2019-07-28: Nothing Alike At All!
- Log: Nothing Alike At All!
- Cast: Lunata Croze, Shalune Amira
- Where: Moonflow
- Date: 28th July 2019
- Summary: Shalune drags Lunata to enjoy her efforts at the Moonflow. A stowaway lurks...
DG: A party led by Lunata Croze is now entering Ride ze Shoopuf.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
======================== <* CHALLENGE - Where the Chips Fall *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
On one particular fine day in a lull amidst your many adventures, you and
your friends and family -- or acquaintances, or even complete strangers! --
acquire tickets to a fanciful Degustation Course aboard one of the
Moonflow's Shoopufs.
The open-air cabin atop the Shoopuf's back is lavish and comfortable, with
long couches piled with pillows and blankets. Complimentary beverages and
other such pleasant amenities are also included.
Some time into the journey, overlooking a gorgeous view of the Moonlillies,
your chauffeur speaks up.
"Thank you for riding ze Shoopuf today," he speaks through a quaint speaker
attached to the corner of your cabin. "Sshortly, we would like to begin ze
degustation, starting with ze appetizer..."
A small round table bearing the appearance of a Magic Pot emerges from the
centre. A sweet purple cloud poofs out from the top, and out comes...!
A cute lotus flower-shaped bowl containing lightly crisped renkon or lotus
root chips -- sourced from the very Moonflow itself! Lightly salted and with
a delicate taste of ginger and spice, it's the perfect finger food to kick
back and relax with...
But, ah, with any light finger food, it's easy to overindulge and be too
full before your main meal. Keep your wits about where your fingers go...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
Lunata is... riding... ze shoopuf...
...
...
Though she feels terribly awkward and uncomfortable about this, given that recently she's taken the task of replacing the head chef at the Shoopuf Degustation Course given their injuries during the Battle at Luca using the kitchen at Djose Temple largely as her battlegrounds for creating enough culinary creations to supply them with foodstuffs in the interim.
It's awkward enough that she's tried to wear her jacket with the hoodie up as Shalune drags her along and--
"Lady Croze!! Thank you for ze assistance!" exclaims the exciteable Hypello driver.
mrgrgr
"Lady Croze!! I love the pink shoopuff pastry!! My children do too!" exclaims a station attendant.
mrgrgra
A child rocks up to her to go, "When I grow up I'm gonna Cro ze Shoopuf!"
mrgrgrga
Lunata is slumped on the couch by the time they depart to the other side of the bank, and if there was a spirit inside of her it would be trying to escape from her mouth. Alas, Lunata is a soulless body that can't do such things, so.
"You're doing this on purpose," Lunata sulks.
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
"Oh nooooo," Shalune croons, her hands at her cheeks as she makes a show of smushing her face in mock-despair. "People like meeeee. What will I doooo."
She swans and swoons to one side, slumping on the couch that's placed atop the shoopuf, and then just as quickly picks herself up and sits up with a bright smile. "I just thought it'd be nice on our way back to say hello to everyone and experience what you were working so hard for. All the compliments are just a bonus," she adds as she lightly pokes the other girl in the side.
"Besides, if I'm doing it on purpose, it's only because I'm proud," she adds with an impish grin. "I mean, I like seeing you work your cooking into something that helps people out. Maybe it's not feeding a bunch of refugees, but with the situation as it was here, I think it got pretty close for a while there."
Shalune has matured to the point where she realizes she's occasionally allowed to be a little shit. "Anyway, we're here now, so let's Cro ze Shoopuf."
She cuts herself off with a 'wah' as the purple cloud poofs outwards, eagerly impressed as she places her hands together, and then d-d-daintily takes a chip. "Still, I hope I do all the presentation justice. Kinda feels like I shouldn't just grab and finger food it, you know?"
She says that, but she's already eying her bag. Forewarned is forearmed, and there's a stack of little containers tucked away in the front pocket of her bag, ready to pack with leftovers . . .
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
"It's /Ride/! Ride ze Shoopuf! What does Cro even mean?!" Lunata whines with faux tears (becaus zombies can't cry) in her eyes, realising that there's a non-zero chance that Cro ze Mignon is going to be a popular and fashionable dish in next year's Food-themed Dig.
She sulks and slumps, exhausted as she hangs her head back on the backrest of the couch. She gets piked on the side.
"It's gonna feed them. The proceeds are gonna go to Djose for refugee and temple purposes, cause I used their kitchen and everything," Lunata grumbles.
She stares to the Magic Pot and rubs at her head and reaches forward for some lotus chips. "... if you're gonna doggy-bag anything at least use the provided ones. That bag of yours gets /gross/."
