DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

[phantasmods]

Expedition day dawns, as usual, with an android mass text -

Okay, so, this time we're aiming to go out and stabilize the Fissure in the reef you can see up a little to the north of here. The waters are usually pretty calm this time of year, so if you can swim instead of needing to take a boat, that'd be a great help. We only have a few of them.

Also, I know that last time was a mess, so I'm just gonna say this: If you need to get out for any reason, just send us a message and a picture of your location. We'll get a drone out to you as soon as we can and bring you home. No questions asked.

( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Stay safe out there! When you're ready to go, meet us down at the beach. The rocky, sparkly one, not the sandy one.

Unlike previous expeditions, this time there's no rooftop sendoff - instead, as Charm noted, the tables are set up on Glitterstone beach, along with a series of boats pulled up on the sand. Two rowboats that could maybe sit six people but probably better suited for four, a trio of inflatable rafts (with motors attached to the back, all mismatched) of about the same size, a two-person dinghy and a long canoe that could hold two or three.

Besides the little fleet, there's also the usual bagged lunches (in gallon ziplocs this time, and other such watertight containers), and every boat is equipped with a large number of those chepa dollar-store water bottles, all with their airtight store seals. There's also a selection of life vests and other floatation thingies in a box next to the table. Strange hovers over the setup, checking watertightness of a handful of first aid kits with a spritzer and a bucket to submerge things in. They give a little wave to anyone passing by headed to the boats.

For those who opt instead to swim, everything seems perfectly normal until you reach the border of the Fissure... When, very suddenly, it isn't.

Comments

BOSS FIGHT: SIREN'S PUSH

[phantasmods]

At the far end of the reef, distant enough that the cliffs are only a bit of a vague haze in the distance, stands a rocky island with another lighthouse perched upon it. Unlike the one at Keystone, the tower of the Siren's Push lighthouse is intact... At least on the outside. No light shines from the top, but that's only to be expected when the place is abandoned, right? Even the little dock that must have once allowed the lighthouse keeper to come and go is worn away by time.

Actually entering the tower, however, will reveal that it's been gutted, quite literally and thoroughly - there's only a thin walkway around the edges of what was once the floor of the lighthouse, and the pit below opens to water that flows in from hidden caves around the base of the island. Indeed, those on the water side will find that some of those caves are easily wide enough to swim through, allowing access to the inside of the lighthouse from beneath the waves.

----

ABOVE WATER

Those who enter the lighthouse above the waterline will find that the narrow ledges around the pool are already occupied. Though they don't look like much at first, these jellies - incredibly similar looking to the ones inside the Trivesta, though significantly larger and shaded in black and greys with the occasional splatter of glowing yellow - are not near as friendly as they counterparts. They're solid and have the ability to "sting" from their tendrils - not a literal sting, but a sort of mental paralytic that freezes the ability to think of their victims.

Did I mention that they're quite solid? Solid enough to, say, push some frozen or unwary person off the ledge? They're also a good bit more organized than the jellies of the Trivesta, almost as though someone - or something - were controlling them...

Luckily for all involved, Siren's Jellies can be dispersed with physical attacks, though attacks of pure magic tend to either go right through them or bounce back towards the caster. Eventually, however, the dispersed jellies will reform...

And below is the pool, where something else lingers, putting a faint pressure upon your minds and the smell of something rotting in the air...

BELOW WATER

Something here is rotting. That's the first impression you get, the taste of it thick on the water flowing through the caves. The second impression is a mounting pressure, pressure, pressure inside your head... A drone into your skull, almost like a song...

Whether you find yourself in the water via the caverns or a sudden fall, you are now face to face with the "siren" of Siren's Push. At first glance, it appears to be just a massive tangle of seaweed, but then something underneath shifts, revealing a stretch of black skin that somehow manages to look slick even beneath the water. (It's probably for the best to not question exactly what the "siren's" body shape is.)

The smell of rot and the shininess come from the same place - the siren's kin emits a layer of mucus that, over time, has dissipated into the water. Those who bring their skin into direct contact with the mucus (and boy, a lot of you are underdressed now, aren't you) will find themselves engaged in a battle of wills with the creature in order to regain control over their own bodies.

