being not the only ones brought here in this moment.

Complication the second: their cart has appeared out of nowhere here.

Complication the third:

..."Stop right there!"

Jean blinks, looks at Hiro. "Uhhh," she says, "...This is--"

An enterprising young man stares at them, noticing, much closer by. Specifically... He stares right at Jean. "Whoa..." he starts. "...Did it hurt, falling from heaven just now? How about we--"

Jean says "NOPE!" and shoves him towards the guards, sprinting the other way.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Twin Fans toward her party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

In the wake of mass destruction -- the shattering of a statue, the death of a Metal Demon, the pitched battle against Harken, the swelling mass of darkness -- it had been miracle enough to be roused and on their feet.

Thanks to Rebecca, and thanks to the intervention allowed by the Sea Medium.

Avril had been leaning on the younger girl as they walked across the destruction wrought on the platform.
Battle still raging in the distance.

Rebecca cast one glance back and immediately regretted it. "Ngh... Okay, okay... Just a little further. We'll head back and then we're getting out of--"

Rebecca's explanation of her plans had been cut short in a wash of white light.

CUT TO: Another busy market day, Meribia

Or perhaps not such an ordinary day, as silver lights shine brightly, setting Drifters ascatter the city streets. Avril stumbles, reaches out a hand, and neatly catches the falling Absolute Zero's 'hilt'. She stares at it in apparent astonishment.

Very quickly, other issues arise.
"Ah--?" She stares in bafflement as the group surges towards her.

The guards don't look as if they're very interested in being friendly, per se, though...

"Hey, are you alright?" Rebecca falls back a step to assist a blue-haired woman who seems to be experiencing some difficulties. Before her gaze settles on the advancing guards. "--Guys, uh-- do something!"
Avril does something.

"Lucadia, please..."

Avril invokes the full force of the Sea Guardian's power in the middle of a marketplace. Light shines brilliantly around her, gathering as the blessing of grace surges within her and her friends.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Materializing on Lunar gives Lemina only a few moments to feel like she really wants to go home before it turns into complete chaos. The Guard arrive, and the bounties on the Fiends -- save her, of course, who had only just taken up with them when they ended up off-planetoid -- have had time to percolate.

Jean immediately whips a dude at the guards before Lemina even really has the opportunity to make sense of anything going on except that she really wants to go home. That gets her newly focused, and she looks from side to side for a moment for something -- anything -- she can use to get away from the Guard.

... and, for that matter, actually keep up with Jean. Even her nice little sandals aren't that great for it.

The magess finds a handtruck at a nearby cooking supply stall and immediately begins using it not entirely unlike a makeshift skateboard, kick-kick-kicking away and rolling off. "Later!" she calls to the Guard, with an easy grin, as her sandal-clad feet kick-kick-kick against the ground.

DG: Lemina Ausa has used her Tool Chiro Sandals toward her party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

A memory plays in a theater. It's been played over and over again until even infinite memory struggles to keep up. Key moments...at least moments that felt they were key at the time... push themselves into the forefront. A young boy marvels at the blue and silver stars. He is told to find his mother. Memory ends. An innocent sin goes unobserved.

An eternal punishment begins.

The boy is in a desert. Is this right? Is this hazy? The boy sits in the sand. He feels the unyielding heat of the sun piercing down upon him. The harsh world welcomes him but its loving grip is despairingly tight. It's hard to breathe. His wing has been clipped.

He cries. That man. What did he say about guilt?

Guilty can be a strength too.

Nobody tells the boy that lesson. What is the purpose of a destroyer? Nobody answers that either.

And so the boy cries. He doesn't understand how this happened. He doesn't understand why this happened. All he understands is that he's to blame and now he is alone.

Or is he?

A shadow of a person passes over him. It's so hot. He can't see them directly, like shadows on the wall of a cave from a sun too bright. Survivors? It can't be so but he runs at them. He yells for them to wait. Wait! Hey! Don't leave me here! Wait!

They do not wait. They're gone. He sits down again. The tears come again.

But another shadow comes by. He looks over.

It's a woman.

You must be lonely here by yourself.

The light shines off her cross. The boy reaches for her hand, his heart suddenly at ease. He's found an unexpected salvation.

Fei...
Fei...!
FEI!

Fei's eyes snap open. Ruby hovers nearby, having been struggling to get his attention.

"We have to run, Fei!"

Ah, Fei's mind settles, so life gets back to normal. He jumps into the air, bouncing on Jean's poor fan's head and off of it to gain some distance from the guards. He does this all the time folks.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Lucia isn't the least bit calm. And while this really tugs at Hiro's heartstrings to leave this unaddressed. Complications are arising one - after another - after- and suddenly he can't stay near Lucia because he's having to get in front of her.

Rebecca falls in step to assist her and - "Yeah you you're elected to watch her!" As Ruby selects Rebecca. "You're friends with Dean and Avril right? Means you're definitely qualified!"

Ruby what do you imagine goes on between the three of them?

Hiro seems like he's trying to defuse the situation, "Hey fellas why don't we just calm down for a second so we can talk this out-"

Which is when someone in the crowd shouts, "Hey isn't that the Destroyer's Consort?!"

His face just locks up for a moment. Ruby anxiously goes up to Fei who seems a little out of it just kinda gently calling to him first. "Fei..." Which is when Jean shoves somebody. Ruby starts to wave her little pawsie. Fei...!" Right towards the Guards. "FEI!""WELL OKAY THEN- RUN!" "We have to run, Fei!"

And Hiro takes off in the opposite direction.

Ruby relieved that Fei is back with them darts off in another direction. And then she starts singing. It's a little off-key but not terrible. Where did she pick up that habit? From Odjn of course.

BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0wH4ZCdce0

/o~Gotta keep...
/o~One jump ahead of the breadline...
/o~One swing ahead of the sword...
/o~I burn only what I can't ignooorreee...

Suddenly the young man who ratted Hiro out suddenly yelps and runs - herded into the guards by several sudden tiny bursts of flame. This might have the effect of bowling them over again.

One might notice his posterior is notably blackened and smoking. A pink shape flits around to try to join back into them.

/o~(That's everything!)

DG: Hiro has used his Tool Ruby Being Helpful toward his party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Everything always happens so fast.

Dean had passed out the moment Harken had left the battlefield, right next to Avril. Eventually, he roused to Rebecca shaking the two of them in desperation, and soon found himself leaning on her other side as they trudged onward. But then light had swallowed up everything, and...

"*Waugh*," Dean utters, stumbling and wheeling his free arm as suddenly he and his best friends are on a completely different planet. Not unlike Avril, he catches himself with the combat rod in Twin Fenrir, of which he summons half. He blinks in total confusion at the marketplace and the chaos going on within, and at a guy trying to hit on a girl and getting thrown into a bunch of guards, and of guards chasing other people, and "Hey, I know that guy!" he says, pointing at Hiro. Then at Fei: "Hey, Fei!! You're here too?!"

Rebecca tells him and Avril to do something.

"Uhhh okay!!" he says, calling up the other half of Twin Fenrir, then shooting a patch of ice on the ground in front of the charging guards--whichever ones don't get a flaming jerkwad to the face, anyway--before Ruby nominates Rebecca to look after Lucia, and the power of Avril's Medium can wrap around them all.

DG: Dean Stark has used his Tool Freeze Ray toward his party's challenge, Stop Right There!.
======================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>=======================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Stop Right There! *>=======================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 In a flash of silver light, you are whisked away from Filgaia, and appear in
 the middle of the port city of Meribia. Specifically, you appear in its
 marketplace: a bustling, busy place that is teeming with activity. Colorful
 stalls and tents have been placed up, where people sell handmade goods,
 leathers, and smithed tools and jewelry. Meribia is well patrolled, though,
 and the sudden flashes of silver light draw attention.

