2020-10-01: A Sight for Sore Eyes

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  • Log: A Sight for Sore Eyes
  • Cast: Yulie Ahtreide, Jean, Venetia Vuong, Avril Vent Fleur, Cecilia Adlehyde
  • Where: Kattelox Island Outskirts
  • Date: October 01, 2020
  • Summary: Arriving in the midst of a battle outside a place none of them know, those who have made their way through the Main Gate jump from the frying pan and into the fire as they make their way through the beseiged Al Bhed city of Home.

DG: A party led by Yulie Ahtreide is now entering The Battle of Home.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - ...and Into the Fire *>====================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The air around you shimmers. The lingering visual after effects of
 teleportation by Elw technology lingers, though the light blue runes and
 circles are hard to see because of how bright it is. You have found yourself
 standing in the desert, with the sun beating down on you and an overpowering
 dry heat taking effect. There is a mirage-like effect, making a rusty metal
 structure in the distance a little hard to look at.

 Then, there are explosions. A series of gunshots hurtles in your direction.
 Some bullets strike into the sand, puffs of it rising, but others may be
 truer to their mark. Cresting the dune behind you, you see a squadron of
 Warrior Monks rushing ahead. They are shouting -- and taking aim for another
 volley -- and followed by more of them, joined by squadrons of Guado
 Guardians.

 It seems that you have found yourself in the middle of a battle. With the
 Yevonite army coming your way, the safest route seems to be running towards
 that structure under attack. The front door has been burst open, already,
 and you can hear fighting inside...
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Across the dunes of Bikanel Desert, the air shimmers and light blue runes and circles flash into being, depositing otherworldly travelers into the sands at what is a very inopportune moment. Gunfire whistles past over head. In front of them is a group of armed Yevonite Warrior Monks, with squadrons of Guado Guardians following them.

Behind, gleaming in the light of the sun and shimmering in the mirage, is a large, rusty metal structure.

Yulie Ahtreide, meanwhile, finds herself in a daze. Her head is spinning and her stomach is churning - not just from the teleporation, which is disorienting enough in and of itself as it is her first interplanetary teleporation, but from Megaman Juno's very alarming words to her before she disappeared.

So it is with mounting alarm that the situation comes back into focus only for her to realise that she's being shot at.

"W-we can't stay here!" She says, alarmed. She doesn't know who these people are or what they're after, but she knows she can't stay here. She turns to run, but she's looking a little unsteady - she may need a hand.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, ...and Into the Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean was prepared for a battle, but this isn't the battle she was expecting. Being out in the desert is a powerful feeling, immediately brings a great deal to mind for her, not least because of her stance at the moment--which is a dangerous martial one.

She's familiar with desert, even if she doesn't know this desert and its ocean scent.

She drops the stance immediately when she feels the power Juno represented has receded, though there are gunshots after them. "Now, this is familiar," Jean sighs first, and then spots--ah. Yulie!

"Hey," Jean says, rushing over to her first, and reaching out to steady her. "C'mon, up we go--I think I see somewhere to go!"

She thinks for a moment, and then pulls her rope ladder, swirling it out behind her with a deft hand to disrupt targetting attempts. "I'll be right behind you!"

She's pretty fast, at least.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Rope Ladder toward her party's challenge, ...and Into the Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia Vuong had closed out her own life on Filgaia by declaring victory for her college's sports team. There is something to be said for staying on brand.

It is the first time Venetia has ridden this highway.

Perhaps it is easier for Elw? She cannot tell. She never saw an Elw (knowingly...)

The ground is warm, the air has a different tang to it, Venetia thinks even as she explains to all and sundry nearby, "I can't bloody SEE! Why is it so BRIGHT!" Obviously, they went outdoors, and Venetia squints into the hated glare of the day-star as -

ptwptwptwppap

INSERT MUSIC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By0zNFjWIRc

Venetia looks up into the glare and sees shapes with -

Guns!

"GAHH!!!!" Venetia says, sweeping round her Crest Graph, still in hand. A pillar of marble stone pops... SOMEWHAT out of the sand, being pre-buried, and this is confusing enough for Venetia to turn and starts running after other people. "Vent Fleur! - Damn, where's Cidney!? Shit! Shit shit shit shit SHIT shit shit SHIT SHIT SHIT!"

"Where are we running?!" she shouts at Yulie and Jean, having identified them as 'people without firearms aimed at me.'

DG: Venetia Vuong has used her Tool Yashichi Ring toward her party's challenge, ...and Into the Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    Just moments ago, Avril, with Venetia and Colonel Laplace, had finally managed to get the Elw device functioning. In the heartbeats since then, her body has traveled an otherwise impossible distance to land upon...

    It's warm. And bright. Shielding her eyes, the young woman lurches to her feet and tries to make out her immediate surroundings--

    Which, as it happens, also includes an invading army. A bullet zings past Avril's head in the next moment. "--Oh," she turning sharply towards the source.

    "...Oh." Even Venetia's shouting hasn't, at least immediately, evoked a sense of deathly urgency in the young woman, who now holds the Sea Medium again in her hands. Perhaps she's still somewhat reeling from the trip (and the exhaustion induced within the Main Gate)? "Where is Colonel Laplace? --Ah, Lucadia!"

    There we go. Those near to her -- if they haven't already made haste for the nearby building -- may similarly find themeselves swept up in the Sea Guardian's power of JUMP.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, ...and Into the Fire.
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia would probably be a lot happier with her life if teleporting away from a doomed scenario into an active war zone were a novelty for her. Or just war zones in general, really. This is the bargaining stage, folks.

Cecilia materializes in midair, having had to make a mad dash to the teleportation platform, and she is soon reintroduced to Everybody's Pal, Gravity. She lands with a heavy, graceless WHOOF and scatters sand in a small wave away from her. She rolls over and breathes a few deep breaths. "Gonna find whoever built those things and kick 'em in the patootie," she declares, just before she notices the sound of gunfire. Then she realizes it's quite nearby gunfire.

Then several rounds land in the dirt next to her and she finally musters the energy to force herself up, directly from a flop to a dash. "Building in the distance! Probably our best bet!" At least it's cover! Probably! As she dashes, she turns, whipping up her Chnage Staff and casting it back BEHIND them. Doesn't that teleport!? That seems bad!