Fortunately, with so many potential victims, it's harder for the siren to keep control of all its new acquisitions, making it possible to break free.

HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK

As in the previous boss fight, characters are free to attempt actions against the siren or its minions in threads with each other. Every twelve hours or so, mods will make a round call and post a summary of what's happened since the previous round. These round-ups, unlike the previous boss fight, will likely not involve strict one-to-one responses to each comment; instead, character names will be bolded in the round summary in order for you to find them easily.

Additionally, if participants in the boss fight would indicate in their first comment the level of injury or other harm they're looking for or willing to undergo with their characters, that would be extremely helpful to the mods!

Newly accepted characters are welcome to jump in once they've been through their admissions hoops!

[beguiledcard]

(( OOC: I'm cool with anything that isn't loss of limb(s) my dudes ))




[ WELL HE'S HERE...? And he's doing all right in the battle of wills from the start. If anything, he just looks a little. Grossed out? Because holy shit this is disgusting...

... After only a moment of consideration, he's going to be equipping-- OH GOD HE'S EQUIPPING THIS ONE ...Mara (NSF...W...)...

Enjoy the translucent image of that bad boy floating behind him, folks. Hey, at least he can't be influenced by Brainwash status ailment, because that would kind of suck for everyone! For now, he's going to see what One-shot Kill ("severe Gun dmg to one foe with high chance of critical") does. ]

[nojohnyouare]

[stares.

s t a r e s .]

...Why.

[riderofcharlemagne]

[For the mods: I’m fine with any kind of level of injury short of death.

The smell, and that awful drone, whilst horrible, Astolfo could at least bear with. Upon seeing the siren, he draws his sword, that tangled mess calling for some hacking and slashing. He swims towards the creature to close the gap for their fight. He feels something of an unpleasant feeling, some kind of resistance in his mind, and tenses slightly. A feeling that echoes one felt before, it’s enough to bring him to an abrupt stop, fear creeping onto his face, sword still clutched in his hand.]

obv I'm writing the boss responses but anyway MAYBE I'LL LOSE A TENTACLE

[founderinglight]

[Izunia is only just drawing a sword - the greatsword, because bigger enemies mean bigger chopping to do - when he realizes how Astolfo is frozen.

And for once, his reaction is immediate and un-thought-out - he just reaches out and puts a hand on his friend's shoulder to pull him back from whatever's made him freeze.]

No time for that now, my friend.

[burninglight]

[(injury's cool, no dismembering or death tho)]

[That feeling in his head was an uncomfortably familiar one, and it took Ardyn all of five seconds to realize he didn't like it one bit. Two more to decide how to react, and maybe one to pull the Bow of the Clever and take a few shots right at that black tangle.]

please don't kill her in front of ardyn that would be cruel and unusual

[daughterofthemark]

[The feeling is less familiar to Arianna, but it feels like a status ailment trying to happen, and that's really all she needs to know. Whatever it is, a Prevent Order should stave it off for a moment.]

Everyone! Maintain your focus--don't let it affect you!

underwater

[nojohnyouare]

(Consequence/injury-wise, I'm good with anything!)

[Mai swims in, narrowing her eyes and trying not to get that spike on her head caught in anything again, and draws her sword.]

What...

[She immediately rushes the siren with her sword, whether or not this is a bad idea.]

Okay with anything not permanently disabling or death

[dragonmouth]

[She's made her way below the water, her sword in a leather sheath strapped to her back. It'll need some TLC after this dungeon, but Tali's fought and slain aquatic beasts before.

She draws her sword and begins with the compelling strategy of... Looking straight at it, her gaze unwavering.]

Good with anything, up to and including death. GETCHUR HEALZ HERE

[meowna]

[What a horrible place..... the desolate ruins of what was surely once a magnificent building, the foul taste of rot in stagnant water, the eerie monotonous drone trying to clouding his mind..... Luckily for Morgana, he's largely protected by scales and fur covering his skin. He clenches his saber in one paw, teeth gritted and eyes narrowed--but he's actually hanging back a little from what's probably going to be the main action. These fins are great for gliding, but they're not actually made for power or speed; he doubts he'd be able to put his full strength into physical attacks down here.