 From men and women wearing polished steel helms and breastplates, carrying
 spears. Low-ranking Guardsmen turn and stare in your direction, before one
 bellows: "Stop right there!"

 The chase is on!
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
=================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 1 *>==================
========================< Results - Stop Right There! >=========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Twin Fans                           2   Agility Effects: Quicken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Chiro Sandals                       1   Agility Effects: Cleanse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Ruby Being Helpful                  2   Agility Effects: Resilient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Freeze Ray                          2   Agility Effects: Quicken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    0 --(5)--> 5                   Pass
Sea Medium                          3   Agility Effects: Fanfare
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        0 --(20)--> 20                 Pass
Conditions: Bad Luck(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)|Resilient(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Jean has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management
commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean of course starts running fairly quickly. But the whole group is working on it. Avril's Medium brings a brilliant light to speed all of them up; Rebecca takes over helping Lucia, which Jean looks back at and considers that, looking back just for a moment--but keeping up with Jean is a difficult matter. Even if she does make a stop by their cart and pick up her own pack, slinging it over her shoulder like it isn't heavy. There's a clink of glass.

Lemina's skateboarding works entirely well, somehow. The Guard complain, "H-hey!" as two of them are knocked over by a dude, "Halt!! Consort to the Lord of Calamity!" at Hiro. Fei... bounces off a guy's head, and gets going. The guards are bowled over again by fire. And Dean, following Rebecca's orders, leads to a bunch of guards slipping and sliding in the ice.

The result? The group gets some serious distance. "--This way!" Jean suggests, darting down an alley. ...For some reason, does Jean know the layout? Or is it just coincidence?

DG: Hiro has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Sealed Filgaia Door *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 3          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You run down one of the narrow (though not narrowest) alleys cutting through
 Meribia's market. As you do, there is a flash of silver light in the air
 ahead of you. Then, a massive, slate-grey stone door appears before you in a
 flash of light... brought directly from one of the interior buildings of the
 Pleasing Garden. You need to do something about it quickly, because the
 guards are hot on your heels.
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


The crowd at this time of day is thick and they're definitely at a disadvantage pushing through people. Which is why as soon as a way out of this is sighted by Jean, Hiro instantly follows her lead, "Good thinking Jean!" Pushing through a few more people - "Excuse me! Sorry! Believe it or not we're trying to save the world!"

Before he skids to a stop at the opening of a narrow alleyway and starts waving, "Go go go!" As he allows everyone else to go first. Ruby flies right out of that. Haha - those ~losers~ will never catch up to us n-

And then in a flash of light the alleyway is suddenly blocked by a giant block of stone that materialized not only blocking their path but inside the adjacent buildings and extends higher than the buildings are tall. Ruby almost careens right into it.

"OH COME ON! WHY COULDN'T LUCIA HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC ON WHAT SHE SENT BACK WITH US!?"

"Well it's not her fault-!"

The shouts of "THIS WAY!" are starting to get real close...

"No time to double back - FEROCIOUS WINDS!" A squall wind current careens into the top of the slab, starting to cause it rock... as wood around it starts to twist and warp... maybe he's hoping that it'll tilt just enough to create a big ramp for them because frankly he's not sure that anything would topple all this over.

DG: Hiro has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei jumping one people's heads is pretty normal, Jean. Don't worry about it.

"So I guess I'm going to be an outlaw here too, huh Ruby?" Fei asks of his friend. "Maybe I should go and start wearing an eyepatch like Bart so I can look the part on top of everything." He looks up at the sky for a moment, slowing down as he gapes. Not even the sky here is safe.

He shakes his head quickly and adds, "It's fine," to Ruby. "I have a bone to pick with the Pleasing Gardens."

Fei grips at something within his pants pocket and gestures forward with the other arm.

His eyes narrow as he unleashes a great blue and red tinted beam of energy for the darn thing.

He shakes his hand out after and adds, "Hey...I don't see Elly. Or Leon or Lily." He frowns and looks over to Dean. "Oh Dean!" He brightens. "You're here too!! Welcome to the moon, buddy!"

He nods to his fellow amnesiac as well but both of his hands are busy right now apparently.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Mother's Cross toward his party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Skateboarding has a great track record of flouting authority and a slightly worse one of going through doors.

Unfortunately, the latter is now also a problem.

Lemina skids to a stop on her handtruck mere inches from the door, calling to Ruby, "I don't think old stuff works that way!!!" before planting her feet on the ground and starting to chant. She doesn't really want to just blow up a bunch of Guardsmen, as satisfying as it would be to do just that -- at least not as her *very* first act since getting back.

So instead, she directs a massive burst of energy directly at the door. She feels alarmingly vital back on Lunar, compared to the way she felt in Heldalf's Domain especially, and it shows in her magic -- frankly, this amount of fire is unnecessary.

She glances back to Dean and Avril, giving a quick wave with the hand she isn't using to direct her magic. Then, to Fei: "So, hey, do you still have, uh..." crap what did she call it "The... schmooples... condition? Or are you feeling okay?" Man, it's been a long time since that. The Lacour Tournament of Arms was a hell of a thing.

DG: Lemina Ausa has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

Perhaps for a fleeting second as Rebecca makes eye contact with Ruby, there is a silent expression of commiseration between the two of them.

Perhaps.

Lucadia's power swirls around Avril and her friends -- Lucia included -- bringing the wounded party rather rapidly -- with an entire wrenching leap ahead -- forward. At that point -- between the various distractions well in hand -- it's simply a matter to run.

Into the alleyway, where a door awaits.

Avril stops up short, staring at it.

"I, hmm. Is that not the..."

Isn't that the door that blocked their way into the depths of the Pleasing Garden? Maybe?

"...There is Malevolence here," she states, her expression switching tracks from surprise to something far more grim.

Which is then followed by: "This is the moon?"
Surprise makes a shocking 11th hour recovery.

She turns a glance back over her shoulder, hair fluttering with the suddenness of the movement. "...And there is no time to spare. Very well."

Which is probably why she grips Absolute Zero tight and makes those few sudden steps towards the door.
There's briefly a flash of light as the laser beam whip discharges itself.

The whole effect is even only slightly undermined by the part where Avril stumbles and sags against a wall on the follow-through.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Dean doesn't quite know what's going on, but he has friends in the group that's getting chased, and Rebecca's looking after their blue-haired friend, so obviously he runs after Jean and the others when Jean calls for them to run. Adrenaline gets him more alert, gets him moving, gets him to forget that he's still a wreck after fighting Harken--though at least battle healing means he's no longer bleeding everywhere. However, when they turn a corner, they soon encounter... Door.

"Yeah, I am!" Dean beams back at Fei, still worked up on adrenaline. (He's going to have a monster headache later, very probably.) Then he blinks. "Wait, what? The *moon*? We're on the *moon*??"

Lemina's question, even if it's aimed towards Fei and not Dean, only earns her an even more blank, puzzled look. "The... schmooples condition?? Huh???" Then Dean decides that, rather than pondering extremely confusing things, there is a *door*, and he has a *shovel*, and it's time to start *digging* before those guys chasing them *catch up*. "Whatever!!" he thus decides, reaching back and raising up White Fenrir triumphantly. "Let's get through this door already!!"

Even if it does have Malevolence, according to Avril. But can Malevolence stand up to... *a shovel*??? Time to find out!