...right up until it collides with a Leypoint and morphs it into a solid block of Ley energy, which several soldiers proceed to plow into. "There! Should get us some time!"

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has used her Tool Change Staff toward her party's challenge, ...and Into the Fire.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
====================<* CHALLENGE - ...and Into the Fire *>====================
|Type: Entry       |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The air around you shimmers. The lingering visual after effects of
 teleportation by Elw technology lingers, though the light blue runes and
 circles are hard to see because of how bright it is. You have found yourself
 standing in the desert, with the sun beating down on you and an overpowering
 dry heat taking effect. There is a mirage-like effect, making a rusty metal
 structure in the distance a little hard to look at.

 Then, there are explosions. A series of gunshots hurtles in your direction.
 Some bullets strike into the sand, puffs of it rising, but others may be
 truer to their mark. Cresting the dune behind you, you see a squadron of
 Warrior Monks rushing ahead. They are shouting -- and taking aim for another
 volley -- and followed by more of them, joined by squadrons of Guado
 Guardians.

 It seems that you have found yourself in the middle of a battle. With the
 Yevonite army coming your way, the safest route seems to be running towards
 that structure under attack. The front door has been burst open, already,
 and you can hear fighting inside...
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Injure=========================================
======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 1 *>======================
======================< Results - ...and Into the Fire >======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      0 --(10)--> 10                 Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    0 --(8)--> 8                   Pass
Sea Medium                          2   Agility Effects: Quicken
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    0 --(8)--> 8                   Pass
Change Staff                        3   Agility Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       0 --(8)--> 8                   Pass
Yashichi Ring                       3   Agility Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                0 --(8)--> 8                   Pass
Rope Ladder                         2   Agility Effects: Quicken
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              0 --(20)--> 20                 Pass
Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Injure(2)
Effects: Quicken(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide 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: Venetia Vuong has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Machina Locks *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 3          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Some parts of Home have been a mystery to the Al Bhed. As Cid himself said:
 "We just use it, we dunno how it works!" This includes some of the doors
 inside Home. This one should lead away from the fighting -- and maybe to
 some escape -- but even the Al Bhed could not crack it. It has three
 mechanical locks, placed on the door, with a series of buttons. The
 characters are some ancient language that evolved -- and later died out,
 after Sin -- in Spira. If you can deactivate each, before Yevonite forces
 catch up, you may be able to continue.
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Exhaust, Tire===================================
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

"Th-thank you." Yulie says as Jean reaches out to help steady her. She accepts the help gratefully - she was really needing it. And so, they all begin to run, and it's soon that Yulie notices that the three of them aren't alone.

"...Miss Avril? Miss..." Yulie pauses, not recognising Venetia. But, she recognizes her as much the same she recognizes them - particularly, as people not shooting her her.

She tries to think of a response, but... her only plan was really to 'run away'. She hadn't really had time to think about 'where'. Fortunately, Cecilia is quicker on the draw, directing them all toward the building in the distance. Yulie gratefully redirects herself that way.

The Yevonite army is approaching, but fortunately, they have ways of dealing with that. Jean swirls the Rope Ladder behind her. It disturbs the air, the shimmering mirage making it harder for them to target them. And if that wasn't enough, Cecilia generates a solid block of energy, both absorbing gunfire and creating an obstacle that the army has to maneuver around quickly.

They're rapidly approaching the structure when Yulie, suddenly, trips... fortunately, however, this is about the same time that Avril harnesses the power of her Sea Medium, and she and the rest of them will find themselves Jumping the rest of the way, setting down safely inside Home.

...For a certain definition of 'safe', as they can more evidently hear the sounds of combat inside...

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia rejoins everyone after a single enormous vault and a hooked-leg-up sick air float worthy of a certain other desert kingdom's princess. Not Aveh, Cecilia, but that legendary figure against whom all princesses may be measured. But she lands before it can really go nuts, and with holes in her dress to boot. Scramble out of the line of fire.

Inside of the structure of Home--

Well, that's the down side, you had to make a quick turn just after getting in here. That's probably why the incoming troops didn't come in at this place by priority. Some of the other entranceways must be seeing far higher traffic. But this one, go down a ramp and out of the burning sun ("Thank Lucadia and Dinoginos that we're out of that fucking SUN," says Venetia) and into

            LOOM

An enormous set of doors with three mechanical locks representing a number of symbols and with a nearby keypad. There are three interlocking rotating parts. There are three prominent lights and while the shape is more of a figure-eight than a normal circle-and-flare keyhole, the idea is probably not hard to get for veteran diggers.

Venetia kicks the door out of sheer spite. "Nyeh!" she says to it.

The colored disks do not react.

Venetia grunts. There is noise on the other side of the door - faintly carrying through thin holes. Venetia leans a shoulder against a wall and gets out her annotated textbook, glancing over her shoulder several times. "So, how are all of you?" Venetia asks, sardonically.

DG: Venetia Vuong has used her Tool Anterior Vuong's Guide to Economic Stone toward her party's challenge, Ancient
Machina Locks.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"That way!" Jean confirms for Venetia once she asks, because she is an old hand and quite expert at both running from and running towards, at this point. Not so much with the giant leap of Lucadia's power, but really? She'll definitely take it at this point. Definitely.

"Not a desert person, huh?" Jean says amiably to Venetia. And then there are... there are doors. There are a lot of doors.

"I have no idea how to open that door," Jean remarks, looking over it with a laugh. "I'm sure you can handle it!" She pulls a flask from her things and uncaps it, tipping it back with an obvious scent of alcohol. It's all fine.

"But otherwise, I'm pretty good!" She does one of those nod-smile deals, the eyes closed kind, though she opens them again and says a little more conspiratorially, "At least, better than the place we just were..."

And then more seriously, "But really, I'm good to keep going for a while yet. If you start feeling tired," she says to the group but largely to Yulie this instant, "Just keep behind me when trouble comes up, if you need to. I've got... other skills, than door opening."

