2019-09-22: Under the Wings of Dragons
- Log: Under the Wings of Dragons
- Cast: Talise Gianfair, Layna Manydays, Sephilia Lampbright, Seraph Lanval
- Where: Guadosalam
- Date: September 22, 2019
- Summary: The Fox Company rushes to aid Lombardia in her battle with Sin.
=================================<* Guadosalam *>================================= Guadosalam is an underground that sits on the path from the north bank of the Moonflow and the southern trail of the Thunder Plains. The city is found inside an underground cavern, where the walls and walkways are composed of the twisted roots of the trees of the Moonflow's north bank, giving the entire area the faint resemblance of an underground swamp. Guadosalam is the ancient home of the Guado, a race of Beastman-appearing humans who, until recently, lived outside the grace of Yevon. This changed with the coming of Lord Jyscal Guado, who brought his people into Bevelle's fold; following Jyscal's death, his son Seymour - also a Maester of Yevon - now rules the Guado people both temporally and spiritually. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmcCd1eCJq4
DG: Fei Fong Wong has left your party. DG: A party led by Talise Gianfair is now entering Clash at the Cliffs. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
============================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>=============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Sinspawn Lolona *>=========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
In the distance, Sin slams into the water. A tremendous splashdown erupts
into the air, and those who rush to the cliffs find that seaspray rains down
on them from above. Lombardia floats above the enormous monster, her
metallic jaws open, and the sun glinting off her wings.
Sin, it seems, is aware that some might come to help. The cliffside
overlooking the water is riddled with chasms, switchbacks, and rivets. In
many of these, flashes of light erupt -- as Sinspawn are summoned by the
great beast. These resemble towering, twisted networks of coral. They pulse
with a shuddering green glow -- and then hurl globs of sticky, emerald
miasma at those approaching.
The Sinspawn Lolona are large, rock-like creatures that hurl poison-aspected
attacks at those that come close. They also emit an ear-piercing screech --
and indeed, you see one directly ahead, between you and the cliffs
overlooking the battle of the titans.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Tire, Cripple====================================
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
The opportunity to party is over. Obsession has come, looming over Macalania like a hammer of God - but it does not come unopposed.
"Holy shit, a dragon!" Talise cries with amazement at the sight of Lombardia screaming overhead and slamming violently into the massive Clysmian. Water sprays in vast tides as Sin hits the ocean below the cliffs on which they stand. The big swordswoman stares in open awe, her lower jaw hanging.
The sight of aid against the force of Obsession gives her hope - enough that as the cliffside suddenly ripples with flickers of light, Talise doesn't so much as flinch. She turns towards the emerging shapes of creatures that come lurching out of crevices, shambling like immense twisted golems of coral.
Talise reaches back, drawing her sword with a flourish. "So Sin's bringing friends," she rumbles. "Then so be it. All we can do is try to succeed where Ghaleon failed."
Emerald globs hurtle at her, the creatures shrieking. One of them looms ahead of the cliff face. Breaking forward, Talise sweeps her coat back with a jingle of mail, revealing her armour beneath it. Her voice rises to a thundering roar as she sweeps Rastaban through the air, unleashing a blast of power in the shape of a blue-green dragon.
DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Dragon Courage toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Lolona.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna didn't go to the party - big, fancy get-togethers like that aren't really her thing. She was waiting outside, keeping an eye out for trouble...and trouble certainly arrived, many times over.
"So, it ain't restricted to just the ocean...that explains a lot." Layna considers with a frown. And what's more, as Talise says - Sin has friends. Layna cracks a grin.
"Aye, well, at least we've got a big friend of our own." She says, nodding toward the dragon. "Never seen one that big before... first I thought it mighta been a Gear, but...it's movin' way too organically for that."
The shrieking Sinspawn, however, draw her attention away from the fight going on in the background. Layna rolls her eyes at the Sinspawn.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Why don't you lot...just lay off!!" With a shout she punches forward, unleashing a shockwave of wind in an attempt to punch straight through a column of Sinspawn.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Lolona.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"How does Sin have friends? Who wants to be friends with Sin?!" Sephilia is baffled by the very idea, and sounds almost offended. "He's not even huggable! Friends are huggable!"
Chauncey scoops Sephy into a big hug at that remark. Then he sets her down behind him carefully, positioning himself between her and the unhuggable fiends. He raises his hands as if to engage in sporting fisticuffs, then appears to reconsider, hesitating and glancing over his shoulder towards Sephy for permission.
"All right, yeah, I think the Chair is justified here, Chauncey," Sephy allows, and the Chair is brought out with great delight and great momentum as Chauncey charges concluding with a slam into one of the unhuggables at full speed.
"Get him good, buddy!" Sephy cheers, then draws her sword. Chauncey clearly wants her to be safe, but she'll be safest if she can stab things that get past him, after all.