Better to hang back and heal the more suitable melee fighters, because using wind magic underwater is pretty pointless. He's keeping an eye on everyone's condition, don't worry!]

There's only one, but the enemy is strong. Stay focused, everyone! Just call for me if you get hurt!

[That's..... pretty obvious, Morgana? Navigators just gotta Navigate, I guess. vOv]

No dismemberment/Erasure

[foolishjustice]

[As soon as he enters the cove, Goro can feel...something trying to slip into his mind. Fortunately, entering a new area means he has a Persona at the ready, and Robin Hood's resistance to status effects helps keep the influence at bay, but it's a lot closer than he'd like. As his mindset shifts for danger, he feels Auto-Taraku go into effect, boosting the power of any attacks he uses for the next three rounds.

Since he has the boost, he might as well take advantage of it while it lasts. Robin Hood appears and fires off a Megaton Raid, for severe physical damage if it connects.]

ROUND ONE

[phantasmods]

Above water

N/A

Below water

At first, the new arrivals don't attract any reaction from the siren - as far as it's concerned, it's business as usual, with some freshly arrived minions.

That lasts until first Akira's, and then Ardyn's, shots land solidly in its mass.

Arianna's voice only reduces the effect for the people in her "party" (for lack of any additional input, for now that will be assumed to be the other Airlocked CRAUs), but it does take a bit of the edge off. Now awakened and in pain, the siren shifts and a tentacle swings out wildly at the nearest threat, which is Mai, who will find that she needs that sword more for parrying the extremely strong tentacle than she does for hacking.

Tali's attempt at what have you... Doesn't seem to be having an effect?

Goro doesn't seem to have had much luck either. The attack would certainly have have a great effect... If it had hit anything but the mass of seaweed and tangle that the siren surrounds itself in.

[nojohnyouare]

Gk--!

[Mai pushes back hard, but ends up having to pull back only to go forward and slash at the tentacle again. She's never been one for self-preservation.]

Hidden. Everyone, watch.

[dubiouslychthonic]

[[No injury that would permanently disable her, cause her to bleed out and turn rainbow drinker, or kill her outright, please. Knocking her in the water's fine if you want to laugh while I scramble to decide what she turns into.]]

[The fight's already underway by the time Jetshard enters the above-water portion of the lighthouse, although from the ledge her ability to make out what's going on in the water below is naturally somewhat limited. Especially since, once she realizes that it's a drop straight into the water, she's keeping her back up against the wall.

Which might help a little in preventing the jellyfish to push her off, but she's still unwary enough that one brushes against her bare arm before she realizes they're a threat -

- once the mental paralysis wears off she's pulling a fairly large knife from her sylladex, and assuming she's still on her feet, slashing at any jellyfish she sees coming uncomfortably close.]

ABOVE WATER - as ironic as it'd be, don't dismember or kill her

[serrata]

[ There's already a commotion going on inside, once Yuuri arrives at the lighthouse. She's certainly not prepared for a fight, but– no, wait, where did that sword come from? Was she always holding a sword? Listen, don't worry. It's fine. ]

If you can't fight, then anyone who can make it to the door needs to get out now!

[ Not that it's easy, with all the jellies, but Yuuri's doing her best to keep the path clear for anyone who wants to make a break for it. ]

Injury level: medium to high, barring killing him; Below water!

[honededge]

[[OOC: Talon can heal you up from your last received wound. Post here if you need healing and you're under the waves. I'll post one of these every round.]]

[Talon shows up a little late to the party, just in time to see a tentacle lash out from the mess of seaweed.]

Jesus hell!

[He recoils, both from the rush of rotten water and to avoid the swing. Where's a gun when you need it? He's useless in this kind of fight without any weapons. So instead, he wheels around to his allies around him and shouts:]

Come to me if you get hurt! I can help you!

Above Water: Don't kill her, otherwise good to go!