DG: Jean has used her Tool Everyday Flask toward her party's challenge, Ancient Machina Locks.
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia charges in with the rest, huffing for breath in a place she's less likely to swallow sand. She rests against the wall for several seconds. Cooler than she expects. Insulation...maybe...? Well, hardly matters. The others have already started working on the doors by the time Cecilia has her breath back. "Won't have lost them for too long," she warns. Then, for Venetia: "Oh, I'm swell. I didn't get vaporized by a laser earlier! Already a win." That was presumably sarcasm. And then--

"Ruff! Ruff ruff!!"

Oh! It's a big ol' doggo! Someone's lost pet, perhaps. He looks more distressed than angry, which you'd expect given the circumstances. Cecilia untucks one of her wands and squats down near the growling animal. "Hey there," she says, kindly. "Bit loud for you, huh?" Then she taps it on the forehead with the wand, and they start yipping at each other.

Finally, it whimpers and rolls over on its side, and while Cecilia scratches the belly, she calls, "She says we need the purple side facing out!"

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has used her Tool Magic Wand toward her party's challenge, Ancient Machina Locks.
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

There's a door. Yulie stares up at it, blinking. She... doesn't know a thing about how this door works, unfortunately. Venetia asks how they're doing. Yulie hesitates, though she does send Jean a small smile when she speaks.

"Okay, but... you shouldn't put yourself at too much risk for our sakes..." Yulie urges. And as for how she's doing, well... she has to consider what to say for a moment. "...I've been better..."

That being kidnapped by a dangerous group of people onto an airship during an active battle isn't the worst thing that's happened to her this month anymore says... a lot, really.

And, Cecilia finds a dog...! Yulie fights her urge to pet. Instead, she brings out a book. It looks like it's seen a rough time thanks to everything that's happened lately, but it's still in readable condition.

"Um... Saint Calucion says... that sometimes, when you're faced with an obstacle you don't understand... sometimes, it's best to take a step back and look at your situation from a different perspective. An answer may not be evident at first, but in time, you may be able to find it..." Yulie reads.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has used her Tool Calucion's Journeys toward her party's challenge, Ancient Machina Locks.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    The Guardian's power ends quite suddenly, yet not with the natural action/reaction one would expect from physics in response: indeed, it's as if they've merely been set down again once they land. The Medium clutched tight, Avril hurries within, eager now to keep ahead of Yevon's forces.

    Of course, following Venetia means that she, too...

    ...is faced with the conundrum ahead of them called 'an elaborately locked door'. Yevon hasn't caught up yet, which she confirms with a glance back over her shoulder, but if they can't get the door open, they've going to have to go back out there.

    Rather than maintain whatever advantage they may have with this locked doorway. "I see..." Avril murmurs, and at some point, the Medium in her hands has been replaced by the mirror.

    Jean's not sure what to do. Venetia's looking through her book. Avril's attention turns to Cecilia, who is busy talking to a dog, in dog.
    She doesn't seem the least bit perturbed by this. In fact--

    "So that is what she has to say... I see..."

    In fact, Avril treats this as if it's completely normal.

    Try looking at your problem from a different perspective, Yulie reads aloud. Turning back to the door, Avril holds the mirror at an angle and facing it. Streamers of light begin to burn from its surface. "Another perspective... of course," she murmurs, her brow creased as if she were in deep contemplation of the mirror's surface.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Mirror of De Soto toward her party's challenge, Ancient Machina Locks.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Ancient Machina Locks *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits      |Challenge Rating: 3          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 Some parts of Home have been a mystery to the Al Bhed. As Cid himself said:
 "We just use it, we dunno how it works!" This includes some of the doors
 inside Home. This one should lead away from the fighting -- and maybe to
 some escape -- but even the Al Bhed could not crack it. It has three
 mechanical locks, placed on the door, with a series of buttons. The
 characters are some ancient language that evolved -- and later died out,
 after Sin -- in Spira. If you can deactivate each, before Yevonite forces
 catch up, you may be able to continue.
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Exhaust, Tire===================================
======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 2 *>======================
=====================< Results - Ancient Machina Locks >======================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      10 --(15)--> 25                Fail
Calucion's Journeys                 1   Wits    Effects: Resilient and Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    8 --(15)--> 23                 Fail
Mirror of De Soto                   1   Wits    Effects: Cleanse
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    8 --(12)--> 20                 Pass
Magic Wand                          3   Wits    Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       8 --(12)--> 20                 Pass
Anterior Vuong's Guide to Economic  2   Wits    Effects: Enlighten
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                8 --(15)--> 23                 Fail
Everyday Flask                      1   Wits    Effects: Cleanse
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              20 --(20)--> 40                Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Hesitate(1)|Injure(1)|Stupify(2)|Tire(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1)|Resilient(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide 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> Venetia Vuong has posed.

"I didn't see the sun until I was seven years old," Venetia answers Jean, with annoyance. "If it was all the same to all of you overdwellers I'd stay under cover as the gods intended." She flips towards the back appendix, which seem to have guidance for solving puzzles.

Jean drinks alcohol. It helps.

"Calcuion?" Venetia asks Yulie. Back to Avril, she frowns in thought, before she looks back down to her guidance. There is a distant boom.

And then there is a dog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLybBHlIXbI

A puppo approaches. That pupper is, in fact, hecking big. Venetia looks down at the animal in bemusement, and then towards the Princess, even as said princess gives the belly rubs. "The purple side...?"

SOON

The dials shift.

Purple side out. Access code: T
Which means that inevitably the blue must be in the middle because all the other combinations don't have purple out. Access code: U
And after some dicking around and comparison of color plates, Venetia says, "Try... black?
It looks funny. I don't think it's really black, it's one of those colors only some people can see."
ACCESS CODE: K

T - U - K
(Subtitle: D O G)
The door swings open with smooth silence.

Venetia side-eyes the dog.

DG: Jean has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Saving the Day *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 While you have found yourself in the middle of a fight you did not expect,
 it is the Al Bhed that have their Home under attack. As you move through the
 tunnels, you find where a trio of Al Bhed -- armed with machina rifles --
 are exchanging shots with a group of Yevonite Warrior Monks. They are armed
 with rifles, spears, and in one case, a flame thrower.