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has used her Tool Folding Chair toward her party's challenge, Sinspawn Lolona.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval is momentarily rooted to where he is as Obsession appears again, knowing full well what they were able to do when everyone was prepared and mobilized for it. This time, they come by surprise, with everyone caught in the middle...
Talise runs right by Lanval.
'All we can do is try to succeed where Ghaleon failed,' he hears. That's when he's able to acknowledge that Talise isn't just there - she's running on ahead! It snaps him back to the rest of reality, though overwhelmed by the overbearing spiritual pressure. The Oracle of Schturdark is roused anew to action, and isn't far behind Layna as she's already moving to reinforce Talise's approach. Shaken as he is, overwhelmed by the circumstances...
There is in immense build-up of that sickly green, venomous miasma that starts to fill the air, to make the cliffside ever more precarious to traverse. Just as it starts to choke out visibility (and far worse than just the ability to see)...
There is a great rushing torrent of sanctified water. Not far behind his friends is Seraph Lanval, eyes shining that aquamarine color that denotes being at the right balance of drunk vs. coherent.
"To their aid!" Lanval calls, attempting to keep the miasma levels down so that the mortals are better able to fight off the Sinspawn.
After all, it was Talise who impressed that maybe they should focus on what it is they know they can do for sure. Maybe on the whole they cannot bring down Obsession as they are, on their own... but here on the ground, with their surprise ally's entire focus on the Clysmian, they can lighten their - and everyone else's - burdens.
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Holy Bottle toward his party's challenge, Sinspawn Lolona.
============================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>=============================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Sinspawn Lolona *>=========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 3 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
In the distance, Sin slams into the water. A tremendous splashdown erupts
into the air, and those who rush to the cliffs find that seaspray rains down
on them from above. Lombardia floats above the enormous monster, her
metallic jaws open, and the sun glinting off her wings.
Sin, it seems, is aware that some might come to help. The cliffside
overlooking the water is riddled with chasms, switchbacks, and rivets. In
many of these, flashes of light erupt -- as Sinspawn are summoned by the
great beast. These resemble towering, twisted networks of coral. They pulse
with a shuddering green glow -- and then hurl globs of sticky, emerald
miasma at those approaching.
The Sinspawn Lolona are large, rock-like creatures that hurl poison-aspected
attacks at those that come close. They also emit an ear-piercing screech --
and indeed, you see one directly ahead, between you and the cliffs
overlooking the battle of the titans.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure, Tire, Cripple====================================
=======================<* Clash at the Cliffs - Round 1 *>======================== ==========================< Results - Sinspawn Lolona >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talise Gianfair 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Dragon Courage 1 Combat Effects: Embolden and Fanfare ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Lanval 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Holy Bottle 2 Combat Effects: Resilient ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Folding Chair 2 Combat Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Cripple|Injure(2)|Tire(2) Effects: Embolden(1)|Resilient(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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> Talise Gianfair has posed.
It occurs to Talise, as she charges forward, that Ghaleon did not survive his encounter with Sin.
Talise fought Ghaleon once, one on one. He absolutely humiliated her. And here she is, going up against the enemy that destroyed him.
The towering Sinspawn Lolona hurl their poisonous attacks, but Talise swats an emerald blast aside and pivots on her heel to swing. The power of Dragon Courage tears through the first of them, sending shredded rock and coral spewing across the cliff face. More rise to oppose them, but Talise charges on, undeterred.
Lanval cries out, channeling the power of his Domain. The Miasma recedes before the spray of holy light. Trundling through the light come Sephilia and Chauncey, both girl and fox laying about them and smiting down another Sinspawn. Layna follows up with the simplest expedient possible.
She just knocks a Lolona the hell out.
Another falls with a crossbow bolt in its face as Benedict Greygust, shoulder bag loaded with a squabbling immature Chocobo, brings up the rear. "We must be out of our minds!" he curses.
DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
===============================================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>================================================
============================================<* CHALLENGE - Sinscale Waves *>============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Lombardia slams into the cliff below, though with her claws rather than her
entire body. The blast of gravity that slammed her fades, and then she
pushes off with her tail and feet. That sends her soaring back at Sin -- and
she rakes across the whale-like monster's body. Pyreflies shoot high into
the air, as Sin bellows and screeches.
It seems, despite those animalistic noises, that Sin is quite aware of you.
Before you can rush to intervene more, the skies above you darken. Dozens of
Sinscales come raining down upon the cliffsides -- trying to bury you under
them, before you can rush to the Metal Dragon's aid.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Weaken, Stupify==================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
The Lolona erupt into pyreflies. Prismatic streams of color fill their vision, a low wailing following their passage across the open air. The wailing sound has become easy to tone out from how much any one of them have heard it, but the colors are momentarily blinding. They are already waist-deep in Fiends.
(pyreflies don't stain - a plus)
"Ha ha ha!" Lanval laughs good-naturedly, reaching into the small joys that are of his native Domain, even as his aura holds such great presence of water in all its forms. "'Twould be remiss, Benedict, if--"
BOOOOM.