DG: Dean Stark has used his Tool The Trusty Shovel toward his party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean is worried about Lucia, all right--so when she skids to a stop in front of the sudden door, she grimaces. "Oh, come on--" And then Ruby complains, "It's not--" Lemina throws fire. Jean leaps back from the door. "W-whoa," she says, and still feels the heat on her face. THat was sure close. "You must be happy to have your magic back..."

"I'm not sure where they are," Jean admits, "But I'm sure you'll find them--it looked like that got most everybody who was close... But didn't bring them all to the same place." She glances back at Dean and Avril and Rebecca and then looks to the door again, frowning. Fei has... beams. That's nice. Beams are nice. Jean just frowns anotehr moment as she considers. And then--the talk of--

"...Huh," Jean says, about Malevolence. She watches Avril--"Hey--you okay? Here, let me help you." She walks over to Avril to offer her a shoulder. "...Hey, I've got..." She reaches into her bag, and starts pulling out some Berries. "You guys look kinda wrecked--for good reason. Take some of these."

DG: Jean has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sealed Filgaia Door.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Sealed Filgaia Door *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 3          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You run down one of the narrow (though not narrowest) alleys cutting through
 Meribia's market. As you do, there is a flash of silver light in the air
 ahead of you. Then, a massive, slate-grey stone door appears before you in a
 flash of light... brought directly from one of the interior buildings of the
 Pleasing Garden. You need to do something about it quickly, because the
 guards are hot on your heels.
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 2 *>=================
======================< Results - Sealed Filgaia Door >=======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                5 --(7)--> 12                  Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         5 --(7)--> 12                  Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                5 --(7)--> 12                  Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
Mother's Cross                      4   Brute   Effects: None
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          5 --(5)--> 10                  Pass
The Trusty Shovel                   2   Brute   Effects: Stalwart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    5 --(7)--> 12                  Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        20 --(10)--> 30                Fail
Conditions: Madness
Effects:
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Jean has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management
commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"WELL HOW DOES IT WORK THEN LEMINA!? BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ONLY SETTING OLD THINGS SEEM TO HAVE IS ONE THAT MAKES OUR LIVES MORE DIFFICULT!"

But then Fei on being a criminal snaps Ruby out of shouting, "No-! Of course not Fei you have to think positive!" Ruby chirps but then the thought occurs to her, "But I'm positively sure that if you keep hanging with us you will be soon."

"Don't worry about it! I'm sure that as soon as Leo reports in that Lucia isn't the Lord of Calamity that everything is going to be straightened out!" Oh Hiro you naive fool.

Fei has a bone to pick with those Elw ruins, "Huh really!? Well don't hurt yourself! I mean that things gotta weigh-" And then Fei totally unleashes a martial arts energy beam at it, "... Whoa!"

"But hey Fei - I think if this is here then Elly has to be right? She was definitely caught up in the light that sent us here." He can't weigh in on Lily or Leon, but he assumes that they probably were since Bart was around too.

Lemina directs a giant blast of flame. This much fire creating a massive pressure wave of an explosion that shatters stone.

Dean and Avril ask if they're on the moon - "Yeah! We're on Lunar. This is Meribia - at least pretty sure! I read about it... lots of great heroes from our world have been in charge of this city." But the mention of malevolence makes him feel a little nervous. Given who's nearby in Rebecca's care...

A laser beam whip scours the door in that moment and Hiro steps back. "Whoa! That's kind of like Leon's Argent Divider... amazing Avril!" Except that was a laser sword out of a gun and this is a whip but... Jean takes the time to support Avril, which allows her to keep whipping that stone door into shape.

And then Dean shovels it.

And the stone slab rocks precariously at the motion. It lifts up just slightly - slightly.

And then crashes back down flat in defiance. It's charred, chipped, exploded... but it still stands.

The shouts of the Guards grow more urgent as their footsteps come - "Well that didn't work-" "WELL HURRY AND CUT AROUND IT - DUH!"

As the dust further clears it shows that either side of the alley has been ruined. The party quickly works to smash through one of the sides as they work there way through - then around.

"I feel like there's some kind of lesson to be learned about taking revenge on inanimate objects Fei..."

Ruby says when they're all clear and running on the other side.

"...just saying."

DG: Fei Fong Wong has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Is That a Shortcut? *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 1          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You bolt down one of the rows of stalls, the shouts of the guards still not
 too far behind. As you do, one merchant pokes his head up, then points down
 a shadowed alleyway. "Quick!" he calls out. "That way!"

 But should you really trust him?
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Hopefully their next path around will be a little faster... and fortunately for everyone involved, Lemina's years of doing business in Meribia (and crashing out the enchantment industry for a good year or two) mean she has some connections!

Some... pudgy, glasses-clad connections.

Oh no.

Ramus Burg, a descendant of the slightly more legendary Ramus Farmain, waves Lemina and her friends over -- but seems mostly interested in the premier herself. "Hey! Lemina! How's the bet going?" he asks, gesturing the lot of them over toward his storefront. "I haven't seen you in like a year! I thought I was gonna win by default..."

Lemina takes a deep breath. The fluff of her hair droops slightly. "Ramus," she says, with the utmost class and dignity. "... Ramus." She scrunches up her nose. "I've got enough money with me to renovate one of the houses in town, or fix all the windows in the guildhouse! The Blue Star's pretty mega-bountiful!"

amus is SHOOK. "Oh. Well, we're doing pretty well here, too. We've got a... heheh... hot, new item. We just can't sell it until Althena's Guard eases off a b --"

"THAT'S NICE RAMUS. WE ARE LEAVING," Lemina declares.

"... Take the alleyway behind my shop. There's a sewer access behind it, too," he offers, a little awkwardly. "But remember! The bet!"

Lemina resists the urge to roll her eyes, and says, "Yeah, yeah..."

Leading the Squad (tm) behind the building and into the alley, Lemina explains, "That's Ramus. ... don't tell him I legally can't get married ever, he'll die and also I'll lose out on like 50,000 silver," as if that explains absolutely *everything* that just transpired.

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina pops her reading glasses on while they're in the alleyway, perhaps in the hopes of looking like a different, unrelated very magical blonde.

DG: Lemina Ausa has used her Tool Reading Glasses toward her party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong says, "Avril's right. The malevolence is thick even here. Does it affect every city or are we just that lucky...?" He smiles at Ruby. "Haha...sorry, I'll think positive. And don't worry, if being wanted by the Guard is the price, I'll pay it." He seems to be in a good mood despite everything, though that malevolence makes him uneasy. Hopefully they can find a nice place to hideout in the city. Or maybe live off the land. He's not sure he likes the idea of living in a city if the sky around it is going to be like this.

"Anyway," He says, to Lemina. "I'm actually feeling a lot better. Whatever you gave me worked wonders and I haven't needed it since. I mean, i still feel down periodically, but it hardly ever feels 'crippling' anymore. I think."

He pauses as the door isn't...even broken down, but there's still enough to squeeze by.

"I'm sure there's a lesson," Fei admits. "It's 'Don't go to the Pleasing Gardens'."

Pause. "No offense, I mean. I'm glad you can be back home now just...I feel like there had to have been another way."

After that, they pass by Ramus Burg. A merchant who seems to ...know Lemina? He grimaces, though. It seems that he has a one sided affection for the woman. He approaches Ramus and places a hand on his shoulder sympathetically.

"Thank you, Ramus. I hope..." He sneaks Ramus a tied up key item that can be purchased at the end of Dreamchasers for an unfortunate amount of money. "...That you find happiness."

He doesn't even give Ramus his name as he keeps moving on.

GAVE AWAY LEMINA BROMIDE 4

"Is everything a He alright?" Fei asks of Jean. He didn't see the frown, but--he seems to have noticed something may have been off.