 The Warrior Monks do not, at the moment, notice your presence. They have the
 trio of Al Bhed pinned down behind a makeshift bunker, of steel beams piled
 up. The one with the flamethrower advances, preparing to put an end to the
 trio of Al Bhed...
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Treasure==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"I'll be careful," Jean assures Yulie, which isn't quite the same thing she said but does sound sincere. But--

"Wow!" Jean answers in surprise to Venetia. "Yeah you would really hate it out here, huh?" Jean does drink. She muses a little bit on that, as the matter of the dog occurs. Jean also moves to bet the dog because of course she does, helpfully. "Awww, you're a friendly one, huh? Why don't you come with us for a while?" She doesn't speak Dog, but she doesn't really have to to be friendly.

Jean has no need to fight the urge to Pet.

Before they move on, Jean offers the flask to Venetia. "Seems like you need some of this more than I do." See? She can share.

But in short order, they turn the corner, and find the people under attack--a trio of Al Bhed exchanging shots with Warrior Monks. Jean narrows her eyes as she sees what's starting to happen--the flamethrower has to be stopped!

"...POWER!"

Whirling in place, she begins a dance of shadowy magic that suffuses her with magenta--and then a cloud of bees erupts around the man with the flamethrower.

The Monks turn to deal with the party!!

DG: Jean has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Saving the Day.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "...Underground?" Avril utters, tilting her head to one side quizzically.

    The mirror's surface does not, as such, reveal anything particularly useful. Avril frowns, but tucks the item carefully away--

    After all, the door is now open. "I wonder if we might find her owner," she says, to Cecilia, falling in alongside the dog as they all make their way through the previously-hidden passage. It seems to join with some of the other tunnels, which links up to--

    Avril holds there stock-still for a long lingering moment. Her blue eyes widen. She takes a breath.

    There is a blade in her hand. When did she pull it out?

    When, too, did she bolt right for them like that, blade at the ready?

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Saving the Day.
<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia says to Jean, "No thanks. I'll get maudlin and pass out. Passing out is tempting but seems like a bad plan right now." They move forwards and --

Along the way, Venetia says to Avril, "Yes... people underestimate Guild Galad's scope. My neighborhood is in a space that was once an ore deposit... but it makes a perfectly good place to live now. Why not live there, eh? Hard to get bandits in there." The downsides do not seem to occur to her.

SUDDENLY: "Them again!" Venetia says as she rocks back on one foot. AND:

THE EAGLE DWELLS BENEATH THE STONE
EAGLE CLAW KUNG FU - VOID STYLE

Leaps! Her goal is to grasp a Yevonite by the throat and bodyslam him into the remorseless floor of Home!

DG: Venetia Vuong has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Saving the Day.
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

"Ah, Calucion is a saint who lived long ago... She was renowned for both her kindness and fierce desire to protect, helping those in need and protecting people who couldn't defend themselves from anyone who would do them harm." Yulie explains, in response to Venetia's question. "I... really look up to her."

She looks toward Jean, then, as she says she'll be careful. Yulie frowns uncertainly... and then, offers her a quiet nod.

The door, eventually, opens. They move forward, only to find a group of Al Bhed under attack! They're outnumbered and outgunned - it looks like they arrived just in time. As the others move to put a stop to the Yevonites, Yulie instead hurries over toward the Al Bhed.

One hand closes tight over her pendant - a holy symbol of her Paladienne Order - while the other reaches for a Crest Graph.

It floats in front of her briefly within a trio of spinning metal rings as Yulie draws upon its power.

"If you need healing, I'm here...!" She reassures them. Motes of light scatter over the party and the Al Bhed, healing their wounds and helping ease their fatigue, if only slightly. But every little bit helps in a situation like this.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has used her Tool Holy Symbol toward her party's challenge, Saving the Day.
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia and Jean adore the doggo for a while, which helps put everyone's minds at ease. Well, their three, anyway. "I hope so," Cecilia says to Avril. "At least some small kindness coming out of all this..."

Soon after, however: Bullets!!

As fellow Crest Sorceress Venetia charges, Cecilia slaps a hand down to her overly-bulky Crest Graph Case, and plucks up a thumb-sized Crest Graph that she thrusts into a growing magical circle, bathing it with light from her magic staff soon after. Muse and Wing, joined in offensive purpose: A blast of lightning cracks across the distance, chaining between the Warrior Monks while Cecilia barks, "Spark!"

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has used her Tool Crest Graph Case toward her party's challenge, Saving the Day.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Saving the Day *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat    |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 While you have found yourself in the middle of a fight you did not expect,
 it is the Al Bhed that have their Home under attack. As you move through the
 tunnels, you find where a trio of Al Bhed -- armed with machina rifles --
 are exchanging shots with a group of Yevonite Warrior Monks. They are armed
 with rifles, spears, and in one case, a flame thrower.

 The Warrior Monks do not, at the moment, notice your presence. They have the
 trio of Al Bhed pinned down behind a makeshift bunker, of steel beams piled
 up. The one with the flamethrower advances, preparing to put an end to the
 trio of Al Bhed...
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Treasure==========================================
=======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 3 *>=======================
==========================< Results - Saving the Day >==========================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      25 --(8)--> 33                 Pass
Holy Symbol                         1   Combat  Effects: Cleanse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    23 --(12)--> 35                Fail
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    20 --(8)--> 28                 Pass
Crest Graph Case                    2   Combat  Effects: Embolden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       20 --(8)--> 28                 Pass
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                23 --(12)--> 35                Fail
Fight                               0   Combat  Effects: BASIC
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              40 --(10)--> 50                Fail
Conditions: Treasure(1)|Wound(2)
Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide 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> Jean has posed.

"Okay!" Jean doesn't insist. She does consider this 'Guild Galad' though, which she's heard of now that she thinks, but doesn't actually know all that much about. Ore deposits, though... That's a little more universal. "Hm!"

On the battle front: In short order, the monks cannot ask where Avril's blade came from. It goes like this: Jean's opening assault shocks and disorients the monk with the flamethrower, and in the chaos that results, Avril gets up there with her blade at the same time that Venetia grabs a man by the throat and slams him downward.

They don't understand Yulie's words, but they understand her actions, and it helps a lot considering how badly they'd been pressed.