The entire cliffside shudders violently. No one is hurled over, but this is from a wash of gravitational force that weighs and anchors them down enough that they do not. This is a happy accident at best.
The cliff doesn't collapse under them... but they feel it, all right, and gleaming metal casts a large shadow as it rises back up. Lombardia took a nasty blow, and they launch back up to give just as good as they take, raking across the Clysmian's body and filling the air full of more pyreflies.
Obsession's bellowing is deafening, as it shifts its weight and seems to veer a bit closer to the cliffside. There is a sense, a fleeting sense, that an eye from the creature is on them. Lanval tries to meet its gaze back.
Things flake off of Sin, raining down their way... Sinscales. Smaller, numerous Fiends that attack en masse as shock troops. Most of them miss the cliffside. The ones that do touch down, they come in waves. Waves of dozens. Each of the gathered would have to put down five each, on average, in order to break through and survive - if they don't get crushed underneath them first.
Lanval has to throw himself up front as he swings the drinking gourd by its rope over his head. The tiny thing weighs heavy with the very Water of Filgaia itself - and the amount of water it spills in a hurry is absurd, as if trying to push back the initial wave with a veritable tidal wave of sanctified water.
"Obsession doth see worth in slowing our approach..." Lanval says. They're not the only party trying to make the approach, but Fox Company here are currently leading the pack - they're the first contact for the Sinscale wave.
It's up to them to make sure none make it past as they advance.
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Holy Bottle toward his party's challenge, Sinscale Waves.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
With a whirl of her sword, Talise looks over her shoulder with a fierce grin. "Don't worry about it! We've got a dragon on our side! What could go wrong?!"
Something does - Lombardia slams into the cliff and nearly jerks Talise off of her feet. She wobbles in place but manages to catch herself. Above, Sin bellows, and Sinscales begin to fly.
"HEADS UP," Talise shouts as she sweeps her sword through the air. Again green light roars off of it and bursts forth.
This time, the head of the Dragon is a little bluer than usual - a trick of the light, perhaps. The vast draconic burst swells to try and swallow up several Sinscales in the hopes of burning them away.
Talise charges forward, wasting no time. Her Sword Arte will have to buy them the cover they need. Shielding her head with one arm, she looks back towards Lanval as the Seraph lets his water fly, the sanctified power of the Oracle testing itself against even the sidelong flings of the massive Clysmian.
"We have to help Lombardia," she calls over the sound of battle. "I don't care what the Yevon people say about Yuna - Seymour's a liar anyway!"
DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Dragon Courage toward her party's challenge, Sinscale Waves.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Aye, we are! But how's that any different than usual?" Layna replies to Benedict with a good-natured laugh. She might be playing it up a bit here, considering the direness of the situation.
If they're not careful, they could be wiped out in an instant...it's perhaps thanks to Lombardia that they've even managed to survive this long.
But having a large ally can be a problem in and of itself - Layna has to take a moment to stabilize herself as one of Lombardia's claws crashes into the cliff below.
And then, Sinscales rain down their way - too many to fight one on one. Layna grimaces and recites a quick incantation.
A whirlwind begins to stir up around the party, heavy winds blowing the Sinscales off course and ensuring that none of them have to worry about being struck by one of them falling directly.
"Aye, agreed..." Talise says, with a now toward Talise. She takes a moment to look back toward Sephilia.
"You holdin' up back there?" She asks.
DG: Layna Manydays has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinscale Waves.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy squints at Lanval. "You mean, he's afraid we can stop him? He must be afraid we can stop him. That's awesome!"
Chauncey's fist pumps in the air, and then again--though the second time is less in excitement and more because the first one accidentally hit a sinscale, and after that he was just gonna fight.
"Did you hear that, Layna? This is 'cause he's *scared of us!*" Morale appears high in the Lampbright corner.
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Sinscale Waves.
===============================================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>================================================
============================================<* CHALLENGE - Sinscale Waves *>============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Lombardia slams into the cliff below, though with her claws rather than her
entire body. The blast of gravity that slammed her fades, and then she
pushes off with her tail and feet. That sends her soaring back at Sin -- and
she rakes across the whale-like monster's body. Pyreflies shoot high into
the air, as Sin bellows and screeches.
It seems, despite those animalistic noises, that Sin is quite aware of you.
Before you can rush to intervene more, the skies above you darken. Dozens of
Sinscales come raining down upon the cliffsides -- trying to bury you under
them, before you can rush to the Metal Dragon's aid.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Weaken, Stupify==================================
==========================================<* Clash at the Cliffs - Round 2 *>=========================================== ==============================================< Results - Sinscale Waves >============================================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talise Gianfair 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Dragon Courage 1 Combat Effects: Embolden and Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Lanval 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Holy Bottle 2 Combat Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sephilia Lampbright 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Cripple|Fright(2)|Injure(1)|Stupify(2)|Tire(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Embolden(1)|Resilient(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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> Seraph Lanval has posed.
