2019-06-12: Master, My Appearance is Down 10 Percent!
- Log: Master, My Appearances is Down Ten Percent!
- Cast: Kamui, Acacia Saitani
- Where: Thunder Plain
- Date: 12th June 2019
- Summary: Kamui and Acacia head to the Thunder Plains. What awaits them there...?
DG: A party led by Kamui is now entering Thunder Plains.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
=========================== <* CHALLENGE - The Everstorm *>========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The far borders of Guadosalam eventually give way to the barren rock of the
Thunder Plains. Here, the storm holds sway: respect it, fear it, but never
underestimate it.
In the short distance one of the lightning rod towers receives a strike; the
dark heavens are briefly illuminated.
Following the towers provides the safer -- though by no means risk-free --
route through this land, but not all the towers are completely functional
anymore. Some are more reliable than others, but while hearsay and rumor may
suggest this or that path, they're no replacement for evaluating a route for
oneself. Which way will you head?
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Exhaust========================================
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui was here in the Thunder Plains once to contact Irving with Marivel and the others.
Her head got set on fire then.
Clearly, the ideal thing to do is to keep at it! As such, she and Acacia are here in the plains again today as she looks up towards the open fields and places her hands to her waist. She looks pretty chipper and upbeat, but why?
"Master, let us dodge a whole lot of lightning bolts. I heard a great prize awaits those that can do just that!"
She charges forward through the rain and a bright
FLASH
Knocks her on her bum.
"... ... this is a bit harder than Kamui thought, mui..."
DG: Kamui has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Everstorm.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Honestly, Acacia can admit she's seriously curious about the Thunder Plains and how they actually work. Static, localized weather formations like this just don't exist on Filgaia, unless you're inclined to believe the almanacs when they say that Elru is a 'blighted and miserable place of endless rain' - which is something she's rightfully cynical about when it gets printed next to the line 'here be dragons'.
Besides, the Plains are another exhibit of that natural contradiction that seems to suffuse all of Spiran life: be scared of machina, even if you're left relying upon it. She gives one of the pylons a long and thoughtful look, then files it away next to the blitzball stadiums, the jump pads along Mi'ihen, the sheer scale of some of the temples and the mechanisms inside them.
But the constant lightning leaves the air feeling sharp and crisp, and the rain's not actually cold. Lightning aside, it's actually a surprisingly pleasant walk, and her hands are comfortably in the pockets of her vest.
"Are you sure they weren't just pulling your leg?" she wonders with a faint grin. "I mean, who would even give you the prize? If it's one of Rin's promotions, frying your customers doesn't seem too great--" is as far as she gets before Kamui gets knocked down; she can't help the hiss of concerned air she draws in through her teeth, then she's hurried over to the Reploid's side to offer her a hand and make sure she's not burning again.
"You okay?" the reporter blurts as she does her best to haul the other girl up, still not used to her weight. Dim memories of storms around Guild Galad bubble to mind; before she knows it, the next flash has her counting under her breath. "One, two--" A crack, and then another flash, and another count.
Something feels suspicious. Keeping her eyes on the horizon, she plants a hand in her hair, trying to keep it out of her eyes as she nods. "If you're sure about this, we probably want to go out into the open. I think the lightning rods and trees are gonna mess it up otherwise."
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Thrifty Drifty toward her party's challenge, The Everstorm.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
=========================== <* CHALLENGE - The Everstorm *>========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The far borders of Guadosalam eventually give way to the barren rock of the
Thunder Plains. Here, the storm holds sway: respect it, fear it, but never
underestimate it.
In the short distance one of the lightning rod towers receives a strike; the
dark heavens are briefly illuminated.
Following the towers provides the safer -- though by no means risk-free --
route through this land, but not all the towers are completely functional
anymore. Some are more reliable than others, but while hearsay and rumor may
suggest this or that path, they're no replacement for evaluating a route for
oneself. Which way will you head?
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Exhaust========================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 1 *>========================
============================= < Results - The Everstorm >==========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass
Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass
Thrifty Drifty 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Reckless(2)
Effects: Enlighten(1)
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui 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> Kamui has posed.
Kamui is face up on the ground, but because she Passed, she puts up a thumbs-up. Kamui, you don't operate on AL taiha rules...