DG: Lunata Croze has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Where the Chips Fall.
DG: Shalune Amira has used her Tool Bag of Tricks toward her party's challenge, Where the Chips Fall.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
======================== <* CHALLENGE - Where the Chips Fall *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
On one particular fine day in a lull amidst your many adventures, you and
your friends and family -- or acquaintances, or even complete strangers! --
acquire tickets to a fanciful Degustation Course aboard one of the
Moonflow's Shoopufs.
The open-air cabin atop the Shoopuf's back is lavish and comfortable, with
long couches piled with pillows and blankets. Complimentary beverages and
other such pleasant amenities are also included.
Some time into the journey, overlooking a gorgeous view of the Moonlillies,
your chauffeur speaks up.
"Thank you for riding ze Shoopuf today," he speaks through a quaint speaker
attached to the corner of your cabin. "Sshortly, we would like to begin ze
degustation, starting with ze appetizer..."
A small round table bearing the appearance of a Magic Pot emerges from the
centre. A sweet purple cloud poofs out from the top, and out comes...!
A cute lotus flower-shaped bowl containing lightly crisped renkon or lotus
root chips -- sourced from the very Moonflow itself! Lightly salted and with
a delicate taste of ginger and spice, it's the perfect finger food to kick
back and relax with...
But, ah, with any light finger food, it's easy to overindulge and be too
full before your main meal. Keep your wits about where your fingers go...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 1 *>========================
========================== < Results - Where the Chips Fall >======================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 0 --(20)--> 20 Fail
Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 0 --(20)--> 20 Fail
Bag of Tricks 2 Wits Effects: Resilient
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 0 --(10)--> 10 Fail
Conditions: Stupify(2)
Effects: Resilient(1)
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze 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> Lunata Croze has posed.
spongebob narrator voice: 5 MINUTES LATER
cromch cromch cromch
"... ... hrf i feel kind of bloated" lunata groks out
DG: Shalune Amira has drawn a new Challenge.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
===================== <* CHALLENGE - Home is Where the Heart... *>=================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Several small, humble houses are dotted along one edge of the Moonflow,
belonging to its residents. Some are fishermen, others farmers; others work
in the hospitality business, with the Shoopuf waystations providing much of
the income and attraction to the region itself.
And in consideration of the home, the Magic Pot presents one of the
centerpieces and most highly-advertised dishes of the Degustation Course...
The Maison Glace.
A literal house-shaped dessert of stained glass created out of sheets of
tempered sugar, it tantalises with colours of red, blue, white, green,
creating the stylised image of a wise old and parental butler serving
customers at a resplendent bar on one side. Is it supposed to resemble a
particular place?
It would be a shame to break this dessert apart like a fragile heart...
perhaps you'll have to systematically unravel the house to get maximum
mileage out of it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
Thankfully, Shalune's bag is looking rather smaller as of late. Perhaps she's even gone so far as to do the unthinkable and clean it out? But by the same token maybe that's why, when she opens the top flap, she freezes solid. "I-I forgot the containers..." she whines, perhaps not hearing Lunata's suggestion as she faces down the starter.
Some time later, she puffs out a breath. "T-the trap of chips..." whines Shalune as she flops next to Lunata to let out a sigh, then lets herself have a quiet moment. "... anyway, um, to tell the truth it really wasn't my idea. When I mentioned we were probably going to be heading back by shoopuf, they got super excited and wouldn't let me talk them out of it. You know how they are," she adds with sympathy.
The mechanic watches with curiosity as the Magic Pot slowly lifts the next course upwards, her gaze more on the receptacle than the dessert at first. It's absolutely possible to see the question of 'how' bubble up in her mind, though she visibly tamps it down, not wanting to geek out in front of Lunata.
So she focuses upwards instead, and her mouth just about falls open. "Wah-- can we really eat this?" she blurts, and then gives Lunata a wide-eyed stare. "How the heck do you even make something like this?! It's incredible!"
She hovers around it uncertainly, trying to grasp for an edge-- no, maybe that corner-- um, perhaps she can dislodge some tiling from the roof-- what if she just decapitated the butler-- "I don't want to break ittt," she dissolves into a whine the next moment.
DG: Shalune Amira has used her Tool Bag of Tricks toward her party's challenge, Home is Where the Heart....
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
Lunata is still looking a bit blue in the face as she stares towarsd the Maison Glace and is rather not terribly subtly fixated on the image that she's rendered on-screen. It isn't until a moment later that she stammers a little distractedly--
"It's like engineering. Right? I mean, it's tempered sugar, in different colours, then constructed like a... house."
She bobs her head and scratches it with a quiet frown and says, "Just... just think of it like your most hated Elw construct."