The Oracle of Schturdark provides the lay-up to deal with the initial wave, allowing everyone more time to gird themselves and ready for the remainder of the swarm to come at them.
They are more than ready.
The head of the Dragon roars down, dead ahead, and disintegrates just about every Sinscale in front of Talise. It gives her the most wiggle room to advance and push forward if she decides she must. If there's a break in the offense at any point, she may need to straight-up tank a handful of them.
Layna provides a defensive wall of wind around their position, which halts several and ensures that Talise is now engaging them more on her terms instead of having to deal with a horde leaping on top of her - but she won't be able to cut them all down on her own.
Enter Sephilia and Chauncey. Chauncey covers a blind spot from where a small handful of Sinscales had actually passed overhead. This revelation may compel Sephilia to turn around and deal with them. With Benedict's help, they can pick off any of them that might break away and go to tackle the other parties.
The field does not clear, for this field will not be clear for as long as Obsession continues to torment Spira... but not a single Sinscale gets past them. Lanval's usual mirthful laughter quiets as he looks up to the Clysmian in the middle of their duel with Lombardia. Is there something different in this circumstance? Is there something that makes all of them more dangerous, now, when they number far less than the gathered armies of Operation Mi'ihen? (Aside from having Lombardia attacking it.)
They need to make good on the ground they have gained now, lest they lose it in another wave of Sinscales or worse.
DG: Layna Manydays has drawn a new Challenge.
==========================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>===========================
====<* CHALLENGE - Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time *>====
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the skies, titans battle. On the cliffs, a few desperate souls try to
help.
And from the Macalania Woods, a legend emerges.
Guba, the forty-something washout of the Besaid Aurochs, steps forward. His
beard is dirtied; he is bedraggled and sodden. "Ah HA!" he calls out. "I've
finally found it... what I need... to finally make the team!"
Guba lifts up the legendary blitzball, the World Champion: a red and yellow
ball, with retractable saw-like blades that pop out. Guba bellows, before he
goes charging forward, and screams: "All right, chums! Let's DO THIS!"
And he leaps off the cliff. The World Champion is swung into position. The
sun glints gloriously off the blades. With an arm that possesses a strength
that Guba never knew he had, he swings it back, and cries out,
"GUUUUUUUBAAAAAAAA!!"
...and aims the legendary Blitzball at Lombardia, instead of Sin. How will
you guide Guba to a moment of glory, instead of infamy?
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Alright, me hearties, let's keep moving!" Layna says, pushing forward...and then she stops abruptly. "Wait a tick... Is that...?"
She draws out her telescope, and uses it to zoom in on a nearby cliff. He's visible to everyone, but Layna just really wants to make sure she's not seeing things.
"...By the Goddess, it's Guba." She says, both shocked and mystified. What's he doing here??
But then, she looks at his stance - and then she gets a terrible feeling, just before he spells it out himself.
"Ah HA!" He calls out, looking very bedraggled. "I've finally found it... what I need... to finally make the team!"
He then brings out the most illegal looking blitzball, complete with retractable saw blades. Guba bellows, charges, and screams.
"All right, chums! Let's DO THIS!"
And then, he leaps. He raises his blitzball and the sawblades emerge, the sun glinting gloriously off of them. He swings his arm back, and he shouts triumphantly.
"GUUUUUUUBAAAAAAAA!!"
...And then, he aims the ball at Lombardia. Layna actually, literally face-palms.
"Holy hell, that lunatic is going to get himself and everyone else killed. I should be surprised, but I'm really not." She says in a dead-pan tone. And then, she recites an incantation, stirring up a wind that will hopefully redirect that lethal blitzball toward Sin instead.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Captain's Telescope toward her party's challenge, Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"I'm with you, Layna," Talise calls out, breaking into a run as she heads for the cliff edge, ready to fight a whale a million times her size.
But then Layna halts and spots something. Screeching to a stop, Talise stares ahead, then sets her jaw and growls as she realizes what exactly is ahead of them.
Guba.
"Well, the only way to stop this idiot is logic and reason, of course," Talise says before jogging briskly forward. The armoured swordswoman crosses the distance between herself and Guba, reaching into her pouch and coming up with a bottle of something.
Old Man Ettlesbury's Olde-Fashioned Conversation Starter
Slowing as she approaches Guba, Talise brings her arm up to cross his throwing arm. "Hey. Hey Guba," she says with a warm smile. "Listen. I know you're going to want to throw that ball, but just hear me out. Let's talk about your strategy. And we can start with a nice drink."
Talise winks once.
Then she swings and attempts to break the bottle over Guba's stupid head.
DG: Talise Gianfair has used her Tool Old Man Ettlesbury's Olde-Fashioned Schnapps toward her party's challenge, Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"My Dad always said there's no reasoning with some people," Sephilia observes as Talise clubs Guba with a bottle. Layna's already got the course correction thing covered better than Sephy can.
Chauncey offers the Chair for Sephy to sit in while Guba is, ah, educated about strategy.