Meanwhile the monks now have their backs to Cecilia... and that's a mistake, as it turns out, because those who are still up get lightning'd.

Unfortunately, the battle is sufficiently rough that the ceiling of this section of the facility just starts collapsing outright, cutting the group off from the Al Bhed they'd hoped to help (though they did help them) and forcing them to try another path... once they stop coughing from the dust and smoke.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Catch the Al Bhed Potion! *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 The Al Bhed Home is a labyrinthine structure and easy to get lost in. Narrow
 tunnels and pathways filled with pipes, cables, and other workings that help
 it run make for a maze. Many of the Yevonite forces are as lost as you might
 be. The Al Bhed are not, though, and they have noticed that you came to
 help. Above, on a high catwalk, a pair appear.

 One shouts: "Lydlr!"

 And then throws down a cluster of potions. If you don't catch them, they
 might well hurt more than help -- but they are rather potent healing
 potions.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    This Avril... similarly seems to take in stride. "How interesting. I did not know that there were human cities under the ground," she reflects, perhaps comparing it to all the places she has been which...

    ...Well the closest place she can think of that had underground living quarters was the Photosphere's Gutter. Slightly, Avril begins to frown.

    Fortunately, the sudden battle makes this somewhat less of a topic of immediate concern.

    Unfortunately, the ceiling falling in is of far more concern.

    "Lucadia!" Avril calls out, trying to sweep up with the Guardian's power all she can reach as she races -- through the air, if briefly -- the cloud of dust thrown up by the collapse.

    "Lydlr!" someone calls out from above, as the group emerges into the larger chamber beyond, buoyed by the power of the Guardians and possibly other arcane means (including their own two feet). Avril is still somewhere in mid-air when the bottles are tossed, one of them sloshing end over end as it tumbles in seemingly slow motion for her.

    One hand moves from the Medium and reaches out to seize it as their relative trajectories overlap.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Sea Medium toward her party's challenge, Catch the Al Bhed Potion!.
<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia silently envies Cecilia and Yulie their Crests. Why? BECAUSE -

ON FILGAIA:

A half-dozen Stygian-style Crest Graphs rest, half melted, in the newly formed geological stratum. Jimmy the Gear jockey trips over one, heedlessly. "OW!"

ON THIS PLANET:

The group is dispatched. Venetia kicks one of them for good measure, then wipes off her forehead. The effort is catching up with her. "What are you all talking about? Do you speak -"

Venetia pauses.

"Of course," she says, "obviously. They don't speak Filgaian languages. My mistake." She folds her arms and takes a deep breath, before looking round to the others, particularly Jean for some reason (maybe she's reading between the lines). "Well, some of you have been to Spira, haven't you? I heard that half the Drifters in the world ended up there..."

"Well, we aren't exactly independent," Venetia tells Avril. "More of a district. For now." Ominous. She smiles, without humor. Then Avril calls on Lucadia! At the ceiling! Venetia digs out her OWN Crest - a pillar of marble rises from nowhere as - "Lydlr!" someone calls.

"No," Venetia says, "Pil-"

A potion lands directly on her forehead.

It rebounds upwards, a perfect bobble shot as Venetia lets out a piteous wail of sudden agony, throwing her hand to her forehead!

DG: Venetia Vuong has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Catch the Al Bhed Potion!.
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

The ceiling starts to collapse. Seeing the danger, one of the Al Bhed pushes Yulie aside for her safety. They're far more capable of getting themselves out of the predicament than she is. She ends back with the others, still reeling a little.

"I-Is everyone alright?" Yulie asks between coughs as the smoke clears and they finally make it out to safety. She looks toward Venetia, then.

"Spira...? Is that what this place is called? It's my first time here..." Yulie replies, with a shake of her head. She doesn't even know she's not on Filgaia anymore yet - that's going to be even more of a shock.

It's then that she hears a voice from above. She doesn't understand it but she gets the intent, so Yulie looks up.

"A-ah, wait-" She starts, then pauses. "Well, I suppose you can't afford to..."

She raises her hands to try to catch one. She'll do her best! ...Though she does, temporarily, wince with sympathy for Venetia.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Catch the Al Bhed Potion!.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"I was in Spira for a while," Jean answers Venetia. "Unfortunately, I didn't spend a lot of time with the Al Bhed..." So she definitely didn't pick up their language. It's not like you could just read a bunch of books one letter at a time to learn it regardless of speaking, right?

A district. For now. That's not ominous at all. Neither is the ceiling falling--Jean finds herself leaping upward and forward, and hits the ground before a potion goes for her. She blinks, and abrubtly has out her rope ladder to try to snatch up a bunch with deft ropework because she's actually rather good with them apparently.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Rope Ladder toward her party's challenge, Catch the Al Bhed Potion!.
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia hasn't leveled up her Summoner enough to get the perk that makes her Mediums stop existing as physical objects, so she protects that case closely!

"People will live wherever they can," Cecilia says thoughtfully, to Avril, though she tosses Venetia a curious look. "Although, I confess I'm a bit surprised to see one of Guild Galad's underground citizens so far from home. I'm told the communities there are rather insular."

Then the ceiling falls in. Cecilia yelps in surprise, and quickly assesses the scene. She sees a Leypoint and --

Hears a shout!

She looks up, and her eyes bug out as she sees a potion tumbling a bit too far afield. She whirls and casts her Change Staff toward that leypoint, creating a block that the potion can gently land on (don't ask questions).

This is absolutely how that will go down. Yes.

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has used her Tool Change Staff toward her party's challenge, Catch the Al Bhed Potion!.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Catch the Al Bhed Potion! *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility   |Challenge Rating: 2          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 The Al Bhed Home is a labyrinthine structure and easy to get lost in. Narrow
 tunnels and pathways filled with pipes, cables, and other workings that help
 it run make for a maze. Many of the Yevonite forces are as lost as you might
 be. The Al Bhed are not, though, and they have noticed that you came to
 help. Above, on a high catwalk, a pair appear.

 One shouts: "Lydlr!"