He munches on berries.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Artist's Toolkit toward his party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Dean looks suitably impressed when Hiro explains that, yes, Dean, they are totally on the moon. "Woah!! I never thought... *Really*?? Wow...!"

Sadly, digging doesn't go well--he attempts to dig under and then use his shovel like a lever, but honestly, that'll take forever and they only have so much time. The door just falls back down, too, despite everyone's best efforts. At least the others sides of the alley are busted, and they can crash through *that* way. However, their lead has just shrunk. If only they knew which way to go next!

An old guy waves them over.

Dean doesn't know who that is, but he's following the rest of everyone else, so he trots over when Lemina does. He blinks between her and Ramus, understanding none of this; however, when Ramus tells them about the alleyway, Dean gives him a smile and a wave. "Thanks, mister! That's a big help!"

Once they're out of earshot, Lemina shares her sordid secret. Dean continues to not understand as evidenced by the fact that he asks, "What... does that have to do with anything?"

DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"Ain't that the truth..." Ruby agrees when it comes to the Pleasing Gardens. "Yep! If we're not behind bars by the time night falls - just look up! You'll see how your world looks all the way from here Dean!"

Hiro looks back frantically to check on Lucia as they work there way through. She's still pretty broken up and he doesn't understand why.

That's a feeling that just stays with a guy.

And then there's Ramus. Hiro just squint as Lemina names him. Then opens his Grandpa's journal to the section on an excerpt about a Dragonmaster. "Well hey - that's right his ancestor was a friend to Alex!" He seems cheered up immediately, "Well that means we can definitely trust him." He says as he snaps it shut decisively.

"I don't think that means he's trustworthy Hiro."

"Why wouldn't it? Hey thanks!" As he suggests a way out. "You're friends with the guy Lemina? That's great! You'll have to introduce me for real later..." "Why are you geeking out over that total twerp Hiro!? At this rate you might as well propose marriage-"

But when Lemina explains that he totally misunderstands it, "Lemina... you're not allowed to get married?" He says this as if a little taken aback, "... If you love the guy then you know you can tell him anything. The way I see it love can overcome anything."

Ruby hisses and starts to whisper, "No Hiro-! She's totally leading the guy on and conning him out of loan money!" Hiro's mouth goes wide for a moment as he digests that - "Oh." "I mean seriously can you see Lemina marrying that guy? Get real. Her standards have to be higher than that! I mean not much higher."

"...Well I mean... she's an Ausa... so that makes sense. But doesn't Ramus' Faramin's descendant at least come close to qualifying?" "You are so clueless about women Hiro!"

DG: Hiro has used his Tool Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook toward his party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"Alex?" Fei says. "The Dragonmaster's name... was Alex?"




"...What's a dragonmaster?"

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"Oh yeah! He was the last Dragonmaster until Althena brought Ghaleon back from the dead." He definitely doesn't sound suspicious of that at all, like he just thinks it's great.

"It'd take a long time to talk about it but basically they're Althena's greatest champion! They're a big deal, like the Shepherd."

"Fei-Hiro history lesson later! More running now!"

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

Her eyes widen. "So this is Lunar..."

Still, it seems to be a point of fact that she's taking relatively in stride. Rebecca is, to judge by expression alone, having a harder time with this.

Naught but the 'hilt' remains in Avril's grasp; she breathes hard for a moment, the world seeming to swirl in a blur of white and purple-red. "Ha..." If she hears what Ruby says next, she doesn't respond to it.

There's so much of it. It's as if, for a moment, she's about to drown in it.

"I am..."

Jean has asked after her. As if by response, Avril straightens, sliding away from -- but not entirely upright -- against the wall. "Oh? ...Thank you. We had... yes. It was a difficult situation." She accepts the berries, her blue-eyed gaze sliding over to Dean.

Blood. His blood, as he'd fallen in front of her.

Her heart had frozen over.

The door fails to come down.
But the walls do.

One breath. Two. Avril waits no longer, the energy from the heal berry already giving strength to weary bones. "Rebecca-- Dean--"

They need to go. Something about those Guards gives her a bad feeling.

So they move, until the point where a man calls them over, glasses glinting briefly in the light.
The confusion on Avril's expression doesn't need words to be communicated. She just glances between Lemina and Ramus, as if attempting to come up to speed on what's going on here in a hurry.

"...You cannot?" Avril asks, as if the concept befuddles her.
...Or is familiar, somehow?

"...Regardless, I feel as if are able to trust him, no matter what his motives may be. Let us hurry. I believe those guards may gain on us soon."

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"Yeah," Jean agrees, "These guys are really great at getting into trouble. It struck me too when I started travelling with them... But it's too late now, right?" She laughs. It's a little forced, given the situation, but only a little. But Jean, too, keeps looking back at Lucia thoughtfully now and then. She lingers in the dancer's mind--what she's crying about, what's wrong, what's bothering her. But...

But then they have... connections. Ramus shows up, and Jean lifts an eyebrow. "A bet?" she asks, looking between the two. The hot new item... conernsher, a little bit, until--

Lemina talks about the bet and Jean cringes. "Ugh. Don't say the m-word around me. Even thinking about marriage makes me break out," she complains. "You can do whatevr, but..."

Jean, of course, doesn't seem to have that much of a problem with the bet, such as it is. Instead, Fei asks if everything's all right and Jean shakes her head. "...It's fine. I've just got a lot on my mind. I hadn't expected to get... here, for a lot longer."

She groans a little as Hiro keeps going. "It's not about qualifying," she says. "But seriously..."

Avril seems to be doing a little better, but Jean sticks near her regardless, just shaking her head over this whole situation. "Yeah, we might as well listen to him."

DG: Jean has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Is That a Shortcut?.
======================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>=======================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Is That a Shortcut? *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 1          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 You bolt down one of the rows of stalls, the shouts of the guards still not
 too far behind. As you do, one merchant pokes his head up, then points down
 a shadowed alleyway. "Quick!" he calls out. "That way!"

 But should you really trust him?
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
=================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 3 *>==================
=======================< Results - Is That a Shortcut? >========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                12 --(10)--> 22                Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         12 --(5)--> 17                 Pass
Reading Glasses                     2   Wits    Effects: Resilient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                12 --(5)--> 17                 Pass
Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook             2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       10 --(5)--> 15                 Pass
Artist's Toolkit                    2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          10 --(10)--> 20                Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    12 --(5)--> 17                 Pass
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        30 --(20)--> 50                Pass
Conditions: Madness|Secret(2)
Effects: Enlighten(1)|Resilient(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Jean has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management
commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"Actually you're both wrong," Lemina says to Hiro and Ruby, once they're deep in the alleyway and Fei has Ramus distracted anyway. "We have a bet about who's going to, you know. Fix their failing family business first." A pause. "Not -- not that mine's failing! It's mega-great! But. The. The town. Uh." This is rapidly getting away from her as they sneak through the alleyway.

Avril gets a nod. "Yeah. Guild leaders in Vane don't... do the thing. You have a secret affair and have at least one kid, more if you actually, like, mega-like your partner but you only... hhhaaaaave to have the one."

The sneak down the alleyway is essentially uneventful. It's honestly kinda nice.

Ramus graciously thanks Fei for something that Fei had better hope never gets traced back to him.

Lemina, meanwhile, scoots subtly toward Jean. "Yeah, exactly! Besides, secret relationships are mega-more fun to think about than... that."

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro seems happy to be corrected. To have more understanding of the situation between Jean and Lemina.

"Well you'll definitely win that one but- ... what's an affair?" "NOONE EXPLAIN THAT TO HIM!"