The ex-waitress is unscrewing her thermos to give her a glug of her own soup for a moment. What soup is it, for the day?
She's not saying right at the moment...
DG: You use your Tool Soup of the Day against your party's Challenge, Home is Where the Heart...!
DG: Lunata Croze has used her Tool Soup of the Day toward her party's challenge, Home is Where the Heart.... [OOC] Shalune Amira says, "'is that your panadol soup lunie'"
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
===================== <* CHALLENGE - Home is Where the Heart... *>=================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Several small, humble houses are dotted along one edge of the Moonflow,
belonging to its residents. Some are fishermen, others farmers; others work
in the hospitality business, with the Shoopuf waystations providing much of
the income and attraction to the region itself.
And in consideration of the home, the Magic Pot presents one of the
centerpieces and most highly-advertised dishes of the Degustation Course...
The Maison Glace.
A literal house-shaped dessert of stained glass created out of sheets of
tempered sugar, it tantalises with colours of red, blue, white, green,
creating the stylised image of a wise old and parental butler serving
customers at a resplendent bar on one side. Is it supposed to resemble a
particular place?
It would be a shame to break this dessert apart like a fragile heart...
perhaps you'll have to systematically unravel the house to get maximum
mileage out of it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 2 *>========================
======================= < Results - Home is Where the Heart... >===================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 20 --(10)--> 30 Fail
Soup of the Day 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 20 --(0)--> 20 Pass
Bag of Tricks 2 Wits Effects: Resilient
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 10 --(20)--> 30 Pass
Conditions: Injure(2)|Slow(2)|Stupify(1)
Effects: Resilient(1)
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze 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> Shalune Amira has posed.
"I mean, I know /how/ you do it, I just don't know /how/ you do it!" Shalune blurts in response, and then her brow draws down in a sulky sort of frown. "And I hope you're not comparing your cooking to the Elw. That'd be super mean to you," she grumbles defensively.
She glances across when Lunata pulls out her thermos; it seems like kind of a warning sign to her to go easy on the other girl, and she quiets with a fond smile as she briefly pats Lunata's hand before turning back to the confection.
Continuing to hover, she eventually has an idea - and dives back for her bag, pulling out a little drawstrung bag and rummaging around inside of it. You might wonder why Shalune has a set of glass cutting tools, but there it is - and with eager relish she carefully scores a circle in the side of the house, carefully cutting away a sheet of the tempered sugar to nibble upon.
"It's so good," she hums, and then perks up. "And I made them a back door!"
DG: Lunata Croze has drawn a new Challenge.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
================= <* CHALLENGE - Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating *>==============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The journey across the Moonflow takes you to the centre of a sunken city.
Once, it is said, these ancient cities stood proud above the waters of the
ancient river. But the hubris of conquering water itself brought disaster
upon its residents, and now the remnants of their work remain seen
crystal-clear...
And as if to regard fallen dynasties and those that would wrest them back,
the Magic Pot reacts.
"The Bartichoke Omelette. Rough and scraggly on the outside, but with a
soft, fluffy interior. With a penchant for ballistics. Yet..."
... whatever the chef may be writing on about, you see a rough-hewn omelette
dish with a curious patch of nori seaweed designed in the shape of an
eyepatch arrives. The gilded colour of the egg is twirled into a braid at
one end.
And when you cut inside the omelette, you find a medley of fluffy soft egg
and the hearts of artichokes, as well as stalks upon stalks of asparagus,
whose shape... remind you of... missiles, for some reason. Lots and lots of
Bart Mis--
No mercy. Have at it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure, Maim===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
Lunata is looking somewhat aghast and yet incredibly impressed at the same time (if such a hybrid expression exists) regarding Shalune's actual glass-cutting tools and the way she kind of just... lifts a door out of the house.
"... I'm... glad..." Lunata mumbles as the Magic Pot careens down gently with the house, returning it hence it came.
A pause, as she sticks her nose up a little to go, "I don't know, one day I'd like to know what cuisine the Elw actually cooked. You think it'd be as unpleasant as their technology? I think about that sometimes, what ancient peoples ate."
A sigh, before--
oh no
A large omelette appears with a nori-shaped eyepatch, with the egg turned into a braid at one end.
oh /no/
"... ... it's just a coincidence--"
The Magic Pot begins explaining.
"The Bartichoke Omelette..."
Lunata's face is in her hands.
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
Shalune sits on the floor, back against the couch and next to Lunata's legs as she draws her own up under her. Content to nibble away at her prize for the time being, she hums softly in response to Lunata's question, taking it seriously.