Acacia is actually applying smarts, so she gets to pull Kamui up and hop them to-and-fro to the open parts of the field and away from any lightning capacitors. Easy!
DG: Acacia Saitani has drawn a new Challenge.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Melusine Ambush *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Between the heavy rain and the constant threat from above, it can be
difficult to keep an eye on one's surroundings. Fiends, while ever-present,
may be but a passing concern in the face of the environmental hazards.
Unfortunately, it means that it's quite easy for the creatures to get a drop
on you. Such as the group of Melusines, which lunge in snarling through the
rain just as another bolt strikes down far too close to comfort. You need to
deal with them and deal with them fast -- lest the storm get the better of
you.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Fright=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
The reporter raises her eyebrows, then lets out a snort at the thumbs-up directed up towards her. "... must be nice to have resistors," she puffs back with a smirk, then tightens her grip on Kamui's hand to help her up. "C'mon. Let's get you somewhere you can be a lightning rod all of your own. Maybe we should have brought you a big antenna on a helmet, or something."
It's a bit of a walk to open ground, but Acacia finds herself not really minding; she plants one hand back in a pocket, keeping the other in Kamui's for the time being. "It kind of feels unreal. You could write a whole book about Spira and take it back to Filgaia and people would think it was some kind of fantasy world. ... maybe I /should/ do that," she adds with a puff of air, then lightly grins. "'Kamuy's Adventures In Bira, Chapter 1'. I bet it'd be-- aah!"
The yelp isn't at the bolt of lightning - she's used to that by now - but rather the shape that's silhouetted against the light, a lizard-like creature with a whipped tail aimed directly at her. She doesn't so much block as get her shoulder up in time, shifting in a way that makes her take the hit against her back. Covering Kamui is... ... well, it's not like Kamui needs it, but perhaps it speaks well of her anyway.
She uses the momentum of the hit to stumble away from the creature, gritting her teeth. The chance of her hitting a barn door with her pistol isn't one she fancies, and she's not sure about her footing in this weather - so instead she reaches inside her jacket, starting to concentrate as an idea hits her.
"Kamui! I need some cover! Call it--" she glances at the clouds, but any estimate she could give is overridden by the 'who the hell knows' of the weather around these parts. "--uh, fifteen seconds?"
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Trusty Friends toward her party's challenge, Melusine Ambush.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
If you asked Kamui what a resistor, she'd probably just look at you dumbfoundedly. But when Acacia starts musing about how she should get a helmet, she starts touching at her head with a sorrowful look on her face.
"Master is right. Something is missing..."
A Muigaman without her helmet is a sad state of affairs indeed.
She grumps a little as they go along, though, and she points out, "Master, I can sense you twisting my name with a 'y'," with a puff on her cheeks. "I'm not a Kamuy at all! That's a different thing entirely!"
The answer is cut short as Acacia yelps, though, as she turns towards the lizard-like creatures and her expression dies down a little.
"Roger," she expresses as she segues cleanly into a, "Dash."
What comes out is a smooth afterimaging trail as the Reploid springs towards the nearest of the Melusines; an arcing flash of emerald light later and she's sought to just cleanly bisect the Fiend in half without stopping.
A red flash emits from Kamui's camera eye.
Oh right. Ancient war machine.
DG: You use your Tool Reporter's Badge against your party's Challenge, Melusine Ambush!
DG: Kamui has used her Tool Reporter's Badge toward her party's challenge, Melusine Ambush.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Melusine Ambush *>=======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Between the heavy rain and the constant threat from above, it can be
difficult to keep an eye on one's surroundings. Fiends, while ever-present,
may be but a passing concern in the face of the environmental hazards.
Unfortunately, it means that it's quite easy for the creatures to get a drop
on you. Such as the group of Melusines, which lunge in snarling through the
rain just as another bolt strikes down far too close to comfort. You need to
deal with them and deal with them fast -- lest the storm get the better of
you.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Fright=========================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 2 *>========================
============================ < Results - Melusine Ambush >=========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass
Reporter's Badge 4 Combat Effects: Efficient and Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail
Trusty Friends 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass
Conditions: Fright(2)|Hesitate(2)|Reckless(1)
Effects: Cleanse
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui 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> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia's plan is obvious enough; there's a crackle of electricity around her as she starts to draw the energy of the storm in, ready to set it against her own channeling of her mana egg. It might even have worked were it not for how unstable the area is; she's not even five seconds into her chant before there's another flash, and a lightning bolt seeks out the most enticing target.