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Dean nods at Ruby and her advice, eyes sparkling at just the thought of the sight of Filgaia hanging in the sky like an aqua pearl. "Wow... I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks for the tip!" Pause. "Wait, behind bars?! Are we doing something illegal?!"

Oh, Dean.

But Rebecca and Avril don't look like they're having a great time with it. Rebecca at least has Lucia to distract her--plus, with Avril, there was that Incident where she turned so cold again... Dean focuses in on her, most likely to Rebecca's infinite dismay, and meets her eyes with a look of concern. "Avril, you okay? I mean, after that big fight and all, too..."

Regardless, the group moves on. Dean nods in agreement with Avril's assessment, then gives Jean a curious look. "You're not into romance stuff?" he asks, genuinely interested--he's always had the impression that marriage was something you Had To Do when you were old enough, something he hasn't been looking forward to. "Wow, I thought all girls did! Then again, Avril doesn't seem interested in that stuff, either. Maybe it's just Rebecca..."

"I-it's perfectly normal for girls my age!" Rebecca protests, seizing onto anything to focus on over the fact that they're on the moon.

"Ehehe..." Dean rubs the back of his head, then looks back at the others. After a moment, he wonders, "But what *is* an affair?"

"N-never mind!! You don't need to know that, Dean!!" Rebecca snaps, blushing scarlet.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Apple Cart *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 1          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 As you round the next corner, you find that some idiot has moved a huge cart
 full of apples right in front of your path! The shouts of the guards aren't
 far behind, so you need to smash it aside. On the upside, though, free
 apples.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"...Hey, it's alright." Fei says. "We can get outta here." IT IS A SECRET THAT WILL LAST TILL THE END OF DREAM CHASERS MUSH.

"Well," Fei says. "An affair--"

RUBY INTERRUPT.

"--is an event or sequence events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to." He continues stoically. This technically counts as a definition.

Nevertheless, Fei adds, "Well, a bet's a good way to get motivation I guess." He keeps walking and adds, however. "Why is it like that?" Fei asks of Lemina. "I mean, any reason why besides tradition?"

And suddenly an apple cart rolls up in front of the alleyway... "Is it...a trap?!"

No, it's just a man with a horse driven cart, suddenly deciding to take a break here and go off to one of the local item shops.

The guards shout in the background as Ramus tries to stall for time but Fei looks to Jean, then to Ruby, and he nods once.

"We have no choice." He says.

                                 BONUS STAGE

A timer ticks down in the center of the screen as Fei gets a punchin'.

Man, Fei thinks to himself. It seems like it's up to him to show Dean and Hiro the ropes later.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Apple Cart.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"Why wouldn't we tell them..." Lucia is still distraught but she says bitterly, "A fair is like a festival... a place of joy..." That final part seems to make her start sobbing anew against blushing Rebecca. Maybe it's the joy part.

"I'm... not sure that's it Lucia. H-Hey... it's going to be okay.." "She still takes things way too literally!" And he seems even more puzzled by Fei's definition. "I don't get it." "You don't need to!"

Ramus stalls for time, "What a guy..." Hiro says as he keeps running - and there is definitely a cart in the way. "Uhhh. You're right. No choice I guess." Unsheathing his sword - Ruby says, "Wait - wait!" Ruby swoops down, and snatches an apple like a hunting falcon before pulling up. "Okay continue!" As she starts to munch.

And Hiro just starts chopping - "Feel kind of bad about this... hope he has insurance." "Hiro only Filgaia has that!"

"Oh."

CHOP-CHOP-SMASH!

"Then I hope Bernadelli gives him a good deal when they make it here."

He must take it for granted that capitalism's spread to this world is inevitable.

DG: Hiro has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Apple Cart.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Rebecca opens her mouth, shuts up, and then just pats Lucia's shoulders awkwardly. This keeps her occupied for a while.

Dean meanwhile skids to a halt when the group nearly runs headlong into an apple cart. "Hey, mister! Can you move your--oh." This is him turning to shout at the cart-person when he turns and realizes the cart-person has already wandered off to do god knows what. Why would they leave their cart in the middle of the road, though?!

"Maybe we can push it out of the way or someth--Fei that's not what I meant!!" Dean protests as Fei immediately starts to beat the cart up. He grimaces when Hiro follows suit after Ruby grabs herself an apple. "Oh, man... Sorry, Mister Cart Guy!!"

And then he, too, calls up Twin Fenrir to smash up the cart. But he feels *really bad* about it, honest.

DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Apple Cart.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean watches Lemina for a moment, listening about... Well, what she's saying. Without using the words. Jean 'hmms' a moment as they sneak down, and when Lemina sneaks towards her, she glances her way with a little smile. ...There's a little distance but it's not os bad. "...You think so?" Jean says. Then there's a beat as she adds, "Pretty much being ourselves is illegal on Lunar," she mentions to Dean. But...

Dean is interested. Jean glances to him, and shakes her head. "Not really. Not like people usually want to think about, anyway. I get people trying to get me into it, but... It's just not my thing."

Rebecca protests and Jean laughs, "Yeah it's not so bad. But--oh, an affair is--"

Ruby interrupts. Fei, of course, goes for the non-definition. Jean, however, looks to Ruby and grins. "Oh, you don't want me to say...?"

...Lucia answering sort of takes the wind out of Jean's intent though. ...There is, however, an apple cart... And it needs to be...

Jean winces. "Sorry," she says, and... joins Fei. She starts smashing it too. It's terrible.

"Oh yeah, an affair is--" Drowned out by the sound of smashing is Jean's answer.

DG: Jean has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Apple Cart.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Looks like it's time to upset the apple cart! Like, literally.

Lemina decides to humor all requests not to explain anything to sheltered boys and moves directly to her true favorite activity: casual theft! As Fei starts to punch a cart for exactly 30 seconds, Lemina... decides to take the moment to eat, instead. Like, she could help bust up the cart and create a big ol' commotion, but honestly, the truth of the matter is that dumplings are better than flowers and apples are better than dumplings.

They have time, anyway! Ramus is great at talking to the Guard and convincing them that nothing is wrong and everything is fine. ... or at least, he was two years ago. She thinks.

She decides now is a great time to just watch Jean work, for sure. She takes another bite of apple. It's extra delicious today.

DG: Lemina Ausa has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Apple Cart.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

Avril... hesitates, gazing at Dean with an expression that could be called, at best, faintly haunted. She shakes her head though -- whether at whatever thought is plaguing her or at his question is perhaps at for now unanswered.

"We... should rest, when we are able. Are you alright, Dean...?"

Heal berry or not, she still feels as if she's swam an ocean. Her body aches with the action of hurrying through the streets.

Still, there are the little things.

"Is that 'something that all girls do'? Hmm, I was not aware that was so," Avril says, as if trying out this idea for size.

She furrows her brow with the effort.

"Dean, Rebecca... I have been meaning to ask, speaking of the matter at hand. What is 'a marriage'?"

In the background, probably: Rebecca dying young.

She probably doesn't know what the term 'an affair' means, either. It's been about a year, but there are still some scattershot facts of day-to-day life that Avril... doesn't know about.

Nevertheless, they round a bend as they make their way towards the promised destination, only to find themselves face to face with a cart.
An apple cart.

"...Must we?" she asks of Fei as he charges in.

In the distance: jingle jingle jingle. Their lead is only by so much.