 And then throws down a cluster of potions. If you don't catch them, they
 might well hurt more than help -- but they are rather potent healing
 potions.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
=======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 4 *>=======================
====================< Results - Catch the Al Bhed Potion! >=====================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      33 --(8)--> 41                 Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    35 --(8)--> 43                 Pass
Sea Medium                          2   Agility Effects: Quicken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    28 --(8)--> 36                 Pass
Change Staff                        3   Agility Effects: Rally
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       28 --(8)--> 36                 Fail
Rush                                0   Agility Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                35 --(8)--> 43                 Pass
Rope Ladder                         2   Agility Effects: Quicken
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              50 --(20)--> 70                Pass
Conditions: Save Point(1)
Effects: Quicken(1)
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide 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> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "I see," is Avril's response before everything--

    Gets a little more complicated?

    Still in flight as she emerges from the collapsing section of tunnel ahead of the dust that follows, Avril reaches for the potion as the following happens:

    Venetia, having just emerged herself, takes a direct hit! The potion rebounds, springing up into the air, where it is swept up with a quarter-dozen others entangled in Jean's net of rope ladder born. Maybe she should take up fishing.

    Yulie, meanwhile, is rather less lucky. The potion flies right over her head where it is...

    Well, it slows, first, its end over end motion easing out before it slowly drifts down to settle atop the block as if it were meant to rest there. There is a soft little 'plink' as it does so.

    listen don't argue with Leypoints

    Avril meawnwhile lands neatly, potion in hand. "It appears they were attempting to assist us," she says, after a moment's inspection of the potion bottle. "This is a 'potion', is it not?"

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Percussive Maintenance *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The tunnel you run down opens up into a large area. There, several Al Bhed
 are manning a large lightning coil cannon. They don't fire it at you -- in
 fact, they are instead gathered around a large power generator, speaking
 animatedly. Some look up in shock upon seeing you, but then quickly get back
 to work. Even if the language barrier gets in the way, it is easy to see
 what is wrong.

 The generator isn't working. It sits inert, no sparks or arcs of lightning
 to be seen, and no lights lit up on it. Engineers haven't been able to fix
 it, but maybe it needs a good kick*?

 * Kick may involve explosives, makeshift weaponry, and other ill-advised
 tools of the trade.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Tire=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

The party is supplied with potions! ...It could've gone better, but it's better than nothing. They're now able to move on, pressing further forward into Home. Soon enough, their tunnel opens into a wide chamber, where a large lightning coil cannon has been set up, pointed right in their direction!

Yulie freezes immediately upon noticing it... but, thankfully, it doesn't fire. In fact, upon closer inspection, it appears deactivated - and the reason why becomes clear when they spot a group of Al Bhed gathered around a large power generator, speaking amongst themselves.

They spot the party and seem surprised, but upon not noticing them in Warrior Monk uniforms, or as Guado, they relax and turn their attention back to their machine.

Yulie frowns, and looks toward the others hesitantly.

"Um... should we help them? I don't really know anything about repairing machines, though..." She says. But, they seem to be in a bind, and Calucion's teachings say to help those in need, so Yulie rummages around in her coat and timidly approaches the Al Bhed.

"Excuse me... I don't know if this will help, but... If it is of any use to you, please take it." She says, holding out to them a purple gem. It's charged with electrical power - it may be just what they need to help give it some more power.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has used her Tool Magic Gem toward her party's challenge, Percussive Maintenance.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean drinks a potion! It definitely helps her feel better; it's very unusually potent, and that's not just saying it has a kick! She puts away her rope ladder again though and keeps walking, still dressed in a dancer's silks instead of a more functional combat outfit. But that's fine.

Fine, because they see...

"Hmmm," Jean says. "Well, I'm not very good with machines, either, but they could use the help. I've got an idea."

"Hi!" Jean says after Yulie, not at all timid, as she pulls a flask and uncorks it, offering it to the Al Bhed. "Sometimes you just need to clear your head and try again! Go on, I've still got some left!"

They can probably smell the booze and figure it out. It's a universal language.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Emergency Flask toward her party's challenge, Percussive Maintenance.
<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Venetia has a potion, which heals most of her accumulated wounds and injuries, if not the little hatch mark just at the crown of her forehead where the potion impacted.

"With this, I toast victory," she says. "Whatever that's going to look like."

"... an electrical generator?" Venetia says. She moves forwards, sidling round, and crouches. She soon enough seems to just kind of reach inward and carefully start putting cables together.

After a moment she reaches down to pull out one of her Crest Graphs. Is she going to -

No, she's using it to bridge a sparking gap in the generator. Hopefully, she'll make the skill check.

DG: Venetia Vuong has used her Tool Stygian Crest Graph toward her party's challenge, Percussive Maintenance.
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Magic is cool sometimes. Cecilia plucks her potion up. "Yes, looks like they think we're here to help," she says. Presumptuous, maybe, but she'll take the people with potions over the people who shot on sight.

Speaking of presumptuous, the Al Bhed they come upon next seem to have a problem. Cecilia smiles and waves, which she knows is at least universal enough for them to kindly not fire lightning bolts at her, pls and ty. Then she trots up to the generator, looking it over with the others. "Uhm....I might have an idea," she says, slowly. "I think...."

She reaches into her tools belt and produces one of her oldest, most reliable tools. A power she should never have been trusted with...!!

She sets the Tinder Staff into what she thinks is an intake and just funnels a great big gout of fire into the damn thing.

*this is not a coded tool because Cecilia is not great at deciding where fire is useful.

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Percussive Maintenance.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "Those people are..." Avril starts to say.

    And then she just crinkles her brow. Well, score one for amnesia -- or at least, not having had a lot of contact with the Al Bhed previously. But--

    "...They do not seem to be trying to do anything malicious," she remarks, after a moment. "If they were with the invaders, they would be attempting to destroy a generator," how does she know what it is, "rather than repair it," how can she tell that "do you not agree?"

    So it is that she approaches the group, shortly after Yulie offers her assistance.

    "The machine itself is not the main source of the problem," she says matter-of-factly, and produces her blade--

    Or, rather, produces a sword hilt without a blade in it?

    "Rather, I do believe the attack has created a blockage here," she says, suddenly lashing out at a spot with a beam of light.

    "And here."