Which is why she's the one knocked on her ass this time, her vest lightly smoking as her teeth chatter. "Wh-what--" she yelps, fearing the worst - but fortunately the Melusines are weak to direct attackers and resist magic, so it's not like Kamui needed the help anyway.
So the only thing Acacia's left nursing is her pride as she tries to pick herself up off the floor. "Well, I couldn't just use your name without permission," she does her best to rally, like a cat pretending it didn't just trip over its own tail.
DG: Kamui has drawn a new Challenge.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - A Qactuar Morph? *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Local legend speaks of High Summoner Gandof, responsible for sealing away
the wily Qactuar in the Thunder Plains. According to the story, there are
stones scattered through the Thunder Plains -- find the stones and you may
find the secret of the Qactuar.
Much less of a legend and story though -- the creature that has bounded out
of the storm towards you.
It looks like a Qactuar (and thus a Cactuar for that matter). But it's not
usual for one of these Fiends to be quite so spiky. Or for that matter, to
have detachable sections of its body which it can hurl -- grenade-like --
for its unfortunate prey. Which then naturally explode. Grenade-like.
This is taking 'One Thousand Needles' to a terrible new level...
=Dungeon Conditions: Overwhelm================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui looks back and reaches out towards Acacia with that uncharacteristic grimness for a moment, before whatever counts for that moment passes and she pumps her hands up to say, "Don't get discouraged, Master! This is just a momentary setback."
It isn't long before they come down a hill and find, at the base of a nearby tower, a small stone. Kamui kneels next to it and taps--
And a soft glow belies the shape of a certain Emergency Exit-shaped creature.
"I've heard of these creatures... from a Cactuar afficionado in Luca, called Mr. Gency!" Kamui exclaims. She looks even more excited as something burrows out of the sand, and her eyes widen further.
"Wow... we're so lucky, master! It's a Cactuar!"
What Kamui hasn't realised, however, is that this isn't a Cactuar, this is a Qactuar. And as such, it looks at Kamui and bounces on one leg and spins around and--
- NEEDLE*
"Muiiii..."
Kamui collapses, her hair now entirely nothing but needles. But, as is the rule about when her hair changes...
Weapon Get...??
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia's almost too busy pulling herself up to catch the moment of dissonance from Kamui - but not quite, and she blinks as she registers it. The next moment-- Kamui has reverted herself, leaving the reporter's mouth a little dry as a ripple of self-doubt carries through her. Did that count as ordering Kamui to fight? She hadn't-- thought about it that way in the moment. Maybe she needs to be a little more careful, she thinks to herself as they trudge onwards.
"... well, I was kinda expecting a setback or two. Can you imagine trying to journey straight through this place? Build a waystation here? You'd be leaking constantly," she puffs as she pulls herself back to the present, before a dangerous idea occurs to her. "You're not /actually/ leaking, right?" she blurts, an overactive imagination already imagining what could happen.
But Kamui seems fine, and looks fine, and besides--
She draws in an awed breath, feeling for a small, thick book in one pocket. "That's a Cactuar..." she replies in wonder, and starts flipping madly through the pages. "Do you know how much one sells for in the trade halls? If we could convince it to come peacefully, or just get a bunch of its spines, we'd be sold on Spira for at least a few more weeks--"
There's a stunned silence as Kamui muis to the ground, and Acacia's head tilts around to spot the little figure lining up a shot on her for good measure. "--not like that, though!" she blurts as she dives to one side into a roll on the wet ground, hoping to use the tower itself as cover as she draws her pistol.
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Trusty Friends toward her party's challenge, A Qactuar Morph?.
DG: Not everyone in the party has acted yet. +act/complete can only be used once the whole party has acted.