"...Very well. Then, we must." The blade forms at the 'hilt' of Absolute Zero, and she takes a chopping swing at the cart soon after.
Time to... upset the apple cart.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Apple Cart.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Apple Cart *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 1          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 As you round the next corner, you find that some idiot has moved a huge cart
 full of apples right in front of your path! The shouts of the guards aren't
 far behind, so you need to smash it aside. On the upside, though, free
 apples.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 4 *>=================
===========================< Results - Apple Cart >===========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                22 --(12)--> 34                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         17 --(7)--> 24                 Pass
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                17 --(7)--> 24                 Pass
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       15 --(12)--> 27                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          20 --(7)--> 27                 Pass
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    17 --(12)--> 29                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        50 --(10)--> 60                Fail
Conditions: Madness|Save Point(1)|Secret(1)
Effects:
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Jean has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management
commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

The timer gradually ticks down. Despite Avril using ancient mysterious technology, this isn't just an apple cart--this is a REINFORCED apple cart. It's reinforced with Althena's Blessing and isn't going to yield that easily. Even Fei and Jean's kung fu does nothing! Nothing!!

Hiro and Dean hit it hard, but there's just a certain mega-something that's missing.

Or perhaps even a mega-something wouldn't work. Perhaps these apples are being sent off to star in 'I Wanna Be The Guy' (they're really more giant cherries).

Nevertheless, the time eventually hits zero.

"Ah! My cart!" The farmer says completely obliviously as he sits himself back down and just rides off into the distance. Fei stares at his hands.

"Is this what it means...to be a destroyer?"

"HEY! They're over there! In the opposite direction the merchant told us they ran off in! After them!" The guards shout.

"Yipes! Gotta go fast!" Fei gets a-running.

DG: Dean Stark has drawn a new Challenge.
======================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>=======================
============<* CHALLENGE - I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many! *>=============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 As you run down the street, the door to a tavern swings open. Then, a big,
 balding man in his forties with a potbelly stumbles out and bumps right into
 you. His face is red and his breath stinks of ale. He looks at you and
 shouts: "Hey! Why did you run into me! WHY I OUGHTA!" He raises his
 fisticuffs, drunkenly, and takes a swing!
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Dean enthuses to Avril. He doesn't realize this is because of adrenaline perking him up, or that he'll be laid out later one, once they're to safety and he's had a chance to calm down. The look on his face turns stricken, though, when Avril asks him what marriage is. "W-well--uh--that's when--uhhh--" He looks to Jean for help on this one, but... help is likely nowhere to be found. In desperation, he concludes, "R-Rebecca knows all about that stuff! Ask her!"

"DEAN STARK, DON'T YOU DARE PUSH THIS ON ME--"

And then that's Dean dashing down the street, past the nigh-indestructible cart after its rider rides it away. (In truth, he's a little relieved. No harm, no foul, right?) This causes him to run smack into a middle-aged guy with a pot belly and a face red from drink and breath stinking from drink and a hand full of drink, specifically, a bottle of liquor, half empty.

"Watch where yer goin', yew li'l punk!!" the drunkard roars, wobbling in the street, glaring at Dean and also the area five feet to all sides of him.

"Sorry! Sorry! Are you okay, mister?" Dean says, holding up his hands palm-forward.

"Okay?! OKAY!?! I'LL SHOW *YEW* OKAY!!!" the drunkard roars, and then starts flailing violently at the young man!

Dean also flails, but in a rather different way.

DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Avril asks what marriage is. Hiro looks nervously at Dean as Dean turfs that duty to Rebecca. Seeming relieved. But Ruby. Well Ruby has less shame. So after devouring the apple, dropping the core and licking her pawsies she starts in-"Well marriage is just about the most romantic thing Avril! You see when two people are very much in love... they decide they wanna be with each other forever and it's this ceremony where all your friends and family show up to watch you become united...

The cart takes off. And at Fei's declaration of time to go fast, Hiro nervously shouts, "WELL LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME TO MOVE ALONG!" "And then the night after the couple well shows their love to each other by-"

A light giggle, "-youuuuu know~"

Hiro is pretty grateful for the drunk, because his face can fry an egg. "Hey hey- he's not trying to start anything! Cut him some slack!"

Hiro has his sword back in his sheath by now. He's got a better idea anyhow. As the drunk starts flailing, he just tries to grab him from behind the neck, hanging onto him for a wild ride. Using one of the sleeper holds Jean taught him to try to apply a little pressure.

"Hey don't you bully Dean! Maybe you should cool off a little!"

DG: Hiro has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean is definitely no help about marriage. Dean looks to her when Avril asks and Jean just shakes her head. There's Rebecca trying to ask. Jean... Well, Jean can't quite help but sigh. "I'll... Explain later," she says with a sigh, before Ruby starts in and Jean sighs harder. "That's just... really, really not for me," she says with a shake of her head, and then looks--the cart is gone, of course--to the middle-aged guy. He has a half-empty bottle of liquor, and is... Super, super drunk. He's glaring all over, and flailing. It's--

"Hey--" Jean frowns at the drunk--Hiro climbs on, and then Jean looks to... the bottle, and thinks about it. And thinks about it.

"Hey," Jean says, "It's not nice to pick on people smaller than you." The dancer slips forward--and yoinks the liquor right out of the guy's hand, darting back and waving a hand. "I don't think so...!"

From that point, she just tips it back and starts drinking, dodging along until the guy gets tired. ...She doesn't... stop drinking, for a while.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Emergency Liquor toward her party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina is not *really* all that enthused about serving as the drunk tank for Althena's Guard, which she is about to do. ... on the other hand, it's interesting to know that the Guard's grip on Meribus is not yet strong enough to totally eradicate the tavern from public life, even after a year away.

Brushing her hair out of her face a little, Lemina says, "Yeah, ignore Ruby. Marriage is a way you involve Althena's Guard in your personal life for no reason and make a mega-huge deal out of who you love and how you love them! It's weird." Her nose scrunches up a little. ... though that might be liquorstink.

Then she says three quick words, turns away from the lumbering drunk, and freezes his feet to the street. She really doesn't feel like they have time for this. Just. Not at *all*.

DG: Lemina Ausa has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei frowns faintly.

"Can we uh." Ruby goes into marriage and how it's the most romantic thing ever and there's a ceremony and all your friends and family are invited.

"Can we maybe not...talk about weddings?" Fei says. "I don't really...have good experiences with weddings."

As everybody deals with the thug, Fei spins around on his heel and sees the Guard getting closer. "I'll hold them off!" He says as he jogs forward. "Hey!"

He draws out an RPS Badge. "I challenge you to an RPS Battle!"

The guards look perplexed. One asks, "What is... RPS?"

Fei gasps, placing one hand to his mouth and he rapidly goes into the details of the game. This should give you time to deal with this situation.

At least it's not talking about weddings and marriage. Fei's reason for disliking this kind of talk is a bit more ...

...

...mass murdery?

DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool RPS Badge toward his party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"Well I didn't say it had to be for everyone!" Ruby says to Jean. Before Lemina- "Hey don't ignore me!? Well excuse me if I don't want to become some ancient spinster just sitting in a cave hoarding piles of treasure and going Oh Woe is me!? Why didn't I just marry when I had the chance. Now I only have my piles of riches to console me at night..."

Ruby eyes Lemina more thoughtly, "Nevermind I think you'd actually consider that the good life. Shame you're not a dragon like me!"

But Fei's request. There's an undercurrent to it. Ruby had honestly expected Fei to back her up given how together she thinks him and Elly are. Instead though... the look on his face. Suddenly she just trails off, "Oh... Well... Sure Fei. Sorry."

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

He's fine.

What a relief, Avril thinks in passing, urging herself onwards in spite of limbs that feel as if they were leaden.
She'll probably reorient that thought later once they finally find a place where they can stop and rest and Dean likely collapses, but let's be honest: so will she.