"... I guess all the legends make them sound kind of ascetic. Y'know, in touch with nature, in touch with the Guardians-- it kind of makes them feel like Yevon a little, doesn't it?" she wonders, warming to the idea. "I guess maybe it'd be closest to Baskar food, but I'm not really sure what that even counts as, either..."
A moment's hesitation is all she needs for the next dish to be announced-- and she just about manages to stifle the initial snort as her eyebrows rocket upwards, but doesn't stand a chance when the name is unveiled. Dissolving into cackling giggles, she still has time to throw up a bright and clear grin in Lunata's direction.
"Awww," she exaggeratedly lets out, right back into her teasing. "I bet he'd be flattered! And I think it's nice! It's like you're carrying the spirit of the Yggdrasil to other lands!" might be a little more convincing if her shoulders weren't shaking, but at least she's happy to lean forwards and try scooping up a mouthful for herself.
DG: Shalune Amira has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating.
DG: Please provide a more specific Tool. [the]
DG: You use your Tool The Tonberrian against your party's Challenge, Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating!
DG: Lunata Croze has used her Tool The Tonberrian toward her party's challenge, Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
================= <* CHALLENGE - Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating *>==============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The journey across the Moonflow takes you to the centre of a sunken city.
Once, it is said, these ancient cities stood proud above the waters of the
ancient river. But the hubris of conquering water itself brought disaster
upon its residents, and now the remnants of their work remain seen
crystal-clear...
And as if to regard fallen dynasties and those that would wrest them back,
the Magic Pot reacts.
"The Bartichoke Omelette. Rough and scraggly on the outside, but with a
soft, fluffy interior. With a penchant for ballistics. Yet..."
... whatever the chef may be writing on about, you see a rough-hewn omelette
dish with a curious patch of nori seaweed designed in the shape of an
eyepatch arrives. The gilded colour of the egg is twirled into a braid at
one end.
And when you cut inside the omelette, you find a medley of fluffy soft egg
and the hearts of artichokes, as well as stalks upon stalks of asparagus,
whose shape... remind you of... missiles, for some reason. Lots and lots of
Bart Mis--
No mercy. Have at it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure, Maim===========================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 3 *>========================
=================== < Results - Dropping an Egg On Me is Cheating >================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 30 --(7)--> 37 Pass
The Tonberrian 3 Combat Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 20 --(17)--> 37 Fail
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 30 --(10)--> 40 Fail
Conditions: Injure(1)|Maim|Slow(1)|Treasure(1)
Effects:
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze 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> Lunata Croze has posed.
"... Yevon does enjoy the magically-charged devices in their Temple contraptions. Did you even see those rotating stone blocks in Djose Temple? It really does have a touch of the ancient, like an Elw ruin," Lunata does have to admit. She frowns just a bit deeper as she stares towards the omelette as Shalune digs into it.
"... maybe... it's not like I was thinking about them..."
doink
doink
So why are you playing with your food, Lunata.
More to the point, why are you playing with your food with that extremely sharp chef's knife you found stuck into you????
A jealous little gleam can be seen peeking out from underneath a trunk at the back of the Shoopuf... huff.
DG: Shalune Amira has drawn a new Challenge.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - And Now You Know *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In your journey throughout Spira, one can scarce miss the many images,
murals and statues of Lord Mi'ihen, founder of the Crusaders (originally
called the Crimson Blades). Typically depicted in conquest of a fallen
Behemoth, a notorious Fiend of great strength, agility, durability and even
magical prowess...
Someone has definitely asked: "How many steaks can we get out of this one?"
The answer is, apparently, about twenty. Of which a select platter has been
carved and roasted to resemble the Behemoth upon the statue of Lord
Mi'ihen... along with a size model of his great sword, the only culinary
implement that looks remotely sharp enough to cut through the delectable
crust of this roast concoction.
What awaits is a juicy carving of the finest meat worthy of a hero... but
can you wrest the Fiend to delve within?
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
"... yeah, you were," Shalune retorts, though at least this time all of her teasing has fallen away to just leave a quiet sort of care. "I think you have been, kinda a lot. Which is okay," she adds, stressing the comment with a tilt of her head and a light shrug of one shoulder. "I miss them too, and I know they mean a lot more to you than they do me."
She hesitates, and then lets out a breath as she smiles gently. "We'll find them again. Or we'll find a way to get a message to them. Or we'll find a way to get your wishes back to them," she adds, her smile draining just a little before she picks herself back up with a pump of her fists, on much more solid ground when she adds: "And I'm sure they're thinking the same of you."
In the wake of her statement, the next course reveals itself, and Shalune's eyes very nearly bug out of her head, the serious and calm moment forgotten. "Lunie... not that I'm really complaining or anything, but you always seem to stick the steaks in super late in these kinds of courses," she frowns. "How are we supposed to eat all of this ourselves?"