DG: Kamui has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Qactuar Morph?.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - A Qactuar Morph? *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Local legend speaks of High Summoner Gandof, responsible for sealing away
the wily Qactuar in the Thunder Plains. According to the story, there are
stones scattered through the Thunder Plains -- find the stones and you may
find the secret of the Qactuar.
Much less of a legend and story though -- the creature that has bounded out
of the storm towards you.
It looks like a Qactuar (and thus a Cactuar for that matter). But it's not
usual for one of these Fiends to be quite so spiky. Or for that matter, to
have detachable sections of its body which it can hurl -- grenade-like --
for its unfortunate prey. Which then naturally explode. Grenade-like.
This is taking 'One Thousand Needles' to a terrible new level...
=Dungeon Conditions: Overwhelm================================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 3 *>========================
============================ < Results - A Qactuar Morph? >========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 0 --(20)--> 20 Fail
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 5 --(20)--> 25 Fail
Trusty Friends 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 40 --(10)--> 50 Fail
Conditions: Fright(1)|Hesitate(1)|Overwhelm
Effects: Cleanse
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui 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> Kamui has posed.
The Qactuar takes a quick gander at Acacia with its thin |_| eyes and watches as the pistol fires and--
zooooom
--the bullets fly through its needle mohawk as it does one of those bullet-time back leans, Matrix-style.
Time resumes.
It makes a little chortling sound and flees. You got: 0 XP, 0 AP, 0 DP, no items. The end. No moral.
Kamui rolls onto her front and sits up from where the V.W.S. has completed getting weapon, and her hair is a shocking shade of cactus green with not one, but three ahoges poiting out in the style of a cactuar now.
"... I see now why Mr. Gency is so enamored with those creatures, mui."
DG: Acacia Saitani has drawn a new Challenge.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Counting Seconds *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
They say that you can run an estimate of how far a storm is from you by
counting the seconds. Of course, the calculus changes somewhat when the
storm in question is eternally right overhead. Still, it can be a useful
estimate of how rough the weather of the current area you're in might be.
Right now... the count has grown progressively shorter between strikes where
you are. This might call for a preemptive dash for the nearest tower.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia winces as she picks herself up again. She'd thought she'd felt the little hammering of needles against her back, but-- on closer inspection as she holds her breath, she seems to have escaped without harm. Maybe it was just the hammering of the rain that made her think she heard something.
"... don't say that. I'm gonna be picking needles out of your hair for weeks," she grumbles, wincing a little at the sound of the latest lightning bolt. If her jeans weren't already sodden they certainly are after her dive, and she makes a face as she picks the material away from her skin. "After this, we're curling up in the warm."
When she looks up, the bright green hair makes her start. She waits for the latest rumble of thunder to die down, then offers Kamui a hand up, her brow furrowing as she studies it. "... are you okay?" she mumbles, poking one of the ahoges and watching as it steadfastly refuses to shift out of place.
Another strike of lightning hits the pylon next to them, faster this time and accompanied by an abrupt mechanical clanking. /That/ makes her look up and pay attention to where the outer ring of the contraption has been hit by a fork of lightning, now blazing red with heat and twisted from the energy of the strike.
"Uh--" she starts to say, interrupted by yet another peal of thunder. Whatever she was about to say, she revises it. "--if this thing's actually malevolent, I'm /definitely/ putting it in a book. Next tower! Let's go, let's go!" she adds, giving Kamui a shove forwards as she finds her feet.
DG: Acacia Saitani has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Counting Seconds.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
"Hmm... are you not a fan, Master?" Kamui tilts her head confusedly, like she didn't just get pricked by wan thousand needles. How big a number is wan thousand, wan? Woof only knows. But it all seems to get forgotten as Acacia picks away at her needles and points out that they're gonna curl up in the warm. "In the warm! In the Al Bhed contraption, the kotatsu!"
A clatter of lightning strikes, though, as she hears Master shouting for them to go -- and then she's immediately grabbed her as she whispers, "Dash--"
And it seems like Kamui has propensity to carry a passenger with her as she just chains dashes, air-dashes, dash-wall-jumps, and seems to all but coast in the air until they're somewhere safer.
DG: You use your Tool Lumen Armour - Foot Parts against your party's Challenge, Counting Seconds!