Consequently, when Avril asks a rather embarrasing question about a common societal occurence:
She tilts her head to one side somewhat akin to a curious dog, a questioning glance turned Rebecca's way--

--And Ruby picks up the slack.
Avril appears to consider this for a long moment with care, thoughtfully analytical on the subject of love, living together, and... the rest of it.

"Ah, I understand. It is said that there are birds that mate for life. Then this is the same."
...It's really as simple as the birds and the bees to her, it seems, social aspect tacked onto it aside.

And it's here that perhaps the apple cart and its due spare further awkwardness for everyone concerned.
Though, just what is this cart made out of?

Unfortunately, the incident with the cart has lost them precious time.

"They've caught up with us," Avril observes, a frown flitting across her features. "Let's head--"
Left, she had been about to say.

Dean, rushing ahead, finds trouble.

"Dean?!"

He's already hurt, she thinks, racing forward as the drunken man takes a swing at him.

"Cease this at once!"

There's a sizzle as the beam whip erupts from the 'hilt', blazing in midair as Avril rounds on the man, weapon aimed nowhere but towards the sky above.
It's but a warning, nothing less.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Beam Whip Mode toward her party's challenge, I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many!.
======================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>=======================
============<* CHALLENGE - I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many! *>=============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 1          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 As you run down the street, the door to a tavern swings open. Then, a big,
 balding man in his forties with a potbelly stumbles out and bumps right into
 you. His face is red and his breath stinks of ale. He looks at you and
 shouts: "Hey! Why did you run into me! WHY I OUGHTA!" He raises his
 fisticuffs, drunkenly, and takes a swing!
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
=================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 5 *>==================
==============< Results - I'll Tell You When I've Had Too Many! >===============
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                34 --(5)--> 39                 Pass
Emergency Liquor                    3   Combat  Effects: Rally
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         24 --(5)--> 29                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                24 --(5)--> 29                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       27 --(5)--> 32                 Pass
RPS Badge                           3   Combat  Effects: Rally
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          27 --(5)--> 32                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    29 --(5)--> 34                 Pass
Beam Whip Mode                      2   Combat  Effects: Embolden
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        60 --(15)--> 75                Pass
Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Madness
Effects: Embolden(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Jean has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management
commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

"Listen, mister, I'm not trying to pick a fight here," Dean says in desperation while other people (Ruby) explain marriage and other other people (Fei) get as uncomfortable as Dean is right now. This doesn't stop the drunkard from flailing, but thankfully, Fei buys the group precious time by facing off against the Guard with an RPS challenge.

Then Hiro grabs the drunk from behind to minimize what damage he might do, and Jean steals the bottle right out of his hand, and Lemina freezes his feet to the ground, functionally incapacitating him as he half-bellows, half-bawls at Jean for stealing his drink.

"Don't look at him, just keep waiting while looking straight ahead," Rebecca's muttering to Lucia as she swiftly guides her past the scene.

Then Avril arrives on the scene, and she *doesn't* have a crying blunette to worry about. Instead, she just has a recently-injured blunette to worry about. Avril draws her blade and holds it aloft as a warning, but the pose she strikes is so grand--so imperious--that the drunkard takes one look at her, goes ghostly pale, and passes out while wetting his pants and frothing at the mouth.

...Too much, Avril?

*FWEEEEEET* "HEY, YOU LOT! STOP RIGHT THERE! STOP, I SAY!!"

...or maybe just enough! Fortunately, when Dean catches everyone's eye and nods to them, and everyone moves (rushes (dashes)) on, the Guard will be plenty delayed by the fact that this man who just got dumped in the street is very obviously and very *illegally* drunk. This will also give Fei time to slip past and catch up with the others. Phew...!

DG: Hiro has drawn a new Challenge.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - A Clever Disguise! *>=====================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You run into one of the large, open plazas of the market. Guards can be
 heard behind you, still shouting for you -- and there are also guards that
 appear on the opposite ends of the plaza, from the left... and then from the
 right! However, you catch something: a stall with rack after rack of local
 outfits. This may offer a way to blend in.

 Or look ridiculous.
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
DG: Dean Stark has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


The guards are coming. Fortunately this party is very fit - so they quickly get ahead of them again. Until they reach the town plaza.

And it's more sparse than usual because-

"Wait- wait stop!"

Hiro skids to a stop then looks down one way, then the other path out of the too bare plaza with only a few daring civilians milling about.

"This has gotta be a trap! I think they were herding us here!"

And as if to confirm that. Whistles start sounding in other directions. And numerous booted footsteps...

"If we get in trouble here..." Hiro gives Jean a look. It would mean the end of a lot of things for Jean.

"So then what do we do!? What do we do!?"

"Lemme think for a second-" Then he spies the unattended stall with all sorts of festive costumes, and two little gender divided wooden dressing rooms on either side. "... grab something! Anything! Then ... boys go left girls go right! Fan out after you change!" "Wait huh!?"

Hastily grabbing things off the racks, he then goes into the left dressing room, motioning Fei and Dean in, "C'mon!" "Hey wait! I'm going boys side too!" "Fine just hurry!"

-=-=-

Not too long after, Hiro steps out of the stall. He's got on a tricorne hat and a buccaneer's outfit with an elaborate sash. An eyepatch over an eye and a hook for a hand. Ruby meanwhile has a feather boa attached to both of her wings and draped over the side to hide her forelimbs. A small conical peg is fastened to the upper portion of her mouth.

Hiro meanwhile is thumbing through his notebook as he takes a casual position across the square, "Hiro... this is embarrassing." "C'mon Ruby. If we're not a little convincing we'll get caught..."

Coughing, he reads out of the book and tries his best to act like he's a native of this port town, "Yarr! If I wasn't three sheets to the wind, an old salt like me would be like to wonder what has the guards britches in a twist. Bah. Ain't none of my concern, right Ruby?"

Ruby is silent. Hiro nudges her. "Ain't that right Ruby"

Ruby rears up and flaps her little feather boa attached wings and makes a shrill noise, "SQUAWK! Ruby wants a fish! SQUAWK!"

"Hell Mel! Aren't you a hungry little devil?"

-=-=-

On the girls side, Lucia emerges with full military regalia with a cravat. A fake handlebar moustache. And a saber.

It looks a little like this: https://dreamchasers.space/File:Lucia_moustache.JPG

She still looks sad as she clings to Rebecca. But at least maybe now she can pass as a weepy drunk? Maybe.

DG: Hiro has used his Tool Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook toward his party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong grimaces. "No...no, I mean..." He shakes his head. "Sorry. I hadn't even mentioned. I had uh..." He trails off. "I had some friends back in Lahan who were, uh, yeah. When it happened."

But enough about that nonsense. Now is the time for wacky hijinks!

Fei stammers, "W...wait... Hiro are you serious? How are we gonna disguise Ruby? She is one of a kind." Pause. "Two of a kind. I...but...okay. Okay."

He exhales and steps into the stall himself.

When he comes out, Fei is no longer. He is once again Mei Mong Wong! He drew a pencil mustache on his face, is wearing a big poofy hat with a feather on it, and suddenly is holding one of those boards with a variety of paints on them in one hand and a paintbrush in another. He lets his hair down. The effect does not work for anyone except maybe the Althena's Guard.

Fei watches Hiro pirate talk. He thinks about the other pirates he knows.

"Huh." He says. "Good work, Hiro. Or should I say... Bart."

He smiles a little before frowning at Lucia.

"That mustache..is the wrong color." Is his only complaint.

DG: Fei Fong Wong has used his Tool Artist's Toolkit toward his party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Do they have whistles? Is that what's happening here? ...Regardless, Jean finishes off the bottle, and places it on the guy's collapsed form, dusting her hands. "Much better." ....The matter of marriage at least is dropped, thanks to Fei's trauma, and Jean reaches over to pat him on the shoulder, abrubtly in a much better mood after have a bottle of liquor just chugged outright.