She wavers, scratching at her cheek. The idea of wasting food doesn't sit well with her, but nor does letting the overeager hypello down. Eventually, she frowns-- and then brightens, grabbing an extra plate to load it high as she feels for a pocket in her robes. "Ah... it's okay if I invite a guest, right? I suppose I owe him for the help."
One round of concentration later, and a smaller version of Dinoginos is slowly and gamely chewing its way through a steak like a tortoise, with another plate nudged behind her. Just in case anything back there is hungry. "Mmh... it's really good, though... I'm gonna fall asleep after this," Shalune mumbles through a full mouth.
DG: Shalune Amira has used her Tool Material - Dinowhatsit toward her party's challenge, And Now You Know.
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
Lunata grumps and folds her arms, trying to put on a face that looks like she doesn't care but she terribly does because she's Lunata and she doesn't actually play a poker face all that well.
"... the way you make it sound like you're going to lug my ashes in a pot over to them," Lunata mumbles for a moment, which is pretty much the least charitable take of Shalune's words. But she sags for a moment to go--
"I--it's not my fault! We tried these Magic Pots, they're supposed to work real well but I think they get confused about which order the dishes are supposed to come out..."
The Magic Pot stares up at Lunata and whines.
Lunie as its boss that's really crappy employee reinforcement. Don't blame your own shortcomings on your colleagues!
"... I--" she stares as Shalune summons Dinoginos again. "Shalune, I'm starting to think it's your pet by this point..."
She cuts a piece for herself and starts down her steak with a sigh. A little Sphere gleams at the back of her pocket as she unlocks previously unexplored sections of her stomach.
This is the Kiwami method of Eating...!
DG: You use your Tool Lv4 Key Sphere against your party's Challenge, And Now You Know!
DG: Lunata Croze has used her Tool Lv4 Key Sphere toward her party's challenge, And Now You Know.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
========================== <* CHALLENGE - And Now You Know *>======================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In your journey throughout Spira, one can scarce miss the many images,
murals and statues of Lord Mi'ihen, founder of the Crusaders (originally
called the Crimson Blades). Typically depicted in conquest of a fallen
Behemoth, a notorious Fiend of great strength, agility, durability and even
magical prowess...
Someone has definitely asked: "How many steaks can we get out of this one?"
The answer is, apparently, about twenty. Of which a select platter has been
carved and roasted to resemble the Behemoth upon the statue of Lord
Mi'ihen... along with a size model of his great sword, the only culinary
implement that looks remotely sharp enough to cut through the delectable
crust of this roast concoction.
What awaits is a juicy carving of the finest meat worthy of a hero... but
can you wrest the Fiend to delve within?
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken===================================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 4 *>========================
============================ < Results - And Now You Know >========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 37 --(0)--> 37 Pass
Lv4 Key Sphere 4 Brute Effects: Efficient and Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 37 --(5)--> 42 Fail
Material - Dinowhatsit 2 Brute Effects: Resilient
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass
Conditions: Maim|Weaken(2)
Effects: Resilient(1)
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze 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.
DG: Lunata Croze has drawn a new Challenge.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
====================== <* CHALLENGE - An Invention On Its Own *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
It would be a shame to only focus upon the popularly known dishes of Spira's
coastal cuisine within its island regions and overlook the cuisine of the
Ronso. Up on the frozen slopes of Mt. Gagazet, the nutritional demands of
its fellows differ greatly. Gone are the delicate flavours and bounties of
the ocean; in their wake, hearty, strengthening foods that light a fire in
one's belly are needed--
And hence, Emma, Dat's She. A take on the Ronso classic Ema Datshi, a
popular dish of firaja-spicy chillies tempered with yak's milk cheese all
sourced from the divine mountain itself... with the honours of the Other
World's very own chillis, so named after the continent of Ignas itself...
"... once said to have been distilled into combustion fuel for the eponymous
motor of this meal's inventive brilliance. But more than that, the meal's
heart as a mother..."
OK, this chef is definitely projecting real hard.
But rumination about that can wait because... there's a seriously spicy dish
in front of you. Steel yourself as a Ronso might!
=Dungeon Conditions: Vault====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
"... well-- maybe I am. I dunno," Shalune sulks, suddenly and abruptly feeling like she's on the defensive. She picks at her hair for a moment, then frowns; she honestly hadn't considered that side of it all. If she goes back on her own, what's she going to say to everyone else? What should she say? She's not that sure.
It's a bad habit, but she scurries away from the topic, grateful for the change in subject - but at least having the maturity now to hang onto it for later as something they should probably hash out together.