[caduceusoncall]

[[OOC: If you're above the waves and need healing, you can come to Mercy for healing. I'll post one of these every round.]]

[She's been climbing steadily until now, spooking the jellies away with sharp movements of her wings and by swatting them with the staff. Now, there's a commotion in the water below and she's not able to see what exactly is happening, but it can't be good.]

Stay away from the edges! [She calls out, white-knuckling her staff.] If you are a non-combatant, exit the area immediately!

[beguiledcard]

(( OOC: Akira can heal people up, but it means switching from Mara to another Persona and leaving himself susceptible to Brainwash. Which... I'm cool with. ✧* ))

[ Well, at least the shot landed - as for how much damage, who's to say. He'll... resume that if he doesn't find something that seems more effective.

He's taking a moment to scan the area, consider everyone's positions, and note what other people's attacks are doing. It looks like regular physical isn't doing anything, and... what the heck is Tali actually doing?

Mm... For now, time to try casting a Maragidyne ("heavy fire dmg to all foes; chance of inflicting Burn") directly on it, and see how that goes.

Who doesn't love a good game of Weakness Roulette with Boss Enemies? Granted, he's looking around, this time for Morgana or Futaba in particular - maybe they can try Scanning? ]

No death but otherwise please feel free to mess this idiot up

[theosophomoric]

[There's really no way to dress this up or try to justify it.

Sonja's swimming straight at the thing with all of the force her stubby-tentacled merself can muster. She's gonna punch it.]

below water, no death but otherwise GO WILD

[myocordial]

[Fortunately Heart's been lucid for a while as all of this is happening. And there was no way he wouldn't be involved in a fight, are you kidding?

And, of course, Heart does generally go for melee combat only. Unarmed melee combat. But he holds back on his first instinct, which would be to punch this thing, to instead take advantage of the new trick he's learned underwater.

So time for a high-speed tail whip. Because of fucking course.]

Below water - nothing worse than a broken bone or two, if you please

[fistsofchange]

Lin wasn't at her best here, but she could see that people were in trouble, so she dove into the thick of things, armed with nothing more than her fists and feet.

It was a bad idea.

Now, fully under the siren's thrall, Bai Lin stands on the ocean floor, between you and the massive creature, facing you with a blank look on her face but apparently ready to fight to defend her new master.

Recovery from unconsciousness available here!

[foolishjustice]

[Now that he's aware of the brainwash effect, Goro's having an easier time fighting it off. That, however, doesn't help his annoyance at his attack missing, wasting both stamina and a round of Tarukaja. Maybe he's better off with another approach...

Drawing his giant seagull feather from his inventory, he directs Robin Hood to launch a Kougaeon, for heavy light aligned damage toward his target, boosted by both the Tarukaja and the magic of the feather.]

[dragonmouth]

[ Alright, looks like she can't land a solid nullification attempt on this thing. That's alright. She'll just try to rush forward and take a swing at the nearest tentacle with that big-ass wiggleblade she's always got with her. Whether or not it connects and actually does some damage is going to be a different story entirely, but unfortunately, her neck touches some of that mucus as she's let her guard completely down in order to make some use of her full power.

God help us. Currently, her stare is blank again, her sword arm falling limp. ]

Below Water - no dismemberment/Erasure

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama was watching from a little back; unfortunately, as he swims in to join the fight, the force that begins pushing against his mind manages to slip in before he can wall it out.

His purposeful movements pause for a moment, and he drifts in the water before raising a hand.

Unfortunately, instead of attacking the siren, his Kaleidoscope psyche, basically a psionic frag grenade, goes off in the midst of the other merpeople.]

ABOVE | injury ok, nothing grevious, no death

[press_start]

[This girl is completely hecking useless. Oh man. Brb as she ducks out for a minute.

BUT MUSE AND MUN BOTH STILL WANT TO HELP SO, keeping firmly on the walkway, Chiaki scurries back into the lighthouse- carrying something large and round and orange with her little twig arms. She throws the life ring from her boat into the water, where it'll hopefully provide a lifeline for anyone falling in later.

She's going to start edging back out for another, equipping a kitchen knife in hand in case she's attacked on the way.]