"Dad also said always have somewhere to sit."
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has used her Tool Dad's Journal toward her party's challenge, Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval keeps moving with the rest. His strides are sure and unlike him, moving forward like a rising tide crashing against a beach and not the weird floundering ragdolling he usually does. Through his comprehension, a greater swath of creation runs through whatever is the Seraphim's anatomical equivalent of a mind. Greater scopes, bigger pictures, glimpses of which Schturdark conveyed to him after Love's Cradle. A scope of which pulled him out so far that, months ago, he nearly failed to recognize Sephilia when she fished his bottle out of Spira's waters.
Sephilia Lampbright, one of the closest friends he's ever had.
A flash of that happens again as he seems to miss Guba's dramatic appearance and intentions, missing that his companions are taking note of Guba and his antics. Missing that they are taking a brief detour from their advance - a good one, if their previous experience with Guba's throwing arm were to say anything about it - and somehow even missing that Talise is sacrificing a bottle of drink to deal with the problem decisively.
It is when Lanval notices that none of them are standing along his side and further traveling along the cliff towards the battle of the two titans that he halts and turns around, observing the whole of it. The truth of smaller details snap back again. He thinks for a moment that TAlise is nearly on the verge of falling off the cliff for grabbing... that mortal from Besaid.
All this, as he looks on behind mood-ruining amber-lens beer lens novelty glasses. The look on his face is not of anger, or impatience, or disgust - it is as if he were finding a moment to go 'oh.'
A moment where he fully lost track of his best friends while concerning himself with a scope and a picture that he never could have fathomed until he swore service to Schturdark.
He stands in wait, as if in mental whiplash.
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Amber Tinted Glasses toward his party's challenge, Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time.
==========================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>===========================
====<* CHALLENGE - Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time *>====
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 3 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
In the skies, titans battle. On the cliffs, a few desperate souls try to
help.
And from the Macalania Woods, a legend emerges.
Guba, the forty-something washout of the Besaid Aurochs, steps forward. His
beard is dirtied; he is bedraggled and sodden. "Ah HA!" he calls out. "I've
finally found it... what I need... to finally make the team!"
Guba lifts up the legendary blitzball, the World Champion: a red and yellow
ball, with retractable saw-like blades that pop out. Guba bellows, before he
goes charging forward, and screams: "All right, chums! Let's DO THIS!"
And he leaps off the cliff. The World Champion is swung into position. The
sun glints gloriously off the blades. With an arm that possesses a strength
that Guba never knew he had, he swings it back, and cries out,
"GUUUUUUUBAAAAAAAA!!"
...and aims the legendary Blitzball at Lombardia, instead of Sin. How will
you guide Guba to a moment of glory, instead of infamy?
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
=====================<* Clash at the Cliffs - Round 3 *>====================== ======< Results - Besaid Man Attacks Whale and Dragon at the Same Time >====== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talise Gianfair 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Old Man Ettlesbury's Olde-Fashioned 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Lanval 3 --(0)--> 3 Fail Amber Tinted Glasses 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Captain's Telescope 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sephilia Lampbright 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Dad's Journal 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Cripple|Fright(1)|Madness|Stupify(1)|Weaken(1) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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: Talise Gianfair has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>=============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Titanic Impact *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Although Lombardia does her best to be mindful of those helping her, the
Metal Dragon can only pay so much mind to anything beyond Sin. The next
gravitational blast strikes her in the chest. It warps and crushes in blue
and silver armor plates, and then hurls the Metal Dragon back. She shrieks
as she flies in towards the cliff.
Towards you.
The moment that she strikes this section of cliff, it will crush all nearby
-- and that means the only thing to do is /run/.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Your dad's a smart cookie, lass. Sometimes folks are too stupid, sometimes they're too stubborn...and sometimes, they're both." Layna replies with a grim nod.
Talise grabs Guba at the last moment before he can leap dramatically off the cliff - but his throwing arm is already in motion. The World Champion goes flying...but, a lucky breeze redirects it, causing it to slam into Sin, instead.
Before Guba can protest, Talise clubs him with the bottle.
"...Aye, it's probably for the best." Layna says with a nod toward Talise. Fortunately, a tragedy was averted here today - but the day isn't over yet.
"...Where's Lanval?" Layna says, looking around, and then catching sight of him in the distance. "Wait up, lad!"
And with that, she hurries toward him.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"I waste more bottles of booze that way," Talise sighs as she tosses the top of the bottle away. It hits the ground and rolls.
Gravitational blasts roll overhead. Looking up towards the heat of the battle, Talise watches with amazement as Sin unleashes a thunderous blast towards Lombardia. The rolling burst of gravity catches the huge silverblue dragoness, and Talise lets out a cry of alarm, bolting forward.
This is probably a bad idea. The power of the blat hurls Lombardia out of the air - and the massive dragon plummets towards the cliff face.
And towards the little group of Fox Friends gathered on it.