Instead, she puffs out her cheeks, and then grins. "Aw, well, it's fine. They're super impressive, and it feels like it's all mystical, so I think it works out. If anyone complains about the order of courses you can just go 'hmpf! It's a degustation'" --pronounced 'degustacione'-- "'and that's the way it is!'" she finishes, sat upright in mock pride.
At least, the plan /was/ to change the subject. What happens instead is that Shalune's jaw hinges shut as the next dish is announced, and she stares at it blankly for a long moment. "... you know... you really should say some of this stuff to them in person," she sags eventually, unable to resist the lazy and rather fond grin. "Or at least record them a sphere or something if it's too embarrassing in person, jeez. Just make sure you give them to me rather than toss them in the ocean this time."
Wordlessly, she gets to serving. Maybe Lunata's right, because the first thing she does is offer some down to the projection of Dinoginos. When it raises its head with a pained cry and a momentary burst of flame, the mechanic lights up, and gives herself a rather large portion.
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
"I'm surprised you haven't tried to disassemble it in front of me," Lunata points out, to which the Magic Pot has a little 'yikes!' expression as it hides inside its own pot. A pause, as she scratches her cheek and continues the traditional self-expression of just lying half-down on the couch.
It's not before the next dish comes -- with its earthenware pot and bubbling medley of cheese and chilli -- that she grumps and mumbles, "I--"
Lunata scratches her head as she complains, "I didn't know wills were supposed to be read or anything, OK?! I thought you were supposed to just chuck them into the ocean!! Ugh, you're never gonna let me live that one down."
Still, when the Magic Pot starts playing the snippet about Emma--
wow lunata has vanished! :O
wow lunata's hidden herself underneath the couch
Eeh? Who's the mystery third diner doinking pieces out of the pot for themselves then???
DG: You use your Tool Lv4 Key Sphere against your party's Challenge, An Invention On Its Own!
DG: Lunata Croze has used her Tool Lv4 Key Sphere toward her party's challenge, An Invention On Its Own.
DG: Shalune Amira has used her Tool Material - Dinowhatsit toward her party's challenge, An Invention On Its Own.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
====================== <* CHALLENGE - An Invention On Its Own *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
It would be a shame to only focus upon the popularly known dishes of Spira's
coastal cuisine within its island regions and overlook the cuisine of the
Ronso. Up on the frozen slopes of Mt. Gagazet, the nutritional demands of
its fellows differ greatly. Gone are the delicate flavours and bounties of
the ocean; in their wake, hearty, strengthening foods that light a fire in
one's belly are needed--
And hence, Emma, Dat's She. A take on the Ronso classic Ema Datshi, a
popular dish of firaja-spicy chillies tempered with yak's milk cheese all
sourced from the divine mountain itself... with the honours of the Other
World's very own chillis, so named after the continent of Ignas itself...
"... once said to have been distilled into combustion fuel for the eponymous
motor of this meal's inventive brilliance. But more than that, the meal's
heart as a mother..."
OK, this chef is definitely projecting real hard.
But rumination about that can wait because... there's a seriously spicy dish
in front of you. Steel yourself as a Ronso might!
=Dungeon Conditions: Vault====================================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 5 *>========================
======================== < Results - An Invention On Its Own >=====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 37 --(0)--> 37 Pass
Lv4 Key Sphere 4 Brute Effects: Efficient and Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 42 --(5)--> 47 Fail
Material - Dinowhatsit 2 Brute Effects: Resilient
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 60 --(30)--> 90 Pass
Conditions: Maim|Vault(1)|Weaken(1)
Effects: Resilient(1)
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze has passed this challenge! The party gained 30 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> Shalune Amira has posed.
The little image of Dinoginos has apparently been bested. The Guardian replica roars another pained gust of flame, then the material projection fizzles out. In its wake is Shalune, left munching her way slowly and doggedly through her serve, and even she's looking mildly pained for once in her life when it comes to spicy food.
"Of /course/ I'm not," she smirks between bites, wiping her forehead as she tries to surreptiously grab herself a drink, as if admitting she's in trouble just isn't allowed. "That's part of my job as Shalune," she adds, still not exactly sure what the two of them are, or whether she should push it in case that leaves too many regrets. Maybe it's just fine to be Shalune and Lunata, she figures.
She hesitates when she realizes Lunata is outright hiding, then sniggers softly to herself as she pats the extra diner on the head - possibly without having even registers its presence, occupying the same sort of blind spot as a Seraph. "Oh, come ooon," she croons. "It's nice! What's wrong with admitting to a mom that you think of her like a mom? I mean, it's the Professor, so she'd burble and fuss and not know what to do with herself, but it's still cute!"