DG: Kamui has used her Tool Lumen Armour - Foot Parts toward her party's challenge, Counting Seconds.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Counting Seconds *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
They say that you can run an estimate of how far a storm is from you by
counting the seconds. Of course, the calculus changes somewhat when the
storm in question is eternally right overhead. Still, it can be a useful
estimate of how rough the weather of the current area you're in might be.
Right now... the count has grown progressively shorter between strikes where
you are. This might call for a preemptive dash for the nearest tower.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright===================================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 4 *>========================
============================ < Results - Counting Seconds >========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 20 --(10)--> 30 Pass
Lumen Armour - Foot Parts 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 25 --(15)--> 40 Fail
Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 50 --(10)--> 60 Fail
Conditions: Fright(2)
Effects:
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui 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. [OOC] Acacia Saitani says, "oh nooo"
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia has the presence of mind to pause and waggle her hands a little at Kamui. "In-- moderation. I mean, they look nice, sure. Just maybe not when they're shooting needles at either of us," she huffs. She's not helpless - she's already jogging towards the next pylon and picking up speed, but Kamui is much faster than she could manage on her own, and she's left rather surprised when the Reploid sweeps her up into her wake.
Unfortunately, she's kind of awkward as a passanger, as well. She'd automatically started to squirm when Kamui first picked her up, and after that she's left kind of hanging from Kamui's arm. It doesn't significantly slow the Reploid down, but does leave her landing a little bump, as Acacia rolls up and does her best to get her balance.
"Good-- good work," she decides to say in the end, because she is honestly grateful for the lift, even if the world is left spinning around her.
DG: Kamui has drawn a new Challenge.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
================== <* CHALLENGE - Between A Rock And A Hard Place *>===============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
These are not well-traveled lands, but they are not /un/traveled, a fact
that becomes clear when you hear a cry for help ahead of you. A rock has
fallen, pinning a fellow traveler by their leg; they're unable to get free.
While they don't seem to be injured, they're in understandable distress
given their predicament and the storm, and would very much like a rescue.
Ideally, this would be as quickly as possible -- who knows when the next
unlucky bolt might strike?
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Injure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui settles down after racing through to the other end; they're underneath one of the very few, errant trees that remain within the Thunder Plains to take cover for a moment as a loud *hiss* of extant heat vents from her entire body, in particular those new mysterious Foot Parts granted by the capsule.
"... Kamui doesn't seem to do well with lightning ..." Kamui mumbles, tilting her head. "It's a lot of effort--"
"H... heelp..."
Kamui perks and looks around, pumping her hands in psyche. "Master! Someone's in trouble!"
She hasn't quite spotted it, but a rock has popped free from a nearby thunderstrike. A fallen traveler in the obvious garbs of the Al Bhed is pinned under said rock, reaching out with one free hand.
DG: Kamui has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Between A Rock And A Hard Place.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia misses the man's cry for help herself, too disoriented by the rain and the sudden dash and the constant thunder ringing in her ears; she squints at Kamui instead, letting out an amused sigh as she (carefully - she's still not sure about those ahoge) pats the girl's hair. "You and me both. Whenever there's rain I just want to eat something really soupy and curl up," she admits, knowing that she's presenting Kamui with rather a biased viewpoint of her habits. That's what you get when you've lived alone that long, she supposes.
Her ears prick up the second time, jerking her head up at the same time as Kamui pumps her fists. "Right!" she calls back, squinting through the rain - and bolting forwards towards the rock as she catches a glimpse of movement from under it, hissing in sympathetic pain at the sight of the fallen traveler. "Kamui, here!"
She lays her hands on the rock as if she could hope to lift it herself, then collects herself and steps back, kneeling down next to the man to take his hand as her voice becomes urgent. "Kamui, try to lift that if you can. Or at least lever it up, okay? Don't worry-- ugh, if you can understand me. Sorry, I don't know Al Bhed, But-- anyway--"
Her free hand steals back into her jacket, furrowing her brow as she stares at the ground. Creating earth pillars to lift heavy objects might be a Jacqueline Barber Private Action (tm), but she's prepared to claim fair use when it comes to emergencies like this.