"Ohhhhh, crap," Talise utters.
"CLEAR OUT," Talise shouts as she turns and begins to run away from the cliff face as fast as she possibly can - and not for the first time today, she begins to regret wearing her coat over her armour. Padded mail jingles against the back and flanks of her platemail as she scrambles over rocks and scorched Sinscales, picking up the prone Guba and flinging him over one shoulder before continuing to run. "Hurry up! She's gonna hit!!"
DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Titanic Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It's alright, Talise. Layna's got you covered - she reaches into her coat and pulls out another bottle of drink, handing it over to her.
It is around this time that, in the distance, Lombardia takes a nasty-looking strike to the chest.
"...Ah, hell." Layna utters, noticing her trajectory. Talise doesn't need to tell her twice - she's bolting off and, as she does so, grabs onto anyone who doesn't start running immediately.
She's not leaving anything up to chance here - she saw what happened to the cliffside when only Lombardia's claws struck it. If the entire dragon herself landed...
...Well, she doesn't need to finish that sentence.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Quartermaster's Stash toward her party's challenge, Titanic Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval waits up dutifully, now mesmerized with watching the battle between Obsession and Lombardia as he holds his drinking gourd gently in both hands. Panic starts to wash over everyone as a backwash of gravitational force goes past Lombardia as a precursor for the impact that is bound to follow.
Lanval falls to his seat, as Talise shouts for them to clear out. As Layna's quiet cursing somehow carries across the pounding spiritual pressure that weighs upon the Oracle of Schturdark. This is the exact opposite of anything anyone should be doing when Lombardia is coming down upon them...!
Lanval takes out that bubbling pipe and has a bubble. Many fill the air. Lanval will soon help himself into one, to let himself be carried up off the ground - and if anyone comes by who desires such, they might want to take a bubble too.
The impact in question might be deadly for anyone with feet on the ground.
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bubble Pipe toward his party's challenge, Titanic Impact.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy has, as a young adventuring explorer and chronicler, had lots of practice at running from, into, and through dangerous situations. She still doesn't like it. Clinging to Chauncey's back as the embiggened fox hurtles along, Sephy gives voice to her distaste.
"I hate this part!"
Well, nobody *likes* doing this bit, Sephy!
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Titanic Impact.
============================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>=============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Titanic Impact *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Although Lombardia does her best to be mindful of those helping her, the
Metal Dragon can only pay so much mind to anything beyond Sin. The next
gravitational blast strikes her in the chest. It warps and crushes in blue
and silver armor plates, and then hurls the Metal Dragon back. She shrieks
as she flies in towards the cliff.
Towards you.
The moment that she strikes this section of cliff, it will crush all nearby
-- and that means the only thing to do is /run/.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
=======================<* Clash at the Cliffs - Round 4 *>======================== ===========================< Results - Titanic Impact >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talise Gianfair 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Lanval 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Bubble Pipe 3 Agility Effects: Rally ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Layna Manydays 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Quartermaster's Stash 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sephilia Lampbright 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Injure(2)|Slow(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair 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> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Nothing is going to stop the combination of that much size and that much force. All the Company can manage now is speed.
Over Talise's shoulder, Guba stirs, alcohol dripping down his face. The swordsinger growls and quickens her pace, reaching out with her free arm to give Chauncey a little boost. "Hurry hurry hurry hurry," she breathes--
Rock screams and crumbles as Lombardia collides with the cliff. Debris and rock hurtles up like a vast tidal wave of earth. The wave of ruination crests, then descends, collapsing in a tsunami of muck and stone.
But where it hits, the Company has already been. By the time the worst of the ruin passes, the group of five have taken cover behind a larger crest of rocks. Talise shields her face with a fold of her coat as the dust cloud blows over them, coughing into the lining of her coat, but they're well clear of the physical rubble.
"I sure hope Lombardia's getting up from that...."
DG: Seraph Lanval has drawn a new Challenge.
===============================================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>================================================
========================================<* CHALLENGE - Behind the Shield Wall *>========================================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 4 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Lombardia screeches in the skies above -- and then sends another colossal
beam of green energy down. It slashes into the right fin of Sin. With a
titanic explosion, sending pyreflies and crackles of energy outward, the
limb falls away -- and dissolves into so many pyreflies before it ever
strikes the water. Lombardia hovers there, staring down at a creature that
looks, for the first time, injured and strained.
And yet, the damage to her body is no less severe. Armor plates are crushed
in; silvery blood drips and splatters on the rocks below. Her head turns
down, looking at Sin. "We are not yet done, are we, beast?"
Sin meets the queen's question with a terrific roar, which shakes the very
stone under your feet. Then, it opens its maw. The attack is familiar:
Giga-Graviton, the same that so wrecked Azado and the beach at Mushroom Rock
Road alike. A bead of pulsing black energy appears, shining white.
"No!"
Lombardia descends -- and the damaged Metal Dragon lands on the cliffside.