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
"I didn't know Shalune was a proper job title and everything... no wonder Josie picked you to be the real Lunie," Lunata grumbles. Wow, Lunata is posssibly a lot more sore about that than she really should be, isn't she?
Lunata is pausing /just/ long enough to realise, though, that...
There's a burning-red-hot Tonberry hiding in the same couch as her, having just had a BIG MOUTHFUL of cheese-chilli and being patted by Shalune and--
"Uwaaahhh!!"
DOINK
Lunata rolls on out again with a groan, a fresh chef's knife stuck in her chest.
"We had a stowawayyy..." mumbles the chef.
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
"Aw, c'mon," Shalune offers with genuine sympathy and a frown. "You know that's just Miss Josie being Miss Josie. Whichever way it is," she hesitates, then looks proud of herself as she manages to say with a straight face: "You're the only Lunie for me."
She's biased, of course, but she's okay with that.
"Wah--!" she blurts the next moment as there's a sudden flurry of motion, made worse by her all-encompassing affection in the face of Tsun. She stares wide-eyed at the corpse in front of her, then gingerly reaches down to start trying to work the knife out, at this point something of an old hand to seeing Lunata stabbed. "... I'm starting to think you're a magnet for this, somehow," she whines.
DG: Lunata Croze has drawn a new Challenge.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
==================== <* CHALLENGE - A Berry Berry Special Course *>================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey upon the back of the Shoopuf is coming to its end, and so is
the Degustation Course as you spot the waystation on the other end of the
Moonflow's banks. The sun is cozily setting to a gentle golden gleam in the
distance. A dessert would truly be perfect to finish the entire meal off,
before you go. And to that end, the Magic Pot retracts one final time and...
A lantern lifts from within the pot.
The lantern unfurls into four plates on each side, upon which a ton of berry
delicious-looking water crackers in the shape of little chef's knives
unfurl, served with a ton of berry compote in little lantern-bowls. A
veritable platter of sliced kiwifruit and feijoa give the entire platter a
beauteous green colour.
Two little flat candles are placed in the middle, as if providing the
appearance of eyes... ...
( o o )
... but that's just a coinky-doink, isn't it?
Yeah..... that must be it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
Lunata's face is flat in no small part because she just got stabbed, but also because she's staring to Shalune and saying, "Points for the smooth line but... it's kind of really untimely with the knife in my chest, isn't it?"
She winces a little as Shalune wiggle-wedges the knife and draws it out, with a groan escaping Lunata's lips.
"... maybe? I have no idea why--"
The Tonberry grumpily whines as it escapes out of the couch trunk, looking extremely spiced-out and needing... water? What does a Tonberry need when it can't handle the heat, anyway?
It's about to raise its hand when--
The Magic Pot retracts one final time and...
A lantern lifts from the pot.
"Uh--"
The lantern unfurls onto four plates, upon which a ton of berry delicious crackers in the shape of chef's knives unfurl with slices of kiwifruit and feijoa ontop. And the flat candles with the eyes ontop...
The Tonberry stares... stares...
Lunata clears her throat and takes the knife from Shalune's hands and offers it back to the creature. "You dropped your knife, mademoiselle..." she tries in her smoothest line.
Predictably, there's a giant /HUFF/ and a flare of blush lines /////////
SMACK
Lunata has a lantern imprint on her face.
"... you're definitely the real Lunie," she mumbles, flat on her back. [OOC] Shalune Amira says, "ahahaha awww"
DG: You use your Tool The Tonberrian against your party's Challenge, A Berry Berry Special Course!
DG: Lunata Croze has used her Tool The Tonberrian toward her party's challenge, A Berry Berry Special Course.
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
This time it's Shalune's turn to look a little off-kilter, puffing out a breath. "W-well-- look, my sense for this sorta thing was never exactly all that strong in the first place. And I think I'm picking up a bunch of happy-go-lucky habits from how much you manage to shrug off, I'm just saying," she grumbles under her breath.
She's careful to be careful as she extracts the knife, recognizing that it still /hurts/ Lunata; no wiggling, no jostling, and a look of bandage ready to fix in place afterwards. Lunata doesn't bleed, but Shalune would be willing to bet there's still a psychological aspect to it all. Going through the motions helps them both.
"Oh! There she is," she blurts from behind Lunata, working on the bandage when she sights the poor Tsunberry's approach over the other girl's shoulder. "I think I've caught glimpses of her before... aww, but she's really cute, don't you think? She kinda reminds me of you," she adds, the poor creature thankfully too distracted to get the chance to hold a grudge against her for that.