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Absolute Zero Beam toward her party's challenge, Percussive Maintenance.
===========================<* The Battle of Home *>===========================
===================<* CHALLENGE - Percussive Maintenance *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 2          |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
 The tunnel you run down opens up into a large area. There, several Al Bhed
 are manning a large lightning coil cannon. They don't fire it at you -- in
 fact, they are instead gathered around a large power generator, speaking
 animatedly. Some look up in shock upon seeing you, but then quickly get back
 to work. Even if the language barrier gets in the way, it is easy to see
 what is wrong.

 The generator isn't working. It sits inert, no sparks or arcs of lightning
 to be seen, and no lights lit up on it. Engineers haven't been able to fix
 it, but maybe it needs a good kick*?

 * Kick may involve explosives, makeshift weaponry, and other ill-advised
 tools of the trade.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Tire=============================================
======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 5 *>======================
=====================< Results - Percussive Maintenance >=====================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      41 --(8)--> 49                 Fail
Magic Gem                           2   Brute   Effects: Stalwart
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    43 --(8)--> 51                 Pass
Absolute Zero Beam                  3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    36 --(8)--> 44                 Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       36 --(8)--> 44                 Pass
Stygian Crest Graph                 3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                43 --(8)--> 51                 Pass
Emergency Flask                     3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              70 --(20)--> 90                Pass
Conditions: Tire(2)|Weaken(2)
Effects:
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide 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> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

It is indeed a universal language, and one they're well fluent in. One gets the feeling they needed it quite a bit. They accept the flask and pass it around, eventually ending back up at Jean. She very well may have made some new friends today.

Meanwhile, the others try to help out. Unfortunately, the applications of electrical energy and, just, a ton of fire don't seem to make much headway. The latter does, however, end up making some points of weakness much more visible. Avril slices away some blockage with well-aimed strikes from Absolute Zero, while Venetia - once it's cooled down enough - bridges a gap in the generator.

With that done, the generator begins to whir to life once more, and there's a convenient hum as the lightning cannon begins to power back up. A cheer goes up from the Al Bhed, who begin to thank them animatedly. Even if you can't understand their words, the feelings get through easily enough.

DG: Jean has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Opening the Airship Hangar *>==================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 3          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 Your flight through Home has led to a large room, built in the lower levels
 of the structure. Before you can get through, though, you find a group of Al
 Bhed civilians and a few of their unlikely protectors gathered (for one, you
 spy Rin and... Guba?). They have gathered about a large set of doors, which
 have been closed automatically -- blast doors, to protect whatever is
 through.

 Yevonite forces are on the way, but you see Brother and other armed Al Bhed
 taking stock. Rin is the one who approaches you; the middle-aged Al Bhed
 jogs up, and then claps his hand. "Ah! My friends!" he calls out. "You have
 impeccable timing! You see, we have two airships through these doors--and we
 are ready to leave. But, these doors are too smart, and have closed on their
 own!"

 He smiles. "I trust you know what to do?"
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overzealous======================================
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia continues to be a person who should not be trusted with a fire wand, but it helped a little! Cecilia looks proud, and gives them a bit of a bow, because sometimes when she feels shy the princess training comes out. Then, the Al Bhed point them down a corridor. Cecilia doesn't know the words, but she suspects she knows the meaning, and gives them a high sign of gratitude before heading off down that direction. It is away from the lightning cannon, which presumably means it's somewhere they don't expect the Warrior Monks to be!

And, indeed, what they come to is....well, it's not quite a safe spot, but it's a safeish spot, anyway. Cecilia blinks. "Is that a cannon pointed at their own bulkhead?" she mutters.

"Ah! My friends!"

Cecilia turns; she recognizes Rin. Who doesn't? He makes no secret of himself. "You have impeccable timing!" he goes on, and explains the problem simply enough.

"Ah. Yes. Stuck doors," Cecilia says, nodding. "We have just the thing. Stand back a bit!"

She produces one of the dish-sized Medium tablets she carries in her case, breathing deeply as she channels Ley into it. And then, with a flash of light, a great big tiger appears!! Fengalon screams, as Fengalon does, and then Fengalon shoulder tackles the door, also as Fengalon does.

DG: Cecilia Adlehyde has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Opening the Airship Hangar.
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean takes her flask back. It's empty, but it was worth it. Hopefully she did make a few friends, but now that the generator is working...

Jean waves her way away from the others, and walks along with the group towards the next chamber. A safeish spot. And--

"Oh, hey," Jean says, and then Cecilia mentions the stuck door. Jean considers, and leaves the door to Cecilia and her wind tiger Guardian apparition, instead walking over towards Rin. "They're really good at this," she comments, and goes, "Hey, you're a merchant, right? Have any liquor?" She holds up her flask. "If you do, let's talk about it in a minute."

OK now she's going to try to help throwing herself at the door too.

DG: Jean has used her Tool Emergency Flask toward her party's challenge, Opening the Airship Hangar.
<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

The party leaves, and soon finds themselves among a group of Al Bhed. This looks to be a dead end at first... but, as is soon explained, it's actually a bulkhead with two airships behind it. Airships... that thought makes her think back to Arnaud. Were the others alright...?

Yulie shakes her head, though, and steps forward. Her eyes track toward Cecilia as she calls upon one of the Guardians. Fengalon... she knows that one. Briefly, a hand goes to her right wrist.

Should she... perform a Material Drive here...? But, there's so many people... They could get hurt. And, undoubtedly the sight of the Guardian Program would only terrify them.

And so, for now, she elects not to - instead bringing out a red gem. She draws the power of fire from it, directing it at the door in a raw burst of flame. With its energy expended, the light and color fades from the gem and it crumbles into nothing.

...Truth be told, Yulie is feeling similarly spent, herself - helpefully this will be enough.

DG: Yulie Ahtreide has used her Tool Magic Gem toward her party's challenge, Opening the Airship Hangar.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "Airships?" Avril utters quizzically, upon both their reunion (she's met him before) with Rin and the problem that the Al Bhed are now facing here. "Then..." She may trail out, but she nods the once, firmly. "Yes, of course. We shall do our utmost to open this door."

    From anyone else, such a grave statement would be mockery, at the very least. From her, it is...