The ground under her cracks and strains under her great weight, as claw and
tail dig in. Then, a massive barrier of interlocked white-green octagons
appears before her, like a dome.
"Humans! Gather behind me! There is precious little time ere it unleashes
its fury upon us!"
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Hesitate===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
It is not even just Lombardia's landing that causes so much damage to the cliffside. It is the act of her recovering, thrashing, hurriedly righting herself so she can take to the skies again as small pools of quicksilver are left in her wake. The blood of the survivors of Hyades. The blood of those who, until roughly a year or so ago, were the unyielding agents of a creature of pure oblivion.
The blood of their savior, as she takes to the skies anew in a screech and shoots a beam of green energy from her maw. It carves through Sin's right fin...
...and it is severed.
Explosions of color fill the sky, and it is the first time any of them see what was thought impossible: a proof that the Clysmian can be hurt.
"We are not yet done, are we, beast?" Lombardia asks.
That roar from the Clysmian, roughly translated, is '(DELETED) NO (DELETED) YOU (DELETED).' The roar doesn't cease.
Lanval remembers this from where he rests behind them, his eyes widening anew. "...The power... no!" Fear seeps into the Oracle's voice. He cannot articulate that this is certain doom. His good friends probably know that if he's freaking out, this is bad.
That bead of pulsing black energy appears again, shining white around the fringes...
Lombardia descends down to the cliffside, gently, under her own power as her back faces everyone who has made it here. Everyone who has bled, struggled, to make their way here. The ground cracks underneath her, as she braces down with claw and tail. Soon after... the barrier of interlocked white-green octagons, forming a dome pointed around the front. behind her, the colors thin into nothingness - a temporary opening.
"Humans! Gather behind me! There is precious little time ere it unleashes its fury upon us!"
"'Tis as spoken...!" Lanval says as he rises, but there's a great obstacle ahead of them - many. More Sinscales. More cracking ground. More ruin and debris, from all of the fighting. They have less and less time to cover the distance with every passing moment.
Lanval, kiseru-style pipe in hand, is already blowing all the bubbles he can. Blowing them won't be enough. He scarcely ever directs bubbles to do anything other than exist, but he will be among the last to get in a bubble if any choose to take this route... for he will summon more bubbles to push those bubbles.
No time to shout commands, no time to scream in terror. All they can do is act. Act, and make another miraculous razor thin save for their very lives.
DG: Seraph Lanval has used his Tool Bubble Pipe toward his party's challenge, Behind the Shield Wall.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Metallic blood. Talise presses her lips firmly together, looking towards the massive Metal Dragon, then back up towards Sin.
For the first time, the massive Clysmian appears to be laid low. Clenching a fist, Talise cries out enthusiastically. "KICK THAT WHALE'S ASS!" she cheers, waving Rastaban with her other hand. "YEAAAAAH!"
But it's not to be. A power is building.
Talise clicks her teeth together and tenses up. The power Sin is calling forth was sufficient to destroy even the Dragonmaster - and Lombardia's not in great shape to begin with.
The force that destroyed the man who laid her low as if she was little more than a joke to him.
Why do you walk this star?
Talise begins to move, rushing towards Lombardia's generous shadow with Guba still slung across her shoulders. She's breathing heavily as she goes, trying to keep up with the lighter and faster members of her party beneath the added burden of an unconscious blitzball player. A part of her wonders the obvious. Whether even a Metal Dragon's constitution will be enough to protect them. Whether she will be joining Ghaleon in death.
I'll show you why.
Clenching her sword tightly in her other hand, Talise picks her pace up - and with a sweep of her arm, she throws Guba as hard as she can. The blitzball player arcs through the air, hits the ground behind Lombardia and skids - solidly in her shadow.
Talise is farther behind, fighting to close the distance - but she's cutting it close.
DG: Talise Gianfair has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Behind the Shield Wall.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy lets out a whoop. "I knew it! I knew he was afraid of us! Did you see? Benedict, you heard--" And then more running is required. Chauncey snatches Sephy off her feet, the girl letting out a yelp of surprise, and holds her kind of like a football under his arm as he makes for cover.
Benedict, Chauncey assumes, is right behind him, also too dignified to be hustled around like this.
"Ch--Chaunce..." Sephy's surprised exclamation trails off as the awe-inspiring sights renderher speechless.
DG: Sephilia Lampbright has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Behind the Shield Wall.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
They manage to escape Lombardia's landing, but they're not completely safe yet - Lombardia herself says as much.
And, then, she feels it. Her hair stands on end, and she hears the fear in Lanval's voice.
That terrible, building power...
Layna curses repeatedly under her breath. She draws out another bottle, taking a deep swig of the drink.
She doesn't give the bottle a second thought - she recites an incantation and rises up. The wind begins to howl as a green aura begins to surround her body and then she rockets forward, trying to reach Lombardia safely.
She leaves a trail of wind in her wake - a slipstream that may very well aid them in getting to safety.