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Mana Egg toward her party's challenge, Between A Rock And A Hard Place.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
================== <* CHALLENGE - Between A Rock And A Hard Place *>===============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
These are not well-traveled lands, but they are not /un/traveled, a fact
that becomes clear when you hear a cry for help ahead of you. A rock has
fallen, pinning a fellow traveler by their leg; they're unable to get free.
While they don't seem to be injured, they're in understandable distress
given their predicament and the storm, and would very much like a rescue.
Ideally, this would be as quickly as possible -- who knows when the next
unlucky bolt might strike?
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Injure=========================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 5 *>========================
==================== < Results - Between A Rock And A Hard Place >=================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 30 --(5)--> 35 Fail
Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 40 --(0)--> 40 Pass
Mana Egg 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass
Conditions: Fright(1)|Injure(2)|Reckless(2)
Effects:
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui 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> Kamui has posed.
It's nearly touch and go for a bit, but Kamui wanders in with a bit of a bobble as Acacia directs her and she puts all of her back to pushing the rock up. As it turns out, rocks don't seem to be a mega problem with her. What is the relation between her and rock? Only the blue rock above knows...
"Mmmuiii... mui!" Kamui shoves the rock away as Acacia's Jacqueline Earth Pillar (tm) erupts, and the Al Bhed merchant scampers out with a groan. "Thank you... thank you!" A pause. "I do not... speak language... but... thank you."
Kamui reaches down as her Saber nearby flashes with the light of curative... um, 'muigicks', as she puts it; whatever the synthesis of the power might be, it seems to be effective.
"Let's bring him to safety, Master...! Good work!"
DG: Acacia Saitani has drawn a new Challenge.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Lightning Dancer *>======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the distance you can see it -- sunlight. The end of the storm. And beyond
that, Macalania Forest.
But the storm is not yet finished with you. Before you can cross the
distance, a flurry of bolts rain from the heavens. There is no time to
think, only to act, lest you be struck.
You must get through.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Bad Luck===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
The moment that her earth pillar disintegrates again, Acacia is kneeling down to take a closer look at the man's wounds; she might play at sounding disaffected some of the time, but it's her urgent energy at times like this that tends to give her away.
"... I don't think anything's broken, but this much bruising-- he's gonna be on crutches for a while, at least, and probably can't feel his feet all that much right now," she mutters up to Kamui and to the man as well - shortly before the Reploid releases a burst of curative energy that seems to help, given the way the man gets up to his feet and almost hops in place.
For a moment, Acacia wonders whether to protest - but given the language barrier she thinks better of it, simply letting her eyebrows shoot upwards. "... good work," she mutters again, this time a lot more genuine and relieved at being able to say it.
Straightening, she tries to remember what she's learnt so far; she's not an expert at Al Bhed, but experience told her to remember a few phrases. "Ah-- we're going to-- fyocdydeuh," she tries, and manages not to mangle the pronunciation too much. She hopes. She can remember Rin's patient grin, somehow worse than any teacher's yelling. "Oui nacd drana? What is it, what is it, uh... vummuf--"
There's a sudden cacophony around her, as one of the trees nearby is obliterated by a series of lightning bolts in quick succession. Acacia swears, this time out of honest surprise - then she's barreled her shoulder under one of the man's arms, hoisting him up and propelling him forwards. "Vummuf! Kamui, let's go!"
DG: Acacia Saitani has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Lightning Dancer.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
"He'll need rest and crutches... but it should help him get to the end," Kamui muses. There's a pause, as she squints and remarks, "There's a Waystation at Macalania Lake... Mui recalls." It almost sounds wise, before she adds-- "That's because that's where we got the Macalani and Cheese."
Oh, of course. It's because of food.
But it's not going to be easy for them, and so as the lightning bolts start to strike further, Kamui just lifts Acacia, who's lifted the man into her shoulder, and announces cheerfully:
"Vumm vumm!" Kamui makes a noise that's similar to 'vroom vroom'. That... might not be what that Al Bhed word means, Kamui.
And then, there's that immortal word:
"Dash!"
And off they go.
DG: You use your Tool Lumen Armour - Foot Parts against your party's Challenge, Lightning Dancer!