    Well, she likely means it.

    "Everyone, please lend me your aid," she says, joining the others here at the barrier before them. She again draws her ARM. The Guardians, she cannot help but think, reflecting a moment on that exchange between Venetia and Cidney.

    And again she pulls the trigger, lashing out once, twice--

    Thrice.

    As beams of light, however brief, are driven into the surface of the hangar doors.

DG: Avril Vent Fleur has used her Tool Absolute Zero Beam toward her party's challenge, Opening the Airship Hangar.
<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

"Your highness," Venetia says as they move on from the generator.

To Cecilia. "I meant to give this to you on... another planet; however, I will give it to you know." She proffers another Graph to Cecilia. It is one of those stamped bronze items, like hanafuda cards in size and scope.

"Of course I keep two of these and lose most of the live ones," Venetia says, "but anyway, here you go. If we should survive, do come by some time."

The bronze Crest graph has an inlay of an ammonite - one of the less edible mollusks in the sea - and, on the back, an address for the SCHOOL OF MINERALOGY in Guild Galad. (There is a tiny side stamp reading: 10 per cent off cafe purchase for 1st time visitor stamp here after complete ( ))

"Also, good call on the tiger," Venetia concludes. A moment later, she produces an enormous pillar of rock, hopefully adding to the shearing force on the door...!

"What, like, ships with air-powered engines? Or like the f___ing Varkuas? Varkulas, whatever it was."

DG: Venetia Vuong has used her Tool Stygian Crest Graph toward her party's challenge, Opening the Airship Hangar.
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Opening the Airship Hangar *>==================
|Type: Final       |Dungeon Ability: Brute     |Challenge Rating: 3          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 Your flight through Home has led to a large room, built in the lower levels
 of the structure. Before you can get through, though, you find a group of Al
 Bhed civilians and a few of their unlikely protectors gathered (for one, you
 spy Rin and... Guba?). They have gathered about a large set of doors, which
 have been closed automatically -- blast doors, to protect whatever is
 through.

 Yevonite forces are on the way, but you see Brother and other armed Al Bhed
 taking stock. Rin is the one who approaches you; the middle-aged Al Bhed
 jogs up, and then claps his hand. "Ah! My friends!" he calls out. "You have
 impeccable timing! You see, we have two airships through these doors--and we
 are ready to leave. But, these doors are too smart, and have closed on their
 own!"

 He smiles. "I trust you know what to do?"
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Overzealous======================================
=======================<* The Battle of Home - Round 6 *>=======================
====================< Results - Opening the Airship Hangar >====================
Player                               Exhaustion                      Pass/Fail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yulie Ahtreide                      49 --(12)--> 61                Fail
Magic Gem                           2   Brute   Effects: Stalwart
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avril Vent Fleur                    51 --(12)--> 63                Pass
Absolute Zero Beam                  3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cecilia Adlehyde                    44 --(12)--> 56                Fail
Force                               0   Brute   Effects: BASIC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venetia Vuong                       44 --(12)--> 56                Pass
Stygian Crest Graph                 3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean                                51 --(12)--> 63                Pass
Emergency Flask                     3   Brute   Effects: Fanfare
-----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------
Leader: Yulie Ahtreide              90 --(30)--> 120               Pass
Conditions: Overzealous(2)|Tire(1)|Weaken(2)
Effects:
===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success!
DG: The party led by Yulie Ahtreide has successfully explored The Battle of Home!
============================<* The Battle of Home *>============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Flight on the Fereshte *>====================
|Type: Discovery   |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1          |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
 The blast doors explode inward. There, you see a number of catwalks -- each
 leading to two docked ships. One is a sleek, white and gold machina airship
 with Al Bhed script on it. The other is a wooden sailing boat, but with ARMs
 and a dirigible balloon that has armored plating reminiscent of a dragon. On
 the side, Filgaian lettering marks it as the "Fereshte."

 Yours leads to the Fereshte.

 As you run up, one window has a head poke out -- the black-furred canine
 head of Dog, the loyal hound of Lily Keil. She barks. Then, a second head
 pokes out: Janey, with her grey hair.

 "Hey, everyone! Long time no see!" she cries out. "We've got a big boat!"

 Then Mikaia, with her black hair and crow wings. She grins. "Yes! You better
 hurry! Get on, we're leaving now!"

 Dog barks again. Your escape awaits.
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Cecilia Adlehyde has posed.

Cecilia accepts the Crest Graph with a bit of a surprised blink. "Oh," she says, looking it over a little. "Interesting..."

She's never seen them given out as marketing, before. Novel. "I'll remember!"

THEN, IN THE FUTURE:

With the awesome power of the Drifters' raw doorbusting might, blasted with summoned Guardians, conjured pillars, blasts of cold and heat, and Jean's hooch-fueled supermuscles, the door gives way! Fengalon bursts apart into motes of Ley and a brief gust of a breeze, and Cecilia tucks her Medium away. "That's got it!" she cheers. "And, more like the second one, I think..."

With the door open, Cecilia whistles for their dog friend to come along, and she hears TWO barks in answer. "Eh?" she blinks.

Then, she actually takes a look at what's beyond the door. "Wh--oh! OH! Is this where this thing got off to!" Cecilia nearly killed herself saving this ship, one time. Probably more than one time, statistically, actually, but at least the once. She breaks off at a run, as the sounds of battle get closer. "Let's go!"

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Thankfully, their combined strength is enough. The doors are forced open, and soon, the airships become visible to them. Yulie doesn't recognize either, nor does she recognize any of the faces... but, somehow, the sight of it puts her at ease. Yulie lets out a relieved sigh.

"...Thank goodness..." She says. She's happy to see it - happier still that this means people will be able to get out of here safely.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    The door falls before an expression of (excessive?? is there such a thing) force. But once the dust settles--

    "Oh? Is that not...?"

    It is indeed the Fereshte. Those aboard scarce need exhort Avril onwards: she is already en route. "Janey! Mikaia!"

    And still more familiar faces to come.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean, for her part, will get her drink and her safety both, after all this. And--the Fereshte!

"Tht's a sight for sore eyes!" Jean says, smiling and looking to the group. "Well, let's go!"