Shalune being Shalune, she raises her eyebrows eagerly as the fiend bobbles closer. By the time Lunata's offered the knife forwards, the mechanic's quickly arranged a small plate of fruit together, a quick-and-rough approximation of the Tonberry's shape with a couple of berries as the eyes. She presents it forward at the same time, offering a bright smile.
And then watches in surprise as Lunata pitches backwards, instinctively recognizing the look on the fiend's face despite the lack of features. Sometimes, you just have a sense for these things. "... definitely, definitely reminds me of you," she blurts.
DG: Shalune Amira has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Berry Berry Special Course.
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
==================== <* CHALLENGE - A Berry Berry Special Course *>================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey upon the back of the Shoopuf is coming to its end, and so is
the Degustation Course as you spot the waystation on the other end of the
Moonflow's banks. The sun is cozily setting to a gentle golden gleam in the
distance. A dessert would truly be perfect to finish the entire meal off,
before you go. And to that end, the Magic Pot retracts one final time and...
A lantern lifts from within the pot.
The lantern unfurls into four plates on each side, upon which a ton of berry
delicious-looking water crackers in the shape of little chef's knives
unfurl, served with a ton of berry compote in little lantern-bowls. A
veritable platter of sliced kiwifruit and feijoa give the entire platter a
beauteous green colour.
Two little flat candles are placed in the middle, as if providing the
appearance of eyes... ...
( o o )
... but that's just a coinky-doink, isn't it?
Yeah..... that must be it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
=========================== <* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 6 *>========================
====================== < Results - A Berry Berry Special Course >==================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunata Croze 37 --(100)--> 137 Pass
The Tonberrian 3 Combat Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shalune Amira 47 --(100)--> 147 Fail
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------==== < Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Lunata Croze 90 --(10)--> 100 Fail
Conditions: Madness|Maim
Effects:
================================== < Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Lunata Croze is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Shalune Amira is too exhausted to continue!
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
DG: The party led by Lunata Croze has successfully explored Ride ze Shoopuf!
================================ <* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
============= <* CHALLENGE - O'aka Donation - Stab the Fork of Justice *>==========
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------==== < Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The service bell rings.
"Most esteemed guestz... we have arrived at the other shore of the
Moonflow!"
Ah, perfect timing. Through both a combination of the luxurious Shoopuf
cabin and the meals you've had onboard, you certainly feel well rested and
well fed. As the Shoopuf pulls up to the waystation on the other side of the
shore, it's time to find accommodation for the night or continue your
journey onward, depending on what plans and destinies are in store for you.
But as you leave...
A potentially familiar merchant, O'aka, walks near to you.
"Say... the fine folks at the waystation gave me some extra food. Y'don't
suppose you want to pack a lunch for tomorrow? I'd part with it for oh,
say... 250 gil?"
(Please visit the following wiki page and update the donation!
https://dreamchasers.space/O'aka_Support_Fund)
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.
"H-how do you even manage to-- we're NOTHING alike!!" Lunata speaks of how she has nothing, NOTHING! To do with the often slow creature who has trouble expressing itself clearly and likes to drape itself in baggy jacket-like robes and is very painfully aware of everyone's grudges and likes to solve all their problems with a pointy instrument.
...
Yep, nothing alike at all!
The ride is soon over as the Hypello calls out for their arrival on the North Bank towards Guadosalam, though, and...
"Saaay... you two! You look like you've had a good time onboard the Shoopuf!" calls a... familiar voice.
"I have some extra food from the fine folks at the waystation. Look at this fine lunch! Would part with it for oh say... 250 gil? I--"
Lunata turns around to face O'aka.
...
...
"... oh. You gave this to me," O'aka points out.
Lunata looks down at the lunch.
"I made that," Lunata points out.
...
...
"... soooo ... 250 gil?"
<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.
"Right," drawls Shalune, echoing the narration as she puffs out a breath and glances to one side, spotting the shore rapidly approaching. "Nothing alike at all." Reaching over towards the side, she gives the shoopuf a friendly pat and a bit of a rub on its back. She has no idea if the massive creature really notices such things, but it only seems polite to offer it her thanks.
Between helping Lunata back up and packing away her bags, she's left scurrying around in a bit of a hurry as the gigantic creature lowers itself to the dock, and it takes her a moment to automatically scoop up everything they're missing - bag, coat, shotstaff, fake sword, cushion, double-check the bag - before bustling her way off the shoopuf's back and onto the northern bank.
It's only during O'aka's sales pitch that she realizes she didn't have a cushion on her, and the soft blob held between her arms at her front is something else entirely. In the pause the merchant's final offer, she slowly turns towards him, a placid smile on her face and a reddening tonberry held in front of her. "... ... how about 150?" she suggests, too brightly.