So they get on ahead, and alcohol starts to pump through Jean's body, as Hiro mentions... a trap. That's--

Jean looks back to Hiro, and does look worried. "That's not a good thing..." But the costumes--Hiro mentions them, and Jean blinks for a moment. "Wait a..."

-=-=-

Jean steps out after Lucia, of course, dressed in the garb of a proper adventurer--long pants, a vest, a wide-brimmed hat. Her hair is down for the moment, and she grins over at Hiro. "Hey, what do you think?" she asks, her pack slung over her shoulder. "Not bad, right?" Browns, and whites, and...

No weapons, though. Of course there's no weapons. But she does have a lot of pockets. ...A lot of... heavy-looking pockets, for some reason.

Jean adjusts her hat. "Come on, let's get moving."

DG: Jean has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Skidding into a dressing room at Hiro's suggestion, Lemina pants exhaustedly, her hands resting on her knees. Even taking the time to eat some apples didn't really help her out that much... but this is about to make all the difference in the world. ... Hopefully.

Lemina scrunches her nose up after attempt one; the look is nice, but really not... well... Lemina just seems not to like the results. "Well this just... mega... hmmm." ... you know what, she's going to let it rock for now.

For her part... well... honestly Lemina's so fussy about her aesthetic that she ends up just throwing on a cloak and calling it good. Sometimes, the classics are best. Hiro, Jean, and Lucia know well this look -- and honestly, it kind of makes her look more threatening rather than innocuous...

... the glasses are a little bit disarming of the whole effect, though.

DG: Lemina Ausa has used her Tool Reading Glasses toward her party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

The defiant, grim figure that Avril presents -- bloodied clothing included, as it happens, blazing 'blade' thrust towards the sky -- doesn't last long.
Not when the man she was attempting to stop... collapses into a frothing heap at her feet. The beam whip's charge burns out, and she rather guiltily lowers Absolute Zero.

"Was that too much?" she asks aloud.

The sound of the guard on their tails, though, might just mean this is a question best left for later.

"Wait- wait stop!"

When so implored, Avril does just that, breathing hard for a moment. A questioning noise escapes her lips as she glances hither and yon across the square.

"Oh... it does seem that there are a number of them," she voices, lips tilting downwards in a decidedly unhappy frown. "If we go out there, we may encounter resistance. We should seek another way."

Another way. Another way, such as...

Something in Avril's gaze lights up. "A disguise? I see! We would be able to pretend as if we are attending the festivities ourselves. Rebecca, shall we?"

It goes without saying that Lucia comes along with them as they quickly dig through the clothing on offer, discussions flying as they deliberate, and quickly.

Lucia exits first, dressed as a military officer.
But what military officer is complete without a...
a...

Yes. Exactly.

No military officer is complete without their horse.

Here now exits from the stall an entire pantomime horse.

Briefly the front and back ends of the horse appear to be going in different directions.

"Careful! Try to keep together with me, okay?" Rebecca says, from the front of the horse costume. "We just have to get outside the city..."

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Clever Disguise!.
<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

Dean follows Hiro and Fei into the changing room, boys' side.

A moment later, he reappears in an outfit that's very similar to his usual... except he's sporting different colors, a big poofy sailor's hat, and, most importantly, his shirt is, shall we say, a few sizes too short.

"Ahhh!" he declares, beaming to the world at general, arms akimbo. "There's nothing like the feeling of sun shining on your tummy! Isn't that right, er, cap'n? Cap'n's??" So he says to Captain Hiro and Captain Fei, in all his bare-midriffed glory.

=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - A Clever Disguise! *>=====================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You run into one of the large, open plazas of the market. Guards can be
 heard behind you, still shouting for you -- and there are also guards that
 appear on the opposite ends of the plaza, from the left... and then from the
 right! However, you catch something: a stall with rack after rack of local
 outfits. This may offer a way to blend in.

 Or look ridiculous.
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia - Round 6 *>=================
=======================< Results - A Clever Disguise! >=======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                39 --(100)--> 139              Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemina Ausa                         29 --(100)--> 129              Pass
Reading Glasses                     2   Wits    Effects: Resilient
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hiro                                29 --(100)--> 129              Pass
Grandpa Gwyn's Notebook             2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fei Fong Wong                       32 --(100)--> 132              Pass
Artist's Toolkit                    2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Stark                          32 --(100)--> 132              Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    34 --(100)--> 134              Fail
Investigate                         0   Wits    Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Jean                        75 --(5)--> 80                 Fail
Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Madness|Stupify(2)
Effects: Enlighten(1)|Resilient(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Jean is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Lemina Ausa is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Hiro is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Fei Fong Wong is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Dean Stark is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Avril Vent Fleur is too exhausted to continue!
DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over.
DG: The party led by Jean has been fully Exhausted by Big Trouble in Little Meribia!
DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
=====================<* Big Trouble in Little Meribia *>======================
============<* CHALLENGE - Those Aren't Local Merchants At All! *>============
|Type: Landmark    |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 You manage to blend into the crowd and lose the guards... for a moment.
 However, one of them turns and looks right at you -- then cries out, "Wait a
 minute!" You've bought yourself some time -- but you'll need to run out of
 Meribia and let the heat die down a little, before you try returning. Maybe
 you should look at another town, first?
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


The moment Fei mentions Lahan, Ruby started to get it. Seeming a little aghast at herself as she waved her pink pawsies, "No no it's okay! It's really okay Fei! It's not your fault at all!" She doesn't even probe deeper because... well. Who would want to probe deeper about that given what she knows?

-=-=-

"S'right Skipper!" Hiro says to Dean before giving Fei a grin and a surreptitious thumbs up before whispering, "Nice one! You look like a proper artist!" "He's already a proper artist! I can't believe Fei has to see me like this..."

Whereas Jean gets a hook up rather than a thumbs up. "Perfect!"

And then Lemina. "Are you sure she won't be wanted for all that luring people into a ghost mansion back in Takkar?" But Fei's one criticism is a powerful one, and he finds himself looking at Lucia. Has a hard time looking away in fact. After a moment he clears his throat and adjusts his hat, "Uh. We'll say she dyes it to... look more... rugged. Where'd she get the horse t-"

And then Hiro really takes a hard look at it. "HUH!?"

Apparently while at the same time acting like she's 'not like the other girls' in how she went to the boys side. Ruby also feels a sudden solidarity in their mutual embarrassment, "... Well at least I'm not the only one making a butt of myself."

Hiro and the group start walking casual. And one of the guards abruptly says, "Hey you! Stop there!"

This is the same moment Rebecca and Avril in their horse costume split down the middle. One keeps walking without the other. The two hastily join back together.

For one moment the whole group sweats like they're going to get caught.

And then the guard walks up to Jean before murmuring, "I thought so! It's you! Hey I saw one of your shows! You were the best dancer I've ever seen! Hey after my shift is over I'd like to buy you a drink... we just have to catch a few rabblerousers first and..."

One of his friends walks up to Lucia instead. "Hey... isn't that mustache the wrong color?" Hiro blurts out, "AVAST! THEY BE DYING IT TO LOOK RUGGED!" He reaches out and peels it off. Going wide eyed- "It's the..."

-=-=-

Well we all know how it goes after that.

1 week later

The heat dies down just enough that rumors of the Lord of Calamity and their retinue coming to town are marked as greatly exaggerated. No Hellions popped up or anything right? Right. C'mon. It was obviously just some guards exaggerating as a PR stunt.

At least that's the rumor Ramus spreads around that finally works.