DG: Kamui has used her Tool Lumen Armour - Foot Parts toward her party's challenge, Lightning Dancer.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - Lightning Dancer *>======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the distance you can see it -- sunlight. The end of the storm. And beyond
that, Macalania Forest.
But the storm is not yet finished with you. Before you can cross the
distance, a flurry of bolts rain from the heavens. There is no time to
think, only to act, lest you be struck.
You must get through.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Bad Luck===========================================
============================ <* Thunder Plains - Round 6 *>========================
============================ < Results - Lightning Dancer >========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamui 35 --(100)--> 135 Pass
Lumen Armour - Foot Parts 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acacia Saitani 40 --(100)--> 140 Fail
Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Kamui 80 --(5)--> 85 Fail
Conditions: Bad Luck(2)|Injure(1)|Reckless(1)|Slow(2)
Effects:
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Kamui is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Acacia Saitani 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 Kamui has been fully Exhausted by Thunder Plains!
DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
================================= <* Thunder Plains *>=============================
======================== <* CHALLENGE - A Touch Of Lightning *>====================
|Type: Landmark |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
At last. You've reached the outskirts of the Thunder Plains. Sunlight breaks
through the edges of the eternal storm; lightning and even rain are but a
memory for you now. Before long you will start to reach the outskirts of
Macalania Forest, and beyond that lies...
Something at your feet catches your eye. It's a strangely-shaped stone,
almost like a root, or perhaps a piece of coral, but with a faintly glassy
touch to it.
...It's said that when lightning touches sand, it sometimes fuses the sand
into glass. Then, perhaps this might be proof of that?
=Dungeon Conditions: Wonder===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
The trio stumble their way out of the Thunder Plains, or rather Kamui does with the other two well in hand. Before long the reporter is holding on for dear life as the thunder crackles around them, screwing her eyes shut - and feeling as frazzled and charged as the air itself by the time they all clatter to a rather ungainly stop.
Acacia looks up at the sky with something akin to incredulity at the way the cloudbank just stops dead at the edge of the sandy landscape. "... I definitely don't get it," she grumbles to herself, but it's toothless now that they're out of the sheets of rain that still fall behind them.
With a heavy-set sigh, she helps the man to a large tree trunk, bent heavily to one side in a way that will at least allow the Al Bhed a chance to catch his breath; that done, she shakes herself down as best she can, her mind inexorably set on the other of getting something piping hot and cheesy to stuff down her throat. After all, she more or less runs on junk food too.
Her foot suddenly nudges something hard that clinks against a stone as it moves; with a blink, she stoops to pick it up, hefting it lightly in her hands before holding it up to the light. Full of impurities, the twisted and faintly crystalline shape gathers the sun in odd gleams and shapes that remind her of a kaleidoscope, and from there it's pretty obvious what to do with it.
"Well, we didn't win the grand prize, I guess. But, here," she adds as she places the ornament in Kamui's hands, then takes them in hers to lift them and let Kamui see the play of patterns within it. "But we saved someone, and got something pretty out of it. That's good, right?" she encourages with a warmer grin.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui doesn't seem to have a wish to stop until they're well clear out of range of the lightning and thunder -- in other words, as they crest up to the first few crystal trees of Macalania. The Reploid is a bit quiet after...
But as she watches Acacia set the man to a trunk and exhales herself, there's another loud--
- hhhHHIISSSsss--PAFF*
Something like a blown access pipe hisses out on her leg, and there's a little 'hrrgh' of effort. "Muiii... Master, Kamui's appearance is down ten percent. Kamui needs headpats." She gets an ornament instead, though, and her eyes light up. "Wait, Kamui's appearance just went up five percent!"
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia's almost ready for it - she starts in Kamui's directly, and then decides to actually do so when something gives way on the Reploid's leg. She grimaces at it, then lets out a breath, nudging the girl's shoulder against her chest in case she needs support. "... okay, okay," she huffs out a laugh, patting the girl on the head obligingly.
"Let's get the both of you back someplace safe, and then I'll pull out Mari's notes and see what I can make of them. I think she had something in there for this, right? If not, maybe I can figure out a bit of a patch job or something." It's slightly false bravado - she wouldn't know where to start with Kamui's mechanics without the Crimson Noble's help - but perhaps it's enough reassurance for the time being.