DG: Layna Manydays has used her Tool Quartermaster's Stash toward her party's challenge, Behind the Shield Wall.
===============================================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>================================================
========================================<* CHALLENGE - Behind the Shield Wall *>========================================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 4 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Lombardia screeches in the skies above -- and then sends another colossal
beam of green energy down. It slashes into the right fin of Sin. With a
titanic explosion, sending pyreflies and crackles of energy outward, the
limb falls away -- and dissolves into so many pyreflies before it ever
strikes the water. Lombardia hovers there, staring down at a creature that
looks, for the first time, injured and strained.
And yet, the damage to her body is no less severe. Armor plates are crushed
in; silvery blood drips and splatters on the rocks below. Her head turns
down, looking at Sin. "We are not yet done, are we, beast?"
Sin meets the queen's question with a terrific roar, which shakes the very
stone under your feet. Then, it opens its maw. The attack is familiar:
Giga-Graviton, the same that so wrecked Azado and the beach at Mushroom Rock
Road alike. A bead of pulsing black energy appears, shining white.
"No!"
Lombardia descends -- and the damaged Metal Dragon lands on the cliffside.
The ground under her cracks and strains under her great weight, as claw and
tail dig in. Then, a massive barrier of interlocked white-green octagons
appears before her, like a dome.
"Humans! Gather behind me! There is precious little time ere it unleashes
its fury upon us!"
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Hesitate===========================================
==========================================<* Clash at the Cliffs - Round 5 *>=========================================== ==========================================< Results - Behind the Shield Wall >========================================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talise Gianfair 3 --(100)--> 103 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seraph Lanval 3 --(100)--> 103 Pass Bubble Pipe 3 Agility Effects: Rally ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Layna Manydays 3 --(100)--> 103 Pass Quartermaster's Stash 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sephilia Lampbright 3 --(100)--> 103 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Talise Gianfair 80 --(10)--> 90 Fail Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Injure(1)|Slow(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: Talise Gianfair is too exhausted to continue! DG: Seraph Lanval is too exhausted to continue! DG: Layna Manydays is too exhausted to continue! DG: Sephilia Lampbright is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over. DG: The party led by Talise Gianfair has been fully Exhausted by Clash at the Cliffs! DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
===============================================<* Clash at the Cliffs *>================================================
===========================================<* CHALLENGE - Sinspawn Phiris *>============================================
|Type: Escape |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
The clash of Sin and Lombardia is no easy thing. Stray blasts of
gravitational energy, and their titanic bodies smashing into the cliffsides,
will often cause the ground to shake. Sinspawn are hurled about to and fro.
In the midst of this, you are driven back from the cliffs before the
battle's conclusion -- sent fleeing as a massive, crab-like Sinspawn smashes
down into the ground.
It comes clattering after you, claws snapping -- and loosing huge blasts of
flame from its mandibles. You are driven back before it, though you have a
precious glimpse of a Sinspawn that may pose a danger in the future.
OOC: During the Macalania Temple battle, these characters will start at 400
HP due to their wounds.
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
They hurry. Each and every one of them haul ass, as Guba is hurled ahead to safety. That's one.
Even knowing full well the mortal danger she is in, Talise does not think twice about seeing someone - anyone - to safety. Even if that someone has been a less than stellar person to them. Guba may never truly know the face of his savior.
Sinscales touch down. There aren't new ones being sent to reinforce them because of the Giga-Graviton charging... they're trivial to strike through. Not one of them will fell anyone running forward. Chauncey's good at throwing them right out of the way!
Layna brings forth a slipstream that will help the lot of them draw closer, drawing in Lanval's bubbles. The incredible pressure builds, greater and greater, as all the gathered rush to their one shot at salvation.
Then the battlefield shifts, as a huge crab-like Sinspawn touches down behind them - itself having been thrown about by outside forces. The straight shot turns into a steep cliff unto itself, and it sees everyone losing ground, falling back, rolling back.
A great white flash fills the air. Immense pressure ahead... rocks collide everywhere. It's... in a sense, they should have been unmade.
They are pulled to 'safety' by the sudden shift, sent back and rolling by the huge Sinspawn who did not have this sort of intention. Safety from instant death... but the G-forces are immense. Very few mortals could stay conscious through all of that. Some among their number may pass out.
Lanval is, at least, not one of them as he comes up to a stand before the Sinspawn Phiris, drinking gourd between his hands. He can no longer see what is transpiring between Obsession nor Lombardia.
He can only see that the mortals under his charge still draw breath. A spray of water leaves an extended hand to meet with the gout of flame the crab exhales, and smoke rises from where it meets.
"...We live," Lanval smiles gently, because finding those small joys is his nature. This is the thinnest of silver linings, given their situation. He has nothing to say in defiance to the Sinspawn ahead of him, for there is nothing to say to Fiends. They are single-minded entities of hatred and destruction. Of a single mind to stop them from coming any closer. To stop them from simply being.
Fox Company won't take that lying down, will they?